davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04
OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
A Practical Joke.

APractieal Joke.
Oh, Peter the Pug is gay, young dog,
And a gay, young dog is he!
He dresses himself in his very, very
best
Whene'er he goes out to tea.
He blacks his nose, and he curls his
tail;
oh, Peters sight TO sees
Simmy the Skye is sharp, young
dog,
And clever dog is he!
Pug;
He dislikes him heartily
''For a nasty, stuck up chap" he says,
Can never be friends with me-"
Down the street walks Peter the Pug
In his brand new finery,
With his glossy hat and his new silk
tie
And his cuffs so white to sea
And his stand Up collar, and his tan
kid gloves
Oh, who's so proud as het
Loud are the barks, and the grins are
broad,
As the folks young Peter see
And Peter wonders why they laugh
And what the matter can be,
But Simmy the Skye has had his re-
venge,
And happy dog is he!
Trenton On. j. American.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04
An Ancient Graveyard.

For many years it has been known
that prehistoric burying ground was
located on the Thomas Cartmill farm
now owned by Samuel H. Marshall
down on Gunpowder. Small bones
such as teeth, ETC., have been found
there years ago, but not until last week
did the graves begin to give >up the
skeletons they had ,sepulchred for ages
upon ages. This ancient buryine
ground is in piece of bottom land,
but few yards from the creek, and has
been cultivated for time to which the
mind of man runneth not to the con.
trary, and often in the past has the
creek overfOwed the entire field, each
time carrying away several inches of
the soil, until now the plowshare tears
up the skeletons and brings them to the
surface. The graves were excavated
north and south, and are several In
number. Over the bones is layer of
burnt rock--burnt nearly to lime, and
they are easily pulverized with the
naked hand. The soil which covers the
burnt stones is very different from that
In which the graves were dug, and was
evidently. imported for burial purposes.
When Mr.. Marshall began blowing
last week in the field containing this
ancient city Of the dead human bones
were turned up with such frequency as
to cause several of his neighbors to as
semble and make close investigation.
The skeletons were found to be com
plete, but badly broken to pieces, while
In many instances the bones would
crumble. Some think the skeletons are
Of a race of people whose presence In
this country antedates that of the In.
dams, who generally chose the highest
points Of the land and then built great
mounds of earth and stone over the
graves. One popularity in the mode Of
burial was that each skeleton lay face
Observation-Disclosures (Ky.) Record.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04
A Talking Mocking Bird

A hooking bird belonging to Mrs.
William Neill has actually been taught
by her to talk. 1t is very interesting
indeed to hear it utter the words that
have by persistent and painstaking
efforts, been taught it. This birds
cognomen is Charlie, and it has repu-
tation that is envied by hooking bird
owners. 1t mimics every noise it hears
If 1t Is repeated a number of times,
and can repeat all the call whistles that
the boys of the various cliques and
clans use as signals.
Mr. Neill used to own a dog. and
their favorite call for the pet animal
was Hear hear, hear, hear,' and a
short whistle; and repeated. Now the
bird Charlie can call that dog as dis
tinctly as any person might. 1t very
clearly says Hear, hear; (whistle);
hear, hear" etc.
While living at the Planters Hotel,
Mr.. and Mrs. Neill were frequently
treated to a cat serenade, and the bird
learned to mimic them to a surprising
degree. Now that they are residing in
presumably q catless neighbOrhood
they are often fooled by the bird, which
can new so much like cat that one
Is loath to believe that the sounds issue
from the birds throat unless actually
standing near the cage.
Mr.. Neill used frequently to amuse
himself by saying to the bird, Tommy,
don't" Tommy DON'T" and sometimes
Now, Tommy don't" The bird has
now learned to say it as distinctly as
Mr.. Neill himself.
On one of the chimneys of the house
adjoining where Mr.. and Mrs. Neill re-
side is a bonnet, and when the air is
stirring that bonnet turns as the wind
changes direction, with a hideous
creaking. The other day Mrs. Neill
heard the creaking, and was just about
to abuse the bonnet when she discov-
cred that the mischievous bird was
making the noise.
The bird can crow like a rooster and
cackle like hen. 1t oftens beguiles the
inmates of the house to the front door
by initiating the pOstman's whistle. 1t
can also mimic the policeman's whistle;
in fact there are very few familiar
sounds that it has not learned.
Mrs. Neill once owned bird that
could whistle two familiar waltzes. She
would whistle them for it just prior to
retiring, and in the morning again the
tunes were whistled until the little bird
learned them perfectly.
1t is very remarkable to hear a mock
ing bird utter words, and it is doubt
full whether there is another besides the
one owned by Mrs. Neill that enjoys
that reputation. 1t requires consider
able pains to teach the bird, and GER
tainly a great amount of ingenuity and
skill. Mr.. and Mrs. Neill prize the bird
very highly.-Augusta (Ga.) Herald.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04
THE sCYTHe IN THE PINE TREE.
A Curious Reminder of the Sons Going to
the War, Never to Return.


