davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
The Editors Hard Luck.
+ DISASTER OVERTAKEs HIM AT THE BEGIN
MING OF A HARD WINTER.

We were the victim yesterday of one OF
the most distressing accidents ever known
in Mifflin Centre. Yesterday morning our
wife took occasion to do the family wash
ing, having been kept from it earlier in
the week by being kept very busy putting
up our winter supply of apple butter.
Among other articles of wearing apparel
which she included in the wash was cur
white vest, rightly thinking that the white
vest days were about over, and intending
to do it up and lay it away againsb the re-
turn OF the next picnic season. Now, I'M
beknown TO her, in the lower right-hand
pocket of the vest there was a large roll
of bills, 10 ones and a two-$14 in all. She
did net discover the roll, and after having
washed the garment thoroughly, she hung
it on the line in the back yard to dry.
All might yet have been well had it not
been for Mr.. F5rdenbaughs large brindle
cow, which is well known to most of our
citizens While our wife was in the parior
visiting a moment with Mrs Parmley, who
called to see how to make her grape pre-
serves iell, this beast-she deserves no
better name-broke through our back gate
and deliberately ate up our vest, money
and all! When our wife reached the s;ene
of trouble the beast was just swallowing
the last bill with evident relish. Our wife
seized mop aud rushed at the marauding
intruder, but she only tossed her head,
kicked sideways with both hind feet, and
leaping lightly over the fence, trotted off,
switching her tail defantly. Neither the
vest nor the money, we are sorry to say,
seemed to have any bad effect on her
scoundrelly good health.
Our wife Immediately informed US of the
accident, and We instantly called on Mr..
Ferden baugh and demanded that the ami
NAL be slaughtered, doubling not that we
should find our money in the first Of the
suite of stomaches with which we learn
from physiology the COW is provided. This
Mr.. Ferdenbaugh refused to assent to. He
pleaded that he was a poor man, and as he
had recently bought the cow, that all of
his ready money was in her. We naturally
replied that all of our ready money was In
her. too, but this failed to move him.
It was sad affair, take it all around,
but one about which nothing can be done.
Our wife's excuse for not looking in the
pockets before she began her laundry OPP
erations is that she had gone through our
pockets for money for 20 years and had
never found any, and he'd, therefore, be-
come discouraged. And, if the reader will
believe it, that beast of a cow had the
effrontery about the middle Of the after
noon to lie down under tree directly OPP
posite our house and conteutedly chew her
misunderstanding our $14, we doubt not.
--MiBlin Centre Blade.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
Africa.
THE NAVIGATION OF THE zAMBEz1.

AA14- IA Ia4jc-N OT LIE EAMbfLl.
A Washington special says: The follow
ing dispatch has been received by the de-
partmeut of state from Mr. Ernest w.
Smith, United States consul at Mozam-
hique, under date of Nobenber 26: l have
Che honor to report that Her Britannia
Najesty's ship Stork has just returned
from her second trip to the Chlnde, at the
mouth Of the Zambezi river, and has this
time confirmed the fact that f ee passage
exists from the sea to the main stream,
The St0rk managed to steam twenty
miles up the Zambesi proper and found
plenty of water as far as that, but did not
go any further because the river is very
low at this season and also because the
rain was rather sc&rcs during the last wet
months, and even if ships could not get to
a point further up the river than that at
which the Sto1k arrived, the route would
be much safer and easier for merchandise
than the present one by way of the Qaaqaa
mouth and Quilimans
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
Few Cents in San Francisco.

"Give me silver for this, please" said
an Eastern tourist yesterday, as he dumped
double handful of one-cent pieces on the
counter of prominent money broker. 81
don't want them. They're not worth
counting. wouldn't give fifty cents on
the dollsr for them" was the reply. 81
never took them but once, and then had
to. A fellow owed me $5, and after re-
peated duns offered payment in coppers l
Indignantly refused. The next day he
came in, and showing copper cent into my
hand, asked me to give him credit for that
amount upon the debt. He kept that up,
making payment of one cent every morn
ing. noon and night-three cents day
until / accumulated cigar boxful of cop
pers. They're here yet, and they'll stay
here until some one comes along who has
more time than money. 1 won't count
them. The circulation of copper cents in
San Francisco is limited to about forty feet
of the postoffice. They 60 in at the stamp
window at the rate of So or 81 day.
They are carried from there to the money
order department. WHARF, they are used in
making change. They never get outside
of the postofice door, but Immediately find
their way to the stamp window again. -
San Francisco Examiner.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
Ranies

