davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17
RISE OF THE NILE.
How the Arab Farmer Prepares for the
Overflow of Its Waters.

How the Arab Farmer Prepares for the
Overflow of Its Waters.
When the time approaches for the
inundation the Arab farmer is all ex-
pectancy, says writer, describing the
overflow of the Nile. His canals are
cleared and he protects his home by
dikes and walls of adobe. This done
seated at his door, he watches with
satisfaction and gratitude the rise and
approach of the water which holds his
little wealth. 1t is several months ris.
ing to its greatest height and then as
slowly and gradually subsidies. Then
appears again to his delighted vision
the husbandman' farm. His palm
trees seem to rise to greater reach
and their waving branches add to the
vades all. Already his well-filled
canals have defined themselves and his
irrigating machinery is at once put in
repair. There is no more use for the
boats which have served to carry him
from place to place during the inunda-
ton. They are hidden among the
rushes on the banks of the canal Every
available person is now pressed into
the service. If the thin deposit of mud
left by the departing river is kept
moist its value remains at par
If the hot sun is allowed to play
upon it unopposed it soon becomes
baked and curls up into tiny cylinders,
then, breaking into fragments, it falls
dead and worse than useless. There
fore the process of irrigation must be-
gin at once. The rude sakiyeh and the
ruder shadoof are kept going night and
day and give employment to tens OF
thousands of the people and cattle as
well. With these primitive appliances
the water is lifted and emptied into
the channels which have been dug or
diked to receive it. From these larger
receptacles the water is led to smaller
ones, which, OVERLOOKING cover the
fields.
In little time then Nile farm be-
comes a rare beauty-spot instead of a
waste of mud. for now the crops are
grown. The lentils bend with their
heavy load, and the fields of grain turn
their well-fillcd heads from side to side
that the ripening sun may change
their green freshness into gold. What
landscape unadorned by art can be
more lovely than such farm; narrow
though its limits may be, with its
grove of palms to fan the breeze and
scatter their sweet fruitage into the
lap of the happy fellahinp Here no
weeds grow to annoy HIM. No stone
crops are belched to the surface each
year to stop the pillow. And this is
good, for the Egyptian plow has no
scientifically curved coulter or subsoil
attachment Scribner's Magazine.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17
HUMOROUS.

LETS go fishing, Johnny" NAV,
don't want to-" "WhyP" "Oh. l
can't catch any thing" "Well can.
catch a lickin' every time l 60"
Neacnadn Independent.
"A guilty conscience needs no ac-
cuser,' says the proverb, with great
truth. The guiltier man conscien ce,
the more willing he is to worry along
without an accuser. -Mercha,A Tray
cier.
Mrs. Harlem-"Aren't the Pals
AIDES wonderfully fine, Cousin TomP"
Cousin Tom (who was born and has
lived in st. Louis)-"Can't say. Never
seen m play. But we're goin' ter yank
the pennant this year n don't you for
get It'd BITS.
"A judge, joking young lawyer.
said; IF you and we're to be snrned
into a horsc or an ass which would
you prefer to beP" THE asa, to be
ssre!' replied the kMyer;" I've leard
Of an ass being made judge. but a
hor never "-JtYdge.
"A real-estate agent, who was ivy
ing to sell some land lying along the
margin of a river was asked if the river
did not sometimes overflow its banks.
well he answered. II must say that
the river isnot one Of those feeble, sickly
stnsams that are always confined to
their beds. NJ Y. Ledger.
Tho near-sighted man who imi-
tated the Unc'e Toby act by taking
WHIST he tt onght was fly tenderly to
tue window and saying as he lst it 60.
There is room enough in this world
for thee IN me. will not initiate the
Uncle Toby act again. His fly was
wasp SonaerUiile Journal.
-"Oh, Rowena," exclaimed Volt
gem T;pemeasure, dropping on his
knees without struggle, "your
beauty fires my heart" "My dauoh-
ter" said old Hengi,t Wheatcolner,
entering the loom, Il will divide
the contract with you: I will fire the
rest of him." Which he dld.-Burdette.
The son of the soil in Texas APP
pears to be having a tough time this
argus sings:
The chinchbug eats the farmers grain,
The bee-moth spoils his honey,
The bedbug fills him full of pain,
The humbug scoops his money"
First Gentleman (entering the
apartment of second Gentleman)-
About year ago you challenged me
to fight duelP" Second Gentleman
(sternly)-" did sir. :" First G.
land l told you l had just been mar
ried and | did not care to risk my life
at any such hazard" Second G. Qaugh-
ingly(-''I remember SIR" First G..
(bitterly)-"Well, my feelings have
undergone a change; any time you
want to fight Let me know. Bon jour-"
Paris Figaro -
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17
oEAHCEvILLE, IDAHO.
PERSONAL AND LITERARY.

