davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-01-16

Pennsylvania farmers find profit il
sowing rye for the straw.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
A PRAIRIE FIRE AT NIGHT.

progress of the fire. That kind of a
fire formed pretty picture at night.
The long stretches of flame reaching
across the level plain or extending
over the undulations of hill and vale
suggested to the observer line of sol
diers marching with unbroken front
upon an enemy. The incessant flash
and fading of the flames added to their
life-like appearance, and it required not
the most creative of imaginations to
transform them into living creatures,
each armed with a sword of fire and a
torch of destruction. The tongues of
vision than were the dark shadows that
lurked between them. One who was
unaccustomed to seeing prairie fires
was almost certain to declare, upon
viewing one at night: There are men
running back and forth along the line
of fire." so like living beings did the
shadows move up and down the bright,
ragged-edged ribbon of fame. All
night long the flames would stand like
sentinels waving signal torches, or like
giant tireilies play hide and seek along
the slowly advancing line.
But, much to the early settlers mis-
fortune, all prairie fires were not OF
this type. Sometimes, driven by q
fierce gale or whirlwind which their
own heat created or doubly intensified
they would leap forward with an IRE
sistible impetuosity. Within few
hours after settler discovered suciS i
Are on the distant horizon to the wind
ward it would be upon him, and woe te
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
THE DYING coBBLER.


u feel e.aanea Dix the cobbler, that I am
udr.H3 weak"
And as BE- spoke tear ran down his reclaimed
cheek.
Il know my mi approaches fast and soon I'll
cease 10 see
Tie friends aho stand around the now, and aUt
vii over he.
Il trus, that when I've passed away the village
bells viii toll.
And that the clergyman will pray FOR my de.
parted sot
Still when l. III Laid beneath the sod. my friends
should happy tee!
Tothiuk that earth no sorrow has that Heaven
cata0t hsrt.
'I'm going 10 my final home. all dismal dark
AMI damp.
And must summon fortitude TO take the fear
tu e mp
But shall mount upon the air as light as any
feather,
And hope the spirit robes don will wear like
appsr ts4ttr'
He ceased His d ofess struggles showed that
life aas ebhiug fast:
He called his children. kissed his wife, then
gently breathed his iast.
And now he siumbers TRANQUILITY, no troubles
vcx his mind.
His shop l. closed for aye. but lie has left good
uork behind.
-Fraucis 5. Smith, in y. Y. Weekly.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
A ShERiFF'S POWER.
The Complete Subsection Under WI
tie Held u Prisoner.

The Complete Subsection Under Which
tie Held Prisoner.
A man who has told many stories
which have appeared in this column is
responsible for the following: Talk
ing about the fear that criminals have
for some officers of the law. | know a
sheriff in Swectwater county, Wyo.,
whose power over desperadoes was
amazing. lie seemed to be able to
make them do anything which he chose
except become respectable citizens.
There was one fellow who was q
notorious rutiian even among his kind.
He spent nearly all his time in the
clutches of the law. lie was gambler,
thief and undoubtedly murderer.
Yet often when there was dangerous
work to be done, my friend the sheriff,
would go around to the county Jail and
fetch out his most desperate prisoner
to assist him. lie even went So far at
times as to release him entirely, send
ing him on some mission. The fellow
always came back, reported to the
sheriff and submitted to being locked
up again without Il murmur. He was
| SO afraidof the sheriff that he did not
dare to do other than he was ordered
| to do. | ought to say, however, tina,
the sheriff had broken in his wilo
friend at their first meeting with the
butt end of revolver. ~. Y. Tribune
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23

