davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16
Tea
Planting
Especial Lottery

Especial Lottery
Within the present century Uncle
| sam Will be raising not only enough
tea for his own domestic wants, but a
considerable quantity for expectation.
Inc TACT that finer tea can be grown
In the United States than in the Orient
mas been conclusively proven by some
interesting experiments which the De-
partment of Agriculture has been con-
Quoting during the past few years at
the pioneer tea plantation established
in the new world.
AS soon as the secretary of agricul-
ture, writes Weldon Fawcett in the
Book World, became convinced that tea
culture In the south was not only prac-
tlcable but might be made profitable
as well he arranged for the institution
OF an experimental plantation in South
Carolina. The site selected has proven
most admirable one Pinehurst, as
1T is called, consists of about 700 acres
OF beautiful rolling country thickly
strewn with woodlands. About so
acres of the splendid estate were trans
formed into tea gardens, and this ap-
portlonment has gradually been ex-
tended. The tiny seeds which had been
brought from the far east were left
to regose in earthly beds, prepared and
sweetened with all the care that could
possibly be bestowed upon couch Of
soil. Diminutive shades were even
provided to screen these babies of the
plant world from the glare of the sun,
and then the tea planters anxiously
awaited results.
The Experiment. a Success.
At first the little immigrants did not
appear to take kindly to the foreign
CLINE, and the investigators became so
discouraged that they were we'll nigh
ready to give up the experiment, when,
Just in the nick of time, fate smiled,
and the result was that these American
tea gardens now contain thousands of
bushes, each composed of many separ-.
ate stems. Better STILL the practical
side of the enterprise has commenced
to make favorable showing. The
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16
German. want Rapid transit.

1t was stated recently that the pres
ent year would witness most import
ant experiments over the German Mill
tary line between Berlin and Zossen
with an electric railway engine run
ming at a speed Of 200 kilometers
(about ia miles) an hour. But Ger
man electric railway enterprise does
not propose to stop at this. A project
is under discussion for service from
Berlin to Hamburg, with connections
to various other great towns, in one
hour and quarter. The promoters
want to run train every six minutes
with time table as follows Berlin to
Cologne in two and quarter hours;
to Breslau in one and half; to Ham
burg in one and a quarter; to Munich
in two and a half; to Vienna in four.
and to Paris in ave hours. London
Express.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16

The Revue de Paris contains some
gery interesting details by Count de la
Vaulx about his projected balloon trip
across the Mediterranean. He says
MY balloon will be made of French
silk, which is much lighter than Chi
nese pongee silk. and has quite as
much resistance. The car will be made
of rushes, and will measure two metres
eighty en-, by three metres twenty
and will be attached to the balloon in
the same way as is used by the mill
tary balloonists at Chalais. The crew
of the balloon for the Mediterranean
voyage will be four in number-twc
naval officers and aeronauts. The voy-
age will be made in June or July, when
the wind and sea are their calmest
There will be preliminary trials, and
provisions for three weeks will be pre-
pared.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16
Remuneration in Court GLORY.

At the court of Sweden the salary
of maid of honor is $500, and she
is expected to pay for the board of her
femme de chambre. Her waits go on
for about ten months, or perhaps
little less. The custom is that she
should not retire before three years.
Were she to retire earlier, it might
be interpreted as showing she was
sick of her courtly sage. The low pay
practically disqualifies poor nobility
from filling posts Of honor" There
are endless lord chamberlains in Den
mark, survivals Of the time when the
sound was never-failing source Of
wealth to the king. But they are NOT
paid, and are only wanted at grand
functions. Maids Of honor for balls.
weddings state concerts and grand fes-
tivities might be paid, as in Russia.
by the right to wear a miniature OF the
queen sstin brilliants on the shoulder
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16
The Sing Song Tongue of China.

