davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23
FIRST POSTMISTRESs.

Something About the First Lady Who
Handled United States Mall.
She was the widow of Colonel An
drew Balfour, of those revolutionary
times in the days of our great and good
President Washington. She was a
Miss Elizabeth Dayton, of Newport,
r. /. Balfour came to America from
Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1772, landing
at Boston. He was few years in the
North-married Miss Dayton in New
York City. His brother had preceded
him to Charleston, S. G. In 1777 he
sailed for Charleston, but the distracted
state of the country induced him to
leave his wife and her children with
relations in New England until he
could prepare Southern home
for them; but soon after this the
tide of war turned South and
rolled its wave over the Carolinas, and
her husband cast in his lot with the
defenders of the home of his adoption
North Carolina); but he soon fell
victim to the barbarity of a party of
royalists led by Colonel Fannin.
British officer, who murdered Balfour
in his house in the presence of sister
and his eldest child, recently come
from Edinburgh. They were with him
to nurse and comfort him in his ILL
ness, caused by exposure and fatigue
in military service.
Soon as Mrs. Balfour heard of her
husbands tragic death she fastened
South, coming in care of General
Greene, who landed at Washington;
from thence it was tedious trip
through the country to the home in
Randolph County, where her noble
husband was murdered On the holy
Sabbath, the 10th of March, 1882. She
visited the spot where he was SO
hastily inferred, for it was unsafe
for his sister and child to remain
long there, as Fannin threatened to
return and burn the dwelling and
take away the negroes. As the coun-
try was still unsafe, Mrs. Balfour
deemed it improper to live upon tho
plantation. With sorrow she turned
away from his lonely resting place,
and went to Salisbury until she could
return to the spot so dear to her.
While residing in Salisbury Presi-
dent Washington appointed her post
mistress, which position was filled
with entire satisfaction, and when her
accounts were audited she was only
one-half a cent behind. When the
country was peaceful she returned to
the home provided for her by her
noble but lost husband. She lived I'M
der the protective love of her only
son.
After long life of good deeds she
rests beside him who was murdered
because of his devotion to Cardinals
freedom and to the American cause in
the days that ''tried mems SOULS" and
PRINCIPLES. tOO.@Sunnv South
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23
KNIVES AND FORKS.

An Experienced Housekeeper Tells How
They Should BE Cared For.
Never allow knives or forks to lie
around long after using. They should
be the first things removed from the
table when the meal is finished, and
put to soak. Have a pitcher of hot
ammonia soap-suds, and in this place
them, blades down, and let them re-
main until ready to wash. Have just
enough water in the pitcher to reach
the handles, but never on any account
allow the handles when of bone, ivory
or wood to remain in water, as it will
surely loosen them, and in short time
they will fall from the blades. Wash
both blades and handles in warm soap
suds, using soft cloth, and wipe i'm
mediately after removing from the
water, as dry as possible, with clean,
soft crash-towel.
To clean steel knives, use finely
powered bath brick and apply with the
cut end of a raw potato. Rub the
blades briskly until all stains are re-
moved, then wash Immediately in hot
soap suds and wipe dry. Do not let
them stand after cleaning so that the
powder dries on them, or they will be
streaky, but wash as soon after clean
ing as possible. A piece of cork is
often used in preference to the potato,
but as it has to be dampened it is not
as convenient to use, as the potato
juice is all that is desired for that pur-
pose. Fine coal ashes may be used
when bath brick is not convenient, and
do the work very we'll. After drying,
rub the blades briskly with soft tissue
Or newspaper to give the final polish
Keep in q case or box lined with
flannel. They will never rust or dis
color, when in general use, if kept in
a receptacle such as this, as the
flannel will absorb all superfuous
moisture. Nice fannel-lined wicker
and Japanese wood boxes, for holding
knifes and forks, can be purchased at
many places dealing in housekeeping
goods, but, if too expensive, very neat,
serviceable ones, that will answer the
purpose as we'll, can be made at home.
Get an oblong, shallow wooden box.
stain the outside any color liked, var
nish, and line the inside with green or
red Canton flannel. Make a partition
that will divide the box in the center
lengthwise. cover with flannel, and set
into the box, fastening it in place with
liquid glue. This makes box of two
compartments, one for the knives and
one for the forks, and is every bit as
good as a store one. Always keep the
box or case in a perfectly-dry place.
Boston Budget.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23

