davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
HOME, FARM AND RANCH.
Chanticleer.
saturday Review.l


The cock is an important bird. He
Is historical A cock assured Themis-
tocleS of his victory over Xerxes.
Aristophanes tells us that he reigned
supreme over Persia before the time
of Darius and Megabazus. Numa
Pompilius was inspired by cock. and
Romulus was influenced by the same
bird in his decision as to the site of
Rome. Hewas sacred to Mars, Apollo,
Mercury and Esculapius. Mo
manned found a cock in the first
heaven, so huge a bird that his crest
touched the second heaven. The
MoSlem doctors say that Allah lends
willing ear to him who reads
the Koran, to him who prays for par
don, and to the cock, whose chant is
divine melody. When this cock
ceases to crow the day of judgment
will be at hand. The cock on church
spires is to remind men not to deny
their Lord as Peter did. Peter lie
Neve says that the cock was the war
like ensign of the GOths, as it is to the
present day of the Malays, and that,
therefore, it was put up in Gothic
churches for ornament. The Growing
of the cock has always exercised an
indefinable influence on mankind; it
covered the shutting Peter with shame;
it has furnished the innumerable poets
with stocks of phrases; it has ever
become means for the expression of
parliamentary opinion. In some
places, it is true, the cock is regarded
with not altogether unmalevolent
sentiments. An African tribe COM
plains bitterly that it was all through
the cock that they remained black and
different from the rest of mankind.
The great creating Spirit, it is said,
set himself during the daytime to
model the human face. By shutdown
he had fashioned about fifty different
figures out of clay, but they were all
more or less brown, and some of them
were quite black. He set them up in
a row and inspected them before it
got quite dark, and then it appeared
that they would look better if they
were white. So he mixed great pot
of whitewash, and set about daubing
them by the light of the moon. But
it was troublesome work, and he did
not get on very fast At last, when
he had still score or more to whiten,
day dawned and the cock crew, and he
came to the conclusion that the rest
must remain as they were. And so
it has come to pass that some of the
races of mankind are red and brown,
while the poor negro has remained
quite black-and all through trouble
some cock, who would crow when he
was not wanted.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
Personal.

Park Lemaine and his two sisters
were killed by passing train near
Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Madeline Sturla has been sentenced
at Chicago to the penitentiary for one
year for the murder of Charles Stiles.
DIR. J. II. Mclean, the patent medi-
cine man, of st. Louis, has taken his
seat as a member of congress, to fill
the unexpired term of Allen, deceased
Senator Edmunds and wife will
soon visit the south with their daugh-
ter Mary, whose delicate health re-
quires a milder climate than that of
Washington.
\ banquet is to be given in Wash
ington on New Years Day in honor
of Frederick Douglass, in recognition
of his long services in the interests of
his race and of humanity. Ex-senator
Bruce is to preside.
The youngest inventor on the
records in Washington is Walter
Nevegold, a lad fifteen years of age
of Bristol, Pennsylvania, who has
patented important improvements in
rolling mill machinery.
Henry, the bounced district of Col
umbia marshal, says he has no inten-
tion of fighting the confirmation OF
his successor, Col McMichael. He
will ask for thorough investigation
of Brewster's charges against himself,
DR.. Terry Barnes, a leading doctor
of Toledo, Ohio, after twenty years OF
apparently harmonious married life,
left wife and children, went west, got
divorce, and, returning to Toledo,
married a woman with whom he is
infatuated.
George Bayard and GuStave +. Pen
mond, liquor dealers, charged with
reusing revenue stamps, at New Y ork,
pleaded guilty and were released on
$4,000 bail. They are said to have
offered the government 100000 for a
compromise.
Mr.. Walker, of the Vermont legisla-
ture, during the discussion of bill
requiring towns to mark paupers'
graves with stones, moved that there
be inscribed on each the amount that
it cost the town to support the per-
son buried underneath.
The Rev. DR.. Hugh Miller Thomp-
son is the fifth bishop taken within
twelve years from the pulpit of
Trinity Protestant Episcopal church,
New Orleans, the others being Bish-
ops Pierce, of Arkansas, Beckwith, of
Georgia, Harris, of Michigan, and
Galleher, of Louisiana
Shortly before Manager Czacki left
Paris a friend remarked to him that
the Holy See would be the loser by
his retirement. "You do not know"
replied Manager CZacki. 1.-The wealth
of the mine worked by the Holy
Father. There are ten prelates at
Rome fitted to take my place, and if
His Holiness is embarrassed it will
not be by the want of men,"
Charles NJ. w. Wetzal, of Vincen-
mes, Indiana, was decOyed across the
river into Illinois to transact some
alleged legal business. Upon his ar
rival at certain magistrates Office,
Miss Anna Stewart confronted him
with marriage license and loaded
pistol, and demanded that she be taken
and not shaken. WatZel made break
for liberty, with Miss Stewart at his
heels. He escaped by lodging into an
alley. Miss Stewart has camped upon
his trail and laid siege to his scalp
divers times before, but WetZal's heels
always managed to get the hint from
his heart
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
Farm Education.

