davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25

opened all the envelopes and laid the
smaller ones, which ostensibly con-
tanned personal letters, upon the desk
of the first assistant postmaster gem
era1; but the big official envelopes he
distributed to the clerks in charge of
the appointments in the different
states, and he always did his work in
diligently and with good judgment.
Gov. Crosby had only been the in
cumbent of the Office of first assistant
postmaster general a few days when
he rung his bell, to which Thornby re-
sponded, and Gov. Crosby said:
81 want to know who it is that
opens my letters every day before they
are placed on my DESK
''That is my work, sir" said Thorn
by, bowling and smiling as one who
knows his duty is well performed.
'Well, hereafter" said Gov. Crosby,
81 do not want anybody to open my
mail. Let the mail be placed upon
my desk and I will open it myself. 1
do not wish to have my correspond
ence handled in this indiscriminate
manner"
On the following morning, when
Crosby entered his office re was
general delivery Office and mail pack
ing establishment. His desk was
stacked three feet high with letters
of every description, not one of which
Thornby had opened. In little
space upon the desk before Crosby's
chair were $50 or 200 small envelopes
containing letters which might be
presumed to be personal, but at least
three-fourths of which must have been
official.
Gov. Crosby was no fool. He simply
lacked executive departmental expert
ence. He saw at once that the col
ored man had huge joke on him. He
rang the bell, and when the polite
Thornby appeared, he said: ''Thorn-
by, here is a 1ve-dollar bill which be-
longs to you. Take all of this stuff
off of my desk and say nothing about
it to anybody"
The faithful and intelligent negro
did as requested. But the clerks, who
had been waiting for their daily work
more than two hours that morning,
had ascertained the fact that all of
their mail was piled upon Crosby's
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25

of Johnnies sitting eating Watermel-
ons. They paid no attention to the
guard as they advanced, thinking it
was some of their own men; they sat
there enjoying their melons until the
boys were right on them, and had them
| covered with carbines. On hearing the
order to surrender, one of them, look
ing up and taking in the situation. ex-
claimed: ''SoId, by -" They threw
up their hands and surrendered with
out any ceremony.
The following night we camped at
the edge of small town on White river,
called Grand G1aze. We were very well
supplied with bareback, but somehow
never could get meat enough in our
haversacks to last many days; con-
sequently we had to depend largely on
the country for meat. After taking
care of my horse, 1 started out to for
age some for my mess. AS we all had
pretty good mouths for chicken, [
thought I would see what could be
done in that line. AS I did not wish
to disturb the quiet and rest of the
officers, who [ knew were very tired,
1 went to the farther side of town from
camp, and, as it was nearing shutdown,
spied some nice-lool<ing fowls going to
roost in a poultry-house. I made
straight for it, climbing over the fence
rather than going out of my way to
pass through the front gate. There
was a small boy in the back yard who
seemed to understand from my move
ments what my intention was. He
very inconsiderately ran into the poul-
try house, swinging his arms violently
and shouting, excitedly: 'Shoo out of
here, everyone of you" Fortunately
for me, they were all rushing for thu
door just as [ stepped inside. I grabbed
two chickens in one hand and turkey
in the other and started for camp
elated with my success. Suddenly I
heard a rustling behind me. On turn
ing I was Mortified to see an armed fe-
male within ten feet of me with weapon
raised ready to strike the awful blow
but by quickening my step was en-
abled to keep out of the way of the
broom, with which she was just ready
to hit. Seeing that I was out of range
of that weapon, she opened fire with a
weapon of longer range-her tongue
and kept up the fusillade and made it
hot for me until I was quite out of
sight. A Calling would not have been
in it for rapidity of fire.
Mess No. L shared sumptuously that
night on chicken and turkey, with plen-
ty of dumpings made of bareback
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25
[soME WAR INCIDENTS.
Break Up SheIby's OPP
eratiOnG.

