Why doesn't strip method in python take the two "\n" in a text file
Question: 
    import pdb
    input_file_eng = open('engltreaty.txt')
    word_list_eng = input_file_eng.read()
    pure_word_list_eng = word_list_eng.strip("\n").strip("\r").strip('-').strip('.').strip(',').strip('(').strip(')').strip('[').strip(']')
    pdb.set_trace()
    input_file_eng.close() 
    

and at the break point, I inspect the string pure_word_list_eng, it still
contains '[',']',"\n" "\n\n"

and I below is the text file:

> HER MAJESTY VICTORIA Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
> Ireland regarding with Her Royal Favour the Native Chiefs and Tribes of New
> Zealand and anxious to protect their just Rights and Property and to secure
> to them the enjoyment of Peace and Good Order has deemed it necessary in
> consequence of the great number of Her Majesty's Subjects who have already
> settled in New Zealand and the rapid extension of Emigration both from
> Europe and Australia which is still in progress to constitute and appoint a
> functionary properly authorised to treat with the Aborigines of New Zealand
> for the recognition of Her Majesty's Sovereign authority over the whole or
> any part of those islands - Her Majesty therefore being desirous to
> establish a settled form of Civil Government with a view to avert the evil
> consequences which must result from the absence of the necessary Laws and
> Institutions alike to the native population and to Her subjects has been
> graciously pleased to empower and to authorise me William Hobson a Captain
> in Her Majesty's Royal Navy Consul and Lieutenant-Governor of such parts of
> New Zealand as may be or hereafter shall be ceded to her Majesty to invite
> the confederated and independent Chiefs of New Zealand to concur in the
> following Articles and Conditions.
>
> Article the first [Article 1] The Chiefs of the Confederation of the United
> Tribes of New Zealand and the separate and independent Chiefs who have not
> become members of the Confederation cede to Her Majesty the Queen of England
> absolutely and without reservation all the rights and powers of Sovereignty
> which the said Confederation or Individual Chiefs respectively exercise or
> possess, or may be supposed to exercise or to possess over their respective
> Territories as the sole sovereigns thereof.
>
> Article the second [Article 2] Her Majesty the Queen of England confirms and
> guarantees to the Chiefs and Tribes of New Zealand and to the respective
> families and individuals thereof the full exclusive and undisturbed
> possession of their Lands and Estates Forests Fisheries and other properties
> which they may collectively or individually possess so long as it is their
> wish and desire to retain the same in their possession; but the Chiefs of
> the United Tribes and the individual Chiefs yield to Her Majesty the
> exclusive right of Preemption over such lands as the proprietors thereof may
> be disposed to alienate at such prices as may be agreed upon between the
> respective Proprietors and persons appointed by Her Majesty to treat with
> them in that behalf.
>
> Article the third [Article 3] In consideration thereof Her Majesty the Queen
> of England extends to the Natives of New Zealand Her royal protection and
> imparts to them all the Rights and Privileges of British Subjects.
>
> (signed) William Hobson, Lieutenant-Governor.
>
> Now therefore We the Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New
> Zealand being assembled in Congress at Victoria in Waitangi and We the
> Separate and Independent Chiefs of New Zealand claiming authority over the
> Tribes and Territories which are specified after our respective names,
> having been made fully to understand the Provisions of the foregoing Treaty,
> accept and enter into the same in the full spirit and meaning thereof in
> witness of which we have attached our signatures or marks at the places and
> the dates respectively specified. Done at Waitangi this Sixth day of
> February in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.


Answer: From [the docs](http://docs.python.org/library/stdtypes.html#str.strip):

> Return a copy of the string **with the leading and trailing characters
> removed**.

Try `str.replace()` instead.

