davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
CAN THIS BE TRuEq
Every Living Being Said to Be Par
tally Blind.

Every Living Being Said to Be Par
tally Blind.
1t will probably be a shock to many
to learn that, without any exception,
they are all partially blind and insensi-
BILE to pain.
1t has been clearly demonstrated by
exhaustive experiments that every
human eye is blind in one particular
part, varying in locality and size with
the individual. This can be easily
proved by tracing 100 curved and par
allel lines on Il large sheet of paper,
and passing up and down each merid-
ian in turn disc of black paper one
inch in diameter, until the white area
of the sheet of paper has been covered.
In following the movements of the disc
it will be found that at certain parts
of its progress it cannot be seen at all,
and this is when the blind spotS in
the eye is focused on it.
This blind spot, which is irregular in
shape, is caused by the optic nerve,
which enters the retina, and thus OBJ
scures part of the picture photograph
ed las it were) on it. The entire scene
looked upon is clearly depicted with
the exception of the part which should
appear on the point of the retina COW
cred by the optic nerve at its point of
entry.
Similarly, ntificeNperiment proves
that there are thousands of minute
parts of the body which are incapable
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

popular spontaneity in song and music
making that they implied; they are
capable, if they grow, of becoming as
good a foundation for a real national
music as the popular song-unions Of
Germany have been. Everybody who
has looked at all deeply into the subject
is probably aware that the art of song
is not really dead, as it appears TO be,
but only dormant, among the Ameri-
can people. They no longer sing and
play together because they have been
made ashamed of their own simple
music. The persons who are trained to
some kind of degree of technical use
of voice and instruments which ordi-
nary Woodworking people cannot at
tain to, laugh at the spontaneous eff
forts of the people and gradually mo-
nopoliZe the uttcrance of musical
sounds, so that the natural function
of music is forgotten. 1t is this state
of things that the peoples singing
classes will, at least in some measure,
correct. So far, the interest in them
seems genuine. The enthusiasm of the
singing school may come again, with
all Its attendant benefits.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
BEAT THE INSURANCE MAN. /,


Defeated in Age Guessing Contest by
Randolph Street Clerk.
If there is one thing more than an
other in which the average life insur-
ance solicitor prides himself it is his
ability to guess ages. He has his ta-
bles of life probabilities, is accustomed
to estimating Il mans age when striv-
ing to place a policy and seldom makes
a bad break. But one of this kind
came to grief yesterday in Randolph
street office. The clerk was too much
for him at his own game.
The solicitor was Saving life"
having just ordered the perfectos for
couple of friends. He gradually
brought the talk around to estimates
Of ages. Here is where the man behind
the counter got to work and made the
solicitor look like so cents" Two
clerks, one with smooth, boyish face,
the other with a big brown mustache,
stood together. The mustache desired
the solicitor to tell his partners age.
The solicitor took a steady look, half
closing his eyes and seeming very wise.
"Fhirty-eiSht," he answered.
"And how old am II" asked the
quizzer.
"Oh, you,' was the careless rejoin-
der, you're easy. Anybody could see
you're kid. l put you down at 81"
Bet you the smokes come closer to
your age than you have to ours, or
either"
"Got you, me boy. don't miss often.
This is my game"
well, you're 49," said the clerk.
"That goes" was the chagrined re-
ply. 'IIow did you get it so close?
That's my figure all right. BY how
much do you wing
Easy. Pm "a and Mikes 80"
THAT beats me-" said the solicitor.
Nothing easier" remarked the young
man, rs he drew forth fresh box from
the case.
How do you make that out:"
ooh, you're an insurance man and
I'm only guesser. "-Chcago Chron.
icle
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