The Algerian Jews too. who
descended from the Jews whom
Spaniards banisked from their coua
paw much attention to the instruct
of their children
Under the influence OF educa
great changes are taking place in
character of the population of Afge
which. at the beginning of the pres
century, was almost entirely Mussl
man, and practically uncivilized- No"
although there are not quite half a
million Europeans in the country. more
than million people speak the French
language.
Algeria moreover. is but a part of
the French domain in Africa There
are French colonies here and there
around the whl le northern half of the
continent, and nearly all Northwestern
Africa. including Tunis, Algeria. Seue-
gal and a great part OF the Western
Soudan. promises to become French
eventually.
The French flag has been carried "a
far into the interior of Africa as Tim
buctoo. which, not many years ago,
was a synonym for all that was strange,
far away and inaccessible 9
COmpaniOn
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23
A Faithful Illustration.

When a child falls and bumps his
head, and mother. running to help
him. he Immediately concentrates his
mental faculties upon his injury, puts
his hand up to Judge of its size, thinks
and feels it into a large and painful
protuberance. begins to pity himself.
lifts up his voice and weeps If
mother keeps her sympathy to herself,
ignores the bump and draws the child S
attention to some thing bright and
pretty, his mind fastens Itself upon
the pleasing object to the exclusion of
the bump, which, being thus put with
out the pale of his consciousness,
ceases to be a source of pain and is
child is spared the ex-
ertion of shedding tears and the
trouble of drying them. The child
but gives faithful illustration of the
effect produced upon human nature b,
what Is commonly termed sympathy.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23
FENCING FOR WOMEN.

A Healthful Exercise That Develops All
the Muscles of the Body.
Fencing is now as much a young
lady's pastime as tennis or horseback
riding, and every body who knows how
beneficial this exercise is to the female
system is glad it is SO. Its votaries, in
fact, say it is ladies' sport par ex-
celence, as it needs quickness and
skill more than strength and daring,
and develops those qualities which are
SO essential to a lady, viz, graceful
carriage and easy motion. On the days
given up to the ladies the large hall of
the fencers' club resOunds with stamp
ing of feet and clinking of blades. The
instructor gives each pupil a lesson
which generally lasts about fifteen
minutes. Then two friends may chal-
lenge each other and put in practice
the thrusts and guards they have just
learned. The weaker sex makes up
in cunning what it lacks in strength.
Women are much more artful than
men. In no case is this evidenced
more clearly than in fencing. A man
will make bold open attack, which
his opponent will parry if he keeps
cool. A woman waits apparently with
no fixed purpose until she sees her OPP
portunity; then with quickness of
eve and hand which defies parrying
she makes her thrust and succeeds if
she can keep her point straight A
parry would come too late; retreat is
the only safeguard.
In practicing the ladies wear an
ordinary tennis skirt and fiat sole
shoes, no corset. an easy fitting blouse
or jersey. A wire mask protects the
face. a padded bucKskin plastron is
worn over the chest and a buckskin
gauntlet saves the hand from any
chance scratches or thrusts- The la
dies are taught to fence with either
hand, and it is wonderful how quickly
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23
FACTS BRIEFLY STATED.

Curious Condensations from the Journals
of Both Hemisphere.
A Venetian manrrfactsrcr 10 -zuszfkfrIy
and selling thousands of glass bonnets.
1t is said that there is just s., 600. 600
invested in special cars in the. u nited
States.
The purest kaolin in America has
just been found in great quantity ip
Ebert County, Ga
By breathing hot air about 212 deg.
sumption can be radically cured.
The root of the garden poppy is now
largely used in France to bind the earth
of railway embellishments.
A mountain of nearly pure iron has
just been discovered near Lewisburg,
in Greenbrier County, w. Va
England has 500, 600 velocipedists.
among whom must be reckoned the
Prince of Wales and his daughters.
The finest olive-oil in the world now
comes from California, and is so highly
appreciated that the crop is bought
two years ahead.
Owners of the pine straw patent in
tend to establish five mills, each guar
anteed to turn out 1000, 900 yards of
bagging in time to wrap the bales of
this years cotton crop.
Big beds of aspEaltum sandstone,
from which can be made the best as
phalt pavement in the world. have
just been discovered along the new
railway lines of Western Kentucky
Chicago News.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23
AN EXPLORERS RuSE.
He Says 1t Pays to Keep on the RICH
Side of the Old Ladies'.

