davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
HE KEPT THE LAND.
Hezekiah Podgers Was a Very Mean spir-
tied Man.

tied Man.
1t was currently rumored in Hard
scrabble that when Hezekiah Podgers
got hold of a silver dollar he squeezed
it so tight that the eagle on it had hard
work to get its breath, let alone scream
ing.
This may have been an eXaggeration,
but there was no denying the fact that
Podgers was rather close in the most of
his dealings.
1t was said that he had occasionally
been known to give something away,
but in such cases it was something that
happened to be of no further use to him
or else there was a wire cable attached to
the gift. And as an instance of the latter
people were fond of citing the time he
offered the hard-shell Baptists a free
plot of land for use as a cemetery.
The society in question had raised the
money and built church and a COM
mittee had been appointed to visit
Podgers, who owned several farms in
the neighborhoood, and ask him to deed
to the church the land needed for
cemetery. He had contributed nothing
for the building fund, and on the ground
that he was land poor" and COULDN'T
afford it, so the committee argued that
it would be benefit to him to give
away some of his land, and besides he
ought to do it anyway for the sake of
the church.
Podgers held out for awhile, but final
ly a bright thought struck him and he
gave in and said he would willingly
contribute the land on one condition.
The committee thanked Podgers very
profusely and then, while one of their
number was drawing up the necessary
writings another (who happened to
think that perhaps it would be a good
idea TO find out) spoke up and asked
Podgers what his one condition was.
'Wa-al," drawled Podgers, with ex
asperating slowness, my idear is jest
this: You hev asked me to-er-furnish
the land fer yer buryin' ground free
gratis, fer nothin'. an / am PERFECTLY
willin' TO do it on one condition-an
that is, peryided Hank Jones Ga member
of the committee and proprietor of the
village marble works. furnishes all the
headstones that go into it on the same
terms"
The committee adjourned without Sc
curing the deed of the land.-N. Y.
World
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
STOPPING A TRAIN.
Important Discovery That Has Just b

Important Discovery That Has Just Been
Made In Europe.
Some important discoveries have Just
been made in Europe, says the New
York Herald.
How to stop train when an accident
Is impending has long been problem.
Many plans have been suggested, but
almost all have been considered faulty
for the reason that they call for quick
stoppage. In such a case the shock
would be SO great that the carriages
between the engine and the rear of
the train would be smashed TO atoms
and their occupants crushed to death.
Evidently, therefore, a gradual stop
page is imperative.
An admirable plan, which ena bles q
train to slow down gradually, has re
Gently been tested at the railroad sta
ton in Dresden. 1t is extremely sim
pie and has been found 10 work well.
No intricate machinery is required, and
the cost must be small. A track is laid.
the rails of which sink or slope grad
passes over this sand its wheels meet
with an ever-increasing resistance,
which soon becomes so great that they
are obliged tostop. The stoppage, how
ever. is so gradual that there is no
rough shock. The greater the swiftness
of the train and the heavier the load
the more immediate is the stOppage.
No damage then is possible either as
regards the train or the passengers.
An experiment which was recently tried
with freight train showed clearly the
usefulness of this very practical snd
Eimple Dlan
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
DAINTY NeedIevork.

The clover comes again TO the front
as n motif in decoration, both for en-
broidery and painting. 1t certainly
is one of the most effective blossoms
and comes up beautifully either on
china in painting, or wrought out in
delicate silks on fine linen. When used
in art needlework, they are laid with
the long stems overlapping each other
and arranged to form a circle. The
leaves and stems are worked in shaded
green, the blossoms in white shading
into pinl<ish purple, pink shading from
pale tints TO a deep crimson red, pale
pink and white, and white with touches
Of the palest green. Lovely bodies to
teacloths. center pieces and doilies,
decorated with this clover design, have
a trefoil edge. formed by repetition
of three scallops, formed by convention
allied leaves. This edge is quite in the
shape of the edge. in white nuns work.
that is called 1.-The clover leaf scallop.'
st. Louis Republic.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
ABOUT ENcORES.
Sims Reeves Hard on the "vIcious sys-
tenn" as He Calls It.