the early settlers of the plains of Hi
nois. Iowa and the west. prairie fires
were familiar spectacle, yet their oft
recurrence never robbed them OF the
MISUNDERSTANDING sense of danger
with which they were invested. The
average prairie fire was not the all
devouring calamity which yellow
backed novels and western romances
represented it, In fact, under ordinary
circumstances it was reasonably harm
less and quite pleasing affair This is
particularly true of the far west, where
the short buffalo grass covered the
prairies. In Illinois and Iowa. where
the wild grasses attained height OF
several feet in considerable areas. a
high wind would, when the grass was
sufficiently dry, drive the conflagration
on with an almost irresistible sweep.
The new settlers in prairie country
who had not seen a prairie fire would
discount the stories told them concern
ing the speed with which the fires trav-
eled and the distance the flames would
leap. but one lesson, often dearly
learned. would convince them of the
dangerous possibilities that lurked in
the seemingly harmless dried grass.
The prairie fires usually began in Oc-
tobcr, soon after the first frostS had
fallen. Often the first intimation a
settler would receive of an approaching
fire would be given by falling ashes OF
the burnt grass that a strong upper
current of air had carried long dis
tance. In the hazy sky of Indian sum-
mer the smoke of the fire, which might
be miles away. could not yet be dis
cerned. The falling ashes might not
be noticed unless one CHANGED to look
upon the smooth surface of still water,
where their presence was easily dis
cerned. With the coming of the first
shades of evening a blush at a point on
the distant horizon would indicate the
location of the fire. If the night were
cloudy the brightness of the flames
would be reflected above. 1t required
experience to tell by the appearance of
such Examinations how far away a fire
was, but an .'old-timer" of the prairies
could thus accurately locate the fire,
and tell by the force of the wind how
long it would be in reaching given
point.
A newcomer was apt to think q
fire much nearer than it really was,
though sometimes he made the opposite
mistake. If no wind was blowing and
a heavy dew fell the speed of the fire
was greatly slackened, if indeed, the
flames did not entirely die out This.
however, was not likely to occur if the
sun and frosts had completely cured
and dried the grass
Sometimes during still weather fire
would appear to burn in almost the
same locality for several days. The
same appearance would result when
the fire burned against the wind or was
''backing up" as the settlers termed it.
Under such circumstances roadway,
q small stream. or even a cow-path
across the prairies might stop the
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
Corr spending Without Stamps.

Two local business men made a
wager regarding the payment of local
postage. \ said he could send letter
through the Springfield post office that
would be delivered To b, who would re-
turn an answer to him. and neither a
nor Il would pay any postage, nor
would any be required. Baccepted the
wager. A and Il exchanged en-
velopes bearing their respective
business cards thereon, and agreed
on a fictitious address, like John
Jameson, Boston, Mass A wrote
u letter to i, using the envelope with
BIS business card, addressed it as agreed
and dropped it into IA street letter box
without atiixing a postage stamp. In
due time the cashier returned" the
letter to Il marked held for postage -
Il opened and read the letter and re-
piled, inclosing his answer in AS en-
velope and paying no postage. A re-
ceived his letter similarly marked and
won the cigars. All letters and pack
ages bearing the name of the sender
and having no stamps attached are re
! turned to the sender to be stamped. A
took advantage of this rule, and by us
ing BIS envelope the letter was re
turned to b, the supposed sender, ant
BIS letter reached him for the same
reason. - Springfield tMass.) Home
stead.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
A FAIR PHOTOGRAPHERS.

Fair Phyllis and devotee
OF Hymen were one day
Engaged in conversation free
About photography;
They talked the subject DER and DER,
Discussing every part
That smacked OF scientific lore;
Twas such a pretty art.
"Well. Jack" exclaimed the winsomc lass
although do not know
Much OF photographers. I'd pass
For one--don't you think so!
have a Kodak neat and new,
OF very latest make.
And can operate Il, too
Let's see, what shall takey"
This was golden chance for Jack
Who'd loved her long and welD:
He seized her hand and with q whack
Upon his knees he fell;
He gazed into her azure eyes,
Bold Chesterfield was he.
And whispered soft between his signs:
20, love- why not take mc:'
"Well, Jack" quoth this shrewd little maid
Then siyly shook her head,
"I'm not quite sure, but I'm afraid
'Twould be real hard" she said;
I'D find subject hard, it's true,
Although ia gladly give
My time developing for you
a first rate negative.
Jean La Rue Burnett, In West Shore.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23

