davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02
How Watch Cases are Made.

In buying silver watch case great care
should be taken to secure one that is solid
silver Throughout. The cap of most cheap
silver cases is made Of a composition known
as albata, which is very poor substitute
for silver, as it turns black in a short time.
The backs of such cases are made much
thinner than those of an all silver case,
being robbed in order to make the cap
thicker and get in as much as possible of
the cheap metal. Another important point
in asilver case is the joints or hinges, which
should be made of gold. Those of most
cheap cases are made of silver, which is
not a suitable metal for that purpose. In
brief period it warps, bends and spreads
apart, allowing the backs to become loose
upon the case and admitting the dust and
dirt that accumulate in the pocket. The
Keystone SilverWa tch Cases are only made
with silver caps and gold joints.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, Feb. II, 1883.
cannot but and give testimony that
the Keystone Solid Silver Watch Gases are the best
made to our knowledge. Having soldering they re-
be were they heated for soldering, and have more
resisting against than any other
in the market. MERMoD d JAccARD JEwELRY Co.
Send stamp Keystone Watch Case Factories Pha.
dephia Pa Pamphlet showing how
James Boss and Keystone Watch Gases made.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02
The title Of Esquire.

This word, in the primary meaning,
is ''shield bearer. In the early middle
ages this was called scut;ter, from the
Latin scut,sm, q shield, and Zero, I
bear. This, in the old French, became
escttyer. from which the transition to
its English form was easy and natural.
In England esquires may be divided
into five classes; he who does not be-
long to one of them may or may not be
gentleman, but is no esquire
!. Younger sons of peers and their
eldest sons.
2. Eldest sons of knights and their
eldest sons.
8. Chiefs Of ancient families (by
prescription.)
4. Esquires by creation or Office, as
heralds and sergeants-at-arms, judges
justices of the peace, the higher nava
officers and military doctors in the sew
eral faculties and barristers.
5. Each knight of the bath appoints
two esquires to attend upon him at his
installation and at coronations.
No estate, however large, confers this
rank upon its owner.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02
Wonderful Sleepers.
from Little Folks MaQazine.1

A wonderful case is on record of a
snail which went to sleep on March "a,
1916, and did not wake up till March Z,
1850. It seems that this snail was
picked up in the Egyptian desert, and
as he had retired to the topmost recesses
OF the whorls of his shell he was
gummed on q piece of cardboard, as
though dead, labeled with the date, and
sent to the British museum. He slept
unconcernedly for four years, when,
showing some signs of life, the author
tiles ordered him tepid bath, and at
the first touch of the wholesome moisture
the snail thrust forth his head very
cautiously, and then commenced to
walk to the top of the basin. The west
African mudfsh affords another instance
of long continued existence in astate Of
torpor. This fish known as the Lapi-
dosiren lives among the shadows of
the River Gambia, which are completely
dry during the tropical summer, but be-
fore the drought comes the mudfish is
wise enough to hide deep down in the
soft clay at the bottom Of the pools, and
there it lies in torpid state for months
together, while the surrounding mud
hardens into cake. While in this
state the natives dig them up and prize
them as great delicacy for the table.
That be. does not live without breathing
the mudfsh proves by leaving q small
pipe open from his cell leading through
the hard mud to the open air.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02
How They do in SaraWak.


The Sarawak Gazette. which we re-
ceive this morning, contains an account
of an interesting piece of Dyak law. It
appears that if a married man is unduly
familiar with a married woman, and it
comes to her husbands knowledge, the
husband is perfectly justified in lying in
wait for the man with bludgeon and
inficting sound cudgeling on him.
So, too, the wife of the beaten man is
entitled to her revenge on the woman
with whom her husband has got into
trouble. It is forbidden, however,
perhaps in order to shield the woman
from disgrace in the eyes of her chill
dren-that the beating in this case
should take place indoors, and
accordingly the outraged woman
"secretes herself near some bathing
place or on some farm-path which she
knows her victim is in the habit of U.S.
ing," and there belabors her. No one
who ever reads our divorce court re-
ports can doubt that that there would
be some advantages even in "Sarawak-
ing" England. Sometimes, indeed,
people take the law into their own
hands here-thcre was a case of the
kind before one of the police magis
trates only yesterday; but a recognized
beating with bludgeon is, at any rate
a better form of vengeance than the
throwing of sulphuric acid or vitriol.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02
A Transparent Fence.

