davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
R0!YA!L ~! I! s;';;:s ss*":.
Makes the food more delicious and wholesome
THE ISLAND OF TAHITI.
II May BE Rightly Termed the Para
disc Of the Pacific.

II May BE Rightly Termed the Para
disc of the Pacific.
Picture an island set in q reef of coral
of myriad hues-the lagoon Of light
green, outside the white foaming break
ers the vast ocean Of intenSe blue. On
shore are great punches Of cocoanut
palms lifting their plumes In stately
magnificence, then there are lanes Of
trees blossoming In red and yellow flow
ers, and nesting In their midst are the
low matched houses Of the natives.
The delightful and healthy climate Of
the island brings to maturity all the
products OF the tropics, which are no
where found in greater fullness and
perfection than here. The wnyfarer Is
soothed by the fragrance Of sweet
smelling flowers and delighted with the
abundance of oranges, bananas, bread.
fruit and cocOanut which give peren-
NAL supply Of food to the natives.
Tahiti may be rightly termed the
paradise Of the Pacific" or even the
world, as in no other place is there SO
much variety of scenery. At every
turn the constant surprises keep the
traveller in delirium Of delight Some
times the sea lies before him, the
waves wreathed In q foam Of white
breaking the silence in continuous
roar; on the other side the high, steep
mountains In forms Of towers, domes
and steeples pierce the clouds. Now
and then n silvery band Of water falls
from perpendicular heights to the tur-
bulent stream below. Then you pass
under the sheltering shadows Of tall
interlacing trees which excel even the
grandeur Of our elm. Farther on you
pass through lanes lined with bananas,
mango and groves Of cocoanut.-Over-
land Monthly.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
THE CORN CROP.

Great interest just at this time is CEN
tering on the corn crop the country over.
There is no question but that the crop
of this important cereal is seriously cut
down by drought throughout wide
portion of the great corn producing
states. Though rain has now fallen and
the drought is in measure relieved, yet
there is no longer question but the
crop is seriously cut short beyond recov-
cry by its effects. Just how great the
damage will prove cannot now be fully
determined for the reason that it is hop
ed that the late planted corn may yet
come forward and ear out.
Of course spectators are taking adj
vantage of the situation to send the price
skyward, and it would not be strange if
they succeed in running above what it
can stand, and that there be reaction.
But whatever be the further outcome of
the crop, there can be no question but
that we have got to stand high-priced
corn for the next year, and until another
and better crop is harvested. Of this
farmers may rest assured.
Farmers who have based their calcu-
lations on so cent corn, and are growing
sweet corn instead at $3.50 a hundred
for the cut corn, will find the odds
against them with the market price at
Is cents. Still more will those who are
not growing the crop at all find their
grain bill heavy tax upon their income
at these higher rates.-Maine Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
NATURAL HISTORY.

The pouch Of pelican is large
enough to contain seven quarts Of wa.
ter.
For mountain climbing camels are
very Inefficient and seldom used in
Abyssi1ia and other mountainous coun-
tries.
Sparrows begin housekeeping very
expediriously. A pair Of them will
build q nest and furnish 1t with an egg
inside Of "a hours from the. time when
the site was selected.
The female red grouse is said to vary
Its dress according to surroundings. 1t
Is q fact worth remembering that tho
red grouse occurs In no other part Of
the world but the British isles.
No one has been able to give salts.
factory reason for the formation adopt
ed by the wild duck or mallard in
flight. The birds arrange themselves
In two converging lines, like huge V.
the leader occupying the point.
The ostrich is q descendant Of a
genus Of bird which In prehistoric times
attained an enormous size. In the al
luvial deposits Of Madagascar evidence
has recently been found to show that
ostriches ii and Is feet in height once
lived on the island.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
The Life Line In Ones Hand.

