davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
MADAGASCAR'S RESOURCES.
Sugar-Cane, Cotton. Vanilla Plant. Coffee
and the Chocolate Tree.


and the Chocolate Tree.
Now that France has Madagascar
securely in her grasp, her wise men are
beginning to direct attention toward
the best methods of turning to account
that islands vast but undeveloped agri
cultural possibilities and to assert that
in time it should become verita6le
mine of wealth for the nation, says the
New York World. 1t is stated that
sugar-cane can be cultivated as Sue
cessfully in Madagascar as in Cuba.
Cotton grows wild almost everywhere
and in few instances where it's Guilt
walton has been attempted the product
has been Of extraordinary fine quality.
The vanilla plant also fourlshes il
Madagascar. Few people are aware
that the source OF this commonest of
flavoring extracts is parasite plant
like the orchid. Though it grows wild,
the best results are obtained from its
cultivation. 1t is propagated by cut
tings and it takes eighteen months for
the first flowers to appear. The fiow-
ers, as well as the tiny seeds, are the
basis for the extract OF commerce.
Eight hundred flowers will furnish q
little over a pound OF prepared vanilla
and each well-grown plant is said to
bear 1000 flowers. The annual product
of vanilla from all parts of the globe is
estimated at about 100000 pounds,
nearly half Of which comes from the
island of Reunion, in the Indian ocean,
another of Frances colonial posses
sions. The present value OF pound OF
this product in France is about francs,
or 81. Coffee also grows readily in
Madagascar and tobacco and rice have
been cultivated there on a small scale
with great success. The climate and
soil are likewise admirably suited to
the growth of the cocoa or chocolate
tree. This reaches the height of about
twenty feet and lives for some forty
years. 1t does not begin to bear its
seeds in abundance, however, and be
profitable until after the seventh
year Then the owner of a chocolate
plantation may take his ease and live
with little toll and grow rich for the
next three decades.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
The Happiest Time.

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity"
said the wise preacher of old. A nota-
bic confirmation Of the fact that all
earthly riches and power without God
are mere shadows and vapors appears
In a Napoleonic anecdote:
When Napoleon was in the height Of
his prosperity, and surrounded by a
brilliant company Of the marshals and
courtiers of the empire, he was asked
what day he considered to have been
the happiest of his life. When all cx-
pected that he would name the occasion
of some glorious victory or some great
political triumph, or some august cele-
hratiGI, or other signal recognition Of
his genius and power ne answered
without a moments hesitation: The
happiest day of my life was the day of
my first communion" At reply so
unforeseen there was general silence.
when he added, az il TO himself: Il was
then an innocent child"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
An Ingenious Cure.

One Of the temperance papers tells
the following story:
One woman determined that her nus
band should know how he looked when
he was drunk. She knew how ne
looked we'll enough, and needed not that
any man should tell her. Her childi en-
also knew by sad experience. but the
man himself had very imperfect idea
Of the state of the case. So once when
he came home and fell into maudlln
slumber she sent for the photographer
to come forthwith, and on his arrival
she set before him his work. She or
dered the photographer to photograph
her husband as he sat in the chair.
The photographer did his work, ana
did it well; and when the photograph
was finished and laid beside the hus-
bands place at breakfast it was a reve'
lation, and the sobered gentleman ex-
perienced a decidedly new sensation.
There was no need Of explanation; the
thing explained itself There was no
chance for contradiction; the sun tells
no lies. There was no room for argu-
ment.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
Mark Twain's Desire.

Mark Twain, who recently started on
a tour round the world, told an inter-
viewer at Winnipeg how he often felt
a desire to "cut loose" from civilization,
and to get away by himself where he
could run and yell to his hearts con-
tent. In this connection there is a
story about the humorist and Canon
Kingsley.
Walking along the streets one day
Mark felt the impulse to yell coming
on him with irresistible force, and said
to Kingsley, II want to yell; l must
YELL"
The canon said, "All right, yell away:
l don't mind"
And with that" said Mark.
stepped back few steps and, throwing
my arms above my head, let out war
whoop that could be heard for miles,
and in less time than you could count
Canon Kingsley and myself were sur
rounded by a multitude of anxious citi-
zens who wanted to know what was
the matter. l just wanted to yell and
had yelled"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
CALL ISSUED.
Long Expected Action Is Taken by Secre-
tary Carlisle.

