davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
ArfichOkaS.
economy,

Two years ago 1 went to a neighbor's
and got about quart of artichokes, a
small, oblong variety, and planted them
in good ground at home did not dig
the product until next spring, after the
rabbits had worked all winter upon the
crop. When went to dig them it looked
as if should not get pail full, for it
seemed as if every stalk had been under
mined by rabbits. But l dug 81 bushels,
and / left enough to seed the ground
thicker than / planted them. These 81
bushelsI cut into small pieces and planted
as follows: The ground was stiff sod F.;
cut shallow burrows, about twenty inches
apart with scooter plow, and dropped
the cut artichokes about ten inches
apart. The area of ground planted
was about of an acre. Part of
the rows l covered with two burrows
with the scooter, and broke out the mid
dies with the same, and part of them l
covered with Brinly, turning two fur
rows of sod en- top of the seed. This was
all l did to them-I did not cultivate.
Late last winter turned my b gs into
the artichokes. and they rooted the
ground all over, completely mellowing
it, and seemed to thrive well on them.
Now my artichokes are up nicely all over,
as even as sown wheat, and fully thick
enough. The roofing of pigs and the
bits of artichekes dropped from their
mouths in eating, have spread the seeds
most admirably. 1 expect an enormous
crop this year. l intend to ultimately
have ali my orchard planted with them.
Those now planted are across one end.
think they will benefit my orchard, as
pigs and chickens following them, will
doubtless destroy many insects that prey
upon our fruit. l think, furthermore,
that after pigs are taken off the arti-
chokes, In the latter part of winter, oats
might be plowed under, and thus good
spriug and summer pasture for calves
obtained.-J B. b., IN arkansas GRANGE.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27

country, and that the history of the
railroads in the western states also
proves it. The inevitable result, the
Manual also says, has come, and that
result cannot be overcome until the
population shall again increase to the
necessary proportion.
1t is estimated that In 1876 the num-
Der of tons of freight transported was
more than fifty per cent. greater than
in 1871. The decrease in rate of
freight is estimated. as the basis of the
decrease in Massachusetts,, New York
and Ohio at 36.6 per cent. The aver
age rate per ton per mile in cents was
in the aggregate, in those states, in
1876, 1.23, against 1.94 in 1871. The
earnings from freight transportation
en- railroads throughout the country
are less by more than S132, 100000
than they would have been had the
rates of 1871 been maintained.
Since 1867 the capital stock of the
railroads has increased from 1856, ,223,-
600 to 81, ,24S, ,35S, ,375, and the funded
debt from S416,658, 600 to s., 900, $685.
$50. AS the net earnings of the roads
in 1876 were S186, ,452, 1852, and the
dividends amounted to only SOS, ,039,-
66S, nearly S120,000,000 went to pay
interest on the debt.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
TURKISH SORTIE.

Early IN June company of Circassi-
ans and ashi-Bazouks volunteered to
cross the Danube from Rustchuk, and
capture some sentinels for the sake of
obtaining information as to the enemy's
strength. Late one evening they crossed
over to an island in the middle of the
river, and lay there under cover until
night enabled them to carry out their
design. Leaving the island, one party
went up the river, the other down On
approaching the Wallachian shore the
moon, which had hitherto been veiled
by the clouds, shone out sufficiently to
enable them to distinguish the dark
form of a sentry on the bank few PAGES
from them. The moon became obscured
again, and all was darkness and silence.
The raiders dropped down stream for a
few yards until they judged they were
about midway between this sentry and
the next, when they landed, marched
stealthily a short distance inland, doubled
back, and fell unawares upon the senti-
mel, who was instantly bound and car
ried off to the boat without being able to
utter a cry. Having bagged few more
in the same way, the raiders determined
to attack the guard-house, hoping to Sc.
cure some officers. The plan was to sur
round the house, force an entrance, and
demand the surrender of the inmates it
was put into execution, and succeeded ad-
mirably at the cost of some bloOdshed.
The alarm having been raised the raiders
had to beat retreat, taking their prison
ers with them, and Just managed to
reach their boats in time. The other
party, which had gone up the river, Sc
cured fifty head of cattle, which were
delivered at the government house next
mo ming. Altogether these daring fell
lows took eleven prisoners, of whom two
were Bulgarians, two Cossacks and the
remainder Wallachians.
The incident, which is related by a
correspondent of the Manchester Er-
amiRer, illustrates the mendacity and
credulity of the Bulgarians. One OF
the prisoners was a Bulgarian, and when
he was asked to tell what was going on
in Giurgevo, he evidently thought that
ready inviption would improve his
chance of rfgaining liberty; so he quiet
ly informed the Turkish authorities that
the Russians had undermined a Greek
church in Rustchuk, and intended to
blow it up, and then pretend that the
Turks had destroyed the building. This
foolish tale seems 20 have thrown Rust
| chuk into panic.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
PRoGREss IN RUsSIA.

