davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05
DUSTY CARPETS.
How Thcy May BE Cleaned in n Conven
lent Manner.

To those who know the true inward
ness of things the sight of a houseInaiG
brushing Il dusty carpet is suI@estiye.a
medical contemporary says, OF many
evils. The death OF Pasteur has re.
minded the world of what is constantly
present in the minds of medical men
namely, that. while micro-or9anisms
are the great producers of disease, dust
is the great carrier of micrO-OrganismS,
Now that we know these things, now
that we understand that in the quiet
hours of the night the germ-laden lust
settles down upon the floor, it is dis
tressing to find how little our knuwi'
edge is put IL practical use, and to SET
old customs still unchanged, old HABITS.
which we know to be destructive, car
ried on. and Il find the housemaid ON
her knees, with her brush and d~ustpan,
stirring up the dust to the detrimentcf
every one, and breathing germ-laden
PARTICLES to her own possible destruc-
ton.
1t needs hut a small amount of COM
mon sense to see that, if the carpets
must continue-a thing greatly TO be
derrecated-they should be rubbed
with a damp cloth rather than brushed;
and that, if, il Difference to prejudice,
they must be brushed, this should he
done by a covered American sweeper
with plenty of damp tea leaves. OF all
ways hof removing dirt from Il carpet,
the worst is by the Use of the ordinary
shcrt brush. which involves the house
maid kneeling down in the midst of the
dust. which she so ncedlessIy creates.
and drawing it into Eer lungs with
every breath. For ordinary household
use something like linOleum-some-
thing which can be washed with 4 wet
cloth every morning-would seem to be
the best covering for floors. But, if ear
pets must be. and if il is impossible &c
teach the present generation the evils
of seeking present comfort at the en-
pense of future risks. at least let us re-
member that carpets may be washed
even where they lie-that, till the day
of washing comes, a closed sweeper is
far better than a brush, and that the
worst form Of brush is one with a short
handle.-N. Y. Ledger.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05
NEW BICYCLE o
rhirty-One Miles an Hour and 534 Miles
in Twenty-Four Hours.

EnErty-One Miles an Hour ana Jo4 Miles
in Twenty-Four Hours.
Not all. and perhaps not the most, of
The breaking OF bicycle records for this
year has been accomplished by the
many well-trained athletes who have
turned their attention TO bicycle riding;
but it must have occurred to the general
public that the last year records have
been pretty well shattered already.
Leaving out of consideration a few rec
ords which have been made upon
straightaway courses under unfair con-
ditions, the records made upon regula-
ton tracks are remarkable.
Only a few years ago there was Won
der expressed whether the time would
come when a man would be able to ride
a mile behind a trotter or PAGER in two
minutes, "even time" but in these days
a cyclist who cannot himself distance
a trotter or a PAGER is not in the first
rank. The quarter-mile record has been
cut down from 90 As to :22 3-5 for a
flying start, paced performance. The
half-mile record has been reduced to
AZ is, and the mile competition with
flying start has gone down to 1:50 IS,
while the paced mile record has gone
Town to 1899 Is.
About two years ago it was thought
wonderful when Flying Jib, with 1un
ming mate, paced the mile in 1:5sA, but
the bicycle rider of first rank considers
such time rather slow. The so miles
that, even with running horses changed
at will. has not been accomplished in
less than 1:5O:O3h, has been done this
year IN the bicycle in 1:42:42k. The
1OG-mile run has been made in
3:47:47 2-5 on a bicycle, while with re-
lays of II horses the best record is
4:19:40. while for a trotter the best
record is S:56:O1. q record that was con-
sidered phenomenal, when made.
The long-distance records for bicy-
Giles are important because of the ten
dency to use the bicycle in military af-
fairs. What courier could cover Fl
miles. VIXEN mounted On horseback, in
less than an hour? Yet the distance
has been covered in that time on a bicy-
Gle; and in "a hours a distance of 534
miles has been accomplished. When
such long distances can be covered 81
quickly, the formation of "bicycle bat
~teries" may eventually revolution re
the science Of military tactics, as a hat
talon which can travel hundreds of
miles in q day is likely to be formidable
in actual war.-Boston Advertiser.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05