fire. / lost no time in reaching his
place and found him calmly awaiting
the coming of the fire.
"'Why are you not trying to save your
homer eagerly asked.
".Oh. I'm all ready TO meet the fire.
said he. pointing to two buckets o. wa
ter he had drawn.
Il Immediately went to back-firing,
and by doing SO barely succeeded in
saving his home. When the flames
came dashing up many feet high and SO
hot that we could not stay within sew
eral rods of them, he saw how utterly
useless his two buckets of water would
have been"
Tumble weeds, which grow abuE.
dainty on newly-broken ground, are
great fire carriers. They are often
much larger than bushel basket and
almost round in shape. Sometimes
these, when ignited by the fire, WOULD
be rolled long distance by fierce
wind before they were consumed, scat
tering the blaze along their paths.
Fighting fire was one of the liveliest
and most memorable of the early set
tiers experiences. The ordinary two
bushel grain sack, made of hard, close
ly woven material, and bucket of
water to moisten it in, We're the best
means of subduing the flames when
their mildness would permit one to get
within striking distance. Sometimes
the whole family would turn out and
fight until they could fight no more,
only to see their property consumed by
the merciless flames.
Prairie fires have almost become
things of the past, except in the ex-
treme west and northwest. The plains
and hills over which they used to leave
their blackened trails are now culti-
| waited fields. and the sweet-scented clo-
yer blooms where once the curlew hid
her nest in the wild grasses. Where
| once the smoke of the prairie fires dark
| ened the skies are now busy, busting
| cities. The flames no more charm nor
| make afraid the farmer boy who
searched the belated kline on the bound
less sweep of prairie. The fires have
gone out, but in the memory Of the
oldest settlers" their afterglow re-
mains, one of the brightest memories
of the pioneer days on the prairies.
| Chicago Herald.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
Beef-Eating Rats.

A farmer near Lunenburg, Vt. one
morning found sore place on the shout
der of one of his cows: as she stood at
the further end of the stable he thought
she might have rubbed it, and changed
her place, but the next morning it was
much larger, and another cow also had
a raw place on her shoulder. The Pc
culiar disappearance of the hide became
puzzle. After watching he found that
rats were actually eating the hide off
his cows. Quite large patches had been
denuded. -National Labor Tribune.
A Lucky Mani hear You lost a
million on the street," Not exactly
A million was lost through me by my
friends. didn't lose cent prk.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
him and his II he had not provided his

him and his If he had not provided his
home against such calamities
Many stories are told of the speed OF
such fires, the truthfulness Of some OF
which is well founded. Wolves and
deer have been pursued by fire until
they sought safety in settlers barn
yards, and in such an exhausted condi-
ton that men afoot, armed with clubs,
easily overlook and dispatched them.
Emigrant trains in the early days had
many thrilling escapes from the fire,
while not few were overtakcn and de-
stroyed by the prairie confiagrations.
mind and matches feared no such fate.
When no other means of escape from a
coming fire offered itself he would set
fire to the grass and as the burnt area
enlarged he would extinguish the
flames on the side of it toward the
point from which the wind was blow
ing. and once inside the burnt district
he had nothing to fear. The harder
the wind blew the easier it was for
him to subdue the fire which was
backing up" and get inside Of the
haven OF safety.
Settlers protected their farms by fire
breaks made by blowing up two strips
of sod several rods apart around their
farms, and on still, favorable day
burning the grass between the strips.
The same results were sometimes OBJ
tanned by cutting two strips of grass
and burning it as soon as dry. and then
burning the grass between the burned
strips when the frosts had ripened it.
At times all of such precautions were
in vain. Weeks of scorching sun and
hot winds would render the prairies dry
as finder Then when the flames came
on the wings of strong gale they
seemed to feed upon the air, and fire
breaks availed nothing. In instances OF
this kind back firing was the settlers
only hope of immunity from the flames.
Newcomers usually had a very
faint idea of the intense heat and force
of the fire. An early settler of Illinois
tells of one such who in the pioneer
days built home near his own. Il had
been some distance from home and was
returning when saw the smoke of the
coming fire. AS l fastened toward
home saw that my new neighbour
house was directly in the path of the
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
A Startled Organist.

