davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
IMPROVED ROADWAY.
fFro,n GoId Roads

seen IN the counting room OF the mer-
chant and on the table Of the artisan.
Moreover. We are all countrymen. The
citizens are always abroad in the land.
Every summer sends thousands of the
town people into the country. Every
day sees the city and village bicyclist
or excursionist by carriage III the most
remote places here he can find road
bed good enough for him.
Ii is easier 10 begin movement or
organize society in the city than IN
the country, but the good roads organi-
cations which may begin in town may
be expected 10 spread everywhere. The
people who use the roads most and who
have the most 10 gain by their improve
ment may be expected to welcome
every movement which will do them
good. Thoughtful people must, on re-
fiection, conclude that something Is
wrong, since in all the advances made
in transportation methods there has
been little or no reform III road trans
portation, which is at the beginning of
all movement of commodities and of
persons.
Railway travel today is greatly i'm
proved over what it was quarter OF a
century ago. Steamship transportation
has been made more luxurious and
cheaper. Yet the average country road
Of today is no better, and in many places
worse, than it was in the days Of our
fathers. We have faster horses; we
have vastly more elegant and comfort
able carriages, but We are content to
work our horses and rack our vehicles
over the same sort Of highway that
served for the old two wheeled cart.
Moreover, there is reason To believe
that the amount Of time and money
spent in keeping up the roads would, if
properly expended. produce better re-
suits than are now obtained. Railways
are built by engineers and experts ac-
cording to well understood systems.
Every improvement that can be- devised
is applied to all the railways as soon as
it satisfies the test Of experience. The
builders Of steam ships do not adhere TO
the old methods day longer than they
are known to be the best, but i'll the
making Of the highway there is as yet
in this country very little attempt TO
Dpply the latest and best methods or TO
utilize the skill Of experts.
Road reform is one of the nee6sof the
day. The mission has nothing sensa-
tional or thrilling about it, but it con-
tains the promise Of large saving in
horses, money and in the tissues OF
men and women. 1t promises cheaper
transportation, increased travel by road,
more life and stir in the country places
and new attraction to rural life.
John IN. B. Sun.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18

"At your request" said the kindly
ritic to the young author, II have read
your book from beginning to end. "
$50 good Of you, returned the young
author. "And now want you to feel
that You can speak frankly and tell me
Just what you think about 1t. | suppose
you saw great deal in II that you
would change IL it were left to you.
moo" replied the kindly critic
thoughtfully ION the whole think l
may say there was very litile."
Really" exclaimed the young au-
thor delightedly. "Do You know l had
an idea you'd tear the whole book to
pieces, figuratively speaking, Of course
I can't tell you how pleased am. But
of course there are some changes that
you would advise relative to the publ
cation II n second edition. What are
they
There's only one that's Of much i'm.
portance, explained the critic
"And that.'' said the young author
inquiringly.
"Why, that's where the hero jumps
from the yacht into the ocean 10 save
the heroine from drowning"
"Is it too thrilling? wouldn't you
have him jump after herr" inquired the
young author anxiously.
mo, it's not too thrilling" was the
reply, land Of course would have him
go in after her; but, you zee, they re
both rescued. wouldn't have that. "
"You-you wouldn't have them res
cued:'
Certainly not. Let them both
drown
"But this happens in the first chap
ter-almost the first thing in the book. "
Precisely. That's just when it ought
to happen. Chicago Post.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
FARM AND pRAueuT HORSES

