davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21

when the tree gets old, they cut it down
and eat it's terminal bud, as we wcl.o
eaulifower.
And the cocoa is but one species Of the
palm tribe growing here almost spon-
taneously, for there are many others,
some of them native to the island.
There is the "gru gru," the seeds Of
which are good for fattening pigs, the
exotic sago and areca palms, from the
first Of which sago and tapioca are
made, while from the second is obtained
the betel nut. The most beautiful Of
the lowland palms is that species SO
often seen in Cuba, called the royal,
but it does not attain such height az
another of the family, the ''oreodoza, .
which frequently reaches $50 feet.
This species also is noted for the favor
Of it's Cabbage, and Notwithstanding
it's size and beauty is often cut down
merely to obtain that bud to boil for
dinner. This cabbage is really the
tip of the tree, which # left to develop
would successively unwrap its folds to
become leaves. It is tender and sweet,
tasting something like boiled chestnut,
and is very welcome addition to bill
of fare. This is oneof the natural prod
ucts which every tramp in Porto Rico
is entitled to if not too lazy to cut down
the tree; but there is still another deli
cacy which surpasses this in favor and
is likewise free to all. This is a grub,
or larva of the palm beetle, which bur-
COWS in the heart of the tree. AS it gets
to be two inches in length and is CORE
spondingly fat, it is most luscious
morsel fried in palm butter, and is
esgerly hunted by the epicurean native
Next to the palms in abundance rank
the bananas. If the latest statistics are
reliable, only 200, oo0, 900 bananas are
annually shipped abroad, but it might
just as we'll be 1000, 600, 900. There is
Jamaica. a sister island to Porto Rico,
q little larger, but with similar soil,
surface and climate \ few years ago
it was languishing in the last stages OF
surfeit from an overproduction Of sugar,
which il could not sell at a price sufs-
cient TO pay for raising it. An enter
prising Yankee from "Bcston way"
went down there, turned the matter
over in his mind and started the people
tc raising bananas. The result has
really been the salvation Of Jamaica.
While the banana likes q rich soil
and will grow on the levels as well as
anywhere it can be cultivated on hill
sides SO steep that no plow can furrow
them and where it would be impossi-
bic to raise sugar cane and other things
with profit. It's sister, the plantain, is
equally prolific, and both will practi-
cally renew themselves each year.
Another friend of the poor man is
the indigenous manioc, which was
found in cultivation by the natives
when Columbus first arrived here in
1893. This is a tuber, which is roasted
and grated, the -four being excellent
when made into cakes something like
the Mexican tortillas, while the juice,
though vizu:ently poisonous in the
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21

crude state, is made innocuous by heat
ing and forms the basis Of the well
known West Indian pepper pot called
tcassareep. And pepper pot, by the way.
consists of whatever kinds Of meat may
te thrown into an earthen vessel from
time to time-chicken, pork and the
odds and ends Of repasts-all of which
are preserved and rendered delicious by
the antiseptic cassareep
Another indigenous product is maize,
CT Indian corn. It may be grown any
where, but the upland regions are its
home, as in Mexico and Central Ameri-
Ca Wheat, oats, barley and other cere-
ais of northern climes do not flourish
here, all -four and meal being imported
from the United States
AS an evidence Of what may be found
in the island in half wild state and
made quickly available for the inexperi-
enced settler it may be mentioned that
ell vegetables grown in our southern
states. as yams, sweet potatoes and
okra, flourish Oranges, lines and lem
ons grow without care and have not
been considered important enough to
merit attention, but soil and climate
combine to produce the choices: varie-
ties Another fruit, held by some to be
the most delicious in the world, is the
pineapple, which is native here, being
still known by its aboriginal name Of
'a.lana. - Then there are numerous
fruits rarely seen i'll the north, as the
nispero, or sapodilla, the guava, which
runs wild wherever old fields are found,
and from which delicious jellyis made;
the aguacate, avocado. sweetsop, sugar
apple, star apple, acajou, Scanadilla,
mango and various kinds of plums and
grapes-in fact, every fruit found IN
subtropic regions. Potatoes will not
grow at lesser elevation than about
1000 feet, but above that altitude they
do we'll. There also may be found field
strawberries, though most small fruits
and berries are not abundant.
Owing to the absence OF frosts and
SHOWS there IS perpetual succession OF
crops, and something may be planted as
well as harvested every week III the
year. FREDERICK "A. OBER-
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
The Rules of the HcAse.

