davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
..rhs Heroic Symphony" "

A work of art requires no explanation. But the very title Beethoven gave the ''Heroic Symphony" provokes question, and there have been many endeavors to explain it. Wagner tried less to explain its meaning than to explain it away. Chained to his one idea, he asserted that Beethoven's hero was not a military hero, but young man of complete spir- itual and physical endowment, who passed from mere brute delight ill life and his strength through tragic suffer ing to high spiritual satisfaction in love-that is to say, he asserted that Beethoven's hero was Parsifal or Sieg- fried. Now this much of Wagner's the- ory is true-that Beethoven would not worship mere human butcher any more than he would worship pork butcher as a hero. On the other hand, Beetho- ven's hero was undoubtedly military hero, Napoleon Bonaparte. We know that the symphony was originally dedi- cated to Napoleon, that the dedication was altered when Napoleon Gas Beetho- ven thought turned traitor and became emperor. We know that when the news  of his death came Beethoven casually remarked that he had already composed the music for that event
 Of what parts, then, of Napoleon s career do the first and last two move ments tell? These are questions which can never be answered; and. mere curi osity apart, it so happens that it matters little whether they are answered or not answered so long as they are not an- swered altogether wrongly. For what ever events Beethoven might at any mo- ment have in his mind, he never tried to depict them, but only to communicate the emotion they aroused He himself said as much. It is in the expression of human emotion he is supreme, and to feel alright the emotions of the "Heroic Symphony" we need only have our minds clear of story which Beethoven did not and could not have had in his mind Saturday Review.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
Hiring Farm Hands.

Farm hands should be engaged early in the season. At the present low price for farm produce, fewer hands will be employed this year than usual. The best men engage early. One steady, sober man who understands handling farm machinery is worth engaging a month ahead of time March is usual ly cold and wet, and but little outside farm work can be done, yet there is much that can be done to forward spring work. Manure can be hauled and spread over the timothy meadows if it has not already been done. Lime can be hauled and placed in heaps upon last falls plowed sod for corn. Drains can be made and fences put up or repaired. Some farmers employ single men, engaging them for about six months in the year; the usual wages paid single men are SIP per month and board, which is worth fully as much more. If the farmer has a cot tage on the place, married man can be had for $20 per month, house rent and garden. After a farm experience of some thirty years in employing farm labor, the editor finds it much the best to hire married men, and to employ them by the year. Give the man, if he is good one, permanent place, pay him promptly and treat him as you would want to be treated. This is best for the farmer, and is no more than jus tice to the man. It will pay, and pay handsomely, to do it.-The American.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
The Republican Biz Four.

There is a big four (physically) in the Republican national committee. It is made up of MT. Manley of Maine, Mir. Fessenden of Connecticut, MT. Campbell of Illinois and General Clark son of Iowa. Together they weigh 1900 pounds, MT. Campbell and MT. Fessen- den leading somewhat over Mir. Manley and General Clarkson. There is noth- ing on this earth in the shape of good things to eat and drink that they have not enjoyed. Yet they are considered hardworking men in their profession. They are as active as striplings when there is anything to work for, and at the end of the year they are not behind in the procession. Each lost 50 pounds at Minneapolis in 1899 in his efforts to beat Harrison for arenomination. New York Sun.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
A Smell For a Bite.

Bob had been to the barber shop to have his hair cut. Bob's hair was al- most white, and when it was short, there were grounds for suspicion that nature had not furnished anything for the top of his head but bald spot.
 When Bob took off his hat, the aroma of the barber's long necked bottles filled the air. All the other boys crowded around and sniffed.
 "Here, Bob, let me smell your hair, !" said one.
 At that all the boys wanted to smell Bob's hair. Bob objected and put on his hat. Jimmy Bank, who was eating an apple, stepped up.
 ''I'll give you bite of my apple for a smell" he said.
 ''I'll take you," said Bob.
 So the apple went into Bob's mouth and the smell into Jimmy's nose. Both seemed satisfied.
 And during the forenoon Bob received four peanuts. buckle, two bites more of apple, broken top and horseshoe nail for smells. He would have done a larger business than that only the boys soon smelled all the odor away.-Chica- go Record
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
Tongue TWisters.

