davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-06
Greek Troops Ordered to Frontier.

s London, March 5.-The Greek consul
hers has received telegram from Athens
stating that 10000 Greetk troops have
been called out and are to be dispatched
to the Turkish frontier with the least
possible delay.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-06

Athens, March Oft has been decided
that there shall be a general mobiliza-
tion of the Greek forces and TO this end
two classes of reserves that had not
been summoned previously have now
been called ont. The reserve forces
alone give total of l04, 500 men and
behind that is what is called the terri
torial army which numbers upwards of
146, 600 men. The standing army num-
bers about %, O00 men OF all arms. Am
munition and supplies for the troops
are being supplied IS rapidly as possible.
In few days the whole available war
strength will be prepared for any even-
tuality that may OCCUR.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
A Strange Race.

Baron de Blaye, VINO has lust re-.
turned from an chronological tour in
Eastern Russia and Siberia, under the
auspices of the car. seems in his adj
dress to the French Geographical So
ciety to cast some doubts on the deci-
sion of the courts which a few months
ago acquitted certain Votiaks of Moul-
tana on charge of Offering human sac
rifices. From his personal observation
Baron de Blaye establishes that the
Votiaks are pure pagans, worshiping
deifications of natural powers and OBJ
jects, but acknowledging one superior
god, kiremet. who personifies the sky.
In the yard enclosing each family
dwelling is hut set apart for sacrifice.
A huge pot hangs from the roof; the
fire is kindled by rubbing sticks to-
gether, and the carcasses of geese,
ducks. sheep and bull calves are cooked
with certain rites and then eaten. Of
ferings are also made to the dead. and
at Easter the devil is driven out Of each
house by the aid of big cudgel Bride
snatching, also prevails among the
Votiaks, whose condition approaches
closely to that of prehistoric man.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
Secession Movement Lancuishing

1t has leaked out that the wheelmen
on the Pacific coast who openly defied
the Jurisdiction of the l.. A. w. last
spring and set out to run an independ-
ent cycling association are meeting
with poor success. The rebellious rae
ing contingent, including the we'll
known riders, Otto Zeigler, Jr., Allan
Jones and c. r. Coulter who severed
their connection with the league by af-
fliating with the outlaw association.
have already applied to the officers of
the league for reinstatement. What
disposition the racing board will make
of the applications is not known. but it
is felt that the league may be inclined
to overlook the breach of rules by these
riders in order TO rob the independent
association of three of its leading rae
ing men. Numerically the independent
organization on the coast Is stronger
than the l.. A. W., but the latter is
hopeful that the discord which seems tt
be spreading in that section will event
ually result in the disruption OF the
rebel" league.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
A PHYSICAL Marvel.

He is hardly more than a red-faced
youngster, and he weighs 103 pounds,
yet this Jimmie" Michael can ride
bicycle with the swiftness of the wind.
He has in his well trained muscles
more power in proportion than a steam
engine. Jimmie" Michael is the
world famous bicyclist who on June
II reeled off Is miles in 80 minutes and
II seconds at the Charles River track,
in Boston.
A railroad train has made &c miles
an hour, or, in other words, has trav-
eled Ill feet and 2 inches in one sec
ond. The wheel which Jimmie"
Michael rode traversed 81 feet of track
with every second. The diameter of
the wheel OF the bicycle is % inches.
The driving wheel of a locomotive is
five feet and half in diameter. To
drive locomotive at the rate of co
miles an hour requires steam pres
sure CT $50 pounds to the square inch,
or the application of 3S,175 pounds OF
force to the piston ten times second.
The driving wheel would be making
five revolutions a second. Nobody
knows exactly the number of foot
pounds which this little giant of BIZ
cycledom applies to his racing wheel.
That would be matter OF almost end
less calculation. Allowance must be
made for the length of the crank, the
distance of the pedal from the axle,
and the grade OF the gear. Jimmie"
Michael in making the phenomenal run
at Charles River track used a
machine geared to 1l2. The
front sprocket wheel seems out
Of all proportion to the ma
chine. 1t has 80 teeth. while the
rear sprocket has eight teeth. This
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28

