davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-04-16
PASTURING MEADOWS.
An AgricuIturist Who Thinks 1t is Good
Thing to Do.

49,
I have always pastured our meadows
when could, and it has in every case
proved advantageous. But several
times have had a meadow located in
field where portion of it was Gull
tivated, and there the timothy would
soon run out and blue grass take its
place in a very short time, while the
meadow pastured would continue to
yield a paying crop. l know few men
here who will no more allow stock to
run on their meadows than on their
fields of growing corn, and the same is
true of their fields of wheat stubble
sown to clover and timothy. l have
very frequently had fields of wheat
, stubble located the same as meadows,
so that we could not pasture them, and
every time it has been to my sorrow.
The grain left scattered over the stubble,
and the clover growing up, furnished
invitations for myriads of ground mice
to spend their winter, and played sad
havoc with my young grass. The same
was true of my meadows. When all
the aftermath was left and not pastured
off. the mice cut roads all through the
grass, and fed on the roots and bur-
.rowed in the ground, increasing by the
thousand, ready to destroy crops in the
spring.
When / came into possession OF this
farm (nearly eight years ago), there
was meadow of some eighteen acres,
in field of about forty acres. This
field, barring the meadow, had been in
corn, and then sown to wheat and rye
The meadow was cut in proper time
and did not yield over seven tons of
hay, and that of very poor quality. l
went through it short time before
cutting, and the mice had made roads
all through it, and would run in every
direction; they had cut large quantity
of the grass in short pieces. can
attribute the cause of this to nothing
else than allowing the aftermath to
grow unmolested for a few previous
years. Had it been eaten of, the mice
would have found no protection in VIM
ter, and hence would not have congre-
gated there to do more harm than the
frosts and winds of winter. and the
yield would have been nearer thirty
tons than seven. The soil was not
barren as was proved in the succeeding
crops, which were corn and wheat
better than the average of this COM
munity.
[ have often read in agricultural
papers not to pasture meadows and
stubble sown to young grass, but have
come to the conclusion that more
meadows are injured by not being pas
tured than by pasturing, and shall here
after pasture meadows and young grass
till convinced that am wrong. | like
to cut my meadows early; the aftermath
makes fine place to turn lambs when
first weaned, or a fresh bite for cow.
The old grass stubble will prevent
stock from grazing too closely, and
furnishes all the protection necessary
for winter. W. a. Dornad'g. IN Araer.
ican CIitirGto7
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-04-16
HOTEL THIEVES.
The Way They Conduct Their Operations
With Success.

The Way They Conduct Their Operations
With Success.
81 see by the dispatches that the hotel
thieves are making business for the de-
tectives in Chicago and the West gen.
orally" said Chief of Detectives Kelly
last night. 'Aside from the expert
bank burglar and house-breaker, the
only criminals who can command any
respect from the detective is the expert
hotel thief" added the Chief, reflect.
lively. "WhyP Because he must be
intelligent, adroit and possessed of a
perfect nerve. In point of intelligence
I would even rank the hotel thief above
the bank burglar or sneak, who are ac-
corded the front rank in the criminal
profession. Prerequisite to the hotel
thief are education and good adj
dress, which is usually obtained by
travel. He is generally dignifed; well,
but quietly dressed, and with the gen.
eral appearance of a man of business.
The crack hotel thieves ordinarily travel
in pairs, although they are, to all ap
1.-The first night after registering at
hotel they sleep late, and when reused
by the chambermaid request her to call
them at noon. When the maid has
completed her labors in the corridor in
which their rooms are located their
business begins. The vacant rooms are
located, and while one thief stands on
watch his confederate effects an en-
trance to an unoccupied room by means
of skeleton key and closes the door
behind him. He then rapidly bores a
hole Immediately over the bolt and fills
up each end with white putty. If the
lock is double one, as is the case in
many first-class hotels, a small hole is
drilled through it so that nippers can
be used on the inside lock in turning the
key after the victim has retired. A half
dozen rooms can be fixed in this way
within an hour. This completes the
work for the morning. The afternoon
is utilized in making themselves ''solid''
with the regular guests over the bar and
in watching the register for guests as
signed to the fixed rooms.
