davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
London Rests on Clay

The crumbling and decay of many
famous London (Eng) structures is
partly due 70 the clay subsoil upon
which London rests. This Is compact
enough 10 transmit TO foundations the
full destructive effects of traffic vibra-
ton, and slippery enough TO allow
subsequent movement. London got Its
clay in Eoeene times long before any
of the present topography took shape.
The floods of the Ice age overlaid this
with wide areas Of gravel. upon which
earlier London arose and over which
it extended, as the gravel afforded an
easy water supply. Those parts where
clay forms the immediate subsoil were
uninhabitable until the invention of
the steam pump and iron water pipes ;
largely they were overgrown with for
ests. 1t is, however, an ideal medium
through which to drive London's tubes.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Hunsan Body = Composed
rs 20 so Per Cent Watey

People think thai their bodies are,
literally among their most solid pos
ses s. But the hu...an body is COM
.sssed largely Of waser, tie average
roportioE being froal 70 to so per
cent. We are threefourths water,
even including our brains.
have heard people speak of a per
sen as having "a fluid mind" They
did not realize how close they came to
the Literal truth. From head to foot,
all of us are SO fluid" that it seems
almost miracle when we continue
intact, year after year, apparently as
solid az ever.
You may think that we become more
solid as the years go by; that old peo-
pie really are, as we call them, with
cred and dried up. But they are not
"drier." Human beings grow even
less dry as age comes on. 1t Is es-
timated that the water content of the
body In old age is from S12 to S4.S
per cent. as compared with from rs to
so per cent in earlier life. So the
common expression. "a dried-up old
man." has no basis In fact.
II the amount of water content In
the body is reduced by only 10 pei
cent, 1t results in very serious disor-
ders- II 1t is reduced 20 per cent
death Is almost certain to follow
There have been cases where per
son has survived beyond this point
but loss of % per cent is, believe
limit beyond which human beings
cannot Iive.-American Magazine.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
National Park Visitors
RiUal Natures Wonders

Following sare some Of the human
oddities of the Yellowstone park as de-
scribed BY Harry Owen Frazier In the
Saturday Evening Post.
Women in high-heeled shoes, SIZE
stockings and khaki brooches, hiking
among the geysers and along the
trails.
Men In low shoes, palm beach trou-
sers, heavy sweaters and straw mats,
doing the same thing.
Men, women and children crowding
around the camp dining room half an
hour before mealtime for fear they
would not be the first served.
The laxative lady who was forever
wanting to change her routing SO sne
could be with new-found friends.
The man who ran to the cone OF olo
Faithful to see her spout and was
treated to q nice hot shower.
The many who put their hands into
the hot springs to see If the water was
actually hot-and found out.
The lady who asked IL the springs
froze over in winter.
The roughneck who told her they
did and that once man broke through
the Ice and scalded his feet
The schoolma'a am with notebook ano
pensive look who will go home anu
write a description OF the Grand can
yon.
The man who put his collar into
the Handkerchief pool and expected II
10 come out starched and ironed.
The man who exchanged dessert
with his neighbor at table, before the
neighbor arrived, because of a slight
difference in cross-sectional area In
favor of the absent one.
The lady who got close enough TO a
bear to take a snapshot and then dis
covered that her camera needed reload
ing.
An obliging bear who sat upon a
stump until the nerve-racking task
was finished.
The pest who growled at the service
at the camps, but would not change to
the hotels
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
LEGEND OF GRAND CANYON
'no'sn Stony Says That It Was Mass
~ Pack-LTha-a-wl. After a Ger.
tain Big Flood.

