davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09
FEWER FARM FENCES.
How . Great Deal Of Labor and Expe
Mi1ht re Snved.

How . Great Deal Of Labor and Expense
Might he saved.
The old-fashioned zlgzag, or ''Vir.
ginia" rail. fences SO common forty
years ago are now seldom seen, and
perhaps are never built Stone walls
are cumbersome, often thrown down
by the frosts of winter and subsequent
thawing, and are not economical. ex-
cept on farms SO covered with stone
that it is of first importance to get rid
of them. Post and rail Or slat fences
are expensive. more so in the aggregate
than most people would suppose with
ont reflection on the subject Wire
fencing is probably as cheap and last
ing as any in use. There are serious
objections to barbed wire, and many
prefer the smooth wire. either straight
twisted or woven. But is it necessary
for farmers to build as many fences of
any kind as has been the custom in the
past? If the laws which most states
now have concerning cattle were re'
spected and enforced. farmers would
be relieved of the necessity of fencing
every foot Of their land bordering on
the public roads Nearly every farm
has fields that are never pastured. and,
it would seem, need not be inclosed.
The great burden upon farmers for
needless fencing is imposed not to keep
their own cattle in, but to keep other
peoples cattle out. I am pleased to
observe the tendency to build fewer
fences than formerly, not only to sub
divide farms, but especially along the
highways. II these are left unfenced
and rows of shade trees planted out on
the boundary lines. farmers will be
saved deal of labor and expense. and
the country roads be made more
enjoyable and attractive-S b Reach,
in N. Y. Tribune.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09
HOMEMADE POTATO PLANTER.

whenever desired The chain. which
can be taken up or let out at will.
pulls the shoe and also regulates
the depth of planting, as the far
ther back it comes until braces are ut
right angles with frame) the deeper it
will plant. The driver sits on the box,
which should hold at least one bushel
The box is raised above the axle, thus
allowing room for the drivers feet, and
makes it easier dropping. A board is
nailed in the box just above the hole,
thus causing the potatoes to work
down in front and not roll out behind.
The tube is made in two sections, work.
ing like q telescope in case the depth Is
changed; it can be made of stiff cloth
and laced together at the joint The
marker is adjustable and can be
changed to eitter side without getting
off.
The plan for getting the potatoes the
proper distance apart is quite simple
also A short piece of fence wire with
a ring bent on each end is bent down
over the rim Of the cog-wheel; bolt is
placed through the rings and between
two cogs, then the tap put on tight
The number of bolts needed will de-
pend upon the distance apart that you
wish to plant Now fasten spring on
the frame so that it will touch these
bolts, and the dropper is told just when
to drop.
Anyone who can handle tools fairly
well land every farmer ought to know
how to handle both blacksmith and
carpenter tools) can build this dropper.
It will not cost to exceed 81, and will
more than pay for itself in the cultiva-
ton of one crop on two acres properly
handled-J. n. Frye, Jr, in Ohio
Farmer
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09
Observation-Disclosures
POTATO PLANTER.
A Good One Constructed by . Bris
Young Ohio Farmer.

A Good One Constructed by . Bright
Young Ohio Farmer.
On my return home from the Ohio
state university (where, as all agricul-
tural students should. spent great
tory) purchased a secondhand set of
blacksmith tools and went to work on
rainy days repairing our farm tools.
Not feeling justified in buying potato
planter for the planting of six or eight
acres and being too lazy to carry a
load and drop, as heretofore, resolved
to construct planter of my own, the
cut being representation of the re-
suit
1t is very simple. and yet does its
work completely. 1t consists of . frame
supported on machine wheels. which
can be bought for price of old iron.
Wheels with a rim of cogs are preferred.
The shoe is made of quarter-inch
steel. eight inches wide at heel and
tapering off narrower. and is cut or
bent something the shape of corn
planter shoe or hoe. The rear should
be spread apart 1.-THE two being FIRST
riveted togetherl SO as to allow the po-
tato to pass through to the ground.
This shoe is supported by four braces
riveted to the shoe and bolted on oppo-
site sides of the frame, thus allowing it
to swing. One of the rear braces OK.
tends above the frame. thus making a
lever with which the dropper. who
sits at the rear, can raise the shoe
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09

