davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
LIKES RURAL LIFE
FROM DRAWING ROOM TO
FARM,
The Successful Agricultural Undertaking
IF Former Leader OF tho 1, z, 3,
"Sr1ayt Set" in Philadelphia Raises
Well Bred Live Stock.

Mrs. Minnie Eshleman Sherman, of
California, a former society girl of
Philadelphia, owns and manages
farm of $500 acres, with it's varied
interests of dairying, stock farming
and fruit growing. In her palm-bor-
dered orchards and vineyards she
grows raisin grapes, pears, peaches,
apricots, nectarines, prunes, oranges,
almonds and olives. For her immense
herds Mrs Sherman grows all OF her
own feed, the COWS in summer being
pastured on alfalfa, and, as the sea-
son advances, on ensilage made fros
the first crop of alfalfa; then on corn
from the silo, and later on green rye
In addition to the dairy, which sup
plies it's immense creamery, Mrs. Sher-
man has large number of thorough
bred horses and a big herd of fine
Berkshire swine Among the lessons
which Mrs. Sherman learned by sad
experience was the fact that the beau
tiful Jersey COWS which have found
nourishment on sweet hill pastures in
q cool, moist sea air will not thrive on
fields of alfalfa in warm, dry valley.
These have been replaced by the
sturdier Holstein-Friesian stock, OF
which she is said to have now one of
the finest herds in the country. Her
large barns contain all the latest de-
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
How Bills Eoual,za.

A prominent member of the Produce
Exchange related a striking illustra-
ton of the manner in which things
equalize themselves. Call during the
month of March had a great deal Of
sickness in my household" he said.
MY wife and daughters were practic.
ally all laid up at the same time. Ny
monthly bill at one of the department
stores where we do most of our shop
ping usually amounts to from $40 to
$45. Well, on the first of the month I
received two bills in one mail. One was
from the druggist at the corner and
the other was from the department
store. I opened the druggists bill
first. 1t was for $39.75. That nearly
staggered me. Then I opened the other
and the amount was only $2.25. You
see tn, women folks had been housed
nearly all the month and couldn't get
out to do any shopping. If they had
been we'll I wouldn't have had the
druggists bill to pay, but my depart
ment store bill would have been as big
as ever; so it's as broad as it Is
long. Philadelphia Record.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
Snake Liars of Indiana.

Some very good snake liars are de-
veloping in northern Indiana, al
though in recent years southern Indi-
ana has been unchallenged because of
it's supremacy in this respect. A wom-
an riding in buggy suddenly found
her feet immovable, and, glancing
downward, she saw the head of huge
blacksnake protruding upward, while
broad grin of delight expanded the
reptiles mouth as it gazed into her
face. The woman struggled to. release
her feet, but his snakeship took an
extra coil and continued to grin
broadly, while the woman's sshrieks
rent the air and the farm bells for
miles around rang out rallying the
neighbors to her aid. The snake was
finally killed Then it developed that
the black rascal, finding his slumbers
disturbed in the blanket under the
woman's feet, coiled it's body around
her ankles and took an extra hitch on
the foot rest of the buggy, after which
it was prepared for business. The
greater the struggle of the woman, the
tighter the reptiles grip on the foot
rest, and nothing remained but for
the woman to spend her energy in
screaming, which she did with right
good WILL while the snake grinned its
undeniable satisfaction. Southern In
diana has gone to extraordinary
lengths in the past with stories Of
things that crawl but it remains to
northern Indiana to find black
snake with a vein of humor.-Indian.
apolis News.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
WEALTH OF THE CONGO.
Ivory and Rubber the Chief Sources of
prosnAritv