The Gar Alexander is an extraordi.
nary civilizer. In the midst of war on
gigantic scale. he has ordered the VIC.
orous prosecution of the work on the
buildings of the great Siberian univer-
sity at Omsk, which are to be finished in
1880. Omsk is the capital of western
Siberia, and the university will be sus-
tanned by the government. The car has
also issued orders for the immediate pros
ecution of the work on the central Asian
railway. This road commences at Mos
COW and is completed to Samara, on the
river Volga, distance of six hundred
miles. From Samara the road will run
to Tashkend, in the province of Kho-
kand, and thence to some point in Kash-
gar, on the confines of China This stu
pendous undertaking has become neces-
sary on account of the rapidity of the
Russian conquests in central Asia. At
present troops and provisions consume
much time reaching central Asian posts,
the rivers flowing into the Cas-
plan sea are utilized to great extent
for transportation purposes.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
THE RAILROADS OF THE UNITED
STATES IN 1876.

From advance sheets'of Poor's Man
ual of Railroads Of the United States
for 1S77-8-the highest authority in
the United States-v-e learn that the
number cg miles of 'k4ilroad opened
during the year 1876 was 1856,
against / ,919 miles for 1875; and l..
OIL miles for 1874. The excess Of
miles built, as compared with the two
preceding years, is due almost entirely
to the great activity in the Southern
Pacific lines, and in narrow gauge lines
in Ohio, Texas and Colorado. The
miles operated in 1875 numbered 73.-
51S; the capital and funded debt
amounted to s4,46S, ,591, ,932 the gross
earning, were S497, ,227 ,959 the net
earnings, $1S6,452,7 ,752, and the divi-
dendsS paid s68, ,O39, SOS. Compared
with 1878, there was an increase of l.
749 in the number of miles operated ;
an increebe of $4,000, 900 in the
capital ant-funded deb; a decrease of
$500, 600 in the gross earnings; an
increase of nearly s1,000,000 in the
net earnings, and decrease of &c.
200, 900 in the dividends. The in
crease in the net earnings, although
the mileage of the roads have been in
creased and the gross earnings have
fallen off, betoken an increased
economy In railway management. The
dividends paid last year were larger
than in any previous year, except 1873,
but not as large in proportion to the
capital stock in many preceding years.
In the ten years from 1866 to 1876,
the railroad mileage ha snearly doubled,
increasing from 50, ,276 in the former
to 77,470 in the latter. During the
same period the population of the
country increased only % per cent,
so that the increase in railway mileage
has been at a rate more than quad
ruple that of the population. Nearly
two-thirds of the increase has been in
the western and Pacific states. The
number of inhabitants to a mile OF
railroad is 577. In the west the num-
Der averages considerably less, being
but 427 inhabitants per mile. The
Manual says that the experience OF the
New England states demonstrates that,
to enable railroads to be operated at
profit, population of at least 500 to
a mile OF railroad is necessary IN this
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
THE GLORYIS TED.

