davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1895-11-30
THE WATERMELON NET.
A Convenient Contrivance for Carrying
 Home the Massive Fruit.

A Convenient Contrivance for Carrying
 Home the Massive Fruit.
 The invention of the watermelon net was due primarily to change in the shape of watermelons. Years ago the great majority of watermelons were much longer than they were thick. Then when a man carried home the watermelon which ne had bought the dealer took a turn around one end of 1t with a stout cord, carried the cord along to the other end, and took an other turn there, and the connecting length of cord between the loops served as a handle, while the shape of the melon kept the loops from slipping of. But with the change of the melon to the shorter, chubbier shape now prevailing this plan was no longer pos sible, and so the net came in six or eight years ago.
 The watermelon nets, says the New York Sun, are made, of Q jute twine called melon twine. They are of one size. They are big enough for any melon, and with small melon in a net it is easy to take up the slack. They are made altogether by hand, at odd times, by people accustomed to net making. They are sold at wholesale at two dollars a hundred. The melon dealer used to charge five cents for a net, but now most dealers glve the nets away.
 Notwithstanding their bulk many melons are carried home by the pur- chaser. The suburban resident may spot particularly fine melon and take it right along with him in a net; a man living in the city may do the same thing. Whatever the circumstances under which a man wants to take a melon with him the net is great con venience; it beats carrying the water melon under the arm out of sight.
 But while many melons are thus car ried in the course of the season, still the great majority of watermelons arc sent home just like other things, ano so after all the sale of watermelon nets amounts to only few thousands an nually.
The St. Johns herald., 1895-11-30
DlsLlKED IN BERLIN.

The German Emperor Apparently De
 lights In Annoying the Capital
 The emperor has become extremely unpopular during his six years of reign, and this fact is so patent to even cas- ual observer that it would be folly to denv it. It can not be disputed, either, says a writer in the New York Post, that the emperor furnishes, every little while. abundant cause for this feeling. Thus, by his express orders the whole neighborhood where a military or court ceremony is to be enacted is every time shut off against the popu- lace-a precaution which William l. never took, although the aged monarch was. as will be remembered, the victim of a number of attempts on his life. Again, a government bill is now talked of to shield still further the life of the monarch against possible assassins.
 If, however, one thing more than an other has estranged the sympathies ot the lower classes from the present em- peror, it is the recent order prohibiting the holding of the Christmas fair on the. Schlossplatz. adjoining the royal castle. where such a fair had been going on fortnight before the holi- days since time eimmemorial. The thou sands of petty dealers and the myriad of small lads and aged women who, during the fair, were given chance to earn a few marks by selling cheap wares of every description, and who have now been driven into the poorer and more thickly-populated quarters of the city, feel deeply aggrieved at this latest change. Again, the em- peror cordially reciprocates the dislike of the Berliners, and he simply testities to that fact by spending as little of his time as he possibly can in his capital, preferring the inconvenience of resid- ing in Potsdam, with the ceaseless riding to and fro in railroad carriage, to remaining in the midst of the crit ical, sarcastic, outspoken people o1 Berlin. This studied neglect of the capital city means more than a slap al the local patriotism of Berlin-it means loss of millions of marks, the money roing to the tradesmen Of other cite: and towns, especially of Potsdam. A; an excuse this year the emperor ha: given it out that the thorough renova tion of the old castle, inside and out was responsible for his late coming anC early going, but nobody here accept this excuse. All the less is 1t accepted because of the undeniable distres throughout Berlin this winter.
The St. Johns herald., 1895-11-30
SCARCITY OF LEATHER.
French Government Cannot Sup.
 ply It's Army with Shoes.
Principal Causes of the Great Falling On tn the Supply-No Practical Solu- tion of the Distressing
 Problem.

