davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
Male and Female Oaks.

Mr. Knight, the eminent English bota-
mist. has made some curious and interesting
investi cations on the production of flowers
of different sex in the various species of
the oak tree He shows that, as rule,
that species of tree bears the male and fe-
male flowers on separate individuals, but
that these different individuals may be
made TO produce flowers of either sex at
will In forcing the female oak to produce
male flowers, and vice versa, Mr.. knight
employed light and heat, regulating the
supply OF both To suit himself and according
to the end In view This remarkable series
of experiments proved that ii the heat was
excessive as compared with the light, male
flowers only appeared On the other hand,
II the light was excessive and the temper
allure comparatively low. nothing but fe-
male flowers were produced
In other species Of trees which bear the
male and female flowers on separate indi-
viduals the experiments of the botanist
were not so conclusive as In the case of the
oaks. However, 1t is believed that these
Investigations will finally lead To the CON
clusion that I'm the majority of trees and
plants the cultivator will be able TO pro-
duce sexes at will Many curious investi-
cations are now being made along those
lines and we may expect surprising results
st Louis Republic.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
OLD w.lcxv SETTER THAN NEW.
Fusel OH and Its Poisonous E6ects on the
Human System.

The col monty prevailing ideas as 20 the
chemistry OF whisky are evidently confus.
ed The public notion has always been
that crude or freshly distilled whisky was
injurious and that 10 required the mellow.
ing influence OF age 70 make IL ht for con.
sumption In other words, new whisky
was held 20 be deleterious because II con
tanned fusel oil and that the reason why
old whisky was more wholesome was be-
cause tk.s fuse. OF. changed in course Of
time 70 the sc called nnanthic ether To
put IL chemically, the amyi alcohol (fusei
OLD oxidizes slowly into amyl ether. which
Is not OILY thought 10 be innocuous, but 10
Improve the flavor The deputy principal
OF the inland revenue branch of the gov.
eminent laboratory would remove these
notions at one sweep Thus IN reply 70 a
question before the liquor commission ne
stated-and II was a repeated statement
that it was mistake TO suppose that new
spirits contained more fusel oil and were
more unwholesome than old.
With the former part Of his statements
we will not now deal but 20 the latter we
distinctly demur liz cannot be supposed
that whisky merchants take the trouble
20 store their whisky for years unless they
know that u is thereby improved from the
dietetic point Of view Again. IL Is we'll
known that SO convinced are the authori.
ties of the Canadian government Of the
EMBELLISHMENTS of new whisky that, we
believe, they have regulation In force
prohibiting the sale of whisky that has
not been stored for certain number Of
years Fusel oil is admittedly Injurious
indeed, Notwithstanding, at least, to
the experiments OF several observers In
one case. for example. part Of amyl al.
cohoi in 500 parts of water caused anes-
thesla In frogs IN 20 minutes, the hearts
action becoming slower. the skin dark,
death occurring in about two hours and
the cardiac pulsations gradually ceasing
The common effect OF fusel oil Is TO pro.
duce intense headache, and 10 must be
borne In mind that In the case of whisky
the action OF alcohol must be added TO
that of the fusel oil The amount OF fusel
oil, we believe. in whisky averages about
D. per cent These observations hardly bear
out the statements made before the com.
mission. incidentally we may add that II
is exceedingly satisfactory 20 find that the
consensus of opinion OF the witnesses be.
fore this commission appears 10 be that
there Is decrease in drunkenness IN ths
metropolis, but this decrease IL Is note.
worthy, is less among women than among
men. London Lancet.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
PIays and Novels.

II your play succeeds it's a popular play
IL your play fails, there's something the
matter with 1t. and you'd better bow at
once to the public's decision Now. that
why many literary people take To novel
writing You write a novel and sell 8. 900
copies Your labor has not been in vain.
You We pleased 1000 readers. And play
to succeed must please l 900 different peo-
pie every night. To be a success IL cannot
run much under 80 nights. That means
II has pleased 80, 600 individuals Of distinct
minds and tastes. A successful play,
therefore, must appeal to $1,000 more peo-
pie than a successful novel And so l be-
lieve that the novel, as an easier form for
artistic expression, has finally taken pre-
cedence over the play. Again. the field OF
the novelist is freer than the playwright's
He is less cramped by convention and the
necessity TO compress The novel has no
such metes and bounds as the play. That
means, then. the drama can never again
be the power that IL once was. dramatic
Mirror
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
THE SAPleNT CROW.
He Can Count Up to Twenty-six and Has
q Touch OF Irony In His Make Up.


