davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01
AN INEXPERIENCED COOK.

Uncle Enoch, the hero of the an
nexed incident, was not an experience
ed cook, as we shall presently show.
He and Tom B. once went on q
clamming and ceiling cruise, to STAY
several days.
They carried provisions with them,
and took possession of small house
built for the convenience of suoh
parties, where they could lodge and
do their own cooking.
One day, when they had been at
work hard digging CLANS, until the
sun was getting well up toward meri-
dian, Enoch started to the house to
make preparations for dinner. The
bill OF fare for the day was to consist
simply of boiled rice. Some half an
hour later, his partner, with an appe-
tlte sharp set, walked into the sh anty.
He was struck with astonishment at
beholding their two little camp pans
heaped up with half.cooked rice,
and pyramid of the same on the
inverted pot-lid.
Enoch was holding ladle full in
his hand, and stareing aghast at the
rice in the pot, which was swarming
over the rim like a cloud of white
ants, while a suspicious odor indicted
that it was burning on the bottom.
wherein thunder'll / put all this
swamp seed ?" he exclaimed in des-
pair. "I've filed all the dishes in
the shanty, and I don't gain on it
much"
Tom saw how the case stood, and
became volcanic with inward laugh
ter.
SHOW much of the rice did you
put in the pot, uncle Enoch?''
"Well | filled her up level FULL
thought I'd cook enough, as we might
be pretty hungry"
"You old wooden-head Didn't
you know that rice would swell in
boiling ?'
"Swell?" he repeated, as if his
mind was just grasping a new phi
losophical fact. "Swell! yes, yes;
30 twill. Wall, it's too late now to
stop it. / reckon we'll have to let
her SWELL
And to this day Tom B. 'swells,'
even to the point of explosion, when
ever he recalls the scene to his
mind.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01
SOLDIERS HOMESTEAD LAW.

There seems to be some misunder-
standing regarding the amendments
which passed Congress last session
in regard to the soldiers homestead
law. The amendments proposed
were various and important, but they
all failed to pass except the following,
which embodies all the change that
has been made in the homestead law:
"That any person entitled, under the
foregoing sections, to enter home
stead, who may have heretofore
entered, under the homestead laws,
q quantity oflana less than 100 acres.
shall be permitted to enter 80 much
land as, when added to the quantity
previously entered shall not exceed
100 acres." That 10, that whereas
the law Of 1872 permits soldiers to
enter homsteads on what are called
ssdoubls minimum lands" or lands
within the limits Of railway grants,
and whereas many soldiers had en-
tered 80 acres each, they are now
permitted to enter whole quarter
section, or 100 acres Of suoh lands.
The amendment simply doubles the
quantity Of these double minimum
lands that may Be entered under the
lav.--Hdackeyc.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01
WHAT THE LEAF DOES.

1t pumps water from the ground
through the thousands of tubes in
the stem of the tree, and sends it in
TO the atmosphere in the form of I'M
seen mist, to be condensed and fall
in showers ; the very water were 1t
not for the leaf, would sink into the
earth and find its way, rerchance,
through subterranean channels to the
sea. And thus it is that we see it
works to give us the "early and the
latter ram" 1t works to send the
rills and streams, like lines of silver,
down the mountain and across the
plain. 1t works to pour down the
larger brooks that turn the wheels
that energize the machinery which
gives employment to millions-com-
MERGE stimulated, wealth accumla.
ted aud intelligence disseminated
through the agency of this wealth.
The leaf does it all. 1t has been de-
monstrated that every square inch of
leaf lift $500 of an ounce every
twenty four hours. Now, a large
tree has about FIVE acres Of foliage,
or 6,272,63O square inches. Thus
being multiplied by $500 the
amount pumped by every inch,) gives
us the result-2, 252 ounces, or l, JIG
pints, or 294 quarts or 8 barrels. The
trees on an acre gives 800 barrels in
twenty tour hours. An acre of grass,
or clover, of grain, would yield about
the same result. The leaf is q work
err, too, in another field Of labor,
where we seldom look-where it
works for the good of man in the
most wonderful manner. 1t carries
an immense quantity of electricity
form the earth to the clouds, and
form the clouds to the earth. Rather
dangerous business transporting
but it is particularly ft.
ted for this work. Did you ever see
leaf entire as to its edges 1t is al
ways pointed, and these points,
whittier large or small, are just fitted
to handle this dangerous agent.
These tiny fingers seize upon and
carry it away with ease and wonder
full dispatch. There must be no de-
lay !; it is slime freight" True, it
sometimes gathers up more than the
trunk can carry, End in the attempt to
crowd and pack the baggage the
trunk gets terribly shattered, and we
say the lightning struck the tree.
But it has been str uck q thousand
times before. This time it was
over. worked.-America,s Eatomolo-
gist.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01
A number OF Christian ladies Of st.