Accoroing to the Wallapais the
u'aho canyon was made single-hand-
'u' aiter a certain food, by their cult.
vs. nero. Pack-i-tha-a-wi, who was
armed with large flint knife and q
Dig sticK Once upon a time the world
was covered so deep with water thai
NOBODY knew what to do until Pack
.-tna-a-wi took the initiative. The
knie ne thrust deep into the heart of
.ne earth. hammering it in with the
Dig stick and moving It strenuously
Dack and forth until the CANYON was
formed, which drew all the water frorn
on the earth into the Sunset sea.
Another legend says that there was
great chief who mourned the death
OF his wife and would not be comfort.
ed until Taywoats, one of the Indian
goas' came to him and told him his
wife was in a happier land, and offered
10 take him there that he might see for
himself If. upon his return, he would
cease to mourn. The great chief prom
tsed.
Then Taywoats made a trail through
che mountains. The trail was the can.
yon gorge Of the Colorado. Through
1t the god led the chief, and when
they had returned the deity exacted
from the chief promise that he
would tell no one Of the joys Of that
land, lest, through discomfort with this
world, they should desire to go to
heaven. Then he rolled a river into
the gorge SO broad and raging that ii
would engulf any that might attempt
to enter thereby.-Detroit News.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
First Europeans in Panama

The first Europeans to visit the
Isthmus Of Panama were those who.
under the leadership Of Rodrigo de
Bastides, sailed from Cadiz In October,
1900. vasco Nunez de Balboa was
among them. The records Of this ex-
petition are meager, but 1t is known
that they picked up the mainland of
South America near Trinidad and
coasted westward past the Gulf Of Da-
rien and along the Isthmus as far as
Nombre de Dios.
The letters of "Iettera Rarissima di
Cristoforo Colombo" an Italian YER
sion of dispatch from the great dis
coverer to Ferdinand and Isabella con-
tains the earliest account of the 18TH
mus In existence. He wrote this let
ter while shipwrecked on the coast Of
Jamaica at the end of his fourth and
last voyage to the Indies.-Detroit
News.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Airedale and Airedale Terrier

The.name "Airedale" is only short
ened form for "Airedale terrier" The
tendency now is to drop the super
fluous word terrier" when speaking
of this dog. The Airedale terrier was
originally bred about 90 or 20 years
ago In the valley of the Aire, York.
shire, England. Hence its name. The
breed was obtained by various crosses
between the bull terrier, the border
terrier, the otter hound and other
breeds. The Airedale is one Of the
largest Of the terriers. 1t has pendu-
lous ears, black. tan or dark, rough
haired coat, and usually weighs from
40 to 30 pounds. The Airedale should
not be confused with the Irish terrier,
which is a smaller dog somewhat re-
sembling 1t in general appearance.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Books of Ancient Roman
Writers Not Protected

No law Of copyright protected the
interests Of authors; and when the
works Of Cicero, produced by expert
enced copyists whom Atticus had pur-
chased, were circulated In Italy and
Greece, there was nothing to prevent
en enterprising tradesman from en-
ploying his own slaves to pirate, with
gross blunders, the authorized edition.
The booksellers shops were situated
mainly In street called the Argyle
-tuzass WHICH AUDITED on the north of
the Forum, not far from the Rostra.
The books were written on papyrus
imported from Alexandria, and were
mounted on wooden rollers. The titles
Of new publications were posted upon
pillars outside the shops; but their
best advertisement, apart from the
reputation of the writer, was the
praise Of his friends, when their judg-
ment was known to be sound. Their
prices, considering that they were pro-
duced by hand, seem remarkably low
handsome copies Of the first book Of
MartiaIs epigrams were sold for FIVE
denarii-about four shillings-a
charge which the author thought ex-
cessive.-T. Rice Holmes. In 1.-The Ro-
man Republic and the Founder Of the
Empire"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Apples Once GreU Wild

Apples, as we know them today, ir
ancient times grew wild In parts OF
Europe and Asia, and their cultivation
began in Europe centuries ago, bat II
remained for Americans to make the
greatest progress in this direction.
One Of the first of these benefactors
was Loammi Baldwin. While promi.
nent in his capacity as an engineer, he
would long since have been forgotten
except for his horticultural expert
ments, which resulted in the produc-
ton of the famous apple which bears
his name.
The United States now produces the
bulk Of the worlds apple crop and Can
Hda adds TO North American suprem-
acy. The European belt extends from
Norway TO southern France The fruit
Is also cultivated in New Zealand, Tas-
mania and other countries.-Detroit
News.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Ancient Books ShoD
Surgery an Old Art