when every one has gone to bed
one thief resumes his watch and pipes
off the Waterman while his confederate
works the rooms. This is done in short
order and the thieves are away by day
light. The tools used by the hotel
thieves are of the finest tempered steel
and consist of 'bar-key,' used for OPEN
ing big locks; a set of six bits, arranged
for either stem or tumbler locks:
small drill. file, sectional stem or
wildly, several pieces of wire and
pair of nippers. Some putty or pig
ment is also included in the kit, which
is easily carried about the person. I
am glad to say that we have not had a
professional hotel thief In Philadelphia
during the past year" --PhikGdetpkiG
NeUs.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-04-16
THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA.
Greed Of the Great Powers for Sections Of
the Dark Continent.


the Dark Continent.
The Pail Mall Gazette recently printed
detailed map of the west coast Of
Africa, which clearly illustrates the
scramble which is going OH for sec
tons of the Dark Continent. Com
mencing with Egypt, which is now in
dispute between two of the three powers,
though occupied by England, we come
to Tripoli, which is Turkish and threat
ened by Italy Tunis is under French
protectorate. Algeria is owned by
France, and Morocco is Independent,
though the French are intriguing for its
possession. From Morocco to Cape
Blaneo is a native strip of coast 755
miles in length, which Spain wants,
though it is riyerless, desert country.
From Cape Blanco, 920 miles to the
south, and below the River Senegal, is
Gained by France. From this point,
including Sierra Leone, a distance of
eighty miles, is English. The coast of
Liberia, which is Independent, stretches
for 1875 miles. The Gold Coast is thirty
Dahomey for thirty-fve miles is indie
pendent. The Niger Delta for dis
lance of $50 miles is held by the
English, and then follows the Came
rooms, 100 miles of coast, where the
Germans are now extending their occrl-
| patton. A strip of 105 miles of native
coast interyenes between the Cameroons
| and the Gaboon, where the French have
| 200 miles of coast. Four hundred and
| fifty miles of native coast bring us to
the Congo, whose rich valley is now
under international control. South of
the Congo there are 120 miles of native
coast, 800 miles of Portuguese coast,
extending to the Crimene River, and
$50 miles from Cape Frio to Orange
River, including Angra Pequena and
Walfsch Bay, claimed by the Germans
and recently annexed.
South of the Orange River the English
Cape Colonies extend around Cape of
Good Hope and northerly to the south
ern line of Madagascar. The entire line
| of the west coast is $3.50 miles, of which
1900 are independent, 1,310 English,
1,155 French, $50 German, 800 Portu
guese, and IS Spanish. In other words,
Europe has appropriated over two
thirds of the west littoral-and is not
through yet. On the east coast, from
the English possessions. up to Zanzibar,
which is independent, is Portuguese.
The Island OF Madagascar is now strug-
CLING with the French to preserve its
identity, its principal port, Tamative,
being in the hands of the latter. From
| Zanzibar to the mouth of the Red Sea is
independent, worthless and barren. The
Red Sea lttoral is generally occupied at
various points by Italy. Turkey, En-
| gland, France and Egypt. 1t has been
announced recently that Germany has
also taken large strip of the eastern
coast. The only parts of Africa not yet
seized seem to be the Desert of Sahara
and the equatorial belt. Apparently it
is only question of time. how soon the
equator itself viii be stolen. If it es-
capes it will only be because it is too
hot to handle Chicago Tribune.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-04-16
HICCOUGH.
An Amusing Incident on n New York
Elevated Railway Train.

An Amusing Incident on New York
Elevated Railway Train.
''Hiccough!" The sound came from
very fat man in big fur-lined over
coat, and it issued from the folds of his
fat throat with such force that nearly
every one in the elevated train looked
around. The fat man calmly gazed out
of the window and complacently picked
his teeth.
