davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
Artificial precious" Stones.

The trade in artificial gems has be-
come very important, and the manu-
facture has reached o considerable
degree of perfection. The products
of some of the shops would almost
deceive an expert, but the test OF
hardness is still infallible. "French
paste" from which artificial diamonds
are made, is kind of glass with
mixture of oxide of lead. The more
Of this used the brighter the stone
and also the softer, and this IS
serious defect. These imitation stones
are now so perfectly made and are so
satisfactory to those who are not very
particular, that their influence begins
to be felt in the market for real
stones. BY careful selection OF the
ingredients, the luster, color, fire and
water are, to the ordinary observer,
fully reproduced. There are few
tests that cannot be given perfectly,
for they depend upon some undis-
coverable peculiarities and not on
chemical composition; but the casual
buyer knows nothing of that. A
French chemist has nearly reproduced
the peculiarities with composition
of which the base is phosphate Of
lime. Two other French chemists
have produced rubies and sapphires
having the same composition as
genuine stones and nearly equal hard
mass
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20

Atha & Illingworth Company, one OF
the three concerns in this country
that have the plant and the skill to
turn out guns OF size. Their main
shops ore at Harrison, the next station
to Newark, and their casting shops
across the Passaic, Oh the "lsland. ;"
Dozens of pieces for the navy and for
coast defence are being made here.
Work of Great Care.
i1weeksi is practically the minimum
of time for the making Of modern
gun, and to finish one within that
space everything would have to go
marvellously well. The Treatment"
of the steel would have TO be success
at the very first misunderstanding
that does not often happen-and the
first tests would have to show that the
Government standard had been
reached. Oftener than otherwise these
results can only be obtained through
much trying and the expenditure OF
time. A batch of guns may thus take
months in the making, while good luck
may bring it down to weeks.
1t is in the casting shop, OF course,
that the process of gun making has its
very beginning, in the furnace where
steel is made from medley of pieces
of old iron, pig iron lengths, broken
bits and odds and ends of castings,
long since relegated to the scrap
yards.
Here is the first stage of the modern
gun-ragged and rusty metal that is
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
Finished by tho Government.
French Detectives.

Tho ability of French detectives in
the matter of Disgusting their identity
is marvellous. Some years ago one Of
them made bet that he would, in
the course of the next few days, adj
dress gentleman with whom he was
acquainted four times, for at least ten
minutes each time, and that he should
not know him on any occasion until
the detective had made himself
known. AS matter of course, the
gentleman was on his guard, and mis-
trusted every one who came near him.
But the man won his bet. 1t is need
less to enter in.o the particulars. Suf-
flee it to say that in the course OF the
next four days he presented himself
in the character of q bootmaker's as
sistant, hackdriver, venerable old
gentleman with great interest in the
Bourse, and finally rs waiter in the
hotel where the gentleman was stay
ing.--New York Ledger.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
Successful Farming.

This consists in making the farm
pay, and it includes oil the little odds
and ends about the place. Economy
is the first lesson for everybody to
learn if he would succeed in his bust.
ness. But economy does not imply
anything unreasonable. The picking
up of lost horseshoe, strap, a bolt
or nut, an ear of corn that fell from Q
wagon, fork full of hay that dropped
from o load, is small matter, but q
thousand such items, if put together,
would amount to q good deal and
would go long way toward helping
man out of trouble
To save is better than to earn. Tc
utilize small things is better than tc
strive for what is beyond our reach.
The small farmer, he who has small
tract of land, may be just as indepen'
dent, just as comfortable, just as hap
Ply and quite as successful as the bo'
nanza farmer who tills acres by the
thousand. A few acres we'll titled.
with the many small items or conVen'
ience and use that every farmer may
have as we'll as not, will keep any req
sonable family in condition.
A farmer who is out of debt anc
keeps out, that cultivates his lant
well, has a good garden for his wife
has q well-kept orchard and vineyard
no matter how small, that raises
some cattle, some hogs, some poultry
always has fruit, meat, grain ant
vegetables in plenty and to spare. HI
does not want the earth, but he doe
want a good, happy home, and good
name for those to enjoy who come
after him. This is successful farming
Advocate and News.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
Observing Plants Grow.

