davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1897-10-29
THE MAKING OF LEGHoRN HATS.
They Are No Longer the Costly Things
Of YOre.

Oh hOre.
Roman Letter in Pail Mall Gazette.
A strike in the gentle smiling valley Of
the Arno has drawn attention to the straw
plait industry carried on there. 1t is one
that is greatly affected by change in fash
ions. and has its periods OF prosperity and
depression. The days have gene by when
the property about Florence was divided
among a few manufacturers OF straw hats
(what the English call Leghorns) who,
when marrying their daughters gave them
q dot Of several thousands of scudi (each
| scudo being worth four shillings) and a
straw hat the strands Of which, less than
a millimeter in width. were m lde of straws
so fine that. after being woven. a magni-
Tying glass was needed to distinguish them.
Now rich travellers travelling through Flor
ence go no more to the Via Pc rita Rosa to
pay 100 francesconi tfa2) for a straw hat to
take home present
Fashion has transformed the Florence
straw industry. The profit now comes from
the quantity, not the quality; and conse-
quently the hand work at one time sought
after and well paid has gradually decreased
in price until the wages of the workers
are infamous. When the wholesale price
of hat. all made and sewed. is a penny
or two-and there are thos. at even a lower
price-it is easy to imagine what compef-
sation the straw woi kers get for the
twenty-five to thirty-fiye yards of made
strands which are necessary for one hat.
/ The skill formerly required in the plating
is. however. no longer required. Once il
was an art, now every one can dc 1.-THE
boys and girls who drive the cattle to pas
ture, the women at home. beggars, all
those who have nothing else to do. In the
mountains the men who break stones have
been seen at straw-plaiting i'm their few
leisure moments, and even men who drive
coal carts. This "vulgarfzation'' and over
production will. in the end. be the death of
the industry, especially to America, and
consequently an overstocked market; and
until some means are found of diminishing
the production the industry will ego from
bad to worse, with the gravest of conse-
quences to those who live by 1t.
There are exporters who buy the straw
plat In bulk, paying, IL not sufficient for
the work, more than Is warranted by their
own profits and Who only continue the
business out of charity for the poor people
OF the district But this in many cases
does not prevent them from being accused
of profting by the necessities OF the work.
ers. Hence the strike.
Another misfortune for this industry Is
the new United States tariff. which raises
the duty On worked straw from q to 81
per cent of its value. Besides, the Italian
productions have to struggle I'm America
AZ ainst the competition. incre tsing day by
day, Of the Japanese and Chinese straw.
The outlook Is indee dark. for, no matter
how the poor Florentlne straw-plaiters pro-
test and strike. they have no remedy. 1t Is
a question Of overproduction for q con-
stantiy Diminishing market.
Evening star., 1897-10-29
From the Philadelphia Record.

cAvAn Ine KhAAhoekpn0 RECORD.
A man who was offering for sale a small
newfoundland puppy appeared on Chest
nut street yesterday, and quite unintention-
ally Afforded good deal Of amusement to
the promenaders. OF course, he was pleased
at the notice which he attracted, but he
couldn't see what there was so funny about
either himself or his dog. He had bought
one Of those ready-made handbills. such
as are pasted upon houses. reading: For
Sale. Inquire Within" With an ordinary
leadpencil he had crossed on the word
within" and. making period after '.in-
quire; tied It around the puppy's body.
But the lines of erasure were 30 faint that
ten feet away the handful appeared In its
ORIGINAL FORM A small boy who saw the
Joke approached the man and asked: s.Say.
mister. did De srewler swaller his ownerr'
NO; don't Git gay. Johnny" said the man.
Well den. who do youse ask fur wen
yoase Eits instde!. queried the small boy.
Then the-man saw the point, ana tore on
the lower half Of the placard, % that It
read simply: .Tor Hals.'
Evening star., 1897-10-29
A Very Remarkable Wedding.


remarkable wedding took place re-
Gently in Berkshire. The bridegroom was
eighty-five, and his bride two years young
er. Six maiden ladies, each over seventy.
acted as bridesmaids; six granddauRhters
OF tne bridegroom strewed flowers in the
Path of the happy couple, and four grand
sons OF the bride sang a nuptial song, COM
posed expressly for the occasion by the
parish clerk
Evening star., 1897-10-29

