davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28

The valuable moss of Florida, says
Harry Bomford, abounds in the hum
mocks aud back lands. It is gathered
chiefly Ly colored people. In its
natural state it hangs in festoons from
the limbs of trees III strands from one
TO FIVE feet in length. The moss is
gathered by pulling 1t from the trees
with long poles, OF by cutting the trees
down and then removing it. The
moss is buried in the earth for about
q month, after which it is dug up and
is dried and shaken and sold to the
local moss dealers for one dollar per
hundred pounds. It is then run
through machine called gin, which
is nothing more than cylinder
| covered with threc-inch spikes revolv-
ing between roll of similar station
airy spikes. The action of these spikes
is to knock out some of the dirt and
trash, but it does not complete the job.
| II is then shaken over rack formed
of parallel bars, after which it 10
pressed into bales of about two hun
dred pounds each. Some of the moss
mills do all this work by hand. except
the grin,.ing The moss, after having
gone through the above process, brings
from $3.50 to s3 Fer hundred
pounds.
If, instead of allowing it to remain
in the earth for one month, it is left
there for three months, the entire
bark of the moss is pulled off and
there remains beautiful black fibre
almost exactly like hair. The hair
moss brings from five to seven dollars
per hundred pounds.
Mr. Bomford suggests the treatment
of this moss as good field for invcn-
ton. lie thinks a machine could be
made which would lake off the bark,
leaving the fibre, without the necessity
of burying the moss for so long time
| in the earth. -CBoston Transcript.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28
A Ten.Ineh Railroad.

An engineer of the name of George
Z. Mansfield projected aud built a
railroad. with but l0-inch wide track,
from the elevated village of Hyde
Park, Mass, down to the depot, over
which he conducted 5000 people in
safety in six weeks time. Shortly
aftcrward a company was formed and
a road was constructed with 10-inch
gauge from North Billerica to New
Bedford, Mass, distance Of eight
and one-half miles.
There are eleven bridges on the
road, one of which is over 100 feet
long. The cars will seat thirty per-
sons, and weigh four and one-half
tons-ordinary cars weigh on al
average eighteen tons. The trains
run at the rate of twenty miles an
hour with perfect safety. The engine
Ia placed behind the tender, giving ii
greater adhesion to the track. The
engines weigh eight tons, and draw
two passenger and two freight cars
The cost of the road was about $450t
per mile. ~ Detroit Free Press.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28

The little girl sitting In the midst
of a pile of baggage, near the end OF
the last bench but one, was irresisti-
bly, sweet. She was 50 very small that
her head did not reach the top OF the
seat, and her feet were long way
from reaching the floor. She had a.
thoughtful look in her dark-brownl
eyes, and tine portiy old gentiemani
with glasses could not forbear to,
pause and smile benignly upon her,
The child fixed her glance upon his
ruddy countenance, but her sober ex-i
preston did not soften in the least.
The old gentleman felt interested,
and smiled more pronouncedly. The
little girl never moved a muscle.
BLESS me, | must speak to her, Y
thought the portly party.
He cleared his throat and peeredl
over his spectacles In the most friend
ly way imaginable.
@And whose little girl is this?' hei
cheerily inquired opening his eyes
very wide.
The child met his advances with
the same steadfast gaze, but never a,
word. The old gentleman removed
his spectacles and thrust his head
forward In the awkward manner which
is popularity supposed to touch a re-
spOnsive chord In the hearts Of veryl
young folk
"And where is mamma?"
There was no reply whatever either
by syllable or gesture.
"H'm-aud does our little girl like
to ride on the cars?" !,
Not the faintest suggestion either
Of approval or the contrary was to be-
detected In the baby's face, with it's
dark eyes and frame Of soft-brown
hair.
The old gentleman moved gradual
ly closer to her. smiling all the time
as only old gentlem = with rudu5
faces can smile.
And how old is our little girl?"
The child stirred. One of the
chubby hands played neryously with
its glove. The fresh lips parted.
She was about to speak. The old
gentleman resumed an erect posture
and beamed with the utmost salts
faction, inclining his head mean
while, in exaggerated attentiveness.
The child spoke at last with great
deliberations:
until am assured, sir, that your
intentions are entirely proper can
not in justice to myself and my fami-
ly, which is, by the way, a noted one,
permit myself to be drawn into a
conversation which is likely to reveal
facts Of private nature
The old gentleman was not a little
puzzled until he saw spectacled fe.
male gather together mass OF
baggage, tuck the little girl under
her arm, and inquire about the next
train that went to Boston.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28
Origin Of the SeckeI Pear.

