davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
Famous Kackers.
A writer who knows what he is talk
oh in,

A writer who knows what he is talk
ing about says in an exchange:
Most Of us are familiar with the way
in which horse or mule kicks, but few
of us know how camel expresses his
anger The camel doesn't seem to be
out of temper. He lazily chews his cud,
with his eyes half closed, and those not
familiar with his ways might fancy
that he is half asleep. But directly he
draws a hind leg up under him, and
then, as soon as the object of his wrath
is in range, he sends his hoof straight
back like shot, l have seen heavy
man sent whirling several yards in a
dense crowd by the kick of camel.
An emu can kick as hard as a horse.
have seen men kicked so hard by this
vicious bird that their legs were broken
If 1 had my choice of being kicked by a
horse or an emu, think 1 would take
the horse. The emu stands on one leg
and with the other strikes quick and
most paralyzing blow. I never would
have believed that bird had such pow
er had l not had ocular evidence Of it
uuIIlS UlllS 6A4UO1 WV VI CAAAOO VI
our men had suffered from the terrible
kicks of these birds we did not venture
near them, but, after running our horses
till we got close enough, would bring
them down with our rifles. We did not
approach them till we knew they were
dead
We killed them for their feathers, al
though they are not SO valuable as those
of the ostrich. We also hunted for the
eggs, which are to be found in the sand,
but in doing this we took care not to
collide with the emu. The eggs are
more in demand than the feathers. They
are very beautiful and are SO tough that
it is difficult to break them. Profession
al curio makers drill hole in each end,
take the inside out and then the shell is
carved and mounted in silver.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
A Long Lived Bird.

The following instance of longevity
in a bird may be of interest to your
readers: Ny cousin, Mrs c., had a
siskin given to her in 1881. 1t had been
bought at dealers in 1879. In the
autumn of 1884 it escaped out of the
window while flying about Mrs. G. s
dressing room, as it had been in the
habit of doing every morning. Every
effort was made to get it back, but it
could not be found Mrs. G. went away
for the winter and did not return until
the following spring. Her gardener then
told her that during the winter siskin
had squeezed itself into cage of his
which was hanging outside his cottage.
The siskin was sent up to Mrs. G. and
evinced the greatest delight at seeing
his mistress. In fact, there is no doubt
that it was her bird. From that day
until its death in September. 1896, it
could never be induced to leave its cage,
though the door Was often left open on
purpose. London Spectator.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02

THE Wabasha Herald in the course
of an article attempting to explain
why times are hard says truly that if
the price of grain drops one-half ther
is not as much money in circulation
in the community as there would be
if it did not decline in price, and
then alleges that that the farmer is
paying as much today for his farm
machinery as in 1890, when the money
value of most of his products was dou-
BILE what it is today. The Herald
must have known before it made this
reckless statement that it was not
true. If not it should have looked it
up. The value of farm products to-
day is nearly that of 1890. In
making a comparison in local market
quotations of 1890 and the present
time, we find that the value of the
products average about the same as
in 1890. Wheat at that time was
about II to IA cents higher than at
present. Oats, corn and barley were
only trifie higher than at present.
Flax is the only grain that was quoted
twice as high in price in 1890 as at
present, while potatoes are about
double the price now that they were
at that time. The butter market is
practically the same now as then,
while eggs ranged about two cents
higher. Mutton, beef and veal are
quoted higher now than in 1890, while
hogs are just trifie lower. Thus it
will be seen that the assertion that
farm products are only half the value
that they were in 1890, is in direct
line with the usual Popocratic asser-
tiOns. While the price of farm ma
chinery may average nearly what it
did in 1890, we believe full investi-
CATION would show that prices had
declined in many instances, while in
most other lines the farmer can buy
cheaper today than at that time.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
TAKE 1T A UNlFORn GRADE.

