davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25
The HOPE is in the South.

The forest and prairie fires of the North
ern end of the Mississippi valley started
in very early this spring, and already have
done serious injury. There was but little
snow in that region last winter and it
melted off early and rapidly. Since then
the country has been swept by dry and
driving North winds, which sucked the last
drop Of water out Of the earth, leaving it
in desiccated condition. Vegetation had
not started on its new growth, while the
old growth in the forests and the dead
grass on the prairies were correspondingly
dried up, so that when fire was kindled it
swept over the country as through dry
stubble.
The theorists on the weather do not seem
to appreciate the fact that nearly all the
moisture that falls in the upper part of the
Mississippi Valley comes from the Gulf OF
Mexico. The Arctic Ocean is frozen for
so much of the year that it can afford but
little of the water supply of the region in
the heart of our continent in the limits OF
the temperate zone. The Pacific Ocean
furnishes an inconsiderable portion because
it's moisture is all condensed and rained
out upon the several great parallel ranges
of mountains that follow the trend of the
American shores.
For that reason the extensive regions of
Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada are al
most arid deserts, and so would be Dakota,
Nebraska and Kansas if they had to de-
pend on moisture brought across the Coast
and Cascade Ranges and over the Rocky
mountains. Fortunately TIE South wind,
which is the prevailing wind during the
spring and summer seasons, carries mois-
tura from the Mexican Gulf to the whole
of the upper valley and as far North as
Winnipeg. When this South wind pre-
walls far into the fall and winter there is
always plenty of snow upon the plains.
When the North wind gets in its work
there is no moisture, and as consequence
the winter in the North and Northwest
will be free from snow.
A snowless winter was the one just past,
as far as the Northwest was concerned.
North winds have prevailed even here the
greater portion of the spring months, and
it was the case to noticeable degree
during April As a consequence we have
had cool spring season in the Southern
valley, while in the North the spring has
been excessively dry, with disastrous prai-
rie and forest fires.
A good steady flow of South wind can
repair the damage done by the present
drought to vegetation in the North be-
cause at this unusually early date vegeta-
ton could under any circumstances be but
little Advanced there. 1t is the July
drought in the North that works havoc
with the crops. They can only get watel
from our Southern. sea, and then only il
the wind is fair The North winds which
dry up the Northern tributaries of the
Mississippi river save our lowlands from
foods.--N O. Picayune.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25
ssSeat. You Wretch"

A respectable man went to the cars one
day to see his favorite daughter off. Sc
curing her seat, he passed out of the
cars and went around to her window1to say
a parting word. While he was passing
out the daughter left the seat to speak to
a friend, and at the same time grim old
maid took the seat and moved up to the
window. Unaware of the important
change, he hurriedly put his face to the
window and said: Zone more kiss. sweet
pet" In another instant the point of q
cotton umbrella was thrust from the win
dow, followed by the pious injunction :
s'Scat, you gray headed wretch |" He
seated. -Ereh0nge.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25
Third DAYS Proceedings.

