davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14

The Germans We're the first to estab.
fish military pigeon lofts. The larger
fortresses, like Metz. Cologne and
Strasburg, each have from 400 to 600
birds. Complete registers are kept Of
the birds, so that the commandant
knows not only the genealogy, but ex.
actly what each bird is capable of do
ing. AT the present time every part OF
the empire of Germany is in communi.
cation with the capital by means OF
pigeons. In France there is also a
pigeon courier system, aud $4,000 a
year is appropriated to support the
birds. The military authorities have
authority to make requisition on all
lofts Of trained pigeons belonging Ia
private persons, and census is regu-
larly made Of their number. Russia
has recently voted sum OF $c0, 900 for
the maintenance Of military pigeon
lofts, II being the purpose to use the
birds on the Indian frontier. Austria
is also establishing pigeon post, chief.
" for use In the mountain districts,
England evidently sets small value on
the birds as warlike aids, chiefly for the
reason that no one In Great Britain be-
lieyes for . moment that foreign foe
con ever run the gauntlet Of the great
English fleet. and set foot on English
ground. Golden Days.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14

ICE HOUSE IN CORNER OF BARN.
than the source from which it is taken.
II it be used for cooling purposes only,
the ice taken from any reasonably clear
stream or pond can be made available.
Where two or more farmers live within
short distance of each other, the CO.
operative plan of building an icehouse
sufficiently large for all, will be found
cheaper and more advantageous than
building singly.
The accompanying cut gives an idea
.sor an ice house in barn, and few
hints OF ssssii2ts necessary to be observed
in it's. constructions, .cv VIII DE use
full: For these hints we are ifraa9n 1tt"dd
to an article in the report of the Kan
sas state board of agriculture, 1896. On
a farm with a dairy of ten cows, the
consumption, including a supply for
household use would amount to about
800 pounds daily; the shrinkage
amounts to 40 per cent. on an average;
and the period during which ice is nee.
essary in ordinary years, about 1870 days
This will necessitate a supply of IS tons
Of ice, to store which space of IL feet
square and ten feet high will be neces-
sary. If smaller daily supply is re
quired, the size of the space will be
proportionately reduced. In building
an icehouse, the chief points to be con.
sidered are the exclusion of air from
under or around the body of ice: proper
ventilation over the ice, and proper sur
face draining around the icehouse. Any
little crack that admits of the inflow OF
warm air will play havoc with body
OF ice. Hence waterproof paper should
interline the walls, so as to exclude
every possible chance for the admission
of current of air. If there be too
much sawdust placed around ice it is
liable to ferment and develop heat to
such an extent as to melt the ice. -Four
inches of sawdust or chat is sufficient
to place under the ice, and eight inches
is sufficient on the sides of house
with single wall, and four inches in
case of a twin wall.
A twin wall is made by boxing the
studding on both plates and sills, so
that they shall alternate with each
other. Two by six may be used, and
they may be placed two feet apart; ~.
inch boards will answer for plates and
stills. This permits each studding to
project two inches past the center OF
the wall and nreyepts the mir ctrrenf
from setting. The studding must be
papered with waterproof paper and
then ceiled.--Jonrnal of Agriculture.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
OPPOSES TOLL ROADS.


A veteran Michigan farmer, writing
to the Grand Rapids Press, says: Toll
roads do not meet the wants of the
farmer; he wants free roads, not toll
roads, and wants all who use them to
help make them at cost that will not
be buraensome on the farmer. The toll
roads are too costly for the farmer. To
get the products of the farm to market
he now pays enough taxes in the way
of tolls TO pay for the toll roads in five
years at a price they cold be built for
now. Though the tax is paid indirectly,
il is paid Farmers, as a class, are OPP
posed to monopolies, and yet they grant
franchises to toll road companies which
are. on a small scale, greater monopolies
than any of the railroad corporations
of the state.
''These toll roadsare not only public
nuisance, but the owners of them are
the worst tax dodgers of the state, rail-
road corporations not excepted. The
farmers in many parts Of the county
cannot get into the city without being
compelled to pay toll, or else drive a
long distance out of their way, The
farmers wife cannot get into the city
with a small basket of eggs or few
pounds OF butter, without paying toll
almost as much as she receives for what
she has to sell.
The farmer is opposed to high rates of
interest, and il he wanted to borrow
money and the lender charged him Is
per cent. for the use of it, he would de-
cline the offer with indignation, and yet
the same farmer votes franchises to
corporations which make him pay in
directly, but none the less surely, over
IS per cent. on the money he used to
build toll roads for his accommodation,
II the cost of the pnds was figured at
what 1t would cost to build them at the
present time. The railroads
OF the state are required by law to pay
taxes on gross receipts, but the toll
roads only on net receipts. The toll
road lobbyist, when at Lansing, beats
thcrailroad lobbyist two to one. = =
You truly say that II is somewhat sur
prising that the farmers, in view of all
the facts, are not more generally in
favor of system that will give better
roads,"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
sAuT.eve TOWN.


