davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12

Under the head OF Snakes Caokling." tho
London Field tells of the observation of G.
Wolley bod. who. 'on March Fl, joined a pic
mic party from Biarritz to Loo d'Irien. a large
pond in the cork woods near Bsyonne."
THE day was bright and STILL said Mr..
bod. THE temperature was 75o In the shade.
In several parts OF the woods n caCkling was
to be heard. something between the cnIl of a
hen and the crOaking of a ~frug-kak. kak, kak
repeated uniformly about three times n sec
ond during several seconds, when It was an
swcred from another spot in the wood. 1t
was loud enough to he heard 300 yards. My
torgidt1). which abounds there. He said he
had seen the snake While il was making the
said ., 'C'est les oouleuyres.'" Fnrthermore'
1t was not n tree toad, with which the Field
writer Is well acquain ted.
What Mr.. bod heard was probably a snake
song snakes singing to their sweethearts-
which is rendered more probable 10y tho time OF
the year; which was the love-making season OF
hirls and snakes.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12

An Ottawa Mans Experience with One OF
the Cunning Kind.

Foxes have a number Of wiles by which they
fool hunters, and none IL so surprising TO the
hunter ms that of 'possum playing. Norman
Lett OF Ottawa tells how he went fox hunting
near there one day last winter. He took his
stand on u runway with n friend. and pretty
soon along came the fox. going full tilt. At
the discharge of the gun the fox made a COM
plete somersault, and lay stretched out on the
ground as still as a dead mouse. When the
three dogs got in close, up It got and made of
on three legs. That made 1t look ms II the fox
had been stunned ty the shot discharge, espe-
cially as hs limpod.
Tho dogs overlook him. and as one grabbed
him the fox became as limp as wet paper. Lett
tied the animals hind legs together and hung
the body over his shoulder. While his COM
radc and he were walking along together the
fox suddenly sank its teeth into III" mans hnck
where he could get the biggest muuIhful. Tho
result was painful and startling to the man.
The English foxes are GOOD 'pOsSlm players,
according to the stories of IA Brooklyn scotch
man, who tells how he and a friend saw "A dog
non went over, picked UP the animal, and while
one man gra-ped the fore paws the other took
swinging the body between them, with the dog
close behind. Pretty soon one ~ the men no
tIced that the fox's head was swinging moro
than vas natural, so he watched IT, sure
ward the head would come up and the eye
would open Just a little to see the faces OF the
men. The man told the other in nm ordinary
tone OF voice what he had seen, and they kept
a tight hold on the paws.
They carried the animal TO u barn, opened
the door. and gave tho fox u throw that made
fox landed on his paws and made q dive tho
other way, but found himself in "A cage.
Tho fox whipped two young dogs that were
put In TO maui him, but was killed at last by a
mOnRrel setter.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
4 Proficient FOX.
She Got Lambs, Small Birds, and Seventy
Elk Owls for Her Young.

Tho fox vixens are as careful mothers as
any, and the way they provide for their young
is something amazing. II Is related that one
fox in Scotland had developed such II marked
fondness for lambs that efforts had 10 | e made
TO lind her lair. 1t was not an easy job, but
after a while the men succeeded, and, rs they
half expected, five young ones were there.
They found also = store OF food calculated to
last a long while. There Were lambs. rats.
and voles. black game, curlew, ployer, and
ducks, some partridgos, and, most astonishing
of all, seventy six short cared owls. All the
game was dead. 1t WAS in May, aud naturally
most OF the owls were young, but eight of them
were grown. Unfortunately the Year Book
OF the Department Of Agriculture doea not tell
OF the sex Of the old birds, hui, rs they were
probably captured while defending their youns,
i Is more than likely that they were nearly,
II not quite, all females, as female birds are,
a. a rule, more daring in the defence OF young
than the males.
The fox, being a night still hunter, had
sneaked through the fields. and, on hearing the.
old owls i~nstructing their young In the art OF
catching mice or volss, had sprung among
the happy families and seized what she could
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
1HE BENEFICENT GROW.
What ne Does for the Farmer ana the
Farm Crops, Despite His Reputation

