davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28
He Crushed the Heck,er..

The man who asks questions and IN
sists on their being answered is ia
miliar presence at all party meetings.
He is known as the heckler The speak
er is not allowed to disregard him. II
statement is disputed, 1t is the ora
tors place to make it good. Any men,
Der Of the audience may rise to his
feet and shout out contradiction
whenever he feels like it, and by the
custom of English public life the
speaker is expected to make some re-
ply on the spot.
Mr.. Chamberlain was always q dan
gerous man to cross in debate but the
personal feeling against him was SO
bitter for years after his withdrawal
from the ranks of the separatists that
many an unhappy man was driven to
tilt against his shield. 1t was delicious
to watch Mr.. Chamberlain's handling
of the situation. He would pause when
the interruption grew serious and give
the heckler chance to make himself
well heard. Now if you will allow
me will ask that gentleman to get
upon chair that we may all have the
pleasure Of seeing him." A dozen anx-
ious hands would hoist the objector in
/ to unwelcome prominence. "Now.
sir" came the clear, passionless voice,
will you kindly speak up? I should
be sorry If any one missed what you
have to say"
The heckler, now quite unnerved,
would stammer out something, and
Mr.. Chamberlain, listening with ma
licious smile, would quietly readjust
his eyeglass and, turning to the au-
dience, fling out a reply-cool, cutting
and decisive.-Sydney Brooks in Har-
per's Magazine,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28
DON'T PICK A FOOL FOR A
FARMER.

If the man on the farm can take one
Of his three boys and SO train him that
such a boy will become a good farmer
and be willing to take up the work on
the old farm when the time comes,
the father will do pretty well. 1t is
not best to try to keep all the boys on
the farm, even If it could be done, and
the farmer should sort his boys over
and decide as best he may which Of
them is best fitted for farm work. The
others he should not hold tight down
at farm work, with only limited op-
portunities for an education, until they
are Of age, but should try to give them
chance when they are Is to work out
their own salvation on other lines, with
such aid as the father may be able
or willing to give them. Bright farm
boys are wanted as the best raw ma
terial obtainable out of which to make
good merchants, professional men and
statesmen. Now, in sorting the boys
over, don't take the dullest and stupid
| est one of the lot to make farmer
of. Put that fellow where he can get a
salary and where some one else will
have to do his thinking for him. The
brightest boy of the three is none too
good to educate and train for the fu-
| ture farmer.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28
AS TO BELGIAN HAREs.

The Belgian hare craze is spreading
far and wide and it will not be long
until nearly every community will
have some one or more persons en-
gagged in the business. So many ex-
travagant and foolish stories have
been set afloat about this animal and
the profits connected with raising it
that one hardly knows what to believe.
The truth Is that the Belgian hare is
easily raised and cared for; that it's
pelt has but nominal value Of a few
cents; that its flesh is superior to that
of the rabbit and is not only whole.
some, but is really delicacy; that il
is remarkably prolific, one doe produc.
ing as many as 40 young in a year;
that raising them is more profitable
business than is the poultry business
and that set Of sharpers are working
the public with the pedigreed and i'm.
ported stock.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28
CREAMERY BEGINNINGS.

When in the year 1872 John Stewart
got his neighbors to send in their milk
to a central point where it could be
made into butter, he originated the
creamery idea. When the butter so
made took the first prize at the Phila-
delphia exposition, the dairymen of
the east were given the surprise of
their lives. From that small beginning
has grown the creamery interests sof
the great west, represented by close to
1000 creameries in Iowa and several
hundred in each Of the adjoining
states. Whitney, when he invented the
cotton gin, hardly did grander work
for America.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

Said Ezekiel R. Hampton having mol
life right in this society.
And the writer took much pleasure
in congraulating Mr.. Hampton on be-
ing legally entitled to belong to this
august and honorable body. His name
had been sent to the president for this
state, and in few days he would
doubtless be heard from. Thus through
no fault Of their own had come to these
brave souls the hard task of bearing
bitter disappointment.
The president was heard from. So-
ciety documents of all sorts poured I'M
upon Ezra until in a few weeks he had
received as much mail as had come to-
Him before in as many years. The vii
lage postmaster and Hannah could
scarcely keep up with it.
OF course, Ezra became a member.
His faithful wife would permit nothing
else. And, of course, too, he attended
the annual dinner. And in hearing of
the glories of that festive occasion Mrs.
Hampton found some slight compen-
sation for the loss of the expected
wealth and official position. With brave
heart she tried to bring her husband
to the same opinion.
II don't know, Ezra, but it's most az
good as being mayor; there's less care,
| and it's ever 80 much more high
toned"
| And Ezra would answer submissive-
| ly: "Yes, s'pose so, but / did want
that Aldurney."
Ezra's inheritance, however, had no
light influence on the people of Rural
ton. For as soon as it was noised
abroad they straightway began al
search for warlike ancestors. Fortu-
nately he had no rival as member of the
| o. O. S. Admission to the body was too,
| difficult.
1t seemed as If the whole population
of the colony must have served itin the
early days, SO many grandfathers were
found who had held office, while sons
and daughters Of the revolution were
discovered IN every household.
Family crests were unearthed, or
made to order. Rusty sabers and moth
eaten army saddles were hung in many
a hall. And the envied of all was
summer traveller, who returned from
her trip, ito the other side" with
photograph of an English estate which
she proudly exhibited as her family
homestead.
So,though Ezra inheritance brought
| disappointment to him and his brave
wife, it came as blessing to the peo-
pie of Ruralton, for. without it they
might have never known the pleasure
of seeking and finding illustrious for
] Boston Globe.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28
this letter till tomorrow; it's time VI