Dowra, or doro, is the primitive beer
brcwed in many parts of Africa in
Nubia and Abyssinia, in Newfoundland
and among the Kafirs. The method of
brewing is much the same in all coun-
tries, and is thus described by Mr.. Bent
Corn IS soaked in water and left until
it sprouts a little; then it is spread in
the sun to dry and mixed with en-
~sprouted grains; and then the women
pound IL in wooden mortars, and the
malt obtained from this is boiled and
left to stand for two days, and over
night a little malt that has been kept for
the purpose is thrown over the liquid to
excite fermentation" In MashonalaDd
che women are the chief brewers; in
fact, to be a good wife one must also be
a good brewer. The beer is always
made in the fields, and is often very en-
t~oxicating. 1t must be drunk as soon
as it is brewed, otherwise it quickly be-
comes disagreeable and worthless. \
similar barley beer was used by the
old Egyptians both as a beverage and
in iibations 10 their gods. XeHcphone
speaks of bowls of barley beer in which
the grains were floating."-ChambeI's
Journal.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05
HUNT IN A O L BOAT.
Tale Of Two Boys Who Floated for
Deer and Bagged a Buck.
a Night on Lake Massawepie-Stn Pad
ding in a Cedar Skin-PIayIng
the Sportsman and Play
ing the Fool
t~CoPYRIGHT. 1861

"An right" said Perk. Lets do it."
We were floating for deer Perk
and /, on Catamount pond. There was
no moon, but the starlight filtered down
through the darkness and made it trans
lucent. Perk sat in the bow of the boat,
facing forward, with a double-barreled
shotgun, heavily charged, living across
his knees. Close beside him Law a
loaded rifle. On his head was a rude
lcathern cap, |surmOunted by a dark
lantern, so adjusted as to cast 4 beam of
light along the sights and out into the
gloom when he aimed his weapon. /
sat in the stern and piled 4 noiscIess
paddle. We were mere BOYS - Perk
about Is, and I two or three years elder
but we understood our business. Ii
was not the first time that we had hunt
ed in the Adirondack woods.
Already we had padded twice around
the pond. \ mammoth bulIfrog, fan
up The inlet, shook the air with his bel
lowing; now and then the lily-pads
TaspeG along the bottom of the boat
with startling loudness; otherwise ali
was stili. We felt that the case was
hopeless on the Catamount.
Lets cross to Massawepie and hunt
there" I whispered.
I'VE can't lug the boat over the cur
ny objected Perk.
"Hut we can hook old Breeze's canoe
! think l know where he left it,"
Hank Freeze was Il guide who had
been camping on the lake, but he had
started out with his party the day be-
fore. We knew that he was very choice
of his bGat-a frail cedar craft, with
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05
HIS FAMILY WAS THERE.
In. Their Graves Which He Had Come Q
Long Ways to See.

Just across the way from the dePo,
was the town graveyard and sitting On
a baggage truck on the platform was a
ragged, lonesome-looking man, whom
anyone would have spotted at once for
q tramp. There were a dozen of us
walking up and down as We waited for
the train. but for a quarter of an hour
the tramp sat with his head in his hands
end had nothing to say to anyone.
Then a passenger. who was evidently on
good terms with himself, walked up to
the man and said:
dead broke, of course, old man."
'Yes, dead broke" replied the mar on
the truck, as he looked up.
Haven't had anything to a in two
or three days, eh?'
Not since yesterday morning"
willing 10 work, but your health
won't permit. l take it. as is the case
with all the rest CT EN-"
MY health amt overly good" replied
the tramp after a bit.
"No, of course not" laughed the man.
"Pernaps you are also worrying about
your family? Don't you want to raise
a dollar to get home in time to see your
wife die"
Come along, you-come along,
gents" said the tramp as he rose up and
climbed back TO the graveyard fence.
Half a dozen of us followed him and
as we reached the fence and looked over
he pointed to three graves which were
so new that the grass had not yet taken
root. and said:
There's the family-wife and two
children, y week ago I was 100 miles
away. but 1 got TO thinking about these
graves and | couldn't stay away. This
morning I finished my walk and I was
waiting for the train to go before l
came up here. Yes, I'm dead broke and
hungry and in poor health and a tramp,
and there's the reason Of it. When they
died it broke me up"
One by one we went back to the plat
form. The tramp came last of all and
he was going away without looking at
Us when the man who had chaffeG him
put the money we had raised in his
hand. added a five dollar bill from his
owr pocket and kindly said:
"Take it. old man, and better luck GO
with you. I'm sorry Ispoke as l did
Chicago News.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05
SCHOOL AND CHURCH.

