davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-05

That forests preserve moisture in the
soil, and water in the springs;
that mountains covered with timber
protect lowlands from destructive fresh
cts, is true, and cannot be too strongly
impressed on the public; but it is not
necessary to mix error with truth, and
try to make people believe that by
planting a few trees they can change
the climate of whole continent.
In Virginia the droughts for the last
ten years and more are disheartening to
farmers, and they talk of the good old
times before the war, when seedtime
and harvest never failed, lamenting the
dry seasons that now prevail in the well
wooded mountains, as well as in the
low country. Yet the whole country
is growing up to trees, the old fields
beng quickly covered with pines. On
my own farm. field that was in corn
eleven years ago, is now an almost i'm.
penetrable thicket. Surely, if tress af-
feet rainfall, the Virginians may well
say, Down with the trees, for they
bring drought"
We really know very little about the
causes that bring about an increase or
diminution in the annual rainfall. Two
French philosophers, Fautrat and Sar-
trlaux, found that about one-twelfth
more rain fell over piece of forest than
over the adjoining country. This fact
went the rounds OF the papers as proof
that the foliage of trees attracted rain,
until it was pointed out that the expert
ments extended from February to July
about half before the leaves opened
and half afterward, and that the trees
received quite as much rain when EN-
tirely bare as when covered with foliage,
and even one-sixth more in March,
when there was no foliage to invite rain
or condense the vapor.
A lew years ago, when spending somt
time in Utah. l noticed that Great Sail
Lake was rising, Some fences, once OIL
dry land, were under water, and the rise
of the water was said to average one
foot year. The inhabitants SAID the
animal amount OF rain was increasing.
Some attributed it to the orchard and
shade trees they had set out, forgetting
that for every tree planted hundred OF
more we're cut down on the mountains
Others thought it was due to plowing
and cultivation, others were sure thai
the iron rails of the Pacific Railroad
brought electricity and rain from the
East. A like increase of rain prevailed
and perhaps still prevails, in Western
Kansas and Nebraska. Forgetting theil
destructive droughts, the papers asserted
that ram followed civilization, with lts
clearing, plowing and narrowing. This
was certainly pleasant view of the
subject to an incoming population, ant
for those who had lands to sell.
The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-05

Thousands and tens of thousands of
children are dying all around us, who,
because their ever-developing nature
demands sweetness, crave and eagerly
demolish the adulterated "candies"
and "syrups" of modern times. If
these could be fed on honey instead
they would develop and grow up into
healthy men and women.
Children would rather eat bread and
honey than bread and butter. One
pound of honey will reach as far as two
pounds Of butter, and has, besides, the
advantage of being far more healthy
and pleasant-tasted, and always remains
good, while butter soon becomes rancid
and Otter produces cramp in the stom-
ach, ,eructatons, sourness, vomiting and
diarrhoea. Pure honey should always
be freely used in every family. Honey
eaten upon wheat bread is very benef-
cial to health. The use of honey
instead of sugar in almost every kind
Of cooking is as pleasant for the palate
as it is healthy for the stomach. In
preparing blackberry, raspberry or
strawberry shortcake it is infinitely
superior.
1t is common expression that honey
is luxury, having nothing to do with
the life-giving principle. This is an
error-honey is food in one of its most
concentrated forms. True, it does not
add so much to the growth of muscles
as does beefsteak, but it does ilnpart
other properties no less necessary to
health and vigorous physical and intel
lectual action. 1t gives warmth to
the system, arouses nervous energy
and giyes-Vigor to all the vital func-
tions. To the laborer 1t gives strength
Ito the business man mental force.
Its effects are not like ordinary stlm,
ulants, such as spirits, etc., but produce
a healthy action, the results of which
are pleasing and permanent-a sweet
disposition and bright intellect.
The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-05