Leather is so scanty and high of price just now in France that the min ister of war is greatly perplexed over the question of how to secure the nec- essary footwear for the great num- Der of men which that nation keeps continually in readiness for its defense. Not only this, says the New York World, but sufficient supply of leather for the saddles, harness and other fur nishings of the cavalry and artillery is lacking.
 When the government invited bids recently for the equipment ot the troops with shoes and horse furniture the only contractors who dared make an offer demanded so high figure that their propositions were rejected, and those who have yet contracts to fill for these articles are seeking every means possible to break them, fearing that ruin will be the result if they are com pelled to carry out their agreements.
 Hides have doubled in price since the beginning of the present year. This unusual state of affairs in the leather trade was thought at first to be the re- suit of corner in the market, but it has since become evident that the re- markable scarcity in that commodity is produced by variety of simple and natural causes.
 Three of the principal reasons for this dearth of leather are: The recent war between China and Japan, the many revolutions and bloody conflicts in the South American republics and the scarcity of fodder and pasturage owing to the unfavorable weather of last year and the year before in the countries of the world from which the principal supply of hides comes.
 The catastrophes of the climate and of war in South America, although serious enough in themselves, would not alone have been sufficient to bring about the present state of affairs. It is the war between China and Japan which is more directly responsible for the dearth which now prevails. When | war was declared Japan placed large contracts in the United States for the equipment of its infantry and cavalry with footwear and other furnishings. ! To ill these promptly the contracDors in this country bought up nearly all the visible supply of leather suitable for that purpose.
 Since the war closed Japan has sent new orders of equal importance to the merchants here for fresh supplies of shoes and military trapping', and the markets have been swept bare to fill them. The price of green" hides has therefore risen so high that the tanners are buying as little as they can, and large percentage of the tanneries throughout the world are closed.
 In France especially the wholesale manufacture of shoes is in a deplora ble state. Generally the product of one season is made up to sell the next, but owing to the high prices prevailing thi: year for the necessary raw material 6 great number of the shoe factories art closing and throwing out of employ ment large number of worl1men.
 An immediate and practical solution of the question seems impossible. Th' crisis has not yet been reached, anC the ultimate outcome will be interest ing to notice.
The St. Johns herald., 1895-11-30
MooRs OF DELAWARE.

a Curious People Who Live by Themselves
 and Are vartously Accounted For.
 There has been much speculation about the so-called Moors living in Kent and Sussex counties, Del. These people are usually swarthy, black haired, and black-eyed. though some times of a fair complexion. They are mostly farmers. They have their own schools distinct from the general pulp lie school system, and they associate neither with whites nor with blacks. One theory has been that they are of the Moorish race, and that their ances- tors were Spanish Moors wrecked on the coast moro than century ago. Another tradition represents them as descendants of the Nanticoke Indians.
 George P. Fisher, a lawyer long prac- ticing in Delaware, writes to the Mil ford Herald to present what he regards as satisfactory evidence as to the origin of these people. He has been ac- quainted with these people all his life. Nokc Norwood, giant of the tribe, erect and black-haired at seventy-fve. he knew from childhood. When MT. Fisher became attorney general of the state he was called upon to prosecute Levin Sockum, one of the race, for sell ing ammunition to Isaiah Harmon of the same race, the indictment having been found under statute of Delaware making it misdemeanor to sell arms or ammunition to any negro or mulatto. Harmon was a Gan of twenty years, with excellent Caucasian features, dark chestnut hair, rosy cheeks and hazel eyes. Mir. Fisher thought him the handsomest man, in the courtroom. Nevertheless, Lydia Clark. kins- woman of Harmon, testified for the state that, according to family tradition, some years before the revolutionary war broke ont, when she was little girl, their ancestress, woman of Irish birth. owning and cuitivating farm Tn the Indian river hundred, Sussex coun- ty. a few miles from Lewes, bought of a slayer that was driven into Lewcs creek a negro slave who professed to be a chief of one of the Congo tribes. The woman, whose name was Regua, shortly after married her slave, and her children, not being allowed to associate with the whites, intcrnarried with the remnant of the Nanticoke Indians, then still living in Sussex county. The wit ness, very old woman, looked like an Indian of pure blood.
 These people for several generations were confined principally to the south eastern part of Sussex county, but have since gone into Kent county, and even northward into Newcastle county. They have always refused to associate with the colored people. Although chiefly engaged in farming, they have managed to pick up sufficient mechan' ical skill to build their own houses. Mir. Fisher says that they are thrifty industrious, frugal and law abiding
 He has known of but two instances where one of the race was brought into court for violation of law. One case was that of Sockum and the other of q man charged with attempted murder but acquitted.
The St. Johns herald., 1895-11-30
Broad-Minded Leo.

