davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-20

Wires Down and Reports DeIayed-Mnc
Damage Eeported.

DALLAS. TEX. March ia heavy
wind storm which IN some places assum-
al the appearance Of cyclone passed
over this part Of the state last night.
At Plano. the gale levelled the sheds
OF the Cotton Belt and Central roads.
blew over freight cars and unroofed seve-
raj residences. A number Of persons
were injured at Plano, but none we're kill
ed.
Considerable damage was done by the
storm in the vicinity OF Itasla ard Hutch
inson.
Telegraph and telephone wires are pros
trated and it is difficult TO learn the eX-
tent OF the damage.
The worst damage reported so far oc-
CURED at Denton. where over one hun
drod houses were struck by the storm
and an more or less damaged.
The storm in tie vicinity OF Denton
has caused damage TO the extent Of Slo0.-
600. Jack Simmons was fatally injured
I'm the debris Of falling house.
1t is thought that great damage 70 life
and property has been done IN the terri
tory west OF Denton.
The storm also swept over the towns
Of Hutchins and Itasca, unroofing houses
and wrecking small buildings.
At Fort Worth. the power-house Of the
electric railway was unroofed and traffic
suspended.
on Harding and B01z streets six or
seven frame dwellings We're blown down.
4 brick school-house in the Ninth Ward
was badly wrecked.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-20
Cyclone Kill, a Farmer.

UTICA. MISS. March ia cyclone
passed this place this morning. with
southtasterly course. blowing down sew
eral cabins and timber and fences, kill
ing j. .. Hill "a farmer, and in1uring his
wife. A country schOOl-hOuse was lifted
from IT'S foundations and turned around.
The leader., 1897-10-13

drought in that part of the west. He
ascertained that the average precipita-
ton from SHOWS and rains in the semi
arid region is 20 inches year which is
equivalent to 1000 tons of water on
every acre Of land. Most of this moist
ure comes in the winter and soakS down
deep into the earth from which it is
rapidly exhausted by the hot suns and
warm winds of early summer. leaving
the ground dry and parched at the very
time when the moisture is most needed
for the sustenance of plant life. En-
perts have established the fact that a
crop which in this dried stage weighs
three tons to the acre does not require
in its growth more than 900 tons of
moisture per acre, leaving a waste by
evaporation and surface drainage of
100 tons of water from each acre every
year. To retain this excess of moisture
by storing it in the earth to nourish
growing crops during seasons OF
drought was the object Mr.. Campbell
sought for.
The ordinary method of cultivation
in the west is such as to encourage the
maximum of waste in moisture. Land
is shallow-plowed to begin with and
after the plants are above ground the
earth is stirred with a deep-reaching
cultivator which turns over all the
broken soil and at the same time dis
turbs the fine roots of the plants. Be
fore the first of August the cultivator is
laid by and a hard crust at once forms
The leader., 1897-10-13

and the quality is much better, as there
is no dwarting or retardation of the
plants or grain berries by drought.
Statistics which have been carefully
kept at these experimental stations put
the cost of cultivation by this new
method at about 90 cents an acre over
the old plan. This increased expense,
ii is asserted, is more than met by the
extra yield, thus virtually furnishing
insurance for a crop in dry seasons
without cost.
There is no patent on the Campbell
system. Everybody is free to use it.
The necessary machines are cheap and
may be made by any handy mechanic.
There is no apprenticeship TO serve in
learning to operate them. These are
points which commend the new method
to western farmers and are likely to
ad to revolution in the farming bust
ness beyond the Mississippi. Railway
men think so we'll of it that they are
sending instructors through the coun-
try to teach farmers how the thing
is done and organizing parties to
visit the various experimental sta
tons TO benefit by practical object les
sens. The directions are simply these:
Flow deeply to start with; right behind
the pillow have Il circular harrow that
will pulverize the surface soil and while
doing this pack the earth under it firm
ly; after the plants are above ground
cultivate them by merely scratching
the top of the earth, making sure the
The leader., 1897-10-13

