davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
MAKING RAG CARPET.
Durable Floor Coverings Which Cost But
Little Money.

Durable Floor Coverings Which Cost Bat
Little Money.
Making rag carpet is by no means .
romantic occupation, but It is, Just the
same, o very useful one, and, carried
to successful issue, provides the
house with articles that are In soma
respects quite as good, II not better.
than o reasonable amount Of money
could purchase. They are better, boz
cause one is not afraid to use them,
and economical, because they con-
sumo the bits and scraps that would
otherwise cumber the closets and tuck
away corners, and the carpet may I've
as pretty and tasteful rs the patience
and ingenuity of the maker may please.
Sometimes 1t Is worth while to dye
rags for rugs and carpets, but this ID
not always necessary. White and
light colors, contrary to well-accepted
theories, are much more desirable than
dark. They show soil less and lint not
at all, are more easily kept clean and
may be washed with perfect impunity.
TO make practical and simple rugs.
cut up cloth into half-ineh wide strips,
taking pains to make them as even az
possible. Sew them end to end strong
~, and with care make them smooth
and even as may be. Put all colora
separate, making ball Of each sort.
When this is done, begin by crochetinR
with a large hook either long strip or
circle, according to the shape of the
rug desired.
It is we'll to work back and forth
rather than round and round, as In the
latter case the rug is more likely to
curl up at the edges. Crochet one
color after another to make stripes,
and finish Oft with border Of some-
thing bright, red being the best
If carefully handled, strong and
durable floor coverings may be made
in this way. Silk can be cut or torn
into strips and wrought into curtains
or draperies OF various sorts, or very
pretty and delicate foot cushion cover
ings can be made In this way, or rugs
to spread over the couch or to cover
the feet when one sleeps.-N. Y.
Ledger
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
HOW TO MOUNT STAMPS.

The Hinge System IL the Best and the
Most Satisfactory.
Some years ago stamp collecting had
not reached the dignity which it has
now. Then it was looked upon as a
mere craze; now it is classed as pur-
suit with the search for rare old books
and pictures. It is something which is
especially interesting to boys and girls,
and, when 1t is conducted In q system
attic way, valuable results are obtained.
1t is true that Juvenile stamp collec-
tors may make mistakes In their work.
but experience is good teacher, and
they will soon learn to distinguish be-
tween the valuable and the worthless
Of those that pass through their hands.
The famous advice as to how to cook
a hare was, first to catch it; and SO it
may be said that, in stamp collecting.
one essential point is to secure stamps
that are perfect and keep them from
being damaged 1t seems an easy mat
ter, after having secured an album, to
stick the stamps into it; and yet much
depends on how this is done.
To begin with, any pieces Of paper
adhering to the backs Of tho stamps
must not be roughly torn off, but
should be carefully removed, and this
is best effected by floating them, face
upwards, In water, until the paper can
be easily peeled away from them.
Care should always be taken that the
face OF the stamp does not get wet, for,
although many kinds may DO plunged
into water without injury, some, such
as those of Russia, ere printed in ink
that will readily wash off.
When all pieces Of paper have been
removed and the stamps are quite dry
they are ready to be mounted In the
album, and tho best method Of doing
this is by what is known as the hinge
system Gig. u,
A strip of thin paper an inch
long and rather narrower than the
stamp, A, has Its length gummed to the
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
How to Take Care Of nlpss.

Don't wear your rings under gloves
unless you remember to have them
thoroughly examined twice year." Is
the advice given by jeweler. The
constant friction wears out the tiny
gold points that holds the stones in
place, and unless strict attention Is
paid to them they become loose in a
very short time. Small purses Of suede
leather are made on purpose for rings,
or any soft pouch of skin or channels
may be used to place the rings In when
desiring to carry them around with
one. They should never be put into
the ordinary pocketbook, as the rub
bling against coins is also bad for them.
Diamonds can be cleaned ut home to
look as we'll as when done by a jewcler
II only little trouble is taken. They
should be thoroughly cleaned in alcohol
and then dried In lockwood sawdust.
Pine sawdust is too oily for this pur-
nneA
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10