When Investigating the vatican rec ords Pope Leo XIII. said to Dom Gas quet the librarian: Publish every thing of interest-everything, whether it tends to the discredit or credit of the ecclesiastical authorities, for you may be sure that if the gospels had been written in our day the treachery of Judas and the denial of St. Peter would have been suppressed for fear of scan dalizing weak consclenccs." So I'nrC Halitax told the .cEgi.sA LAurCh -A.or
 he other day.
The St. Johns herald., 1895-11-30
Banking in Russia.

In Russia the state bank advances money at four and one-half per cent. a year on all kinds of goods in amounts as high as two-thirds of their value; it takes money on deposit at one and one half per cent. A little while ago, to assist the grain trade, the government bought largely direct from the pro- ducers, and will soon be the laEgest holder of grain in the country. It has nearly completed the absorption of private railroad lines, has acquired the monopoly of the manufacture of spir. its and the control of the retail trade, is about to take the wine and sugaI trade into its hands and very l.leiy tAe eel tr-.e aS VII.
The St. Johns herald., 1895-11-30
APACHE COUNTY, ARIZONA,
 Bureau of Information.

By addressing the undersigned, intend ing settlers ard home seekers will be furnish ed with all information, covering the re- sources of Apache County, climate, soil, pre- ducts, water facilities, land, etc., etc. The best and most feasible routes to travel to visit our locality, probable cost, and all general information needed. Address all communica- tiOns to
 COMMISSIONER OF. IMMIGRATION,
 St johns. Apache Ccunty Erzona.
The St. Johns herald., 1895-11-30

sALESRooMS:
 New York; Philadelphia, Cleveland  0 Dinneap Portland oriand lyL.syi-> Ad~nt, kchInocd Na
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-10-04
WORK AND WORKERS.

The Wheeling Iron and Steel Company, az
Benwood, W. Va, granted an Increase In
wages of from 10 to Is per cent to its lou
emp.oyes.
The militia are being withdrawn from
Ishpeming and Negaunee, Mich, and work
Is being gradually resumed at al OF tue
mines there. 1 will be two VT eks yet leiore
the water j., pumped out OF the lower ieVeis'
According to a despatch from Hougnton,
Mlca.. thi, yeats output Of copper ty the
Calumet & Hecla Company will be NJ arly
@, 900, ,OcO pounds more than last year, an
Increase OF one-third.
There Is another suspension OF mining
OF erations in the Gin on district, in idiana'
The operators have ordere i the men 10 taKe
out their .ools with the intention OF closing
the mines until the wage scale qles'ion In
the State is settled.
The MassilloD, O., miners decided to de-
mand 60 cents ton afer October aDi 10
strike II refused They now receive 81 cents
aud claim tn t the Pittsburs advance, whicn
is to take place October 1, entitl tn m to
similar advance.
St. Louis despatch says that big strike
Is brewing on the Wabash Railway, wnicn
threatens to tie up the entire system De-
tween Toledo and Kansas City. The trouble,
it is said is due TO the discharge Oh en-
ployes Of the road for meml ership In the
various brotherhoods. Waba'h officials oe-
ny the story.
Adyices from Trinidad, West Indies, re-
ceived at Colon, state that there has been an
im1 ense iaflux OF miners and prospectors
at the gold mines at Carsevenne and on tn'
island of Cayenne. Large Quantities oil
gold have been fund and the indieati' MS
ars that there is a gold belt extending from
Ven zuela 10 Brazl."
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-10-04
8Ei7TE;'ly||l{y529!|;;2z9}57EJB E;'l|| !! ;!'!;;! I!
@@Es 4 g@NzAg gRNANNEE M
AAZAIllY1HN Mg2lzSZ.}