this letter till tomorrow; it's time We
were abed."
On the following day the rusty pen
was again brought into use, and am
other letter of Grabbed characters
found its way to the lawyers Office.
accepting his terms. And the waiting
time began.
1t is curious to note what effect even
the probability of wealth has on the,
average mind. Ezra Hampton was
above the average, so he pursued the
even tenor of his way, and performed /
his duties as faithfully as though
"UnlSle Zeke's" thousands had never
been heard of. y
Not SO his wife Hannah; mindful of
her coming greatness, it was impossi-
| BILE for her not to show it. She took
on superior tone with her neighbors,
and limited, at coming changes; for
so repeatedly had Ezra charged her
to keep the good news secret until
they surely knew the result that She
dare not enlarge on it as she would
have liked.
Why should she buy round steak
when soon unlimited wealth would be
hers? So she ordered choice bits with
wise nod of her head and remark
that her money was as good as other
folks.
The people of her little world won
dered why Hanna Hampton acted SOL
important, and Ezra mildly remon-
strated, assuring her bird'in the hand
was worth two in the bush. But she
silenced him by saying that did not
mean when you was going to get the
whole bush, too.
Dayshad grown int weeks and weeks,
into months when the decisive answer,
came. Again Mrs. Hampton leaned over
her husbands shoulder, with joyous
anticipations of the wealth soon to be-
theirs. But the words were hard to-
comprehend.
There was little doubt that the prop
erty really belonged to them, but so;
many papers were missing and the rec
ords had been so neglected that no
proof could be brought. Almost end-
less litigation would probably be the
result of any effort to reclaim the,
land. So it would perhaps be as well to
drop the matter.
In these researches, however, they
had made another discovery. Ezekiel
H. Hampton had been a colonel in the
revolutionary army and had been en-
rolled as member of the Original OFF,
GERS, q society composed of officers
who had served in that war. Each
member paid certain amount to per-
petuate the association. Membership
was to descend in the direct male line.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

OF his gray charger, already so near
that he was shouting to the sergeant
in the lead. By this time, too, that vet
cram trooper, with the quick sense of
duty that seemed to inspire the war
time sergeant, had jumped his little
column front into line" to meet the
unseen danger; SO that now, with car
bines advanced, some thirty blue jack
cts were aligned in the loose fighting
order of the prairies in front of the
foremost wagon. The sight of the dis
tant officer and men tumbling hur-
riedly to one side, out of the way pre-
sumably of some swiftly-coming peril,
acted like magic on the line. Carbines
were quickly brought to ready, the
gun locks cracking in chorus as the
horses pranced and snorted. But it
had varying effect on the occupants
of the leading wagon. The shout of
Indians from Bryan's lips, the sight
of scurry on the ridge ahead brought
the engineer and aid.,de-camp SPRING
ing out, rife in hand, to take their
manly part in the coming fray. 1t
should have brought Maj. Burleigh too,
but that appropriately named non
combatant never showed outside. An
instant more and to the sound of rising
thunder, before the astonished eyes of
the cavalry line there burst into view.
full tear for safety, the uncouth. yet
marvelously swift-running leaders of
the little herd. The whole dozen came
flying across the sky line and down
the gentle slope, heading we'll around
to the left of the line of troopers, while
sticking to their TANKS like red net
ties half dozen warriors rode like
the wind on their nimble ponies, crack
ing away with revolver or rifle in saw
age joy in the glorious sport. Toe
much for Burleigh's nerve was the
combination of sounds, thunder OF
! hoofs and sputter of shots, for when 4
cheer of sympathetic delight went up
from the soldier line at the sight or the
chase, and the young engineer sprang
| to the door of the ambulance to help
| the major out, he found him limp and
| CHASTITY heap, quivering with terror in
| the bottom of the wagon, looking for
| all the world as if he were trying to
crawl under the seat.
| (To be ContinuedL
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The corn fodder problem is of vastly
more interest just now to the average
farmer of the corn belt than Is the Chi
nese question or who shall be elected to
office this fall. The corn fodder Is 60
ing to be needed this coming winter as
never before. The season in which to
secure it at its best is very short; there
may be three weeks in which to do it.,
and there may not be more than three
or four days. Don't put off the job
till the frost comes; If you do, half the
value Of the fodder is gone. When the
ear is we'll in the dough. the husks
turning yellow and the stalk and the
leaves still green as ever, then cut the
crop. Hay will sell for good price
this year. Feed the corn fodder and
sell the hay.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The fertility Of the soil, like good
health, is always easier to maintain
when possessed than restored when
lost. AS q matter Of fact, there is no
one thing which should be more closely
watched by the possessor Of fertile
farm than this of the conservation of
its fertility. Under sensible and in.
telligent method Of farming the land
should never grow less fertile, but
rather better year by year. Rotation
of crops, clover and the conversion aof
the crops raised into either dairy or
meat products on the farm are three
agencies which will keep the fertility
of the soil intact. We know that this
is old fashioned doctrine, but it is like
the Ten Commandments as applied tc
moral living.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