Professor George L. Morrow writes
on the subject of farm education, and
says it has been truly maintained that
no calling requires for its highest pos.
sible development more ability or q
wider range of knowledge than does
that of the farmer. The farmer deals
with the soil, with plants and animals
in health and disease. He is de
pendent on the rainfall and the TEN.
perature. He must adapt his work
to changes Of climate and conditions
In modern times he needs a
good knowledge of machinery
In many of his farm operations he be.
comes strictly manufacturer, in the
narrow sense in which the word is
used. In every part of his work OF
production he will be helped by a
knowledge of science or its applica-
lions. And when his crops have been
produced, he needs all the knowledge
that makes men in other lines success
full business men. In these days OF
competition and easy transportation,
he needs wide intelligence to wisely
dispose of his crop.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
Culture Of the Intellect.
IColman's Rural World. ]

Farmers hear a great deal about
the culture of land and of crops. They
know that without culture their crops
would be worthless. They know that
with good culture they can be made
to yield a hundred fold. But the
crops have been raised and gathered
for the year 1882. The winter has
come. There is now season of COM
parative rest for the farmer. Shall he
now idly fold his hands, eat, drink
and sleep like the animals he raises.
or improve this valuable season
to him by cultivating his intel
lectp He can no more have d
capacious, well-stOred mind without
reading and thinking, than he can
have good crops without cultivation.
The mind yields to culture as well as
the soil. A good crop of thoughts can
no more be obtained without work
than a good crop of grain. KnOwl-
edge is acquired by working the mind
to obtain it, just as money is acquir-
ed by working for it. Idea can be
added to idea. one bit of knowl-
edge added to another, day after day
and year after year, till the sum
total makes one wise man. Knowl-
edge can only be gained in this
way. The greatest men the world has
ever known have acquired their
knowledge in this very manner. They
have gathered and stored it away, as
the miser has acquired and stored his
wealth. But they have used it differ
emily. They have kept their intellec-
tual wealth bright by use. They have
Illuminated the world by it.
1t is needless to speak of the value
of a cultivated capacious mind. 1t
sheds lustre upon whatever subject it
touches. Its pOssessors adorn all our
professions. 1t commands homage
and respect everywhere. 1t combats
and overthrows error as giant over
comes a pigmy. Such minds are
needed in the profession of agricul-
ture. Because they are so rarely to be
found in that profession other pro-
LESSONS usurp all the honors, all the
emoluments, all the offices of the
country. Farmers must turn over a
new leaf. They must cultivate the
mind as well as the crops. In this
way, they eventually will command
respect as well as their rights.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28

the change. The old stock can be
more easily fattened and disposed OF
to better advantage than after a
while, and the new birds can be pur-
chased much cheaper now than at any
time later in the season. Breeders
and fanciers want now to reduce their
stock for the winter, and are much
more amenable to reason in the matter
of prices than they will be toward
spring, when they will have compare
lively few choice birds left, and the
demand for them will be at its height.
FEATHERS VS.. EGGs.-A subscriber
asks If it is "a fact that cropping "A
hens wings or tail will interrupt their
laying, and if so why is it?" 1t is a
TACT that hens mutilated as above gen.
orally suspend business until the dam
age is repaired. The reason is that the
two functions of egg producing and
feather producing cannot proceed at
the same time in the same hen. The
production of eggs requires the
healthy and harmonious play of every
vital function of the fowl. This con-
dltion being interrupted by any cause,
the production of eggs ceases.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28