He Says 1t Pays to Keep on the Right
Side of the Old Ladies'
When DR.. Finsch landed in Astrolabe
Bay, New Guinea. while ago. he went
with an escort of sailors a short dis
lance inland, where he found buried in
the forest a large village. The party
was accompanied by some of the viii
lage men whose acquaintance they had
cultivated at the shore. The women.
however. were none the less frightened
at the strange appearance of the visit
ors, and most of them ran off into the
woods A few old women, however,
who had been brave enough to face
the strangers, were rewarded with
presents, and through their efforts the
other women were soon induced to re-
turn.
DR. Finsch says that throughout his
explorations he took particular pains
to ingratiate himself with the old wom-
en- He often found that they welded
important influence. and their good
will was very helpful. He admits that
he did not always find it a particularly
agreeable task 10 win the favor of the
older women, for they are not fair to
look upon. But it was to his interest
to have all the old ladies on his side,
and so he put his best foot forward to
make them think he was very nice
sort of a fellow.
DIR. Finsch advances one rather novel
idea about the women of uncivilized
tribes in tropical countries He re-
ports the well-known fact that these
women lose their youth and freshness
while still young, but he adds that
they would not seem to fade so
early in life if they wore clothing and
understood the arts of the toilet. with
which women in other lands long con-
trive to conceal advancing years and
artificially- supply the charms they
have lost.-N Y. Sum
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23
CHEAP STONE FENCE.
An Excellent Way of Kidding Fields
Large and Small Stones.

An Excellent Way of Kidding Fields of
Large and Small Stones.
To build stone-wall of the regula-
ton pattern is indeed doubtful
process, but many fields are so stony
that something must be done with
them, and this is often good way.
Throw them into loose heap on the
line of the fence. making it as nearly
triangular in sections as possible. 1t
may be necessary to gather up stones
scattered at the base, and put them ON
the top; aside from this it is built as
fast as the stones can be thrown from
the wagon, and piled in this manner
they are much more bulky than if laid
into solid wall. thus making more
fence. The width ON the ground may
be four feet, the height three feet.
Now lay a line of rails on blocks upon
the summit. tapping the ends, set a
pair Of stakes at each joint, and finish
off with riders. Two hands will make
ten rods OR so in a day if the picking
is good, and clearing the land of
the stones pays for the hauling, so you
get the fence for nothing, aside from
the rails. This method is at least
ahead of heaping up stone in the
fields. and then fencing with boards Or
wire, as is so often done, and better
than trying to wear the stones out with
the pillow and drag. There will always
be rails enough to give two or three to
the length, especially as rails used in
this way last much longer than the
rails in the old-fashioned rail fence
used to; they rotted off at the ends
where they crossed each other, leav-
ing the middle sound. If poles are
used it will pay to cut them al time
when they will peel, and take Inc bark
off. A deep back-furrow OF the right
width as base will ecOnomize stone.
The point you are just about to raise
that such a fence covers too much
ground is not we'll taken. Carefully
estimate the width of the strip
whose produce is expended in
keeping up a stock of posts,
boards, wire, nails, etc, and you will
find, perhaps, that your progressed
fences without thickness are the widest
OF any except stonewa1l-E S. Gil
bert, in n. Y. Tribune
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23
CHILDREN IN ALGIERS.