To observe plants growing under
the microscope the American Monthly
Microscopical Journal says: Procure
little collomia seed. Take one of the
seeds and with razor cut off a very
tiny slice, place it on II slide, cover
with cover glass and place under the
microscope. The instrument must be
in IL vertical position. When it is we'll
focused and lighted, moisten it with
n drop of water. The seed will abb
sorh the moisture and throw out a
ve.r large number OF spiral tibers, CIV
ip:. the appearance Of veritable ger-
r.ination. Beginners will find it
easier if one applies the moisture while
the other looks through the instru-
ment.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
Indoor Caro- of Plants.

Aim, always, to keep your plants
clean. A plant covered with dust, or
with dead leaves adhering to its
branches, will be unsightly, no matter
how many fine flowers it may have
on it.
BE careful about giving your plants
more water than they need. If they
are standing still, or making but very
little growth, they will require but lit
tie water. As growth increases, it
will be necessary to increase the sup.
ply.
A plant cannot long remain in
healthy condition when the pores of
its leaves are clogged with dust. A
plant breathes through its foliage, wo
are told, aud if it's lungs are prevented
from performing their functions, dis
ease must result Therefore, rs a
sanitary measure, as well as in the
interests OF neatuess, be sure to use n
good deal of water on the plants Them
selves rs we'll as on their roots.
Let in all the sunshine possible.
And let in fresh mir also in liberal
quantities daily. But do not let cold
air blow directly on your plants, for
quite often a tender plant suffers rs
much from contact with cold, frosty
air rs from frost itself. Open door
or n window at come distance from
your plants, and let the mir from out
of doors come in and mix with the
warm air in the room before itreaches
the plants.
Stir the soil about your plants.
This will allow the air to get to the
roots, aud it will prevent the forma-
ton of mold on the surface, also the
growth of weeds.
Turn your plants at least once a
week. If this is not done they will
be drawn to the light, and soon be-
como one-sided specimens. By CIV
ing all sides of them chance at the
sunshine you will secure symmetrical
development.
Do not make the mistake of giving
fertilizers to plants not making ac-
tive growth. They are not in con.
dition to make use of rich food. Wait
until growth begins. Then give the
food, but in moderate strength at first.
Increase the amount rs the plant in
creases in growth.
If plant shows a tendency to de
velop one branch at the expense of
another, check 1t promptly Nip off
the end of it. But do not throw away
the part cut off. Insert it in the soil
by the side of the old plant. In most
instances, such cuttings will root
readily, and plants SO obtained can
be used to take the place of old ones,
or to put out in the garden in summer.
Housewife.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
MAKING BIG GUNS.
How the Government Hury-orders For Great War
Weapons Are Being Executed

Down on the meadows of the Passalc,
on the shore of Newark Bay, and
within the bounds of the city OF
Newark itself, says the New York
Herald, men are working day and
night on guns for the Government.
The complex and e1quisitely adjusted
machines that turn and bore Jackets
and "tubes" never stop, except for a
"rest" of an hour or so or the replac-
ing of cutter dulled by hours of slow,
steady ploughing through the hardest
and fine st steel.
Steel is everywhere, in almost shape
less, oblorg ingots, fresh from the
casting room; in forged lengths, in
cylinders, now bearing some resem
blance to "rapid fire." "and in chips
and shavings. There are strange and
interesting scenes in these gun shops
and the pictures presented each hour
are dramatic in the extreme. Here II
these processes is to be seen the acme
of American manufacturing, the great
essential fact being the machinery,
that is almost automatic in its work,
and the few men needed to control and
guide it.
Except in the forging room scarcely
blow Of hammer is heard. The
shops are almost as silent rs the grave.
Wheels revolve, cutters turn, men
stand placidly by the side OF machines,
moving softly here aud there: All
this time, each second, the gun thai
some day will belch forth fire and
steel OF its own is coming nearer COM
pletion. Chips fall as the bars re-
vulre, but the cutters are not heard.
The guns, it would appear to the
oulookers, are almost making them
selves.
Of the stur liest type of American
mechanics arc the men employed
They are workmeu who think and who
know, men who can Judge when q Ger
tain instant has arrived, knowing its
approach by intuition, rather thar
men of Drawn and muscle. The latter
qualities are not so much needed in 8
gun shop OF to-day. Should partially
finished tube or jacket have to bt
moved there is the electric travelling
crane overhead, that, at the jerk O
cord, swings over its graphing irons
and these need only to be. attached
The gun man Of to-day needs only t.
guide and to know.
These works are of the Benjamin
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
VOL. LXIII. NO. l6.
fed that there they could obtain clean