An industry Of considerable impor-
tance among the farmers Of this part
of the country in the fall is that of nut
gathering. There are chestnuts, hlck-
ory nuts, black walnuts, hazelnuts, and
butternuts; and they have commercial
value respectively in the order named.
The price for early chestnuts varies
from S. to SS per bushel-depending
somewhat on their quality as well as
upon the prospects of large or small
crop. When these nuts are plentiful
the price sometimes falls to 50 and very
rarely to ST.. so per bushel.
There is popular belief that the
chestnut burrs do not burst until
touched by sharp frost. This error
is so easily dissipated by a little obser-
vation that one is surprised to hear
farmers calculating upon an early har-
vest of nuts following an early frost.
The burrs crack only upon maturing.
Hickory nuts were plentiful last year
They have been scarce for some years,
and the prices have ranged from 81 TO So
per bushel. The nuts last year reached
50 bushel in the local markets, and
after that they rapidly declined in price.
Black walnuts were comparatively
plentiful last year, although becoming
more scarce every year. The producer
rarely gets over rs cents a bushel for
these nuts, and The average price is
from 30 to so cents, although they are
occasionally drug in the market at
10 cents.
Butternuts are not as plentiful as IN
some former years, but as they possess
only triaing mercantile value no ac-
count is made Of their scarcity. They
rarely bring 10 OF 15 cents a bushel, but
they possess a pleasant taste and are to
be found in the larder Of every we'll
regulated farmhouse for winter use.
The hazelnuts (Corylus Americana
were plentiful last year. This nut is
trIfle smaller than the European filbert
| (Corylus AYellana), is nearly as delicious
but possesses a tougher shell. 1t has
no standard commercial value, though
it sometimes brings so cents and even
81 bushel among those who desire the
nuts for winter use.
In Sullivan and Delaware counties
beechnuts are occasionally plentiful.
They are shaped like buckwheat kernels,
and are very sweet-havored. While
having no commercial value, they are
highly priced by the inhabitants, many
of whom gather and eat them during
the winter
The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-05

lot owners in clayey sections, who are
at a loss to know what to plant that
will thrive. The trees delight in free
exposure, and let it be said also that
they must be kept away from tine shade
and drip of other larger trees if it is
ever expected to have them do well.
They may be planted in rather narrow
places between houses, provided there
is free admission of air and sunshine,
and here if they would in time show a
disposition to widen out in their growth
beyond what would be considered desir-
able, they can be pruned to any extent
to keep them within bounds. Indeed,
the trees thrive under the free use of
the pruningknife as few others will
and if spurred close in, they form COM
pact heads and flower finely. One
member of this genus is the English
hawthorn, which is well known as the
great hedge plant of Europe, and which
bears pruning so admirably. 1t may be
proper to add that the small-leaYed
kinds bear hard pruning the best, and
ON this account are TO be preferred fol
small areas.
The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-05

The famous Kentucky caves In the
United States, have a formidable rival
in the Fish river caves, New South
Wales, which form one of the natural
wonders Of Australia. From the off,
cial catalogue of she New South Wales
Court at the Calcutta Exhibition, we
learn that these caves are of vast ex-
tent, and singularly attractive, having
a great variety of very intricate galleries
or passages, only to be travelled in safety
under the care of the experienced local
guide employed by the Government.
The subterraneous scenes herein dis
closed are indeed magnifcent-well
worth the time and trouble of paying
them a visit. There is whole group
of these grand subterraneous halls and
bewildering galleries, and each one of
the series is known by different
name: The New Cave, the Lucas
Cave, the Belle Cave, the I.ur-
line Cave, etc. Several objects of
great interest are to be viewed at and
in the Fish River caves; and amongst
these are the Great Archway, the Car.
lotta Arch, the Meeting of the Creeks,
the Pinnacle Rock, the Interiors, the
outside entrances and adjacent wood
land scenes. The Carlotta Arch-a
curious natural archway in the rocks
excites much astonishment and admira-
tion. These caves, so remarkable for
their stalactitic and stalagmitic forma-
tions, are of such an immense extent
that whole days are necessary for their
due exploration, One of these enor-
nous caverns is estimated TO be not
less than 500 feet in height, and of a
proportionate length and breadth. The
strange forms gradually assumed by the
drippings of the limestone rocks
throughout are almost infinite, and not
to be anywhere else surpassed in beauty.
In one place there is the weird, rock
like semblance of well-stocked mena-
gerie; and in another place thependants
from the roof and slabs below are Of a
still more fantastic and extraordinary
character. When lighted up with the
magnesium wire these sublime palaces,
(which Natures hands have deftly
formed" )" present truly gorgeous spec
tacle, being filled with delicate pend
ants and dropping sprays, gigantic col
umns and shadowy'arches-all resplend-
: ent with dazzling, Elusive gems. In
: the New Cave, the scene developed by
the magnesium light is described (by
Burton) as "one of surprising lowell
ness" " the appearance of heavy fall OF
I snow being produced; the rocks in the
rear presenting to the imagination 9
: black. frowning sky. Occasionally 8
sparkling waterfall heIghtens the effect
o Of the scene. The Government ha'
Q had constructed number of wire lad
d ders for the convenience of visitors il
n ascending and descending some of th'
2 caves.
The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-05
Time-Locks.

