davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
A Remarkable Owl.

They tell story over on the North Side
about an old lady who was presented with
an owl She had no possible use for an
owl but she felt in duty bound to keep
and care for this one, because it was given
TO her by a very dear but misguided friend
So she provided quarters for the bird and
looked at 1t curiously each day She was
particularly struck by its wise look, and
us she was acquainted with an eminent
judge on the Cook county bench, who al
ways wears the same look OF wisdom, she
named the owl in his honor calling it
wells calling il Judge So-and So we will
say The servant girl of Irish extraction
and persuasion was told To take especial
care of the Judge and she did her best in
this direction. But one evening this girl
startled her mistress as well as the room
full of company by bustling in at the door
while pleasant conversation was in prog
ress and exclaiming:
If you please, ma am, Judge So-and- so
has laid an egg
Knowing the eminent referred TO, the
members of the company were astonished
to learn of this unprecedented feat on his
part, while the embarrassed old lady has.
tened TO explain everything except the fact
that she should have been so deceived in
regard TO the sex of the ird.-Chicago
Times.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
A Cou1pronise.

The Young Gentleman-In making you
this proposal have endeavored ~ restrict
myself 10 proper and correct parliament
tary language But / feel that | could
have done much better if had given way
10 ali that j. IN my heart and
The Young Lady-Order, please! You
are out of order
The Young Gentleman-Well.w what is
ny fate;
The Young Lady entering into the
spirit of the thing)-l'll put il 10 the vote
and hear what the dicky birds say Birds
IT has been regularly movcd-and not sec
ondcd on account of The smailnc~s Of the
meeting-that l should accept the propos.
or as my future lord and master What do
you say to the notion CThe caDaries
chirp.
The Young Gentleman Cgleefully)-The
ayes have it,
The Young Lady (confuscdly)-No the
noes have il.
The Young Gentleman (scizing her in
his arms We'll, l II compromise with you
and give il neither 10 the ayes or the noes,
but let the lips have il. docs 50. Birds
sing. Curtain New York World
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
POULTRY YARDS.
How TO Fence the Chickens In ana Keep
out Everything Else.


Alter trying various KINDS OF fencing
iur yard u li-iila correspondent OF
Aiherlcah NultiFator writes that she
mas settled ON poultry netting as com
DnllS an the desirable quantities with
ieW ataWu"chs' She describes her yard
"a ,olIoWS;
Ny yard III winch / Ead as many as
oo' 'hlcAeh' OF various ages at one
tiine' was oo l'e' long by ID Ieet VIDE.
=, - o'N' 10 nav " Ioo' WHO PRANK al
'ne p"''"l an "r"uil'I a. sil"H slzea
oiiieAs O''iI ~. 'iii'''-u =" % mon poultry
uo''il's' i-'''' winter / i",l no "iNlSlohs
81 NY 'i'' ~ 10 '''i' 'i,'io 0lllOAcls
iiOiii u',ii7 Si'N ,','' ''' anu run o'of ny
piS Oi''NS "''i 10 I'S'I' u" N"ll"us ue-
''''i'i- runs III IloHV uI
"T' ''i'' ,'''NS. A'N, VIII
In 60 '-''S ''- '..'', "''''' i,'" Il'u
go, ~ -' ~ "i '''' '''10'i '"0Aou
- " W '',0 l''nN "' VIC 49, '"ll al" 20
W. IN ."o S'i, at Iilo Top WIN "
''''''.l va ,''' '', H'''''" l''NIu on
- 40 '''i '.l' iSi''li ~ 'i'"V can
''' ~ p",a o''' 'iiC ~ inc o'll'r'
- -, va '''''., va ui.'''' uo'S away
- - -, '' va VIZ Wv VIZ" i"H9
- w. N'' VIC OiS Oii0A'
- ',''' l.'l Wv, "'l''iS, li', NHvn
VII4ONS E'' i"1 - ana 'i!V Hu'her heh Is
80 ~ ,'.. 5''1it va lloNcn[ over
80 r Wv US ','',' O9Hs't ue!i' SIno5nGrllls
go sii'''.i ,'l.' - Ioc' Woo ~ 10
VC' ~ Wv "'.'''. - a ',iy soo'' sl%eu run
''i w - oo ~ ~ 0i-i0'S
~ - 'iielV ''te 0Ill'Noils 'llore are
nav h. anu Nnen ,ney o',cA even ono
low +" Gay 'hey "Iinllish 'he pronts
ooilsl'i'i"oIS' ~ 'le S'IIy chlcAehs hct
NE over 'o ceI'S Cach. 90 10 prevent
- 49, 49, IS l"u po''S "pou' . IeeS
HiEn ron ,le surface ol 'ne GROUND
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10