unmistakably sound this time.
The sound was repeated. It could
mot be George. for the noise was
q the house. and he would have 10
Knock or ring and belet in by me. Re-
.;6es It was too early for him.
Could 1t be that Georges knock had
cnly Just aroused me, and that having
,nr and knocked and despaired ~
-.kine me, he had got in throngh !.
-;rdow? Or could it be the carc,aker
vho, believing the house empty, had
snrred an entrance? Thieves would not
I.s.r their visit to SO late an hour.
heard the sound once more. l cou,d
- make out what it was Some one
so-r.tairs was going from room To
w There was no attempt at CON.
Io,,,.nt no stealth. George INNS,
-. .ome an hour too SOON. and fo-.
..s.n where slept
sw,,e step began to ascend the stairs
-. a the point OF jumping ont Of
8 sreet George when heard !.
vhich turned me cold and held
s.ss Ny head fell back on the pil.
re nsn ascending the stairs had Mt
.a ! long groan!
an . free from supernatural fears
..t men, but, is any man alive free
- thems am not. Until thar
TO- thought was, but l ouaked
4 +..aabled on my bed. The cold
~ . sroke out on my forehead
".s - 1ssl ~ heart bsaA
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09

Tho door opened; long, skinny left
hand bearing light was thrust into
the room. A gaunt, white figure en-
tered. In tho right hand glittered 4
long, lean knife!
The figure raised the light high and
peered round the room.
The hair was gray. the beard was
gray and close clipped. When the in.
truder saw me he uttered . profound
groan of relief, turned round, and
locked the door.
could not lift limb l could not
more my head. l was fascinated,
basilisked, comatose.
He took the key out of the lock and
faced the bed once more. Without
moving from the door he stared long
with grim delight at me. Then, while
never removing his eyes from me, he
raised the candle to his lips and blew
out the light
We were in perfect darkness He
and were alone!
Long silence followed. Suddenly the
darkness of the room was pierced by a
wild burst Of demoniac laughter, shrill,
fierce, appalling.
My eyes were useless, as though al.
ready in the grave. Then heard from
some point close to the bed a low.
deep, cultural voice, whispering tri-
umpaantly. 1t said:
Il have found one here! I have
found one at last. have found sub
ject. This subject unfortunately is
living, but that can soon be rem
edied. Ono stab at the carotid and
the blemish of life will be removed.
Then we can see if always the thin
pink line between the fingers disap-
pears in death! Then we can see if the
aorta is always empty! Bah! Fools
that they were! They took away my
instruments from me and they locked
me up with lot of madmenl They
locked me up. DIR. Harry Cruden. the
greatest biologist of all the age. with
lot of driveling idiots! I, who first
among men held the fountain of life in
the palm of my hands"
The madman uttered these words in
a voice of hoarse rapture. As he spoke
my presence of mind came back. was
alone in the dark with an armed luna
tic, bent on killing me
l felt him approa aching the bed on tho
left Silently and cautiously moved
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09
REToRTS FROM THE GALLERY.

How sthe Gosss'' sometimes Punish Us-
fortun>te Player-Fo,k.
The stage has furnished many
amusing anecdotes, and has in may
instances served to bring out the latent
humor of the masses One OF these.
told of the actor Tailladc, illustrates
the aptness of the gallery god in the
hour of need.
II seems that Taillade was acting in
some forgotten piece with an abnor-
mslly ponderous actress. Nile Suzanne e
Lagris by name. whom he was supposed
in one of the scenes to carry of half
fainting on his back. But his arms
were too short to embrace the well-de-
velopcd figure of Mile Lagris, noting
which one of the gods" taking pity
ON the superhuman efforts of his favor
ite actor, shouted out: 'Make two
journeys of it!'
Another story which shows this same
aptitude has been told as having hap
pened in . concert hall not far from
London. An Incompetent vocalist hav-
ing endeavored to sing the song. For
goodness sake don't say 1 told you."
was promptly hit with . missile in the
shape Of small cabbage by one of the
audience in the gallery.
"Who threw that?" he howlcd. an
grily.
ut was mel" cried = voice in the gal
lery: but for goodness sake, don't say
told you.''
This brought down the house and the
singer retired, followed by a clap
ping of hands which his own merits
never could have evoked-N. Y. Jour
nal
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09
THE OLD HOUSE.