A number OF Christian ladies Of st.
Louis have been giving their attention
to the social evil law of that city.
The result of their examination, it 10
said, leads to the conclusion that, at
ter the experience of two or three
years, all who know the facts must
confess that the law has entirely
failed to be of any public benefit.
Indeed, there is sufficient evidence
that it has accomplished little or no.
thing ~ health measure, and there
il proof that its moral influences are
.hurtful. The testimony of mistress
Of . disreputable house to these lad
les was in effect that since the pass
age of this law they are visited by
men Of better social standing in the
community. The law does not re-
strain licentlousness, but throws
about it such apparent safeguards
that the timid and more reputable are
led easily into the snare.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01
TRANSPORTING BUTTER TO HOT
CLIMATES.

For many years butter has been
sent from Copenhagen to Europe in
Theoretically sealed cans. Although
the business was commenced origin
ally as an experiment, it has expand
ed to such degree that, during the
past two years, it has occupied sew.
eral of the largest butter dealers in
Copenhagen. The object of pack
ing the butter in this manner is to
protect it against the action of air
and heat this is 80 completely at
tanned that butter has been sent from
Copenhagen to China and back
again, without the slightest detri.
ment. to its edible qualities. The
principal places of demand are Chi
ma, Brazil, Java, Spain and other
countries, generally through London
or Liverpool houses. The packages
vary in size up to eight pounds, al
though those of four pounds are gen.
orally preferred. The cans are lined
inside with wood saturated with
with salt pickle, and, when, filed,
are sodered up. This treatment is
thought to exert a very important
influence in the preservation of the
butter.-N Y. Tribune.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01
EVILS ;oF sLoTH.

] went by the field of the slothful
and by the vineyard of the man void
Of understanding, and 10, it was all
grown over with thorns, and nettles
covered the face thereof, and the
stone wall thereof was broken down.
Then / saw, and considered it well !;
Hooked uponit and received instFuc.
ton. Yet . little, sleep little
sinmDer, a little folding of the hands
TO sleep 20 shall thy poverty come
- one trsyeieth and thy want ~
IN armed man.--SoloDson.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01
WHAT WE OWE TO WINTER.

1t is not often thought that we owe
all our habits and institutions to win.
ter. We do not bear in mind that
the reason why Northern nations are
more manly than Southern is that
there is winter in the North, or no
winter in the South. Winter makes
nations manly by driving men into
social unities, and obliging them to
live with each other, and devise ways
for their instruction. In a mild eli.
mate, where there is no necessity for
men to dwell under roof, they
wander abroad, and in great meas
ure dispense with each others socie-
ty, so that although they may have
q certain amount of cursory enjoy
ment, they are comparatively
uninstructed. But in severe climate
like this, when the cold season shuts
men out from the field, and they re-
treat from their ordinary avocations,
and the days are short and the
evenings are long, the dwelling
becomes castle and school. house,
and there must be not only labors,
but conversations and readings.
Under such circumstances the family
is center Of knowledge; and, if
there be any leaven it, center of
Characterization. The shortening of
days and the frightening of evenings
make great difference in the civil-
ization ofnations and I think it may
be said that New England and all
the Northern States owe as much to
the fact that they have a long winter
as to any Of their laws or institutions |;
it gives rise to such house hold edu-
cation, such domestic culture.-H.
w. BREcHRR.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01
COLDS AND HOW TO TREAT THEM.