general Improvement of its affairs.
All the while he has pursued his pri-
vate studies, producing literary works
that have commanded something more
than respect, which have secured for
him the title of the Scholar Statesman
of Europe. His reign, as it might be
called, for he has been the power be-
hind the throne, will be remembered
as one of the greatest of benefactions
to the English people.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28

with corn. There is no doubt but
what large amount of loss has been
incurred by farmers in the west dur
ing the past twenty years by the too
lavish use of corn in feeding pigs and
young hogs, and change of opinion is
undoubtedly taking place among farm
ers on this subject.
a writer speaking of this whole
matter expresses himself thus: "Prob-
ably the most common failure to give
good care to western swine is in the
matter of sleeping places. The hog is
very sensitive to cold, and will try
hard to keep warm by burrowing into
litter, or when in large numbers
crowding close together, or upon each
other. Either of these are opposed to
receiving a supply of pure air, and the
hog needs this as much as other do
nestle animals"
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
How II Kills.
Rochester Herald !

Beer is pronounced the most fatal
to human life of all intoxicating
drinks. A short time ago one of the
largest and most conservative life in
surance companies withdrew from
business in Indiana on the discovery
that the deaths in that state exceeded
the tables of mortality. The presi-
dent of the company proceeded to
make a detailed investigation, and in
his report he asserts that beer-drink-
ing is carried to great excess in three
or four counties, and that in those is
where the unex pected losses of life
occurred. General statistics of life
insurance show that in Ohio, where
the consumption of beer is very
great, deaths average sixteen In
every thousand of the popula-
ton; in Kentucky and Tennessee,
where more whisky than beer is used,
the death rate is eleven in one thous.
and, while in Canada the drinker con-
fines himself almost entirely 10
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
Taking Care OF Hogs.

In the early days of hog raising in
the west the opinion was pretty wide
ly held that hogs needed less care than
any other kind of live stock, it being
a pretty common opinion that any
kind of water was good enough for
hogs, and that anything they would
eat would increase the growth of the
animal and make more or less pork
From opinions of this kin0 q good
many intelligent farmers moved
forward and when corn became
a drug in the markets through
out the country, they adopted or
acted on the principle that corn was
the best feed that hogs. Young or old,
could have, and it seemed to be the
opinion that where hogs could have
plenty of corn all the time that they
needed no other kind of feed; but
thorough investigation, coupled with
experiments, has of late years upset
this theory, and it has now come to be
well known among at least advanced
thinkers over this matter, that hogs
need as much variety in the way of food
as does any other kind of farm ami
mails, and it is very certain that no
farmer can make the best attainable
result in hog production unless he
uses the strictest care in feeding his
pigs and young hogs in regular way
with several articles of food besides
corn. OF course the corn is good in
its place and should not be dispensed
with where it can be had easily, but in
addition to the corn all young hogs
should have a certain amount of grass
and roots, potatoes and artichokes, or
hoofa oar ho fad IN the v011no o. hOorG il,
a sparing way, where they are
abundant and cheap, and it is
also a good plan to mix a certain
amount of bran or ground oats with
the feed given to such hogs Any of
these articles can be advantageously
used to ease down the overlooking
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
Bee Notes for ID ecember.

