davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19
How They Measured the Flagstaff.

The following, by correspondent
of the Christian Era, suggests that
many studies dreaded by the young
and commonly supposed to be hard
and unintereSting may be made as
easy as fun:
l told the boys to 90 over and
measure the height Of the flagstaff on
Georges Hill, in FairmOunt Park,
and they looked at me in astonish-
ment, asking at the same time how
they could do it-fOr both they and I
knew they could not climb to the top.
So l explained to thom how they
might do it, without going to the top
and they made the instrument
themselves with which to do it.
They got a square rail, about four
feet long; then, at one end, they
nailed to it, at right angles, a straight
stick three feet high; exactly one
foot distant, they nailed another
straight stick four feet high, then an
other, one foot distant, five feet high.
The instrument was complete and
they all started over to the fiag-pole
with it. When they got as near to
the pole as they thought the pole was
iiSh, thCy IuuLiOCit ~ NY IIOlulIS d
string, with a stone tied to it, at the
top of one of the sticks; the stick was
made to stand just as straight up and
down as the string.
Then they sighted, or looked along
the tops of the upright sticks, at the
flag-pOle. BY moving the instrument
just to the right place, they made the
sticks Grange" with top of the pole; !;
that is, while looking over the top OF
the three sticks, their eyes, seeing the
end of the sticks all the while, saw
also the very top of the flag-pole.
BY measuring then, from that spot
to the fiag-polc, along the ground,
they were able to tell me that the
flagstaff was one hundred and twelve
feet distant from them, and so the
flagstaff was one hundred and twelve
feet high.
Now this was a simple application
of geometry, lesson that looks
"awful" hard to boys at school, but
was only fun learned in this way.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19
How TO Wash Flannels.

1t is difficult to keep fannels from
shrinking, wash them as you may.
Here Is good way to cleanse them.
Choose a clear day when it does not
freeze. Take soft warm water, no
warmer than you can bear your
hands in; throw In soda, then wash
briskly ON the washboard with soap.
BE careful to keep the water all the
time as warm as you can bear it, and
be as quick as you can in washing out
the dirt; then wiring out the dirty
suds and put in again clean water of
the same temperature, but with less
soap and no soda, and move the flan-
mel again right lively over the wash
board, to get perfectly clean. Wiring
out the suds again immerse in clean
warm water, In which put a little in
digo blue and whirl round rapidly i'm
the tub. Let the water drain off and
pass through the wringer, after which
shake out well and stretch on the line
as much as possible, to hang up to
dry. The flannel must be gently
stretched and ironed with only mod
erately hot irons, before 1t is through
ly dry, and the more the flannel is
pressed out with the fiatirons the less
1t will shrink.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19
Two Remarkable Winters.

A writer i'm the Washington Ull.)
Herald gives the following account of
the mild winter of 1923 and the hard
winter of 1929:
Forty years ago the appearance of
the country in this vicinity was not
at all as It Is now. Washington did
not exist, except the lower part of 1t ;
and only few cabins stood where
now is Peoria.
In the fall of 1923 few pioneers
came and settled at the foot of the
bluff between here and the river.
They had heard of the delightful
climate and mild winters in Illinois,
and came here to escape the rigOrs of
OhiO's cold. The first winter was all
they anticipated. The stock ran in
the woods all the time, and kept in
good condition. The grass continued
green, and snow was almost unknown,
never falling in sufficient quantity to
whiten the ground. Under these cir
cumStanceS, no preparations were
made for the following winter; the
corn was ungathered the stock un-
housed the cabins open and barely
comfortable in the weather, about the
last of November, 1929.
AT this time a light snow began to
fall. The people were surprised, but
thought it would soon be over. They
were mistaken, however. The snow
continued falling for several days, un-
til it was SO deep that the fences were
no longer visible. Quite number
perished, and all suffered severely
from cold and hunger. One young
gentleman started ut the first of the
snow i'm hastily constructed sleigh
for Galena. No tidings came from
him, in the spring his hat and a few
bones told the sad but not strange tale
of OyerpOwering cold and ravenOus
wolves. Another started to get some
corn ground, but perished on the
way.
These men my informant was per-
sonally acquainted with.
Not long after the snow it grew
mild and rained little, then sudden
ly frOze so hard that a crust strong
enough to bear up teams and wagons
was formed, and it remained this
way until late in the spring.
More like tales of some fan off land
than events that happened right here,
seem the stories of the hOwling
wolves, and prowllng Indians, and
the fearful cold of that winter.
1 don't see why they did not all
perish. Their food was corn dug
from the snow, and made into homi-
ny, corn bread, ETC., and meat.
Very many wild animals died.
The deer and other timid creatures
grew so tame that they could be
knocked over without difficulty, but
their flesh was not good.
Late in the spring the snow melted,
and when the country was all a duck
pond the weather grew cold again,
and the ice was thick enough to bear
horses and sleighs.
An old lady told me ofa sleigh-ride
she took then, on tho edge Of the
bluff. The horses were going rapidly,
and when they came to a sudden turn
the sleigh hung over the edge of the
bluff, and it was with difficulty their
horses drew them up.
Ever since that winter the weather
has been severe from December to
March, and it was not before. Why
this is so wish was wise enough to
tell. At any rate, j am given to
signing because did not live i'm the
"good old times" of my ancestors.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19
A Word to Parents.

