davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
Spoons.

An interesting article on spoons appears
in the current NUMBER of CassetEs on the
origin of spoons. The earliest spoons
were doubtless made of wood, followed
improvement upon John Chinaman's chop
stuck. These in turn were displaced by
spoons of horn and bone. Then came
spoons of tin and iron, of rough and in
elegant shape, and hammered by hand. In
the prosperous Tudor times the precious
metals became more plentiful, and gold
and silver plate was in such demand, that
every great family had its own goldsmith.
Perhaps the most curious, and certainly
the most singular variety of spoon is that
known as the Apostle spoon. Apostle
spoons are very seldom found before 1000,
but they were very popular for century
and half 1t was the custom for spon-
sors to present them to their godchildren,
a wealthy person giving whole set. A
list is given of the emblems found on
Apostle spoons: St. James the Less is
represented by fuller's hat, St. Peter by
key, St. Paul by one or two swords, st.
Matthew by wallet, and st. Bartholomew
by buther's knife.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
What Cotton Does.

1t clothes the world with the cheapest
and best garments, it furnishes the lard
for our kitchen, the oil for our salad, the
butter for our bread, the soap for our
toilet and the candle for our bedrooms. 1t
feeds our Jersey COW, it fertilizes our gar
den and field crops. 1t paints our houses,
dyes our hosiery and makes our ointment.
1t furnishes us with paper delicate enough
love, or strong enough for the wheels of
the ponderous locomotive. 1t gives US
thread as fine as the spiders silken web,
or strong enough to lash the navies of the
world together. Such now is this wonder
full plant, and who can deny the magni6-
cent possibilities of its future?-P Prof. Stubs.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

Oh, life thou great unfathomed sea of mystery
Whose waves are threatening on the shores of
Hast thou, through all thy dark and turbulent
history,
Been rolling subject to an awful chaos subme2
Or hast thou by omnipotent will been bounded >
Thy shores been circumscribed, limited and
defined,
Thine utmost Depths by creative hand been
sounded?
Thy pillows only thought waves for an AL
mighty mind?
And can there be an ocean, with but a single
- shore,
ton,
roar,
Only to ebb to the black caverns of Annihila
ton?
sweeping
Casts new soul up this wreck -strewed, storm
tossed shore,
And in its outflow, to the sound of bitter Weep
ing,
Carries pallid form from us forever more.
Thou art gone dear love of my life whittier, oh
whittier.
What awaits thee beyond mine eyes fearful
reach?
And thou poor waif from whence cams't thou
hither
And wherefore vast stranded on this lonely
beach?
Oh! wave if thou carreds't my love out to an
endless DEATH
Tell me, didst thou from that same vortex
drear
Evolve this sentient creature of living breath
And unbemished by death FACILITATING, bring
him here?
My soul. cans't thou not, like the dove outlying
Cross over times turbid and desolate space,
And bring from some shore, where it grows IN
dying,
The olive branch of an eternal grace?
Or thou my love- if the storm thou hast ont
ridden,
Canst thou not send me one word from the
great beyond
That these pillows of doubling and fear. being
chidden,
May leap into low and melodious song?
hearken and listen and hear only the sobbing
OF despairing waves dashing onward to death,
The thunder of conflict, and sorrows deep
throbbing
And the wall of the inflow land -ebbing of
breath.
p H. ", Filas Kan.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
Something Electricity is Doing.