1t is said that Secretary Wilson, of
the agricultural department at Wash
ington, is rather disappointed over
the outlook for shipping American
butter to England 1t seems that
American butter does not stand we'll
in the English market, for the reason
that after having sent good butter
there, it has most always been fol-
lowed by butte of a lower grade.
This of course destroys the chances of
a permanent market, as dependence
cannot be placed upon the grade. The
Danish butter, which controls the
English market, has been brought to
a higher standard and kept there,
always at the same uniform grade.
The greatest care is taken to see that
it does not vary in quality. One
trouble in this country has been that
when a good trade is established even
in the home market, somewhat
poorer grade is often substituted with
the hope that it will pass just as well.
and the profit will be greater. But
the injury done to the trade is always
many time greater than the profit so
realized. The change is at once noted
and the confidence that has hereto
fore existed is destroyed, and it takes
a long time to build it up again.
There are some Minnesota creameries
that have built reputation in east
ern markets by which they always re-
ceiVe from one-half to three-quarters
Of a cent more than the market quo
tatiOn for their butter. This is be-
cause it is always the same uniform
grade. The buyers when they see
tub of it always know what it is
without looking, and feel confident
that they will not be disappointed.
But these creameries are models Of
cleanliness, and they employ butter
makers who are skilled in their pro-
fession, and they never put lot of
butter on to the market for anything
different from what it is.
If the the dairy business of Mime
sofa was run upon this plan, it would
be worth thousands of dollars more to
the state than it is now. Not pound
of butter should go on to the market
for other then what it is. The one
idea of Minnesota dairymen should be,
as it is fast growing to be, to bring
the dairy product of the state to a uni
form grade. Butter of high uni
form grade day in and day out, will
sell anywhere at home or abroad at
good price. If it is not Of a high grade
it should be so stamped so that peo-
pie will know it, and then the best
grades will not suffer.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
The Best Mahogany.

The best mahogany comes from Liv-
erpool. The Liverpool timber merchants
have long controlled the mahogany
trade, and they get most of the best logs
from the West Indies and latterly even
from Mexico. Much mahogany is
brought to New York directly from the
mahogany ports, especially those of
Mexico, but for especially choice logs
New York importers still look to Liver
pool. Indeed English timber merchants
own good deal Of the mahogany now
lying at the Lewis street inspection
yards Some of it has lain there nearly
ten years, subject to damage by the ele-
ments, while the British owners wait
for better prices. New York Sum-
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
MANKATO FREE PRESS.

hope lie ANNOUNCED to the crowd ev.
cry few minutes that he could pay dol
lar for dollar, but his anxiety was so
apparent that it made the depositors
more insistent
81 took the other tack in making my
bluff. l had raked together enough to
stand good stiff pull, SO [ told all
hands to stop everything else and or
dered each one to become paying tell
er. also posted notices that the doors
of the bank would remain open till ev-
cry one was paid, even if it took all
night. This set the crowd to guessing,
and they eased up good deal. My next
move was to place money in the hands
of friends, have them mingle with the
mob besieging the other bank and then
rush over and deposit with me. This
ruse turned the tide, and by O'Clock
I had more on deposit than when the
run began. Detroit Free Press.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02

IN his attempt to start his ''cO-
operative commonwealth" in the
state of Washington, Debs has big
problem on his hands that will bother
him to solve. That is the problem of
transportation. 1t is estimated that
even at half fare on the railroads, it
would cost s2,5OO,OOO to get them
there, and army men say it would cost
more to go in wagons and afoot. To
raise this money or even small frac-
tion of it will give him much trouble.
Still that is only the beginning of the
trouble. They have got to be sup
ported for time before returns come
in, and it will cost no small fortune to
feed them for few months 1t looks
as though Debs was attempting to do
things upon too large a scale. If he
would take a small colony first and
get them into a community where
they could do we'll, he might benefit
them greatly, even though his CO
operative scheme should not prove a
success, as it doubtless will not. Debs
should recall the old saw about small
beginnings,
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02

