davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.
Experiments Recently Conducted In
England Reported to Have
Proved Satisfactory.

The application of what is called
wireless telegraphy to practical pur-
poses has made great advances during
the last few months, the British post
office having erected experimental sta
tionS in the Solent, one at Bornemouth,
and the other at Alum bay, in the Isle
of Wight distance of four and a half
miles. Across this distance, and even
further, signals have been sent with
entire success, and communications
were made to vessel cruising about
In the open with equally satisfactory
result. The system under trial was
that of Marconi, and the apparatus at
either end was of relatively simple
character. Its visible portion consist
ed of a mast over 100 feet high. In
side the transmitting station was
powerful induction coil. by means of
which a spark was connected between
two balls. One ball was connected
with the upright wire, the other with
the earth. When spark passes the
wire gives out electrical radiations or
waves in every direction, and some Of
these are caught by corresponding
upright wire at the receiving end. and
transmitted to suitable piece of APP
paratus known as a "coherer." The
coherer is glass tube, into which are
sealed two silver pole pieces, the space
between which contains metal filings,
which are not ordinarily conductors
of electricity. AS soon as current
or discharge reaches them, however,
they set themselves in an end-on po-
sition and become conductors. The
slightest tap disarranges them and
turns them again into nonconductors.
1t may be seen then how by means of
a suitable automatic tapping arrange
ment the coherer can be kept in a
sensitive state for registering inter-
mittent electric signals. These are
developed by an ordinary relay ar
rangement, and are automatically
written down by Morse recorder.
Theoretically there is no reason why,
with vertical wires of suitable length
and sufficiently powerful discharges,
the radiations should not be transmit
ted to very great distance and picked
| up. The experiments so far completed,
however, seem to show that no diff
| Guilty whatever could be experienced
in communicating across the air to a
lighthouse or guardship, where sub
marine cable would be destroyed. Wet
| or foggy weather only improves the
| signals.-N. Y. Times.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11

suddenly cut, is thing as dangerous
were so foolhardy as to cut the His
PAMELA from her anchor, 1 and the
coracle would be knocked clean out of
the water.
This brought me to full stop. and
if fortune had not again particularly
favored me, I should have had to aban-
don my design. But the light airs
which had begun blowing from the
southeast and south had hauled round
after nightfall into the southwest. Just
while 1 was meditating, a puff came,
caught the "Hispaniola" and forced he1'
up into the current; and, to my great
joy, I felt the hawser slacken in my
grasp, and the hand by which held it
dip for a second under water.
With that I made my mind up, took
out my gully, opened it with my teeth,
and cut one strand after another, till
the vessel swung by two. Then 1 lay
quiet, waiting to sever these last when
the strain should be once more light
ened by breath of wind.
All this time I had heard the sound
of loud voices from the cabin; but, to
say truth, my mind had been so en-
tirely taken up with other thoughts
that I had scarcely given ear. Now,
however, when had nothing else to do,
began to pay more heed.
One recognized for the cockswain's,
Israel Hands, that had been Flint's
gunner in former days. The other was,
of course. my friend Of the red night
cap. Both men were plainly the worse
of drink, and they were still drink
ing; for. even while I was listening,
one of them with a drunken cry opened
the stern window and threw out some
thing, which OWNED to be an empty
bottle. But they were not only tipsy:
it was plain that they were furiously
angry. Oaths few like hailstones, and
every now and then there came forth
such an explosion as I thought was sure
to end in blows. But each time the
quarrel passed off, and the voices grum-
crisis came, and. in turn. passed away
without result.
On shore, I could see the glow of the
great campfire burning warmly through
the shore-side trees. Some one was
singing. a dull old droning sailors song.
with . droop and a quaver at the end of
every verse. and seemingly no end to it
at all but the patience of the singer. ]
had heard it on the voyage more than
once, and remembered these words:
But one man OF the crew alive.
What put to sea with seventy-fve.''
And thought it was a ditty rather
too dolefnlly appropriate for company
that had met such cruel losses in the
morning. But indeed. from what I
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
TESTS WITH NAILS.
1t Seems to Make Quite a DineH
ence What Sort of Wood They
Are Driven Into.