The bettering OF the horse stock on
the farm, in many important particulars,
Il very noticeable In parts OF the coun-
try, and ss consequence greater de-
gree OF pride and csrets king il bestowed
upon IL, which IL necessarily accom-
panied with more efficiency aud gr,tifi-
cation; well matched plough teams OF
suitable size and weight are now found
on the farms, generally, which do the
work with ease 70 themselves aud COM
fort TO their drivers; such teams have
the strength and endurance TO perform
any labor for which they are called upon
we'll and thoroughly, thereby enabling
the farmer 10 till his land and grow his
crops In an up-to-date, progressive man
ner. An improved class Of horses on the
farm has tendency 10 foster and en-
courage improved methods In managing
the farm, and. all other things being
equal, more abundant crops are raised.
thus adding profits 10 the year; the
farm itself is benefited. and the whole
neighborhood receives an incentive 10 60
and do likewise that IL not possible
through any other means. The force Of
example in such things is very potent !;
puc Wuctt
work OF the season Is done 10 time and
In first-clsss manner, will stir up an
enthusiasm and desire 10 emulate among
the neighbors that is not reached by the
gr.cllturAl press or the farmers insti-
tutes, great and influential as these fac
tors OF advance and progress may be !;
the well-kept, well-msnsged farm Is an
object lesson that will not be ignored,
aud one that is never seen except in con-
nection with good teams, improved i'm
plements and farm machinery. and con-
Quoted under improved methods.
The improved condition OF farm and
other draught horses Is Of course trace
able in the main TO the enterprise and
public spirit Of importers and breeders
Of the various breeds adapted TO the
purpose. Ii is to the extended use OF
the Clydesdale, Percheron, Cleveland
Bay. Shire and other stations Of similar
character, that on farms, the roads aud
in the streets OF the cities, East and West,
are found class Of horses that for eff
cheney, magnificent proportions, general
usefulness and value, was not dreamed
of thirty years ago, and as the years 60
by the Improvement continues TO grow
more and more noticeable and prominent.
These magnificent breeds Of horses
have accomplished great work 10 their
line, and still continue to do so.-Indians
| Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
rT PAYS TO GRIND GRAIN.

In feeding animals, or plants, the more
minutely the food is prepared for assimi-
lation the better Its results. Food for
animals can be prepared for more ready
assimilation by two processes-first, By
grinding; second, by cooking.
For man all our grain used for food,
except oats and cracked wheat, IL ground
and finely pulverized. Then, to make
the products more readily to be as
simulated and TO afford the most nutri-
mcut, IL Is cooked.
So for plant food. The commercial
fertilizers are finely ground and then
treated with acids to make them more
available for plant food. IL would take
years for bones, without mechanical aid,
To become OF service for plant food, and
the phosphate rocks. without such treat
ment, would never give up their fertiliz-
ing ingredients.
La all of our farming operations, II we
would follow more closely nature la the
plants we cultivate and the stock We
feed, We would find II pays. Grass Is
said 10 be the natural food OF our cattle,
sheep snd horses, and the nearer we give
our feeding material the succulent and
easily digestible nature Of grass the
more benefit our stock will receive from
Il.
IL follows, then, that the more minute
ly grain Is prepared by grinding for
stock the more |, will benefit them, re-
gsrdless OF the cost. The loss in corn
by grinding Is the toll, one-eighth or IL
per cent. |, has been demonstrated BY
actual experiment that the saving In
grinding aud cooking will amount TO -
or 80 per cent. Actual experience In
feeding INV hogs shows that they will
consume less meal than corn and fst,en
faster They will eat their slops much
faster, then lie down 10 rest; and As rest
and quiet are necessary conditions for
hogs 10 fatten, they will fa,ten much
faster.
Corn with most farmers is the grain
most used With ouly the difference OF
the toll betse-n meal and corn Ii pays
we'll 10 feed stock, especially hog., on
meal instead OF coru.-Farm and Fire
side
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
ROAD IMPROVEMENT.
HIGHWAY REFORM ONE OF THE
NEEDS OF THE DAY.

A Matter That Jnterests the Townsmsa
- Well - the Fsrmer-Chesper Trans
portstIon Would BeneAt All Glasses.
Good Roads Associations.
The organization Of q good roads as
sociation i'm any city Is q movement to-
ward an important reformation. The
people who live beyond the city limits
have more interest In this matter than
the townspeople, but nearly all do more
or less driving or wheeling, while every
family is interested in the cheap trans
portation of farm produce.
The farmers have more 10 gain by
the Improvement OF highways than any
other large class Of people. Preachers,
doctors, mail drivers and travelling
agents are small classes who individual
ly have large concern in the state Of
the roads, but collectively do not suffer
privations nc all comparable to that
which the farmers endure by reason Of
bad roads.
The produce which the farmer sends
TO market is hauled to town or taken 20
the railroad station over the country
highway. The goods he purchases for
his own use must be conveyed part Of
the distance TO his home over this route.
He drives his family to church, or to
town, or visits the neighbors over such
roads as are provided in his district II
the read is bad one, he can only take
half load when he is carting produce
and can only travel at slow pace when
be drives His toll is increased when ne
works; his pleasure diminished when
he takes his pleasure: his horses suffer;
his wagons and carriages have short
or lifetime than il his district Were pro-
vided with firm and smooth highway.
II might be possible TO compute the ag-
gregate loss 10 the country in time and
property through the bad condition of
the roads of the country. IL would not
be- easy TO estimate the loss of comfort
and pleasure or TO appraise the conse-
quenoes Of loss Of temper and Of health.
The townsman is interested in every
thing that concerns the dweller in the
country II the country suffers, the city
shares the trouble. When it is hard for
the farmer to get 10 market himself, OF
To send his produce there, the effort Is
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
Had Roads to Blar,~.