REV. Stopford Brooke has given up
regular preaching in London.
AT the very moment when Sig.
Nathan, a Hebrew, vas elected TO sue
coed Sig. Lemmi Is supreme chief OF
the Italian Freemasons, his three nieces
were embracing the Catholic faith.
Rev. C. c. McCabe, the new Meth
odist bishop. and Gen. Neal Dow, OF
Portland, were messmates together
while confined in Libby prison during
the war.
Prof. DIN \. Curtis, formerly OF
the Boston University School of The
ology, has been chosen to succeed the
late Prof. John Miley as professor OF
systematic theology in Drew theolog-
ical seminary.
The noted Greek scholar, Prof. T.
T. Timayenis, who holds the chair OF
that language at Harvard university.
is big and broad-shouldered, dark as
to hair and eyes. and wears a short,
stubby black beard. He believes Greek
will always hold its own in the educa-
tional system. both for culture and
mental discipline.
Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles. Gen. o.
o. Howard, and Rev. A.. y. Myers, presi-
dent of the Harrow school at Cumber-
land Gap, Tenn, have inaugurated a
movement to erect 4 large military and
educational institution at HarrOgate,
Tenn. on the site of the late Four Sea-
sons hotel. The name proposed for thd
institution is the Lincoln academy"
commemorative of President Lincoln.
A society for promoting the higher
education of the clergy has been estab-
lished in Paris, to help young priests
who show aptitude for scientific or his
toricai study. \ similar society, called
the 'Collegium S~apientiae," exists in
the Catholic university at Freiburg
in Breisgau, and arrangements have
been made by which the French and
German societies may exchange stu
dents from time to time.
Archbishop F~alconio, the successor
of Cardinal Satolli as the pope's
ablegate to this country, speaks English
fuently. and has already spent Is years
on this continent. He was at one time
president of the Bonaventure college
at Allegheny, Pa, then he was sent as
vicar-general TO Newfoundland. and
from there he was transferred to Rome,
where he has held high executive offices
in thp Franciscan order.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05
He Raised Prunes,

The man who owned a fruit ranch
In California was stopping for several
days at the boarding house and the
landlady was overwhelmingly polite to
him. (
"Hugh." shifted the lady boarder with
banged hair, 81 guess she must be max
ing love to him."
"Naw, she amt" retorted the man
boarder with red whiskers.
"Why not? Just look at her. He
can't express a wish that she doesn't
fairly break her neck to crafty"
That's no sign of a ducks nest"
insisted the red whiskers.
"Td like to know what you call a
sign, them" and the lady boarder
swished herself around in 4 pet.
you wouldn't know if l told you,"
grinned the red whiskers. There's a
bond of sympathy you amt on to. lie
raises prunes for the eastern market
y. Y. Recorder.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05

We were just entering a dusky covd
when l heard a cracking sound in the
bushes. 1 laid my hand on the edge Of
the boat and gave it a slight shake; but
Perk sas already alert, and a pale
beam of light was searching the reedy
shore. I listened. Some heavy animal
was certainly making his way down to
the lake, and under my tremulous but
practiced touch the canoe glided like a
phantom toward the spot where he
seemed likely to emerge. He was not
two rods away when I steadied the
boat and Perk turned the full glare OF
the light upon him; and he had no.
heard a sound. What a moment was
That! He was standing up to his
launches in the shadows, and had
thrust his nose deep among the lily
pads. He never raised it. Perks we'll
aimed gun belched forth its thunder
Gus blast of fire and shot and the whole
circle of the cove was illuminated as
by a lightning flash. The stricken
creature sunk down without a strug.
gle.
Thus far the oldest hunters in the
woods could not have improved upon
our procedure; but now that the deed
was done the boy broke loose in us, and
we family went mad with excitement.
With two frenzied strokes of the pad
dies l drove the BOAT upon the very
back OF our prize.
Give him the other barreI.."I shouted.
as we sUrged forward. and Perk hlazeG
away over the side, with 4 recoil that
almost capsized US.
Give him the rifle" I shricked, land
make sure"
Perk caught the weapon, but some
race of sanity had come back I him,
and he refrained. The poor beast was
stone dead. and the second shot had not
touched him. But l was still possessed
with the fear that he would suddenly
jump up and run away; and that, after
our success, would be notifying beyond
endurance. 1 sprang into the water
much to the alarm of Perk. who judged
TIE depth by the biackness-caught the
deer by the head, and pulled his neck
across the edge of the boat. Then Pcrk
crept cautiously down and cut thu
throat. after which we managed to heave
the wet, heavy carcass into the m
1t was a young buck, fat as butter; bet
ter luck never attended two young
scapegraces, trespassing on forbidden
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05