the money In my portmanteau. locked tns
box, fastened the study door. returned the
KEYS to my fathers pockets. and, returning
TO ms room, waited impatiently the COM
Ing OF day. IL chanced the following MORN
ing, II being a busy season, that a servant
could not be spared to drive me over TO
the railroad. / was to go over alone and
the team sent for later.
There was a swollen stream on my
route, and as drove in sight a scheme oc-
CURED to me that had not thought Of.
stopped the buggy at the waters edge,
and, lifting my grip to the roadside cast
the reins over the dashboard, and then
gave the horses a cutting lash. They
plunged with a bound into the muddy
water. I watched them until they reached
the further shore, and then concealed my
self In the woods. They would think me
drowned and mourn me as dead.
THAT night l walked to a distant sta
tion and took train for the west. After
years of aimless wandering, ever stung
with remorse, / came to this place and
opened my farm. l resolved to make what
restitution was possible, the larger part
Of my ill-gotten wealth by this time hav-
ing been squandered. SO scant was the
living that / took from my farm that l
soon became known as Miser Furgis. was
glad, for 1t made me more secure in my
purpose and my concealment. ! sent the
proceeds of each years crop to the widow
of my foster-father, for he had died soon
after my flight. l have, at last, returned
every dollar of the stolen money, and the
farm, free from incumbrance, is yours.
This is my story. 1 need not speak of the
remorse, the fear, the suppressed love that
have felt all the sad years. Forgive me,
and think Of me as your loving husband,
~. H. FURGIS."
The paper fell Tutoring to the steps.
A breath of air caught and whirled
it out over the tangled weeds. Harold
that flared red above the treetops, then
his head sank to his knee and groan
burst from his lips. His sister was
weeping silently, her head on his arm.
Motionless, silent they sat for minutes,
then Hettie, looking up through her
tears, said softly: Brother, | never
dreamed that it would be like this
There was 10 answer. lie rose and
staggered into the shadow of the door
way.
For weeks there was not sign of life
about the old ruins. But one bright
morning Harold came forth a new man,
and went energetically to work. Now
the tenant housesar occupied the farm
blossoms as the rose" and handsome
modern structure crowns the eminence.
Harold and IIettic found where their
treasure lay hid.-N. o. Times-Demo-
crat.
The leader., 1897-10-13
Wise Mirth.

There is saying of Chamfort which
many serious-minded people, under the
pressure of care and work, would dc
we'll to lay to heart: THE most thor
oughly wasted of all days is that one in
which one has not laughed" 1t has oft
en- been said that only they who can
take life with profound seriousness can
he really humorous, for they alone
pcrceive those fundamental contrasts
which make humor possible. Mr.. Ford
has laid the country under lasting obi
cations by correcting the impression
that Washington never laughed. Deep
w serious as he was by nature, and re-
tired and non-communicative as he was
in large companies, no man could APP
preciate and enjoy fun of any good kind
more thoroughly than the great Lender
when with his intimates. 1t is true
Emerson hated to laugh, but his radiant
smile was better than laughter. Car
lyle. on the contrary, was given to earth
shaking laughterysa kind of berserker
laughter, not without undertones of
pathos running through, it. Lincoln's
love of stories, both in the hearing and
the telling, was a safety valve for one
whose tremendous burdens fell on a
temperament deeply tinged with sad.
pess.-Outlook.
The leader., 1897-10-13

on the surface of the ground. On this
crust the sun and wind act with terrific
energy and in a few days the earth is
sucked dry of all moisture. The season
of drought is then at hand and the
crops wither and die from excessive
heat. In working his kitchen garden Mr..
Campbell noticed he never had trouble
in raising good crops of vegetables
while fair yield in adjoining fields was
a rarity. As the methods of cultivation
were radically different he concluded
the secret must lie in this. Extensive
experiments satisfied him he was right
and he communicated his discovery to
his neighbors, to the state authorities,
and to railway managers interested in
western lands. This was in the fall OF
1894. Since then the matter has been
more thoroughly tested over wide
area of territory with results that make
the most conservative of men give the
system emphatic Endorsement.
In working his garden Mr.. Campbell
used a hand hoe continually and the
surface soil was kept finely pulverized,
forming a sort of dust blanket which
choked the pores of the sub-soii and
prevented the escape of moisture except
as it was drawn up by the roots of the
plants. That this theory is correct was
proven by taking test tubes of earth
from the garden and adjoining fields.
and sending them to different chemists
for ANALYSIS. This earth was in all in
stances taken from the uniform Gepth
of ~ inches. That from the fields yield
ed only seven per cent. of moisture
while that from the garden gave be-
tween IS and 10 per cent. The impor-
lance of this variation may be learened
from the fact that earth containing
only seven per cent. of water is diy and
nowdery TO the touch; that which
holds IS per cent can be squeezed into a
mud ball. Satisfied he had struck the
right idea Mr.. Campbelrs next move
was TO devise means of putting it
into practical operation. Large fields
cannot be economically cultivated on
the same plan as small gardens, and IA
radical change in tillage methods had to
be evolved.
The ground is first plowed deeply, so
as to stir up the subsoil and at once
gone over repeatedly with novel con
structed harrow which thoroughly pull
yerizes the top earth, while at the same
time it packs firmly all the ground
four or five inches below the surface,
thus preventing the escape of moisture
before the crop is put in. Under the old
plan the ground was allowed to lie for
DAYS after being plowed before harrow
was started and the evaporation of wa
ter through the freshly-broken surface
was rapid and exhaustive. Immediate
pulverization of the top soil following
its turning up by the pillow reduces this
evaporation to the minimum. Crops are
then sowed or planted in the usual
manner and the moment the plant
shows a fair growth cultivation IS be-
gun with specially designed machine
which Just scratches the surface Of the
The leader., 1897-10-13