The practice of surgery goes back
as far as the time when man first
began to hurt himself or to be hurt by
others. Medicine and surgery were
flourishing in the Orient some four
centuries B. G. Accounts in ancient
books tell of more than a hundred
instruments Of steel, IA varieties Of
bandages, splints made Of bamboo. the
sewing of cuts on the head and
face; and there was even an operation
for remaking the nose by using a piece
Of skin Of the cheek for that purpose.
So 1t would seem that the Hindu had
more thorough acquaintance with
the science than one looking back over
the faraway centuries would at first
suspect.
The figures Of patients undergoing
operations are carved on Egyptian
monuments and among the antiquities
Of that people are such instruments
as lancets, probes, knives and forceps
In passing 1t may be remarked that
the latest centuries need not take
credit to themselves for the invention
of artificial teeth, for that triumph
of the dentists art has been found in
mummies.
/ The surgical skill of the Orient
seems to have been bottled up for a
time, or, at least it was in no hurry
to cross over to Europe, where for
long period the barber was the usual
surgeon. The lives of two of Eng
lands greatest kings might have been
saved for longer usefulness had little
wisdom been shown in their treatment
Henry Y died of a malady which could
have been cured by the knife; Rich
ard the Lion Hearted met his death
from wound in the shoulder caused
by an arrow which an ignorant sur
geon aggravated by twisting about in
his efforts to remove, thus inducing
blood poison.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Bride AdUised on HotD
to Be Boss of Husband

Don't wear curl papers the first two
years-after that 1t will not matter.
Keep a set of Walter Scott in your
apartment to occupy you In the hours
when you are not on speaking terms
with your husband. Some brides have
been able to finish Dickens and THE
Decline and Fall Of the Roman EN-
pire" as WELL
Teach him to cook before you are
married; he will be unsuspicious then
and they learn easier before than after
marriage.
Don't believe him when he says he
will take up dancing next winter
Make him sign a contract to this effect
before the ceremony.
Don't start him in on sweetbreads
and creamed mushrooms; this will
make the contrast too marked when
you begin to feed him on potato chips
and cold ham. A hungry man will eat
anything If you give him time; and he
will be less likely to talk about the
way mother used to cook If you rain
him in the first elk months.
Always be taken Ill when your
mother-in-law comes to visit you; after
she has done all the work for a day
or two she will be glad to 60 back to
her own home again. In the mean
time you can have good rest in bed
Any bride who follows these direc.
lions accurately can have as many
husbands as she wants.-New Yorh
Sun and Globe.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Make Today Count as No
Previous One Euer Did

Make this resolution every morn
ing: will play the life game today
as I have never played it before. I
will play 1t with more energy, more
determination. will play 1t with
firmer decision, with better judgment.
But while l will try not to make so
many mistakes. will not be so eau
tious as not to act at all, for I know
that he who hesitates In irresolution
or waivers is lost. am going to make
myself felt today as never before /
EN- going to fling my life into my work
with all the energy I can master I
as resolved not 10 grope along In a
picayune way any more. I am going
to put some more dare into my efforts.
! am going to take more chances be-
cAuse l know that people with Wig
orous initiative can afford to make
more mistakes than the LEGISLATORS, the
wayerers, the balancers. am going
20 make this day count as no previous
day Of my life has counted.-Inspira-
ton
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Why "Jerkwoter" Towns

For many years, villages and out
of-the-way hamlets throughout the
country have been called "jerkwater"
towns, but few persons know where
the term originated.
A version is given in the Indiana
Magazine Of History. In the early
days of the railroad train, it was not
an uncommon occurrence to stop the
engine at wayside stream to replen-
ish the water supply. The water was
carried in leather buckets.
First-class roads soon eliminated
this necessity, but smaller ones, touch
ing only villages, continued their
"jerkwater" engines. Railroad men
are credited with having jokingly re-
ferred to the smaller towns as "jerk.
water" places, and the name has stuck
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Despofic Tribunal

The Star chamber was tribunal in
England consisting of committee of
the kings privy council, instituted. or
revived by Henry VII in 1856. 1t had
extensive powers and held itself un-
fettered by rules of law, dealt with
civil and criminal cases by bill and In
formation, without the Intervention of
a jury, and could infiict any form of
punishment short of death. 1t was
abolished by act of parliament in 1871
in the reign of Charles |. The court
is said to have derived its name, either
from the gilt stars that adorned the
ceiling of the chamber in the old pal.
ace at Westminster. where it held It's
sessions; or as is more probable, from
the Jewish bonds (starrs), deposited
there by permission of William /.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
up TO the Widow.

