davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-01-06

OUR readers will remember that not
long ago we gave an account of the
recent discoveries made as to the hith-
erto mysterious way in which the
growth of clover enriches the land
where any other crop would exhaust it.
1t is an accepted fact with good farm
ers, on both sides of the Atlantic, that
crop of clover does, at least in many
cases, actually leave the land richer
than before. The fact being accepted,
the explanation of it was yet very diff
ficult until the recent discovery of the
relation of certain small tubercles upon
the roots of clover to the vigor of the
crop was carefully investigated. These
tubercles, about the size of mustard
seeds, are not found on all clover roots
but where they are found the crop is
much increased, and yet it leaves the
land in proportionately better condi-
ton for the growth of succeeding
crops,-especially of wheat
The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-01-06

10 be a little more explicit, the rail-
road and commercial members OF the
new state grange put forward some eco
nomically-disposed rural members to
advocate the establishment of the very
lowest rate of dues, both in the local
oranges and the state grange-just
enough to pinch along on-so small, in
short, that the collection of funds nee
essary to carry out the rightful objects
of the order was made quite impracti-
cable. There could be no money to
make the local oranges interesting or
effective, and none to enable the state
grange to take hold of any legislative
matter whatever. The tide of Vermont
grangerism went down almost as quickly
as it arose; and in no Eastern state is
the order at lower ebb than in this.
1t was all done so slick and so quick
that the editors who favored the oranges
were not called on to do or say any
thing to earn their annual passes.
WE hope our good friend, State Mas
ter Messer, will not "go for us" if we
say that the Vermont oranges remind
us very much more of the scattered
remnants of the old Indian tribes than
of living and forceful organization of
men who mean business. And why?
Because they are "poorer than Jobs
turkey" and must remain so until they
are willing to put some money into the
work, much of which still remains to
be done for the good of Vermont farm
interests. When our grangers are
ready to pay dues that will leave a
growing surplus each year in every
local grange and in the state grange
treasures, they will be at least prepar-
ing to do something for our agricul-
tural interests. 1t will not make much
show for several years, but as soon as
it is known that the oranges "have
money" they will become of more ac-
count, just as individuals do. And
when the state grange has fund in
vested that is match for that of the
state agricultural society, for instance
it can be made a force to be re-
spected. Numbers, money, and good
cause, are all that is needed for any or
ganization, honestly and carefully
managed, to possess all the iufluenc e
for good that it needs.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-07
The Fishing Rod.

A rod to the angler is what gun is
to the huntsman; or the axe to the
woodsman. The angler can fish with
q :pole" cut from the alders fringing
the stream; the huntsman can shoot
with the bow and flint-headed arrow,
used by the American aborigines. and
the woodsman can cut with the axe of
the "stone age;" but the success of
the user Of these primitive implements,
and the pleasure experienced in the
use thereof, will be in degree as far
from perfection as the rude tools en-
ployed.
Who invented, or first used the fish
ing rod is a problem not yet solved.
If the inventors name had been
handed down to posterity he would
have been sainted centuries ago by the
unanimous vote of respectable and
cultivated minority of men who have
treasured and welded this pleasure
giving scepter.
While fishing and fishers are often
mentioned in both sacred and profane
history of ancient days, there is little,
if anything, to be found relating to
rods. Even Izaak Walton writes but
little concerning them. In his fifth
day discourse with Venator, he gives
instructions for painting the rods:
(which must be in oil; you must
first make size of glue and water
boiled together until the glue be dis
solved and the size of lye color; then
strike your size upon the wood with a
bristle, OF brush OF pencil, while u
is hot. That being quite dry, take a
little white lead and little red lead
and little coal black so much as alto
gether will make an ash color; grind
these together with linseed oil; lot it
be thick; and lay it thin upon the rod
with brush or pencil; this will do for
any color to be upon the wood"
In the fourth day talk, in which he
treats of fly fishing, he says:
"First, let your rod be light and
very gentle; take the best to be in
two pieces"
While l am unable to give an au-
thority for it, have no doubt Walton
meant by the words "very gentle"
plant or timber. The first master of
the art thus, i'm one line, gives us the
three most important qualities of fly
rod American Angler.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-07

