davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10
ORIGIN AND USE OF THE IRISH POTATO.

Having for long time had good
deal of curiosity to know more about
the potato, 1 concluded to investigate
the subject. Years ago 1 was taught
in school to believe that the Irish pota-
to was taken from Virginia to England
by Sir Walter Raleigh and so all my
life till lately I have believed that the
common potato was native OF this
country. Thinking the result of my
research on this subject might be in
teresting to the readers of The Indiana
Farmer, I have written this, trusting
you will find it worth publishing.
The potato, both sweet and Irish, is
indigenous to South America. tits yet
found in its wild state in many places
on the Peruvian coast, in Chilli, Quito,
Buenos Ayres. 1t is believed that the
Spaniards were the first to discover
this tuber, and took some of them to
Spain in the early part of the Sixteenth
century. 1t soon afterward found its
way into Italy. In 1898, it was car
ried into Belgium by one of the attend
ants of the Pope's prelate, and thence
to Vienna, and in short time it spread
rapidly through Germany. While
there is no positive proof ofthe manner
of its introduction into this country, it
is generally believed it was brought
into Virginia by the Spaniards. In
1884 Sir Walter Raleigh sent out
feet from England to this country.
1t returned in 1886, taking among
other things the Irish potato and tobac-
CO. They were planted on Sir Walter
Raleigh's estate in Ireland, and were
there used for food long before they
were ever known in England. II 1897
Gerarde, publisher, gave an account
of potato plant he had in his garden.
He recommended the roots to be eaten
as delicate food. During the reign
of James the First, potatoes were so
rare that they cost so cents pound.
In 1888, when their valuable qualities
had become widely known, they were
deemed worthy of notice by the Royal
Society, which encouraged their culti-
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10
A GOOD ROAD PROBLEM SOLVED.

About year ago we referred edito-
rally, under the caption, "How to Get
Good Roads," to the good example
set by an enterprising young man in
Central Missouri. This young man
undertook to put the roads alongside
his own home in good condition by
voluntary labor of self and teams. He
procured q road grader and contribu-
ted several dollars worth of gratui-
tous work and not only put the half
mile of road in front of his home in
good order, but graded quarter or
half mile beyond home in two direc-
tions. The part of the road he graded
was made the best dirt road in the
county. After passing over this road,
the editor of this paper wrote the artl-
Gle above referred to, and called the
attention of the farmers to the fact
that if every farmer in the State would
put the roads alongside his own farm
in first-class condition the good dirt
road problem would be solved.
A recent visit was made to the vi
cinity above referred to, and we found
that the young man who did so much
gratuitious road work last year, repeat
ed the operation this season, even hiring
neighbors to help him, not only along
his own home, but for half a mile on
each side. He now has a mile and a
half of fine graded road. Nor did the
work stop here; the enterprising farm,
ers along a mile and half Of parallel
road, and other roads intersecting them
initiated his example and graded the
road along their farms as nicely as any
street in the towns and cities.
Reports come from several different
parts of the State that a great deal OF
voluntary work has been or is being
done on the roads, and we are lead to
believe that The Journals recommen-
dation of this plan year ago has re-
suited in great good.
There is no question but that this
plan generally followed will put the
dirt roads in such condition that,
with the exception of few days in the
year, they will be reasonably good.
The farmers who do this extra work
will be amply repaid in the enhanced
appearance and value of their own
homes to say nothing of the benefits
and pleasures of good roads.
One thing lacking in communities
where the roads are nicely graded is
wide wagon tires. 1t does not take
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10