Thirty eight years ago young Angus
tus Bliss of Warwick, Mass, quit cut
ting brush on his fathers farm, hung
his scythe on pine tree and went off
to war. The soldier boy never came
back, and the scythe has never been
taken down from the tree where he
hung it, but has become imbedded in
the growing pine until it is fixture.
This pathetic reminder of the great
civil struggle is a familiar sight to
members of the Sheomet Club of
Springfield, as the tree stands near the
clubs comfortable quarters in Bliss
vile, hamlet just across the North
Orange line into Warwick.
When young Augustus Bliss left
home and parents, to fight his cOun-
try's battles, Blissville was busy CEN
tire of small industries, traces of which
remain to tell the story of the shifting
of the scene of manufacturing from
the small country hamlet to large cen
tres. The tree has witnessed all these
changes, has seen the mill standing
near slowly falling into decay, the
population changing, but still the
scythe hangs there, summer and win
ter, mute testimonial to the devotion
to duty that animated young Bliss. His
father, Milton Bliss, was engaged in
building the dam standing by, and
sent his son to cut some briers that
were in the way of stone that were
fbr G,,o,,
scythe was hung on small pine tree
near, probably without a thought of
how long it would remain there.
In day or two Augustus Bliss went
to the front, having enlisted for q
three years term of service in the
army some time previous. The young
soldier never came back. He was but
Is years old when he enlisted, Aug. 4,
1862, i'm Company H, Thirty-sixth
Massachusetts Regiment. While with
his regiment in the South, he was over
taken by fatal illness, and died in an
army hospital at Mildale, Miss. The
of his contracting dis
ease were very sad. He had gone to
get water for his comrades, and his
company had orders to march while he
was gone. He tried to overtake them,
and the Oyer-exertion was more than
he could stand, and he was taken i'll
with fever before he had been in bat
tie. He was not brought home for
burial, but his name is on the roll of
honor on the soldiers monument at
Orange.
In all these years no one has med
died with the scythe. 1t has hung there
a symbol and visible reminder to his
father of his sons devotion to duty.
AS the tree grew, the scythe has be-
come embedded in the wood, until it is
a part of the tree. The snath, which
has been forced off. the scythe by the
growing tree, is supported in it's origl-
nal position by a small framework.
The woodwork of the tholes has yield
ed to- the action of the elements and
fallen away. Around the tree which
is probably little over a foot in dia-
meter at it's base has been erected
railing. (Mass.) Republi-
can.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04

An cnterprising Philadelphia restaur-
ant proprietor hung out large black
board sign the other day with the fol-
lowing announcement: you can't
beat our fifteen cent dinners" This
sign proved to be good drawing card
until a young man of humorous turn of
mind came along. The latter, seeing
the sign. stopped, and, after scrutin-
izing it closely, smiled one of those
smiles which bode no one any good.
He waited until none of the employees
were watching, and, taking out his
handkerchief, he erased the letter SD"
from the word beat" The transfer
nation was complete. and it was not
until a crowd had collected that the
proprietor of the restaurant discovered
why there was larger crowd outside
than inside.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04
Winding the Baby.