WASHINGTON, January 6.-The long
expected bond call has been issued by
Secretary Carlisle. Following is the
text of the call:
Treasury Department Office of the Sec
rotary, Washington, Jan. 6.-Notice is here
by given that sealed proposals will be re-
ceived at the Office of the secretary of the
treasury, at Washington. d. c., until II
o'clock noon on Wednesday, the 5th day of
February, 1896, for the purchase of one hum
dred million dollars {sl00,0 09. 0O0) of United
States per cent coupon or registered bonds
in denominations of fifty dollars (S50) and
multipleS of that sum. as may be desired by
bidders. The right to reject any or all bids
is reserved
The bonds will be dated on the first day
OF February, 1893, and be payable in COIN
. thirty years after that date. and will bear
interest at per cent per annum, payable
quarterly in coin but all coupons maturing
on and before the LIST day of February, 1896,
will be detached, and purchasers will be re-
quired TO pay in United States gold coin or
gold certificates, for the bonds awarded to
them, and all interests accrued thereon
after the 1st day of February, 1896, up to
the time of application for delivery.
Payments for the bonds must be made at
the treasury of the United States at Wash
ington, D. c.. or at the United States sub
treasures at New York, Boston, Philadel-
phia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Chicago, st.
Louis or New Orleans, or they may lie made
at San Francisco with exchange on New
York All bids must state what denomina-
tions OF bonds are desired, and whether
coupon or registered, and at what place
they will be paid for.
Payments may be made By installments,
rs follows: Twenty per cent (20) upon re-
ceipt OF notice of acceptance of bids and
twenty per cent (20) at the end of each ten
days thereafter. and all accepted bidders
may pay the whole amount at the date of
the first installment, and those who have
paid all installments previously maturing
may pay the whole amount of their bids at
any time not later than the maturity of the
last installment.
The bonds will be ready for delivery on
or before Feb. 15 1896
Notice is further hereby given that if the
issue and sale of an additional or different
form of bond for the maintenance of the
gold reserve shall be authorized by law be-
fore Feb. ), 1896. sealed proposals for the
purchase of such bonds will also be received
at the same time and place and up to the
same date, and upon the same terms and
conditions herein set forth. and such bids
will be considered. as well as the bids for
the per cent bonds herein mentioned.
!. u. CARLISLE, Secretary of the Treasury.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
LIncoln's Endorsement.

Major Pruden, assistant private sec
Rotary to the President, is a man OF
many "reminiscences. says the Washing
ton Post. He could write book-and
ought to. In a recent conversation
Major Pruden related a humorous and
at the same time very pathetic Incl
dent, in which President Abraham Lin
coin of necessity was the leading spirit
of the episode. During a part of the
time when Mr.. Lincoln was President"
said the major, Il was employed in the
office of the judge advocate general,
Judge Holt. The Judge had the habit
and it lasted throughout his life
of sticking numerous miscellaneous let
ters and documents of all kinds in the
njgeon holes of his desk. One of my
duties was to assert these papers, BRIEF
them and send them on their way to
the department they concerned. And
that is how / became acquainted with
n nice little story. When Burnside
commanded the Army Of the Potomac
there was a German soldier-a mere boy
he was-who was unfortunate enough
one day to find himself sentenced to be
shot for desertion. His people learned
of 1t and his sister came here from
Pennsylvania post haste to see Mr..
Lincoln in behalf of her brother-a
boy condemned to death. She didn't
see the President. There were hun
dreds of other people trying to see him
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
Dumas Was kint-Hearted.