A naturalist who IL much interested in
birds saws that the crow is the wisest of all
feathered animals He has made mum
Der of experiments recently and declares
that an ordinarily we'll educated crow can
count to 20 and that he has found IA senti
mel crow. very old and very wise, that can
count 70 % He made these discoveries In
a very interesting way.
Last summer he spent much time in the
mountains. where a cadet company OF
boys was camped One day he found
flock of crows gathered around dead ami.
NAL that lay near little old shanty in the
woods They Tapped away when he ap
preached so he hid himself In the old
shanty and waited, but they would not
come back Then he went out and walked
on up the mountain. and they all settled
down again to the feast That afternoon
he took four boys from the cadet camp
with him, and the five marched into the
little building and waited No crows came
back Two of the boys went out. Still
no crows Then the other two went out
and only the naturalist remained But
the old sentinel crow had evidently count
ed them as they went in, and he knew they
had not all come out. So he sat on a dry
derisively At last the naturalist left the
building, and straightway all the crows
returned This experiment. was repeated
a number OF times with varying numbers
of boys, but the crows kept count and
would not come down until the building
was entirely empty.
At last a whole platoon of the cadets
26 boys in all, and the naturalist march
ed into the old building Then slowly 20
of them went away The crows did not
stir Two more, four more, five more
went, but the old sentinel warned his COM
panions that the men had not all gone
Then the twenty-sixth cadet marched
away, leaving only the naturalist In a
very few minutes there were number Of
hopeful caws and tapping of wings and
the crows returned The old sentinel could
evidently count 20, but numbers beyond
this puzzled him. The experiment was
tried several times more and 1t was found
that the crows could keep the count with
out difficulty up To 20, but beyond that
they were uncertain This shows that the
crow is very wise old bird. Chicago
Record
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
4 Winged Foe Of Ousiis.

A bird that has gained for itself the fame
of being the most proficient game destroyer
in the northern part OF Illinois Is the coop
er ; hawk Ii is especially destructive to
quails Az old accusation Is brought
against the coopers hawk Ii Is alleged
that IT PUSHES at bevy Of quails with such
fierceness that the scared birds leap into
the air and das! themselves against trees
or other objects In this way the cooper's
hawk IL said to cause the death of q good
many more quails than II actually kills
Breeding from Newfoundland 10 Mexico
and wintering south Of Massachusetts as
II does the cooper's hawk as a species feeds
on a variety Of kinds of game-poultry and
game birds. song birds and frogs, lizards
and insects, besides sundry mammals and
an occasional snake. Once In awhile 1t
takes great risks To- get its food Cooper's
hawks AZ well as other kinds. sometimes
capture the killed or wounded victim Of q
gunner. New York Sun.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
Dom Paul's Parable.

A friend of mine tells me the following
story of President Kruger In 1889 some
uitlanders went as a deputation to him to
explain that the price Of shares in mines
was going down. and they limited that he
was responsible for 1t. He replied Some
years ago | had favorite monkey, for
which had great affection One day
went out for an excursion into wood with
my monkey Ii was cold. so the monkey
and ! made fire In that fire the monkey
burned his tail on which he turned ON me
and bit me l said to him My dear mon.
key made fire with you to warm US;
you burned your tail III it--that was your
fault. and I reai not see why you
should be angry wlt.' me. Having re
lated this fable, the president smoked his
pipe and left the deputation to draw the
moral. London Truth
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
A MOIST MOUNTAIN PATH.
She uninviting Roads That Travellers Have
60 Face In Africa.