ground without disturbing the earth
around the roots Of the plant. BY con-
tinuous use Of this machine so long as
the horses can make their way through
the fields the top earth is kept in finely
powdered condition and serves as what
Mr.. Campbell calls a dust blanket I5y
the time the plants are too Dig TO be
worked any longer the shade they cast
viii keep off the suns rays and even the
hot winds will not be able TO do much
damage. The process is so simple that
many f. rmers are at first inclined 10
doubt its efficacy, but the results are be-
yond dispute. 1t not only insures crops
in dry seasons, but il Increases the yield
PER acre when there is seemingly no ne
cessity for its use.
For two years experimental stations
have been in operation at Oberlin. Kan:
McCook, lloldredge, Alma and Broken
Bow, Neb. at Lisbon, jamestown. Pin
gree, Dawson and Glenullin. North Da-
kota, and other points on the Great
Northern, Milwaukee & ST. Paul, Union
Pacific, burlington and other railroads.
rum All tHtSe pldCtS Tue Iepoi u dic iV-
seate. All sorts of crops have been
treated. and under all sorts of condi-
lions. Corn, small grains, hay and root
vegetables all are benefited by the new
system of cultivation. 1t might seem at
first impossible to raise anything but
hoed crops where cultivator has to be
kept constantly in motion, but wheat.
rye, barley and oats are handled with
great profit, if seeded or drilled in rows
from Is to "a inches apart. There is di-
rect gain in quantity of from % to 30 per
cent. in the yield over the old system.
The leader., 1897-10-13

the ground. He held out n polished
metal rod that flashed brightly in the
sun.
what is IT for?" asked Harold. taking
the rod in his hand and examining il
closely.
ITO find minerals; hidden treasure
gold and silver"
Harold opened his eyes, and an ex.
preston of interest flushed his Iistlcss
face.
"IIow is ii used?" he asked, striving
to restrain his curiosity.
The pcddler carefully explained the
manner of operating IT, and again en-
phasized its occult power of divination.
Have you sold many ?" asked Harold.
mot near here" returned the trader;
"haye just reached this section"
Name your lowest figure for the en-
tire lot" said Harold impatiently, "and
promise not to sell any more in this
county, and I'll buy them"
y bargain was struck. The peddler
walked off, laughing in his sleeve over
the fine sale, and Harold hurried with
his purchase TO his sister. Their flag
ging hope and energies became again
buoyant.
AT all hours they could be seen, rods
in hand, walking with careful step and
bowed head around the plantation.
TWAS strange, weird picture to see
the 1.-the, slender woman and the tall,
g'unt form of her brother as they
pushed their way through the tangled
bracken, their eyes ever riveted on the
ground at their feet. Specter-like they
tIaversed the summit of mound and
hill, stalked through field and pasture.
and crept in the silence and shadows of
the woodland. 1t WAS a sad sight to sec
he twain at nightfall, exhausted with
their ceaseless tramp. sit down sullen
detected and disappointed to their mig
gardly meal in the gloom of the old
house.
Intercourse with their neighbors had
almost ceased, and they were startled
one evening when they found them
selves face to face with one of their IA
theirs old friends. The presence of any
person in the house seemed almost an
apparition. The visit was prompted by
kindly feeling of interest, and their
visitor protested mildly but earnestly
against their course. He urged them to
| stop their folly, refill the houses with
tenants and again cultivate their farms.
Harold listened respectfully, thanked
his visitor for the show of good will, but
asserted positively his intention of keep
| ing up the search.
Not many days after the visit just re-
corded Harold, while prospecting on the
top of a hill, was sure his rod gave indi-
cations of mineral deposit. All a
tremble he tried the spot Il second time
Yes, he was sure, the rod dipped to the
earth. He marked the place and crept
stealthily away. Seeking his sister he
| told her that the treasure was found
At nightfall they would go forth and
bring it home.
Armed with pick and shovel, they
stole warily out through the darkness
casting furtive glances about them to
make sure they were not watched. At
last they stood above the precious spot.
| Harold pushed aside the dead leaves and
grass and began to dig away the mellow
earth. Deeper and wider grew the eX-
cavation; fainter and fainter throbbed
| their hopes; lower and lower waned the
moon, until the delivers stood pale and
| faint in the gray of morn.
The leader., 1897-10-13
LOUIS xiv.'S PORPHYRY BATH,
Once Oyercn-nc His Disgust for Water
and ReGrettcd II.


