davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-11-14
LAILA BELLE rlARTIN.

When a flower fades away. when
the petals fall to the earth and are
seen no more, we realize that all
earthly things are transitory. The
bloom of youth, the strength and
vigor of middle life, the lettering
steps of old age, are seen every day
and pass unnoticed. 1t is natural for
us to expect those who have lived the
allotted time to yield, but all are
shocked when one in early life droops
and fades away. Such was the case
when it was said that she, whose
name is written above, was dead. A
wide circle of friends-al who know
her were friends-could scarcely be-
lieve the sad tidings that LAILA was
no more. They remembered that but
a few months ago she was bright and
vivacious, full of life, buoyant, hope
full. Then came the thought that the
dread malady, consumption, had been
corroding her system, and that there
was no escape. They had also no.
ticed that her accustomed place in the
sunday school was occasionally va
cant and all knew that it was not of
her own volition. When her class
assembled the first word was-"Is
LAII.A unable to be here2" The class
book shows that she was not, at any
time. absent. 1t was the wish of all
that she should have perfect record.
A terrible hemorrhage was the first
premonition that the end was near.
Still she was hopeful. On Sunday
she was bright and cheerful, but the
paller of death rested on her brow.
Monday a change came. She realized
that she must soon part from father,
mother, sisters, brothers, friends and
companions. She said she was will
ing to go. Not murmur escaped
her lips, only-"I am SO tired and
would like to sleep" Sleep, tired
natures sweet restorer," closed her
eyes. Instead of recuperating her
weary frame, it waited her spirit across
the abyss that separates mortality
from imm ortality. She z0as dead.
OF her, though young, it may be
said, as was said of another who had
attained the highest earthly honor
"Life's race we'll won; LIES work well
done; life's victory won; now cometh
rest.
LAILA BELLE MARTIN was born in
Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-11-14

LAILA BELLE MARTIN was born in
Shippensburg, Pa, October 6, 1878. and
died at the home of her parents, G.. w.
M. and Mamie B. Martin, in Martins
burg, w. Va, at 10 p. M, Monday, No
vember, 0, 1896. Funeral services We're
conducted by Rev. j. A. Price, d. D., at
the First NJ. E. Church, the Sunday
school of which she was Secretary, at
tending in body. Her remains were
inferred in Green Hill cemetery.
The above tribute to the memory OF
our dear classmate and pupil is bes-
towed by the teacher and members OF
Class No. IS, First M. E. Sunday
school, Martinsburg, w. Va.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30

against British domination in this part
Of Africa. He is an able jurist. good
statesman and Il strong man. The
country over which he will rule is an
Independent Dutch republic in South
Africa. On the south of it is Cape
Colony, on the west Griqualand. the
Transyaal on the north and Natal on
the east Its area is 1926 square
miles. The total population numbers
207.5 .503, Of whom nearly $4,000 are
whites. The government consists OF
Il president and council appointed by
the yolksrdad. The country is divided
into nineteen districts, with Il land.
rost" to each appointed by the presi-
dent and confirmed by the volksraad.
The volksraad is a legislative body
elected by the adult white burghers,
half of the body vacating seats every
two years
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30

what is on for the evening. Mrs. Cleye
land is ready for her constitutional
about 1890.
Under ordinary circumstances any
woman in Washington would be de
lighted to be hOnOred with an invita-
ton to keep Mrs. Cleveland company
for couple Of hours during the fore
noon. Most Of them did try it Tor a
while. After couple of experiences
al but the strongest have been content
to make a plea Of sickness.
Mrs. Cleveland's preference is always
for black skirt. This winter she has
usually worn one of the wide-gored
black skirts of heavy cheviot. Over
this she has a short jacket. single
breasted, with the buttons concealed
under the flap of the coat. The sleeves
of the coat are not abnOrmally inl-
menSe. A superb chinchilla cape of the
new winter fashion. very full and rip
ply, covers her shoulders. Its high col
lar is turned up only Ill the most bit
ing weather 1t is an immense cape.
and must have been made to order TO
suit Mrs. Cleveland'S shoulders. On
her head is little black toQue of vel
vet and astrakhan. with a couple of
wings at the side and front. There is
nothing striking or especially fashiOna-
BILE about the outfit. 1t is quiet and
comfortable. and designed for ease also
The daily stretch is not less than five
miles. If there is time and Il cOmpan-
ion who is equal to it it is six or seven
miles. This is one of the reasons every
body has been saying how well the
Presidents wife looked. says the New
York World. When she comes up the
walk to the White House her eyes are
clear and bright Her cheeks are
flushed with the exercise. and it is to be
hoped that the real purpose of the train
ing is being accomplished Two of the
women who have held out best and
have been her most frequent compan-
ions are Mrs. Minot, the daughter of
Secretary of State Olney, and Miss Har-
men, daughter of the new Attorney
General of the Cabinet.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30
hicago Times-Herald: a poor negro.