There are three prominent lines IN
the palm-the line Of life, that OF the
head and the heart line.
The line Of life begins on the inner
boundary of the palm. about midway
between the thumb and the forefinger.
II We imagine the left hand to be q
map, with the fingers pointing north,
this line runs toward the southeast.
then curves toward the south and In
some hands curves finally toward the
southwest. 1t thus skirts the base or
"uprise" Of the thumb, known as the
uprise Of Venus. II 1t is deep, broad,
Of good color and extends nearly or
quite to the wrist and II the rest OF tho
hand indicates vitality and cheerful
ness, the subject may be expected to live
to green old age; he has a good dispo.
sition and the qualities which good
health and good temper usually create.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27

The nert instant he apould haze dropped
the Kd6fr aDhen his heart failed him.
he had bis racial antipathy, but the
English officer was young and jovlal,
and not yet had the Beers and English
come to actual warfare, so a fair price
was paid down, and the soldiers rode
of, driving their cattle, to the camp
where their regiment lay, not many
miles of. Then Dom Hendrick took
the few goldpieces left with him and
laid his recovered heirloom, an enor.
nous heavy silver watch, which one
would have to carry, one would think.
In an overcoat side pocket, carefully
beside them.
"No thanks to you," said he to poor
Paul, 81 have my grandfather's gift
again. Some day will give it to you,
II you grow up true Boer and not O
coward. Your father told you, as you
know, where to place these things that
neither Kafflr nor Englander can find
them"
Paul's head hung low; his face was
shamed. He did not answer at all, but
the bitter words Of the old warrior
most heroic to the boy among NEIL
cut sorely to his soul.
He went out and looked carefully
around. Everything was silent. The
heat of noon had driven bird and beast
to shelter. Even the hum Of the insect
world was stilled. The clatter Of the
cavalry was far agone, and not q soul,
not q servant, was In sight. At the
back of the farmhouse, among an or
chard Of orange trees, there rose, peep
ing up from the grasses, moss grown,
circle of stones. Paul walked to them
and stood over them minute, looking
down into deep old well, unused now,
but whose bottom was hidden by black
water. Once more the boy looked all
round, but there was no one to see. He
disappeared and reappeared again
quickly and went back to his neglected
cattle.
Twilight In the Transvaal is brief.
The sun touches the peaks Of the pur-
pie mountains, and yet 1t Is day; the
sun Is lost behind them, and In a few
minutes it is night. Paul had his oxen
driven home and stalled and the COWS
MIXED, and he was very weary, for the
hay had been most exciting. He got
simple supper for Dom Hendrick and
himself and ate, In spite Of his hard
day, poorly, for his boyish heart was
still sore and still. When the ducks by
the pond waddled to their nests, their
mocking quacks said. Coward, cow
ard, coward!"
He was still eating when the door
opening straight from the yard to the
living room was flung inward without
any previous knock or sound Of voice
and two big men strode In and closed 1t
behind them. The old Boer, with a
great angry roar, like an insulted bull,
almost rose to his feet In his wrath and
astonishment, but sank back, shaking
and spluttering. Paul did jump to his
feet and with one leap was at the wall
where his fathers rifle hung, but at
once, quick as he, one Of the men was
upon him and swung him far into q
corner Of the room.
"None Of that. my little Dutchmanr'
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
NUMBER IS.
BIG PRICES FOR ANIMALS.
Small sised Fortune Needed to
Buy q Giraffe.

A Small sised Fortune Needed to
Buy q Giraffe.
Because Of the difficulty Of getting Il
to America and Of keeping 1t alive aft
er 1t arrives q good giraffe Is quoted at
$1,000.
Next 10 the giraffe in the aristocracy
Of cost come the rhinoceros and the
hippopotamus, worth from $4,000 to
$1,000 each. II dealer could breed
these animals. he could get rich. but
the big mammals rarely breed in cap
tivity. About the only place in America
where hippopotami have been known
to raise their young is in the menag-
erie In Central park, New York.
A chimpanzee Of size Is worth 5000.
and when one reaches the intelligence
Of the late Mr.. Crowley, Chico or Jo-
hanna he is beyond fixed price. The
monkey kind are most uncertain prop
erty. The animal man says they are
certain to die. But the ordinary ones
can be bought very cheaply.
One can buy nice young baby ele-
phant for $1,000 at times, but a really
good animal Is worth from $500 to
$1,000. An elephant does not command
the maximum price because Of tho
beauty of his countenance, the ele-
gance Of his figure, his intellectual en-.
dowments or his size, but because Of
a sweet, sunny disposition. A mean
elephant is about the most evil Of llv-
ing things Sooner or later he has to
be killed, usually after he has slain
two or three keepers and done more
damage than he is worth. OF two ami
mails Of equally good disposition the
larger and finer commands the higher
price, Of course, but the most magniA-
cent beast with an inclination for mur-
dor isn't worth as much rs very com.
mon one that is trustworthy-that is,
ordinarily so. for the sweetest tenn
pered have days when they seem In.
spired Of satan.-Junior Munsey.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
GROW YOUR OWN CORN