IT is said that Mclean, the Ohio
and Washington millionaire Popocrat,
who wants to succeed Mark Hanna in
the senate, is at work seeing if he
cannot find evidence that Hanna
bought southern delegates for McKin-
ley in the south. He will, it is said
procure affidavits to the effect that
they received money to vote for Nc
Kinley. And to get these atfidavits,
it is further stated that he will be
very lavish with money. In other
words the maker of the affidavit will
be paid for making it. The testimony
of such man will be of very little
weight, and the value of man that
will buy it will not be worth much
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
CONGRESSMAN MORRIS, of the Sixth

CONGRESSMAN MORRIS, of the Sixth
district, gives it out cold that Alvah
Eastman, of the St. Cloud Journal
Press, will succeed to the recelvership
of the land office at St. Cloud, now
held by G. f. Mcdonald, of the ST.
Cloud Times. Mr.. McDonald's term
does not expire until next spring, but
when it does Eastman's will begin.
This is as it should be. The Demo-
cratic party worthily bestowed the
office upon one of it's hardest workers,
and the determination of Congress
man Morris to recognize Republican
ism in a like manner will receive
hearty endorsement.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02

SPEAKING of one of the most
pathetic cases on record, the Mime
apolis Journal says: "The death of
Christian Ross, the father of the long
lost Charley Ross, has revived
the question as to whether Char
ley is still alive. 1t is positively
known that Mosher and Douglass were
the abductors of the boy in 1874.
These burglars were killed while at
tempting to get into Judge Van
Brunt's residence at Bay Ridge, L. L.,
but before Douglass died he confessed
that they had stolen the child and
that Mosher knew where Charley was
The police authorities in Philadelphia
and New York believe that Mosher,
pursued by the police of the latter
city, tied a heavy stone around
Charley's neck and drowned him in
Long Island Sound. Since the burg
lars were killed no letters were re-
ceived by MIR. Ross before he died
from any one limiting that they knew
where Charley was. Still it is not i'm
possible that Charley may be living
yet, in ignorance of his own child
history. He would now be % years
Old Stranger things have happened
than the Identification of Charley
Ross in some radically changed en-
vironage somewhere in the world"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
The Tempering of SPRINGS.

1t is nice job to temper steel
spring properly. Like many other
things, the preparatory work should be
we'll done, or the tempering proper will
never be a success. The forge work
should be done with rather low tenn
perature and gentle taps Smiths are
beginning to understand that very
many bits of forging have the life
pounded out of them by heavy and con-
tinuous beating. Light taps smooth the
surface and create what is equivalent
to cuticle over the metal This should
be carefully preserved. Light hammer
ing consolidates the PARTICLES of steel
and toughens the forging. It is said
that continuous, steady and light blows
with hammer will magnetic steel.
1t seems to put life into it. If it is nee
essary to grind a spring, do it at the
outset and before much of the hammer
ing is done. Do not put it on an emery
wheel. 1t breaks the cuticle and de-
stroys the integrity of the metal. The
hardening may be done by heating a
large piece Of iron to red heat, then
putting the spring on the iron until it
is heated through.
Another way is to hold the spring
over bright fire until it is sufficiently
hot. It should be kept some distance
from the fire, so as not to heat too
quickly. When it is Of light red and
all of color, plunge it into cool water.
Do not use ice water, as is so often sug-
gested. Be careful in putting in the
spring that the sudden cooling of one
side does not draw it out of shape. If
it is put in slowly, it is warped by the
sudden cooling of one portion. When
fully tempered, polish the spring with
emery cloth until it is thoroughly clean
and bright. Saturate piece of paper
with oil, light it and allow the smoke
to collect on the spring until it is en-
tirely coated with the black. Then heat
it over the forge fire very slowly. Do
not let one part burn off clean while
the other is still black, but let it dis
appear all over the spring at the same
time if possible. The perfection of tenn
per comes from slow and careful ham
ding and the utmost deliberation in
heating and hammering. York
Ledger.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
Not an Accident.

