davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
Ts II A Mound- Rui1dsr9

Mr.. G.. A. Beerstecher recently ex-
humed skeleton, about three-quarterS
of mile east of Nottawa, on the Burr
Oak road, near the Bennett farm says
the Centrcville (Mich.) Repmblicdn.-
The mound from which it was taken is
in the highway, and has been passed by
and over by pedestrians and teams for
the past forty years. Mr.. Beerstecher
has known of this mound for some time,
but never until the present week made
any attempt at an examination OF its
interior. The skeleton is that of q full
sized man, being from six feet to six
feet two or three inches in length. The
head is of diminutive size in proportion
of the skeleton, and from physiolOg-
zeal standpoint would indicate very lit
tie intelligence. The forehead is very
low and narrow, while the anima! pro-
pensities are of the most prominent
character. The teeth are very double
and massive in the central and back
portion of the jaw, the forward and ex-
IRENE front teeth being very long and
narrow. Some of the molars or back
back teeth are much worn, seeming to
indicate use upon hard substances
The bones of the skeleton are very
large, giving rise to the belief that the
once animate possessor was being OF
more Than ordinary strength. This
skeleton is perfect il every part. and is
doubtless as good a specimen of this ex-
tinct race rs can be found in the coun-
try. Every cGvity of the bones and
skull and spinal column was filled with
sand or scrt of burned clay, which had
worked itself into every conceivable
opening in every portion of the skele-
ton. 1t was found six feet under
ground, in a sitting posture, with the
head thrown back and jaws extended to
the full capacity, 1t was facing the
north. Over it was found a covering of
burned clay, which probably accounts
for IT'S excellent preservation. as water
could not penetrate it or air in any man.
ucr get to it. 1t is q well-known fact
that this is not of any tribe of Indians.
as they d. not dispose of t.,eir dead in
that manner. From the most reliable
information that can be gained from
scientists, the mound-builders were a
race supposed to have inhabited Mexico
and portions of the United States from
eight 10 eleven hundred years ago.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
JapanesrI Farm Life,

Something mote than oGc-half the
population of thiempire, says Consul
Van Buren,, is aer cultural, and the half
of these are WON en-, In 1871, 12,OUO,-
600 acres were under cultivation, or
about thrce-fourthj of an acre per head
of the farming populations; -Nit the till
are is mos, lhorou9, anil two crops are
invariably raised eGli year. All farm
labor is hard Labor A pillow is seldom
seen, and labor-SSing machines are UNI
known. Wagesfor farm labor seem
low; thirty-tivei dollars a year with
board, or fifty collars without board,
for u man, and In dollars with board
and twenty five y thirty dollars without
il for q woman; Ind then. us the cloth
ing for tuberculosis but four or five
dollars year. aid he gets threc-room
bamboo and parer) house for eight or
ten dollars year, and clothing for =
family of four or live oDsts not TO exceed
twenty dollars, and ht garden will pro-
duce One-half of his lI-inc, the farm Ia
borer is not in q deliberate condition,
and being eXceedingt frugal, he man
ages to lay up 5omehing every year
Yet the Japanese far lcrs are prosper
Gus. Nearly all can read. write, and
keep farm accounts, yhile the buyH are
sent to school and thS.girls taught i-GSic
and needlework at lomc. and t,ete is
not a house, not even pmon, the tooiips
or laborerS, that does EOt have IFS bath
room. Which is pu's us>''-.''''' so,
ipg.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
Agesff Animals.

Camels live nom 40 ID so wears;
horses average from Is 70 80; oxen,
about 20; sheep, 8 to Q, and dogs, II to
II. Concerning the ages obtained by
non-domcsticatea animals. bnly a few
isolated facts are known. The East In
dams believe that the life pAiod of ele-
plants is about 200 years, Instances be-
ing recorded of these aniIials having
lived 100 years in contiuss.-vue Hrtef
capture 1T III unknown alN Whales
are estimated to reach thgs OF 400
years. Some rept les are Vt.ly .ong-!iycd,
an instance being furnished by tor
toise which was confined Ia 1893 and
existed until 1853 when it persisted by
an accident. Birds sometimes reach y
great age. the eagle and tho swan hay
ing been known TO live 100 years. The
longevity of fishes is often remarkable
The carp has beef known TO live 200
years, common river trout, 80 years,
and the pike 80 years, while Gcsner, q
Swiss naturalist! relates that a pike
caught in 1897 boie a ring recording tie
capture of the sane fish 267 years he
fore. Insects areWery short-lived, usu-
ally completing tle term of their exist
ence in few weeks or months. Some
even perish within few hours after
emerging from tho grub state, and Gie
OH the very day Of entering upon their
new life. AS a general rule. not To be
applied too closet, larger types of ami
mails live longer IL I'm smaller
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
. How Spiders Seek the Light.

