davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
A cocKHOAch MAIL CARRIER.
Novel Means OF Communication Employed
by Two Indiana Conyicts.


A common cockroach was trained to act
as letter carrier between William Rodifer
and starlight Jack" Ryan, convicts in the
Southern Indiana peniten,iary. 1t is prob
ably the first instance on record, too, where
there was any use found for this little crea-
ture. A writer in It'd Bits tells the story as
follows:
Rodifer occupied cell In the tier Just
above the one where Jack was confined, and
for long time they had no means of com.
munication with one another. Rodifer was
a daring fellow, but he had not sufficient
imagination to get up plan OF escape, and
he relied on the bright mind of his friend,
''Starlight Jack" to suggest ali idea.
One evening Rodifer noticed an innocent
looking cockroach running about on tue
floor After watching its gambolings for
time, he concluded he would use it. So,
writing short note to his friend, he tied it
to the cockroach's wing, and, kneeling down
on the floor, he put it out on the wall under
the iron balcony in front Of his cell. He
| calculated that it would run into the cell
| underneath; and it did
Jack noticed the paper, caught the insect,
and read the note Then he answered it, and
poked the little creature out on tho wall
! from the cei,ing over the door, where he re-
leased it. The roach went into Rodifer's cell
and was caught. Then they fed and cared
for it, and used it in this manner for some
months. In fact, it grew to understand its
business.
1t must have been n female cockroach
however, for one day it stopped to chat with
friend, and was noticed by warden. The
note, which was written in some sort OF
cipher, was taken of, and the hospital stew.
ard, Dr. Sid G. Mcclure, read it. Then the
beetle was put on the balcony floor and il
ran into Rodifer's cell Thus the official.
were kept posted as to the two famous jai
breakers.
After time Jack began to suspect thai
something was wrong. and he added post
script to his letter something like this
"1f everything is right, you will find a hail
from my head in this note"
The warden read it as he did the others
but dropped the hair and lost it.
'Never mind it," said Capt. Craig, who's
hair WINS red; 'put one of mine in it."
The answer came back: THAT last whip
ping must have been an awful one, Jack, fo
it has changed the color of your hair"
The scheming Of these two worthless cam
to naught, however, and they served thei
terms.-Inter Ocean.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
Cotton.See Makes Cheap Beef.

A series of feeding tests at the Penn
sylvania Agricultural College, very
carefully conducted, show unmistak-
ably that cotton-seed meal at current
prices is one of the cheapest feeds for
fattening animals. After three winters
of feeding experiments, it was found
that If cotton-seed meal is judiciOusly
combined with corn meal it can take
the place OF more than its own weight
of corn meal. 1t was also evident that
when the price OF cotton-seed meal is
not much greater than that OF corn
meal, the former can be fed proftably
to beef cattle. Since this statement is
made without any reference to the
manurial value of the two meals, it
certainly is not exaggerated. Many
farmers do not know that the quantity
of nitrogen. potash and phosphoric
acid contained in a ton OF corn meal ie
so small that it would cost only about
Sc to buy as much OF these elements In
the form OF commercial fertilizers. In
cotton-seed meal, on the contrary. the
amount of plant food it contains is SO
great that ii will cost $28 to supply In
the form OF commercial fertilizers the
manurial elements contained in one
ton of cotton-seed meal. Certainly no
more arguments should be needed to
convince cattle feeders OF the profits.
both direct and indirect, to be derived
from this food, since most OF iA
manurial elements are retained in the
manure. Farm and Home.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
Caro- OF the Botly.

Most Of these who die between 25 and GO,
unless they die by accident, die by some in
liscretion-such as the over indulgence Of
appetite, or the neglect Of food when needed,
or the overstrain of business, or exposure to
changes of the temperature without CORE
spending changes Of clothing. 1t is inteli.
gent caution that saves sickness; and this
caution ought to be in possession and exer-
cie before middle life 1t is so much easier
to prevent serious sickness than it is to Sc
cure recovery from it. Hence it is that many
who are deficient in vigor in early life out.
live the vigorous and careless. s.-Oncea Week
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
The Aggressive Eucalyptus.

