davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10
Egyptian Darkness,

1T is as dark as ever I seen it, said
the grocer, looking out into the black
ness.
Call this dark?" said the man with
the ginger beard.
"You couldn't see your hand before
you out there" answered the grocer.
But you kin see where the light from
the lamp hits the hitchin' post" said the
man with the ginger beard; IAN down
in Mexico whur run G enjyne some
years ago, I've seen a streak of dark
come acrost the track SO durn thick
that the light frum the headlight would
come up agin it an jist curl UP like a
Shawn. Many time!"
And the man with the ginger beard
looked defantly at the man from Pc
tato Creek, whom he suspected of hav-
ing snickered.-Cincinna Enquirer.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10
STONE ON UNFRAMED CLAY.

rainfall. Successful work in making
a solid and durable roadbed on a clay
foundation has been done in this
town. The first section was put down
two years ago and thus far affords a
dry, solid, and apparently durable
roadbed. For years the practice had
been, annually and as often as rains
and large amount of travel rendered
the road muddy and uneven, to haul
on crushed stone and keep the surface
fairly smooth and even. Two years
ago the surface was covered with
crushed stone three or four inches
deep, and thoroughly pressed down
with the steam roller. On top of this
screened stone and coarse gravel was
placed two inches deep and rolled.
A finishing coat of ground granite,
an inch or more in depth when rolled,
gave hard and even surface. The
roadway is some 80 feet from ditch
to ditch. Such roads are costly to
build, of course, (out the universal opin-
| ion among men of good judgment in
| these matters seems to be that such
thorough work pays. and is the cheap
est in the end. See Fig.2.
| In using the road machine on the
country roads the proper thing to do
| is, first, to run the plow along the out
CT limit of the gutter or ditch. This
gives straight ditch and loosens up
the soil so that two horses will carry
| the machine about as easily as four
will without the blowing. AS rule,
| the travel of the road should not be
disturbed by pillow or machine where
fairly good roadbed has previously
been secured. Neither should the
soil and wash of the bitches be car
ried up by the machine and placed on
the surface. Soil makes soft road.
This should always be covered in deep
ly in some way, and let the hard pan
or substratum form the top.
In some places it is necessary to re-
move the top soil a foot or more in depth
and fill in stone. Such places frequent
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10
DIDN'T YEARN FOR WEALTH..

After He Found Out How to OBJ
tain 1t.
"But man kin make money very fast
in this town if he likes" remarked the
Oklahoma man, in casual sort of man
ner.
II suppose So, put In the stranger at
| once, with an earnestness that showed
| he was eager to be let into the secret OF
! it.
eyes, rejoined the other; II saw a
/ man here the other day make $1,000
almost at once, We might say"
"Indeed!"
Fac, sir; he was = stranger, just
! like you'll don't know whar he came
from or anythin' about him morn I
know about you; but anyhow he comes
| here, sir, an gifts in with some O. them
! thar insurance agents over to the sta
! ton yonder, an gifts his life insured to
onc't, dye see?'
! II See"
! "Yes, gifts his life insured. an then.
sir, out he comes and begins shoutin
his politics around right straight. Oh,
he was business, he was, I tell We! Well,
sir, 'tworen't morn half an hour from
the time that Teller landed at the station
a poor man till the insurance company
was writin' out check fer $1,000 fer
his wilder. It was the sharpest thing
ever see. Deng if ever see SIGH plan!
Did you?"
The stranger agreed most cordially
TINT it was sharp triek indeed, but
added as he rose to see when the next
train would leave there that, unfor-
tunately for him, he didn't have any
politics at all and, what was more, lie
had no wife. "Besides," said he, anx-
iously, "Tll-1'll tell you straight, I
don't crave wealth at all !ust now."-N.
T. World
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10

