davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
THE GOTHAM JANITOR.
Supposed by Many to be the Long
Sought Missing Link.
his Like Cannot BE Found Outside of New
York-HOw He Lives, Tbrives and
Has His Being-The Aristo-
crat OF the Clan.
Especial New York Letter. i


A friend of mine, who had several
narrow escapes from being run over in
TIE streets OF New York, had Pc
culiar theory in regard to our local
Jehus. He was convinced that they
are descendants of the ancient Britons,
who were such terror with their war
chariots to the Roman infantry. Their
chariots were armed with scythe blades
at the axles, and the skill and ferocity
of the drivers who ran down the in
vaders is described by historians as
something wonderful.
Following the same line of argu-
ment, have a somewhat similar theory
in regard to the New York janitor.
Naturalists, by a careful study of the
relics of prehistoric man, are unable
to give an accurate description of our
ancestor before be emerged from the
caves. He was contemporaneouS with
the mammoth, the cave bear and other
antediluvian monsters. The cave man
was short of stature and very hairy.
He had only an inch or so of forehead,
and was apparently slight improve
ment on the gorilla. He, however, had
sufficient intelligence to make a fire.
He was ferocious, but cowardly, and
uttered some cultural sounds that had
resemblance to language.
The similarity of this pre-Adamite an
imal to the New York janitor, who
hibernates in the basement of a fat
house and builds the fire in the fur
mace, is SO striking that, in my mind,
there is no doubt we have in him a
surviving representative of the pre-
historic cave man. with some slight
mOdifica tiODs IF the ia0itOr is married
it is to female Jaberwock that resem-
bles somewhat Choctaw squaw, and
the peculiarities of the cave race of saw
ages are developed in the offspring to
startling degree. There are scientists
who maintain that the New York jan
itor is really the missing link.
The reason the New Yark fiat own
ers employ these creatures as janitors
is on account Of their cheapness. They
only receive a few dollars a month in
actual cash, but pay no rent for the
subterranean den in which they have
their 1airs. This is really short
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01

Of course, not all janitors are as low
in the scale of humanity as the one
have described, but even the next higher
grade are ferocious, and dangerous to
children. They, however, have an in
stinctive dread of the owner or agent
of the premises, who has power to turn
them out, and crouch on his approach.
The portraits of the New York jani-
tors which accompany this letter have
been drawn Intentionally fattering,
so as not to shock the reader.
There is another class of janitcr, who
receives large salary, and is in charge
of swell apartment houses, in which
the rent of a single fat is hundreds of
dollars a month. He wears uniform,
and, when it comes to hauteur, can
give points to an English admiral. It
would be presumptuous in a newspaper
to eriticise such q superior being, but a
few concluding remarks about New
York flats may not be devoid of in
terest.
Where there are children in a family
it is very difficult to obtain accommo-
dations in fashionable apartment
house, which is governed, in this par
ticular, by more exclusive rules than
the Kingdom of Heaven. I once asked
a real estate agent what he would do
in case there was an accession to a
married couple after they had taken
possession of one of his fats. He re-
piled, very seriously, that it would be
violation of the rules, and the guilty
parties would have to leave. Nothing
of that kind had ever occurred in his
experience, and hereafter he would
have clause covering such an emer-
gency incorporated in the lease. What
a time the late sultan of Zanzibar
would have had getting into New
York fat with his two hundred and
eighty-seven children!
The agent of a New York apartment
house, in addition to the terms of the
lease, has long list of rules, which
the tenant must observe. They are
very strict, and are supposed to cover
every possible delinquency on the part
of the tenant. Not long ago a tenant
was brought before a justice for cutting
janitor's ears and kicking him down
two flights Of stairs.
Don't you know said the judge,
with great severity, ''that you have no
right to do that?"
No, your honor, I did not. 1 sup
pose that if I have no right to kick
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01

