davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
THE OLD HUMORISTS.
THE AUTOMATIC CRADLE THAT WAS
STRICTLY NeWFANGLeD.
Early In the Morning lt Began lts ExtrsOr-
dissry Antics How II struek the Major.
Two blows % the Az and the Machine
Wss No More.

Early In the Morning lt Began lts Extrsor-
disary Antics IL struck the Major.
Two Blows es the A. and the Machine
Wss No More.
"well, Cynthia" said Major Schott-
guhn, ~ suppose it's almost time now
to buy a cradle"
"Yes. Philip. suppose IL is"
To tell the truth, the major had been
looking ut cradles for week He had
prowled around all the stores in Four
teenth street and prospected oil the
places in Broadway on his way to the
Office. He saw none Of the old fashion
ed cradles which rock ON rockers. They
were all Of the newfangled kind, with
the bodies suspended on pivots and
swinging between two uprights at the
ends. The only thing the major was in
doubt about was whether he should buy
q plain swinger or q swinRer with q
clockwork attachment, and finally he
decided to buy one with clockwork.
The cradle came home ON Friday
night Il was . very pretty cradle, but
the clockwork was not an ornamental
appendaRe. The machinery was incased
in circular box Of the circumference Of
o cheese box and half the thickness OF
an ordinary cheese. Along with the
cradle came . clock key which was
about the size and shape Of the bed
wrenches they used in the days when
bedsteads were corded and put together
with immense screws. The major wound
up the clockwork. Mra Shottguhn laid
in the baby. and OF went the cradle,
click-click, click-click. click-click.
click
There" said the major. there's q
cradle. Cynthia, that will rock the baby
without taking up your time. All
you've got to do IL TO put In the baby
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
LOCATION OF ROADS.
Highway should Follow Easy Grades
Even ut the Expense Of Distance.

Highway should Follow Easy Grades
Even ut the Expense of Distance.
A serious drawback D. the improve
ment Of many roads Is found in their
location. Originally they were not laid
out at all, but were formed by follow
ing settlers paths from cabin Ia cabin,
or by running along farm lines regard
less OF other considerations, says The
L. A. w. Bulletin. As towns grew NJ
along them and travel increased their
disadvantages became more apparent.
Working them was almost useless, and
the time and energy wasted In hauling
loads over them on account Of poor sur
face and steep grades amounted 10 i'm
mense sums.
In northern New Jersey Morris coun-
ty is an excellent illustration Of this
Before the work OF macadamizing was
begun there General Stone addressed the
fr,eholders on the subject. He found
that many Of the roads ran over bill
after hill. when often they could have
followed the valleys and skirted the
hills with saving of both distance and
grade. One principal road connecting a
village with the county seat, seven
miles distant, and in the same valley.
runs over four great hills.
This township alone be figured "at
the low estimate Of half n ton per acre
carried annually. out and in, and at
the rate Of 81 per ton extra for the
hills. pays a hill tax Of g.. 900 pr year
on its IA. 600 acres. At the same rate
for the other hill townships the total
tax is over sl00, 900 per year"
In such cases the most important
thing TO do is to alter the course Of the
roads or lay out new ones under scien-
tifc direction Opposition to such
changes may he expected at the outset,
but the result will satisfy the most
critical
When points at higher elevation must
be reached, the most economical method
is TO approach them gradually, even at
the expense Of considerably lengthening
the distance. A grade Of one in ten IL
the greatest that should ever be used.
Railroads are carried up steep inclines,
but not by attempting to scale them.
By serpentine lines they travel miles to
reach n higher elevation, though ad-
vancing but n mere trihe. The same
policy should be employed In building
highways
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
AGRICULTURE m The PUBLIC
SchCC-S.

