davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14

I went away he hurried after her. Bu'
he missed the car that took her down
and when he reached the street level
she was out Of sight.
T've lost her, but I won't lose my
story. I'll 60 and call on Mrs. Gilchrist
Maybe she has heard Of her." he said
Twenty minutes later he was thread
ing his way through the scented intri
cacies of Mrs. Gilchrist's morning
room. A wood fire snapped and spar
kled in the crate. There was great
bowl Of roses upon the inlaid table al
one side, and everywhere the fire shine
flashed back from bronze and gliding
and polished wood. Mrs. Gilchrist was
the despair Of gift makers. Already
she had so near everything 1t was q
matter Of six months thought to find
anything she could accept with a de-
cent show Of civility.
what is it you want now, CharlierT'
she called to her visitor. "Wretched
boy. you know you never do come near
me except when you want something.
81 know 1t. have come to balance
accounts by telling you something you
are wild to know" Charlier said, bow
ing over her hand. She was tall, very
blond, with a classic face and figure
full Of richly gracious curves. She sat
in high carved chair beside an open
desk. The top of it was strewn with
unsealed notes in dainty envelopes. A
Turkish cigarette half consumed and
still smoking lay among them.
"Have one. You are never decently
entertaining except when you smoke
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
INFLUENCE OF THE MOON.
SIGNS FOR THE FARMERS.

Springtime is upon us, and with the
farmer and all tillers of the soil, it is, OIL
at least should be, question of how to
get the most for the use of our land and
and our work. Very many people lose
dollars on account of prejudice. / was
brought up in strict orthodox family
and taught to look upon signs as old
women's whims; and not until was in
the forties did dare to think otherwise,
or even to use reason and common sense.
For twenty years l have observed, eX-
perimented and talked with people on
the subject, and have learned much,
something of which will give from time
to time for the benefit of the Farmer
readers.
If you wish to plant peas for the mar
ket, and have them so that you can pick
them all off clean at one time, plant
them on the new, or increase of the
moon; they will blossom all at once and
grow and mature all together. If you
want them for family use, to last until
the frost comes, plant them on the old,
or decrease of the moon. Do not be
prejudiced and unbelieving, but try it
and be convinced by the facts,
If you set out or SOW onions on the
decrease of the moon, they will grow to
scullions. What grows in the ground,
like potatoes, is the reverse. Plant on
the decrease of the moon and you will
get crop one-third larger.
Later on will tell you in what local
ity on the farm to SOW your grain to get
the largest yield, and in what position
to set an apple orchard to insure a large
crOD
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
FARM NOTES.

To him who in the love of nature
holds communion with her visible
forms and realizes that application
counts for more than genius, horticult-
ure is very pleasant and fascinating
pursuit
We are glad that ne W potash deposits
have been discovered in Germany, but
are sorry that it is in Germany if they
fall into the hands of the present syndi-
cate that so successfully maintains the
high rates charged for potash.
Isn't there an odd wall that might as
we'll be leveled, or stone heap that
ought to be cleared away, or sunken
boulder that would save plOw points if
it were removed? Long hours to do it
all, of course; but this is the season
when long hours pay.
C. P. Reynolds says in the Ohio
Farmer that hay-loaders are practically
unknown to the average farmer Yet
the time is coming when the farmers
will more fully appreciate the value of
this tool and its right to take its place
among the practical utensils for hay
making. There is no doubt of the
practicability of the hay-loader.
Make the team as comfortable as pos
sible at all times, especially in hot
weather. Use harness as light as con.
sistent with the work required, and have
them well fitted. Harness should be
cleaned and oiled frequently, using less
oil, however, than at other seasons, as
liberal oiling has tendency to make
the harness hotter than they otherwise
would be. Neatsfoot oil Is preferable
to any other, as it will not become
gummy.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
Written for the Oxford Democrat
AT SET OF SUN.

