davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12

ble food of both Europe and America, and rot and shortageI have sent the price of potatoes up to double last years figures. Europe is said to be a billion bushels short of potatoes and the shortage is more. serious than that of wheat to many people. Our own po~ tato crop is rotting badly in many places, and even if it were bountifuI it is by no means so easy a crop to handle and export
 That dollar wheat, after paying ocean freights and milling and middle mems charges, is too expensive for the poor of the continental countries, is well known. Even 75-cent wheat is too dear for them. There are millions who scarcely taste wheat flour, living on rye and potatoes in the north, and in the south, upon rye chestnut meal and fruits.
 But rye is short crop, like wheat. The European shortage is reckoned at 300, 0,000000 bushels. The shortage of wheat, including decrease of the visible supply below the normal, is also about BOG, 100000. If every bushel of cur wheat crop were sent across the water it could not make up for the European shortage of rye and wheat. Two months ago, English traders were reck- oning on a wheat crop of from 560 ,OoO,- 900 to 600,000,000 bushels in this eoun- try. Estimates have since constantly grown smaller.
 The government crop reports indi- eated 459,0o0,0oo bushels of wheat. Traders always find government esti- mates too small. This year the dis crepancy between fact and prophecy is less than usual, as the thrashing re- ports do not indicate heavy grain, and the latest fields were disappointing. It was in part upon these facts that the prices went up.
 Our rye crop is not large. It is fair. We cannot spare Europe 300,00O,0o bushels she stands in need of. Our po- tatoes, like those abroad, are a poor crop. The returns have been very fa- vorable in the middle tier of states, like Maryland but very unfavorable in the great regions of New England and New York which, like Aristook county, Me, raise potatoes for the city mar kets. If, therefore, potatoes are ex- ported at any time this season, it is likely to be at so high price as to benefit little the needy of continental Europe.
 There IS a substitute - corn. Europe is at last taking kindly to our Indian corn. Much of that sent to Ireland during the famine was virtually wasted because no one knew how to cook it; and it's use abroad has been very slight until a short time ago
 Corn won favor in Europe at last be- cause of the efforts of our consuls to show how it should be used; also, be- cause of experiments with it in the German army, and because of a serious shortage in the Russian rye crop. The result has been that last spring we were sending abroad 5,oo0,0 ,000 or 6,0o0,- 900 bushels a week In four years we have more than quadrupled our sales abroad.
 But even our corn crop is not mex haustible. It is somewhere around -2,000.000.o00 bushels. the government crop report being somewhat [ lower, the traders estimates trife higher. Corn prices are ruling higher, but prices do not, i'll the case of this crop, mean much. When meat is high, as a pres-
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12
MIR. BILLToPs HAS A DREAM.
Made Him Cool on a Summer Night, But He Did Not Like It Altogether.

Made Him Cool on Summer Night,
 But He Did Not Like It Altogether.
 sOn one of the hottest of the hot nights" said Mir. Billtops, '.I went to bed thinking of matter of business upon which had been engaged during the day, and concerning which I must make report in writing. After I had gone to sleep I proceeded to write this report, sitting at table in the front room on the ground floor of the house.
 "After I had been writing for some two or three hours my brain suddenly grew dull, so that I could no longer continue the work, and it grew duller rapidly, so fast that when I stood up to gather in an orderly shape the sheets that l had written I found myself un- able to do so. I could only draw them into confused heap on the table and leave them there. Turning away l started to go upstairs and go to bed.
 "Crossing the threshold of the door into the dimly-lighted hall l saw on the opposite side, standing on the first step up of the stairs leading to the floor above, silent white figure. I was ter rified, sure, but at the same time fas- cinated, and 1 did not draw back, but continued on across the hall toward the foot of the stairs. With each step that I took forward the white figure on the stairs silently moved a step higher. Still advancing myself, but now with the half-smothered cry of one in night mare:
 sEzra Ezrai'
 ssTbat was Mrs Billions
 ss .Ezral'
 ssAnd with that woke up, the blood frozen in my veins and chilled through md through from head to foot. l had gone to bed very warm, Twas now cold; but I would rather not be cooled that Nay."-N. Y. Sun.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12
Amerieana in Canada.

The new Canadian census shows ]. IT in every 1000 of the Canadian Y < ulation were Dorn in the United sass This is seven more in the LOGO tnap number reported from all Ellrop' countries outside of Great BrltalA
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-09-12
Salad nresaine.

