davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24
AN OLD FOOL.

We know Of a man who last year fin
ished paying for 24O acres Of choice
farm land. 1t had been long pull
and a hard pull both for him, his wife
and two boys. Up early and late, pinch
ing, saving and each member denying
himself that the farm might be
cleared Of the mortgage. And when it
was cleared how good they all felt, and
mother and the boys thought and said
that now there would be a little com
fort in living. But this man-this old
fool - inside Of GO days went and
bought another 1GO acres which he
long had had his eye upon, running in
to debt for nearly all the purchase
price Of it. His good wife cried, and
we don't blame her; the boys got mad
and swore that they would leave the
farm the first chance they had. There
is lot Of this sort Of fool business go
ing on. Men don't know when they are
well off. What a farce life becomes
when a man will deliberately make a
slave Of himself and mere poems of his
wife and children all in order that
when his estate IS administered upon
by the probate court he may be able to
show up $4,000, instead Of $4,000.
No man who wishes to enjoy life
should want more than 24O acres Of
land.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24
POOR KIr+ccHENs.

The place where the goodwife spends
most Of her time and does most of her
work is in the kitchen. 1t all too often
happens that this kitchen is the most
poorly furnished and worst ventilated
and arranged room in the house. This
is a poor way Of doing. This room
should be well equipped with all mod
ern utensils, should be bright and
sunshiny room, should have q sink
and water supply and a good hard
wood floor. Some foolish people put
all their money into the furnishings of
the best parlor and the company bed
room. which are not used once a
month, while the wife and mother
slaves along day after day in little,
cramped up, inconveniently arranged
kitchen and plaintively sings the old
refrain, There's Rest For the Weary"
Use the best there is in the home for
your daily life and let the company
take pot luck when 1t comes. What is
good enough for you is good enough for
your friends.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24
GROUNDED WIRES.

Serious losses are sustained each year
by the stock raiser for want Of SO sim
pie protection as ground wires for
the Wire fences. A heavy discharge
of electricity has been known to follow
a wire fence distance Of half mile
and then jump to herd of cattle or
sheep or lot of horses standing near
the fence and slaughter q number Of
them. This danger can be entirely pre-
vented by attaching wires to the
strands of the fence at intervals of.
say. 20 rods and carrying such wires
down to contact with moist earth. :.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24
THE BEST OPENING FOR THE
YOUNG MAN.

You are young man who has spent
all your life up to this time upon the
farm, and you are now nearly 20 years
old and are doing q good deal Of hard
thinking about your future. You have
a notion that there Is something better
for you in the old world than tho grow
ing of crops and the milking OF cows
and would like to see something Of the
ways Of the world as it is off the farm.
Lots just like you, my boy, and they
60 from the farm by the thousand year
by year, and some become little one
horse attorneys and parsons and some
book agents and medicine peddlers and
some Sc week jumping jacks in dry
goods stores and some worthless town
loafers and some wandering, homeless
tramps. Many make good fight for
place and position, only to be swamped
In midlife by the merciless power of
modern competition in all lines Of bust
ness, and the few, the very few, by yir-
tue Of opportunity, pluck and pull,
held up to an admiring world as illus
trations of what the country boy can
do when he leaves the farm. Now.
listen, my boy. The time is coming
and is pretty nearly here now when
the man who owns piece of land and
knows how to work it in an Intelligent
manner is going to have the whip row
over all the peddlers, parsons, doctors,
lawyers, clerks and genteel loafers in
the land. Land ownership is the con-
crete foundation of European aristocra-
cy and all that is best in foreign civili-
cation. Science is smiling most kindly
on agriculture. Unlimited possibili-
ties await the man who has studied
natures textbooks. The best intel
lectual development is uniting with The
hand hardened and Drowned by farm
work. All that Is. best in man may
now be evolved under rural conditions.
Invention has greatly modified the
drudgery of farm toll without in any
degree impairing agricultural indie
pendence. Suppose, my boy, you now
decide to be, a first class modern farm
er. man wen posted on the technical
as well as TIE eprac tica1, sac, Of your
business. raiser Of the ib' esst crops, a
breeder of the best stock, an up to date
man in your profession, which you
can easily do if you will apply your
self to the doing Of it with the same
persistency and diligence which you
would have to devote to any outside
profession If you would make success
of it. 1t is absolutely true that agricul.
ture SO undertaken offers today far
more certain reward in both financial
and man developing way than any 9TH
er vocation open to the young man.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The sound of voices below let her
know that her friends We're advancing
upon her. She sprang up into the chair
and thence to the sideboard. Behind it
she saw safety.
Just then there was q ripping sound,
accompanied by a great jerk upon her
skirts. Thes shock turned her half round,
and she sNt down upon the higher por-
ton Of the sideboard in manner that
was ridiculously easy.
AT this moment the round face of
Dollie Hayes appeared in her field Of
vision.
"Why, Amy Weld!" she exclaimed.
what in the world are you doing up
there?''
Perhaps the remark of Mrs. Leland
Powers may have been lingering in
Amy's brain and have unconsciously
shaped her ridiculous reply.
'"These stairs are so tiresome," she
said. "I-I-just stopped to rest"
well. you selected a nice place. said
Dollie. "What was the matter with the
chair?''
1t is wonderful how readily satan
supplies lie for any human creatures
need.
Ordinarily Amy Weld was the most
truthful of women, vet at this juncture
she found no difficulty in uttering a
large and shameless falsehood.
II was sitting in the chair" she said.
when horrid mouse ran out of the
wall and frightened me nearly to death.
So just jumped right up here"
She gently disengaged her dress from
the nail which had caught it and step
PED down by means Of the chair. The
mention of the mouse frightened all
question of veracity out of the minds
Of the other ladies'. They ran toward
the next fight Of stairs, but as they
said:
'Of course you're here for Signor Be-
vanini's concerto"
Amy thought she saw the woman
| glance backward over the sideboard in
| the direction of Mortons door, SO she
hastily replied:
"Why, Of course. I'll come right
along with you'
She had remembered Signor Beva-
mini and his habit of giving forenoon
recitals for his fashionable pupils and
their friends. She had not the pleasure
of the signor's acquaintance and had
not known that his studio was in that
building, but she accepted that fact
with relief and plodded up stairs in the
| wake of Mrs. Burton.
The large room at the front of the
house was well filled with society peo-
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24