rides as thin as paper-but the tempta-
ton was too great. We succumbed.
Imade for the landing, and we entered
the dark path under the evergreens;
the lantern slashed a quivering cleft
through mist and shadow. 1t was full
midnight when we reached the shore
of the lake. The boat was easily found
among the bushes; the paddle had been
removed, but l had taken the precaution
to bring my own.
Carefully steadying ourselves in the
lettering craft-it vas not built for
noviccs-we pushed out on the still,
black surface. There was not 4 breath
of wind. and scarcely a murmur came
from the deep forest wall that pail
saded the shore. AS | made the soft,
steady strokes that drove the light skiff
swiftly onward, the almost impercepti-
bic rrumplina' and rustiing of my
clothes was the loudest sound that l
could hear; to Perk in the bow even
this was quito inaudible. If the canoe
were, urged too fast, a trickling ripple
at the bow rave warning. The stream
ing light of the lantern wavered over
the water and flashed along the shore.
'sPerk," l said, softly, 1--WE had better
run dark until we hear something"
And so we glided on for hours, skirt
ing miles of shore. AT night, in the
forest. all things seem weird and
strange; by the w~itchery of gloom n
mist the most familiar landscape is
transformed like the uncertain scenery
of a dream. 1t was only by watching
the stars that l could keep any idea of
direction. A little groTtp of project
ing rocks doomed up like mountains
until we were close upon them, then
sunk almost to the level of the water.
a clump of dead trees thrust up their
gaunt arms against the sky with an
effect that was night-marish. Yet all
this, like the quivering of u dainty
and mettlesome canoe, only added a
Joyous thrill to our delight; and as
I pressed back the springy blade of my
maple paddle, and drew forward the
keen edge through the warm, soft
LIQUID for another stroke, there was an
indescribable eXhilaration. Who could
zay what adventure was in store?
At last we landed on a little islet, and
stretched our stiffened limbs on q Dec
of aromatic needles under the stunted
pines. The temptation to sleep there
was almost irresistible, but we could
not afford to linger long. When we
resumed our course the night was far
advanced. The great dipper in the
north was slanting its handle down
Uard. the woods were full of chirD-
ings; there were little splashes all
along the shore as the boat loated OIL:
morning was on hand.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05

waters in a stolen boat. It seemed to
me, however, that Perk had not done
his job thoroughly; so to make assur-
ance doubly sure, L cut the throat again.
Meanwhile, in the very heat of our
action, the shadowy pail of night had
melted away. The dim but all-per-
vasive light of early dawn had paled
the stars and showed the wide eXpanse
of the lake, gray with s%cIrrying mist.
We headed our heavily-laden skif
straight across to the landing at the
carry, now easily recognizable. Soon
we were far from shore; the boat was
sunk almost to the gunwale; magnified
by the vapors, the lake seemed like an
inland sea.
Just then-was it an optical illusion?
I thought l perceived n tremor agitat-
ing the body of our victim. Certainly
that hind leg was %quivering. Perk,when
his attention was called to the matter,
got the same impression. The leg was
t~witching; the creature was not dead.
We had heard many extraordinary tales
of wild animals, apparently dead, that
unexpectedly revived, to the dismay Of
the hunter. And if our buck should
spring to his feet now-alas for US.
We were panic-stricken. Remember
We were only Il pair of boys, and our
bark was frail. and the shore appeared
very distant. 1t did seeem foolhardy to
take unnecessary risks; why not keel
on the safe side? So l crept down on
the bottom of the skiff. got out my
knife and cut the unhappy victims
throat for the third time, almost sever.
ing the head. Even the excited imagina'
ton of a boy could not put life in him
now. We proceeded with renewed con.
idence and soon reached the landing
where, though sadly incumbered with
guns and paddle. we succeeded in
dragging our booty across to the Cat
amount. Reembarking in the clumsy
tub in which we had started the night
before, we soon crossed the pond; and
~suspending III trophy Of IN oar, bear
ing it on our shoulders after the fashion
of the Israelitish scouts who brought
in that monster bunch of grapes from
the promised land just as the rising
sun had lighted his glorious red bonfire
in the eastern sky, we marched into
camp eXultant. And who will blame
us if we did play the fool a little oveI
our first deer?
CHARLES KELSEY GAINES.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05

Mrs. Cassidy-Will yez go to the
mountains or to the say shoore this
summer. Mrs. Flaherty?
Mrs. Flaherty - To the ochir; me
mons tired of the mountain scenery.
"Phawt makes him toired?"
Hes forman of the doomp."-St,
Paul Globe.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05
An UnpromisrnS Match.

