davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26

to the general laws of form and color varia-
ton prevailing among American birds and
mammals
The common name rabbit so often gwen
10 the dozen or more species of American
hares is a misnomer. The rabbit proper is
1epus cuniculus, the burrowing rabbit of
Europe which differs from other old world
and from all American forms in its habit OF
burrowing and in the shortness of its mind
legs. But the name gray rabbit has become
fixture, and however wrong, from a techni-
cal or pathological point of view the custom
is as lneradicably fixed as that OF calling the
american bison buffalo 1.Iere is no dill
terence between an American rabbit ana a
hare, but "Brer Rabbit is his name and
there is no help for it.
1t is a notable thing that the various spe-
cles OF American hares are subject to devas-
taung epldemics, which thin them out more
rapidly thap the attacks of the Indians, or
even than great snow like the present. when
rabbits are sold on our markets at nickel
each-sometimes in Chicago by the cord,
without counting. The same is true of our
deer, field mice and squirrels, The wild ami
mals, as GLASS; are probably not more exempt
from epidemics than the domesticated, But
the proverbial eproduotiveness of the rab-
blt-four to six in litter and three or four
filters a year-makes amends for all acct
dents, and there is no danger OF this, the ia
Yorlte gamesof the boy hunter, the pot hum
ter, or the myth hunter, becoming extinct,
For the information of the curious reporter
and readers who are more edited and aston
ished at the sight of one white hare Hanging
over a saloon door," and all the way from
New Ulm, Mimi, than by the charming hab-
its and appearance of Mollie Cottontal in
our own woods and fields, l may state that
the rabbit does not run backward, but in its
long jumps throws its hind feet entirely in
front of its forefeet
1t may be of interest to those agitating
themselves as to the respective spheres of the
sexes that the Rocky mountain varying
hare. dedicated by Professor Hayden to spen-
Ger +. Baird as lepus Bairdi (see Hayden's
Wyoming report for 1872, page 667), departs
considerably from the ordinary customs of
domestic life among mammals The males
have the. requisite mammalian appendages
and divide with the females the labor of
sucking the young. This has been the abo-
riginal practice of these rabbits, as far as is
known, irrespective of the admission OF all
citizens OF Wyoming to the common duties
and privileges of citizenship.
A. w. BRAYToM.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26
The Varying Hare.

10 the Eiiter OF the Indianapolis JournaG;
A note in yesterdays issue, under city
items, mentions the 'arctic hare, entirely
white in color. hanging over saloon door
near the postoffice. The animal was massa-
cred at New Ulm, Mimi, and is Curiosity
/ saw the specimen mentioned and recog-
nized it as the northern variety of the vary
ing hare, lepus Americanus. This species is
often sold in the Chicago markets side by
side with the northern jackass hare, the lat
ter so called because of its long, donkey like
ears.
There are four well-marked varieties CT the
varying hare: ~ Var Americans, through
out the northern tier of the United States,
which is white in winter except the ear tips,
which are black bordered; only the ends of
the hairs are white, being lead colored be-
low. AS with most American mammals, the
largest and whitest specimens are found in
in the northern part of the range. Our deers,
rabbits ETC., are smaller and blacker toward
the south, (2) var. Vlrginianus. the south
ern varying hare, is found in northern
Ohio, and only differs from the New Ulm
specimen in being not SO white and in re-
tanning its winter livery for a shorter
time; (3) var Washington, is the form found
about Puget's sound, while (4) var Bairdi, is
an alpine form found in the Rocky mount
aims, and grading insensibly into the ex
treme eastern western and northern forms.
The whole series is good illustration of
what is known as geographical variation.
Were it not for the gradations found at the
borders of each faunal limit, these four
varieties would rank as species" The
same is true of the jackass hare, lepus col
latis sometimes sold on our market. This
"narrow-gauge mule'-one OF the most ride
ulous of our mammals-is represented by
both northern and a southern form. Ex-
tending through the lowlapds of the United
States are two other hares-the marsh hare,
lepus palustris, and the water hare, lepus
aquatIcus. These are rarely found about
sWamps and creeks on the lower Wabash, ex-
tending according to Edward Nelson and
Robert Ridgway, through the cane-brakes of
Cairo and up the Wabash to Mt. Carmel. So
it is not unlikely they both occur in SOUTH
ern Indiana. an r+ta.
In that case we have in Indiana three
species of hares-the lepus sylvaticus, our
common grey rabbit" also known as the
wood hare" and wood rabbit" and the
water and marsh hares
The whole groupis of the greatest interest.
They are mammals of temperate regions
only one, lepus timidus, being circumpolar-
found in the boreal parts of Asia, Europe
and America. The lowest of the group of
rodents, mainly nocturnal, vegetarians of
the simplest kind, living in swamps thickets
and forests, where they are shielded from
notable climatic influences. they exhibit less
geographical variation than many other
mammalian families although conforming
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26
DiO Lewis and Prohibition.