and he'd like it, too. Falconer's more
up to date, the old man says, and he
thinks perhaps the new school knows
something with tryin'. You see, Cousin
Lou amt pickin' up fast as she ought
to-"
IT see it all too plainly, Bart. What
I don't see is where all the money is
to come from to pay for doctors and
consultations and-and--' Big tears
began yelling in her soft, sad eyes.
bart, where does it all come from now ?
low do we get all these dainties? You
cant spare it. It mustn't be Mr.. Lam
bert's-"
"Now just don't you bother bout
that, Esther. made a raise, tell you.
There's old Uncle Pete and that no.
count niger Frank been OWN your
mother on last years crawp O cawt'r
all this time. made them pony up, an
I told Hicks I'd sell out his mule an
cart + he didn't pay-made him bawwo
the money"
THAT wouldn't begin to cover the
cost of what you've been having sent up
from New Orleans-the expressagc
even"
"Now just don't you bawwo trouble"
Zone r in q sentence wasn't too much
for Potts. When they doubled up on
him he confessed judgment.) Lam
bert tends to all that. Uncle Sam, he
says. pays freight en- commissary stores.
Just dos say, and we'll fetch Cousin
Lou round all right yet. and find some
body to rent the old place and send yo'
all down to Biloxi for the winter. But
i'll tell you what do think, Esther;
y'ought to have Lambert over to sleep
in my room while I'm gone. He'll
come" rt
But when Lambert came to tea that
night half expecting to be welcomed
to Cousin Bart's place in his absence,
a surprise awaited him. Esther, with
Joy in her eyes, blushingly told him
that her husband would be with them
before nine o'clock. A telegram had
announced his release and speedy COM
ing.
There's no train over before morn
ing, is there?" he asked.
'No-but-A1r. Scroggs took the stage
at noon for Vernon, up north of here,
and will get a horse there"
And, as it was evident that she looked
any moment for that longed-for com
ing, Lambert decided to slip back to
camp instead of spending an hour in
chat or reading, as he usually did. AT
this Miss Katesie's big blue-gray eyes
were opened wide with surprise, then
lowered in confusion, for he turned to
look at her.
"Oh! Goodnight, Miss Walton" he
laughingly exclaimed. X had almost
hoped you would ask me to stay.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10
The Great Khan Of Tartary.

The personal appearance of the great
Khan, as described by Marco, is as fol
lows: 'He is of good stature, neither
tall nor short, but of middle height. He
has becoming amount of flesh, and is
very shapely in all his limbs. His COM
plexion is white and red, and the eyes
black and fine, the nose we'll formed and
will set on" But the portrait OF kublai
Khan, drawn by q Chinese artist, does
not exactly correspond with the pen
portrait given here by Marco. we
know also, from Marcos own narrative.
that the emperor was subject to govt
in his later life, and we are led to laier
that he was rather corpulent, as ne
represented in the drawing gwen y
the Chinese artist-Noah Brooa0s ~
NicholaA
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10

stairs, but came down Ave minutes
later, as lambert knew she would,
Hooking for book" and Esther.
yearning over her, called her sister TO
her side. Looking at northern girls
pictures wasn't making friends with
their friends anyhow! "Ah don't see
anything pretty in that one," was
Katesie's prompt comment. "And All
couldn't be hi-uhd to weah gown like
that" But Lambert felt that he had
won the day, and the next evening
fetched over a whole album full "Ce
nest que lie premier pas" etc. Miss
Walton, having looked at two, conclud-
cd she might as we'll see the others, but
she never meant to ask questions about
thomas she had to when Esther went
in to see what mob would like for her
tea. Cousin Bart had brought in bag
Of plump and tempting ''partridges"
that evening, and was beginning to
puzzle Esther very much, when she re-
membered how impecunious person
Bart had ever been, to account FOR the
supplies which he began to fetch from,
town.
And SO things were going a trifle bet
ter at the old homestead towards the
end of December. Hopeful letters came
from Walton. The Parmelee party
were having difficulty in getting reli-
able evidence against him; his friends
were making him entirely comfortable
in his confinement, and his lawyer as
sured him that his release would be
effected in a very few days. Floyd wrote
tnat an aid-(le-camp Of the general COM
handing had come with Lieut.. Warning
to see him, and to say that his case was
being investigated and that, as yet, no
charges had been preferred by the COM
,nander of his troop. Little delicacles
and Injuries in the way CT tea, jellies,
preserves and wine-things to which
they had been strangers since early in
the war-were finding their way in and
greatly comforting the invalid mother,
and, could their doctor but sa, the dear
lady was really mending, tic girlc
would have had hope and courage, but
the doctor could not say.
Give got to go to Quitman for two
days on business, Esther" said Cousin
Bart one keen morning, land reckon
I'll ask DR.. I alconer to come back witt,
me, f you don't mind, and have day
ct the birds. They'll all be gone in a
week # this weather keeps on
''You have deeper reason than that
Barton. saw you witt, DR.. Coleman
when he went out last night. It's con-
sultation, is it not?''
"Why, Of co'se want Coleman to have
Il chance to talk it over with Falconcr,
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10
Zzz2@ A@Hz%H=#z#HzzZ TIT
ryan EIc =
CRUSHED STONE ON CLAY.