to many of these are due much of the
success attained in different directions.
One OF these workers is Jacob A. King,
tees, has been untiring in his efforts to
secure conveniences for the riding pub
lie, says the New York Press.
Mr.. King was born in New York city
on January 81, 1871, and is shining
example Of public school training, he
knickerbocker's seats of learning when
IL years of age. Since that time he
has been identified with several prom
lnent business firms, which enabled
him to become thoroughly acquainted
with various business methods and laid
the foundation for the firm of which
he is now the head When the League
of American Wheelmen had but 1000
members Mr.. King became identified
with the organization, and has taken
an active interest in its affairs ever
since. Besides being d local consul for
this city, he is chairman of the New
York state division press committee,
acting chairman of the streets, high
ways and guide board committees, and
through his efforts many new members
for the league have been obtained, and
a number of obnoxious and dangerous
watering troughs on Fifth avenue have
been removed. He was one Of the
leaders in the movement that eventu-
ally resulted in the board of aldermen
ordering the repairing of a number Of
bad places in the city streets frequent
ed by wheelmen, and he also had mucn
to do with framing the new bicycle or
dinances.
Mr.. King was also one of the pioneer
members of the Riverside Wheelmen,
one of the oldest cycling organizations
in the city. When that club held its
first race meet at Manhattan Field in
1891, in fact the first race meet ever
held in New York. Mr.. King as a mem
Der of the board Of trustees. which po-
sition he held for several terms, was
closely identified with its success. For
a time he was prominent in the poll
tics of the old Twenty-eighth Assembly
district. He is a Republican of the
first water. The league and the Riv-
erside Wheelmen are not the only or
carnations, however that claimed Mr..
King as member, for he has a repu-
tation Of being a hard worker in many
others.
This year, however, he succumbed
to the repeated attacks of Cupid, and
on June / married Miss Flora Salz, a
very popular and talented young lady
of Harlem. Home attractions proved
too strong, and one by one Mr.. King
resigned from all the organizations OF
which he was a member, with the ex-
ception Of the League of American
Wheelmen. Having been identified
with its phenomenal growth of the past
few years he was 10th to discontinue
the pleasant, although hard work, of
making the league even greater, end
the wheelmen OF New York the most
widely benefited in any community of
the country.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
Origin of Forests.

The life of plants as well as OF opl-
mails began in the water, and from
water plants of simple structure there
gradually developed the forms fitted
to thrive upon land, writes William j.
Hopkins in Chicago Record. The first
land plants of which we have evidence,
although probably not the first that eX-
listed. we're fern-like in character. AS
their number became greater the
crowding forced each plant to reach
out higher after the sunlight and the
air. In this struggle for existence be-
gan that evolution of those most MT
ted to survive, which has resulted In
the forms that we know to-day. Those
which developed the tallest trunks con-
uuered the shorter varieties and forced
them either to die out completely or
TO occupy less favorable situations.
The trees OF the first great forests,
which became the beds of coal of the
principal conforming period. were
weak in structure, not far removed
from the ferns, with pithy trunks, re-
curing much moisture and warmth.
They were not well adapted to propa-
gate and spread. as their seeds were
very small and incapable OF withstand
ing rigorous conditions. From these
forms there gradually developed the
palms and trees somewhat resembling
the present cone-bearing forms, or
evergreens, this process OF develop
ment continuing until in comparative
ly recent ages came the prevailing
trees of our modern forests. These
may be divided into two great classes
the narrow-ieaVed, cone-bearing
trees, or evergreens, and the broad
leaved trees, which usually shed their
leaves in the autumn. All have great
advantage over the earliest forms in
their strong trunks, capable of sup
porting great weight OF branches and
leaves and enabling them TO attain
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
WHERE DIAMONDS COME FROM
Brazil and South Africa Furnish the
Bulk of the Product.