Sims Reeves Hard the "vIcious sys-
tenn" He Calls IL.
Sims Reeves is hard on what he
calls the vicious encore system" He
characterizes 1t as preposteIous piece
of dishonesty. OF which all honest per-
sons should be ashamed, says the Gem
ueman's Magazine. The nuisance, he
says rightly, seeks to take a shabby adj
vantage of the suffering professional
and it is TO be regretted that few of our
performers possess sufficient courage
to return to the platform, bow, politely
and indicate firmly no. Your enchor-
monger cares nothing about symmetry
or balance of cohesiveness, whether the
occasion be the lyric stage, the oratorio
performance, the benefit and ordin-
airy concert or the ballad concert.
He wants to hear more than he has
bargained for, and if his demand is not
yielded to he will boot and bray ana
hiss when an attempt is made 10 per-
form the next piece, as IL he belonged
TO the long-eared quadrupeds or feath-
ered-biped tribe. And then we have
occasionally what the newspapers term
''ascene''-an exhibition Of 'Arryism"
tnat cisgraces our boosted civilization.
If managers, artists and the musical
public would but think this matter over
and determine to stamp out the nrIi-
sance. one great blot on our English
musical performances might be ef-
faced. Unfortunately it is not yet
quite certain whether encores are more
distasteful TO the great majority of
performers than they are to large Sec
tion Of the concert-going public.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31

tunity to make himself indispensable,
will some day look back to the begin
ming of the present year and congratu-
late himself that there is in the world
such thing as good resolutions. There
are very many persons who would be
the gamer by determined resolve to
divest themselves of the idea that they
are of such great importance. Conceit
mars more characters than any other of
our besetting sins. The world gets
along Just as well without us, and while
for a little time the few may regret
MS, the many never miss us. When once
we become fully reconciled to the idea
that we are but particles in the great
mosaic of creation and that if we drop
out of it there are plenty more that slip
almost unconsciously into the spaces
we leave vacant we will have removed
from our lives some of the leading
causes of uRhappiness and unrest. jan
uary, 1897, is an excellent time to prune,
as far as we may. everything in the
way of weaknesses and foilies and set
up a standard higher than we have
ever before raised, and register a VOW
to follow the best models and methods
that our most enlightened intelligence
can furnish.-N. Y. Ledger.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
PITH AND POINT.

-Bacon-"Did you know there were
over 7a5.o13.559.60o different whist
hands in pack of cards?" Egbert-
"Yes: my wife tells me about each one
nearly every time re play."-Yonkers
Statesman.
--She-"Dear me. Why don't they
teach choruses TO sing intelligibly2 II
is SO aggravating to be unable to dis
tinguish the words" He-"You don't
know your luck. have read the libret-
o."-Indianapolis Journal.
Harry, before we were married,
you begged me TO go hand In hand with
you down life's pathway so ! did"
"And now you get mad when l ask you
where you go without me five nights in
the week."-Chicago Record.
-First-class Passenger.--''Whaty you
need is q warmer climate, Mr.. Gruni-
pey," said the doctor in his most per-
suasiye tone. II guess you'll get me
there all right enough" was the un-
gracious esponse.-Detroit Free Press,
Mr.. B. Reeder--"I'm told you'd like
TO purchase a stylish riding horse, Miss
Standish. Now have a green hunter
I'd like TO show you" Miss Standish-
"oh, that would be lovely! He'd go SO
well with my new billiard-cloth habit!"
-Harper's Bazaar.
-.'If you want to be liked in news
paper Office" said the man at the desk,
''you must be careful TO write only on
one side of the paper" The youth with
a bunch of manuscript looked at him
suspiciously and exclaimed: NO, you
dcn'tl may look young. but can see
through some things. You want me q
write my poetry on one side of the paper
so that you can turn it over and use the
other side for your long winded articles
/ sbout finance. I'm not so foolish. =
I WASHINGTON Star
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
coNcERNlNo SKIRTS.
The Trained Evening Gown Is Noted
Among the Latest.