When you are attacked again with
q hard cold treat it as follows: Eat
no supper On going to bed drink
two tumblers of cold water. On ris.
ing in the morning drink freely OF
cold water. For breakfast eat piece
of bread as large as your hand. Gro
out freely during the morning. For
dinner eat about the same as you ate
at breakfast. During tho afternoon
take sharp walk or engage in some
active exercise which shall produce
a little perspiration. Go without
your supper and retire early, drink
ing, before you jump into bed as
much cold water as you can swallow.
In the morning you are nearly we'll.
II, instead, you feel the cold, it will
stay a week or ten days, and wind
up with hard cough and expector
alton. A cold is not as many think,
the result alone of exposure to a
sudden change in the atmosphere.
1t is the product of two factors one
is q certain condition of the within,
and the other is certain condition OF
the without. The only soil in which
this plant can grow is certain con.
dition of the system, the prominent
feature of which is a deranged stom-
ach. Those who have good diges
tons very rarely have colds. So, to
prevent colds, you must have your
stomach in good condition in other
words, you must keep yourself in
high health. There are some habits
which give general tendency to
colds. For example, the use of hot
drinks, which, in addition to flooding
and weakening the stomach, open
the skin, and increase thereby sensi-
bility to the influence of external
changes. The use of warm baths,
especially warm foot-baths. Sleep
ing in warm, unventilated rooms.
Wearing the same fannels during
the night thai have been worn during
the day. Using fat meats and pastry ,
thereby deranging the stomach and
liver.-Dr. Dio Lescis.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

POPULAR ERRoRs.-To think the
more a man eats the fatter and strong
or he will become. To believe that
the more hours children study the
faster they viii learn. To conclude
that because exercise is good, the
more violent it is, the more good is
done. To imagine that every hour
taken from sleep is an hour gained.
To argue that whatever remedy
causes one to feel Immediately better.
is good for the system, without
regard to more Interior effects. To
eat without an appetite, or to con-
tinue to eat after it has been graft
ned, merely to crafty the taste. To
eat a hearty supper for pleasure
experience d during the brief time it
is passing down the throat, at the
expense Of whole night of disturb.
ed sleep, and weary waking in the
morning. To act on the presumption
that the smallest room in the house
is large enough to sleep in.- Good
Health.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

HOME INFLUENCE.-If the father
chiefly talks money" at home, he
generally rears his family in the wor-
ship of the almighty dollar. If he
talks mainly horses, games and ra-
ces, he breeds a batch of sportsmen.
If fashion Is the family altar, then
the children are offered up as
victims on that altar. If q man
makes his own fireside attractive, be
may reasonably hope to anchor his
own children around it. My neigh
Dor makes himself the constant even
ing companion of his boys. The
result is that his boys are never
found in bad places. But if the
father hears. the clock strike eleven in
the club house or the play house, he
need not be surprised if his boys
hear it strike twelve in the gaming
room or drinking saloon. If he puts
the bottle on his own table, he need
not wonder if a drunken son staggers
in by and by at his front door. When
the best friend that childhood and
youth ought to have becomes their
foe, the home becomes the "starting
post" for moral ruin. Mr.
Cuyler.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

The Pacific Rural Press saws !:
Take q large head of cabbage, strip
on the outer leaves, and slip of the
buds found at the base of the leaves.
Take these buds and simply set them
in rich earth. The result win be :
ine.growth Of cabbage plants, with
heads larger and sounder than can
be raised in the ordinary way"
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01
Commissioner Meacham. y

Commissioner Meacham, who was
brutally murdered by the Modoc In
dams, was once resident Of John
SON county, in this State, whore his
father, an old man nearly blind il
still living. General Candy, who
was alse murdered by Captain Jack
the Modoc miscreant, was nephew
Of Mrs. !. s. Sanders, Of Iowa City.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01
FOR TOBACCO LOVERS.