Under the title Something Electricity
is Doing" Charles Barnard wites in the
March Century:
To the student of social science the cleo
trio motor is full of suggestions for the
future. If power can be subdivided and
conveyed to a distance, why may not the
present factory system of labor be ulti-
mately changed? People are huddled to
gether under one roof because belts and
Shafts are so pitiably short. If power may
traverse a wire, why not take the power to
the peoples homes, or to smaller and
more healthful shops in pleasanter places ?
To-day we find sewing women crowded
into hot, stutfy room, close to the noise,
smell, dust, and terrible heat of some lit
tie steam, engine at one end of the room.
The place must be ON lower floor because
of the weight of the engine and the cost of
carrying coal upstairs. Let us see how
the work may be done with motors. We
may take the elevator in wholesale cloth
ing ware house on Blocker street and pass
through the sales rooms to the top floor.
The building is lofty and of light construc
ton, and yet We find in the BRIGHT and
pleasant attic above the housetops q hun
dred girls, each using power. They are
seated at long tables, each one having a
sewing machine, and secured to the under
side of the table is small electric motor,
one to each machine. The operator has
only to touch foot pedal and the motor
starts, giving about one-tenth of horse
power. at a very high speed. If the speed
is too fast it can be regulated at will by
the pressure of the foot on the treadle.
There is no heat, no dust, or ill-smelling
oil, and only slight humming sound the
sewing machine itself making more noise
than the motor. The room is sweet, clean
and light, and it is in every respect a
healthful workroom If we look out of
the window, we see two insulated wires
passing under the sash down to the cleo
trio light wires on the poles below. There
are people who cry out against the over
head wires, and would pull them all down.
Some day they will be buried under
ground. Meanwhile, is it not an immense
gain for these working girls to be placed
in quiet, sunny room, far from the mad
dening engine? In another shop on Broad
way we may see different arrangement.
A two horsepower motor takes its current
from an electric light wire in the street,
| and redistributes its power to shafting
| placed under the work tables. Each oper-
| ator, with touch of the foot, throws her
machine into gear, and takes her share of
the two horse power.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
THE SHIP ON THE SEA.

l wandered one day to the ocean,
was weary and went there to rest,
The winds were at play on the sea shore
And Knocked the mad storms in my breast,
The clouds curled above me in splendor,
I list to the sad moaning sea,
And my heart learned the tune of its music,
As lay 'mong the shells on the lea
Another had strolled to the seashore,
A maiden so youthful and fair,
And the sun as he sank in his glory,
Left kiss on her soft flowing hair;
Her face she kept turned to the ocean.
Her eyes that We're damp as the dew
Kept lingering, and looking, and watching
For ship that ne'er came to her view.
Tho there's many winter that's vanished
Since wandered that day on the shore,
There's maiden whose heart is still beating
For ship that will never come DER;
I find her where ever wander,
Whether inland or sea ride it be,
And while there are maidens she'll linger
And watch for the ship on the sea.
Lille Binklev, AtchiS0n, RGas
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
They Thought Each Other Fools.

There are more than score of men in
New York who make their living by in
venting new advertising devices. The most
prominent of these is q man named Ma
thans, whose office is in West Broadway.
For the last two years, however, Nathans
has confined himself to manufacturing and
disposing of the inventions of others. He
knows Just where a device of certain
kind will be wanted, and his knowledge
of manufacturing is SO thorough that he
can tell to a penny just what it will cost to
make any number of these articles. Ma
thans buys ideas and pays fair price for
them A friend of mine got up little
puzzle made out of pieces of movable
paste board. 1t was an absorbing little
puzzle, simple looking, but not easy to ar
range in the order and shape required for
solution. NV friend is bank cashier, and
when he brought his piece of paste board
over to the bank one morning all the clerks
found it so interesting that they had much
difficulty at night in making the books
balance. Next day the inventor showed
his puzzle to me, going up town on the
elevated, and explained it's solution.
s'Jones," said |, ''that little thing can be
sold for $50"
| 'POOl !! SQ66reu JOuoS.
81 believe you can get hundrd for it, y
said l.
s'Rot p grunted Jones.
had hard work to make the man be.
lieve there was any market value in his
little pieces of paste board, and it was
| only after much coaxing that | induced
him to go and see Nathaps. But at last
he went.
In exactly twenty minutes after he
climbed the stairs, he had lathans' check
for $3.50 in his pocket, and Nathans had
the puzzle ''Lord, but the man is fool,
said Jones, when he showed me his check
II feel as if had swindled him. l hope
I'll never meet him again. l wouldn'1
dare look him in the face.
The other day saw Nathans in Park
Place print shop. When spoke of Jones
puzzle, Nathans' eye twinkled and he be-
came gleefully confidential. "Dot fiddle
ting" he whispered, "gosts me to make
| tree fits of cent apiece. have daker
orters alretty for one hundret an eighty
t'ousand of tenn at five cents apiece. MY
teer poy, bald dot Chones SO tam liddle FOL
dot Ting dot wouldn't meet him ON dc
sdreet for Texas rancho. couldn't look
dot Teller in his face, swindled him so.
Lord, put he was fool IN. \. Cor.
Baltimore Anaerac0n.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
Good Roads.