Caller Con crutches and with a band
age over one eye)-I have come, sir, to
make application for the amount due
me on my accident insurance policy. I
fell down a long flight of steps the other
evening and sustained damages that
will disable me for month to come.
President of the Company-Young
man, I have taken the trouble to in
vestigate your case, and I find you are
not entitled to anything. 1t could not
be called an accident You knew the
young woman s father was at home.
London Bits
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
The LeSueur Sentinel, a 50-cent S

THE LeSueur Sentinel, 50-cent sill
yer Democratic sheet, says, "You will
have to 60 back of 1893 to get a sample
of business prosperity" Right you
will, and you will strike good Repub-
lican times then. But the features
that contributed to the troubles we
have had for the past four years, are
being cleared away and we are again
getting On to the road to prosperity.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
The Drama, Past and Present.

Lamentation over the inferiority Of
the present to the past has been going
on probably ever since there was past
sufficiently remote to be haloed by dis
lance, and critics of certain class
have always failed to realize that what
they really regret is youth, not the con-
ditions under which youth was passed.
The deterioration of the stage has been
for ages the constant topic Of comment,
which, considering the steady improve
ment in plays as plays, is as ludicrous-
ly unvarying as it is willfully inaccu-
rate. The Pail Mall Gazette has dug
out of one of it's first numbers a criti-
cism, written in 1865 by George Henry
Lewes, and it calls attention to the Gu
rious likeness which his words present
to what one not infrequently hears to-
day
"The present condition Of the dra-
ma" wrote Mr.. Lewes in the time
which has come to be called "the good
old days." els deplored by all lovers of
the art" And he went on in an anus
ingly familiar strain to say: cit is the
more irritating because never were thea
tiers so fourishing. A variety of concur
rent causes, which need not here be
enumerated, has reduced the stage to
it's present pitiable condition. We have
many theaters nightly crowded by an
eager but uncritical public and no one
theater in which critical public can
hope to enjoy tolerable performance.
Yet there is smaller public choice in
it's tastes and large enough to support a
theater, which would eagerly welcome
fine actor or well written drama. !"
Surely it is to laugh. New York Times.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
IT is estimated that the wool ]

IT is estimated that the wool re-
ceipts at Great Falls, Mont, this sea-
son will reach 10, 200, 900 younds. Wool
growers there are holding on to their
product, and but little has been sold
as yet. During the past six or eight
months sheep raisers there have been
gradually increasing their focks,
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02

DEBs says that he will be in the
field with new party IN 1900. That
will not be hard matter, with
Towne, Bryan, ct al. promoting new
parties every few weeks. Debs can
pick out job lot most any time and
they will be as cheap as the money
schemes they declare for.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02

ties were spending their vitality in
work. There is bound to be an account
ing of stock pretty soon, and when it
comes lot of shelf-worn goods are
going to be put onto the market in
job lot and disposed of in short order.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02

IN view of the fact that the tariff
bill may possibly pass the senate this
week, Congressman GrosvenOr, chair
man of the house Republican caucus,
has issued a request to all members
to be in their seats next Monday,
i NV 9Th
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02

THE emperor of Germany is afraid
that the United States is going to in
tervene in European affairs. William
must have been taking another Tur-
kish bath, and caught cold that did
not agree with him.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02

IHE war in Cuba is costing the
United States at the rate of about
S7,OOO,OO0 per month In the loss of
trade, that was previously carried on.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02
Smart Pupil.

Teacher---Can you tell me in what
year Caesar invaded Britain?
Pupil-Yes'm.
Teacher-What year was it?
Pupil-You can't expect me to an
swer two questions in succession. That
question belongs to the next in the
class BOSTON TranScrint
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-02

The Massachusetts, legislature ap-
propriated 100000 for good roads. 1t
was wise appropriation.
Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-01-30
City Building Plans.