A good merrymaking game at an evening party, or, for that matter, at any time, is trying to repeat difficult sentences over and over again. One of the simplest and best of these is "mixed biscuits. Another is ''gig whip" and even worse than that is six thick this tie sticks" Peter Piper fades into in- significance when compared with such jaw breakers. Having mastered them, attempt 'She stood at the door welcom- ing him in, and proceed to the direc- tion which the writer has been obliged to give, "StOp at the shop at the top of Sloane street. Should any member of the company feel sure of the prize thus far, an antidote to conceit is, "There was an old woman and she was a thistle sitter. She had sieve of sifted thistles and sieve of unsifted thistles, and she was a thistle sitter. /"
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
Can Temper Copper.

B. G. Salter of this city, has discov- cred the lost art of tempering copper so that the metal may be utilized in place of steel for many purposes where corro- sion puts steel at disadvantage. He has made both flat and coiled springs of great elasticity, has made good knife blades, and, best of all, is able to weld the metal itself and weld it to iron or steel. MT. Salter says his process gives pure copper all the qualities which it possesses when the secret process of tempering is employed. Trolley wheels made from tempered copper have out worn several sets of wheels made in the old way.-Detroit Dispatch.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
GREATEST ON EARTH.
Edison Thinks We Can Beat Every Nation.
 His New Monograph.

His New Monograph.
 Edison, the great inventor, was re- gently interviewed in regard to his opin- ions on the war question should we get entangled in one. The reporter says:
 Edison was busy. He was working on photograph. He had been trying for A months to make a photograph that would reproduce the music of a piano without tin pan and snare drum &C., compartment. He had just succeeded and was glorying in the success, finish ing up the last details. This thing was fully occupying his time, but he drop ped everything and talked for an hour or more about the most terrible contriv- ances of offense and defense.
 ''But there isn't going to be any war;" said he. "If there is and Eng land fights those fellows on the other side, she'll whip them, any one of them or all of them put together. She's the greatest nation on the globe except America. She's the worskhop of the world, the machine shop of the earth. They can't beat her."
 "But how about her commerce?"
 "They can't destroy it," answered MT. Edison. "They don't know how. America is the only nation that can do that. We are the only people who make privateersmen. There never was suc cessful privateer who wasn' t an Ameri can.
 "Yes, there are lot of schemes for killing men that I've thought about since this thing began" he said mo- ment later, but what's the use of talk ing about them? I've told of enough al- ready to do the business. Come and hear a phonograph play the piano with out sounding like tin pan.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
Effects of Deep Freezing.

In many places the cold weather found very little snow. It will prob ably be better for the crops next year where this proves to be the fact There is nothing like frost to loosen and pull verize the soil and increase its capacity for holding moisture. Frost also makes more soluble the plant food which the soil contains. In the South, where there is seldom much frost, the virgin soil runs out and becomes too poor for profitable working. Yet analysis of this soil may snow that it contains the elements of fertility, lacking only the ameliOrating effects of frost to make them available for the plants.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
THE MARRIAGE RECORD.
Pastor Schneider Performed 73O Ceremo
 nies In the Year Just Ended.

