davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
How Cod Wa. Found In Australia.

How Cod Was Found In Australia.
The discovery of the Australian gold
fields was in some instances not alto
gether without romance, noswithstand-
ing their prosaic surroundings, perhaps
in no case more SO than in that Of
West PilEarra, of which may quote
the story as commonly told. 1t ap
pears that a discerning youth of tender
years picked up a stone to throw at q
COW (some say a crow, and noticing
that it contained gold reported the fact
to the warden" This gentleman was
so excited at the news that he flashed
the intelligence by wire to the then
governor of the colony, informing him
that lad had picked up a stone, to
throw at crow-forgetting to adj
that he had seen god in it! The gov
ernor. much surprised, but moved by
curiosity, wired back: Yes. and what
happened to the crow" Cor cow. This
elected explanations which led to the
proclamation of the district as a gold
field and in consequence of the rush
that followed in the same year (1SSS)
3,493 ounces of gold were obtained, val
ued at G13,273, early attention being
drawn to the district by the discovery
of several large nuggets, one of which
weighed $40 ounces.-A. G.. Charleton
in the Engineering Magazine.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
DECREASED SINCE
THE DAYS OF ADAM
AND NoAH7

all other civilizations are more or less
responsible for the inevitable extinc
ton OF the race.
A curious mathematical coincidence
lay in the above proof of mans decline
in stature and age. Thus the stature
OF man III a few more than 5000 years.
according to Hale's chronology being
the age of the human race, and accord
ing to my deductions, has decreased
from 65 to feet, at which rate of de-
crease the world will be depopulated
in 461 years, or the year 1862 The
age of man. has likewise decreased
from 900 to 70 years in the same time,
at which rate the race will become ex-
tinct in about 461 years or the year
1852. AS you observe. both deductions
reach the same conclusion.
There may be an element of truth in
this theory, at least it is worth prob
ing. The great trouble with us to-day
is that we are too easily satisfied; we
lack the ability and energy to figure
! out" or search for evidences of truth
and instead accept all kinds Of theories
and dogmas as they are presented to
us, surrounded mostly by halo Of
fanaticism. impossible and absurd
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
GHOST OF THE CAGE.
Optical Illusion Responsible for Man
Fatal Mine Shaft Accidents.

Optical Illusion Responsible for Many
Fatal Mine Shaft Accidents.
Every year there are hundreds Of ell
evator accidents, said the old Inspector,
and very few of them are from the
breaking of cables of brakes. The ma
jority of the cases on record can be
traced to this one fact: The victim
stepped into the shaft. Now, why on
earth would sane man do such
thing? Why, he simply thought he
saw the elevator car in it's accus toned
place, and when he stepped on what
he thought was solid floor he went to
his DEATH The first of these remark
able elevator accidents that was ever
noticed came to light in the mining
regions Of Colorado. Years ago l was
out in that section Of the country en-
cheering for different companies, ami
in regard to these accidents / speak
from what l actually saw. The first
accident Of this kind ever heard Of
was in one of the deep silver mines Of
Leadyille. One of the Oldest men in
the employ Of the company. man
who had been following mining for
half of his life and knew this mine as
he knew the streets of Leadville, ran
car of ore over the edge Of the shaft
on the third level and was dragged
down to the bottom with it, He was
mortally injured, but before he died
he told the doctor that he saw the
cage" at the shaft Since that time
there have been any number of acct
dents of like nature in the mines out
west. Some times the victims were all
killed at once, but those who survived
always swore that they saw the cage.
have talked to old miners, and they
say they dread nothing more than the
ghost of the cage" They say that it
comes to men who have worked all
| their lives in the mines. In fact, the
longer man has worked in mine the
more apt is he to see the "ghost of
the cage" So, taking it altogether,
firmly believe that those who lose their
lives by stepping into open elevator
shafts really see the elevator car. 1t
is one of the most fatal optical illu-
| sions in the world, but such it must
be. The victim has become &C Gus .omed
to seeing the cage at the shaft when
he needs it, and the picture of it is
fixed in his brain. When the fatal
step Is taken that sends him to death,
he really sees 1.-THE ghost Of the cage.
Memphis Scimitar.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
TEMPLE OF
SCIENCE eOITH
DOUBLE cvALLss