A series of interesting tests was re-
Gently made by Prof Frank Soule, OF
the University of California, to ascer-
tain the holding powers of cut and
wire nails. The two kinds of wood
employed in these experiments We're
Douglas spruce and California red
wood. 1t might be supposed that the
qualities of either sort of nails would
be the same whatever the variety of
wood used. Such was not the case.
however. 1t was discovered, for in
stance, that the holding power of
nails increases with redwood, but
diminishes slightly with Douglas
spruce. Again, the cut nail seemed to
have a greater efficiency when driven
into the spruce, while the wire nail
worked best with the redwood. The
latter was the softest wood, but the
lateral pressure of the separated fibers
is greater.
Prof. Soule says that the cut nail
holds better if it has point, but point
! ing the nail increases the tendency to
| split the wood. Cut nails driven with
wedge across the grain are only about
so per cent. as strong as those driven
| with the wedge parallel to the grain.
This fact does not accord with the
practice in driving, probably on &C
count of the greater tendency to split
! the wood. s. nail is three times as
| strong when driven into the side of
| beam-that is. across the grain
as it is driven into the end of it; that
is. parallel to the grain. When mailing
cleats to block the same area of nail
in the wood will hold about the same
stress, whether a few large nails are
used or more small ones. The SUI
periority, if any, is in favor of the
| larger nail.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
ATMOSPHERIC TESTS.
The Effect of Different Degrees OF
Temperature and Humidity on >
the Human Body. =

Some laboratory experiments with
view to determining the effects of
different degrees of atmospheric tenn
perature and humidity on the human
body have recently been conducted by
Robner and Won Lewaschew. The
tests were made in a closed chamber,
| into which air of varying known de-
grees of humidity was admitted. 1t
was found that at low temperature
| (57 to SO degrees) dry air is pleasanter
| than moist; and between IS and 81
| degrees dry air seems cooler than
moist when the change is made from
| one to the other. 1t was decided by
| the German scientists who conducted
| the experiments that the last-named
| temperatures are easily borne if the
air is dry. Visible perspiration was
first noted at $40 degrees, and % per
cent. relative humidity. Moist air zoe
per cent. relative humidity made the
| temperature of 1872 degrees unbear-
able for long time, and the expert
ment was possible only when there
was no muscular movement whatever.
At this temperature and humidity
there was not much perspiration, al
though thirst was felt. While it was
hard to breathe in dry air, the ease
of respiration increased with the in
PRODUCTION of moisture into the at
mosphere- These experiments are in
structive as far as they go. but it has
been pointed out that they take no
account of the movements of the air,
which is an important factor as af-
fecting the sensible temperature, and
the varying amounts of heat lost by
conduction, radiation and evapora-
ton. according to the temperature and
proximity of surrounding objects. are
influences almost entirely absent from
The laboratory.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11

the coracle, and CROPPED my way STUN
blingly out of the hollow where had
supped, there were but two points visi-
BILE on the whole anchorage.
One was the great fire on shore, by
which the defeated pirates lay carous-
ing in the swamp. The other, a mere
blur of light upon the darkness, in
dicated the position of the anchored
ship. She had swung round to the ebb
her bow was now toward me-the
only lights on board were in the cabin;
and what I saw was merely reflection
on the fog of the strong rays that flowed
from the stern window.
The ebb had already run some time.
and had to wade through the long belt
of swampy sand. where 1 sunk several
times above the ankle. before l came to
the edge of the retreating water, and,
wading a little way in, with some
strength and dexterity set my coracle.
keel downward, on the surface.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
DREAMER AND SCHEMER.
Napoleon Thought He Could Win
Glory in Mexico.