The inhabitants of Oakland, Cal, who a
few years ago imported largo numbers of
gum and eucalyptus trees from Australia as
fever destroyers, have come to the conclu
sion that the roots OF these Australian mon
sters do more harm under ground than the
branches do good above, and havo set to
work to destroy them. The roots have n
playful way Of strangling those of other
trees within their reach, breaking drain
pipes, cracking pavemcnts and loosening
foundations in an extremely alarming fash
ion.---Chcago Herald.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
Torment for the Cyclists.

The street rowdies of Chelsea have invented
a new torment for the cyclists who avail
themselves of Battersea park. They are not
content with Gicking them with switches and
inserting bits Of stick in tho delicate wires Of
their wheels, but they set on little boys to
run across cyclist with view Of getting
knocked over. Boy fhlls..prostrate, bowling,
park keeper hurres up, takes cyclists ad-
dress, crowd soon gathers, compensation is,
of course, forthcoming, especially il the
cyclst is lady. The wounded child skips
merrily Off with half crown, divides the
booty and tries for another spill in another
part of the park.-Pall Mall Gazette.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
Language Of the World.

An English correspondent gives as a
reason for possibility that the English
language will become the '.world speech"
the mental slowness of the Anglo-Saxon
Lace in learning two languages. They
traverse the globe unaffected or undis-
mayed by its eccentricitics of speech.
Tie English speaking countries have an
area of more than one-tifth of the whole
hani,aiie globe. English is the language
of the high seas. and is spoken in every
maritime port. What demand can there
be for Volapuk?-Boston Budget.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
Incatins tl,e I,nnn,larx.

The English have happy way of avoiding
lawsuits about boundaries. They form n
procession on Ascension day, When the
clergymen, parochial officers and parish.
toner's Of note followed by the boys of the
parish school, go to the parish boundaries,
and with peeled willow wands strike or
touch them. Formerly, at any important
boundary, one of the boys was soandly
beaten, so as to make a deep impression on
his mind of the exact location Of that bound
nry.-Globe- Democrat
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
REFLECTED.

Your heart Is like beautiful smooth pool
That mirrors clear Whatever bends above
Warm with the sun. and with the evening cool
So love II gives me. II bring It love.
Ny grief lies In your heart as In nay own,
My gladness flashes back from you to me;
No passing cloud OF thought Is mine alone
Reflected in your mind each thought sec
Why Is Il. then, that am not conteutt
What do long for' Is there more than this
That you should know each unsaid thing meant
And give rie thought for thought. and kiss for
kisss
And yet. sometimes grow to hate the thing
That. imaged in your heart, lies clear and fair.
What Is beneath the love or thought bringf
What hidden in the depths or shadows there.
Bessie Chandler iu American Magazine
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
Russian Small Coins.

It is said that in the southern part Of Rus
sia the peasants use coin of such small
value that it would take go, 900 Of them
to buy an American dollar, and these coins
are SO scarce that mau who has hundred
is looked upon as rich, and one who has
thousand is considered very wealthy
1t is Strange to think person wealthy who
owns twoflfths of cent, and comfortably
we'll of on onetwenty fifth of cent.-Bos-
ton BUDGET
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01

--"Dear wife," said dying hus-
band, -.if you do marry again, wait at
least until the grass is growing on my
grave" The widow promised faith
fully that his wish should be respect
cd About two weeks after the fu-
neral the widow visited the grave. and
pressing gold coin in the sections
hand. said: Cant you have this grave
sodded without y.n-7eras Sif-
sH0S "a"
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
What the Chin Means.

An old writer says: IA long chin declar,
eth n man to be peaceable, yet a babbler.
They that have little chins are much to DO
avoided aud token heed Of, for they are full
of impicty and wickedness, and are spies like
unto serpents II the end OF the chin be
round, it is the sign Of nice manners; but
the chin Of a real man is square Chi
cago Herald
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
Phonetic Chinese symbols.

Missionary Beach, Of China, claims to
have succeeded in representing the Chinese
spoken language by system Of clear and
simple phonetic symbols, fashioned after the
Pit,nan style 1t Is said that an educated
foreigner can learn the system In from two
to five hours, and bright Chinaman in ten
hours New York Sun.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
No Small Change.