| Walter r. Forbes, of Atlanta, Ga, sends
| us sample of ramle, degummed and pre-
pared by chemical process which seems
| to be complete success Mr.. Forbes,
| who gives excellent references, declares
that every fibre is secured in it's original
length, the gum and rosin in the bark be-
ing dissolved cheaply and quickly; and he
thinks that the problem of successfully
and commercially treating ramie has been
solved by his process.
1t certainly appears so. The specimens
of fibre which he sends us, and which can
be seen at the Emes-Democrat office, are
beautiful, very long and silky, and might
pass anywhere for raw silk. The fibre is
of sufficient length for all practical pur-
poses, and could easily be used for textile
purposes, as it is generally used with silk.
The chief point to be determined is the
question of cost. Can the ramie bark be
treated with profit by the Forbes process,
and will it pay to produce it for the mar
ket2
This, indeed, is the whole ramie prob
lem. Two facts ABOUT it have been clearly
demonstrated-that the plant can be grown
successfully in this country, particularly
in the South, and that there is an excellent
market for it here. Gen. Sewelps expert
ment at Oakbourne has proved the first
fact, although the season was unfavorable
in many respects, and there has been no
fear whatever about selling the prepared
fibre in large quantities. That fibre is
used mainly in the manufacture of silk
goods as cheap and thoroughly satisfac-
tory substitute for silk. 1t has the same
softness and gloss as the product of the
little Chinese worm, and the fbres, unlike
those of the cotton plant, are very long.
The silk industry, establishing itself at
Paterson, has grown to large proportions
in the United States of late years. and with
it's growth demand for ramie to be used
in manufacturing the cheaper grade of
goods has sprung up. There need be no
question of disposing of all of the ramie
that can be grown and prepared in this
country. The question resolves itself into
tae simple one of preparation. And the
difficulty here has been in the matter of
degumming the bark and removing the
gum and rosin it contains, and which pre-
vents its use. Many processes have been
suggested and tried, but generally some
defect or objection has been found in
them. At the same time, sufficient success
has been met with to encourage those who
have experimental in the preparation of
ramie to keep at their purposes, and to
render it reasonably certain that some
means will be found at an early day for
getting rid of the gum in the bark, leav-
ing the fibre in condition to be used in
textiles. 1t is to be hoped that the Forbes
process will be found to have accomplished
this purpose. 1t will be greatly to the
benefit of the South if this should be so,
as it will give it a new and valuable crop
to cultivate.-l5mes Democrat.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
Largest Flower Known.

IL Is AS LARGE AS A CARRIAGE wuppr
AND WEIGHS OVER TWENTY POUNDS
IN the farthest southeastern island of the
tnlllpplne group, Mindinao, upon one Of
us mountains, Parag, in the neighborbood
OF the ing hest peak on the island, the VOL
cano apo, party of botanical and ethno-
graphical explorers found recently. at the
nelght o. $500 feet above the sea level
colossal flower. The discoverer, DR.. Alley
ander Scbadenberg, could scarcely believe
MS eyes when he saw, among the low
growing bushes, the immense buds of .bis
II 'wer, like gigantic brown cabbage he'd
But he was still! more sstonished wbeo ha
found specimen in full bloom. q five
petal Hover nearly yard in diame5el--9s
large as carriage wheel in fact This
enormous blossom was borne on sort or
vine creeping on the ground The nseive
VINO was present when DR.. SchadeDberAr
found the flower called it bolo,
1le party had no scale by which the
weight of the flower could be ascertsia-d
but they lmproGised a swinging scale
using their boxes and specimens as weights.
Weighing these when opportunity served.
II was found that single flower weighed
over twenty two pounds. 1t was limos
slhle to transport the fresh flower, SO the
tra' elers photogra phed it and dried a
number of its leaves by this heat of fire.
DR.. Schadenberg then sent the photographs
ard dried specimens to The royal botanical
gardens, Breslau, where the learned d.
rector immediately recognized it as a spe
cies of ratflesis, plant formerly discovered
in Sumatra and named after the English
governor, Sir Stamford Rallies The new
flower was accordingly named ratfl gsia
The five petals Of this immense flower
are oval and creamy white, and grow
around center filled with counties jon.y
violet hued stamens, thicker and long, ia
ihe fertile flower than ia the infersi!e-
Et0rida Proqress
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
A Few Figures.