20 the Editor of the Indianapolis Journaa:
The well-known apostle OF the temperance
crusade, Dio Lewis, seems to have "grasped
distinction" to use his own terse language,
as published in the Journal of yesterday. He
distinguishes" between what he calls vice
and crime and concludes that prohibition of
the drink traffic is as much trespass On nat
ural rights as the fugitive slave law was, and
therefore, that it is wholly without authority
in right The clients of Daniel Webster,
Rufus Choate and John P. Hale thought that
they had ''grasped distinction" in the cele-
brated license cases of many years ago in the
Supreme Court of the United States But
they paid for their experience. and their
whole race has kept quiet on that subject
ever since, for the court was unanimous in
the opinion that the distinction was not
"grasped" at all, ]. e., that it was not nat
ural right secured by the supreme hill of
rights TO sell liquor as a beverage If Mr..
Lewis has never heard of the idea of ''puhlic
good" in this connection, he had better. read
these decisions and opinions of that court as
reported in 9Th Howard. He will learn there
something about the rights of communities
as of individuals, and that the rights of the
latter sometimes have to give way to the
former.
1t is idle to go over the arguments again
on the matters involved. suppose the rea-
son why the persons engaged in the drink
traffic in Maine, Kansas, parts of Kentucky
and Georgia, where it is prohibited, do not
grasp the distinction is because they have
tolerably intelligent lawyers to advise them
Of the well-settled principles of natural right
Fighting such questions in court is a good
deal shorter cut and a good deal cheaper
than at elections and in legislatures; but
those engaged in the liquor traffic know they
could have no standing in court on the
ground" Mr.. Lewis believes he has discov-
cred. The Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, as reported in 9TH Howard page ST.,
said: .r -..
"If any State deems the retail and internal
traffic in ardent splits injurious to its citizens
anu calculated to produce idleness, vice and de-
hauehery, / see nothing in the constitution of
the United States to prevent it from regulating
and restraining the traffic, from prohibiting
1t altogether, if il thinks proper"
Judge Mclean and the other Judges of the
same court used equally as strong language
on the same subject. All courts have since
maintained the same doctrine. Is it at all
likely that all judicial opinion has erred in
the attempt to grasp the distinction" as to
what are natural rights? Is it not more
likely that Mr. Lewis's discovery is another
case of Symmes's Hole? JOHN B. CONNER.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec 25.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26
Making a Third Party.
o the Editor OF the Indiananolis Ionrnal:

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
At the convention of the Grand Council,
in September last resolution was intro
duced favoring separate political action
After full and free discussion the resolu-
ton was voted down. The result of this vote
ought to have stopped all clamor for indie
pendent action at this time There are
many temperance organizations in the State,
but the Grand Council is the only organiza-
ton in which all the temperance people, "of
every name and order" can have voice and
vote. The action OF this convention ought
to be accepted by all Temperance men in the
State. 1t is small matter to organize a
small political party, but a big
thing to organize party that will
carry the country. Successful parties are
not made, they are born. Even if the tenn
perance people were unit in the new party
movement, many cool-headed men think it
would be unwise to organize at this time
But how very foolish 1t is for few men to
attempt such organization.
The Monitor-Journal is greatly iniuring its
usefulness and the cause that it has 50 faith
fully maintained by filing its columns with
articles favoring separate action. 1t has done
more-it has refused to publish articles be-
cause they opposed the new party and be-
cause they Endorsed the action of the Grand
OOuHCll' w udt QOeS Vie eX-
pect to accomplish by the organization of a
new party? Does the Monitor Journal
know of any place under the sun that has
procured prohibition, local option, or any
temperance legislation whatever, through or
by the organization of a temperance party?
We have prohibition, local option and strin-
gent regulations in some of the States. We're
any of these laws enacted by Temperance
party, or was a temperance party ever in
power in any State?
Temperance men and women of Indiana,
let us quit the party-making business and
return to the solid work of making temper
ance sentiment. A party cannot be made
without material. If there is a necessity for
a new party there will be a demand, and if
the material is ready when the demand is
made the new party will be born in day
ANDREWS, Dec. "a. S. M. MINNICH.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26