Small change is extremely scarce In Hon
duras, and in number of villages, and even
in Tegucigalpa, it is sometimes difficult to
change a dollar. The sale of articles, such
as food, cigars, ETC., is made difficult or i'm
possible, as no small change exists. -Chicago
Herald
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01

Young Wife-Doctor, am about 70 pre-
pare for trip to Ostend, and have come to
ask your advice.
Doctor-On what subject, madamel
Young Wife You must tell mo what is
the proper complaint to go to Ostend with.
Fliegende Blaetter
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01

---Falmcrs say honey is their only
product that is free from vcrmin. Let
due credit be given the bees for this
They certainly take great pains to
comb it. --Binghamton Republican,
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01

The coolest town in the world In
Werchojansk, in Siberia, where tho
murcury has some times recorded y
temperature OF SO degrees below.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01
Lowest Degradation.

The lifting of mans self up in his own
opinion has had the credit in former ages to
DO thought the lowest degradation that hu
man nature could well sink itself to- Locke.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01

An agreement without consideration II
void, note made on Sunday is void; con
tracts made on Sunday cannot be enforced
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01

The City and Guilds Of London institute
for technical education report large in
crease in pupils.
Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-12-01

-Lawyer-"I had to compromise
that case in which l sued Smith for $500
for you" Client-''Couldn't you get
the full s500?" Law!er-"No; could
only get 5000. | agreed that we would
take 800 and pay the costs" Client
.Well." Lawyer-''As l said before |
agreed to take the 5000" Client
.But where is my sharep" Lawyer
well, / agreed for you to pay the
costs, | couldn't settle any other
way. ."-ArcOia (W. Record.
The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13
THE COMMITTEES OF FIFTEEN.
Only Eight Members Present Yesterday,
and All at Sea.

and All ut Sea.
Eight members OF the Committee OF
Fifteen, appointed by the citizens mass
meeting two weeks ago to devise a plan
whereby the streets Of the city could be
paved, met yesterday in tho directors
room Of the First National Bank. The
meeting came TO no definite conclusions,
though several propositions were dis
cuSscd. One Of the propositions sub
mittcd was that the street tax be raised
to 30 cents and the sewer tax TO %
cents. Upon a valuation of S27, 900, 600
a 30cent street tax should bring a reye-
nue. Of SSl 200, but with 10 per cent.
charged of ON account Of delinquencics,
ETC., the net income would DO S7S,Sj0 Ii
was proposed to add to this the $4,000
merchants tax, which would make a fund
aggregating SOS, $50, this sum 10 be in
creased still further by the sale OF the
city's real estate, said TO bc worth about
100000. The members OF the committee
present were unable 10 reach a
basis OF agreement, but there was
manifested disposition 10 discuss
the tax budget submitted by the Taxing
District Commissioners at their last meet
ing when the levy Tor all purposes was
fixed at $500. II was found, ON vote,
that five Of the committee were In favor OF
the present rate Of s2.35, while only three
favored $3.50. In the language Of one Of
the committee, the committee seemed to
be entirely at sea, though whatever scnti-
mcnt WIS manifested in favor Of street inn
proycmcnt appeared 10 lilo In the
direction OF a direct tax TO DO speci.
fed in tho regular budget OF the
Taxing District Commissioners Another
meeting will bc held today probably, aud
il is to he hoped tina, at the next meeting
Of the committee all the members will be
present Until the committee shall be able
10 prepare report tho mass meeting of
citizens will not be rcconyoned, IL is under
stood, although yesterday was the day to
which the meeting had adjourned.
Chairman Galloway will, Of course, cali
the meeting rs soon as tho committee Is
ready
The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13

thief who robs the ballot-box or neutralizes
general public verdict by stufIinga ballot
box. The Australian law is destined to
become the law in all the States. AS the
people realize the DEVILS dance OF public
danger TO which the greedy and un'
scrupulous politicians are leading them
by the corruption OF the ballot, the source
Of all powers in government they will
come TO see that they cannot adopt too
sweepting measure or one, no matter
what the expense, ;hat is too careful. The
defeat OF Mr.. Cleveland, If anything were
needed, should admonish the people
everywhere that the time has arrived
when additional safeguards are needed in
order that the will of the people in the
selection Of candidates may not be de-
ieated by INSCRIPTIONS political managers
through more INSCRIPTIONS criminals.
The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13