A very delicious salad dressing for those who do not like the taste of oil is: One beaten egg and one teaspoon rubbed smooth. Add eight teaspoon fuls of vinegar, and cook in a double boiler to thick custard. After taking from the fire thin to the proper con. sistency with cream.--N. Y. Post.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
A Big FISHERY CONGRESS-.
TO SIT AT TAMPA, FLA, THE SEES
SION TO LAST ONE WEEK.
Begins Wednesday. january 19-In-
ternationnl in Its scope. Prorecd-
inSS Will Interest Both Econ
omists and Sportsman.

The national fishery congress TO he held
under the auspices OF the governor Of Flor
ida and the United States fish commission.
vii! open at Tampa, Fla, on January 70.
Delegates from foreign powers, invited by
the United States government. will partic-
ipate.
The call for the congress. issued hy Gov
ernor IloNham last spring, requested the
governors and the fishery commissioner
to ii congress to consider the Importance
of propagating and protecting the fish in
the waters OF the United States. and the
necessity of dcvising means aud formulate
ing methods TO save from total extinction
many varieties OF valuable food fish"
Both the commercial fishes and the game
fishes viii he considered by the congress.
with a view of getting legislation to pro-
te"t and multiply them. hoth in inland and
c"asta! waters. Artificial methods of
propagation VIII, Of course. he Il prominent
topic. and the United States tish commits
sion has promised 10 station one of its yes
sells here during the congress to giv" dem
ouStratiouS of the method Of Matching and
of conducting deep SEA dredging.
For the benefit of a man who fishes for
sport a iiy-Castiu- tournament will he held.
and there are few finer places in the world
for game fishing than the coast and inland
waters of Florida, where the tarpon. the
red napper the pompano, the mullet. the
Sheepshead. the Spanish mackorcl and
many other varieties of fish which delight
the angler abound.
one of the objects Of the congress is to
form an international fishery association
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
FOURTEEN FEET OF SNAKE.
This One Was Not Alive and Wrig-
Cling. but Changed Into
stone.

Near the Cascade, three miles from Sus-
quchanna, Pa. a party OF bluestonc quar-
rymen found a round stone projecting
from the ground. 1t was in the WAY of
teams hauling stones, and the men at
tempted to pull it up. The foreman in
struCtcd his men TO dig up the stone and
get il out of the way.
They dug down a few feet. bat did not
reach the end of it. Another effort was
made to pull il out. and it broke off. They
continued 10 throw up the earth. and. as "A
result. three long pieces We're broken off.
At last the foreman concluded TO see where
il ended. After several hours Were con-
sumed in the work the end was reached.
The men Were surprised to find. when they
finished their work. a perfectly formed ser
penis head and neck.
The foreman at once concluded that they
had unearthed a petrified serpent. The
pieces were placed together and formed Il
perfect snake fourteen feet long. The eyes,
nostrils and mouth are distinct and unmiS-
takahly marked, as are the dark and light
er brown spots upon the Sides. The head
is about six inches wide and decreases
one-third in thickness from the top down.
The neck gradually grows smaller. and
then the body increases in size until the
middle is reached, where the diameter is
sin inches. From that point it declines TO
the tail. One piece is missing. evidently
about one foot in length. The petriiication
of what are supposed to have beer the
fleshy parts of the monster has n color
corresponding 10 red sandstone, while that
of the vcrtcbrae is several shades lighter
and softer.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
SOUTH AFRICAN H0LDUP.
FIFTY Thousand Dollars Worth OF
Gold Secured by High

