davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16
DESERTED EASTERN FARMS.
Nearly 1000 In Massachusetts, Alone, Du,
Chiefly tn n Desira for City Life.

Nearly 1000 in Massachusetts Alone, Due
Chiefly to q Desire for City Life.
Nine hundred and seventy-eight of
these abandoned or partially aban-
doned farms in Massachusetts were re-
ported to the state board of agricul-
ture in 1892, over three hundred in
New Hampshire and as many more in
Vermont and in Connecticut. In com
menting on this singular state Of af-
fairs the Massachusetts, bureau of sta
tistics of labor notes an increase in
this class of property in townships
where the value of the manufacturing
product predominates and a decrease
in those townships in which the agri-
cultural product exceeds in value that
of the factories. Touching the causes
Of this abandonment the report says:
There is a strange fascination in city
life which has always existed and
which leads many who are under its
spell to prefer poverty and privation in
the city to independence and comfort
in the country. This fascination is in
tensified by the undoubted benefits
which the modern city offers to those
within or near it. And yet it must be
admitted that the promise which leads
to the abandonment of country life is
frequently unfulflled. The movement
from the country toward the city may
affect, indeed has affected, the labor
market in two ways; it may lead to
dearth of agricultural labor in the de-
pleted districts, thus adding to the
burdens which in too many cases the
farmer already bears, and it may in
tensify the competition to which the
city laborer is subjected, both as to
employment and as to wages. This
competition reacts upon those who
come to the city for the purpose of inn
proving their fortunes, only to find the
opportunities open to them constantly
src--ing less. On the other hand, the
life of the farmer, Notwithstanding it's
burdens, was never So easy III many re-
spects as at present. The improve
ments due to modern invention nave
lightened farm labor, while the rail-
road. the telegraph and the press have
brought the most retired farms into
communication with the activities OF
the age. The farmer may not be able
to amass wealth, nor can the majority
Of those in cities hope to do so. He'is
generally sure Of a comfortable living
as the reward of his toll, and the con-
tingencies that affect his employment
are usually no greater than those af-
fecting employment in cities. If op-
portunities for large profits are not
open to him he is relieved from the
risk incidental to such opportunities.
That some of the burdens under which
he suffers might be and ought to be
removed is undeniable; but there are
those in the city, working for low
wages, liable to periodical employ
ment, to whom life on the abandoned
farm would offer an agreeable change;
only they must first be convinced that
such change is desirable.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16
LOST ATLANTIS NOT A MYTH.
Toronto Professor Believes It Was the
American Continent.

A Toronto Professor Believes It Was the
American Continent.
Ignatius Donnelly finds supporter
of his Atlantis theory. in 81, Daniel
Wilson, president of the University of
Toronto, VINO declares, after great
deal of search, that the lost Atlantis
was not myth, but that it was really
the continent of America. He accounts
for its disappe arance from view in IL
different way, but that is merely Incl
dental.
Donne1ly's theory, as summarized by
the Milwaukee Journal, was thatsthe
land was submerged by some great
volcanic upheaval, and that from those
who escaped in the continents of Eu-
rope and Asia came the tradition of the
deluge. Sir Daniel rejects this expla-
nation as being disproved by the fact
that there are no traces of such vol
canic action either on the continent or
in the ocean bed. He believes that the
ancient Egyptians. the most progress
sive and adventurous people Of ancient
times, discovered the continent, but
that in the decline both of their learn
ing and power it became lost to view
and existed at the time our knowledge
of Egypt begins merely as shadowy
tradition.
1t is his opinion that traces of the
Egyptians of those days are to be
sought in the ruined cities of Central
America, whose origin has never been
determined or even been madethe basis
of any reasonable theory. Such q dis
covery would furnish a substantial
basis for the legend of the lost Allan
tbs and the theory invests those won
derful ruins with a new interest fe-
the antiquarians. -
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16
A Giant Spear.