The Sing Song Tongue of China.
Mr. Elson, writing OF Chinese vocal
music in the Musical Record, says
that the voice in China is trained to
much fiexibility by the exigencies Of
the language. The Chinese is in one
sense the most musical of languages,
as word acquires half dozen signifi-
cations according to the pitch of voice
or infection with which it is pro-
nounced. The number of words is
small. the ideas that may be conveyed
by them are many. Thus foreigners
are led into endless complications and
misunderstanding for example, the
word tchu, pronounced clearly with
the vowel of medium length, means
master" but by extending the vowel
trifle it signifies hog; it also means
Column" and cookery" The syllable
"po" has eleven different meanings
glass" boil" captive" prepare, Z"
and so forth, each of which must be
pronounced with different pitch and
infection. Among the original words
are some which decidedly are taken
from nature, such as "tchung" "bell";
"miau," cat; but these are very few.
Some authors have endeavored to show
from these facts that the Chinese is
in all respects musical language;
but this can hardly be conceded, for
the infections spoken of are so slight
as to escape the European ear, which
surely would not be the case il they
were really musical notes. 1t is we'll
known that Father Periere, in the last
century. was able to note down at first
hearing and initiate any Chinese song.
Youths Companion.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16
A Unique Character
Who Died
Recently

it to yourselves to decide. Philoso-
piers has tried to bride me, but thew
can't. Now, gent'mun an ladies. /
will take my text. Look in de Bible
an see if faint so. 1t say, in Exodus,
18th chapter, third verse, The Lord is
man Of war; the Lord is His name.
Centrum an ladies, the Lord is never
been here at any time to take up car
nal weapons and fight against His enc
mics. l has to make my way to the
wildernest and reach Canaan land ia
prove
De Sun do Mover
He then proceeded to tell, in his own
way, the story of the exodus from
Egypt, with the attending miracles,
the crossing of the Jordan, the TAX
ing of Jerico, ETC., all to prove that
the Lord is man of war;" and to
lead up to the climax of his sermon
thus:
DE five kings of de Amorltes made
war, an Joshua came an saw it was
warm battle, an de sun was gone
down over great Gideon!' an I don't
know how in the name O. Gawd it got
dere if it didn't novel" This is &C
companied by shout of triumph. He
mops his brow, loosens his collar, and
proceeds: Philosophers says it
moves roun' an roun' on axles, an
Joshua told de sun to stan still. Now,
ladies and gent nun, do you b'lieve
Joshua would have asked God to stop
de sun if it hadn't a-been movin' ?
Why didn't he ask God to stop lie
earth, which were goin' roun' or
axles? See Joshua, 10th chapter.
De sun went down. Gent nun an
ladies, can you tell me dat de sun
don't move? From de risin' of de
sun to de goin' down of de same
114th Psalm-didn't l tell you de sun
do move? Judges, 14th chapter, 9Th
verse: On de seventh day before de
sun went down. How in de name o.
Gawd could de sun go down 'dout NOV
in? Ecclesiastes first, fifth verse: 1T
can rise and go down. Now, can any
body on Gawd Almighty's earth make
you b'lieve it don't move? God
turned de sun back over de valley of
Ajalon 10 degrees Now. I'd like to
know who'd spec ME to b'lieve, after
that. that the sun don't move? Ma
lachi first to eleventh. Does some
folks mean to tell me dat Gawd tells
lie? Dis here is Gawd talkin', l tell
you!"
Brother Jasper also contended that
the earth is fiat and had four corners.
He was picturesque figure, standing
more than six feet two inches, and
was as straight as an Indian.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16
A mountain goat farm is a new bust

A mountain goat farm is new bust
ness in Center and Tioga counties, Pa.
A pioneer in the business opens with
cleared mountain land and cosign-
ment of 1000 white goats, costing SIS
a head. The mountain cleared land
affords an ideal pasture for the hardy
animals The New Mexican goats have
good fur, their hides made fine
leather, and the meat, for food. is said
to be delicious and most nutritious.
The pasture grounds Of the goats are
Enclosed with a wire fence.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16