Tennessee is agitating the question Of
how to get good country roads. Il is .
problem mot for Tennessee alone, but for
the entire South. There is not Southern
State which has sufficient roads, and hith-
erto the subject has been altogether neglec-
ted. The people have devoted their
energies to getting more railroads, not
apparently seeing that public roads are
equally necessary. As it now is, it often
costs moro to get produce to the railroad
depot than from the depot to some central
market But aside from their effect on
transportation rates, good roads have an
immediate effect in the value of farms.
This is well shown in the case of Madison
county, Ala, where lands on turnpikes
are worth from $50 to $50 per acre, while
these on ordinary dirt roads, which are
really no roads ct all, are worth SIC TO $50.
A good turnpike thus doubles the value of
land in Alabama. and it will have the same
effect In other parts of the South.
The proposition in Tennessee is that the
convicts be worked ON the highways.
There is, however, decided prejudice
against employing convict labor in any
work of this kind ; and il is probable that
some other solution of the problem will be
needed. Quite d number of counties have
passed stringent road laws of late and,
thanks to them, have materially improved
the condition Of their highways, but they
have not done one tenth that is needed
and it Is quite evident that the South has
ret to find way of improving and con
structing roads. No better suggestion has
yet been made In this connection than the
calling OF d road conference, where the
subject can be generally discussed, the
laws Of various States compared, and .
system organized that will enable us t.
improve our highways. Let us turn some
Of our snperiuous energy and capital, now
devoted entirely to the construction of rail.
roads, to the building Of turnpikes. which
are now equally necessary to us.-N @,
zsnaes Democrat.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
ExHAUsTING THE SOIL.

whenever the vegetation in any form
whatever, as grain or hay, or fruit, or
vegetables, or timber, is removed from
the soil the land is gradually impover-
ished by the removal Of those salts which
are necessary to the fertility of the soil. +"
sThe preservation of the soil perma-
nently in the highest state Of fertility is
the great problem to be settled by the
southern agriculturist."
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30

Boston Dame dear, where are you
going y Cultured Daughter-ssTo Pro-
fessor Drybone's lecture ON Bacillus Lacte-
rum Nonestibustibus Miss Backbay is
to be there, and I hear she has ust got a
nice bonnet from Paris.-N. z. WeskIy.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
GOOD WORDS.

Long years of hopeless suffering may be
only preparation for rich blessing to
the sufferer.
Every man ought to be an exemplary
mana man to be looked up to as an ex-
ample by all men.
The man who is doing better than most
men in his sphere is sure to be thinking
that he is not doing as well.
Our own sins have more excusable as
pect to us than they have to other people,
or than other peoples sins have to US.
The man who thinks that his sins are no
worse than other peoples sins is already
far gone in iniquity, and is going farther
in that direction.
The true relation between giving and
receiving is Enthusiastically inverted in
the worlds philosophy. The world acts
on the principle that it is more blessed to
receive than to give.
Many persons seem to suppose that be-
cause they do not occupy prominent places
in the church they are therefore in
measure released from the obligation to be
exemplars of Christian character.
No matter how gross our sins, or how
persistent our shining, we are liable to
shut our eyes to the more repulsive aspects
of our wrong doing, and to comfort our
selves with the thought that it is not
wholly destitute of commendable elements.
No movement in the direction of intelli-
gent Bible study and of practical Christian
union has had more potency than that
movement for the common study OF the
Bible text according to schedule of Sc
cd vUhi oh ia known
International Lesson Plan. %
We are ready to admit in a general way
that we are sinners as others are sinners
but when it comes to passing upon par
ticular sins, it seems to US that our SINS
are not quite as bad as sins of the same
sort ordinarily are, and that they are
really decided improvement ON the SINS
of those about US.
The forethought is more difficult than
the afterthought. The one requires IN
tense application to systematic considers
ton and search of the field of the possible;
the other suggests itself instantly ana
naturally. Anybody can see that the door
is in the wrong place after the house ls
built, or can say that the speech was
mistake after it has been delivered anu l'S
effect noticed.
1t is easier to criticise we'll than to con-
struct well but it is more useful 10 con
struct plan perfectly beforehand than lt 70
criticse it afterwards. No douot tn0
traitor, the criminal under condemnation,
the hopeless outcast sees his mistake more e
clearly now than he did beforehand pus
it would have been better for him 10 ha''
realized it in time.
He who receives much has much inter.
est to pay and much capital to return .t w
the other hand, for the same reason sn :"
few hesitate to receive, many hesi1a n:,.. "
give. Giving is both lessenlng ha 1ad;s
and also putting out at interest. u ,nonS
bank is safe and profitable Al1e1 mans
days the gifts shall return. uooo n ubaI1
ure. pressed down and running over, s1 n
be given into the bosom of the giver. NO
ceiyers are less blessed than givers.
\
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30