In recent conversation with an old and
experienced farmer Of this parish the Item
learned that for 20 years, prior to the war.
he kept regular debit and credit account
with his farm, hogs, cattle, sheep and
fowls. BY keeping this account he aas
enabled to tell at the end of each vear
what each investment had earned for hiiu.-
and by making recapiuulation at the eud
Of 20 years he found the following average
per cen%of profits annually:
From cotton farm, with slave@aJor,
about 10 per cent.
From cattle 80 per cent.
From sheep Is per cent.
From hogs 800 per cent.
From geese and chickens, each, 400 per
cent.
Some important facts will be noted here,
among which is that of the meagre profits
derived from the cotton farm under the
old slave system, as contrasted with the
splendid sh0mings made now by intelli.
white farmers. In support of this fact we
will cite one instance of many that we
know of, showing that an intelligent white
man rented so acres Of old land, obtained
his supplies on credit, worked his crop
himself, made corn enough to run him
ACAb scdi dnu IcdllLco
cash to pay his supply bills, pay his land
rent, the major part of the purchase price
of this land and have cash enough to his
credit to purchase supplies next year.
Another important fact shown by his
record is the large profit derived from the
barn yard. Just think of it Four hun
dred per cent is an extraordinary profit for
ole to make on an investment. The same
may be said of cattle and sheep raising.
Thirty per cent profit on cattle Che
ordinary Creole stock and Is per cent on
shoep are not to be sneezed at.
Our informant is of tbs opinion that
sheep would yield much larger profit if
proper legal protection was given to this
branch of the farm industry. He thinks
hundreds of acres of open untitled land in
this parish, now laying idle for want of
labor, would soon be covered by sheep and
made to yield handsome profit if the
owners of these lands ware guaranteed
protection for their animals from destruc-
ton by dogs.-Capitaj Item.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
Reflections on the Past.

The last day of the year 1t will soon
be upon us. No doubt we shall all have 9
merry Christmas. Each day of the week
will bring happiness to every one, and then
will come the last day, and one more year
will have passed into eternity.
Who il it that does not spend few mo-
| ments Id reflection at the close OF this last
| day :? Men may be reckless and thought
| less but there are times at which they are
brought to think on the past, and this is
! one.
| As the last rays of the setting sun tinge
the tree-tops, reminding US of the depart
| ing year, then it is that we think of the
year that is gone forever, and ask our
selves, "Wh8t have we doae?" All, what
haze We done2
We have spoken harsh words, which
have bruised the hearts of friends, caused
fathers to sigh and mothers to shed tears.
We have performed many deeds that will
ever rise up as witnesses either for or
against us, as they themselves have been
good or evil. We have wasted many pre-
cious moments that have passed never to
return. We have neglected golden oppor-
tunities that will never present themselves
again.
: L has heen said that the guardian angels
of mans life are his past deeds, and
when we remember that all our deeds are
written in Gods great account book, we
think this is true.
And as we muse thus upon the deeds of
year that is gone, we resolve that on the
New Year we will begin new life; we
will speak kindly to everyone; we will
waste no precious moments; we will grasp
the golden opportunities as they present
themselves; SO that when we turn and
look back upon another years life, it will
shine brighter than ever before.
The old year passes on forever and the
morning of the new year breaks in upon
us. We start out in search of Pleasure
that ignSs. fatuus that fingers just short
distance ahead but is never overtaken-
and even the first day many precious mo-
menSs and opportunities are forever lost.
Resolutions were made in time of calm re-
lection, but now they are broken In the
search for pleasure. Thus day after day
passes and the good resolutions are for
gotten until another year is drawing to a
close. when we again find ourselves ask
ing the same Question: sWhat have we
done r Why2 Because we do not keep
cur duty before us as we should. Let us
Keep our good resolutions by constantly
keeping in mind the motto Of the old sun
dial, s.-IG hoe naonaeasto penost aeternitas, /"
Out of this moment hangs eternity" If
We keep this always before us, of a truth
we may say that, as the setting sun
paints In beautiful tints the western hori-
zon when the old year is dying away, so
our soul will pass beyond the horizon of
this life; and as the sun rises bright and
beautiful on the morning Of the New Year
SO we shall rise on the morning of the
resurrection in the beautiful realms of
eternity.-lhe TSsstor.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
Moody's CooIness.