DIR. II. T. Peck, Professor of Latin
and Greek in Columbia College, il
barely thirty years of age.
General Boulanger has received
from a committee of Russian admirers
q valuable sword inscribed: "Qui Vive
La France ct Boulanger."
= The late Paul Tulane, founder Of
the Tulane University in New Orleans,
went to that city from Princeton, N.
j., in 1918, on horseback.
Henry Ward Beecher had no idea
of the value of money. He would buy
pictures and bric-a-brac without think
ing of the price, and give the articles
them.
Miss Alice Longfellow is one of the
officers of the Society for the Collegiate
Instruction of Women, and is often
seen at the Harvard Annex building,
where, they say, she is regarded by the
students with love amounting almost
to reverence.
In the matter of libraries this coun-
try is said to contain Gin round num-
bers) nearly $500. each with 800 vol
umes or over, and a total of more than
20,500,000 of volumes. Forty-seven
public libraries have each over SO, 900.
M y Witness.
Senator ingalls, home at Atshison,
Kan, consists of the house in which he
and his wife spent their honeymoon,
together with such other wings and
rooms as have been added from time
TO time. Originally there were only
four rooms. Now there are eighteen.
Elijah Smith, the Oregon railway
magnate, thinks breakfast the great
meal of the ds.~ He takes no lunch
and is careless about dinner, but starts
in on every days york with his stom-
ach supplied with an amount of food
which will suffice for at least ten
hours.
Sir Willram Dawson has been en-
gagged for some time past on revision
of well-knewn work, 1.-The Story OF
the Earth and Man" Sir William is
hard-worked college chief, but he de-
votes several months Of each year to
his geological pursuits. 1t may be
added that the contributions of his son,
Samuel Dawson, +. X. S. c., to geolog-
ical literature have already attracted
attention among the leading scientific
circles of Europe The Epoch.
One of the most eccentric rich men
In New York City is the venerable Ben
jamin Richardson. He is said to be
worth 100000 or more, but lives in
tumble-down house in Harlem. He
holds mortgage for 100000 against
one of the most prominent insurance
companies in the city. Mr.. Richard
son owns the historic Washington
coach, which he lets out whenever
there is demand for the revolutionary
relic.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17

Happy the man whose heavy years
the love of childhood leavens.
The talent of success is nothing
more than doing what you can do well
without thought of fame.-Lomgfel-
'oW.
IL see them on their winding
way" said the jeweler, as three pur-
chasers of Waterbury watches filed out
of his store. Fireman Standard.
"A we'll entertained Imagination is
not always the intangible thing it would
seem to be. There are times, indeed,
when prefer it to a we'll fed stomach.
We pass for what we are, and we
prosper or fail by what we are. There
are men who may dare much and will
be justified in their daring. But it is
because they know they are in their
place. AS long as l am in my place l
am safe.
MIR. Gum Discharged Counsel
had been questioning certain witness
named Gum, and, in closing, he said
to him. "Mr. Gum, you can now go
of" The judge on the bench seeing
the pun, gravely added: "Sir, you
are discharged. Of course, an explo-
sion in the court Immediately ensued.-
Youth.
Only a Matter of Business
| Within the clasp of fair maid,
| Assuringly my hand laid;
1 felt pressure. soft and sweet;
| Her eyes and mine did chance to meet;
A blush spread Ger the cheek so fair,
My other hand was held out there;
But neither OF US thought OF love
She Iun M fitting on a al pllck
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17
THE FORTH BRIDGE.
A Stupenduous Struc ure Eclipsing Any
Thing of the Kind Yet Erected.