tricity represent a. rapidly growing
business with Investments of $4,000
100000, there are in this country no
facilities for testing meters and 9th r
instruments used in electric measure
ments. A standard thermometer will be
another of the many instruments to be
stored in this bureau. With this will
be compared for correction the mil
lions of thermometers used by physi-
clans and surgeons, by scientific labor
atories and great industrial establish
ments. For long time Uncle Sam has
had an Office of weights and measures
for giving out, mostly to its scientists,
pacities which have been adopted for
convenience, but not by law. 1t has al
ways been apart of the coast and geo.
detic survey. but is now merged into
the new bureau of standards. What is
practically, our standard for measur-
ing length at the present time is to be
found here. This is known as the
standard METER" a bar of metal, kept
in three or four cases for it's protec-
ton. This bar cost $500, and the met
al alone in it is said to be valued at
$780, The United States standard kilo.
gram which was similarly obtained
from Paris, is duplicate of the
worlds standard kilogram, installed in
that city. 1t is small cylinder of the
same metal used in the construction Of
the standard meter. This metal. by the
way, is an alloy of platinum and irid-
ium, selected because it cannot be de-
stroyed by heat 1t cost $1,000. Two
bell jars. one fitting over the other,
protect it from the DUST. 1t is handled
only by pair of forceps with cham
dis skin ends-Philadelphia Record.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
WHEN YOU PLANT A TREE.


of Gtn,l Soil.
The failure or success of the young
tree fer the first two or three seasons
after planting out depends largely on
how this work is done. The young
tree as 1t comes from the nursery row
has been deprived in digging OF prob
ably half its roots, whose office Is to
supply nourishment to the top or to
the branches and leaves. The supply
thus diminished SO considerably ne
cessitates a rather severe pruning of
the top, cutting away an amount pro-
portionate to the amount of roots or
rootlets left behind in digging. The
pruning should be done just before
Planting the tree, using a sharp knife.
Cut away about three-fourths of the
top, preserving strong center shoot
or leader, which should be cut back
we'll. The lower lateral branches
should be left longer than the upper,
which should be pruned back rather
severely. Any broken or injured roots
should also be pruned so that the ends
will be smooth. In planting the tree
in the ground set it no deeper than 1t
grew in the nursery, which depth may
be determined by the discoloration OF
the bark at the base, says writer in
the Woman's Home Companion. Let
the roots rest on bed of well-loosened
soil. Replace the subsoil or clay at
the bottom of the excavation with top
soil and let the excavation be some
what larger than merely necessary to
accommodate the roots. Fill in about
the roots with pulverized soil, using
the hand to perform the work. After
the roots are covered tread the soil
we'll with the feet. All the soil used
for filling should be trodden down
+. firmly. After the tree is planted stake
it and tie to the stake, or better still,
make compac, hard mound of soil
about the base of the tree, to prevent
the wind from whipping it about. In
the spring remove the mound. Dur
ing the first few seasons the young
tree should be we'll mulched with ma
nure or grass clippings winter and
summer.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
AZlreaz1 OF
Standards