Ho! no! there-ali aboard for ''Shut-Eye-
TOWN.
The brakes are al up. the signals pulled
down;
How slvery and soft the conductors last
note.
AZ over the ear the sweet syllables float:
Bye-lo. bye-io 10 .Shut-Eye-T Town"
Oh. wonderful city is Shut Eye-Town!'
Then haste In your dainty white travelling
gown;
No baskets of luncheon Or wraps Will you
need,
For this trains going through with light
ring-lIke speed.
Bye-lo, bye-lo 10 ''Shut-Eye-Town."
Fairies and brownies are waiting US there.
Jewels and rainbows, and blossoms 80 rare,
Soft summer breezes. and bright singing
birds,
Friends with caresses and sweet. loving
words;
Bye-io, bye-lo to ''Shut-Eye-A own"
Clara J. Denton. in Sur Little ones.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
FARM AND GARDEN.
wAyslpE FRUIT TREES.
German Custom which We should
Follow ExtensiveIy.

fohoW
A friend who recently Travelled
through Germany told me about the
fruit trees that line the wayside in
some parts Of that country. The trees
he most noticed were cherry and pear
trees. These are open to the public
aud the ripened fruit may be gathered
and eaten by the passer-by. but the
breaking of branches or any other dam
age done to the trees is severely pun
ished, if the perpetrator be discovered.
The people, however, feel an interest in
these trees and treat them respectfully
in almost every case.
II seems to me that we should follow
this German custom extensively in this
country. 1t ornaments farm to have
trees growing by the wayside and adds
Ueauty to the country, giving the tray-
r'er welcome shade and putting to
good use land that is otherwise unoccu-
pied. The damage TO crops in adjon-
ng fields is inconsiderable, as the dis
lance from the roadside to the line Of
ltIf growing 'i'ln - d'b"t US iAA a"
the roots OF the trees extend.
II we are going to plant trees along
our roads it costs but little more to
plant apple, pear and cherry trees than
any other kind. Growing in a single
row, as they would, they can be trained
50 as to produce good shade and be
of as much use as any other kind of
trees.
The fruit grown upon these trees
would be clear profit, and if the travel
| iDg public should eat a part of it, we
could well afford to let them have it.
| IL everyone in certain section or
along a certain line Of road would plant
fruit trees there would be so many of
| them that but small portion of the
crop would be taken by the public, and
| the remainder would be left for the use
Of the owner of the land along the
roadside.
There * not>enongh fruit grown in
this country, and if this rdAap.ot road
slde printing were once inaugurated it
would soon become popular, and mil
| lions of fruit trees would be set out
Ind soon furnish such supply of fruit
as this country has never yet enjoyed
In Delaware county o., there is a
village that is shaded by walnut trees,
and the roads that lead away from this
Village have walnut trees along their
sides. In fruitful years there are hun
dreds of bushels of walnuts on these
trees-enough for all the village and
the people about it.
Tree planting is too much neglected
and ii would be well to think seriously
of beginning it more extensively, and
when we do begin we should follow q
definite plan, having it arranged so as
TO produce the best effect and most
profitable results.
Planting fruit or nut trees seems tc
offer both, and as there is but little ad.
ditional cost for the trees over those
more commonly used, do not see any
objection to using them.--Bert Car
roll, in Farmers Voice.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14