A leading cause for the recent rapid
progress in agriculture is to be found
in our numerous conventions. These
county, district, state, Interstate and
national meetings, to consider and dis
cuss important questions, are now
numbered by hundreds, and are lend
| ing powerful influence to develope
practical agriculture. The most inhu-
entail of all these societies is the North
American association. This gathers
the meat" from all the lesser associa-
lions and freely distributes it to the
whole country. Reports were made
at the recent Cincinnati meeting from
| nearly all the states of the honey
yield for the past season. The records
for the south and west were encour-
aging. The south especially has had Il
wonderful yield of the best
honey. In the east and north
from Ohio, the yield has been
unprecedently light. In southern
Ohio, and portions of New York
and Canada, the report is of an entire
failure. In California and the east,
the crop is poor. From these reports
we gather three important facts: First,
cold, no less than excessive drouth or
wet, will dry up the nectar glands.
and blast the bee-keeper's hopes.
Secondly, the Gulf states, especially
Texas, bid fair to rival California as
honey producing regions. The win
tiers are us safe, the honey season as
long, and the seasons more sure.
Thirdly, the south can furnish as fine
honey as any section of the United
States. Honey exhibited from Flori-
ola, Mississippi and Texas was greatly
admired. From these reports we also
learn an important lesson: that to Sc
cure certain harvest, bee-keepers
must grow special honey-plants; then,
if the white clover or the Eastwood
fail, we still have hope,
If rightly managed, it is impossible
to clog the market even with eX-
tracted honey. Pure honey in every
salesroom and factory, put up in the
best style, will sell in almost unlim-
tied quantity. Overstocking the
market need no longer be feared.
The president in his address refer
red to the Importance of improving
our bees. In some places black bees
have been fed through the
season. while Italian, and especial
ly Syrian bees, gathered consid-
cradle surplus. In speaking of the
good work done by our improved ex-
hibitions at fairs, he said: Let all
apiculturists work for larger pre-
miums at our fairs, for separate build
ings for honey and bee exhibits, and
for the right to make sales on the
grounds, providing the exhibition is
in no wise injured thereby, and most
important of all. see to it that the ex-
hibitions are excellent" Reference
was made to the bee tent, of thin
gauze or mosquito netting. This
covers the person and the hive, while
the bees of the latter are being
handled. Thus manipulated bees will
not sting, even when not gathering
honey. There is need Of more accu-
rate statistics as to the magnitude of
the bee and honey interests of the
country.-American Agriculturist.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
The Blind Bride.

The blind bride is now receiving
attention all over the country. Its
use is suddenly discovered to be cruel
and almost inhuman. Such simple
and homellke questions should receive
attention rather than the exaggerated
principles of state. The American
Farmer, in speaking against the use of
the blind bride, says: I'VE know not
who invented this instrument of tor
ture, but we know that he did not
understand the anatomy and physiolo-
gy of the eye of a horse. Human
vision is binocular-that is, we see the
same object with both eyes-and so
adjust the axis of vision that the
object appears single, though seen
with both eyes. But the eyes of
the horse are placed on the
side of the head and the
axis of each eye is nearly at right an
giles with the longitudinal line of the
body, SO that it is impossible that the
same object can be distinctly seen with
two eyes. Now, by binding the eve
in the direction in which it was in
tended in its construction that it
should see, it is forced to use an OBJ
lque vision, as if we should ever cover
VIZ AlOhO VI Jul OpllOO anu DC CO1l-
PEELED to see only by the corner of our
eyes. This unnatural and constrained
use of the eye must, to a greater or
less extent, impair vision, if not en-
tirely destroy it. The object for which
the blind bride is used is not ac-
compllshed by it. a horse is
more readily frightened when he can
not see the object of his dread than
if he can have fair view of it. But
it is surprising to observe with what
tenacity men hold on to an absurd and
cruel practice, when moments re-
Election would teach them better.
Nineteen out of twenty horses you
see in harness have blind bride on,
and if you ask the owner to explain its
benefits, or why he uses it, he will be
utterly unable to give rational an
swer. We are not surprised that
draught horses are subject to diseased
eyes-we wonder that they are not
blind"
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28

PERHAPS the most significant item
Of European news that has reached
this country for good while is that
Lord Derby. in speech at Manches-
ter, rejected the idea of protectorate
for Egypt. England. he said. ought
not to remain in Egypt longer than is
absolutely necessary to restore order.
This, taken in connection with the re-
port that Lord Derby is the prospec-
tive secretary for India, may be looked
upon as implying such future conces-
sions on the part Of England as may
possibly lead to a peaceful solution OF
the Egyptian complication. But the
kilograms tell US that he viii not be
named for the position. because, prob
ably. of his Manchester speech.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
Science and suIci7