what He Does for the Farmer ara the
Farm Crops, Despite His Reputation.
II farmers would make a study Of natural
history and It's hearing on their property tho
relation of hawks TO their hen coops, for In
stancc-there would be better paying jrops.
The Year Book Of the Department OF Ar
r%iculture tells about COW blackbirds and what
they eat. About 1900 Of their stomnchs have
been examined, aud of these 2.2jS contained
food. The birds We're killed In. twerty'six
States. FOrty-cixht per cent. of the food was
animal. iOrty-Cight per cent. vegetable, ana
four ner cent. was mineral. The blackbird has
u variety Of things Vt eats.
THE animal food. sHys the report. con:
sisted Of insects. spiders. III yriapods. Thousand
lcEs). CrRStlsh, earth worms, sowbuUs. hair
snakes. snail. fishes. tree toads. salamanders
tnewtsl, lizards, snakes, birds eggs. and
mice" To these might have been added young
birds, fish cast up 10y the tide. minnOws caught
while swimming in shallow water. and prob.
ably meat aud rarrion ot various kinds. Most
" the animal food is. of course. Insects. These
constitute forty six uCr cent. of the total. tho
oGhrr two per cent, being the larger things.
like mice. The animal food Is taken mostly In
the summer. In wiuter the fuOl Is mostly
vegetable matter. Tho insects the bird kills
more than MAKE M the damage he does. espe-
Clally Hs his nest rrhhing appears tn he only
nm incidental habit not often INDUCED In. A
large flock " the hir IL would ~ course de-
strOy u Tot Of grain. some 10000 would eat
about 5000 pounds II day. hut they would con
sumc MS many Insects. witch would more than
destroy the amount the birO does.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12

can, at all events, do something better than
provoke popular envy and hatred by vulgar
ostcntation. bv building monster palaces, 10y
loading his family with diamonds. or sending
his millions, the product Of American capital
and labor. out Of the country to buy a Euro
pean title for hls daughter, and admission to
aristocratlc society for himself. lie can. at all
events. stay az homc and spend his millions
among his own people. Enormous sums are
carried away from this country to the pleasure
cities of Europe or other resorts Of the idle
voluptuary every year. Travelling to COM
pletc education or for the needful refreshment
OF IN overworked brain Is well enough; n life
of wandering in the pursuit of pleasure, or
from mere listlcssness, while hon O duties are
deserted, Is not so well. What happened to
idle and worthless aristocracy in France may
some time happen, though in a different form,
TO Idle and worthless nlutocracy here. The
lion. to use Tennyson's Image, is creeping ever
nearer to the slumberinR man. Wealth must
do its duty TO society, otherwise the crash will
be deserved, and what Is deserved may come.
A THouGHrFuL OBSERVER.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
STILL USING FLINTLOCKS.
A New RrunswIck Storekeeper says His
Patrons lust Have Them.

Some regions are rather slow to adapt them
selves 10 modern game-killing implements. A
Forest and Stream correspondent got a letter
from New Brunswick tho other day which
said that f~iintlock guns were still in use up In
that country. The letter was from q store
keeper, who said that the store had carried a
supply of gun fints ever since it had been started
by his grandfather, away back in 1886. Prob
ably he would lOse trade II lie did not have
them in stock. 1t is not improbable that
Indians In the North Wood, OF Canada still
use %flintlock guns, but to use them so near
A tlntlock gun, beside "A modern ammer-
less gun. makes II contrast apt to he remem-
bered. 1t has been proposed more than once
that sportsmeu. instead Of using such deadly
weapons rs modern guns, take up the old bow
and arrow. or some other primitive weapon.
The sportsman that had killed u modern deer
with that ancient weapon could say that he
was as good a hunter as anybody. There are
few or none that can boast OF such u kill.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
DOGS FOE Still HUNTERS.
Tho Amazing Clcverness of IA MongreI
Named Pete.

