davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13
STUCK TO sPARTAcUs STORY.
Congressman Hopkins Could Not Sec
the Ioker's Point.

Congressman Hopkins Could Not See
the Jokcr's Point.
Mr. Hopkins OF Illinois Is not alto
gether Inaccessible to the subtlety OF
Joke, but In the main the tawny haired
statesman Is disposed to be serious
and grave. Updegraff Is dry joker.
and Lacey OF Iowa Is always bubbling
over with the spirit OF merriment.
Some time ago, while Hopkins and
Lacey were smoking In the house
cloakroom the conversation drifted to
the subject OF gladiators, and Hopkins.
In his serious way, began to extol the
martial achievements OF one Spartacus,
not unknown to most readers, from
Juveniles up to gray-haired statesmen,
In connection with n poem beginning:
aye call me chief. And ye do well to
call him chief who for twelve long
years" etc.
"You can talk about gladiators In
tones of contempt" said Hopkins. but
Spartacus was a great general"
updegratr was half asleep, stretched
out on the lounge within ear shot. He
caught Hopkins remark and drawled
out:
you're mistaken about that, Hop
kins. That wasn't Spartacus at all.
but Cantharides."
"Oh. no." said Hopkins; ut was
Spartacus."
II tell you 1t was Cantharides," IN
sisted Updegraff. provokingly; II know
what I'm talking about"
Updegraff and Lacey soon after left
the cloakroom and took their seats.
Updegraff knew Hopkins was right.
But 1t amused him TO be perverse. SO
far as Cantharides was concerned, II
was the first word that popped into his
mind. The two had occupied their
seats but q little while when Hopkins
marched down the aisle with Anthon's
classical dictionary. He banged Il
down on Updegrafr's desk and pointed
to the history OF Spartacus for verifica-
ton OF his assertion.
Updegraff looked at II. then at Hop
klns. and In very dry tones said:
That's right. That dictionary is re-
sponsible for that cock and bull story.
There 1t Is, sure enough. But | pre-
sumed. while II had misled so many.
you, Hopkins, couldn't be taken in by
that kind OF authority"
Hopkins looked at him for a moment
I'm blank amazement at such display
OF human perversity, closed the book
in disgust and stalked up the aisle
Washington Post
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13
SOUTH AFRICAN LIONS.
They Are. 1t Il Said. the Boldsst Of All
Predatory Animals.

South African lions are, beyond ques-
tion, the boldest Of all predatory ami
mails. and those Of Mashonaland are per-
haps the boldest Of all. During the
night, their natural hunting time, they
attack draft animals, or even men,
within few yards Of the campfres,
and are constant and serious danger to
travellers in districts remote from the
main tracks Of traders From the Fam
bezi. through Mashonaland, and north
to the Limpopo a chorus Of complaints
rises in the pages Of recent travellers
whose cattle or followers have suffered
from their attacks. Mr.. Selous has re-
corded the pursuit Of the post from Sails
bury by lion, and the loss of the mail
bags, which the animal tore from the
back Of the pack horse. Mr.. Millais.
who crossed the Nuanetsi river with
team Of eight donkeys to draw his wag
on--the oxen being left behind on ac-
count Of the proximity Of the Fly"
country-lost three in one night by lion
attack, carried out with the utmost con-
tempt for human beings, whether white
or black. He was awakened by the lion
roar, and almost Immediately saw one
Of the tethered donkeys knocked over.
1t was not five yards from the fire, but
in the darkness and dazzle of the fire he
could not sec the attacker. ave knew
instinctively that lion had killed the
donkey, and was standing over him not
five yards from where we were, but it
was hopeless 10 fire unless we saw some
thing. or at least could make certain of
his whereabouts.
This odd scene continued for some
moments. the actors being four or five
black men, two white men, pony, sew
en- live donkeys and dead one, and the
lion standing over the latter, with fire
partly lighting up the figures. until u
couple more donkeys broke loose. They
rushed into mealie field, and there the
party heard the lion chasing first one
donkey and then another. as excited and
as little afraid as a dog chasing rabbits
in field of barley. AT every bound
the lion emitted subdued 'boo-uff. as
his fore legs struck the ground, but the
two did not go far. There were presently
loud scuffle, a crack and the sound Of
heavy body falling; then all was
still. The lion chased the third donkey
round the camp, killed and ate it, and
was next day shot by an ingenious trap,
made by tying rife to posts, and fas-
tening string to the trigger, which the
lion struck when revisiting its kill.
The unsportsmanlike method of com
passing its death is excused by Captain
Millais on the ground Of necessity. This
lion was 10 feet long from the tip OF
the nose to the tip of the tail, was in
perfect health and immensely formida-
BILE. London Spectator.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