ern Lelle and provides far better use
for the mementoes of q seasons tri-
umphs than the careless tucking away
in boxes and out-of-the-way hooks.
Tais southern belle put together
German favor mantel in her own pri-
vate snuggery at summer resort, and
those who saw it began at once to
treasure up like baubles until the home
ward fitting, when they were to be
brought out and assigned q decorative
part.
This memory mantel alluded to bios
somed with Old Point Comfort and
White Sulphur Springs trophies. The
drapery which furnished the back
ground for the odd assortment was OF
snowflake Swiss, through which the
palest of water-greeu silk CLEANED and
glistened. The drapery arrangement
was exceedingly simple, being almost
foldless In order to show to the best
advantage the knick-knachs. The silk
lined Swiss was simply stretched from
corner to corner above the white
enameled mantel, and caught in the
center with two of the German favors
tiny bolting-cloth parasols, gauzy as
dragons wing, and Aecled with beach
Jewels, in the form of Old Point moon
stones.
Each corner was aflutter with gayly-
tinted ribbons tipped with silver bells.
Fantastic clown heads, satin slippers,
ivory wishbones, silver horseshoes,
sweetmeat baskets, jockey caps and
whips, banjos, mandolins and violins
in miniature, along with dozen other
fancies, dotted the crisp white drapery.
Around even the tiniest Of these favors
lowered pleasant memories of past gay
cites, and more than one bit Of senti-
ment was interviewer with the novel
tumble.
This was purely German favor
mantel. But tho notion could be car
ried out in half dozen different direc-
lions. A slucky" girl, one Of those al
ways stumbling over curiosities, like
Mrs. Whitney's Leslie Goldwaite,"
and which she wishes to handle in On
original manner, can build herself a
marine mantel. There would be the
lovely seaweeds which she has brought
home, In offtones Of green and brown
for festooned corners, and pinl1-lined
bits Of shell work 10 stud the drapery.
A vacation among the hills has yield
ed to more than one girlsSery delight
full possibilities for such mantel.
Somebody in an idle hour has carved
her birch-barlx canoe; some one else
brought an Offering Of lichens and
other forest treasures-baby pine
cones, big cones and birds nests; aud.
II she has a spice of barbarity In her
nature, she has even treasured up the
rattlesnakc's skin as o startling eye
opener.
The memory mantels offer pleasant
employment for a stormy winter day
In disposing Of the pretty souvenirs to
ones boxes and drawers, and the odd
decorative piece will furnish many q
merry little dish Of gossip for the fem
mime spirits who have the entree to the
favorite den.-Dorothy Maddox. In St.
Louis Republic.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10

In the western part of Massachusetts,
says the Churchman, Q fire recently de-
stroyed 9 fine barn on a stock farm
and a number of blooded horses and
cows persisted In the flames. Soon after
the fire the owner, walking over the
ruins, came upon an object which
touched him more than the sight OF
the charred bodies Of his horses and
Jerseys. There sat an old black hen.
He wondered that she did not move
her head to look at him as he came
near her, but he thought she must be
asleep. He poked her with his cane,
and to his surprise the wing which he
touched fell into ashes. Then he knew
that she had been burned to death.
But out from under her came faint
little peep, and, pushing her aside with
his cane, the man found ten live yell
low chickens. The hen had sacrificed
her own life to save them.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
Told BY the Teller.

I'm our bank, you know" said the
paying tellor, I'VE never allow any
cigarette smoking, and part Of my
business is to see that nobody comes
into the bank with one Of the vile
things burning. Well, the other MORN
ing young fellow came in with .
note he wanted certified. He was .
nice, country-looking sort of . boy,
and must have been new at his bust.
ness, as he wandered all around tho
bank before he struck my window.
But as soon as he came up TO me I
canght the smell of a cigarette. Some
body is smoking cigarette thought
to myself, and it must be that boy,
though l don't see one in his mouth. 4
So looked at him and said: Have
you cigaretter
"What, sir?' said the boy, rs eool
and fresh as May morning.
Have you cigarette?'
'And before could say another
word that kid made q grab in his
pocket, hauled out box and stuck
them In at my window with the remark:
Why, yes, cert'nly-help yourself2'
"Fresh? Well, I guess SON. Yl
Tribune
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
"oRANNY's POCKET"
That II tho Name Of tho Novelty Work
bag SO Popular just Now.


