davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24
A Cat Which Had Sense.

Cats do reason, they say, and this
story goes to prove it:
In the mountain districts of Pennsvl-
vania two wrens had built their nests
under the caves of an old farmhouse,
and there they reared a small, interest.
ing family. Among the members of the
farmers household was a white cat, and
when the wrens became so tame that
they used to hop around the piazza in
search Of crumbs, the cat would lie i'm
wait for them, and several times came
within bit of catching the adult birds.
When the famer noticed this, he nun.
iShed the cat. and she finally learned
that It was dangerous to fool with the
wrens. : .:..=,
When the baby wrens grew larger, one
OF them fell out of the nest one day, and
being too weak to run and unable to fly,
lay helpless on the grass. The cat saw
the accident, and ran rapidly to seize the
bird, but seeming to remember the les
son taught her, when she reached thu.
helpless little thing she only touched it
daintily with her paw, and then Law
down and watched it.
8 Presently there came a black and vel
low garden-snake toward the fluttering
birding. The cat was doing, and was
awakened by the fiuttering Of the bird.
instantly she rose, and struck at the rep
tile with her paw. This was an enemy
the snake did not appreciate, but it was
hungry, and, darting forward, attempted
to seize the bird under the very shelter
OF the cats head. Like fash the cat
selzed the snake just back OF the head
and killed s with one bite When the
farmer ha ppened along in the afternoon
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24
THEEvILs OFovER-EDUCATloN
Scholars Must Stand Like Human
Vessels and he Loaded with Facts


Vessels and be Loaded with Facts.
IF your boys tastes are not scholarly
you may make him miserable trying to
force love for learning writes Mrs.
Lew Wallace in the Ladies' Home Jour
nal. "He will go through the books, and
the books will go through him; there is
no assimilation. After ull, what are our
children being educated for? The boys
are to be bread-winners. They must
hurry through and hustle for living
The girls-let us believe it-are the fut-
ure home-makers. The word helpmeet is
obsolete-left behind with the woman
who made Eden Paradise. Constantly
the question is being brought up, Shall
this and that be added to our public
schools? But who asks, Can the schol-
ars endure any moreY They have no
protests nor petition; they must stand
like human vessels ready to be filed to
the brim with mixtures of facts. l plead
for childhood of the soul as we'll as of
the body, for the free air, the blessed
sunshine, the moderate task ended at the
schoolhouse. This night young heads are
leaning against their mothers, tired as
no young things should ever be. and it is
sorrowful sound to hear child wax.
ing from what might be the sunny slum-
Der of light heart beating to healthful
music to ask in troubled voice, DO you
think | can make the pass grade? It is
said that they like to 90 to school. Yes,
and they would like it twice as we'll if
there were half as much to learn. Many
children have l know, but not one who
loved study for its own sake. Compan-
ionship is what lures them. Instead of
wandering up and down the wilderness
of wintry facts, let them loiter while
among the dear illusions. The Happy
Valley of Childhood is but narrow, VIII ere
the golden water babbles to the talking
bird and the singing tree, where the sun
always shines and the years are sum
mers. They who adjust the load that
presses so heavily on the springs of life
have much to account for
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24
A Gold Puzzlo

Experts in gold mining agree that pref
ty much the bottom fact HOW known
about such metal is, briefly, that all orig
NAL pyrites of small grain texture con
tam Ia gold to greater or less extent
TINS, of course, not covering such sec
'ndary large crystal pyritous deposits de.
lived from veins. 1t is not yet known,
however, whether the gold in these pyrites
is in chemical combinat ton with the sui
phide of gold or whether each minute
particle of gold is simply covered with
coating of sulphide of iron-or, finally,
whether such particles are in the metallic
state, but alleged with silver or other
metal, which combines more ri pidly with
sulphur than the gold does, and, conse-
quently, forms a coat of sulphide of sill
yer over the gold. The particles of geld
are so minute and the combinations fol-
low so rapidly during the splitting mp of
these pyrites that the finest instruments
md tests known to chemistry have as
vet been unable to settle this part of the
question to the satisfaction of all CON
:erned--this fact showing how easy it is
to put in a mill that will not save the
IN Ines
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24
FASHIONS FROM PARIS.
Hints of Prevailing Style from Over
the Sea.