all his descendants have been million.
aires, too. But Cornelius Vanderbilt,
when a boy worked as common boat
hand on his fathers ferry boat. His
father lived on Staten island now a
part of New York city, and owned and
operated ferry boat that piled ON
New York bay between the island and
the city. The proceeds were not large
in those days, nearly century ago,
and young Cornelius was required to
work on the boat certain number of
hours every day. After that, said his
father, he could employ his time as he
chose Young Cornelius put in his
spare hours to such good account that
when he was 81 years old he was able
to buy ferry boat of his own and
begin business in competition with his
father.-Chicago Record Herald.
Discovery of Philippine Islands.
The Philippine islands, which for two
years have held such an important part
in American history, were discovered
by Ferdinand Magellan, or,as the Span
iards spelled it. Magalhens, on the 18th
of March, 1921. Magellan. you know,
is credited with being the first man
who sailed around the world. The fact
is Magellan did not live to circumnavi-
gate the globe, but his ship completed
the wonderful voyage, and so the same
end was accomplished Emperor
Charles v was on the throne of Spain
when Magellan sailed away. He pass
ed through the straits Of Magellan at
the southern point Of South America
and after crossing the Pacific ocean
reached the great group of islands later
known as the Philippines. Magellan
named the group the St. Lazarus is
lands. He effected a landing on an is
land south of LuZon, but the natives
made fierce resistance. In the bat
tie which followed Magellan was killed.
His men took up their voyage again
and in time reached Spain. Spain did
not take possession Of st. Lazarus is
lands until 1865. Philip II was emper-
or then. Philip was the man who tried
to conquer England by means of the
great armada and who failed so terri
bly,. A fleet of ships was sent to st.
Lazarus islands from the west coast
of Mexico, and the name of the archi-
pelago was changed to the Philippine
islands in honor of Philip H. Spain
held the islands continuously until
they were taken by the United States.
Chicago Record-Herald.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16

OF red snow we all know something
from books on the High Alps. Black
snow-except when it is "manufactur-
ed" in London, and consists of fine
blend of SCOT and slush-is less well
known. But it might have been seen
some years ago in corner of the
Muette Valley, where dark snow,
which formed thick layer, almost
black, on the ground" came down in a
heavy shower. ,Iu-smelling, it was,
End, what is worse, It's color represent
ed an enormous host of tiny insects. A
strong wind, we are told. brought them
over from some distant part.
Murray Hall Of New York, the WON
an who for years lived as man, in
tended to keep up the deception even
beyond the grave. Her will, fled for
probate the other day, provides for the
erection Of a suitable headstone over
the grave Of my wife, Celia F. l..
Hall" The executrix is undecided
whether to follow this odd instruction
or not. II she does. it will be monu-
ment commemorating the fact that at
least one woman could keep a secret,
and keep it we'll She )left an estate
wort, worth over $4,000 am Used by hard
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16
Especial Letter,)

especial Letter.)
There is no break in the severity Of
the Russian Lent, save on Willow Sun
day-we call it Palm Sunday here. But
as Russia still holds to the ancient cal
endar it comes later in the year thar
in any other Christian country. II
| Russia everyone carries branch Of
| willow on that day and the people
| throng the streets. If man strikes q
| girl with his willow twig it is as ii
is here when man and girl meet
under the mistletoe. There is kissing
and laughing and blushing in Mos
COW on Willow Sunday.
Then the fast days shut in again
and everything is serious. 1t is real
fasting there, not the pretense of fast
Ing that is practiced here. Round
cheeks grow thin before Easter comes
In the week before Easter there is a
rage Of cleaning Everything is washed
and swept and busted and turned in
side out. Go into almost any house
and you will find the servants scrub
bling and securing and men with oiled
rags wound on their feet skating about
the bare floors to polish them. They
sing while they skate, and it looks odd.
Then there is much shopping during
holy week, for everyone gives presents
at Easter time and everyone has new
clothes, and every housekeeper must
fill her larder to overlooking for the
Easter supper.
Holy Friday.
On Friday everything stops. That
day is too holy for work. Friday
night everyone goes to church. Most
of the women wear black The tomb
of Christ, which is box covered with
a pail, is brought out and placed in
the nave before the altar. The cathe-
dral is dimly lighted. The choir boys
sing low, mournful music. The priests
carry representation Of the body Of
Christ out from the sanctuary 1t is
long piece of silk with the face Of
Christ painted upon it. The priests lay
it in the tomb, while the people pros
trate themselves and the choir means
sorrowfully. The bells all over the
city toll. The lights in the church are
put out and the crowd goes away 81.
lently.
Saturday evening by o'clock ev-
erything is quiet No one is on the
streets. The people are bathing and
dressing preparing for the Easter serv-
ice. Even the dirtiest Russian battles
that night. By 10 o'clock the streets
are crowded with people going to the
churches. There are the big churches.
and the chapels in the converts and
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16