Soid and cheerless bare and bleak.
Inc old house fronts the shabby street
..no the dull windows eastward gaze.
,s uhear cohsebbed brows they raise.
M toou2h they looked to see
"0sA Ed become OF you and me.
And oil the other children,
Inc garden at the side-you know
" rcse mothers flowers used to grow
as run as wild as we'd have grown
= We mad not her training known.
.ne vines she bent still twinc each tree,
As cnng her prayers 10 you and me,
And all the other children.
over the caves wrinkled and bare
anc gray moss floats like tangled hair,
u We Rad heard these echoes flung
AyoSn the long halls when we were younx.
Med never scurried OF to bed
Aou ana a-thro' the gloom o'erhead
With all the other children
On our wide orbs the eyes OF night
Gazed softly with mesmeric light:
When mother bent above our bed
ine silver moonlight touched herhead,
Ahu In my dreams her face I'd see
"Soonna- like shine over me-
shine over oil her childreA
Inc dust drifts DER TIE gnrre: floor,
The little feet tread there no more;
But Ger the stage, still standing thera
The muse first stalked with tragic air,
And whispered low to you and me
~ golden days that were to be
For Us and all the children.
Good by, old house. Thy tattered cloak
rs iringed with moss and gray with smoke;
Within thy walls we used TO see
"A gaunt old wolf named Poverty;
Yet from thy raffers' dinzy bars,
a ladder stretched up to the stars
For us and all the children.
Grace DUNE Roe, in Chicago Post
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09

to the right side and slipped out from,
under the clothes ! drew away from
the bed until got my back against the
wall was new to the room. could
not lay my hand on the matches
pressed myself against the wall rs
If would drive my body through it.
had no thought of Agnes. no thought
Of succor. no thought of prayer ! had
only one idea in my soul-that could
feel the cold radiating from the point
Of his invisible knife against the great
fiery hot throbbing artery in my neck
That soul-quaking voice sounded
again in q whisper:
II blew out the light because could
not bear to watch the wretch die. But
now / cannot find him. I cannot see
his bloodless craven face. Science de-
mands victim. Let him die! Hah!"
Iheard . fierce heavy blow on the bed.
I heard the point of the knife strike
against the steel lath under the mat
tresS
All my faculties awoke, all my bodily
vigor returned. With shout flung
myself on the bed and grappled with
the man.
There had not been time for him to
withdraw the knife before ! reached
his wrist He was old and feeble
l broke his hand away from its grip
upon the haft of the knife, and draw
ing both his arms behind him, held
him prone, my knee upon his back.
So he and I remained until George
Thornhill came.
"He must have escaped from the pri-
vate lunatic asylum at the cas-. edge OF
the common" said George.
When the caretaker came we sent the
madman home. The poor creature had
. little after bedtime escaped from the
asylum in his night shirt and fright
ened the wits out of several people on
the common, about which he had been
wandering for hours before he got into
Ferndale house through q door which
had been left open by me in my ig-
norance Of the place. II is two years
since Agnes and I returned from our
honeymoon. Even still If awake in
the night and hear unusual sounds
cannot help recalling in a most un-
pleasant manner what awoke me on
nv marriage NOR ming.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09
Exper,,neuts with Glover.

The possibilities Of the clover plant.
IS told at various institutes last win
ter, have excited new interest for this
rival of timothy, and everywhere ques-
tions are asked and experiences with it
told. At nearly all OF the institutes In
eastern Pennsylvania there has come
the complaint from individuals that
clover will not grow for them. and Of
clcver-sick soils Abner Chaplin. Of
Chester county, tells such to grow field
peas or beans or some other of the
leeumes on the land that is wanted for
clover, and the bacteria will be lodged
in the soil by them and clover will do
we'll there afterward. Eight rowA.
twenty-five feet apart, cured his clover.
sick soil-Philadeiphia Ledger.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09
The Popularity Of Mutton.

