davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-07-14
MUSkRAT TING IN MARYLAND

MOSkRA7 TING IN MARYLAND
A Unique Industry and the People
Who Follow 1t.
Many intere.t ted fur dealers have been
Keeping themselves informed about the
prospect of the winters yield OF musk
rats In lower Maryland. and from the
opening Of the season. limited by law
from Jan. l to April l. their agents
md their way in the fresh water
marshes Of Dorset. where. within an
area OF perhaps ten miles. the industry
ID almost wholly confined
The season was formerly from No.
vember to May. but the little gray
creatures were slaughtered 80 merciless-
~ for their furry coats that sometimes
turn into mink and otter collsrs and
NUTS that legislation became as imper-
alive for them as for the protection Of
the partridge and terrapin. to which
delicacies the muskratter considers the
flesh of his victim in nowise inferior.
This industry is the most unique
phase Of economic life in Maryland,
and the revenue from the skins. flesh
IN ICA / B1cdGc1 lldu IUdt A1OAl
the surrounding wheatfelds.
The yield becomes greater each sea-
son, owing to the protection of the IA is,
and, as the skins bring from 10 to Is
cents. many thousands are annually
hunted and caught.
They are secured in three ways-by
gigs. by snares and by shooting. the
latter mode being supposed to bring the
slaughter up to the level of sport.
The house that the marsh rat builds
for itself is a study for the naturalist in
its perfect adaptability to it's needs,
made by mud and reeds and thatched
over its dome shaped roof. standing two
feet high among the tall grasses. Down
into this many chambered adobe. in
which the rats are domiciled like the
cliff jewellers, the two long. sharp
points of the gig descend and spear five
- SIX Of them o n each prong
The snares are set in the little bitches
about the marshes and catch rats after
the manner of rabbit sharing
The shooting is done mostly at night,
when the rats come out to drink, and
the scene is wild and weird in the ex-
treme
luc l1uShIdbCCIS, IL 1OuS IuDUcI UOOIS
that come up to their thighs, have
torch bearers carrying great sticks Of
lightwood that SEND d flaming glow far
around. They make a peculiar clicking
sound through their teeth that. like the
Pied Piper's music, brings all the won
dering creatures from their hiding
places. and, presto, the guns bang and
send them to rat heaven-cr elsewhesa
for their curiosity.
Neither is this unique industry con-
Gned TO the masculine element of the
marsh lands. Though they have never
heard of the New Testament. there are
among these mighty hunters Of the ro-
dent some champion rat slayers in pet
ticoats and long boots-less OF petit
coats and more Of boots-who can boast
as many trophies in muskrat hides al
their ''men folks.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-07-14

A tiger cat belonging to Farmer Haz-
ard of Herrick. Susquehanna county.
Pa. was strolling out toward the barn
a few days ago. carrying in her teeth
4 piece of meat for her young. A bald
eagle. which had been lowering over
the farm for a week. suddenly descend
ed upon her and whirled her upward in
a rapid vertical flight
The path Of ascent to the eye Of a
spectator watching the scene was clear
ly indicated by loose feathers violently
tossed from the point Of combat. In a
brief time the struggling pair came to
a ~standstill in the sky. The eagles
wings had dropped nov and then. and
he had given plain evidence of pain
and terror. yet not nee had his awful
grip appeared to relax. At length a de-
scent was begun, with a rapidity which
increased every moment. and the two
animals struck the ground at the very
point where they had at first encoun
tered each other. but the eagle was
dead. and the cat. as o 81 she felt
terra frma beneath her feet. shot away
for the barn. still carrying her bit Of
meat.
Investigation proved that the cat had
cut the eagles throat and so lacerated
its breast that its body was literally
laid open. After the death in midair.
however. the cat had been too clever to
relax her hold and thus fall to the
ground. but had let her enemy serve az
q parachute to ease her descent
The cat is none the worse for her
aerial flight and battle.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-07-14
Victims of CellulOia Combs.