''TOd" Sloane Wins Another Race.
NEW MARKET, England, october %
The Lertllard-Beresford stables Sandia.
ridden by Tod Sloane, won the Old Cam
bridgeshire handicap- here today. Jater
Meta II, also of the Lorillard-Beresford
stables. with Tod" Sloane up, won the
Newmarket free fah6icab
Evening star., 1897-10-29

MeHtS " Siicol IA Noreu NdfoiHtAN rs
Giving the Birds . Chance.j q
There win be an exodus Sunday for nesr-
by points In Maryland Of those who have
shooting privileges Of posted lands. There
is an understanding among gunners that
coveys will not be decimated. 1t is thor
oughly realized that considerable charity
must be exercised toward birds il there is
to be any future sport insured, and conse-
quently even IL a man IL allowed to shoot
over a territory where there are quail he
will be relieved of the privilege-n Mary
land at least-if 1t is found that he is kin
breeding purposes in spring.
Covers Are Heavy.
The cover in heavy wherever quail are
accustomed to be found, and there is no
doubt that the dogs will find much aim.
Guilty during the first days Of the season.
The present rains have served to beat
down and tangie up the rag weed and the
stubble and the heavier weeds in the branch
bottom. In Montgomery county the growth
OF green briar and wild grape has increased
wonderfully In the past two or three years
and midday shooting In the bottoms when
the birds are feeding win be found difficult
In consequence. In spite Of ali the OBJ
ever. there 10 no doubt that there will be
an exodus from Washington ON the Sunday
trains and the early trains Monday morn
ing. and probably there win be more rab-
bit shooters out than there are bird Shots
Rabbits are extremely plentiful in every
who has beagle or . hound or a cur dog
who Win track rabbit r. regarded as q
lucky individual indeed. at this particu-
hf t1yne.
Evening star., 1897-10-29

McDufae Makes New Mile Record.
Eddie McDuffie, at Willow Grove bike
track. near Philadelphia, established a new
worlds record for one mile paced. covering
the distance in 1.35 2-5, three-fifth seconds
lower than the record mades by James
Michael On the same track several weeks
ago: McDuffe's time also equals the time
made by Stocks in London last summer,
although the latter's time was not accented
In this country on account of the character
OF his paee-a motor cycle. Yesterdays
record was made after three unsuccessful
attempts. fifteen minutes intervening be-
tween each trial. McDuffie was paced by a
quint, a quad and two sextets.
Evening star., 1897-10-29

1t matters little what II - that you want
whether q situation or Q esrvant-e
want nd. In The Star win reach tho
person who can an your need.
Evening star., 1897-10-29

English Eleven Make 100 Runs.
ADELAIDE, South Australia, October %.
The Australians in the first of the cricket
matches, commenced yesterday, with the
English eleven, headed by Capt Stoddart,
were all out today for 400 runs. Of which
number Hill scored 200. At the close of
play eoday the Englishmen had scored 26s
runs Tor three wickets. Of which the Indian
player, Prince Ranjttsinghi, scored 137,
The advocate., 1897-10-13

venient arrangement landowners are
almost always willing to have their land
worked by any decent colOnist ION
shares" receiving from up to SO per
cent OF the product OF every crop accord
ing to the facilities given to the tenant,
and this system Of working on shares is
by far the most usual, and seems to be
suited to the present state OF the cOun-
try.
IL the tenant is a poor man the land
owner may build the very simple mud
house that shelters the family and also
supply bullocks, plows, seed and sup
plies until the first harvest, and the land
lord then takes so per cent. Of the crop,
but If only the use Of land Is given to
10 per cent. Of the produce goes to the
landowner as rent; his proportion is
naturally larger on land that Is in a spe-
clally favorable position. If the crop Is
a failure the tenant may skip, having
lost a year, but the landowner has had
his land broken up, and Is content to put
that advantage against his money loss.
Good land, situated conveniently near
to railway station and within 100 miles
Of port, may be valued at Ell ($5, golO
per acre, and the farm can be worked by
the colonist, assisted by young son and
by two extra poems at harvest. About
IFS acres can be sown with wheat, and
the remainder Of the land used for pas
turing the animals and growing little
maize (corn). HOuseWork will be done
by the wife, who also looks after some
COWS and poultry.
Owing to the want of accurate infor-
nation from the multitude Of small
farms, it Is very difficult to say what the
average yield per acre really Is in any
year, and, although it has been custom
airy to consider that the average in Santa
Fe is not over 10 to IL bushels per acre
similar to United States average), prob
ably 1S bushels Is nearer the mark for
the entire country and Is for good farms;
because, in recent years, farmers have
often threshed out 25 bushels, and some
times up to 35 and even 45 bushels, while
anything under 10 bushels Is exceptional
now that farming has improved some
what. The bumper crop Of 1893 was
good In every part of Santa Fe.
Wheat bought by merchant at $3.50
per 22O pounds in Rosario, calculating
shipping charges, commission, ETC., 10
per cent. with ocean freight at 20 shill-
ings per ton, can be sold at 20 shilllngs
per 48O pounds, cost, freight and in
surance to Europe.--American Econo-
mist.
The advocate., 1897-10-13
Glover as Green Manure.