In Sweden and Norway hounds are used in
elk hunting. In Norway hunting with dogs
can be done only by dogs in leash, it being
against the law to let them run free. save to
pursue a wounded elk.
In Sweden the dogs are trained differently,
and they hunt in pairs, roaming about the
hunter until at last they find an elk. Then
they keep him at bay until the hunter arrives.
Hunting deer with bird dogs is sometimes
pr~actIsed in America. The dogs used must be
unusually bright. with great reasoning powers.
Then. too, the master must have considerable
intelligence. for training a bird dog to point n
deer 200 or 400 yards away is no easy job. Yet
it has been done a good many times.
The best known OF these dogs was Pete, n
mongrel tnat knew more than ten prize win
ners. "Nessmuk," II Forest and Stream writer,
found him many years ago in the woods, and
the two .straightway became acquainted;
'Nessmuk" had been having II pretty hard
time of 1t. He was camping alone in the woods
and 1t was so dry that deer could hear the
after the two met they went hunting, the dog
keeping aust "A little, to the right of the mans
both were looking for meat. "'T Then supddeniS;
the man felt a slight nip in his leg, hut think.
ing the dog had done It accidentally he, paid
down, and there was the dog. on its hips Ike
bushes ffty rods cd awas' ii" looked at t the man. n,
then at the bushes. then at the man again.
The upshot of it was that the man made a
sneak into the bushes AMI broke the lin of a
deer that jumped out. The dog took after the
deer and soon had il by the throat.
One day they were hunting, when, without
warming, Pete diyed at some bushes down In a
ravins. In three jiflies there WAS IL sound in
the raviue as II several dogs of unusual size
had tackled II very big cat. Sure enough. the
ordinary dog was masking sounds equal Ia lots
of bigger ones, while, in reality, Their. was II
big cat. The cat went up a tree, and the dog
tried to follow, in spite Of scratched sides and
torn ears-he was II marvel OF scars, anyhow
and he shook the cat viciously when il fell
dying to the ground. Pete did not ike wild.
cats or bears, and had II out with them at
every opportunity, deer or no dec-. other
wise, Pete was II weIi-behaycd dog. He is
probably having II out now with some of the
wildcats he helped send t. the happy hunting
grounds. There mr." few dogs like him, but IL
would not be hard to teach u bright mongrel
with setter or pointer blood TO be of great use
to a still hunter OF big game.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
ONE sPoR1sMAN's AMBITION.
II IL 20 Hunt In the Undiscovered Patches
Along AmcrIcn,- Cnnat.

I'll tell you what I would like to do said
n man whose life is srent rowing about from
city to ldmber camp and from parks to for.
ests. II would Ike TO own n schooner III to
weather any gale on the seas AMI travel in II
up and down the America coast from Lab
rador to Cape Horn, and north again to Beh-
ring strait. There's a whole lot OF odd places
one could visit, seldom or never heard of.
Take 1t about Cape llatteras. Nov
what do YOU know about the mainland along
shore thcrcr What can YOU tell Of the people
III tho swarnps there, and OF the game these
people lind In the woods It's 50 little, you
have to guess Mt IL. Then there is a whole lot
OF the 'tult OF NlcNiCO's shore line, not to men.
non tho Islands. and lands south of there.
Why. only tie other day | heard of Il tribe of
indians on, some islands somewhere down that
way that buy hlCk-hut to Kill deer with uul
poor shotgun', us!uE only n dram of powucr
Tor n charge. lust think what sport Il fellow
with u good rifle would have among ia, IN
II they'd let him. What is more. they pay
for what they buy win pure gold. and If
ever a white man visited thctu he diA MOI como
buck TO tell about It, nor will the Indians say
where they got their stuff.
when you come to think about H., tho
sportsman. nosing about In these out I -thc-
way places. could get more game and Curiosl-
ties. than he could get out If Blue Mountain
Park, or from any other Of the big preserve.
| hope to make Just -nrh IA trip some time.
III take a 1920. n lu-gnugc. 4 20. gauge, AMI
n target pistol. with s,n"As of fishing tackle
of all kinds and no end of ammunition. The
specimens | will gather will pay for the trip.
as | shall 20 along prepared to skin and dry
condor, TO a beetle. not to mention snakes and
other things,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
A Pet Canary Knrsa by a Mouse.

A youHg woman living In Harlem was the
owner Of a canary bird last week that could do
anything canary birds can do. This birds
name was speck, and the way he could sing
was u marvel TO listeners. II was not the loud,
hut u ',woSt tunetui murmur' thai tits bird
padG. On d4Glsaay morPing, Just as the sun
heard the bird, Ia the adjoining room. cmi n
SOM IA a sort OF gasplng cry. Wien she got
tAtie shS t9w = mouse ON the bottom ut The
cage WIN The birds throat in It's long teeth.
The bird was Tutoring, but soon died, and the
H,ouse Ned In alarm 1t Is not often that Gagged
blrds are attacked by mice, but such thing
have happened. A rat was one time seen IL
stnl hunt sparToWs on New York pier.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
The BIRDS hin WA. Lacked.