II may not be generally known, but
ii is a fact, nevertheless, that the fa-
nous Seckel pear, so much relished,
originated on the farm of Lawrence
Seckel, down in the "Neck, at the
junction of the Delaware aud Schuyl-
kill rivers. The tree stood for many
years, bearing largo crops of small
fruit, but no notice was taken of it
until one day the owner of 1t hippened
20 tas.e some of the fruit. 1t became
famous at once. large orchard being
planted. Tie venerable gentleman
who made this happy discovery was a
great-great- grandfather of Prof. Jo-
seph Sickel of Germantown, who is
principal OF the Jefferson Grammar
School, Fifth and Poplar streets. The
latter does not spell his name the
same, but they are all the same family,
tlie original stock having come from
Germany, and the probabilities are
they brought the Seckel pear with
them. Washington, it is said, was so
impressed with the flavor of this IA
nous pear that he had number of
trees removed from the meek" to
Mount Vernon. One branch of the
Seckel family spells its name Sichel,
another Seckel, another Sickcl, while
Maior-Gen. Sickles ads a final SO"
| Philadelphia Record.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28

The family OF petty official at
Berlin was recently treated to an
agreeable surprise owing to the chari-
table disposition of the smallest men,
Der of their little household 3-year.
old girl. During the month of Nav
she met, sitting on bench In the
public square near her home, an old.
poorly but neatly clad man, who at
tracted her attention by his sad looks
and lonesome air. Thinking he must
pe hungry, she stepped up to him, and,
with the question, want a piece of
pie?" she resolutely handed him half
of her simple lunch. The man ap-
peared somewhat perplexed, but smil-
Hngly received the piece with thanks
and ate it, From that day both might
frequently be seen together engaged
In lively conversation, the little girl
never forgetting to offer her old
friend part of her lunch, which she
was in the habit of eating in the open
air after playing about on the lawn.
nor ever admitting of any refusal on
his part to take at least a little bite.
At the beginning OF this month Her
mine returned home one morning
with the distressing news that the
poor man" had not appeared. Net
ther had he been seen for several davs
after when Hermine's father received
an unexpected summons to appear at
court. Here he was told that the
f'poor old man, who really was a
wealthy citizen OF Berlin, had left his
whole fortune to little Hermine. His
will contained the following para.
graph;
/ Il had despaired of the whole world,
for those who were nearest and dear.
est to me had deceived me. Thus I
renounced all, for what I desired I
was unable to obtain. / became a
miser, because my liberality was only
rewarded with ingratitude Nearing
the end OF my course. was nightly
touched by child's heart, which rec
onciled me with humanity. 1t was
only for short time, but If / had
millions to hestow those few moments
would not be paid for too dearly Nav
my wealth serve my little friend for
better ends than it did me, who never
knew how to appreciate or to expend
it, Baltimore Sun.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28

waiting, intensely yearning look in
them that made her heart beat iae,er.
"You are going away today, did
you say, Mr.. Rutherford" she SER
vously asked.
ayes, Miss Clifton.n
''From-from dire necessit p" she
asked, in queer tone, covertly ~atcll.
ing him.
'From CHOICE" he crisply re;)ined.
He waited few moments alta then
significantly added;
81 have lost interest in everything
here"
s'Evcn in me?' she asked, with a
faint blush on her checks aud an en-.
couraging smile on her lips. "Per.
haps some of that interest can be re.
vivcd."
"Ah," he quickly rejoined, with a
catch in his breath, eyes, it canl One
little word from you will be suffi-
cicnt."
"Then it would not be kind in inc
to withhold it," she softly said. 'f
might be cruel TO myself You must
keep this ring. will feel hurt if you
decline to accept il.
II viii accept il on enc eoaditi9 n.
"And what is that9'
sIf you except one from me in re-
turn"
"Oh," she exclaimed, the red in
her face deepening, ''that sounds fair
enoughi Still, it might involve"
alt not only might, but it would"
interrupted he, with q smile.
81 am to consider this as a renewal
of your proposal, | suppose?" she
said. "If ] didn't, ! would be stupid,
wouldn't I?'' she added, laughing
sweetly.
"You are never stupid" rejoined
he, with lleartiness.
And then their eternal bond OF
union was sealed. Saturday Night
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28