Uncle SAINTS new supreme co1nrf al
weights and measures, for the build
ing of which congress. just gave Sec
rotary Gage a quarter million dollars,
is the largest bureau added to the gov
eminent for many years. y gu have seen
1t referred to- in the, news dispatches
as the national bureau Of standards.
That is its official name. 1t might be
more properly called the supreme court
of weights and measures, because it
really will be the tribunal of last ap-
paal, whereat disputes as to the, ac-
curaey OF weights and measuring in
struments can be finally settled. This
new bureau will save millions of dol
lars year to our great. industries,
will make the researches Of scientists
more ORE s accurate, iWill enable the surveyor
to stake out our building and farm lots
with greater precision, will give the
common people better measure of dry
goods, groceries, gas and electric light.
This bureau of standards will correct
our weights ard measures, that they
may a.: We equally uniform. 1t will
test yard sticks, meter sticks, peck
measures pound weights. kilogram
weights. thermometers, steam gauges.
and all kinds Of delicate measuring de-
vices 1t will stamp each with a gov
eminent stamp certify ing its truthful
ness or error. A representative of each
measuring or weighing instrument to
DE thus tested and stamped will be
stored in the new bureau as the"
standard of that particular measure
and weight, with which all others of
its class must be compared. There will
be a standard yard graduated into
standard feet and inches; other stand
ards of length, standards of weight
quantity, electricity, heat, light, pres
sure and so on, with their subdivisions
and multiples. Tc.lay we are dependent
upon Germany, France and England
which have standardizlng bureaus-for
these corrections. 1t will be difficult to
realize the amount of care which wi ]
be taken with these Standards installed
in the new bureau. 1t will be far
enough from the city to be out of
reach of tie Vibrations caused by cleo
trio cars and heavy wagons. Many of
the walls vii. be double, to prevent
penetration of hot or cold air and con-
sequent fluctuation of interior temper
allure. Compressed air and vacuum
pipes will extend throughout the build
ing, as will several systems Of electric
wires. There will be double windows
capable of flooding the rooms with
light, also light-proof shutters max
ing them absolutely dark. There will
be fire-proof vaults for thegstoring of
the standards. A separat9 building,
I 1000 yards or more away will install
the engines, dynanos and dher heavy
machinery essential to the work. As
whole, the institution will}be mod
: e,n temple of science, of which the
country may be justly proud. The
bureau will also establish..a standard
] electric cell. measuring sta Adard volts;
kinds. Although applications Of cleo
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
EDUCATION and Productlon.

Massachusetts, spent. in 1S9S-99 $12,-
61,525 more upon her public schools
than Tennessee. But see, what re-
turn she gets. Each one of the 1885,.
BAG citizens of Observation-Disclosures
women, and infants-has productive
capacity OF $3.50 a year, against 317O q
year.for the average sinhsbitantsofethe
whole United States and SIG year
for the average inhabitant OF :Tennes-
see. This means that the people Of
Massachusetts earned in that year
1852, 4s7, t40 more than the same num-
Der of average people Of the United
States. and s40s;s6s.s24 more than the
same number Of people in Tennessee.
Twelve million dollars invested In SUI
perior education yield 3400,000,000 a
year.-Chicago Journal.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
MISLEADING. THE HOUSEWIFE
Can Two Persons Manage to Live Well
on SIS Week.

Can Two Persons Manage to Live Well
on SIS Week.
An article in the current number
of what might be called the House
keepers Misleading Journal says
blithely that two persons can live we'll
on SIS a week. Keeping house for two,
it continues, costs more in proportion
than does housekeeping for ten. The
last statement is undeniably true,
says the New York Commercial Ad-
vertiser. The writer evidently means
we'll (and indeed her name is a
synonym for culinary competency, but
her bald assertion, probably meant to
be cheerful, will cost the conscientious
but inexperienced housewife many a
pang of anxiety, self-reproach and
disillusion. Why not be frank, even at
Che expense of the young housekeep-
er's pleasure, and say where she and
her husband can live well' on IS
"a week? They could not do it in this
city or its suburbs, and the price Of
good meat is much the same in diff
ferent parts of the country Or else
why not say honestly, if not pleasant
ly, that for the food Of two persons
and one of them mans is hope
.lessly inadequate sum on which to
live we'll" They could live on 81,
but they simply could not live well on
SIS. Careful cooks and shrewd mar
keters can set a fair table for two per-
sons for 81 day. The mere ordi-
nary housewife finds that $40 is the
least she can hope to spend if she and
her bread-winner are to have food OF
good quality, sufficient quantity and
the simplest variety. Unless she is a
person of resources 1t won't mean pas
tries and entrees and tidbits either. 1t
will mean simple, good things, tender
chickens, good vegetables. good beef.
steaks and chops, fresh fruit, fresh
salads and coffee, tea and butter of
the best. These are simple things, but
it is the simple things that cost The
second-rate boarding house can afford
Indifferent desserts and bad entrees.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02