Ivory and Rubber the Chief Sources Of
Its Prosperity.
Ivory and rubber are the sources of
wealth of the Congo Free State, in At
RIGA, the connection Of which to Bel
GUM is now engaging the attention of
the legislators of that kingdom. At
present the Congo Free State is the
private possession of King Leopold II.
Of the TOO tons Of ivory annually
produced in the world 600 are derived
from Africa. Half a century ago ali
the African ivory came from Egypt
and Zanzibar, but to-day the Congo
Free State holds the first rank among
ivory producing countries. in 1899 no
less than $40 tons were exported to
Europe, this being more than half the
total African output. The Antwerp
ivory market, which was started on
July 81 1888, with sale of Is tons,
surpassed the Liverpool market in
1890 and the London market in 1895.
The Antwerp ivory market is to-day
by far the most important in the
world.
Herds of wild elephants are still ex-
tremely numerous in the immense vir-
gin forests of central Congo. The ma
tives hunt these animals more on ac-
count of their flesh, which the negroes
greatly appreciate, than for their
tusks. But only small proportion of
the ivory annually exported from the
Congo is taken directly from newly
killed animals. Thus, during 1899, Of
the 29,9S5 tusks sold on the Antwerp
market, $3.50 alone came from freshly
killed animals, the remaining q ,446
tusks being what the natives term
dead ivory" For centuries the alb
origines have been collecting elephant
tusls, which they considered as hav-
ing little intrinsic value, but useful az
articles of exchange.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
The Passing band.


A lone, deep drone
Thrummeth resonant monotone.
Up soareth the horn with an undulant
flare,
That dies-is re-born-just a flash of
air,
Through the rumble of drums, as their
throbbing beat
Send, a rhythmic pulse down the wind
ing street.
Then streaming pennant of sound is
outflung,
Flamboyant from wall to wall is
swung.
Near-and more near-the harmonies
Build skyward ponderous tower, then
sheer
1t breaks in clarion crash of sounds,
An ululant tumult, that bounds and
rebounds;
A voluminous groan
From the blaring trombone;
And clangor of brass
AS the cymbals pass; =.
Then the drums lone boom, as the
melodies fly
Forward-and waver-and faint-and
die
Into murmur, amphoric,
Sweet-blending, choric,
To far away swell,
Till at last they nell
In note long drawn
Are gone-on--on.
London Academy.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
ODE oOeekly
Panorama.
An Engiisb Beo,,.x

Lady Milbank enjoys the snner;or-
ity Of a greater number Of inches than
any other of the high-born beauties
Of London society. LADY Milhank
proudly boasts that she is a fraction
over the perfect hight of a man hui,
none the less is she graceful for al,
that.
She is blonde and blue-eyed with a
typical English skin of milk and
roses, and the artists who have naint-
ed her portrait say she has the nret.
test little ears in all England AS a
rule Lady Milbank dresses in soft
clinging fabrics, draped with snecial
view to accentuating her stately
inches, and a big black hat loaded
with plumes, is the invariable accom-
paniment of all her charming gowns.
In spite of her good looks and great
social talents, this vigorous young wo-
man wastes little of her time in social
frivolities. She is an expert Yachts
woman, holding a pilots certificate.
and also great huntress, whether the
game is deer in Scotland, foxes in Eng
land or pigs in India.
All the way from England she came
one season to fish for tarpon in Flor
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
Birds a. Model Diplomat lists.

The pope is a great admirer and
friend of birds. In his library and in
the alcoves of his reception-room a
number of them are kept, and their
chatter always interests the pontiff.
"You see,' he once said to foreign
minister who had called to pay his re-
spects, "these birds are my diplomats
Whenever I receive anyone here he
can only make report as to my amia-
bility, and can seldom understand my
words, because the chatter of these
songsters browns all that l say. The
visitor often cannot tell whether I
h"ve even spoken"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
Curious Given Names.


