davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22
a HAND WAS LAID UPON HIS SHOULDER.

aAND WAo AAlO UPON HIS SHOULDER.
rose and as happy as bird. Five min
utes, ten minutes, passed. Where was
Hallett? Where was Bolton? Twelve
minutes, then 13-ominous number. An
up town train stopped at the station,
and at the same moment down town
train rushed in, blocking the vision of
the jealous lover. When he could see
across the tracks again, Bertha and
George were greeting each other in q
manner much more than cordial.
But where was Mr.. Bolton? Meade
asked that question Of his own tor.
mented heart, and there was no reply.
Bertha and George began to move to-
ward the stairs leading to the street.
II they mingled with the throng below,
Mr.. Bolton might search for them in
vain. He was helpless to avert ca
lamity that he himself had wrought. 1t
was he that had sent or inspired the
messages that had resulted in this
meeting.
Scarcely knowing what he did.
Meade ran out of the waiting room and
dashed down the stairs. Reaching the
street, he looked across Sixth avenue,
and there were Bertha and George get
ting into hanson. There was no way
for him to stop them, but he rushed
across the avenue as If all depended
upon his haste. The hanson was well
under way as he reached the foot of
the IL" road stations stair on the up
town side of the avenue. He leaned
against the structure and gasped.
A hand was laid upon his shoulder,
and he heard the voice of Mr.. Bolton
asking what in the name of all the
fiends at once he was doing there.
They've driven away in hansom!"
cried the excited young man. "Chase
themw
Now, look here" said Bolton, re-
straining him. "If you think Pm go
ing to believe any more of your lies,
you don't know me. My daughter
hasn't been here, and HalIett hasn't
been here, and can prove it. Look
at this telegram. 1t was handed to me
just as rushed out of the office, but I
forgot to open it till a half minute
ago."
Meade looked and read this:
Laura telegraphs make it 80, same place
Bertha left before message arrived Meet her at
II and tell her.
1t was signed by Mrs. Bolton.
$50, you see" said the stern parent,
Bertha had no reason to be here at
1:3O, and, Of course, Hallett wouldn't
have been. Meade, begin to see
through you. You're a Jealous jackass!
And had picked you for my son-in-
law! The thought makes me modest.
| reckon Bertha couldn't have done
worse. It'll be just like me to let her
suit herself after this experience, and
If she wants George Hallett, why, by
the Jumping lingo, she shall have himw
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

81 am very much disappointed" said
Mrs. Merriam in an offended tone. And
she turned away without another word
and walked down the stairs to the
street.
Bolton waited awhile to make sure
that Hallett was not coming, and. then
he took train down town.
"a nice FOOLS errand you sent me
on!' he yelled at Meade when the two
were again in Bottoms private office.
And he told the story of his adventure.
"I'll bet you $1,000 to a cent" ex-
claimed Meade, "that 1 am not mis-
taken about this. She must have got
your telegram and sent some sort of
reply to Hallett. He'll be there at 1:3O,
sure"
I'D like to know whether there is
anything in this" said Bolton doubt
fully.
go up there, and you'll see," said
Meade. And he finally persuaded his
employer to go.
The instant that Bolton passed the
threshold Meade ran out by another
way. He did not purpose to have any
mistake this time. He knew that Ber-
tina would be at the rendezvous, and he
decided to make sure about Hallett.
Such scene as must result would be
directly in his interest, though he
would have preferred that Bertha
should not be present. He feared the
effect of her persuasive eloquence upon
her father, who really loved her with
all his heart, and would be in danger
of forgiving satan himself if Bertha
should plead for him. However, the
chances were that Hallett's case would
be settled forever
So Meade lodged into telegraph Of
fee and wrote out message to Hal
lett In Berthas name making the APP
pointment at the place and hour al
ready mentioned
'Send this" said he to the operator
in charge of the telegraph station,
"and say that a young lady left it in
a great hurry"
Then he gave the operator half dol
lar and ran out. BY good leg work he
got ahead of Bolton at the Cortlandt
street station of the elevated road. Ar
rived at Twenty-third street, he took
up position on the opposite side from
that where the lovers and the irate
father We're to meet. He could see well
enough from the windows of the wait
ing room across the tracks. At least
that was the best place that he dared
to take. He would not have missed Il
glimpse of the scene for any reason
able sum of money.
He had not been waiting long when
Bertha appeared, looking as sweet as q
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22
OUR BEST cUsroMER.