pie. At the door Signor Bevanini's
man." in something like livery, was
acting as usher, and Amy perceived
with horror that the fellow was accept
ing ticket from each of the Hayes
girls. Mrs. Burton already had hers in
her hand
"I-Tm afraid I've left my card at
home" said Amy.
''Never mind" responded the elder
woman. "Signor Bevanini will remem-
Der YOU"
Il will call him." said the polite serv-
ant, leading Mrs. Burton away and
leaving Amy standing at the door of
that room which seemed to be filled
with eyes = great, staring eyes = all
turned in her direction.
OF course the signor would remem-
Der. He would recall with absolute dis
tinctness fthat ehe had not sent any
card to Miss Weld, Of whose existence
he had never before heard.
1.-THE wages Of sin is DEATH" MUIR
INJURED Amy, shutting her eyes and
leaning against the door jamb, half
fainting. 'I'll never survive thisw
She was aroused by voice close to
her ear. 1t was the ebony assistant
Janitor who spoken a stage whisper.
"Mr. Morton has come" he said. And
Dollie Hayes, just within the door,
laughed aloud.
AT this extreme moment, when it
seemed to Amy that the eyes of uni
verse We're upon her, Morton himself
appeared. coming up the stairs four at
time. Quick as thought he had taken
her hand.
Now, it happens that Morton is a
very handsome man, endowed by ma
ture with many graces of manner and
with dignity enough for four kings. 1t
was perfectly amazing how his pres
ence solved the situation. All the wom-
en- in the signor's studio were looking
enviously at Amy and no longer with a
question. The signor came hurrying up
and greeted his dear friend Morton,
and then he ushered the two into the
best place available.
[ Everybody settled down quietly. Mr..
Morton and Miss Weld had come to the
concert; that was all.
II came to tell you about Ernest Har-
grave" Amy whispered, "and I've had
such an awful time"
ut was splendid Of you to conner he
replied. II wouldn't have missed know
ing for anything in the world, but
Just happened to hear about him early
this morning, and I've been with him
ever SINCE"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The Pacific coast ates-California,
oregon and Washington-compr
what is without doubt the finest fruit
growing section of the whole earth. 1t
IS OF interest to note that year by year
the freight tariff, which has SO largely
barred the use Of the fruit of that sec
ton to eastern consumers, is being re-
duced. so that the magnificent grapes,
peaches, pears and oranges produced in
such splendid profusion are being
brought more and more within the
reach OF eastern people. Indeed, ship
ments of California fruit were success.
fully and proftably made to London
last year.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

ga man who will plant a willow
hedge along the highway should be
sent to the penitentiary," said an indig-
nant granger to us not long since. The
willow hedge is nuisance and no mis-
take. 1t makes the roads impossible
in the winter. is a hindrance to the
mud drying UP in summer and is very
often an eyesore by reason of the de-
foliation of the trees by worms. Road
side trees should be of elm, maple or
ash and be planted at least so feet
apart. So planted the highway would
be uninjured and the waste land profit
ably utilized.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The preparing of permanent pas
ture in this country is very different
thing from SO preparing one. in Eng
land or Scotland. There the climate
makes them natural grass countries, q
variety Of grasses can be blended to
make perfect pasture, and when
once we'll established such pasture will
last 100 years. In this country, from
Kentucky north. the blue grass, which
is everywhere indigenous to the soil,
will soon monopolize any SO called per-
manent pasture.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