At the last meeting of the Academy
of Natural Sciences the Rev. DR.. Henry
G. McCook reported the results of cx-
periments recently made by him on The
subject of the sensitiveness of spiders
on light. The brood of young spiders
which he had for some time been study
ing in his library were found to dispose
themselves during the day on lines of
web upon which the light from q win
dow fell with the most effect. On the
approach of evening, when the study
lamp was lit. they moved in q body to-
ward its beams, and when the position
of the lamp was changed it Immediate
ly prodnc,d corresponding change of
resting place in the brood. During his
studies of the winter habits of spiders
he had recently found adult specimens
of Epetra eulgarts at Atlantic City
which had evidently survived the winter:
Although the season had a"sanced
somewhat, there seemed to be very few
young, which might be due to the fact
that they had been eaten either by the
old spiders or the stronger young ones,
as there seemed TO be but a scant sup
ply of insect food in the vicinity of the
webs. He mentioned in this connection
that, although the spiders in his study
rad been supplied with water only since
their escape from the cocoons, he had
not detected among them the slightest
disposition to eat one another. Prof.
Lewis stated that a saltigrade spider
confined by him in a glass tube was ev-
identity able to distinguish the waving
of a handkerchief at distance of six
feet. In connection with the reported
cannibal habits of spiders, the presi-
den stated that the common wheel or
saw-bug, RedaUias nOrenariuS, certain
ly eats his young. The president also
described colonies of white aphis and
red coccus kept separately as captive
herds by a species of little red ant OF
the genus lasius. -Philadelphia North
| american.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
industrial Rrapitins

The culture of carp is receiving more
attention in Iowa than in any state in
the union.
During the recent cyclone in Iowa
lambs became rs badly mixed up rs
the babies did in the famous opera Of
"Pinafcre."
The culture of dwarf orange trees is
receiving considerable attention in Flor
ida. The trees are highly ornamented
and produce very fine fruit.
Washington county, Pennsylvania, is
said to be the largest wool-growing
county in the union, and to produce an
pually 500. 900 to 100000 pounds of
wOob North in cash 81 100000.
At aeair held at Oxford, Pa, lately,
a team whose united ages reached tif-
ts-iive years trottcd full mile close to
300. One of them had lived quarter
of a century, and the other was five
years his senior.
The managers Of fairs in Great Brit
ain derive revenue from several sources
not recognized in this country. They
charge exhibitors of implements for
space. sell catalogues. receive pay for
advertising in them, and impose fines
on all persons who fail to make exhibit
tions after they have given notice of
their intentions to do so.
The dairymen in the southern part of
Wyoming county, New York, are agi-
tated over new weed called Long John,
believed to be brought in western grass
seed. 1t grows three feet high and has
the appearance of species of mustard.
The cattle are extremely fond of it, but
the milk from cows feeding upon it is
worthless.
A place where bogus butter is manu-
featured has been discovered in Albany.
1t is said the very best dairymen can
not tell the difference between it and
the genuine article. One suspicious cir
cumstance connected with its manufac-
ture is that each tub is marked with the
name VI a person at Canton, N. Y"
where a superior article of butter is
made.
In 1881 there was 134 firms engaged
in silk manufacture in the canton of
Zurich; the number in 1872 was lie.
The work people and officials aggregate
49,Sl6, and the wages paid them
amounted to 1855, 453 francs, an av-
erage of about SIG q year. Many Of
the weavers, however, are unemployed
in winter, and in the total of 1886
some of the work people have been reck-
oned twice over, as they are engaged in
two different branches Of the trade. The
value of the fabrics produced in the
year is estimated at f3,068, 900.
Prof. Sheldon said that when in Can
ada he saw Mr.. Ballantine, who told
him he had found cheese made late in
autumn did not ripen so well as that
made in summer or spring, and when
it did ripen its flavor lacked richness.
He concluded that the temperature Of
the evenings milk sank too low, and
having guarded against this result by
heating the milk up to 80 degrees in
the evening, and leaving it standing at
that heat until it matured, his autumn
cheese ripened without tho least difficult
i 49,
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
Curious Advertisements.