1t is safe to say that Wealthy apple
tree will produce for 20 years after it
begins to bear an average Of one barrel
Of choice apples each year. This fruit
will seldom sell for less than 81 on the
tree, and If placed in cold storage and
marketed in the spring will more often
bring So. One hundred trees will grow
on one acre. In what manner could a
small farm be more proftably used
than to plant Wealthy orchard ?
Figure 1t out and see.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

An unknown and very late variety
OF Americana plum, loaded with fruit
not quite ripe, was caught by severe
freeze the last of September last year
In the writer's orchard and the fruit
frozen solid on the tree. The plums
were picked the next morning and
placed in a pail OF cold water and were
at once incased in covering of ice.
These plums, later canned, were the
best Of any put up that year. The frost
removed every particle of pucker and
nstringency from them.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

to the halted troop and to the occu-
pants of the ambulance, whose eager
heads could be seen poked out at the
side doors of the leading vehicle, as
though watching for the cause of the
sudden halt.
And then thing happened that at
least one man saw and fortunately
remembered later. Bryan, the trum-
peter, with jabbing heels and tapping
arms, was tearing back toward the
troop at the moment at the top speed
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

We are asked by a farmer what
right che government has to send a
census man to stick his nose into all
the private business of body, our
friend contending that the right of the
government ceases when 1t has count
ed noses and crops. Government makes
its own rights in such case and, asking
no odds Of any citizen, proposes to
know all about him. Some of the in.
formation demandede seems imperti-
,nent almost and is sought, we suppose,
for the sole reason that 1t may have
some bearing upon the vital statistics
of the country at large.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

A lady friend of ours ordered a
climber for her porch from the agent
of foreign nursery company and paid
dollar for it. 1t came all right and
lived, but she could have gone down by
the fence around the orchard and got
hundreds just like it for nothing, for it
was only common Virginia creeper
sold to her under it's botanical name.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The old problem Of whether it is bet
ter to thrash the small grain from the
shock or stack it and thrash later
on is up again as usual. The man who
can get in at the head Of the procession
will make money to thrash from the
shock, while the tail end fellow won't.
This states the case just as it is.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

War very sensibly affects the price
of meats. 1t may be said that if the
Chicago packing houses were to quit
business men would have to quit fight
ing in Africa, China and elsewhere.
America is the only country which can
supply large quantities of prepared
meats, and the bulk of this business is
done in Chicago and Kansas City.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

At this stage of the game it is only
10 pounds of graduated sugar for 81
when we might get 20 il we would
only take up the beet sugar business
as we might. When this country gets
to making its own sugar, trusts will
no more be able to control the price Of
sugar than they can the price of cotton
Or corn.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

There is nothing in the present out
look to indicate much lower prices for
ANY kind of meat products. In fact, it
is pretty safe to say that the man who
feeds 25 cent corn to hogs, beeves,
sheep or poultry will get so cents or
more for it year to come.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

This seasons cotton crop is not a
promising one. In fact, the government
estimate of the crop places it as the
poorest ever known. The increased
acreage Of this staple will not offset
the prospective low yield.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

Look out for the model orchard"
fruit tree peddler. We have known
lots Of those model orchards to be
set out, but never knew of one to be
anything else than rank fizzle.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