the Sea.
Much of the stylish black headgear
this season is relieved by touch or
more of vivid color. Many women are
afraid to venture upon these distinct
shades, and choose those in pale or neu-
trail tints, Il degree of dowdiness being
frequently the result of that timidity. 4
rich orange velvet, judiciously placed,
ably we'll on black hat or bonnet. While
lighter shades on beige, fawn, tan or
pale ecru are thoroughly Intellectual as
a relief to black.
"A vivid red, bright and glowing, coll
trasts admirably, as we all know. with
black, yet many women to whom it
would be strikingly becoming fear to
venture upon it, and affect a compromise
by choosing garnet, mulberry, mahogany,
Or some other sort of dull red: dowdy-
ism, as aforesaid, being the result. A
certain artistic daring, coupled with dis
erection, gives style TO a hat, dress or
other raiment. Lacking this courage
and good taste, many sink all individual
ity Of attire and are content to look like
everybody else in their fear of looking
conspicuous :,
= The short skirts with which some Eng
lishwomen visiting Paris during the past
summer astonished the boulevards are,
it appears, quite out of date. Dame
Fashion has put her veto upon them,
and, having substituted very long skirts
for short ones, DEGREES that we who had
lately been delivered from the thraldom
Of lengthy skirts shall again trail cling
ing dresses after us, at time, too, when
the streets are wet and muddy, which is.
surely, one Of those delightful inconsist-
encies so dear to the feminine mind
The skirts, moreover, are not only long
i'll the back, but at the sides and front
also, and so fearfully and wonderfully
cut that it is as difficult matter to hold
them up as to walk in them. But, then,
needs must when Dame Fashion drives.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24
Keep the Ankles War,,,

A certain woman physician has earned
the gratitude of many of her women "a
irons by emphasizing to them how vital
1T is to the general wellbeing that the
ankles should be kept warm. Many wom-
en- are careful about wearing thick solad
shoes generally, and they are also prompt
to protect their feet in damp or STORMY
weather with rubber overshoes, but they
go about in severe winter with only silk
or Isle thread stockings and light cloth
OF kld TOP boots over their ankles, says
recommended for street wear by the ply
stefan; these, it must be admitted do
not tend to foot daintiness of appearance,
but they prevent colds which settle on
lungs or in the abdomen or throat, and,
more still to be dreaded, neuralgia in the
head, than which nothing quicker brings
about wrinkles in faces that have them
not, or accentuates them in faces that
are already traced with them.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24
Notable Balls and Bathrooms in New
York City,

During a New York season there are
rarely more than two or three large pri-
vate balls. This year two of these elab-
,rate functions occurred within a week
If each other. For the first time in
three years the great ivory and gilt ball
room in the Cornelius Vanderbilt house
was thrown open on the night of Janu-
airy 6, in honor of the recent coming of
tge of Alfred Vanderbilt. Only three
nights later Mrs. Astor gave a ball to
about 400 guests.
: When one says simply "AIrs. Astor,":
If course that means Mrs. John Jacob
the elder. At the time of the young
John Jacobs marriage to Miss Willing
IT Philadelphia, a number of years ago,
there was good deal of newspaper talk
Is to which Mrs. John Jacob was to be
known simply as Mrs. Astor, a title
which is held to imply the leadership
imong the feminine members Of the fam
ly. Proba bly, there was much more con-
ern among tho reporters than there was
the minds of the two women directly
affected. At any rate, the elder Mrs.
Astor retained whatever superior digni-
y may go with the use of the unouali-
led surname.
The Vanderbilt mansion is ideally
;aapted to giving a large dance, but
IrS: 1AStors equipment is almost as
GOOD: Her house and that of her son
re literally under one roof Generally
me is shut off from the other by means
II heavy, doors, which are effectual bar
icrs. When desired, however. not only
an these doors be thrown open. but q
artltlon which ordinarily completely d.
ldes the picture galleries, can be re-
noved. giving ball room of splendid
proportions.
The Astor and the Vanderbilt balls
we're the only really large private ones
which were scheduled for this winter.
ret there are other New York houses
adapted to the same scale of entertain
ments. In most of them. as in the As
tor house. the picture gallery serves as
bathroom too. In the Gerry house,
the gallery and Mr.. Gerry's law library
are thrown together for large dances.
The great New York houses will have
! notable addition to their number when
William &. Whitney shall have compIet-
cd the new home he has planned for his
Invalid wife. 1t is said that the interior
1ttings of the new Whitney house win
be the most beautiful in this country.
Ihe drawing room will be hung with fa
nous old tapestries which are said to
have cost their owner $1,OOO,OOO. They
.ntedate even the Gobelin tapestries.
Naturally: Mrs. Whitneys apartments
VIII be the most perfect in the house,
Their walls will be hung with silk which
costs S:'o a yard. The ceilings have
been brought from France. where they
were painted at a cost of $4,000, The
bathroom is to be fitted with white mar
bic floors. walls, and tub, with goltl-plat.
ed plumblng.-Harper's Bazaar.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24
Pie-Making,