Many Washington (Wis.) farmers are
talking seriously of having grain ele-
vator erected at Altoona, unless the
roads leading into Eau Claire are i'm
proved. They claim that they are so
bad that they cannot haul load Of any
size, and are thereby put to great loss
and Inconvenience, according to the
Eau Claire Leader, and the Superior
Ocean says that the roads in Douglas
county are great obstacle TO enter
prise, as a load Of hay. for instance.
must be thrown of and reloaded several
times before II reaches town. These
sections of Wisconsin evidently need at
tention from the Good Roads associa.
tons
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
IRON KETTLE CRANE.

side arms SO that the kettle can be read.
lily tipped and its contents poured out
into pals. These arms could be omitted
by bringing the end support nearer the
kettle, and having the iron ring pivoted
to a cross piece secured to these ends,
This would be more stable arrange
ment, but would not give so free space
for building the fire, although this
would not cause material trouble. The
principle involved will be found very
convenient, however the ring, which
may be made from an old wagon tire,
is supported.--Orange Judd Farmer.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
THIS PARROT HAS A BANK ACCOUNT

Mcdonald, a sister OF the Mrs. Bradford
with whom he finally lived, and whose
heir he now is.
In the Bradford family he became
very great pet. He was especially the
favorite of Mr.. Bradford, upon whose
shoulder he would sit for hours in deep
thought. His conversation was never
q. The Aippant, chattering sort. He
would alwa, 5 speak when spoken tslaI
when occasion seem seemed to make It MS
sary, but he never talke6,,eass- lmoslar-
rots do, simply to hear his owns sa. q
He seemed very fond of Mr.. Bradford,
and for weeks after that gentleman'a
death he mourned.
But after awhile he came to look upon
his sorrow philosophically and began
to show as much attention to Mrs. Brad
ford as he had to her husband.
That Mrs. Bradford was extremely
fond of Polly is shown by the provision
she made for him in her will. The $4,000
is to be invested in mortgages by Mr..
George Fl. Pierce, who is made trustee
by the will. He is to support the parrot
through the rest Of his life. He is
groomcd, fed and bathed with all the
care Of the most priced pet in the world.
He has all the palatable viands in the
market. such as polls eat. For instance,
lie has select assortment of crackers,
well picked nuts. seedless rasins and
cake.-N. Y. World, 'A.s -ssAs
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14

It is a pleasant thing where there is
enough land 10 warrant it to have one
or more high trees short distance
from the house, but not growing close.
ly enough to cause il to be damp BY
excluding air. Such a tree, SO long as il
continues alive and full Of sap, will
make lightning rod unnecessary. The
live tree offers much better mark for
lightning than do the dry walls Of q
building. II will usually conduct 4
stroke Of lightning to the soil without
itself receiving any injury. Probably
where such trees are found near farm
buildings they have many times saved
them from the blast Of lightning. while
the occupants Of the building were un-
aware Of the danger from which they
had escaped.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14

the best cows on the place, valued at
$50 apiece, were dying from poison,
and paris green in great quantities was
found in the managers mixed with bran.
Well, Johnny's father finally mau-
aged to harness up the team and start
for the city with the milk.
Some time after his father had left,
and while Johnny was preparing to
take his ride those employed about the
dairy began to clean the empty cans, as
was customary each morning. On TAX
ing off the strainers they were horror
stricken to find paris green beneath. At
once the awful truth flashed through
their minds--the milk had been pols-
oned. ALI of the customers were in
deadly peril, and must be warned at
once. Perhaps some were already dead.
But how to warn them-there was the
rub. There wasn't another horse on the
place, and every min ute was precious.
1t was while the household WINS in
this terror-stricken condition that
Johnny entered to get his trousers
guards. Now. johnny was only IL
Years old. but he fully realized the
terrible situation. and almost before
the folks knew what he was about he
had run from the house mounted his
wheel and was flvinc down the road In
the direction of the city.
Faster faster he rode nm h;,l and
down. over the level stretches and
through the sand. lust ms hard and fast
a. his sturdy little leus could nush ths
pedals. and with one thought MINER.
most in his mind-to reach h;s fath.r
before he had served a single customsr
Johnny had often been over The route
with Barker, ST., so he knew lust which
c,s+or,.r ,vnrld h. .or,.d e..
How The neonle hanged On tbs;r vo,
IN work that morning n .ee ths ha.lss.
littIe chan Mound madlv over ~. -ornh
cohh,estones, Rut .Tchnnv sow nona
Of their omnzement did not sven .as
the bio noliceman who shouted - Nm
to ston-a mist swan before ~. svas
and his henri l,cnt 30 loud he co,ld h.ar
nothing else win ri, evss r,',.d -
the front wheel. NJ tore f,ercs,v ! ronrS
Tie corners. reonrrlles, - ~ AZ ! - ~
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
JOHNS fIRS1 BICYCLE.
An Absolutely True story OF Ne"
jersey Dairy Farm.