Everybody said he was a very nice
baby, he was so plump and fat and
rosy checked, while his blue eyes were
as lovely as forgetmenots. He was a
nice baby when he was good, but he
was horrid when he was bad. And on
these occasions Dorothy Dean was
usually his nurse to bring back his
good temper.
This she very willingly did for a
little while, but then her arms grew
tired and she thought some one else
ought to have a share of the burden.
Fortunately baby would often lie quiet
ly in his cradle as Dorothy hummed a
little song to lull him to sleep. One
day when she had just succeeded in
placing him in Sunderland, where all
good babies should go several times a
day, she read for q little while in her
fairy book, and then the volume
dropped to the floor, and she wandered
away into dreamland.
1t was a beautiful country; every
thing was there that everybody wanted.
There We're lovely trees laden with
fruit-apples, pears, oranges and pine
apples, CONNECTIONS of every kind and
taste, lovely dresses and hats, beauti-
full birds with wonderful feathers, some
of them, as they flew along, resembling
a streak of sunshine in a dark room.
There were lovely dells and glens, with
ferns and flowers, with. such beautiful
perfume lading the air that one seemed
to be walking inside great prefumery
factory.
But as the day wore on she felt that
absence of something from this won
derful country. What could it possibly
be? There were plenty of food, plenty
of water to drink, splendid air, clear
sunshine, and yet there was a void in
Dorothy's heart. What could it be? All!
She suddenly remembered. She could
find no babies In dreamland!
Dorot,y csaa felt sad. She was
about to cry, when Of sudden she
thought she heard the sound of angels
feet treading the grassy pathway. They
came nearer and nearer, and in another
moment she had left dreamland and
travelled back to workaday world, and
there, in the doorway Of her own home,
stood her brother Dick, with his sister
behind him, holding in his hand beau
tiful bunch of flowers that they had
gathered for dear Dorothy, who was
Winding the baby.
And En9re in the cradle was baby
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04
HE omNlvERous OSTRICH.
Canadian Soldiers In South Africa Have
Sport With Them.

In the part of South Africa which
has been the seat of the war between
the British and the Beers, there are
many ostrich-farms. 1t is thinly
settled country, for the most part bare
and comparatively unproductive. AS
the ostrich-farmers often leave their
fiocks to. subsist on whatever they can
pick up. and as an ostrich will pick
up anything that is not too large for
him to swallow, the advent of the
British and Boer forces, with the
chance which it gave at the leavings
of the camps, was great boon to the
ostriches.
A soldier correspondent of Cana
dian paper, with the first Canadian
contingent sent to South Africa, sent
home long account of the amusing
features of the campaign, before the
hard fighting began. Among these
amusing features he classed the
ostrich first of all.
At Belmont a flock of ostriches
came roaming into the camp. The
Canadians had never before seen these
birds on their native heath. They
were tame, and were much ON the look
out for rations. The Canadians had
heard of the digestion of an ostrich
and resolved to. test it.
One of the men threw the foremost
ostrich bar of soap. The ostrich
swallowed it, and looked for more An
other man tossed out a matchbox.
The ostrich swallowed that, and
looked pleased. An empty jam-tin fol-
lowed, and the bird ate that
81 wonder would he eat cartridges?'
said an Irish member of the contin-
gent.
No one ventured to violate regula-
tons or waste ammunition by trying
the experiment, but suddenly an out
cry was raised among the soldiers
near. While the attention of the men
had been centred on the bird which
was swallowing match-b boxes, soap and
jam-tiQs, another hungry bird had en-
tered a tent and was actually engaged
in eating brass-headed cartridges out
of the bandoleers! Still another was
picking the brass buttons one by one
off suit Of clothes.
The mems brass rifle-sights seemed
also to be regarded as dainty It'd
bit.
All the ostriches had particularly
long and naked necks. The soldier
wanderers from the far north noticed
that any bulky object which an ostrich
swallowed went down his throat SO
near to the skin that it's descent could
be plainly seen all the way.
So the soldiers stood about in a
group, throwing bits of all kinds of re-
fuse to a particularly long -necked
ostrich. He swallowed one bit after
another with lightning speed and then
stood up straight, while the soldiers
laughed till they could hardly breathe
to see the objects chase one another
down the four feet of neck.
AS the ostriches helped themselves
to many useful and needed articles as
well as to the refuse of the camp, it
soon became necessary to refuse them
admission to the camp. But before
they were banished an untoward ac-
for the ostriches on
ly-deprived two Of the big birds Of
life.
They were cut up and eaten by the
Canadians, who found them very good,
the flesh resembling beef both in ap-
pearance and taste.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04
Origin Of Camp Meetings.