The United Kingdom is Americas
best customer for all agricultural prod
ucts. OF our exports for the past year
Great Britain took of our cheese 70
per cent; butter, SO; sheep, .85; cattle.
SO; canned goods, So; starch, 60; clover
seed, 80; fax, AZ; timothy seed, 80;
hops. SO; hay, 60; glucose, SO; preserv-
ed fruits, SO; apples, SO; cotton, so;
-four, 5s; wheat, 60; oatmeal, "a; oats,
40; corn, 43; barley, SO; mutton, s5;
lard, S6; hams, 80; bacon, 70; fresh
beef. 3d.; canned beef, 65; honey, As,
and butter, Sc. =
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

y Mr.. Bolton figures in this narrative
IS the stony hearted parent Of beau
tiful daughter. Most people knew him
only as I. Eugene Bolton, druggists
ssundries, John street, New York.
Bertha" sadd he one day to the
Beautiful daughter aforesaid, II do not
like George Hallett."
{ Neither do 1, father" replied the
dutiful child. Il love him.
This brief and pointed colloquy was
the climax of many conversations. 1t
stated situation not at all unusual,
but just as difficult for the persons in
volved as If it had never figured in his.
tory or romance.
George was the New York manager
bf Girard Freres ct Gle. Paris firm
dealing In silks. 1t was a responsible
position for very young man, and
George was making quite bit of mon
'ey. 1t was not his prospects to which
Mr.. Bolton objected; in fact, his princi-
pal accusation was that George was
zone Of those handsome men who al
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22
One Of the most successful farmers

One Of the most successful farmers
whom we know has for years made it
practice to limit the days work, on
his farm to ten hours, and this includes
the milking and doing of all chores as
well as the work in the field. He has
fine crops, contented hired men and
time to enjoy himself socially and i'm
prove himself intellectually.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22
EVIL EFFECTS OF LARGE FARMS

GSAA GcFECIS OF' LAHGE FARMS.
We were in a section Of the west
lately where large farms predominant
ed, where but few Of the landowners
had SO small farm as section and
where many had q thousand acres or
more. The soil was rich and productive,
the climatic conditions highly favora-
BILE, but a blight lay on all the land.
There were no nice farm homes, no
schoolhouses, no country churches, the
poorest of poor little towns. Every
two or three miles was farm home
stead under charge of some farm man
ager, while the farm work was all done
under sort Of military rule by q lot Of
imported laborers who had no more
interest in the country than the grass
hoppers in the meadows. A resident
of the locality told us that these large
farms were q perfect curse to the COM
munity and made the life Of the small
landowner among them most unde-
sirable one. We note that while these
large farms may be made profitable
when the country is new and the land
low priced the reverse becomes true
when the country becomes older and
the land high priced. The lust for land
is not only baneful in its effects upon
the man who wants all the land in
sight, but every way disastrous to the
community where such land is located.
The New Zealand law which increases
the rate Of taxation per acre as the
number Of acres increase in possession
of the owner works most admirably
to rectify the evil complained Of.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