For all kinds Of pastry except raised
crust for meat pies it is necessary to chill
all the ingredients. Pastry flour is pre-
ferred by majority of good cooks; it diff
fers from ordinary mixed or bread -four.
containing more starch and less gluten.
Many grocers think they can call any
flour pastry flour, so it is we'll to know
how to tell it, true pastry flour being us11-
ally little more expensive than other
kinds. It is much whittier than bread
flour; little of it rubbed between the
hands will adhere to the skin like corn
starch; handful tightly squeezed will
retain its compressed shape and show the
imprint of the fingers when the hand is
opened, if thrown against the wall or
a board it. will adhere like snow. =.
Flour which is very dry will give the
best results in bread, cake or pastry.
Where practicable a box3filled with siftsI
-four and tightly covered should be kept
on high shelf near the kitchen fire; us
used it can be reflled from the barrel.
One of the new kitchen Inventions il d
TWENTY-FIVE pound -four bin, which hangs
from the ceiling w q ~ q
Various kinds of shortening are used
for pastry, the most common being lard;
it gives very faky crust, but is not con-
sidered as digcstible as some other kinds
of fat. Where possible use at least half
butter.-The Gentlewon1nr. r., =
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24

her efforts. Today she has no need OF a
physician : services, and she does not ex.
pect to have as long as she faithfully
swallows her three and. four quarts Of
water each ,lav.
It is little strange that the thing
which has made made spring resorts fa-.
NOUS has never been applied to everyday
life. The inyalids who visit those places
drink all the water they can hold, and
think the good results come from some of
its properties. Sheer nonsense! 1t is sim,
ply very pure water taken in such GUAM
titles as to cleanse the whole system and
food every organ. Besides its cleansing
properties, water absorbs effete matter
and carries it through the system, and
the purer the water the greater it's power
of absorption. Diseases of the kidneys
Weld to its power, and liver and stomach
troubles cease to exist. Even rheuma,
tism, local heart troubles, Indigestion and
the numerous other annoying Ills 9th
flesh due to impedel scirculation disap-
pear before the resistiess power ofpienty
Of WAtlr - ~ 81 5s& %SsxsS 70 - * NS
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24
Can Entertain Themselves.

Zone hears a good deal about the new
woman" said Washington woman who
has had long and varied social expert
ence in England and America, "but it
seems to me that the women 1 meet to-
day are very much like the women
knew fifty years ago. There may be
more who are highly educated, or self
supporting; but the well-bred woman
doesn't talk entomology or Greek roots
pretty girl who knows about bugs from
the one who doesn't. The brilliant wom-
an and the attractive girl in society are
very much what they always were, II
fancy. One must get behind the scenes
to recognize the modern wOman's pecu-
liarities. Entomology and a salary may
affect her private life.
but L do notice in society one sign
that women are changed, and I'm de-
l'gh n ed with the change. When I was q
girl the: half-hour or whole hour after
dinner was the abomination Of ,desola-
ton. The men stayed with their wines
and cigars. The women adjourned to
the drawing rooms and manifestly did
penance for their sin. Some Of them
tried to be amiable and kept UP nm III
veteratei conversation. Some were open.
~, frankly bored, and the advent az
the men was hailed with undisguised joy
Iellcl:z& 81
I, "Now. things are altogether different
n n this day and generation: To be sure,
the men often leave the table with the
women, but even when they don't there
is no dull hour for the women Women
are more interested in each other than
they used TO be. or else they are more
interested in themselves. whichever it
is, the. result is the same increased
animation and fluent conversations.
when nrf1hQr - ne z ~, 8
gether nowadays they seem to :. have
most hilarious time, and conversation
never flags for moment. @ suppose 1T
is because. there are more interests iii
the. llves OF women than there were ID
the old days. One doesn't need to talk
jam or servants or children or clothes,
though those staple topics are still hard
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24
\ Brave Deed.