Personally M. Dumas was one of the
most polished and fascinating of men
as he was also one OF the most kind
hearted. He was a great discoverer Of
dramatic stars and always testified the
warmest and most disintere5ted friend
ship for his proteges. The Partisan
stage owed to his keen appreciation of
talent the lamented Desclee, the gifted
and Inflated Tallandiera and the un-
happy Feyghine, whose tragic fate Paris
has scarcely yet forgotten. The bril-,
liant comedionne, Nine. Celine Chau-
mont, was discovered by him in little
suburban thcater, and owed 10 him her
drst engagement ut the Gymnase.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
A Newsboy Soldier.

One of the most blessed things abo2t
the old, old story is that it can ne
understood by the poor and the ignor-
ant and weak as we'll as by the great
and mighty.
The Christian Advocate told how a
newsboy grasped the essence of Chris
ttanity as follows:
Cant do it. It's against orders
I'm soldier now" said one newsbty
to another.
Eyes, you look like soldierr' WIGS
the hooking reply.
Il am, though, all the same" ard
Jack Strengthened himself and looked
steadily into Jim's eyes. Jesus is my
captain, and I'm goin to do every
thing on the square after this, cause
he says to-" THAT won't last long"
said Jim. Just wait till you're in bad
luck and awful hungry, and you'll hook
sornethin' fast enough"
mo; my captain says, Don't steal,
and l won't. What l can't earn I'll
go without, and if I'm likely to steal 1t
any time I'll just call to him. He's al
ways watchin' to see If any one OF his
soldiers need help. He'll help me to do
anything he's told me to do"
Would that many older Christians
might have more of this kind of trust
in our great commander!
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
The Boys Did We,i.

There are some smart boys at the
little schoolhous0 at Partridge Cove
Lamoine, Maine. Tired OF the task Of
carrying water long distances to the
school, they decided to dig q well near
the school, Spare moments at recess
ana after school hours were occupied.
The boys were fortunate in choice Of
location and bubbling spring of cfear.
cold water was struck. The we'll was
neatly walled up. and now the boys look
upon their completed work with salts
faction, feeling sufficiently rewarded
for their industry in the praise be-
slowed by admhing elders.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
A Sensible African Chief.

The African chief Khama, of Sho-
ahong, who is now staying in London, is
temperance reformer of the genuine
type. 1t is question whether he il
not able to teach us more of the true
principles of civilization than we are
able to teach him. He showed himself
determined enemy of the liquor traffic.
The Rev. j. ID. Hepburn, in his book
Twenty Years in Khama's Country"
writes:
"Kkama called the white men to-
gether, and said he would have no more
drink sold in the town. The white
men urged various excuses, and Khama
fnallT consented to some brandy being
recei ed, but said he must see no
drum snness. The brandy arrived, and
OF course the drunkenness followed,
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
Dog Gets n State Funeral.

A weeping colOred girl rushed into
an undertaking establishment uptown
in New York last week and guided the
coffin constructor to an elegant apart
ment. There he met a sobbing lady,
who told him that dear member of
her family had fallen from the roof of
the house and was fatally injured. The
undertaken asked to see the body, and
was taken into the parlor, where on an
onyx table lay the cold corpse OF fox
terrier. Visions of q fat funeral van
ished from his mind only to return with
the entrance of the weeping woman, for
she slipped ten S. notes in his hand and
told him that her pet must have state
funeral. The PUP was buried in a
plush-lined and silvermounted casket
in the family lot at Woodlawn.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10

The New York Bible Society has had
good year financially and spiritually.
There have been 17,771 copies OF the
Bible distributed among the pub
lie institutions. churcheJ and
SunSay schools, 1858 TO famil-
les and individuals, 400 to in
dividuals at the office Of tho society,
SO by the postal card sys-
tenn, $1,000 to immigrants, TAP to
sailors, and 200 hotels were also sup
piled, making q total OF 1891 copies,
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10

Never, never be fore,
Had she been 10 a store,
With no one to b lip her to buy;
And oh, it was funny!
To spend all Ter money
For whatever sha happened to spy.
But, alas! for her fun,
1t hardly begun,
It seemed to the dear little spender,
When the money gave out,
With no mamma about,
A dime or qusrte to lend her.
And oh, what a picket
Not even a nickel
For car-fare had this little maiden.
So the shopman expressed her
To Al Chester,
With bundles and budgets well-laden
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10