Glory in Mexico.
When the Mexican empire was
planned our civil war had been raging
for nearly two years. From the stand
point of the French rulers, the moment
seemed suspicious for France to in
terfere in American affairs. The es-
tablishment Of a great Latin empire.
founded under French protection and
developed in the interest of France,
which must necessarily derive the prin-
cipal benefit of the stupendous wealth
which Mexico held ready to pour into
the lap of French capitalists-of an en-
pire which in the west might put
li:clit to the supremacy of the United
States. as well as cOunterbalance the
British supremacy in the east, thus OPP
posing IL formidable check to the en-
croachments of the Anglo-Saxon race
in the interest of the Latin nations
such was Napoieon's plan, and have
been told by one who was close to the
imperial family at that time that the
emperor himself fondly regarded it as
''the conception of his reign"
Napoleon III. labored under the dis
advantage of reigning beneath the
shadow of a great personality which,
strOve to emulate. But however clever
he may be. man who. anxious to appear
or even to be great. forces fate and
creates impossible situations that he
may act a leading part before the world
is only schemer. This is the key to the
character of Napoleon III. and to his
failures. He looked far away and
dreamed of universal achievements
when at home, at his very door. were
the threatening issues he should have
mastered. The story is told of
him that one evening. at the Tuil-
cries, when the imperial party
were playing games. chance brought
to the emperor the question: What
is your favorite occupation?" to which
he answered.: ITO seek the solution
of unsolvable problems 1t is also re-
lated that in his younger days a fa-
vorite axiom of his was: Follow the
ideas of your time, they carry you
along; struggle against them, they over
come you: proceed them, they support
you" True enough. but only on condi-
ton that you will not mistake the shrill
charms of a few interested courtiers
and spectators for the vioce of your
time, nor imagine that you precede your
generation because you stand alone.
He dreamed of far-away glory and his
flatterers told him his dreams were
ophetic.-Cornelius Stevens, in Cen
fury.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
CHAPTER XIII.
THE EBB-TIDE RUNS.

The coracle-as had ample reason to
know before / was done with her-was
very safe boat for a person of my
height and weight, both buoyant and
clever in seaway; but she was the
most cross-grained, lop-sided craft to
manage. Do as you pleased, she always
made more leeway than anything else,
and turning round and round was the
Eaneuver she was best at. Even Ben
Gum himself has admitted that she was
"queer to handle till you knew her
way"
Certainly I did, not know her way.
She turned in every direction but one,
the one I was bound to go: the most
part of the time wewere broadside on.
and I am very sure / never should have
made the ship at all but for the tide.
By good fortune, paddle as pleased.
the tide was still sweeping me down:
and there lay the ''Hispaniola" right in
! the fair way, hardly to be missed.
First she doomed before me like a
blot of something yet blacker than
| darkness. then her spars and hull be-
gan to take shape, and the next mo-
ment, as it seemed (for the further l
| went the brisker grew the current of
| the ebb), 1 was alongside her hawser,
| and had laid hold.
The hawser was as taut as bow
string-so strong she pulled upon her
anchor. All round the hull, in the
| blackness, the ripping current bulb
| bled and chartered like little noun
tain stream. One cut with my sea
gully and the ''Hispaniola" would SO
humming down the tide.
So far so good; but it next occurred
| to my recollection that a taut hawser
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
Cooking In Old Mexico.

AS all cooking is done with charcoal
and ovens are practically unknown in
private houses very few families bake
bread. The small, hard-crustedl oaves
of French bread are delivered all over
the city in great baskets four feet
across that are carried on the heads
of cargadores. 4 good Mexican cook
relieves the mistress of the house OF
worry and responsibility in manner
that is almost unknown in the United
States. The cook is given so much a
day, and with this amount she VIII
purchase each morning all the Proyi-
sions of the day, including even the
staples that are usually bought in
large quantities in other countries.
On dollar day cook will provide a
very good table for a family of three
or four, and get enough beans and tor
tillas and chile to set the servants
table besides. They can really do bet
ter than their mistresses, because they
can usually drive sharper bargains
with the market men of their own
class. and they have more patience to
haggle over the last penny.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
Sixty AND SIXTEEN.