From the San Francisco Chronice.l
Every person who has been to Oak
land on the narrow gauge route since
the new depot was opened has, no
doubt, noticed the high fencing that
separates the wagon road on the trestle.
work from the railroad tracks. A few
weeks ago it was discovered that by
looking out the windows of the cars and
steadily at the fence, a full view of Oak
land, the surrounding hills, the vessels
on the creek, and even the sea-wall,
which is comparatively low, can be dis
tinctly seen. Inquiry disclosed the
fact that the fence was only transparent
during certain hours of the day-that
is, one can only see through it when
the fence isEin the shadow of the cars,
and that when the sun was shining on it
it was simply big board fence, shut
ting out the view from that side. The
fence itself was inspected. It is con-
structed of half-inch boards, and is
closely built, the boards being only
about an eighth of an inch apart, and
the only way that the matter can be &C.
counted for is that the cracks are all
run into one. It is the same principle
that prevents person from seeing the
spokes on the big wheel of bicycle
that is being driven fast, and which en-
ables one to see clear through the wheel
as if it were q large hoop.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02
JIM's STORY.
BIZ @. II. Y.

The dddlers are dumb
And loud Ia the hum
FROM those who moment ago were tho dancers:
ask In . whisper
And haste makes It crisper-
miss claire, claire, yin you grant mo your hand for the
Our sets on the floor,
There's music once more,
laugh In my soul at the thrill from her fingers;
NO word have we spoken y ~
We've passed no love token,
Except, it's the truth, I've her lilac, syrineas.
Yet look at her blush,
Ere out of the crush ~.
We rescued adroitly her daintiest laces!
know by those 70 es
That nothing opposes ..s
MY finding her kind in the right kind OF places.
steer for the swing
That tWo-seated thing.
That Cousin Jemima has.swung for her nieces:
"For, begging your pardon,
'Iis sweetin the garden, ..-
BY moonlight the mocking-bird's song ncve,
81! needs my support
IT'S easy to court
When nearness and darkness are belninp thf
But, OIL there's wild laughter,
And-"what are you after 2"
Inc girl last hirted with, there discover
Yes, there by the swing,
The mean little thing ~
She leans the shoulder Of Claire,s only brothe,
"You talk like q poet
You know how know it,
She sneers, and think surely must smother
The addles begin
Again their sweet din.
My lady's next partner to meet her comes running
don't feel sweethearty,
rush from that party,
The sweetest of matdens cen yet am stunning.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02
Chicago, ROCK ISLAND & PACIFIC R. R.

Is THE GREAT CONNECTING LINK
Its main line runs from Chicago to Council
Bluffs, passing Through Joliet, Qttawa, La Saile,
Mones sssss q io1
tic. and Avooa; with branches from Bureau
Junction to Peoria; Wilton junction to Musca-
tine: Washington, Fairasld. Eldo1. 6elknaP.
ron, Leavenworth, Atchison and Kansas City;
Washington to SiEourney, Oskaloosa, and Knox
Vile; Keokuk to Pennington. Bonaparte. Ben
vile. Sskaleoss, Peia Monros ana Dss hoines;
Newton to Monroe: Des Noines to IndianOla and
Winterset; Atlantic e Lewis and Audubon; and
70 HTSn i sS
line from Chicago into the State Of Kansas.
Through Express Passenger Trains, with Pun.
man Palace Cars attached. are run each way daily
C COUNCIL Bluffs, LEAvESWonTH ana ATc1I.:
Son. Through cars are also run between Milwau.
h,e and Kansas City. via the Milwaukee and
The Great ROCK island" 10 ragniacently
equipped. Its road bed is sinply perfect and it,
track is laid with steel rails.
What will please you most will be the pleasure
Sesntfi,i praries Of illinois and Iowa, in one Of
our magnificent Dining Cars that accompany all
Through Express Trains. You get an entire
meal as good as is served In any dfst-class hotel
Approaching the fact that majority Of The
purposes land the immense passenger business
nounce that this Company runs Pullman Relacl
Sleeping Cars for sleeping purposes, and Palace
PULLMAN PALACE CARS are e
COUNCIL RLUFEe. KAN0A0 CITY,
Tickets Via this Line, known as The
For Information not 0bt01nAAlo 09 y
a. KIMBALL,
0onl Suporint0n600S
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02