More than once or twice we have
called the attention of parents to the
importance of knowing exactly what
their children read. The most insid-
iOuS and attractive poisOns lie all
about them i'm the shape of illustra-
ted newspapers, fascinating fiction
and volumes hid away from the par
ent's eye. We should be far more
careful what our children read than
what they say. A wholesome fear of
parental disapprobatiOn may pre-
serve their language incorrupt, while
their minds are full of what they dare
not express.
Careful attention in two particu-
lars will prevent the evil to which
we refer. First, the natural curiosi-
ty every child manifests should be
gratified by his parents, and every
question he asks be answered truth
fully. There is no subject that can
not be discussed with perfect prOpri-
ety. between parent and child; there
are certain subjects that never should
be discussed save between parent and
child and If they arc thus freely
talked of, the morbid appetite for
forbidden knowledge many child
has will be checked at its birth.
MOdesty never loses by truth, false
mOdesty is ever the child of half
knowledge and of untruth. If par
ents begin right with their young
children there will bc from the first
so perfect an understanding between
them that they may see as in a mir
rOr all the thoughts of the young
hearts they love SO tenderly, and pos
sess, i'm their mutual confidence the
strongest guarantee that the youth
full feet will not knowingly stray
from the paths of virtue. Secondly,
the parent should read the books
himself that he places in the hands
of his children, and know that they
are healthful in their moral tone.
If he cannot read them himself he
should have the Judgment of some
one I'm whom he has confidence be-
fore running the risk of giving his
children improper intellectual food
There are many juvenile magazines
and newspapers containing only good,
published in our country, and the
number ofvOlumes of interesting and
instructive literature written for chill
dren is past counting.
There is no need that any child, i'm
its hunger for amusing and instruct
i've books, should lay Its hands ON
any whose moral teachings are i'm
pure or Injurious. Care on the par
ents' part is the one thing needful.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19

out, he doesn't rant; the anguish
within him Is so broad and deep and
intense that he dare not trust IL to
words. He just simply reaches up
and takes up handful of his own
hair, and tugs at 1t until the tears
como in his eyes. Then he picks up
the paper, which he has taken the
precaution to kick across the room on
discovering the errors, and resumes
the torturing search for after all 1t Is
but search for errors and agony, and
not an agreeable and instructive peru
sal. Suddenly he groans-not an ex-
pectant groan like from one who
Is beyond the reach of hope, who feels
that the warm sunshine, the kind
glance Of friendship, the beautiful
flowers and the song of the birds are
gone forever and forever from him.
1t is a smOthered grOan, accompanied
by kick out of the leg, as II the par
ty had in that moment taken an eter-
nal leave of all things earthly. There
Is still another search with aching
eyes and thrObbing brain, and then
the paper Is smashed down on the
floor, and the infuriated man bounds
uP anu CtlllCO UOLII
hands into his hair, and dances
around like mailman. He doesn't
call upon Heaven and earth to wit
ness what he is going to do and blight
him If he should nOtdO it. He doesn't
dash into the composing-rOom and
scorch the men with his wrath. Even
this slight relief is denied him. The
paper is worked off, and the scrutiny
that would cheerfully attack a needle
in haystack would fall paralyzed
before a search for the author of the
great wrong. He doesn't say any
thing at alIEnot a single intelligible
word escapes his ashen lips, as he
holds his hair and prances about in
the dingy solitude Of his room. And,
when he is done, he sits down and
grOans and Afterwards puts on his
hat and rushes forth into the street,
and rushes anywhere to get away
from the face of man, to get away
from himself and everything belong
ing to himself.-Dan6,uy Neics.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19