Chicago Times Herald: a poor negro.
long out of work which he had diligent-
ly Sought.ma with hunger and desper-
ate against society, saw a purse lying
in the lap of woman riding in a street
car. He seized the money bag. ran. was
pursued. oyertaken. and, with certain
penitentiary fate ahead, cut his throat.
The fashion that, depriving women Of
pockets, compels them to carry purses
and other articles of value exposed TO
the vision of poverty and want, is bru
tai. 1t is amazing that women, right
minded, kind-hearted and rational in all
other things, condescend to submit to
it. They are miserable slaves Of dress
makers. DreSsmakers are slaves of
style. There was never a style that so
idiotically ruled a sex. and there was
never time when that sex claimed to
be more intelligent OF half as independ
ent. Lead us not into temptation"
ought to be carried on the cOrSage OF
every woman. as Of old the fable placed
on the breast the bag containing the
wearer's foibleS- The poor fellow whom
the sight of woman's displayed purse
drove first to robbery, then to suicide,
leaving a family to the mercy Of the
world, is not the first victim of fash
ion that for it's cure only needs pair
of scissors to cut pocket hole or to rip
open a seam to make place for pleat
that would conceal access to pocket,
without detracting from the grace Of
the garment Cannot the Woman'S Club
and the various other philanthropic ag-
gregations of women of which we see
and hear SO much spare a little time
from aesthetics. poetry, parliamentary
law. political economy, and other high
er kindergartening to devote little
time to eXpounding that very old but
always salutary phrase, Lead us not
into temptation"' Which, being con-
temporaneously translated, means:
Women, in heavens name, put pockets
in your gowns and stop driving men to
felony and suicide. The grand jury has
done in its day worse things than bring
ing in a moral Indictment of women
who carry purses in their hands and
watches secured only by frail stick
pins on their buSts.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30
FROM SAP TO SUGAR.
CURlOS:TIES OF THE MAPLE
SUGAR BUSINESS.
How the Sap Is Obtained and How
Manufactured Into Sugar and Syrup
"A Profitable Thing for the Farm
ers of Vermont State.
The Maple Sugar Industry.

The process of making maple sugar
and syrup is quite interesting to the
majority Of people of this country.
While some maple sugar is made in
New Hampshire, northern New York
and Massachusetts, the bulk Of it is
manufactured in Vermont. The sap
of the sugar maple begins to run
about March 10 usually, and continues
three or four weeks according to the
weather Sap will run only when the
thermometer registers at least 81 de-
grees F.. and stops flowing as soon
as the frost is out of the ground, or
directly after the snow is gone. The
sugar season comes when the Vermont
farmer cannot protitably employ his
time otherwise.
AS soon as the weather is favorable
the Vermont farmer gets out his
buckets and sets to work tapping his
trees as quickly as possible. The ma
pie trees are tapped by boring the
trunks with a small bit-usually a
half-inch bit-about ~ inches deep,
and from one to three feet above the
ground. Trees are not tapped until
they are one foot in diameter. After
tapping. spout made Of clean maple,
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30