fed that there they could obtain clean
and wholesome milk.
The next day he sought customers,
and found market for all he could sup
ply at six cents quart, or one cent
above the market rate in the town,
and it was but little more trouble to
deliver it than to have carried it to the
railroad station and send it to Chicago
for two cents quart.
Let us hope that the methods which
attracted his customers were kept up
after he had secured his market.
The story we'll illustrates two points,
at least: That little extra care and
painstaking can be made profitable,
for the keeping of these COWS was no
more expensive when he sold his milk
at six cents quart than when he sold
it for two cents, unless the extra price
tempted him to be more liberal in
feeding in the hope of obtaining larger
yields. That when one has good
thing, better than the average, it will
pay him to let other people know it
by advertising it, and that an extra
good article can often find home
market, while that which is only OF
ordinary quality must be sent awayto
some point where larger demand can
find customers less fastidious.
Unpleasant odors or favors in milk
are sometimes caused by unwholesome
food or impure water, but quite as
often by unclean stables in which the
air is impure, and by the odors from
soiled bedding. Often, too, they are
plainly and simply the result of lack
of care in preventing dirt from the
udders and flank from falling into the
pail during the milking.-Ameri con
Cultiyator.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
Some Big Treos.

Recently mention was made OF q
largo oak tree that was on William Ish-
leer's farm, Center County, Pennsyl-
vania, which measured over six feet
across the stump. Another party
down ut Fiedlyer cut six cords Of
wood from nm oak. Some persons
thought that little doubtful. Il. L.
Zerbe, of Aaronsburg, tells of mon
ster white pine that was cut down sew
eral years ago on the Adam zerbe
farm, near Sober, that measured i've
feet five inches across the stump. 1t
measured ninety feet from the butt to
the forks of the limbs, and stood 1861
in height. The tree was sound
throughout. From it they secured
5000 shaved shingles, worth $780,,
sawed lumber that sold for $62, and
four cords of wood worth Sc. That
made o total of s15s from a single
tree
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
/. cI,ec,xerl,oard Fish.

Joseph Evans, of Thirteenth street
,andssnyder avsnueeisath eownerS e;
very queer looking fish. 1t is four
feet long and has tail two feet In
length, which is spotted and striped,
like snake. Evans caught the fish
in m oyster dredger while at work on
the oyster boat Mary Collnan. 1t
lived nearly day out of water and
caused no end of trouble before it I'm
ally collapsed. The skin of the strange
inhabltant of the deep resembles a
checkerboard, being uniformly colored
with black and blue squares. Mr..
Evans intends having glass case
made for the pretty creature and wlll
exhibit it in his parlor. Several scien-
tiic men, who have seen the fish, are
ut loss rs to how to classify it, and all
of them agree that "what-is-it' hsh
would be the proper name for it,
philadelphia Record.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
Washing Clothes.

Fill the boiler with water, leaving
room for the clothes, and shred into it
half pound of yellow soap. Let this
boil till melted, then, when the water
is boiling, add a tablespoonful and q
half of paraffin. Throw the dry
clothes into this, and boil fast for
thirty minutes, taking care that the
boiling does not cease, or the dirt will
settle in the clothes. Rinse in three
or four waters, and the clothes will be
clean without any waste of elbow
grease. Add fresh water, soap and
parafin to each boiling and pay great
attention to the rinsing, or the linen
will smell disagreeably.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20

Of metal with long bars. The master
meter, never still, steps now and then
to his wheels, Set ot one side of the
furnace and looking like the brake
wheels on q freight cur, and gives one
or the other sharp twist. By this
heregulates his fre-hve hundred de-
grees at twist. The silica .bricks
with which the furnace ,,is lined can
staEd four thousand degrees of heat
andmore before they commence to
melt. The master melter runs UP the
hestto the extreme point and then
letsit down.
There are three cheats" day in the
casting shop. Three times metal is
heated, three times it is let so with n
mighty rush into the casting pot. The
last few moments of each heat are the
draaatic instants. 1t is then, at the
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
Centennial Celebrations.

