davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-05-26

Travellers in Central Africa during
the hot season often follow the dry
beds of rivers and creeks for miles to
obviate the necessity of cutting their
way through the heavy jungles which
everywhere abound. Africa is we'll
known to be the native land of many
extraordinary things, animate as well
as inanimate. This being the case,
the first explorers paid no attention to
the thousands of balls of hardened
mud which were slrewn about in all
profusion in the beds of these dried up
streams. One day, however, when a
detachment of the Cameron expedi-
tion were exploring what in the wet
season would have been a tributary
of the Nile a woodman cracked one of
the balls and was surprised beyond
measure to see live fish tumble out
of the centre of the ball and fall gap
ing and tlourdrring in the sand. This
curioYs discovery led the explorers to
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-05-26
How to Tell a Good Horse.

81 never ask about horses traits"
said horse buyer the other day. "Al
l want is good. square look in the
face. One in hundred times l may
mistake the head, but not oftener than
that, / believe" 1t doesn't require
an expert to read horses faces, either.
A person who has never handled a
horse can saunter down Broadway
any afternoon and point out the good,
docile family carriage horses, the Bit
ing horse, the treacherous animal, the
one likely to kick or run at any mo-
ment, or the proud, high spirited
horse that may be dangerous and yet
not vicious in the least.
The kicking horse can nearly always
be singled out by the vicious gleam
in his eye, which stamps him born
kicker. OF all horses, though, the
miserable looking horse attracts most
ulS 40 tiC hOto PNASS
cuted by the check rein. Like women
and men who wear shoes size too
small, he shows the outward evidence
of misery. Many good natured
horses, horsemen say. have been made
fretful and vicious by being enslaved
by the infamous and cruel check rein.
There are horses broken down by long
and continued service for man, which
show sad facial expression.
These may be found hitched to
drays around town, to rickety wagons
of peddlers and ragpickers, and occa-
sionally to wagons of contractors and
teamsters. Once, perhaps they We're
full of buoyancy Of youth, but con,
stant drudgery has made them mere
tools, barely animals, [Sporting
World.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-05-26
How Star Distances Are Ascertained

How Star Distances Are Ascertained
The mathematical principles in
volved in determining the distance Of
star are essentially the same as those
employed by a surveyor when he
wishes to measure the width of a
stream which he cannot cross, only
with the astronomer the problem is
rendered much more difficult by the
fact that he is unable to secure base
line of sufficient length to meet his re-
quirements even the diameter of the
earth's orbit is not great enough, ex-
cept in rare instances.
In determining these vast distance
astronomers make it point to tirss
ascertain what is known as the star'a
parallax, or, in other words, its angle
of direction when viewed from the
two opposite points in the earth's
orbit This is what renders the prob
lem so extremely difficult. nearly
every star so far selected as base of
operation having failed to show any
parallax whatever, and the few in
stances where the parallax has been
recognized showing it to be exceed
ingly small.
The star which gives the greatest
parallax of any C"fixed" stars are
those now under consideration). and
which in consequence is believed to
be nearest the earth, is Alpha Gen.
tauri, star which is never visible in
this latitude. But even this stars
parallax is only the .92 of second,
which corresponds to distance of
221, 200 times the SUMS distance from
the earth, or over 10000, 200, 900, 900
mlles.-lSt. Louis Republic.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-05-26

make an investigation, whereupon
every ball of hardened earth, whether
large OF small, was found to contain
an odd-shaped specimen of the finny
tribe. These spherical mud "houses,"
which on account of their likeness to the
earthen eases fabricated by many spe-
cies of caterpillars and other insects and
worms have been called "cocoons,"
are perforated by many small holes
and lined with a mucous from the
fisRs body, the mucous keeping the
dried ball damp upon the inside, the
holes being used for breathing pur-
poses.
For want of more euphonious
name this queer species of piscus has
been dubbed "mudfish," which is eX-
pressive of the fsh's curious habits if
not musical and high-sounding cog
nomen.
The remarkable instinct which
causes the mudfish to roll himself i'll a
ball of mud when the dry season ap-
proaches is a wonderful provision of
nature, Intended soley, it would seem,
to prevent the extinction of the spe-
cies. The most interesting fact about
this fish is that it breathes by means
of gilis when in its native element
and by means of lungs during its vol
untary Imprisonment in the mud CO.
coon. -[St. Louis Republic.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-05-26
The Hoary Head.

Ah, calm old age, come to me soon
With all thy rest and sweet content,
When out of fervid glare Of noon
Peace grows with evenings shadows
blent
What promise of the mourning day,
When flames the east with lurid red,
Is like the twilight's blessed gray
In halo round the hoary head
All, calm of soul and strong of heart
Whose age is youth in duty done,
May we at noon so play our part,
AS thou at setting of thy sun.
I would my life as thine were spent,
That when evening comes, heaven sped
Might find my years, as thine are, blent
In halo round the hoary head.
-[St. Louis Republic
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-05-26
Warmth the South Wind Bringeth.