cIasro1 hands above my hea1 as II mute
" b b'essing me. 1t may be that this was
Int An eccentric vision OF a dream dls-
tracted brain. However this may be
feel that | too must soon pass away
feel that my strength is weakening
fast"
His voice during this spec was low
and feyersh; ftful and wild at hrSt'
then slow and solemn. AS nc quiC
speaking his breath began TO come
heavily AMI he fell back; but antici-
patcd this and caught him before ne
could fall to the ground l assisted or
rather carried him into the paror where
had noticed sort of couch sofa, and
was looking aruond for something OF
VIII ch TO make a light when suddenly
the room became softly illuminated, and
saw the Scnor Montinni and number
of the reve'c of the night tefore stand
ing around the couch Montinni came
close to ne and whispered "Senor Bur
ton is very i'll; his time is near at hand.
You must go TO. his mother We VIII
see that he is kept a3 comfortable as
D ssible. His mother lives twenty miles
up the bayou in the town of M. The
packet steamer, Katie of tho Dell, is due
to pass here about this time. You had
better prepare to go at once.
Looking out at the window | saw a
long train of sparks falling back from
two tall dark pipes down the bayou, and
knew that the steam @: was coming.
Getting few detail; of direction from
Mcatinni, and taking leave of Burton, l
ran over the hill to the la ding just in
time to hal tho boat The steamers
whistle an wered my salute, the boat
drcw up against the bank to take me on
q d soon | was ra senger, my thoughts
ming ing vaguely with the kissing OF
the engines, the sp' ashing of the wheels,
the trailing of the sparks, and recolec-
tons O the strange events at the haunt
ed house.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-10-04
An Engineers Error Causes
FriShtful Results.
PASSENGERS BADLY HURT.
The Eastbound st. Louis EXPRESS
"Side-Swiped" by the West
bound Train on Account
ofMlstaken Signals.

A disastr us railroad collision occurred
al Tunneltop, W. VI, on the BhtImore "uu
Oh,o Railroad. Four persons wer1 very seri'
isly junde !, ore probably fanl'y so, ana
4s others slightly injured. The seriously
wounded are:
A. D. Garden, United States marshal,
Wheeling, w. Va, lady scaldsd about lace'
hands and limbs Inhaled steam; wi de.
Mis-, Lulu Downtain, state librarian,
Charlestown, W. Va, face and hands scalded'
In a crit cll con liton.
Mrs. Neil J. FJrtney Kingwood, W. Va.'
iacs and hand badly scalded; may recover
william A. Ohley cx-secretary OF state'
Charlestown, w. Va, had face and limbs
scalJed; not out OF danger
The collision occurred at II o'clock p. m
Train NJ. 4, eastbound, was pu ing out from
the platform at Tunnel:on on time when train
NJ. /, westbound dashed into the side OF the
eastbound train.
Engineer Hillery, Of the westbount train,
was mistaken In the signal lights and thought
the coast was clear His error caused fright
full results. The smoking car was struck hr't
and tipped ever. The ladies' car was smashed
and so upset. The first Pullman car was
shattered most, an the collision broke III
steam pipes and cylinder-head OF the engine
and the torrents Of steam and hot water
rusl ed into the car, sca!ding horribly those
nearest to them.
Many passengers were thrown from their
seats aud bruised, and flying splinteis and
broken gla-s cut many In the car. The iour
who were most seriously injured had just
boarded the train at Tunnelton, and
were entering the aisle next to the reading
room in the sleeper when the engine dashed
into the car.
None OF the passengers on train No. or
the enginemen were injured.
The scene vas one Of terror. Passengers
ran frantically from both trains, some 10
their night clothes, women and men scream
Ing frantIcaI y The four so badly icaldod
we're at once taken to hotel and medical
aid summoned. The wreck was cleared by
o'clock In the morning and the remainder OF
those slightly injured were taken 10 Grafton
It was impossible 10 obtain list OF those
slightly hurt. The train officials would giyi
out no Information, and decline to talk con"
cernng the cause OF the wreck.
Engineer Gus Hillery, whose engine caused
the disaster, has been on the road Tor "a
years, and T. 1, is his first accident The
| marty of four who were so badly scalde1
were leaving this town for short visit to
Washington. They were all friends, and
their anticipate ed trip OF pleasure was sadly
ended. Mfss Lula Downtain was at Qne time
In charge Of newspaper In this state and Is
an able writer.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-10-04
CABLE SPARKS.