1t hardly seems possible that a girl of
IL should save nearly fifty people from
4 terrible death, yet that is what Grace
Russell did. She is often called the
Grace Darling of Australia; when YOU
have heard her story you will say she
deserves the name. Grace lived with
her parents in Western Australia her
father being one of the first settlers near
the Swan river. She used to help in
miles a day with the cattle, and was as
much at home in the saddle as she was
III the kitchen. Before you can quite
understand what a wonderful work this
glrl did one day, you must remember
that, twenty years ago, the towns in
new settlements i'll Australia were very
far apart and people had often to ride
for miles t. call on their next-door neigh.
Dor. Now. it happened one day in De
off the coast, about eig ht miles from the
Bussells' home. The steamboat sprang
leak, and not being far from land, the
captain tried to steer her in. But it
was OF no avail; she ran aground, and
there she stayed, with the water gradu-
ally flowing into her.
The lifeboat which was on board the
steamer was lowered, but it leaked. too.
and was so difficult to manage that eight
people who had ventured into it were
drowned. So the rest of the crew chung
to the steamer and wondered whether
they could ever be saved. The surf ran
SO wildly that no one could dare to swim
through it, and there was not Il house or
a person in sight. But help was near,
though they knew it not. The girl of 1G
was riding along with native servant.
She caught sight of the vessel in distress,
and turning her horses head toward the
coast, she started at quick gallon.
When she reached the sea, she urged
her horse into the angry surf. She rode
boldly on until she reached the vessel.
With much difficulty she took some of
the children i'll her arms, and put them
before her on the saddle, then, with
women and bigger children clinging to
her dress, she started for the shore, gave
those she had rescued to the care of the
native and returned once more to the
wreck. SO she went backward and for
ward for four hours till all were safe on
land, the servant having ridden to bring
out the last man. Tired and wet as the
girl was she had still something more to
DO. Those forty-eight people whom she
had rescued must have food and protec-
ton of some sort before night came on.
50 Grace rode home for help, but by the
time she had gone the eight miles. she
was so worn out herself that she faint
ed, and it was some time before she
could tell what had happened. Her mar
rled sister started off at once with food
ana wraps for the shipwrecked people,
ana the next day they We're all taken to
Mr.. BusselPs home.
Grace well deserved the medal of the
Royal Humane society, which was pre-
scented to her on the 9Th of January,
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24

he found the cat crouching in the grass
sheitering the bird, and ten feet away
was the dead snake. This made it clear
that the cat had carried the bird away
from the snake. The young adyenturer
was soon restored to its anxious parents.
Princesses Treated Like Pet Monkeys.
The "Three Little Spanish Prncesses'
OF several centuries ago, of whom Isabel
NJ. McDongall writes in the ST. Nicholas.
seem to have had IA rather tiresomc time
Of II, even If the great Valesquez did
paint their portraits. There were almost
no fairy tales or story books. Spanish
princesses did not read much in those
days. There were no such things as jol-
ly games, or even informal walks, or
spending the day at other girls houses.
Maria Theresas principal exercise was
in those very dances and reyerential
bendings. Her principal entertainment
was in the uncouth antics Of court fools
and dwarfs. Fools or testers, used to be
kept at every court to make jokes, and
the Spanish court kept more OF them
than any other-perhaps because it was
the grayest. Dwarfs, idiots, and de-.
formed persons were also brought there in
large numbers. Many of them, accord
ing to their portraits, were hideous, and
many looked ill-tempered and unhappy.
which is hardly to be wondered at in hui
man beings treated like pet monkeys. 1t
seems to us nowadays a strange taste
that surrounded children of high rank
with such unfortunate creatures.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24
About Calls.