to your house" said the operator.
You can see copy Of it here,
though
Bertha read as follows:
Make it 1870 instead of 10. Unavoidable.
LAURA MERRIAM.
There was nice situation. Was
this dispatch from her, aunt or from
George? She puzzled over the cues
ton for several minutes and finally de-
cided that the expression, make it
1:30," stamped the communication as
the work of a man.
Therefore it would be useless to tele-
graph to George. She could meet her
aunt first and George later. All things
were falling out well. 1t was consid-
cradle annoyance, however to find, on
reaching the railroad station, that she
had just missed the train which she
mad intended to take. The time which
she had spent in puzzling over that
message had accomplished this misfor-
tune-it was impossible to reach the
appointed place by -. Aunt Laura, in
the picturesque language of the peri
cd, would be "stood up" but to meet
George at 1870 would be easy.
As the old fashioned novelists used
to say, let us leave Bertha waiting in
the railroad station while we follow
the fortunes of her father.
+ When |. Eugene Bolton reached his
office that morning about 8 o'clock, he
discovered that he had left certain i'm
portant documents at home. He needed
them that day, and at first he had it in
mind to telegraph his wife to send
them in by Bertha.
"That's what I'll do,'' said he to Irv-
ling Meade, who had been present
while Bolton was searching his pockets
for the papers. 'I'll have Bertha bring
them in"
us Bertha coming here today?" ask
ed the young man in voice that be-
trayed his joy.
she wasn't coming here" replied
Bolton. "She was going shopping with
her aunt, Mrs. Merriam"
"Mrs: Merriam telegraphed her, 1
suppose? said Meade in a peculiar
tone.
why, yes" said Bolton. "How did
you know that?"
Mr.. Bolton" responded the young
man impressively, 1--WE been on to that
game for some time"
what game?" cried the head of the
firm.
"That telegram wasn't from Mrs.
Merriam. 1t was from George Hal-
lett!o
Caesars ghostw exclaimed Bolton.
what do you mean?"
81 know a fellow in the telegraph Of
fee in .Englewood," replied Meade. 81
know where the answers are addressed
when those shopping messages come
to Bertha"
you do, eh? Well, why didn't you
tell me before?"
II didn't feel like doing it," answered
the young man. II didn't want to get
Bertha into trouble"
There's going to be trouble if what
you say is true" said Bolton. "I'll be
at Sixth avenue and Twenty-third
street at noon today myself"
THAT is where they are to meet, is
it?" said Meade.
Its where several people are going
to meet" responded Bolton, "and one
OF them will have club with him"
L think it would be very unfortu-
nate, sir" said Meade, IF your daugh-
ter We're present at such scene. 1t
might get into the papers"
You're right" replied Bolton. 'But
what can do?"
Telegraph her-using Mrs. Merri-
ANS name-not to come till later. Then
go up there and meet Hallett alone"
I'll do it"s said Bolton. And he wrote
the telegram Of which Bertha saw
copy, as has been already related.
Now, it happened that Bolton did not
know that his wife had answered Mrs.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22
From Burlington to San Francisco

Beginning February rs a frst-class
thru Pullman sleeper from Burling-
ton to San Francisco will be hauled on
train No. 3 thru Iowa daily.
This will give Colorado, Utah, Ne
vada and California passengers thru
sleeping car without a change at Dem
Yer.
The route. is via Denver, Pueblo, the
Colorado mining district, Glenwood
Springs, Salt Lake City, Ogden, thence
TO San Francisco.
East-bound the thru sleeper is re.
turned from San Francisco to Chicago
on train No. 6, which arrives at Bur-
lington at 9:10 a. M, daily.
All intending travellers for the above
territory should see. Burlington route
ticket agents and arrange for tickets
and reservations of sleeping car space
a few days in advance of their trip.
In addition to the above tourist
sleepe. will leave Burlington on No.
every Thursday morning for Los An
geles, Cal, via the same route as the
above.
For further information as to rates,
routes, etc, call on or address w. s.
Parker. ticket agent Union Depot.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22
POOR SEED.

&, 4 grain buyer told us not long since
that he was suying fax Of last years
crop, some Of which tested 40 per cent
off on account Of foul seed and some
which tested only 2 per cent off. He
said that he was also buying oats, bar
ley and wheat which, while not show
ing such large per cent of waste, still
gave abundant evidence that no care
whatever was taken in the selection of
the seed grain. If the total number of
bushels Of foStail, mustard, cookie and
other foul seeds raised each year upon
the grainfields Of the country could be
ascertained, 1t would be an eye opener
and would emphasize the fact that this
leak Is one Of the most serious ones
which tend to reduce the profits of
the farm. The production of these
foul seeds saps the vitality of the
soil to probably q greater extent than
does the production Of any cereal
crop. And these seeds are absolutely
worthless, cost money to harvest, mon
ey to thrash, and are dead load for
any man to carry who handles the
grain which contains them. While alb
solutely clean seed will not altogether
remedy this evil, because not little
depends upon how the land has been
previously cared for, 1t will still be
step in the right direction. If nature is
let alone, she will always arrange that
only the best of anything shall propa-
gate its species. Thus we find the ever
present sexual strife between all kinds
of wild animal life whereby only the
strongest males perpetuate their kind,
and in the vegetable world out of the
seemingly useless prodigality Of seed
produced it is ever and always that
only the strongest and most vigorous
plants survive. When man steps in and
attempts to do natures work in an arti-
fetal way, he should never fail to rec
ognize this law and always use the
very best, whether of animal or vegeta-s
bic life, for propagating purposes. For
instance, in the matter of seed wheat,
barley, oats and fax it will pay to take
the trouble to secure only the very
best and plumpest grains for seed,
which may be done either with a mill
which will SO separate the grain or, as
we used to do in the pioneer days, by
casting the grain from shovel against
a light wind in the barn or on q canvas
and taking for seed that part which
could be thrown the farthest. There is
perhaps not more important thing,
one which SO concerns every farmer,
than this Of sowing good seed, and it
specially concerns them all right now.
Remember the immutable law that
whatsoever a man soweth that shall he
also reap, and further that when we
interfere with nature and prevent the
operation Of her other law which Sc
cures the survival Of the fittest the
tendency is wholly toward the degra-
dation Of the type. Sow the best seed
and clean seed this spring, IL never be-
fore. .;e,l:!
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