Some people may wonder why SCI
enlist should devote time and energy
to the task of securing quantitiTe meas
urements of sensibility in persons of
different ages and different classes Of
society To the careless or the ignOr-
ant a thermaeSthesiomet or an algo-
meter is of no consequence whatever,
but that such delicate aids to psyche
logical study have great value will be
evident even to the masses in the near
future. DR.. Arthur Macdonald, who is
a specialist in the United States Bu-
reau of Education, has developed some
interesting neuro-Social data. OF eSpe
cial moment are those that relate to
school children; one thousand seven
hundred and seven having been the sub
jects Of the doctors simple expert
mentS. Whatever may be the scientific
value of Dr. MacDonald'S measure
ments their practical value amounts
to much. A tabular statement of av
erage sensibility as to locality, heat
and pain has been prepared, present
ing which the doctor says that any pu-
pill 20 per cent. about or below these
averages for it's age should be reported
to the family physician:. ought, per-
haps, to be taken away from school or
if permitted to remain should not be re-
Quired to do the average amount Of
school work. Bright pupils with weak
bodies are now too common, but with
the assistance Of the clever psycholo-
gist they may enjoy measure of re-
lief sufficient to give the physical self
a chance to catch up with the over
rapidly developing mind. Practical
mon sense.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30

beech, tin or galvanized iron and fitted
is driven firmly into the hole made
by the bit. A bucket of tin or wood
is hung upon the spout, and the tap
ping process is finished. The buckets
are like ordinary water pals, gener-
ally all alike, and each farmer usually
paints all his buckets one color.
Only one hole is bored in young trees,
but it is not uncommon to have as
many as six buckets with two spouts
each hung to NAPLES of large size. If
the bucket fills with sap in a day the
run is a good one, although twice this
amount is obtained in exceptionally
favorable sap days. What is called
a good sized" sugar orchard will
contain from 500 to 800 trees, and in
the northern and central parts of Yer
mont orchards of 1000 to 1000 trees
are not uncommon.
When the sap begins to run we'll the
farmer and his family must work
hard. \ man with large farm will
employ help outside of his family fire.
Quently, and use two or three pair of
oxen or horses to make the rounds
of the trees with q sled, on which is
the large sap tub. into which the sap
from the buckets is poured. An or
chard of 700 or 500, OF even 1000 trees.
need not require the farmer to hire
help if he has two or three boys in
the family besides himself. From an
orchard of 700 trees an ordinary run
of sap for two days will enable the
farmer to collect about so barrels.
Sometimes GO barrels of sap can be
collected from 700 trees in one day.
AS soon as the men begin to collect
the sap the fires in the big evaporation
furnace must be started, and the boil
ing of the sap begun as fast as it is
brought in, so that none will be wasted
by souring, or that the quantity brought
from the woods may not so far eX-
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30

occupied by the boiling apDara tuS, ana
with the bunk Of the man who has tc
watch pans of boiling sap day and
night. One side is taken up by the
oven, which is built on a bed of brick
and consists of two brick walls, about
2 feet apart, 21a feet high and about
II feet long. A huge old-fashiOneJ
brick chimney is at one end, where
there is also a sort of square brick
furnace to hold a big kettle. In the
roof, near the center of the ridge pole
a large slot opens to the sky as an
escape for the steam. which rises in
heavy volumes from the pans ON the
fire
The sap as it comes from the map,v
tree is like water. and has barely any
more flavor than good water But it
doesn't take much heat to produce
flavor. A barrel of good sap will make
a gallon of syrup. Or eight pounds
of sugar. After being reduced to syr-
up in the evapOrator the product IS
allowed to cool and settle, more or
less Impurities being precipitated by
standing. The syrup is now ready
for putting into cans for sale. The size
most in use is a one-gallon can.
The proper consistency of syrup is
generally conceded to be II pounds to
the gallon, and this degree of density
IS reached at 219 degrees Fahrenheit
The sap is never made into more than
syrup in the evaporatOr. Then it is
poured into a large porcelain-lined ket-
tie to be boiled to sugar If wanted
for sugar, the boiling is continued until
the thermometer indicates 323 degrees
for pail sugar, or 23S or 240 degrees for
cakes, when the mass is removed from
the fire, stirred brisky for a short
time, and then poured into tin pals
or cake moldS, as the case may be,
to harden.
The cake molds are often a series of
parallel partitions ON a large wooden
board, with space in them about 3
inches apart. and just wide enough 10
admit knife blade. The molds are
dampened with sponge. then the hot
water poured in. Little fancy tins
are also used for moldS. The farmer
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30

ceed the accommodations at the house,
that while waiting to get room for it
much will be wasted at the trees. At
the time when the sap is running
freely the farmer must often keep the
fires going and the sap boiling all
through the night. and. of course, he
is likely to have to work all day Sun
day and Sunday night. 1t is aH-im-
portant that he make hay while the
sun Shines
When the work is hardest the fun is
at its best. Those vino have but a
small orchard will spare some of the
family to help a relative or neighbor
through sugaring.
The modern evaporator makes it pos
sible to do much sugar-making in Il
short time. The evaporation is made
of tin, copper or galvanized iron, and
is so constructed that the sap flows in
at one end, and by means of partitions
extending nearly across the other end,
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30
A Ree.HuDt.