Thing of the Kind Yet Erected.
Crossing and rccrossing the Firth of
Forth few days since, I got good
sight of the great Forth bridge that is
now well on its way to completion. 1t
will be the wonder and admiration of
the world, the browning triumph of
engineering genius, and our bold
Brooklyn bridge will have to take
back seat. A distinguished engineer
recently said of this colossal work:
without doubt the Forth bridge is
the most stupendous structure ever at
tempted to be raised of iron or steel"
The whole of the work of the bridge is
of steel ION the cantilever and central
girder system" The entire length of the
bridge will be 8. 300 feet, considerably
more than mile and half. The two
principal spans of the structure are
LOO feet each in length, two side spans
of 575 feet each, with the ends massively
supported and three intermediate piers.
In the middle of the LOO feet span
there is an unobstructed passage for
navigation $50 feet above the high
water mark. From the foundation of
the Hottest pier to the top of the canti-
levers, the height is $50 feet "or only
ten feet less than the great pyramid of
Egypt" The most powerful pier
weighs 10000 tons.
According to a report made the day
previous to my view of the structure the
materials put down on the spot up to
the present time reckon up $4,000
cubic feet of granite and $1,000 tons of
Portland cement. Thus far 10000
cubic yards of masonry had been
erected in piers and abutments, $4,000
tons of steel in approaches and spars,
and 10000 more tons of steel is ready
for placing. At this time there are
80, 600 men at work in connection with
this gigantic undertaking, and the
force will average 5000 men the year
round. = Edinburgh Cor. Louisville
Times.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17
The Latest Brand.

Ee (despondently)-It seems useless
to struggle any longer against a cruel
fate. Your father refuses his consent
to our union. my salary is but seven
dollars per week, and your brother
threatens to thrash me at the first OPP
portunity. l will not conceal from
you the fact that am losing hope, and
have more than once thought of sui
eide.
She causing before brilliantly
lighted saloon)-Adelbert, l don't
blame you. Listen: you have often
told me of the fatal effects of the Ice
cream of to-day. see you follow me,
by your paling cheek. Let US go in
here. In short time all will be over.
We will die together
(This is the latest brand of ice-cream
jest. A button-hook goes with each
one.)-7id-Bits.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17
HER NAME WAS SMITH.

lieved by an Inquisitive Traveller.
He boarded the train at Rochester
and came to the only vacant seat in the
car, beside young lady.
'This seat taken. ma amp"
"No."
"Wall, then, guess I'll set DOWN"
Two minutes silence.
"Have some peanuts, ma lamp
mo, l thank you.'
"Jiminy, don't you like peanutsp
Just like my wife. My great holt is
peanuts and bananers. Perhaps you'd
like bananer, ma'amp'
mo, nothing. thank you"
olive up to Buffalo, ma amp" "
Eyes"
"P'raps you know my friend Cap'n
Jack Sloan, lives down in Elk street,"
mo, don't know where Elk street
is.'
By gol! and you live in Buffalo. Why
nigh on to twenty years. My names
johnson. Your name amt Jones, is
itp''
NO"
"Tain't Williams, or anything of that
kindP"
mo"
That's what I thought. I don't
s'pose now it's Brown or any O. them
colorsP'
NO"
"Been farp" ~--
mot far"
Syracuse, mebbe; or Albany. ehp"
mo"
MOP gol! Hain't been to New
York;"
yes"
Jimmy, I've ne7er been there,
though | saw pretty slick Teller from
there once. Them New Workers is
regular goers, amt theyp Any rela-
tons therep"
Few"
"Gosh! Wonder if they know my
cousin Jake. He's getting ten dollars
a week jest to walk around in store
and look slick. Your folks ever speak
of JakeP'
"No."
Jake and me bought some land out
West last year. Ever buy anyP"
mo"
"Don't. Jake and me lost five hum
dred dollars. 1t was way at the bot.
tom of river. Ever been West?'
Chicago"
..'Jee! you hev travelled, amt youP
Father and mother livingP"
Father"
olive in BuffaloP"
"No."
"Our folks all live together down to
Rochester. My father and mother have
been dead long time. My wife's mother
lives with us. Her names Martin.
That amt your name, ehp"
mo"
II was jest thinking you looked like
a man | know in Buffalo named
Waters. He amt your brotherP"
mo"
1--WE must be comm pretty near
Buffalo. That there lot of tracks looks
like it. You don't happen to live on
Main street,"
mo"
''Then your name amt RobinsonP"
mo"
You must have curious kind of a
name. Sure it amt SandersP''
"Sure."
oval. here we be; can help you git
FIN, offp,1
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17