"A Y w
Shadow on the valley resteth
But sunlight CLEANS on the hil'
Mute are the stones and pebbles,
But music dwels in the rill
And warmth the south wind bringeth
To drive away winters chill
The nest on the bough is empty.
And you sigh for the nestlings STILL
Hut songs of the erstwhile fledglings
The Woodlands with melody fill.
An! warmth the south wind bringeth
10 drive away winters chill.
The dream of your youth hath vanished,
But deeds now your busy days ill,
When the voice Of the thrush is silent
i The mocking bird sings on the hill.
Oil warmth the south wind bringeth
To drive away winters chill.
Grieve not for vanished pleasures,
There are others their places to fill,
When light of day hath departed
Night bringeth the star-shine still,
And warmth on the south wind cometh
To drive away winters chill.
~ rLouisST. Hodges, in Atlanta Constitu-
3ion.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-05-26

According to Mrs. Bramwell Booth,
the salvation Army dress was devised
bit by bit. 1t was not in the early days
so distinctive a uniform as it is now.
The bonnet used to be small and had
white strings; but these soiled easily.
A large bonnet was found better
suited to elderly persons and those
with large faces. 1t also protected
the hair, which was point TO be con-
siaered. The dress at one time could
be blue or black. Glue is now obli-
gatory,-[New York Sun.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-05-26
cost OF BAD ROADS.
Heavy Losses Entailed by Badly
Kept Highways.
Farmers and Country People
the Chief Sufferers.

We have in the United States some
thing like 100000 of horses and
mules above the age of two years
upon our farms, and at the moderate
estimate of % cents as the cost of feed
and care of each of these animals, we
see at glance that the aggregate ex-
pense of maintaining them is about
"a, ,0o0, 900 per day. If, by similarly
moderate estimate, we say that they
are kept in the stable in condition Of
enforced idleness by the deep mud of
spring and fail for d period averaging
20 days i'll each year, we may easily
compute that The loss, in this respect
alone, will amount to $50, 200, 900 per
year, sum sufficient to build $4,000
miles Of excellent highway. OF
course, considering the great variety
of conditions, and the consequent
number of factors to be regarded,
it is impossible by mathematical
formula to compute the loss en-
tailed on any community by the con-
tinued liberation of these dirt roads in
their present condition; but the error
in the result of any computation is
more likely TO show loss smaller
than actually exists, and in whatever
way the matter be regarded, it is GER
tain that with the imposed burden of
extra help and extra draft-animals,
loss Of time, wear and tear of wagons
and harness, the drawing of light
loads, and the deprecated value Of
farm-lands, we are pursuing short
sighted policy in permitting the pres
ent system to continue. Besides the
actual loss, which moments redec-
ton will servo TO show, we are gain
ing nothing and saving nothing in
that great department Of agricultural
industry to which the condition of the
dirt road is of such marked i'm.
portance.'
By dwellers in cities the actual con-
dition of these country roads during
the wet season is scarcely known
while with farmers, to whom all road;
are dirt roads, and who have never
seen nor known of highway better
than that which they have used from
boyhood, the dirt road is an accepted
fixture, which long habit and use have
impressed upon them as a natural and
necessary adjunct to farm life.
In the spring of 1891 in the state OF
New York the country newspapers
were printing long editorial COM
plants of the hopeless condition of
the rural highways, and the conse-
quent paralysis of country trade,
while commercial reports we, e
published from week to week, in
which business embarrassments and
failures were charged directly to the
impossible condition of the country
roads. Half-loaded farm wagons
were stalled in deep mud almost in
the shadow of the magnificent twenty
million-dollar capital at Albany, while,
as if to show to what ridiculous ends
the perversity of the human mind
will sometimes lead us, the good farm
ers Of Albany comfy were actually
sending kilograms to the Legislature,
asking for the adjournment of COM
mittee hearing, because the roads of
Albany county were TOO bad to per-
nit them to get to town in time to
oppose bill which promised to make
them better J. 1.-THE Century.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-05-26
Every Man Has His Price.