and Regretted II.
The other day, visiting Versailles with
some English friends, we were shown
over the Hermitage, the little pied-a-
terre of Nine. De Pompadour, and saw
marble bath, which, we were told.
had been used once only by Louis NV.
why only once?' asked one of the
young ladies. The man could not say.
The bath was made of the most adj
mirable red porphyry, mounted in gild-
ed bronze. and supported by four huge
golden claws. | admired it very much,
and wishing to know its story | con-
suited an old friend of mine who spends
his life in finding out all about bygone
times.
You are right" he told me, "the por-
phyry bath has a story. 1t is the first
one of the shape which was ever seen
ambassador to Louis NV, who. as you
know, was a very dirty gentleman. lie
would never wash his hands. except in
the morning, and his nails were often
painfully black. His beard was dusty
and greasy; he had lost all his hair
which had eaten up the roots, and his
heavy superb clothes of brocade
embroidered with gold and diamonds
hid a never-washed body. However,
when an Italian ambassador arrived at
Versailles, bringing in his luggage that
bp Ii Of EN-an a
Louis, seduced by the beauty and the
evident comfort of this new luxury,
insisted on having some water put in
and manifested the intention of Civ
ing his royal person plunge.
But Nine. De Montespan screamed
with terror. The king had a cough;
he had had headache in the morning;
he ought not to risk his life in get
ting wet and at last she went away ia
tears, for the king would not listen
to her, but would have his own way.
And, said the story, Nine. De Montespan
was right. For the damp had the most
pernicious effect on his majesty, who
had to be bled and take medicines, for
he had caught a cold in that bath,
which was at once shunted into gal
lely behind a barrier and exhibited for
its beauty to the admiration of the
courtiers.
so Nine. De Montespan was con"
firmed in her terror for pure water,
which was so great that she only used
dry flour to clean her face. She rubbed
II over and over until it became black,
then took another handful and so on,
stopping only when it fell comparative
" white on the golden dish held before
her Then with a piece of chamois
leather dipped in perfumed spirits, she
had her neck, arms and feet carefully
touched every morning-never rubbed
and this was deemed most peculia:
and dainty.
"Under Louis Nv. things were o
little better. Water was still consid"
cred as a very risky element to deaa
with for the human body, but the
cheeks of men were properly shaved
AS for the ladies, not being able to GO
to bed with their powder and patches,
which drew their skin in the most un"
comfortable way, they began to wash
their faces at least in the evening. They
started also the new fashion of hav-
ing underlinen, which, says book of
the period, could be changed some
times and was not SO scratchy as the
petticoats of stuff. london Modern
Society.
The leader., 1897-10-13
WORN BY THE WOMEN.


White silk hose are now made in
crusted with fine patterns of valen
ciennes or Malines lace.
The Russian or blouse jacket is to b.
with us all winter and will be seer
in dress waists, coats of cloth and NOR,
expensive ones of fur.
On the early autumn hats white birC.
seem to have preference. Dressy hats
are still trimmed under the brim.
A pretty idea for a ball gown is to
have fringes of rose petals or shaded
leaves sewn TO a chiffon foundation,
The effect is exquisite, but the trimming
is very perishable.
Some of Worth's prettiest creations
this year have rows and rows Of white
or pale-eolor chiffon ruches, with tiny
silk edgings of the same shade. Black
velvet pipings are also favorites.
Flounces must be carefully treated to
be a success.
Very smart folk are already wearing
the brightet shades of blue, such as
sapphire and cobalt; fawn, with a
touch of green, is chic; black is en-
tirely out; pink is reviving and for
weddings and teas gowns of pink broad
cloth will be trimmed with sable.
The leader., 1897-10-13
BE NOT DISMAYED.