ground floors as lumber rooms. Every
thing is topsy-turvy in Venice. Horses
are curioEities kept in the Zoo. The
streets are OF water, and garrets are on
the ground floor.
Entering the courtyard we found a
flight OF great stone steps, and down
these came Mr.. Graham to meet us.
a friend of Meadis," said Grist, and
I got cordial welcome from Graham.
The usual inquiries were made after
the sculptor, his family, where he was
living, and by this time I was so
STEPPED to the lips in deception that
answered all the questions with the
minuteness of an old and valued friend
of MeaRs.
At parting that afternoon, after visit
ing all the galleries, the Doge's Palace,
etc., all of which, though a wonderful
experience to me, must have been an
awful bore to twenty years. resident,
Grist said:
"We're going to have little dinner
tonight, some of the boys will be here.
I'll call round for you"
II really can't come," I said. @Heav-
ems and earthl I've imposed enough
on you already. The fact is-and I'm
ashamed to tell it-now that
"Look here. I've told them you're
coming. Well depend on you. Any
friend OF Mead's is as welcome
And he was gone.
I began to wonder whether, if I were
drowned in one of the canals, would
pop up in the next world in my own
personality or as friend of Mead's.
resolved to write to Mead, and tell him
how had been gradually surrounded
by this chain of circumstances, and beg
him to say when he came to Venice
that I was one of his true and tried
friends, or, at least, distant relative
of his family, but this is the first writ
ing I have done on the subject. It
serves two objects-I get in 80 much
newspaper work, and it may chance to
catch the eye of Meade, as the "per-
sonal" advertisements say. It is hard
for a newspaper man to write an ordi-
nary letter; it seems just so much
copy thrown away.
The dinner passed off splendidly, and
We drank to Mead ard the rest drank
the health of his friend.
At the railway station I said to Grist
who was seeing me off:
II don't know how to thank you fol
your kindness to me-"
"Don't mention it. Any friend oil
Meadis is"
eyes, but that's just it. I've been
wanting to say"
"Partenza!" shouted the guard, and
the train moved off.
Remember me to Mead" shouted
Mr.. Grist.
The friend of Mead's sat back in his
seat and groaned.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02
Points of q Good Farm Horse.

A Vermont reader of the Prairie
Farmer, who is an enthusiastic admirer
of the "Morgans," which are indeed fine
animals as the farmers of that state
have them, and those of many other To-
calities. also, writes find in my news
paper scrap-book description that very
nearly tallies with the good Morgan
horses that we have here. The best
horses for the farm and for most other
purposes, should possess a good degree
of intelligence. A full, clear eye, with
no wicked leer, is set in clean, long
face, expressing a mild disposition.
His neck is well arched, not short or
over long, with well developed muscles.
Shoulders strong and solid at the base.
Back straight, firm, hairy, having what
Virgil calls a double spine, and Joined
to the rump by an even mass of muscle.
Barrel round and chest deep; his wind
strong and digestion perfect. Such q
horse may be of any size from 800
pounds to 1900; of any height from Is
hands to 164 hands; of any color, al
though bays, browns, sorrels, and grays
are the best, and he will be capable of
great endurance on the road or at the
pillow. He should be selected with ref
erence to the work he is to perform and
the locality in which he is to live.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02

LORD BEAcoNsFIELD's grave is very
carefully attended by the sexton in
charge, and perpetual succession of
flowers is kept up all the year around.
The Queens wreath, looking very aged,
still keeps it's place on the grave.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02
SH()R |
Inc.
CHICAGO,
NJ !LWAykEE
AND ST: paul:

II owns and operates over 4, 600 miles of road in
Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa aud
Dakota; and as s main lines, branches and conn-c-
lions reach ell the great business centres Of the
Northwest and Far West, it naturally answers the
description of Short Line, and Best Route between
Ch,easo. Milwaukee, Ste Paul and
GGicSg.,, Milwaukee,, Portage, La
suisse sand q aunssa.
ChecssEc, Mi5W :.ssa a.s'. S>HtI5sysele,
tbersieesl Rs.0 E:ss->aGase.
Chicago, NIasy atske.. stsu Claire and
Saltwater.
Chicago, Milwaukee, Beaver Dam,
FOND du Lac aud Oshkosh.
Chicago. milwaukee,. Wauke>ha and
Chicago. MilNyaukee, Madison and
Prairle du CHEN.
Chicago. milwaukee,. OwatOHna,
Mankalo and Earibault.
Chicago: Reloit. Janesviile ans Min
Chicago, Eiein, Rockford and Du-
Chicago, Clint9s. Rock Island. Cedar
RAPIDS nnd rama.
st..a ssEassas.a.
Chicago, .ant"e', Sioux City, Siusax
TAILS ss.sd YanksOn.
Chicago, MIlW;s na &C, Albert Lea and
Ss,Etsicrsl ls1is, n~soIs Points,
Chicago, Esilwankee. nasoi. City,
M S.l'cnsia and .s. G.an,beS g, H.. -
minneapolis.
Davenport, CalmaT, st. Paul and
minneapolis.
Milwaukee, Racine, Bel0it, FreepOrt
and akOcK Island.
Mitchell, WOl>ey, Ashton and aber-
Jim River Valley Line,l
Pullman SEeepe3s anG the FTssest
DtafnU Cars IL. the sC0r}d are run on the
main lines Of the INCA 60. MyLWAU.
KEE d At. PAUL Railway, and
every attention is paid to passengers by courteous
employees Of the Company.
3. s. Merrill. A. v. II. Carpenter,
GEM Manager Gen'l Pass. geut
J. T. Clark, Geo. n. teafford,
Genl Sup&. Asst Gen' Pass Agt
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02