THE NEW Y0EK-JANITOR RAMPANT.
sighted policy, as the tenants are con-
tinually on the move, that being cheap
er than to destroy the janitor, as there
is a law that forbids their eXtermina-
ton by severe penalties. This absurd
law, CHASING janitors with the human
species, was evidently gotten up in
the interest of the Astors and other
real estate monopolists who own large
numbers of fiat houses.
This explains why you see so many
furniture vans at all times in the
streets of New York. The tenants are
trying to better themselves. On the
1st of October and the 1st of May
moving is epidemic, and a foreigner
would suppose that the city is
about to be bombarded, and an order
for the removal of women and children
had been issued.
If you go to New York apartment
house with the intention of inspecting
the flats with view of renting one,
you will discover at the door bell
over which is the inscription "Janitor's
bell" If you have recently moved to
New York you will probably ring this
bell under the impression that by so
doing you will cause the modern cave
man to emerge from his den. This is q
common delusion with strangers in
Gotham. Not all the skill of the most
expert Swiss bell ringers will produce
the desired result. The janitor, like
most wild animals, prowls around at
night. He is, moreover, passionately
fond of any fluid that intoxicates, and
during the day ne lies in his den in a
stupor. In some instances he is credit
ed with sufficient intelligence to mufhe
the bell with old rags SO as to avoid be-
ing disturbed.
The only way to arouse him is to de-
scend to his underground retreat, and
pound on the door. If you are in luck
you will hear grunts, and somebody
moving about. If you continue pound
ing he will open the door, and emerge,
rubbing his eyes. Usually he wears a
very dirty shirt, but in many cases he
has on u low-necked undershirt, which
confirms the cave man theory by ex-
| posing the hair on the arms and neck
Although janitor's wives take in wash
ing, it does not, ike charity, begin at
home. Usually, the beard Of the jan
| itor furnishes presumptive evidence
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01

SIMPLE WAGON BRAKE.

it on with Put one-half-inch hard
wood washer behind the lever and one
in front of it. Put the chain on the
wooden lever as marked; put on the
iron lever ~, fasten the other end of
the chain on it, and raise it up until
the check blocks are just off the
wheels. then hook up your chain by
the open link until it is tight. Screw
the little piece of iron (S) on the
wooden lever with three-fourth-inch
screws; bolts would be better. The
iron lever goes on the rod across the
hounds, as usual except it is put up
side down, and underneath the axle.
When going with empty rack, the
wooden lever can be taken off and
bolted on to the wagon standard, as
shown by dotted lines.
It can also be used for wagon with
bed off or on, as with empty rack.-W.
S. Kline, in Farm and Fireside.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
FACTS FOR FARMERS.

EACH field is adapted to some special
crop. Study tie soil and the needs of
the crop.
SWEET potatoes contain large pro-
portion of sugar, and are more fatten-
ing than corn. The smallest sizes are
equal to the best for stock.
THE fruit market was not overstocked
with choice iruit this year, and good
prices We're obtained despite the dull
times and low wages.
IF not already done it is now time to
cut out all the old stalks among the
raspberries and blacl1berries Leave
out three or four of the strongest of
the new canes and treat the rest as
weeds.
THE seed corn for next year cannot
tEe too dry. Let the select ears remain
on the stalks until the leaves turn
yellow and the kernels are hard and
dry; then hang the ears up in a dry
place.
WHEN young and immature stock is
used for breeding purposes year after
year, and the older animals sold, there
is a liability of loss of stamina. The
best specimens are procured from ma
tured parents.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
FRUIT IN TRANSIT.
Modern Methods Have Eliminated All
Danger from Freezing.