I get the oar out in time it would be
too long and unwieldy at close quar-
ters.
My only hope was to make for the
first practicable landing land there was
none nearer than the bathing place Of
the white elephants.
1t was my second race that day, and
the victory meant more than glory.
put forth all my remaining strength,
thinking with chsgrin how easily l
could leave the snake behind if we're
not SO utterly exhausted.
On, on, tirelessly follows the wrigg-
ling, hideous death, and see the hor-
rible head get nearer the stern. II
passes the stern-posts, and mark its
progress by the copper rivets in the
side of the boat. His nose is opposite
the first rivet, the second, the third; l
give mighty pull at the oars, and it
falls back behind the boat once more.
l hear the splashing Of water. /
glance up. am nearly opposite the
elephants bathing place. The old
white elephant is still in the water,
the attendant elephants by his side. /
must make turn to pass them and
reach the shore, and as l lose headway
in the turn the snake will overtake
me.
Something flashes past my eyes as
I pull hard on the left oar to make
the turn, and the snake disappears.
Tho head priest Of the temple stands
erect on his elephant.
AS my boat CRATES the shore, the
severed body of the karoo bokadam
and bamboo spear rise to the sur
face and float down the river.
One good turn deserves another.
and the white elephant priest had
saved my life.
The Siamese have curious method
of rewarding person who discovers
a wild white elephant OF saves the life
of one, and so was taken to the tenn
pie and my mouth and ears were filled
with gold. For the first time in my
life regretted that had small cars.
NOTE.-The karoo bokadam of
Siam is very thick-bodied snake,
some four feet long, covered with inn
bricated scales. 1t is of gray color
above and yellow beneath. Its head
is marked by maze of criss-crossed
lines that give it very strange and
terrible appearance st. Louis Re.
public.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-07
Frog Oil as an EmbrOcatiOn.

The colored people living i'll the
swamps Of Mississippi and Louisiana
make, in crude way, many strange
medicines for the diseases prevalent
in that malarial climate, but the one
in which they have most confidence is
frog oil.
AT this season of the year every
cabin is supplied with one or more
bottles of the oil, and it is freely used
for the chills and fevers that in
variably follow the receding waters
of the spring freshets. All the
"kids" who are too small to work in
the fields are kept basy catching
frogs. The oil is usuallR madA by
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-07
OMOOn. Don't Tell.

% moon, did you see
MY lover and me
In the valley beneath the sycamore tree!
Whatever befell,
% moonl don't tell:
sTwas nothing amiss, you know very WE'LL
% moonl you know,
Long years ago,
Won left the sky and descended below.
or summer night,
by your own sweet light
You met your Endymion on Patmos height
And then, O moon!
You gave him a boon
You wouldn't Pm sure, have granted at noon
twas nothing amiss,
Being only the bliss
OF giving-and taking-an innocent kiss. .
Some churlish lout
Who was spying about
Went of and babbled, and so 1t got out;
But for all the gold
The sea would hold,
b moon l wouldn't have gone and told.
Bo, moon. don't tell
Whatever befell
Mylovsr and me in the leafy dell.
He u honest and true,
And remember, too,
He only behaved like your lover and you.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-07
Difficult.

An aged Baptist elder, who was
noted for his intellectual vigor, was
coaversing one evening with num-
Der of the brethren when the subject
of old age was touched upon. One of
his friends ventured to ask if he
found that his increasing years had in
any way impaired his memory.
The good old man pondered for a
while, and then replied: "Well, l
cannot at the present moment remem-
Der anything that have ever forgot.
ten. p LHarper's Bazaar,
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-07