w. w. VAN H1sE, q well. known stock
trader of West Chester, Butler County,
O., was kicked in the abdomen by a
sheep while unloading d car load of
those animals at the Union Railroad
Stock Yards, Cincinnati, and died soon
after.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02
HOrSeshOes for Luck.

from the Gentleman's Magazine
The principal gateway at Allahabad
is thickly studded with horseshoes of
every size and make. There are hun
dreds of them nailed all over the great
gates, doubtless the offerings of many a
wayfarer who has long since finished
his earthly pilgrimage. We could not
find out what was the exact idea con-
nected with this custom-probably
much the same notion of luck as we at
tach to finding horseshoe, especially
one with the old nails still in their
place. We afterward noticed that the
sacred gates of Somnath, preserved in
the fort at Agra, are similarly adorned.
It reminded us of that curious old
immortal rite still kept up at Oakham,
Rutlandshire, where every peer of the
realm is bound the first time he enters
the town to present a horseshoe to be
nailed on the old portal, which is we'll
nigh covered with these lordly tributes.
It is said in case any contumacious
peer should refuse to pay this tax the
authorities have right to stop his
carriage and levy their blackmail by
unshoeing one of his horses. To avert
SO serious an annoyance the tribute
shoe is generally ready, some being of
enormous size and inscribed with the
name of the donor. Whether these
Eastern horseshoes were taxes or Offer
ings cannot tell, but it certainly is
very curious to observe how widespread
is the superstitious reverence attached
to this particular form. It has been
suggested, and apparently with some
reason, that in ancient pagan times it
may have been a recognized symbol in
serpent-worship, and hence may have
arisen it's common use as q charm
against all manner of evil. The resem-
blance is obvious, more especially to
that species of harmless snake which Is
rounded at both ends, so that the head
and tail are apparently just alike. The
creature moves backward or forward at
pleasure; hence the old belief that it
actually had two heads and was indie
structible, as even when Ont in two
parts it was supposed that the divided
heads would seek one another and re-
unite. It stands to reason that in q
snake-worshiping community such a
CIo6blAIe WOu1u 10 u04U IN Q1R0 f0V0r-
ence. Even in Scotland various an
cient snake.ike bracelets and orna-
ments have been found which seem to
favor this theory, and at very early
period both snakes and horseshoes
seem to have been engraved as symbols
on sacred stones. We hear of the lat
ter having been sculptured, not only
on the threshold of old London houses
but even on that of ancient churches in
various parts of Britain. And in the
present day We all know the idea Of
luck connected with finding one, and
how constantly they are nailed up or
houses, stables, and ships as a charm
| against witchcraft. In Scotland, al
parts of England, and Wales. and es
pecially in Cornwall where not onl,
on vans and omnibuses, but sometimeI
even on the grim gates of the old iails)
we may find this curious trace of an
oient superstition. Whatever may hav,
been its origin, it certainly is remark
able that it should survive both in Brit
ain and HindOstan.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02