CINCINNATI. Hamilton and Indianapolis
Depart-Cineinnati, Dayton and Toledo 400 am
Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo
and New York 1850 am
Connersve Accommodation. 430 pun
Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo
ana New York EXPRESS -. 6;f0 pm
Arrive Connersville Accommodation. 8 80 am
Cincinnati, Peoria and st.
Louis am
Cincinnnti Accommodation. 500 pm
Cincinnati, Peoria and ST..
Louis 1910 nm
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26
Profits of western stooz.Raisipr.

General James A. Brisbin in Agricultural Review
A great many new beginners in stock-rais-
ing prefer sheep, because they are cheaper
and yield quicker returns, but they are also
more troublesome, more subject to loss, and
less satisfactory than cattle. tits we'll enough
to take all things into consideration before
beginning for it is hard to change when a
beginning is once made A sheep range will
not do for cattle range, and the animals do
not herd we'll together. The sheep eat down
the grass very close, so the cattle cannot get
hold of it, and they do not like the smell of
sheep. If left to themselves cattle will quit
sheep range and go to some other place
where they can Craze by themselves. They
have an incorporating antipathy to sheep
and if one begins in sheep he must keep on
in sheep, as it would be a fatal mistake to
attempt TO change sheep for cattle on the
same range. Unlike most of the stories sent
East of marvellous profits in the West those
about stock-raising are generally true Mr. H.
L. White, who was sent out by the New York
Tribune year or two ago to investigate the
stock business, expressed TO me his astonish-
ment at what he saw. Nearly every case
where he investigated he found the profits
had been understated rather than overstated
Some years before l had made trip up the
Platte river and examined the books of fif-
teen stock ranches, and was amazed at what
I cleaned; nearly every one of them were
making from "a to 60 per cent per annum
OIL Lu6 money luSy lldQ lHftSLeu1lJl CdOLlC
Suppose young man wishes to go into cat
tie. and has a little ready money. He invests
say 81, 200 in $50 yearling heifers, 500 in
twelve yearling steers, and 800 in young
bulls and 5000 in ranch Improvements. He
now has 81, 800 at stake and say $500 left in
cash. Then, if he will live economically and
attend TO his own business he can easily
live on $400 for two years and
pay all necessary expenses. He
then has his living provided for
at the end of which time he can sell ten three
year-old steers for at least 1925, and can from
time to time sell few younger steers to
meet necessary expenses Many heifers will
calve when two years DID, but we will only
credit them with so per cent. increase at
three years. Say he commences in 1881 in
1885 the increase will be 100 head; in 1884
100; in 1885, 100; in 1886 it will be 1853; in
1887, ZIG; and so on. He will, in 1887, have
been in business six years, and his herd of
$50 will have increased to 894, less an annual
loss of 2 per cent. ard necessary sales to
keep up expenses, which would leave, say,
$50 cattle, old and young, worth an average
OF $40 per head-$17, 000 He will now have
laid the foundation for a fortune, and his
profits will just be beginning to be felt. If
in the next four years, he is careful in man
agement, and has no extraordinary losses, he
will be worth $40, 900 to $50 900, and may SELL
first So, 600 then 81, 800 then $4,000, and
ultimately $25 600 worth of beef per annum.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26