a report on the uncultivated bast
fibers Of the United States has been is
sued from the United States department.
Of agriculture. Among the plants de-
scribed are species found in every sec
ton of the United States, from Maine
70 Florida and from Minnesota 10 Ari.
iona. Some of them are jute substi-
tutes, while others. if cultivated. would
produce "A fiber rivaling hemp. There are
five full page illustrations of prominent
species. Over 40 fiber plants are treated
III the report, the history Of 20 forms
being given in full, with statements
regarding past efforts and experiments
toward their utilization. Special chap
tiers are devoted 10 the milkweed fibers,
okra, cotton stalk fiber, the common
abutilOn-known commercially a. Chi
ma Jute, but growing in the fence cor
ners Of every western farm-Colorado
river hemp and many others
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10

When Judge Underwood of Georgia had
charged the jury IL was exceedingly dan
gerous for the defendants counsel to ask
Tor an additional charge. William Glenn
had been defending big, strapping town
boy, who was charged with an assault
ana battery upon a smaller boy. The big
boy had been imposing upon the little fel.
lows, and one OF them hit him with a
switch and ran. The big boy pursued him.
threw stone at him, cut bad cash in
ms mead and laid him up for a week or
two. The grand jury found true bill,
and after the closing speech by the solicit
or the judge charged the law very fairly
and then asked If there was any other
eharge that counsel desired Glenn rose
aud with some tone of apprehension said.
= believe your honor omitted to charge
that self defense may justify an assault"
es, said the Judge as he Strengthened
up-'yes, gentlemen, there is such a law.
and II you believe from the evidence that
TINS great, big, double jointed, big listed
young gentleman was actuated by feal
aud self defense when he ran after that
poor, little, puny, tallow faced boy. and
because be couldn't overtake him picked
up rock big enough 10 knock down
steer and threw it at him and knocked
him senseless, then you can find for the
defendant. Any other charges, Brother
GlennP' 81 believe not, >" said Glenn
San Francisco Argonaut.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
The Girls of NIeNiro.

"A great deal Of this talk about the
beauty of the Spanish and Mexican women
is bosh. said James c. Madison Of Quay
mas, Mexico Mr. Madison is an Ameri-
can who is interested in Mexican silver
mines and has spent the most Of the last
seven years in that country.
Many of the Mexican girls Of the higher
classes are very pretty along the years from
10 70 20. Then they begin to decay,
and at 35 they are anything but attractive
They are all born lirts and have a most
alluring and captivating nay of coquet-
tishly concealing their fac% behind long
mantillas, usually of "a bright color and
peeping out from behind these at fellow.
On the theory that IA skirt dance is more
suggestive than the march Of the amazons
ballet, Mexican girls appear 10 the stranger
to he very beautiful. They all do have
wonderful eyes, black and sparkling. But
I've seen more pretty women this after
noon on + street than Mexico will produce
In the next 80 years. Washington Post
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
FACTS ARouI IRRIGATION.
she Amount of Water Essential Ia the
GroMth of Wheat and Gra.s (runs.