"MUther's crOss!" said Maggie,
coming out into the Kitchen with q
pOut on her lips. Her aunt was busy
Ironing but she looked up, and an
swered Maggie:-
"Then 1t is the very time for you to
be pleasant and helpful. Mother was
awake a great deal In the night with
the poor baby"
Maggie made no reply. She put on
her hat, and walked off into the
garden. But new idea went with
her. "The very time to be helpful
and pleasant Is when other people are
croGs. Sure enough" thought she; /;
"that would be the time when 1t
would do the most good. 1 remem.
ber, when I was sick last year, 1 was
so nervous, that, If anybody spoke to
me, could hardly help being cross !;
and mother never got angry or out of
patience, but was just as gentle with
me! 1 ought to pay 1t back now and
/ will" And she sprang up from
the grass where she had thrown her
self, and turned face full of cheerful
resolution toward the room where her
mother sat soothing and tending a
ifretful, teething baby. Maggie
brought out the pretty ivory balls,
and began to jingle them for the little
one. He stopped fretting, and
smile dimpled the corners of his lips.
"COuldn't 1 take him out to ride in
his carriage, mother ? it Is such Il nice
morning." she asked.
II should be so glad ifyou would"
said her mother.
The little hat and sack were
brought, and baby was soon ready for
a ride.
"I'll keep him as long as he is
good" said Maggie "and you must
lie on the sofa and get a nap while 1
anyone. You are looking dreadfully
tired"
The kind words, and the kiss that
accompanied them, were almost too
much for the mother. The tears rose
to her eyes, and her voice trembled as
she answered, '"Thank you, dearie ; if
will do me world of good If you can
keep him out an hour and the air
will do him good too. My head aches
badly this morning.
What happy heart beat In Mag
gie's bosom as she trundled the little
carriage up and down on the walk
She had done real good. She had
given back title of the help and
fOrbearancc that had so often been
bestowed upon her. She had made
her mother happier, and gwen her
time to rest. She resolved always to
remember and act upon her aunt's
good words: "The very time to be
helpful and pleasant is when every
body Is tired and cross" ."-Me Welt
Spring.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19
Unhappy Conditions.

All things can be borne IL one ac-
cepts and makes the best of situat-
tiOn, or discriminates when 1t Is un-
profitable to endure unhappy cOndi-
tions. One of two conditions should
be chosen-to suffer in peace and
make the most of bad affair, or to
step out and away from it and start
anew on some more agreeable basis.
Otherwise people waste their lives in
pickering and rasping each other In
a desperate state of mind, and find
themselves and all intimately assO-
ciated with them untitled for any
usefulness.
Too many people live in a chronic
state of brOil. Their days are spent
in devising small, miserable schemes
for tOrturing those around them.
If two men having formed busi-
ness partnership find themselves un-
evenly y0ked, one doing all the work
for the other to share the profits, or
IL they have not perfect confidence In
each others fidelity to interests OF
the firm, the sooner they dissolve
that partnership the better for all
concerned unless it pays to make an
effort to adjust matters amicabiy and
continue to work together.
Ifa wife and husband live in utter
unhappiness /: IL each is torment to
the other; If one feels cramped. by
the contract; II days and nights are
dissolved i'm tears, recriminations,
curses and threats, the sooner they
separate for the sake of decency and
dignity the better. Under such CIR
cumstances there Is no respectability
In staying under the same roof, un-
less for the sake of appearance be
fore the world they can agree to let
each other alone.
Many a very good fellow makes q
miserable husband, whose wife Is left
to spend her days and evenings as
best she may with very little assis-
tance from him and at night while he
sleeps, her pillow Is drenched with
scalding teafs for the unkind words
that only died on his lips when sleeT
overcame him. ,tit
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19
Trades OF Animals.