Canada imported 100000 pounds Of
cheese in 1854 and in 1890 exported
100000 pounds. This change was
brought about by making a good and
honest cheese, which it is a mighty
hard thing to get an American cheese
maker to do.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

Political questions have no place in
farm Institutes. The time will never
come when men will be able to agree
upon matters of public policy, and the
agitation of any question which in
wolves politics, even in remote de-
gree, is always damaging to the best
interests of such Institutes.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

Michigan has nine beet sugar fac
tories, costing $3,714,796, and 1910
farmers raising beets, producing $685.
$40 tons, and q, 100000 pounds of sugar
made. The crop will give farmers ST.
362,557, or about $53 per acre, Of which
one-half is net profit. There is no trou-
bic in placing contracts now with the
Michigan farmers to grow sugar beets.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

Farm tenants by the hundred are
moving from the states in the central
west, where land rents run from SIS to
Sc per acre, and are either settling on
the cheap lands of the Dakotas, north
ern Minnesota and Wisconsin or else
are renting the good farms of Iowa,
Kansas and Nebraska at from So to So
per acre.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22
A southern farmer gave us This res

A southern farmer gave us this rea-
son why he did not adopt the riding
cultivator for use in his cotton and
corn fields: That If the average darby
was put on such machine to ride and
work at the same time he would fall
asleep before he got to the end of the
row and would sleep there until his
boss came along and woke him up.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

We notice that the anti horse thief as
sociations are getting into working Or
der again. The horse is worth good
money once more, and such associa-
lions can do much to protect the own
ers Of horses, II.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22
SPARE THE R1Rns

In every home and in every school in
all this great country there should be
well directed effort to educate the
young to in every way spare the birds.
The bird life of the country is threat
ened with determination because of the
senseless demands of fashion, the law
lessness Of boys and the cruel warfare
ever on between the growers of fruit
and the birds. The native song birds
are now beset on all sides and at all
seasons by enemies. Their nesting
period is harassed by the small boy,
the crow and the sparrow. When they
move to the south, the pot hunter and
the wretch who shoots them for the
milliner raid them all winter, and
each recurring year makes the song
Of the blue bird and thrush and the
June melody Of the oriole and robin
more and more rarity. The penalty
for this wanton and most inexeusable
slaughter Of the innocents is coming in
the shape Of such a multiplication Of
insect life that the raising of fruits.
cereals and vegetables becomes each
year more and more an uncertain
thing. The good American citizen will
spare and protect the birds and plant
trees.
UNCERTAIN FACTORS IN FARMING.
While in way it is conceded that
agriculture is safe business, it still
has two most variable and uncertain
problems affecting profits year by year.
These are the weather and the mar
kets. Late and early unreasonable
frosts, droughts. foods and hail are
conditions which the farmer cannot
control. Still, the man who studies eli
matte and weather conditions thor
oughly can do much to mitigate and
modify the losses incident to such eli
matte extremes. Every farmer should
be an observing student on this line.
Most men raise crops entirely regard
less of the fact whether the world is
likely to want them after they are rails
ed and suit their own notions rather
than the caprices Of their customers.
The wise man will post himself on the
market conditions and, SO far as he
may be able to interpret them, will
grow such crops as the world most
wants and will pay the best price for.
When anything is done in this line, it
is almost invariably done one year too
late. While the crop situation cannot
be accurately forecasted, still by care
full study of this market problem many
man would be able to avoid raising
the particular crops which the markets
of the world are likely to be surfeited
witt. '
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