Speaking on the marriage laws at Q
meeting presided over by an archdea.
con, curate remarked that II was
not generally known that a man could
not II AIRY his widows cousin.
Widows sister. you mean" cor.
rected the president
NO." replied the youthful cleric
Il mean widows cousin
The archdeacon was on his feet In
an instant. His law must not be chal-
lenged by a curate.
Il tell you" he said, "a man may
marry his widows cousin, but not his
widows sister. You must really allow
me to know"
But" persisted the curate, 'show
can a man do anything In the way OF
marrying when his wife Is a widowr
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Wau Street Coffee Center

Wall street" is regarded the world
over as synonym Of thigh finance" ;
Jet 1t has been quite as permanently
associated In its history with coffee.
The lower part Of the street toward
the East river. and the neighborhood
adjoining to the north and south. bu'
principally to the south. is still redo
lentiy given over to the offices and
warehouses Of coffee merchants and
brokers.
William b. Ukers, in his book, "All
About Coffee" recently published by
the Tea and Coffee Trade Journal, de-
votes an interesting chapter to the his
tory Of coffee trade In the United
States, much Of which centers In this
small but influential locality. 1t is
surprising to find how many Of the
best-known merchants Of the city en-
gagged at one time or another In the
coffee trade.-Detroit News
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Thackeray Ate Fourteen
Items on Dinner Menu

Thackeray was proud of his achieve
ments as an eater, ard In Roadside
Sketches" set forth the bill Of fare OF
little dinner he once enjoyed at Ant
werp: "1, green pea soup; 2, boiled sal
mon; 8, mussels; 4, crimped skate; o
coast meat; 6, patties; Z, melon; 8,
>tewed carp with mushrooms and
onions; 8, roast turkey; 10, caulifower
>1d butter; IL, fillets of venison piques
with assafoetida sauce; II, stewed
Calls ear; 13, roast veal; IA, roast
lamb: Is, stewed cherries: 16, rice
pudding; II, Gruyere cheese and about
twenty-four cakes of different KINDS "
Except 5, 13 and A." he declared
IT give you my word ate all written
down here, with three rolls and
score Of potatoes"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Soys Coffee Fruit Is
Similar to a Cherry

1T is doubtful If in all nature there
Is a more cunningly devised food
package than the fruit of the coffee
tree" says William n. Ukers in "All
About Coffee" (the Tea and Coffee
Journal company, New York;. He
describes 1t infinitely as follows:
1.-THE coffee fruit is very like a
cherry, though somewhat elongated
and having in its upper end small
uTabilicus. But mark with what In
senuity the package has been con-
s'ructed. The outer wrapping is a
thin, gossan,erlike skin which incloses
a soft pulp. sWeetish to the taste, but
Of mucilaginous consistency. This
pulp in turn is wrapped about the
inner seal. called the parchment be-
cause Of its tough texture.
The parchment incloses the magic
bean in its last wrapping. delicate
slver-coiored skin. not unlike fine
spun silk or the sieerest of tissue
paper And this last wrapping is so
tenacious, so true to its guardianship
function, that no amount of rough
treatment can dislodge 1t altogether ;
for parts of it cling to the bean even
In the roasting and grinding pro-
cesses
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Legend of Pontius Plate

Among the Swiss Alps is a mountain
named after Pontius Plate Country
people say that it is haunted by Pr
late's ghost. According TO legendary
lore 1t appears that after the Cruel
dxion Pontius PLATE fell from imperial
favor and killed himself in prison.
wiiereupon his body was cast into the
Tiber. which Immediately rose and
almost burst its banks The body was
taken to lonely pool at the top Of the
mountain which now bears its name
near Lucerne- According to another
version PLATE retired there during his
lifetime and was thrown into the pool
By the Wandering Jew. In any case
his presence caused terrible trouble.
avalanches and floods devastating the
district amid taunderous noise In the
recesses Of the mountains. In the Six
teenth century the ghost was finally
laid. and procession went up every
year, headed BY the vicar Of Lucerne.
70 CT stones into the pool
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
eeif-AnprecIatIon.