A widespread interest is evinced in
the experiments in irrigation reported
from time 20 time 10y Director j. W
Sanhorn of the Utah agricultural coll
/ lcge station. a late bulletin reports the
results of four year, of experimentation
a o. the relation between the amount
! Of water used and the crop yield, soil
/ fertility and the exit through drains Of
the matters held in solution in the wa
ter applied
The experiment Is regarded of the
very highest Importance IN that il deals
with the right amount Of water essen
| tial 20 the growth ot wheat and grass
crops, but moro especially a. il approx
imately determines whether the matte
rials Of plant growth held in solution by
irrigating water, are taken up 10y the
soil or whether the water in passing
through the soil actually has added 70
II soluble matter, already in the soil be-
fore the application Of the water \
solution of this question would bc Of
value mainly to those who, carelcssly
or otherwise, use an excess of water-an
excess that results in pcrcolation.
such excess Of water Is used all over
Ctah. Those occupying lower land, are
made coglizant OF ii by the increase IN
saturation of their soil, due 10 the in
fuence OF water applied on high lands,
so much 50 that drainage becomes a ne
cessity. The trial has value 10 those IN
other sections Of the country thar NAV
adopt irrigation for areas subject 10
drought yet have sufficient rain to in
duce percolation Of water, a. seen in
springs and rivers.
Saturation I feet deep, feer deep,
etc, means that enough water was APP
piled 20 furnish that amount which the
soil Will hold 10 the depths of 1 feet,
"a feet, etc This amount was found
by estimating the amount OF water that
soil would hold 1t j. known from the
experiments of Professor King that
what has heretofore been known as
water Of saturation j. much less than
estimated, as when the soil l. allowed
TO stand il l. found that il will drip "a
long time after il l. believed 10 contain
only the water of saturation Ordinary
loans are believed 20 hold about 30 per
cent Of their weight, and soils Of one
foot deep weigh some 3, 500, 600 pounds.
Following l. a summary in brief of
the detailed report: !. The plats sat
urated 10 the depth of one and "A half
feet gave better crop of grain than
greater or less amount. 2. For timothy
the platS saturated two and a half feet
deep gave lee best results. g. Soils re-
move most of the solids from water ap-
piled beyond soil saturation. I The
water that does escape from soils by
teaching Is richer III the elements Of fer
tility than before II entered. the amount
so escaping, however, being 80 small
that the total contains but a fraction Of
the solids applied. . Where water
applied j. small in amount, the temper
ature grows higher and higher on de-
amount g. Water applied to
soils appears to evaporate in
side Of y DAYS
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
Mary stuart.

Mary Stuart was one of the most fasci-
mating widows who ever lived She had
abundant experience in the condition OF
widowhood and thoroughly understood
the moods Of all sorts and conditions Of
men She fascinated every one with whom
she came in contact, and even her taller
during her last imprisonment, risked his
life in an unsuccessful attempt 70 secure
her escape. Unluckily she was exposed to
the jealousy of an old maid. the virgin
queen, who could not endure the idea OF
any one being more fascinating than her.
self, and SO at the earliest opportunity
Mary was locked up by the rival, who was
enyious of her beauty, and after long
Imprisonment was finally put TO death
out Of pure jealousy Chicago Herald.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
TO ONE WHO GAVE IT.

Only a woman's hair" There was no nans
Upon the slender packet. and they blame
The man who would not bare for all 10 view
The soul Of her who trusted him: he knew
To whom belonged that curl OF sOftest hair,
And thus he wrote, determined 10 leave therv
No trace which 20 the world might ever show
Who was the woman that loved him so.
But all no love have relics: on my heart
There rests a locket and / never part
b day or night with one small trcs- Of hair,
Yet iaust l tell the world who placed 1t there
Within the locker; ca. on all to see
Ny greatest treasure; say twas given 10 me
By one love. who loves nc not again.
And show 10 curious e: - ny love l. vain7
And must | own 20 all hat when wake
find my hand close clasps il for the sake
o. one from whom took that trcss of hair
Which now is mine, say that breathe o
prayer
That God VIII bless and keep youal your life,
In sun and shade, In JOY and peace and strifet
hold the world has nothing here 10 do;
II shall not come between my soul and YOU
Like the great Dean, | keep your name apart;
GU only know what reefs upon my heart.
London Academy.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
A Word About subirripation.

In the widespread interest which has
been excited in anything pertaining to
irrigation of late, many speakers and
writers have advocated subirrigation by
means Of thing sunk in the ground as
al excellent means of solving various
problems connected with the general
subject.
While subirrigation by means Of til
ing or perforated pipes undoubtedly
has its uses, and while it may find a
valuable place in our agriculture, vet.
In the absence of any widespread expe-
rience to prove that its place has been
determined, l.. ID. Graham in The In
dustrialist cautions farmers against un-
dertaking it except in very limited
way until Its value is better known The
initial expense is considerable, and if
the plant proves not 20 be highly effect
i've, 1T can only be considered as so
much loss
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
A Good Word For KohI-raba.

A correspondent Of the Massachusetts,
Ploughman speaks good word for the
kohl-rabi as "a feed for milk COWS and
sheep. He says it is a better milk pro-
ducer than the Swede turnip and can be
grown as a second crop, like the cabbage,
bearing transplanting remarkably we'll
OF course, being a sort Of half cabbage
and half eturnip it has a somewhat
strong taste and should be fed in limit
ed quantity and only just after milking
1t is grown like the cabbage.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
Cockfighting In Palma.