LA 1thIADII4S "A L
yield of the plantation is increased by
one-eighth each year. and the tea pro-
duced is so vastly superior to the
black tea which comes over the ocean
chat it sells for 81 pound, or three or
four times as much as the importa-
nets the government very handsome
profit on the investment
The government officials have dem
onstrated that under ordinary circum-
stances 400 pounds of tea can be
counted upon as the yield of each acre
in plantation. The tea can be grown
and put on the market at Is cents per
pound Thus if the shopkeeper sells
this superior grade of tea at the same
prices which are charged for the in
ferior imported teas they will almost
double their money.
Extending tho Work.
The government is now planning to
distribute tea plants free to all south
ern colleges that will agree to assist
the Department of Agriculture in es-
ldUllSllluS ICd GdiuCllS OA IuSll
Special scientific agents are being sent
out to give advice and after a thor
ough investigation has been made Of
the possibilities of the gulf states for
the culture, experiments will be con-
Quoted in Tennessee, North Carolina,
Arkansas, Indian Territory, Oklahoma
Territory, Missouri and other border
states Climatic conditions, rainfall and
soil must. however, all be favorable to
conduce to successful tea culture, and
the American tea growers have al
ready discovered that it is useless to
winter temperature is lower than Is
degrees above zero. An average of an
inch of rainfall every week in the
year is also essential, although it is
hoped to overcome this necessity by
means of irrigation.
zled the American tea planters not a
little Is the securing of helpers at
wages low enough to enable competi-
ton with the ridiculously cheap labor
of the Mongolians. Machinery now
1
does much of the work of preparing
the tea for market, but the leaves must
be picked by hand, and with all the
economy that can be exercised. 1t
costs about eight times as much to Sc
cure the harvesting of a pound of tea
in South Carolina as It does in Asia.
Even as it is the cost would be greater
had mot the projectors of this initial
tea plantation happily hit upon the
plan of employing colored school chill
dren as pickers.
WIN Benefit the Negroes.
A schoolhouse is maintained on the
plantation, and in the intervals be.
tween learning to read and write the
youngsters are taught how to pick tea
None Of the Juvenile toilers can ap-
proach in rapidity the records of the
expert pickers Of Asia, but 1t is claimed
that they are far more careful in the
selection Of leaves than their rivals on
the opposite side Of the world, Ahoi,t
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16

Courtesy for courtesy is. unfortu-
Gaately. not the motto of all shoppers
During a recent month large dry
goods store sent out, in answer to re-
quests, thirteen hundred dollars worth
of samples. Every package contained
"a printed request to return samples af.
ter examination. The head of the de.
ipartment says that less than one.
tenth ever find their way back. Where
are the nine?" is no new lament fol
benefits forgot.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16

The daughter of Admiral Montojo,
who commanded the Spanish fleet at
the time of its destruction by Admiral
Dewey in Manila Bay, has just COM
mitted suicide by hanging at Genoa.
The admiral and her mother are now
living at Barcelona, and as she wrote
to them long letter just before she
put an end to her days, they probably
are aware of the mysterious reasons
that prompted her to the deed.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16
Tho Missing sabbath.

An old globe circler says that in 60
ing around the world there is scarcely
one traveller in hundred who remem-
bers that in going from east to west a
day Is gained. and that In going from
west to east a day Is lost. Many OF
those who come into contact with this
truth knew all about 1t when they
were at sechool. but never think Of it
on the high seas. In illustration of the
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16

To such an extent has the blackball-
ing practice grown in Paris that the
Union. which is the most fashionable,
exclusive and aristocratic club of the
French metropolis, has been obliged to
alter its method of election, and to
restrict the balloting to the governing
committee, instead of allowing the en-
tire club to take part therein. as here
tofore.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16

employer would dare limit the kitch-
en- hospitality that night. There arr
always cheese and Easter cakes and
coiored eggs, which have been taken
to the church to be blessed, and there
is everything else one can think of
Sometimes the priest is hired to go
to the house to bless the supper. The
priests so hnrrying from house to
house until daybreak.
VLADIMIR BOUROFF.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16
Uncle Sam Goes
Into the
Business

