davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
An Exchange Of Pa..c..

Archbishop Ryan in the course Of his
social experiences in Philadelphia las
already won n name for wit and repar-
tee. At dinner recently given him by
Catholic citizcCs u brilliant company Of
gentlemen was assembled, among other
Pennsylvania railroad men the president
and one Of the vice presidents and ex-
Attorney General MacVeagh, who /.
counsel for the road. MacVeagh, AZ
usual, was scintillating, and in funny
way said to the guest of the evening:
Your grace, you see here great many
railroad men. You will meet them
often OH social occasions here, and You
will always find that they take their
lawyer with them; hence / am here.
They won't 90 anywhere without their
counsel. Now, we have nearly every
thing men want, but I have sugges-
ton TO make to you for an exchange
with us We can give free passes on all
the railroads Of the country. Now, II
you would only give Us, say, free pass
to paradise by way Of exchange. "
"Ah." said his grace, with a merry
twinkle in his eye, Il would not like
to separate them from their counsel. F"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
FARMERS AND BAD GRAMMAR.

A writer 10 the Farmers Friend
asks why it is that writers of stories 10
which farmers and farmers families
figure attribute such bad spelling and
b I'd grammar TO the characters they de-
pict. IL our way of talking really
sounds as these writers would make Us
believe, then Il Is quite time for us to
turn about face, 90 back TO irst prin-
ciples and study once more our spelling
books aud grsmmsrs. IL some Of these
writers would visit the country and go
around among our people they would
discover that while the country folk
nav not be so fluent OF speech "a some
Of our city cousins, they have much
solid information. and appreciate and
possess good manners. For country
people not to progress, not In learn OF
the worlds way OF doing and talking.
argues that we do not read our grange
papers, and those who do read the grange
papers faithfully will tell you that they
feel that they are abreast OF their city
cousins in the glraning OF informs-
tion and happenings 10 the world. Even
the Sundsy-school books give the same
mistaken idea that the farmer Ia unedu-
Gated. awkward, and not worth much
consideration. Some writers describe a
farmers meal as consisting OF salt pork.
potatoes and brown bread. They forget
that town aud city tradesmen, eager for
custom for the farmers patronage. send
their meat and grocery wagons two or
three times week TO the farmers door.
They forget the fresh butter. eggs and
milk. the early vegetables aud luscious
fruit 10, be had right on the farm.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
A PROPER ApiEu.
MARTHA MAXIM.

Nine. de Bill, wife OF the Danish am
bassador to the Court Of st. james, is an
American ny birth. Her father was
Chancellor Zabrlskie OF New Jersey, and
before her marriage she was noted not
only for her beauty but for her vivaclty
and wit. Many stories Illustrating her
love of fun are told Of her. One OF
them relates TO her first meeting with
her husband. 1t was at q great recep-
tion, ut the close Of which Mr.. de Bill,
Who had been 10 the country only a
short time, came up to her and asked
her what was the conyentionally proper
thing for him to say to his hostess on
bidding her adieu. With Q perfectly
sober face, though her eyes sparkled
with merriment, she replied that in tbi.
democratic land the only proper thing
to say was, Madame. by golly, have
had bully time" Believing this WAS q
s'straight tip" he thus delivered him
self. When he frat discovered the Joke
he was furious, but bic fury was short
lived, and he married the beautiful belle.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
Tn. Good Samaritan.

The following tale, related TO me Dy
q friend, is absolutely true, says "A writer
in the London Sketch. a lady recently
touring IN the bighlands-for obvious
reasons | omit the lady's name and the
name Of the district-had the misfor-
tune, while riding alone through pic
turesque but scantily populated glen,
to meet with an accident, being throwL
from her machine, badly bruised and
shaken and more or less cut and scratch.
ed about the hands. Upon recovering
her eauanimity she made her way TO the
nearest habitation, which CHANGED TO De
the msnse, aud asked to be allowed 10
wash the mud off her hands and then
to rest awhile. The minister was ab.
sent, but his housekeeper received her
kindly, and, having attended to her
wants, offered and gave her cup OF tea
Soon afterward the minister returned
and was, of course, duly informed OF
the presence Of the unexpected guest.
Thereupon his reverence entered the
kitchen, where the lady was resting,
and, after surveying her critically with
suspicious eye for several moments
he addressed her in the following friend
" manner: "Ma'am," he said, I'm
sure don't know who You are, and l
don't know where you come from. and,
for anything know, you may carry on
some Of my property, SO l think the
sooner you leave my house the better. y
The poor lady, in dire distress, promptly
rose and complied with this inhospitable
request and was shortly afterward found
by a pleasant woman sitting by the
roadside and in tears. This good Sa-
maritan quickly led the wanderer to the
nearest inn, where dogcart was soon
procured, in which the unfortunate lady
and her damaged bicycle were conveyed
home
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