The most curious name, perhaps,
ever bestowed upon a girl is that of
Airs and Graces. She is now about
three years old, her name being regis
tered at Summerset House, London, in
1898, when she was baptized. What
she will think of these cognemens
when she arrives at maturity is diff
cult to imagine. Her sisters name is
equally as unique-Num Nicer. When
Airs and Graces and Mum Nicer arrive
at the age of maturity at least one of
them should marry youth whose
Christian name compares favorably,
for example: Acts of the Apostles. This
is a name found on an English parish
register; Acts apostle, son of Thomas
and Elizabeth Pegden, was baptized
August 2. 1895. Again this name figures
in records in 1888, when Acts of the
Apostles, son of Richard and Phebe
kennett, was baptized. This name,
curious as it is, is preferable to What,
or Dunn Spiro Spero, names with
which children have been handicapped.
1t was patriotic American who be-
slowed upon his young hopeful the
name of Declaration of independence.
The most warlike name on record is
that of Robert Alma Balaklava Inker-
man Sebastapol Delhi Dugdale, who is
an English inn keepers son; similar
name is Richard Couer de Lion Tyler
Walter Hill. About 100 years ago a
snowstorm in western PENNSYLVANIA
set in the first of March:
there We're many weeks of
sleighing, traditional for years
for the length of time it lasted.
What did Mr.. Smith do who happened
to have boy born about this time,
but name him Seven Weeks Sleighing
in March. He usually went by the
name weeks. His initials were all writ
ten outs. w. S. l. NJ Smith. Parents
Of large families need no assurance
that the advent of another child is
not always as welcome in fact as to
theory, but it is scarcely kind to make
the child bear token of disapproval
all its life. 1t must be rather terrible
10 go through life, for example, as Not
Wanted James, What Another, Only
Fancy William Brown, OF even as Last
of En- Harper, Still Another Hewitt.
And yet these are all names which the
foolish caprice of parents has imposed
on innocent children. About 500 years
ago, it is said, more than half the
men were named either John or Will
lam. In the thirteenth century William
was the commonest name; in the next
century John took the lead, with
Thomas Richard and Robert the next
most common names. Among the old
surnames are Jumps, April Marriage,
Every Ink-Mr. Pink Ink-Hogsett
and Cheese. Any one of these, how
ever, is a more cheerful name than
P.ne-Cofin, which is English, and very
proud the Pine-Coffins are said to be
of their name.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
THEY COMPARE
FAVORABLY
WITH OUR OWN.

there has learned a means Of liveli-
hood he or she is not permitted to
leave.
The heads Of the government work
hard for the improvement of their
country and thoroughly realize that
education is the primary cause of ele-
waiting nation. Each state strives
for the betterment of its people and
there is no reason except that Of indo-
lence for ignorance among the grow.
ing population.
One of the most earnest among the
many hard workers in this cause is
General Jose Vicente Villada, gov
ernor Of the state of Mexico. AS the
result Of his arduous labors Toluca,
capital Of his state. boasts of the fin
est colleges in the republic outside
of Mexico City. At the Normal School
for Girls, which has an attendance OF
900, girls learn all modes Of gaining
living. Everything is taught them
law, music, art, photography, stem
ography, languages, sciences, book
binding, f1lagree work, sewing, en-
broidery and making flowers, nearly
all the best teachers in Mexico beins
educated here. Those among the girls
who have money pay for their school,
ing and those who have not are sup
ported by the state. Most of the lat
ter are Indians.
The boys have similar college.
An institute is being built which when
completed will accommodate 1000
students in all studies, law and medi-
cine being the most important. Gov
ernor Villada takes a keen interest in
the schools of his state, and they are
under his personal supervision. He
has Travelled extensively and gathered
material for his public libraries and
museums, which are portion of his
educational method
Way down in Chiapos, the most
southern state in the republic, where
there are no railroads, Governor Ra-
fael Pimental has just completed the
erection Of Normal school. Teach
ers will be sent out from this college
to enlighten the children of the sur
rounding country. These schools are
non-sectarian and are all under the
general head Of the government. The
average Mexican is a good student,
painstaking and anxious to learn.
They are very fond of English, and al
though it is very difficult for them to
pronounce it, they speak it we'll. In
many of the mountain districts it is
difficult to place schools on account
of the continuous changing Of the
population, but as time advances ii
will be found necessary.
The peon does not learn to advance
rapidly, but it is the fault of his de-
sire rather than his intellect. A
kindly gentleman once tried to ex-
| plain to peon porter in hotel that
| it would be better for him to expand
| his brain with learning than crush il
with the heavy loads he carried on his
head. He thought for a while and
then answered that trunk was heavy
enough for his to carry without the
| additional weight of knowledge.
f. e. A. WRIGHT.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22

ice will be served in a paper cup with
a metal spoon, both intended to be
thrown away when once used, SO that
the propagation of disease by repeated
Washings of Eyeglasses in water that
is far from reputable may be avoided.
1t is no jesting matter, this selling of
unwholesome ices by peripatetic
Italian vendors. AS each summer
comes around the same warning is
given by medical officers against the
half-penny ices of the streets, the same
neglect Of the warnings by careless
children, the same record of deaths
traced directly to the ice-barrow. This
new and recent supply "of ices for
the boy is direct outcome of the
forceful admonition of the health
officers concerning this kind of ere
form"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22