three days are required to make tho
round of the gardens, and this must
be done about every ten days, or about
score of times during the season. An
expert pickanniny can gather from 10
to 20 pounds of fresh leaf day. Some
of the little pickers earn SO or 60 cents
day, but the majority do not receive
more than 20 or 80 cents. At the same
time, Secretary Wilson, of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture, and other officials
who have made study of the subject.
believe that the tea industry holds
wonderful possibilities for the better
ment of the condition of the colored
people in the south. 1t will not only
keep the children employed and tend
to teach them frugality and thrift,
since payment is made on the basis OF
the amount Of work performed, but
will give them the slight education the
lack Of which has heretofore proven
the greatest barrier in the progress of
the race.
Pr vnte Capital Interes' ed.
Although the national government
has taken the initiative in tea culture.
it is with the idea of interesting pri-
waite capital in the field, and that this
object is being accomplished is attes..-
ed by the fact. that several companies.
with capital ranging from $4,000 to
100000 each, have recently been
formed to engage in the industry.
There is no doubt that adequate finan-
cial resources are required for success
full tea cultivation. 1t costs upwards
of $50 an acre to set out and raise the
tea plants, and thousands of dollars
must be expended for a factory in adj
dition to the constant outlay of labor.
A tea garden, when once established.
however, represents an institution that
will stand for centuries.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16
Crowd Love. the KremlIn.

The tomb of Christ still stands in
che nave with the black pail over it,
and there are lighted candles about it,
church, and one cannot see his neigh
boris face. The chcir sings softly.
There is no such music, even in Rome
as in the great Russian churches. At
11:45 a priest comes in from the side
and others follow. They begin to
chant "Gospodi pomilni" Lord have
mercy upon us), and they repeat it
over and over again constantly, while
each time the people cross themselves
three times and bow to the floor. Each
person holds an unlighted candle. The
body of the church is in deep gloom
and the candle light around the tomb
f1ickers over the white and silver
robes of the priests.
A few moments before IL o'clock the
lead priest comes out from the sane
tuary, where he has been praying. He
descends the altar steps, goes to the
tomb, stoops and lifts the pail. Then
he arises solemnly and cries out that
the body Of the Christ is not there.
A procession headed by the nriest
swinging censers and the choir chant
ing that they will seek where they
have laid Him." files out of the church
doors and marches around the church
The chant never ceases until the pro-
cession returns to the church, just at
IL ocloc,
A Great Cannon
oooms out in the stiffness. The head
priest, standing on the altar steps
shouts in great voice "Christos vos
kre's" Christ is risen), and all the
crowd shouts, in answer, "Voistine
voskris" Qn truth He hath risen). The
tapers are all lighted quickly, and. the
friends and relatives kiss and embrace
each other. Then they pour out te
the street. There are little dishes, full
OF oil and holding lighted wicks, on all
the little posts along the street, and
they throw queer shadows. Every
thing is gay. Everyone is laughing
talking and embracing. There is a big
supper in every house. and those VINO
have no homes are free to walk in
and eat at>the tables Of the more for
tunate.
The mistress kisses her servants and
gives them presents. and the servants
have great supper. too. to which all
of their friends are free to come. No
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16

The Extirpation of Rabbits" "Heav-
ems Dead Letter Office and Revival
by Constitutional Methods" have been
recently announced in Australian
newspapers as subjects of Sunday dis
courses. So it appears that America is
unfortunately not the only country
where sensational titles are chosen to
attract listeners to sermons.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16
King Edwara.. Exalted Po,,1,6n,

The King of England is said to have
the right to wear more uniforms than
any other crowned head. In addition
to the field marshal's uniform Of the
British army he will wear the four diff
ferent uniforms of the Guards and the
Tenth Hussars. He is an English adj
miral. and also a general in the Pms
sian army and colonel Of Ghfmans
Dragons and OF Prussian rgeimcnt
The king is colonel of R6 less than
twenty-five different regiments il l,is
own army.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-16

The market for bridges is far great
er in the United States than elsewhere
The states have now 100000 miles of
railways, and it has been estimated
that there is an average of one span
OF metallic bridge for every three
miles of railway. This gives $4,000
bridges on existing lines, without in
Guiding those required for new lines.