A first call is made on the newcomer
by the older resident without waiting
for the formality Of an introduction.
1t is returned within ten days. If the
acquaintance proves undesirable, it may
cease after the first interchange of Wis
it's.
The fashionable calling hour for la
dies is from IL to ~ and from to 5.
For men, from 8 to 10 when the day is
occupied. -, = !.
A formal or first call lasts fifteen min
utes, friendly call twice as long.
A man must ask permission before he
may call, or bear letter of introduction
from another city. =. ~
An invitation to any entertainment,
whether accepted Or not, necessitates
call from the recipient within month.
Calls should be made on the hostess
day, If she have one. - - ' ~>
The guests of a dinner call upon their
hostess within week. :
a bride does not call upon her friends
until they have called upon her after
the wedding reception.
3 Persons in mourning receive, but do
not return, calls during the first year
after their bereavement. u : - : Il
Calls of congratulation- are. made on
the young mother, the fancee or d friend
to whom unexpected joy or success have
@colne.-The Ladies' World.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24
Dinner Parties.

Dinner parties in New York and Lon
don are very different, says the New
York Sun. Here the tendency becomes
more and more pronounced to restrict
them to people on the same level of
opulence. Here the brilliant talker has
no established place. In London, on the
contrary, well-bred. brilliant takers are
eagerly sought for and welcomed with
enthusiasm at dinners. Modern Lon
don, however, is so large and society is
broken I'D into so many cliques that
little or no opportunity occurs for gather
ing at one dinner table all the men who
are most distinguished for culture, for
wit and for the other qualifications that
make conversation brilliant, Instructive
and entertaining. The social conditions
which enabled Lord and Lady Holland,
sixty years ago, to gather about their
table at one time all the brilliant takers
of the period, have passed away. They
now meet at the eating functions of the
great dining societies Of London. These
are by no means modern creations; many
Of them were established in the last cen
porous existence. An article in recent
issue of the Edinburgh Review under the
title, of Dining Societies of London"
gives some account of these organiza-
tions. The oldest of them is the Dilet-
tante society; it antedates the year 1741.
Its membership comprises some Of the
most distinguished men of the time. Its
dinners occur every Sunday, and at them
the respectable and respected members
take neither themselves nor anybody Sc
riously, but for few hours play the fool.
Among other dining societies are The
Club, Nobody's club, the Literary society
and Grillion's club. Their purpose is
astronomical and intellectual. Some of
them have permanent presidents who
regularly preside at the dinners, others
select at each of their meetings a men,.
Der who occupies the chair. Their finan-
cial affairs are managed by a secretary,
who is permanent official. The week
~ dinner at Grillion's club is I, gather
ing of the Leading members of each of
the, great political parties. On these
occasions politics are treated in spirit
of unrestrained banter. Membership to
these societies is obviously very restrict
ed. Expansion in that particular would
be fatal to their existence. They are
not housed under their own roofs, but
meet ct some designated place for week
~ dinners. - Women are not admitted
to these functions. These societies col
lect. periodically ut their, tables many
Of the most agreeable takers of the day.
It is asserted that no one can appreciate
what conversation in London is who has
not had the privilege OF attending one
or more Of these gatherings. .tt =
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-02-24

s = Gossip for the Ladies II

LOyersa n

a& hs~ % Lover's Day. -
Cold rain sweeps the glistening pane,
Winds ore sobblng In the vines,
Yet today birds mate again,
And sweethearts send valentines,
oh that were but bird! ~ IL
And Il bird, oh that she were!
SWeeter song was never heard
Than I'd gaiiy sing to her.
s9 N,tS,1, Dear come me share my nest!
We're / robin with red breast, .,.-
And fair Jenny Redbreast she. 5r
What? Should not man be brave -
s AS these feathered swains? As free
With strong heart, to seek, and have?
y Nay, alas!, For look ut me
Hating here, with yearnings vain,
s Ger these tame half-tinished lines!
Though today birds mate again. F.
And sweethearts send valentines,
a Madeline s. Bridges.