Pastor Schneider Performed 73O Ceremo. nies In the Year Just Ended.
 Pastor Schneider of New York, who marries all the east side girls and their young men, has just finished figuring up the number of ceremonies he per formed in 1895 and has found the total to be 730. This is a record of records, for it beats anything that Pastor Schneider ever did before in the marry ing line, and yet for the past five years he has held the marrying record in this city, and it is doubtful if any other minister has eclipsed him during that period.
 Pastor Schneider is a short, stout, good natured German, with shiny bald head and a genial smile that has sent courage into the hearts of many a fal tering couple whose nerve failed the on the very edge of matrimony. He lives in the big four story brick house at 109 Second avenue, right in the heart of the German colony, and in one win dow there is big glass sign, which reads, "Pastor Schneider.
 At all hours of the day and night the genial German is ready to tie loving hearts together. He will tumble out of bed in response to ring at the bell at 3 o'clock ill the morning as willingly as he would walk into his front room and confront blushing couple at the same hour in the afternoon. He never has a word of reproach for anybody who comes to him and is as full of advice as a London policeman and as careful of whom he marries as Quaker, for if Pastor Schneider married all who came to him he would indeed have his hands full.
 During the past year he had to turn away nearly 300 couples whom his con- science would not allow him to unite in marriage, and there was excellent reason for his action ill each case. Pastor Schneider does not mean to have hand ill any fatal marriages. When two youngsters come to him, most infre- Quent occurrence, he sizes them up and demands to know what they want. When they tell him, he puts on his most fatherly smile, makes them sit down on a lounge side by side, and then draws a chair up in front of them and seats him. self in it. He has a stock lecture for such occasions. New York Sun.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25

them at all. Parisian women are today bell shaped. They really look like bells. Sleeves? We'll, they are not as large as formerly. They are not puffed on the shoulders. Will the flaring skirt be re- placed by more graceful clinging ones! We'll, I hope so. Small bonnets are not worn any more.
 "The prevailing color of hair? Ha, ha We'll, it is brown just now, worn flat on the sides. Cosmetic is very much used in France, and so is rouge.
 "Yes. I still have small menagerie. I have five lions, tiger and several dogs, but gave my monkeys and my leopard to the Jardin des Plantes. '
 Sarah Bernhardt was born in Paris on Oct. g, 1844, and is therefore in her fifty-second year. New York Journal.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
Recording Music.

A French gentleman has at last per fected and brought out an invention which has long been looked for by many musicians. It is nothing more or less than recording piano. By means of a kind of typewriting instrument which is attached under the keyboard anything that is played can at will be recorded by the instrument The music so writ ten is not recorded in the usual notes, but in series of long and short dashes something like the Morse alphabet. which it is easy to reproduce in the or dinary manner.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
One Sensible Man.

She was much embarrassed, for she found, on getting into the car, that her pocketbook was empty. Fortunately, just as she was about to make her hu initiating confession to the conductor, she saw man opposite whom she knew slightly. and he willingly supplied the deficiency. Later in the day she met him again and was able to return the borrowed nickel
 She holds the man in the highest es- teem, she says, for he took the money as politely as he had loaned it, with out ridiculous fuss and feathers. New York Herald.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
The Names of Fruits.

It does not pay to select odd or long names for popular fruits, nor yet those which express decided superiority of quality. Our best fruit will make its way under whatever name it may be called, and will be not whit more pop- ular for being called ''nonesuch" or ''ex- celsior" It is quite natural that the originator of a new fruit should think 1t better for all purposes than any that have preceded it, but some of the old varieties have eXcellences that will en- able them to hold the market against all competitors with high sounding names.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
HIendelssohn's Songs.

Nor must we forget to acknowledge Mendelssohn s power, displayed in many of his best songs, of producing effect on the emotions of his hearers by the sim plest means. It is true that many of his melodic creations have a strong family likeness, but it is none the less true that considerable number may be extracted from his works which have a perfectly distinct individuality, which can hardly be surpassed in pure melodic beauty, and which require no elaborate orches- tral framework to set them out with ad- ventitious interest. I was much i'm pressed by his power in this respect when turning in once during the dead period of the London musical season to a classical evening" at one of the promenade concerts at Covent Garden.
 The house was crowded in every part, and promenade concert audiences are not always very quiet, but the song "Auf Flugeln des Gesanges" was lis tened to in breathless silence, followed by burst of applause and a redemand, the repetition being listened to with the same reverence as before. I remember thinking at the time that to be able to hold large and very mixed kind of au- dience spellbound in this way by per fectly simple song melody repeated in each verse without ornaments or embel- lshments of any kind and supported only by an equally simple pianoforte &C., compartment was a test of genius not to be despised, while the applause of the popular" audience seemed very suit able tribute to the composer, who said ill his kindly way when suggesting that the programme for proposed concert was little too severe in its character, "For the people have rights. "-Fortnightly Review.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
How Roy Milked Brownie.