THIBoDAUx, May 15.-To-day was de-
voted by the Louisiana Press Association
wholly to pleasure and trip down Bayou
Lafourche. The various members OF the
association met at Firemen's Hall about
$50, and, headed by the Thibodaux brass
band, marched to. the landing and took the
steamer Alice Leblanc for an excursion
rendered them by the citizens OF Thlbo-
daux. The trip down stream was very
interesting and pleasurable one, the bayou
running through a densely populated
country, both banks being lined with
dwellings and looking like continuous
towns. Lunch was partaken OF on the
boat. A short stop was made at the rice
mill of Therot & Lepine. The original In,
tention was to stop at Lockport, but IN
order to get back to Thibodaux by 8 clock
the party went no farther than Richard
Foret's St. Mary plantation. Here the
Leblanc stopped for over one hour. A
large number of ladies and gentlemen Of
lower Lafourche met the visitors and es-
corted them to the magnificent oak grove
in front of the Foret residence, where an
other fine lunch was served.
After lunch Gen. Jastremksi was called
on and made short speech, thanking the
people of Lafourche for the warm well
come they had given the members of the
press.
Major l. D. Moore, of Thibodaux, de-
livered an eloquent toast to woman, and
short speeches were made by Mr.. I. 5.
Jones, of the Baton Rouge Adoocae John
McGrath, of the Baton Rouge Truth; j..
B. Wilkinson, of the New Orleans Item !;
John Dymond, of the Louisiana PIdnter !;
Judge TAYLOR Beattie, DR.. Gazzo, of Thibo-
daux, and others.
The trip was enjoyable throughout, cool
and pleasant in every respect The party
reached Thibodaux by 8 o'clock.
The excursion was under the charge OF
the following reception committee of citi-
zens of Thibodaux S. T. Grisamore, l.
D. Moore, Il. N. Coulon, F. w. Nichols,
DIR. John Gazzo, Ernest Dionne, L. A.
Trosclaire, Thomas Rogers.
Gen. Jastremski, president of the Press
Association, was serenaded tonight by
the Thibodaux brass band at his quarters
at the Franklin House.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25

mighty slave of the great master, OUTLYING
It's creator, has grown with ages in form
ana shape and strength; his body has
hardened into iron, his limbs into steel,
ana MS presence pervades even the antipo-
dial extremities of the world
his potency for good or evil rests with
the directing hand at whose bidding he
moves, and his huge body tolls ON unceas-
lngly, driven by the pencil wand of the old
necromancer's successor, We editor
ne carries In his hand the torch of learn
ing to light up the gloomy corners of vice
ana ignorance, and unfolds from his
mighty frame as he marches on, leaf by
leaf, sheet by sheet, words of wisdom to
scatter along the highways of intelligence
ana the byways of art. He sows on all
sides the fruit Of the tree of knowledge to
reproduce the bitter and the sweet. Ma
lions are swayed by his voice, and his fats
60 out upon the civilized world. His
breath purites the moral atmosphere or
vltlates. He reaches forth into the regions
OF space, strides the land and searches the
depths of the ocean. To the sorrowing he
brings comfort and consolation, to the
good promise, to the wrongdoer punish
ment. The successful achievements of
one man he heralds for the emulation of
thousands, the failures of another he
chronicles for warning and guidance.
Wonderful attachments in art, science,
learning, are gathered and distributed to
all prejudice and passion are stilled or
stirred, and at the wave of the editors
wand he uplifts or crushes, makes or mars.
The press of to-day stands out upon the
scrolls of time the glory of the nineteenth
century. Not vibration can take place
within the great kaleidoscope arrangement
of the universe that is not reported by the
newspapers as surely as the delicate in
str9ments within astronomical observa-
tories indicate the almost imperceptible
tremors which daily occur in the bright
luminaries that CLEAN above US in the blue
arch g of heaven. AS a galvanometer
quivers sensitively to an electric current,
as bulb of mercury falls and rises with
every fuctuation of temperature, so does
the press respond to the most infnitesimal
fluctuation of the great worlds pulse.
Yes, mightiest of the mighty means
On which the arm of Progress leans,
Mans noblest mission to advance,
His woes assuage, his veal enhance.
His rights enforce, his wrongs redress,
Mlghtiest of mighty is the Press
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25
A Good Word for the Kiefer Pear.

The Kiefer standard pear is the best
acquisition to our pear list that has been
made for some time. Ihave always favored
dwarf pear trees on account of their GER
tainty of bearing and hardihood. But
hear we have in the kiefer, growth as a
standard, the earliness of the pear on the
ounce root, and the dwarf hardihood.
Some do not like it so we'll as that of the
Seckel or Winter Nellies; but think it is
as pleasant as that of the Louise Bonnie, or
even of the old Bartlett, and it's reported
sales surely place it among tie profitable
varieties to plantfor market. In 1886 I
first planted KiefAs. They grew well and
ripened their woodsbhoroughly. They
bore fruit last year, one ripening in Octo-
Der six specimens of fine fruit of medium
size and rich golden color tinged with a
slight blush of red on the sunny side, and,
Notwithstanding its ripening it's crop, it
made as much growth of good wood as the
Bartlett, standing hard by and bearing no
fruit. Shall plant more Kiefers-Cor
Rural Neao Yorker.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25