OO44AN AnC1IA oRONtN.
tions, and then, with his associates,
was sent abroad for three years
course, under native teachers in the
language of the land in which he was
to serve. The privilege of choice was
the lot of Mr. Brown, and he selected
China.
There were several reasons known to
his friends for this preference. China
in those days was more open to west
ern ideas than Japan-and it was GER
tainly more salubrious than most of
the stations in India. Yet there was
another reason which, doubtless, had
much more to do with his decision
Near his native heath is the charming
little town of Hillsboro. From this
place few years before a young man
went to China who must rank among
the first, if not, in fact, the very first
of the student Interpreters. When Mr.
Brown made his choice that other
young Down man was already well for
ward on his way to distinction in
China-and he is still there, working
as hard and faithfully as ever. He or
ganized and for many years has been
at the head of the Imperial Customs of
China. Queen Victoria long years be-
| fore her death recognized his merit
| and raised him to the order of knight
hood-his name is Sir Robert Hart
| Assigned to Pekin, young Brown
found himself in close touch with some
| OF the worlds brightest diplomats, as
| well as with the leaders Of the Chin
csc government. A hard worker, a
diligent student, milking the most Of
| his opportunities, he speedily ripened
and qualified himself for any work per-
tanning to the Orient and it's Mon
golian race and civilization. When
Arson Bu1lingame, United States Min
| lister resident, was appointed by China
as her representative in extraordinary
mission to the western natiors, he in
vited the services of Mr.. Brown as his
secretary. That he might accept the
place thus offered, the British gov
eminent gave him an unlimited leave
of absence. 1t is well known that Mr..
Burlingame died before his mission
was completed; but it is not so gener-
ally known that Mr.. Brown, by order
of the government. Of China, took up
the work as it fell from his hands and
carried 1t to a successful issue.
!. Russia forced -JaDan4sout of Port
Arthur her fairly won prize-the 9TH
er nations consenting. Now the other
nations are sorry. Russia Is not satis-
fed; she desires Corea as well, and to
this Great Britain objects.
Over three years ago Mr.. Brown, un-
der British influence, was sent to
| Corea to do for the customs service OF
that kingdom what Sir Robert Hart
had done for the imperial customs OF
China. About two years ago Russian
intrigue forced Mr.. Brown to retire in
favor of Russian protege. A British
battleship promptly reinstated him.
This is the man who has stood these
years firm as rock in the way of Rus
sia, which country merely wants to do
the same thing for that country that
France and England have done to por-
tons of China-devour 1t.
Mr.. Brown came into power in
Corea when the finances of the king
were in a fearful tangle. No official
had fixed sa larry, but grabbed what
nG mis- hands on and called 1t
penever an ohics.l got
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
HIs sIsrER IN DANGER.

Little Everett was watching his
mother dress his baby sister the other
day. Presently, while she was fasten-
ing the dainty slip, she said:
DO you know, Everett, that you
used to wear this when you were
little baby?"
did II" he asked. "Why didn't 1
wear pants and a coat then, like do
now?"
"Oh, you were too small. All your
clothes were just like little sisters"
He sat, thoughtful, for few min
utes, and then took walk around the
room. When he returned to where his
mother and the baby were there was
a troubled look on his face.
''Why, what's the matter, dear?" the
anxious mamma asked, drawing him
to her and holding his cheek against
her own.
Did wear all those little under
skirts baby sister has on?" he in
quired.
mot the same ones, but others just
like them
Then" he demanded in an outburst
of alarm, >sis she going to turn into a
boy as soon as she gets little older,
oo?"-Exchange.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02