California adopted it's present pri-
mary law in 1898, after the previous
law, adopted in 1897, had been de-
clared unconstitutional. Illinois has
primary law for counties of less than
125, 900 population, and Nebraska, South
Dakota, Rhode Island Utah, South
Carolina. Massachusetts and Tennes-
see adopted primary laws in 1898, the
Tennessee law applying to counties of
more than 100000 population. In 1900
Louisiana adopted a general primary
law, New York and Massachusetts,
made sundry amendments, and Iowa
adopted additional legislation as to
contests arising over public offices.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
NEW FISH IN SUPERIOR.
|successful Planting of stee,head Salmon
4 by the Government.

Successful Planting of Steelhead Salmon
by the Government.
An interesting experiment has been
under way for the past four years by
the United States fish commission at
the station at Duluth, Mimi. 1t has
now resulted in the successful plant
ing and acclimation in Lake Superior
of new food fish. This is the famous
steelhead salmon of the Pacific, salt
water fish exclusively heretofore. 1t
was believed that this fish would thrive
in the cold, fresh water of Lake SUI
stperior, where so many other salmoni-
I dae grow. Four years ago, therefore,
the commission sent here several thou
lsand fry and planted them on the
north shore of the lake, near Port Ar
thur and at Silver Islet, both points On
ythe Canadian side. The following year
q larger number was planted off Isle
Royale, and since then the planting
has been kept up. Now from time to
time the catch OF an occasional steel
head is reported, and from the size of
those found it is estimated they are
tgrowing about pound year in these
fresh waters. 1t is also evident from
certain notifications Of some of those
specimens caught, that they have been
4 propagating and increasing naturally.
Fish Of this kind five pounds in weight
lave been caught the past few days.
these salmon are now spawning, and
notices. ere being sent out, asking all
ishergfen who find them in their nets
TO THROW them back in the water, in
pEder that the work Of the government
hay be aided as fast as possible. The
saltwater steelhead salmon as modi-
fed by existence in Lake Superior is
aid to have a most delicate flavor, to
well shaped and firm. and to have
esh OF beautiful red. The plant
~ these fish will now proceed with
eaters rapfdity, and with this
natural increase it is expected
I'LL soon become quite COM
In this lake. Milwaukee Wis
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22

a living in the various paths of life.
Girls and boys are trained alike no
Partially being shown in SEX The
largest of these schools is in Guada-
lajara, where 1900 children between
the ages of 3 and Is are domiciled.
The girls are taught to sew, embroid-
er, cook. teach and work in business
lines, and the boys are taught all
kinds of trades, and in fact whatever
they show a disposition to learn.
All over the Republic of Mexico are
excellent public schools and compul-
eory education is a law, although not
well carried out owing to the indiffer-
ence Of the lower classes-the poems.
In the prisons education is enforced.
The incarcerated are taught to read,
write, make hats, shoes, clothing, etc.,
and those who do not know a trade
re obliged to learn one. In the cor
ctional schools the same rule is fol-
wed, and until the person placed
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
Highest Telegraph Poles.

The highest telegraph poles in the
United States have just been put up
in Beaumont. Texas. So far as known,
they are the highest of any in the
world, the top being $50 feet above
the ground. They were erected on the
opposite banks of the Neches river by
the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany in order to string its cable across
the stream. The span is LA feet in
length. This height is necessary to
admit the passage Of ships through
the drawbridge, their nasts being 100
feet tall and more. This aerial span
was preferred to laying submarine
cable, for it is expected that Congress
may at some future day have the
Neches river dredged, and this would
ruin the cable. It is also much the
cheaper.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
Schools 81
% * Mexico
Especial letter.


The fact that many Mexican chill
dren are sent to the States and Eu-
rope for an education does not reflect
upon the schools of Mexico. In nearly
all cases they receive the foundation
Of their education in their native
country. but seek other parts to per-
feet themselves in their work in the
different languages.
That education is one Of the prin-
cipal efforts Of the government is seen
at once in the many fine schools and
colleges where all classes may receive
free learning that enables them to
enter into any profession or business,
these schools and colleges being not
only for boys but for girls as we'll
The Preparatory College in Mexico
City accommodates 5000 boys, fits
them for schools of law, medicine and
mining. The academies are we'll
equipped with all necessary material
and apparatus for both brain and
body.
In the cities the orphans are cared
for in Hospicios, where they receive
an education by which they may earn
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
nu.s,a May Abolish Her NOBILITY.

