davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06
SMUGGLING ENCOURAGED.
Customs Onicials Who Are Too Lazy TO
Examine Travellers Trunks.

One of the most humorous phases of
passing through the customhouse is con-
nected with the fact that its officials
often seem To reserve their gravest dis
pleasure for the very honest people. A
writer in the OutlOOk says that she had
bought a dress pattern of loden, a sort
of wooden goods made only in the Ty-
rol, and packed it in the top of her
trunk for the inspection of the Italian
officials. One after another the trunks
were unlocked and closed again until
nothing was left but an unpretending
little straw one which had been over
looked
You have nothing in it-nothing,
signora?" asked the officer.
"Ye1, | have was my unexpected
reply. at is just here on top"
| opened the trunk and displayed my
uncut goods. The train whistied. OF
ficials grunted. people josted past Us
and glared at me. | knew he wanted
to say, why do you bother rue by de-
claring it?"
He wrenched the loden out of the
trunk and started toward an inner of
fee, bidding me follow. There | was
greeted by another. official in these
words spoken with excitement and
much gesticulation:
How is this? just now at the last
moment and the train ready to go. How
is this?"
One man was weighing the goods, an
other posing a pen in his hand, and
half dozen looking on.
''Why j. this?' repeated the chief Off
Ger. why do you declare this at the
very last moment?"
perhaps ii would have been better il
| had not declared it all, =" said in my
suavest tones.
But to come at the last moment"
Surely it is not for my pleasure Mr.
Officer, that you ransacked my trunks, u
| reminded him.
Then he looked at me with the air OF
childlike helplessness so characteristic
of Italians.
But there is no time now to look
over your other luggage and see what
else you have"
/ laughed.
Il put this on top and declared it." |
said. There is nothing else assure
you. But be tranquil; next time | pass
the frontier | will smuggle everything
and declare nothing. | promise never
to put you to SO much trouble again
A culver of smile crossed his lips,
but he growled:
But the train is waiting"
yes" | replied, and it must still
wait until you are pleased to return my
goods and allow me to relock my
trunk.
The end of it all was that | was bowed
out of the office after paying 81 duty on
81 piece of goods,
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06

passes along the road hundreds arr
killed. Small boys stand around waitin.
until lady walks into them uncon-
sciously, and then have lots of fun
hearing her scream.
John Livingston, living about nin'
miles northwest of jackson, had tw"
mich cows killed by lightning Thurs
day. They stood near a harbed wir'
fence about seventy rods from where
the lightning struck IA tree, and from
the tree the fluid followed the wire,
splitting every post from the poin.
where it struck for distance OF seventy
rods
Gen. Cochran's division of CoXey's
army near Qnlacy, are expected Al
iillsdale Saturday. The Hillsdale city
council on Thursday appointed twelve
special police and instructed the health
officers to keep the CoXeyites in quaran
line while there. A camp just south ~
the city has been selected for them, and
the city will furnish them with one
days rations of bread and meat.
A. G johnson gave an exhibition
with his fire eXtlnguisher AT Muir one
dav recently when the top of the ma
chine blew of and coming down struck
man on the top of the head, cutting a
deep cash. The Muir Tribune says the
accident was neither the fault of the
machine or Mr.. Johnson. The Portland
Observer suggests that it was the fault
of the man that-was foolish enough to
let himself be hit.
The following is the democratic state
ticket as put up at Grand Rapids on
Thursday of last week: Governor
Spencer O. Fisher; Lieutenant Govern
or-Mlton +. Jordan; Secretary OF
State-Lewis +. Ireland; State Treas.
urer-Otto Karste; Auditor General
Frank ii Gill; Attorney General
James O'Hara; Commissioner of Land
Oflice-Patrick Mulvaney; Superinted.
ent of Public Observation-Disclosures j.
jennings; Member of Board of Educa'
tion-Michael Deyereaux.
Peter and viii Coole, of Monroe
think it is better to have been born
lucky than rich. One day this week
they took drive and went over tho
Lake Shore track. The horse was moi
as fast as the engine that was headed
their way, and the usual result followed
Peter was thrown on the pilot of tn,
engine and William was thrown into
the ditch and their horses were knocked
down, but no harm was done except
that the whole party were severely
! bruised.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06
Open for Season 1891