Preparing to Be Educated
When the school-term's dreary bother
Glad vacation time supplants,
Then the boy slghs forth Dear mother,
Won't you pie ase half-sole my pantsf"
Washington Critic.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17

There's some cloud resting on
Squander. Every time meet him he
is gloomier than before. He must owe
lot of money" THAT isn't what
troubles him, though. It's because he
can't owe any more. "-zown Topics.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17

Spencer tells us that only sleep
and laughter rest the brain. We know
a man who was kicked shamefully by
a mule whose brain is resting as quiet
ly as man who doesn't advertise
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17

"A little dot of Duluth's femin-
inc humanity who has not yet
learned to put all the corners on the
English language, went on Sunday
school picnic excursion up the bay this
week. At dinner she was given an
adult piece of custard pie, and in her
infantile gyrations succeeded in falling
down and getting plaster cast of her
hand. Rising with ruffled feelings and
disheveled locks. she lifted the unfortu-
nate member to an attitude of invoca-
ton and exclaimed: Mamma, take
this cussed pie! "-Dutuh Photographer.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1888-02-17
THE GlRAFFE'S NECK.
Its Infiexibility Equal to That of Wood
en- Bar of the Same Length.


In spite of its enormous length it
only possesses the seven yertebr@
which are common to nearly all the
mammals. In consequence it is nearly
as inflexible as wooden bar of equal
length, so that the many pretty pict-
ures which represent giratfes curving
their necks gracefully, after the man.
ner of swans, are ludicrously wrong.
''But," said the directors, ''if it had
so long and inflexible neck it could
not Craze, and being a ruminant ami
nal, would die of hunger" 1t is quite
true that it can not Craze. 1t can only
lower its head near the ground by
spreading its forelegs as widely as pos
sible and drawing its hind legs under
them, thus presentinga most ludicrous
aspect. In its native state it never, as
far as know, even attempts to lower
its head to the ground, but IN captivity
it can be induced to do SO by laying on
the ground large lump of sugar, of
which it is inordinately fond.
The fact is. that it is intended to Craze,
not on the ground, but on the leaves of
trees. The acacia, or mimosa, is its
favorite tree, and the Dutch colonists
have in consequence called the acacia
by the name of "kameeldorn''-i. e.,
camel thorn, they invariably giving the
name of camel to the giraffe. This
mode of feeding involves another an
omolous structure. This is the tongue,
on which the giraffe is almost as much
dependent as is the elephant on its pro-
boscis. 1t is possessed of wonderful
powers of extension and contraction,
and can be narrowed until it almost re-
sembles the corresponding organ of the
ant-eater. The peculiar powers of the
tongue can well be seen when the ami
NAL takes the sugar from the ground.
1t does not attempt to seize the sugar
with its lips, but protrudos its tongue
to its fullest extent, twists the mar
rowed tip around the sugar, and so
draws the coveted dainty into its
mouth. When it feeds on the trees it
picks off leaf after leaf quite daintily,
selecting those which are most to its
taste. Good Words.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-09-13
WEEKLY.
Twelve Pages.
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.

