davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04

thrill of horror through the land. Why
were they murdered? A proclamation
had been issued among the people as
follows: Notice is hereby given that
at the present time foreign barbara
ans are hiring evil characters to kid
nap small children, that they may ex-
tract oil from them for use. l have
a female servant named Ii who has
personally seen this done. | exhort
you, good people, not to allow your
children to go out. l hope you will
act in accordance with this The
mob did act on it. The experience of
Lord Loeb and his companions in 1857
present tale of horror rarely equaled.
On June 21. 1870. came the infamous
Tientsin massacre. The French Cath
Ollie missionaries and Sisters of Mercy
had established a mission in Tientsin,
and one of their agencies was an Or
phan home. A report got about among
the natives that the sisters were kill
ing the children to use their hearts
and eyes in the manufacture of some
medical specific much sought after in
Europe. Every one saw that a storm
was coming, and the French consul
was urged to take such steps as would
show the slander to be false. But the
consul thought such request a slur
on his dignity and refused to listen
to it. The consul paid for his dignity
with his life. No one fully knows what
happened, for every European on the
spot was done to death. The defense-
less sisters were butchered after name
less barbarities, and the French
cathedral and orphanage were set on
fire. Twenty foreigners, including
a Russian and his young bride, who
We're mistaken for French, were slain.
For the moment it seemed that a gen.
eral uprising, such as that of the pres
ent hour, must follow But in the
end the Chinese authorities subdued
the uprising and executed a score of
rioters.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04
A Surprised Cat.

Several days ago five or six spawows
were pecking away in the gutter i'm
mediately in front of an engine house,
when cat crept across the street and
pounced upon one of them. Instantly
the victims companion sent up war
cry, which was as instantly answered.
From the housetop and tree the spar
rows flocked to the scene With whir-
ring. kissing cries of noisy rage, they
fearlessly attacked the offender For
about 80 seconds the dazed cat en-
dured the blows from perhaps a hun
dred beaks and twice as many beating
wings. Then. still holding her prey,
she struggled away from the infuria-
ted birds, and ran into the engine
house. The plucky little fellows fol
lowed her inside, but soon gave up the
chase. leaving her with her dearly
bought dinner, sadder but a wiser
cat.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04
The...
CowpunChers

There is a distinction and a wide
difference in the terms cowbody and
cowpuncher, although by most per-
sons each is accepted as a synonym
for the other. AS a matter of fact
no more grievous affront could be Of
fered cowboy than to call him cow
puncherj out ON the cattle ranges not
such mistake. To the minds of cat
tlemen the term cowpuncher carries
opprobrium, while everywhere that OF
cowboy has been lifted into respect
able prominence by the courage, dash,
goodfellowship and hospitality of
these Centaurs of the plains. The
difference, however, has not been clear
to orators and literary lights. Even
so well-informed a writer as Colonel
Henry Watterson has failed to dis
cover it, for only recently he applied
the opprobrious epithet to Governor
Roosevelt while giving expression to
his high opinion of the Republican
candidate for the Vice Presidency.
Said Colonel Watterson: Youthful,
well balanced; gentleman, cow
puncher, man of letters, a man of
action, clear-headed politician
dashing soldier, he has the respect of
those to whom ability, both mental
and physical, appeals, and he has the
admiration of those whom accomplish
ment, whether in the lead of politics,
arms, or literature, impresses." OF
course, he meant to say cowboy, for,
while Mr.. Roosevelt had some expert
ence on the cattle ranges, he was never
cowpuncher In the early seventies.
when cattle were driven up the
trails" to northern markets, the cow
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04
They Are Not a
Little Bit Like
Cowboys...