stool with much dignity, inwardly
wondering whether my friends were all
aids to Bigler, in which case their ele-
waited rank and affection for me would
both bs satisfactorily accounted for.
Away we sped down the bay, the
captain standing on the whcelhOuse di-
recting our course. Port, port little,
portw he shouted. Whats he calling
for?' inquired a youth, of good natured
but unmistakable verdancy of appear
ancc. Of me. Port Wine. said !, land
the storekecper don't hear him. You'd
better take him up some. " II will, !"
said innocence. I've got bottle OF
first rate III my stateroom. And he
did. but soon returned with particu-
larly crestfallen and sheepish appear
ance. well, what did he say to your
inquired ]. POINTED at the notice on
that tin. said the poor fellow. " Pas
sengers not allowed on the wheelhouse.
He is, though. amt hep added my
friend, with faint attempt at smile.
as the captain in All awful voice shout
ed "Starboardr' ''Is what?" said i,
Loud on the wheelhouse. " Good God!
went below. John Phoenix.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
MAINE FARMING NOTES.
ExcELLENT IcE-CUTTrNG SEASON. Les
SONS OF A SHORT HAY CROP,

This winter has been remarkable &c
far In this locality for the light fall OF
snow. the absence Of drifts and the gen.
orally mild temperature.
Men and teams are now returning
from their annual trip to the kennebec
ice-ields, where they get n job varying
from four to six weeks In length, at
good pay; they report the job this year
a short one, there having been very
little snow to scrspe, and in consequence
a very fine quality OF ice has been har-
vested at small expense.
The mild winter Is favorable for the
small hay-mows, and for this reason, as
also from the fact that substitutes have
taken It's place, hay Is not likely to be
80 scarce az was anticipated earlier, aud
the high price predicted has not as yet
been realized. 50 II sll per ton being
the price paid by shippers delivered nj
the station.
Light hay crops are In many cases
educators, aud the necessity Tor economy
proves blessing in disguise.
Many farmers now living date their
experience In economic feeding from
1871, the ''grasshopper year. when the
hay crop was almost entirely destroyed,
and other crops badly damaged by the
swarms Of grasshoppers that infested
every field. A great deal OF stock was
wintered, carried through with little or
no hay, substitutes In the shape OF diff
ferent kinds Of straw and cornsfodder
being used, and these In small amounts,
supplemented with grain feed OF some
kind. In this way 1t was learned that
stock could be wintered In good condi-
ton on much less feed than before had
been thought possible, and that Great
ure did not require to be STUFFED" 10
order to do It's best. La after years,
when full crops were secured, the
knowledge thus attained was profited
by. and instead Of resuming the old
method, more stock was fed or hay sold.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
uis Awful Break.

The fair girl from Boston gazed upor
Harold Bentley's face, and new feel
ing took possession of her. He was ont
Of Cleveland's most aristocratic young
men and as handsome as Greek god.
After they had been introduced they
strolled away from the crowd, and h
told her about his sisters and his mother
who were in Europe, and Beatrice Mont
gomery suddenly realized that the flame
Of love was beginning to flicker in bel
breast.
She talked vivaciously Of her days q,
Wellesley and Of her explorations in the
rich mines of Sanskrit ard Of her inyes
tigations of the Mahatmas and the oc
cult fiapdoodles Of the far east.
Then he toid her about his horses ant
bis rubber tired traps, and they gazet
into each others eyes and sighed lo
of long drawn sighs and were begin
ming to feel that they had passed through
the pearly gates and were strolline
through streets that wee paved with
gold.
At last Beatrice Montgomery said:
"You have told me about your moth
or and your sisters being in Europe, bu'
you b ave said nothing about your father
Is he with them?"
"No," the handsome young man re
piled after painful pause; "he is no
with them. My mother is q widow wo
man."
When the doctors had finally succeed
ed in bringing the fair Boston girl on
Of her swoon, she waved her hands u
Harold Bentley and wildly cried:
'"Take that man awayP'-Clevelant
Leader.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