We attended a cock fight. There was q
good deal more excitement over these du-
els between bantams than even at one of
our British League football matches I
never saw persons Of Spanish blood so be-
SIDE themselves. One bird misbebaved
itself-declined wholly TO accept it's antag
onlst challenge or respond To its owner
earnest promptings. Ii had entered the
arena with a fine blue silk ribbon around
Its game leg. But when the populace ex-
pressed their disgust with il the master
oil the ceremonies captured il and threw il
away by the same leg the sharp spur OF
which seemed such a harmless menace
vi course there was betting about the
cocks.
There was also a sweepstake. the win
ming number Of which was drawn by a
little boy, blindfolded, taken from the gal.
lery. The recipient Of the prize made the
iad exceedingly happy 10y pitching him a
peseta (lOd.) ere he returned to his COM
rades. BY the bye, this scene of pleasure
took place on Sunday, after high mass.
Every one nearly was present. The blue
biooded gentleman who carried US TO the
amphitheater thought much more OF this
sport than Of the joys of mountain scram.
ming In the Caldera.-Cornhill Magazine
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
Eyes with Axes at Variance.

Il was astonished TO learn the other dav
that the axes Of my eyes are at variance
in their position remarked l.. NJ Met
calf, Philadelphia drummer. Il had
been thinking for long while that there
was something wrong with my optics,
as when l blinked them l discovered that
for "A moment afterward everything look
ed jumbled. | went TO an eminent oculi,t.
and as soon ~ he had examined my eyes
he told me that the axis of the right was
horizontal in position while that Of the
left was perpendicular, and that / was
born with the internal mechanism Of my
peppers in that peculiar condition | was
not little distressed until he consuled me
with the assurance that at least third
Of the men and women Of our race were
similarly affected, though the discovery Of
it Is comparatively new 10 the science Of
ophthalmology No medicine will cure
the afiliction, nor Will the surgeon keen
blade
The only way 10 correct this contari-
ness Of vision i, by the use of glasses spe-
cially and delicatcly made 10 fit each par.
ticular case. st. Louis Republic.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
Electrical Treatment.

A method of treating patients by plac-
Ing them III large spiral of wire charged
with alternating currents has been de
scribed to the Paris Academy Of Sciences
10y VI. q 'Aisonval. When the coil is
charged with rapid alterations, the IN
duced currents produced in the patients
body are shown by placing a glow lamp
betveen his hands, when the filament is
raised TO incandescence. The influence
Of this treatment on the processes of nu-
triton is said 70 be good, the absorption
and elimination Of oxygen being largely
Increased. -Electrical Review.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
A Ienient Queen.

The late Queen Sophia of Holland was
walking out one evening alone in the Loo
park, when she observed sentinel smoking
OIL the sly in his sentry box. Seeing the
queen coming toward him, the soldier
threw down his pipe, and apprehending all
orts Of pains and penalties, he humbly
And sadly begged her majesty not To be-
tray him. You have nothing to fear" was
the gracious reply. Here, take this ducat
and get yourself some better tobacco How.
ever can you smoke such borrid stuff"
Mannigfaltigea
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10

The Kansas experiment station has
made a careful study of the rusts which
affect oats and wheat The conclusion
Is that 1t is more practical TO try to
breed rust proof varieties than TO at
tempted TO control the disease by spray
ing.
An exchange says that Iowa farmers
during the past few years have found
clover seed their most paying crop.
If you haven't raised corn enough to
fill that new silo-and il takes a lot of
it-cider pumice can be packed III.
Oregon is steadily rolling up wealth
with fruit, especially winter apples.
Next to California Nebraska produces
the most beet sugar Of any state in the
Union.
Some idea of the Missouri Botanical
garden financial condition may be Civ
en- by the valuation of the stock ac-
count, put at 81, All, 600; the years re-
ceipts, 1920, 62l, and the surplus made
last year over all expenses, Sl4, 700.
From present APPEARANCES it looks as
IA th' ire vi ~ NOb'ltll Sllb WIS 10 range
anywhere from 10 90 Is years. OF
course the care Of the owner has much
TO do in the matter, for a good use of
some sort Of the gas tar paints will have
a great influence in their preservation,
and at the same time they are very in
expensive
The herd of dairy cows at the Wis
consin station has been slaughtered, and
tuberculosis was found in most all Of
them. The tuberculin test in this case
gave accurate results every time
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
why Tomatoes Rot.