The principal danger in captive work
is the always present possibility of the
wire rope parting, not because of the
obvious result that the balloon, being
set free, would at once make off at speed,
but for reasons of very simple technical
nature, albeit none the more pleasant by
reason of their simplicity. 1t must be
understood that when captive balloon
has been sent up the required height, the
mock of tho balloon has to be tied up so
as to prevent the wind from exerting
pressure ON the envelope and forcing
out the gas, which would result in the
balloon very shortly losing its lifting
power and descending. In free runs the
neck must always be wide open, for
otherwise any sudden expansion of gas
might burst the balloon. Hence if a
captive breaks away it is bound to make
an unduly rapid ascent, since it is sud-
denly released from the restraint as we'll
as the weight of the wire rope.
OF course in such an emergency the
gas would at once commence to expand
furiously. and unless the neck of the
balloon were instantly opened and kept
open the envelope would inevitably
burst In the shocking accident at the
Crystal palace i'll 1892, when poor Dale
and his comrades lost their lives. the
balloon was started with too much lift
and commenced to rise with undue ra-
pidity. Dale, the aeronaut. realizing the
danger. opened the neck and in his anx-
iety to see that it was clear looked into
it. and it is supposed that his head
checked the outrush of heated gas, with
the result that the envelope instantly
burst. with terrible results. -Macmil-
lan's Magazine.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

A Connecticut farmer. who gives no
clew as to the character of the soil. nor
the kind or farming he is engaged in.
asks advice about seeding clover to
grass field that has been in hoed crops
for two years, but for which he has no
manure or fertilizer unless he buys on
credit, says Storr's Agricultural Stand.
ard. II he has use for the fodder. a
crop of oats and peas, and clover grown
Herewith, for blowing under In the
fall. would be a good order to follow
before seeding down. II this plan Is
adopted, would advise the use of 500
pounds OF bone and 200 pounds Of muri.
ate Of potash per acre when the oats
and peas are sown. Sow one and one
half bushel each of oats and of peas as
early as the ground can be worked,
pillow the peas under and SOW the oa,s
and fifteen pounds OF common red
clovcrseed after blowing and harrow
lightly. Unless the ground Is quite dry
the cloverseed should only be pushed in
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

The Supreme Court OF Illinois has re-
Gently decided case which Is OF a good
deal OF importance both to railroads
and to the travelling public. In the
southern part OF the State is a road
known as the Cairo Short Line, a
branch OF which, fifty miles long. runs
from Duquoin to Eldorado. the busi-
ness on the branch being 80 small that
the company ran only what are known
as mixed trains" made up OF freight
and passenger cars. The people living
along the line OF the road applied to
the State Railroad Commissioners to
order the company TO run one train
day each way exclusively for passen-
gers, and the order was Issued. The
railroad company denied the right OF
the board to issue such an order, and
the case went to the Supreme Court,
which affirmed the order OF the Com
missoners. The Court held that rail-
roads are creatures OF law and are In
trusted with their powers to promote
public interests, and are, therefore,
bound TO conduct their affairs In fur
therance OF the public objects OF their
creation. The Court held that ut can
not be said that the carrying OF pas
sengers In n car attached to freight
train is suitable and proper opera
ton OF railroad 30 far as the carriage
OF passengers is concerned" While
this decision will be appreciated by
many persons who have had to submit
to being drawn across the country In
mixed trains at the rate OF ten miles
an hour, not including interminable
stops ut way stations while freight Is
being loaded and transferred, II is a
fact that many Western roads do not do
a sufficiently large passenger business
to warrant the running Of passenger
trains. This Is Il matter that com
pany ought to have considered when II
asked for n charter, but having re-
celved privileges from the public such
company ought not to be permitted
to treat the people as II they had no
rights In exchange for the franchise
they have given. Nor ought the COM
pany to subordinate the conveyance OF
passengers to the transportation OF
freight. The Court held very properly
that carrying flrst-class passengers on
a freight train was not In accordance
with the laws of the State of Illinois
nor with the rights of its people.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

