davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
Alex surpriscd Them.

Alexander Macarthur. author OF
successful study OF life In the Latin
quarter OF Paris. which brought 10 the
writer both popularity and profit. is
also the pupil and biographer Of Ru-
binstein. The author lived for two
years In 81. Petersburg. corresponding
for the London press and taking part
In some thrilling adventures. but the
most singular Of the writer's expert
ences happened IN Chicago after the
novel had been brought out by q pub
Usher of that city. The book had been
so successful that the publisher decid-
ed To give the author a dinner. 10 which
n dozen OF the leading men OF letters
In the lake city were Invited. The
guests had assembled when the author
was announced.
Through the blue haze OF smoke
there appeared n handsome young wo-
man attired In evening dress.
"We are expecting Mr.. Macarthur"
said the host. "Mr. Alexander Mac
Arthur. the novelist"
80 understand" returned the un-
expected guest. Il am Alexander Mac
Arthur"
Your gasped the publisher.
"Yes. Didn'. you know? | am LII
Ian Macarthur, at your service. |
have been writing over the name OF
Alexander ever since | left my home
In Dublin"
II was only the work Of minute 10
rcarrange matters, and the dinner was
n great success. - Saturday Evening
Post
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
NUMBER 20.
shattered Din monds.

"Under certain conditions, which are
very rare and remarkable" said an old
jeweler, "a diamond may be shattered
TO atoms by smart. sudden blow. The
stone seems to disintegrate and fy
apart. rs nearly as / can express II,
and when the Kimberley gems first
came into the market the Brazilian
brokers claimed that they were espe-
eIally subject 10 that kind OF accident
For the time being the story had It's
effect on trade. but IL was proved TO be
untrue. and the incident is now forgot
ten. In the course OF an experience OF
nearly 40 years have known OF only
two cases OF diamonds being broken.
lone occurred many years ago, when
was working In shop In the old
Reid House in Chattanooga A lady
customer dropped a cluster brooch
from the counter to the tiled floor. a
distance Of about 3ia feet. II struck
squarely on the center stone, which
was broken into number OF small, ir-
regular fragments. The diamond had
weighed about two carats.
The other instance took place here
In New Orleans about six years ago.
A ST. Louis travelling man named
Crawford had solitaire weighing ~
carats set In n ring. He was standing
In the store and while conversIng about
something made a sudden gesture and
struck the stone against metal FIX
ture. II was split into small. Jagged
splinters, a number Of which We found
OF top OF the showcase. The drummer
himself was the most astonlshed man
ever saw. He had supposed dia-
monds were indestructible simply be-
cause they were bard."-New Orleans
Times Democrat.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
The Captnin's Distinction.

On one OF "Old Hoss" Hoey's trips
across the Atlantic the steamer, nov
Ing slowly along in n dense fog ut
about 3 o'clock In the morning. struck
on the rocks of Fastnet. the light not
being visible. Fortunately, nothing
more than scare for the passengers
resulted. Everybody was soon on deck
except HOey who had been having a
hilarious tine the night before and had
slept all through the trouble. One OF
his friends sent a steward for him. and
at last he appeared, still trlae befog-
ged. When the facts were explained
to him. he joined fervIdly in an inn
promptu praise service which the pas
sengers were holding.
Finally there came lull In the pro-
ceedings. and "Old HOss' took advan-
tage OF It to propose three cheers and
a tiger for the captain. This PROPOSE
ton caused much astonishment. and
some one ventured TO ask on what
grounds he based the proposed honor
to the captain.
Drawing himself up 20 h's full height
"Old Hoss" replied impressiyely. "On
the ground that he is the only man
sailing the Atlantic ocean who could
have hit that Internal rock without a
nghtv'-San Francisco Argonaut
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
ABOUT THE STATE.