"Granny's pocket" as it is called, 10
being carried by all workers In needle-
craft, whether their vocation is the
darning of socks or the weaving Of
silken spider webs upon lustrous bits
Of satin or bloomy velvets.
The idea of this cleverly devised
workbag is borrowed from Partisan
bonbon bag which was presented, with
cargo of toothsome dainties, to
some fair one, who, after she had rifed
the pretty trifle of its sugary contents,
was supposed to wear 1t ut her side as
a receptacle for sewing materials.
Since the granny pocket has made
its debut upon this side of the water,
however, its duties have been slightly
altered. In selecting this novelty as
gift, the donor fits it out with needles,
gem Of thimble, the finest as well
Us the tiniest of scissors, along with
many more sewing necessities; and SO
the granny pocket, minus chocolates
and conserves, becomes altogether .
sewing pocket.
1t is sometimes a decided piece OF
luxury, made Of blossom strewn satin,
with silky lining, lacey cascades and
fluttering ribbons, but for those who
are seeking prcttiness and practically
1T low price, chintz, sateen or one OF
the gayly plaided ginghams is selected,
as 1t makes up very effectively.
The cut of the granny pocket is very
similar to that of a bib apron. The
lower part of the bag is given slight
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
A Girls Opinion Of Boys.

A little girl wrote the following COM
position: Boys are men that have not
got as big as their pnpas, and girls ore
young women that will be young ladies
by and by. Man was made before
woman. When God looked at Adam,
Hc said to Himself: Well, guess can
do better If try again. and then he
made Eve. God liked Eve SO much
better than Adam that there have been
moro women than men ever since.
Boys are trouble. They ore wearing
on everything but soap. If had my
way, half the boys in the world would
be little girls, and the rest would be
dolls. My papa is 30 nEe that I guess
he must have been little girl when
he was little boy.'-Arthur's Home
Mara z{ua
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10

latter, and the other half, g, folded
back and gummed to the album, thus
forming hinge.
The great advantage OF this method
Is that the stamps can be easily re-
moved from the album without the
slightest injury to the latter or to the
stamps; moreover, those collectors
who are interested in watermarlks can
easily examine them without detach-
ing the stamps,
Thin pieces OF paper for mounting in
this way, ready gummed and cut to
the proper size, may be obtained from
most of the large stamp dealers.
In Fig 2 is shown another method OF
mounting stamps which, II preferred,
may be adopted by those collectors
who do not take notice OF water
marks, and therefore have no necessity
for exsnining the backs OF their
stamps.
The strip OF paper In this case
may be narrower than whom used as o
hinge, but it should be rather longer.
The center, r, is gummed to the stamp
and the two ends, c c, to the album.
On no account ought valuable speci-
mems to be mounted by the rough and
clumsy method Of spreading gum over
the backs OF the stamps themselves;
tor, should their removal at any time
be necessary, 1t could not well be at
fected without damaging them or
leaving an ansightly mark IN the nl-
bum.
Whenever q chance may arise OF
making money by imposing on the un-
wary, there are always dishonest per
sons ready and willing to take advan-
tage of the opportunity which pre-
sents itself. Thus philately opened mp
q good field to the forgers, and conse-
aucntly numerous imitation stamps
have been issued and sold as genuine
ones; but let us hope that the trade car
ried on in these spurious articles is
not so flourishing now as formerly.
1t is impossible to lay down any hard
and fast rules for distinguishing the
forged stamps from tho genuine; but Il
tho collector carefully examines each
stamp that passes through his hands
and, when possible, compares doubtful
spccim ems with those he knows to be
geppine, he will gnin more practical
knowledge in the detection Of forgeries
than could DO conveyed to him In
volume OF printed !nstruqtt9ns. Colder
DAYS.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
"PooR RICHARDS ALMANAC
benjamin Franklin's First Introduction tC
Fame.