Mature.
With regard TO the red
eide of q girl by leaping |
the towers of Notre DanI
ellis expressed view that ,
in the rapid fall may I
cause of death, has giveny
correspondence in La n
Bontemps points out thu
of fall having been abo
metres, the velocity acq
time Qess than four seed
be so great as that someti4
on railways-that is, thiy
tres per second on the
Chal0ns and Paris, wheT
should be the same; yet wi
of asphyxiation of engine|
stokers. He considers 4
that the idea in question
exploded, as unhappy pers
led To choose suicide by a
height, under the delusio,
will die before reachiu
Again, NJ. Gossin men
years ago a man threw
the top of the Column
on an awning which =
men at the pedestal f; he
a few slight contusions
was shown in 1862, in
Oahu. by missionaries, a
had fallen a verified hi
feet. His fall was brok
end by "a growth of ferns,
had only "a few wounds.
his sensations in falling
only felt dazzlad
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28

NKBRAsKA's compromise temper
ance law works well and the Prohi-
bitionists are satisfied win it. 1t is a
high license law-Si0OO for saloons in
cities having over 10000 inhabitants,
and $500 in cities having less than
10000 Inhabitants. The effect has
been excellent. In other words,
moderation has succeeded where fan
atheism would have failed, and the
temperance movement, instead OF
arousing anger and contempt, is re-
garded with respect.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28

SENATOR EDMUNDs' new anti-po-
iygmy bill is sumner. 1t provides
that q mans lawful wife shall be a
competent witness against him; that
personal service of a subpoena shall
not be necessary before the issue of an
attachment to compel the attendance
OF the person named in the unserved
subpoena; that no statute of limita-
tons shall be pleaded against a prose
cution for bigamy and polygamy.
These features make it not only ex
post facto in its operation. but per
sonal liberty guaranteed by Magma
Charta and belonging to all Anglo
Saxon codes is denied. OF course such
law would be imperative, because
Of its unconstitutionality.
The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
Johnson Grass.


An Alabama farmer (Bibb county,
in some recent remarks on his grass
says: "The northern part, near the
line of Bibb and Shelby counties, has
quite reputation for successful opera
ton in johnson grass culture. In fact,
great many of us have all our lands
well set in this grass, and depend upon
it alone for the bread of life. / have
one hundred and twenty-five acres
which / have cut three times a year;
forty of this one hundred and twenty
five acres | have moved four times. II
is now September l. l will have cut all
my grass four times, and about fifty
acres five times. Stock of all kinds love
this grass, and eat it, think, more
readily than the best Timothy. The
oldest and most experienced johnson
grass raisers in this section say that if
your horse or mule is in good order to
start with in spring, feed him as much
well cured johnson grass hay as he
will eat and he will keep round and fat
all the year with nine hours work per
day." He says: "All who have given
it thorough trial say it beats cotton
a long way for making money. Our
hand produces us three-fOuTths to one
half tons to the acre each cutting. 1t
is said to do best on bottom lands, and
where your land is subject to overfiows
so much the better for your hay farm.
1t is the finest grass for our country,
either growing green for pasturage or
well cured for hay"
As stated, of course bottom lands
are best adapted for such a grass, but
the writer, from an experiment with
this grass on the poorest piece of up
land in Baldwin county, is satisfied
that there is nothing that will make
better returns on such lands than this
grass. On land where crab grass did
not reach height of two feet. John
son grass attained height of from
three to four and one-half feet. One
might suppose that grass of this
character would be lacking in nutri.
ment, but repeated analyses and the
more practical and satisfying test of
feeding it to stock shows that it is
much superior to the majority
of grasses in flesh FORM
ing elements. This grass.
when once properly sown, will
continue for years to yield rich pas
turage or hay. only needing an occa-
sional top dressing of ammoniated
phosphate to keep it in vigor sufficient
to produce three to six tons of hay
per year. The decay of its roots has
an ameli0rating effect upon the soil.
furnishing it with humus and indi-
rectly with ammonia. SO that in a few
years only application Of any need to