"Hiccough!' Again it rang through
the car, and again the fat man became
the focus of all eyes. This time little
boy across the way snickered out loud
and little girl on the opposite seat put
her hands before her mouth and tee
heed with such enjoyment that the
fat mans face grew red with embar-
rassment
'Hiccough! hiccoughr' Two came
in succession here, and the big coat
fairly shook. Nearly all the passengers
were smiling now, except one stern
faced old lady, who gave him crush
ing look over her gold-rimmed specta-
cles.
Unnoticed by all, MISUNDERSTANDING
little man sat few seats behind the
unfortunate fat man. ANY one could
see that he was just the sort of man
who would 60 several blocks out of his
way to accommodate a stranger, or,
if asked a question about a street, would
glibly roll off the topography of half of
New York; or that he knew all signs.
and cures, and remedies for all COM
mon ailments. 1t was easy to see, too,
that he was thinking of the ways in
which hiccough could be cured, and a
few minutes later all were conscious
that the method he had selected was to
scare it out of the victim. The fat man
was still hiccoughing as the little man,
with smile on his face, steadily crept
up behind him, and, Just as he saw the
fat mans throat trembling for another
explosion he brought both hands down
on his shoulders and shouted:
"Shoor'
At that instant the car checked I'D
suddenly and the little man fell forward
until he looked as if he were swimming
IN the big mans hat. Up sprang the
big man with a roar.
10, ! didn't mean that, really" ex-
claimed the little philanthroplst. but.
catching sight of the distorted features
OF his victim, he turned and fled to the
door which the brakemon was lust
opening. But the fat man was very
nimble, and he caught his benefactor
with big square-toed boot. Eighty
six, shouted the brakeman, with low
cred head; but his cry was cut short as
the little man straddled his back and
fell in heap on the other side, where
ne picked himself up and fed through
the car. The fat man took his seat.
The hiccough was cured, but, seated in
the last seat of the hindmost car. the
little philanthropist did not wear that
look OF triumph and satisfaction which
is presumed to follow the success of n
cherished aim 7. Times.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-04-16
MISCELLANEOUS,

In the center of an oak tree re-
Gently felled near Goshen, Conn, was
found bottle containinga slip of paper
on which was written in feminine
hand: ''She was young, and she was
fair +; but an Indian raised her hair.
She hadn't modern hair.-Harttord
Post.
-Steel-rail men have no reason to be
alarmed because the building of new
railroad lines is falling off. The increase
of traffic at the same time increases the
wear on rails, and the 10000 miles OF
rail in the United States will alone re-
quire over $50, 900 tons of new rails an
nually.-N Y Herald.
AT a recent fashionable luncheon
party tea was served in handsome and
expensive tea-cups. Each guest was
presented with the cup in which his or
souvenir. A novelty in china, by the
way, is set of plates. each painted by
some distinguished foreign artist, and
offered for sale at 81, 900 piece.-N. 7.
Letter.
There are at present three members
of the British House of Commons who
have sat for a period of fifty consecu-
tive wears and over. They are Mr..
Gladstone, who has sat for fifty-three
years; Mr.. Talbot, who was elected in
1880 for Glamorgan, has represented
the same constituency for fifty-five
years, and C. p Villiers, who has been
member for Northampton for fifty
years.
-Ther ar diferensez Of opinyun
amung spelling reformrz.. az Their ar in
everi organizashun ov men hu hav a
comon end in view; but theze diferensez
are not vital and tina are constantli
groing les. Upon the GENERAL principle
ov the reform and upon their practical
aplicashun. oil reformrz, ecsept few
irreconcilablz such az hang around the
eli oy everi great movement, are sub
stanshali ov wun mind.-Port Hope Flo.
netic Herald.
The death of fine parrot is quite
feelingly related by the Atlanta ConStt-
tuition: He was good singer, capital
talker and loved to entertain callers.
He always designated his owner, Mr..