This years crop of centennial cele-
brations includes observations OF the
four hundredth anniversaries OF Vaseo
de Game's discovery of the way to
India by way of the Cape of Good
Hope, at Lisbon, in May; of the burn
ing of Savonarola Mt Florence, also IN
MAY, and of the birth of Holbein at
Basil, in Switzerland. Montpelier
will celebrate the hundrcdth annlver-
sary of the philosopher, Auguste
Comte; Ancona that of the poet Leo
pardi, who was born ut Recanati, close
by, and Paris that of Micbelet, the
b1storion
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
Water a Cure Tor Indigestion.

eve must give special attention to
the outside of the body as we'll as the
inside" writes Mrs. S. 7. Rorer on
"What to Eat When You Have lndl-
gcstion,: in tho Ladies' Home Jour
nal. "The skin must be bathed every
morning with tepid water, followed by
q brisk rub. This is equally as I'M
portaut as correct diet. A good rule
is to use water freely inside and out.
at least two quarts Of water daily
should be taken; half pint the first
thing in the morning and the last at
night, cupful of warm water before
each meal, and the remaining quan.
tity divided and taken before meals. .
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
32e,5oo,ooo HANDKERcHIEFs.
That Number is Consumed Yearly In the
| United States.

United States.
every few people outside the trade,
said leading wholesale dealer in
handkerchiefs in New York to q
Washington Star reporter recently,
"are aware that the consumption of
handkerchiefs throughout the United
States amounts to about rs, 600 dozen
daily. This means 27,375,000 dozen
yearly, or 32S, 5000 single hand
kerchiefs. To satisfy this enormous
demand there are always kept in stock
in this city at least $50, ,0OO,O 900 hand
kerchiefs. It would be extremely
difficult to say what such supply OF
goods is worth in the aggregate, as
Iandkerchiefs sell wholesale at any
where from 80 cents to $40 per dozen,
according to quality and finish. But.
i the 6 slrss which Z heye gwen Eas1 " =
are not .exagg gerate d, and they fiifosa q
strong light on the gigantic dimensions
of an important branch of the dry
goods business.
ga comparatively small number of
handkerchiefs are manufactured in
this country, and those that are made
hero are mostly of the cotton and in
ferior silk variety. The finest silk
goods are imported principally from
Japan which country sends lis annual
ly between 1000, 900 and $4,000, 900
Japanese pongees. The best cambria
article, comes from France and Bel
gium, and linen handkerchiefs come
from the north of Ireland aud also
from St. Calls, Switzerland. japanese
silk handkerchiefs are worth from So
to $40 per dozen. while the imported
cambrics from Brussels sell for from
So to ST dozen, and the cotton pro-
duct manufactured in Pennsylvania
and New Jersey. may be had for thirty
cents per dozen.
"The capital invested in this busl-
ness is immense. 1t may possibly
amount to s1OO, 100000, but owing to
the fact that the trade is distributed,
nothing like accurate figures can be
given. There are six or seven firms
in the dry goods district which deal
exclusively in handkerchiefs. But
only two of these houses handle the
domestic article extensively. Most OF
the largo American factories are locat'
cd outside Of the city, but New York,
as in several other branches of the dry
goods business, is the great distribut-
ing center for the trade"
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
BORING MACHINE.