Some venerable old print has collect
ell the following very curious advertise
ments, which are worthy of careful
perusal:
IL would like this advertisement trans
lated into French" handing to clerk
in the American Register Office the fol-
lowing curious advertisement: Twenty
francs reward will be paid for the re-
covery of cameo brooch which repre-
sents Venus and Adonis lost on the
Boulevard lies Italicns about ten o'clock
last evening""
But the literary productions of adver-
tiscrs who have axes TO grind, and who
pay liberally for the privilege of occu-
plying space, have before proved very
interesting bits of reading in the col
umns of well-ediicd paper.
ii. II. Brown d Co., of No. = Centre
street. kept standing for several weelS
in u leading New York daily: 'snldifrs
who have lost their dischaf y1s. and
those who did not receive pension from
the date of their discharge or death,
please apply"
In the wants DEPARTMENT of coun-
try exchange, a resident advertiscs for
''woman to wash, iron and milk one
or two cows
A wine merchant asks for bids for
''sixty dozen of prime port, lately the
property of a gentleman forty years of
age, full in body. and with a high bou-
quet."
A livery stable keeper offers cheap "a
mail pheton, the property of a gentle
man with movable head as good as
new" and "a splendid gray horse, cal
culated for charger, or would carry
lady with switch tail and warranted
kind"
Ii is easier for some people to deter
mine what they want than to ask for it.
Words are bugbears to them and Ian
guage takes terrible shapes.
10 be SODA grand piano, the
property of lady about to travel in
walnut case with carved legs'' was hi-
morously commented upon by the Sat
urday ReUieW few months ago.
The Irish World copies an item: "A
purse lost by poor widow woman who
has sick child containing 12s. and a
letter." No wonder the child was un.
well. The next item in the column is
the Worlds own, and is as follows:
"Robert Taylor, SO years, is the father
of twenty-five children by three wives
seventeen Of whom are living" Rob
ert should be tried for bigamy.
The Chicago Tribune not long since,
copied the advertisement of widow
who intended to succeed her husband in
the management of hotel. '.The ho-
tel will be kept by widow of the form
er landlord, Mr.. Brown, who died last
Summer ON a new and improved plan.''l
She will be aided by other stockhOldepI|
Such corporation would not deserve |
to have soul.
A coroncr's verdict reads thus: The
deceased came to his death by cxzlssive |
drinking, producing apoplexy <p the
minds of the jury"
A country paper SAL .A'child was |
run over by wagon 3 yel$s old, and |
crosseyed, with pantalets OIL,
The above reminds us of the poem |
handed to j, 4 Phoenix relative TO the
.ycl.ns El:-i Tho ION the Pecos river was |
axdentally shot Referring to the |
weapon, the poet sad sit was one of |
the old style brass-Ipounted, and of sch
IL tn kin hom of Heaven. "-B,Ie'n''''t
tom Eye.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
Why johnson STAYED a Week.

Last August Mr.. Johnson with his
wife, who had been doing the pleasure
resorts fer two months, arrived at the
quiet tow. of X, in New Hampshire,
where = small hotel, pleasantly situated
and very cleanly, offered him hospitali-
ty. After supper the landlord walked
the plaza, and was accosted by Mr..
johnson, when the following dialogue
took place:
.'Nn":'S your sunset hill?'
'HafTa't got any"
IS Tho Devils Gulch near herc''
y -Et.r heard of tn ,-..
'iio;p far isl IL Lovers Loap9'
MIST hc fifty miles, but l donT
know
lis the Silver Cascade running?'
Don't know; never knew it was
around here"
How far is il TO the springs?"
Didn't know we had any here
abouts."
The attractions of this place are very
few, it appears"
Mighty few and getting scarcer."
Wife. this is just the place we have
been seeking. There is nothing to sec
and we will stay here aweek. "-Bosto9
J0urfidl.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
Density of Formulation,