A trio of accidents Of the same kind
in three different towns yesterday re-
suited in the scalping of the girls who
were the unfortunate victims. Miss
Sallie Vanmeter. u charming daughter
Of Judge Vanmeter Of Chillicothe. o.
had her hair all burned off while lean
ing owe Il CRATE by her celluloid comb
catching fire She is terribly injured.
At GAINESVILLE. o.. Miss Lulu Moore,
a society girl got too near the CRATE.
Her celluloio comb ignited. and she was
scalped before help could reach her
At Wheeling Miss Mary Conner.
while raking Goa in the CRATE. got toe
near the fire. and her celluloid comb
was ignited. burning her terribly. It
was the second accident of the kind at
Wheeling in . week-Louisyiue Post
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-07-14
Wanted,

At once, a correspondent at Webb,
Glendoria, Swan Lake, Sunny Side,
Sidon, Minter City, Shell Mound, Black
Hawk, IFemmingway, Phillips. Lefore,
Parons and Carrollton for The Common
wealth. The postmaster or assistant
preferred. A liberal offer will be made
the right persons. Address L.. B. 346,
Greenwood, Miss.
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24
FROM Eva PLAmoNDoN.
AUNT JENNIE

DEAR AUNT JENNIE:-As the words
of tnat sweet old song run, D they
miss me at home9'
SIS there a chord in the music.
That's missed when my voice le away
Aud cnOrd in each heart that aWaketh
Regret at my Wearisome stay {"
D ar Aunt J annie, cannot dare to
even hope I've been missed, for there
are go many better and more capable
writer's than I can ever hope to be
who have been making Oar S pcial
Chat so entertaining that surely not
one of you have missed me.
think must take for my favorite
motto "Never put off till tomorrow
what can be done today" for putting
eff till to morrow what should be done
to day, is my ex 3use for being absent
so long. II )Wever, I promise to do
better in the future, and, if I do say 80
myself, my promises are not like pie
crusts, easily broken"
How have enjoyed the Cousirs, Ic'-
ters since last wrot-: they have ali
been so interesting l dared not ept9r
Aunt Jennie's hospitable abode with
my duller mind.
Cousins, how many of you are sorry
to see the green leaves of Summer turn
to brown and gold and slowly fQt5er
to the earthG For my part love the
Autumn OF the year. love the 1ol
pure mornings and the sweet warm
sun Of the afternoons, and I love to
watch the beauCiful brilliant woods
change trt m deepest Crimson to golden
brown, Sgllt:there is something sad in
tt g thought that ere long the woods
which blush so warmly now meath TIE
8 ms passionate B. sses will stand bare
and brown and desolate, shorn OF all
their glowing c0lors "till another year
hae fl 'wn."
And how glad we younger cousins
should b9 that we are not in the au
tumn Of life but in ouUh's springtime
insseao OllTam afraid too many of
is Lightly priz3 our vigorous jOgous
youth-do we Eo17 BIZ if We ara in
and loving, brave aud true,
1yous with the j0yousness of a pure
heart and clear conscience, fearless, in
the knowledge tnat God is alb 3ve US,
and holds US all in the hollow OF His
hand, we can never grow old and faded.
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24
PANSY RE.APPEA AIRS

DEAR AUNT JENNIE: Il did noE mean
to be absent so long, but truly my
head has been absolutely empty and
g Yen now have no subjec5. Bus
vi write a ram bling let er.
/, COO, an IN favor Of 5mDulsorg
education. Something certainly shoul d
b. one for the poor factory children.
What would be best cannot say ::
b Jwever, have plan, which, if put
into practice would at least relieve the
situation, I hink. For fear Of being
called fanatic or dreamer will not
take time to explain j1st now.
Tne schools have opened this fall
with larger attendance that in other
years and this is indeed a good sian
1t we only had better teachers! 70
be candid, not one third of ths school
teachers are capable to teach. T;ev
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24

Miss Blivens, although he may love her
devotedly. Tnis very love would
prompt him to refuse TO place her in
position which he knows would make
her life burden. Thus the marriage
never occurs, and the dainty, sprightly,
spirited young woman goes minated,
for rich young men are the exception
and not for the rule.
Even though a marriagea5le young
man has wealth, as a rule after he
sows large and thriving crop of wild
oats, and decides he had better settle
down, he will prefer a practical girl,
a woman who, in case of necessity,
could take charge Of a household and
tell sugar from salt without outside
help.
We believe girls .hould be educated
just as high as tatir ability to learn,
and that of their par nts to pay for ir.
will admit But in addition TO keeping
their hands soft and white aad their
toilet up to the latest fad, they should
be taught that there Is something else
IN life, a stern, practical side, that
they should be ,miliar with.
IT they marry a man who is able to
keep them from worry and labor. go
much the better, but in case misfortune
overlook the husband, the wife, who
is not com 3etent to aid him at such a
time OF distress, with a willing heart
and practical hand, would be much
better of as an old maid to sit in the
parlor and nurse Maltese cats and
woolly fees.
1t is not the fault of the girls that
the daughters Of so many poor men
are raised to believe life is one endless
holiday, but the fault of over indul-
gent and silly parents who do not take
the proper view Of life and it's attend
ant duties.
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24
TALKING.