From South Africa comes the story of
the Great Sheca Gold Robbery" telling
how a Dick Turpin. Of the TrarSvaal. with
two fellow highwaymen. held up a mine
official and his two friends and relieved
them of 5000 in gold dust.
The Sheba mine lies thirteen miles from
Tie town Of Barhsrton. II is in a deep
valley and the only way to and from it ia
by ziezas paths cut in the mountain sides.
The gold from the mine is carried by men
on foot over the mountains by a path
known as The E.Iephau klpuf.' and Is
'her met by a carriage which takes 1t into
town.
a Mr.. Holland. an important official os
H. mine. accompanied ny two friends. was
takiuG,a sum OF gold over the mountain re-
q utly when the party was suddenly con
frcntsd at 1t turn in the path by a barri-
C.d.. behind which We're thre. masked
~ih@hwaNmen. who covered them with their
rifles and demanded an immediate and uu-
conditional surrender. MIR. Holland and his
friends were armed with revolvers. but got
TC chance 10 use them The hi~ghwaymcn
had the drop on them and they sur
rendered AT discretion.
The leader of the highwaymen talked
cLeerfUliv with his prisoners and said that
ls had horses in waiting to carry his men
and his booty to a place of safety. and that
r. could not be caught. One Of the priS-
Oilers had in his grip a costume which
he was going to Wear at n fancy dress ball
that night and asked the chief of the
hTicands if he might keep it. "oh yes
said the chief. Il shall not attend the ball
myself. hut wish you II pleasant evening
So far the robbers have not been caught.
fer. though the leader has twice heeu face
To face with those sent out TO catch him.
lie has each tim" been in n position tn
cover them with his rifle and make good
his escape. All gold going over the "E-le-
plant kloof is now accompanied by .,
armed escort.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
TWICE A HERO.
Old Circus Riders T~nIc-Snvrd n
FaithIeSs Wife From Death
Carries q Ind SCnr.

II am hungry. sick ard broke said
a man to Station Sergeant Eraselton
this morning IT police headquarters. re-
ports the Atlanta Constitution
The main trouble with me. though, is
that l am too hungry to stand up. Civ"
me something to eat. il i is only bread
The man tnttered as he spoke ana
sraSped the desk for support. while the
sergeant looked at him with the eagle eye
of an officer.
Il am not u tramp" said the man. hut
! am sick and hungry and just bad enough
10 ask for something 10 eat Ny. head hurts
so that am almost crazy. This scar You
see on my forehead causes that. aud the
man passed his hand over - horrible scar
that reached from the ton nt his forehead
down his taCe and ending 1T his chin
That scar. too. has caused me to he an
ou'Cast. Stunned wherever | go and nv
peopl" all over the world.
Il got it honestly. too. and that makes
my story all The more sad. but give No
something to eat or | will die
The man was plainly i'm an almost starry
ing condition. ard mis- appsarance touched
the heart of the desk sergeant. The officer
climbed down from his high stool and in
less than five minutes TN" hungry man was
eating reveuouS1y in a restaurant across
the street from the prison
Fifteen minutes later h" came into the
serEeant's OFFICE again. This time he Canl"
to return thanks.
How did Won get that horrible SCARF"
self before one of tho heaters in the room
and began Ia warm his feet
Sergeant he said slowly. the story is
a sad one To me. but III ten il. Fifteen
wears ago I WAS i circus performer. and
was considered on" Of tho most daring
bareback riders in tho world.
Il was known then as SiEnor CahrilIj
Costello. bat my name iS really Emanuel
Golding. was young. strong. skilled in
my profession. and harry. Ten years ago.
when the Roman chariot races were more
of n novelty than they arc now. I was with
n circus that mad" this feature of amUSe-
ment a hig speciality. I drnv" four Wild
horses to a chariot. while a woman whom
| loved drove four that Were as Wild to
another.
one night when in u town in Michigan
We went on the track for the chariot race.
and her horses became Interchangeable and
ran away. jumped from, my chariot at
the risk OF my life stopped the horses and
saved that womau's life. Three weeks aft
or that We wer. married. | was happy IN
me. going away with AN acrobat who was
with a circus that We were performing
with.
Her dssertion almost killed me. and for
several weeks I was insane. When the
first shock had Worn off I became the
most desperate man in the profession. and
rode and drove with n rscklcSSnesS that
made me famous in the business. NV rid
ing was heard Of 10y managers in tn" city
of Mexico. and three years after my WIFE
had left mo was offered and accepted an
engagement there.
Il had been performing there about two
weeks when one day heard that a new
female ridgr had arrived. and was to race
not seen the woman until We were driving
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
YOUNG LOVES AWAKENING.
1t Came just in Time to Prevent the
Step That Is Not Easily
R~ctraced.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Years ago" said Il Cleveland man. II
made Il long stay in an English county. ]
visited one of my relatives. who owned n
small estate near "A big manufacturing
town. and. being "a young fellow with plen-
tY of time on my hands. | stage on much
longer than | originally intended. | made
a number OF acquaiutanccS and among
them a family named Jcrrod. father, moth
@" and daughter. They had a neat little
place L few miles from where was stop
ping, and | became quite well acquainted
with them. SO well. in fact, that | fell in
love with the daughter. She was Il Tine.
big girl. with very black hair and Very
red cheeks. and Il voice that could he heard
across Il tCn-acre field. She could ride like
the wind and walk twenty miles without Il
murnur.
well she sort of carried me away with
her ~impotuosity. | became 4 frequent Wis
itor at their home and everybody made me
welcome. one day | had fairly made mp
my mind To pop the mOment0uS question.
Miss l-alirit was more fascinating than
ever. DESPITE her hoiSterouS WAYS. that |
never could quite forgive, and the dHv
was one Of tllos" lovely ones in early May.
when nature seems at her very best. 1t
was a little chilly. but the sunshine tenn
prred the raw edge of the atmosphere de
iightfully. Laura and | went out for Il
walk. When Ne came back | left her in
the house and went out 10 look for her
father. | had fully determined to ask him
for her hand. Laura told me | would prob
ably lind him at the stables. and | started
IN that direction. | had left. my light top
coat in the hall, and as ! started across
the big lawn ! felt chilly and turned back
10 get the coat. made no noise in enter
ing. and was lust taking down the gar
mont when / heard my name called. The
speaker was Laura, and she was in the
morning room. as they called il. Just back
of the nall. Laura's voice was so pene-
trating that ! could not help hearing every
word sh" said. ! should not have listened.
but for the life Of me / couldn't help IT,.
Yes l heard her say. I've hagsed
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19