The glorious fourth has nearly be-
come a memory. What remains of it
is but the ghost of its former self. The
gorgeous military displays are aban-
doned the parades have dwiHdled to
nothingness E; the " "oration for the day ="
is a lost art. The inspiring idea hav-
ing been dispelled, the outward sym
bols of it collapsed. A more intimate
acquaintance with Great Britain sho wed
that what the war of independence
accomplished here, political agitation
effected there. Anglo-S -Saxons on both
sides of the Atlantic were engaged in
widening the borders of hnman free
dom, and the concrete notion of sus-
tanning hostility to England could no
longer be maintained. Tne flashes of
the glory and the gunpowder are be-
coming DINNER as the grave closes
over the s6adiers of the war of 1912,
and most naturally.
The nation has arrived at a higher
stage of development. 1t feels the
weight of its great and growing re-
sponsibilities. 1t is not military in its
lnSIlnCtS OF ltS SEPARATIONS lis mission
is peace and good will. Its highest
glory is its industrial triumphs. Its
political hope is in the selfrestrain and
industry of its people. Great as was
the victory achieved by the war of in
dependence, the forces which up to it
which are still at y ork for the bene-
fit of mankind-were intellectually
greater. The birthday of the nation
is not only associated with the names
of those who signed the declaration of
independence, and of those who fought
to maintain it, but with the names OF
those who made steam navigation an
accomplished fact, who perfected the
loom, who invented the telegraph, who
placed distant continents in instant
communication who made arts and
industries give true glory and substance
to what else was but a name.
The fourth of July of the future
will embrace a wider meaning in its
celebration; the old glorious fourth is
gone.-N Y. Graphic.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
A Good Cement.

A good cement for mending almost
anything may be made by mixing to-
gether litharge and glycerine to the con-
sistency of thick cream or fresh putty.
This cement is useful for mending stone
jars or any coarse earthenware, stopping
leaks in seams of tin-pans wash-boilers,
cracks and holes in iron kettles, etc.
Holes an inch in diameter in kettles can
be filled-and used the same for years in
boiling water and feed 1t also may be
used to fasten On lamp-tops, to tighten
loose nuts, to secure bolts whose nuts are
lost, to tighten loose joints of wood or
iron, loose boxes in wagon-hubs, and in
a great many other ways. In all cases
the articles mended should not be used
until the cement is hardened, which will
require from one day to week, accord
ing to the quantity used. This cement
will resist the action of water, hot or
cold, acids, and almost any degree of
heat.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
Bo,,sebotf Matters.

BARLEY WATER.---On two spoonsinls
Of crushed barley pour one quart of bod
ing water, cook ten minutes and strain
Then add a glass of calfs foot jelly, o.,
if not to be had, add lemon tlavoring. A
good drink Tor the sick.
To CLEAN COLLARS AND WRISTBANDS.
Grease the soiled parts before wetting
with any kind of fat or dripping; let
them remain a few hours, or over night ;
wash with soap in hot water. They will
become wonderfully clean.
GoosEBERRY SAUCE.--Pick pint of
green gooseberries, put in a small un-
timed copper sugar-pau, with boiling
water; boil about ten minutes, drain
thoroughly. press through seive and
mingle with the same quantity of we'll
buttered white sauce.
BLACK CAKE.-One cupful butter.
one and half cupfuls sugar, one-half
cupful molasses, three eggs, one cupful
milk, one nutmeg, one teasPoenful each
of cloves and cinnamon, four cupfuls
-four, two pounds raisins, one pound
currants, onefourth pound citron.
To Cook SwEETBREADs.-Fifst wash
them perfectly clean, therScut them into
long slices and about half an inch thick
dry them well, and then fry in butter OF
lard; serve while hot on heated meat
dish do not use crackers, bread crumb.
or eggs in frying, for too much grease
will be absorbed and thereby spoil the
delicacy of the cooking.
To WASH BLUE FLANNEL.--Do not
let flannel remain long in any water
have the water clean, and as hot as car
be comfortable for the hands; use one
tablespoonful of pulverized borax fol
every tup of water; use soap spaIingly
as it is apt to harden the flannel; rims,
quickly in clear hot water; wiring very
dry, then shake well, and beat or stretcl
out with the hands; hang in a gooC
shady place to dry quickly.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
THE CAR AND HIS BLOTHER.