As the last line fell from the dock,
and our noble steamer, with a mighty
throb and deep sigh at bidding aaieu
10 San Francisco, swung slowly round,
the passengers crowded 10 the side to
exchange farewell salutation with
their friends and acquaintance. Good
by, Jonesr' "Goodby, Brown! God
bless you. old fellow Take care Of your
self'' they shouted. Not seeing any one
that knew and fearing the passengers
might think had no friends, / shouted,
"Goodby, Muggins!" and had the satis-
faction of having shabby man, much
inebriated, reply as he swung his rim
less hat, "Goodby, my brother" Not
particularly elated at this recognition,
tried il again. with "Goodby, COLONEL"
whereat 34 respectable gentlemen took
off their hats, and ! got down from the
position that had occupied on camp
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
They Were Reedx.

One Of the district school trustees
was crank on the subject q fire. and
when he called around with the exam
lining board he always confined his re.
marks to question addressed to the
pupils az to what they would do In case
the building should catch fire.
The teacher was acquainted with his
hobby. so sho prompted her scholars .
to the answer they should give when b
arose to PROFOUND his accustomed in
quiry.
When the board called, however, thil
particular trustee. perhaps from de-
sire to emulate his associates in their
addresses, rose and said:
"You boys and girls have paid such
nice attention to Mr.. Jones' remarks.
wonder what you would do IL were to
make you little speechi"
Quick a. thought 100 vaioes piped in
unison:
Form Q line and mKch down
stairA "-Detroit Free Pres.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

II this goes on, newiii be In . mgr
fever before long"
Itwas q breathless summer evening
but the sky was overcast with murky
clouds foreboding tempest. The room
already grew dark with the shadow o.
its coming.
Suddenly there was Q loud knocking
at the front door. Presently / heart
voices in conversation, then heavy foot
steps began to ascend the stairs
At that instant rose colored fasi
cleaned through the darkness Of th'
room, terrific peal Of thunder follow
ed. its echoes crashing and rolling a
il the building were about to fall upor
our heads. The sick man sprang con
vulsively to an almost upright position
In his bed. then fell ackward-dead!
Tho door opened. There was pause
and two plainly dressed men slipped
quietly into the room.
.'Dr. Clifford. ! presumed" inquired
the foremost politely.
Jim nodded assent wonderingly.
II have n very painful duty to per
form in respect Of your patient here, v
continued the speaker fumbling paper
a. he spoke; "a very painful duty In
deed. But the fact il, / hold warrant
tor his apprehension under the name oi
Henry-Octaye Henry on . charge
of''-
my patient" interposed Jim very
quietly, has just obeyed another sum
mons. The man died while you were
coming mp stairs.
From the explanations which ensued
IL seemed that our late patient had long
been wanted" by the police ON no les
q charge than that Of murder. Doubtless
his unwillingness to be removed 10 q
hospital arose from his persuasion that
he was safer from detection in private
dwelling.
Guilty or not guilty Of the crime he
was accused Of, il was long before jim
and l ceased to speak Of him. Nor, in
turn, had he forgotten us We were
handsomely remembered in the will he
had executed before the operation. But
we will never again undertake the care
of n resident patienf. f.-Answera
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
The PAINTER.
Nature hath taken her delicate brush,
Her palette and paints and all.

Nature hath taken her delicate brush,
Her palette and paints and all.
She hath worked In the silence OF staSlight
hush.
She hath worked In the storms loud bfawi.
She works. and. 10,
The frcscces grow
On tho sidcs Of her ample hall.
ehe hath tinted the apple with nushes Of rose,
Gho hath covered tho pear with white.
And the osier blooms where the honeybee goea
Che hath crowned With golden light
The lsadng sioe
Is draped In snow.
And the celandine stars gleam bright
EAe hath sprinAlcd tho meadows with sivss
and gold
And the cuckoo flowers delicate hue.
She hath kindled tho gorse on the wind haunt
ed void
And hath garnished tho woodlands anew.
The speedwell's eye.
Dcmuro and shy.
Che hath touched with q heaven born blue.
And In and about and around them all
She hath filled In o background Of grccn.
Tho leaf buds burst at hcr noiseless call
And spread out v.rdurous screen.
And wcaried eyes
In quiet wiso
Find rest In the soothing scene.
IT. Bruce Dilkcs In Temple Bar.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
THE OLD HUMORISTS.
STRANGE ADVENTURES OF A BEAR
WITH AN APPETITE.
He Was Called Jay Gould and Bore That
Name Because He Took Everything In.
vaicable as = Family Pet-Fsrewell Ia
Rca Francisco.