4
ScHcCS.
In looking over q list OF subjects
Taught In primary n advanced schools
OF the present day~ would naturally
conclude hat all the upiis were INTEND,
ed TO become prefsionai men ano
women, az doctors. IA yers, ministers or
college professors sndeschers.
The fsc; that thew, msjo.ity who at
tend the common xCoois must Oh ne-
cessity bshrmers, oeaanics, merehsnts
and ordissry .hee, of wood and
drawers o, water, n'er seems 10 nave
entered the minds ciBosrds oil fducA-
,ion, who have desid aud SIN MAUI
tain the school curric,Gm.
While an 10 favor an education OF
the brosdsst Kind q every man or
woman who can obs II, We, there are
comparatively few " can hope 10 at
tain IL. The tendep, OF the common
schools Is to direct ne minds OF tne
scholars toward l1erure ana the pro-
fessions. and to caus dislike 10 the
commoner walks 81 te. rms very
thing has dome mucA draw the clever
est minds away froo fArm.
The school course iouid De irsmed
for the greatest goo TO the greatest
number. Hence aeriture should be
taught in our schools country ana VII
lage At least.
But instead of sny nstruction upon
subjects most familiar the pupils ana
with which many of tim will be identi-
fed all their lives, theSre taught geom-
etry, xlgebrs, Latin ~ ''reek-
These studies may al right In their
proper PLACES. but o0 children need 10
know something which Ill be OF prscti-
cal every dAy value them. III aer'-
culture and the prsctic side OF farming
such as the mskir OF butter ana
cheese, the maintxinln The fertility of
the land, the diff-rent 'eeds and char
scteristics OF farm aniAls. the growth
OF plSnts-if ;hese sutlis were tsueh,
IL would invest farm i with new In
terest and uplifr the g'ersl sentiment
held in regard 10 it. I, country boys
and girls would be iDbG with pooler
conception Of the avocion OF their Ia
Tiers, and would not C To leave their
country homes 10 seek leir fortunes In
the city. WIS, is need, is text book
upon this subject whi, would cover
the ground aud be ritten In un-
scientific language. le agricultural
papers should sgitate y question, and
continually urge IL upolhe attention OF
the people. When this done great
benefit will follow. VIII, Sill be felt oy
all classes Of the couunity.-G. IL.
Burnett, in Practical FSner.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04

Threc times the baronetcy was offered
to Tcnny son. and ~ many times ho re
fused It Wnen. therefore ono day IN
1883. Mr. Gladstone said to the laure
ate s son that for the sake OF literature
be wished TO ofier his father the higher
distinction OF barony. there was grave
doubt about Its acceptance The only
difficulty which the prime minister
thought tnsurmountable was the posi-
BILE ,nsistencc by Tcnnyson on his right
To wear his wide awake In the house
Of lords Tennyson was 20 well beyond
the mere dattery Of an Offer Of the peer.
age that be took the friendly urgencc OF
Mr. Gladstone with great calmness
and at first was not to be moved fro
his deter mination TO remain plain II,
Tennyson to the end Of his days
He was finally persuaded. however
that rs the foremost representative ri
literature III England he ought not to
put aside q distinction which would
mark the formal recognition Of the place
and function Of literature in tho life OF
q great people Il cannot bat be touch
cd. he wrote to Mr. Gladstone ~,
the tricndliness Of your desire that this
mark Of distinction should be conferred
on myself. and rejoice that you. wiz
have shown such true devotion TO liter.
sture BY pursuing it In the midst OF
what seems to most OF rs overwhelming
and all absorbing business. should be
the tirst thus publicly to proclaim the
position which literature ought to hold
In the worlds work Hamilton W
Mab,e IN Atlantic
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
DIG PORK

Among the many radica langes In
farm management duringthlsst quar-
ter OF century there are + that have
brought the farmer greate'rofit than
that OF marketing pigs st or seven
months old, instead Of heeng them
three times as long. The 81 market
demand st present is for g < fat pigs,
aud they command the high price. II
has been demonstrated o. and over,
time aud sgsin, that the co>per pound
increases with the age OF tn z, and so
IL Il ia the line OF economy push the
pigs from the start and u early.
Probably a ton of pork can ovsde from
pigs six 10 seven months q for one
third less money than from n;ure hogs.
Waldo T. Brown.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
88Hs SOUTH PARIS. MAINE TUESDAY JANUARY 4 1898


An author whose home was In coua.
Try town had planned days outing In
Boston. He intended to transact little
business, see few sights and crown the
day by attending reception given to
James Russell Lowell. He had made
up his mind, after some confederation,
to take his little son with him sr an
early glimpse Of distinguished society.
OF course the small boy, who had never
before been in the city. was delighted.
and in due time the pair sct out
On their return the other members q
the family clustered about them, and ~
they unwound the little fellow from his
heavy furs and mufiiers he was asked
eagerly. "What did you rec In Boston'"
I'VE thaw," came the answer In .
breathless burst, "the anaconda and the
fat woman and the Living Herculethe. !"
They had been 20 museum Of curl.
osities. as well as to an authors recep-
tion. and-according to youthful rules
Of precedence-Mr Lowell naturally
ranked long way after this renowned
trio
Nevertheless the boy bore away two
distinct memories Of the poet. though
in the first 1t Is probable that the Liv-
ing Hercules had his share, having
doubtless suggested the topic OF conver
sation. which was physical strength.
Mr. Lowell had narrated to his open
mouthed. small auditor an anecdote of
. prixefighter who, In danger OF being
run over in u crowded London thorough
fare. had knocked down and killed .
horse with blow between the eyes
His other recollections are Of his own
pleased embarrassment and tho insistent
cordiality OF the poet-so often spoken
of rs overpunctilious and fastidious-
who would shake hands with him. ex.
tending for the purpose hand fault-
lessly gloved In gray kid. which clasped
without reluctance tho child's hesitat-
ing fuzzy paw. clad in woolen nit
ten. sticky with recent molasses candy
Youth Q Companion
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04