We Americans demand our laugh at
the expense of everything new or old
that we are called upon to consider; bur
in the end we measure conscientiously
and carefully; and what at first look
seems almost reckless iocundity turns
out to be but n blithe temper working
joyOusly at Il serious task. This is the
opinion expressed by an editorial
writer in the Saturday Evening Post.
II may be that our wonderful national
growth owes much to mere light-heart-
edness maintained under the most diff
cult and depressing circumstances.
We have whiStled mcrrily and kept up
our courage through many a dark day;
not for the sake of the whistling, but
because it was not in us to NOPE and
whine. A sense of humor purities and
freshens every mental state into which
it is projected, so that under it's infiu-
ence ones view of adversities and per-
pleXities borrows wholesome colors,
and ones judgment harks back to reck-
on with the original elements of happi-
ness. Optimism is Il badge of youth,
health and vigor. We as nation have
shown the world how to make play of
work; how to enjoy conquering vast
wilderness and an Astounding crude
ness; how to grow great with laugh
on your lips and a jest in every intona-
ton; how to chaff mt science and vet
sieze upon its every secret for the adj
vancement of our purposes. Our incli-
nation to laugh, TO amuse ourselves
with crude yet telling humor, in the
midst of epic changes and powerfully
stimulating readjustments in the
worlds attitude toward us, is not nee
essarily of the same nature as the in
stinctive gambols and grotesqueries of
n well-fed and healthy young animal,
as some critics have thought; for, al
though our diplomatic methods have
recently passed under the fiery test of
failure in comprehcnsiveness, firmness
and efficacy. We see the lines of carica-
ture and travesty in everything; but
behind all our lightness the alert bust
ness faculty stands ready. The clear
sighted student of history sees that we
are, in the main, developing as England
developed, but incomparably faster.
Our jocund youth Is similar to what the
mother country's was, but more clean
and of firmer moral tone, as any reader
may gather from Chuucer, Spenser,
Jonson and Shakespeare, who reflected
England's morning freshness. Perhaps
the very rapidity of our progress, the
exceeding stress of our inner and out
ward development, and the surprises of
our practical inventions have OCCASION
ally shocked us into undue hilarity-
and at times we may guffaw in the face
of august and solemn presences, vet we
can point to the record. History is do
ing more than merely repeating itself
in our swift dash to the fore; it IL
adding new meaning to Greek joyous.
ness and Roman strength. The incre-
ment speaks for more than the addition
of what may be called natural accumu-
lation of experiences; it is racial, and
has been enlarged and enriched by the
forces of freedom and true concep-
ton of civilization. From the first we
have chosen to be happy, and so we are
sometimes almost jovial, but we are
nightly in earnest.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15


of work is necessary in the prelimi-
mares of the erection of good house,
andwhat large amount of hard think
ing must be done before the subject
talks the actual position of bricks and
motar. Every man about to build
sholld have a years good solid think
ingon the subject. He must first get
setted down to the matter of site. The
subject of a site is the first Importance.
and too much caution cannot be excr-
cisel in the selection.
We show herewith a design suitable
forsuch a home. The plans show a
yer. sensible arrangement. There are
cerhin features of planning that should
always go with every well-regulated
hose, no matter what the size or its
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

anticipate no particular change in
methods of making and marketing ma
pie sirup and sugar the coming spring,
says Il Vermont sugar maker in the
New England Homestead. do antici-
pate, however, that i'll the near future
there will be inaugurated a new process
of reducing maple sap without any APP
plcation of heat, thus retaining the
pure maple flavor without any discol-
Grafton. Asto deep or shallow tapping
depth should depend on the size of the
tree, anywhere from one-half inch to
two inches ut the most. The deeper the
tap the more sugar make, hut at the
expense of quality and life of the tree.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

Only once in while, 1t seems, do the
people wake up to the fact that they
are masters and not serfs. For much of
the time they go along bowling and
scraping to their magistrates and their
mayors and their Governors and their
Legislators and their oftice-holding fell
lows in general. For practically all of
the time they are under a sense of
hopeless subserviency to the persons
not at all above their own status in citi-
Aenship whom they have themselves
tlothed with official authority.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