Who can blame that Brunswick girl
for breaking her engagement because the
Young man declared another girl was
''prettier and sxeeter than any June
rose"?
The trial of Frederick Reynolds of
Red Beach for the murder of his wife
and child was very short, and the ex-
pected verdict was reached Of not guilty
by reason Of insanity. The mans actions
were so plainly those of IN insane per-
son that no other result was looked for.
The board Of trustees and faculty Of
Bates College have decided the recent
competition for the college library, and
bids will be invited Immediately. The
plans present monumental edifice to b.
erected of granite of light color, and OF
Harvard or some dark red. irregulsrly
burned brick, laid up In Flemish band
with black headers, and wide, deeply
rsked-Out joints, set 10 dark green
cement mortar. The roof is to be oi
copper or slate Of warm color.
Brunswick is probably the first munic.
ipality In the United States to under.
take forest planting on large scale, oI
what is practically the Old World insti
tuition Of town forest. The town owns
tract of about 1000 acres Of what wal
once pine land. but which was long since
given over to nre and huckleberries. A,
recent town meeting 900 were appro
| priated to improve this lrnd by planting
Il 70 white pine. Seed will be purchas
ed, and nursery established to raise tn
young trees, and then at the right ags
these trees will be trsnsplanted to tht
positions they will hnally occupy on tha
now desert tract, aud will then require
little more care except protection from
IRE. The land ID absolutely unproductiv'
] e present.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
A FARMERS sIoNsoARps.

There Is no occupation In which EVIL
dences 0f real success or the reverse are
so patent TO all observers as that OF
farming. The farmer who is prosperous
doesn't have 70 make declarations OF the
fact.
The signboards which testify Of his
success will be- well kept roadsides,
fences In good repsir, thrifty orchards,
washes In fields arrested by proper
means, pastures with abundant grass
growth, but free from weeds, good
grades Of stock, provision for projecting
stock In times Of cold and storm, poul-
try ward and house In condition 70 be
profitable, manure intelligently saved
and wisely used, = good garden spot and
this titled so as 70 make It pay, farm I'm
plements shielded from summers sun
aud winters storm. These sigubosrds
will be read by neighb0rs and the casual
passerby and yet the buildings may not
be pxlstial, though we are heartily In
sympathy with the best farm home that
Can oe provided without mourning debt.
To bring about these unmistskable
evidences Of thrift means exercise OF
Drawn and brain. The latter especially
must be put TO work and worked hard.
Did you know that there are more peo-
pie who are lazy mentally than there are
Of those who are physically lazy? Many
will do, and do II well, a task that has
been all arranged for them, but when
left to Individual resources where the
exercise OF mental powers in forming
plans is demanded such men are utter
failures. The power to formulate wise
plans and to execute them or have them
executed Is business faculty that Is too
often overlooked on the farm. A COM
mercial enterprise would pay what
farmer would regard a. an exorbitapt
salary to man possessing this eeicien-
cy, and yet no business requires II more
than that Of farming Rural World.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
ELASTIC APPOINTMENTS.
Original Way In which an N. {
Pleases His Constituents.

fIeaBen nls Soustttueuss
A noted NJ. c.. familiarly known as
Joe, Is one Of the thriftiest men In con
gress, and the patronage at his disposal
IL made to do effective work In his
home district. Not long ago he re-
quested Of a certain chief In the inte'
rior department an appointment as Ia.
borer for one Of his constituents. The
request was promptly complied with
but. much to the surprise Of the chief
as promptly declined. The menber was
sent for.
What does this meanT demanded
the official. THE man you were SO
urgent to have named as a laborer de-
clines the position"
"Yes. l know" replied the NJ. @. 81
advised him to-"
"You advised him to-" echoed the
chief. What was the matter? gave
you exactly what you asked for
didn't II
YES" responded Joe. Il have nc
fault to find with the appointment
The case Is like this: My constituents
follow me down to Washington hoping
to get soft berths In the government
service. There are q dozen here
now and not places enough to 20
around. I secure the appointment fol
one. he asks my advice, and ! tell him
TO decline; his job at home Is better
SO he goes back satisfied. | appoint
another. He declines at my advice
but he has been paid. he Is fattered
and content. and SO on through the
list. You see. a man learns a thing OF
two after 20 years in Washington. and
I have learned to make one appoint
ment do for dozen supporters. Sat
urday Evening Post.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
A CONFIDENTIAL CASE.
II Brought Oat IN Henest Confessie'
About . stolen Hos.