l believe that a sow that produces
six or eight pigs at litter will bring
a better income generally than one
that produces twelve or fifteen pigs,
says a writer in an exchange. The rea-
son why think so is this: A SOW In
narrowing twelve or fifteen is almost
sure to have a lot of them small.
very runty and no account whatever.
Almost sure to be all sizes, and what
is more disgusting than to have large
litter of pigs of all sizes. A litter Of
this kind seldom grows and does as
much good according to the food con.
sumed as a smaller litter The un.
evenness Of the litter seems to be the
worst feature of the situation. for
the reason that the larger ones fight
Off the smaller ones. and thereby. after
a while, the smaller ones begin TO
dwindle and die, and after all. Won
have nothing left OF your large litter
but few of the larger ones. where. II
you had eight goods pigs to start with
you would not be bothered with the
trouble have spoken Of.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13
The Mote In hi. NeIrhbor,. Eye.

A much priced cat strayed out Of the
window Of Central Park West apart
ment the other day. He walked along
the cornice until he reached one Of the
windows next door and looked in sol
EMMY. The absence of the precious tab
by was soon discovered. and he was
called back quickly and reprimanded.
The next day the proprietors Of the
animal were informed that the neighhor
had complained because the cat had
peered into his room. They immediate
ly informed the owner of the property
that the man who had been so disturbed
by little feline curiosity practiced ON
the flute for two hours every day. New
York Sun
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

general farmer who cultlvates but a
small patch for his own use. The pota-
toes are cut by hand to two eyes. drop
ped In rows three feet apart, with the
hills eighteen inches apart in the row
If they are to be plowed one way, and
two and one-half to three feet apart II
they are to be cultivated crosswise.
Checking, however, is hardly ever nee
essary except where the land is very
foul. For commercial planting, hand
processes are entirely too slow, conse-
quently inventors have constructed ma
chimes both for cutting the potatoes into
suitable sized pieces and for planting
them. There is also on the market a
machine which cuts the seed and at the
same time does the planting. Figs
and represents n hand potato cutter
which will do the work of eight or ten
persons. The potato is dropped into the
hopper, the handle brought over and
pressed down, and the potato is cut into
pieces of a uniform size. Fig. repre-
sents the bottom of the hopper, crossed
by six knives, with one running length
wise. The number of knives can be
decreased so as to make larger pieces
Of II, or can be increased and smaller
pieces obtained. This machine can
also be used for cutting beets. turnips.
carrots, and other roots for stock feed.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13
n,gerent Kinds of Bone Meal.

Different Kinds OF bone -"e"'
Bone meal is not confined 10 ons
name. but is known also as grounu
hone. bone flour, bonedust, etc. we
find in the market raw bone meal ana
steamed bone meal. Raw bone meal
contains the fat naturally present IN
bones. The presence Of the rat Is Cd
jectionable, because 1t makes tn'
grinding more difficult and retards tns
decomposition OF the bone In the SOIL
while fat Itself has no value as plant
food. When bones are steamed, the
fat Is removed and the bone Is more
easily ground. Moreover, the chemical
nature Of the nitrogen compounds ap-
pears to be changed in such manner
that the meal undergoes decomposition
In the soil more rapidly than In case oil
raw bone. The presence Of easily de-
caying nitrogen compounds In bones
hastens, In the process of decomposl-
ton, to dissolve more or less or the
insoluble phosphate. Bone meal should
contain from 3 to per cent. OF nitro
gen, and from 20 to % per cent. Of phos-
phoric acid About one-third to one
fourth Of the latter appears to be In
readily available condition. Raw bone
meal generally contains somewhat more
nitrogen Il or 2 per cent? and rather
less phosphoric acid than steamed bone
meal. The fineness Of the meal affects
its value; the finer the meal the more
readily available is 1t as plant food
Bulletin New York Station.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13
A BIKE FOR LOVERS.
Tho Machine May Re Ridden by One
or by Two Persons.