On Monday May In the old reliable. Do
troit Grand Haven and Milwaukee R'y, will
issue It's summer time card, showing the fast
steamboat express trains. No. ii east aud No.
10 west, running through to Grand Hayer
connecting with its fine line of steamers foy-
Milwaukee and the North west. qhesa.
trains are run daily Sunday excepted and
have Wagner Parlor Buffet car attached
the charge being only % cents extra for any.
distance. Fine lunches and refiesnment.s,
are served at reasonable prices. The Good
rich line OF steamers now leave Muskegop az,
6:30 p. IN. and Grand Haven 500 .. m, for
chicago daily Except Saturday, arriving a.
chicago about 600 a. IN. Supper is served
on the Goodrich steamers Berths 20 Nil
waukee or Chicago are free to passengerh.
holding tirst-class tickets. For those going
west or northwest these are the hanneyl
summer rOutes-yoC avoid the heat and dus.
of long rail journey and enjoy cool night'a
rest on these palatial steamers. Fares are
always as low and in most instances lower
than by all rail lines. Further information,
may be obtained by addressing any of this
agents Of these companies. 620tf-p3
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06
he MASTERED THEIR MlRTH.
How Mr.. Kenial saved Pathetic Situa-
ton from Becoming FarciCaI.

The self-control and ready wit of Mr.
Kendall, the actor, prevented one of the
most affecting situations in The IRON
master, in the Harlem opera house
from degenerating into a broad bur-
lesque. says the \. Y. Heraid.
1t was during the first scene of the
final act. Philippe Derbcy, seated in
his study in the early morning hours
has just finished the sealing of his last
will and testament preparatory to fight
ing a duel with the Due de Bligny. His
old family lawyer, who is his sole com
panion during the midnight vigil, adj
yances toward him and says with much
feeling:
I'm only a crusty old lawyer, whose
emotions have long been buried under
legal formulas and documents, but deep
down in my breast, under all the musty
old parchments, have n heart, and to-
night it is aching for you
The audience was very quiet Only
here and there half suppressed SWIVEL
betrayed the emotion of some feminine
theater goer not yet thoroughly blase to
stage influences. Then from away up
in the darkened tiers of the upper gal
lery came the long drawn infantile wall
of very young baby. The mother
had brought the child to the theater, and
it had slept peacefully all through the
earlier acts of the drama, only 10 awake
and register its stout lungcd protest
during one of the most ton-ning situa-
tons Of the play. -.
The transformation was complete.
al Of "a .
broken by litter of merriment, that
soon grew into a general guffaw, while
the waiing infant struck still higher
key and continued TO wall.
Had Philippe Derbley or his old fam
lily barrister permitted the slightest up
ward curl of the corners of their lips at
that critical moment the audience would
have been ,hopeiessly disilusionized for
the rest of the night. But the Ironmas-
ter was equal to the emergency. In
stead of taking up his cue directly. he
bent his head toward the old lawyer
with face so serious that the laughter
was half checked already. Then he
grasped the hands of the old man. fold
ING him in tender, but manly embrace.
Neither spoke for fully foIty-fye Sec
onds. but it was all SO natural that ut
the end of that time there was not a sus-
picion of merriment left. The actor
had regained control without speaking
word. Again he had his audience
firmly in hand.
Meantime the baby whose nap had
been disturbed had been carried out by
its indignant mother. Then came the
dramatic interview between Derbley
and his estranged wife, and at the close
of the scene Mr.. Kendall was given one
of the most enthusiastic curtain calls of
his entire engagement.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06
Japanese Gardens.

During a great part of the year the
gardens of tea-houses and temples have
but few booms-they are only an ar
rangement of greens and grays but in
the spring no amount of clipping and
training can prevent the shrubs from
b.ossoming. The cherry-trecs and mag
no,ias are let grow as they choose. but
the others are trimmed into more or
less formal shapes, considered suitable
to the species or helping the carefully
studied arrangement of forms, which is
the ideal of "A japanese gardener. There
are no beds for flowers In the little
ponds the irises and the lotus bloom
and in odd corners there may be clumps
of lilies, hrysanthemums, or other
plants but these are mere accidents; the
designers aim is n composition of rocks,
shrubs, stone lanterns, ponds, and
bridges. which will look the same in its
general features all the year around and
conform to established rules. One of my
japanese friends tod me, as an instance
of the cOmpleXity of the landscape gar
dener's art. that if certain shrub were
used it would he necessary to place near
it stone from Tosa the distant prov
ince where it commonly grows. The
decorative garden is quite distinct from
the flower garden, where the fine va
rieties of iris, pHony, and chrysan-
themum, for which Japan is famous,
are grown lay professional florists, or
by rich amateurs who can devote "A
special place to their culture. -Harper's
.M0G0ztRc.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06
TERRIBLE EXPLOSIONS
Too High Pressure.