Now, il is not the "buzz" but the
noise that is supposed TO be made by
the wings of insects in flying that will
be the subject of this "note.n had
intended to discuss the buzzing noise
caused by either the slow or rapid
flight of such creatures. but critical
investigation has warranted the con.
clusion that the wings play no part
Cor, il they do, it is but minor one),
in the bnzzing noises so often heard
10 come from the direction of insects
on the wing. know that the suppo-
sition that the wings make the noise is
even more than plausible on first
thought, but the result of repeated ex-
periments by the best entomologists
show that the prevailing hypothesis is
erroneous. 1t has been found that
horsefiies, bees, bumblebees and other
insects of that ilk, can be held by the
legs and made to produce the hum
ming or buzzing noises so charac-
teristic of the two-winged in-
sect family, even though their
wings be entirely removed; and that
partial (say the clipping of half or
two-thirds of each wing) removal of
the organs of flight only serves to in-
crease the shrillness of the noise. The
part of the insect by which alone the
sound is produced is the cavity known
as the thorax, which corresponds
with the chest or breast of larger an
mails. The inside lining of this cavi-
ty is a thin, resonant membrane to
which are attached the wing and leg
muscles. Two small holes or air pas
sages communicate with this natural
Kolian harp, aud the motto of the
Insects wings and legs causes these
holes TO open and close with every
turn made necessary by the divers ins
and outs of flight. The inflow and
outflow of air through these holes
(Which may be compared to breath
ing, and which really is a species of
that interesting operation), is the true
cause of the sound which we call the
cumming or buzzing' of the wings.
Any curious person SO disposed can
test this by catching an insect Of the
class named aud closing the airholes
with wax. Be careful not TO injure
the creature or the results of the ex-
pertinent will prove unsatisfactory
[St. Louis Republic.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28
A HalnahIe Rnnk.

There is book in the British
Museum which is valued at $500 an
ounce. Il is a erfect copy of the
original edition of Shakespe res som
nets published III 1909. There are
only two copies in existence, and The
second one was sold short time ago
for $4,000. As the book weighs only
ten ounces, it is worth good deal
more than iis weight in gold.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28

II was wet afternoon aud some
half-dozen students from the univers-
ity were about the only passengers on
board the interurban car. AT Prior
avenue dainty creature got on and
took set right plump in the middle.
lis eyes were bewitching aud its COM
plexion as beautiful as dream. A
long macintosh coming down TO the
elegant and trim little rain boots and
a ruboer hood were the outward and
only apparent articles of attire. Tho
six students lined up in a row on the
opposite scat and the face of each as
sumcd peculiar and beguiling ex-
preston. They smiled, they stroked
lhir chins, while one or two pulled
away in the most captivating manner
at their soft downy moustachios. That
sylph-like creature eyed the stalwart
young men wonderingly and with
strict impartiality. After while its
umbrella dropped nervously from its
fingers. In a second six brawny arms
grabbed at it and four thoughtful
brows bumped against each other, but
the sylph took the umbrella and didn't
say word. At Dale street the car
stopped and the sylph stood up and
unbuttoned its surtout and stood re-
vealed--a ten-year-old boy. "Wcll,
never knew that students were such
great gawks,' it said, and then il
tripped ont, and during the rest of the
run there was profound silence,
broken only by the conductor as he
looked up at the clouds and smiled tc
himself gently but audibly. -TSt. Pau
/ Pioneer PTe,s.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28

as 4 ruie CITY people pay for their
pleasures during their summer out
ings, But there are hogs among men.
as well as in the fattening pens on
on the farm. Thousands of we'll to-
do relations in country districts are
every year disconnected by prolonged,
visits of people who come simply for
their own convenience and "to save
lexpense. The man or woman who
cannot afford to pay for summer
pleasures should remain at homa.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28
An Interested Party.

lapley-You arc an orphan.
Mics Somcrgurl-Yes.
Tapley (much distul bedb Well,
whose consent must ask in order to
marry you.
Miss Sonergurl-Well, you might
ask minc. - [Puck.
Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-10-28