Mrs. Henpeck-My dear, you will
make a great mistake if you marry Mr..
Meak. He has no beard, and he wears 9
wig.
Daughter-What difference does that
make?
Huh! You try managing a husband
with no hair of his own, and you'll find
out"-N. y. Weekly.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05

Mother-Come, Bobby. why arr you
20 naughty to-day, just when auntie is
paying us a visit?
Bobby-'Cause auntie told me if was
a good boy she would sing for Us this
eyening.--Elmira Telegram.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05
CHARLES Kelsey GAINES
Seven sons in the army is the reccr

Seven sons in the army is the record
of Mrs. Keveth, of St. Drevard, Corn
wall. Queen Victoria has sent her $50,
her engraved picture in q frame, and q
letter of her private secretary. asking
for her photograph and that Of hes
sous.-Military Gazette, Chicago.
The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-05

Superior Oficer-You arc accused Of
sleeping on your watch.
Sentinel-Impossible, sir!
impossible? What do you meanT"
my watch has been at the pawn
brokers' for six mnnths-" - Anusins
Journal.
The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-12-28
SARGE PLUNKETT.
A Tale Of d Christmas Merry Making
Of the Long Ago.
lust ONE MORE LITTLE DRINK
Turned Happy Home Into Place
of Mourning Many
Years Ago.

49, -, so,,et7,,,e-
i'o - 40 10 f,stt.r.
aoou' ''' - ''''s'' ia dr,,rlz,~1 Of
tu"" 70 'eii ''"' ~
tho oide ulhe-' ,.z ~. Of.
GA JACK IA" foi. OF N"A'''V-
as ne was iaihhEiIiy hiIo"i va
notorious drunkard anu W 10 -,
had never been Known 10 go a 'l'i'+'
flSht' no mater Wh@t NJ ~ -. -
But' ~lth an OF me olu No. ~. 10. ,rl
ness, he had good woman TOT . -, a., 80
~ "'u NO''i. 49, - ,,,,,,,1 tbe old
throw Mite sunshine
Num- = ,s- ,tz,,7-
~. '.1'-H '. az, f, -r,,ire5 away from
- -f 49, b,,+ asrl, on an
t'' i'''i' ~ - i;.-I,,i.- ,rr,,,,
oc'o'tr mon Iiils ~ IL. a dr,,nl,.,r,i
''s own IoUr a''" ..lt az ..,,.-f r.,,
'oull reel ~ N'', - : - Az, l1,.,.-
me niue Iaih43 ~" - ,,-@.,,4
ING LOT tic ...f 80 .,.a,-
nave i'J'l'o" 80 ,.,,-,-g could
as oniH me on'idi'h Ol q "a - 49,
understand. but 'ie 7'ei' &c -, 20
eyes upon tilS oC'd9'o'' 49, - lrl,..
draw back IN horror ana Sel.hi, -
scared raoLl'S 10 '--' ~ 49, r7
hotHeI. Inc ii"''e' ,.1 81
she knew the NN-~e y - 49,
opened to MIN. put Ile s'sI1 ~ -,
reudlnS TO even Ter VINO 'li1 - - -,
SO patient With Ihe "ao "a'.-'9 -
band 49,, - 70
With II al there was not W. -
proath leh from tAe "i0 ,1o-l,.l
wife She saw lhat ne Han a.,
and his hair dlsngured, "1iiie me- t'S - -''
drunken stupof. but Sile never 'i'o,'e "
blaming ner nuShaaH. Nh" We lil,I -,
and hunted up MS eieat io...5~ 49, ,,,i5
around so patiently va q" S'''"o 90
have Thought she hau i" 9oI'o"'
they h3d IoIioNru Hvi 'le'' e--1S
seen the tears and heara heT Hi'i''i'-,'
III viii come nome 20 luei"- y "''' 'o'''0
home to them
Old Jack had not WORD 10 say ut'"