davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24
FARM TOPICS.
Thoughts for Dairymen.

1t is very evident to the most casual
observer that "new departures " must
be taken in the dairy districts with a
view to increasing the revenues, or
rather, adding to the capabilities and
production of the farm. The success
full farmer of the future will have to call
in aids other than his dairy, to secure
the income he ought to have from his
land. When dairy products sold at high
prices the farm required no other reve-
nue. than that furnished by the dairy to
enable the proprietor to come out even
at the end of the year, or with hand
some surplus to reward him for his la
Dor. The average dairy COW would
produce $50 or $75 worth of butter,
cheese or milk, as the case might be,
and hence no thought was ever given to
the production of other articles which
would yield returns in themselves. The
dairy supplied all; poor COW would
yield at a fair profit, and thus, gradually,
the minor farms and auxiliaries were
abandoned and the dairy became the
farmers one source of supply. With
hard times and lower prices, however,
CdIQe new utIuduuS anu ucW luqulllcS.
How can the revenues of the farm be
kept up to the old standard, or made to
cover the same grounds is now the vital
question with the thinking farmer.
In answer to this question we would
say he must revise his old methods,
must take an advance step, and enroll
himself among thinking, dctire men of
the day. A college education is not
necessary to do this. Good, practical
common sense will put man on the
right track and keep him there. But to
descend from generalities:
First, the dairy herd mustEbe toned
ND to the standard of three cows giving
the same amount of milk that five cows
are now supplying. Increased pro-
duction without increase of stock" is
the coming maxim of the dairy. To
reach this standard there must be an
abolition of the system Of "going West
after cows" or its equivalent, as prac-
ticed in so many dairy districts, and in
its stead the farmer must breed his own
stock. He must not be content with
&" any thing but a cow" but must pro-
cure a bull from some well known milk
ing strain and raise his calves from his
best cows. If properly managed these
will, at two years of age, begin to NIL
ND the ranks of the old and defective
cows, and almost before be Is aware OF
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24
Ants In q Passion.

F. +. Coleuse, writing from Natal to
Nature, says: "I noticed this morning
that along the bottom of the front wall
of my house, on the veranda, there lay
quantity Of reddish brown powder;
there was enough to fill a. cotfee-cup.
On looking closer saw that it was made
up of small and larger fragments which
glistened, and on inspecting some in my
hand they turned out to be the heads,
legs, trunks, etc., of countless ants. A
number of the animals were still on the
wall above, and my ID attention
being now arrested watched them, and
saw that they were contributing TO the
carnage beneath. This species Of ant Is
a small, comparatively harmless one,
the chief sin of which Is that it makes
its way to every species of food and
swarms on it. AS is usual with ants,
the general body Of insects is accom-
panied by larger individuals, which are
provided with heads and jaws quite dis
'proportionate to their bodies, and with
these jaws they do all the, cutting up.
Among the ants on the wall there was u
large sprinkling of these ''soldier ants"
and the whole community seemed to DO
bent on destroying them. The proper
ton OF heavy jawed to ordinary ants was
about one to ten. l saw a group of lit
tie ones fastening on to big one, which
made desperate efforts to release itself
At first the big one bit several little ones
in two and the parts dropped down
from the wall; but after while the lit
tie ones severed all the legs of the big
one, and finally got on his back
and cut him in two. The group then
dropped down to swell the mass below.
Similar scenes were enacted elsewhere
on the wall The commencement of one
combat was as follows: A big ant walk
ed along till it met another big one and
the two shook antenn@. just then
little one seized hold of a hind leg of one
of these big ones. Neither took any no.
tice, but continued rapid conversation.
Suddenly other small ones came up,
when the big one whose leg was grab.
bed turned furiously on the little one
and seized him by the middle. This
could not be done until the big one had
doubled himself up; as soon as he had
hold of his small antagonist, he lifted
him in the air and shipped him in two.
Meanwhile all the big ones legs had !
been seized by little ones, and the party
seemed to turn over and over, little bits
tumbling down, now leg, now half an
ant, till the big one was vanquished. r-
The ant is most assuredly subject to
passions. The way in which the big
ant turned on the little one was singu-
larly indicative Of rage. The determin-
ed manner in which he laid hold of the
little one was quite human. If I had
had magnifying glass, the scene would
have been really exciting" s l0
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24
Good Tools