Miss Mary E. Booth, the first and only
editor that Horper's B0zUr has ever had,
and whose recent death was the cause of
universal regret, has been succeeded by
Mrs Margaret f. Sanster, an intimate
friend of Miss Booth and frequent con-
tributor of the Bazaf. Mrs. Sanster is
Brooklyn woman, and an extremely pretty
one, her thick, gray hair waving softly
away from a wide brow, under which is
set pair of beautiful and kindly eyes.
Her features are delicate and regular, and
her fair skin is flushed with faint pink.
She had been for several years reader of
manuscripts for the Bdz01, and also one of
the editors of the Health and Home Jour-
nal: besides this she has been the Little
Postmistress of Ha1per's Young People,
so that she is fully prepared to assume the
duties of this responsible editorial post.
There is quite society of literary women
living in Brooklyn, and most of them are
to be found in Mrs. Sansters parlors at
her Thursday evenings at home. Oliver
Thorn Miller, the famous writer about
birds, is one of these ; another is Kate Up
son Clark, whose husband, Mr.. Edward
Clark, is one of the Century staff and an
associate editor of one of the New York
dailies. Mrs. Clark herself was for some
years the editor of Good Cheer, and is
frequent contributor to the magazines.
The famous Marion Harland, whose real
name is Mrs. Terhune, and her daughter,
Mrs. Herrick, both we'll known in the
literary world, reside in Brooklyn and are
frequent guests at Mrs. Sanster's. Helen
Evartson Smith and some half dozen
others equally well known frequent her
parlors Thursday evenings. -1Jnaes- DEM
0cTnf
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25
So Frightened.

A woman weighing about 215 pounds
plunged wildly around in frightfully
dangerous manner on a crowded street the
other day. She was evidently looking for
some one, for she breathlessly gasped out:
CHARLES Oh, Charles Where has he
gone? Oh, Charles I"
Charles has been carried forward by the
crowd, and when he stopped a lamp post
had hidden him from view. When the
big woman saw him she plunged forward,
fell heavily on his thirteen. inch chest,
crushing him against the lamppost, and
sobbed out:
-Charley-my-own - hus-
band lost sight of you and was so
frightened at finding myself alone in this
crowd You mustn't let yourself be car
ried away from your little girly again !
You know how timid l am I'm so easily
frfghtened-foolish child that | am p
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25
A Mad Tree.

Down in Virginia is gentleman who
has tree that is species of the acacia.
1t was grown from seed brought from
Australia. The tree is now sapling some
eight feet in height, and is in full foliage
and is growing rapidly. 1t is leguminous
and very distinctly shows the Characters
tics of the mimosa, or sensitive plant.
Regularly every evening, about the time
the chickens go to roost," the tree goes
to roost. The leaves fold together, and
the ends of the tender twigs coil them
selves up like the tail of a well conditioned
pig. After one of the twigs has been
stroked or handled, the leaves move I'M
easily and are in sort of mild commotion
for minute or more. ALI this was known
about the tree, but it was only recently
that it was discovered that the tree had in
it much more of life and feeling than it
had ever before been credited with. The
tree being in quite small pot, one which
it was fast outgrowing, it was though t best
to give it one of much larger size. 1t was
transferred to its new quarters. 1t resented
the operation of it's removal to the best of
it's ability.
Arriving at his residence about the time
the tree was transplanted, the gentleman
found the house in grand commotion.
On asking what was up, he was told that
they had transplanted the tree according
to orders, and the operation had 3made it
very mad" Hardly had it been placed in
it's new quarters before the leaves began
to stand up in all directions like the hairs
on the tail of an angry cat, and soon the
whole plant was in culver. This could
have been endured; but at the same time
it gave out an odor most pungent and sick
ening-just such smell as is given off by
rattlesnakes and many other kinds of
snakes in summer when leased. This odor
so filled the house and was so sickening
that it was found necessary to open the
doors and windows. 1t was fully an hour
before the plant Gained down and folded
its leaves in peace. 1t would probably not
have given up the fight even then had it
not been that its time for going to roost
had arrived Western Rural and Anaeri-
can Stocknaan.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25
Improving Sweet Potatoes.