Evangelist D. L. Moody went down into
the slums of Chicago to preach to an
audience of people never seen inside Of the
churches. After the services he was the
centre of scene. Half dozen young men,
half drunk and noisy, waited at the foot
of the stairs. They insulted the young
women who came out and they tripped up
the young men. They were evidently
preparing to have some rough sport with
Mr.. Moody, for when he appeared at the
door they crowded around him and iostled
him off the lower step.
He saw the danger. and averted it neatly.
He was carrying his overcoat on his arm
Picking out the biggest and toughest Of
the crowd, he said: won't you please
help me on with this coat I'm getting a
little old and stout" The bad young man
was unnerved. He redeemed, and stepped
back. Mr.. Moody held out his arms ap-
pealingly, and the young nan weakened.
Mutteripg something that@ounded like an
oath he hoisted the coat on to the broad
shoulders. II knew you'd do it. Thank
you" laughed Mr.. Moody; and he walked
briskly down the streets, leaving dis
organized gang of hoodlums in the shadow
of the building Exchange.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
The Advantages of Every Working
man Owning Home.

The advantage-nay, even the necessity
of every eInploye owning his own home
is becoming more apparent every day to
both the employers and employees of the
newly established manufacturing towns
in the South. 1t goes without say ing that
the workingman who owns his own home
is better citizen and more reliable and
trustworthy employe. Owners of manu-
featuring plants, furnaces, mines, ETC., in
the South recognize this fact fully and en-
courage their employees to secure homes
It can easily be done now while land is
cheap and building material to be had in
every locality ct very le# prices. IL 3
few years population will be greatly in
creased and the prices of building lots and
material will be advanced to an extent
that will put it beyond the power of wage
earnsrs to pay for homes. Wages are al
most as high now as they will be for years
but the price of building lots and materi-
al will increase with each addition to the
population. 1t may be stated as rule
that the increase of population has ten
dency to decrease wages and increase the
price of all the necessities of life. Hence,
now at the beginning of great manufac-
turing era that is bound to make the South
ern States populous, is the time for the
workingmen to secure homes before the
inevitable advance in material and real
estate occurs. A home, be it ever SO home
ly, is a grand possession in the Southern
States, where every species of property is
rapidly enhancing in value, and the home
stead is exempt from every species of in
debtedness, except taxes. In this State
the exem ption is one thousand dollars cash
value, which means two or three thousand
when the commissioners come to lay it off
In Texas the homestead is two hundred
acres regardless of improvements. In the
other Southern States the poor man is
equally protected in the possession of his
home by law from his creditors No
country on the face of the earth offers
greater inducements for permanent home
holdings and good citizenship than the
South.
MI. George Jamme, the manager of the
Dayton, RRnn., iron furnaces, appreciates
the situation. We quote from the Dayt n
Nesos, published by friend 7. T. McWhir-
ter:
When the public got wind of the infor-
nation that the new saw mill on the Ten
aessee river was to furnish the Dayton
Coal and Iron Company with quantity of
timber, the idea soon took shape that the
company was on the eve of building a
plumber of tenement houses, and other
buildings, and so on; that the large num-
Der of men that has recently been put on
The working force of the company rendered
his necessary, and that the general bust
1ess prosperity of the town was about to
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
Practical.