Good tools are half the battle in farm
ing, some one has said, and it is indeed
true. 1t is a great deal easier to work
with good tools than with poor ones. l
have tried both and am decidedly in
favor of the former. Good tools are
far cheaper in the end than poor ones.
1t is true poor ones usually cost less to
begin with, but the purchaser can not
do as much work with them as with
good ones, and then, again, there are
many more repairs tie be made, so that
at last they are the more expensive. For
instance, farmer wants set OF cart
wheels; his neighbor has two sets which
he must sell, therefore he offers them
cheap; one set is nearly as good as new,
while the other has been run many
years, and are, of course, weak in some
places. He don't know which to buy,
but finally concludes to take the old
ones, as they are few dollars cheaper,
and he thinks they will do his business
as well as the others. So he takes them
home and goes to work with them; they
do very we'll for few days, but finally
he gets on too heavy load, drives over
little stone, and--whoa! his wheels
are broken down. Now, he is in a bad
fix; his team must lie still day or two,
his work must be neglected; perhaps it
is planting time; or he has lot OF hay
out; and he must go off right in a rush
of work and get another set of wheels
or have these repaired up, costing all
told double what it would to have taken
the best at first. So it is with wagons,
plows, moving machines, horse-rakes,
and, indeed, all other tools which a
farmer uses. 1t is my opinion, and that
of many other farmers, that "the best is
the cheapest" Therefore, when you
want any tools, first find where you can
"get the best" and then buy them.
The care of tools is a very important
matter. The thrifty farmer will pro-
vide shelter for his tools as well as for
his animals. A shiftless farmer can al
ways be told by the way in which he
leaves his tools when not in use. Ii is
not an uncommon sight to see tools left
where last used, until wanted again. l
can now point to a moving machine,
nearly new, which is out doors partly
covered with snow, where it has been
since last hay season; also rakes, plows,
wagons, and, in fact, nearly all kinds of
farming implements. Now, this is most
certainly very bad economy, to say
nothing about the bad looks of the farm
yard clutered up in this manner. II
the destruction to farm implements,
through exposure to the weather, could
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24

be computed In dollars and cents, we
should certainly DO astonished at the
large sum It would amount to in Ave
years. All farming tools should be well
painted or oiled. Flows should BIO thor
oughly cleaned every time they are used,
and when you have done with them for
the season, q coat of oil should be ap-
piled, both to preserve the wood work,
and to protect them from rust.-NtW
England Farmer. '''" '' -l'
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24
What n SatIsfa elton

SALE BY ALL DRUGGISTS.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24

HONOR TO AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS
His Majesty Oscar H., King of Norway and
Sweden, has sent to the Mason Il Hamlin Or
gan Co. the Grand Swedish Gold Medal in
recognition Of the superiority Of their cabinet
organs. The medal is surmounted BY a crown
and bears on one side the inscription Litteris
bust Of the King, "Oscar H., Svec. Norv.
Goth Wand. Rex" This honor will be the
more valued by the Company from the fact
that His Majesty Oscar II. is known to be a
musical connoisseur Of highest attainments.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24

They have o cheerful custom In
some Of the English hospitals. When
q patient is given over, the officials
bring out big folding-screen with
which they isolate his bed from the rest
of the ward, The effect must be re-
markably inspiring, both upon the pa
tent himself and upon the other occu-
pants of the ward. Erchange.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24