In 1899 John and William Magee,
brothers, the first a Methodist To-
cal preacher, the second a Presby-
terrain minister, started from their set
Elements in Tennessee to make a
preaching tour into Kentucky. Such
interest attended their work that at
the next meeting many families en-
camped in the woods. The co-opera-
tioa of these brothers was so pleasing
an example of fraternity that the earli-
est camp meeting included members of
every denomination.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04

speeches. admiration by any one for
tunate enough to find one. The pleas
ure of watching the diminutive mother
on such nest was mine just once, and
never shall l forget it.-New York Tri-
bune.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04

sleeping soundly, ana Dorothy was so
thankful to see baby once more, be-
cause she thought of the dreamland
country where she had wandered
where there was none.-Trenton IN. j.
American
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04

(. 1t has been calculated that a mini
mum pressure of the finger of one
quarter of pound is needed to sound
note on the piano. and that at times
force of five pounds is thrown on a
single key to produce a single effect.
Chopin's last study IN c minor has a
passage, taking two minutes and five
seconds to play, that requires total
pressure estimated at three full tons.
Descendants of the missionaries in
the Hawaiian Islands constitute about
1-20th Of the white population, excla-
sive of the Portuguese.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04
Double Daily Trains
Fast Time
Close Connections.

Through Pullman Palace Sleepera
hstwesn New. Orleans and Memphis,
Kansas City, st. Louis and Chicago
without change, making direct eonnec-
lions with frst-olass lines to all points
The great steel bridge spanning The
Ohio river at Cairo completed, and all
trains freight and passenger) now run.
ning regularly over 1t, tins avoiding the
delays and annoyance incident to trans
Tor by ferry boat
4. 81. HANSON. Gen. T ; Agk,
Chicago.
In. 4. 6oorI. n =. A. NenvhlA
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY.

United States Senators.
:. D McEnery, term expiring on the 4th OF
March, 1900.
Don Gallery, term expiring on the 4th OF
March, 1901.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-10-19

New York. Oct ig-Murphy a GO. say;
The stock market opened active and with
declines extending from u 10 = point ap-
pearing throughout the general llst The
Industrial quarter furnished a few excep-
tions 10 the general tendency OF the mar
ket American Smelling and Nation
Tube being particularly strong. Sugar re-
filming on the other hand declined rather
rapidly and for the most part the indus
trial quarter moved with the remainder Of
the market In the railway list. the aciii .
features were Union Pacific. Missouri Pa
ciac. Southern Railway. preferred. Penn
sylvania and 81 Paul. OF these stocks
Southern Railway preferred. was the
frmest and elsewhere IN the railway Hat
Lake Erie and Western and Atch son.
preferred. were fairly well supported The
local traction group was only moderately
active and was frmer than the railway
list. particularly for Manhattan Railway
London furnished materially lower
range Of prices for American stocks and
foreign houses sold quite actively here
upon the opening OF business. These cir
cumstancea contributing 20 the markets
early tendency there was very ltfe IN
either direction ana The trading b. best
understood along the technical lines tina
have prevailed throughout the week.
New York Central strong buying under
stood 10 be- Cor Wander biit Interest Eject
rest Of large Interests in result shown.
Federal Steel Etrong on reports further
orders Tor rails. over twenty traders go
un Brooklyn Rapid Transit Io'al sales
to-day t5i2f shares.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-10-19
COTTON LETTERS.