An AUbObutttY -. - wv y
jersey Dairy Farm.
Johnny Bakers father was opposed
to bicycles. Johnny lived out in tie
country on big dairy farm, and longed
very much to possess bike" but his
father had been so annoyed by bad city
boys riding out to his place. stealing his
watermelons and robbing his orchards,
that he had conceived bitter dislike
for wheels and wheelmen in general.
All Johnny's pleadings had utterly
failed to overcome his fathers preju-
dice.
One day Johnny's sick city cousin
came out to the farm on long visit for
the benefit of his health and brought
his bicycle with him, Johnny was de-
lighted, and Immediately took advan-
tage of the long-sought opportunity to
learn to ride. As the weeks went by his
cousins health improved very slowly.
thus Johnny got chance to ride the
wheel great deal himself, and in a
short time became quite proficient in
its use. But finally his uncle came to
take his cousin home. and Johnny felt
very blue when he considered that 1t
would be long time before he would
again have the opportunity to engage
i, the exhilarating pastime.
The u lning his cousin was to go
home JOHNNY got up bright and early
so as to take one long last Esde. Hur'
rying out to the barn to turn the catTS..e;
out to pasture, he found his father
there before him in very angry frame
of mind; and no wonder, for some
enemy had broken into the stable and
barn during the night and wrecked the
wagon, five sets Of harness, buggy,
and everything else he could get his
malicious hands onto. Further exam
ination revealed the fact that three Of
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
PRETTY BAMBOO BRACKETS.

Of an ordinary gas fame. The cane
should be moved backward and. forward
in the fame, pressure beiJg slowly
brought to bear upon 1t until the cane
is bent to the required angle. II should
then be rubbed with a vet cloth until
cool. when II will retain the bsnt shane.
Cane can also be bert without heat
BY first soaking 1t in water for some
hours, and then gradually bending il
70 the required shape.
Nos, 3, s. Sand required no descrip-
tion. Nos. and 10 are corner brackets.
In making Nos. I, q, II great care should
be taken not 70 hurry the bending.
Bend partly, then cool with . wet cloth.
bend again and cool until the propcr
shape is obtained. BY bending too
quickly in fame the cane Is likely 10
be burnt. INC. "
For the yellow caneA ! suggest that I
full-sised drawing b made II the tent
shapes, and the cans II process Of bepd.
ing be put on 70 ths pattern. This =
much easier than bending BY fuess-
work. The brackets look very ereffv
enameled II bronsed, aud sec.ker
pretty idea y 70 dfape them with ~.
gee silk, ribbon - eclored seaweed .
Golden Days.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
DAIRY ICE SUPPLY.
Hsss 20 Construct an Ice House In the
Corner of barn.

Corner of q barn.
The use of ice is absolutely necessary
in summer dairy work; and the extern
sion of the dairy industry is impeded
in many cases by lack of ice for sue
cessful work. The idea that costly
icehouse is requisite for the profitable
storage of ice, is not borne out by those
who have improyised storage at COM
parati,ely trifiing expense. A corner
in the barn can be adapted by any farm
er at all handy with tools, at cost
exceedingly small when compared with
the advantages which liberal sup
ply of ice during the heated season, will
confer.
There are few localities where brook
or stream cannot be temporarily
damned or piece Of adjacent land
flooded so as to afford sufficient depth
for freezing. Where ice is to be used
for any other than cooling or refriger-
aiing purposes the water must, OF
course, be pure, as ice cannot be purer
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14

up-to-da.e racer; and his father was one
day heard to proudly remark that his
johnny was the best rider in all the
country round. II | were 70 givs
Johnny's real name. some Of you boys
and girls would be surprised. for To-
day he 10 one OF the best-known long.
distance riders in America.-A. SUIT
terthwaite, in Chicago Inter Ocean.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
Road s.rfacing MATERIAL.