THE GREAT FAMILY MEDIcINE.-Dr. VIII
hoft's Anti Periodic or Fever and Ague Tom
icl No case of incurable Chills has yet pre-
scented itself, where this scientific and safe
medicine has been employed. No case has
been found so obstinate as to resist its prompt
and mastery action. No man has been so re-
duced by malarial influences, but with its use
pills or purgative required with this medicine.
WnEELocK, FINLAY a. Co., Proprietors, New
Orleans.
Eov GAZE nv AJJ DRuccJsTs
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24

nOH A AOrrtaIl priee .2so only !ss. PIANOS
O5lOAlyO 5aIganx BEkTrI. wsshington.SJ
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24

1t is to have elegant, light, wholesome rolls,
biscuits, mullins, watlles, or corn bread for
breakfast; no grumbling or sour faces then.
DooLEY's YEAST POWDER makes all these
things perfection ITSELF .,r sa..l
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24

All Diseases of the BIOOd.-If vegetine will
relieve pain cleanse purify and cure such diseases re-
storing the rat1cnt to perfect health after trying differ
not conclusive proof If you are sufferer you can be
cured? Why Is this medicine performing such great
can truly be called the Great Blood Pm ifer The great
cine hat does not act drecty upon It TO purity and rem
ovate, has any just claim upon public attention.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24

PARTICULARS regarding Electric Belts free.
Address Pulvermacher Galvanic Co.. Cincin., o.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24
vEGETINE
Purifies the Blood and
Gives Strength.
pu QuoIN, ILL, Jan 81, 1873.

DU QUOIN, ILL, Jan 81, 1878.
MR.. H. r. STEVENS:
Dear Sir-YOur "vege.ne" has been doing wonders
for me. Have been having the Chihs and FeEef,
tracted in the swamps of the South, nothing giving me
relief until began the of your Vegetine 1t giving
me immediate relief, toning up my system, purifying
my blood giving strength; whereas all other medicines
weakened. me- and filled my system with poison and
am satisfied that If families that live in the ague dis
ticts of the South and West would take Vegatne two
or three times week. they would not be troubled with
the Chs the malignant Feyers that prevail at GER
tain times Of the year. save doctors bills and live to
good old age. Respectfully yours
- j. Il. MITCHELL,
Agent HendersOn's Looms, St. Louis, Mo.
San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-08-24
VEGETINE
Has Entirely Cured Me Of Vertigo.

CAIRO ILL.,, Jan. 23, 1878.
MIR. H. r. STEVENS:
Ded, Sir-I have used several bottles Of "yegetine y
1t has entirely cured of Vertigo have also used 1t
for Kidney Complaint 1t is the best medicine for kid
purifier. N YOCUM
Pain and Disease.-Can we expect to enjoy good
health when bad corrupt humOrs circulate with the
blood causing pain and disease and these hum0s be-
ing deposited through the entire body produce pmpes,
eruptOns ulcers indigestion c0stiveneSs headaches,
neuralgia rheumatism, and numerous other COM
plants? Remove the cause by taking VEGETINE the
most reliable remedy for cleansing and purifying the
blood.
The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-16
A Female Husband.

Tuscarora, in the State of Nevada, has late
ly been the scene Of most remarkable oc-
currence. A person known as Samuel M i.
Pollard courted and married young woman
OF good family and reputation named Marancy
Hughes. Maraney, after living with Pollard
Tor six months, went back to her parents
She stated that Pollard was woman, who
from motives connected with her previous
career, had assumed male attire, and had
married her partly as a cruel JEST and partly
IN order TO better maintain her assumed
character. Marancy also said that Pollard
had deferred her by threats from previously
making known the facts; and when some
doubt was expressed as to the truth Of her as
tonlshlng story, Marancy went before JUS
ttce OF the peace and made affidavit to it, She
also urged the authorities to prosecute Pol
lard. Meanwhile Pollard stoutly asserted
that he Tor she) belonged to the male sex, and
averred that his wife had left him for other
reasons than those put forward by her. The
public, at first incredulOus, gradually be-
came convinced that Marancys statement
was correct. In order to settle the question,
Pollard was arrested on a charge of perjury
in having sworn falsely when the marriage
license was obtained. Tuscarora was in a
fever of excitement, as women. are scarce in
that mining town, and the prospect of an adj
dition to the ranks of the favored sex was an
ticipated with anxiety. But whatever hopes
existed were dashed by the reconciliation Of
Marancy and her husband. They met In
court they embraced, Marancy wept, and
they walked Off arm in arm without a word OF
explanation to the wondering officers. But
still the Tuscarorans believe that Pollard is @
woman.
The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-16
Young Ladies' In France.