A bulletin which has just been sent
out by Prof. Mark w. Harrington,
chief of the weather bureau, gives the
opinions gathered from many ship
pers of perishable products throughout
the country in relation to the proper
protection of fruits and vegetables
from heat and cold during transporta-
ton. These men generally concur in the
statement that the danger in transpor
tation from freezing has been elm
mated by modern methods. The So
called lined car, which has a partition
of tongued and grooved boards at the
sides and ends, placed SO as to leave
an air space of about four inches,
answers for spring and autumn and
during most winter weather, while
the Eastman heating car in extreme
weather has proved perfect protec-
ton. Perishable goods can be shipped
with safety in ordinary freight cars
when the outside temperature is TWEEN
ty degrees Fahrenheit, and in re-
frigerator cars when it is ten degrees.
Fruit wrapped in heavy brown paper
will endure fifteen degrees more cold
than if it is not SO wrapped. Damp
ness is very injurious, and products
which are shipped in a dry condition
can endure a much lower degree of
temperature without injury than I'M
der moist conditions. 1t should ALWAYS
be remembered that the kind OF pack
ing which keeps out the cold will keep
in the heat, so that there is often more
danger from heating by process of de
composition than from injury by the
cold. When a north wind is blowing
on the prairie, cars which contain
fruit are often covered with canvas on
the north side. Oranges that have
been frozen may be thawed without
injury by putting them in cold water
or in tight barrels Immediately after
arriving. allowing them to thaw out
gradually. These are some of the
points pick d almost at random from
what is altogether most instructive
circular.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
To Preserve the Pasture.

1t is difficult to maintain in vigorous
growth a pasture turf. Close cropping
in the dry, hot weather has something
TO do with this, as also has the crop
ping which many pastures get late in
the fall, which does not allow them
opportunity to cover the roots with an
aftermath that would protect these
roots from the cold and sudden changes
of winter. But it is evident that no
small part of this difficulty in main=
tanning a good turf on pasture lands
arises from the ill-trea tment many
pastures receive from the too early
turning of stock abroad upon them in
spring before the ground becomes we'll
YSettlad
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
THE FARMING WORLD.
CHicKENs AND GARDEN.

Both May Be Maintained Proiitabiy on
the same Premises.
It is out of season now to make
garden. but it is a good time, these
pleasant fall days, to put a chicken
proof fence around it.
The conflict between chickens and
garden is an old one, and one long
drawn out Some people regard the
two as inconsistent and will not at
tempt both They either have chick
ems and no garden, or else garden and
no chickens. Yet, it need not neceS-
sarily be SO. Both chickens and
garden may be maintained in a thriv-
ing condition on the same premises.
Only little judicious fencing is neces-
sary, that's all.
Now, let us tell you what we con-
slider the best garden fence to put up
where there are chickens about. Go
to work and set posts ten feet apart;
stretch smooth wire at the bottom.
as low down as possible; then stretch
a similar wire up just five feet from
the bottom one. Then get some good
two inch mesh wire poultry netting.
and stretch it around the Enclosure,
tacking it to each post, and tying it to
the two horizontal wires every six
ancheS or one 1901. Inc WIRE netIlnS
should be five feet wide, the same as
the two wires referred to.
This sort of a fence will keep the
chickens, both old and young, out of
the garden, for the chickens always
look up for something to afford foot
hold before flying fence, particular
1y so when flying into a place instead
of flying out. The wire netting
stretched on wires affords no induce
ments for flying, and so the fowl that
looks up to it for a foothold sees none
to speak of, and does not try the ex-
pertinent.
A fence of this sort and height
named would hardly answer to fence
or yard up poultry with, as the fowls
being in close place would naturally
make more effort to get out than they
would put forth to fly into a garden.
OF course, when put up high enough,
poultry netting is just the thing to
yard fowls with.
The posts to such fence should be
at least foot taller than the netting,
and pointed at the top so as to afford
no place for the chickens to alight in
4afety if they should try to fly the
fence.-Southern Cultivator.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
SIMPLE WAGON BRAKE.
Its Inventor Considers 1t Good and USE
full Continuance.