80 years ago the town discarded the
district system. and elected road
commissioner who has held the place
to the present time. From almost i'm
passable highways in the spring of
the year, that is, over certain portions,
these 65 miles of highway have been
transformed into smooth and dry
roads. Nearly four miles of stone
drains have been put in, varying from
four or five rods in length to over
100 rods long.
Gravel forms the best material for
road surface. Sand has no use in the
roadbed except in clay or kindred
formation. a clay foundation is one
of the worst for good and permanent
road building. Clay packs in dry
weather but softens up easily during
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10
ORCHARD AND GARDEN.

Two kittens in the garden are equal
to a small cyclone.
No top on radish or other plant, no
root. At least that is our experience.
Build a structure like corn cr1b.
with shelves in it, for drying onions.
Apply soap to the bark OF trees now
and it will lessen the number OF borers.
Better than wrapping the ends OF
whiffletrees, when cultivating the or
chard. is to use gentle horse and have
the whiffletrees very short. - Western
Plowman.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10
ruE RIGHT ROAD.

lava lo~t I'M road to happiness
noes anycoe know it, pray?
,.ss dwe.ti 1T there when the morn was
fair.
ont somehow I wandered away.
n saw rare treasures in scenes of pleas
ures,
And ran to pursue them. when, 10!
had lost the path to happiness,
And know not whittier to go.
~ have lost the way to happiness
oh who will lead me back?"
rum off from the highway of selfish
ness
m the right-up duty's track!
Keep straight along, and you can't go
wrong,
For as sure as you live. say,
rhe fair, lost fields of happiness
can only be found that way.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox. in Good Cheer.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10
Uzzn11~|IIEE.:,.IJ|"~
FIG. I.
CROSS SECTION OF DRAIN.

temporary work is done, SO, by the
time the annual round of repairs is
gone through with, the money APP
propriated is so far exhausted that
an outlay for permanent improve
ments is not warranted; whereas ii
a competent commissioner had the
roads in charge, certain portions Of
the worst places which now call for
annual repairs should be permanent
ly made over, even if it takes a higher
appropriation yearly for few years.
Take, for instance, stretch of road
where the soil is springy, or for any
cause the drainage is imperfect. No
permanent Improvements can be made
in such places without proper drain
age is effected.
TO do this adequately open a ditch
four feet or more wide and three and
half to four feet deep in the center
of the travel. Fill this with rough
stones, placing the first ones thrown
in so as to form an open drain; fill
in the stone till within foot of the
top, using the smallest stones for the
top; if crusher is in use the coarser
OF these, which is best, then cover with
evergreen boughs or straw and finish
with gravel. The idea is shown in Fig.
1. The important thing is that these
drains always lead to and end at an
open culvert. This is an effectual
remedy for "honey pots or slough
holes when the frost is leaving the
ground in spring.
The town of Winthrop. in this state,
is noted for it's good roads. Nearly
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10
DEVICE FOR MARKING MILK.

of pans used each day. 1t is also often
desired to mark particular cows milk,
in order to observe its quality. label
and method of attachment is shown
in the cut. A strip of pasteboard has
it's end bent over and wire inserted as
shown. The fold is glued down. thus
holding the wire. Bend the double wire
and hang it over the pans edge.-N. T..
Trih11ne
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1897-09-10
MARKING THE MILK.

1t Enables One to See at n Glance
just When to Skim.
Where the milk is set in shallow pans
it is wise to mark each days milk, as
Thursday morning." TUESDAY night"
etc. In this way one can see at a
glance just when to skim, and does not
have to stop to reckon up the number
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-08-12
A Natural Magnet.