Mrs. Brown-Do you think you
could learn that lesson if gave you
ten cents?
Little Johnnie-No, ma. But I'm
sure could if you gave me q quarter.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-05-26
HUMOROUS.
High water-The source Of profit

1lgn WateT-lu lie SouTce VI pIoAs
on milk.
1t is rapid musician who can beat
time by several seconds.
Some talk is made with the bark on
it and other talk has the bark in it.
The book that makes the greatest
stir in society is the we'll filled pocket
book.
You can get somebody to mind the
baby, but generally you can't get I've
baby to mind anybody.
When the old gentleman of ninety
proposes to the old lady Of eighty-five
it is the "court" of final resort.
Sorricus-A widow usually has
hard row to hoe. Fuunicus-That is
on account of her weeds, of course.
The dress coat may be the proper
thing for prosaical wedding. but for
all elopement there is nothing like
cutaway.
Carrie-What would you do the
first thing if you were a woman.
GeorgeP George-Wish | was man,
suppose.
With guns that weren't loaded" round.
And microbes never sated,
1t is wonder that the world
Is not depopulated.
MISS TeiIowieaf- f-This new bonnet
Just matches my complexion. 1t cost
seventy-fve. Miss Costique-What
the complexion!
If everything would continue to
look as attractive as it does Ill the
shop window, there would be no more
pessimists in this world.
Noddy-Therc goes Waitman, kit
ing along like deer; l wonder II he
is training for run? Oddie e-No;
on the contrary he is running for
train.
She is as fair as mortals are,
But still she'll never do for me,
Because in conversation oft
l hear her interfering "See"
Inspector-W What is your idea of
model tenement house for tue poorf
Capitalist--One that will pay Its
owner thirty-fye per cent. on his in
vestment.
One of the peculiar facts about hui
man nature is that after man has
lost everything he has himself he be-
gins to feel competent to give his
friends sure tips.
Wife, used 10 enjoy those little
dinners SO much we had before we
were married. Husband-Im not
surprised they seemed nice after the
ones you give me now.
"Father," she said, "don't You
think we need some new gas burners ~
"No," he answered positively. That
Young man that comes 10 see you
every evening is gas-burner that's
enough and to spare"
.Your daughter is very substan-
tial girl" said the proprietress of the
Young ladies' school. "She has no
liking for what is light or frivolous"
'It seems So" replied her mother, re-
gretfuIly. Even her bread is heavy"
Let your ideal be high one. BY
following the directions of the cook
book you may not produce cake as
light as thistedown, as therein prom
ised, but you will doubtless succeed
q, ,,ott;nfr nna Of lnss snepifc oraVitv
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-02-05
THE Widest YET.

Congressman Davis O1tdoing His Col
leagues on Wild Schemes.
The bill introduced by Congressman
John Davis, of Kansas, says Washing
ton correspondent, by which the gov
eminent assumes all the mortgage in
debtedness of the country. is little bit
the widest of all the wild legislation
which has been proposed in the last
week by the alliance delegation from
Kansas Mr.. Davis scheme, which Is
entitled bill 'for the relief Of certain
mortgage debtors" is attracting great
deal OF attention in the house and is
pronounced By the leaders of both par
ties as one of the most absurd PROPOSE
tons ever brought before congress
Mr.. Davis, however, is very much in
earnest about it He devised the schema
many years ago and will make it his
particular hobby during this session of
congress The bill provides, in short.
that when man fails to pay his mort
gage debt or interest the governments
is 70 step in, pay the whole debt and
accept lien on the real estate The
owner is to have twenty years in which
to settle mp with the government, in
the meantime paying one per cent to
the government on the money adj
vanced
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-02-05
KING CORN.
A Monarch That Bids Fair to Drive Sub
Treasury Land-Loan Pretsuders Into o b.

A Monarch That Bids Fair to Drive Sub
Treasury Land-Loan Pretenders Into o b.
security.
Kansas great crop is corn She pro-
duces abundant wheat and other grains
but corn is the leader. If the price Of
this staple would keep up, Kansas
farmers would never suffer for the
good things of life. Debts would dis
appear and bank accounts swell The
road to prosperity would be direct and
sure. But unfortunately prices shrink.
and they are usually least in years
when the crop is greatest
The farmers of the compromising
states, however. need have no fears Of
a fat market again in the near future
Last years wheat crop was short OF
the worlds demands. There is no prob
| ability that the coming wheat crop will
supply the need this year. In Kansas,
Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska the acre
age of fall wheat is considerably be-
low that OF last year. Russia will
hardly become self-sustaining even il
her present crop should come up TO the
average, which Is altogether unlikely.
The reserves of all other foreign coun-
tries are being consumed Everything
points to a shortage in the worlds sup
ply Of breadstuffs for 1892, more serious
than has occurred in many years be-
fore. The inevitable result will be an
increase in the consumption of Indian
corn, and consequently a more active
market and better price.
If Kansas should have one of her big
corn crops this year-such, for instance.
as she had in 1ss9-our farmers will be-
gin to enjoy prosperity that will drive
all thoughts of government loans and
sub-treasuries out of their heads Eu-
rope will be bidding for the contents
of the Kansas cribs, and every train
that rolls out Of the state will bear our
products TO a golden market Corn
will again ascend the throne and sit "a
ing.-Empor Ia Republican.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-02-05
IMPoIENcY OF FIAT.
The Efforts to Make something Out (
Nothing-Fiat IL Failure.

