davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25
Education for the Farm.

When we consider the immense num-
Der that belong to the agricultural class
in this country and the fact that three
fourths of all our exports are agricult-
ural products, and that our prosperity
as nation is so intimately connected
with its agriculture, it is surprising that
no better system has been devised for
the education of this great class-the
very foundation of our national wealth.
The farmers occupation leads to
regular habits and steady industry; but
unlike those engaged in mechanical and
mercantile pursuits, who are mostly
located in towns, and are brought into
close business and social relations, the
farmers are scattered over the country,
and have little daily intercourse with
each other. They do not have the adj
vantage of the friction of society. in
which new ideas are suggested and de-
veloped by association. This is, no
doubt, the reason why the farming class
is SO conservative, so prone to follow
traditional routine and to resist all in
novations.
The inertness of the agricultural class
is plainly shown in this, that they sell
dom or never make any improvement
in their processes or modes of culture.
Of all the great labor-saving machinery
introduced into agriculture during the
last forty years, not two per cent. OF it
has been invented by those raised and
engaged upon the farm, but has been
invented and adapted to its work by
amateur farmers, or by outsiders who
have observed the need of such helps in
farm operations.
The farmer, therefore, sorely needs
some stimulant to cause him to use his
brain as well as his hands He should
understand the principles that underlie
his practice. He ought to be an ac-
curate observer, and this would make
him discoverer He should expert
ment, and carefully note and compare
experiments. But, instead of this, very
few farmers think there are any fixed
principles in agriculture. They regard
the Whole business as quite independent
of rules, and in no way to be brought
into subsection to order and reasonable
certainty. This is why there is so little
definitely settled in agricultural prac-
tice. Yet we know that agriculture is
as capable of being reduced to system
and order, and as capable of being
taught as other applications of the
natural SC ences.
All will admit that farmers sons
should be taught, at least, the rudi-
ments of the sciences that underlie
agriculture; but where shall this scien-
tific education beginP There is really
but one place where this instruction
can be given, and that is in the COM
mon schools. National Lice Stock
Journal.
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25
Bobby and the Ram.

When Bobby Smart was six years old.
he was left to the care of his uncle
James, who lived in the country. His
aunt took him to his future home, and
at the depot he saw his uncle for the
first time.
Bobby was lonely and sad; his uncle
often treated him with harshness and
even cruelty. The cold winter had come
on early. Bobby was the only boy
about the farm, and he had to work
very hard. His clothing was unfit for
the winter weather, and he often suffered
from the cold.
Among the duties which this poor boy
had to perform was that of tending a
flock of sheep. One afternoon, when
there were signs of a snow-storm, he
was sent to drive the flock to the barn.
lie started for the field, but his clothes
were so thin that he was benumbed BY
the intense cold. He sat down on a
large rock to rest himself. He felt
strangely tired and cold. In little
while he began to feel drowsy. Then
he thought it was so nice and comfort
able that he would stay there awhile.
In very few moments he was asleep,
and perhaps dreaming.
Suddenly he was aroused by tre-
mendous blow which sent him spinning
from his perch on the rock to the
ground. Looking about him, he saw an
old ram near by. The creature looked
as though he had been doing mischief,
and Bobby was no longer at loss to
know where the blow came from; but
he thought the attack was an accident,
and in short time he was again in the
land of Nod.
Again the ram very rudely tumbled
him over into the snow. He was now
wide awake, and provoked at the attack
of the beast. He began to search for a
stick to chastise his enemy The ram
understood his intention, for he turned
upon Bobby as if to finish the poor boy.
Bobby was forced to take to his heels,
and run towards home.
The ram chased him, while the rest
of the flock followed after their leader.
The inmates of the farmhouse were
surprised to see Bobby rushing towards
the house as fast as his little legs would
allow him. His hair was streaming in
the wind, and he was very much terri
fed. Close upon him was the old ram,
kicking UP his heels in his anger. Be-
hind him could be seen struggling line
of sheep doing their best to keep up.
Bobby won the race, however. His
uncle came out in time to turn the flock
into the barn. 1t was long time be-
fore Bobby would venture near the ram
again.
Bobby knows now that but for the
efforts of that old ram in knocking him
from his seat on that bitterly cold day,
be would have been among the angels
in very short time. The. Sleepy feel
ing which overcame' him would have
ended in death.
Bobby declares that the ram knew all
the time what allied him, and that he
butted him from the rock on purpose /
can not explain it, but do know that
"God moves in a mysterious way His
wonders to perform. Our Little Ones.
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25
CLOCKS.