M. de Sarzac, who has been carrying
on excavations in Chaldea with the
permission of the Turkish government,
recently made an interesting discovery
in an ancient Assyrian royal palace. 1t
was the colossal head of an immense
lance, made of copper or bronze, four
teen cen timeters wide and eighty long,
with six holes to attach it to its ham
die. At the point of the spear-head is
engraved lion with its claws in the
position of attack. Below it is an in
scription which, however, gives no
clew to the former owner of the
weapon. Learned arch@ologists who
have examined the lance-head are OF
the opinion that it was once carried by
Isdubar, the Chaldean Hercules.
A Pretty Girl Station Agent.
Passengers over the Rumford Falls &
Buckfeld road always notice upon the
platform at East Peru plump and
pretty girl who wears the regalia of
the station agent. She wears cap
with gold lace and brass shield, and
on the shield is ''Station Agent This
is Miss Lille Howard, and she has had
charge of the station at East Peru for
some time. She is attentive to her
duties, the trainmen always have q
smile and pleasant word for her, and
many a drummer vainly attempts to
appropriate share of her smile as the
train whisks past. 'Tis needless to
comment on the neatness Of East
Peru's station,
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16
A TERROR TO BANKERS.
The Fraud Who Comes in the Guise
Humhle Honestv Ia Most Dreaded.

The Fraud Who Comes in the Guise Of
Humble Honesty Is Most Dreaded.
N. A. Painbolt, of Norfolk, Neb., who
was present at the worlds congress of
finance at Chicago, said to st. Louis
GlObe-DemOcrat: 81 am more fearful Of
the man who makes good appearance
than OF the other kind. Men who ex-
pect to deceive bankers understand
how much we have to depend upon
looks. They prepare themselves ac-
cordingly. If man comes to me wits
certain amount of timidity' and want
of confidence, l am more inclined to
take him at his word and give him
what he wants than if he is ready of
speech and entirely self-possessed. AS
for the theory that the confidence man
betrays himself by is manner / have
my doubts. 1t hasn't been my expert
ence with them. Dickens is considered
an authority on human nature. Dick
ems said something like this: The
general impression is that dishonest
man cannot look you in the face. Let
me disabuse your mind of that, for /
promise you a dishonest man can look
the day if there is anything to be
gained by it. My experience in the
banking business confirms that view
of it."
J. NJ Dinwiddie, of Cedar Rapids,
said: ''Let me add my experience. A
man came into my bank with check
for fifteen dollars-his wages as car
penter, he said. He was dressed like
a workingm an. He looked like one.
In every way he had the appearance OF
an honest man. l hadn't the least
doubt he was what he claimed to be
and cashed his check. He had forged
the signature. He cashed Six others
like it in our city that day. We got
him and / looked him over carefully,
but couldn't see anything about him
which conhicted with my first judg-
uent that he was an honest working
man. Even after he was in prison he
was just as honest looking as when he
came to the bank window"
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16
Brlttany,s Big Electric Light.

An electric light of forty million
candle power almost surpasses COM
prehension. Yet this great mass OF
light is to issue from a lighthouse
tower on Penmarch point on the coast
of Brittany. The beam will be seen
TWENTY-FIVE miles before it strikes the
horizon, and after that it will be re-
lected on the sky for distance OF
thirty-eight miles further. The largest
licht on the coast of the United States
can only be seen twenty-eight miles in
clear weather.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16

The Charleston News tells some mar
velous stories about the abundance OF
rice birds in the dikes and marshes
back OF that city. There are always
plenty of them for the sportsmen and
caterer at this season of the year, but
never before have they been seen in
such swarms, darkening the air as
they fit from place to place. They
have almost ceased. to be target for
shotguns, and are SO thick and close
together that they are caught with q
dip net like so many fish. One anna
teur marksman reports that with two
discharges of his shotgun he brought
down one hundred and eighty of the
birds. The News says: "The regular
way now, however, is to get boat
and dip net and go among the bitches
in the old rice fields and dip up the
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16
FUTURE OF ALUMINIUM.
Roofs for Houses and Hulls for Vessels
Sure to Be Made of 1t.