CHOW can I learn the rules Of the
house," asked a newly elected Irish
member Of the late Mr.. Parnell. By
breaking them. was the prompt reply
of the Irish leader, who, as is well
known, spoke from experience on the
point. But few members would care to
adopt that heroic method Of obtaining
the desired knowledge, and their task
in mastering the rules is rendered all
the more difficult by the curious fact
that many Of these regulations are un-
written.
Some will be found in the standing
orders. or permanent rules; but those
that deal with etiquette and decorum
have not been officially recorded any
where, save in a few quaint and obso-
lete regulations to be found in the old
issues of the journals of the house or IN
the minutes Of proceedings taken by
the clerk and published daily during
the session.
For instance, strange rule for the
guidance Of the speaker is set down un-
der the 10Th Of February, 1920, "The
speaker not to move his hat until the
third congee.' - Propriety of carriage in
leaving the chamber is thus enforced,
"Those who 90 out of the house IN a
confused manner before the speaker to
forfeit 10 shillings'' Thisrule is dated
the 18th of November, 1910. Again we
find that on the Esd Of March, 1893,
it was ordered. "No member to take
tobacco into the gallery or to the table
sitting at committees. ''-N1neteenth
Century.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
Must Have Been a Boston Man.

Here is story, says the Kennebec
(Me.) Journal, "they are telling on a.
trolley conductor in the employ of an
eastern Maine company. There being
slight wait, certain member OF the
sex which is not considered eligible for
enlistment and III y therefore be sat on
with impunity got the benefit OF his
ruling passion Here is their converse
tio1:
"The Woman-Are you going to the
Bangor House?
1.-The Conductor-No. madam.
''The Woman-Is this car going to
the Bangor House then:
"The Conductoc-No, madam.
"The Woman-WelI-er-er-is this
the car to take 20 80 to the Bangor
House?
.The Conductor-zt is. madam. It
passes the door.
"She cla,nbered in, ard the villain
smiled Oh.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
4 Great Naval DCel.

Eenceforward-to use Nelson s words
about his own most desperate acction-
There was 30 maueuvering, there was
only downright fighting" and great as
was Jones; unGuestionable merit as a
handler Of ships itwas downright fight
ing endurance of the most extreme and
individual character that won this bat
tie. When thus in contact, the superior
ity of the British eighteens over the
.American twelves, though less than at
distance, was still great, but far
heavier disparity lag in the fabrics Of
the two enemies The Richard was
very old ship, rotten, never meant for
naval use. The Scraps was new, on
her first commission. The fight hitherto
having engaged the port guns Of the
latter, the starboard lower gunports
were still closed, and from the ships
touching could not be opened They
were therefore blown off, and the fight
went OF.
"a novelty in naval combats was
now presented to many witnesses, but
to few admirers, quantity wrote Lieu
tenant Dale, who was in the midst of
the scene below decks. "The rammers
were run into the respective ships to
enable the men to load"-that is, the
slaves of the rammers of one ship en-
tered the ports Of the other as the guns
were being loaded. "We became so
close fore and aft, reported Pearson,
"that the muzzles of our guns touched
each others sides, and even so, by the
testimony of the lieutenant on the lower
gun deck of the Scraps, her guns could
not be fully run out owing to the near
ness of the vessels. Mahan il
Scrifner'S
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21