The rocks which edge and strew the
path are covered with exquisite ferns and
MOSES Of every delicate shade OF green
and here and there are touches OF absolute
gold colored moss which looks as n some
ray OF sunlight had fingered too long play.
ing on earth and had got shut OF from
heaven by the mist and was waiting TILL IL
could re1oin the sun The path was now
o shallow rushing torrent with mu:
shickened water which cascaded round
the front OF our ankles and occasionally
round our knees In the hollows and round
our heels as we went dowr hill Under.
meath the water there was about an equa.
mixture OF mud and rock l Judged by
sensations for never saw my boots from
she time we left the government road un.
Gil we reached Buana From the top OF
these first foothills we should have had a
fine view OF the sea had we not been sur
rounded by an atmosphere that was 99A
per cent water AS II was there was, a vast
white sheet. or, more properly speaking.
considering Its stuffy wooliness. a white
blanket, stretched across the landscape TO
the southwest where the sea would show
On we went, up one hill and down an.
other sometimes passing through weed
grown native plantations sometimes
through stretches OF high sugar canelike
grass, which hangs across the path in
lackadaisical way, swishing you In the
face cutting you like a knife when you
get II edgewise and pouring insidious rills
OF water down your neck.
l do not think the whole Atlantic ocean
could have got any more water on TO me
than l had by this time accumulated
Every now and then ! pulled up and
wrung some of IL out of my skirt because
10 was heavy did not imagine anything
could have come down heavier in the way
of water from above than the rain, but it
can Every now and again, when we had
got to the top Of one of the foothills cold
breeze would come that chilled you TO the
bone and bent the heads OF the palm trees,
and they sent down water by the bucket
full, with a slap at you hitting or missing
as the case might be National Review.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
Don't He Afraid to Laugh.

Learn to laugh. A good laugh Is better
than medicine Learn how to tell story
A well told story Is as welcome as a sun
beam In sickroom Learn TO keep your
own troubles to yourself The world is too
busy to care for your ills and sorrows
Learn TO stop croaking IL you cannot see
any good I'm the world. keep the bad TO
yourself Learn to hide your aches and
pains under pleasant smile No one cares
to hear whether you have the earache,
headache or rheumatism. Don cry Tears
do we'll enough in novels but they are out
OF place IN real life Learn To meet your
friends with u smile The good humored
man or woman Is always welcome, but the
dyspeptic OF hypochondriac Is not wanted
anywhere. and Is - nuisance as well. -Ex.
change
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
Elevator Etiquette.

THE absurd custom which constrains
a man To remove his hat in an elevator
when there are women aboard seems q
tritie more absurd where | live than else.
where, said an inmate Of an up town
studio building 1t seems more absurd
for this reason: The building Is more de,
voted TO business than To residence pur-
poses and men walk about its stone floor
ed halls and corridors as II they were in
the street They no more think of taking
off their hats when they meet a woman
that Is, unless they know her-than they
would outdoors Yet these very men. as
soon as they enter the elevator, remove
their hats solemnly as 81 they were per.
forming a religious rite | object TO the
practice not merely because IL Is absurd,
but because when the elevator Is crowded
IL is had for the hat Why a man should
take on his hat in an elevator any more
than IN horse car merely because women
are present do not understand New
York Sun
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
RACINE WOMEN.
any OF Them In England How They Ne
have al the Races.

There are women who race 70 make
rnorey used &c knew one She was a
aeaure locking spinster OF that certain
age which stards for sc or thereabout
5welt quietly IN a country village and
on.y occasionally visited race courses But
her income was derived from winners. and
so gocc were the tips she obtained that she
..vec ~ considerable comtcrt although she
aau CE.y about t5t year OF regular reve.
cue Teen here are women who race for
Ire love Q. a1rseaesh These are .acessant.
~ IN The stale AID IN the paddock like
the late Dachess OF Mont-ose as good A
Judge CT horse az NEST me-. and not bad
at spottirg The qualities OF a Jockey 9th
er women race az they play 5accarat or
poker frcni sheer desire for excitement
The gambling instinct Is strong within
them and must be satisfied whether at
Monte Carlo or at Ascot But the largest
number Of racing women hail from the
ranks of those whc love picnic flirta-
ton, an open air lunch and the chance Of
wearing a smart summer gown.
Ascot Is a picnic with horses as interrup.
tions and royalty az a spectacle AT least
half the women who go there scarcely
glance at the race course twice IN the four
days of the meeting They are busy star.
ing at one another eating luncheons ana
teas and smiling On favored SWANS whose
violent excursions into the ring they regard
with extreme disapprobation Gowns and
attentive guardsmen, Strawberries and
cream and princesses-those four items
fairly sum up Ascot for them If they win
few pairs of gloves on the races, so much
the better When they back horse, il is
usually on account of the pretty colors OF
the owner or the attractive appearance OF
the jockey 1t Is funny 20 note the con.
tempt with which they are regarded by
really keen racing women, who will take
any trouble, undergo any humiliation IN
the endeavor 10 be ''in the know about
the favorite.
A famous jockey, who has now retired
from the turf once told me some of his
experiences and described the way in which
highborn DANES pursued him and the
shifts To which they put themselves in or
der To get at him One, an English duchess
used 10 trot all over the place after him,
call at his house, take his wife out dining
and kiss his children whenever she met
them so long as he rode As soon as he
gave up the saddle she dropped him and
even ceased To recognize him when she en-.
countered him occasionally at Newmarket.
London Gentlewoman
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
Aids the Roguea.