number branded on the horn, together
with the certificate of the veterinary
surgeon OF the soundness Of the animal,
and it being free from foot and mouth
dlsease, the collector Of the customs at
the port OF destination in the United
States to be duly advised Of each ship
ment from this consulate, giving the
number OF beads Of cattle, and also the
numbers branded on the horns, CORE
spending with the attested certificates.
Two Crops Of Lambs Year.
In the spring Of 1882, after washing
our sheep, supposing that no evil
would result from it, we let the ram run
with our breeding ewes (then sucking
lambs dropped from March Is to April
l6) until shearing. In the fall, about
November /, fifteen or eighteen of
these same ewes dropped lambs, the
result OF letting the ram run with them
from washing to shearing time. When
We began feeding for the winter we
liked place in one of the stables SO
the lambs could enter and the ewes
could not, and sprinkled some bran and
salt in trough. Very soon the lambs
learned to 60 there, and in short time
they would run for their pen to get
their rations as greedy as litter of
pigs for mess Of milk. We fed them
literally through the winter and they
came out in the spring in fine condi-
ton. Encouraged by their nice APP
pearance We turned our ram with the
ewes again on the 9th of May, and will
try our luck again with fall lambs. At
washing time this spring we washed
the lambs, thinking we would shear one
or two; and if thought profitable would
shear the whole lot. The first one
clipped fleece that weighed exactly
five poands. Encouraged by this we
sheared the other twelve, and from the
lot got fifty-four pounds of wool, which
we sold along with other wool at the
same price. Some of the advantages,
we think, from raising fall lambs, would
be the great demand as early lambs
from the butcher. The lambs learning
to eat so soon do not rely on milk
so much for their support, thus reliev-
ing the dams from such strain on
their system, and coming through the
winter in good condition, go on grass
without checking their growth, as is
very often the case with spring lambs
when weaned and turned on dry feed,
as must necessarily be done in that
season of the year; besides the wool
will more than pay for what they con-
sumo through the winter, as I am sat-
isfied was trae in my case. The ewes
came through the winter in fine condi-
ton, and when I weaned the lambs
they were in much better condition
than I ever had ewes when the lambs
were weaned in the fall, and sheared an
average of Z 1925 pounds per fleece.
A lot of thirty-two yearlings, wintered
with the ewes, clipped an average of 9
3-16 pounds per head, all nicely washed
wool, and all sold at market prices.
would say to those who are prepared to
properly care for fall lambs to give it q
trial. Ny sheep are high-grade me.
rinos.- Cor. Ohio Farmer.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02

BETWEEN THE EAST y THE WEST!
Dining Cars tor eating purpeSes only. One other
great fsstu5e Of our Palace Cars is sAn0KiH9
Magnificent Iron Bridges span the M!sslasippi
and Missouri rivers at all points crossed BY this
necttons being made in Union Depots.
THIS TnI os aREAT THROUGH LINE ARE AS
A GREECE: With Ill livsrsias lines for the
4, A & ESsEsTsSp, with the L. s*x.s- and p.
,MWAsHiNsTeX 1srsHrs with r. G. 4 B.
AZ "a sA1Ls, With NJ Cent R.
A&tfthS IL. VIA. MI, .sa < 81. - =
Island Short Line" and Rock Ispd 9 feo. Rda.
4 D , =. = with tho Davenport Dl''''on
At WEST Li1rHTY, With the B., c. r. MR.
At aRINNELI. with Central Iowa
PES Mo!NEs With p; r. r. T. = =: e
AfoNAIA, with B. Z NO r q: II n Neb2
AtCOLuMIUsJ UNcTIoN.with1. C. r. IN. R:R
AZ OTIuAwA. Witn GentrA * Iowa n W.
AZ kEoKUK, With Toll, Pee. Z war; Wab., st.
Louis Pac., and st. L, kee: = NV. y. Rds.
AZ CANERoN. with II. st. J: r. r.
sss md Hta g. Tessls d SAINT. F'
Al LE1vENwonTH, with Kan. Fao., and Kan.
oi xskl1Ns1 1 CITY. With a,l u..s for the Yves.
!, ~ thEs.sh g FEoRIA, 1Es AL0LNEs.
= Great 1eck Island Roate,'' are sold ~
g heno aeket sAes, address,
II. ST. JOHN.
asaa Tkt. aad Paas,2E AT: :,
.->11o, U
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-07-02
Blue Grass Va. Corn.

The method Of handling cattle on the
celebrated bluegrass farm of Jas. N.
Browns sons in Sangamon County, Ill.,.
is something out of the common order
of things in the West.
These gentlemen own about 5000
acres of as fine land as there is in this
fertile state. It lies in the heart of the
great corn belt yet they do not plant an
acre of corn to feed their 1000 head of
cattle. Indeed they do not feed the
article except in case of protracted
severe storm. They always purchase a
small amount for such contingency.
Their cattle live, thrive and grow fat
upon bluegrass alone. Their pastures
are old and each year adds to the guam
dty and value of the grass crop. They
NOW but little hay, less than fifty acres
per year. They say that one hundred
acres Of grass will furnish as much
fattening food as sixty -six acres of corn.
The cost Of growing the corn makes it's
feeding Improbable as compared with
pasturage. They buy young animals
and fatten them upon bluegrass. put
ting on some 300 pounds of fine beef
between April and July, and they sell
them weighing from / 400 to 1900
pounds, realizing the very highest
market prices. OF course they pur-
chase good grade Short-horn stock. as
these alone will ripen at as early an age
as they wish to have them Prairie
Farmer.