She coveted birthday ring.
One winter, long ago:
And said. in playful. bantering way:
I'm sweet sixteen, you know.
acquiesced, but half forgot
My promise to the maid
So when at last the ring ] brought.
Twas my birthday instead
She gave me thanks in her sweet way
Kisses. with smiles between.
And said: iii have 1t marked inside,
Just Sixty and Sixteen.
The years have fed in our sad home
Her voice is heard no more;
The sunshine of her happy smile
Falls not within the door.
The others of our household group
Are scattered far and wide;
With chosen mates and little ones
In earthly homes they bide.
But she who wore the birthday ring
In fairer lands, 1 ween.
Untouched by Time, unchanged by earth
She still is sweet sixteen.
Mary A Simpson, in Springfield (Mass-
Republican.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11

there is no protection except the mus
cular walls of the abdomen.
A soiar-plexus blow must, there
fore, be delivered from the front to be
effective, says the New York World.
This nerve center is so intimately
connected with all the automatic
processes of life-heart and lung &C
ton included-that a single blow de-
Hvered On the front of the body and
Immediately opposite it produces in
slant and complete paralysis Or, as
the prize-fghters phrase it, it quits
your man to Sleep"
One single blow delivered there
even though it be not severe blow
knocks out" the man who receives it.
The short way to end a fight is to de-
liver a solar-plexus blow.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
TubercuIo,,, ana r,.h.

French psychologists have discov-
cred that tuberculosis may be COM
municated to fishes, and that it proves
fatal to them quickly. The bacilli used
in the experiments were derived from
human beings. rabbits, hens, and pre-
viously infected fish, tuberculosis
baciIh from fish. however, have little
effect when injected into rabbits and
fowls, owing TO the attenuation of the
power of the germs in the colder blood
OF the fsh-
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
PUDDING CAN'T BURN.
A Recent Invention Which Is Of Parx
ticular Interest to Chefs and
Housewives.

The invention which is illustrated
here is a simple and yet perfectly eff
fectual preventive for articles which
are being boiled from getting burned
by a careless or forgetful cook allow
ing the water to give out, thereby en-
dangering both the boiler and the food
in it. With this stand the damage will
fall solely upon the former Even if
the boiler should become absolutely
dry, the limited amount of conduction
between the wire stand and the bot
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
saw, all these buccaneers were as cal
lous as the sen they sailed on

saw, all these buccaneers were as cal
lous as the sea they sailed on.
At last the breeze came; the schooner
sided and drew nearer in the dark;
/ felt the hawser slacken once more.
and with u good. tough effort cut the
last fibers through
The breeze had but little action on
the coracle. and l was almost instantly
swept against the bows of the His
PAMELA" At the same time the schoon-
er began to turn upon her heel. spin
ming slowly. end for end. across the
current
l wrought like f1end. for expected
every moment to be swamped: and
since 1 found 1 could not push the cor
acle directly off. i now showed straight
astern. At length / was clear of my
dangerous neighbor: and just as 1 gave
the last impulsion. my hands came
across the stern bulwarks. Instantly
grasped it.
Why l should have done so I can
hardly say. 1t was at first mere in
stinct; but once 1 had it in my hands
and found it fast, curiosity began to get
the upper hand, and 1 determined 1
should have one look through the cabin
window.
! pulled in hand over hand on the
| cord. and. when 1 judged myself near
enough, rose at infinite risk to about
half my height, and thus commanded
. the roof and slice of the interior of the
cabin.
BY this time the schooner and her
little consort were gliding pretty swift
~ through the water; indeed, we had
already fetched up level with the camp
| fire. The ship was talking. as sailors
say. loudly, treading the innumerable
i ripples with an incessant weltering
| splash; and until got my eye above the
window sill 1 could not comprehend
| why the Waterman had taken no alarm.
One glance, however. was sufficient;
and it was only one glance that burst
| take from that unsteady skiff. 1t
| showed me Hands and his companion
locked together in deadly wrestle. each
| with a hand upon the others throat.
ITO BE Continued
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
Another Gas Trust,