1T is very kind of the railway company
Co put up those signs Beware of Pick
pockets II 1t wasn't for these notices
we pickpockets would have to go out oil
the business, said "a thief to the detec tive
who had arrested him
The warnings are put W To spoil your
trade. replied the officer
But they don't, said the pickpocket
They help us As soon as u country
pumpkin reads the sign, II he has any
money, he puts his hand OH 10 We follow
him up, and as soon as he takes his hand
out of his pocket we put ours in Fin,
thing those signs Don't tell inc after thi.
that corporations have no consideration %
-Pearson's Weekly
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
FIRST FLOWERS.

Through the fowery gates OF the south land
The soul OF the south wind came,
And under my antique lattice bars
The daft odil brake | Ike tame.
And said. by the sign and token
or his vernal kiss ] know
The angel rolleth the stone away
From their graves 50 CHI. and low
From the graves OF the wild anemone.
Ana the sweet arbutns, Ind
Where the violet waits for the sun beneath
Her messy coffin nd
Ard today In the shining burrows
OF the stubble newly turned.
The tiny flame OF the starwort
Like silver taper burned
And though, with sweet Thanksgiving.
And glow OF faith sublime.
n he sc waketh the humblest flower
In her appointed time,
How shall the hopes that. low IN dust
Now sleep with folded wing
Rise when his smile shall ciothe the earth
With an eternal spring.
New York Ledger
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
The Cradle Of Mankind.

The recent discovery Of flint implements
In Somaliland 10y MIR Seton. Karr Is re.
Rnrded "a All important contribution to the
evidence by means 1T which men Of science
hope eventually a. be- able a. locate the
cradle Of the human race, The implements
referred to are identical IN form with those
found In northwestern Europe and In In
da and this fact Is thought TO be an In
dication that I'm the remote prehistoric
times call the pal@olithic age the inhabit
ants of Asia. Africa and Europe belonged
to single race Youths Companion
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
Kissing Carmen"

One of the most popular operas Of the
present day. Carmen, underwent an un.
fortunate experience, but achieved success
too late alas TO console the disappointed
composer, whose death was accelerated, 1t
10 said by the III reception accorded to his
chef q 'puvre Carmen" was. in fact.
actually Kissed of the stage on it's first per-
formance tin Paris, ls75) aud poor Bizet
died shortly after, unable to foresee the
great success In store for his latest and
best work. whose stirring music so admir-
ably fits the thrilling Spanish libretto IL
illustrates -Cornhill Magazine
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
A Mocking Birds Dance.