About the middle Of Mar or from
four 10 six weeks before the me when
YOU have reason 10 suppo, potatoes
may be planted in the gard briag up
/, pan or box OF seed OF your lest sort,
aud plsee them 10 some darI corner OF
vour pantry or some warm .ose,-not
too warm. but sufficiently 20 start
growth Of sprouts and vii lust light
enough to give them 8 goocolor-snd
le, them stand and germin so far as
as they will under such eorrions.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04

IL Il said that in Greater ew York
there are SOC, 900 horses X for busi-
ness and pleasure. Each OF ese horses
consumes an average OF teipounds of
hsy and twelve pounds OF gin a day.
This calls for Sl2,500 tons hay and
over | .OOO. GOO tons OF grain nually to
feed them. There are only even states
in the Union that singly row hay
enough 10 feed these New l.k horses.
The entire ost crop Of NJ Englsnd
would supply them for o. thirteen
months.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
HER INVITATION.

Werc tho wind. my darling.
And you blushinR flower,
I'd sigh with love forever
And play around Jour bower.
And would come and kiss you
And bring the fragrant shower.
And I would talk In whispers
That you could understand.
And the perfume Of your petals
I'd spread all o'er the land
We're I the wind. my darling,
And you blushing flower.
We're you the wind, 90 wantou,
And I o blushing flower.
You say you'd sigh forever
And play around my bower.
And that you'd come and kiss me.
And hiring the fragrant shower,
And that you'd talk In whispers
Tint could understand,
And the perfumes Of my petals
You'd spread o'cr all the land
Let's play that you're the wind. and
That I'm the blushing flower!
Cleveland Leader.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04

Il Is said that the Dutch have an In.
genious way Of attracting fish They fill
q bottle partly full Of water and then
add wiggling fish and bugs. and after
that sink IL near where the fshhook Is
floating When the fish In the stream
see It. they gather around II TO learn
the meaning and are thus easily caught
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
rie,,oo. Us,s.. rr..,n..s Of tn. Rich.

FIctioo's uaJust Trsatmsst Of the Rich.
A grievance that has been treated
very inJud,ciousiy in many works OF
fiction Ii the relation Of the rich 70 thu
poor Absolutely false ideas as 70 how
the rich get their wealth and what
they do with IL when they get it have
been pcrsistently foa.ed BY novelista for
whom Gas for the journalist) d million
aire Is always fair game II isn not worth
while to expend any sympathy upon
the millionaircs in this matter. as they
can struggle along under considerable
weight Of vituperation. but the rest OF
NJ cannot afford TO be put continually
in Q false attitude toward wealth
Hatred or envy Of the rich is not pleas
ant companion for our leisure hours,
and the poorer we are the less pleasant
company IL Is likely to be II interferes
with our working to the best advantage
and cuts us OF from opportunities Of
accumulating the very wealth that
might ease our pains -Droch in Ladies
Home Journal
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
Cp to Date.

Mamma. said little Freddy ex
citedly. "the ferryboat we were ON al
most ran into another ferryboat while
crossing the river
"Did it, asked mamma anxiously
"Yea. indeed I'm sure there would
have been n collision II the other boat
hsdn back pedaied "-Harpers Ba-
xaF
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04

A Philadelphia housekeeper tells this
story In The Record Of that city: I'VE
bad at Que time in our employ very
green young woman whose nationality
10 typified BY m emblem of the same
verdant color This young woman came
70 n through an intelligence (D Office.
She showed her intelligence On the first
day Of her service in our family She
Was told to 60 out In the yard aud take
down the clothesline. which was
stretched among half dozen posts at
up Tor that paxposa She was at the job
Iw % lnue 3 time that We began to
Wonder whas on earth was the matter
with her. We went out to see What she
was doing, and there We found her
working away vigorously with a spade
She had already dug mp three Of the
posn and bud almost completed the
work on . fourth when we found her.
She didn't stay with M long. "
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
(By your Foreign Correspondent