Of course, you all know what clock
is, and some of you six-year-olds can
tell what time it is by one. And yet
many of you ten-year-olds know as
much about clocks as the wisest man in
Congress is simply nothing.
Whether it be spring or weight clock,
they all have the same machinery in
side; that is, the same number of
wheels, though ingenious Yankees have
invented clocks that run with less
number of wheels than the standard
Meriden or Waterbury clocks. There
used to be story current when I was a
boy Of Moses Latta, of Cincinnati, who
invented the steam fre-engine, how
that he took an eight-day clock to
pieces, cleaned it, put it together again,
had one wheel left, yet it ran as usual,
kept time and struck the hours prompt
ly. But there are few Moses Lattas.
In the first place there is the main
wheel (Which is attached directly to the
power, be it spring or weight; two
face-wheels, one to run the minute
hand, which revolves once around the
face every hour, and one to run the
hour-hand, which goes from one figure
to another each hour; two intermediate
wheels as checks upon the power; one
escape-wheel-th is, the little one
you see through the hole i'll the center
of the face, and which, as it escapes
the claw-like verge at the upper
end of the pendulum rod, makes
the tao, tic noise you hear.
On the striking side there are
the main-wheel attachment to the
power, the count-wheel, the warn and
strike-wheel, and the stop-wheel. Did
it ever puzzle you how the hammer
should strike the correct hour and then
stop? And yet the explanation is simple
enough. Thus: the count-wheel has
seventy eight little hotches and twelve
big ones. An arm is attached to the
strike-wheel, which is bent square down
at the outside end. AS the strike-wheel
revolves it throws this arm up and lets it
drop down exactly when the notch of
the count-wheel comes under the hook.
Let us begin at one o'clock. When the
minute-hand wheel reaches II it starts
the strike-wheel, that wheel throws up
the arm, the wheel moves, the hammer
strikes one, the arm then drops into the
deep notch and remains there until the
minute-wheel describes one more full
revolution. Here is an explanation:
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25
Chinese Gambling and Cutting.


admit that, as have before said,
the Chinaman has his vices. One of
them, and perhaps the principal one, is
his propensity for gambling. He will
play for money at any moment out of
work and whatever may be the conse-
quences. You have seen him toiling in
the hot S;amese sun with bags of rice
on his back or great pieces of teak on
his shoulders. Were you to follow him
at night you would almost certainly
find him, after the evening bath and sup
per, moving in the direction of a gam
bling house. The bamboo-built room,
spacious one, is full of people, all
of whom are squatted on the floor in
front of little mats, playing for all they
possess. Almost every man is of Chi
nese BIRTH There are some women.
but these are generally Siamese, and of
them | have something to say later on.
The game they all play is very sim
pie one. A pile of cowrie shells is
placed by the side of a cloth on which
are marked in four squares the figures
one, two, three and four A cup and a
long thin stick complete the gambling
apparatus. The people who intend
playing stake their money on one of
the squares, just as at Monte Carlo the
gamblers place their napoleons on the
cloth. The croupiert or representative
of the keeper of the establishment then
lifts the cup, puts it on the pile of COW
RE shells, and draws away from under
meath it as many as he can. Lifting
the cup off these thus subtracted he pro-
ceeds to count them with the long stick,
for the players will not, allow him to
touch the shells with his fingers, He
pushes the shells away four at time.
Ii, when he comes to the last lot, one
shell is left only those who staked on
the figure one get twice their stake and
the money they hazarded besides; so
viii the two and three OF course, if the
shells divide equally into four, those
who hazarded on the four win. That
is the whole of the business, and on that
game the Chinaman will risk all he is
possessed Of, no matter how hard lie
has had to work for it. The Siamese
will do more than that-he will actually
play away his house, children,
and even himself. going into
slavery willingly rather than miss
the excitement of the game But ]
am dealing more particularly with
Cinnamon now. and viii speak of the
Siamese later on. As for the Chinaman
away from the gambling house, find
him model of what man should be:
a good husband, thrifty, careful. cap
ital father, generally bathing and feed
ing as well as providing for his chill
dren, leaving to his Siamese wife the
task of correcting them--a duty which
she undertakes, / am bound to say, in
spirit that would have pleased Solo
mon, that royal advocate of the birch,
to the very utmost. Indeed, the cutting
of her offspring seems to be nearly the
whole duty of the Siamese wife of a
Chinaman. Married to a Siamese she
would probably have to work; but as
the spouse of a Celestial her DAYS &c
easily by, and all she has to do is TO
look for hard piece of bamboo where
with to chide her unruly children. And
that she usually selects very heavy
and a very hard piece is fact which
forms a pretty fair index to her char
cter.-Lo'sdo's Telegraph.
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25
Snow as a Protection.