We have field of corn planted on a
worn-out field with $50 lbs. of COM
mercial fertilizer to the acre, that looks
finely and gives promise of fair crop of
ears, and we estimate there will be
twelve tons of fodder per acre.
If the crop fulfills our expectations we
shall grow our corn on commercial fer
tilizer exclusively in the future, and use
our barn manure in seeding down. The
same amount of manure used to grow
three acres of corn will grow better
crop of grass on five acres if put on at
time of seeding down. With small
outlay for commercial fertilizer we can
largely increase our corn and grain crop,
cut more hay, and largely reduce the bill
for western grain.
l have always contended that we
should raise more grain in Maine. Hun
dreds of thousands of dollars are pour
ing out of the state into the pockets of
the grain growers of the middle states,
while thousands of acres of good land is
producing less than $3 worth of hay per
acre.
Plow up these old fields, invest one
half what you are paying for grain in
fertilizers, and you can grow enough
and to spare, and the rOughage is always
worth enough more than the June grass
which grows on these old fields to pay
the costs. Your farm will be better for
it, and much valuable time will be saved
in going to town during the busy sea-
sOn.-O. NJ. Richardson in The Maine
Farmer,
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27

In Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, there
Is picturesque island which takes It's
name from the fact that 1t Is unin.
habitad by man and given over to the
cranes. Generations back these birds
decided upon this spot for a summer
resort. As times went on and the sur
rounding islands populated no man
had yhe heart to disturb them, until
now Crane island is pointed out from
passing boats as one Of the curioeities
of the northwest.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
SPECIAL FARMING.
OLD FASHIONED CONSERVATIVE NEW
ENGLAND FARMERS TOO SLOW.

Success in specially farming is not
primarily a matter of soil, situation or
surroundings, but of the farmer.
The old-fashioned, conservative ele-
ment among New England farmers Il
use adjectives in common circulation) is
least of all fitted for the practice Of
modern intensive specialties. Even the
sons of these families succeed better
when they go west to Minnesota and
Colorado than when they stay at home
and try the "new tangled ideas" in farm
ing. 1t takes about one generation of
western experience to cure them of the
conservatism" q haven'ta better word)
of their father. The successful spe-
cialty farmers, with good many excep-
tons, are men who have come out of the
cities, or who have had experience else
where than on the farms where they
were born and brought up.
According to my observation, which,
of course, may be at fault, changing con-
ditions almost never effect any change
in the individual farmer. A farmer in
middle life sometimes reforms his per-
sonal habits, votes another ticket, or
quits drinking, joins the church and
gives up trading horses; but he never
reforms his methods of farming.
The transformation of New England
farming waits continually upon new
generation of farmers (and the same
thing is true of western agriculture).
The change toward intensive specialties
will doubtless continue for many years
to come, but it will be extremely
slow, and will be delayed by many influ-
ences which operate in the other direc-
tion. And though this change is in the
long run inevitable, and though present
conditions indubitably favor it, it is a
useless expense of words to argue spe-
cialty farming to man now established
in the routine of raising little corn, a
little oats, few potatoes, little hay,
keeping six cows, three horses, three
hogs, five sheep and flock of monde
script hens.-Country Gentleman.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
Ar.Ix,,np His Affection.

The young lovers sat beside the wa
terfall. The rapids and the nearby
whirlpool had O strange attraction for
the romantic young girl. She had heard
the story Of the unhappy Indian maid
en- and the young brave who had gone
to their doom, clasped In each others
arms, to the slow music Of the "Swan
Song" That seemed very beautiful to
her.
"Jack," she said, "if you saw me
struggling in the water near the edge
Of the falls. would you jump In after
me"
"What would be the use, my dear,
when can't swimT he answered.
"But at least we could perish togeth-
er," she replied bravely.
"Yes, there would be no doubt OF
that" he returned, shudderlng ut the
sound of the cruel waters.
"But haven't you often said you
would die for me% she asked, piqued
at his coldness.
mo, my DEAR" replied her practical
lover. If you'll remember. I've al
ways told you that had an undying
love for youg'-Smart Set
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
FARM NOTES.