The kingdom of Corea within the
last few weeks has become, so to
speak, the diplomatic storm center OF
the world. As usual in such cases
there is one man more conspicuous
than his fellows. This time it is John
McLeary Brown, director general of
Corean customs, deposed from office,
as alleged, at the imperious demand of
Russia-who has thus become what
may be termed an international incl
dent.
British subject. but not an Eng
Hshman, he was born in the parish OF
Magheragall, in the County Down, not
many miles from Belfast, Ireland. In
lineage he comes Of that sturdy stock
which has made the Ulster famed for
its Drawn and brain, both at home and
abroad. Those northern men had the
courage of their their
rights they knew, and knowing, dared
maintain them to the DEATH" Magher-
agall, the name of his native parish,
means in the Celtic tongue, the fruit
4 u1 Vineyard VI Lue stranger.
Beneath the shadow of that parish
church young Brown grew to manhood.
In his veins coursed the blood of the
Hamptons-a family of churchmen and
soldiers-one of whom was an arch
bishop of Armagh and Primate of All
Ireland. Naturally, he looked forward
to holy orders as his vocation. With
this end in view he made his prepara-
tion for college. But insuperable diff
sculties arose, and he changed his
min;a., and read with a view to follow
ing some secular pursuit. The British
government had organized what was
called the corps of student interpre-
ters," for the purpose of expediting the
intercourse of the British ambassadors
with the chiefs of the nations to which
they were accredited-more especially
In pagan lands having difficult or bar
barous dialects. Appointment to this
corps was had by college men after
competitive examination. The COM
petitor of high standing received his
choice of field within certain limita-
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
HAVE ACE
AND STATURE

The impression is quite general that
the people of prehistoric times were
much taller than those of the present
day. In 1918 Henrion, member Of
the French Academy of Sciences, pub
! lished agpamphlet in which he asserted
that. Adam was 1913 feet inches tall;
Eve, 118 feet 8. inches; Noah, II feet;
Abraham. 20 feet; Moses, Ii feet. He
gave elaborate reasons for his state
ments. A present-day scientific student
of the Bible goes Henrion one better
and makes Noah 81 feet tall and at
tributes to the flood survivor a weight
of 1915 pounds His reasons for this
estimate are not bad, either. He says:
According to Genesis, Noah lived $50
wears and then died The average life
( OF man to-day is about 10 years. 1t is
: weli~defned rule. In nature that an
finals, bipeds and quadrupeds live
about three and one-half times the
number Of years required for individ-
ual maturity. Thus man in this CEN
fury natures in 20 years and dies at
the age Of 70 years. Dividing the age
OF Noah by three and one-half we f1ntl
that he matured in about 270 years.
I, The average man of. to-day at maturity
measures about 5 feet and weighs 12S
hounds. Five feet in 20 years is equiv
alent to three inches ID, one year. APP
diving the same rule to Noah's matur-
ing years, we find that at his maturity
4 n. was CT feet tail and weighed 1,375
pounds. It stands to reason that if
+ Noah was SO great in body Adam must
have been equally as large. The mere
fact that Adam was never born evil
dences that he was a gigantic man.
Everything created during the forma-
zion ages was according to very large
standard. The trees were skyscrapers,
the animals immense and all other
things in proportion. Why should
Adam have been a freak in this array
or colossal nature?
civilization and multiplication Of the
races diminish the lives Of individuals
as well as the statures. Why? Posi-
y, because orr civil tzati lon is- an I'm
z sttsiraf sperp ersfon. ct the life confem-
plated, by our Creator for us. and as
free sgents we are gradually destroy
Ing the race asa penalty for our wrong
power to multiply having been given
US. death is asnatural consequence, but
death by natural decay. instead OF
death by disease, crime, war, pesti-
lence. results Of civilization, was con-
tamplated. Hence our civilization and
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-02
Dl.fr. N oh,..d by Tobacco Smoke.

Flavel Danforth. a citizen Of Spring
field, o., is sworn foe to tobacco in
all its forms. When he went to vote
at the recent election he found the
polling place filled with tobacco smoke
Of many favors. He refused to vote
until the judges and. clerks stopped
smoking and the place was aired. The
precinct election officers did not care to
lay down their campaign cigars, thera
was no way to compel them and sd
DR.. Danforth disfranchised himself AM
refused to vote.