The Efforts to Make something Out a
Nothing-Fiat Is Failure
Probably the greatest mistake of the
Kansas third party people is the belief
that they can make something of moth
ing Their movement so far seems to
have been based upon this peculiar de-
fusion, and the disappointing results 50
far obtained are therefore not at all
surprising. They have attempted TO
create judges by ballot and manufact-
ure statesmen at the polls They
have taken up men wholly without exc
perience and attempted to fill with
them positions of the highest RESPONSE
bility.
In western Kansas they chose q
farmer for district judge, and secured
his election. He is no doubt q good
man and good citizen, but he was to-
tally unqualified for the judgeship.
The result is that his decisions are full
of errors and are reversed by the su-
preme court as fast as they go up
Litigation in his district is badly de-
moralized, and the people suffer in
their rights and legal privileges A
number of other farmers-well-mean-
ing men probably-were elected to
congress They were WITHOUT expe-
rience in public affairs. unqualified for
legislative business and are conSe-
quently without influence or power in
congress. In the same line of proceed.
ure the attempt is made to create
money. Measures have been intro
duced providing for the, issuance of vast
amounts of irredeemable paper cur
rency.
All these and all similar attempts to
create value, either in men or things.
by the simple power of popular fiat,
must inevitably fail Competent judges
can only be made by long and careful
preparation and experience as practi-
TONERS at the bar Statesmen must be
formed by gradual growth beginning
in small positions and rising by de-
grees as ability ripens and experience
accumulates. AS well take a child
from his primer and set him up as an
instructor in trigonometry and Greek.
as to try to make competent judge or
representative out OF a man whose
whole life has been given 70 agricult-
ure. Farmers may make good judges
and good congressman, but it must be
by gradual process-by years of train
ing in the desired direction
Fiat is failure in every case where it
seeks to supplant natural methods of
labor or the rules of natural law
There is only one exception to the
rule, and that is where the fat is put
forth by Omnipotence.-Emporia Re-
mn hlican-
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-02-05

divided, three out of seven, including
one democrat, holding that such a con-
struction of the law was unnecessary
and unreasonable, and was 3 virtual
acknowledgements of innocent voters
We are decidedly of the opinion that
the minority judges are right and that
the majority of the court have estab-
lished dangerous precedent If the
decision is good law any designing
county clerk, by making a similar
transposition of ballots, can disfran-
chise whole communities There is
practically no remedy for such abuse,
if the present democratic legislature
should refuse to amend the ballot act.
In the fourth contested case the court
of appeals decided in favor of the re-
publican senator-elect, and the state
board gave him his certificate.
This is how the democrats stole the
senate. 1t was an audacious. shame.
less robbery, and there is no remedy.
They wanted to control the legisla-
ture, and they will do so, without war
rant, however, of the legal results of
the elections. And the leading spirit
in this bold attack on the sacredness of
the franchise is seriously put forward
for the nomination of his party for the
presidency of the United StatesI-N.
Y lndepeudent
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-02-05
Out of His Element.

People who are acquainted with SEN
ator Kyle. of Dakota, are not surprised
that he is in favor Of our bearing any
and all things from Chilli, because We
are great and strong, and she is small
and weak We have been told that his
graduation speech at Oberliu college
was a dissertation against fishing, and
that he based his opposition to the
sport on the ground that a great big,
strong man should not war on little,
tiny fishes We apprehend that the
reverend gentleman has many good
and kind principles that might make
him a useful man in any work purely
humanitarian, but that in the field of
craftsmanship where rights must be
asserted and fearlessiy supheld. ne
would be as much out OF place as al in
FAINT on battle feld-Capital.
The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-02-05
LECTURED.

The National Alliance Organ Receives a
Curtain Lecture From One of the
Brothers.
The Emporia Gazette, conservative
alliance paper, says: the National
Economist official organ Of the Farm
ers' Alliance and chief advocate of the
sub-treasury scheme. declares in its is
sue of December %, that i. will not
support third party, even if the Feb
ruary % industrial convention decides
that the alliance shall go into third
party movement Mr.. Macune, editor
of the Economist, is the originator of
the sub-treasury scheme, and got the
Ocala convention to adopt it on the
ground that it would draw the alliance
into a third party movement. Well,
we know that the Economist stands for
the sub-treasury scheme and against a
third party movement, but what we
want to know is whether it is for
or against the National Union Co.
alliance store mercantile monopoly
scheme, which the entire reform press
has undertaken 10 oppose. Come off
the fence"