When the balmy days grow long,
Love, dream of thee the more,
And weave into my song
All the sweet, sad thoughts thai tbrong
OF the golden days Of yore.
Ifto dream of thee be wrong,
Then have offended sore.
Love, l dream of thee the moro
When the balmy days grow long.
All the winter have sigh'd
For thy presence, YEARLY
Grieving, gazed across the wide
Gulf of selfish, human pride
Which divided thee and me-
Now sweet hope inspires my song,
Wears the smile that once she wore
Love, dream Of thee the more
When the balmy days grow long.
= Boston Pilot
The Bossier banner., 1892-05-05

The so-called ''Psalter of Queen Mar.
garet," discovered in 1925, is the earliest
specimen known of ancient Polish prior
to the sixteenth century; the middle OF
the fourteenth century is given as it's
date, and this is supposed to be copy
of a much older text. With this Psal.
ter was brought to light translation
of the Fiftieth Psalm of thirteenth-cen.
tury date. Several religious songs
written in Latin in the middle of the
fourteenth century by the bishop of
Posen may in this connection fnd men.
ton. Still preserved in Cracow is
tifteenth-century manuscript of noted
Polish war song, sung by soldiers of
that nation when going into battle.
Also in this century appeared the Bible
of Queen Sophia, or bible of Szarosz-
patak." This collection contains only
early books-the Pentateuch, Joshua,
Ruth and Kings. and fragments of three
others,-Harpeg's Razar,
The Bossier banner., 1892-05-05
WATER THE HORSE,
He Can Live with Short Eating, But Mus
Have Water or Die.

He Can Live with Short Eating, But Must
Have Water Die.
horse can live twenty i've DAYS with
out solid food, merely drinking water:
seventeen days without eating or drink
ing, and only five days when eating
solid food without drinking. An idea
prevails among horsemen that horse
should never be watered oftener than
three times day, or IN twenty-four
hours. This is not only mistaken idea,
but brutal practice. A horses stom-
ach is extremely sensitive, and will
suffer under the least interference
causing feverish condition.
Feeding horse principally on prain
and driving it five hours without water
is like giving a man salt mackerel for
dinner and not allowing him to drink
before supper time-very unsatisfac-
tory for the man.
If you know anything about the care
OF horses and have any sympathy for
them, water them as often as thew
want to drink-once an hour, if possi-
BILE. BY doing this you will not onlv
be merciful to your animal, butyou will
be benefactor to yourself, as they will
do more work, they will be healthier,
they will look better and live longer
Ii you are skeptic, and know more
about horses than anyone else, Won are
positive that the foregoing is wrong.
because you have had horses die with
watering them too much, and boldly
say that the agitators of frequent wa
terlng are fools in your estimation. and
you would not do such thing. Just
reason Tor moment and figure out
whether the animal would have over
drunk and overchilled his stomach if
it had not been allowed to beSome
overthirsty. A horse is great deal
a man.
Let him get overworked, overstarved
or abused, and particularly for the want
OF sufficient drink in warm weather
and the consequences will alwavs he
injurious. Sensible hostlers in large
cities are awakening to the ADVANTAGE
OF frequent watering. Street car horses
are watered every hour, and sometimes
oftener, while they are at work. It is
plenty OF water that supplies evapora-
ton or perspiration and keeps down the
temperature.
What old fogy methods amount to
may be seen by the change in medical
practice to man. Twenty years ago a
person having fever of anv
KIND or pneumonia was allowed
but little water to drink, and then
1t had OF be tepid. To-day practi-
tioners prescribe all the iced water the
patient can possibly drink, and, in ad-
dition. cold bandages are applied to re-
duce and control the temperature of the
blood. What is applicable to man will
never injure horse. Use common
sense and human feeling.
Don't think it is horse, and capable
OF enduring any and all things. A driver
VINO sits in his wagon and lashes his
worn'out' hslt-curried, half.ted and
The Bossier banner., 1892-05-05
HERE AND THERE.