puncher was unknown. He sprang
into existence with the shipping of
li5e cattle l. cGat- cars over The rail-
roads. He was not a cowboy-never
had been. He was simply a nomad,
with a desire to get from one point
to another without expense and as
easily as might be. Experience made
1t clear to cattle shippers that in orr
der to deliver cattle on the hoof by
crate car it was necessary to keep
them on the hoof all through the
journey. 1t was found that when IA
tlgue induced the cattle in the cars
to lie down more often than not they
were trampled to death before they
could get up. So the cowpuncher then
and there acquired an identity. To
Keep cattle from lying down in the
cars shippers hit upon the idea OF
sending out with each cattle train a
crew of men armed with long poles,
whose duty it would be to travel over
the cars and punch up all cattle
that were down. These crews were
recruited from the riff-raff of human
ity usually to be found about big
stockyards, and only the foreman of
each crew could call his employment
permanent. This was, and is TODAY.
the duty of a cowpuncher The cow
boy is self-respecting, and he has
pride in his calling that is real. He
condemns the cowpuncher-spea OF
him as poor white trash" And he
has just one opinion Of the fellow who
classes him with the men who ride
crate cars instead of cayuses and
swing long poles instead of riatas.
That same opinion would not look we'll
expressed in cold type.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04
Joy Allison, in st. Nichol
House of Delight for Children.

Fairmount park, Philadelphia, has
a children's play house which has been
open for 10 months. One thousand
children have been entertained there
In single day, but $50 is the average
number Boys over ten are barred.
All other children are welcome. The
house is fitted with swings, see-saws,
wagons and tricycles for the older
ones, and hammocks, baby Jumpers,
rocking horses and building blocks for
the younger ones. For the little ones
who are too young to walk a big creep,
ing pad is provided. In the sand pa
Wilton are twelve tons of white sand.
For those who meet with injury II
trained nurse is in attendance to ad-
minister consolation and necessary
treatment.
The institution was bequeathed by
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Smith.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04
SUPPLY OF
IVORY,

The elephant is no longer the only
animal which can produce ivory, ac-
cording to the official decision of the
United States general appraisers, saws
the Baltimore Sun. Ivory dealers and
those who work in the material have
known this for a long time, but the
makers of the tariff do not seem to
have been so well posted Testimony
from ivory dealers was introduced MT
the investigation to show that the
tusks of the hippopotamus furnish inst
as good ivory as do any of the % diff
ferent varieties of elephants and must
pay the ivory tariff rate of 35 per cent
ad valorem. 1t was also shown that
the boar, narwhal right whale and al
ligator5 were producers of ivory. Even
the western hog gives up MANY an
ivory tusk to the butchers in Chicago
packing houses. This does not moan
that there is no difference between oil
ephant ivory and hippopotamus ivory.
Ivory workers who understand their
vocation can distinguish difference
even between the various kinds of clio
phant ivory before it has been pol
lshed and worked over. Hippopotamus
ivory answers every mercantile purpose
as far as it goes. That it is not CON
sidered as valuable as elephant ivory
Is due to the fact that it can be used
Tor smaller articles. The hippopotamus
teeth received in this market weigh
from one-half pound to three or four
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04
DYKE MAKING IN HOLLAND.
Where a Half Inch of Water Is Betwee
the Country and Destruction.

Where Half Inch of Water Is Between
the Country and Destruction.
Few people have any definite under
standing of the constant wrestling and
struggling that is carried on in Hol
land with the waters of the sea and
rivers. These are the common enemy
of the people, who are in hourly peril
of their lives and property In conse
quence.
How serious is the position of Hol-
land is fully demonstrated by the pop
ular saying that the safety of the
country may be jeopardized by only
half an inch Of water. The truth of
the saying is accepted by all, and we
cannot help admiring the people, who,
Notwithstanding the gravity Of the
situation, go about their daily occu
pations with perfect GOODNESS.
Nature, as though conscious that she
had acted unkindly by placing so much
of the country below the water level,
endeavors to assist the inhabitants to
keep out the waters. The first work
of dyke making Is often performed
by her; layers of sand and clay are
thrown up on the banks and the peo-
pie take advantage of these embryo
embankments. They assist the forma-
tion by putting mats of willow on the
deposits to strengthen them and bind
the earth substances, and later they
drive piles at the back, and so in time
form the high dykes which prevent
overfows.
For something like 500 years the
people have been fighting the waters
and reclaiming the land; but even
when they have snatched tract of
territory from the water the fight is
not done. The work of draining these
polders or lowlands must go on inces-
sanity or the efforts of the past would
be quickly nullified.
The greatest work of the kind was
the draining of the Haarlemer meer,
or HARLEM lake, the result of which
was an addition of Al ,675 acres to Hol-
land. canal was dug encircling the
Haarlem lake and n dyke was built on
the inner side; then engines were
planted to pump the water out of the
lake. 1t took four years to complete
the work; S0,000,000 tons of water
were pumped out and the cost was
S2O,0OO,O00. The ground was then in
tersected by canals for drainage pur-
poses and in two years the land was
being cultivated.
But the people in Holland have in
view an undertaking which puts that
OF the HARLEM lake entirely in the
shade. This is nothing less than the
draining of the Zuyder Zee, which has
an area of 1865 square miles. The in
itial stage of this undertaking would
be the construction of an embankment
from mainland to mainland it would
be 30 miles long and 216 feet wide. II
would take 10 years to build this en-
bankment, which would serve as a
road for railway and general traffic.
The work of draining and reclaiming
the land would take 40 years and the
total cost of the undertaking would be
$750,000,0O0.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04
Elephants Don't
Furnish All
That Is Used
Nowadays.