Since the first time-lock was made in
England, in 1881, there have been many
devices for time-locks, many of which
have been patented in this country,
and these have been the source of long
continued and expensive litigation. The
application of dynamite to burglary has
presented new problem to the safe
makers and the lockmakers. 1t was
thought that the acme of protection
was assured when the safemakers made
a safe without any keyhole or any crew
ice by which an explosive could be in
reduced, or any exterior surface which
could be drilled, or wedged or pried.
But the latest device of the burglar to
set the time-lock going, by cQncussion
from the outside, presented a new pro-
blem to be solved, in order that the evo-
luton Of safe and locl1-making should
keep pace with the evolution of bur-
glary.
1t appears to be generally conceded
that no safe can be made that cannot be
opened by experts in a given time. The
utmost that the safe and lockmakers
profess to do now, is to make the bur-
glars work SO difficult that they cannot
do the robbery within the time in which
safe is most accessible to them. The
latest problem for the time lock makers
was, therefore, to arrange their mechan-
ism so that dynamite shock from the
outside of safe would not either dis
lodge the lock from its fastenings or set
the handspring free so that it would run
down in few seconds, instead of slowly
unwinding until the proper time for re.
leasing the protecting bolt. Some Of
the lockmakers claim to have accom-.
plished this by means of new appliances
One of these mounts the lock on springs
so that dynamite shock that sends il
out Of place Is expended on the springs
and when the shock is over, the lock
returns to its place. This prevents the
use of small charges of dynamite
which have sometimes been used to jal
loose the mechanism Of the clock with
out making shock that would alarm
anybody in the next room or in any par
of the same room. The other protec
tion against the dynamite fiends con
sists in a peculiar mechanism of time
lock, by which an attempt to run il
down before the specified time is defeat
/ l.r s,Nl Oh - 4
tions in the lock, so that even if the
handspring runs down after the shock
the lock is not opened. 1t remains tt
be seen whether evolution in burglary
will be equal to these new devices.
The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-05

A chemist of Pittsburg, Pa, is said
to have rediscovered the lost art of max
ing articles from obsidian, species Of
volcanic glass, among them black mir
rors which are used IN the making of as
Economical instruments. His attention
was first directed to the subject in 1879,
while on visit to Pompeii. Here he
found fragment of statue ian ARM
made from obsidian, and its evident
kinship to the lava, there so abundant,
led him to think it might have been
made therefrom. Bringing away with
him his trophy and quantity of lava,
he began an investigation and series
of experiments, which finally led him
to a knowledge, not only of the compo
nent elements of obsidian, lut also as tc
how it might be reproduced by artificial
means. His first successful "melt" was
made in this city, In the latter part Of
1881. He made number of ornamen-
tai articles and several slabs of the new
glass, went to New York City and set
upafurnace for its manufacture. He one
day visited well-known manufacturer
of optical lenses, Mr.. Weiskopf, and
asked what be would charge for polish
ing a slab of it. Mr.. Weiskopf wanted
to know what it was, and when he got
the information curtly named a high
price. Much to his astonishment, the
terms were accepted, and a day was
named when the work would be COM
pleted. When he called for it, Mr..
WeiskoPf's brusque manner had gone.
''Do you know what you have done?"
the lens maker inquired. "You have
rediscovered the lost art of making
black mirrors. Don't get excited and
think there are millions in it for you,
for only few of them are used. Yet
your discovery is of the greatest seien-
tific Importance"
The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-05