A curious incident disturbed q con-
gregation ut st. Michael's church, Folke-
stone, Eng, Il short time ago.. The
organ in that church is provided with
kettlcdrums. which are brought into
action by the organist pressing against
an electric knob fixed to the back of his
seat. This arrangement was not ex-
planned to strange arganist, who had
no sooner leaned back to hear the SER
mon comfortably than startling up
roar began in the reccsscs of the instru-
ment. Looking up in establishment, the
unsuspecting artist only pressed the
knob the harder, and faster and more
furious became the action of the drums.
This went on for considerable time,
till somebody with presence Of mind
rushed up and explained the secret
Chicago Times.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
Triyialities.

It is not always easy in any sphere
to discriminate between the trifiing and
the momentous. 1t is often a matter of
comparison, and judgment and expe-
rience are needed in the selection.
tribes are not to be confounded with
details, which are often most inn
portant. Neither are things neces-
sarily triaing because they are small.
A kind look. a gentle warning, cor
dial greeting, slight service, are
sometimes despised as trifes, when in
truth they are signs of generous and
kindly nature, and carry untold bless
ings to their recipients. Many little
things are far more important than
what we miscall great ones; they may
indeed be the true realities, while the
others may be insignificant If each
one will faithfully examine the meas-
ings and purposes of the various
spheres in which he moves, and en-
deavor conscientiously to make them
first in his heart and life, the trifies
will sink into their proper and subordi.
nate place.-N. Y. Ledger.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
SCIENCE OF ScARPoLoGY.
4 New and Interesting study Invented II
Switzerland.

New and Interesting study Invented In
Switzerland.
Not long ago people who had nothing
better with which to amuse themselves
were greatly interested in the so-called
science of palmistry. by means Of which
they assumed to read the character of a
person from the hand.
Now another and very curious char
acter-reading ''science" has been dis
covered or invented in Switzerland. A
learned doctor of Basic has commune
lated to medical journal full ac-
% mt of his science of Scarpology,
which consists of knowing men by the
aid of their old shoes"
Well-worn shoes, this authority main
tains. affords much better means of
reading character than the hand, the
face or the handwriting. 1t is possible,
he says, to perceive in an old shoe infal-
iible signs of certain good or bad traits.
If the heel and the sole are worn in
the same degree, the wearer of the boot
is a business or basiness-like person,
energetic and well-informed; or If q
woman, either good wife and mother
or capable of becoming one.
| If the shoe is run over" toward the
outer edge of the sole, the wearer, SO
declares this science, has a leaning
toward the fantastic and adventurous.
If it is run in or worn out upon the
inner edge of the sole, irrcsolution and
weakness are indicated.
One might obtain, no doubt, a very in.
tcresting account of himself by combin.
ing the observations of the professors
Of all the different misunderstanding
Sciences
First the phrenologist would read him
according to his bumps. Then the
physiognomist would look him over
and decide by his features what manner
of man he was.
Next the palmister would cast hi
horoscope" from an inspection of hi
hands. A copy of his favorite poem
written in his own handwriting, woul'
enable the chirographist to determine
all his peculiarities from his penman
ship.
Last Of all, he would send q pair O
his old shoes to the scarpologist.
Combining all their reports, he woul
proba bly, learn that he was an erratic
steady-minded, even-tempered, irasci
BILE, industrious, lazy, bold-spirited
timid, affectionate, cold-blooded, and a.
together contradictory sort of person
But he probably knew that before
| VnufhsS Com ma Mon
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
Humanity and Hypnotism.

Mr., Upton-I don't believe that story
about Philadelphia father hypnotizing
his baby SO that it would sleep while he
and his wife went to the theater.
Mrs. Upton-Nor l. Nofather would
be brute enough to think of such thing.
Mr.. Upton-N-o. of course not.
Downton 1.-THE next day)-Say, Upton
did you hear that story about a Phila-
delphia father hypnotizing his baby?
Upton-Yes- 1t isn't SO.
Downton-How do you know?
Upton-I tried it on mine and it
Woulda't wovk.-Good News.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
WOULDN'T TAKE ADVICE.