Roy is little country boy. His father lives on a large farm and keeps a good many COWS. Roy likes the country and has great deal of sport with the ducks, rabbits, colts and other animals on the farm. From morning until night he is busy.
 But Roy also likes to help about the farm work. He is getting large enough to think he can milk some of the COWS in the busy time of the year, when his father has so much to do.
 One evening Roy's father was at work in the hayfield. Roy drove the COWS home and got the pails to milk. He sat down by Brownie, nice young COW, and began to milk, but the flies kept biting her, and she hit Roy in the face with her tail number of times.
 At last Roy thought of plan to keep Brownie from hurting him, and he tied her tail around one of his legs. Brownie soon found that she was fast, and she tried to jump away from Roy She would not shake him off. and off she bounded, dragging the little boy over the hard ground. He cried out as loud as he could, and his mother came run ming to help him. She did not dare to go near the frightened COW, for fear that she would run faster than ever, and around and around the yard they went. Roy was in great danger of being killed.
 At last the little boys legs slipped out of the knot, and he lay on the ground very still until his mother picked him up and carried him into the house. He was badly stunned and bruised by the terrible jolting over the rough ground.
 am glad to tell you that Roy was soon well again. You may be sure that he will be more careful in the future. -E. L. Vincent in Our Little Ones.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25

low it, improved chestnutS not only yield a large profit to the grower, but sometimes make returns that seem fab- ulOus. A grove once planted is source of great revenue for generations. own a farm of 140 acres of land at Emile, Pa, and have near 1000 grafted Para gOn chestnut trees six years old on the farm; some of the trees bore from six to eight quarts of nuts per tree this fall; this grove of chestnuts will yield more revenue for the year 1895 than all the rest of the farm. It is to be remem- bered that large tracts of land suitable for this crop can be bought at $5 to $10 per acre.-J. l.. LOvett.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
A aoop CHIN SLEEVE.

used and thus choice made in tie size of mesh to use with any particular grain or beans, peas, etc. It will pay to use mesh coarse enough to permit all small and inferior kernels of grain to fall through with the weed seed. Then only the best and most vigorous kernels will be sowed. Such selection of the best seed year after year will bring up the quality of the grain won. derfuly.-American Agriculturist.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
Getting Ont Fou1 Seed.

AS long as it remains true that as a
 man sows, so shall he reap, it belooves him to get all foul weed seed out of his grain. Some practice swimming" 1t out, but the heaviest seeds will not float-Only the seed pods of weeds and the lighter stuff. Better sift the wild seed out, and the illustration shows how to do it easily and quickly. Re movable wire mesh bottoms may be
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25

ed by Mrs. Sergeant from the girls high school There were in all 5 pupils.
 At the close of the school the commit tee, with Mrs. A. V. Guide, chairman, and Mrs. Judge Jackson and Miss An drews. awarded the prizes for the best cooking. The test was on a loaf of bread The prizes were handsome enameled gold souvenir spoons.
 One of the prize winners, Miss Aulean Acker, is an eighth grade pupil of Fair street school She is one of the brightest pupils in the grade. She is 15 years old. Fair street is proud to have won one of the honors of Miss Andrews school, and they are now gladder than ever that Miss Acker was selected to represent the school. Atlanta Constitution.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
What Twenty-six Cows Will Do.

The cost of keeping a dairy of twen ty-six cows at Ohio State University Columbus, last year, was $2,579, in cluding for food $9S4, and for labor Student help, experimental work, etc.. $1,595. Cost of food, per COW, in milk S3S; labor, $61; total, nearly $100. Aver age yield, per COW, in milk, 6,175 pounds, or 71S gallons, which retailed at an average of 201a cents, amounting to $14S per COW, leaving net income of S4S.61 per COW. Cost of food, per gallon of milk, 5.2 cents; labor Gnclud. ing retailing), S.5 cents; total, 13.7 cents.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
Pears on Heavy Soil.