''The swift growth of our cities IS not
nearly as unparalleled as the rapid disap.
pearanee Of our game animals. One
hundred years ago Eastern North Amer
lea was the finest game country in the
world. This valley is hunters para.
disc, says Colonel Boone in his account
of the expedition TO the mouth of the
Kentucky River. Our dogs started three
troops of deer in less than half an hour; on
the river we saw tracks of elk, bears and
buffalo, and the thickets along the slope
were full Of turkeys and mountain-pheas-
ants. From the cliffs above the junction
our guide showed US the wlgwams of the
Miamis. About eight miles to the north.
west we could see the smoke OF their
camp. fires rising from the foot of rocky
bluff, but the hull country In the east and
the great plains in the west, north and
northeast resembled boundless ocean of
undulating woodlands
"Northwest of the tBlue Ridge buffa-
loes grazed in countless herds. During
The heat of the midsummer months they
used TO retreat to the highlands, and
followed the ridges in the southwark mi
grafton as the approach of winter gradu-
ally crowned the heights with snow.
Along the backoones of all the main
chains Of the sunken Alleghenles these
trails can still be distinctly traced for
hundreds of miles. Buffalo Springs
Buffalo Gap and scores of similar names
still attest the former presence of the
American bison in localities that are now
fully 1000 miles from the next buffalo
range. The centre Of our buffalo popula-
ton ls moving northwest at an alarming
rate. Herds, In the old-time sense OF the
word, can now be found only in British
North America and here and there along
the frontier OF our Northwestern Territory.
In cold winter small troops of fifteen or
twenty are occasionally seen in the Texas
| Panhandle, IN Western Utah, and in the
valley of the Upper Arkansas, but nowhere
on this side OF the Mississippi. Their
days are numbered. They cannot hide,
and their defensive weapons are useless
against mounted nflemen. Pot hunters
follow them TO their far northern retreats;
the International Railroad Will soon carry
a swarm OF spoItsmen to their West Mex
icsn reservations, and in fifty years from
now their happy pasture grounds will
probably be reduced to the lnclosed grass
plots of a few geological gardens.
"Panthers are still found Ill twenty six
or twenty seven States, but chiefly at the
two opposite ends OF our terrltory-ln
Florida and Oregon. In the Southern
Alleghenies they are still frequent enough
to make the Government bounty source
of income to the hunters OF several high
land counties. Wolves still defy civlliza-
tlon in some of the larger prairie States,
and IN the wild border country between
North Carolina and East Tennessee. But,
unlike panthers, they do not confiDe them
selves to special locality. Hunger makes
them peripatetic, and In cold winters their
occasional visits can be looked for in
almost any mountain valley between
Southern Kentucky AMI Alabama"
The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-05
ADVICE TO BOYS.
Life Is a contest. In for the fight
Up and at it with all your might.

Life Is contest In for the fighti
Up and at it with all your might.
Dread no 'hardships, talk not Of luck;
on with your coat and show your pluck
Up and y doing stir up dust
Ply your muscle, rub off the rust.
Take hold of plow, spare not the hoe,
Turn up the earth and make things go.
Always frugal, don't run in debt,
Shun the race course, and do not bet.
Always prudent, never get "tight"
Avoid the wrong, pursue the right.
When with the vile, dare to be odd,
Act like q man and fear thou God.
Search for the truth, strive to be wise.
Only workers can win the prize.
Then push along, keep moving,
Daily gaining, still improving.
And at the close, your work all done,
Receive the crown of "Faithful son.
The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-05

September. Send out general alarm,
Dunwoody, without an instant's delay.
Order up the cautionary signals al
aiong the Atlantic coast. Warn the
observers at the Lake ports. Predict
areas Of unprecedently low pressure on
the southeast Rocky Mountain Slope,
in the Upper Lake region, in the Florida
peninsula, and the st. Lawrence Val
ley.
Predict 'em everywhere, d it
predict anything you id please,
Dunwoody; you can't draw it too
strong. A pound and half in four
hoursp'
Dunwoody rushed off as though cow
catcher was at his heels, and the Chief
Signal Officer began to write message
after message, like one whose-life de.
pended upon his CELEBRITY, The lively
click of telegraph instruments sounded
in the next room. People hurried to
and fro in the corridors. There was
every indication of sudden and remark
able activity throughout the headquar.
ters of the Weather Bureau.
At last the Chief Signal Officer arose
and drew a long breath. 'Phewl' he
said. Everything has been done that
can be done. All we can do now is
to catch on to something by our eye
teeth and wait till the racket's over.
Then he perceived me again,
'Hallol' he said, rather curtly. You
here stilp Well, what can 1 do for you
now?'
General said I, Il called to learr
whether it is true that the Signal Office
has just procured a new Bulgarian bull
frog, who tells you by the way he jumps
which way the wini is going to blowl
Certainly it is true, replied the Chic
Signal Officer; and he affords some o.
our most valuable prognostics. He il
a great accession TO the service. Yol
can see him if you like; he ought to bt
somewhere about the floor.
We searched the floor, but found NJ
bullfrog. The Chief Signal Office
once more rang his bell.
George said he, I'VE can't find Sil
Isaac Newton. Where is Sir Isaa,
Newton
The darkey grinned. DE bullfrog
Gen'lp' said he. DE bullfrog 'pearet
too lazy to prognostercate dis afternoon
and l done put him in de barrel to soal
long wild de fish,
/ With a remark indicating a limiteC
l area of unlimited high pressure, tn
Chief Signal Officer kicked over tn
+ barrel. A gallon or two of brin
: rushed out, and on the tail of the foo,
q the Goldfish came sprawling, but ther
1 was no Bulgarian bullfrog there.
e Our minds grasped the situation sim
/. uItaneously. We exchanged look @
, intelligence. The Chief Signal Office
sank back in his arm chair, and his fac
a was very white,
% Lordl' he family groaned How
f gate has swallowed Sir Isaac Newton
y That is why the terrible cataclysu
+ recently predicted by the Signal Ohic
!. did not come to time. The prognost
i cation was based ON misleading data
:. The Goldfish gained pound and half i
r four hours because he had swallowed tn
t bullfrog. But what a tornado it woul
O lhaye been.
The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-04-05
Borrowing and Lending on Farms.