1t has been well remarked Inv q
clever author that bees are geo,ne.
triclans. The cells are so constructed
as, with the least quantity of material.
to have the largest sized spaces and
the least possible interstices.
The mole is meteOrolOgist.
The torpedo, the ray and the elec-
trio ell are electricians.
Whole tribes of birds arc music.
ians.
The beaver is an architect, builder
and woOdcutter. lie cuts down trees.
and erects houses and dams.
The marmOt is a civil engineer
He not only builds houses, but con-
structs aqueducts and drains to keen
them dry.
The aunt is soldier, and maintains
regular standing army.
WaspS are paper manufacturers.
Catepillars are silk spinners.
The squirrel is ferryman. With
q chip or piece of bark for boat. and
his tail for sail, he crosses stream.
Dogs, wolves, jackals and many
others are hunters.
Black bears and herons are fisher
men.
Ants are day-labOrers.
Monkeys are rOpe-dancers.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19

Do the city papers say anything in
regard to your own county; Nothing.
Do they contain notices of your
schools, churches, meetings, improve
ments, and hundreds of other local
matters of interest, which your home
paper publishes without pay? Not
an item. Do they ever say word
calculated to draw attention to your
county and its numerous thriving
towns, and aid their progress and
enterprise? Not q line. Just reflect
on these matters little when the
idea strikes you to stop your county
paper and take city weekly. Take
your county paper first, after that all
you can afford to.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19
EvHRr pAEmn %

oh, trifiing tasks so often done,
Yet ever To be done anew!
Oh, cares which come with every sun,
Morn after morn, the long years through
We shrink beneath the paltry sway
The irksome calls of every day. ...,..,.-,
The restless sense of wasted power,
The tiresome round of little things,
Are hard to bear, az hour by hour,
Its tedious iteration brings;
Who shall evade or who delay
The small demands OF every day!
The boulder I'm the torrents course
BY tide and tempest lashed I'm vain, ssgr
Obey. the waye.whiTled pebbles force,
So crumble strongest lives away
Beneath the wear OF every day
Who finds the lion I'm his lair,
Who tracks the tiger for his life,
May wound them ere they are aware,
v or CONQUER them he \, In desperates ss Strife
The vexing gnats OF everv day.
Is mighty migSiier st than the the ere fercsss shock; 4
The constant fall OF water drops
will groove the adamantine rock;
We feel our noblest powers decay
In feeble wars with every day.
We rise to meet q heavy blow
Our souls u sudden bravery fills
But we endure not always so
The drop by drop OF little ills; "
We still deplore and still obey fth3
The hard behests OF every day.
The heart which boldly faces death
lyon the battlefield, and dares,
Cannon and bayonet, faints beneath
The needle points of frets and cares,
The stoutest spirits they dismay-
The tiny strings of every day.
And even saints of holy fame,
Whose souls by faith have overcome,
Who wore amid the cruel flame
The molten crown OF martyrdOm,
Bore not without complaint away rtf
The petty pains OF every day.
All, more than martyrs aureole,
And more than hero's heart of fire,
We need the humble strength of soul
Which daily tolls and Ills require;-
Sweet patience grant us, If your may
An added grace of every day!
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19

ONE Anna Wilkes has brought out
a book to establish the theory that
Ireland is the ancient eur of the
Chaldees." Assuming that Shinar is
Europe, the authoress proceeds to as
sign fixed localities to other places
which are mentioned as being situ-
ated in that land. She concludes, af-
ter many speculations, that Ireland
being Ur of the Chaldees, was, there
fore, the scene of the "rise of some of
the patriarchs," among them of Abra-
ham. She states that probably his
father Terah gave name to ancient
Tara and that the Tuathade-D -Danaan
were a colony of the people of Dan.
"Now we find," she says, "that ia
cob on this mount of Gilead, took o
stone and set 1t up for pillar. 1t Is
not a little remarkable that on the
mound of Tara was a stone SO sacred
and valuable that it was the custom
for many centuries to crown the kings
of Ireland sitting upon it." And SO
on
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19