MeadVillo, Pa, Jan. G,-Erie tain No.
., the New York and Chicago vestibule
limited, while running forty miles an
hour, struck an open switch and col
liGed WITH locomotive in the New
York and Pennsylvania yards here yes
terday. Fifteen persons were hurt,
among them; Adams, Mrs. Cyrus, New
York; Harris, Mrs. S. e., New York;
Johnson, Richard, engineer.
All the injured continued their jour-
ney in charge Of ono of the surgeons of
the railway company.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
DOMINION PARLIAMENT.
Meets to Pass Remedial Laws for the
School Controversy.

OTTAWA, January 1.-THE opening
of parliament was purely formal. the
proceedings comprising the reading of
the speech from the throne by tho
governor general and motions in the
house of commons and senate adjourn
ing until Tuesday next. The speech
from the throne briefly mentioned the
question of passing federal law re-
establishing separate schools in
Manitoba, his eycellency stating that
Premier Greenway, of Manitoba, had
declined to do anything to provide for
the re-establishing of separate schools,
when called upon to do so by the
dominion government, and that the
federal parliament would be asked to
pass bill to that end.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
Gen. Shelley's War Story.

The first time / went into & fight"
said that gallant and genial Alabamian,
Gen. c. M. Shelly, in talking with a
washington Post man, Il was in great
mental distress. My company was
composed of splendid young fellows,
but, like myself, not one of them had
oeen subjected to the enemy's fire. l
knew that there was no coward blood in
any of them and l felt sure that the
epithet could not be justly applied to
me. But, spite of all, there was the
dread, the horror, the uncertainty of
our ability to withstand attack and for
several hours preceding the conflict /
was in mortal agony. 1t was the most
awful experience of my life.
Il lad been sent forward with my
company to delay an advancing force OF
federals till the main body of our troops
could be got in readiness, and by order
or COL Rhodes, afterward one of our
prominent generals, rode ahead several
miles to meet the boys in blue. Well,
throughout the whole of my ride my
nervousness increased, for the idea still
haunted me that maybe we all would
show the white feather and disgrace
ourselves and the southern cause.
Presently the enemy came in sight, a
good many hundred to our fifty, but we
got pretty fair position on hillside
covered with timber of moderate
growth and awaited their approach.
'The federals kept coming at us till
wishin range, and turned loose volley
that, to my great relief, did no harm be-
yond infiicting a slight flesh wound on
one of my men. Immediately on re-
cNpt of that fire my feelings underwent
revolution impossible to describe. /
grew suddenly buoyant. / had felt no
disposition to run, neither lad single
individual of my company. Instantly
roy mind, which had almost ceased to
act, began to operate as usual. be-
gan to plan and studied out the details
OF the fight. Time and again the fed
erals charged us, but every time they
got the worst of 1t. We killed several
g. them and wounded good many, but
rot man of us had been seriously
hurt.
FINALLY after two hours of hot work,
they saw the only way to dislodge us
was to surround us, and very reluct-
antly saw the necessity of retreating.
This was bitter pill. and felt that l
would be held up to ignominy for turn
icg back to the foe. A message came,
however, from Col. Rhodes, command
lug our retreat, and we retired in good
order.
"a few days later I was the recipient
o. a message from Col. Rhodes to report
to him. looked on it as my death war
rnnt. My course in that skirmish was
to be investigated, and was going to
be court-martialed for cowardice. Judge
of my surprise when he showed me a
communication signed by Bcauregard,
complimenting the conduct of the Off
GERS and men in that very affair. 1t
struck me as the most fragrant case Of
undeserved praise, and told Rhodes
that / didn't propose to take particle
of it to myself for ever since the en-
counter l had experienced nothing but
humiliation, which Gen. Beauregard's
compliments did not alleviate"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
DISTRIBUTING AID.
A British Philanthropist Allowed to Opcr-
ate mt Kharuut