During the month Of June this year
every citizen of the republic will be
waited upon by the census enumera-
tor for information as to where he was
born and why he was born and whole
lot of other things. Uncle Sam wants
to know all about each one of his many
subjects and find out how they are get
ting along in the world. The farmer
will have more questions asked him
than any other man. The enumerator
will have to be a very patient man If
he gets all the information which his
orders require.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

II The idea OF going all alone to bach
s,elor's apartments gave Miss Weld q
feeling of improperly. 1t is true that
she was going only as far as the door,
and her erra1d was CO Immediate and
great Importance; also she had known
the young man since her childhood, and
she expected TO marry him soon, though
the engagement was not even suspect
ed by their friends.
+ In spite: OF these considerations she
felt like lawhreaiier as she approach
ed the building in which Morton had
his rooms. She was very much afraid
that some one would see her, and she
lodged into the hall SO hurriedly that
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The farmer and the artisan are get
ting better returns for their labor than
the professional man. Possibly we are
coming to time in this country when
q professor who can speak five Ian
guages, square the circle and have the
right to use good share Of the alpha
bet after his name to express his col
lege degrees will only be able to COM
mand a salary Of $500 year, as it is
now in some foreign countries. 1t is
no source Of regret that America is
passing from an era Of intellectual pro-
fessionalism to one where brains and
muscle shall work in harmony. The
best paid labor In the country today is
where brains and muscle are develop
ing the resources Of great country.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The busy springtime is, here now,
perhaps the very busiest season Of the
whole year. If the tools We're all put
in order, the harness mended and oiled,
the seed grain cleaned and sacked, the
seed corn tested and the fences looked
after during the slack days of the win
ter, the spring work will move along
without hindrance and friction, but if
all this work has been left till now a
fellow is likely to be little behind
hand all summer long.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The men who make. a success in
stock breeding are those who select
some one breed and stick to it, ever
seeking to produce the best Of which
such breed may be capable. The men
who fail are largely those who are al
ways shifting around in the matter of
breeds.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

II you live on the rich lands of the
Mississippi valley and can hardly sleep
nights In your greed to get more land,
try this: Add Is acres to your quarter
section by utilizing your corn fodder;
then work that other quarter which
lies right under the quarter you have.
This will give you 1856 acres more land
without the outlay Of cent.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

Just as paint for the outside of a
building and paper for the inside will
cover up defects, SO will Virginia
creeper planted near the rough and I'M
slightly things around the homestead
cover and beautify them. This creeper
loves wire fence, a dead tree, pile
Of stones or an uninviting outbuilding.
1t will grow in the shade or in the sun
and festoon with a wealth of greenery
all summer and with some rare colors
in the fall many thing which must
be, but which is still better not seen.
Punch hole in the ground and stick in
a slip of this creeper anywhere and
anyhow, and 1t will grow.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

While it is quite a common custom
among country folk in connection with
their weddings to have list of pres
ents given to the newly married cou-
pie published in the local paper, it is
still in very bad taste, and we'll bred
people won't do, it. It withal often
greatly mortifies the donors and gives
rise to a whole lot Of unpleasant crit
icism. Young lady, when you step off,
don't do it.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The best way we have found to get
rid Of the dandelions in the lawn is to
watch for the coming of the circus
and then offer the boys cents BUSH
Ell for the handles cut up by the roots.
1t is surprising what a lot of these
pests one can get rid of in this way.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

Smaller farms mean more civilized
communities. better schools, better So
ciety, telephone service and in the near
future rural mail delivery. They mean
better type of agriculture, better
stock. greater variety Of crops, free
dom from the burden of hired help.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

English agriculture, with all its mu-
nificence of root crops, has nothing
which will compare in point Of econo-
my and value as a succulent stock ra-
ton with the corn crop and the silo of
America.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

A first class dairy COW is never dear
at $50. The poor COW is dear at any
price If kept as dairy COW. To many
men a COW is a COW, and such never
know, nor do they seem to care to
know, whether COW pays her way or
not.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

Oriental countries bid fair to take all
the surplus cereal products Of the Pa
cific coast in the future. The opening
Of this eastern market has been Of i'm
measurable value to all the coast farm
ers, and indirectly to the producers Of
the whole country, in relieving eastern
markets from the competition of the
products of the coast.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The motherly old hen and her chick
ems are always pretty sight, but the
sentiment gets all knocked out of the
case when she gets to work with her
brood in the newly made flower gar
den.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