Two stories that are told of LeouzOn
le Due of the czar of Russia and of his
brother Constantine in their early youth,
are interesting as showing the strict i'm
partiality in which they were brought up,
Constantine, who held at fourteen
years of age the post of grand admiral,
but who remained under the guidance OF
of Admiral Lutke, promoted to a sailor
against the wishes of Lutk, who declined
to sanction the promotion. Constantine
appealed to bis father, who supported
Lutk, much to the wrath of the young
admiral, who expressed his indignation
at being grand-admiral of the empire
while yet unable to promote a sailor, and
instantly offered his resignation. ac-
cept it," replied Nicholas. " You have
never had anything but the name of
your post, and will never permit you to
bear it until you have learned the prin-
cipal quality of chief-that of properly
knowing and Judging the men who are
under your command"
The story with regard to the present
czar is very much the same. Also at
fourteen years of age he was an officer in
the guard, and on one occasion, in going
through the palace, he passed hall in
which were several persons OF high mill
tary rank, who saluted the young prince
as he passed. This mark of respect
greatly pleased the young man, and he
passed and repassed the hall several times
in the hope of again receiving it; but
the generals took ne more notice of him.
Annoyed at this, Alexander went to
complain to Nicholas, who, instead of
consoling him, severely reprimanded him
for his vanity, and at once5leprived him
of the rank he held until he should prove
| himself capable of enduring it honorably.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
FARM AND HOME.
Feedino s,cine in SUMMER.

Now the true way to fatten pigs, at
any season of the year, is to give por-
tion OF coarse food such as turnips, beets,
carrots, potatoes, cooked clover hay, or
grass, the last being the natur7l food Of
the pig, and in summer always at hand
While in cold weather it is necessary to
resort to roots, which have required
manual labor to grow, in summer the pig
can get its own grass, and only requires
a moderate allowance of grain to keep it
growing rapidly and have it ready for the
knife when grass ceases to grow. If we
take all the hogs fatteDed in the United
States in year, ard change the time of
fattening from cold to warm weather,
one-half of the grain now fed will make
all the pork. This would be a saving of
food, at least to the amount of SIS, 900, 900
per year.--iSouthern Farmer.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
Why Come Farmers Keep Poor

A recent writer says: After long
observation l have come to the con-
sion that great majority of the farmers
that are poor might have made money
If you inquire into their business habits
you will always find that they always
sold the best and kept the poorest. Fer
instance, if they have too many sheep
on hand, they pick out the best to be
sold. If you ask them why they do so,
they will say, Because they bring twice
as much as the others, and l am hard up
just now for morey. l know that it is
not good plan, and do not Intend 10
follow it always l think the habit of
selling the best is very poor plan for
any man, don't care what his circum-
stances may be. L have a man in my
mind now who always sells his poorest
sheep for more than twice as much as
the average farmer gets for his best. l
have seen farmers in the fall pick out
their best pigs to fatten, because they
would make a few more pounds of pork
than the Others. This 1 call cry poor
economy.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
The penartuueut nt .4a.i...,,.....

In leading editorial under the above
heading the Country Gentleman re-
marks:
1.-The existence and support of the
department may be taken as evidence of
desire on the part of our Lawmakers to
concIliate the agricultural interest, but
we may state frankly that we do not
think the agricultural interest knows
what it wants and that congress seems
to be equally in the dark ON the sub
iect."
The Country Gentleman has at its
hSad: Combined papers forty-seventh
year." Putting the facts together the
implication is that educated farmers who
have read the Genesee Farmer. ALBANY
Cuitlyator and Country Gentleman forty
seven years, fairly representing the " ag-
ncultural interest,"" do not know what
they want congress to do for agriculture.
ana that congress is equally in the dark
on the subject. This is a curious state |
OF things, and shows how little thought |
mas Deen given to this great national |
interest by either sovereigns or subjects.
rulers or ruled, in nation of farmer.
The department has cost for printing
reports and all other expenses, 1855 2s4
year on an average for the last fourteen
years.
The yearly expenses of the armv
since the war have averaged over thirty-
i've million dollars. From these
figures it follows that it will take
the bureau of agriculture one hundred
years to draw from the public treasury
as much money as the gentlemen
who wear shoulder straps and live fat
viii take out in one year. Unlike far
mers, officers, from General Sherman
down, know what they want congress to do.
Formerly dollar head for each man.
woman and child, paid all the EXPENSES
OF the government; now, the army and
navy wants larger contribution for
themselves alone.
We profess religion which teaches
man to beat his swords into plow-shares,
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
MALEVOLENT W.T..