It was "Poor Richards Almanac"
which first made Franklin famous, and
1t was out of the mouth Of Poor Rich
ard that Franklin spoke most effect
lively to his fellow-countrymen. He
had noticed that the almanac was
often the only book in many houses,
and he therefore "filled all the little
spaces that. occurred between the re-
markable days in the calendar with
proverbial sentences, chiefly such as
inculcated industry and frugality as
the means of procuring wealth, and
thereby securing virtue; it being more
difficult for q man in want to act al.
ways honestly, as, to use here one of
those proverbs 1t is hard for an empty
sack to stand upright. BY these
pithy, pregnant sayings, carrying
their moral home, ft to be pondered
in the long winter evenings, Franklin
taught Americans to be thrifty, to be
forehanded, and to look for help only
from themselves. The rcst of the al
manac was also interesting. especially
the playful prefaces; for Franklin was
the first Of American humoritss, and to
this day he has not been surpassed in
his own line. The best of the proverbs
mot original, all Of them, but all sent
forth freshened and sharpened by
Franklins shrewd wit-he assembled
and formed into connected discourse,
prefixed to the almanac of 1857, as the
harangue of q wise old man to the peo-
Pile attending an auction" Thus COM
pacted, the scattered counsels sped up
and down the Atlantic coast, being
copied into all the newspapers. The
wise Speech of Father Abraham"
also travelled across the ocean and was
reprinted in England as broadside to
be stuck up in houses for daily guild
ance. 1t was twice translated into
French-being probably the first essay
by an American author which had a
circulation outside the domains of our
language. 1t has been issued since in
German, Spanish, Italian, Russian,
Dutch, Portuguese, Gaelic and Greek.
Without question it is what it has been
'the,most famous piece of liter.
AZURE the Colonies produced. "--Brande,
Matthews, in St Nicholas.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
Used the Wrong Word.

There was justice Of the peace in
southwestern town who was apt to
confuse long words IN a manner which
used to excite merriment In the court
room. On one occasion negro who
was notorious thief of live stock was
brought before this justice for trial,
and, in spite OF convincing proof
against him, pleaded mot guilty" He
added an asseveration OF his Innocence
on all previous occasions. "Come,
Ned" said the justice, shaking his
head gravely, at won't do for you to
deny II. You know you stole hogs up
in our neighborhood when you were
only boy, for. l was accessory to It'll"
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
UNCLE'S ANIMATED FISH.
He Tells the Boys and Girls How {
Mako One Like It.


Mako One Like It.
"To-night," said Uncle Ned, as the
children clamored for something
new," 81 will show you how to make Q
paper fish which, when you put it In
water, will swim away as though
alive. Cut out your Ash from piece
Of ordinary paper. Make it two
inches long and shape 1t after your
favorite fish, with fms and tail, SO that
1t will look natural In the water"
With pair of scissors and from q
piece OF paper he produced creditable
outline of fish.
Sand now" he continued, measure
off an inch from the head and right to
the center of the fish, then cut out q
hole, as you see me do, the size Of
small pea or goose shot. Then draw a
straight line from the center of the
tail to the hole, then with your scissors
cut along the line the whole distance
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10

Vaseline should never be put on the
face, as 1t will produce o growth Of
hair very quickly on tho smoothest
skin. II the hairs are very stiff and
coarse the electric needle may be nee
essary. But tho continued use of pun
ice stone and cream will give wonder.
full results II persevered In for o few
months,
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
70 Improve the Complexion.

To improve the complexion one
should keep the pores of the skin open.
Wash the face and ears with very hot
water and then put in sufficient cold
water to make it tepid for the body.
The face should be washed In hot water
1t least three times daily.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE REALLY HANDSOME LAD.

Near mo lives little fellow
Who has cheeks like roses red,
And his eyes are bright and sparkling.
And often hear 1t said:
What charming lad-so handsomeI
But never can agree
With the ones who sing his pratseas
For he Ia not fair to me.
Very lazy. very selfish.
Il this lad OF whom tell;
Hos determined not to study
Never has q lesson well;
How he hates to help his motheri
Not stick Of wood he'll bring
Till he's done deal OF grumbling,
And its 80 with verything.
II you saw his checks get crimson
With his anger, and . scowl
Make his pretty features. ugly,
And you were TO hear him growl
Whom he's hidden to do something,
You would quite agree with me,
That far. very far from being
A delightful lad Ia he
There's an old and truthful saying:
Handsome is that handsome docs;"
Many lad with plninest features
Has noble look to Us:
For we know him kind and helpful
And his smile con mako US glad,
And his plainness-we forget IT.
He's tho really handsome lad
--Eben E. Rexford, In Golden Days.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
WOMAN AND HOME.
THE MEMORY MANrEL.