The remarks usually made to etran
gers about the weather must be taken
only as preliminary courte sizes, and
when they are over many are embar
raised as to the next topic to be intro
duced. If the stranger has the same
tastes and pursuits there Is no diff
Guilty. Two literary men, two )ldiers,
two physicians, two society women,
can easily make talk To be sure there
is a foolish prejudice iu talking ''shop"
foolish, because talking snop means
talking Of matters that are OF interest
to the speakers and we'll understood
by them. II the tastes are not In com
mon, then it is safe to fall back upon
public events, books, the exhibitions on
view, summer watering PLACES, or
travelling,
For three thousand years women
have been accused Of talking, as if it
were q crime to talk. In all languages
''silence" has been held up to them as
a grace extraordinary; and even with
regard to men there has been a super
stition that great takers were some
how little doers. This world has grown
wiser, lately, and hes become quite
alive to the blessing of people who
have something to say, and who know
how TO say iG n good talking is
not only an accompli hment; IL is also
a moral excellence. How can we like
person who repels all our advances
with yes" and ''no"7 We feelin such
curtness a real want of good will. Our
own good. will is soon frCzon up, and
a sentiment cf resentment follows.
However, though this art seems so
easy, it is not attained without habit
and practice. 1t cannot be taken up
as a resource when we have nothing
else to do. We have to learn to talk,
and it is an accomplishment worth
learning. For conversation is designed
TO be the long lasting, never failing,
amusement Of mankind. 1t is the
pleasure thai begins earliest, outlives
all other pleasures, and through it,
even at the point of death, we signify
10 those who are leaving, the glory OF
cur hopes and the eternity of our lova.
-Se,ect d.
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24
DETERMINING ONES CALLING.
1t Does Not Come Ready Labeled Nor
Does 1t Often Come Unsouaht.

1t Does Not Come Ready Labeled Nor
Does 1t Often Come Unsousht.
Mature does not give the ordin arv
m )rtal specific label OF his calling.
but implan as certain tendencies which
are not so positive as suggestive" is
the position taken by Carrie E Garrett
in a thoughtful article entitled IA
Song Of WORK" in the August Woman's
81 )me Companion. Sometimes the
latent force lies asleep for Yeas until
so nethiug happens to call it for Ii
Aud then, as rule, it is merely q bent,
a bia+, which leads a man on, step by
step gives him as much encourage menS
a. he needs, but does not in is early
ages assume the form OF a positive
vocation. IV see ns co be at Fl .st largely
matter OF faith, eni thus the young
disciple finds it hard to explain to
oSners the inward urging which he
Iee.s toward soma particular vocation;
ano perhaps he ts oolige1 to bear som }
criticism for his reluctant attitude to
zero other, perhaps moro lucrative
'"Hi"ss' Even he hum 4elt will az
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24
Our Social Chat.
AUNT JeNNIR's LETTER.

The boys seem to have deserted US
but think the girls will prove to them
by the letters this week that some
girls can talk entertainingly without
the company OF boys Aud though
Twenty Ole tells US that nine-tentEs
of the girls he knows rather talk OF
love or nonsense than anything else, "
we fad that the girls who write this
week bring in such subj acts only as
spice and devote most of their space to
serious and earnest questions.
Pansy appears in our cirle again this
week. We hope, Parsy, that yCu will
write US your plan for the relief OF the
factory children. The authors OF most
of the schemes that have been OF most
benefit to humanity have been ridi-
culed as fanatics and dreamers but the
world has finally realized the value OF
their plans and adopted them. As
Ella Wheeler Wilcox says;
The world is we'll lost when the world
is wrong,
No matter how men deride you;
For if you are patient and firm and
strong
You will find in time (though the time
be longl
That the world wheels round beside
you.
IF you dare to sail first DER new
thought track,
For a while it will scourge and score
you;
Then, coming abreast with skillful
tack,
1t will clas your hand and slap your
back,
And vow it was there before you"
81 let us have your plan, P Ansy, aud
do not remain away so long again.
Uaa gives us thoughtful and we'll
written letter on the tobacco habit.
Ellen confirms Careless Toms theory
in regard to her change of name, and
thus demolishts the air castles that
some of our circle had built for her.
You are right, Eden, in regard to girls
and boarding schools. No girl can
have too much education If a
girl has desire for an education a
boarding school is the place for her as
soon as she is prepared for it. And as
you say the contact with other girls is
likely to inspire this desire for educa
tion.
Eva Plamondon in response to the
req 1est of 80 many Of our circle, writes
again this week.
It is interesting to note the various
sections of North Carolina represented
Ia our circle. For instance, this week
we have from the E sst y IA, who lives
within few miles Of Pamlico Sound;
from the central and west central,
E len and PAnsy, and from the west,
E "a Piamoudon, whose home is sur
rounded by some Of the Siate's most
beautiful mountain scenery.
AUNT JENNIE.
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24