1t is always loss to leave soil naked
through the winter, especially If the
surface soil is friable. Unless snow
come as a covering, much of it will be
blown into adjoining fields Often when
snow comes it will be wind swept into
banks behind fences ON lis lceward
side. and so soon as the banks are
formed the snow will be darkcncd by
clouds of fine dust. which is deposited
on its surface. This wind-blown soil is
always extremely rich, as is shown by
the quicker growth and darker green
Of the grass that grows up after the
bank has melted in spring. Always the
land on the lee side of fields that have
been much and long plowed is richer
near the fence on the leeward side than
it is nearer the center of the field. For
this reason. when p!owing, turn the fur
rows as much as possible from the
fences towards the center of the field
Doubtless there is much blowing of
surface dirt in summer showers,
though it is not so plain to the sight as
1t is when the dark rim lies on top of a
white bank of SNOW.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

n ga j II S t, t Ii e
weight of snow in
winter must b @
foresecn and care
exercised lest the
shrub be greatly
in jure d in the
wrapping process
by the breaking of
IN a IL Y bril- e
branches. There
fore Il Country
Gentleman CORE
spondent proposes
the following plan;
The cut shows
the proper way to
begin. Select a
smooth, stron g
stake. longer than
the height of the
shrub. and drive it
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

situation, and a careful study of the
fojr plans here given will, from the
st;ndpoint of living in the house, con-
flrh anyone in his ideas of the care
AMI consideration given to this sub
jed. Such houses as this are in de-
mJnd all over the country and can be
built by the hundreds if placed in the
proper localities, especially suburbs of
lusge cities.
fhe convenience of the arrangement
on this design is apparent OH eXamina
tijn of the floor plans. 1t all depends
on the inmates of such n house whether
itlimproves with age, or, on the other
hand, from carelesSness and indiffer-
clce it is allowed to go to rack and
ruin. The principal architectural fea-
rire of the front hall, which is of good
siEc, is an ornamental staircase of nea,
design. The parlor on the right is quite
Urge. and the hall, parlor, library and
Gning-room are all connected by wide
sliding doors. TO be thrown together on
OCCASION. The dining-room is connect
I'll with the kitchen through passage.
from Wnlcn the inside stairs go to the
CELLAR. The pantry, To the left of the
Kitchen. is fitted with pastry table, flour
bins and ample cupboards. A cellar
under the whole house is fitted with
furnace room, laundry and other nee
4ssaly apartments. The construction is
Of the best throughout. The timbers
are of sound pine, well-seasoned and
free from damaging defects. The stud
ding of outside walls are 2NG, sheathed
and papercd outside and covered with
half-inch pine siding. Inside is plas-
tered with cement plaster. The size of
the building is 311l4x5I1a feet, not in
tluding the front perth and steps.
Height of ceilings: Cellar, S feet; first
story, 10 feet; second story, feet. The
foundation is of good stone, eighteen
inches thick All outside work usually
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
Apropos of Bread.

If moulding is well done bread will
not stick TO the board.
In moulding keep the grain of the
dough going one way.
Don't forget that the addition of lard
and sugar makes bread dough into cake
dough, and very poor cake dough at
that.
Grease the pans with suct.
Bake i'll small pans to kill the Yeast
cake and get lots of good crust. which
is not only delicious TO taste, but good
exercise for the teeth. We lose our
teeth if We don't give them something
TO do.
Whole wheat bread should not be
soggy.
kneading is not the wild process
some women make it. You simply roll
and roll and roll gently then fold over
the back with the thumb You must
keep it all going all the time to give it
elasticity.
The board should be simply washed
with bit of sand soap.
Brush the bread with water before
putting it in the oven
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
sE.sleLE SUBURBAN HOUSE.
This Design Makes Suitable Home
70, the Wcll-t o-do Workingman.