Chewing in the parlor,
Smoking in the street,
Choking with cigar smoke
Every one you meet;
Splitting on the pavement,
Splitting on the floor,
Is there such enslavement?
Is there such bore?
Puddles at the corners,
Swelling into one,
Forming lakes and rivers,
Drying in the sun,
Maidens, when you marry,
Tobacco worms don't take;
Think not Dick or Harry
Will Quit it for your sake.
Declare the thing curse;
And when gents come in to WOO,
You pop the question" first,
'Sir, do you sw axe or chew"
Mark well each word or look,
And if they don't say no,
Just cross them off your book,
And tell them Why you do.
Some gents carry spice,
Some cinnamon, some cloves
Make good use OF yonr eyes,
And good use of your nose;
For when the weddings DER,
Perfumes they throw away
They spit upon the floor,
They smoke and chew all day.
Does a lover promise,
To quit the weed for yous
See he has firm bump,
And conscientious too.
If you are no phrenologist,
Let time and truth make clear,
And wait until he resists
Temptation for a year.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

Science 10 in truth the attribute of
God, and those who seek Him from
that side invariably learn that medi-
tation 10 not the dream, but the
reality of life; not it, illusions, not
it, weakness, but its strength.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

If tomatoes are trained to a trellis,
it prolongs the season of bearing.
Some gardeners simply tie them up
to . stake, and cut them back,
and get good crops. Others never
cut back, but train to common post
and lsth trellis, which is probably
the cheapest that can be made.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

Opportunities are running to waste
everywhere, like the golden fruit Of
the ovsr-buraened orchard. They
are not confined to parallels or lati-
tuds. In running. after them, We are
perpctual'y running away from them.
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

shoulders, scratches and fistula in horses
that can not be cured by Hurst's Tar Lini-
ment. 35m3
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

years, anu we nave invariably found them,
their travellers and their medicines, worthy
OF the concentrations they everywhere
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

of John Alexander. by Rev G. H. Holmes. EFF Blne
Rapids. Mr.JoHN c. YOUNG, of Seneca, and Miss
ELIZA GoRDoN. daughter OF the late Iahn Coz
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

Cured in the neighborhood known as
Crackers neck, Keokuk Co., on Thursday
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

A. Bailey of the d. V. r. r. Gazetteer,
WAS in town Tuesday looking after the
interests Of hie "n-ir II -r''l h~ ;>N.-rA =
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

letter of a case of extreme restitution
which recently came nndar his nhsAruatin-,
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

abu tments, etc. These gentlemen are well
known to our citizens as reliable parties,
The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-01

tne town, and we hope soon to see others
following suit.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-11-27
Views of President Grant.

The president, in n recent conversa-
ton relative to Cuban matters, said this
government had thus far acted on such
facts as had reached it, and was now en-
gagged in collecting from all available
sources further information concerning
the capture of the Virginius and par
ticulars attending the revolving execu-
tions which followed that event. 1t was
desirable that all information should be
of such character as would leave no
doubt whatever as to its reliability
The propriety of this course was too
evident 10 require explanation, the gov
ernment being careful in what it is now
doing and what it may hereafter do, to
act upon facts and not upon assumptions
and unconfrmcd reports. 1t was essen
tial that we should be prepared to main
tain our position. The president said
he had changed none of his views here
tofore expressed by him concerning
events in Cuba, but had more than even
been confirmed in them by recent oc-
currences. He shared with the public
their denunciation of the capture on
the high seas of a vessel sailing with
regular clearance, under the United
States flag, and the startling events
which so quickly followed. Spain never
having considered the island of Cuba in
a state of war, and there being no pro-
clamation by the United States accord
ing belligerent rights to the insurgents,
~, We-e-sr,s,vg Il .naayaI E-v
the island of Cuba, had right to enter
Havana or any other open port of Span
ish possessions. This government did
not recognize any right on the part of
Spain, in the present state of affairs, to
interfere in any manner with our mer-
chant ships upon the seas, except in the
usual right in her own ports and within
one marine league of the coast of any of
her dominions, and of this fact she is
aware. As a matter of course it is the
determination of this government to
protect our citizens in all their rights
and to compel respect TO the flag. The
present naval preparations are with this
view, not to initiate war by the presi-
dent, that power being vested in CON
gress, but to be prepared for all possi-
bic contingencies. Upon the meeting
Of congress all the facts in the pos
session of the executive department re-
lativo to Cuba would be laid before that
body, with such recommendations IS
the occasion demands. Tomorrow, DE
said, he would commence the prepare
tion Of his message, but would defer
that part relating 10 Cuban affairs until
within day or two of the meeting of
congress, desiring first to obtain all
possible information upon the subject.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-11-27
Important to Insurers.