the old women and the black doctors
who practice mild form of Voudoo-
ism.
Frog oil is made by boiling frogs
and Jimson weeds together. The frogs
are taken alive and thrown into ket-
tie of boiling water and weed is
added from time to time as the cook
ing process goes on. Oil made from
dead frogs, they say, is of no value.
A fire made only of pine knots is
used to keep the kettle boiling. From
three to four dozen frogs are required
to make quart of oil. They are boiled
until they become shapeless mass of
flesh. which, with the exception of the
skins, is perfectly white. One or two
Jimson weeds, cut into small pieces,
are added. The juice of the weed has
an oily appearance and mingles with
the fat boiled out of the frogs.
When the boiling process is COM
pleted there is thick, greasy looking
mass in the kettle. 1t is allowed to
cool and is then carefully strained and
bottled. The oil is dark green in col
or. 1t is very thick and gives out an
offensive odor.
It is applied externally in most
cases, being rubbed freely on all parts
of the body, but sometimes the colored
patients take small doses of it inter-
nally for the racking pains in the
stomach which follow a prolonged at
tack of malarial fever and chile.
They say that it is an infallible
remedy for the malarial rheumatism
that often accompanies or follows the
terrible fevers. For this it is rubbed
freely on the affected joints morning
and night. The colored people say
that its effect is quicker and better
than rattlesnake oil, which is much
used in Arkansas by both colored peo-
pie and whites for all forms of rheu.
matism.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-07
Why Do We Worry2

Why do we worry about the nest?
We only stay for day,
Or month, or year. at the Lords bebest,
In this habitat of clay.
Why do we worry about the road,
With its hill, or deep ravine?
In a dismal path, or heavy load,
We are helped by hands unseen.
Why do we worry about the years
That our feet have not yet trodp
Who abors with courage and trust, nor
fears,
Has fellowship with God.
The best will come in the great "to be-"
1t is ours to serve and wait,
And the wonderful future we soon shall see,
For death is but the gate.
--[Sarah K. Bolton, in Far and Near.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-07

Bruins Winter Bed and Summer Bath.
The bear makes his bed for the
winter in number of different ways.
Sometimes he crawls down in a hole,
crevice or cave and snuggles Under
dead leaves and sticks. At other
times, when trees fall down and make
tangled masses, he crawls in the thick
est part. He has also been known to
gather great punches of laurel boughs
and pile them in heap; then climb
on top and sleep, letting the snow fall
right on him. When the bear is en-
gagged in making his couch he makes a
pile of brush six or eight feet in diam
eter and three or four feet high. He
will often strip young tree so bare
of leaf and branch that it looks like a
flagpole, with only small tassel on
top. In the summer he has private
bath. He goes to some swamp and
with his strong claws digs down into
the black mud until he has followed
out little place which soon filters full
of black ooze. Here the bear lies
and wallows through the dead heat of
a summers day in the forest, when
not leaf in the woods stirs and the
earth and the animals on it bake and
swelter. Beaten paths are generally
found TO lead to each one of these,
showing that the bear loves his Shiny
baths above all things.
He takes care of his claws in the
same manner ii which cat does
Scared trees can be found in the
wilds, showing that the bears stand on
their hind legs and claw down the
bark. In the spring ana early sum-
mer the bears live on roots and sprouts
and tender leaves, together with the
erubs and worms which they get by
turning over the stones i'll the valleys.
Boulders too heavy for a man to lift
are found rolled recklessly about by
bears in the pursuit of grubs. OF
course when bear finds bee tree
he is happy animal. In the late
summer and fall he resorts to the
berry patches and scrub oak ridges
and feasts on the berries and acorns.
But when he first comes out in the
spring he is very hungry and will eat
anything he can get. He will dine ON
dead horse, or will steal a pig from
pen or calf from a stable, but
when other food is plentiful the black
bear will never touch flesh. Hunger
will drive him to it, but of his own
free will he prefers diet OF vege'
tahle'A~-L New York Tribune.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-07

"N[rs. Chinner seems TO have very
pleasant time of it,"
"Pleasant time? Why, that WON.
ans life is one complete round of en-
joyment."
cit isp
"It is that. She belongs to seven
sewing circles. ."-[New York Press.
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-07
THE KAROO BOKADAMS.
BY W. A, CURTIS.