him sure. Hes out to the stables now.
looking for YOU. popner. and when he gets
Norr reluctant consent he'll see me. Now,
what are YOU going to offer him as my
wedding portion?'
There was Il murmur of words that I
couldn't catch. and then Laura laughed.
Going 10 turn over the Rumblecomb
calling stock. are you? Well. YOU are n
sly old copper. Never mind. he won't know
the difference. And you are sure that the
letters you received are all right.
There was moro talk that ! could not
understand, ana then Laura SPOKE. again:
Rich daddy. eh. and nice town house
and society and relatives. That's all right.
ANY way. it's better than gentecl poverty
over here. Don't you he afraid. He shan't
slip away
Il didn't wait TO hear any more. but
tptoed out. | didn't try to find her father.
who | suppose was lying in wait for me on
my return from the stables, but Just as
soon as l could do so | rode back to my
relatives. and Il day or two later started
for home. LaurH's daddy was a choleric
old fellow who had been in the army. ana
didn't know what sort of a. row he would
KICK up II he saw me escaping. But ! got
away safely with loves young dream very
rUdcly shattered and have always thought
] had Il very narrow escape"
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19

to promote friendly relations and inter-
change of ideas among those interested in
fishing and fish culture i'll various parts of
tho world.
Another object is to awaken inventors to
the need of a machine or process for dry
ing fish when taken from the water so
that they may he balcd for shipment as
cotton and tobacco now are. II is believed
that such Il process would he of the great
est benefit. as il would open up new fields
of labor and at the same time furnish II
new and cheaper source of food slpply.
incidentally frog and sponge culture will
be discussed. Already this country con-
sumcd ten times as many frogs legs rs
does France, and frog culture promises to
become an important industry.
Two.iarge buildings have been erected for
the congrcss-an auditorium and an expo
Sition building.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
ERRORS OF INSTINCT.
Mistakes of Insects Which Seem to
Deny Them the Power of
Selection.

From the Washington Star.
The opinion is still very generally enter
tanned that with animals. especially those
Of the lower order. instinct is the determine
ing guide that incitcs to the proper per-
Torrance of action or function. and that
as such it is far less liable TO err than the
reasoning of intelligence Few scientific
prejudices have been more difficult to over
come than that which removes from AMI
mails the reasoning faculty. ana probahtiXI
many years will yet elapSe before II VIII
bc recognized that all animals which come
under ordinary observation are endowed
with the same kind of faculty. although
developed IN various degrees of Il descend
ing scale, which distinguishes man and the
so-callcd higher organisms. The bee and
ant have been frequently held M as the
hest cxponents of the instinct class, and
more recently of the 'eNccptiOnal' ami
mails which developed reasoning powers;
and II WAS a rude shock. not only to the
layman. hut as well to the scientist. when
Sir John Lubbock. as the result of an al
most endless series of experiences. an
nounced Il few years ago that these ami
mails were sadly wanting" both in their
instructive and intellectual traits. In other
words. there Were many times when both
Some most remarkable instances of the
vrrilE Of instinct among insects haV" fire.
qucntly been noted by naturaliSts. and they
add an interesting chapter to the phySiol-
ogy of sense. one OF these was the case
Of a butterfly. which persisted III visiting
the artificial flowers on a lady's bonnet,
installing them for the natural product.
Another. aud perhaps more striking. in
stance of fault is noted by the distin-
guished French entomologist. NJ. r. Rlan-
chard, and concerns a species of sphinx
moth. which entered a hotel room in the
half obscurity of early morning. and WAS
found to fit with direct intent to definite
parts of the walls and ceiling. These were
decorated with paintings of leaves and
flowers. and TO the latter the insect APP
preached in repeated attacks. thrustinE
forward its proboscis as though intent upon
intrudiHg it into the opened cups of the
beguiling flowers. After repeated failures
and the resulting Encouragement. the eff
fort was given UP. and the sphinx escaped
by the window. This case of self-decep-
ton is interesting in another way, mas
much as it proves that ii is not always
the sense of smell. but at times that of
sight. which directs insects to their flow
erS.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19