Insurance placed in the companies
that have not complied with the laws of
the state where the property insured is
situated (either by the company direct
or through agents or brokers) cannot,
in case of loss, be sued for and recov-
cred in any of the United States or state
courts, and the assured is left entirely
at the mercy of such companies, and
without legal remedy.
The statutes of all the states impose GER
tain conditions upon insurance Gem
panies chartered by other states), TO
enable them to obtain authority 10 tran
sact business, and make binding con-
tracts within the state and without
having first complied with such laws,
ard obtained the legal authority to do
business, all insurance written by them
is illegal and void. The following is
an abstract from a recent opinion of the
attorney general of the state of Indiana
upon the subject: " As the statute pro-
hibits any foreign insurance company,
directly or indirectly, TO take risks or
transact any business of insurance in
the state, without first procuring legal
authority, this includes a prohibition
upon any person or corporation not du-
" authorized from acting in any capaci-
ty as insurance agents, either by solic-
iting applications or collecting money
npon premiums. A policy issued by
an agent Ia violation of a law, declar-
ing his act to be criminal, has been de-
cided by the supreme court TO be void,
after destruction by fire of property
insured Goth Indiana, p. 800, and in
recent case not yet reported in Indi-
ana (Hoffman VS.. Banks), the general
doctrine is affirmed.
This opinion is clear and decisive, and
has since been confirmed by judicial
decisions in that state People vs.. Pless-
ner), and the principle again recognized
by the Kentucky court OF appeals and
by Judge Davis, of the supreme court
OF the United States, presiding in the
United States circuit court in Indiana,
and is how held to be well-settled law.
Insurers may, therefore, well under
stand that in accepting policies in such
companies they are wholly without in
demnity against loss, except at the ca
prics Of the companies whose illegal
and void policies they hold.
The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-11-27
Goal Ashes as a Fertilizer.

A correspondent of the department
of agriculture at franklin, Pa, writes :
have always believed that coal ashes
had value for agricultural purposes,
and have advocated the free use of
them, particularly on limestone soil.
This season determined to get closer
to the root of the matter and test their
value fully. I had plot of ground on
which I had been unsuccessful for sew
ersl years in raising good Early Rose
potatoes. The soil was in the best con-
dition always. The tops did we'll. This
spring had the ground scored about
six inches deep, placed the cut potatoes
in the bottom, and filled up with coal
ashes. The plants grew finely, not
understanding the dry weather. The
tops did not fall over even after the
weather changed, and secured a crop
of the very best potatoes for the table 1
ever raised.
The second experiment was with onion
seed and coal ashes. I put out five
good-sized beds in seed. In four the
seed was covered with soil the fifth
covered with sifted coal ashes. The
result surprised every person that knew
of the experiment and watched its pr
gress.
A third experiment was started on
seed, which promised inter failure to
those who looked on. The end has not
yet been reached, but 1 am more than
satisfied with the result thus far, and
fully satisfied that my experiment will
bring me at least one hundred dollars
more than if left untried. have abid-
ing faith in coal ashes, and am ready to
use all can purchase.