though native uss the East Indies has
become as gooe; as indigenous here.
Fortunate, too, is this fer the Porto
Ricans, for there IS scarcely q tree that
grows with SO May uses as this for
nan. The cla resident of the island
SENDS out L:s servant FOR u green cocoa
nut as soon as he is awake il: the morn
ing, and after az opening has been made
as large as an old fashioned cent he
pours into the cool water within a
modicum cf gin or native rum and
drinks this conccction as az "eye open
er.:' This water is even better without
the addition of liquor
A small black boy is Usually the cup
bearer, and the agility be displays IN
shining up the cocoanut tree is only
surpassed by his dexterity il clipping
the husk to point and leaving the wa
ter exposed without losing drop.
After that is imbibed he divides the
shell. with q single blow Of his rusty
machete aud chipping spoon from
the iiusk hands both to his master, who
proceeds to scoop cut and devour the
translucent jelly within.
So much for the nut when it is fresh.
AS dried product it is shipped abroad,
chiefly to the United States. to the ex-
tent of some ), 700, coo annually. This
is no criterion of its abundance, for
millions oe nuts go TO waste and mil
lions more are used in the island IN a
green state. TIE cocoa palm IS readily
grown, and, though rather slow in
coming to maturity, can be made a
profitable adjunct to a plantation. 1t
will grow in any soil, 10 matter how
poor; but reaches perfection only at or
near the coast. Icing a true lover o1
salt water. The tropical people have
saying that the cocoa palm will live q
hundred years, will bear a hundred
nuts annually and has a hundred uses
for It's owner. It would be impossible
to enumerate its manifold uses to the
poor people here, for they make culinary
vessels from its nuts, beds and thatch
from its husks and leaves, sieveS from its
inner bark, huts from rude boards into
which it's trunk is sawed, a peculiar
tipple from its flowers, and finally,
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
CROPS OF PORTO RICO.
Planting and Harvesting occss
Every Month Of the Year.
TEE NEED OF AMERICAN ENERGY.
Ehe Table Land Formation of the Island
Makes I. Possible to Raise Nearly Every
Sort Of Vegetable In Addition to the
Tropical Fruits-Eanana Growing.

Porto Rico, except for the prolonga-
tion of its northeastern end, would be
almost parallelogram in outline. AS
it is, it resembles very much fat
'sporker'' with its legs chopped of.
East, west, north, south, its coast lines
run almost as regularly as though pro-
jected by compass. Owing to the gentle
dips of its thousand hills and the vast
depths of soil in its fertile valleys every
portion of this delectable island is cul-
tivable from coast to mountain crests.
While Porto Rico has been of great
value to Spain it is likely to be more
important to the United States, if for
no other reason because of It's nearness.
Such perishable products which rarely
reach US now, as green cocoanuts, etc.,
the raising Of which is profitable, can
be brought to our markets on swift
steamers and Will fnd ready sale.
It is easy enough to generalize and
say this and that may be raised here
and that generous nature brings forth
her fruits spontaneously while indolent
man reclines in a hammock and only
opens his mouth to let them drop into
it. In the main this may be true. Still.
since all men are not vegetarians anc
cannot subsist on fruits alone, it will
probably be found necessary to "hustle"
for a living, here as elsewhere-that is.
IF one desires to live well.
And yet perhaps there is no country
where man can live with less effort
than in this island. Owing to its
mountainous character, rising as it does
70 a height of 5000 or 1000 feet, there
is every variety of climate here as well
as Of vegetation. In order to change
from q climate With mean of 70 de-
grees to one Of 60 or less one merely
climbs mountain. One can change the
summer climate of Florida to that of
Boston or New York by ascending 8
few hundred feet above the coast.
So it is with the vegetation. Along
the coast you find ali that is rank and
tropical, such as the mangroves, with
their very feet in the salt water, over
shaded by cocoa palms that will some
times grow in barren sands. The jungles
are dense, the rivers run through bow
ers of tropical plant& with wild plan
tains, bamboos and gigantic canes over
hanging them. Not all the trees and
productive plants are native here. For
instance, there is the cocoa palm, which
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
& Stone That Grows.

A West Gouldsboro (Me. man tells
a queer story about /; stone that grows.
1t is an egg shaped, tinty looking rock
which he picked up in a cove near his
home over 80 years ago Then 1t
weighed about 12 pounds and from Its
odd shape was kept in the house and on
the doorstep as a curiosity. AS the
years passed the stone increased in size.
Six wears ago it weighed 40 pounds,
and now it tips the scale at IS pounds.
The owrer swears it is the same stone,
and tells likely story, with numer-
Gus witnesses to back him up.-Ex-
change
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
Forgot Something.

Helen and her father and mother
were dining in hotel, and Helen, who
was years old, had never before dined
in a public place.
The waiter was SO attentive and cour-
teous that Helen mother said that he
must be tipped at the end Of the meal.
The word tipped was one Helen had
never heard used except in connection
WITH dump cart on her fathers prem
ises. When they got up to leave the
dining room, she said:
.'Oh, papa, papa! You forgot to
dump the waiter!"-Youth's Compan-
ION
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
us Umbrella

The other evening man was rush
ing through the streets of London hur-
rying to all appointment when a swell
passed in front of him who held mis-
umbrella at a dangerous angle. The
hasty pedestrian pulled the umbrella
away from the swell, and then, step
ping around to him, said in suayest
tone: "Oh, by the way. here's your UNI
brella. l found it III my eye. Pick
Ne UD
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
Both Satisfied.