Paris Correspondence of the Baltimore SUM-
Figure is supreme to face in Paris. A girl
minus the one and plus the other Is lost to all
hopes OF a bon parti, be her dot ever so great
No, withdraw the dot, for modern French
man will marry even O. face with dot and
throw In his coronet as a make-weight for his
absence OF financial figure. The young ladies
are not pert or self-asserting, as | know them
to be in other places outside of France. They
are not bred to clutching wildly at every
straw on the whirlpool of admiration. If
they are, they hide it admirably. She makes
her character and person to be sought. She
does not boldly go into the matrimonial mar
ket seeking whom she may devour. The
mothers do all this, good dears that they are
You dance with young lady at a ball and
find her companionable. She is not walk
lng-match, muscular contestant in beefy,
boisterous health, like your young English
girl mean the twenty-four- year olders of
Britain-for under that age they are sugges-
tive only OF the nursery and bread and butter
odors. To go to ball simply to dance and
Indulge in motion Is reducing it to mere
gymnasium. Interchange of ideas and
waltzes obtain with the Partisan young LADY,
and you may talk by the hour without fear Of
being referred to mamma or summoned for O
breach OF promise, as you are in England
nowadays. The Paris youngaIady not only
talks, but does so we'll She dances diyinelv
and Is not found spending most of her time in
the supper-room examining herself with cut
lets and sherry, and in perpetual defense Of
her hunger, with thousands of excuses from a
tight shoe to the CANCERS" / have known
more English girls driven into starvation by
the "lancers" than by total abstinence for a
day. Why not be honest, and, as Dean swift
said about the brandy and water say you
'Flike it"
The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-16
Cats.


Cats may be divided into two great classes
limp and stiff cats. The limp cat is distin-
guiShed by peculiar looseness of muscle and
want Of rigidity of tail and backbone. Cats
OF this species when handled are found to be
very soft and pliable, almost as much so in
fact as Is the ordinary wet rag. Ii limp cat
IS lifted by one hand placed under her mid
ship section, she will suffer each of her ends
to droop, and will purr softly, with half-closed
eyes, Limp cats are well suited for nursery
purposes, since they can be used as necklaces
by the children, and when taken I'D by one
hind leg can be carried around the room with
out making the slightest disturbance. The
stiff cat, on the other hand, never droops, and
cannot be bent. She objects to be handled ex-
ceDt with the greatest care, and insists on
being kept right side up. Stiff cats detest
children, and are about as fit for the nursery
as is can OF nitro-glycerine. Inasmuch as
Gmpness is generally but enormously re-
garded as synonymous with tameneSs GER
tain biologists have refused to regard the
limp cat as separate species, and insist that
it is merely an unusually tame cat. Every
child knows that this Is not true. Limp cats
are born, not made, and are limp from their
earliest kittenhOod, while no amount of tam
ing can render stiff cat soft and pliable.
This distinction, however, is purely physi-
cal. Morally, there is very little difference
between cats. They all possess about the
same degree Of intelligence and the same
want OF principle. All cats will steal, swear,
aud fight, and there Is not one who can be
thoroughly trusted. 1t is for this reason that
scientific persons view with doubt the tales
that are occasionally told of cats who evince
superfeIine Intelligence or a purely doglike
sense Of duty.
The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-16
a Descending Chorus.
tsan Francisco Chroniele.I