Sprenger, as Papa" A few nights
ago he was entertaining party of
ladies and gentlemen at Mr. Sprenger's
residence, when he suddenly tumbled
over from his perch, calling plaintively,
"Papa!' "Papar' ''Papar Mr..
Sprenger heard him, and ran to his
side and clasped him in his arms. The
birds voice sank lower and lower. un-
til there could be heard a whispered
Papa" and then the breath ceased,
and Polly was dead. The bird came
originally from Australia, and was snow
white.
-''It happened to be my lot one
day." said friend of mine who lives
in a suburban town, ito be riding in a
horse car in company with two ladies
who were utter strangers to me. l
heard them discussing lady whose
name did not catch; they described
her house from attic to cellar, they told
the hours of her meals and how her
table was spread and served, they even
mentioned the number of towels in
daily use in her household. l did not
listen, for was engrossed in my own
thoughts, but l heard enough of the
conversation to make me pity and SYM
pathize with the lady they were so
eagerly dissecting, when, all at once,
to my establishment and indignation, l
found they were talking about me-
Boston Letter.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-04-16
FARM AND EIRESIDE.

Scatter little flour on the pie plates
and there is no danger of the crust adj
herring to the plate when baked.
One egg in winter is often worth
three or four in summer, and the poul-
terer who keeps his hens in condition
for winter laying will not be disap-
pointed in the profits.
-Tablecloths. one would almost i'm
agine, are entirely out of date, for every
thing in that line appears to be called
''scarf." ''Jane, be sure and put clean
scarf on for dinner tonight. IN T.
Mail.
S. E. r. writes that apples may be
kept from whitening in dry cellar by
putting pail of water near the fruit.
1t may be set on the cellar bottom. The
fruit will draw the moisture from it
Troy Times.
One of the best places in the world
If one can not have green-house-in
which to keep roses, is the kitchen.
There is always more or less moisture
in the air from the cooking, and as long
as the air is moist the better the growth
of your roses.-Iole1o Blade.
Orange Pudding: Slice and sugar
two large juicy oranges; boil one pint
of rich milk and add one tablespoonful
of corn starch, and the yelks of two
eggs we'll beaten. Pour over the oranges
hot, and mix WE'LL then beat the whites
of the eggs light and pour on top; set
it in the oven and brown. lobe eaten
cold.-The Household.
The advantage of letting hogs run
at large in summer is found chiefly in
the grass, weeds and other bulky food
that they pick up, which distends their
stomachs and keeps them in healthy
condition. If pigs are kept in the pen
during summer they should have cool
ing, laxative food, rather than grain.
Wheat bran or ship stuff with milk will
make rapid growth without undue fat
tening.-Albany Journal.
"A stone smokehouse few feet
square and eheaply covered by boards
is very convenient around farmhouses.
Besides its use for smoking meats, it is
convenient receptacle for wood ashes,
or when not required for smokehouse
may be stored with feed for pigs, to
whose pen it will naturally be adjacent.
On farms where stone is abundant the
cost of such building, aside from roof
ing, will be only lime, sand and labor.
N. T. Herald.
Rice Griddle Cakes: Put pint of
boiled rice to pint of milk, to stand
over night, and in the morning add a
pint and half of flour, teaspoonful Of
salt. and tablespoonful of sugar, and
a tablespoonful of melted butter. Beat
the mixture well, and add two we'll
beaten eggs and pint of milk in which
teaspoonful of baking powder has been
stirred. Fry on hot griddle. If you
have half pint of cream substitute it
for the tablespoonful of butter.-Boston
Budget.
Any land that will bear clover can
be made rich. 1t is not wise, however.
to put field in clover and then keep it
pastured down closely. If the top is
not allowed to grow the root will not
grow, and double loss occurs. By
frequent blowing under of clover the
soil will soon become in fine condition
for almost any crop. 1t is more econo-
mical to enrich by green manuring than
in any other manner, and the effects
are lasting and permanent.-Prairie
Farmer.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-04-16
THE CORMORANT.