In the summer of 1864 our regiment,
the Eleventh Missouri cavalry, was sta
toned at DEVILS Bluff, Ark. In August.
about the time Price was preparing to
start on his raid into Missouri, Shelby's
command was perambulating between
where we were and Jacksonport, at the
mouth of Black river, and Searcy, on
the little Red river, and in the adjacent
country, gathering up recruits both
by voluntary enlistment and conscrip-
ton, says a writer in the National
Tribune.
A detachment of the Eighth and
Eleventh Missouri cavalry and Ninth
Iowa cavalry, under Col. Geiger, of the
Eighth, was sent into that part of the
country to interfere with Shelby's pro-
gramme.
On the second or third day our ad-
vance guard came up to a small squad
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25
keeping the chicks warm.

The editor of western poultry jour
nal says: warmth is necessary to the
health and life of the chicks That
is all right as far as it goes, but that
one lone sentence does not go far
enough. Warmth is essential, but the
best kind is not the applied sort. It is
better to help chick to keep itself
warm than to keep it warm. Some ar
tifcial heat is necessary for brooder
chicks, but too much is worse than
none. A good many chicks are muir
dered each year by keeping them too
warm and coddling them. A healthy.
weIl-bred, properly-fed chick ought to
supply good deal of its own warmth
from within. Keep the chick comforts
able and well fed. Supply sufficient
heat to help them to warm up when
they want to, and provide way to get
away from it when they want to. Keep
your eyes on the chicks and not on the
thermometer.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25
A Cure for Egg Eating.

Egg eating, says a poultry fancier,
can be prevented by keeping plenty
of ground bone, oyster shell and fine
gravel before your flock all the time,
so they may eat at viii, and construct
the nest in dark place. By doing this
you will seldom be annoyed by those
egg eaters. On those that have formed
the habit, pare off the upper mandible
quite blunt, also the lower, and put
china nest eggs in nests; they viii
work awhile at those artificial eggs,
and finding they cannot break them,
will yield. This is the best cure know
o4.-Farmers' Review.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25
A HISTORIC CORNER.
Occupied Once by WashingtOn's
Best Known Hotel.
IN one of It's Rooms Andrew johnson
Took the Oath of Office
President of the Unit
ed States.
Especial Washington letter.

~CTTS HERE is a historic corner on
Pennsylvania avenue which is
IL now occupied by hotel; and
very few people now living know any
thing about the history of the local
ity.
For many years the building on the
corner of Twelfth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue was occupied by the pen
=sion office, and then dry goods and
notions store built up successful bust
ness there. Six years ago alterations
were made which transformed the
building into hotel and cafe and now
additions have been built along Twelfth
street, completely obliterating all of
the landmarks which were so dear to
zus old-timers.
Nearly 20 years ago Boss Shep-
herd, the man of energy and executive
ability who changed the national cap
Ital from it's condition of a sluggard
+: southern town in a mudhole to a ma
tional city with broad avenues and
. concerted streets, built upon the cor
Hner referred to a siX-story brick build
ing, with mansard roof, and rented it to
: the government for the use of the pen
sion office. 1t was SO occupied until the
: architectural monstrosity in Judiciary
: square was completed, in 1885, and then
the pension office was removed and the
Shepherd building was taken by pros
porous storekeeper.
During the civil war the corner was
occupied by the best known and most
popular hotel in the city, called the
Kirkwood house. Members of the cab
met as well as prominent senators and
representatives resided at the Kirk
wood house, and prominent officers of
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25