Bulk of the Product.
For centuries the only source of
diamonds was India, the chief of which
was the region of Golconda. The
phrase diamonds of Golconda" refers
not to the mines but to the town
where they were taken for sale. 1t
is now little more than an abandoned
Tort, the Indian mines being largely
worked out. In 1874 diamonds were
found in Brazil and for 12O years dia-
monds We're brought from that source.
After various attempts to work these
diamond mines by individuals, about
century ago the firm of Hope & Co.
OF Amsterdam undertook the work and
for the privilege assumed the govern
ment debt of Brazil Amsterdam thus
continued to hold her position as the
center of the diamond cutting indus
try, employing, directly or indirectly,
from 10000 to 10000 people. OF late
Antwerp, Paris and London have been
overtaking Amsterdam in this indus
try, Antwerp cutting, one-quarter of
the worlds yield today. Within the
AoSe sih ~ yNoio TIC plOuuCl lis
Brazil mines has declined to the eX-
tent of $15000O annually. The intro
duction of new machinery must again
render these mines important, but
they are now undersold by the African
diamond field. The African discover
les began in 1856 and have had several
distinct stages of development. Prob
ably had it not been for the diamonds
the African gold mines would not have
risen to their present importance. The
first diamonds were found on the
Gong Gong river in the neighborhood
of the Orange river, and the method
followed there is the same as that in
Brazil, two or three men forming
company and working on their ac-
cont. These mines, known as the
river diggings," are now of limited
Importance.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28

heights or 100 to 300 feet above tho
earth. The fight for place and exist
ence is now chiefly between the ever
greens and the broad-leased or decliu-
Gus trees, and in this struggle the
broad-leaved trees are so far superior
that the evergreens have already been
driven to great extent to the less
temperate, cold regions or to the drier
and less favorable soils.
Methods of Spreading and Growth
The distribution of forest trees de-
ponds not only upon the characters
tics OF the particular kind and its
adaptability to the soil and climate,
but also upon the chance of distriDu-
ton OF the seed and the provision
against its destruction by animals.
Many trees are subject to the depreda-
tions of various insect enemies which
may prevent seeding or may even de-
stroy the tree; and the seeds OF most
trees form more or less palataDle
food for birds or beasts. Some trees
are better protected than others
against these chances OF destruction
and the better protected trees stand
correspondingly better chance OF IN
creaSing in numbers and SURPRISING
the other kinds. If the squirrels or the
wild pigs find the nuts Of the white
oak sweeter and more wholesome thaa
those of some other oaks the standing
white oaks will leave few II any de'
scendants and will eventually dlsap'
pear, while the red oaks flourish. In
entering upon new ground the trees
having the lightest seeds will be the
first to take possession, their seeds be-
ing carried to greater distances than
those of the others. The light SEEDS
of the willow or the seeds of the maple,
which, although heavier, have upon
them wing-like attachments, Will en-
able their kind to far outstrip the nut.
bearing trees, like the walnut, hickory
and oak. These heavy-seeded trees are
limited in their reproduction, prac.-
cal!y to the distance at which nut
falls to the ground or to the chance
distribution by the forgotten boards OF
the squirrel. By the swiftness of their
march the light-seeded plants will thus
more quickly reach regions where the
rainfall is just sufficient to furnish the
roots enough moisture or the growing
season, is just long enough to enable
them to mature the wood OF each years
growth. Beyond this point they can.
not live. The heavy-seeded forms arr
plodding surely along behind them and
in the final struggle the trees best
adapted to the soil at any given local
ity will endure by the overwhelming
OF the others.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28

such an affair that previously have not
applied for membership, or having
once been in the ranks have dropped
out. The meet recently held in this
city resulted in the establishment Of
an entirely new record in this respect,
as the next issue of the Bulletin" Will
show, that at the closing of the week
of August Is there was total of 3,640,
as against $50 last year OF this num-
Der the Pennsylvania division turned
in 200, the largest list of applications
ever sent in by one state in single
week since the league was organized
Among the recent applications for
membership in the League of Amer
lean Wheelmen is the name of Dis
trict Attorney Graham. The total
membership of the League OF American
Wheelmen on August Is was 9e,l3O.
Another very interesting point is that
this materially reduces the difference
in numbers between New York and
Pennsylvania. At the beginning of the
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
Bits of Racing News.