Since the days when the summer fall
low was regarded as the necessary prep
aration for a winter wheat crop, clover
as green manure has fallen into COM
parative disuse. It was most waste
full practice even for wheat-grOwers, and
was discontinued so soon as wheat fail
ure from the midge drove farmers into
the system of mixed husbandry. Much
of the nitrogenOus plant food from de-
caylng clover plowed under in June was
wasted the following winter. But so
long as enough remained to make
good wheat crop, this waste was little
thought of. Nowadays the sons and sue
cessors Of these wheat farmers cut and
feed all the clover hay their land will
produce, and apply 1t to the growing
wheat crop TO insure good clover catch
on 1t. The wheat crop itself is better
insured by an application of $50 to 200
pounds Of phosphate that does not cost
half as much as growth Of clover hay
Is worth, either to sell or to feed.
Except for wheat it Is difficult to use
clover as green manure to advantage.
1t needs to be plowed late in the sea-
SUI, uulSSH lLAS UlOoI Ndlubblc pOEIkOu vi
its growth be lost. This is mostly after
all the early crops have been put in.
The consequence Is that for all hOed
crops the clover Is saved through the
second year Of its growth, and is plowed
under at the beginning of its third year
In orchards the necessity for plowing
late in order to get a large clover growth
Is especially Objectionable. 1t supplies
an excess OF plant food. At the same
time the plowing of the land in June
when clover Ia at its best comes when the
trees are in full foliage and is serious
check to vigor. This makes the tree un-
thrifty one year and vigorous the next,
This may be favorable to making the
trees prolific, but 1t undoubtedly sh0rtens
their productive life. 1t used to be q
saying among farmers that two years
after q summer fallow, or year after
a wheat crop, the apple orchard among
which the wheat was grown would bear
ahundantly. That, however, was In days
The advocate., 1897-10-13
Advantages of An Abundance Of Soil
Moisture,

The unusually dry weather which has
prevailed during the growing seasons of
the past few years throughout much OF
the United States east of the Tooth me-
ridian has brought into strong relief
the great Importance of soil moisture in
crop production. The agriculturist OF
the humid sections of this country is
fast coming to realize as he never has
before, how essential to large crop yields
is an ample supply of water at the right
time.
SO keenly is the need Of water begin
ming to be felt that the practlcability Of
irrigation east of the Tooth meridian
as we'll as in the arid West has come to
be serious problem in the minds Of
many, and already a considerable
amount Of capital has been invested in
irrigation plants Of one form or an
other. The question Of the desirability
and the practicability Of irrigation In
humid climates is therefore an important
one, and ripe for intelligent discussion.
1t Is q matter OF universal experience
in humid climates that on clayey soils,
The advocate., 1897-10-13

when mineral fertility in orchard land
had not been exhausted, as 1t has since
been. Flowing an orchard in summer
is now he'll by all orcEardists to be the
surest means Of destroying many Of the
trees.
Crimson clover has the advantage of
the red clover, that sOwn the previous
fall it will make much growth then and
early the next spring. It can be profit
ably plOwed under in May for spring
planting, and is much better adapted to
sowing in orchards than common clover
or grass of any kind.-AmeriCan Guilt
VatOP.
The advocate., 1897-10-13
Protection Of Peach Trees in Winter,