A sheep rightfully named Judas Is
CARROT, which for many years had been
used at one Of the big Chicago slaugh-
ter houses to lead other sheep to the
slaughter pen. went on a strike lately
and as result met his death.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

Tennessee is now the leading state in
the production Of phosphate, 10000
men being employed in quarrying the
phosphate rock and preparing it for
market.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The Doddies, or Polled Angus cattle,
lead in the sales Of the season in the
amount paid for breeding cattle, 20
head realizing an average of $579 each
at Chicago last month.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The wire fence has the advantage Of
taking up a minimum Of room and Of
permitting the running Of a fire along
the fence row to get rid of foul weeds
and grasses. In these particulars it
is a long way ahead of the old stake
and rider worm fence.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The farmland is getting from So to
81 per month more for his work this
season than ever before. 1t is becom-
ing quite problem how to proftably
use help which costs $35 per month
and over in the management Of the av-
erage farm.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

Whatever the seed corn may do or
not do in the way of terminating, you
can safely depend upon all the weed
seeds terminating in good shape.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The cost of the seeds sent out by
congressman this year was $6S,45O,
which is. from our point of view, a
practical waste Of the public funds.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

On Scotch farm highly cultivated
the yield for last year is reported at
81 bushels of barley per acre, Ga Of
wheat, so of oats and $50 Of potatoes.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

Celery raised on land fertilized with
the sewage from public hospital has
been found to transmit typhoid fever
germs to those who used it.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

Immense quantities of orange BIOS
SONS are shipped every winter from
Florida with which to bedeck the fair
brides of the north country.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

Local pride should prompt q man to
keep the weeds cut on the highway
bounding his farm even if the law did
not require him to do it.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The spraying Of fruit trees when in
bloom and the keeping of bees don't
work together at all. The spraying
finishes up the bees.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

Monthly roses--the tea roses-will do
better if so planted that they are shad-
ed from the afternoon sun.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

THERE?"
who set it down by the sideboard. Miss
Weld saw that it would not be very
difficult to step from the chair to what
was designed as the front part Of the
|sideboard, upon which she could walk
across and then descend by the other
chair on the far side.
That she should be invited to per-
form such a feat seemed to her only a
natural sequence in this nightmare adj
venture. 1t was unreal, but not more
SO than the preposterous appearance Of
all these people whom she knew just at
the moment when their presence was
least desirable and in the last place in
the world where she could have expect
ed to find them. 1t simply couldn't be
true. Unjust be some sort Of dream.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

A ton OF clover hay cut at the right
time and properly cured is worth as
much as two tons as it is commonly Sc
cured in the clover belt.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The Australian wheat crop Of this
winter their summer) will only aver
age about seven bushels per acre.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The state of Iowa paid $1,000 for a
Polled Angus COW for the herd at the
Ames Agricultural college.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

An automobile gang pillow is a COM
ing practical farm tool for use on the
large farms.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The behavior Of barbed wire is very
like that of the trust which manufac-
lures it,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24
e--..-.
BY ]. S. TR1GG.


It is. the. rainfall of May which deter
mines the yield Of the hay crop,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24
TRAINS LEAVING JEEFERsON sTREEE
UNION STATION

CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE & ST. PAUL
Arrivs Depar
Chicago, Dubuque g. Mil. T1:3o am t2:3s am
Chicago, Cedar Rap, ETC.. tl0:55 am 1875 pm
Kansas City g. Southwest. 1880 am HISS am
Kansas City and local.. 1880 pm tl0:40 am
ltreiglt@going soutii...... 1880 am
Freight-going south T2:00 pm
Freight-going north...... s10:50 am
Freight-going north...... T:15 am
*Dally. Except Sunday. gExcept Monday.
Freight trains arrive at and depart from OF.
uuXa Junction, 7
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

The wool on the average sheep will
bring its owner about 81 this, year.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24
The Courier for News.
RAILROAD TIME TABLE.
TRAINS LEAVING UNION DEPOT
". y. Parker, Ticket Agent
BIJRINGTON ROUTE. C.. b. a. @. r y


CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND & PACING
GOING EAST. Depart
No. 22S-Ottuniwa to Keoluk. ...... 700 a.. nj.
2O2-Des Mones to Keoluk ...... 1885 a. nj,
204-Des Moines TO Eldon ;. 1923 p. m.
cS4-Freigit, Ottunwa to Eldon. ASS p. nj.
GOING WEST. Arrive,
227-Keoku1 to Ottunwa...... 6:45 p. m.
Depart.
201-E1don to Des Moines.......- $500 a. m.
2O3-Keosul< to Des Moines...... 1915 D. m.
233-Frt, Eldon to Des Mones... 1852 a. nj.
231-Trt, daily, Eldon to Monroe $500 D. M.
Unless otherwise specified, all trains aredaily
except Sunday.