Roofs for Houses and IIulIs for Vessels
Sure to Be Made of 1t.
Aluminium, which itself possesses a
high degree of specific heat. does not
really absorb heat itself, and thus is
not liable to the chief objection to iron
buildings IN hot countries. But apart
from light decorative purposes, says
the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, such as
balconies, cupolas, finals and veran
das, it. is as roofing material that
aluminium should be most welcome to
the builder. In plates or scales. two
thirds lighter than copper, uncorroded
by air and undimmed even by the sui
phur of London smoke, it should make
a roof fit for a palace of romance.
The humber elements of health and
comfort in the house hardly less inn
portant than it's external defenses
against the weather-pipes, cisterns,
taps and cutters, now made of iron
which rusts, or lead which poisons-
would be more enduring and far more
healthy if made of this light and clean
ly metal, which might also take the
place of all water-holding vessels now
made of heavy, brittle earthenware or
painted tin. An aluminium bath is
among the probable luxuries of the
next century. But it is not-as a mere
accessory to comfort and convenience
that real development of the new
metal should lie. 1t is for use at sea
that it's most marked quality of light.
ness obviously fits it.
The marine engineer and the naval
architect, who are already looking in
this direction for reduction of the
weight which is inseparable from loss
of efficacy, whether in speed or cargo,
cannot neglect the possibilities OF
metal, which, when mixed in the pro-
portion of one to fifty, gives to alum
mum m-bronze a hardness and tough
ness which makes it almost as reliable
as steel, and which, If the proportions
could be reversed and the strength pre-
served, would reduce the weight of
ships and machinery alike by two
thirds. That is a problem which
awaits the metallurgist for solution.
The reduction in cost, judging by an
alogy, can only be a question OF time
and research.
The best steel now costs little more
than one-half penny per pound, while
aluminium is fifty times that price.
But aluminium exists in far greater
quantities than iron, is more widely
distributed, and neither the limits of
time nor the history of metallurgy for
bid US to conjecture that, as the world
has seen its age Of stone, its age of
bronze and it's age of iron, so it may
before long have embarked on a new
and even more prosperous age OF alum
inum
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16
THE OYSTERS ENEMY.
Great Destruction In the Delaware b
Beds by the " BOrer."

Great Destruction In the Delaware Bay
Beds by the "Borer.'
The "borer," pest about the size of
small strawberry, is working great
havoc among the oyster beds in Della
ware bay and tributary streams, says
the Philadelphia Ledger.
Capt. Moses Veale, of the oyster
schooner. White Lily, says that the de-
structive powers Of the "borer" have
beer known to oystermen only a few
years. He had followed oyster digging
for nearly thirty-five years, and the
first "borer" he saw was about ten
years ago, but their ravages in the oys-
ter beds were comparatively unnoticed
until last year.
Capt Veale said that "last year the
number { dead oysters with holes made
by bore IS in the shell became SO great
that '.ystermen were alarmed. This
year che work of the borers has become
grave matter, and if it continues
r-any bays will be depopulated Of oys-
ters. From one bed we dredged on this
trip we got twelve hundred baskets of
oysters, but out of these only two hum
dred were good, the dead oysters hav-
ing been killed by borers. peculiar
thing about the ravages of the 'borers'
is their apparent selection Of the best
oyster beds. We have found this to be
true several times this season. We
have found q bed Of small oysters al
most entirely free from 'borers.' This
bed will be separated from another
bed of larger oysters by two hundred
feet, but this latter bed will be SO badly
affected by the creatures that it will
hardly pay to work it.
"From what can learn from oyster
men the destruction wrought by borers
is much more severe in Delaware bay
than in other places
'sThe work of the borer this year
makes a double misfortune, for the
oyster beds were badly damaged by the
big storm in August and September.
Very few people who are not in the
oyster dredging business know any
thing of the methods of the borer.
When first took notice of its work 1
secured several oysters just after the
borer had fastened itself to the shell.
When the borer fastens itself it holds
on like a leech, and it is with difficulty
that it can be removed with the
fingers.
Sometimes the borer fastens itself
to the oyster shell Near the edge and
then the oyster is not killed. When
the hole of the borer is made near the
center of the shell the oyster is at
tackled in it's vital parts and dies in
three or four days after the hole is first
made"
Some of the bed-owners near Maurice
river have lost large sums of money
this year on account Of the borer. ALI
oystermen say there can be no way OF
taking away the borer without de-
stroying the oyster beds.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16