The Machine May Re Ridden by One
or by Two Persons.
The great objection to the tandem
bicycle is the difficulty of carrying ON
conversation. The one seated in the
rear cannot hear very we'll the remarks
Of the person in front, and as the per-
son in front Is usually the young man
II may be guessed that a great many
remarks have thus been wasted on
the desert air. With a view of con-
quering this obstacle to free conversa-
ton while two persons are riding one
machine, bicycle has been invented
which, among a certain class Of riders,
promises to become extremely popular.
1t is called the companion side-seated
bicycle" and the manner Of Its con-
struction is very well shown by the
picture.
In this bicycle the two riders are
seated side by side, as In the old fash
Toned "sociable" tricycle. In many
points the machine resembles this old
style tricycle., the chief difference be-.
ing that the third wheel is abandoned.
The long axle of the rear wheel en-
ables the use of two sprockets at Its
extremities, so far apart as to admit
Of each one being acted upon through
a separate pair Of sprockets, each actu-
ated by separate rider. There Is
triple head and double frame, the lat
ter carrying two saddles placed side
by side at proper distance apart for
two riders to work pedals freely.
1t is said that a difference OF 100
pounds weight in the riders Is not no
ticeable, and that person who is ig-
norant Of riding can be taken out on
this wheel with perfect safety. The
system Of mounting is peculiar and
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13
ALL ABOUT THE FARM
SUBJECTS INTERESTING TO
RURAL READERS.
Potato Planting with Modern Ma
chinery-Good Fences Are Import
ant-Many Pleasures in Farm Work
How to Guard Against Hog choiera.
Planting Potatoes.

In planting potatoes, either for home
or for market, the first essential, says
the American Agriculturist, is a we'll
drained. rich plat of land. A field
which has been two years In clover Is
usually the best To this apply heavy
dressing Of well-rotted barnyard ma
nure. Break the sod In the fall or the
winter three or four inches deep, then
In spring turn 1t over to depth OF eight
or nine inches. and cut up thoroughly
with disk harrow, continuing the
operation until the seed bed is well
fined and In the best condition. Use 4
smoothing harrow to compact 1t SUM-
clently. so that 1t will not be dried ont
unduly. The ground is now ready for
planting. The old method OF hand
planting will probably continue for the
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

Because his horses could not pull his
wagon out OF the snow on South Water
street. at Chicago. Emil Rau, the driver.
dashed them until he was tired.
After resting while he went Mt
It again. but was compelled TO deslst
by one OF his horses, which kicked him
1t Ia one OF the mysteries OF nature why
some animals. particularly the horse.
are not conscious OF their strength. II
more Of them were. and, when the OPP
portunlty presented itself, would retail
late In kind. there would be fewer bru-
tai drivers. Mr. Rau may learn Use
full lesson during his hospital conlne-
ment n he IL 40 disposed
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

Many people despise their work,
when they ought to be thankful that
they have something to do. A man or
woman who goes through life loathing
his daily work is a miserable mortal.
who makes this world full of hell, and
prepares the way for plenty OF II In
the next, says Rural Life. A child
that has not been taught to work has
not been half raised. An education
that does not develop habits of In.
dustry is n curse to its recipient, and
the recipient is curse to the State.
In this new country OF ours there is
abundant opportunity for everybody
who loves to work to get rich. In
dustrious people are the happiest, most
virtuous. and companlonable OF all so
ciety. Industry begets all the cardinal
virtues. while Incidence begets mis-
cry, want. vice and crime. and these
things follow the rich as well as the
poor. | met a farmer not long ago
who had learned to hate his lot upon
the farm. He had determined to sell
out and go TO a certain little village
and open a restaurant The village
has already twice as many restaurants
as the customer needs The farmer
has never had any experience In run
ming a restaurant or walking in town
life. II is, therefore. safe to predict
that he will utterly fail and learn 10
hate the restaurant tenfold worse thar
the farm.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