Mslevolent wit is that kind which
will lose a friend sooner than joke.
To be captious and contradictory is of
fensive enough, but moi so provoking,
so unbearable, as the spirit ofmockery
affected by witlings and coxcombs; for
that, like blighting east wind, withers
up every living and heartfelt senti-
ment springing up in conversation, and
especially chills and disheartens the
young in the earliest intercourse with
the world. The weapon inficting the
wound is hardly perceptible, but the
point has been dipped in poison. A
breeze, itself invisible, often makes
whole lake to shudder. Yet one
would rather be cut by keen than by
a blunt lancet, and coarse, supercili
Gus way is almost as hateful as the
freezing irony of more subtle ill-hu-
NOR.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27

these eagles would fill the bill, got hold
of one OF them, which also got hold of
him by inserting its talons in the nose of
the latter, but was unable to drag him
into the pen, the coyote being equally
powerless to drag the eagle out. The
coyote chen concluded that he did
not vans any more eagle just at that
time, and expressed himself to that effect
loudly, but too late, inasmuch as Mr..
Wolcott's attention was called to the
spot, when he shot the coyote 10 relieve
the misunderstanding. He says that the
full-grown eagles of this verE rare species
are eight feet in spread of wing, four feet
in height, and scarcely any man or ami
NAL could avoid being stunned il attacked
by them in their usual manner, by push
ing with the breast.-.San Francisco Post
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
The war Against Disease.

The war waged against disease by Hostel
ter's Stomach Bitters goes bravely on. Dis
patches are constantly received from the
cured indicating the decisive nature of the
advantages obtained by the great botanic
cordial over its formidable adversary. Mala-
rial fevers, constipation, ,torpidity Of the liver
and kidneys, general debility, nervousness
and rheumatic ailments invariably Weld to
this conqueror and preventive OF disease:
For the infirmities incident to the decline OF
life it is also an excellent specific. 1t hastens
convaIescence and repairs the ravages OF i'll
health by facilitating the conversion OF food
into blood of a rich and nOurishing quality.
The appetite is improved by it, and IN cases
OF nervous disease it tranquilizes that great
sensorium, the brain, far more etfectualy
than any mineral sedative.
The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
now WAS CHRIST oRUoIFrFno

An admirable picture of the crueifc
tion of Calvary has been exhibited for
criticism and correction before taking it
abroad. 1t is full size. The Gloss differs
hom all extent pictures. In height il is
but little taller than a man. Midway is
a projecting saddle, upon which the person
sits astride. Ireneus, Justin, and Ter
tullian SO described it. Modern artists
have omitted this, but it is obvious that
the Outstretched arms could not main
tain, nor could the nailed hands have
supported, the body as usually repre-
sented. All historians say the legs were
tied to the cross, and afterward spikes
were driven through the feet, as through
the hands. There is no mention of a
foot rest, but the artist has surpassed
one, because the feet can not be spiked
without one. The inscription on the
cross, affixed to thetop, is purposely and
ingeniously illegible, because each of
four gospels gives it differently. There
being no record of his imagination.
Here the artist exhibits consummate
skill. A more spiritual countenance we
never saw. The head is reclined. as ex-
piring. The hair is auburn, long and in
ringlets. The person is spare and Of
short statue. At the foot of the cross
are only the executioners of the law.
No one is repsented as piercing the side
with a spear. Nor are there any con
nections, as Mary and John present, thus
being a direct contradiction of the three
sympotic gospels. 1t is usual to show
blood flowing from the wounds in the
hands and feet. This is omitted, becaus G
history tells us that wrought iron, being
our best styptic, instantly stops the flow
of blood. 1t is popularity supposed that
the sacrifice consisted in the shedding OF
blood. Paul makes this indispensable
Yet it is a mistake. A slight cut on s
school-boy's finger sheds more blood
Death results from exhaustion, not from
bleeding.
There are several marginal pictures
illustrating various miracles and othel
scriptural stories. Perhaps the mos
striking, and certainly the most artistic
represents Jesus escorted to the place o
execution by low multitude exultin}
in His fate. The.central figure is clothed
in scarlet, according to Mathew, in pref
erence to purple, which Mark and Johr
say was the color And the man o
Nazareth walks majestically as to vol
untary sacrifice. 1t is usual, and almost
indispensable to public taste, to show
Him bearing His cross and bowed dowr
beneath the burden, according to John
But the artist, following the synoptiC
gospel, which deny Johns story, shows
Simon carrying the cross, stout Pie
beian, who walks upright with it. The
artist considers it one great merit of his
painting over :others, that it is true tC
history, according to the plainest and
most consistent non sectarian interpre'
! tation.