Hicks-Whceler and Brassey met for
the first time yesterday, and they got
on together famously. They kept up
their talk until late in the evening.
Wicks-What were they talking
about?
Hicks-Bicycles and golf.
Wicks-But Wheeler doesn't know
the first thing about golf.
Hicks-Neither does Brassey know
anything about bicycling. But that
makes no difference. Each kept it up
on his favorits topic without listening
to the other. er.-Boston Transcript.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
THE SULTAN OF SOULOlj
He Was a Philippine Pirate Gea-
GRAFTON After Generation.
SPAIN AND HER BLOODY RULE,
The Islands For Centuries Have Been
Scenes OF Almost Unparalleled Cruelty
and Carnage-Of Three Sieges of Manila
Two Were Successful.

The Philippine islands lie so far away
from any well established route of travel
and their government has been so tyran-
nical and secretive that less is known
about them than Of any other territory
owned by civilized nation. To Spain
is ascribed the credit of having discov-
cred the Philippines, yet the very dis
covery is an immortal evidence of Span
ish perfdy and dishonor. To Chris
topher Columbus by royal decree had
been given the sole right to discover the
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
ANCIENT PHILIPPINE JEWELS.

King Philip the Cruel, signed in 1887
Carefully studied, it throws much light
upon the course Of the administration of
the islands. Thus it prohibited anybody
not legally do1niciled in the colony from
engaging in any trade or profession,
taxed the natives intolerably and dlvid-
ed the tax between the king, the clergy
and the officials. 1t gave almost unlim-
tied power to the ruling classes. The
charter seems to be followed the same
today as when it was signed.
The most eventful incident in the
history of Manila was the cholera
massacre of 1920 The epidemic ran
through Luzon and several other islands
and declmated the population. At the
height of the panic crazy or drunken
SpaniarG startled the mob by the decla-
ration that the disease was due to poison
administered by doctors and imported
by foreigners, who intended to kill all
the residents and then enjoy their prop
ertv The excited mob believed the mad
story, and with the cry, Ito death
With the PRISONERS. began WholeSaie
murder They hunted the doctors and
nurses, killing many with tiendish
cruelty. They then turned upon the
English. American and French mer-
chants, killing these and looting their
houses. Offices and stores. The city was
a carnival OF riot, looting and crime q
week before the authorities could -e-
store law and order.
The epidemic taught a lesson to Ma
Mia The authorities began to care for
the public health They improved the
drainage introduced water and made a
health board This began a new era for
the beautiful capital OF the Philippines
WILLIAM e. S. FAI.ES
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
Well Located.

e-Phrenoloslsts locate benevolence
exactly at the top Of the head.
She-Yes, as far from the pocket
book as possible.-Up to Date.
Her Liquid voice.
"Yo our wife has such q liquid voice, "
said Mr.. +. admiringly to Mr.. I.
YES; that s a pretty good name for
it. replied Mr.. I.
Mr.. F. looked up inquiringly, and
Mr.. L. added Immediately: Don't You
understand: Why. it never dries up
YOU know. London Fun.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
Drunk on Smoking.

Moslen.s are forbidden to drink wines
or spirits, but in TuniS they contrlve to
reach the same ends by smoking prepa
rations Of hemp flowers. The milder
kind is called kif. and if used III moder-
alton has no more effect than wine. but
the concentrated essence, known as
chira, produces lntoxlcatlon as quickly
as raw spirits and leads to celirium
tremeES
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
Good Impulses.

A man should allow none but good
impulses to stir his heart. and be
should keep it free from any evi! that
may beat it down and harden t-Rev.
j d. Hammond.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21
Wealth OF Its Travels.

Miss O!labroa - There's a clever
sculptress down this way. You oughs
to see what she can make out OF butter.
Miss Ritchley Greest-She's good
one II she can make as much on. Of 1t
as my Pa :.les out of oleomarsarlne.
Chicago Tribune
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21

Wisdom to-dsy means comio,, tomorrow
To prove il bur "W hte'' ard use il,
TIE " bite Is Kng-M 3. EaEde sells il.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21

. Se@!a9 ,itchines made new At Rand els
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-09-21

II you wan; voG- mtchine mad new
lr e It to Rand;e
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-25
COTTON MARKETS.