Sir Arthur Sullivan was himself in
Berlin to assist at the first performance
of his "Ivanhoe" at the Royal Opera re-
Gently. While he was there he met Mas
cagni at dinner given in honor Of
the two illustrious guests of musical
Berlin. "In which Of the European cap
itals would you soonest hve?" asked Sir
Arthur, and Mascagni's reply was rather
perplexing. 81 would live from to IL
a. m. at London, from IL to at Paris,
from to z at Vienna, from to 10 at
Budapest, and after 10 at Berlin.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

Draining In Place of Grading.
1t Is often said by farmers that low,
wet places need to be filed In so that
the water that now settles in them can
run off over the surface, says the Amer
lean Cultivator. But anyone who tries
to grade up even a small hollow knows
how ineffective this method proves. A
tile drain dug through the center of the
wet place, If small one, and with two
or three branches If larger, will do the
work much more cheaply and effect
permanent improvement. Where a
large quantity Of water runs into the
low place from adjoining uplands the
drain may not at once be able to ro-
move 1t. But water standing over a
field even for two or three days, while
an under-drain beneath 1t is carrying
off the surplus water does no harm to
any crop. There are, in fact, no crops
on the land in spring excepting winter
grain. We have had winter wheat GOV.
cred on fat piece of land several inch
es deep with water, which froze over
the surface, but without any injury to
the wheat. The water sank away IN
der the ice. By the time a thaw came
the surface was dry and the crop had
simply been saved by the Ice from ex.
posture to the freezing and thawlng Of
surface soil 1t would otherwise have re-
ceived.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

source Of oil fires and explosions In the
producing regions. or spark game or
lamp OF any kind might become the
agent OF ignition on board 1t did not
require the now almost certain fate Of
the tank steamer Wildnower to con-
vince those familiar with petroleum
and Its in1ammable nature that the
tank steamer was no Improvement up
on the old methods OF shipping oil In
the matter OF safety from fire and ex-
plosion at sea. The tank steamer has
doubtless reduced the cost OF transpor-
tatlon materially; 1t has not reduced
the fire risks. There will be explosions
at sea as long as oil Is a subject OF
ocean freIghtage, and the chances OF
explosion have been increased rather
than otherwise by the adoption Of the
bulk method OF transportation.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

A prominent citizen OF Philadelphia.
Mr.. J. @. wbrldge. has walked up
60 a realizing sense OF the fact that that
city has no fitting memorial OF Ben
janIn Franklin. though the old phlloso-
pher was so intimately associated with
It. Mr.. Strawbridge, therefore, has
given a commission to the sculptor,
John !. Boyle. OF the same city. to pre-
pare model OF bronze statue to cost
$4,000. Its artistic merit to be decided
by jury OF three well-known artists.
The Fine Arts League OF the city will
select the site II is gratifying that a
similar commission recently given In
Chicago by one OF Its citizens has rous-
ed slow-golng Philadelphia to sense
OF Its deficiency In this respect. or all
cities In the United States II is the one
which should commemorate the career
OF Franklin.
The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-06-13

His honor the president OF the Trans
vaal viii not trek to London. The
Beers were at the point OF the cape fifty
years ago The compatrlots OF Mr.. Jo-
seph pusbful drove them out more by
bad iuanners than by violent arms
They moved north step by step. trek
king. as they call II. their families and
chattels through the desert 10 escape
mere contact with the outlander. They
brayed the assegals OF the savage,
fought. bargaincd. cheated. lied and
massacred after the manner OF pioneers.
They won their empire from the abor-
igine. and they have shown by Majuba
Hin and Krugersdorp that they can
hold Il against the allen. Why should
Kruger go TO London TO confab with
the pushful person7 The experience
OF the King OF Ashantee may be In his
mind. That potent monarch having
been Invaded by the advance guard OF
British civilization. consented 60 parley
with the governor OF the Gold coast
and was whipped OF from his capital
while the ambassadors whom he had
dispatched TO Downing street were
ironed and sent to prison. Ii Is a long
trek from Pretoria TO London. The
Boer has made his last Journey.