However disagreeable it may be to
have the ground covered with two feet
in depth with snow, 1t is one of the best
protectors which the farmer has, con-
sidering how little it costs. When the
land is covered in the autumn, and it
lays all winter, it serves as a great pro-
lection to the grass roots and all creep
ing vines. Strawberry plants that
have been covered all winter with
snow, come out in the spring fresh and
green, even though they have not been
mulched.
The snow not only protects the veg
citation which it covers up, by shelter
ing it from the cold winds and sudden
changes of weather, but it prevents the
frequent freezing and thawing of the
ground, which is so destructive to
small roots that are near the surface.
and which are often lifted entirely
out of the ground by tie action of the
frost. When the land lays open and
exposed all winter, it not only INJURIES
the grass and small plants, butt INJURIES
the land itself, by blowing away the
liner particles of decayed vegetation
from the surface, and when thus ex-
posed, there is a chance for the frost til
enter the ground to depth of several
feet thus cooling the earth to great
depth, requiring many warm DAYS in
the spring to thaw it out, and warm ii
up sufficient to start vegetation; but
when deep snow covers the land until
spring opens, as soon as the snow
melts, the ground being free from frost,
will soon be in condition to cultivate,
and for plants to grow.
As rule, the season comes forward
earlier when the ground has been ccv.
cred with snow the entire winter thar it
does when there has been but little
snow. In our climate, no doubs, it is
best to have plenty of snow, and have
it lay on the ground during the period
of cold weather. This year we have
started with a good covering of snow
should it be replenished as fast as need
ed to keep the land covered we may
look for good crops Of grass next season
and spring that will be favorable for
planting farm-crops; keeping this iii
view we can dig our paths with more
cheerfulness, and resort to rubber boots
to keep the snow out, with feeling thai
there is a bright side to a snoW-storm,
without resorting to merry sleigh-par
ties, or mingling with the jolly coasters
Massachusetts Ptoughnsaa.
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25
Temperance Items.