pounds. The elephant tusks range in
weight from 100 to 250 pounds. Mar
"hal tusks range in weight from five
TO 20 pounds. When manufactured
into small articles the hippopotamus
Ivory brings just as much as any other
KIND. AS far as that goes, however.
the tusks of the American hog bring
more than does any kind Of ivory if
weight alone is considered. If thew
were sold at the regular ivory rate Of
W pound they would bring over four
cents each. They are sold by the piece
and average 25 cents each. The mig
teeth are hollow, but Will take a very
high polish and can be used in MANY
ways. 1t is said that 90 per cent Of
the hogs killed produce valuable tusbs.
The long, thin, yellow tusk Of the mar
whal does not bring nearly as much
today as it did $50 years ago. This is
due to the passing of suparstitious
ideas regarding this ivory producer of
the sea. A century ago n7oDle he
lieved that the walrus was connected
with the fabulous unicorn. and tba
horn or tusk was supposed to possess
many magical virtues Tor instance If
was regarded as an antiGote for al
poisoas, and kings kept q horn in their
dining rooms, believing that it would
warn them if their food had been moi
soned. The tusks were worth thou
sands OF dollars in those times. but
the whalers and hunters of the north
are glad to sell them today for SIS.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04

passing their examinations; should
they fail in them they must return to
the army and complete their three
years. The number of dispensee from
all causes is very considerable, some
10000 out of the 250,000 or SO con-
scripts who form the annual con-
tingent.
The council of revision takes note of
the conscripts trade, occupation, or
profession, this matter and, SO far as
his physique allows, his own wishes
being taken into consideration in as
signing him to this or that branch of
the service. The labors of the council
over, the results are sifted and classi-
fed at the war office and the destina-
tion of each conscript settled. He
feuille de route, or marching orders,
an official intimation commanding
him to join the corps to which he has
been attached on a given day. If he
is penniless, his third-class railway
fare is given him by the mayor of his
district; should he be able to meet this
expense, the sum is refunded him on
his joining his regiment. Failure to
comply with the instructions con-
tanned in this feuille de route is ac-
counted an act of INSTRUMENTATION and
exposes the insoumis to severe penal
ties. The Incorporation of the classes
takes place, as n rule, in November.
The conscript has become bleu, and
is entitled to the munificent pay of a
cent per day.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04

Country things which flourish in
London have been receiving n good
deal of attention of late. At the pres
ent time there may be seen a number
of fine punches of fast-ripening black
grapes on the south wall of the Hos
pital for lncurable Children, at Chel-
sea. No doubt the poor mites within
will be enjoying them before long.
In garden at the Kings road end
OF Flood street, Chelsea, there is a
mulberry tree which has this year
borne Il fine crop of fruit. 1t was
picked during the present month. Null
berries are not always to be obtained
IN London, and they are expensive.
ms, by the way, has been a good wear
Tor mulbelries in various parts of the
country. They have been allowed to
fall from the trees and rot on the
ground in some places.
The reed harvest is n small uo+tar
nut not one to be altogether overlooked
III districts where this tall. handsome
plant hourishes. The mowers are now
among the reeds, which go down be-
lore the old fashioned scythe. They
are bound up in sheaves like tbe corn
ana when dry stacked and used nc thay
are required for thatching purposes
London Express.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04