Its Inventor Considers 1t Good and USE
full Continuance.
I have made brake like the one IL
lustrated, and it is such a good thing
that I think it my duty to show it to
others. The iron pieces can be made
by any blacksmith The wooden
lever (2) should be made of some
tough wood, about three inches at the
thickest part, shaped down as shown,
to one and one-fourth inches thick.
The ratchet can be put on by means
of bolts, one at z and one at Y. which
holds the rack pieces together. The
chain should be ten or fifteen inches
long, with an open link to shorten
with if necessary. If you have not
chain suitable, you can use piece OF
wood by boring several holes SO as to
bring it to the right place. The hole
CID in the wooden lever should be
about ten or twelve inches from the
end (E). Use half-inch bolt to put
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
that at times he is addicted to eggs as
~, o,%ioIo Of dot

that at times he is addicted to eggs as
an article of diet.
You follow him with considerable APP
prehension, as his unsteady gait and
whisky-laden breath, that might wilt
weeds at forty yards, is far from reas-
surfing. Besides, he is in danger, or
rather you are in danger, of his falling
over on you. When you reach the
apartments he turns you loose, to use a
slang phrase. He washes his hands OF
you, metaphorically speaking. He new
er washes in any other sense of the
word. He will probably startle you by
hideous facial contortions, if the word
''facial'' really applies to his assort-
ment of features. He is merely yawn-
ing. Nobody who has seen q New York
janitor yawn will ever forget it. Like
visit to the chamber of horrors in the
Eden musee, you recall the hideous
nightmare in your dreams.
If you ask him questions in regard to
the accommodations he moves his head
from side to side, like a bear, and ut
tiers strange sounds, which means that
he does not know. With the more adj
vanced specimens, a small coin has been
known to develop brief CLEAN of al
most humanlilze intelligence which is,
however, of brief duration.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
A Small fortune i'm PouItry.

An acre of ground may yield by
poultry raising from one hundred to
two or three hundred dollars; but the
management has much to do with the
produce and the profits. A bright,
energetic man or woman can often
times bring about results that another
would say were impossible. a certain
Massachusetts farmer makes $4,000
per annum from poultry, because he
knows how to go about it. He makes
pit pay better than farming, and keeps
his hoclzs on the land that used to feed
Slis ca tile Burial World.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
KANSAS STATE NEWS.
"a Woman,s Kevenge.

While William Lacey was testifying
In court at Kansas City the other day
against his wife, from whom he was
seeking a divorce, the woman caused 3
sensation by suddenly springing from
her seat and declaring that Lacey was
the murderer of William NJ. Cummings,
the lola (Kan.) real estate man, who
was found dying in his office in the lat
ter place several months ago with his
head terribly mutilated, and which
had puzzled the authorities Suisse
quently Mrs. Lacey swore to warrant
charging her husband with the crime
and he was held to answer.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
Miss ingalls, Married.

Miss Ethel Ingalls,, eldest daughter
of ex-senator Ingalls,, was married at
Atchison on the oath to DIR. Edward G.
Blair. The ceremony took place in
Trinity church. DR.. Hopkins being the
officiating clergyman. The church'was
thronged with invited guests from all
parts of the country.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01

n. L. Hallowell, past grand chancel-
Tor of the Knights of Pythias, boarded
a train at Wichita the other day, and
just as the, train started he was taken
sick and going upon the platform for.
fresh air. became dizzy and fell off. In
doing so he caught the railing and was
dragged some distance. His right foot
was so badly crushed that amputation
was necessary.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
Fort Scott,s Mystery.

The other afternoon the body of a
young man was found hidden in the
weeds mile south of Fort Scott. He
had been shot by unknown parties He
was well dressed. He had apparently
been murdered at the fair grounds and
dragged to the point where found
There was no clew to his identity or
the murderer
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
Mayor of KinsIey MUIR

John T. Marsh, leading business
man and mayor of Kinsley, was held
up and shot by two bandits at o'clock
the other evening. He died next day.
Two young men who registered at a
hotel as Carl Sluter and William Dex-
ter, Kingfsher. Ok, did the shooting,
robbery clearly being their object. Re-
wards aggregating 100 are offered
for their arrest.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
Reduced Irrigation Rates.