New York is the most populous OF the
States, containing about one-tenth of the
entire population of the Union, but it
has not the densest population. The
Census Bureau reports that the number
of square miles in the Republic, not in
Guiding the Indian Territory and some
unorganized tracts, is $4,000, 10. The
population in 1880 was so, 155, 783, or
1929 per square mile. But in Rhode
Island the population is 254.S7 per
square mile, i'm Massachusetts pills,
in New Jersey NIB, in Connecticut
1882, and in New York 106.74. Our
State therefore ranks fifth in density of
population, and there is an indication
of future greatness of which but few
have probably thought in the fact that
it has room for SO many more inhabit-
ants. The population of the District
of Columbia is 52,96O.4O per square
mile.
Macaulay's lugubrious prediction, that
when we have population of 200 per
square mile our Government will 60 to
pieces, is not generally regarded with
other interest than curiosity by Ameri
cans; but were it u demonstrable fact
it would have no immediate terror fol
this people. There were 90,0l9 immi
grants who arrived at Castle Garder
last month, but were the rate ofimmigra
ton to remain the same. it would re.
quire more than 500 years to give tn,
country a population of 200 per square
mile. The population of Germany il
now 205 per square mile. 1t conveys
vivid idea of the future magnitude o
this nation to say that when its densit,
Of population is equal to that of Ger
many. the United States will have 594,
534,85 inhabitants, not including tn,
Indian Territory and some tracts nov
unoccupied. -NeD York Mail
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
sDostoefsk - Pigeon.

A writer in the ournal Kaclnz re-
lates a touching inc sent in Dostoeiskys
exile life i'm Siberia. In the household
of certain officer, 10 whose charge the
novelist and other prisoners were ut one
time committed, was a governess, to
whom belonged Il number OF tame
pigeons. The governess was considered
to have great intipelae over the officer,
and the exilcs stood duly in awe of her,
though among themselves she was spok-
en- Of as "Nyetka" Ca diSrespectful
diminutive of Anna). "Nyetka'spigcons
used often to fly into our yard SAYS
the narrator, land many OF us looked
at them with covatous eyes. The ward
ers, however, kept sharp lookout 1hat
we did moi catch any of them"
One young pigeon grew particularly
attached to DOstocfsky who fed it reg
ularly with bread, SD that il came every
day to him for its dole. At first the
warders were for preventing this, but
seeing that Dostocfsky meant the bird
no harm they winked at the slight in
diligence. One day the prisoners. on
account of some unusually laborious
work upon which they had been en-
ployed during the day, were brought
back to the prison little earlier than
the wonted hour. 1t happened that
they passed by the officers house just
as the governess was feeding her pigeons
A madcap thought came into Dostoefs-
ky's head. He yielded to it. and wills
tied his favorite to him. The birds all
rose in the air. and the prisoners pet
flew up to him and began circling round
his head. The govcrness, enraged ut
this, rushed straight up to Dostoetsky:
..Is it you, you sco.i,drel, who entlce
away my pigeonsP You shall pay for
this" The narrator could not catch
the words of Dostoefsky's reply, they
seemed, however, to convey some inn
pressive rebuke. Contrary TO expecta-
ton. Dostoefsky was not punished in
any way for his bOldness. A fortnight
later the prisoners learned that Nyetka
had gone back tn-sIhssia taking hei
pigeons with her. But the bird that the
novelist had attached to himself contin'
ued to come 10 his hand. Whether il
had escaped and returned to him out Of
It's own accord. or whether it was inten
tionally left for the poor prisoner by the
impulsivo, but perhaps good-heartet
Nyetka, remained y mystery. One
thing was certain-the treatment of thu
prisoners grew more harsh after her de
| parture.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
Gas Tar for Insects.

For the last five years have not lost
a cucumber or melon vine, or cabbage
plant, says correspondent of the Chi
cago Tribune. Get u barrel with few
gallons of gas tar in it; pour water on
the tar; always have itready when need
ed, and when the bugs appear give them
a liberal drink of the tar water from a
sprinkler, or otherwise, and if the rain
washes it off and they return, repeat the
dose. 1t will also destroy the Colorado
potato beetle, and frighten the old long
potato-bug worse than a threshing with
a brush. Five years ago this summer,
both kinds appeared on my late pota-
toes, and were watered with the. tar
water. The next day all Colorados that
had not been well protected from the
sprinkling were dead, and the Others.
though their name was legion, were all
zone, and have never seen one OF
them on the farm since.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
NUMBER s.
Pulling Oallie,s Tooth.