Throughout his administration it ha
not been recorded that President Cleve
land has written single weak word. Every
message to congress has been character
lied by ability, sound business sagacity
and wise craftsmanship. But in all his
writings and Ispeeches nowhere will be
found, in such compact form, and yet with
such clear eIuaidation, exactness and all
necessary application, 80 much OF ma
tional moment, SO much of wise statecraft,
so much of Importance to the commercial
relations to our nation and to the interest
of all our citizens as IS bound up in this
letter of acceptance Of denomination to
the presidency. 1t is ciear-cut
recital of national issues, bat deals for the
most part in warning and advice upon the
one great INSTRUMENTATION of the tariff.
On this subject he is especially clear and
emphatic in every statement. There Is
nothing ambiguous or uncertain about
any portion of the letter, but in the treat
ment of the tariff it is so clearly stated,
so pointealy put, that any one, even the
most unlettered laborer, can gain fair
idea of the fundamental truths that under
lie this question of gravest moment to
the nation and all the people. In its en-
tirety the letter will be classed as one of
the most valuable state papers ever writ
ten. II is the bold earnest and able
expression, by fearless competent man
of his views and those of the party he
represents, on the great questions of the
day. 1t is letter in which no real flaws
can be picked even by a republican senate
and other bitter opponents. 1t Is docu-
ment upon which the president and his
party like men can stand and fight for a
great and glorious principle without fear
of successful opposition. 1t Is further
application of the doctrine laid down in
the national democratic platform; it is |
the ringing announcement of the further
hopes and aims of him who struck the
keynote in the reform movement that |
is sweeping over the land, when he sent |
his stirring and republican horrifying
message to congress last December. 1t ia
a document that every democrat can use
rs his rallying cry. 1t is a state paper so
dignified in tone, so replete with sound
truth and by implication SO confident of
victory that it will prove an inspiration
to the democratic party and furnish an
impetus that will not brook opposition.
The party could not have desired a
stronger or better announcement of prin
ciples at the hands of its chief standard
bearer.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-09-13

questionable efficiency of Travis county's
assessor, we may regard his report as
much above the average of reports gen.
orally. If we take his report and compare
it with the vote on prohibition in 1887,
estimating the proportion which the
voting population of the city bears to
that of the county, it would make Austins
population in 1887 $1,000, and that of
Travis county 22,173.
The scholastic census of this city and
county has been taken this year with
scrupulous care, and the result is 1920 for
the city and 5,74S for the county, or
total of 10,06S-very nearly double the
census of 1880. The proportion of the
whole population according to our as
SCISSORS estimate) to the scholastic popu-
latioD, 3 40 to l. Multiplying the
present census (scholastic) by this, it
gives Us population in the state,of l.
954,lOO, which will show an increase of
only 312 per cent per annum since 1880.
If Galveston's result is taken as true
proportion it will make our population
about 2O0,O 900 less than it was in 1880.
Taking the whole scholastic population
of 1880 at 1889, and of 1888 at 52S, ITO
Travis county's at 5,252 in 1880 as
against 10,069 in 1888, together with other
tacrs and circumstances showing our
growth and Development, one cannot fail
to be convinced that the statistics of pop
u'ation now being calculated are unrelia-
bic. The first tine the scholastic census of
Austin was taken under the present law
was in 1884, II was, at that time, 2,162;
for 1888 it is 1920. Her population, ao-
cording to the census of 1880, was 10000
in round numbers. Not having a sepa.
rate school system, no census was taken
that year, but, dating back only four
years, it shows an increase of 100 per
cent.
Comparing these actual facts with the
report of Travis county's assessor, and
comparing the report of Travis assessor
with that of Galveston's assessor, it is
plain to be seen that when the final ia
tistics "a to the states population are
published, we will be regarded by the out
side world rs having a population of
about three-quarteIs of a million less than
we actually have.
1t will be but two years now until we
have another congressional apportion-
ment With an accurate census we will
have at least 100000 people. With the
present basis of representation we will be
entitled to twenty members of congress.
With the states own showing of popula
tion three-quarters of million less than
the United States census of 1890, There
will be afforded an opportunity to the rep
res entatives of the eastern and northern
states to cry fraud and delay apportion-
ment.
The other mischiefs which the publica-
ton of such a report would cause would
be much greater. LEX.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-09-13
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