1.-THE wings of 20 18th are strong and fleet;
Far and fast thA1hy;
The dreams of youth are bright and sweet,
Keep them pure and high"
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30

Love is the golden cream of all good
deeds, and without it they are, at oest'
only skinned milk.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30

The following bill to prohibit the sale
of cigars, cigarettes tobacco or narcotics
to minors under 16 years of age has been
passed by the Kansas Legislature and pub
lshed in the State paper: ..Section /.
That it shall be unlawful for any person
or persons in this State to sell, give or
furnish any cigar, cigarette or tobacco in
any form, opium or any other narcotic in
any form, to any minor under QG sixteen
years Of age. Sec. Q. The violation of any
provision of this act shall constitute q
misdemeanor, and any person found guilty
thereof shall be fined in any sum not less
that five dollars 5000 nor exceeding
twenty five dollars ($25.0O for each and
every such offense. Sec. 8. The provisions
of this act shall not apply to the sale Of
any narcotic made upon the prescription
of . regular praeticing physician. Sec 4.
All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with
the provisions of this set, are hereby re-
pealed. Sec. 5. This shall take effect and
be in force from and after its publication
IN the official State paper Repubsican
lRan.) Record.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
A W@nan's Tribute.

A woman has more excellent way of
bestowing favor than man. One day
in 1865 Rosa Bonheur was surprised while
working in her studio to receive a visit
from the Empress Eugene, who entered
unannounced.
The empress kissed the artist as she rose
to receive her royal visitor, and after a
few moments conversation departed as un-
tremendously as she had entered.
The woman artist discovered that the
woman sovereign had pinned upon her
working blouse the cross of the Legion of
Honor.
The emperor. who had hesitated to con-
fer the decoration on the artist because
she was woman, had left The empress re-
gent during his absence from France One
of her first acts was to drive over from
Fontainebleau, near the studio, and deco
rate Rosa Bonheur with her own hand
Youths Companion.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30

Lecturer (who intends to trace the orl =! .aI
of certain dishes and give their historic, sa
signiicance)-Now, ladies and gentiemssaat,
many of you will doubtless be surprised Egs Do :,
the question am about to ask why ~
we eat mince pies'" Voice (from dyspsps
tic looking auditor)-"Because we ~
fools. ~ 7. Weekly.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
FINE RESULTS OF THOROUGH T1LLAGE

A farmer in Pennsylvania made from
80 to 100 bushels of corn to the acre for
several years and attributed his heavy
yield largely to the fact of his keeping the
earth well stirred during the prevalence of
droughts. Chemists are now trying to dis
cover whether this extra stirring of the
soil does not in some mysterious way help
the crop to larger supplies of nitrogen
than neglected cultivation would give it.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30

Always hold fast to love- We win by
tenderness and conquer by forgiveness.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30

"No," said Vermont deacon, Il dom ~
approve of boss racin' and, when ano a,aea
member member of the church becomes 90 goddess is
as to try to pass me on the road comm 20 nm
from meetin', feel it is my duty 70 i sns
church to let out leetle on the relns, 9u ~
to keep him from putting his trus' -
earthly things"
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
GREAT YIELD OF TURNIPs.