j
About . Stolen Hos.
at has long been a matter Of argu-
ment." said the old lawyer, who was
In q reminiscent mood, whether q
lawyer should defend a man that he
knows to be guilty. There Is an argu-
ment on both sides, and ! do not sup
pose 1t will ever be settled to the salts
faction Of all.
"a good many years ago had a case
that set me to thinking. and I haven't
yet determined what my duty was In
the matter. At that time had a
small practice In little town In the
western part Of the state. Upon my
return to the town one day. after hav'
Ing been away a few days on matter
OF business, was called upon to de-
fend worthless character who had
been arrested for hog stealing.
AT that time every one kept ut least
one hog to be killed In the fall and
salted down for use In the winter. One
Of my neighbors had butchered hog
few days before. and the party that
| was called upon to defend had been
charged with theft Of II.
"The case was about TO be called
when | arrived. and asked for a lit
tie time In which to consult with my
client. This was granted. and taking
him to one side | said:
Now, see here. the best thing that
you can do Is TO make clean breast
of the affair to me. and then ! will
know just where ! stand. Whatever
you may confess TO me ! will treat as
sacredly confidential. and will do my
best to clear you.
~ didn't steal his hog protested
the prisoner.
"'Then where did you get the car
cass that was found In your posses.
sionT | demanded.
From your back porch. boss he
answered with a grin.
"Then remembered that just before
going away | had left orders to have
my hog killed. and ! could only gasp.
However. l went to work and cleared
my client OF the charge he was under
and took the carcass OF my own hog
az payment for services rendered, but
I had hard work treating what he told
me as sacred and confidential."-De-
troit Free Press.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15

In the agricultural appropriation late
ly made at Washington for the ensuing
year the allowance for the purchase OF
seeds WAS increased to the extent Of
$40, 900 so that upward Of $4,000 will
be spent by the Secretary Of Agriculture
for free distribution when he next buys
for that purpose. A petition signed by
225 Congressman caused the increase.
The total amount Of money appropriated
by Congress for the Agricultural De-
psrtment is S4,ll6, 400, or e339,77S more
than for the present season. In addition
TO the $4,000 increase for the purchase
of seeds for free distribution, S60, 900 was
added for the construction Of warning
signal towers for the Weather Bureau,
s3S, 600 for a quarantine station at New
York, $47, 900 for additional meat inspec-
ton and S20, 900 for laboratory build
ing at Washington. One additional
biologist and one botanist have been al
lowed the department.-Maine Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
SOME THINGS IT WON'T PAY TO DO

The following are some OF the things
II is not profitable for the farmer TO do
He should not try 10 farm without ma
nure, aud should not plant more acres
than he can take good care OF. He
should not work with old and poor tools
nor SOW uuclean seed. He must no,
keep poor stock, asa poor COW eats ss
much as good one. He should no,
buy at public sales what Is not needed
simply because II sells cheap. Hogs,
sheep and cattle should not be allowed
To wander at their will over their owner;
and the neighbors' premises. The barn
yard should not drsin into the pnblic
road nor into stream, rs Is often the
case. Cattle should not be allowed n
eat fodder from the stack; it saves liz.
tie labor, but waste will make the farmer
poor. To leave tools OF any kind lying
out in the weather or tO put them away
uncleaned Is bad practice. Cattle must
not be- turned out on TO bare fields In
cold weather. An orchard should moi
be- planted and the cattle allowed tC
browse the trees. Vacant places should
not be left In young orchard, mol
should a young orchard remain In grass
too long. or course, all farmers know
weeds should not be allowed 10 occupy
any portion of the farm, and bushes
should not occupy several rods Of ground
along the fence or road. Ii Is a thought
less and very dangerous thing for 4
farmer TO put his name on any pspel
presented by stranger. IL is careless
TO buy trees Of perfect stranger, also
groceries and such articles as are easily
adulterated. Nine times out OF ten ont
will be cheated by 30 doing. Buy o.
your home merchandise. w. Clark, IL
Prairie Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
MARKETING FRUIT.