A PERsEyRRM0 S0N-IN-LAw.-"May
ask what b going on In the villAger'
inquired the obseevant stranger. "We're
celebrating the birthday Of the oldest in-
habitant, sir," replied II native. "She'a
. hundred and one today, sir" "And
tell ne, pray, who ID that littje man with
ths dresdfully sad coantenance who
valks By the old lady's sidsr "That's
her son-ln-laW, sir. He's beeo keeplus
up hsr HE issaranes for ~ last thirty
years." s
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
IN OUR DAILY PATH.

say NOT, "Were that man, or this,
I would create Q world Of bliss
For some one. I would upward I'M
Tho saddest heart, and bring Q gin
And lay it down ~ weary feet.
oh, would live 70 make iife sweet
To such ~ In their sharp distress
Have said, Life IL all bitterncss.'"
whate'er We are. whase'cr our place.
Gods sifSs 70 us-His gifts Of grace
We may with all the suffering share.
TIL faces smile with answered prayer.
Our very presence virtue hath
For those who daily cross our path.
II feyes are kind and hesrts arc true,
We can all blessed, good thinEs do.
We need nos reach out hands afar.
But drop our blessings where we are.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04

Were every farmer 10 select By hand .
s.v ounces OF seed wheat, barley, cats or
rve. heavy and plump. plaas By itself
~ observe the result, we Are sure the
srneriment would lead 70 greater care in
ssIeCtipe all the ed, and bring bstter
vields OF grain. Heavy kesneas wIl
yield uoss in proportion - thelr vslGhe
~ viIl thooo WhlcA are in1ssioe.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04

Prosperity travels on good reads
Bad roads mean dreary isolation for
months every year.
Poor highways are incompatible with
the public welfare.
The vehicle that uses wide tires is
contributing It's share toward better
highways.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04

VHE nAD wi LaOoEs
and start the machinery, and then you
can keep right along with your sewing
or reading"
"Yes, Philip" said Mrs. Schott.
guhn, yes that's very pretty cradle. Z"
And yet somehow she didn't exactly
seem TO like IL.
Early yesterday morning the major
was aroused by tremendous clatter
that sounded like the going of Of a
monster alarm clock. Il was rattlety,
slambang. jangerang. deband, bang.
wbang-
The major was out Of bed in an in
slant to find the watchful Mrs. Schott-
ghun already up and staring horrifed
at the cradle. which was performing
the most extraordinary antics. The
clockwork had got loose somehow In the
night and was going OF at a most
alarming gait, swinging the cradle over
and over. about one complete revolution
o second, round and round and round ON
the pivots with such astounding velocity
that IL held the baby safely glued to the
bottom Of the cradle BY centrifugal
force, reminding the major for one brief
instant Of the great discovery he made
when q small boy that he could keep
water in pail with the pail bottom
up" BY swinging il rapidly over aud
over at the end OF Q string. But even
this brief "Reminiscences was blurred in
his mind by the startling spectacle be.
fore him and the whir.r-r Of the revolv-
ing cradle and the clockwork's slam
bang burr-rr-rang aamde whang jang
jang foppertywhoopty bang bang
"Oh. Philip. stop itl stop it!"
TIE major jumped in eallantly, but
at exactly the wrong moment, and the
cradle struck him square on the fore
bead and laid him sprawling on the
door He was on his feet again In an
instant, but just before he reached the
cradle one Of the pivots gave way. the
end of the cradle broke from the up
right and the baby shot through the air.
followed closely by the alert major. who
caught il safely in his arms rs it rico
cheted from the mantelpiece and an-
swered its morning crow with an exul-
tant shout: "Aha-ai Caught on the
6ewi"
John, where's the ax?'
It was the majors voice. low. but
solemn. He bad crept noiselessly down
stairs and was exploring the cellar.
Here it is." said John. "but ! don't
believe there's much edge ON il. -
Never mind about the edge. John,
said the major. "What IL lacks on the
edge I'll make mp ON the handle" And
he crept up stairs as noiselessly as he
had gone down.
"Wh 'ish!' "Wh' 'ishv'
Two blows Of the NJ were enough 70
send the clockwork flying.
"There, Cynthia, l don't believe We
want any more clockwork In ours. 4"
"No, Philip, we do not And then
the major discovered why she hadn't
exactly liked it-sbe didn't want to
confide to any dumb clockwork the low
ing task Of rocking her own baby, and
she tucked the blanket snugly around
it. laid her hand softly on the rail and
gently swsyed the cradle, singing ~ she
rocked the sweet song that will be fresh
and tuneful long after all the cogged
wheels Of Ysnkeeland are worn out and
kookhless:
Hu.h. my babe, Ne still and slumbsri
Holy angels guard Thy slcepl
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
AMONG THEFARMERS.
'srIID II rIov :"

ccrresgond,aoe on prsssI Agricultural topic
sohcite<. AddresS comnunicanons In
tended forthis depaI rot 20 Hksnl u. HAN
nosp. AricuhurAl s0r Oxford Democrat
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04

;eod,e PllIs =: e; -; :; ! 7:::: !: =;
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-04
MAINE STATE GRANGE.
EXTRACT FROM MASTER wIaGM's Ap-
DRESS.