II A bronzed young missionary lately
returned from Siam told the following
etory:
twas q member of the boat crew
while at college and when 1 started
Tor Siam as missionary Immediately
after graduating, took with me the
single-rowing shell in which l had
done my individual training for the
crow.
4. The missionary station to which l
was assigned was in the large town
OF Ashenam on the Menam River,
some miles above Bangkok, the cap
Ital and chief city of the country.
The town was not at all important ex-
cept that there was a celebrated tenn
pie there in which were kept several
b1ctod while elephants. 1t was a
stronghold of heathendom, and the
little chapel of the missionary station
docking across the river at the huge
pagoda Of white elephants was quite
large enough for its humble congre-
CATION.
\ The river was nearly a half mile
wide and afforded fine opportunity
for exercise in my shell. Every after
noon at about four o'clock l took
!. row, and often hovered near the
: bank npon which the white elephant
| pagoda stood, watching the sacred
1 creatures as they took their daily bath
|. An the river. l never dared venture
;. very near, for the priests Of the pago-
lda bore no lsve toward the mission
aries and could easily do me some
! harm; they would justify themselves
20 the town authorities by saying that
they were preventing me from work.
Ing spells against the elephants.
;, As It was sacrilege for human be-
sing to mount the backs of the white
elephants each one was driven to the
~river between two common elephants.
VA sort Of collar went around the ele-
plants heck. To the sides of this
collar were fastened two chains, and
the other ends of these chains were
fastened to similar collars about the
necks Of the attendant elephants.
Priests at upon the backs of the COM
mon elephants, and by driving them
Forward or stopping them could lead
J. pr hold back the white elephant. The
|5phains were very long, in order to
&ive the white elephant plenty of
sf'reedom when taking his bath.
Y In general they walked between
= heir attendants docile enough, and
lhe drivers held the slack of the chains
,oiled in their laps.
Among the few European residents
Att the town was a young English mer-
hant who. having been member of
bS,he boat crew at Oxford, and owning
~ hs shell, felt bound to show England's
uperiority over the United States by
V'leating me in boat race on the
le1am.
Il 4 ~ Issued a challenge and / ac-
Y ~ Sr1ed. The appointed day came.
course was to be a two-rnile
mp river, starting two miles
= (bo missionary station.
~ ace was close one, but my
training told, and left my
N<3 behind several hundred
y " MsYarQ fore reaching the goal. But
'or tne nor of America, l wished to
, make defeat as severe as possible
p'and axed nothing of my efforts
pnd snof last the buoy far ahead of
~ Gnal Chman. Tho momen tum the
The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-07
HUMOROUS.
hestnut is the story that an.

hestnut" is the story that an
oonof Iellow tells.
The forger is not wholly bad. He
is ever ready to write wrong.
The sculptor is most likely Of al
men to cut figure in the world.
1t was the man who let his voice fall
who had cracked voice, we believe.
Generally speaking, when you think
you are in trouble the trouble is in
you.
Women make good light housekeep-
ers. They know when the buoys are
all right.
The matchmaking mamma is the
true help-mate of the man with the
redundancy Of daughters.
"The girl you were speaking to.
Jack, seemed rather cold to YOU"
eyes; she's an old fame"
.Last but not leased" said the land
lord dolefully, as he gazed on an
empty house he had on hand.
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime
If the public can but find us
Wasting breath and loads of time. !.
"Does Fangle. command the respeet
of the community2" eyes," replied
Cumso; sbut it doesn't obey"
II might be imagined from the way
the average truck horse spatters mud
that real estate is not expensive.
"Ah, am gaining ground rapidly"
as the man said when the dust storm
covered him with layer after layer.
Teacher-Who was it said property
is robbery Boy-I don't know.
suppose it was some fellow who hadn't
any.
1t is curious how woman who
screams at a mouse is not startled by
a millinery bill that makes q man
tremble.
Sometimes man earns the reputa-
ton of being "hard thinker" be-
cause of the evident difficulty with
which he thinks.
Those censurers of youth who say
Boys will not save must have forgot or
Failed to note the sparing way
That boys make use of soap and water.
'I don't need to praise my BUTTER"
said tho dealer. at speaks for
ITSELF" eyes" answered the GUS
toner. 'It uses strong language,
too"
The giraffe is timid animal. His
neck is SO long that when his heart
comes into his mouth it takes him
half day to get it back where it be-
longs.
The man who is suddenly thrown up
on the world finds it hard work to
support himself. This is especially
so of the aeronaut who falls out OF
his balloon.
Caller-Your next-door nsighbora
appear to be very quiet people. Mrs.
Spinks-Yes, the walls are very thin
and l s'pose the mean things keep
quiet to hear what we say.
1t is very trying to look through
your friends album under his super
intendencc. Ifyou laugh at picture
it is certain to be near relative and
if you praise a picture, ten chances to
one but it is your friends pet jeal-
OuSV.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-01