In these DAYS Of keen competition in every
line, when the business man is compelled to-
bend his intellect and every energy to the:
success of his business the clerk book
keeper, professional man and laborer, &c,
drive themselves at terrific rate, there can
be but one result-an explosion, which, il
not resulting in immediate death, leaves
them with shattered brains and bodies.
They are running at too high pressure
The strain is too great. Something must
and does give way. This is equally true Of
women. Though their sphere is more
limited, they have their daily burdens frets,,
and worries, and the results are the same an
with their stronger companions.
This condition is growing worse every
day. The rapidty of its increase is awfuL
to contemplate. Our homes, hospitals, and
insane asyums are full Of these unfortunates,
and are being crowded still further. There
is but one solution of the matter. Recoe-
nize the importance of the situation at once.
and take the necessary measures to over
come it. If you have failing memory, hos
flashes dizziness, nervous or sick headache,
bliousness, irritability, melancholy, sleep
lessness, fainting, nervous dyspepsia, cpl
Il ku1r that any one of them is bus
a symptom of the calamity that may befsn
Won, and even though you have used So
called remedies and treated with reputablss
physicians with little or no benefit, give DR.
Miles Restorative Nervine a trial. Ii is
IT, olly remedy that may be depended
upon for nervous disorders.
" Two years ago used Dr Miles Restorative
Servine with merked iersft, and later induced
nv son, who had been sick with catarrh of tho
bladder FIVE years I'm the hands of our best ply
sicians to try IL together with DR. Miles Nerve
and Liver Pills He was wonderfully bert ted
that he L. attending 10 business again. Ny wife
also used Nervine with most excellent results
Al of us together have not used more than six
bottles Of Nervine Several Of our friends have
iso used it, and are greatly improved. '-Loufs
Gibbs. Bucher a. Gibbs Pillow Co, Canton Ohio.
Or Miles Restorative Nervirc 10 9i by alf
druggists on q positive guarantee q e1t by Dr.
Miles Medical Co. Elkhart, I'D " n OF
price 81 per bottle. six bottles, s. expo peic-
n il positively free from opiates OF o. ,sroua
drugs. Free book at druggists, or by mail.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06
The Same Repairs Every Year.

The supervisors of roads for the va
rious townships in Center county, Pa. +,
have adopted new methods for the re-
pair Of roads. An examination of the
township books shows that for many
years the same expense has been re-
quired year after year 70 repair the
damage done by floods that are per-
mitted to wash away the material put
on the roads the previous years. AT
present no one is responsible for repair
ing any slight damage that may need
attention, and as result the improve
ment of the public thoroughfares re-
quires annually an excessive sum of
money, due entirely to negligence. The
supervisors, in order TO insure daily
supervision Of the roads, have decided
60 hire men to work on the roads regu-
larly during the spring, summer and
autumn months. Their respective town
ships will be divided into districts, and
man to whom the contract of road re-
pairs is awarded will be responsible
for the care of the roads in his district
and liable to any damages resulting
from the bad condition of the same. -
Philadelphia Press
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06
About Capons.

AS reported from the Oregon sta
ton, the Light Brahmas or the Plym-
outh Rocks make 10y far the best capons.
The black Langshans are excellent Also
albeit they are very slow growers. Par
fridge Cochins are highly spoken of.
The Indian Games make fine capons as
well as crosses of this species on other
large breeds. a turkey was caponized
here the last season, but the results are
not definite enough to warrant report
yet
AS TO age, many caponiZe as soon as
they can distinguish the sex Of the chick.
The important point is not towait until
the glands are large and the ribs become
stiff and unyielding
As TO the best age for killing capons
opinions seem TO differ. One authority
says, "Capons should be kept until two
years old. Another, Mr. Cushman of
the Rhode Island experiment station,
says, "Capons killed at II months of
age are preferred, as they get coarse
and 'soggy' if kept until IL months OF
longer" In spite of this last assertion
it has been found at the Oregon station
that capons are in good condition at IL
and 10 months and they certainly gain
after ~ months. AS far as experience
goes there, il is advised keeping them
at least - or IA months from date of
Matching
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06