1mohk tAts AatrsG
A word about skirts, which seem to
be in more of transition state than
any other article of wearing apparel.
There is the close, habit-like skirt,
which is the extreme mode of the hour.
Ii is close and fits SO snugly over the
Ups that ii fastens by an invisible row
If buttons in the back seam. The av-
crage fashionable skirt has the front
plain and close-fittiDg on the hips, with
the fullness thrown to the back, but
with no stiffened outspreading godets.
These skirts clear the ground and are
trim looking. Some of the newest
tailor-made skirts show lengthwise
trimmings. The side seams, for in.
stance, are ornamented by two rows
of inch-wide braid uniting in a clover
leaf border at the hem. One modiste
describes the new skirt by saying that
skirts standing out In points about
the feet are things of the past and that
the present shape is gracefully eased
about the hips and full at the back.
Many women welcome the return of
the trained evening skirt, which was
rendered impossible by the large cir
cular skirts that have been so long in
vogue. Trimmings. drapery and trains
nre all new features for evening dress
skirts. The youthful dancing frock
skirt is a succession of fiounces over n
silk foundation. A pretty model has a
blue silk foundation, with three over
skirts of pale blue tulle falling over it.
Petticoats that come next the dress
ba al fnr t1,n
dressy woman. As much dis
tinction is made concerning diff
ferent pettieoats rs concerning diff
ferent gowns. Those for morning
wear under wooden dress are of mo-
hair or alpaca, embellished with sew
eral small flounces of the same, bound
with velvet. For afternoon wear pet
ticoats are of taffeta or broche satin
with flounces of silk and lace, full and
fussy. For evening wear the height
OF elegance is to have the outside pet
ticoat match the silk of dress. This
is trimmed with deep founces edged
with lace. For grand ball for bride
the correct petticoat is of white silk
or satin profusely trimmed with lace
and bows of white ribbon. A novelty
was noted the other day in silk pet
ticoat, the wide bottom founce being
trimmed with five or six tiny ruffles,
giving. of course. very wide and full
effect about the bottom.-Philadelph
Times.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
IMPROVING GRASSES.
Why Our Farmers should Bring Native
Species Into Cultivation.

Why Our Farmers should Bring Native
Species Into Cultivation.
One of the best lines OF work in con.
nection with the development of inn
proved forage conditions is that of
bringing our rative forms into cult
sation. More than 90 per cent. of all
the grass species of the world are ma
tives of the United States, the number
ranging upward of 700, and think I
am not wrong in saying that there
is no other continent on which there is
a greater number of native forage
plants Other ha the grasses Nearly
ali of our Gu vted forage plants are
of foreign origin, and If it were not
simply matter IF public interest, it
ought to BE- one If public sentiment,
to preserve the coming generations of
American ia. uers those native species
which have added SO much to the
wealth of the land in the past. The
species of the grazing regions in the
west and southwest, and, for that mat
ter, in every part of this country where
sheep or cattle are raised, are best
adapted for the conditions under which
each grows, and it is folly TO think that
better forms may be introduced from
Europe or Asia or Australia, where
climate and soil and abundance of rain
fall are different. The meadow grass
of the parks, woodlands and mountain
slopes, the grama and buffalo grasses
of the southwest, and the blue stems
of the eastern prairie belt, cannot be
improved upon.
We must go out into the fields and
meadows and select, care for and prop
agate the thrifty grasses and native
clovers, Just as the horticulturist Sc
lects and propagates his finest varie-
ties of fruits, or the florist his most
perfect and most highly developed
flowers. Every cultivated grass. every
cereal, every fruit or flower, has been
developed up from just such small be-
ginnings, and when we take into con-
sideration the Importance of the graz
ing industries, the great amount OF
money invested in them, and the vasr
yearly income from these sources, we
must adopt the conclusion that such
line of work is an exceedingly impor-
tant one.--United States Department
of Agriculture.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
HOMEMADE Ely WHEEL.

power. In the tatter case fly wheel
will cause the stone to run very even
w. Our sketch shows cast-off. heavy,
farm cartwheel. mounted and ready for
business. Small strips of hard wool
screwed TO TIE rim keep the baud from
coming off. The plan Of setting up
the wheel is plainly shown in the Illus
traitor Where the rim of the wheel
used IS of sufficient thickness, the old
iron tire can be removed and a very
thick, but narrow. tire put upon both
edges of the rim. leaving a chance for
the band TO run between them. In
the case of a east-ofs cartwheel this
plan would answer abiy.-OraEge
Judd Farmer.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
LESTER KETcHUa.
THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW YEAR.
A Good Thing TO Begin Ii by Making
Good Resolutions.