Many man who would be brave
before a cannOn's mouth, manifests q
lack of courage and fortitude In the
ordinary affairs Of life. -
Discouragement and despair are al
ways unmanly; and this should be
borne In mind I'm times like these.
No matter how you are situated, do
the best you can. III you have made
mistakes in the past, rectify them In
the present and avoid them In the fn-
ture. Everybody makes mistakes,
therefore do not get disheartened be-
cause you have fallen into error, when
you reflect that error is common to
all. % ~ g y. ~ ~ 81 -.e.
Look at the future. That Is the
field for hope and for labor. Only re-
gard the past for the lessons which It
teaches. Say to yourself, disaster
may come, despair neveri ~
BE brave In business as you would
be in battle. II your efforts In the
past have failed. renew and red0uble
them In the future. Never despair.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19

THE Ashantee war is bringing to
notice some of the queer practices of
the natives. The King of Ashantee,
desiring one of his generals to return
with his troops, sent by a messenger
an "emblem of recall" consisting of
circle OF beads. This order was dis
regarded, and one more potent was
sent by the irste King. Its form was
that oil a small shield made of fibers
of palm, and its signification was
well understood by its recipient. In
accordance with native usage, when
a General will not return from war in
accord with the message Of beads, the
King takes this miniature shield and
solemnly swears upon 1t that he will
kill himself If his order Is again dis
obeyed. The troops were filed with
superstitious horror when the SYM
Dol was received, and the General no
longer disobeyed the order to re-
treat. -
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19
UnapprOprIated Public Lands.

Notwithstanding the rapid rate at
which the settlement of the public
lands has been going for MANY wears
past, it appears from the repOrt of
committee OF the. House of Represent
atives that there are twelve hundred
millions of acres of public land yet
unsurveyed, and that after deductfng
mountains, alkaline plains, deserts
and swamps, shoals and railroad
ground, there are between three hun
lred and fifty and four hundred mil
lions Of acres of arabic land at the
disposal of the Government. The
homestead entries last year took
nearly four millions of acres, and
assuming that this will continue to lie
the average rate of settlement, it
Will take nearly century to absorb
what Is now left. Certainly, this is
a great period in the life of nation.
Our homestead laws which were in
tended to afford cheap homes to set
tiers, have been very much abused,
large areas of land having got into
the hands of spectators who hold
them unimprOved to the great dis
advantage of the States in which they
lie, waiting for the improvements of
industrious settlers. TO correct these
abuses in some measure q bill is now
before Congress combining some new
provisions with the best features of
the old law. This bill, which has
been reported by committee, re-
quires actual settlement and cultiva-
ton for five years, but title can be
obtained ut the end of eighteen
months, on payment of the minimum
price of the land. Minor heirs at
the death of their parents, will have
the right to continue the settlement
with the consent of the guardian, and
widows, after settlement and before
entry, may make entry i'm their own
names. The bill also allows sites of
forty acres to be purchased for cash at
the minimum rates after one years
occupancy, for mechanical, CONNER
cial or manufacturing purposes.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19
rather against the cffusions of the

bard.
The longer the poem the more time
Is occupied reading 1t, and conse-
quently the longer II takes to serve q
customer. What with the study and
discussion of artistic Embellishments
and pOetical illusions, IL Is sometimes
found to take no small portion OF a
day to serve six-penny customer.
Condensed feeling, therefore, compact
and concentrated emotion, combined,
of course with sparkle and Originali-
ty, Is what is required of the "Seven
Dials Poet, and for such of his lucu-
brations as are accepted threepence a
line Is the usual remuneration. Not
such very bad pay either, one is apt
to think, until 1t Is considered, what
brain cudgeling and paroxysms of pO-
etic rapture have probably been ex-
pended in spinning unavailable yards
upon yards for every line that finds
acceptance, to say nothing of the
time he may have to spend in seeking
out those who are open to purchase
lines of any kind.-Erchange.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-19

III. w. Beecher's fish story:
"Ihere Is a tendency In these days."
said Mr.. Beecher in his evening SER
mon, "to account naturally for the
passage of the children of Israel
through the Red Sea. Now, like
these old stories, and 1 am not going
to have the bottoms knocked out OF
them by materialism. / shall stand
by the old history and glory In IL.
Yes, they did 60 through the sea, and
it was a miracle, too. And the fish
looked out at them from the water on
either side, and wondered who those
other monsters were"