Ii is one thing TO raise fruit; 1t Is
quite as important that IL be we'll
sold. No better returns from labor In
volved or money invested than from
raising apples, provided the needed Guilt
vstion is given. But the apples after
grown and harvested must be sold for
all there is In them In order to return a
compensation to the grower. In years
OF large crops the inferior fruit should
never 90 on the market TO be handled 10
its natural condition by the trade. This
second quality fruit should be disposed
of in some other way. He has several
times sold such fruit TO the canning
factory. Last year he sold his entire
crop for that purpose, and was well
satisfied over the transaction. Not GO
much care Is necessary in the picking
and handling ss when the fruit Is barrel
ed, so that quite 4 saving is made iu
that direction. The fruit also goes
direct from the orchard TO the cannery
without waste from keeping, which with
that class Of fruit Is also an important
matter. All things considered, he ha'
never been better rewarded from tht
crop than when large measure Of i
was disposed Of for this purpose.-R. D
Leavitt In Maine Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15

A workman In Cooper institute. hav-
ing occasion to ascend a ladder to do
some repairing In one Of the public
rooms. called to an old man whom he
happened to see standing by watching
him. Here. old fellow, hold the ladder
for me. won't your The "old fellow
started forward and held the ladder
for the workman while he climbed up
and did his work.
THAT unpretentious and willing old
man." says The Independent. was Pc
ter Cooper" It was just like him. Pc
ter Cooper's aim In life and In the be-
neficent institution founded by him
might well be characterized by the
words "holding the ladder" Thou
sands Of rightly ambitious men and
women owe the possibility Of their ad-
yancement to Peter Cooper. He has
held, and still holds, the ladder. and
hundreds upon hundreds Of successful
and grateful climbers as they rise bless
his memory. We cannot all build such
piles as Cooper Union, but we can hold
the ladder somewhere, somehow. for
somebody.
Stocking superstitiOns.
On the Welsh border II used to be
considered that the surest precaution
against witchcraft was to wear the
left stocking wrong side out. This
leads US TO another kind Of superstition
connected with the harmless. necessary
hose-thelr value. when properly worn
or arranged. as charms or as protec-
tions against sickness or pain. II you
will only take the trouble when you 90
to bed to cross your stockings and
shoes. you will be quite safe from the
grip ofs cramp. Again. II you hang
your stockings crosswise at the foot OF
the bed. with pin stuck In them. you
need have no fear Of nightmare; the
hag has holy horror Of cross and pin.
Wiseacres have also been heard to de-
clare that II you will always put your
left stocking and shoe on Hrst you will
enjoy immunity from toothache. This.
however, the most superstitious OF NOR
tails will likely take leave to doubt.
Toothache, that hell Of a diseases.
as Burns calls 1t. Is no respecter OF per-
sons nor assuredly Of stockings or legs.
Notes and Queries.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
TURNING no PASTURE.

Many people make the mistake oi
turning the cows TO pasture too early
IL COW has been well fed during the
winter upon nutritious food the watery
and Immature grass Is but poor sub
stitute and the animal will suffer In con.
sequence. A writer In the Michigan
Farmer says It Is well enough "a. let the
COW have grass every day q little at q
time until she becomes accustomed 10 it,
feeding her good ration all the while
In the stable, but TO turn her out and LEI
her depend on grass alone is sure TO pro-
duce nothing but evil results. A change
in feed should always be made gradually
IL makes no difference whether IL be
grain or grass. After she Is accustomed
TO the new feed II It Is good for her and
will furnish proper nutriment let her
have IL.
am Of the opinion that good pasture,
where the co~ can get all she wants 10
eat in the course OF two or three hours,
Ia good enough for any COW and all she
wants, but am aware that some OF the
best dairymen do not 80 consider IL.
Ihsve heard dairymen talk from the
." y
that we should feed grain the year
through. do not practice this, nor can
| see the philosophy Of 1t. Pasture
grass, composed OF mixed nature grasses,
Ia AS perfect q balanced ration ss one
can comprehend. and II there is anything
In this idea Of balanced rations (and
am sure there is) then good pasture
ought TO be sufficient. II the pasture Is
thin and THE COW has 10 travel around
too much TO get good ration then II II
policy to feed grain and help her out,
But suppose you have pasture where
the COW can get all she wants TO eat,
what can you give her that Is better
Don't keep her upon winter rations en-
tirely until the grass has grown big and
then change all at once but gradually
exchange the winter ration for the sum
mer pasture and II the pasture is good
she needs nothing else.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
Where the hogs utility Is most pro-