"That tooth must come out" said
mamma. Because, you see, it was loose,
and there was new tooth pushing right
along behind it,
'It'll hurtr' said Callie, with dole
full guavcr.
Not much, guess" answered man.
ma, cheerfully. .'Opcn your mouth.
dear" nd she managed to tie strong
linen thread around the tooth before
Callie Shut her mouth again tight.
81 ca-ant have it pulledr' said she.
Every well, said mamma, vexcd a
little, You must keep the string around
it until you can"
Then Callie's trials began. Papa was
going over to the village, and he said
Callie might go with him. But how
could she, with that awful string hang
ing out of her mouthp
"Maybe can pull it, now" said Cal
lie. Count ten, mamma"
"One-two-three-four five six seven
eight-nine-t-e-n," counted mamma with
long pauses.
''Oh, can't cried Callie.
And she didn't; and papa went to the
village without her.
1t was almost Fourth of July. and
there was to be picnic in the grove,
and Mamie Slater said her mother was
going to make currant-pies; Callie
liked currant-pies above everything else,
to eat.
.'But you can't go to the picnic with
that string" said mamma.
So, one day, Callie went out on the
doorstep and sat down to think it over.
Joe was splitting wood in the yard.
Joe was papa's chOre-boy.
'Tll tell you how to pull it." said
he.
"Howp" asked Callie.
Hitch it to the door-knob and then
open the door," said Joe. IF you're
'fraid twill hurt, you needn't open it
but little"
"Well, WILL" said Callie; and she
tied one end of her ..tooth-string to the
door-knOb. BUTT wasn't mite of use,
for when she opened the door she walk
ed right in after it.
':JOe's eyes begin to laugh.
II guess I'll get a drink of WATER"
said he. He went in, and pretty soon
he wanted TO come out again.
$50 e-easy o-ohn' screamed Callie.
But Joe didn't go "a bit easy. He
banged tte door open so quick that
Callie codldn't keep up with ii. And
there hang her tooth on the door
knob.
what made you?" she demanded,
and ,he sat down to cry about it. But
whsn she found it didn't bleed the least
nite. nor hurt any, she began to laugh
ihstead.
Anyway, now can go to the picnic
and have some currant-pie," she said;
land that 5 one comfort"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18

know you'll do the best You can. All
of us have to face this sort of music one
day or another. There's no help for it.
You always were plucky chap. and
know you amt going 10 fink now; are
you. Eph?" well. Tony, no; | reckon
not. There isn't any use in kicking
against the pris,s; besides" whispered
tie old minstrel with feeble attempt
ut u smile, "iop know | always was a
good end mani" And with that he
turned over and died. b ftimQre Day.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18
The Fall,

Here is boys composition on fall:
This is fall, because i! falls On this sea-
son of the year. LEANS fall, too, as
well rs Thermometers and the price of
straw hats. Old toperS, who sign the
pledge in summer, are liable to fall
when fall cider-making opens, for
straws show which way the cider goes.
Hnsking corn is one of the pleasures OF
fall, but pleasure isn't good for boys, l
don't think. Old men want a little fun;
let them msk. A husky old man can
go through a good deal of corn some
times. Digging taters is another OF our
fall amusements. The way | like to
dig tatcrs is to wait until they are baked
nicely, and then dig them out OF their
skins. Most winter schools open in the
fall. The best winter school | went to
didn't open until spring, and the first
day il opened the TEACHER took sick, ana
the schoolhouse was locked up for the
season. Once in while we have a
very severe fall, but nothing like the
fall of Adam and Eve n the Garden OF
Eden. Summer is misnaned' 1t should
be called pride, for doesn't pride go be-
| fore fallp
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18

The train-boy, says Progress, has be-
come dandy. He is dressed in neat
uniform, and if you catch glimpse of
him a few moments before the train
starts you will see him carefully arrang-
ing his hair before one of the looking
glass panels OF the car. He is still adj
dicted to prize packages, but hepeddles
them now with graceful dignity.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-18

eyes, mamma, ] took three bonbons
out Of the drawer" THAT was very
naughty" my child; but ! shall forgive
you, because you confessed \: " "Ihen
give me the other. mamma, for l really
took only two" Figaro
The Scranton PENN Republican re-
lates that rs a Wilkesbarre man took
his seat in the BARRIERS char, he asked
the barber If he had the same razor nc
had used two days before. Being an.
<swered affirmatively, the patent man
said; Then give me ohloroprm." .