Good Resolutions.
With the beginning of the New Year
comes the almost universal practice of
making good resolutions. All consci-
entious persons who have been ac-
customed to indulge in habits that they
know are not to be approved BY high
standard of aesthetics or morality, or
dinarily take occasion to make resolves
that they will amend their ways ac-
eording 10 the best accepted ideas on
such subjects.
1t is a curious fact that the break
ing of such resolutions is likely to
cause as much merriment as regret,
and failures to live up to the new de-
termination are regarded by many as
huge jokes. IL is good thing to begin
with the New Year TO lop off some of
our mental or moral derelictions and
correct whatever physical shortcomings
we may have been guilty of. Especially
is this the case with young persons.
Every year ought to show a distinct
and decided advance over the one just
before it. Boys and girls have every
incentive to strive to elevate and de-
velop their characters. They have the
world and life before them, and it rests
with them to make the coming genera
ton better than the present and in
fnitely superior TO the one just pass
ing away. Young people who are now
entering upon the preliminary duties
of life will find il of the greatest adj
vantage if they will select some pursuit
/ TO which they can devote whatever
spare time circumstances may allot
them. The girl who takes up botany,
Horticulture, Bookkeeping, gardening or
poultry-raisiug as a special study, with
/ the determination to make 1897 red
letter year in her calendar, 10y reason
of her thorough study and comprehen-
sive understanding of the business in
/ hand, will, before long, find herself In
an independent and commanding po-
sition, able to paddle her own canoe
among the rocks and reefs that line the
shores of the river of life. 1t is good
/ thing TO begin new study with the
1 New Year. Ii gives something to date
! from, and an ambition to cover all pos
sible ground during the 365 days before
the calendar is TO be renewed. The man
who makes up his mind to cut loose
from all nonsense. to give up every
thing that sounds like excuses for non
performance of duty. and determines
to be prompt, thorough, alert, eoncen-
trative and watchful of every oppor'
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
GOT EVEN WITH THE CLERK.
How a Country Guest Made the Hore
Omcisl Pay Up.

How a Country Guest Made the Hore
Oncisi Pay Up.
A country guest at a certain Londor
hotel, having a dread of pickpockets
went TO the clerk and handed him a
6 20 note to be put in the safe, say;
Comic Cuts. Asking for il next day
he was thunderstruck when the func'
tionary to whom he bad given the
money coolly denied any recollection
of the matter. Whereupon she coun-
tryInan went to a lawyer.
Get another 20 note" said the law
yer, "and 60, accompanied by friend
back to the hotel. Apologize TO the
clerk for your mistake. Say 1t was
defect of memory. Attribute it to
observation-disclosures. Deposit the sec.
ond 20 note in the presence of your
friend and come back to me"
The mystified ruralist observed In
structions to the very letter.
''Now,' said the lawyer, go back
alone to the clerk and ask him for your
& 20 note. Knowing that your friend
saw him receive it he will give you back
the second one. Then take yor friend
with you next day, approach the clerk,
nsk him boldly for that & 20 note and
ns there was no witness TO your receipt
of the second note he viii be forced
20 return that also"
The ruse proved completely success
full. much to the qualification OF the
co1rufrvrnau
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
SATISFACTORY TO HIM.
An Argument Terminated without tn
Defeat of Either Side.