times feel q sense Of impotence and
despair and have fears that he is on O
false trial. But again the suggestion
the whispers of q mans true vocation
will be heard, and in spite of himself
he picks up the thread and presses on
ward.
If people would seek for thir chill
dren, not that which seems best or
most expedient for them to do, but
that which they can do best, we should
not have so many jaded, joyless work
ers. Some unfortunate child tn are
predestinied to perpetuate the firm
Just as if they were bees or silk worms
born to the family calling. II Johns
father ia an established bird ,fencier,
John is expected to be q bird 'ancier,
too, though he may secretly aspire TO
medicine or cabinet-making. 1t is said
that on the death Of Canova, the Ital
ian sculptor, an Englishman asked his
brother if he meant to carry on the
business Then the old bUgbear gen
tility' often creeps in Gwen in demo
cratic America), and dooms to such
polite caIlings as school teaching, book
keeping, stenography, ard other pen
en1 ink crafts, many girls with Gun
ming fingers and a quick eye for colcr
who were divinely appointed to be
milliners."
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24

may be graduates, but lsckin--.
tical knowledge and utterIv & 10 ptae
govern a school. II anv taaoS SEuaOle b
this department they may io,s tbioS read
too hard on their professiou 'u'0k I 40
know what I am talking ebon. out out "
l kno" from bitter e1p,risn..
disastrous consequences Of e TIE
falling into the hands of a caid'
competent teacher. Several Gag az IL
most important years Of nv VI tie
life we're spent in such school. school,
is not an isolated case as I live Hlo' y
small to "n where the pubic ssboll al N
above the average. 'u'OI R
How many Of the readerso ~ -.
partment have read In Hio Il'' O.. Oe
I think it the grRndest book T'Ipsi'
ever read. When chufcb na,I. lave
follow the teachings of that booL boef'
social problem will have been 90 ~, 'Qe @
Tho Progressive Farmer oro~a Uo,Eea
ter; the issue of Oetober 10th vs., TS'' "
best for some time, though sll ara - nos 'ae
Now that winter will soon be 9sOa S.'
with cold days and long niaht, a''S :.
which to study, let us turn over 's 10
leaf and make the Social Chat tbs b.,, b.s
page in the paper. p,xo, U'''
Rowan County, N. @.
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24
WHY so MANY OLD MAIDS?

A Ncrthern paper, edited by a wo-
man, beWails the fact that there are so
many old old maids and bachelors in
the United States, and the number is
constantly increasing.
The crusty old bachelor who presides
over the society colu mn Of the Austin
Daily Tribune, furnishes a solution to
the question which seems to give the
New E lgland pinster so much anxiety,
in true and homely English as follows:
The dear woman should not be as
tonished. The fact is because Of the
faulty education Of the girls. For in
stance, a father who can barely make
a living for himself and family, edu-
Gates his daughter in such a manner
that she could only be happy as the
wife Of awealty man.
She goes to school aud learns tile
about mathematics and a little about
history, and a great deal about F cench
she aisO learns the piano and can play
and sing delightfully."-.
In parlor, crowded with we'll bred
people, this daughter OF the poor, hard.
working parent is at home She is
brig at, witty, we'll read aud brilliant
conversationalist Her toilet is exq1is
ite, her hands are soft, pink and white
as those OF an in :ant, and she is as fas-
cinating as Venus
She meets the young gentlemen Cf
her native city. Most Of them are
dressed faultlessly and are we'll educa
ted, but as a rule they are dra wing
small salaries. The youCg man falls
In love with the young girl, and she
IN turn reciprocates the tender feeling,
Time rolls on, and the young mtn if
he has an ounce of brain, begins to
figure IN the marriage problem. Hs
soon discovers that his salary for a
month would not pay for the dress
Miss Marye Hortense Blivens wore the
previous evening.
He belives that if he could marry
handsome young woman AMI she
could be content TO begin lie with
him at the bottom round, and work
contentedly towards fortune and |
wealth, that he would reach that posi- |
tion. But he knows full we'll that
'love in a cottage" would never suit
Miss Blivens
So far as practical life is concerned
she is hopelessly ignorant. She never
made pan of biscuits in her life, and
II she should attempt it they could be
used by the navy department. cs e.
NOR piercing projsctiles. 1t would, in
fact, puzzle Miss BIiveus to successfully
boil water in a red hot stove.
SO far as experimenting a household
is concerned, she would be as iguo orant
OF 1t as some public school superin.
tendents are OF ordinary politeness
In fact, her training and education
has fitted her for the position OF a pax
Tor ornament and not for q wife and |
the mother Of IA nily.
It the young man has as much sense
as an alderman he will never marry |
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24