At present the Cars subjects are
divided into four general classes-th the
nobility the clergy, the inhabitants
of the towns and those of the coun-
try, says a st. Petersburg correspon-
dent. The nobility is itself of two
kinds, hereditary and personal. An
officer acquires life nobility on acquir-
ing a certain rank in the army or
navy. Those who attain the rank of
colonel in the army and of captain in
the navy become hereditary mobiles. 1t
is most probable that when the pro-
posed reform of the Russian system of
class organization takes place the no.
bility will cease to exist as separate
class in the nation.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22

will be found that down at the bottom
of his charges against Schley was the
ambition to do something that would
attract national attention to his work
He has succeeded in making himself
rich in dollars if not in the esteem of
the American people. He was edu-
Gated at Cornell. He worked as re-
porter on the New York Tribune. He
got situation in the lighthouse ser
vice, and later got clerkship in the
navy.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22

perience had been. We watched and
watched, hoping the crest of fire wouta
rise; but instead 1t slid teasingly down
to the verge of the sea- A few minutes
after twelve the light was extinguish-
ed, a smoky veil of violet was drawn
over the dim outline of the ice, and
the stars again twinkled in the Gobe-
lin blue of the sky, as they had done,
without being outshone, for nearly
seventeen hundred hours.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
LADY MILBANK.

Ida waters, and she is said to have
purchased share in a western cattle
ranch, in order to have chance to
try the strenuous fife of the great
plains and ezperinj ent at shooting in
the Rockies.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
Enelord.l Dan6er.

Dean Fremantle contributes to the
Times an interesting and important
letter to show that 'the causes of de-
population, which are exciting such
dismay," are not peculiar to France,
but that "all Europe. except Russia, is
going in the o. me direction, and Eng
land is leadily the way" He says if
the present decline in the birth-rate
continues in the next IS years it will
have come dqssaS from . ssa23 e. e;
this time it sssSS y Z 70
II, the lowest ngltt ~ hich We can i'm
agine the death ate 10 reach There
will then be nc increase of lne gaion,
but, as now in France, the Prospect
of actual diminution. He declares
there is no reason to doubt that the
limitation of families will go on be-
yond any assignable limits unless the
conscience of the nation awakes to its
tremendous danger. The wish for ease
and material enjoyment are indicated
as the general cause of the evil
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
Curious suma.s,an Custom.

In sumatra the wind decides the
length of time a widow should remain
single. Just after her husbands death
she plantsa flagstaff at her door. While
heflag remains uniform by the wind the
etiquette Of Sumatra forbids her to
marry. but at the first rent, however
tiny. she is free to wed.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
Thar Nan Maclay.

Here is portrait of Maclay, the ac-
cuser of Admiral Schley. He is a
Scotchman by birth, a newspaper man
by choice. and historian by necessity.
When all the facts become known it
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
= For 1ittl. Ch,ldr.n.

= For Little children.
Ices for the London boy!1's
he motto Of a British cor
ch has been formed to sell
es, guaranteed pure and Of
Re manufacture, from clean
Dftended by clean British
|lean white coats. Every
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
French Tar street s,pn.

The French tax on street signs war
les with the size of the offense." Last
year it added over seven hundred
thousand dollars to the public treas
ury. In the United States vast street
signs can shut out the air and the view
and overwhelm everything in sigh,
without paying cent in taxation,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22

Elks, is a native OF
Iowa. He is only SO
years of age and a
lawyer by profess
sion, being a mem
Der Of the law firm
Of Mullan & Pick
EFT Of Waterloo.
Mr.. Pickett gradu-
ated from the Iowa
S t a t e University
and is at present a
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22
IN THE ODD CORNER.
QUEER AND CURIOUS THINGS
AND EVENTS.

A List Of Curious Names In This Country
and England - Party Suffers From
seventy Daylsss Nights In the Antarc-
Ito Circle.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-08-22

Exports Of horses and mules in Mis-
souri, last year brought q return Of
100000. and 2 great deal Of the
money came FROM foreign countries.