l.. A. Powell, of the New York A. c.,
has won twenty-five first prizes this
season.
Ponscarme. the French rider, has
created a new amateur hour record at
80 miles, III yards.
Promoters on the national circuit In
the fall will be asked to place class
race, a handicap and an open on the
programme to give all the circuit men
an opportunity to share in the money.
At the Sydenham (Eng) bicycle track
recently Platt-Betts broke the English
records for from two to ten miles in
elusive. He rode five miles in SIN. SO
4-5s.. and 10 miles in Ism. 2-5s.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
BROWN, AN ALABAMA HERO
Negro Who Wears a Gold Watch Given


by a sunday 2chool.
From the Atchison Globe: There
have been many shocking stories in
the papers of late descriptive of atroci-
ties perpetrated upon negroes accused
of crime in the South. 1t is, therefore.
especially pleasant to recall recent
incident that has the effect of vivid
contrast. Scott Brown was big.
awkward negro, who lived in Mont
gOmery, Ala. He was one of tho
happy kind who are properly objects
OF envy to the dyspeptic white man.
Scott was always cheerful creature
to look at, but nobody thought of him
as at all an uncommon specimen OF
his race. Perhaps he isn't. He was
walking along Commerce street, in
Montgomery. one afternoon, when
suddenly there was an uproar, and
Scott saw the cause of it rushing to-
ward him. A runaway team was COM
ing at breakneck speed, and right in
the track of the maddened horses were
two pretty little children crossing the
street. Scott is said to have reached
the middle of the street in one jump.
There wasn't time to make two. The
ieaping horses seemed TO be absolute
ly upon the children who stood per-
fectly still, dazed. Scott gave one OF
them push that sent her out of reach
OF danger, but there was not time to
repeat the act. So, swiftly clutching
the other child to his broad breast, he
fell forward, bending over her. shield
ing her with his body. In a fraction OF
a second the horses were upon him,
over him, with crash and pounding
OF hoofs. The spectators saw him half
rise and then fall weakly back, the
child still clasped in his arms. She
was entirely unhurt, but Scott was
pretty nearly killed. However he re-
covered in few weeks and was SUBJ
stantially rewarded by Mr.. ]. w.
Branscomb, the father of the two chill
dren. Then the little folks in the First
Methodist Sunday school, to which the
Branscomb children belonged, got up
fund, and when Scott was we'll
enough they gave him a reception and
also a gold watch bearing the in
scription, Court Street Sunday School
to Scott Brown for His Heroism June
II, 1897"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
Fabrics and Trimmings for Winter Gowns

The popular fabrics for winter cos
tunes will be satin cloth, serges, chey-
lots, Scotch homespuns and tweeds.
Fancy designs or plaids are not as pop
ular as they We're. Velvet and veiye-
teen will be more worn than ever be-
fore, while for. visiting and dinner
dresses black satin maintains its vogue,
though satin brocades, either in one
color or in soft shades that harmonic,
are also counted good form. The col
ors favored are dark navy blue, gray. a
very deep golden-brown. darker
green than emerald, pretty dark red
and royal purple.
Buttons are profusely used, but they
are chiefly the large fancy shapes in
horn, gutta percha or mother-o f-pearl.
The various braids and the narrow
satin ribbons, especially in black, are
used to produce original effects on
skirts and bodices. decoration fancied
being contrast obtained by means of
an outlining with white braid. For
street wear the suit-that is, the cos
tune in one color-continues to obtain.
The jaquette blouse is the new bodice
of the season.-lsabel A. Mallon in
Ladies' Home Journal.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
THIS AND THAT.