New York. Oct ls.-Murphy g. Co. say:
Cotton in Liverpool closed i-eid above YES
terday on October delivery: later positions
2-6t 10 s-Cid down The early advlces from
Liverpool were better than expected.
whi. D. with buying orders from that quar-
Ter. caused prices here 20 improve 10 to
% points before 1880 q. m. after which
the market quickly declined about Is
points on rather general selling at noon
ssood steadisr at about points below yes
terdays closing quotations. White frost
was reported this morning r. some sec
tons OF the Carolinas.
New York oct. ls-Hubbard Bros. & Co
say: a light frost was reported IN North
and South Carolina along the line OF the
Coast Line Railroad and stimulated Liver
pool after the opening. while che nearby
positions in Liverpool were advanced on
the monthly manipulation. Our market
opened steady az To points advance.
and then broke slowly 10 points below
last evening on Southern selling from al
Their sections OF the cotton belt. October
was especially weak on Liverpool selling
out their holdings OF this position. which
they were expected to receive. Heavy re-
ccipts and this Southern selling were
more than the local trade could digest
though they bought on the frost dis
patches. with tho exception Of these frost
reports crop accounts from other sections
show an Improvement
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-10-19

opened steady with prices 10 poIsts
higher. Liverpoors strength at the time
Of our opening was In excess Of ide1s
based on yesterdays rise here. and became
the motive for hasty covering on The part
OF local shorts. Foreign buying orders
and investment support also were prori-
ntnt The buying did not cease with the
adjournment Of the call aud the tone OF
the market improved accordingly. The
bulls bought the winter months with
great confidence Before the Close Of the
hrst hour, however. there was marked
change for the worse. and Ia much less
time than they mad advanced. prices de-
clined - points under a rush to son hy
nearly every branch of the uade The
decline was due 20 sudden reaction in
Liverpool due e. couiTadic ion from this
side of frcst reports. The government
chart did not show frost In the belt Re
ceipis ore about up 90 expectations, the
crop reports were generally favorable. and
crop estimates continued TO broaden. Put
before midday the market once more lie
came hrm. and advanced quite rapidly on
a renewal a early covering and fresh
buying Cor outside account. Spccia, tcie-
grams from Washir gton stated that heavy
frost had made It's appearance last night
IN seversl parts OF the Clroliuas and Il was
this news that gave the market strength
which held sway pretty much during the
rest Of the session. Just before the close
a squirt u local selling carried prices
down several poiEtA The market closed
barely steady at net loss Of TO II
points. latter OF October only.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-10-19
NANAL sTOREs.

Thursday. Oct. Is
SPIRITS TURPENTINE.- turpen.
tine market oreued arm to-day at 30 cents
with sales Of 20 casks az this price and
closed firm. NJ 39is cents. with further
ssles Of TO casks while the demand was
not Of q rushing nature, IL was suffcient
10 maintain tho price throughout the
day There was enough inquiry 20 con
vince factors that 80 would probably be
well enough 20 hold on without making
any concessions A. q was few factors
we're relieved Of their entire offer
inas.. The jump Of cent
above yesterday seems 20 have been
littie more than buyers care 10 pay AMI
Ire chances are they will hesitate about
taking anything az long as there Is any
probability OF getting IN on n lower basis
Unless there Is considerable dcman
for prompt shipment. the chances are She
price NAV he forced down before Hn'
great amount 81 business e. done. tn
day's receipts were 1910. ard the eXportf
none.
RosINs. The advance in resins. as
shown hv the suhioined prices. was the
feature o. yesterday markets. lt has
hcan known Tor the past day or go that
rosius we're IN stronger position, ana zoe
demand for them explains The advance
prices The DAY IN this market was char-
acterized by activity. and closed with
GOOD transactions reported a. the open
ing call window glass and II. !. X. NJ
ana y. went up 10 cents. and y. +. + am
q ave cents. with sales OF 2.e22 AZ these
prices. and M the closing call r. l. ana
k inmped I'VE cents with further sales
~ SO barrels Tho days receipts were
3. 49, and the exports 275o. Prices as FOL