The plans for the new city building
are now displayed at the city govern
ment rooms, where they may be in
spected and examined by contractors
who have in view bidding on the con-
tract for the construction of the build
ing.
The specifications call for the mate
rial of the superstructure to be red
pressed brick with buff brick and
Indiana limestone trimmings. The
rooms of the first story are to be fin
ished in quartered oak with marble
floors in the corridors. The hall and
rooms of the second story are to be
finished in pine and painted. The stage
of the hall is to be 36 by 6S feet, the
proscenium arch to be 50 feet wide and
25 feet high.
The conditions to be considered in
bidding for the contract are that work
must begin as early in the spring as
possible and the outside of the building
must be closed in by October 1, 1897,
and the building be ready for occu-
pancy January 1883.
Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-01-30
Next Meeting Of Lincoln Club.

The next meeting of the Lincoln De-
batting Society will be held February
5th, at 7.15 P. NJ. The subject for dis
cussion will be Resolved that the
Mind Gains more knowledge by Read
ing than by Observation" The affirma-
tive will be taken up by Mr.. Shepherd
Mr.. Varney and Mr.. Thayer, while the
disputants for the negative will be Mr..
Richards. Mr.. Tyler and Mr.. Rose. A
paper will be read by Miss Lowering on
THE Red Cross Society,"" The general
debate will be upon the subject RE
solved that the Petition for Prohibiting
Horse Racing on Silver Street is Cor
rect" led by Mr.. Gallert in the affirma-
tive and Mr.. Washburn in the negative.
The musical programme for the even
ingwill be: Piano solo, Mr. Jones; song,
Miss Matthews; violin solo, Miss Will
liams; piano duet. Miss Smiley and
Miss Drake.
Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-01-30

The Canton fair is over and no doubt
the chevaliers are glad of it though
they netted a tidy sum from the re-
ceipts. In the voting contests George
A. Wilson won the couch. F. NJ. Rand
the Canton uniform and Chester
Getchell the Winchester rifle. A Mr..
Morrison guessed the nearest to the
length of the Redington rope. DR..
Saver won on the bean bottle. On ac-
count of the severe storm but few
stayed to the hop, for which many had
made preparations and many We're dis
appointed but the Journal is informed
that the Canton will give a hop soon
that will fill the bill.
Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-01-30
After Many Days.

A dispatch from Washington says
that Senator Stewart has submitted a
favorable report on the claim of Stout,
Hall and Bangs, and it will be incor-
rorated in the Senate sundry civil bill.
This is the granite firm of which Col
]. S. Bangs Of Waterville, is a member
The secretary of the interior has
agreed that they have a valid claim
of 34,SO2.52 against the government on
account of granite that was to be
furnished for the new Congressional
library. They entered into a contract
with the government in 1883 to furnish
$257, 7,760 worth of granite for the walls
of the cellar, or sub-basement After
wards Congress changed the plans and
specifications for the work and the
granite firms contract was annulled,
not through any fault of their own
The contract was signed April q and
annulled October 2.
Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-01-30

Danbury, Conn, Jan. 29.-There q
no change as yet in the strike Of 30e
operatives of the New York Betting and
Packing company at NoAftown. who
quit work Tuesday on account of al
legged grievances against Superintendent
Sloan. The strike was precipitated by
Superintendent Sloan filming Thomas
Mcdonald. an employe in the calender
ing department, for spelling some cloth.
1t is alleged by the operatives that the
accident was unavoidable. and the I'M
posing of the fine was only in keeping
with the arbitrary and tyrannical man.
ner in which Superintendent Sloan has
conducted matters for the past few
years. The question of wages does moi
enter into the strike. but the strikers
demand the discharge or reprimand OF
Superintendent Sloan. The company
employs about $50 operatives, and is the
principal indus's'y in Newtown. The
merchants are interesting themselve.
in the matter and have indorsed the
strikers position. The company, how
ever. coincide with the action of thei.
cuperintendent