coming and going as guests of the same
hotel. Vice President Andrew johnson
was a guest of the Kirkwood house on
the night of the tragedy at Ford's the
alter, when President Lincoln lost his
life by the hand of an assassin. On the
following morning it was in the Kirk
wood house that Mr.. johnson took, the
oath of office and became president of
the United States.
In the spring of 1864, when the sue
-cessful general of the Mississippi val
ley, U. S. Grant, came to the national
capital to receive from the hands of the
president his commission as lieuten-
ant general of all the armies he was
guest at the Kirkwood house. From
time to time Gems. Sherman, Sheridan,
Hancock, Logan, Meade and other emf
nent military men either had their
rooms or took their meals at the Kirk
wood house. 1t was not until several
wears after the war had closed, when
the armies had been disbanded, the
.carpet-bag period had passed, and the
unusual business incident to and de-
pendent upon the civil war had ceased,
that the Kirkwood house, being no
longer the most popular hostelrie in
the city, was closed.
During the latter part of March, 1864,
while he was planning the offensive
campaign which commenced with the
battle of the Wilderness on the 5th
day of the following May, a banquet
was given to Gen. Grant in the Kirk
wood house, which was followed by a
ball, and in the festivities of both
events Miss Kate Chase, the accom-
plished, brilliant and beautiful daugh-
ter of Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase.
was the social leader. Although the
celebrated hostelrie was a frame build.
ing of the olden style, it was an eXcep-
tionally large and roomy structure for
those days. More than 200 men and
women of distinction participated in
the banquet, and, before the dawn of
the morrow had dispersed the merry
makers, nearly 1000 of the men and
women of note in those days partici-
pated in the terpsichorean mazes.
For many years the best servant in
the old Kirkwood house was a colored
man named George Thornby. He acted
as valet to Gen. Grant on that occasion
and was subsequently detailed to look
after the comfort of Vice President
johnson. So it happened that when
the old house finally gave way to a
more modern structure, Thornby,
Through the kind intercession of many
men of prominence whom he had
served, secured an appointment as
messenger in the post office depart
ment, when Congressman Tyner, of In
diana, was made postmaster general.
He remained there until a few years
ago, when he died. Thornby was a
very Intelligent fellow and was made
mail messenger to the first assistant
postmaster general. During his lat
ter years he took great deal of pleas
ure in telling a story concerning John
Schuyler Crosby, of New York, who was
the governor of the territory of Mon
tana for three years and became first
assistant postmaster general when
Frank Hatton was advanced to the po-
=ition of postmaster general. Thornby
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25
BRACE FENCE POSTS.
Description of a Brncing System
which Is Said to Give Most
Satisfactory Service.

One of the greatest problems that
confront those who must replace their
old fences by p modern wire fence is
that of securing an effective system of
bracing, for the general elasticity and
life of a wire fence lies almost wholly
in the manner in which it is braced
from the end posts. No matter how
good or how serviceable a woven wire
fence may be put up. just as soon as
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25

of square timber in the ground, with
boxes on sides, as shown in the fig
ure. Chop chickens head off on post,
with Ratchet. and put fowl in box.
Here it will bleed nicely and keep
clean This is much better than to
have the fowl Topping all over the
yard, smearing everything with blood
and covering itself with dirt.-M. T.
Haxton, in Orange Judd Farmer.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25
Did Best He Gould.

A veteran who was Boosting of his
proves during the civil war was
asked: ''How many of the enemy did
you kill, anyway?' ''HoVv many did 1
kil1?" repeated the veteran, slo5sry.
''Well, don't know exactly how many,
but I killed as many of them as they
did Of me- Chicago Tribune.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25
Perfect.

at wish I were nearer perfection I said,
AS sat on the sofa with her;
The lamp threw a halo of gold DER her
head,
Her breath was like orris and myrrh.
That's easy she said, with a smile in her
eye,
A trick she had gathered from Venus:
And then, with laugh and a huttering
sigh,
She cast out the pillow between us.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25
No Ague Left.

Boarder-I hear that there used to be
great deal of fever and ague around
here.
Host-Yes; but none here now, not
a bit. We've all got acclimated.-N- Y.
Weekly
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25
BLOCK FOR BEHEADING.
Handy Device for Use in killing POuI-
try Either 6Or Home COnsump-
ton or for Market.

This illustration shows a very
handy device for use when killing
poultry, especially where they are de-
capitated for family use. Set piece
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-10-25
BOres Even Himself.
IL Chnnnio +;rornmo .

Beliefs Chappie tiresome?
Flora-Is he? Why, they say he
yawns necessarily when he's alone
The Smart Set.
Evening journal., 1900-03-30
Animals and Man.

From my own observation. says a
well known naturalist, and from com
pairing notes with other naturalists and
hunters | am of the opinion that all
wild animals learn to dread man only
when they find him TO be an enemy
bent ON their destruction. As long as
he comes and goes without disturbing
them-unless they regard him as their
natural prey-they care as little for his
presence as they do for that Of other
animals that have no motive for in
iui'ing them
Birds, for example, that have learned
to dread mans destructive gun have
no fear of n horse. the COW or the
sheep. When farmer sees .perched on
the limb of a tree. "A hawk, which he
knows is planning a visit to his hen
yard he mounts his horse, and with
gun in hand, rides within easy shoot.
ing range of the hawk. The bird can
not at that distance separate the hos.
tile man from the harmless horse.
Evening journal., 1900-03-30
Making Turkeys Pay.