BILLY RowLEGs' SIGN LANGUAGE.-
Brigadier General Gibbon entertained
Washington audience the other even
ing with some "reminiscences of his
services among the Indians. General
Gibbons experience with the Indians
commenced in the Seminole war as far
back as 1849. General Gibbon said it
was remarkable how much can be told
by means of the sign language between
people accustomed to its use. AS an
instance of this he related circum-
stance of the Seminole war. Hostili-
ties appearing to be imminent between
the whites and the Seminoles, under
Billy Bowlegs, their chief, it was desir-
ed to communicate with the Indians, to
ascertain if it was really their purpose
to 60 to war. 1t was very difficult to
get at the Seminoles, however, and no
method seemed open until one day
man came in from his cabin down the
coast and stated that he had left there
on account of his supposed danger from
Indians. He had found upon his cabin
door a small white flag made of heron's
wings, attached to stick. On the end
of the stick were a twist of tobacco
and small string Of beads. He said
some Indians scrawled upon his door
with the end of burnt stick some
signs. There were three stars in line,
then full round circle, and then four
more stars. These signs were inter-
preted to mean that Billy Bowlegs de-
sired to have a peaceful smoke and
talk with the white men, that his mes
sengers had been at the cabin three
days before the time of the full moon,
and that he would come again four
days after the full moon TO receive the
answer of the white man. The Indi-
ans message was answered by the
presence of the white men four days
after the full moon, and sure enough,
Billy Bowlegs was on hand, a confer
ence was had, and it was shown that
the Indians did not desire to engage in
a general war, but that the outrages of
which the whites had complained had
been committed by few unreliable
bad Indians.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10
IN FORMER CENTURIES

SMALLPOX IN FORMER CENTURIES
At the time of the announcement Of
vaccination by Jenner, smallpox caused
more than one-tenth of all the deaths
of the human race. Fifty million peo-
pie died in Europe from smallpox
during the 18th century. In the 10th
century the disease appeared in Mexi-
CO. and 3,500,000 Of the population
yielded up their lives in few years,
leaving some provinces almost depop-
ulated. In 1907, in Iceland, $4,000
died in one year, the entire population
being but $4,000. Seventy per cent.
of the people of Greenland died of
smallpox in 1875. Smallpox is the
most fearful disease with which the
human race has ever been scourged.
Macauley tells US it was always pres
ent, filling the church-yards with
corpses, and leaving on those whose
lives it spared the hideous traces of its
power. "If modern traveller" says
DR.. Hyde, "could be transported to
London in the early part of the pres
ent century, no peculiarities of archi-
lecture, dress or behavior would be so
conspicuous as the enormous number
of pock marked faces he would en-
counter at every turn" 1t spared
neither rich nor poor, and even invad-
ed the palace of the king.-Medical
Record.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10

The day passed with succession Of
blows upon an army still too strung
out" for its own good. But they were
all successfully resisted. Wherever a
place was weak some brigade or division
was sent to strengthen it, usually leav.
ing place where it had been. But all
points were strengthened in time. All
damage repaired, at least the damage
on which hung defeat. The damage to
the dead and thirsting wounded scat
tered along the line for miles could
never be repaired. 1t could be counted
and laid down accurately in the official
reports, but who can count or repair
the hearts broken with every charge,
every defense!
And so the sun went down over q
field on which there was no victory, no
defeat, only suffering and death.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT FRIDAY.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10

THE MISSISSIPPI PLAN.-Following
are the suffrage provisions of the Mis-
sissippi constitution "Sec. 241. Every
male inhabitant of this State, except
idiots, insane persons and Indians not
taxed, who is a citizen of the United
States, 81 years old and upwards, who
has resided in this State two years,
and one year in the election district or
in the incorporated city or town in
which he offered to vote, and who is
duly registered, as provided in this ar
ticle, and who has never been convict
ed of bribery, burglary, theft, arson,
obtaining money or goods under false
pretences, perjury, forgery, embezzle-
ment or bigamy, and who has paid on
or before the 1st day of February of
the year in which he offers to vote, all
taxes which may have been legally re-
quired of him, and which he may have
had an opportunity of paying"
Sec. 242. Provides for oath.
"Sec. 243. Provides for poll tax ofS2
on all between the ages of 81 and go,
(eXcept deaf, dumo, Dllnu, anu malm-
ed) which shall be only lien upon
taxable property, but shall not be en-
forced by criminal proceedings. The
county supervisors may increase this
to 49,"
"Sec. 264. On and after the first day
of January, A. D., 1892, every elector
shall, in addition to the foregoing quail
i6cations, be able to read any section
ofthe constitution Of this State; or be
able to understand the same when
read to him, or give reasonable inter-
probation thereof"
"Sec. 253. The legislature may, by
a two-thirds vote of both houses, of all
members elected, restore the right of
suffrage to any person disqualified by
reason of crime but the reasons there
for shall be spread upon the journals
and the vote shall be by yeas and nays.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10