ate at kharput.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, January 3.-Owing
to representation made to it by Sir
Philip Currie, the British ambassador,
the porte has instructed the vail of
Kharput to allow Mr.. Barnum to dis
tribute the fund collected in England
for the relief of the suffering Armen-
ians. Trustworthy reports regarding
recent outrages in the villayet of Khar-
put none show that 1913 towns and
villages were desolated, 5,O64 houses
burned and 2,07s persons killed. Not
a single Turk was killed so far as
known.
CoNsTANT1NopLE, January Turkey,
has accepted the mediation of the
powers between the government and
the insurgents of Zeitoun.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10

WASHINGTON, January 5.-The mcm-
bers of the Venezuelan commission,
excepting Mr.. White, met in the Office
of Secretary Olney, received their COM
missions and elected Justice Brewer as
president.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
Masks for Soldiers.

Masks for soldiers engaged in warfar.
in the colonies, not as defense against
the sword or the bullet OF the enemy,
but as a protection against the no less
dangerous cohorts of fevers-such is the
original proposition which has just
been submitted to the Academy of Med
icine. 1t emanates from DR.. Heurot,
professor of the Rheims School of Medi-
cine, who argues that the use OF this
mask would prevent the germs from
penetrating to the lungs OF the soldier
engaged in colonial warfare, who, as
he is not acclimated, and is overworked,
is much more liable to attack from
fever than other people. In short, as
he maintains, it would place barrier
between the deleterious atmosphere
and the organs of respiration.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
MONTANA FOR ALLISON.
Cheering News Brought by Judge william
Hunt, Who Knows,

HARTFORD, Conn, January G.-Judge
William Hunt of the supreme court of
Montana, is visiting in this city. He
says that Montana is for Nilsson for
president and Mckinley for vice
president. He says that if Don
Cameron was in the field, Montana
would be for him first, last and all the
time, on account of his attitude on the
silver question.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
HEART ON THE WRONG SIDE.
Peculiar Fix in Which John Martel Finds
Himself,

Himself.
LA CROSSE, Wis, January 3.-John
Martel, aged 20, of this city, was built
wrong side to. That is, the organs
that belong on the left side are on the
right, and vice versa. This has been
discovered by DR.. George Powell, who
finds that Martefs heart occupies the
same position on the right side that it
should on the left side had he been
normally constructed. Martel says he
has known from childhood that his,
heart was on the right side, and had
often told his family of it, only to be
laughed at for his pains
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
VETERANS CORNER.
SOME CAMPFIRE SKETC HE'S FOR
THE OLD SOLDIERS.
Gen. Shelley's Story of His First Fight
-Lincoln's Endorsement = Masks in
Battle-Brltish Drag in Guiana-What-
ever Is, Is Best.
KNOW as my life

KNOW as my life
grows older
And my eyes have
clearer sight,
That under each
ran k wrong
somewhere
There lies the
root of Right;
That each sorrow
has it's purpose,
BY the sorowing
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10

OFT nngueSSed,
But, as sare as the sun brings morning
Whatever is, is best.
know that each sinful action,
AS sure as the night brings shade,
is somewhere, sometime punished,
Tho the hour be long delayed.
know that the soul is aided
Sometime by the hearts unrest,
Ana to grow means often to suffer,
But whatever is, is best.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10
THE YOUTHS CORNER.
GOOD SHORT STOR ES BOYS
AND Gi!LS.
Little Grace's Shopping Expeditiop-The
Happiest Time - a Sensible African
Chief A NewsboJ Soldier An In
Genious Cure-Lark Twain.

2 VI U r e little
Grace,
y it'll sweet dimpled
face,
Brushed her bon
ny brown hair
till it shone;
= Ut on her best
bonnet
with fine feathers
on it,
And went to the
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10

There are three women cIergymen In
Berfast, Me.-Miss Kingsbury, pastor
of the Universaiist' church; Miss King
of the Church of the Advent and Miss
Mcintyre OF the Church of God.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-01-10

Envy is dog thai bites before bark.