New York. Feb. 24-Cotton dull but
steady; middiing, 6hc. Net receipts, sos
bales; gross. sap bales: exports to the
Continent, 1873 bales: forwarded, 1856 bales:
sales, 600 bales, all spinners; stock, POI, 100
bales.
Total to-day: Net receipts. 1906 bales;
exports to Great Britain S07 bales: to the
Continent, % ,995 bales; stock. 1894 JAP bales.
Consolidated: Net receipts, 12STS4 bales:
exports to Great Britain, 635IS bales: TO
France, 7,07G bales; to the Continent. 50,3li
bales.
Total since September 1st: Net receipts.
7,N6,l12 bales; exports to Great Britain,
2.5O7,ll9 bales: to France, 659,454 bales: to
the Continent. 2050,91S bales.
New York, Feb. 2i.-Cotton futures OPP
ened steady; sales, 7,i00 bales. March,
COB: April. COZ; May. Gil: June, GLIB: July,
Glib; August, GIG: September, GIT: October,
GIG: November, GIG; December. GIG.
Liverpool, Feb. 2l.-A p. m.-Cotton, spot
good business done and prices higher:
the day were 1900 bales, of which 1000
were for speculation and export and m
ciuded 1880 American. Receipts. 1000
bales, including GOO American.
Futures opened quiet, with moderate de-
mand, and closed quiet but steady.
New Orleans, Feb. 2i.-Cotton futures
steady: sales, sc 600 bales. February, nomi-
nal: March. $500 $50; April. 5.G3@5.64: May,
5.G9@5.I0: June, 5.7SG57i: July, h.7SM5.79;
August, 5.S26p5.S3: September. 5.S4dE5:S6; DC
tober 5S5I5.S7: November, 5.S545.S; De-
cembor, 5SSGI5 90
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-25
Ihe avalanche Of Liquidation Was Practl-
calIy Over Ii Half an Hour.
AsO QUICK REC0VERlES WERE MADE
Tho E"r'y slump hanged from 1 to
A'"rl, Point. i'm the STANDARD
shnres and from That to ,,n Ex.
treme Decline ofis Points In Net
ropoltthn street halfway.

New York; Feb. 24.-The slumn In tho
SICK markel this morning was SO sudden
on n a,TteHt mat the trading almost took
H.; IL P5hic condition, but the avalanche of
Mtquldation was practically over in less
si,an haif an: hour. and then there were
some quick recoveries The dullncss and
me recuperative tendency that followed
snoWeu that the determination to let 20
ab, m mdn saqritce. ,had boen quickly
FOUND prices by no means so unrcsisting
us IN the morning. Thetcovering of shorts
NOR TSrked substantial rally before the close
me early slump ranged from to nearly
points In the standard shares, and from
mat W 10 an extreme decline Of IL points
IN Metropol;tan Street Railway In the sINe-
einlties; Rccoveres, though sharp in
some shares were at no time complete in
any stock. The later tone OF The market
SuSSestea +that the carly break at
least encouraged by manipulation, and the
SUBSTANTIAL character of the buyIni, at
ttnat mere were waiting purchasers nnX-
ious to secure stocks at lower level of
prices. But the fact was Obvious. never
theiess, That apprehension over the Cuban
sltuatlon was more acute than at any time
heretofore
London was also large buyer during
the day, Its total purchases being eSti-
mated at 10000 shares, or 100000 shares in
two days. Government bonds We're str,k-
ingly weak, tho declines in tho bid price
being tolk per cent.
Money was higher call loans being made
from G1s 10 8 per cent, and time loans for
sixty days We're made at i per cent, with
quite an advance demand. The calling of
loans i released quite an amount OF Sterl
ing Exchange, which was held as col
lateral. and the eNchang market broke
sharply, demand sterling being quoted at
thrce-quarters Of cent below yesterdays
price at 4.Sl5s. This is near the gold I'M
rcrt point and suggests an available
source of relief for any threatened strin-
gency in the money market.
In tho stock market those securities
which suffered the heaviest declines no.
tably the Grangers, with burlington lead
Ing, and the International stocks, with
Union Pacific Preferred the most acute
sufferer, enjoyed sharp rallies SO that the
range Of l to points outside the special
ties:
The movement in tho bond market was
in sympathy with that in stocks, declines
ranging between and points. Prices
closed somewhat above the low est. Total
sales, S4,025,cG9.