in the ring. md when ] did almost
dropped dead. tor il was my wife. THO
effect upon her was almost the same a. 1t
had been upon me.
We started the race. and I. desperate.
ltSted my horses until they We're furious.
Ten thousand lleNicdrs yelled themselves
h"arS. 1t the performance Nv wife WA
evidently frightened AZ my reckIsssnsSs. for
sha tried to rein her horses in. hut they had
caught the excitement and dashed away
with her. We Were running side by Sid.
when | saw one Of the veins she was hold
ing break, and in a second tine horses were
dd>hiHg from one side of the track TO the
other.
They ran by me. and as they were about
10 pass the second tim" I leaPsd from tho
chariot I was in to that of my wife 7
climbed on the back Of one OF the hOrses.
and gathered up the roius to pull them up.
| don't know how many times they ran
around with us. but finally ! stopped them.
just rs they STOPPED. th.. devil ] was rid
ing plunged orward. and my head struck
on" Of the big tent poles.
NeekS after that. when ! recovered. ]
found that tn. woman had gone and | had
this internal scar. She left. | learned. the
day after had saved her life for the See
ond time.
Well. sergeant. there's my story. Thank
You for the breakfast, and good by
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-19
HOW LEAD PENCILS ARE MADE.
No Lead Used. Though the Name
StiiI CIiuGs to
Them.
From the Philadelphia Times.

j ltl1 INC 7 lltt'l'liIilIh J !lI4F~.
once pieces of lead We're used for mark
ing. ana " continue 10 use the word,
though lead is no longer a part Of our
pencils. History has failed to record the
namc OF the great genius who gave the
world that most useful little instrument.
We AVE heard all about the discovery
Of burnt SNUFF and the S~cwing-nlaChin" and
The typewriter and Ill that, but the inV"n-
tor Of The lead pencil has evidently gone
down in the shadow OF oblivion "unwept,
unhouored and uusunE."
Il have I" laugh at the queer ideas some
people have about pencils said = man
Uf1ctur'r. You will scarcely helieV" it.
hut tn" oliini"us of people who know moth
ing about 1t seem to be divided between
tn" melting of the lead and pouring it into
til" hol" in the wood and cutting out the
into our pencil other than the lead Is
cedar aud comes from the swamps Of FIori-
that lie there. There are men there who
make q business of supplying to pencil
manufacturers this cedar in blocks which
are sawed tn" length of the pencil, some
thin. for III" piece that Is glued over the
other containing tho lead. The blocks are
sawed for -four pencils each. The groove
is made by u saw. and in this the lead lies.
II know. continued the manufactures
that not one out OF ten thousand persons
has the least idea of what this lead Is.
Sec. here * Il tue black powder; that IS
graphite and costs somewhere about %
cents 4 pound. This white substance is
German clay. 1t comes across the ocean
As ballast in vessels and all i. costs is for
freight. We mix clay and powder together
and grind them in a mill. moistening the
mass carefully during the process. until
the two are thoroughly aSsimi!atcd and
reduced to 4 paste that is about the CON
Sistency Of putty. Here are the dies for
the leads. into which We press this paste OF
graphite and clay. These leads are kept
in hot glue and are placed in the grooves
as the blocks are made ready. When the
Lead is put in there snugly and forever
the thin block is glued 10 The thick one
and left to dry thoroughly"