Within the last quarter century ar
chiteture has made great progress,
and te American architectural talent
has leen greatly developed. We per-
ceivethe change in the appearance of
the owns and cities here and there
over The country. There is still much
to be ,esired, but a beginning has been
made, and great advances are observ-
able. The architects object should be,
if hisgenius be equal to his task, to so
desigl a building as to give it an air
eithe of sublimity or beauty.
Noone who has not had the expert.
ence can realize what n large amount
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15


has been without n head. The vacancy
is now filed, however, by the selection
of Rev. james NJ. Taylor, president of
Nassar College. DR.. Taylor is we'll
known Baptist preacher and scholar.
He is % years old, and has been in the
Baptist ministry twenty-seven years.
He was for four years pastor of the
leading Baptist Church in Providence
ana in 1856 went to Vassar to assume
the presidency of the famous woman's
college. He has made n strong reputa-
ton for himself ut Nassar, not only rs
an educator but as an administrator.
AS professor of moral and mental phi
losopby he did the best work, but he
had his eyes open at all times to the in
tercsts of other departments.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
Suicide Young Woman.

AT the home of her parents, near Hawk
eye, Nettie Hull, young woman about ID
years of age, deliberately shot herself.
She was home with her sister. when the
latter stepped across the road to neigh
boris. When she returned she was horri-
fled to find Nettie lying on the floor dead,
with bullet hole through her heart. 1t
is said that the young woman left note
in explanation of her act, but its contents
have not been given out.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

The gypsy moth problem in Massa-
chusetts seems to be another case of
the man who caught the bear by the
tail. 1t is costing 100000 per year,
with no perceptible sign of Graduating
the pest. AS long as the State is doing
the work the farmers refIse to so to
the expense of doing it themselves
And the State is afraid to quit.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

Statistics demonstrate the fact that
during the last year our trade increased
with China, Japan and South America
in a.ratio that indicates the beginning
of the same commercial invasion of
those countries that we have made an
accomplished fact in Europe, and there
would seem every indication of the fact
that the next few years will find the
United States occupying the position
held so long by England as the trade
center of the world.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
A BIG STATE
INTERESTING ITEMS OF LATE
IOWA NEWS.
Jury Sets Mrs. Hughes Free New
Railway Company Elects officers
Young Woman Shoots Herself for
Unexplained Reasons.

AT Mason City, the jury in the case of
Mrs. Lottie NJ. Hughes, tried on the
charge of numbering her husband, after
twenty-four hours deliberation, returned
a verdict of not guilty. The judge ad-
dressed the jury, complmcnting them for
the hours they had spent together on the
case and the carcfulness of their mcdita-
tons. An effort was made by Mrs.
Hughes to thank each of the jurors, but
her strength would not permit, and she
sank in her chair exhausted. The trial of
Mrs. Hughes lasted nearly seven weeks
and attracted much attention, not only be-
cause of the prominence of the persons in
volved, but for the reason that the woman
was accused of poisoning her husband be-
cause she loved another
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

Trolley cars are to run past the pyra-
mds. Many other things could be
done to improve the pyramids, such as
fitting them up with elevators, electric
lights and restaurants at about every
sixth story. Admire the pyramids as
we may, the fact cannot be denied
that they are much behind the times.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

csting case of John Neeley, which has
long standing. In 1865, as a carpenter
employed by the Louisville and Nash
willie Railroad, he found five one-hun-
ed-dolar bills in the end of an old
box car which he had been repairing.
The bills We're badly torn. and had been
used by the rats in building II nest.
Neeley made no secret of how he came
into possession of this money, and ap-
piled to the government to exchange
these bills for new ones. This was re-
fused. He then sold the bills to a
broker for three hundred dollars, who
sent them to Washington again, and
asked for an opinion of the Comptroller
of the Treasury, who decided that the
government had a right TO keep the
bills without paying for them. The
broker came back TO Nccley for the
three hundred dollars. AS the poor man
had spent the money, he had great diff
ticulty i'll getting the sum together
again, and was only able to pay 1t i'll in
stalments. y committee of Congress
recently investigated the case and de-
cded that rs Necley was the honest
finder of the notes, which We're payable
to bearer, and no one else in the thirty
years had come forward TO claim them,
he should be compensated. According
ly, bill allowed him five hundred dol
lars has been passed, and after long de-
lay, he is once more in possession of the
cash. In this case a patient waiter has
lost nothing but the interest on his
money,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