Professor Smythe was once lecturina
In a provincial town on natural philos-
ophy, and in the course of his expert
ments he introduced most powerful
magnet, with which he attracted q
block of iron from distance of two
feet
Can any Of you conceive a greater
attractive power?" demanded the leo
turer, with an air of triumph
II can" answered voice from the
audience.
mot a natural terrestrial objectf'
Eyes, indeed. "
The lecturer, somewhat puzzled,
challenged the man who had spoken to
name the article. Then up rose old
Johnny Sowerby. Said he:
II will give you facts professor, and
you can judge for yourself. When was
a young man, there was little piece o.
natural magnet done up in a neat cot
ton dress as was called Betsy Maria
She could draw me IA miles on Sunday
over plowed land. no matter what the
wind or weather. There WASH t no re-
sistin her. That magnet O. yourn ia
pretty good, bat ii won't draw SO far N
Betsy Maria STRAND Magazine
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-08-12
How Bees Embalm.

Bees, says Horbs, can embalm as
successfully as could the ancient Egyp-
tians. 1t often happens in damp weather
that a slug or snail will enter bee
hive. This is, of course, to the unpro-
tected slug a case of sudden death. The
bees fall upon him and sting him to
death at once. But what to do with the
carcass becomes vital question. II left
where it is, it will breed regular
pestilence. Now comes in the clever
ness of the insects They set to work
and cover it with wax, and there you
may see it lying embalmed just as the
nations of old embalmed their dead.
When it is a snail that is the intruder.
be is, Of course, impenetrable to their
sting, so they calmly cement his she'll
with wax to the bottom of the hive
imprisonment for life, with no hope Of
pardon
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-08-12
CORRESPONDENCE.
Madison.

John Chadbourne was in town on
business, Saturday.
Miss Grace Scott and Miss Marion
Sprague were down from North Arson,
Friday.
Fred V. Gilman returned from Farm
lngton, Saturday.
Rev. Charles Nichols is in town visit
ing his brother George.
Albion Turner and wife were in town
Sunday and Monday.
Fred A. Manter and family returned
from Old Orchard, saturday.
John Metcalf from West New Port
land, was in town Monday.
Among those who attended the races
at Pittsield. from this place were c. M.
Hilton, Addison Gilman, Frank Withee,
Harry Roadway and Arthur Lord.
Mrs. George Herrick returned from
her visit at Cherry field, Friday.
Miss Carrie Merry went to Camden,
Tuesday on visit.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-08-12

Madison aud Embden, returning to her
home, Monday. NJ.
The farmers in this vicinity are about
done haying. All seem to report light
crop.
Late sowed grain ia rusting, so that
farmers will be obliged to cut it for
fodder.
The potato worm has reached Us, aud
are al work On soinr potatoes. II ia a
small worm, something like the wire
worm that works into the potato stalk
and kills it,
Albert Frost of Madison, finished hay
ing for f. o. Danforth, Monday.
Mrs Ora Gilman went to Mouse Island,
Monday.
Ithamar Eames of Scion, visited L. II
Gilman, Sunday.
sydney Smith of Cornyile, was at L.
II. Gilmau's, Sunday.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-08-12
Scion.

Miss Elsie Paul of South Boston, is
visiting her uncle, L. o. Paul.
Mrs. II. p. Mitchell of Lowell, is visit
ing with Mrs. L. w. Spear.
Farmers think they will have 20 per
cent more hay than usual.
Geo Chases little girl died last Sun
day. aud was buried Tuesday, at So.
Scion cemetery.
Deer are quite plenty aud are bother
ing crops some. They are quite bold,
stand aud look at you until quite close.
They seem to be aware that it is close
time, but patience will cease to be a
virtue after awhile. IL il too bad that "a
man should have his crops taken by the
wild beasts and he have no redress just
because a few sportsmen wish to hunt a
few days in the fall, but If the sports
man goes hunting for bear in close time
and kills a moose or a deer because he
don't know the diff renee, he is excused.
Mrs. Sherman Gray of Gardiner, Ore
gon. who went from Scion to Oregon
ten years ago, Is spending the summer
at her old hOme In Scion. She expects
to return to Oregon in september. /,
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-08-12
A Good SQuirter.

One of the public drinking places
erected by the Philadelphia Fountain
society is embellished by rather unique
design in the form of a mans face, 1t
is rather grotesQue in appearance, and
this effect is heightened by the fact that
the water comes gushing forth from the
mouth of the stone figure Two China
men, evidently the proprietors of laun-
dries, stopped in front of the fountain
and seemed deeply interested in it.
They cooked their funny little heads to
one side, gazed at the spectacle from
every possible point of view. and after
a moment of contemplative silence pro-
ceeded to pass critical judgment upon
it. Him squirtee belly good" said
one. Yes" replied the other me
likee havee him all alongee my laun-
dly "-Philadelphia Record.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-08-12
ENGLISH IN CHICAGO.
Discussion on Grammar Between News
paper and n Citizen.