race pride into connagration, all will be
well, and the Southern States will go for
ward with the work Of material develop
ment and faithfully as honorably con-
tinue the solution of problem that Is
only fraught with dangers from without.
AS TO municipal governments, there is
more danger TO them from the scheming
and thievng politicians than from the peo-
pie. Manhood suffrage does not menace
them, but only the party managers to
whom public taxes are as the spols await
ing a victorious army. The conscienceless
scoundrels who in New York and Indiana
"kniied" Mr.. Cleveland are the conspirators
who are assailing the life OF the Republic.
II is the Quays and others who raise and
expend corruption funds at election times
who IRE tho menacing danger OF the Re-
public; men Of education, intelligence and
position who put price upon the ballot,
and thus deliberately corrupt the sources
Of power and neutralize the reasoning ex-
pended by honest men in the calculation
OF principles aad fair attempt by argu-
mcnt 10 enforce ideas that are deemed
essential to the equitable and just as well
as economical management and admins
tration Of tho National Government.
Civil service reform is step toward tho
suppression OF this sort OF scoundcrelism
in politics, and of the rullilnism more Of
fensiye and criminal than that OF the high
wayman that stufs ballot-boxes or robs
them OF votes.
The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13
,.nra a. ua,,c ,,oo,, .,rc.,..

Upon the principles Of equity and jus
iicc. or, 10 be moro commonplace. for the
same reason that man will build a good
fence around his field to to prevent dcpre-
daiions from stock, 10 VIC should have
good streets, smooth and durable"
Thus spoke a leading citizen and tax
payer yesterday, aud ho continued:
Take for an illustration the Peabody
Hotel property, the rental Of which Is
-, 900 per month, or thcrcabout aside
from that derived iUm-the stores and Of
fees beneath. Now, from the revenue Of
the hotel property alone the earnings OF
half month would pay for hnt
class street improvement, even 60
the middle OF the car tracks. Three
dollars a square yard would be a very high
price for the very best species Of pave
mont. Or use the Miles drug store prop
crty ~ Illustrative. Tho expense 10 the
owner would not be above 500 at the out
side, aud most any owner OF property ~
productive would bc glad 10 contribute
that sum toward building a smooth high
WnVb
The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13
STREET PAYING.

II the statements, which we publish else
where, as to the conclusions of the Citi-
zens' Pavement Committee are true, the
people Of Memphis will have 10 look else
where for solution Of the problem
OF street paving. To attempt this solution
by a slight increase on the appropria-
ton for paving In the budget for 1SS0-90
recently adopted by the Taxing District
Government is to beg the whole question
and postpone good pavements for two
years longer. The days OF patchwork are
ended. The people and the growing COM
merce OF the city demand good pavements,
and good pavements we must have If we
are to continue growing and care
to invite capital and labor. Front,
Main and Second streets should be
repayed before the trade Of 1889 begins.
Third street should be paved according to
the original plan at once and Madison
and Jefferson repayed with granite. This
ought not TO be a work Of time, but Of
money. II IL can be done in a year
il should be. And it can be done
in that time under the direction
of Commissioners and by an ad valerem
method OF assessing abutting property.
According TO what we understand are the
proposed suggestions of the Committee it
would take tho assessments Of eight years
TO pay for the paving OF Main street
alone. This would never do. Time
is money in this case to the citizens,
and to save time there must be
an immediate expenditure OF sum
sufficient tocover all the probable and pos
sible necessities and contingencies Of paw
ing so that the city may be lifted out Of
the mud aud put upon the sure iounda-
ton of the best possible payements from
commercial as well as a sanitary stand
point This is no Job lot, but whole
sale piece Of business, aud as such it must
be treated.
The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13
CONDENSED TELsoBApHIo NEWS.