In every occupation, the character
and unity of the occupants has great
influence to determine both the respect
ability and the success of the occupa.
tion, in localities, and more or less gen.
orally. Farmers must live upon farms,
and generally have farmers for neigh
bors. Very few men in the world can
with any strict propriety be called in
dependent men. The best condition of
human society is doubtless a condition
of fully realized mutual dependence,
To make or keep the most desirable
condition Of intelligent society among
farmer neighbors, proper ideas of right
and wrong must be understood, and
acted upon. We would modestly and
humbly present some suggestions, as
the matter strikes our judgment, on
borrowing and lending.
There must be limits to the right of
borrowing and consequently there must
be limits to the obligation to lend.
Rare implements, perhaps costly,
which, though indispensable at times,
are but rarely wanted in use, ought
-, -, g.. - - - 80
thoir ownars oho,,,d o,T1ora ho hinod
and the price of hire agreed upon and
au nortios Rorron,,nr ~ III ho
snorr,no ond ,ot oa1,ol
Ne rarsor, shou,d horro,,, o,,r ort;o,o
FROM, q norsoT u,ho I'D - 80 "s i y
borro,rod or,io,o NJ 80 hnS 49,, "
ri.lt - ,onS IT.. H. ~ ~ -,
below 70 hin, II ;s uar1, ,,u;,,at ~ tho
ownor and is NOT a rooro, rio.ht g Snah
nri,,,anos ora sonatin,as tol,on oUd
oftan pos,,It i, yn,,oh o1,;1 Ill., nro
roorollv ,yroro ORC NO, oono;staot ,,,;tL
+no sn;rit of oood noiOhhorhond u
sho,,Id navor ho dono TSo o.t;ao
Of orv+binr Iillo a. .hor,d Lo raoor,,o,1
90 an immora1itv Tn monv oasas IL
Uorld nroyo tho came 20 tha o,rror 49, ~ ~
an orticlo 90 +hounh - hoa Hoo, stolon.
for - iii, ho Iost 20 h;n, TO ha,no,,,a,, .,
NAV land a horroue,I ,,tenSiI or article
+ha sooond horro,o,. 49,, ~ a. ~ ~" ~ go, ',T1o
and 90 -, ,,et;, IN, NJ o - Az .
onnorshin ~ M ot tl,o ~ n..ioIo | W. W. ~" lan,,a, W.
of an artioIa m or UtonaiI ] han o ~ OoalO%ol nnoso,
of r;o;t T., ~ " | "rtio,a S 49, Nv Ino" n ,
tranafa1 70 - tLira I 80. 80 IL IT. 10 ,rn ULn
bo~rons oI ~ artiolo ~ ,,tou,,i &c W., w. WV .o
rhon, ha l,nons ~ - pa a. ~, w. ' nr ~ ~
rowod is a,,iItv % trosnass @ oSo;,,at o'o m
GOOD roi,hI,orIood r. sho,,,J 49,
20 tolorotion =, forn, n,oraia ~
Nothinr, rorhons 10 49, ,o,o,so,,,
70 rood na;dhborhood go. Isoo,' s",.so,'',.
and esnociafIv omon~ farn,ars WI, a D1Ul o,,,,,
al, an,oII 60. ns e., - - l-0 81, H =
strict nrdaratond,n@ and i nnus;dono su''
| g., % A. 1;..';ta es - I
ing and lending. And there should be