Written for THE FARNERl
ALL is NOT GOLD THAT GLITTERS.

One INNER I went to place OF resort;
E MOI SS SasCy a des 5e tSat nv i fancy had wrought
OF beauty who wanted beau
For romantic, alas is the turn Of my mind,
And my heart is susceptible, too;
So whenever face that is fair do find
am smitten and tempted to woo
that OerlOOked the back yard was assigned
to be mine while l stald
When looked and b9hed how my view was c0nhned
QIite damper my spirits Oelald
There were clothes reorossed all about
Aud there hanging to dry and to air, ,,.
Was enough reveal and place beyond doubt
The makeup" Of one half Of the fair.
My romance got shock at beholding the sight;
And Won Eonld beyopd doubt have resorted to flight
But for something that made me remain
retired one MI with my wind dow wide open
And thinking of leaving next day
When thoughts by strain Oh encnanEnnen were Oroken
By voice that singing lay.
The sweet throat and warbe strains
Must belong to a form that is fair,
And slept amid dreams OF the sottest refralns
From beauty that naught could compare
had now an idea, that to prove true
g voice and form all complete
For voice had heard, and eager to WOO
The fair owner just doubtless WAS sweet
Tie next morning woke n a rapture of love
To behold the fair one of my dream,
When q strain, if borne the wings OF a dove,
Through the window came Warbing again.
I rushed to the window and reached my head out
But alas not thing did see thereabouts
the sights dstressingly real.
I was haunted all lay by those heavenly strains,
And eDdeavored to fod out the source,
But nothing discovered rewardipg my pains
And puzzled to steer the right course.
so downhearted, o my in despair
1t late in the evening went
And ere long there floating the tones of an air
Like tril that angel might vent
With bound to the wind Nv again looked out
Tosee once, the fair form Of living ideal
And there, singing and hanging out clotht all about
-UproN B. GwYl
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24

Ltno youpg man misjU dg } himself
unfortunate, or truly poor, 80 long as
he has the full us3 of his limbs and
faculties, and is substantially free from
debt. Hunger, cold, rags, hard work,
contempt, suspicion, unjust reproach,
are djagreeaole; but debt is il fl 1itelv
wore than them all. And, if it had
pleased God to spare either or all of my
SONS to be the support and sola &c of my
declining years, the lesson which
should have most earnestly sought to
impress upon them is-"Never run into
debit Avoid pecuniary obligations 8
you would pestilence or famine. II
you have but fifty cents and can get
no more for a week, buy peck of corn,
parch it, and live en- it, rather than
owe any man a dollar - OF course. I
know that some men must do business
hat involves risks, and must often
give notes and osner obligations, and I
do not consider him really in debt who
can lay his hand directly on the meaI
Of paying, at some little sacrifi ,e, all
that he owes; speak OF real debt
which involves risk or sacrifice on the
one side, obligation and dependence Oh
the other and [ say, from all such.
let every youth humoly pray GOO Co
preserve him evermore.-Horace
Greeley.
The progressive farmer., 1899-10-24

When CIV. PIugroo was on the stump
last fall, at one place a rather eeedv
individual was specially Cordial.
II don't quite remember you, nv
friend" Mr.. PIngree said.
'Ol, I-yes, you do-made your
shirI n D9troit."
"Ah, yes," said the Governor, and
turning to a distinguished Ssna sor at
his side sei1:
Senator, allow me to introduce
my friel d, Major Shirts, of Desroi I"