Great Changes Wrought in Their Habits
Under the Influence of Education.
The city of Algiers. the capital of
the great French province of Algeria,
in Northern Africa, has so mild a eli
mate that snow is almost unknown
The average temperature in January
is fifty-four degrees; palm-trees grow
freely in the gardens and suburbs, and
the country has tropical aspect. No
little excitement was produced, there
fore. when one day last winter there
fell snow enough to cover the ground.
The last such snowfall had taken
place in 1861. SO that none of the
younger people of the country had
ever seen any thing of the kind.
The sensation was so great. indeed,
that all the schools were closed, and
the pupils, rushing out, were heard to
make such remarks as these:
Look! 1t is raining cottonr
Lets get some, and take it home
and save iti''
The boys gathered masses of the
fieecy snow to keep for a curiosity.
and were astonished to see it turn into
water in their hands.
The boys of Algeria are a strange
race. Most of them are Arabs, whose
speech was brought hundreds of years
ago from Arabia They are Mussul-
mans in religion; if they go to their
own Arab schools. called zawyas. they
are taught little except to recite verses
from the Koran. They are for the
most part bright and merry, much like
other boys among themselves, but in
ciined to be grave and suspicious in
the presence of foreigners.
Girls are seldom admitted to the
Arab schools, and they do not go, ex-
ccpt rarely, to the French schools.
They are usually married at an age
when American girls are still PLAYING
with dolls. A good proportion of the
Arab boys attend the French schools.
and in some of the towns all the Arab
children speak and write French.
There is. however, a race of peonle
In Algeria who are much more eager
to learn than the Arabs. They are the
Kabyles, who. although MussuImans
in religion. some scientists believe tn
belong to the same race as the ipbab.
itants of Southern Europe. They are
mostly farmers and mountaineers. and
are very Industrious; they are eager
to learn, and send all their girls and
boys to school wherever schools are
founded Among them are some
strange colonies descended from the
ancient Romans, and still calling them
selves Romans, or "Rumi-n
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23
MY NEioHsoR.s DOG.

Ny neighbor's ugly dog andI
rave reached the point where one must die
Bot which of us has got to go
Another week OF war will show.
With mutual hatred most intense
we've fought, divided by fence,
For months with all the awful skill
Of savages who fight to kill.
when unconscious, pass his gate
The brute, who for me lies In wait
AS quiet as a hen on eggs,
springs at my unprotected legs
With such a roar of rage thatI
Across the road in terror f1y,-
And don't recover from the shock
In time to hit him with rock.
Al night he whines and barlxs and growls
And makes me hear his hideous bowls
Till, well-nigh crazy, lombard
The demon till my neighbor's yard
Is heaped with tumblers, books and shoes
And things can't afford to lose.
Then, when my ammunition's thrown
And my helplessness have shown.
The cur, to make me more forlorn,
Yelps twice as loud until the morn.
Eve brought home friends with me to dine
Upon turkey extra fine,
And-when all hungry for the feast
Have had IL stolen by the beast
Who, sneaking in my kitchen, got
II from the open oven hot.
I smash my windows. break the bones
OF my best chickens throwing stones
At my tormenter, who. unframed
Trots slowly on no whit alarmed,
Right through my choicest flower bed
He ruins with his bearish tread.
have, with smiles and coaxing sweet,
Tossed him a nicely-poisoned treat
Which he, with most unfriendly growls
Has left to kill my fancy fowls.
I've quarreled with my neighbor, too.
Till bloodshed, may be, will ensue,
Because he keeps the suarling pest
That robs the neighborhood of rest
And gives the tots and women bites
With hydrophobia's awful rights.
Ny neighbor's useless dog and
Have reached the point where one must die,
Another week of war will show
That he-not II hope will 60.
H G. Dodge, in Goodalfs Sun
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23

The bricks and stones piled artistica.ly
several thrifty varieties Of sedum, in
terspersed with the snowy sprays OF
sweet alyssum; and the old rake.
driven upright in the earth. was trel-
Used with cords intended as a support
for the sweet peas and morning glories
lifting their heads bravely from the
mold below.
But the browning glory of all was
the old stump, which had become the
thing of beauty Lou had prophesied.
Its decayed heart had been followed
out, filed with earth and set with
crimson coleus, golden feverfew, snowy
daisies and great clusters of crimson
geraniums. The graceful Kenilworth
ivy draped it's sides, and wood violets,
blue and white, filed the interstices
between its branching roots After a
lingering survey of these beauties, and
the rustic seat Lynn had constructed
with much care and WEAKNESS OF mind
and body, MIR. Butler had but a fleet
ing glance to bestow on the round
table in the center of the plat with its
dainty tea service and accompaniment
of cakes and jellies.
you've worked a miracle, Lou!'' he
cried enthusiastically; and Aunt Eu-
phemia, looking down into the bright,
happy face of the boy at her side and
comparing it with the gloomy, discon-
ISOLATE countenance which had greeted
her through the winter months. added
1.-TWO of 'em. should sayr'-Sarah
D. Hobart. in the Housewife.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23