pillow slab. 4c American drill steel. 14c; Sander
sons tool steel, 16e tire steel, 4e; spring steel,
keg, $500 horse nails, p box, 81, So; nail g
1od and larger, $3.50 p keg other sizes at the
usual advance.
TIMERS SUPPLIEs-Best brand charcoal tin
lC, lOx14. l4x2o 12xl2, 1878; TX, 1Ox14. lax
20 and * 12I12. $S. nc, l4x2o. roofing tin,
$50, &c. BOXES. 81 Ia; block tln in pigs, pic;
III bars 2Sc. Iron-27 B iron, sac 27 iron. &c;
galvanized, 40 ~ cent. discount. Sheet zinc, &c.
copper bottoms. 25c. Planished copper. 39c'
ooloer' 100 l7c. Wire, so y cent. on llsJ
LEATHER HIDES AND TALLOW-
LEATHER-Oak sole. 36042c; hemlock sole. %
0S3c; harness. 103Ic; skirting, 81 040c; black
9rldle y doz S6096o; fair bride $6O0zS
doz; city kip, 6ODSoc; French kip Soc 0Sl.20;
$1.158l.9o.
HIDES Green, 6lac; heavy steers, 7l9o; green
SAT- IA0Sc; green saued calf. lie; dry mint.
l2c; dry salJed 1O01lc Damaged one-third
OF tho above prices.
600.
TALLow-Prime, 6 lsc.
GREAsE-Br0wn, 4ls95c: white, 606l9c-
PRODUCE.
BUTTER-Creamerv. fancy. 80 036c: dairy. Sc
!ected, 2S030e; choice country, 15019c; poor
to fair. l0012e.
EGes0shippers paying CSC; selling from store
FEATHERS-Prime geese 45c - III: mixed duck,
SOC p ID. "
HoNEY-2o022ci in and 2.To caps.
FouLTRY-Hens. 707+sc y 10; ROSTERS. 40 ~
ID; dueks, So 1925 y doz; geese, S6065O " doz;
turkeys, LOG y 10.
WooL-Tuh-wsshe and picked. 30035c nm
washed medium ana common grades. If In good
order. 20 023c; unwashed fine. 1920: Cots
VOID 2Oc bury and understandable accord
ing TO their value.
PROVISIONS
WHOLESALE PRICEs-Prime steam lard, DC.
snort ribs (greenl. 714e. Sweet pioSled hams
fresh packed, 1O14c: shoulders. 51a052ac.
JoBBING PRICEs-Smoked Meats (Uncanvassed)
-Susar-cured hams Digit, medium and heavy,
13 lac; clear breakfast bacon, 11e English shout
ders, sac; clear shoulders, She; breasts, 7ASc;
Doneless ham, Toe; dried DeeI 15c; bacon fclear
sldesl, DC; backs bellies. Sec Dry Sailed
and Picked Meats-English cured clear sides,
backs or bellies tunsmoked), 8lsc; bean or clear
pork, y brl 200 TBS, $16 clear pork, y brl 200
ibs, S14 extra mess pork p hrl 200 ms. Sl3;
family beef, $3.50. Pure Leaf Lard-kettle-
rendered, in terces. Toe: IN half brls or Sob
tubs, 1olac; in 20-ib pals, lie; in 10-lb pals,
11lsc Oi-In tierces, zoe % gal; in half brls,
z2lsc. Sausage-BOlogna, In elotn, 7c i'll skin,
74sc.
Clover, SA.7505.25 blue grass, extra clean,
81 10; orchard grass, 81 80 Retail prices range
Is to 20 per cent. above the wholesale quota
lions given above
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26

Indianapolis and st LOUIS.
Derarr-T,av Express. daily c. e... 7:10 an
PARIS EXPRESS ..........--. $3.50 pun
Boston and st Louis EXpressp $50 pm
New York and st Louis EX-
press daily, g. ana c. c.--.--11:10 pm
Arrive New York and Boston Ex-
press, daily. C. .e...-.-.---..--- 400 am
900 Local Passenger p.--.--.-. $50 am
Indianapolis Express. 3:15 pm
Day Express, c. C., daily $50 pun
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26
A New Requirement in Modern Farming.
American A0rlculturist

A New Requirement in Modern Farming.
American Aguculturst.
A good farmer always needed skill, but in
the changed conditions of modern farming a
different kind of skill is needed from that re-
quired by our fathers and grandfatherS.
This is more largely the case West than East,
but true in both. Formerly it was mostly
manual skill i'll the use of SIMPLE implements,
such as the sickle, the scythe, and the COM
mon walking-plow. Now the farmer needs
TO know how to adjust, run and care for ma
ehinery. Machines properly handled call
for little manual expertness to run them.
But to manage the present implements re-
quires degree OF mechanical skill that a
large proportion of our farmers do
not possess. To comprehend the full
extent OF this change, compare
the modern threshing- machine with the
old-f ashioned fail, or the self-binding har-
vester with the old sickle, or its successor
the grain cradle. Every careful observer
must recognize the fact that the lack of skill
in using and caring for his machinery, is one
of the most potent sources of loss to the
farmer.
We have known one man to use mower
for ten years, without expending over $50 in
repairs-or So annually-while his neighbor
in cutting a smaller quantity of grass used
up three equally good machines in the same
time. Compare the expenses OF this one
item: First farmer expended $3.50, plus, say
so for interest-or 5000 in aTl-for ten years.
This is just $40 per annum; quite an item,
you win say. for mowing-tools alone,
but still much cheaper than now
ing with the scythe. The other wore out
three machines, $500, to which add repairs.
say same as the other. $50, and interest on
500 for ten years. $40; on 800 (the second
machine, for six years. $40; and on another
800 (the third machine, for three years.,
$21, and you have grand total S463-or
$40. so per annum-an annual expense OF
more than twice as much as the other The
same calculations concerning the harvester,
the sulky pillow, the hay rake, and other
farm Implements, make an enormous differ
ence in the cost to the man who is unskilled
in using and caring for them, An import
ant inquiry is, how the present difficulty can
be remedied.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26
A Good Time to Paint.