an Broadway the other day." said a
stroller, Il saw two young men walk
ing together and talking earnestly; one
OF them was smoking. The smoker
was the more earnest Of the two.
Pretty soon he looked at his cigar,
which was about two-thirds smoked
up, and lighted fresh one. Instantly
he went ON talking. Pooh! he began,
and in his animation, instead of throw
Ing the discarded cigar into the street.
he tossed it in the air. 1t was caught
rs it came down by II tramp, who was
walking behind him. and who, betray-
ing no surprise whatever, went right
on smoking it as though it had been his
OWN \. Sun.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06
How Bridget Prepared Crabs.

Bridget. her Harlem mistress always
said was willing" but she did MOI I'M
derstand American cookery.
Her mistress sent home half dozen
live hard shell crabs one day and had
left word that they were to be prepared
for dinner. When the lady entered the
kitchen on her return home she found
Bridget in tears and with her hands and
arms tied up. Two empty green crab
shells were on the table. three of the
crabs were mutilated and dead and the
last one Bridget was preparing to at
tack.
1--WE downed them ALL" explained
Bridget, but that last devil in the COR
ner. and he's fighter
what are you doing to them?" gasp
ed the mistress.
Cleaning them. ma'am. There's
two of them cleaned" pointing TO the
empty shells.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06
Agricultural News and Notes.

1t is fact well established that, even
if no diseases whatever appear, spraying
with the bordeaux mixture will increase
the yield of potatoes TO such an extent
as to make the work profitable.
According to the figures Of the depart
ment of agriculture, there is a light
stock Of hogs i'll the country being the
smallest for six years, although they
are in better health than usual.
A new agricultural machine is grain
evener for harvesters, an attachment
which may be placed upon the platform
Of any self binder, to bring the straws Of
grain evenly 10 the entrance of the ele
vator
The wheat crop of the world has not
increased materially in IL years Thus
in , 1852 the total for the world was
2,270. 9S2, 4S5 bushels and for 1898
2,2S4, 900, 5s7 bushels The largest
world : crop III this ~ years was 2, $780,,
COZ, 500 bushels III 1892, and the small
est was 2, 0G3, 775, 592 bushels in 1888
Under the contract awarded, the Hi
nois state fair exposition building Is
TO be completed by Sept. | of this year
Secretary Gerard says all persons con-
templating making an exhibit therein
should notify him at once, stating the
character Of the exhibit and the amount
of space required. The cost of the build
ing will be 500 900, and ii will be one of
the finest buildings in the state.
A novelty among vegetables is the
chorogi, small perennial plant of the
mint family, the value of which lies in
the great number Of crisp white tubers
of small size which it produces just un-
der the ground The tubers can be
cooked in IA great variety of ways, or
they may DC eaten raw.
Field and Farm advises far western
farmers TO 90 slow OH spurry. Any old
time farmer who raised flax for the lint
90 years ago can tell you that IL was a
pestilont weed of no value, the seed be-
ing very common among faxseed.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06
How He Works Out His Road Tax.

The road hand arrives at the appoint
ed place, where the road work is to be-
the morning. He is equipped with an
apology for a wedding hoe perhaps,
which he uses vigorously for few min
utes, pulling loose earth out of the
bitches and placing it upon the road, to
be speedily carried back by the next
rain. He then rests two or three times
as long as he has worked, discussing
public and other questions, takes two
hours at noon and goes home early in
the afternoon, having done about three
or four hours work during the whole
day. Professor o. II. Sheffield.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06