She-George, dear. don't turn the gas
too low.
He-Why not, sweetheart?
She-Because read in the paper last
week about man who turned the gas
so low that the lack of pressure ex-
tinguished the spark and he was as
phyxiated.
He-Don't be alarmed, darling. Just
feel the muscle of that strong. right
arm; there isn't going to be any lack
of pressure about this spark Chicago
News.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11

tom of the boiler, combined with the
presence of the water in the pudding,
etc, viii prevent the food being
spoiled for a considerable time after
the boiler is irretrievably ruined. The
stands sre made of timed iron wire
and there is no danger of their being
crushed in, or OF their affecting the
food in any way. They are easily
cleaned and present no points or
edges to injure the hands.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
THE SOLAR PLEXUS.
Where and What 1t Is, and Why q Sim
gle Blow Delivered There Set
ties an Encounter.

The solar plexus is a great nerve
center, with nerves radiating in every
direction as indicated in the diagram.
1t lies near the back of the body, but
is not easily vulnerable from the back,
because of rib protection. In front
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
A Hindrance to Courtsh.p.

Mr.. Hilow|I hear that Miss Mum.
whom you call upon so frequently. is
quite wealthy in her own right.
Mr.. Hudson-So hear
Mr.. Hilow-Any membranes?
Mr.. Hudson - A seven-year-old
brother.@Judge.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
Bronze Casting.

what altar Wickwire is He says that
they taught bronze casting at school
when he was boy"
HE is not liar. learned to pitch
pennies at school myself. "-Indianap-
oils journal
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-08-11
Grand Opportunitx.

He-Darling. viii you miss me when
I am away in foreign land?
She-Yes, dear; but you will write to
me often, won't you? What chance it
viii be for me to increase my collection
of foreign stamps!-Tit-Bits.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-19
Notice for Bids.

f,uilic notice is hereby given that the board
81 local Improvements of the city of Rock Isl
ami. and state ~ Illinois. will receive sealed
Din> until O'Clock y. m. OF the srh day of
July. l-se. at which time the laid bids viii b.
opened, or the paving OF Twenty-SiIih street
from the south line Of Fifth avenue to the
north line of Seventh avenue. In accordanre
witb the ordinance passed therefore on the
18th day OF April. 1879 The said ordin apct. and
Tue Specification for the said Improvement are
now on file In tho orcc of the city clerk
The contractor will be paid as follows. In
cash ana bonds bearing Interest at per cent
per annufl- a. specified and provided IA the
ordnance concerning said Improvement BID
VIII be received for the whole of said work
ana all bids shall be accompanied by a check
payable 10 the order OF r. J. Medill a. presi-
dent OF the board Of local Improvements and
ccrtihcd TO by some responsible bank for an
amount not less 10 per cent Of the aggregate
amount " the proposal. Said bids and chec.
board OF local Improvements. and no proposal
VIII be considered unless same be acconpan-
led by such check
The board reserves the right 20 reject any
or all OF said bids. The person or persons 10
whom such contract shall be awarded shall at
once enter into "A bond with said board equal
10 the amount Of the contract with yooo and
spthcient securities To lie approved by the
BOARD conditioned that he or they viii per
form said work according TO the contract and
ordinance. and that ne or they viii pay al
damages occasipned by any delay Or default
Of their.
Dated at Rock Island. Illinois this 18th day
"i July ls". I. MEDILi. JR., president
Y A. PENDEH
HENRY KISsEa
Board of Local improvements