A curious bird.tragedy Is told about in the
London FIELD. A man found a yellowhammer
dead In his yard at the foot Of II wall. The
bird had hown against, it with such force as
20 bo stunned, Not only. that, but the upper
mandihle had been bent hack. and in tho
strengthening out the sharp point was driven
down through! the lower bin and locked, thus
looming the bird 10 death hy starvation. The
man sent the head to the Fi,fI.
g"9h many similar accidents have heon
recorded but II was always u Acuvirr bird.
whose weight made the fnringirg Of The Vii
easter, \ %1"d mnny az tho bird. wrrc found
n 2 starved condition, showing that they
that ny against the lighthouse, have the skull
bones crushed and die Instantly. but others
are stunned only.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12

James Carer of Masham, Works, England,
reports a happening to the London Field the
like of which seldom or never was observed be-
fore. In over twenty-five volumes Of a we'll
known sportsmen's newspaper a similar in
cident has not been recorded.
Tho Field says that "a starting, hving swift
j. from It's nest. cOllided with II passing rock,
and the starllng's beak penet 'alel the head OF
the roof. causing instant death" Hawks, OF
course, often strike their game in L idair and
XII y, hut In that case the collision is inten.
tnnal., ,Durlng the migrating periods birds are
sCen, obstacles, al night, as telegraph wires or
high waterfalls. Man ducks and geese fly
but the like OF this incident is not renordel.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
THE EXCLUSIVE UNkY.
A Club with Four Members and Ample
Island Grounds.

The Forest and Stream tells of a club that ex-
fists down in Currituck Sound for the purpose
of accommodating tho Understanding men,
bers. There are four members, and four
shares constitute the stock, each share being
valued at S2o. 000. Only one of the members
has visited the club house during late years.
The head OF the club is "A New York railroad
man. and the others are millionaires several
times over. The club house is situated on an
oyster shell.islanI. supposed TO have been built
up by Indians. 1t is a place where antigua
RIA KS. would find something rich to study.
This club is probably the most exclusive one
IN the world, and the shares are not for sale.
NJ Mnn Is ,yilh / r lsni u niny ' ma. I ~ m lhI .nfLn nHd
among the big trees, whose limbs are rough
with uCe,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12

sericum Braid" and IL tested. II for black bass
casting, with an eighteen pound pup. The
line should he 90 or 100 yards long and wound
onto u reel OF proper sire.
The rec. is multiplying, with q back sliding
Click and n slide drag TO Rtop the outrun III.
stantly on the bats touching the water, and
SO preventing the line from tanRlinR up. The
leader Is much heavier than the trout leader.
hnn, rs Of n mist color. SO as - be Invisible.
The best rod for bass fishing Ia n bait one.
Ihc ny rod has the reel seat below the hand,
ana IN the bnit rod tle seat Is above he hand.
l,hc. lait rod keeps the line clear of the hand.
Mith, the fly rod a yard or 81. o line is pulled ~
the click reel At n time. sttaightentd out, then
another yard Is pulled Off until the required
length is reached. with the bait rod the wholc
cast Il made with one sweep of tho rod. the line
running free from the. reel: The. bait rod Is
about nine feet long, weighs from nine to eleven
ounces, and Is stiff enough for casting, yet
Timber enough to prevent the fsh's rishcs
from, tearing out the hook. The bass fly rod
weighs from seven to eight ounces. and Ia ten
feet, long. Good rods cost from so up. A
landing net Is always used to lessen the strain
on the tackle and to dip the ash up, and 50
keep IL clear of the boat. \ bass viii fap its
tail against the side of "A boat or rock, aud
throw Itself from the hook.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12

get. As the owls wero extremely numerous,
having liner ased during the plague OF. voles as
ala various other predatory animals, the vixen
got an unusual number Of them. it's unusual
Tor cArhlvuruus animals 20 lay up sucn DIV
stores, although Il Is common for. hawKs ana
eagles to have a rabbit or so ahead.
New-York tribune., 1896-11-22
PRINCIPAL EDWARDS on TRIAL.
WITNESSES TESTIFY AS TO THE INJURIES
RECEIVED BY LITTLE JOSEPH
WALFORD