Worthy Patrons Of the State Graage::
We are assembled In this capital city
OF our state in our twenty-fourth annual
session to take counsel together In re-
gard TO matters which shall be s'for the
good OF the order and Of mankind"
Another year with its hopes and its
fears, It's doubts and disappointments,
It's successes and Its failures, has rolled
Unto the vortex Of forever" since last
we met in this beautiful and commodious
hall.
IL has been year Of varied expert
ences. To some II has brought JOY and
glsdness, to others sorrow and grief.
TO some prosperity, to others adversely.
Yet the Fathers hand has been over us
all aud we should approach the closing
OF the year with thankful hearts and with
cheerful courage for the days to come.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-12-13
entr1
Nos caverton for and from "ren'oa


Traius from Warren:oa
LOCAL. SERVICE.
No for
Rocky
Alexandria 155
D on
Warrno returning arrves Alexandra SOB
No
eturnin Alexandria 1888
p Sundays
Round Hill S29a
|. m da Sunday, nj p NJ Sundays only
SLEEPING SERVICE.
and Southwestern Limited through Sleeping
y@k and Washington augusta with
q York and Tampa
Pullman Richmond
AshevQe Knoxville
Atlanta Dining
Montgomery
and
Salisbury with Pullman
Railway
Yos Limited will be January
Wednesday
FRANKS CANNON A e. MOsS Iicke hge- AleSait
3rd YceP ident len Manager, " AIUhA
J N CULP, TaticM Manager General f:se.eer
Washington D. "tnnsls-
L. BROWN, General Agent Passenger Dept Washington pc
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-12-13
Two Pointed Questions answered.

What is the use of making bet er
article than your competitor if you CAP
get better price for il?
Ans.-As there is no difference in the
price the public will buy only the bet
ter. so that while our profits may be
smaller on a single sale they will be
much greater in the aggregate.
How can you get the public to know
YOUR make is the best?
If both articles are brought promin-
emily before the public both are certain
to be tried and the public will very
quickly pass judgment on them and
use only the better one.
This explains the large sale on Cham
berlain's Cough Remedy. The people
have been using it for years and have
found that it can always be depended
upon. They may occasionally take up
with some fashionable novelty put forth
with exaggerated claims, but are Ger
tain to return to the one remedy that
they know to be reliable, and for
coughs, colds and Group there is moth
ing equal to Cbamberlain's Cough
Remedy. For sale by J. II. Janney,
Druggist, 701 Kiog street.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-12-13
AUCTION SALES.
Ry r. F. Knox Auctioneer
TNRUSTEE% SIZE OF HOUSE AND LOT.

Ry yirtura o. deed of trust executed by
william: Coleman and wife, dated February
2, 1895. and accorded in deed book No. 80,
page 81. the undersigned trustees being
Thereto required by the board Of directors of
the Columbian Building and Loan Associa-
ton of Richmond. Virginia, will expose for
sale ut pubic auction, on
GATURDAY, December oath, 1898,
at ID o'clock noon in front of the Royal
street entrance to the Market Building, in the
city of Alexandria, Virginia. tho following
property I; 10 wit:
ALL THAT LOT OF GRoUND, WITH
MPROYEAIENTS THEREON, situate on
the west side Of st. Asaph street, between
Gibbon and Franklin streets, in the city of
alexendria. Virginia. bounded as follows ::
Beginning On st. ssaph street two hundred
aud one (20D feet south of Giboon street;
thence south on st. Asaph street fifteen (15)
feet; thence west parallel with Gihbon street
one hundred and twenty three 123) foet
five (5) inches; thence north parallel with
ST. hssph street fifteen (15) feet /; thence east
IN straight line to the beginning, together
witt the usc OF -. alley twenty (2O) feet
wide at the west end or said lot.
Terms OF sale: Cash. all conveyancing
at the cost Of the purchaser.
A. W. ARMSTRONG, rrrs+oos
10. LANE STEIN, -iu'''''
dec1O Is