II IS not altogether the cheapness OF
mutton that is leading people to use it
more freely. They have learned that
II is an excellent and healthful meat,
and the consumption of mutton in the
United States was six times as great In
1898 as it was in 1887. We are undoubt-
edly killing of sheep faster than their
natural increase. This must lead to
increasing scarcity of fat sheep for
mutton, snd higher prices for the mutt
ton when marketed. Sheep cannot be
increased very rapidly at the best, and
il our stock becomes depleted it takes
several years to build it up again
Rural World.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09
HORSES ARE NERVOUS.
Therefore They Should Ee Treated with
Considerable Consideration.

Therefore They Should Ise Treated Sttn
Considerable Consideration.
The great superiority of the horse to
all other dumb animals, according to
Mr.. II. c. Merwin, is the fineness of his
nervous system Almost all the fastest
horses. says the same writer, have been
remarkable for their nervous ''high
strung" constitutions Others have had
as good legs and as good lungs but
have lacked the necessary courage and
determination, the do or die" spirit,
which makes horse keep on after he
is tired. But this very nervousness rem
ders the horse the most irritable OF
creatures, the most easily worried and
distressed. Upon this point Mr.. Mer-
win makes some observations that are
worth reading by all who have or ex-
pect to have horses of their own.
Harsh treatment, though it stop
short of infiicting physical pain, keeps
a nervous horse in a state Of misery.
On the other hand, 1t is perfectly trne.
as a besotted but intelligent stable
keeper once observed to me: "A kind
word for a hoss is as good sometimes
as feed of oats"
A single blow may be enough to spoil
a racer. Daniel Lambert, founder OF
the Lambert branch of the Morgan
family, was thought as three-year-old
to be the fastest trotting stallion OF his
day. He was a very handsome. stylish.
intelligent horse and also extremely
sensitive.
His driver, Dan Mace. though one OF
the best reinsmen in America, once
made the mistake. through ill temper
or bad judgment, of giving Daniel
Lambert a severe cut with his whip.
and that single blow put an end to his
usefulness as a trotter. He became wild
and ungovernable in harness. and re-
mained SO for the rest of his life.
In dealing with horse, more than
with most animals, one ought to exer-
else patience. care. and, above oil, the
power Of sympathy, SO as to know II
possible the real motive Of his doing or
refusing to do this or that 10 acquire
such knowledge and to act upon 1t
when acquired is large part OF ths
ethics of housekeeping.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09
THE GRoTTo At LoUR0Es.

The Healing Waters to Which Thousands
Of Cripplcs Make Fl'grimaEes.
could hardly restrain my eagerness
to hasten my first glimpse of the grotto
which l was fast approaching. The
roadway grew narrower and narrower
as the frowning rocks approached the
river bank. Suddenly, on the moment
when it seemed as if continuance of
the path would bring us into the river,
the high rocks which had been so
threatening receded, and the path de-
bouched into an open space between
the river and the rocks, well shaded,
and large enough to contain many
thousands Yawning before us was
the famous grotto. It is deep. dark,
natural cave about one hundred and
fifty feet directly under the main altar
of the Basilica-
Thirty-five years ago, the story runs,
the little barefooted peasant child
crept trembling into the dreary cave in
search of fagots to warm her cheerless
home: last year over three hundred
thousand people of many countries and
climes followed in her footsteps The
roof and the sides of the cave are in
crusted with the SCOT of the many
candles which night and day burn be-
fore the little improvissd altar just in
side the grotto. As ! drew closer
saw suspended about the entrance to
the cave and standing about it hum
dreds and hundreds of crutches, sur
gical bandages and artificial supports,
left by those cripples who have bathed
in the waters and have arisen and
walked!
As my eyes again turned to the grotto
that yawned before me, l caught sight
Of still another grotto. and for q mo
ment was startled, for there see med
to be produced before me the scene of
the apparition; . little peasant girl,
shoeless and hatless was kneeling be-
fore the grotto counting her beads, and
IN q simple, childish treble was reciting
the chaplet of her faith.
As ! followed her steadfast 1axo.
which was not directed into the dark
ness of the grotto. but up the sheer per-
pendicular Of the cliff, l perceived, hid
den from the casual glance and plain
only to those who seek it, the image Of
Our Lady as she appear d to Berna-
aette. About her head are the words
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09
A FREQUENT MISTAKE.