A Landlord Who Had Habit OF Kicking
Badly Used Up.
An Notwithstanding man went
into a restaurant in n small town, and
calling the waiter. said: II want you
to get me up the best meal known to
the history of your deserving house.
What have you got. anyway"
The waiter recited. with elocutionary
effect, the bill Of fare. The customer
ordered an elaborate meal, and when
he had done eating, said TO the waiter
that he should like to see tho proprietor
The customer said:
About a year ago was in this
house"
"Yes?"
That's what | was
"Hope you found everything satisfac-
tory"
Cant say tina. did. The truth is
I ordered supper, and when told you
that could not pay, you said that you
would kick me out"
WELL" said the proprietor, ''and did
you pay?"
mo. I didn't"
"Then what did do?'
"You kicked me out"
And served you right. You bet
never have man arrested for beating
me out of meal. simply lift him"
by that you mean that you kick him,
I suppose"
That's what mean"
"Well, now, would like to advise
you not to kick me this time"
Il don't. care how much you advise,
for if you don't pay will kick you."
''All right, but remember that adj
wise you not to do it,,
The customer got up and started out.
look here" demanded the proprietor,
''ain't You going to pay me?'
II cannot. | would like to accommo-
date you, but cannot do it. am doing
you genuine service. though, when j
advise you not to kick me-"
The proprietor jumped forward and
gave the fellow a tremendous kick.
The restaurant man uttered terrific
howl and fell on the floor. The custom
er, smiling as he went, strolled down
the street. Pretty soon he was arrested
and taken before the police Judge. The
restaurant man was there, with a
crutch. He told the Judge how the fell
low had attempted to beat him, how he
| had kicked him and how he had broken
his foot.
II would like to say something,
judge" said the man that had been
kicked. II was in this mans house
n1 Ia IN
credit me for meal. was in des-
perate strait. lie refused me. went
out and came back about an hour after
ward and ordered meal, ate it, and
was profoundly kicked. Several weeks
ago, when ] found that business was
going to bring me to this town. went
| to friend Of mine, a boiler maker, and
got him to make plate of boiler iron
| to fit me. He did SO and / came here.
The first morning after my arrival,
| put ON my plate and went to this mans
restaurant. am disposed to be honest,
and after had eaten / sent for the pro.
prietor and advised him sincerely not to
kick me. But he would not heed the
advice of man that has had more ex-
perience than he has, and suffered in
consequence
The Judge looked about until he
found grave face, and then, putting it
| on, said:
This mans advice was undoubtedly
good. and it would have been well had
you followed it. There is no law in
this state to punish a man for giving
bad advice, even, and / don't see how
we can hold a man for offering advice
that is good. You can go, sir, and re-
member that other men may attempt to
kick you, but that this court never will"
1-Arkansaw Traveller.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
A DISAPPOINTED MAN.
He Had to Give Up His Fondly Cherished
Plans.


Plans.
A big, burly man. about thirty years
of age, entered shoe shop on Grand
River avenue the other day and after
looking all around and closely scanning
the proprietor. he said:
"You are not the man who run this
shop fifteen years ago."
NO"
Are you his son, brother or any
relation?"
NO
'.Nhere is the MANI"
"HIe is dead:'
''What-dead.'
been dead fourteen years. Owe you
anything"
mo. ] owed him something. /
owed him the all-fredest licking man
ever got, and l came in to give it to him
to-day.'
"Well, You al too late. Why did you
wait SO long?"
"He was a big fellow and had a bad
look to him. was only a boy when
came in here o~e day fifteen years ago
to have lift put on the heel of my
boot. accidentally upset some of his
traps, and he put the lift somewhere
else. told him Id grow for him, and
that's what I've been doing"
"Sorry for you," said the shoemaker,
as he shaved away at a piece of sole
leather.
Its mean trick. It's fifteen years
thrown dead away! Have his heirs any
claim on this shop?"
"Nonc whatever"
| "And you are not related?"
Not in the least
"Then couldn't punch your head on
the old account
Mercy. no! Might as well punch the
Chinaman next door,
well, I'm sorry, but don't see how
it can be helped. suppose / ought to
have kept closer track of him. You
don't want to stand up before me?"
20, no, no. no."
swell, sood-day. I'd like to give you
one punch for the sake of the departed,
but I'll let you off this time. Detroit
| Free Press.