The Of George W. Edwards principal Of
School No. TO- who Is charged with cruelty beating
Joseph Walford. pupil was heard before Justice
Hartman yesterday morning. Considerable in
terest is manifested in the case and the courtroom
was crowded throughout the trial. Assistant Dis
trictAttorney Caldwell conducted the case for the
prosecution. and II. w. Schmidt OF New-York City
appeared for Mr.. Edwards. A large number OF
school children present and they wero an
parently much excited by the testimony that was
given. Young Waford. when called to tho stand
said that Edwards after warning him once or
twice that he would switch him If he came back
TO the school. ordered him to lie a chair
The boy did So and. according to his story. Mr..
Edwards struck him heavily number of times
upon tho thigh and back.
When cross-examned Joseph admitted that he
had returned to the classroom smiling and that
on the afternoon OF the beating he had walked to
Fort Greene and back. DR.. James S. King. OF No.
l46 Montgomery-st.. said he had examined tho boy
and found seven welts upon his body, three
four Inches In length. He said that the boy APP
peared delicate and would probably be sensitive to
shock Nine days after the first examination he
made another examination and found that five
marks were still visible. Miss Fitzgerald the
teacher who had sent Joseph to Edwards for pun
lshment. said that Joseph was bad boy. She
had noticed nothing about him to show that he
had been hurt.
A fourteen year-old girl testified that she had
seen Joseph skating the day after the switching
not not been hurt badly Mr. Caldwell tried to make AXE
OF arrangement made between her and the
principal, but only succeeded Ia part
the boy for doing and that he
he had threatened to discharge the janitor IL the
latter testified against him. He said he had never
but another witness swprt that Mr.. Edwards had
offered to apologize and make proper compensation
II the case was dropped: Justice Hartman
served his decision until Tuesday
New-York tribune., 1896-11-22
MORE ASPHALT IN GREENE-AVE.

Another link In asphalt route has been COM
pleted within day or two. namely. the block In
Greene-ave. between Marcy and Tompkins aves
This has asphalt pavemen, for five
long blocks. or the greater part OF mile, and
doubtless the improved pavement will be carried
further uptown in the future. The work re-
Gently done has been at the expense OF the city
The property were subjected TO great In
convenience during the construction OF the big
sewer last year the street being kept open for
many weeks. and, some compensation for what
they then suffered the city agreed to give them IN
asphalt pavement without following the usual GUS
tom OF assessing one-half of Its on the pro-
prietors OF the abutting property. Five blocks at
the beginning or Greene-ave to be asphalted
next year. in spite Of the cartracks there but the
entire avenue can never form through route for
the reason that II has been given over to trolley
New-York tribune., 1896-11-22
THESE CHURCHES WILL NOT UNITE.

THE SCHEME FOR CONSOLIDATING PILGRIM AND
CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCHES DEFEATED
A scheme which has been under consideration FOR
some time for the consolidation Of tho Pilgrim Bap-
list Church and the Calvary Baptist Church. was
defeated Friday evening at a meeting OF the
Pilgrim Church. The members Of Calvary have
worked for union OF tho two bodies. but after con-
siderable discussion Pilgrim Church decided 20 de-
cline the offer IL is said that Calvary Church has
q debt OF $1,000. while Pilgrim Church carries a
mortgage Of $500. The members Of the latter
congregation prefer 10 pay their bills and have
no share IN the indebtedness OF Calvary. At FRI
day nights meeting OF Pilgrim Church, tho Rev.
DR. D. &. Hughes was selected as the pastor. after
a friendly contest. In which several candidates ig-
ured Or. Hughes for some time pastor of
Union Avenue Baptist Church. In Grecnpoini. and
his last pastorate was at the Jackson Avenue Edp-
list Church, In Scranton. Penn. lie has frequently
preached In Pilgrim Church 1t Is not known
whether he will accept the call.
New-York tribune., 1896-11-22
BROOKLYN AFFAIRS IN ALBANY.

Albany Nov. 2.-Bids opened to-day for
constructing n new drlll hall in connection with
the nth Regiment Armory in Brooklyn b. J. Buss-
man. Of Hancock. y. y, appeared 10 be the lowest
bidder under the main specifications for the con-
struction OF the drill hall His bid is slis.5Oo The
State Armory Commission will meet at noon
Monday at tho Arsenal. Scvonth-avc. and Thirty
nfth-st., New-York CITY, when 1t Is expected the
contract will be awarded. Tho appropriation for
the work is $4,000.
The Long Island Gas Fuel and Power Company
was Incorporated to-day with the Secretary Of
State. with a capital of 100000 The corporation
IL formed 10 manufacture gas for fuel and supply
the same to consumers In Brooklyn The directors
are William Il. Burnet William s. Chapman Ar
thur VI. Davis James C. Richie. James a. Sim
mons, OF New-York City; Nathaniel q. Read Of
Boston, and William NJ. Chapman of Brooklyn