Wneb0 y00 k101I30D S0CGGO0o IN EB0I0R 60Ds
psts6le.
Some hosts entertain their guests
with 50 much energy and are sd ex-
tremely conscientious about providing
smusements of various kinds that they
are completely worn out by the time
their friends leave They dread having
ee9yghy, because it implies to their
ml1d9 vast amount of fatigue an6
excrtion. Spch people have but on.
idea in regard to hospitality. namely
that it consists in killing the fatted
calf. which they proceed to do in every
sense. and with great thoroughnesa
Indeed, they offer up - n sort OF holo-
caust to the visitor the time. comfort
and convenience of the entire house,
hold, SO far - the individual members
of it will permit themselves TO be
tion Of hospitality and often proves -
burdensome to the guest a. to the host
Unless . person Is extremely unobserv-
ant or extremely selfish, it win make
him feel very uncomfortable 70 fnd
that every one else Is put about simply
for his convenience and the feeling of
unrest which pervadss the household
will communicate itself to him also.
A guest cannot feel ct home whers
every one il uncomfortable and al the
ordinary arrsngements ara turned
topsy turvey. II IN atmosphere OF
self-sacrifice hlls the sir the stranger
within the gates will inhale it, and he,
too. will be in the prevailing mood
Philadelphia TimeA
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09

my anxiety to be in time at the church
had aroused me.
I turned my eyes from side to side. 1t
was still quite dark Had there been
daylight in the window I should have
felt dismaved. January had only
just begun, and the ceremony was to
take place in Ferndale church at eight
O'Clock. If my windows were luminous
there would not be time to dress and
keep the most sacred tryst of all mans
Life.
As lay minute thinking I realized
the absurdity of supposing l could have
been disturbed by noise in the house.
At half past six, George Thornton. my
best man, was to come for me without
fail He had most faithfully promised
not to let me sleep it out If there had
been q noise it must be George knock
ing at the door, ior was alone in the
house. lit a match and looked at my
watch. 1t was only, five o'clock. That
settled the matter. There had been no
noise at the door, for of course George
could not make mistake of an hour.
Ferndale common is seven miles from
Charing Cross. Ferndale house. where
i lay. was to be the home Of Agnes and
myself when we came back from Italy.
1t stood alone on the edge of the COM
mon.
1t was by accident ] found myself
alone here this morning. I had taken
this house and furnished 1t, given up
my chambers in town, and intended
sleeping this night at the Dale hotel in
the main road. but the man had en-
gagged to act as caretaker during our
honeymoon failed to reach my place
the evening before, and rather than
leave the house unprotected decided to
pass the night in it myself.
A. l lay with an hour before me,
had nothing but the most delightful
thoughts to occupy my mind. After
the first uneasy feeling Of waking
suddenly I began to congratulate
myself on snatching from sleep
this chance for delightful reverie.
! was young, my health was pe--
feet, l had lately inherited q large
fortune from a distant relative, and
] was about 10 marry the girl had
loved for three years from whom had
been kept apart for want of means In
the heyday of youth we were going to
visit Italy. the land of dreams, Of beau
ty, poetry. whispered to myself:
''Only four days, and l shall be in
Venice with my darling and no care
for the future"
As my whisper died away on tho
black air / raised my head and listened;
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-06-09
AMERICAN MERLNO RAN.

more generally raised in the south aud
southwest than in other parts OF the
country. They were first imported
from Spain where they had been bred
for centuries and thus thoroughly
adapted to a warm. dry climate. The
distinguishing characteristics of the
breed are prominent in this individual
The short, strong neck, the deep chest,
the round barrel, the short back and
the strong, straight legs are all pres
ent. Merino wool is dark in color and
presents crimpy appearance. These
sheep produce it in considerable guam
tity and it is of the finest quality.