The Chicago Inter Ocean becomes
both sarcastic and indignant when any
one questions the purity of its diction.
So when reader named Campbell ven
tured to criticise expressions used by its
society editor the captious one found
that he had caught Tartar. This is the
way The Inter Ocean puts it.
Inclosed with the. following letter,
received few days ago, were two clip
pings from the society columns Of The
Inter Ocean:
Here are three barbarisms that caught my
eye in this mornings issue of your paper
There is no such word as "gowned 1T Is
NEARLY a Cockney vulgarism that had its
origin in London. England SWEETEST Is OF
the same sort-and same origin-No American
having any regard for purity of language can
use such slAng-As all these words appear in
30 called society items take it your Society
editor is male female dude and needs q
lesson in language-The harm done by the use
Of such words in your paper IS very great as
thousands Of children read 1t and absorb Its
words-Do stop this Cockney vulgarity-
JAMES CAMPBELL
There is no doubt you mean we'll,
Jim, but term in night school would
be beneficial even TO you before you be-
gin TO give lessons in English. To begin
with, you would be taught there that
our grandfather, Lindley Murray, al
ways told US to use periods. You ought
to have known Lindley, Jim. He was
distinguished grammarian. you
know, or perhaps you don't know.
And then. Jim, there was Tennyson
he said of heroine in one of his poems
that she was "gowned in pure white. "
So you see Lord Tennyson found the
word "gowned" to be useful long be-
fore you learned to walk steady on your
hind feet or to eat with your front
hoofs Webster says "gowned" means
dressed in gown; clad.
You say that these barbarians caught
your eye, and you fail to mention
which eye they caught. How is the
other eye?
You are right when you say that our
society editor is either male or fe-
male. Do you belong to one Of thes'
sexes? We suspect not. When you write
again, spell merely" as it should be.
The way you spelled it is like spelling
your name "camel' instead of Camp
bell " See that hump?
We don't like to offend your sensitive
ear, or the other one either, Jim. Buy
Webster's Dictionary and fourth read
er. Start right, and your sensitive ear
may outgrow its affliction.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-08-12
East SkoWhegan.

A l.rge quantity of hay was cut and
well cured last week aud few more
days of good weather will finish up the
hal lng season in this place.
Sidney Pooler was taken suddenly i'll
Tuesday night and had Or. Love. Is
better hut has done bur li;tle work.
Mrs. A. O ten has been keeping house
for her brother, Herbert Richardson the
past week aud returned home Sunday
morning to Watervile
Joseph /. Burrill died at his daughter 5
Mrs. Frank Steward. Thursday, a. M,
and was inferred in this place Saturday
p. IN. His aye was So years He WAS
respected by all the people i'll the com.
munity.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-08-12
North Fairfield,

Raymon Hoxie, who was quite i'll for
several days, is now better.
Ermond Mckechnie WAS obliged To
leave his work last week, on account OF
Illness.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Barley having
finished having GU their farm here, have
re urned to their home at Moose River.
Ga account of the unfayorable weather
the having season Is considerably pro
longed 10 this section, and even now
many of the farmers have not flushed.
The Union Sunday school is in a very
prosperous condition, aud preparation.
are being made for a picnic TO be held
soon.
Among those who attended the PoIno
ma Grange meeting at starks, Tuesday
last, were Mr.. and Mrs. u. I. Tibbetts-
Mr. and Mrs. A. g. Bowman, Mr.. and
Mrs. Lewis Beal. Mrs. 4. B. Goodwin.
Lester Holway, A. l.. Goodwin aud n
B. HolWay.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1897-08-12

Two boys found the body of man
badly decomposed in Baskahegan stream,
Tuesday afternoon. The authorities at
Danforth, near which the body was
found, at the mouth of Hot brook, were
notified and by knife and other articles
found, identified the remains as those of
Thomas Moran, a peddler, who has for
40 years travelled over the State, and ia
we'll known. There was a cut four
inches long on his head and another on
one of his hands, giving indications of
possible murder, but the fact that he
had told some people that she might be
back but did not think he would with
the remark that he was tired of peddling
gives the suicide theory strong support
with many.