An Australian savage comes up to
an Irishman's idea of human skill, for
''he bates the bees" A native seldom
fails to get honey when he discovers
the bee he has been watching for. The
following description of natives bee
hunt is given in Mr.. Arthur's Kan
garoo and Kauri:"
Warruyallah, the chief of tribe.
went with two little nets to small
pool, filled his mouth with water, and
then lying down, his head hanging over
the pool, he remained quiet for an hour,
apparently looking at his own ref1ec-
ton in the water. Then the hum of a
bee was heard. Buzz-z-z it went over
the pool. round the blacks head. now
on one side. now on the other. and now
close to his ear; but not a motion be-
trayed the bee-hunter
But when the bee dropping close 10
the water, gave notice by the change
of its tune that it was about to sip.
the chief. with a snort, squirted the
water from his mouth over the little
"buzzer" Before it had time to re-
cover from the unexpected douche he
seized it deXterously by the wings.
Then he prepared it for the chase
by fastening to it bunch Of wild cot
ton with some gum. The bee was let
go; it made for the hive, slowly at
first on account of it's novel burden.
which impeded its progress and showed
q sign in the air for the chief to follow.
Over bramble and brake went the
chief. accompanied by the men of his
tribe and in half an hour halted at the
foot of an immense gum-tree, into
whose top the bee had gone.
The chief mounted quickly, but cut
ting notches into, the bark with bis
stone tomahaWk. In a short time he
brought down a quantity Of honey
comb, a small piece only of which con-
tanned honey. The Australian bees are
stingless.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30
Compliment to a Soldier

During the siege of Paris Marshal
Canrobert found himself for a moment
in the presence of a party of ladies.
They were very much agitated. What
is the matter, ladies?" the marshai
asked.
THE matter?" said Madame Brohan.
in whose house the people were as
sembled. why, we are on the eve of
battle, and l suppose fear affects u.s.
"F'ear"' echoed the marshal, look.
ing about with puzzled air.
Madame Brohan rang her bell.
Marie" she said, when the maid ap-
peared, bring dictionary for the
marshalr'
Which was as much as to say that
the old commander did not know the
of the word.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30
MHS. CLEvELAND'S Walks.
First Lady of the Land Takes a Daily
Fivc-Mile Tramp.

Mrs. Cleveland always did walk more
or less, but since her return to the
White House last fall she has let very
few samples of severe weather deter
her from her daily constitutional. That
is what it really is. a constitutional
Although nobody says anything about
it. Mrs. Cleveland las been gaining
flesh, and she has also been working
energetically to keep it down.
Mrs. Cleveland doesn't ride Il bicycle.
She doesn't skate or play golf. She
doesn't ride or hunt. In fact, she has
none of the fun of the outdoor life that
is open to women who live in an exec
utive mansion and have to keep UP Off
cial dignity. That is why she has taken
to walking. Rain or shine, no matter
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30
SONG OF TEARS.
Composer Who Gave It to the World
Is Now Dying in Poverty.