ed on the left. A force hurried by to
the support Of comrades at the front
The ground he was on had just been
fought over and dead and wounded
scattered everywhere. Entering wood,
he pushed forward through it. A young
soldier, boy Of l8, was sitting on the
ground, supported by tree, gasping
for breath. A red stream running down
his bosom showed that he had been shot
through the lungs. "You are thinking
of home, my boy" muttered Maynard
and pushed on. An officer lay in his
path and begged him for what the
wounded crave So eagerly-water. May
nard rode about hunting for stream or
a spring At last he found what he
sought, and filling canteen rode back
to where the man lay. He was dead.
In his hand he held picture Of wife
and two little children. Within hearing
of the booming in front and shells cut
ting the trees above him he had passed
from the harshest through the gentlest
Of human feelings to the eternal peace.
Riding on, Maynard met an officer he
had known intimately. Without thought
of his altered condition the degraded
colonel waved his hand in salute and
cried out, "How goes the battle, ma
jor?" The officer passed by with look
which Maynard never forgot. 1t sent
the hot blood mounting to his cheeks.
He could have cloven the mans skull
with his saber. But there was no need
of that. Was there not an enemy at the
front: Yes, and there was death. he
dashed on and arrived at one Of the hot
test points OH the left just as line Of
cavalry was moving to charge.
Joining them, he rode down into
storm so wild, so fierce, SO full Of de-
struction that surely he thought the
coveted death must come. But the gaps
in the ranks were to his right, to his
left, anywhere, everywhere, except
where he rode. And when the troopers
with whom he fought came out of the
fight Mark Maynard was still among
the living.
So opened the battle of Saturday,
Sept. 10. Throughout that day May
nard rode wherever he saw that grim
specter lowered. At times he was with
the cavalry, at times he would dis
mount, and leaving his horse in the
rear 60 forward with musket. On one
occasion, catching the enthusiasm of
battle, he was forgetting his misfortune
when the officer of the regiment with
which he fought recognized him. The
two had been at enmity.
"Leave these ranksl"
Maynard turned, saw that he was ad-
dressed and who addressed him. Throw
ing down his gun, the hot tears burst
ing from his eyes, he turned away.
Again he was tramping through corn
field on the flank of regiment when he
saw a division general inspecting the
men as they passed forward to an at
tack. He recognized the general who had
sent the spy to him. Their eyes met.
Maynard had by this time come to see
through the device by which the other
had led him into his present position
and regarded the officer steadily. The
man turned his horse's head and gal
loped away. There was one man in the
army who did not care to leok him in
the eve
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10

Ihc lCcplCk IL Is llO WOilueT tudI Ills
love grew cold! He felt that she neg
lected his comfort, and was indifferent
to his feelings.
Very frequently husbands grow into
most indelicate way of jesting with
their wives on the subject of love and
marriage, which, to a third party who
retains any sort of sentiment about
those matters. is always shocking.
Over and over I have heard men who
had been the most passionate lovers,
telling a circle Of friends how they
were fairly driven into marriage by
persistent woman, and that she really
did all the love-making.
1 have never yet, in listening to this
kind of talk, been able to discover
where the wit comes in; but l have
heard at least a dozen men dilate on
the subject, and each one seemed to
think the idea wholly original and in
finitely funny. The wife is the one, as
a rule, who leads the laugh, feeling
that her husband expects her to do so !;
but no woman lives who is not hurt by
this kind of jesting, and invariably her
husband is lower in her esteem, how
ever she may hide the fact from him.
The man who gets ready to 60 out
for walk by putting on his hat, and
gets very impatient because his wife is
not equally expeditions, is not very
bad sort of husband, to be sure, if
that is his only fault, but he often
makes things uncomfortable without
cause. He must remember at such
times that he did not marry person
who wore coat and trousers and a
beaver hat. He married a thing of
frills and furbelows, house gowns and
slippers, and feminine accessories which
HELPED TO ENsNARE HIM.
She can transform herself into a
trim, half-musculine, outdoor comrade,
to be sure, when occasion demands it {;
but you must give her time. The long
hair he thinks so beautiful when it
falls below her waist takes time to ar
range, even if she is in a hurry. 1t is
so easy to spoil all the pleasure Of the
walk by scolding her for being so slow,
when in fact she is very expeditions, if
he will stop to consider all she has to
do. Husbands and wives who fall into
a habit of contradicting each other in
small matters and disputing over tri-
fes are unconsciously feeding the little
foxes who will ruin their vineyard. I
have seen a woman grow scarlet with
anger over difference Of opinion re-
garding name, or date, which real
ly had no positive bearing on the
subject they were discussing, and l
have heard her contradict her husband
end endeavor to set him right in the
presence of others, and in regard to
some trife which was not worth mo-
ment's consideration, and only served
to humiliate him.
do not know that I ever heard
husband do this sort of thing, but
again and again I hear wives inter-
rupt their husbands in conversation to
set them right on some trifiing point
which is of no account, and which
only succeeds in annoying him.
Impoliteness between husband and
wife-a forgetting or ignoring of the
sweet courtesy which made courtship
so delightful-is a dangerous fox in
the domestic vines.
Ifw can keep away the foxes and
insects from our vineyards, we have
but little to fear from the cyclones and
frosts.-Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10