Alfalfa fed with cornmeal makes al
most perfect dairy ration. OF the
forage plants which may be grown
where alfalfa cannot clover comes the
nearest to filling the BILL
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

i The up to date dairymen Of Wiscon-
sin, Iowa and Minnesota are getting
monthly returns from their winter
cows Of not less than Sc per head, and
some are getting as much as So. These
men have carefully studied out what
to feed the COW in order to make her
give milk. They feed a balanced ra-
ton, and as a result, the COW balances
up their cash account in fine shape.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22
FARM, ORCHARD
AND GARDEN.
Co.,
BY j. S. TR1GG.
copyR1enr, 1902 ny ). $. rn1ee, ROCKFORD, IA

The dairy COW IS not scavenger or
forager, like the hog and sheep, but
rather a fastidious, high priced board
er. At least she should be SO treated.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

The Minnesota state prison will sell
its make of Irvine in carload lots this
year at 1919 cents a pound for manila
and sisal mixed and pure sisal 10 cents.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

Cotton baled in a round bale instead
of square one is an improvement in
handling, this crop which is making
rapid Roadway in the cotton growing
districts of the south
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

WHERE BERTHA? HOPE SHE ISN'T I'LL. !"
Merriam's" telegram on the day before.
He supposed that Bertha had done SO,
and, believing Meade's story, he sup
posed that the reply had gone to Hal
lett.
Therefore he was very much surpris-
ed, as he got upon the elevated railroad
platform at the appointed hour, to see
Mrs. Merriam waiting there.
Where's Bertha?" asked that lady,
approaching him. II hope she isn't
ill:"
"N-no," said Bolton, feeling very
foolish and cursing Meade in his heart,
she isn't i'll, but she couldn't possibly
come III today, and as was to be here
at about the hour named she asked me
to tell you about it.'s
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

The high bred trotting horses Of this
country embody the very best in the
matter Of endurance, action and speed.
The only deficiency Is in size. This is
not any particular objection where
they are worked on the turf, but when
they fail to develop sufficient speed to
use on the race course this lack Of
size prevents their use for other pur-
poses. If about 200 pounds could be
added to the weight of the American
trotter, lie would make one of the fin
est carriage horses in the world.
A real curiosity in fruit culture is 70
be seen at Forest City, Ia, being u
very thrifty and productive Wealthy
apple tree which is the product Of a
Wealthy scion grated on willow root
The graft was made in this way: The
end Of a root from willow tree was
exposed in blowing q garden, and on
this root was placed the scion. 1t
grew and did well. The question is,
Does this apple tree derive its nutri-
ment from the willow system Of roots ?
If it does, there might be point here
worth considering.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22

The Ben Davis. apple is good keeper
and always seller because of it's pref
ty and snowy red face. Thus more Of
this variety is raised in the Missouri
and Arkansas apple region than of any
other variety. 1t is a very poor apple
in quality, but when the thrifty Italian
has polished them up and piled them
up on his fruit stand in the city there is
a perennial crop of suckers to buy
them.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22
CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND 8 PACIFIC.

GOING EAST. Depart
No. 2zS-Ottumwa to keokuk 1900. 700 a. nj.
202-Des Moines to Keokuk. -. !. 10: 3S a. m,
2o4-Des Moines TO Eldon .:..... 1923 p. m.
IS4-Freight, Ottumwa to Eldon. ASS p. nj.
49, 49,, GOING WEST. Arrive,
22T-heokuk to Ottumwa........ 6:45 pm.
Depart.
2Ol-Eldon to Des Moines. ........ $50 a. nj.
203-keokuk to Des Moines...... 1915 p. m.
233-Frt, Eldon to Des Mones. ;. 1882 a. m,
231-Frt, daily, E1don to Monroe $3.50 D. m.
Unless otherwise specified, all trains aredaily.
except Sunday.