A NATIONAL TEMPERANCE CONGRESS
for Great Britain is to be held in Liver
pool some time next summer.
A DRUNKARD who was locked up in
the Tombs at Toronto on New Year s
night stated that it was the custom Of
drinking on that day which had first
started him on the downward path.
No ONE has the influence over the OPP
posite sex that our young ladies have.
If every one would use it for Temper
ance, we should have no fear but that
in less than five years intemperance
would be thing of the past.-Sa1
Francisco Rescue.
NEW MEXICO has nova State organi-
cation of the Woman's National
Christian Temperance Union. 1t was
the last of the forty-eight States and
Territories to fall into line; but this new
movement there makes the Woman's
Union national in deed, as well as
name.
If IT be true, as reported, that ten
thousand barrels of rum have been inn
ported in one year to the east coast of
Madagascar, at so low rate as to be
retailed at twelve and a half cents a
quart, it is no wonder that the planters
of the island complain that they find it
almost impossible to obtain sober and
trustworthy laborers among the natives.
THE suggestion in Miss Wizards an
nual address of a Worlds W. G. 7. IT,,
''that shall belt the globe and join the
East and West in an organized at
tack upon the poison habits of both
hemlspheres, created great enthusiasm
among the workers of the Pacific Coast.
The place to fight Asiatic vices is in
Asia, and European vices is in Europe,
If we would keep them from spreading
to America. We must go up as well as
down the stream of westward-drifting
people of the world. There is a slight
in the window in both Asia and Eu-
rope that beckons our jealous workers
on. The leading pastors in Paris are
anxious to have w. G. I. u. organ
lied in that metropolis of the whole
world. and in the cities of India, China
and Japan a great Temperance work is
going on among the English-speaking
population, = Roman at Work.
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25
We MEssAqE oF NE SNOW.

All around me, through the forest
As go,
Shining white in glittering radiance,
Lies the snow;
Through the silent, moveless air,
Near and distant-eVerywhe
Soft and silent pure and fair
Falls the snow.
All the summer bright lies buried
Meath the snow:
Ripping brOoklets cease their murm'r ring
Silent flow,
Bound in Winters icy chains,
While King Frost triumphant reigns;
Silenced, too, the song-birds' strains,
BY the snow.
Tiny snow-drops peep already
Through the snow;
Flowrets bIanched with timid terror
OF the snow;
Yet they nestle closely here,
Whispering softly: Spring is near;
Soon will vanish Winter drear,
And the snow"
Lone, tread with lingering footsteps
Ger the snow,
While it casts spell upon me,
For the snow
Calls to mind the vanished years.
Severed ties and troubled fears
Hopes that melted into tears,
With the snow.
Yet greet with loving welcome
Virgin snow,
Type Of Heavenly purity,
Sent below;
Till unbidden thoughts arise
" These are tears from angels eyes,
Dropt in pity from the skies -
Flakes of snow.
When the toll of life is over
Here below,
May we sink to peaceful slumber,
Meath the snow;
Promised Crown each Cross make lighter,
Til we reach land that's brighter,
Rise 10 wear those garments "whiter
Than the snow"
'--Kdte ID. Spence, IN Chambers Journal.
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25

now measure out with no sparing hands
the joys and years of mans allotted
three-score and ten" PhOcio,l,n ip
Chscago Journal.
*l' Phocion's'' discoveries of the nature Of
the pendulum overthrow the theories accept
Calico, who is said to have discovered the
principal OF the equal beat of pendulum Of
the same length, without reference to th9
length of the swing.-EDl
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25
Our Young Readers.
THE BISHOP.

Tell you about it? Of course Wilt
thought 'twould be dreadful to have him
come.
For mamma said must be quiet and still.
And she put away my whistle and drum
And made me unharness the parlor chairs,
And packed my cannon and all the rest
Of my noisiest playthings OF upstairs,
On account of this very distinguished guest.
Then every room was turned upside down,
And all the carpets hung out to blow;
For when the Bishop is coming to town
The house must be in order, you know.
50 out in the kitchen made my lair,
And started game of hide-and-seek;
But Bridget refused to have me there,
For the Bishop was coming-to stay week.
And she must make cookies and cake and
pies,
And I'LL every closet and platter and pan.
Thu thought this Bishop, SO great and wise,
Must be an awfully hungry man.
Welt at last he came; and do declare,
= Dear grandpapa he looked Just like you,
With his gentle voice, and his silvery hair
And eyes with q smile a-Shini1g through.
Ana whenever he read or talked or prayed,
| understood every single word;
And wasn't the leastest bit afraid,
Though never once spoke or stirred;
Till, all of a sudden, he laughed right out
To see me sit quietly listening so;
And began to tell us stories about
Some queer little fellows in Mexico.
And all about Egypt and Spain--and then
He l0dStt disturbed by a little noise
But SAID that the greatest and best of men
Once were rollicking, healthy boys.
And he thinks it is no matter at all
If q little boy runs and jumps and climbs;
ShOnd WILLING pf m
crawl
Through the banister-rails in the hall some
times.
And B-idget sir, made great mistake,
In stirring up such a bother, you see,
For the Bishop-he didn't care for cake,
And really liked to play games with me.
But though he's so honored in word and act
(Stoop down, for this is secret nowl-
He couldn't spell Boston! That's a factl
But whispered to me to tell him how.
Mrs. Emma Hatntinaton Ndson,il in Wide-At0dhe.
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25