Frederick Nicholas Crouch, the COM
poser of Kathleen MayOurneen,' is
dying in Baltimore in poverty The old
mans mind is gone and he raves about
the coronation of William ". the Gu
pidity of music publishers. his old tri
umphs and troubles Hundreds of thOU-
sands of people who have been moved
to tears by the recital of his famous
song will be amazed to learn that it's
composer is alive. For it is IN old song
and is involuntarily referred back to.
years long since dead. But it was ~
classic before it had become old and will
remain Il living power in the realm of
feeling until human nature is essential
ly changed. The poem itself was not
written by Mr.. Crouch. 1t was first
published in an English magazine. Here
it was that Crouch saw it. That was in
1887. when the musician was but 10.
years of age. These are the verses:
Kathleen Mavourneenl The gray dawn
is breaking,
The horn of the hunter is heard on the
hill;
The lark from her light wing the bright
dew is shaking
Kathleen Mavourneen! What! SIum-
bering still?
Oh, hast thou forgotten how soon we must
sever!
oh, hast thou forgotten this day we
must part
1t may he for years and it may be forever.
Oh, why art thou silent. thou voice Of
my heart:
Kathleen Mavourncen. Awake from thy
Slumbers,
The blue mountains glow in the suns.
golden light;
All, Where is the spell that once hung
on my numbers?
Arise in thy beauty, thou star of my
night.
Mavourneen. Mavourneen, my sad tears.
are falling.
To think that from Erin and thee 7
must part;
1t may be for years and it may be forever,
Then why art thou silent, thou voice Of
my heart?
Crouch wrote out his melody and Of
fered it to a firm of music sellers, who.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30

where it is drawn off as syrup. The
sap in the pan is kept shallow-about
one-half inch in depth-and eyaporates
very rapidly. Rapidity Of evaporation
is greatly to be desired, not only on
the score OF economy of time, but
because the sooner the sap is con.
verted into syrup after it runs from
the trees, the lighter will be the colol
and the finer the flavor of the syrur
and sugar.
The sugar house is rough little
building with shed half full of well
dried cordwood The room is mainly
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30
Out in Kansas a judge has ruled that

Out in Kansas a judge has ruled that
'tif a man calls on a girl several times
and escorts her to entertainments occa-
sionally he is legally engaged to marry
her" That judge evidently is suscepti-
BILE to outside influences. If an old
maid asked him to do so he probably
would issue an injunction to prevent
the rising of the moon or would cheer
fully declare unconstitutional the laws
of nature
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30
Women at the Helm

Among the curiOSitieS of the Russian
dominions is a group of communes in
the government of SmOlensk. surround
ing the convent of Besjukow. where not
only do women vote, but where they
practically do all the voting and office
holding.
AS the returns from agriculture ara,
very meager in the district, and there
are large towns not far away, the male.
inhabitants of the BesJukow neighbor-
hood emigrte to these rOwns early in
spring TO find work, leaving few but
women and children at home. and not
coming home to attend to the little mat
ter of voting.
1nasmuch as the women have TO DO.
all the farm work as we'll as the hOuse-
work in this singular communitv. If
does not seem strange that they rather
insist upon holding the offices, and not
assigning them to such old men as NAV
be about. furthermore, it is said that
they have for period of several years
managed all the public affairs of the
BesJukOw district so well that the men
are quite content TO abandon the tefi-
Gus work of government to them.
Sometimes. when the head woman
OF the joint communes is presiding over
a public assembly of women to pass
upon important financial and other con-
Germs. certain of the men have been
known to come home for the purpose
of merely looking on and admiring the
method of procedure-or else Of hearth
ly felicitating themselves upon being
rid of so bothersOme q duty.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30

The duke of Veragua has been wax
ing exceeding saucy toward the Uni
ted States of late. This probably comes
from Tom Palmer's "Veragua relief
fund.-" which, when last heard from,
stood at S1.6S. 1t isn't wise to make
these foreign paupers independently
wealthy all at once
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30

In a recent Sioux Falls divorce trial
the fair plaintiff testified that for the
first three years of her married life
her husband kissed her at least 100
times day. But at the expiration of
that time he began to lag in his atten
tionS. sometimes not kissing her more
than a dozen times every twenty-four
hours. The brute! This unfortunate
young woman is clearly entitled to a
separation on the ground OF extreme
nrIleltV
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30

after that remarked the young
slim who had been telling an inqne
ghost story, my mind was a blank
That accounts for it." commended q
sharp young woman, and there was
an interregnum of profound silence
Truth.
The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-30
They Never Move

There are but two European poten-
tates who manage to get along with
out change of residence. These are the
Pope of Rome and the Sultan of Tur-
key. The Sultan has never left Con-
StantinOple since he ascended the
throne in such tragic circumstances
nineteen years ago. and his Holiness
has remained within the precincts of
the Vatican since the triple tiara was
placed upon his head.