How the Chinese Train These Birds to Do
Their Fishing for Them.

How the Chinese Train These Birds to Do
Their Fishing for Them.
The cormorant does all the work of
fishing for his master, who has only to
take care of the boat. The birds stands
upon the edge of the shallop till the
boatman gives the signal, when they
spring into the water to perform their
task. As soon as they have captured a
large fish or filled their threats with
smaller ones, they return to the boat
and their masters take possession of
the prey. If they find fish too large
for one bird to take care of it alone,
two or three of them will join to assist
in bringing it in.
The cOrmorants are trained for their
business with great care. The most in
telligent birds are said to come from the
province of Che-Kiang. The eggs of
the first spring laying, which usually
takes place in February, are collected
and put under hens, the maternal love
of the cormorant being only feebly de-
veloped. The young when first Matched,
being extremely weak and delicate, and
prone to succumb to the slightest chill,
are put into wadded baskets, where they
can be kept at uniform temperature.
They are fed with pellets of beans and
finely chopped eel, till at the end of
month, when, having become nearly
covered with feathers, they are given
the eel alone; at the end of another
month they are able to eat small fish
whole, and are worth FIVE dollars a pair.
When they have got their growth,
which is about five months after they
are Matched, they are tethered by a
string tied around the foot on the banks
of stream or a pond. The trainer,
stirring the water with pole, and
whistling an air which the birds learn
is the signal for ''take to the water"
throws in some small fish, which they
attack with all the more voracitv as
they have not been too well fed. The
trainer then whistles another air, which
is to be the signal for coming back,
and, that the birds may not be mistaken
as to Its meaning, he pulls at the same
time upon the cord that holds them.
These lessons are continued for two or
three months, when the scene of the
practice is changed to the boats; and
at the end of another month the cord is
dispensed with. There are, of course,
differences in the capacity of cormo-
rants as well as of men. While the
stupid ones are sent to the pot, the most
sagacious and best trained male birds
are worth seven or eight dollars apiece,
females less. The period of service of
the cormorantS is short. They beUin Tn
lose their feathers and to go into de-
crepitude in their fourth year. and gen
orally die before they are six years old.
M Maurice Janaetel, IN Popular Science
Monthly.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-04-16
SPRING VELvETS.
An Article of Ladies Wear That IL Great
.a.sr Iy In Vogue.


Spring velyets are as regularly ana
nounced by merchants as spring silks
have always been, because velyets are
now used at all seasons of the year,
and velvet figures are seen on the
sheerest fabrics. Frise velvet figures
on satin grounds are the novelties for
the next spring and summer, to be COM
bined with plain satins, which it is con-
fidently asserted will remain in favor,
especially in the new twilled and
tricotine effects. Among these novels
ties small figures prevail either in quaint
Persian designs, in small Greek keys
that form squares, in Turkish crescents,
and more than all else in small blocks
set in stripes, Or in prin small sprigs OF
flowers placed stiffiy in rows across the
fabric. The last are called the jardiniere
patterns, and show seven or eight nat
ural tints in the flower aud its leaves,
standing out in curled velvet loops from
sober ground of gray satin. beige:
slate, moss green, myrtle, old blue, and
browns of most varied shades. An
olive velvet key pattern is on dull biut
satin; cardinal blocks of velvet are on
beige grounds; black and white checked
grounds have black velvet half-moonss,
narrow stripes of gray satin have small
red velvet blocks upon them, and these
alternate with blue satin stripes, on
which are olive or golden brown stripes.
Wider stripes of mouse-colored veiVes
are separated by twilled stripes Ct two
colors, such as gray with rose-color.
For the single breadth now worn in tbs
front of plain. satin. silk. or yelyes
skirts there are three curves OF velvet
that reach in one line from selvedge to
selvedge, such as brown velvet across
on beige satin, or gray velvet on car
dinaI red tin.-Ha7per's Bazdr.