Where the hogs utility Is most pro-
nounced on the farm is as manufacturer
Of fertilizer. II given the proper ma
terial, he does not require you to buy
nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash In
available form to turn out fertilizer, but
give him muck, leaves, straw or litter OF
any kind and he will furnish gratis the
fertility that will discount anything that
can be bought In bags, taking into con-
sideratIon the cost and lasting effects.
Give him opportunity, and next fall you
will not find 1t necessary to sell one or
two best cows to pay for phosphate.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
Food Plants.

A wonderful reserve fund for the hu-
man appetite Is to be found in the veg
etable diet Of the Klamath Indians. A
novel variety OF food, forming a menu
unknown TO the civilized. is offered In
the pulp Of the great yellow water lily,
which Is converted into a farinaceous
food: in the weed known as goosefoot.
which bears black seed that Is ground
up for loayes and cakes, and In the ar
rowhead, which in the fall develops a
starchy white tuber at the end OF the
roots
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
Same Thing.

AT woman's euchre party the other
day one OF the fair players stopped the
game with this query: what do they
call little black cat in EnglandT
A number of the members had been
In England, but they all had to give 1t
up.
The riddle maker smiled sweetly as
she trumped her partners ace in true
traditional style.
Cant guess? Why. kitty. kitty
Just the same as anywhere else. New
York Mail and Express.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
The Hefter Way.

"You ought to be ashamed Of your
self" said Jones to his neighbor. who
was an aged millionaire. Here you
are a man OF wealth and position. and
yet you put out your ash barrel every
morning with your own hands TO save
a few miserable pennies"
81 guess you're right. neighbor," re-
piled the mlserly old fellow. Now
that you have spoken OF II | can see
that 1t is hardly the thing for man In
my position 10 do. Hereafter I'll have
nv wife do it."-Chicago News.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15

SCCO SShtN.
Even at the risk of repeating more
than "thrice-told tale" We cannot re-
frain from word OF caution st this sea-
son OF the year about the necessity OF
good seed for the production Of = good
crop. TO look through the agricultural
press in early spring one would say that
all had been said upon the subject OF
testing seed corn, In order TO be sure
that il would grow vigorously, that need
be said. To ride through the corn belt
later in the season the appearance OF
many fields would Indicate tbst enough
had not been said. Aiming at a golden
mean, We are not going 10 say great
deal, but merely 10 drop word OF eau
ton that IL is not enough for seed corn
10 look veil. When assurance OF the
vigor with which il will grow can be 80
easily obtained, test should always be
made, aud in making the test do no,
provide conditions that are TOO "c0d'
ding" Try to make them as nearly
like the field conditions under which the
bulk Of the seed tested will have 10 grow
If IL is To make crop ut all, and carry
the test far enough, too, to furnish
means Of judging what kinds OF plants
the seed will make. a germinating test
between wet cloths will furnish an indi-
cation OF the percentage Of seed that will
put forth rootlets, but it takes test In
soil, where the plants are actually per.
mitted to come up far enough to judge
Of their vigor, to determine what per.
centage Of the seed will produce vigor'
ously. Many grain Of corn that re-
spends all right 10 test between we,
cloths might make at best only "nub.
bin" producer IL planted under field con.
ditions. Test the seed, and, In order To
make the test tell what We want TO know
make 1t under conditions rs nearly n:
possible like those that are 70 be given
in the field.-Live Stock Indicator.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-05-15
R0iled Salt Meats.

The indigestible properties OF boiled
ham, corned beef and other salt meats
may, according to Mrs. Parloa, the
cooking expert. be eliminated II the
meat is sufficiently boiled. The salt
toughens the fbers, and II takes per-
sistent boiling to overcome this. The
time allowed for a ten pound piece Is
Ave hours. but as the pieces are apt to
be thick rather than long one Of half
this weight would need about the same
amount Of time. The meat should be
partly cooled In the water In which II
Is boiled.