All railroads reaching Hutchinson
have agreed upon one full open rate to
the state irrigation convention to be
held in that city November % apd "a.
George Q. Cannon, Of the Mormon
church.. Salt Lake City, has tele-
graphed that he will be present and
speak on the subject of irrigation: its
success in Utah and how it may be
made successful in Kansas.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
New q. A. r. Roster.

The new roster of the Kansas depart
ment of the G. A. R., now in the hands
of the printer, contains 500 pages, en-
bracing the names and post Office adj
dresses of all the members of the de-
partment. A part of the work will
also be devoted to the interest of thu
Woman's Relief Corps, Sons of Veter-
ans and other kindred organizations.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
Minor State News.

Burglars have of late committed
many depredations at Girard.
mad dog bit five people at Wichita
the other day before being killed.
An unknown maj was recently killed
by Missouri Pacific train near Leaven-
worth.
The eighth annual meeting of the
Kansas State Dairy association will be
held in Representative hall, Topeka. on
November 81, % and %
The twenty-sixth anniversary of the
A o. q. w. was celebrated at We'll
lington on the 25th. Twenty-Five lodges
were represented in the parade, which
numbered about 500 members.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
Fowl House

other side. The top of the nests slopes
TO keep the hens off and projects over
the front to keep the nest as dark in
side as possible. A narrow alighting
board is placed 'below the entrance,
while a door lets down in the rear,
10y which the eggs can be gathered
from the outside room. If the fowls
can be fed and watered through the
partition below this hinged door there
ixvill be very little need of entering the
poultry house at all, since the small
door that lets the fowls into their
yards can be opened and closed from
the outside room by cord and pulley
keeping the nests as dark as possible
.<vill prevent the hens from breaking
and eating their eggs. Farm and
Home
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
NESTS FOR THE HENS.

An Arrangement Possessing a Number OF
Advantages.
The cut shows a plan for nest ar
arrangement that possesses number of
advantages. A row of nests are made
along wall of the poultry house to
which access can be had upon the
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
Farmer Assassfnated.

James Herman, farmer living a few
miles west of Wichita, was fatally shot
the other night by a stranger. He got
out of bed and went to the well for a
drink, There he suddenly ran up
against man on horseback, who shot
him without a word. Herman, in Il
dying condition, dragged himself to
the house and the man escaped.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
No Jurisdiction.

Judge Hazen, of the Shawnee coun-
ty district court, has decided that the
courts had no jurisdiction in election
ballot cases, and that the decisions by
the board of review in the cases
of the disputed nominations of Cyrus
Corning's ticket, Jerry Simpson, and of
two candidates in the Twenty-third
judicial district, was final.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
Delinquent Flank Officer.

T. r. Hazard, president and owner
of the Sedgwicl1 City bank in Harvey
county, was arraigned in a Justices
court at Wichita the other morning on
a charge of forgery, and bound over for
appearance November 8. He was ar
rested in Plymouth, n. H., about three
weeks previous
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
Found Dead.

r. A. Wiswell, was found dead in his
room at a Kansas City hotel the other
morning. He had probably committed
suicide as an empty laudanum bottle
was on his pillow. Letters found on
his person showed that he was a mem
Der of the firm of Wiswell Bros. of
Olathe
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01
Bad Storm.

During late storm at Winfield J. P.
Baden's mill warehouse was demol-
ished and carried away and j. b.
Lynn's dry goods store was partially
unroofed. Other buildings lost roofs
or plate glass windows. The same
storm did much damage at Gueda
Springs.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-11-01

him, 1t would have been down in the
lease replied the tenant.
The judge. who was a tenant him
self, gave the accused wink of in
tense meaning, and told him that he
was discharged ALEX E. SWEET.