The Leavenworth Times, in an edi.
torial on the coed roads movement,
says, after speaking Of the Importance
Of good roads TO the farmer and rural.
ist: "In the cities would not the peopls
be healthier, happier, more hopeful,
would not life be sweeter and more re.
fined, il there was a more frequent
habit of seeking the fields and woods
and country villages? Nothing has
weaned people from their love Of the
country so much as bad roads-deep
mire during and after rain, thick dust
the rest Of the time.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
Her Identification.

"There," she said as she finally got
the check properly Endorsed and handed
it to the paying teller, "Pd like to have
the money, please.
The young man scanned 1t carefully
and then looked at her.
"Is there anything wrong with itT'
she inquired apprehensively.
"No, I'm sure it's all right. Only we
have our rules here, and before we can
let you have the money you will have
to be identified. l."
"But the friends I am visiting took
q trip out into the country with my
mother this morning"
"Then you will have to wait till TO-
morr ow."
"But / need the money to do some
shopping with this afternoon.
"I'm very sorry"
"It's absolutely necessary to be tden'
tified?" she asked plaintively.
Absolutely. .
"Well, suppose ! can manage 1t.
Will the bank be open for an hour?
"Yes."
"Then I'll hurry home and put on
my evening gown. It's great deal ol
trouble, but it's the only way, and In
glad happened to think Of It
II don't quite understand"
"Why. have . strawberry mark or
my right shoulder. and everybody WIKI
has read anything at all knows ther'
| isn't any better Identification than
strawberry mark. "-Washington Star
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
The Country Roads.

Yhs pathway Of life may be narrow and steep.
But the road through the country IL steepef.
The pitfalls and snares that beset as are deep.
But the mud that surrounds rs In deeper.
There are fence rails for bridges and mud
holes for drains
And hard heads and bowlders for gravel,
And broken down buggies on hillsides and
plains
Give warning, like ghosts, as we travel
LAnk horses, BY work and abuse broken down,
Care at us from roadside and stable;
Young men reaching wistfully out through
the town
Or seeking its portals when able;
Deserted farmhouses, the fences decaycd
And the breeze through the weed patches
blowing
Where once happy children reioiced - they
played
Hsds and seek when the neid corn was
growing
What Joy for the youth. ~ hts longings expand,
In his life 20 restricted and narrow,
II prospect. mid ell opportunities grand.
~ 70 follow ths pillow and the harrtwi
II. 4. n. Bulletin.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
Worcester, Mass.
New England Farmer.
TAKE Tns soYs MO PARTNERSHIP,

TAKE The BOYS INTO PARTNERSHIP.
A little story was told by a man at
Wabash Institute. A certain boy came
home from school Que night, when he
MAS only eight or ten years old, and told
his fSth,r that Mr.. A. had n nice calf
that be wanted 10 sell for s., and added
II think il is well worth the money"
IL occurred 10 the father during the
night that IL WAS good time TO begin
teaching his BOY business, so In the
morning, when the lad started for school,
he gave him s. and said "l ou may
bring home that calf tonight IL you
think il Is worth the money, but don't
ouy il unless il is" AZ night the son
came with the calf. Father went out TO
see il. We'll, father" says the boy,
what do you think OF it;' at Is worth
all YOU paid, - said the father. And then
the boy seemed 20 grow l-2 inches all
AZ once. Well, the father told him he
should hsve the calf for his own, and TO
put il in with the rest and take care OF IL
himself. And when this animal was sold,
he was helped about investing the money
in other stock, and so they kept on.
when the boy came OF age he had over
5000 in money and team aud wagon
and some tools, all coming from the g.
originally put in his hsnds to start him
in business. He bought farm then and
got married, and is now successful.
prosperous man. This is a true story,
and | think the father msnsged very
wisely, don't yous How very differently
some fathers manage their sons; never
giving them sny kind OF chance, not
even paving them for their services after
they come of age. Dear friends, let Us
be careful and not make any mistakes
along this line.-T. b. Terry III Practical
Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
The Dread of Death.