Judgment of the master melter, that
the furnace is fed with medicine, "
shoYelfuls and blocks of metal being
tossed in. On this depends the quail
ity, the strength, the elasticity OF the
steel, essentials Of the most vast i'm
portance of the gun of to-day.
Unto the Casting Pot.
Two hours is usually sufficient for
the boiling of this steel in its cradle
of sand. At last the one moment ar-
rives. The bar at the furnaces back
is worked through the sand to make
on opening. An instant, and into tho
casting pot below the mass runs, scat
tering millions of sparks, q glowing,
golden torrent that foams and hisses
as it plunges down.
The picture of the guns second
stage is superb. On every hand fly
these sparks, and the mass bubbles
and seethes in the casting pot. On
its top, through the glow, can be seen
o dirty mass-the Stag or the scum
that is of no use CT value. But the
picturesqueness of the scene has not
ended. The casting process is only
half through. The liquid metal must
get into its moulds, and that in short
order.
On track the casting pot rests. 1t
is pushed along this track until n si-
gantic crane overhead seizes it, swing
ing it aloft. Over mounds of sands it
is swung, and the metal, by the move
ment of bar, is allowed to drop down
in thin stream. Again shower upon
shower of sparks, surrounding the men
who, with chains and slaves, control
the clumsy pot and pull along the
crane. The grim old shop, with its
door OF sand, its unrelenting dust and
and it's dreariness, is made into q
brilliant cavern for the moment, and
the toiling men are supernatural in the
light. :
In the Rough.
A prosnic time follows, when the
metal in the moulds must cool. When
the sand is finally knocked away the
gun that is to be is only rongh mass
of cast steel, indicating only to the ex-
pert its fine quality, and not even to
him in any degree, for the tests must
come to prove that. In the forging
shop this massi is hammered and worked
until it becomes an octagonal ingot OF
just twice the weight it will possess
when it is finally turned and bored in
to "iacket" or Cube" The hoops,
the third part of gun, are cast and
forged hollow, not in solid cylinders,
as the jacket and tube are.
With the carrying away of the rough
ingot of steel from the forging shop
the special work of gun-lnsking COM
mences. The boring and turning
factory is the scene of the first step in
this process.
a;Completed guns, ready Tor mount
ing and for fire, are not turned out III
these gun shops. The finishing
touches, the actual putting together
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20

are tumbling and its windows and
tops OF the doorways have been taken
possession of by the sparrows.
Not only was this the first bank OF
the town, but the first financial
institution under the charter OF the
Territory of Nebraska. Its president
was Thomas Fl. Benton, son OF the
Senator. Leroy Tuttle was cashier,
and A. N. Wyman teller. In the
panic of 81 the doors were closed.
The ancient structure Is decidedly
picturesque in its dilapidation and has
frequently been put into pictures ny
local artists.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20

earted in wheelbarrows up to the fur
mace doors The maws of blazing
heat, several thousands of degrees in
intensity, stand open to receive it. So
overwhelming is this heat that even
the master meIter has to put Oh blue
glasses to peer into the flames rising
over the bubh!ing sea CT metal when
the doors are open. When the doors
are cropped dowll-that is, shut
there is ouly revealed single spot OF
brightness, an eye that looks into the
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
Sailing Butter In the Brine.

Those housekeepers who ure using
the old-fashioned dash churn may still
salt their butter in the brine in the
new mode in the following manner:
Get n fruit strainer; set it over the
cream crock; when the butter is in the
granular form dip it out of the churn
into the strainer. The buttermiilS will
run through the strainer, and a little
sweet milk will rinse it. Then rinse
the churn, return the butter, add the
brine and you have your brine-salted
butter just as good as anybody's, and
without patent churn.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
A BRIGHT Kctort.

An Austrian Princess once asked
the Duke of Wellington: GLOW is it
that we in Vienna speak French so
much better than you English?" To
which the Duke replied: "Well, Prin-
cess, if Napoleon had twice visited
London with his armies, as he has
Vienna, I have no doubt we should be
much more familiar with the French
language -
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20
To Henovate Black Cloth.

Mix tablespoonful Of oxgall with u
quart of soft water; sponge the material
thoroughly with the mixture and after
ward with clear. water. A weak solu-
ton of ammonia is sometimes used,
but it does not restore the color OF tho
material as we'll as the above.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-04-20

Emergency Advice About Broken lamps.
In case lamp is broken and the oil
spilled and set on fire, or if grease of
any kind becomes ignited, remember
that water thrown on it only spreads
the OIL Smother such flames with
flour or sand OF heavy rug OF piece
of carpet. If apersoa's clothing is on
fire, don't stop for water. Catch mp a
rug, o blanket, an old coat, anything
heavy and of wool (which iguites much
more slowly than cotton), and envelop
the victim. To remember these things
may some day enable you to avoid q
fire or save life.