A little boy once asked his father If
the house flies went South for the
winter, like the birds; and then his
father told him long story about
different insects and what became of
them during the cold months.
He told the boy that when autumn
comes the death knell of millions of
flies has sounded. They do not pre-
pare for winter as many other insects
do. The majority die, and their little
bodies are blown away by the passing
breeze. \ few hardy flies will linger
in cracks in the walls, creep under
the door frames or into crevices in the
woodwork, and some naturalists be-
lieve that these few lingering flies are
the parents of the multitude that ap-
pear in the warm days of June, for
they lay thousands of eggs.
Katydids, grasshoppers, cricllets and
beetles are killed by the frost, and the
eggs which they hide in the ground
or conceal in the bark of trees fur
nish the supply for the next year.
These hatch out in the warm days of
spring.
Beetles exhibit a wonderful instinct
in caring for their eggs during winter.
Among some species the eggs are
rolled in balls of material suitable for
food, and then the balls are packed
away in nest until the infant beetle
wakes up and eats its way out.
Then there are the sexton" beetles,
which deposit their eggs in the bodies
of dead birds or field mice, after which
they set to work and perform the
proper rites of burial, heaping the
earth upon the body of the dead The
young beetle, when Matched from the
egg. finds store OF food awaiting its
arrival in the world.
1t is said that the spiders store away
no food supply in winter quarters.
Quantities of eggs are laid and care
fully sheltered in velvety cobweb sacks
that defy the weather. These sacks
may be found swinging by silken ropes
from the goldenrod and milkweed. and
hidden away in crevices and corners
VI podlu leltes anu stone Walls. Inc
little spiders creep from their cosey
sleeping bags which the wise mother
has provided for them, and If they
escape their cannibal brothers and
sisters they enter at once on a career
of trapping and hunting.
Bees and wasps lay up stores for
the winter, the wasps not as carefully
as the bees, but in the centre of the
cone shaped nest of the paper making
wasps may be found goodly stores of
honey.
The thrifty ant deserves much SYM
pathy, in that it is dainty morsel for
spiders, beetles, cIckets and other in
sect hunters. A few ants may sur
viye and feed ON accumulated stores
during the winter but it is chiefly the
eggs and cocoons hidden away in the
secure underground chambers of the
ant hill that furnish the ant popula-
ton of the following summer.
The ants care of its young, the
management of its slaves, and the tiny
insect cows which they capture and
from which the honeydew is MIXED.
all would furnish tale as interesting
as the customs of any wandering tribe
or the desert or any lost nation of
darkest Africa.-New York Tribune.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04
A Small Story.

Eight small children for busy Bess--
Eight to feed and wash and dress.
-Four small girls and four small boys
In one small house make no small noise;
And so, to have them out of the way,
Shes sent them off to the woods to play.
Don't quarrel, nor tease, nor fret, nor
frnwn,
But come back home when the sun is
down.
And if you see the chipmunk small,
Don't throw stones at him-that is all;
For he's just as busy as he can be,
And l know how that is, myself" said
she.
Joy Allison, in st. Nicholas.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04
The Increase of Citv PonrIa,,

1t isn't so much Il tendency to ur-
ban life that moves men downward
as it is the tendency to get away from
the Kind of work that induces per-
spiration.-Charleston News and Cou.
rier.
Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-04

In the remote parts of Scotland the
old Coyenanters' love for long ser.
vices on the bare hillsides still fingers
At Dingwall a recent communion ser.
vice in the open air lasted fIom 10
a. m. until D. m.
The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-01-04
BULL TRIES TO TOSS A CAR.
The Pugnaci0us Brute Not Meeting
with Success the Animal Quiet
ly Walks Away.