A Boston man named Lawson was
dubbed as crazy year ago for pay
ing the large sum Of $4,000 for a
new carnation to be named after him.
He was not SO very crazy after all, for
he has sold enough Of the plants prop
agated to return him the cost of the
original investment and $4,000 be-
sides.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

AS milk producing ration we have
nothing on the farm which beats the
cured corn plant, either as dry fodder
right from the shock or as ensilage
or shredded stalks Where corn will
grow, there is really no use in fussing
with any other forage plant. 1t fills
the bill.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

Lord Bacon, who wrote about almost
everything under the sun, in his quaint
way made some mistakes, as might be
expected. For instance, in writing Of
the periods of CESSATION in different
animals, he says that the cow carries
her calf for a period of six months.
One would think that the old fellow
would have known better than this.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

We know of some men who are sub
stituting the Tamworth for the Poland
China hog on the ground that the Tam
worth is more immune from attacks of
cholera than the Poland China. This
: is without doubt mistake. Our OBJ
servation. running over several years,
leads us to the opinion that breed is no
protection whatever in securing i'm
munity from hog cholera
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The average hired man on the farm
costs the man who hires him about
S400 year. Some cost more, but few
less. In the grain and corn growing
sections of the country it will, one year
with another, take the gross product of
40 acres of land to support this hired
man.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The good quality Of a cheese de-
ponds three-fourths upon the quality
Of the milk from which it is made and
one-fourth upon the skill of the cheese
maker. Poor milk never can be made
into good cheese.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The pulp from the sugar beet factory
can be pressed and dried when it will
keep for an indefinite length of time
and makes very valuable ration for
the dairy herd.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The interior department is enforcing
its order requiring the removal OF all
fences from government land This
order is troubling some of the big
ranch owners who have large tracts
of government land fenced in.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The acre Of good land which pro.
duces one and half tons of tim
iothy hay would, if put into crop of
fodder corn, produce three times as
much Of a very much better milk
producing food.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The sign Rain Wanted" which for
30 long has been hung up in the west
has been taken down. Not for many
years has the earth been SO we'll soak
ed during the midsummer days as this
year
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

A tree which deserves more atten-
ton than it receives is the Eastwood
or linden. But few trees excel it as a
shade tree. Its foliage is almost trop-
ical in appearance; it is always clean
and free from vermin; 1t is as hardy
as any tree we have. and its bloom
Is exceedingly fragrant and a choice
honey producer. 1t Is not an easy
tree to transplant and get started, the
young trees being hard to find in the
woods. but when once well started it
is q rapid grower and in every way de-
sirable as a shade tree.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The sweetest peaches, the most lus-
cious grapes, the most toothsome APP
pies and plums are very rarely the
largest ones. Where nature gives size,
she almost always does it at the ex-
pense of quality.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28
Dress.

Some women in this world have d
new gown every other week, while
there are other women who esteem
themselves lucky If once in three
months they get chance to look
through fashion magazine.-Somer-
vile (Mass.) Journal.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

A western railway company 20 years
ago planted larch trees along the unoc-
cupied portion Of Its right of way with
the idea that such trees would serve to
prevent the snow from filing the cuts
and also perhaps with the thought
that some day the trees might be util-
lied as timber for ties. We saw these
trees a few days ago. They were not
a success in either of the lines indicat-
ed. The soil was sterile, and the trees
had evidently been dwarfed for want
Of sufficient moisture. Being scrubby,
they would never make material for a
tie, and the snow fence placed each
year behind them was evidence that
they were failure as snow protectors.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

II you want a clover pasture for use
next year, pillow up field and SOW it
to rye in September, then SOW the
clover just before the snow leaves next
spring. Turn the stock in on the rye,
and by the time they have the rye
eaten up the clover will be ready for
them
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

1t will soon be time to decide what
plants you want for winter blooming.
We will suggest just two-one, free
sias, which with just ordinary care
will give great satisfaction; the other,
sweet peas, planting a few seeds in
a pot this month for winter blooming.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

We believe that the time has now
come when there can be nothing new
developed in the way Of rascality and
cussedness in the matter Of adulter-
ating milk.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The disposition to steal apples is a
clear case of heredity. If Adam, fresh
made from the hands Of the Lord, could
not let the apples alone, much less the
small boy of today.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

4 The newspapers of this country use
timber each year sufficient to make
6,000,000,000 cubic feet of lumber No
wonder the forests are going.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The wheat crop of 1900 for this coun.
try is placed at not far from 5OO,OOO,OOO
bushels, a yield which assures good
price for the crop.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28

The United States never coined gold
pieces of higher denomination than
$50. Some years ago jeweler at San
Francisco struck gold pieces of the
value Of $50, but that was on private
account.