The Missouri Experiment Station will
issue an elaborate report, giving the re-
suits Of years experiments with peach
diseases. An advance summary OF this
report has been obtained.
The principal efforts of Prof ]. G.
Whitten, dean of the horticultural de-
partment of the Missouri University,
were directed toward finding a preven-
tive for winter diseases, which are so
disastrous to peach crops. Whitening
the twigs and buds by spraying with
WhiteWash was given more attention
than any other means of protection.
Careful observation showed that warm,
sunny days in winter or very early
spring are indirectly more dangerous to
the peach buds in this State than in
the very cold weather. Peach buds are
able to endure Is or 20 degrees below
zero without injury, provided that the
wood ripens properly in autumn and
that the cold weather comes on gradu-
ally. On the other hand, the buds of
peaches on a southern slope may swell
and grow when the temperature reaches
so or go degrees above zero, il there
is a bright sunlight. After a few days
Of such weather sudden drop to near
the zero mark Is almost certain to de-
strOy the buds that have been stimu-
lated even into slight growth during
the previous warm days. 1t should con-
stantly be borne in mind that peach
buds may swell and grow even when
the ground is frozen and when the roots
of the trees are inactive. Following is
a summary of results reached by the
station regarding winter protection:
l. In this latitude winter killing of
the fruit buds of the peach Is usually
due to the unfavorable effects Of freez-
ing after they have been stimulated into
growth by warm weather during winter
or early spring.
2. This early swelling and growth OF
the buds Is due to the warmth they re-
celve; Is independent Of root action, and
may take place on warm, sunny days in
winter while the roots are frozen and
dormant.
3. Peach buds may safely endure a
temperature of 10 to 20 degrees below
zero, provided they mature we'll in au-
tumn, are entirely dormant and the cold
comes on gradually.
4. Zero weather may kill fruit buds
that have swollen during previous warm
days.
s. Shading or whitening peach trees
to prevent their absorbing heat on sunny
days opposes the growth of buds and is
consequently protective measure.
Whltened buds remained practically dor
mant until April, when unprotected
buds swelled perceptibly during warm
days late in February and early in
March.
The advocate., 1897-10-13

An Advocate representative called last
week on S. B. Wilcox, the proprietor of
the large produce commission house at
116 East Fourth street, Kansas City,
Mo- This is one of the busy institutions
of the city. Mr. Wilcox found time to
talk of markets and stated that he was
anticipating good stiff prices during the
winter. He has just bought the product
of two large Missouri apple orchards
and expects to make a fair return from
handling it. He will furnish the Advo-
cate with his weekly market report for
Kansas City. It will doubtless interest
a large body of readers. If your mer-
chants do not now consign to this house,
call their attention to the advertisement
MIR. WillOck's references are first-class
and he personally supervises everything
1t may bring you better prices If your
merchant ships to this house
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-02
Diniculties of Carnation Culture.

Luck is not reliable factor in the
difficult problem of carnation culture. 1t
demands exhaustive knowledge OF the
habits, requirements and diseases OF the
plant, unceasing watchfulness and unre-
hitting labor the year through. Even
when all is done that seems possible to
merit success. the grower is liable to the
evaporation of finding that particular
varieties, upon which he may have based
his most sanguine expectations, obsti-
nately refuse to flourish under his care.
Almost every carnation culturist knows
varieties that he "simply cannot raise"
and neither he, nor anybody else, can
tell the reason why. OF course, there
must be something lacking, in soil, wa
ter, air or treatment, which they re-
ouire, but it seems as if they were ca
pable of taking offense at him, or his
surroundings, and preferring death, or
at least unproductive life, to endurance
of the association. -Scribner's
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-02
Absentminded.

It is said that the extempore playing
of the great Beethoven was marvellous,
but he was entirely without the GOODNESS
and self possession required by per-
former who wishes to render written
compositions with accuracy and finish.
The same fault was found with his
conducting the orchestra; even before
his deafness he often confused the play
ers by his sudden gestures.
At one time he was playing one OF his
own beautiful concertos for piano and
orchestra. During long passage by the
orchestra, while the piano was silent,
he forgot his position and fancying him.
self conductor for the moment he threw
out his arms at q certain chord. knock
ing both the candles off the piano.
They were picked up. but when the
passage was repeated and the loud chord
required he forgot himself again, and the
accident happened for the second time.
The audience, in spite of their great
admiration and respect for the master
musician, were convulsed with merri'
ment, which so Disguised Beethoven
that several strings Of the unoffendinR
piano suffered the consequences OF his
Irritation, which expended itself in
prodigious humping Of the keys
Youths Companion.
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-02
THE GOODLY SWORD.
The Egyptians Gave 1t the Name Fifty
Centuries Ago.