Hunor and self-criticism, II has
sften been pointed out, go together; I
sense Of humor Is an antidote for con.
ceit. Victor Hugo had no sense Of
humor, and the complacency with
which he looked back upon his career
arose from a conceit that was even
more colossal than his genius.
Late In life some Of his friends were
talking with him and. Of course, about
him. One said. Streets ought to be
named after him."
Another remarked. Streets? Paris
ought to change Its name and be called
Victor Hugo"
Another added scornfully, aParisi
Paris. after such great man7 No, In
deed France ought to change its name
and the whole country be called Victor
Hugo
The great writer then lifted his
head and. with Jsvisn dignity, spoke
b tones Of quiet, solemn convicttsaS
eEAak I'M roma IN timA.s
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Scored ON fhe 0rntor

ns atmosphere vas getting slightly
heated in the village hall, where the
sanu.uate Tor Office was addressing a
meeting OF those who he hoped would
sole Tor him at the next election.
one man In the crowd was deter
.''.ns s. not to give the aspirant mo-
neh.s peace, and he didn't At last
~ speaker lost his last remnant Of
!, and. shaking his fist at the
heckler, he shouted
ed rascal =
QUITE replied the interrupter,
with Q sweet smile. .sYou are nerfeetly
= npsts to look upon me In any
cnancter you desire to assume"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Nor IN Dictionary

In the good old days when science
was still in its infancy, which was not
go long ago, scientists were firmly con-
vinced that the various atoms of
given element were absolutely identi-
cal with each other and quite immune
from any transformation whatever.
The very name, from the Greek. means
lndivisible. This view has recently
been shattered by the investigations
and developments OF radio activity.
The isotope has taken Its place as the
smallest particle. The word IL not in
the dictionary yet. It Is Of Greek
origin and signifies that which 10 IN
the place of."--Chicago Journal.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
Would Drop OF

A man called upon his medical ad.
wiser and said: Doctor, can't ger
to sleep at night"
Insomnia, eh?"
THAT'S It," asserted the patient.
There are ways and means Of com.
batting that" declared the doctor.
You think you are hopelessly wake
ful, but mental effort has great deal
70 DO with getting you to sleep. Just
Imagine you are walking tight rope
Thousand feet from the ground. Step
oy step you advance on this tight
rope"
.Yesf the patient inquired.
You'll soon drop or"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
First Democrat

Kleinsthenes, an Athenian scholar
and statesman, was the first Democrat
really to raise his voice in the interest
OF the common people This occurred
in about $40 B. c. About eighty years
before spirit of revolt made itself
felt in Attica, owing to heavy taxes
and the arrogance Of the mobiles. Scion,
another eminent statesman and law
maker, was authorized at that time to
take some steps to remedy a situation
that was already feared by those In
power.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17

Seventy-five years ago the Hamburg.
American line established its first ship,
the Deutschland, In the service be-
tween Hamburg and New York. This
was sailing vessel Of I'll tons. and
was regarded as q monster craft In
those days Adolph Geoffrey. director
OF the company. at meeting Of the
directors In 1648. told with great pride
Of the high character Of the accommc-
daficns which its three ahips were AZ
fordiHg transatlantic travellers. who
passed ~ days on the trip from Ham
burg 70 New FORK and q toys On ~
easfJnrd fxip. Defxn1t N1l
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
First Train Ride

Eskimo Woman (at ticket office)-I
would like to have a ticket for Assa-
quja.
oierk latter thoroughly studying
lalroad folder)-Where in the world
Is Assaquja?
Eskimo Woman (pointing)-Thers
she sits on the bench.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-17
While the Going Was Good

1uoge-fou stand accused Of having
stolen watch. What have you to say !?
Inc Accused-Your honor, l was
gong along when / spied this watch,
when was also going, and so thought
.Ae might Just as well be going to