A Mexican railway advertisement.
PROMISES Strawberries every day in tho
year.
There are two business men in an
English town named |. Came and ii. E.
Went
Fifty years ago Austria had seven
cities with more than 10000 inhabi-
tants; today there are thirty-two.
A German statistician estimates that
100000 human beings lost their lives
from earthquakes between the years
1877 and 1856.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28

h:gh-geared wheel is no easy thing to
set in motion. 1t is like riding your
bicycle up steep hill on a sandy road.
When once Jimmie" Michael has the
machine going. however, friction and
resistance are set at naught. His legs
are like piston rods. He has the limbs
OF trained athlete. He never seems
to tire, and his endurance has never
been known to fail.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
Fall Rye.

There are a few crops that the Amer.
lean farmer can use more profitably
than this. When it is sown early in
the fall and the weather is favorable
for the plant, it affords a great amount
Of pasture for calves, colts or pigs,
writes S. Blanchard in Journal Of Az
riculture. In much Of the weather
during the fall when pastures are short,
the cows can be turned upon the land
to feed. and that will make the wife
smile with JOY when she goes to town
with her well-filled jars or pals of but
ter. The farmer, too. will smile with
pleasure when he beholds his calves.
colts and all other stock entering upon
the winter in such fine condition. Dur
ing much of the winter, when they are
turned out Of their yards they will start
at once for the rye field. In fact it
can be pastured nearly all winter
when the ground is not covered with
snow. 1t can also be pastured quite
late in the spring, and when the stock
is all removed will often spring up if
weather is favorable and afford to the
farmer a fair crop of grain. Or the
field can be plowed up in the spring
and planted to corn or some other crop.
The fall blowing will have made the
land more mellow for any spring crop.
All farmers who have fields that can be
utilized in this way should not fail to
SOW rye. Years ago many of the farm
ers in Kansas pastured their wheat
fields when not covered with snow.
Some thought it was no detriment to
their crops while many question the
utility OF the practice. But rye is one
of our hardest grains. Drought does
not affect it as it does wheat or oats.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28

Howard Hall, author of the Fatal
Flower" which will be given by Robert
Mantell, has just finished another ro-
mantle drama in five acts, entitled "A
Husbands Honor" The action of the
play takes place in France during the
period of the Directory.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28

year New York was some 10000 to
10000 in the lead; last week it was but
1000 ahead and at the present time
it has an advantage Of but 1874. 1t
should be the aim of every patriotic
wheelman in Pennsylvania to work for
an increased membership from this
time on, in order that the Keystone
State may occupy the first position be-
fore the close Of the year.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
New World's Record.

Charles Kraft, Of the Bay City
Wheelmen, made a new mark for 20
miles recently over the California Cyc-
ling clubs official course. With the
assistance of six tandems he covered
the triangular course in 1886. lowering
the previous coast record held by f. A.
Boze of San Francisco by one minute
and twenty seconds, and McDonnelrs
worlds record by two seconds.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
By Virtue OF His Omce.

Spectator Cat the picnic" Nothing
goes to suit that chairman of the COM
mittee of arrangements. He's kicking
about something or other all the time.
The Other Spectator-Well, he's one of
the big guns. He has a right TO kick"
Chicago Tribune.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
NOTES OF THE WHEEL
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO DE-
VOTES OF THE BICYCLE.
Ono Of tho Workers Of the l.. A. w
Michael Ono Of tho Physical Marvels
of the Century-The Secession Move
ment Is Languishing.
One OF the Workers.

INDIVIDUAL effort
in a big organiza-
ton seldom re-
ceives the credit to
which it is entitled.
In the New York
city consulate. for
instance, many OF
the hardest work
ers have never been
heard of outside Of
the association, yet
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
Not So Slow.

The national meet of the League of
in an increase of the membership of
that organization, for there are many
wheelmen who desire to take part in
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28
Must Have Been Another.

He-So you are the girl of his choice.
are you? She-Not at all. He is the
man of my choice. He-Then who was
the girl of his choice?--Up-to-Dats
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-28

Georgia Cayvan is living quietly in
New York. and at present is making
no plans for her next season. nor Will
she until she gets good play.