It is we'll known that the pear sue ceeds best on heavy land. This Is part ly because it is richer i'll mineral plant food than are sandy soils, and also be cause the heavy soil is much less ex. posed to extreme changes in tempera. ture. The land for pear orchards ought always to be subsoiled before they are planted. This will make the pear roots deep, and to some extent protect the trees from the blight which most often follows sudden changes of any kind.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
Wire for Grape TreIIises.

In making a trellis for grape vines wire is cheaper and every way better than wood. The tendrilS easily catch hold of the wires. and will hold them as firmly as wood could do, with the advantage for the wire that no leather Or string IS required to DInd the grow ing shoot to it. The vine or a wire trellis has nothing to obstruct sunlight and air from the leaves and fruit. The grape vine needs ali the sunlight pos sible, and the lighter the trelIis, if it is made strong, the better it will be for the growing crop.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
Chestnut Culture.

Upwards of S2,OOO,OOO worth of nuts. mostly chestnuts, are imported annu- ally into the United States, yet chest nuts are selling at as much per bushel at this time as they did during the war. At tpresent prices there is no more inviting field in horticulture than the growing of these improved chestnuts. At this time, when the prices of many
 farm products are verging on the cost of production, and some going far be.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
A War Opinion.

They're talkin war with England in the coun-
 try fur an nigh, An little clouds a-creepin crost the bright
 blue of the sky, An I'm not a-argyfyin bout the wrong or
 bout the right, But the old south's in the saddle, an she's
 ready fur the fight. It's been some time sence sixty, an we're goin
 right ahead, An bright the green is growth OCT the mem
 ory of the red. But if war is in the business of this country,
 day or night, The old south's in the saddle, an she's ready
 fur the fight. Frank L. Stanton in Atlanta Constitution.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
Which Ia It?

The Fourth Estate contains an adver- tisement for an all around newspaper man to edit 13 columns of matter daily, write editorials, read proofs and take general charge of a newspaper. Salary, SIS.
 Does this mean SIS per minute, SIS per hour or only SIS per day?-Union Printer
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
A Poetess' Former State.

"They say Ella Wheeler Wilcox be- lieves in reincarnation, observed the maiden in the fur jacket, "and thinks she was once cat. "
 My opinion is, ," said the damsel in the yellow buskins, "she's mistaken. She was salamander. "-Chicago Trib-
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25

of growth are more favorable in every way, and, as with all young stock, it is quite an item to procure a strong, wig orOus growth from the start. Keep only the ewes; sell off all the wethers as soon as in a marketable condition. With the average farmer who is keep ing only small number of sheep, the increase is largely the source of profit. Market, too the scrub ewes. Do not keep too many, but keep we'll. Not for a long time have sheep been culled as closely as they are now. From this a benefit will arise in two ways-there is a decided improvement in quality, and the smaller number will enhance the chances for profit Even now really good sheep pay, and prospects are bright for a better profit another sea- son. There is no other farm stock so profitable as sheep for the amount of money and care involved, excepting, perhaps, poultry, and none so accept able for domestic consumption. Were it not for the multitude of dogs which roam abroad in all places, sheep could be kept everywhere in small fiOckS, as they were a generation ago.
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25
FOR LITTLE FOLKS.
A YOUNG COOK.

She Won a Prize For Making Bread at the
 Atlanta Exposition.
 The cooking school conducted by Miss Lucy Andrews ill the Woman S building at the exposition will leave many pleas ant memories with the girls who attend ed.
 The school was made up of one girl from the eighth grade of all the gram mar schools in the city, except two or three which did not respond. A pupil was appointed by the principals of each of the schools, and several were appoint
The St. Johns herald., 1899-11-25

pins near the end opposite the crook, far enough apart for the landslide to set between. At the bottom of the crook make a small incision with chisel for the blow point to catch in. Use in taking blow to and from field. Point the end of crook little.