The rotting of the first formed toma-
toes before they fairly ripen indicates
excess of nirogenous fertilizer and de-
fciency of mineral, especially Of potash.
The tomato is full of seeds, and these
require potash. A dressing Of wood
ashes or Of potash salts should always
be- applied when planting tomatoes. 1t
Is better than stable manure, which
makes large leaf growth with compare
lively little fruit. Nitrate of soda, how.
ever, is good for both growth and fruit
fuiness. 1t also helps 70 make the crop
ripon earlier than it otherwise would
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10

That reminds me of an instance of
blind >upcrstitious faith ON the part of a
New Mexican Indian which | witnessed
away back i'm the seventies Ii was lust
after one of the annual snake dances in
the course of which rattlcrs are handled
with the greatest IMMUNITY, probably be
cause the priests had previously removed
their fangS. \ reward for Jealous dane
ing is immunity from death from snake
bites for exactly J. months. and the man
refer 20 showed his faith in the promise
by getting bit He wa, showing a party
composed Of myself and three other men
"a short cut across the country, and a. We
were travelling along an almost hidden
trail We came across an enormous rattle
snake. We were for killing il right away
but the red guide implorcd Us not TO- say
ing that the death of the snake would
break the charm over him While argu-
ing with Us he deliberately trod on the
Us that he could not be injured by IT, In
an instant the snake had planted its ven
ON into the 1lcshy part of his leg We
gave the animal a wide berth and resumed
the journey. The Indian sang happily for
awhile, then became strangely quiet He
lived rather longer than the average white
man would have done under the circum-
stances, but as we had no remedies with
Us nature took it, course, and he died be-
fore the sun went down-St. Louis Globe.
Democrat.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10

~ am going to make great hit with
my next novel, " said the golden haired
authorss, and don't you forget it, "
What the plot"
oh, don't really know yet, but there
are TO be four chapters devoted 10 the suf-
ferings of the hero from appendicitis. -
Indianapolis Journal
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10
Not What He Meant.

Mrs. Striker-Don't you believe in the
union Of labor
Mr. S.-Of course l do. Why, my dear.
II there was no union of labor the greed
of capital, with its iron heel, would
Mrs. :. 0nterrupting)-That all right.
suppose you get up and build the fire, and
I'll cook breakfast Detroit Tribune.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10

What is asserted TO be- the oldest life
boat in existence Is preserved at South
Shields, England, "a valued relic. 1t
was built In 1880, and during more than
90 years of active service was instrumental
In saving l,02s persons.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10

The house has passed bill to provide in
struction for neglected waits in the poor
houses in the state. IL provides that such
children shall be sent to the school nearest
the poor house, the county refunding to the
school district the amount of their tuition.
The bill appropriating $4,000 for statue
to Gov. Blair on the state house grounds has
passed the house
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10

So small is the thread carried by the
spindle Of the photograph that the process
Of threading requires the aid of mechanical
device.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10

Members of the Legislature say that one
effect of the law placing the uniform liquor
tax at 500 will be the organization all over
the state of social clubs by means of which
II is hoped to evade the payment of any tax
whatever. The plan of operation j. for a
saloon keeper TO organize a club the priyi-
liges of which are restricted to member. an 4
their friends. The members of these clubs
VIII pay fee, adopt bylaws ana make ar
engagements for getting their drinks which
are satisfactory all around, and the profits
20 to swell the bank account Of the er,t-
while saloon keeper
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-05-10

State Accountant Iomkln- says nat the
amazing increase of the insane IN this state
accounts for the increase of more than 5000.
600 in the biennial state budget. Statistics
show that the number of insane is increa.-
ing much more rapidly in proportion than
Il the population of the state. and that our
present facilities (unexceled by those of
any other state, are inadequate to properly
care for this portion Of our dependent popu-
lation.
There are other reasons for this increase
of estimated budget one of which is that the
two last legislatures. made no provision in a
number of appropriation bills for levying a
tax covering the amount appropriated. and a.
a result, these amounts had to come out of
the general fund and could not be included
IN the general levy. Then. too considerable
money is needed 10 complete the home for
feeble minded in Lapeer and the hospital for
the insane in Newberry, as well as to make
the needed repairs upon other state build
ings.