The Egyptians Gave 1t the Name Fifty
Centuries Ago.
Half a hundred centuries ago the
Egyptians gave to the sword its name.
Since those old days the history OF the
trenchant blade, stained with blood and
defaced by the scars of battle though it
is, holds much of the glory, the poetry
and the chivalry of the cruel game OF
war.
A friend whose fidelity never wavered
and whose power never failed, it is not
surprising that men endowed the sword
not only with human attributes, but
with the might and majesty OF the gods
themselves. The old legends abound in
tales of its magical powers. How the
divine armorers strove continually to
excel some rival in the forging Of
blade of temper so delicate that it
might cut thread with the same ease
with which it struck head'from the
body, or hewed through heavy metal
armor, was favorite subject OF the old
Teutonic and viking tales.
These legendary blades bore charac-
teristic names, by which they were in
yariably known: Graysteel, Wader
Through Sorrow and Milestone Bitter
were swords of wide renown, and we
all remember how Arthur of the Round
Table took "Excalibur, the sword that
rose from out the bosom Of the lake. ="
| CAESARS sword was called Crocca Mors
Charlemagne' Joyeuse played no small
part in the setting up of the great Frank
| ish empire. Many bold captain went
| down before Eel Tizona, welded by the
relentless hand Of the Cid.
| The Japanese, whose civilization was
| old before ours began, have produced
beautiful examples of the swordmaker'
art. The Japanese nobleman carried his
swords as the insignia Of his rank. dc
wore one on each side, thrust into the
folds of his sash.
These swords have been handed dowr
as heirlooms from father to son, and i
was not unusual for families of ancien
lineage to have as many as l,5OO
them-marvels Of costly and artistic
workmanship their possession. Th
scabbards are richly lacquered ant
bound about with silken cord In
curious pattern. The blade is curved
and the round guard is pierced to cal
~ a small dagger. This guard, Gale
a tsuba, is decorated with curious de
signs, and so great is the ingenuity
the Japanese metal workers that anon
the thousands of swords they have pre-
duced it is impossible to find two guard
exactly alike. They are priced so highl
by collectors that large sums OF none
have been paid frequently for an al
tique sword, only that it might be rutf
lessly torn apart to secure the guard. :
} Mary Stuart Mckinney in st. Nichola
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-02
1918 Wisconsin street, Marinette
NOES OF A RESTAURANT KEEPER.


His napkin. and Even His Casters Carried
Oh by Customers.
1t was during the second half of the
rush for dinner in restaurant near
Washington market, where several thou
sands persons are fed daily, when a grear
Slamor arose for napkins, and waiter
x.shed ahout gathering up what few
could be found on the tables and distrib-
ating these. and others were dispatch
ed to the laundry for more. Henry, the
head waiter, went around meantime
trying to pacify the people, who were
angry and declaring that it was shame
that the house couldn't give a man a
napkin to wipe his mouth with, Some
customers fell back upon the time hon.
ored custom OF the neighborhood and
used the corners of the tablCcloths in
lieu of the missing napkins.
Its curious and an annoying mat
ter how we run out of napkins every
little while, said Henry. "You might
suppose that because they are Numbered
30 frequently they disappear III the reg
ular way 10y wearing ont, but that is
not true. You will seldom see napkins
in a restaurant which show the effect OF
wear They 20 because they are stolen.
This is true not only of such popular
restaurants as this, but also of every res
taurant in this city. Who takes them
| do not know. All we know is that they
disappear regularly, and our supposi
| ton is that some are carried off by peo
pie who deliberately intend to stea
them and others by persons who pu
them into their pockets by mistake.
know one such person as this. 1t was ;
| woman of undoubted honesty, but /
was a joke among the members OF he
| own family that she never dined at
| hotel or restaurant without carrying OF
a napkin which she had unconscious.
stuffed into her pocket We got lS dozel
big dinner napkins few weeks age
Within three weeks they had all disar
peared hut five dozen, and now Their
isn't one III the house
Tableware goes in the same wa
sometimes A little while ago we &C
eight dozen Of these salt and pepper cast
ers." Here Henry pointed to some nea
little cut glass casters with silver plate
tops. eve put them on the tables dui
ing the time the wagon boys were con
ing in here for breakfast last fall, jus
before they would start out to sell thel
days buyiugs on the streets. Hull
gee = they would say. That's prett
nice thing guess I'll swipe it just &c
luck-see?' And when they LETT ever
day we would miss few casters Fly
dozen of them were lost within fe
weeks. New York Sun.