The man who boasts of the greatest
number of acres is not always the big
gest and best farmer. He who produces
more bushels and more pounds is bet
ter farmer.
Many varieties of apple trees have
been planted without any thought given
to their adaptability to the particular
soil or climate. Loss in apple growing
is often wholly matter of varieties.
Trees propagated from unproductive
stock have been responsible for many
failures. Scions should be selected from
bearing trees or those which have DEM
onstrated their ability for productive
ness.
All wooden vessels that hold butter
should be carefully washed in brine and
all parchment paper used around it
should be soaked in brine. Commission
men claim that much of the mouldy but.
ter in the market is due to the fact that
tubs and pals are not soaked enough
before being used and that parchment
paper is sometimes not soaked at all. It
Is the little things that count immensely
In the butter market.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
UNFRUiTFUl TREES.
VARIOUS REASONS WHY FLOWERS DO
NOT sEr.-soME PREvENTIBLE.

All observing fruit growers have seen
trees which blossom full, but do not set
a fair amount of fruit; many have found
their orchards Improbable for this rea-
son. 1t is a practical point to know the
causes of this loss and the best way to
prevent it.
In the first place, but small percent
age of the blossoms set fruit any way,
even in the most favorable seasons, and
with the most productive varieties. In
blossoming time Japanese plum tree is
q mass of white, carrying scores OF
flowers on single branch; yet scarcely
dozen fruits may set on that twig, and
some of those must be removed or the
tree will overbear.
This normal failure in the setting OF
fruit blossoms may be due to number
of causes; as poorly nourished fruit
buds, lack of pollination or winter in
Jury to the pistils which cannot be seen
with the eye alone. 1t is usually dis
tinct advantage to the fruit grower, as it
saves thinning. If all plum blossoms
set fruit, the expense of thinning would
be multiplied many times. Only when
the failure of fruit blossoms to set be-
comes general, does the fruit grower
feel the loss and call for an explanation.
Young trees generally set little or no
fruit the first few years, when they are
growing fast, although they may bios
som full. Older trees may show the
same results if stimulated too highly
with heterogeneous fertilizers.
If the weather is warm and wet in
early spring, conditions are favorable
for the growth of fungi, and it some
times happens that fruit blossoms are
blasted by the early growth of these
parasites. Wherever spraying is prac-
ticed faithfully, the killing of fruit bios
SONS by fungi need not occur.
The unfruitfulness which often fol-
lows rain during the blossoming sea
son is sometimes confused with self
sterihty.
Drying winds during the blossoming
season are not common in the east, but
are often serious in some parts of the
west.-New England Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
A Financial Discussion.

Chronic Borrower-Can you lend me
$50 for few days?
Weary Friend-Why don't you pawn
your watch?
Because 1t is q keepsake from my
dear mother. and I don't like to part
with It."
my money is q keepsake from my
dear father. and I don't like to part
with It, either."-Nxchange.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27