1t may seem at first sight as II this
universal dread of death in healthy and
normal human beings living under nor
NAL conditions involved certain divine
cruelty. Why should men be tortured
by the dread Of death, since death is in
evitable: Could not God have spared us
that intolerabie and purposeless agony?
That Is not unnatural questioning OF
the rebellious spirit Yet a little reflec.
ton will show that il is very absurd
criticism Of the ways Of God toward
man. Granted that it is the will OF God
that we shall remain on earth and live
our appointed lives there, 1t is essential
that mankind should feel the dread OF
death. Without that dread the world
could hardly remain peopled.
The dread Of death is to the soul
what the law Of gravity is to the body.
1t anchors US to the earth. Without that
dread to weigh US down and keep US to
the globe, half mankind would be driv-
en- by curiosity, by the love Of change,
BY the dread Of ennui, by what Bacon
calls "niceness and safety, to push
open the closed door and see what is
beyond. Children and few very happy
and easily pleased people might perhaps
say they would not explore further and
that they were perfectly content with
things as they are.-London Spectator.
Most Of the canal barges in the south
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
NUMBER 3.
KISSED HER ON A BET.
She Was . Salvation Lsssie; He, Her Hns-
bsnd-TrnyeIing Men Didn't Know That.

She was . Salvation LAssie, He, Her Hns-
bsnd-Traveiing Men Didn't Know That.
A clever trick was worked by Walter
Redmond and his wife at Union station
by which several travelling men were
duped out Of their money. At the end
Of long seat I'm the waiting room was
pretty and modest looking young wo-
mar attired in a Salvation Any uni
form. She was very intent upon pa
per which she was reading and paid lit
tie attention 10 the crowd Of travelling
men standing near her
Aside from the crowd was we'll
dressed young man, who was walking
back and forth by the newsstand puff
ing away at fragrant cigar. Finally a
member Of the crowd Of travelling men
remarked upon the beauty Of the little
Salvation Army worker. All eyes Were
fixed on thee little woman, and she re-
ceiyed many compliments. The prosper
Gus looking young man who mad been
walking near the group of drummers
drew near TO the crowd. He. too, was
struck with the appearance Of the wo-
man.
III give any one Of you fellows Slj
if you kiss that girl, " said he
Those in the crowd took the dare.
one spoke up, however, and said to tho
stranger who had offered the money,
I'm bet you $50 that you can't kiss
her. "
The stranger hesitated for several SEC
onds and then said:
"I'll just take that bet. -
The money WAS put Gp. and the
stranger, who had given his name a.
Walter Redmond, walked over toward
the little woman in uniform. and, after
bowling profoundly, took a seat by her
side.
At first the woman seemed 10 be very
indignant. and the travelling man
thought he had the $50 won a minute
later, however, Redmond's arm stole
around the woman : waist. The sPecta.
tors then began 10 open their eyes wide.
One Of them lid: That fellow has
whole lot Of lLnCence over that girl. IL
may be that he is hypnotist =" Red
mond talked for probably two minutes
and then kissed the woman.
Redmond walked over 10 the stake.
holder and received his money. He then
started from the depot The little wo-
man quickly arose from her seat. aud,
taking his arm, walked to Ninth and
Broadway. where the couple took an
East Broadway car. Redmond Is tall
and handsome. His wife is blond
and is exceptionally pretty. Louisville
Courier Journal
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
eABY's SMOOTH, FAIR SKIN