How to Use All Kinds Of Souvenirs in
Decorating-Th Clever Ides Of Wide-
Awake Southern Belle-German Favors
and Other Trifes Employed to Good
Advantage.
What have the girls done with tho
German favors, dance programmes,
menu cards and other souvenirs Of
last seasons outing at seashore, lake
side and mountain resort?
Tho agency here concerning these
trophies Is from q wideawake south
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
THE DOUBLE POSTAL CARD.
An Explanation offered, But Accepted
With Reservation.


With Reservation.
A pretty woman and fine looking
man were seated together in the Cen
trail station the other afternoon. He
was going away and she had come
down to see him of. The doorman
called his train and he rose to go.
snow, JIM" she said, "you will be
sure to write to me the minute yor
get there, won't you?"
Certainly" said Jim.
"Be sure, now" she said again, as
he was about to pass out into the
train-shed. II shall be SO anxious I'M
til l hear that you got there SAFE
Jim arrived at his destination, which
was Detroit. He did what business he
had to do and then he went out to see
some OF his friends. He hadn't been
in the city long when he thought Of
his promise to his wife, and he took q
postal card out of his pocket and wrote
to her. He said that he had arrived
safely, was having a good time and all
that sort of thing, and told her when
to expect him home. He dropped the
card into mailbox and put himself in
the hands of his friends.
At the end of three days Jim returned
home. He went to the store and left
his grip and then he went home. His
wife met him at the door.
Hello" said Jim.
She said nothing.
SWELL, said Jim, as he took of his
overcoat, this isn't the kind Of greet.
ing expected"
Still his wife said nothing.
whats the matter?" inquired Jim,
anxiously.
His wife glared at him. 81 thought
You were going to write to me when
you got to Detroit?'
why" Jim replied, II did write to
you. l sent you q nice long message
on postal card. Didn't you get it,"
mice long message, was it?"
Certainly. wrote you just little
while after got there. Didn't any
come?'
20, yes" and there was dangerous
glitter in the wife's eyes. II got the
postal card all right"
Jim felt relieved. "Then what are
you kicking about?" he asked.
His wife took card out of her pocket
and held it towards him, address side
out WAS this the card?" she asked.
Jim looked at the writing. 1t was .
little straggly for him, but he recog-
nized it YES" he asserted, chats
the card"
What did you say?' inquired his
wife, still clutching the postal card.
Jim settled back in his chair and
thought hard. II said l had arrived
all right" he finally began, land that
| had met some of the boys and was
having good time. and that I was
coming home to-day and that you
should take good care of yourself and
the babies"
said all that, did you?' asked his
wife in cold, hard voice.
Certainly did. You've got the card
and can read it there, can't your
She looked hard ut the back Of the
card. Il don't see anything like that
here" she said, after studying It for .
moment
Quit your joking with me-" said
Jim, who was beginning to get bit
anxious, land let me see that card"
He grabbed 1t out of his wite's hand
and turned II over
There wasn't word Of writing ON
the back Of 1t!
''Now, there's . sample OF hard
luck" said Jim. when he was telling
nh A.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10

"Blow, ye Winds" the poet wrote;
And then he paused In doubt.
Alnsl he could not think OF ausht
For thcm to blow about
-Dufialo CouyieA
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
All Blanks.

Mrs Grymes-Marriage is, indeed, q
lottery.
Mrs. Grymcs-No, 1t amt. There
arc some few prizes In lottery
Halo
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10

Mrs. Riverside Park-So you are 70.
ing to leave?
Bridget Doolihan-Yes mum.
swell, am surprised, considering
that I've been doing more tnan half
of your work."
That's SO, mum, but yez don't do u
10 me satisfaction. Texas SiftinRs.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
Lays Thorn All Out,

Biniss-lhero goes q scientific boxer
Wipks-Ho looks more like IN under
talscr.
Iinlss-So he ls.-Tewn Topics.
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10

Little Ethel dess I'll marry Geor.
gle Sweet wen he grows up.
Mother--You like him, do you?
Little Ethel-N-o. not much; but he'o
JUS as fond of chocolates Us Am.-
Good News
The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-03-10
Unfnmiliarity Brccds Affection.
II believe in love Mt first sight"

"Why?"
because at the first sight you don't
really know the girl."-Chicago Rec
md