Irrespective brides may he interest
ed to learn that there are thirty-two
days in tie year on which it is unlucky
to marry, according to the authority OF
manuscript dated in the fifteenth cent
ury. These days are January /. 2, 4,
8, z, 10, 45; February s, Z, Is; Marci
|, s, 8; April, s, IL; May 5, s, Z, juno
(, 10; July 5, 10; August Is, 10; Sep
tecber 6, Z; October 6; November Is.
10. and December Is, 16, IL, Conse-
quently January is the worst month
and October the best month in the year
for marriage. But then something may
depend on the sort of man married.
~ 7. GTsDhio
The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-01-25

This was It, thenl But one slight
wooden door stood between Clara and
the thief she had wished she could find
Only to step round the corner. Therel
she knew, was the police station, and.
for the news she brought them she
would get ESQ! She clasped her hands
tight, and sat perfectly still, all the
while knowing that every second less
ened her chance Of securing the living
piece of property valued at ESQ. In
her present straits, ESQ seemed fort
une to her. No one who has not gone
through similar experience can ever
know what that temptation was to Mrs.
Craven. As she sat, her strained ears
caught the mother voice again.
I'm not keep you, though my heart
is breaking. Ny bonny boy come to
thisi Oh, God, most merciful, save
him from felon's doomp'
"Mother, pray for me. If / escape,
| VOW to lead an honest life and make a
home for you. 1t has not been my
fault. Pray God to forgive and help
me-"
Clara's grasp of her hands relaxed.
Then, with white face and sorrowful
eyes, she stood up and looked at her
two tiny sleeping boys. Then on her
knees she fell, and stayed in earnest
prayer until she heard the stealthy foot
steps creep down the stairs, and the
front door closed; and then she stole to
the window of her darkened room,
and, looking out into the lamp
lit street, watched a quick walking
figure in an old country woman's cloak
with deep cape, and large poke bon
net, such as her old neighbor always
wore; and she knew that the young
man had escaped in his mothers
clothes.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1884-12-11

Comptroller E. J. Anderson and
State Treasurer Geo. NJ. Wright are
candidates for re election. Major An
derson has no competitor, and will
probably be nominated by the Repub-
lican caucus by acclamation. He is
the best and most efficient comptroller
the State has ever had. Treasurer
Wright has made a splendid officer
but will have strong opposition in the
caucus, principally for the reason that
he has already served three terms,
nine years in all. Col JohnJ. Toffey,
of Hudson county, will be a candidate,
and between him and Treasurer
Wright the result is doubtful.
Bridgeton pioneer., 1884-12-11

The Board of Assessors, appointed
last Winter to assess the railroad and
other corporate property of the State,
have made their first report, which
they submitted, according to law, to
Comptroller Anderson. 1t shows that
the State tax on the railroads travers-
ing the Commonwealth amounts to
$976,000, which is an increase of only
about $4,000 or $4,000 over the
amount imposed under the old law, on
the tangible property of the roads.
The total increase of State tax is about
$275, 900, of which $26O,000 is laid upon
the franchises, which under the old
law were not taxable. The total valu-
alton of this property, according to
the Assessors, is very close to 5000, 000,-
900. The local tax, that imposed by
municipalities upon railroad property
used for other purposes, is $3S0,000. 1t
not having been taxed before, the rev.
enue derived is a clear gain to the va
rious municipalities. The Assessors
report shows the value of the franchis-
es, main stems, personal property, &c,
the figures being extracted from an i'm
mense number of returns which could
hardly be read in one day.