An Argument Terminated without the
Defeat of Either Side.
The young man who alw avs wears q
Prince Albert coat and never seems to
enjoy himself was talking to bright
young woman Of this city. The bicycle
was the theme Of conversation, says
the Washington Star.
NO." said the young man; 81 do not
approve of women's learning to ride the
wheel"
~ don't see why"
Because it's just a passing whim. It's
q diversion which will go cut of vogue
just as other crazes have done. And
then what lave you gained by all this
expenditure of time and money!"
"But, don't see, Mr.. Slimmins, what
reason you can have for regarding the
bicycle as a mere fad"
MY reason is the disfavor toward IL
that is already appearing. Where
everybody was once talking about its
being good exercise, people arc coming
out and denouncing il. Bicycles are be-
ing more abused every day. Don't you
agree with me?"
VI course Snouiun I thihN VI quar-
reling with you. Mr.. Slimmins. and ]
will admit one thing"
"What is that?"
There never was time when BIZ
cycles We're sat down upon by so many
people"
And the young man in the Prince
Albert coat smiled self-satisfied smile,
and said that was exactly the point be
was irving 10 make.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
He Raised Them.

A few nights ago a miner from the
north who had lately sold claim, had
money to burn and was in an ;ncendiary
mood, came down to Spokane to make
the currency bonfire. He was rather
rusty-looking when he struck Spokane,
but he was hungry, and, before going
to barber shop or bath, dropped into
an uptown restaurant to get something
TO eat. There was but one waiter, and
he, busy carrying champagne to a
party at another table, paid little atten-
ton to the hard-looking miner Finally
the waiter was called over, when the
miner said:
"See here, kid! Do / eat?"
"Sorry / can't wait on you now" was
The prompt reply, "but the gentlemen
there have just ordered S5O-dinner."
''Fifty-dollar dinner be hanged.
Bring me 500 worth of ham and eggs,
and be quick about it, DO look like a
guy who can be bluffed by mess Of
popinjays?" He was waited upon
Spokane Review.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
Roast wild Fowl.

The flavor is best without stufiing.
Put salt. pepper and butter into each.
They require less dressing than the
tame varieties. Put an onion, salt and
water into the drippiDg-pan. and haste
with that liquid for the first ten min
utes: afterward. haste frequently with
butter. rich brown gravy should be
served with them. When the breast
is sliced, before cutting from the bone.
a squeeze of lemon over ii is an irn-
proyement.-H ousekeeper.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
FARM AND GARDEN.
INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS.

They Are Said TO BE Hardy, and Early
and Continuous Layers
The Indian Runner ducks have been
for some time in England highly valued
on account of their hardness. unusual
foragipg habits, and for their being
such early and continuous layers.
They have not been much selected for
color, although some keepers of them
seem to have their preferences in re-
gard to markings. The illustration
gives an accurate idea as to the placing
of the markings, which is from pho
tcgraph of a pair sent me by their
owner, Mr.. Mathew Hunter. of York
shire. These are of fawn and white
color, on the body and neck, and with
black patch on the top of the head and
side of the cheek. of the drake. black
also on the cushion OF the drake, on the
head of the duck, dark fawn or brown.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
How to Make Hens Paw.

II is useless TO expect hen to shiyer
all night on cold perch. hop down 90
The ground. and search in vain for q
drink Of water in the liquid state. and
thea retire to the privacy of her nest
ard lay an egg with two yolks. The
lien that would do that il she couli
,-oPld be as great fool as her owner
A warm hen house, with plenty OF
straw. ard some scattered grain tc
scratch for, viii encourage reluctant
hens TO pay their debts, and they will
do it; but they object TO paying some
thing for nothing.-Inland Poultry.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
saimi of Dnck.

Cut the breast of some roasted ducks
into neat fillets; place in fiat dish.
sprinkled well with allspice, cayenne
and salt If necessary. Pour over Tho
slices enough orange juice to half cover
the pieces of duck. and dot with an
ounce OF butter broken into small bits:
shake quickly over brisk fire until
thoroughly hot, when serve expedi-
tiousiy.-Iadiss' Home Journal.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-12-31
cood-By. old Year.

Good bv Old Year, We meet no more
but. in my heart. keep
Your irecepts. whispered DER and DER.
That ofe have made me weep
And Chickering'S. too. that gave me pain
From w.,ich was no appear.
keep then, all future gain
You bruised me thus TO heal.
Good by. Old Year. Ny constant friend.
/ might not bid you stay.
Above your grave sadly bend.
4 laurel wreath to lay.
You brought me peace. when hope had aec
And grace my griefs 10 bear;
with flowers OF love my pathway spread
And LEFT them blooming there.
Ruth Raymond. IN Housekseper.