Of hard fighting lost their vlgor. The
branches above him twined indistinctly.
He slept.
He was awakened by the sound Of a
gun. 1t was broad day. He started up
and listened. Then came another dull
boom, then another, and in few min
utes there was the rapid firing Of bat.
tie Oh the left. Surely that is not the
little body of cavalry in whose ranks be
had fought the day before.
Mounting, he rode toward it through
a partly wooded, partly open country.
The fields were gray, but the woods
were still green. Then there was the
odor of the morning in the country and
the ohirping of birds hunting for their
breakfast 1t would not be long before
that perfume must give way to the
smell of gunpowder, before the chirping
of the birds would be drowned by the
sounds Of musketry and artillery.
Meeting ON aid-de-camp riding at
full speed toward the south, he called
out, pointing in the direction of the
firing, which he could now discern was
on or near the Chattanooga road:
"Who's there?"
"Old Pap, with two divisions.
Maynard uttered an exclamation Of
surprise and pleasure.
"How did he get there?"
Marched all night.
much force in his front?"
"You bet! I'm going for reinforce
ments," and in a moment he was out
Of sight.
A courier came dashing from the op-
posite direction.
"What news from the right?'
"The head of McCook's column is at
Crawfish Springs"
"Good. The army is safe for the pres
ent. The game is baked"
Striking the road leading to Alexan-
der's bridge, he found himself in rear Of
the Union line Of battle that had open.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10

vation. They were not introduced
into Scotland till 1925; and even then
there was a great deal of prejudice
against their use. 1t is within the
last 100 years that potatoes have been
extensively cultivated in Ireland, but
since then the Irish have largely de-
pended on them as an article of food.
For many years past, the potato crop
has been regarded as most valuable
addition to the staple commodities of
life, second only in Importance to the
cereals.-F. C.. in Indiana Farmer.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10
BETTER THAN THAT.