measurements we indicate the center
line by driving row Of spikes or iron
bolts about 20 feet apart. The distance
apart of these bolts had better be uni
form, so that they can be easily found
by measuring from one to another. The
spikes or bolts should be driven down a
little below the surface, SO as to avoid
the chance of stumbling by horses. AS
the work progresses we can set up wood
Ell stakes for temporary use at the points
where these irons are driven in the
ground. We now lay off the width Of
the macadam roadway proper by meas
uring half this width from the center
stakes or bolts in each direction toward
the sides and drive line of side stakes,
say % feet apart, along on either side of
the proposed macadam roadway. These
two lines will fix the outer sides of the
excavation.
The depth of the excavation will de-
pend, of course, on the thickness of the
macadam material to be used. If this
thickness is to be six inches, and if well
constructed this will be sufficient for all
ordinary country roads, the excavation
should be six inches deep below the
grade line Of the finished surface. This
rule is not absolute, but is sufficiently
accurate for all ordinary purposes. If
the ground is moderately firm, the sides
Of the excavation should be nearly per-
pendicular, and the bottom Of the exca-
walton should have a slight downward
slope from center TO sides, corresponding
in some degree with the slope OF the fin
ished roadway. This will be about one
half inch fall TO each foot in width of
the roadway. If the earth is of a soft,
sandy, yielding nature the broken stone
of the macadam roadway will be easily
ground off at the edge of the excavation
and pressed into the soft earth by the
wheels Of passing wagons, and TO pre-
vent this it will be best TO eXcavate
along the outer edge TO somewhat
greater depth than six inches, and in
this manner form shallow trench in
which can be placed line of field stone
or powders to sustain the road metal III
place and prevent its becoming pressed
into the earth at the roadside i. b.
Potter in Good Roads
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06
WARFARE ON GRASsHOPPERs.
Th~ Homemade Hopper Doser the Best For
Kidding the Pest In Open Fields.

There arc as many ways 10 extermlnate
the grasshopper as there are species Of
the insect, and while some methods are
more effectual than others each helps TO
get rid Of the pests and may be en-
ployed with profit The pouring Of oil
into irrigation bitches is sure death TO
the hoppers with which il comes in con-
tact, but unless large quantities Of oil
are used the ground will not be properly
covered, and, on the other hand, If this
We're done, the crops would be severely
injured.
A remedy that has been very success
full in destroying locusts consists of
certain mixture of bran, arsenic, sugar
and water These have been used in
different proportions, but the one that
appears TO have given the best results,
according to Field and Farm, authority
for the following, consists of | part,
by weight, Of arsenic, Of sugar and g Of
bran, TO which is added a sufficient
quantity of water TO make q mash. A
tablespoonful Of this mash should be
placed at the roots of trees, shrubs or
plants infested. This stuff has worked
effectually for five to six days after it
has been set out.
OF the many traps and contrivances
there is none better than the plain home
made hopper dosor for Kidding the pest
in open fields. 1t consists of two board
runners of any desired length made aft
er the style Of an old fashioned bob sled.
The machine may be Of any width, and
&c 1n emit al "a
two horses there should be third run
ner in the middle. These runners should
be shod with hoop iron. The doser pan
70 contain coal oil, should be placed on
the bed Of the sled and should be ar
ranged in compartments Of from 70
feet in width and from 4 TO 6 inches
deep. These pans may be made at any
timers and of any size desired. When
In operation, they should be half filled
with water and little petroleum
poured in.
Around the sides and rear Of this sled
there should be erected sloping canopy
three or four feet high securely fastened
to posts at the corners. This canopy
may be made from ordinary sheeting,
duck or muslin 1t is intended to catch
the hoppers as they fly upward while
the machine passes over the field, and
whence they slide into the pans beneath
and are there destroyed. 1t is better
TO have one horse hitched TO each run
ner and joined at the bits by a light
jock pole From this pole there should
be suspended a foot apart ropes or straps
long enough to drag on the ground.
These serve to stir up the hoppers that
may be lurking III the grass and cause
them TO jump against the screens. The
driver should have the lines long enough
70 walk behind the machine
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-07-06

The sphere of woman has been so
greatly enlarged for the past few years
that one hears from the fair sex in ali
the phases and departments of life. The
West End road now employs a corps of
women detectives WHO are supposed to
keep tabs upon conductors who may
show an inclination to knock down
fares. That great corporation finds
that women make better detectives
than the men because their eagle eye is
not easily detected. The women cast
very slight look at the clock register
when fare is rung in and nothing is
thought of it. but man who is seen
20 king at the register is pointed out 10y
'rybody as West End detective.
e women detectives. like the men de-
tectives, as soon as discovered are of no
further use to the West End. Boston