Here Is scheme for providing
crushed stone ready at hand for surfac-
ing country roads. In many sections Of
the midsile and eastern states. old tot
tering stone walls flank the highway
on either side. Owners would generally
be glad to get rid Of these old walls. Let
traction engine propel the crusher
along the road and furnish power 70 do
the crushing. TIE Old walls 70 provide
the material which y thus left exactly
where II Is needed without the necessity
Of twice handling. American Agri.
culturist. X
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14

1t has been claimed by some that
there is no more loss Of fat in handling
rich milk than in making up medium
or poor milk. The results Of three Year,
experiments at the Ontario agricul.
tural college lead conclusively to the
opinion that the whey from milk rich
in butter-fat contains higher percent
age Of fat than does the whey from
medium or poor milk. Not only \ the
percentage Of fat In the whey higher,
but the loss Of mt originally IN III milk
q greater per 100 pounds Of cured
cheese when made 4rom The rich milk.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
BAMBOO BRACKETS.
Boys Can Produce Quite a Variety al
Small Expense.

The bamboo brackets herewith illus
trated form novel, yet attractive, dec.
Grafton for room, and can be pro-
duced at very little cost. The canes used
are the ordinary yellow garden canes,
three feet nine inches in length, or
thick rattan canes.
Suitable dimensions for No. 1 are:
extreme height. ~ inches; extreme
width, ten inches. The canes should be
neatly halved to form the corners, and
the three cross pieces prepared for ft-
ting in, with half-inch bamboo rasp
(Which is the only special tool re.
quired). The shelf should be about
three inches wide and ten inches long.
Ne. 2: From the triangle, lengths
suggested, IA inches. Two pieces should
then be bent. The bending can be done
BY putting piece Of cane in the fame
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
PARROT CAPITALIST.
This BIRD Has -four ThOusand Uos-
lars In \ Boston Hank.

rh \. R,rd Has -Four THOUSAND Oos-
lars In \ BOstOn Hank.
A poll parrot with bank account q
$4,000 lives in luxury at the Hotel CLAD
stone, Roxbury, Boston. The $4,000 10 .
legacy left him by Mrs. Mary D. Brad
ford. his late mistress. The income is
TO give him all the health, comfort and
delicacies pretty poll might wish. .
He is very interesting bird. with al
the education and refinement that
long life in Boston can give. He came
from Brazil some 25 years ago. an ig-
norant. though beautiful. fellow. and
since then he has never been outside Of
the Hub. His first home was with Mrs.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14

SO long as Americans ore com.
PEELED TO send to France for really good
canned peas, we shall refuse to believe
the stories Of American smartness told
at Fourth Of July celebrations.-Atchi.
son Globe.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14

There are some long haired men
who are not musicians. Washington
Democrat.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-01-14
IRON KETTLE CRANE.

1t Has n Dumping Attachment That
Saves Much Labor.
This iron framework for suspending
a kettle used for boiling food for hogs
and other stock upon the farm is most
convenient. The iron kettle rests in
An iron ring, which is pivoted to the
The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-02

turn to sea, we will have to ride the
reef. If we ride it, we will be caught
by the pirates outside of it," meaning
the Union feet. But at the same time
he gave several fast turns to the wheel,
and the transport swung half way round
and headed for the reef. AS we gained
it there was roaring and kissing
sound and the waves shone with phos-
phorescent light. Soon we were in the
line of sissing, glowing waves One
sudden bump of the vessel, and she had
crossed the reef unhurt and was sailing
in the old Atlantic.
Soon we saw the dim outline of o
swift steamer approaching us from the
larboard side. A challenge came through
trumpet:
"Lay to, or we'll send a shot through
you'll"
Adams rang the engine bell. The ship
soon lost its Roadway and swung idly
in the seas. A few moments later a
Union ensign appeared on deck. After
learning the name and character Of our
ship he informed Adams that he had
been under the guns of Half Moon bat
terry one and half miles above Fort
Fisher. Then be continued:
Il am Ensign - of dispatch boat
No. 2 of the blockading feet. The bal
ance of the transport feet is 20 miles
due east at sea.
Again our engines were started, and
| in short time daylight began to CREEP
over the ocean and we could see the
transport fleet steaming toward land.
Nothing was done with Adams, bu
have always believed he intended t.
beach the Ella Knight under the gum
of Fort Fisher. Eugene Scott in New
| York Commercial Advertiser.