brother of Marie Antoniette, queen
of France, liked neither show nor
retinue, witness this fact: One day,
clothed in u simple buttoned riding
coat, accompanied by one servant
without livery, he went, in a calash
with two places, (seats), which he
managed himself, to take an airing in
the morning, in the environs of Vien-
ma being overtaken by rain, he re-took
the road to the city.
He was still far from it, when Pc
destrian who was also going to the
capital, made sign to the driver to
stop-which Joseph II did soon.
"Sir," said the soldier, (for he was o
soldier "would it be an indiscretion to
ask a place by your side? That would
not hurt you greatly, since you are
alone in your calash, and it will spare
my uniform that I have put on today
for the first time"
"Spare your uniform, my brave
man." said Joseph to him, "and take
the place; whence do you Gomez"
"Ah" said the sergeant, 81 come
from a gamekeeper's, friend of mine,
where 1 have made fine breakfast"
"What did you have to eat so
good ?"
"Guess."
"What do I know? Tn soup with
beer ?"
"Ah! bien, yes, soup; better than
that"
"Some cabbage crust?"
"Better than that"
"a loin of veal ?"
"Better than that, I tell YOU"
"Oh, I can guess no more," said Jo-
seph.
"a pheasant, my worthy man,
pheasant taken from the pleasure
grounds of his majesty" said the SER
geant striking him on the shoulder
"shot on the pleasure grounds of his
majesty, must it not needs be only
better ?"
~ agree with YOU"
AS they approached the town, and
as the rain fell still, Joseph asked his
companion in what quarter he lodged
and where he wished to be set down.
"Sir, that is too kind"
"No, no." said Joseph, your street ?"
The sergeant naming his dwelling,
asked to Know him from whom he re-
ceived so much kindness.
SIN your turn" said Joseph, "guess." /"
"Monsieur, is military, without
doubt?"
"As said, sir"
"Lieutenant ?"
"Ah! well, yes, lieutenant; better
than that"
"Captain ?"
"Better than that"
"Colonel, perhaps ?"
"Better than that"
"How!" said the other drawing
himself into the corner of the calash,
forthwith, "could you be feld-mar-
shall ?"
"Better than that"
"Ah! it is the emperor"
"Himself," said Joseph.
There was no way for falling on his
knees in the carriage; the dismayed
sergeant puzzled himself with excuses
and begged the emperor to stop in
order that he could get out.
"Now," said Joseph to him; "after
having eaten my pheasant, you would
be too happy to get rid of me so soon,
I intend that you quit me only at your
door," And he got out there.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-04-10

long with the narrow-tired wagons
heavily loaded to greatly mar and in
jure the good roads that enterprising
men have made. We hope the far
mers will investigate, agitate and ex-
pertinent along this line.-Journal of
Agriculture.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-06-20
HOW TO Mash EInnneIH.

Three things are enemies Of fan,
nels; hot irons, hot water, and the rub.
bling on of soap when wet; these
things it is that shrink, full and dis
color tlannels. Look the garments
Owe and rub soap on sOilcd spots be-
fore wetting. Make a warm suds, and
add a tablespoonful of ammonia to n
gallon of water. Squeeze the gar
ments with the hands, but neve rub
them, least of all upon the board-put
that out OF temptations way. Rinse
in water of the same temperature as
the first, ill clean. If colored, add
white vinegar to the last water, to set
the color. After w%ringing shake well
and draw into shape; dry quickly,
pulling them into shape as they dry.
The WriStlets of vests and anklets OF
tights should be stretched as narrow
as possible, to restore them to their
natural clOs< fit, and the bag at the
knees and bulge at the elbows can be
pulled out. Take the garments down
while still damp, and press with a
warm irOn-neyer hOt-till perfectly
dry. in this way old fiannels will be
as soft and comfortable to wear as
new ones.-Demorest's Magazine.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-06-20

passengers was $oS5, 394. 55S. and the
revenue derived from freight traffic
was 5000. 400, 1913. During the year
1893 railway employees were killed
and 23,422 were injured, as compared
with 2,727 killed and 31,11S injured in
1893. This marked decrease in casual
ty is partly due, the report says, to
the decrease i'm the number of men en-
ployed and the decrease in the volume
of business handled. The increased use
of automatic appliances on railway
equipment also may have rendered
railway employment less dangerous.
The number of passengers killed was
32i, an increase Of %, and the NUM-
Der injured was 1904, n decrease of
195. To show the ratio of casualty, II
may be stated that one empioye vas
killed out of every 42S in service and
n injured out OF every 33 employed.
In conclusion, the report statistician
renews the recommendations made in
previous reports in regard to the de-
STABILITY of requiring annual reports
from express companies, corporations,
companies and persons owning rolling
stock used in interstate commerce.:
corporations, companies and persons
owning depot property, stock yards
and elevators used by interstate car
riers, and from carriers from water
that compete with railways for traffic.
reference is also made to the question
Of requiring the railways to report
freight earnings by commodities. ON
account of the depressed financial o II
dition of railways, it has been decided
to let this matter rest anOtrer year,
although there is nc question as TO
the desirability of such reports.