With bodies stiff and straight as an ar
row, head erect and feathers flattened,
wings dropping loosely forward, but tails
elevated at Us acute an angle TO the body
as possible, the dancing solemnly begins
The eyes are steadily fixed, and as method
ically as any soldiers upon drill they
sturdily 90 through the movement of
bounding rising quite high, and descend
ing In very nearly the same place each
time, from one end of the playground to
the other back and forth, always keeping
the line about foot apart. As each one
nears his or her corner, each slowly and
dignldedly turns a complete circle, then
again faces the other always diagonally
and slowly bounds back. To repeat the
movement at the other end Sometimes
both will turn away to look of AT some
distant object. JUST - eat vii! apparently
forget the mouse she L. toriuentng That
however seems ~ he only u part Of the
ceremony IN soon 10th turn back and the
dance il resumed
One day CHANGED &c witness one OF
these pretty 81 as IL IL took place beneath
the widesprcadlng branches or a large
orange tree, hut the scene WAS interrupted
quite unexpectedly. just at the most
graceful part OF an intricate pirouette a
very puffy and notherly old hen who
with an unlimited number OF offspring,
had been sertnely picking up dinner
close by evidently felt sudden impatience
at the sight OF all this folly, for, To my
surprise and amusement, she made quick
rush and dashed between these happy
Knockers, startling them almost out OF
their senses. Instantly the atmosphere was
permeated with two separate and distinct
streams of silk splitting fire, each fully a
rod long as the two angry birds departed
for the protection of neighboring lemon
tree. Popular Science Monthly
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
a BOTTLE . Day.

Prince Bismarck used to he very fond OF
brandy When he was going away to the
war In 1886. his youngest son asked him
how long he was to he away He replied
that he did not know At that moment a
servant came In to inquire how many bot
ties 1T cognac were To he packed up In the
princes luggage Twenty four was
the answer All. papa. cried out the
terrible infant. " now ! know how long
you are 10 be from homes days Lon
don standard
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
A Pantry Continuance.

One of the incest contrivauces for keep
ing knives and forks and tablespoons In Ia
pocket tackled on the pantry door Make
this OF American cloth and line II with
green baize. stitching small divisions to fit
each article The baizc will absorb all
moisture that may be lett On the spoons or
knives and keep them In good condition
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20

That indefatigahe Detroit solver Of
things Baconian has discovered that the
author of Mr. shakespeare well known
plays was Mason and that he who reads
between the lines-not to speak OF the
words and letters-of Hamlet "Othel.
10" and all the rest may find the ritual of
that order In all its fullness Boston
Transcript
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
Use the Cvumb Brush.

The custom Of brushing a tablecloth In
stead of shaking IL has two good points-it
does not scatter the crumbs abroad, but
collects them tidily, and IL does not orum-
pie the cloth which was sadly spoiled by
the old time method of clearing the table
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
go. P.

The American Protective Tariff League
is a national organization advocating
Protection to American Labor and
Industry" as explained BY is eoostltu-
ton, as follows:
1.-The object % thIs lsaSvs shah ~ - p~otset
American labor by Q tariff on mpors which shsii
adequately secure American INDUSTRIAL products
against the oompstitien ~ foreign Asee
There are no personal OF private
profits in connection with the organlza-
ton and tits sustained by memberships.
contributions and the distribution OF its
publications.
FIRST: Corrsspondsnos 10 soIieitsd regarding
Membership " and Official Correspondents.
SECOND: We need and welcome contributions.
whether small or large, 70 eur Gauss.
THIRD: We publish . large line Of dooumsnts
covering all phases OF the Tariff question. Com
plete set will be mailed 70 any address for 90 cents
FOURTH: Send postal card request for free
san,oIe COPY OF the " American Economist
Address Wilbur r. Waterman, General eeorstAry.
las West 23d etrsst New York.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
How to Ge, Halt.

IL Is sid that carthworms can be found
anywhere by simply wetting the ground
with a solution Of cupric sulphate (blue
yitriol)-ten grams To quart Of water
which will bring them out in surprising
numbers almost immediately. Soapsuds
have the same effect Answers
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20

There are some minds like either convex
or concave mirrors, which represent OBJ
jects such as they receive them but they
never receive them as they are -Juubert
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20

Carrots are reputcd to be preventive Of
dyspepsia
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
Consolation.

We'll, IN die game. anyway" re-
marked the sparrow as he was shot by
mistake for reedbird Philadelphia Rec
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20

The BANNER and New York Weekly
IL weeks for 40 cents.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20

A viscount ranks higher than the oldest
son OF an earl
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20
Theoretical

Teacher-why did Freedom shrek when
kosciusko fellY
Tommy Mebbe he fell on her new hat.
indianapolis Journal
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20

There are said to be $50 lady physicians
practicing medicine In the cities Of the
United States
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1896-08-20

The secret OF success in modern art
is to be crazy 10 an original way.