Precept and practice do not go hand
In hand always and the injunction to
forgive the penitent sinner is some
times forgotten. An example to the
contrary has been set by the congrega-
ton of the First Baptist Church of
Easton, Pa. The young pastor of the
church confessed that he had sinned
grievously and offered his resignation.
1t was voted unanimously not to accept
the resignation. This is practical Chris
tianity, sufficiently rare to be remark
Able,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

Millionaire Letter has gone into the
milk business in Chicago. Once our
financial aristocracy spurned any con-
tact with small trade, but now any
thing that will bring in money is in
style. Doubtless we shall yet see mem
bers of our fiscal gentry laying up snug
fortunes out of the soap grease and old
bottle industry. But after all 1t is n
good American sign when we see ma
hobs who are not afraid of work.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
Double Seeding of Glover.

The earliest seeding of clover general
lN grows the largest size by the time
the grain around it is cut. But some
times it starts too early, and is nipped
by frost just when its leaves start and
it has very little root. AT this time. as
the clover leaf is very tender, the young
plant is easily killed. We know farm
ers who divide their seeding, sowing
some early in March, and delaying the
latest seeding until April. In this way
they claim that more even seeding of
all the ground is secured than If all
were sown at once. The second seed
ing is always sown crosswise of the
first
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

Another notion which cannot fail TO
he of widespread benefit is the peoples
singing classes established in Boston
and New York. They are an attempt
says Listener in Transcript, to bring
lack the old singing schools, With the
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

While the Legislatures of several
States We're leisurely debating bills
making it a misdemeanOr to deface by
advertising or otherwise the State or
National flags, a French garrison eXpe-
rienced the mordant of practical appli
cation. A drunken soldier, having in
suited the French flag, was reported,
and all the troops of Toulon were form
cd in hollow square on the parade
ground, with the flag in the middle.
Then the general called the lucklcss sol
der by name. lie fell out of the ranks,
marched to the flag, saluted 1t, and ut
tered a faltering apology. at is WE'LL"
was the brief comment of the general;
pnd even the United States, whose flag
is defaced with such impunity by its
awn people, echoes well"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
Bank Robbery Frustrated.

A wellformed plot to blow open the
vault in the First National Bank of Fort
Dodge was foiled by the revelations of one
of the gang, who gave away the story.
The plan was to ovcrpowcr the police and
force an entrance to Il room Immediately
beneath the bank and blow open the vault
with lYnnmitp
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
The Snelljn1 Reform,

Henceforth, in all the publications of
the National Educational Association,
the reformed spelling is 10 be used in
the following words: program. tho,
altho, catalog, prolog. dccalog, dema-
Cog, pedagog, also in thru and thro and
their compounds. Here's a pretty mess
for the conservative speller.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

A man who feared something might
happen to him took the precauion to
be baptized in an icy river, contracted
the pneumonia, and died. This is one
of the most pronounced cases of premo-
milton on record.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

The only overlooking State treasury
in the Union is that of New Jersey, and
the overflow there is from money paid
by the trusts for the privilege of prey
ing on other States.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
Omccrs of Nov iowa Road,

The stockholders of the Winona. Mar
shalltown and Southwestern Railway met
at Marshalltown and elected officers as
follows: President, n s. lIetchum; vice
president and treasurer, George Il. Kirby;
secretary, A. G. Click; chief engineer, G.
G. Gilman. The completed survey starts
at Usage and runs almost directly south
through seven county seats-Osagc, ALI
son, Grundy Center. Marshalltown, New
ton, Knoxville and Charlton. 1t passes
through the finest agricultural portion of
Iowa and taps the rich coal fields of the
southern portion of the State. Grading
will he commenced early in the spring.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15

of feeling. You may touch them with
a hot needle, or even, to push the OK
pertinent further, you may thrust the
needle deeply into the part without any
pain being felt. All parts of the body
share this peculiar insensibility to pain,
but the unfortunate thing is that these
dead points are so mixed up with
parts that are keenly alive that, unless
the point of contact is confined to the
dead point, the pain is all too manifest.