A farmer experimenting with turnips
obtained the following results: On soil
dressed with stable manure he made at
the rate Of 800 bushels per acre: treated
with compost 496 bushels per acre; bone
dust and ashes $50 bushels per acre.
Other farmers have produced by the use
of superphosphate and other fertilizers
over 1000 bushels per acre. Nearly all of
the large premium crops of corn of over
100 bushels to the acre have been planted
in drills instead of hills.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-30
A VERY EXTRAvAGANT STATEMENT BY AN
EMINENTLY PRACTICAL SOUTH
ERN FARMER

A VERY ExTRAvAGANT STATEMENT BY AN
EMINENTLY PRACTICAL SOUTH
ERIN FARMER.
81 have no doubt, says Mr.. David Dick
son, sthat on good cotton land, with a fair
year, could make 100 bales of cotton with
No mule; commencing operations the
first day of December !; subsoil every acre
use twenty-five dollars worth of manure
per acre, and finish the 1st of May cult
vate sixty acres.
IMPORTANCE TO WET SOILS OF THOROUGH
DRAINAGE AND UNDER-DRAINAGE.
DR.. Joseph Jones, in his report IS chem
list to the cotton planters convention in
Georgia, more than thirty years ago, said :
Thorough drainage and subsoiling and
tile drainage take off the surplus rain
water that would be hurtful to crops, and
admit the air, from which the roots OF
plants draw most all of their food from
which crops are made and vegetation is
produced When too much water fills the
pores of the soil, air is excluded and the
food supply for plants is cut off.
TiI6 drainage carries off the water from
the subsoil and the water from the surface
soil, where most of the roots of plants get
their subsistence, sinks down, and the soil
near the surface holds about the amount
Of moisture the plants need between sea
sonable rains.
TO PURIFY DRINKING WATER.
One pound Of alum pulverized and dis
solved in four gallons Of water will be suf-
ficient to purify the drinking water for q
large plantation for six months OF this
solution, . wine glass full may be added to
every 6fty gallons Of water. The alum
coagulates the organic matters, they settle
and leave a clear, sparkling. wholesome
Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-03-26
SAID TO lie TRUE.
That Whale Towed IL Vessel Long
Distance.


That u Whale Towed Vessel n Long
Distance.
The fishing schooner G.. II, White
returned to Port Townsend from n
halibut cruise In the North Pacific
recently Her MASTER Captain
Charles Johnson, relates an exciting
adventure with II whale last Mon
day afternoon. The vessel was an
chorod on the Flattery banks, 20
miles from shore, with all the crew
out In five dorles catching halibut,
when a school of fin-back whales
came alongside. One of the school
got entangled on the vessels cable.
The anchor cable parted and the
vessel I'm tow of the monster was
taken at n rapid rate to the west
ward, the only persons aboard be-
ing the captain md cook, who were
unable to stop his progress. The
whale became exhausted and
brought the schooner around in Il
circle within fifty miles from where
they started. The windlass was rig
ged and the vessel hauled alongside
of the whale, where he measured
over eighty-four feet. With one
turn the cable became disentangled
on the whales flank and the whale
disappeared beneath the waves.
The captain and cook hoisted sail
aud returned for the boat, where
the crew we're safely found twenty
four hours later, The experience
was the most exciting that has
ever occurred of Flattery banks.
The story is vouched for by all the
crew.
Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-03-26


During the session Of the last legisla-
ture, IL is said, one Of our representatives
asked for permission to visit his family, he
having received the following lines from
his better-half:
Husband, dear husband ,.come home to me
now;
am snuning the odor5of spring,
You have staid long 'enoughIin The capitol
there,
You are much safer under my wing.
The old horse is paving in the stable like
mad,
The colts in horrible stew:
The small brindle heifer has got a white
cali,
And.the cattle are bawling for you.
Come home, come home, come home
o, husband, dear husband, come home.
The voice Of your Betsy is calling you,
dear;
It's.nearly the time to make soap;
And some Of the women are saying my
dear,
I'm giving you most too much rope.
They say there IL desperate flirting up
there;
with widows and maids not a few:
havn't been kissed since the morning you
let
But, Joseph, how Is it with you?
Come home, come home, come home
o, husband, dear husband come home.
It is needless to soy that the request of
the gentleman was g.anted.
Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-03-26
TnE FATE or wORLDs.

The earth, says Flamorian, was
born F; 1t will die. 1t will die when
Is vital elements have been spent,
lr perhaps by the extinction of the
sun In whose rays its existence Is sus-
pended. II may die by the shock
# "A celestial body which II might
meet in its path, but this end Of the
world is the most improbable Of all.
I may die, we say, 10y the slow
absorption Of its elements. In truth
il is probable that the water and the
airare diminishing. The ocean, like
ne atmosphere, appears 20 have
leen much more considerable than
tpresent. The crust Of the earth
IS penetrated by the waters, which
combine chemically with the rocks.
u Is almost certain that the interior