Valuable ~ . Family Pet-Fsrewell "a
Sen Francisco.
The other morning, says the San
Francisco Post, while the proprietor OF
the approaching circus and menagerie
was picking his teeth in front Of the
Russ House, II tall, sunburned, bald.
headed man, with pine burs in his
clothes ard stick Of sassafras in his
mouth, approached and said, BE you
the wild animal man, mister?" The
proprietor of the circus admitted that
such was the fact "Then," proceeded
the man from the mountains, Il think
I'll get you to make me an offer for q
large sized California lion I've got.
GOOD specimen, ehf" asked the circus
man. Good! Well, / should say so.
Measures IL feet from his nose to the
tip of his tail. Caught him myself when
q cub. Just 4 years old tomorrow. "
Hum Good appetite: "Appetite
Great Scott, appetite! Well, / should
smile. That's just the reason why I'm
parting with Jay. / call him Jay
Gould because he takes everything in.
II it wasn't for his appetite and the
queer little thugs it makes him do,
wouldn't part with Gould for a for
tune Savage, eh?" We'll, no,
don't know as should call Jay savage
exactly; sorter nibblish, though, he may
be. Has kinder habit Of gnawing uI
things 80 to speak. In fact, the neigh
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

A little group Of advanced women,
girls with strong ideas Of the rights OF
women. believers in their free competi.
ton with men and repudiators Of the
idea that women should be treated with
more Difference than men, were talking
when one of them began:
"Oh, girls. what do you suppose! l
bought two men drink. F"
"You didg' exclaimed tho chorus in
admiration.
~ did"
"Not in saloon. / hope?" anxiously
inquired one who was not as advanced
a. the rest.
"No; Of course not. It was in drug
store
"Oh, do tell Us oil about itP
"You see, was walkieg along the
street with two men, when one OF them
suggested that we go in drug store
and get drink. made up my mind
that l would not go in drug store and
let any man buy me soda water. de-
termined that should insist upon my
rights as woman and buy the drinks.
So said would 60 il they would LEI
me pay for it..
"You brave grill!
"They treated it rs joke at first.
The very idea But told them my
principles, and finally they agreed. al
though the mean things laughed. Then
We went in. You don't know how afraid
Twas that they would pay for the drinks
anyhow. But was too quick. When
the clerk laid down the check, / just
grabbed it, and / wouldn't give 1t up,
and when we went out ! reached the
cashier first and laid down just the
right amount The cashier seemed sur
prised. / don't see why. But l actually
bought soda water for two men. What
do you think Of that?''
''You were herol" declared the girl
who was the first to recover her breath.
"Some day your sex will erect monu
ment in your honor. "-Chicago Times
Herald.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
scIssoseo ANo peNNep.