A large bull belonging to some one
living along the line of the Westchester
& Philadelphia Traction company, near
Philadelphia, is of a decidedly pugna-
cious disposition. 1t had several times
been noticed by the motormen stand
ing 1t fence looking contemplate tive
ly at the car it whizzed past. The
other day it got out and as car came
along jumped between the tracks and
with head down braced itself.
The car was too close to be stopped
or even to have its speed checked, and
SO bull and car met. The only appar-
ent result was that the dashboard of
the car was bent back. The bull, al
though pushed back several yards, did
not seem to be hurt in the least. 1t
stood and looked at the car for few
seconds, then slowly turned and walked
across the field,
The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-01-04
HusBANDRY IS VERY OLD.
Tillinx the Soil Was DOue'iess
Earliest Occupatipr-Cereas
Cultivated.

The origin of agriculture l. lost IN
the mis- S of antiquity. We know tnat
in Neolithic times in Europe elgns
kinds of cereals were cultivated, De-
sides fax, peas, peoples, apples, pears
bullace. plums, etc, at the same time
various animals were domestlcatea'
Among these were horses, Short
horned oxen, horned sheep, goats, two
breeds of pigs and dogs. Prof. w.
BOYD Dawkins says that evidence goes
to show that these animals were not
domesticated in Europe, but probably
in the central plateau OF Asia. lie
also thinks that agriculture arose IN
the south and east of Europe, ana
spread gradually to the center, north
and west hunting population Is
often very averse to even the shght
amount of work that agriculture re-
ouires in a tropical country. The
same holds good, as a rule, for pas
toral communities. In all cases pow
erful constraint is necessary TO force
these people into uncongenial employ
ment. Fate is stronger than will, and
at various periods in different climes
hunters and herders have been forced
to till the soil.
The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-01-04
NEW STYLE OF LINE MAPS.
Some for Railroads Are Nodded OF
Various Kiads of Clay and
Baked Like Brick

Tt is learned that the Northwestern
Railway company. of England, is in
Producing in several of the stations of
the line maps of the tile for accommo-
dation of patrons of the road. The
maps measure about six feet square
and are made of tiles six inches square.
In manufacturing these maps the tiles
are made by the ordinary process of
mixing various kinds of clay in liquid
form. After the necessary treatment
the tiles are nodded, placed in the
kiln and brought to the condition tech
nically known as "bisque." The draw
ing of the map is reproduced on copper
plates, one plate for each tile, and
impressions are made upon specially
prepared paper. The prints SO pre-
pared are transferred to the surface of
the bisque tile and rubbed into it care
fully to cause the oily ink of the pa
per impression to adhere to the tile.
Thespaper is then renewed by damp
ening it with water and rubbing it off.
the ink being left behind without any
danger of iniuring the surface of the
tile or blurring the fineness or the
sharpness of the lines. The tiles are
then sent to the kiln to be hardened
on" after which they are put in kilns
and fired. They are then taken to the
paintng-room. where the co.ors are
put on by hand. after which they are
sent to the enameling kilns. After this
third firing they are ready for slab
bing,' as the cementing of a design
or pattern in tile work is called.
1t has been suggested that these maps
will prove valuable for use for other
than railroad purposes, particularly in
the schoolroom, great feature of this
style being its durability.
The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-01-04
A "GENTLEMAN FARMER. !.
William X. Vanderbilt, Jr., Buys Es-
tate ON which to Indulge
q Whim.

William X. Vanderbilt, Jr., is to build
a place to rival Biltmore, the estate of
his uncle. Instead of going to the south
TO do so, however. the young million
aire has bought the land for that pur-
pose in the Tuxedo district.
1t was said that the purchase made
by Mr.. Vanderbilt's agents was the
largest ever made in this district, and
the tracts which they had bought for
him amounted to many thousands of
acres. The place is near the Havemeyer
estate.
The land which has been bought for
Mr.. Vanderbilt is for the most part
wooded. There are some farms in the
tract and one or two streams. The
idea Of the young millionaire is to have
an immense mode, farm. where there
will be blooded stock and all the things
in which the gentleman farmer" takes
delight.