New England Farmer. st"t'' -f4
There is no better time to paint buildings
than during the pleasant days in winter.
Paint spread in cold weather makes better
covering for the wood than if laid on when
the wood is hot and excessively dry, so that
the oil is Immediately absorbed, leaving the
lead or other material used as a ehalky sAeh-
stance on the surface ready in a few monThs
to rub off or be washed by rains 1t will re-
quire a little more paint at q single coat in
cold than in warm weather, as the oil will
be thiekened little by the cold, but then it
will stay where it is put, and a second coat
will be less needed.
One advantage in painting now is the alb
sence of flies and other small insects which
in warm weather often make freshly-laid
paint look anything but attractive. II there
is snow on the ground to cover the earth and
prevent dust and leaves from being blown
into the paint, all the better. In the very
coolest weather it may be well to keep the
materials in warm room, as the paint will
spread more easily than if cold enough to
freeze water. 1t is good plan, too, as far
as may be, to keep on the sunny side of build
ings, painting the east sides in the morning
and the west in the afternoon. The north
sides may be painted in the middle OF pleas
ant days, and the south side when it would
be too cold to work anywhere else.
All the plain, outside painting of farm
er's buildings may Just as we'll be done by
himself and his ordinary farm help as by
professional painter though it might be well
to employ one such to do the more difficult
portions and to give advice and oversee the
work. Excellent paints now come mixed
all ready to spread, so that but little practice
will be required for green hand" of ordi-
nary ability to become equal to any ordinary
farm painting If owners of buildings would
paint them a little oftener, one coat would
always be enough to put on at a time. 1t is
the long-neglected work that takes oil up at
fearful rate, the wood being full of little
checks which absorb like q sponge. thin
coat on the surface of solid wood is equal to
heavier coat half absorbed by air checks.
A building painted with one good coat every
third year will always look well, while the
wood will be thoroughly protected. A paint
ed house is warmer than an implanted one,
the paint filling many joints that would let
cold winds through.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26
Chicago livestock Market.

CHICAGO, Dec. 24.--The Drovers' Journal re-
ports: Hogs-Receipts, 10000; shipments, none.
The general market was slow and but little
done; packing hogs, $4 S595 so; heavy pack
ing and shipping, So. 5o05.9o; light bacon, $3.50
05.40 skips, So 5005.
Cattle-Reeeipts, 10000: shipments, none. The
market was strong; export cattle. S5.90O6.50;
good 10 choice shipping steers. So, 4006; com
mon TO medium, S40 10; inferior to fair COWS,
So. 40 a. Is; m edum to good So. 3O042 rs; stock
ers, SO I'D; feeders, So. 1914 so.
Sheep--Reeeipts. 10, 600: shipments, none. Tie
market was steady; inferior to fair sheep, So. so
9375 per 100 lbs; medium to good, $40455
cuoice TO extra, 81 5005.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26
Farming Too Many Acres.

Minnesota tribune.
In recent journey through good portion
Of the State for agricultural purposes we are
more satisfied than ever, from the observa-
tions we were enabled to make, that il would
be better for the farmers to cultivate less
land and to work it more thoroughly than
they do now. If they would be satisfied to
farm fewer number of acres, and put as
much work on the less number as they do
now on the whole, they would make more
money and make it easier than they do in
cultivating so much land, and lin consequence
of so much ground to go over it cannot re-
ceive the consideration it should. We have
no doubt that the more grain, produced to
the acre the less it will cost per bushel.
Farmers in many instances do not consider
the difference between a bountiful and a
small yield With less acreage in crops the
better opportunities are afforded the farm
ers 70 bestow more work ON that which is in
cultivation. 1t is seldom that a man who
has 500 acres in crops gets as good yield
per acre as the one has who cultivates 100
acres.