Some experiments recently made at
the Massachusetts, agricultural college
by Asa :. Kinney, seem to show that \
current of electricity will accelerate the
termination Of seeds. In collection OF
seeds treated for twenty-four hours,
thirty per cent. more germinated under
the current than in lots untreated, and
the seeds which received the electrical
stimulus gave higher percentage OF
termination than others.
Agricultural colleges and farmers
Institutes are far more popular than
hey were few years ago. They have
demonstrated their usefulness 10 such
IN extent that few, IL any, intelligent
'armers would be willing 10 have them
,baudoned. But while the merit OF
hese aids 10 profitable farming is more
clearly and more generally recognized
than ever before. there Is good deal OF
lnisapprehension as 10 the expense that
il involved in their maintensDce.-Prac-
ticsl Farmer.
The best information available from
detached communities here and there
al over the United States, as well AS
from general intelligence on the sub
isct, is To the effect that the proportion
of good horse-fiesh to the population
OF the country has seldom, IL ever, been
as low as il is now. The discouragiug
conditions surrounding the horse mar
kets everywhere have had the natural
effect of turning stockmen away from
the growing of good horses, until the
result alluded 10 Is so plainly manifest
a to admit Of no question. What may
be expected as the legitimate result!-
National Stockman.
Farmers are prone to run to extremes.
Twenty years ago they depended mainly
upon barnyard manure; then for while
green manures were all the rage, but for
the last ten years none OF the natural
resources OF the farm iu the way Of
home fertilizers have been utilized on
the majority Of farms, but everybody
pays out hard earned money for what In
many cases Is either openly wasted OIL
but indifierently conserved.-ProfessoI
Jordan.
5. B. Keach Of Connecticut, writing
to the Country I" Gentleman" says
Nobody suffers more loss and ineon'
veuience from bad roads than farmers
They regret the apparent prospect and
probable necessity Of discontinuanct
Of the good roads work, thus far &C
complished by state aid. But, by un
wise management, the state has become
so involved in debt, that state tax OF
the towns Is proposed. Much as they
want good roads, farmers had rather
travel over poor ones than to be over
burdened by taxes to keep down inter
est-bearing and ever-expanding debts.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
Too Old to b. Trined with.

An old army surgeon, who was very
fond of joke il not perpetrated at his
own expense, was one day at . mess,
when wag remarked to the doctor,
who had been somewhat severe in his
remarks ON the literary deficiencies Of
some Of the officers, doctor, are you
acuuainted with Captain G.y' "Yes;
know Linn well, replied the doctor.
"But what Of him?" Nothing in par.
ticular, - replied the officer. II have
lust eceiyed letter from him, and
IN wager yoa dozen Of old port that
yoa cm't guess in five guesses how ht
spells cat. !" Done, said the doctor
"it's 4 wager" well, commenct
RuesxinR," said the officer. "K-a dou
6as-k" mo" "C-srt-e." mo; try Il
NGsiu.'' "R-a-t-e. mo; you hav'
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

missed lt again. wen, tnen,'' re-
turned the doctor, "C-a double-t ""No;
that's not the way; try it again. It's
your last guess" "C-ag-t." NO."
said the wag; that's not the way. You
have lost the wager" f" "Well," said the
doctor, with much petulance Of man
ner, "how does he spell ita' why, he
spells it cat" replied the wag, with
the utmost gravity, amid the roars Of
the mess, and, almost choking with rage,
the doctor sprang to his feet, exclaim-
ing, Gentlemen, am too old to be
trifed with in this mannerv
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

The new secretary Of agriculture ap-
preciates the full importance Of stock
husbandry to the farmer and to the
country. The farmer Of to-day, he says.
who has learned the wisdom Of diversi-
fying his crops, raising cattle and look
ing after his dairy, is 10 most instances
independent and prosperous Maine
Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

Comfort and convenience are most es.
sential features to the country home, and
IL the farmer would keep the wrinkles ol
care from his brow, and have those
about him happy and coutented, he Will
look TO these matters carefully and well
As usual thing they are entirely over
looked.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

Nearly all farmers are coming to real
ize that in general their farms are too
large for the intense and careful farm
ing now necessary to meet the demands
OF the market and to secure profitable
returns. The pioneers who settled these
broad fertile valleys we're not satisfied un-
less their farms we're large enough to con-
sumo q whole day In interviewing their
crops and their live stock scattered over
their broad acres. To them quality
was not Of % much account ~ guam
tity.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

Eight sugar-beet factories have been
in operation the past season In TINS
countrs. Their total output OF grannist-
ed sugar is placed st sixty million
pounds.-Maiue Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

The Olden Fruit Farm, in Howell
county, Mo-, numbers 5000 peach
5000 apple, 5000 pear, 5000 plum and
5000 cherry trees, and forty acres oi
berries.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"srxxp rux rIow. :"

Correspondence on practical agricultural toplcs
Is collected. Address all communications In
tended for this department to HENRY ID. HAN
MoSp. Agricultural Editor Oxford Democrat,
Paria, Ne.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

The Lad who acoidentaIly sst down O
Z yedhot stovs penively penxSksd that
- was reminaed a the retzPating rem
ssal WHO bssbed hiaasids> abehind im:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-06

The highest price for the year paid fol
fat beeves was reached last week at thu
Chicago stock yards.