The KEYSTONE is the sole representative
OF the Great Upper Wood River, Sawtooth
and Smoky mining regions, and, located
as it is in the very heart OF the most prom
ising mining country on the face Of the
sent its readers complete synopsis of all
mining news and developments, as we'll as
matters OF local Importance in and about
ketchum, it is an invaluable guide for cap
ital and informant to the settler of every
craft and position. Subscribe for it, read
it, and let your friends read it,
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16

10 JOHN W. PLATT, his heirs or assigns
You are hereby notified that have ex-
pended the sum of five hundred (500) dol
lars in labor and improvements upon the
DEER Vk ALL lode mining claim,
situated on the Smoky divide, about TWEEN
ty-two miles from ketchum, in Warm
springs Greek mining district. Alturas
county, Idaho, as required by section 1924,
Revised Statutes of the United States. be-
ing the amount required to hold the same
I9r n the years ending December 81, 1887, to
december 81, 1891 that your proportion OF
ue same is $3.50, being one-halt; and If
within within ninety t9) days from the service OF
.his notice, or within ninety (9) days after
shis notice by publication you fail or re-
iuse to contribute your proportion of such
expenditure as co-owner, your interest IN
sad claim will become the property OF the
Undersigned under the provisions OF sad
Section 1924. FRANK J. LEMON.
Aetchum. Idaho, July %, 1892.
First publication July 30, 1892.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16

An English scientist is quoted as
authority for the statement that there
are five times as many species OF in
sects as there are species of all other
living things put together. The oak
tree alone supports $50 species OF in
sects, and 200 kinds make their home
in the pine. Forty years ago Hum
boldt estimated that the number of
species preserved in collections was be-
tween 150, 900 and 10, 900, but scientific
men now say that there must be more
than 100000, without taking into con-
sideration the parasite creatures. OF
the $4,000 species in Europe, however,
not more than $500 are obnoxious or
destructive. There are more than 100.-
600 kinds of beetles.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16
6agacity of Wild Fowl.

Wild geese and wild ducks show
knowledge as to the resistance OF the
atmosphere and sagacity in overcom-
ing it. When 1ocks Of them have TO
go long distances, they form triangle
to cleave the air more easily, and the
most courageous bird takes position at
the forward angle. AS this is q very
fatiguing post another bird ere long
takes the place of the exhausted lead
er. Thus they place their available
strength at the service Of the society
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16

birds. A gentleman went out q few
nights ago and returned with one
thousand, two hundred and thirty-six
birds. 1t required wagon and two
buckboards to carry them all home.
Quite considerable sum has been
realized by several parties who en-
barked in the rice-bird business. They
can be bought on the plantations for a
mere song, and when taken to the
town are sold for at least twenty-five
cents Dozen"
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16

cred himself too old to try the "cold
water proof process" had famous
swimmer train his son to perform mar
velous aquatic feats. In all the subse-
quent suits the father was represented
by the son, and as result was always
victorious!
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16

10 j. P. FULLY, his heirs and assigns:
You are hereby notified that l have ex-
pended the sum of one hundred (1OO) dol
iafs In labor and improvements upon the
YOUNG AMERICA
iode mining claim, situated in Little Smoky
ulstrict. Alturas county. State OF Idaho, IN
o!oer to hold said premises under the pro-.
visions ', of section 1924, Revised Statutes OF
lhe United States, being the amount re-
Huired to hold the same for the year end
ing December 81, 1892; that your proper
.ion OF the same is $40. being one-tenth; (;
anu II within ninety 900 days from the
service of this notice, or within ninety (9O)
fa! Hays after this notice by publication you
.aii 20 or refuse to contribute your proportion
ol such expenditure. including costs of
Pun pl'Girnllcatlon, your interest in said claim
s; Gala become the property of the UNDER
SSasned S9Sh under the provisions of said section
Io-4. JOHN GORMAN.
First publication, June II, 1893.
The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-12-16
stamese judicial Procedure.