when II comes 10 a selection of late and
fashionable fall and winter neckwear.
The shades are as fixed a. the Paris or
London fashions each year, and are the
creations of La Chambre Syndicate des
FIeurs ct Plumes" One of the leading
effects, one that will make a hit every
where, Is the new two-color ground
weayes. These give 8 shimmering and
changeaoie effect tina. is very pretty.
Ihe grounds are Of two colors, divided
into scales like those on the fish. and are
worked in the following combinations:
black and griseid;s. black and bedoin,
black and criquet The combinations are
exqQlsltely blended, and over the grounds
the relief effects are broche. facome and
jacquard. The color Is worked in fine soft
SIX The new criquet 3 myrtle, is
gwen great prominence, II comes in diff.
ferent shades. ranging from the light
green seen on the salad leaf TO the darker
tone OF the champagne bottle. Glo-iana
Is accorded very prominent place IN the
new silks for neckwear This is a terra
Gotta shade. used in grounds AZ we'll as re-
lief effects In the former il is relieved by
black and white and contrasting colors.
Attila Is new prime shade, a dark rich
purple. the old reliable blue have come
out II al the old shades. with the addi-
ton OF az least one newcomer that prom
lses well. This is Ciochette, a foulard
blue, trif1e lighter than the famous Bond
Street. A new dark shade is called Bur-
gunde.
In effects there is an unmistakable ten
dency 10 break away from all the old ideas.
lhisis shown In the great prevalence Of
so-cailed "broken-up" designs. Shapes in
necKwear have not been shown vet, but it
9 predicted there will be little change.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-01

crop of the most luscious watermslons in
the country IS raised il Colorado, and the pro-
duct is OF such Importance that Watermelon day
is 3 special holiday all over the eastern portion
or the state; the governor usually attends thu
festivities at the watermelon growing center
and exeursionists attend in thousands This
year Colorado has produced :. 20o, Zoo quarts Of
straw berries.
The Maine law relating 20 boiler inspection
needs bracing up if ever a statute did. In that
state almost any body is called an engineer An
instance il recalled where the boiler Of large
factory was left to the care OF any one Of half 9
dozen persons, none of them having an engi.
neer's certificate. One of the men being near
sighted, thought he saw = startling rise in the
steam gauge, and fed precipitately TO the top OF
neig hooring hill 10 awais the expected crash
which never came. Another engineer is said
TO have removed the steam gauge altogether
aud when asked his reason for doing so, the
''genius" replied that he had the safety valve
to depend upon"
There were two weddings amid unusual sur
roundiags in Colorado q few dsys ago. The
second was an attempt 10 60 one better on the
first for novelty and romance. and ii wonld nos
be surprising II third should occur soon to
cap the climax The first couple were married
on the summit of Pixies peak. the idea. maybe
being TO get as near heaven as possible in the
biIssfui event, aud, perhaps. TO display an ardor
OF love that the climate above the snow Tins
could nos chill The second couple, George T.
Sehatz AMI Miss Emma Thonps cn. were mar
rled LAST week in the weird and beautiful bridal
chamber OF the Cave OF the Winds at MantoG.
The wedding party of the romantic pair, com
prisl the parson and number of friends, was
driven TO Williams canyon, and climbed tas
rocky trail into the cave where the ceremony
was performed