In Farming. of Toronto, is an inter-
csting article on turkey raising by Mrs.
Graham. She raises turkeys because
she thinks it pays. Starting in the fan
with four young hen turkeys Of about
twelve pounds each and n pure bred
male Of sixteen pounds she allows
would cost about $3.50. She wants
no lighter weights Food for the old
turkeys for a year would cost eighty
cents each, and meal for the young
ones abou 81, making the outlay $40.
While some raise twenty or twenty
five young ones from each bird. she
thinks ten is fair average for a be-
ginner, and in the fall the forty should
average thirteen pounds each, or $40
pounds. worth there 6i5 cents a pound
or S34 or $40 over cost of feeding. She
makes no account Of coops or houses.
and they can be easily made from old
boards and boxes. and she does not
cOntine them only in stormy weather.
They are great insect destroyers. and
from watching children feeding a lame
turkey with grasshoppers she decided
that Il would eat 275 grasshoppers in
a day, or a flock of forty at six weeks
old would eat 11,000 a day while at
three months old they would eat twice
that number. While young she varies
the bread-crumb diet by giving thick
milk, soft curd, onion tops and custard
from infertile eggs. Never feeds sloppy
food. or raw cornmeaL and uses no
tonics or patent medicines.
Evening journal., 1900-03-30
Educating the Colt.

The first place to hitch a coa is
to a heavy wagon with a steady, un-
excitable horse. Have him well
strapped. one fastened to rein,
which is drawn between the hames
and then attached to the wagon. An
other is tied to the hame OF the other
horse, and the third fastened to the
outside of his bit which is to be held
in your hand. In this manner, no mat
ter how strong the colt, you can han
die him with safety and ease. After
a few lessons Of this kind, II he is
draft bred, put him at some light
work. If a driver, hitch him to the
break cart and let a boy ride the 9th.
er horse by his side a few times until
he gets acquainted with the work.
You will be surprised to find that
colt will succumb to the will OF man
easier at this age than younger, and
you will no longer hear Of valuable
young horses being ruined at an early
age.
Evening journal., 1900-03-30
MILK
Experiments Show That There Is Lit.
tie Profit In PRODUCING II.

~ 'NNN ~ t~toQQ(AHJ IL
During the last few years the New
Jersey experiment station conducted
some tests 60 determine the cost OF
producing milk. This. with tests made
in Massachusetts and Minnesota, SUP.
plies about the only available data.
At the n. J. sta the dairy herd CON
sisted of % cows of mixed breeding.
During the test these COWS ate food
valued at 1914. The cost per day per
COW was lice OF this feed 81 per
cent was raised on the home farm.
while the remainder was purchased
concentrated feeds The COWS pro
duced an average OF 7A quarts OF
milk per day or 64,916 quarts. The
autual cost Of feed to produce / quart
OF milk was 1iac. The total cost
which must include labor, interest on
value of herd. decrease in value OF
herd. amounted TO 2iac per quart, or
a total of S1,619. Reducing quarts to
pounds by multiplying by 2lS it is
seen that the milk cost about S114
per hundred. AS only 81 per hundred
is received in the rural districts OF
New Jersey. the profit. IL there Is to
be any, must come from the manure
heap. Careful weighing Of the manure
showed that 252 tons were made.
Naluing this at $3.50 per ton the ex.
cess of total receipts over expendi.
lures amounts to S173.SS, which rep.
resents the total amount Of profit in
the years transaction--a gain too
small to make the business pay. The
conditions at the station We're not
identical with those on the average
New Jersey farm. Labor cost more
and more feed was purchased than
should be necessary on most farms,
Another point OF interest was the
amount of fertility added to the land.
Calculating the amount of nitrogen,
phosph0ric acid and potash in the pur.
chased feeds and deducting the
amount sold in the milk, there re.
mained $l2S worth as a permanent ad.
dition TO the land. In this calculation
nitrogen was valued at 10c. per
pound and the other two ingredients
sc per pound each. Half of the total
weight was nitrogen.
The yield of milk per COW varied
from 4,413 pounds to S.3O3. the differ
ence between the highest and lowest
being $500 pounds. The poorest COW
produced 202 pounds of butter, while
the pest produced 400 pounds, a differ
ence of 2O3 pounds The average
yield was 313 pounds The best but.
ter COW was fifth in order in largest
milk yield. The best milk COW and
the best butter COW were grade Jer-
seys, the first eight years and the sec.
ond ten years. The poorest COW was
a pure-bred Jersey six years old. On
the basis Of 81 per hundred for milk.
the value Of the product of the best
COW was $S3. of the poorest S44, aver.
age S63. The cost of feed WIS SAP.
The best COW is therefore able to pay
for her feed with SAL dollars extra be.
sides manure The poorest COW pays
for feed with 81 extra besides manure.
At wholesale &c. per quart could have
been received at the station for the
milk On this basis the returns from
the best COW were S72 over the cost
OF feed, while the poorest returned
SIS in exces of cost of feed
Evening journal., 1900-03-30
AGRICULTURAL.
Winter and Spring Work to Be DON
on the Farm.