It is an almost universal practice in the
South to save the smallest sweet potatoes
for seed. AS t'like produces like" this is
not the best plan of propagating the sac
charine tubers. If the largest specimens
are bedded for seed, too great a proportion
of the crop will be large potatoes, and in
convenient for cooking. The proper plan
is to plant medium sized tubers for seed,
and the bulk of the crop will be conven-
lent size for baking and roasting. 1t is a
well established fact that sweet potatoes
grown from vine cuttings are smoother
and nicer than those grown from slips or
sprouts. w. L. Boykin, of Kaufman
county, Tex, is an expert sweet potato
grower and he saves his seed potatoes
from those produced by vine cuttings in
preference to those from slips. He also
selects medium sized potatoes for seed.
He says few years of thus planting from
vine grown seed will materially improve
the tubers Some growers split the potato
lengthwise and bed each half, out side
down.
To raise early sweet potatoes, gather
good quantity of them IA wagon load, or
less according to the amount you expect
to plant befoSe frost has injured the vines
anu uduR Lu6Lu Ou q PolC, IuO SuuS VI
which rest in crotches or forks some feet
above the ground. Cover the ends on the
vines With moist earth and throw straw,
hay, leaves, or cornstalks oyer the whole
and protect from the rain by good shed,
with the north side boarded up. AS cold
weather approaches throw more soil upon
the base of the heap, and more straw on the
upper portion, leaving the south end, or
better still, the top, partly open during
warm spells for ventilation. This plan
(Which is similar to banking the tubers)
will keep vines alive all winter and ready
for early planting in the spring.-Dick
Nayzor, in american Agricultural.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25
A Sneeze at the Climax.

The theatre was comfortably filed. The
two leading players were in the midst of a
narrowing tale of love. Both bad reached
depth of suffering-the woman clearly
wronged, yet loving and proud her hus-
band guilty, but loving also, and pleading
for forgiveness. The audience had become
so quiet that hardly sound could be
heard. At the most critical point. when
the stiffness could be felt, big man in
the rear of the orchestra chairs uttered as
startling a noise as was probably ever
heard in that theatre. 1t sounded, in
quick time, like "Kitchy-kitchy, bark
ar-ark-how-wow- - ee 90
60 how on wou p 1t
ended way up in G, and Jared the roof.
The response that followed could not have
been more completely timed if everybody
had been connected by an electric current.
Every man, woman and child simultane-
ously burst into laugh. The babies &C
tually crowed. 1t smashed the tale of love
and reconciliation into flinders. Just as
the sneeze came that actress was standing
facing the audience, her face woe begone
and full of pain. Before she could turn
away her slim form was quivering with
laughter. She couldn't utter word. The
husband chewed his lower lip and tried to
keep up show of grief In vain. He
bent his head in his hands and laughed
with everybody else. The fun didn't sub
side for at least five minutes. The ushers
looked about to see if the sneezer was
alive. He had vanished. Anter-
icHn
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25
The Death of the Churn.
A WOMAN BURIEs CREAM AND 1T TURNS
TO BUTTER IN THE GROUND.