e. live that when Death comes to thee o
III. hand upon thy door may not af-
-, whether comes he in the starless
saw sl' or noon. grim fear shall not at
HE kindly step; his touch will be
~ sian and seal to set thy spirit free.
hath he none, and yelled the face
pc wears;
.-..t-noyn to all the silent. unseen guest,
~ , 90 each soul the import of the guest
Anu - wherever life her name-torch
,.-scSr5 he comes, for peace hath shod
,.5,,.rt in his breast her joys supernal
meet.
,,,,,r he: vet none may disallow
~ y1,. 9ttitude Of waiting for the gift
NJ isims-and takes! To win the sours
last shrift
ssr,nk not. o friend, though on thy fevered
nj. Hiss falls chill; llfe's subtlest secret
,,o aorn Of wheat beneath the winters
SHOWS.
What though the windows OF the soul
,,,,tLi,, the shadow of the presence dread?
,mN-',tb The shade of Pisgah's height are
ro,r Ganaan's plains, and Jordan's silver
rim. 81.
when fades the light of earth to dying
eyes 49, -,
col.s promised Land shall on their
sight arise.
And death will guide to meads and pastures
far; -,
tn living streams whose noiseless foun-
tains flow
From out Gods throne; whose magic
waters so
IT, heal the nations, conquer pain and care.
10 then with Death! BE not. . friend,
dismayed
when thou in his strong grasp thy hand
hath laid 49,
The leader., 1897-10-13
Seen from the Elevated Road.

Riding on the elevated road gives one an
insight into the different modes of existence
of the inhabitants along the line. Here are
some things the writer caught passing
glimpse of one day recently:
A woman cleaning windows and her care
full and fearful spouse seated on the hooi
holding on to her feet to prevent her fall
ing to the street below.
a man shaving himself, while little
boy held highly polished dishpan, which
was officiating as a mirror.
Two babies asleep on a fire escape, while
their mother was chasing linen up and
down a washboard
\ new colony of colored folk in the once
fashionable brownstone front quarter o.
Fiftythird street, between Sixth and Ninth
| avenues
A man and woman, evidently play
actors thrusting at each other with foils.
| A woman learning to ride the wheel oil
| bike" suspended in her boudoir.-N. Y
Commercial Advertiser.
The leader., 1897-10-13
SUCCESSFULLY TESTED.
A New System of Drought-Defy.
ing Soil Culture.
Invented by Hardy w. Campbell, n
Dakota Farmer, but Not PATENT
ed-Good Thing for Western
Farmers.
Especial Chicago Letter.l


Drought is no longer terror to farm
ers in the semi-arid regions of the west.
a new system of soil culture has been
devised which does away with the ne
cessity for expensive irrigation and
makes the raising of good crops a
certainty, no matter how scanty the
rainfall may be. Complete success in
crucial tests is reported from number
of experimental stations conducted
under state and railway supervision in
Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas, and
the experts in charge assert there can
no longer Ire any doubt as to the great
utility and benefit of the plan. by this
rev system vast tracts of land which
have hitherto been classed as worthless
for agricultural purposes owing to lack
of moisture in the summer and absence
of irrigation facilities may now be
brought under cultivation and the re-
sources of the country largely in
creased.
Four years ago Hardy w. Campbell, a
farmer living near Aberdeen, S. D., be-
gan to investigate in modest way the
possibilities of overcoming the evils of
The leader., 1897-10-13
Sea Dogs on Wheels.

The bicycle fever has broken out in a most
unexpected quarter. 1t is only natural that
landsman should take to that speedy meth
cd of locomotion, but who would ever think
it is because they have become accustomed
to rolling. Nearly every British ship that
comes into port now carries a bicycle, and
the skipper is usually an expert rider. AT
sea he rides around and around the main
deck, and as soon as he reaches port he
takes his wheel ashore. Three sea captains
were riding in the park the other afternoon
One of them was novice and confessed his
inability to work the tiller so as to sail a
straight course. Its very good" he de
clared, ''if it Just had a little more pitch tc
it All, that's better" he added, as he
struck a stone and pitched off head fore
most. The manufacturer who will turn out
a bicycle with elliptical wheels will make a
hit with seafaring men. San Francisco
Post