German papers tell of queer method
of judicial procedure in parts OF the
kingdom of Siam. In the absence OF
trustworthy witnesses, the learned
Judge orders the two contestants to
dive in deep water. He who is able TO
remain below the surface the longer
time is the winner of the suit! The re-
port further declares that a particular
" ouarrelsome merchant, who consid-
Connecticut western news., 1893-07-13
A Meeting With Heine.

One day as left cafe of Paris with Dr. Heller of the French Academy of Medicine that gentleman said: "Wait minute. want you to meet the witti- est man in Europe" and then presented me to the gifted German writer and sa- tirist, Henri Heine.
 "Ah, dear poet" said the doctor, "you are all smiles this morning"
 ''It is for good reason, doctor. have just been calling on my uncle from Hamburg who is visiting Paris" re- piled Heine.
 'Your uncle, the rich banker?"
 Exactly"
 "Ah, then understand your cheerful air.''
 "Oh, it is not on account of the 1,000- franc note that that dear uncle slipped into my hand. No, do not think it. It is because of a remark he made to me, the true opinion of banker, Hebrew and German. After he had embraced me he said, Well, my dear nephew, you are as usual doing nothing in ParisY Pardon, dear uncle,' said I, I write books
 [" 50 1 was saying said my uncle; you are always doing nothing,'" and Heine burst into shouts of laughter as he repeated the words. Then he added, "And the drollest part of it is that my uncle is perfectly right. Nineteenth Century Memoirs"
Connecticut western news., 1893-07-13
women and Men and Umbrellas.

"Woman is said to be mans intellec- tual inferior" Fourth avenue umbrella dealer said recently, "but l have noticed that in regard to umbrellas and rainy weather women have ten times more sense than men. Men will not carry umbrellas until the rain is actually com ing down on them, and about ten men to one woman come in on rainy days and buy umbrellas This is also because women take better care of their umbrel- las than men do. Men lose them more frequently. To the average man an um- brella is only an umbrella, while to woman it is choice piece of personal property which cost good price and is cherished accordingly.
 "Of course the men who get caught down town in the rain generally buy cheap umbrellas. They carry them but short time and then lose them, so help ing our trade. One man in this city, a violinist, buys a new umbrella every month of his life. His limit in price is $1.50, and then he does not need to care whether he loses his umbrella or not. His head is so full of music that he can- not have any other responsibilities, so he buys cheap umbrella, expecting to re- place it within month. In the use and care of umbrellas women must be given precedence over the other sex."-Louis- vile Courier-J ournal.
Connecticut western news., 1893-07-13
A Woman Who Proved to Be of Value.


 Mrs. Laura Ormiston Chant, at the congress in Chicago, told an amusing in- cident illustrating the advantage there may sometimes be in having a woman serve on public boards. In England wo- men are often elected poor law guardi- ans. In one town the board of guardi- ans were highly conservative and were opposed to women on the board, one member objecting especially on the ground that women were incapable of dealing with accounts. Nevertheless a woman was elected, and they were ob- liged to serve with her. At the next meeting where accounts were to be sub mitted to the board the lady, in glanc- ing over the paper, said: Here is a charge of e4 ITS. Sd. (about $25) for soup tureen. What does that mean?'
 She had to explain to them that mo- body but millionaire would be likely to pay such price for soup tureen. The gentleman who had declared women unable to understand accounts said in much disgust, "How can you expect me to understand these housekeeping de- tails?' She answered quietly: II don't expect you to understand them. But since you do not, is it not worth while to have some one on the board who does?" It turned out that the guardians had been systematically overcharged for the household supplies furnished, and the ad- dition of that one little woman to the board stopped great leakage.