TIE French forces in Madagascar have
surprised and defeated the Hovas.
In Berlin, 1t is reported that Emperor VII
Lam and Czar Nicholas will meet shortly &c
Rominten.
Insurgents arc said to have invaded inc
Provinc, OF Mantabzas, Cuba, and TO nave
marched within Is miles of Havana.
II is reported in London that the Japanese
government has ordered material for caple
ON Japan to the Island OF Formosa.
Messrs. Goff aud R. J. BIeckinrid4e. Jr,
OF DanvllIe, Ky, the Americans hoiu III
Guatemala In connection With the BROOKS
murder, have been rel, ased.
1t is said that every steamer arriving Id
Spain from Havana brings many poiitlca'
Pris ners sentenced to penal servi'ude ID
Africa because OF their sympathy Tor tne
Insurgents.
The British freight steamer Condor, whlch
ioulel and damaged the United s'ato'
cruiser Alert at Guayaqui, E:uador, mas
been detained at that port In an action ier
damages.
Boutellhe, the man who carried a pomo
into the vestibule OF the Rothschilds bank
Ing house, Paris, where he attempted 10 e1-
plode 1t, has been sentenced to three years
Imprisonment.
Serious forest fires ere raging along the
ine OF the Grand Trunk Railroad, near
0thabcska, Quebec, and many lamiiies
la been burned out There have been no
ia ALT es, however
Tne Sultan has conferred pom Mrs. PEN
aeld, vile OF The Unite States consu.-gen-
sral in Cairo, Egypt, the Gordon, OF the
C-ehcat, set with small jewels. Tais decor
alton s OF ve:y hi III rank.
Thirty million taels IN silver has been de-
posted at Shanghai by the Chinese govern
ment with which to pay the supplem 'nsary
indemnity required by japan as a consider
a:ion for the evacuation OF the Lao Tu1g
peninsula.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-10-04

leaf pine tree $50 years od. Another Is
machine by which hundreds OF young trees
were planted in the Wes; In single day.
Still another interesting exhibit Is that pre-
parel by DR.. Fernow showing the destruc-
tive effect OF deauding hills OF their forest
growth, the mann in which to re'tore Inc
forests and the effect after restoration.
THE FORESTRY EXHIBITS.
DR.. Fe;now, h g furn ished the 10 lowing
article on Lis Department.
The idea which prevades the display in the
Forestry DeIar ment is TO bring before no
vi or all information obtainabe regarding
the extent. dis ribution, character and use
fu ness OF the forest resources OF the South
EN- States. The exhibits therefore are prim-
arIIy not OF commercial and competitive
character but the instructive features are
made M st prom ne t.. Therefore variety Is
the striking feature.
Where the different types OF forest growth
are TO be found Is shown by series OF maps
A botanical display OF a-boie'cent flora
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-10-04
LOST IN THE SNOW.
Two Wyoming Boys Perished While Search
ing for Cows.

Frank Neyan, Of Rawlins, Wyo., sent his
two little boys, aged eleven and thirteen
years, out af er the cows The boys not re-
turning he came In and alarmed the town.
About twenty horsemen Immediately re-
sponded. They have returned without md
ing any trace of the missing boys, who u1-
Goubtedly perished In the recent storm. Inc
searchers report the snow in the hills two
feet deep. The stage from SnaIe River
picked up one Of Taylor & Hoggs shep-
herds, named Gray, who was lying near the
road, completely exhausted and slightly
frozen. When he heard the stage approach
he fred his pistol to attract the drivers at
tention. He was so numb with the cold hat
he was unable to reach 1t without assistance.
DENVER, Col r 'presentat YES from all
over Colorado show that a blzz lrd pre-
vailed throughout the Sac. Snow from
two to ten inches deep has fallen, which is
unprecedented in September.