A WOMAN BURIEs CREAM AND TT TURNS
TO BUTTER IN THE GROUND.
A woman, of West Nyack, has made
a discovery which, if it can be put in sue
cessful operation, will result in the aboli-
ton of the old method of churning, and
revolutionize the art of butter making.
The discovery was purely accidental and
the discoverer, who has experimental
with her new method many times, be-
lieves in it thoroughly. She put the cream
of several days milking from her pet Jer-
sey cow in Whick cloth one day, and as
it was too warm to churn, placed the bag
in the ground in a cool place, throwing
a shovelful of earth over it so that the cat
could not get at it. She left it there until
she came home next day. When she took
the bag from the ground she found the
cream had turned to great yellow lump
of butter, and the only thing left for her
to do was to salt and work it. The but
termilk had entirely disappear |, but
there was about third more than the
usual amount of butter obtained by ch1rn
ing. She has tried the experiment, q
dozen times since, and always obtained
better butter than by churning. The only
exception was one time when the rain
soaked into the ground and widowed the
cream.-Azbany argus.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25

Old Lady-"My dear, do you really
think you are fit to become minister's
wife7" Engaged Niece from the West)-
eyes, indeed. don't mind cling talked
about at all."-N. ?. Weekly.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25

els he rich2' asked the daughter
thoughtfully, as her mother told her of
suitor's proposal. Edith" answered the
mother reproachfully, ''you keep so badly
informed on financial matters that you
really cannot expect to marry well. Why,
he owned the only well in Guthrie, Oh"
So the beautiful girl scrubbed accepted"
across the corner of her lovers letter, and
went back to thrilling love story by the
latest passion novelist.-N. Y. Heruld.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25

In all Christian countries men are
trained to tender care of wives, mothers
and sisters; and chivalrous impulse to
protect and provide for helpless woman
hood is often stronger in men than in most
women. Catherine H. Beecher.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25
Give To-Day a Chance.

In winter there are no roses blooming
in the deserted, wind swept, snow covered
garden. Nor in summer do crystal SHOWS
fy fair. Each season has its own work,
it's own beauty, and by ands of another
season this cannot be done this beauty can
not be breathed. And SO of mans life.
Each season has its own duties and its own
Joys and if they are not laid hold of, no
other season can make up the loss they
are gone down the dim, untraversed river
of Forever. Each day, indeed, has its
duty, it's own SMILE it's own tear, its own
heart throb. If only it be lived in for
itself, life would be fuller and richer in
everything; and the clusters of blessed
ness hanging from the boughs OF each day
would proclaim life's every season to have
wrought well, and to deserve well for
what lies before, Alas that we let the
burdening tomorrow crush the energy
and strength out of to day, so that its
work is undone or marringly done. Give
your to-day chance, my brother. Give
it only it's own work to do, and evening
will find you laughing over the beauty
and faithfulness that smiles up to you
from the well-done duties and the eternal
tomorrow will meet you with kisses OF
tenderness, not with wounding blows
Thought Etc1aings.
Down in Missouri they have introduced
hugeing societies to swell the church
treasury, and from paper published there
we take the following scale OF prices
Girls under Is, 10 cents, for hug OF two
minutes, or 10 cents for short squeeze
from 16 to 90, 81. CENTS from ~ to 20, 20
cents; school niarms, 80 cents another
mans wife, 81 widows according to looks,
from 10 cents to So old maids, 3 cents
apiece or Q for nickel and no limit TO
time preachers are not charged EDITORS
pay in advertisements, but are not allowed
to participate until everybody else Is
through, and even then they ere not al
lowed to squeeze anything bu old maids
and school marms. Tough 0 the editors.
-Brooktayen Neses.
The difference between the people OF the
North and the South is not worth quoting
when it comes to vital matters. The
American takes care of himself, and the
American who comes South to live with
other Americans can take care OF himself
by respecting the rights Of his neighbors.
There il this much to be said-the person
who respects the rights Of his neighDors Is
reasonably sure to have his rights re-
! spected. atlanta Constitution.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-05-25

The property owners of Pointe Coupee
uaxish have recently voted five mill tax
for ten years to aid in building the Mis-
sissippi Valley railroad through their
parish. The railroad may be run in the
interest of other places discriminating
against the people of Pointe Coupee. The
people of New Orleans are asked to vote a
three mill tax for term of years to es-
tablish system of draining and paving
for their city. The work cannot possibly
be run in the interest of any other city.
They should be at least as patriotic as the
citizens of Pointe Coupee.-N 0. Pea
gu7ae.