A Grateful Mother Writes this Letter
Tells all about Her Troubles when
Baby Broke out with Serofula Sores.
AT the age OF two months, my baby
bepsn TO have sores break out on his right
cheek. We used all the external ap-
nl;cst;ons that we could think or hear OF,
70 no avail. The sores spread all over one
s;ds nj his face. We consulted physi-
cian and tried his medicine, and in week
the sore was gone. But to my surprise In
tvo weeks more another scrofulous look
ing sore appeared on baby's arm. II
grew worse and worse, and when he was
three months old, began giving him
Hoods sarssparilia. l also TOOK hooa's
sar.aparilla, and before the hrst bottle
was finished. the sores were well and have
never returned. He is now four years DID,
but be has never had any sign OF those
scrofulous sores since he was cured oy
Hoods ssrsaparilla, for which i feel very
grateful. My boy owes his good health
and smooth, fair skin to this great med
;c;ne., MRS. 8. 8. WRorEF, Farming
49,. n.,.v.,e Get only Hoods.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18

Dean Swift, in his "Drapier's Let.
terr," employs the expression In several
places of rap. applied to base brass and
copper coins. Thus. in bis first letter.
speaking Of the scarcity Of halfpence
and farthings. he states, MANY coun.
terfeits passed about under the name OF
raps" (see volume 4, page So. Falkner's
edition, I735). He also mentions RAYS
more than once in bis third letter. The
rap was well known in Dublin previous
TO the universal circulation Of her majes.
ty's present bronze coinage. Notes end
Queries.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18

II. 4. 4 III. ID. Hammond sold pair
OF grade Durham steers, two years old
last spring, that were 6 feet, 6 and !
inches IN girth and weighed over 24O0
pounds, for sll4.00. Out Of thirty-five
teams hauling ice from ). NJ. Kings
pond last week there were only t~o pair
of oxen, one pair owned by ii. +. 4 II.
ID. Hammond, and the other pair by G..
+. Hammond. these being ali the oxen
in that part Of the town. We think IL
the farmers had raised more steers and
less colts the past few years they would
be better off as fsr as dollars and cents
60. Ox~n are slow but sure on the road +,
but will bring good price almost any
dsy. We have slwsys made prsctice
Of raising pair Of steers every spring
and are satisfied they have paid Us as
good profit as any stock We have kept.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18

Do not be frightened II your cows are
large eaters, for IL is apretty sure indi-
cation that they have something OF value
TO give you in return. All that you can
induce the cow TO eat and digest, above
that needed for support, will go directly
10 nrofit.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
Stone For Highways.

About $50, 900 tons Of broken stone
are needed annually by Massachusetts
to keep 2, 200 miles Of road in good re-
pair. II the roads Of this country ever
equal those of France, 100, 900, 900 tons
will be required each year.-EXchange.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
Mn. Kipli,s.

"I met woman the other day." says
. writer in the Chicago News, who
has met Rudyard Kipling. Not only has
she met him, bat she has broken bread
with him, and che has heard him talk.
asked her what impressed her most
about him. Think Of the man who
wrote The Gsdsbys' and The Seven
seas' and Soldiers Thresi' She said she
was most deeply impressed By the fact
that MrA Kiplins calls him 'Ruddy.
dear"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18

Caller (trying to offer some consola-
tion)-Your husband was quite lead
er in society, was he not?
Widow think he was. He belong
ed to IL Of them. Chicago Tribune.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
CRADLE SONG.

10 sleep the corn Is sinking.
For heavy hangs It's head:
The timid flowers are shrinking
From darkness In their bed.
Tho evening brcezes hockins.
Like gentle angels blest,
Come softly, softly rocking
Tho corn and flowers to rest.
Just a the flowers arc shrinking.
10 timid, too. art thou.
And a. the corn heads sinking.
So mods thy dear head now.
And sornds OF evening wfngtn2.
Like gentle angels blest,
Como round thy cradle. singing
Ny darling ono 10 rest.
-. Edmund Y. CookA
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
woPk. Not Talk.

Talk good times and you will have
them. Talk good roads and you will
have to wait until they come next cen-
tury.-Owego IN. Y. Record.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
Shortening,

Shells it true that marriage shortens
. woman's days?
He-It is in my case. My wife sleeps
all tho morning.-New York Ledger.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18

In Finland women have the right Of
suffrage. They usurp mems privileges
and are carpenters. paper hangers,
bricklayers and slaughtererA
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPRHp rHE PLow "

Correspondence on practical agfcultarsl topic'
is solicited. Address all communication In
tended for this department 10 HKxxN II. HAN
noSp. Agricultural Editor oxford Democrat
Paris. Ne.