You can't make weather, but By
close observation, and being always
ready for changes and emergenciesyou
| can turn even the worst weather TO
some good.
Nearly all diseases that effect hogs
are contagious, therefore make i a
point to separate any ailing animal
from the herd as soon as the fact Is dis
covered. Farmer.
No merchant would continue to sell
his goods at less than cost, but like the
man who wore himself out whipping
his antagonist, he would soon be out o.
money and out of goods too. How isH
with the cotton planter?
Reducing the acreage of cotton does
not necessarily reduce its production
Cut off two acres for raising food crops
and make the third acre yield as muca
cotton as three acres have done in the
past.
The wool and mutton industry IS oa
better footing in the United States 70
day than it has ever been before. Ihs
is said to be because sheepmen hase
been trying to improve both the breeo
and the methods of caring for them
Kansas Farmer.
If sleeps hoofs get long tDey
should be trimmed. These little tlmely
attentions are often worth a good deal
Careful attention, exercise OF common
sense and a little muscle are the req
uisites of the good shepherd. kansas
Farmer.
An observing man, riding through
the west and seeing field after iiela u
corn stalks going to waste, remarkea.
"The farmer is conducting the ony
business in the world that allows q man
to lose forty-five per cent. OF his capi.a'
stock and at the same time I've
Rural World.
Hogs in close confinement Whi
thrive so much better If little green
food of some kind is fed them daiiy.
Make 1t point to raise soiling eFop
for this purpose. Pea vines, any OF sns
clovers, sorghum, Pearl millet az
numerous other crops will answer va
purpose well.-Southern Cultivatof'
When a young man abandons ~
farm for the factory, or the carpen'e's
bench, or any other business, he runss
great risk In some of these occup1
tion he may handle little more mohsn
and wear better clothes than he heeus
on the farm, but in the long run -
does not accumulate anything, ana y
is always dependent on others 1of -
daily bread, Dixie Farmer
The Bossier banner., 1892-05-05
FARMER AND PLANTER.
AN ADVANCED STEP.

| The Problem OF Making the Farm Self
| Sustaining.
| The entire cotton belt is agitated over
the discussion of the problem of remu-
nerative cotton planting. Individual
ties are graphing with the subject. A
large convention of cotton growers as
sembled in Memphis, Tenn, last month,
and we devote considera BILE space to
their conclusions. We commend their
| recommendations to the careful con-
sideration of every farmer in the
south. To follow their counsel
will be to take an advanced step
in the path leading to prosperity. Sue
cess will only result, however, when
concert of action is attained between
the mercantile world, cotton-growers
and negro tenants The first advanced
step is to place ones self in the position
of not needing advances to run the
farm and grow the cotton. This will
be the result of diversified agriculture.
The next step is the intensified culture
of cotton, bringing up the yield per
acre to the full capacity of the soil,
and improving the fiber of the lint. An
increase in the quantity and quality of
the cotton grown will enure greatly to
the advantage of the cotton-grower.
The great trouble is that it has cost
the producer too much to grow the cot
ton. 1t is not so much the low price
received for the cotton rs it is the great
cost of producing it. 1t will not do to
stop the culture of cotton. for the wants
of mankind demand it.
The grower is confronted with this
dilemma: To run cotton up to higher
figures stimulates competition from
other countries; to continue it's culture
: under the present system is bankrupt
ing the producer. There can be no
progress for the cotton grower if he
continues the culture of cotton ac-
cording to the system now in vogue
The fault is not so much in the
cotton as it is in the system and the
central idea of the system This sys-
tenn is predicated on the idea that it is
the duty of the farmer to make money
and not to make the farm self-sustain-
ing and the home indeed and in truth
home. 1t is not wisdom to risk pros
perity and sustenance on one crop
alone, be it cotton, tobacco, hemp or
anything else. Nor is it sound policy
to conduct your farm affairs on the be-
lief that fortune can be attained in
one season, or in the expectancy that
some one else will do for you what
you ought to do for yourself.
The first object of the farmer
should be to make the farm sus-
tain himself, family and the stock
necessary to conduct it. And this
should be raise1 at the lowest possible
cost of production. This is an essen
tial element i'll farm prosperity, and
can only be obtained by diversified
and intensified system of cuHure. The
land becomes richer and more produc-
tive each year, thus reducing the cost
OF production. By careful culture of
cotton, making one acre do the work of
three or four acres, the cost can be re-
duced to point that even seven cents
will return profit to the grower.
1t is to be hoped that the farmer viii
make this advanced step at once, and
grow not weary in well-doing.-South-
ern Cultivator