Winter and early spring on the farm
are TO large extent seasons OF rest
from aciual labor, yet great deal may
be done now 10 advance the work Of
The busy season when it comes upon
us. All farm and garden implements
thould at this time be carefully exam
ined and put in condition for II 81 when
wanted, as this work can be as
well done during the winter ae left un.
til the crowd of spring work Is at
hand. By attention TO these little de.
lails much valuable time may be saved
Tor both men and teams
Unless n blacksmith slrop is among
The farm appurtennnces or one is near
nt hand, a supply OF bolts OF assorted
lengths and sizes with Vrenches and
bits to iit the same will often save "A
trip To the village in case of needed re-
pairs on account Of brealage
A man with any skill IN the use OF
tools VIII frequently repair broken
implement II provided with materinl
md tools needed for stich repairs in
much less time than wosild be occupied
IN going to q mechanic with the same.
The farmers repair shop will therefore
prove n paying investment on every
farm even for this purpose alone. and
besides on stormy days IN summer
much work may be done there at a
great saving both by the farmer and
The help in his employ.
Plans should be made inadvance for
the arrangement and planting OF the
family garden and all necessary seeds
and other requisites for the seasons
work secured and ready for use in
their proper season and this Is the time
TO give attention to these details. The
Heedsmen's catalogues many of which
may be had without cost for the ask
ing and any of which ARE worth more
than the small price asked for them.
are valuable aid to the selection OF
seeds etc. required, besides containing
many valuable hints on garden man.
ngement
Furnish the wife, son or daughter
With postal cards 70 send FOR such cat-
alloys as are advertised In your farm
papers IL you do not wish to do so
Yourself and see II the kitchen garden
s not improved the coming summer
through their Influence
While making these plans for the
garden on the lines herein suggested
Hce TO u that your plan includes prep
hihiiuH LOT Euoh hiNeu dhpuiakhS bed
ana also liberal plantations OF straw
berries. raspberries Chlack and red)
long hlackber'ies. currants gooseber-
ries etc, etc.
Plant everything in rows lengthwlse
nf the garden so the main part Of tho
cultivation may be done with horse
and cultivator and you will find the
saving OF labor thus effected viii am
ply repay for all needed extra space
T.. J. Brownell, in Ohio Farmer.
Evening journal., 1900-03-30
German Coffee Cake.

To make the German "raisin" o.
coffee" bread, add to one cup Of scald,
ed milk one-third cupful Of shortening,
one cupful of sugar and a half tea.
spoonful salt; when lukewarm, beat in
one yeastcalIe, dissolve in one-quartef
of n cup of lukewarm milk, and flavor
TO make n stiff batter, cover and place
where it viii keep warm and rise over
night. In the morning, blend n beaten
egg with the dough, add one-half cup.
ful of raisins. seeded and cut int0
pieces, and roll the mixture out Ia
three-quarters Of an inch in thickness,
and put in a buttered dripping pan.
Cover and let rise until it doubles ita
original thickness. Brush with melted
butter. sprinkle with powdered sugar
and cinnamon, and bake in q moderate
oven q half hour