| Horace Greedy had the reputation of be
ing a practical philanthropist, and his
advice was sought by hundreds of strang
ers, whose only excuse for intruding upon
him was that they needed counsel, and
that he had the brains that could advise
them.
One day, while he was writing an i'm
portont letter in his office, boy, Is years
old, entered the room, and, standing near
the door and behind the editors chair,
said, "Mr Greedy, | have come TO a k
your ad vice.
Say on answered the editor, without
stopping his pen or even glancing at tle
boy.
''The only relative I have here" Goa
tinue1 the boy, ''ls my sister. 1 have
been boarding with her, and she let Inc
have board so cheap that [ could eecn
money enough to pay her, and have sou4e-
thing left to buy my clothes. Now have
quarreled with her, and am boarding at
another place, where they charge me all
can earn for my board-not SO good as |
had at my sister's-and | having nothing
left to pay for clothes. What sIalI dor
''Is your sister married ?" asked Mr..
Greeley, without looking up or stopping
his pen.
Eyes, sir"
els she respectable woman
t'Certainly, sir
Go straight to your sister and tell her
that you are ashamed of yourself, and ask
her forgiveness. If she will take you,
go back and live with her, and after this
remember that if your own sister is not
your friend you will not be likely to fl4d
any friend in New York city.
The boy departed without another word,
and Mr.. Greeley had not even seen him,
so engrossed was he with his writing.
This poor boy did not personally know
Mr.. Greeley, but, being in distress, sought
him out in city Of several hundred thous-
and people as the man to give him good
advice.
cit was higher compliment than had
ever before seen conferred upon any one,
writes the Hon. Eli Thayer, who was
present at the interview, and reports it in
his "History of the Kansas Crusade. -
Youths C0mpani0n.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
Successful Test of New Decorticator.

A successful test of 8 new fore decorti-
Gator, invented by Mr.. J. J. Green of this
city, has been made here. Its principle is
to split the stalk of ramie OF hemp and
then strip the fiber the length of the stalk
without loss. He has been at work for
the past year perfecting the minor details.
The machine in crude form was tested in
Paris in 1888 and was awarded 400 francs
prize money. 1t decorticated green or dry
ramie. separated the fibre from the herds
and with two men will work about LOO, 600
stalks in ten hours or half an acre a day.
Many processes for degumming exist but
it is claimed that this is the only machine
yet invented that will work without such
great loss as to render it impracticable.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
Bottling Eggs.

To put an egg into bottls requires the
following preparation You take an egg
and soak it in strong vinegar, and in pro-
cess of time, it's shell will become quite
soft, so that it may be extended length
ways without breaking then insert it
into the neck of small bottle, and by
pouring cold water upon it, it will resume
its former figure and hardness. This is
really curiosity, and battles thoses who
are not in the secret, to find out how it is
accomplished.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04

Plant vegetables now for early spring
use. English peas, cabbage, lettuce, tur.
niPs, mustard, radishes- in fact, almost
any garden vegetable-may be planted
during the latter part of December and in
January without detriment.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
Where It Is Fun to Be a Boy

In every Mahometan country it is more
fun to be boy than girl When boy
is born every body rejoic's 5; when a girl is
born every body is disappointed, even dis
gusted. The father pets and fondles his
son, he will not speak of his daugh Inter.
If he is compelled TO mention his having q
daughter, he begs your pardon for intro
ducing the subject.
AS the boy grows up, he is sent to
school He learns to read and write and
studies the Koran-the Arabs Biblsaeand
learns the duties of his religion. Not
many years ago, a Mahometan . said to D..
Jessup, of Beirut, when the missionaf
suggested that his daughter should be sen
to school, Educate girl !! You mighs
as well educate cat
The difference between thu treatment OF
a bow and girl is continued until the boy
is prepared to take his place rs man
among men, and the girl becomes the
slave of some man.-EG.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04

South America has oyer 10, 900 miles of
railway in operation.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04

This u good time TO transplant fruit
trees throughout Southwest Louisiana.
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04

We hope our Republican contemporaries
will keep cool about the great preparations
for the funeral of Jefferson Davis. 1t re-
fleets no disloyaIty to the Union, but only
respect for an individual and tender mem
ory for 8 tragic past This country is too
great to show spite against any one man.
Especially when he is dead.-Bost0n GIo0s'
St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04

Reckless extravaganza has caused the
downfall of Richard d Kyle, late vlce-
president of the Anderson Harris Carnage
Company, of Cincinnati. He has been sf1 an ar,
rested, charged with embezzling sll,oVo
between Oct. and Oct. IL.