Yesterday forenoon while 200 of the ladies
Tor the choir for Elijah were rehearsing for
Its presentation last night, the scantling sup
pOrClng the temporary amphitheatre OF seats
\ erected in the rear Of the Grand Opera House
bStage, and upon which they were sitting, I'M
| expectedly and instantly collapsed. There
was terrific crash of the seats to the stage,
and combined shrek that might have been
heard as far as North Beach. With singular
unan1mity the head of ever lady went down
first, and by law of mechanics well known
among engineers, Of course her feet went
down last. For brief moment the sight was
startling In an even painful degree. It was q
convulsively kicking forest of reversed little
bottines. 1t was like a pEodigious shoal of
the playful porpoises when they turn half
somersault on the suface OF the sea. There
were complete sets of bewitching little gal
tiers, running all the way from number ones to
twos and half, with occasionally the plump
little dumping of g. foot of heavy weight
running as high as even number skies. There
We're slippers and sandals and shoes, kid and
cloth and prunella, sewed and pegged, and
high heels and flat heels, and round toes and
square toes, but all lovely, lovely. And make
what haste even the urgency of the calamity
required, the male eye could not turn so
hastily away that it did not Internationally
catch glimpse of innumerable red stock
ings, with white clocks; blue stockings, with
red clocks; black stockings, with scarlet
clocks; lambs wool, cotton, Isle thread and
SILK stockings, lawn white and lavender
colOred stockings, embroidered in all the
wonderful devices and twinkling colors In the
world. The ladies were rapidly extricated
and 1t was found that fortunately no one was
hurt. The staging was rebuilt, but any one
going there at night, if any such one there
was, with the malignant desire that the
tableau should repeated, was justly disap-
pointed, for, by particular request of the ladies'
stout timbers were used In the re-erection.
The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-16
Vegetable MOtiesGy.


The poets are primarily responsible for the
est. They perpetually tell us of the modest
lily and the timid bashful violet and have
firmly. convinced the public that with the
possible exception Of the peony, which in
New England is considered to wear an in
delicately healthy look, such thing as an
immOdest flower does not exist. A very little
unprejudiced observation will show that this
is gross delusiOn. Flowers, as rule, have
no sense OF mOdesty whatever. The lily ar
rays itself in simple white and stands on the
top OF tall stalk to solicit public attention
Would VIC consider e lady particularly
modest who should dress herself in the
simplest possible white garment and
stand on the top of q barrel in the front
yard to challenge the admiration Of Dassers-
by? The violet is compelled, by circum-
stances over which it has no control, to re-
side very near the surface of the ground
where it is frequently hid behind bold and
forward blades OF grass. That the violet Is
not OF bashful and retiring disposition is,
however, proved by the fact that it is always
ready to display itself in the button.holes Of
brokers and men-about-town, in whose So
ciety really modest flower would blush to be
found. AS for the morning glory, the shame
less way in which 1t climbs to the windows of
Second-story bedrooms, and peers into pri-
vacy as IL it were disreputable elevated rail-
road, Is utterly incompatible, not merely
with Inodesty, but with common decency. In
short, the average flower does not know the
meaning of modesty, and although it may be
1ll-scented, crippled, and contaminated by in
innate association with depraved worms, it
will rear its head and mutely ask to be
plucked and laid on the bosom Of beauty.
The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-16
w eighty Brides.

Throughout the empire of Morocco there
are villages where the elder members of the
adult population follow professionally the
matrimonial market of Barbary The Moors,
like the Turks and most otheraArientals give
decided preference Tor "mo0nfaced' wives
over lean ones and are more solicitous as to
the number of pounds which their wives
weigh than about the stock of accomplish
ments which they possess. A girl Is put I'M
der the process of fattening when she is about
twelve years of age. Her hands are tied be-
hind her, and she is seated on carpet during
SO many hours every day, while her papa
stands over her with nedtrNqte, or big stick,
and her mother at times pops into her mouth
a ball of couscOotss0n, or stiff maize porridge,
kneaded up with grease, and just large
enough to be swallowed without the patient
choking. II the unfortunate girl declines to
be crammed she, is compelled, SO that ere
long the poor CIR, resigns herself to the tor
ture and gulps down the boluses lest she
should be beaten