sight at the trot from round a corner
of the wood. The captain, riding ahead
saw Paul with a quick, all scanning
eye. With a wave backward Of bis
gauntleted hand he fell to walk, and
at once the men behind him did the
same, and then at the word Halt" the
company remained still and mute, and
the officer beckoned Paul to his horses
side. Paul went with great awe and
trepidation, for there Is something ter
rorizing to even a grown peasant at the
unfamiliar sight Of many sabered sol.
diers of strange dress and manner and
speech.
"Whose cattle are these, my boyY'
said the officer. II must have some"
Pauls face heightened so that the sol.
der laughed and reached down and
patted his head.
Don't be frightened, laddie," said
he. "My men are short Of fresh meat
and I want two fat steers, but you will
get a fair price for them and cash down
at that. Are they your fathersY
"Yes, SIR" Paul answered, somewhat
reassured. 'but he is not at home. My
grandfather is, but he's sick. That's
our house"
"Take me to see your grandfather
then"
He told a sergeant to have the men
dismount. and he himself dismounted
to follow Paul. The boy watched the
agile men obey the order as II touched
by one spring, and then suddenly Paul
saw something which made him cry
out shrilly.
"Its Kunjew he shouted, for, now
the men were off their horses, he could
see at the back of the column the big
black Swat bound with q rope In
charge of soldier.
"Hello, my boy! Do you know that
Kafiir" the officer asked In surprise.
''It is Kunje, our servant, who ran of
this morning and stole rifle and watch
and other things!"
"Oh, was that it2" the soldier laugh.
ed. 1T was the gun that got him into
trouble. We don't approve of armed
natives In these times who can't give
an account of themselves. So he's q
thief, Is heP I don't know but that
shooting would be the best thing for
him. Bring that fellow here, corporal"
The corporal moved forward to obey,
when with such sudden quickness that
the soldiers had no time to see what
was intended Kunje gave a jugglerlike
twist of his almost naked body, the
rope fell from him, and he dashed
away among the trees and the cattle
and into the brush by the stream.
"Shoot" yelled the officer. Mount
and after him."
One or two men fired wildly at the
fleetly flying form. and two men fol.
lowed at gallop, but soon came back.
1t was impossible. even on horseback,
to catch that agile, low running saw
age, soon lost In the bush.
"a poor piece Of work, whoever tied
him." the officer growled. LET the
rascal 60. Boy. there's your rife and
watch, just rs you said. We took
them from him. Now, let's see your
grandfather about the cattle"
Dom Hendrick was sternly polite to
the English soldiers, whom thirty odd
years ago he had fought and for whom
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
STATE or MAINE
TREAsURER's OFFICE.

Augusta, Aug. !, 1901.
Pursuant TO chap. s, sec. 7S. of the Re-
yl.el Ststutes. | viii, at the State Treasurer's
Office a Augusta, on the twenty fourth day OF
september next, at IL O'Clock 4. NJ. sell and con.
yey by deed to the highest bidder all the interest
oftbe state In the tracts of land hereinafter de-
scribed, Wing In unineorporated townships,
SAIL tracts having been forfeited To the State for
State taxes and county taxes, certiheI 70 tne
Treasurer OF State for the year 1859 The sale
and conveyance OF each tract will be made
subject % a right In the owner or part owner
whose rights have been forfeited, TO redeem the
sane at any time within one year after the sale,
By paving or tend-rlng tn the purchaser MS pro-
portion Of what the purchaser paid therefor AT
the sale with interest at the rate OF 20 per cent
per anuum from the time of sale, and one dollar
iOr release, or such owner may redeem his
interest by paying as aforesaid to the Treasurer
Of state, a. provided In chap. s. sec 10 OF the
Revised statutes.
No tract, however. will be sold at price less
than the fun amount due thereon for such un-
paid State and county taxes interest and costs,
as described In the following schedule:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27

to understand that bis grandson had
actually had the clevefness and cour.
age to entrap two Of his country's enc
mics, English soldiers, bat when he did
he called the household together and
with great gravity and q long speech
solemnly presented Paul with an an
Client silver watch which weighs about
two pounds troy.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
A c.,. Covered with shoe..

The principal gateway at Allahabad
is thickly studded with hOrseshoes Of
every size and make. There are hun
dreds of them nailed all over the great
gates, doubtless the offering Of many
Z wayfarer who has long since finished
his earthly pilgrimage. The sacred
gates of Somnath, In the fort Of Agra,
are similarly adorned.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27

Bloodstone, which is really green
chalcedony spotted with jasper. is ac-
counted for by the following legend:
At the cruciHxion piece of chalcedony
lay at the foot Of the cross, and on 1t
dropped the Saviour's blood, from which
time the stone is said to have borne
red spots, which are supposed to In
crease and to deepen In color when
danger is near. It is also said to revive
the spirits and to inspire to great
deeds, to check excessive bleeding and
last, but not least, to render its wearer
invisible at will.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-08-27
po~er Without Heat.

As we watch the world famous plunge
Of Niagara we are offered an impress
sive lesson as to the small value In
heat Of much motive power. In 80 TAR
as the descent Is perpendicular. 90 that
the water leaves the foot Of the falls
with comparatively little current, the
effecr Of the concusslon is simply to
warm the water through but one-si'rth
Of degree F. To heat the water az
much as one degree the falls would
have to be TT feet In height-GeorSe
lies In Everybody's Magazine.