When asked about the bagging trust
case yesterday. Gov. Taylor said "Tho
bag still hangs"
Horton Barker Is likely 10 be the next
Secretary OF the Treasury. lie gave Sl0,-
600 TO the campaign fund.
Edward llOncywool, who was arrested
in Newark, y. j., for forgery, Is q son Of
Lady lIonoywood, 81 England.
THE Rev. Irl Il. Hicks. Of 81. Louis, tho
weather prophet. predicts severe storms
and cold weather in ioriy-cight hours.
The Medical Society Of New York has
approved the electric method OF capital
Punishment rs a substitute for hanging.
The Missouri Pacific directors met in
New York yesterday afternoon and dc.
clared the regular dividend OF per cent.
The directors Of the East Tennessee Rail.
road yesterday reelected sam Thomas
president and Calvin 5. Bricc yicc-prcsi-
dent.
A verdict for $4,000 damages was rem
dcrcd against the Chicago City Railway
Company yesterday for injury done n little
boy by being run over by car. lie had
both his legs taken of.
W. l.. Brock who, with Rubo and Jim
Burrows, held up n passenger traisre~--
the Cotton Bcit route near Genoa station,
Ark, was sentenced yesterday 70 three
years In tho peniicntiary at Tcxarkana,
Ark.
The North mississippi Conference
convened in Slarksvilic ut . o'clock vcs-
to-day morning, Bishop Galloway prcsid.
ing In tho absence Of Bishop Kcencr.
There are about 200 conference visitors in
tho city, business brisk aud everything
lively.
The Alabama Conference OF the Mctho-
dist Episcopal Church South met yoslcr.
day, Bishop r. n. llaigrayo presiding.
The Board Of Missions report larger collcc.
tions than In any previous ycars Exam
nations rs to tho character Of candidates
ior the ministry were postponed.
The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13
Local nc,eoroIogicaI Report.
COTTON

The receipts Of cotton yesterday amounted
10 :, i02 bales, Of which 1850 came in by rail
1913 by river and 800 by wagons. Receipts
same day last year, 6,GGO bales. Sales, 300
bales, or 1850 to exporters and $3.50 to spin
ners. Receipts since September l. 1913. Gi3
bales against $50, 2iG bales same time last
season. shipments thus far this season, $780,
los bales, against 2S5, 5ll bales for correspond
ing time last season. Shipments yesterday,
3,59S bales, against ., 32S bales for same day
last year Stock on hand, lSoiOi bales,
against l30, 1873 bales same day last year. Spots
closed steady at Memphis and New Orleans.
quiet and steady at New York and quiet
changed at Liverpool. Futures advanced |
point at New Orleans, TO points at New
York, and unchanged at Liverpool At New
York the difference between uplands aud
Gull quotations widcned &c ON all gradcs
the prefercnce'of spinncrs for Texas cotton
this season being recognized IN the revision
Of the quotations.
The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13
IN SOCIETY.


No entertainment OF the season has
drawn such large and fashionable crowd
as that which gathered at the residence of
Mr.. $. III. Brooks last evening. He and his
accomplished wife were most hospitable in
their cordial greeting and in their attention
OF the hundreds OF guests who claimed their
attention.
The entertainment was given in honor
OF Miss Pearl Neely, one OF the acknowl-
edged bellies OF the city, and of Miss Edith
Brooks, the charming young daughter of
Mr.. VIM. Brooks, and debutante OF last
season.
Miss Nicely wore lovely gown Of blue
China silk and gauze, and carried a large
bouquet OF white hyacnths. Miss Brooks
wore q becoming dress OF white China
crepe and pearl embroidery. Both the
young ladies are popular in society, and
their presence at all entertainments adds
additional interest and pleasure.
Miss Louise Sneed assisted the hostesses
in receiving the many friends and guests.
The most elaborate floral decorations
were scattered throughout the house,
every available corner and space being
filled with graceful palms and rare cut
flowers IL was genuine bower Of
beauty, and formed a fitting background
for the gay assemblage.
Supper was served on the second floor,
and there the guests found all that could
satisfy dainty appetite or quench the
thirst. There were noticed among the
The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13
900 TELEPHONE BURNED.

because They Wore Of n Pattern which
InfrinRed Upon the Bell instrument
New ORLEANS, La, Dec. ". Nine hun
bred and fifty telephones, heretofore tho
property Of the National Improved, Crcs-
cent City aud New Orleans Telephone
Companies, were burned IN this city to-
day under the direction Of Frank J..
knight, OF the American Boil
Telephone Company, Of Boston. These
instruments were ndjudgcd by the United
States Court 10 infringe the patents Of tho
Bell Company, aud as they could not DO
utilized they were destroyed. This Is tho
outcome OF the local contest between tho
BELL Company aud tho above named com.
panics defendants The court directed
that oil telephones belonging 10 the de-
PENDANTS be delivered 10 the BELL Com
pany. This order WIS obcycd, and the In
strumcnis were disposed of asstalud above.