One of the candidates at a recent
teachers examination in Chippewa
County, Mich, said, in answer to
the Question, Give the principal oc-
cupauon OF the Inhabitants of your
so"nshlpP Fishing. farming, and
on election day selling their votes"
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23

For pain in the chest that threat
ems to be pneumonia. make a plaster
of soft soap and hot Indian-meal mush
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-23

the enchanted land in surprise. Where
once had lain pile of refuse. giving
birth and sustenance through previous
summers to colony of giant weeds,
was wide stretching space of velvety
grass, freed from every intrusive plant
ain, burdOck or nettle. The vines
along the fences were putting forth
tender leaves; at their intersection a
thrifty lilac intermingled it's purple
plumes with the fragrant gold of a
late Towering currant. The despised
barrels had become by judicious man
agement four rustic tubs; the two stand
ing upon the ground filed with gerani-
ums, verbenas and chrysanthemums,
which promised later bloom, while
those perched aloft on the twisted
sticks which Lynn had driven solidly
into the ground held masses of trailing
vines selected from Louis abundant
stores, which billowed up in feathery
green and draped their rough supports
with verdure. The old kettle. shining
bravely in its coat of red, was suspend
ed from three twisted sticks and
adorned with whey beauty as grateful
to the eye as to the most appetizing
compound concocted at any real gypsy
campfire to the hungry stomach. A
rustic flower-stand supported the cans
Lynn had so lavishly decorated. each
filed with some blooming plant. while
at the summit a small oleander tree
with rosy blossoms gave dignity and
character to the rejected lin pau.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-12-12
Charters of Social Clubs.

Iva tiip y wy 'oaa
The Secretary of State yesterday
returned the articles of association
of the Spokane club of st. Louis,
and refused to issue a charter.
This, like many other similar or
CARNATIONS in the State, asked for
a charter as a club for mental and
social culture, literary intercourse,
and to maintain a club room pro-
vided with refreshments and the
usual adjuncts of such organiza-
lions. The Secretary holds that
no amount of glittering g%eneralities
as to mental culture, literary in.
tercourse, incidental library, re,
freshments, etc., will meet the re-
quirements of the law, and, further.
more, that is not the intention Of
the law to authorize any and every
body to associate themselves to.
gether for the mere purpose of ex.
changing views upon the topics o.
the day and indulging in refresh.
ments. Mr.. Lesueur quotes CO.
! piousIy from the laws of the State
and the constitution in proof OF his
| posifiop
Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-12-12
Old.time ssPrintS."

The foreman of the BoonviIle
Topic Office is seventy years old
He must date nearly back to the
time when they used to ink the
forms with sheepskin balls.-Mar.
shall Daily News.
Captain VIM. P. Frost, an old.
time print" OF this city, even
goes further back than the sheep.
skin balls. The Captain remem.
bers the time when the forms were
linked with the palm of the hand,
the distribution of the ink being
made on the breeches leg. the
pocket of the pants serving as the
ink fountain. Two or three quires
of paper were the limit of a days
hard labor then, and frequently il
took two weeks to work off the
regular edition. 1t is supposed
that Capt. Frost had the distin'
guished honor of making the frs
printers roller ever cast in an in
terror town in the State. There was
great rejoicing and printers came
from hundreds of miles around tt
see the result of his labors. The
Captain says those were great times
Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-12-12
A Mistaken Idea.
To the Editor of the Ledger.

To the Editor OF the Ledger.
MEXICO, Mo-, Nov. 30.-Apropos
of the statement of your reporter
concerning the small force of the
ball in the Shoots shooting case, l
find the following answer and
query in Scientific american OF
Nov. 80, 1889: Will a ball shot
out of a gun strike an object harder
at a distance Of three feet or at a
distance Of ten, or does 1t decrease
in speed the instant it leaves the
powder. Answer: 1t will gain
velocity until 1t leaves the mouth
of the gun and then will at once
begin to lose velocity"
This is a very popular error
that your reporter has dropped
into. b.