Life is brief, like summer day,
And Its sunny hours soon pass away;
The gray creeps yer the mornings gold,
And the ones we love the best grow old.
Somehow the thought, the toll, the care,
Leave their trace upon cheek and hair.
Roses wither and flowers die,
Swiftly the summer-time passes by,
And feet of loved ones, to us 30 dear,
Are slipping farther away each year,
From the shadow. land Into the land or day,
Where no night can come nor flowers decay.
Speak of them tenderly, every one,-
Dear on 9 waiting at set Of sun:
Beautiful hands that supplied our needs
Each day busied with noble deeds;
Rugged the paths their feet have pressed;
Now, ut the close Of day, they rest.
Close by the sunset bars they walt
Till the twilight falls and the day grows late; ];
Their faces touched by glory light
From the land that lies just out Of sight;
For only veil is placed between
Those here and friends in the home unseen.
Let us be patient while we may,
" ith dear ones waiting at close of day;
Have smile and loving W. I'd for each,
Ere they journey on beyond our reach;
Till the shadow falls and the day Is done,
And the gather home at set OF sun.
JULIA Z. ABBOTT.
South Paris.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
MYSTERY IN A FERTILIZER SACK

MYSTERY IN A FERTILIZER SACK,
Thousands of sacks have come to my
railway station filled with fertilizers of
various kinds, and have often wonder
ed and sometimes asked those who got
them if they knew the mystery that was
in them. In every case they have told
me that they did not know what was in
the sacks, except by reading the printed
formula on the outside, or taking the
word of the agent that they contained
''just what their crops needed"
Now have no grudge against the fer
tilizer agents or the manufacturers.
They are trying, each for himself, to
make living handling commercial
manureS, and are as honest in their
business as the average man, and some
may be more so. But the farmer ought
to know something about his end of the
transaction. He surely knows very
little about it, and it is his own fault in
most cases 1t is simply wonderful that
in buying nearly $4,000 worth of COM
mercial fertilizer every year the farmers
do not strive to understand thoroughly
what they are buying and see that they
get the very best and most suitable re-
The fact that the contents of fertil-
izer bag are 4 mystery to the average
farmer was formerly an inducement to
dishonest dealers to take advantage of
farmers, but fortunately this class of
men in the trade has been exterminat-
ed by the establishment of system of
fertilizer inspection. Chemists are now
employed by the states to analyze
samples of every brand that is offered
for sale. Reports are published in most
of the states for the use and benefit of
the farmers. They describe what good
fertilizer is and how it is made up.
They tell about the different crops
and how to supply them. All this and
much more besides is done for the farm
ers by the state boards of agriculture
and experiment stations. More than
that, it is all done free of cost to the
farmers, except as they may help sup
port them by paying taxes. What more
sensible thing could farmer do than to
write TO the proper state official and get
these reports and study them? The
farmer who buys without first studying
into and computing the value of the es-
Sential parts of the fertilizers he buys,
that is, the nitrogen, phosphoric acid
and potash in them, is ''going it blind"
That is foolish, and especially so when
it is so easy to become informed. Honest
fertilizer men are glad to have the farm
ers study these reports and see what
constitutes good fertilizers, and know
who does and who does not make them.
H. T.. Van Deman in Mirror and
Farmer
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
DR.. BYLEs STOOD GUARD.
II Was q Thanksgiving Day, and th'
Came Waa Urgent.

Cause Was Urgent.
One Of the most famous OF the old
Puritan divines was DR.. Mather Byles,
who was born in Boston In 17O6 and
who was the first pastor Of the Hollis
Street Congregational church, to which
he ministered for more than 40 years.
DR.. Byles was famous as humorist
and wit, and innumerable anecdotes
are related Of his clever quips and re-
torts. He was a jealous Tory and
warmly advocated the cause OF "the
mother country" against the colonies.
In November, lit, he was arrested as
q Tory, tried, convicted and sentenced
to be confined on board guard ship
and sent to England with his family
within 40 days. The sentence was att
erward commuted by the board of war
to confinement In his own house, q
guard being placed over him with in
structions not to permit him to leave
his residence for moment under any
circumstances.
On Thanksgiving morning, observing
that the sentinel, who, Ike many OF the
colonial soldiers, was simple rustic,
had disappeared and that DR.. Byles
himself was pacing up and down be-
fore his own door with musket on his
shoulder, the neighbors crossed the
street to inquire the cause Of this sim
gular spectacle.
"You see," said DR.. Byles, II begged
my guard to let me 60 out to procure
some cider with which myself and
family might celebrate Thanksgiving
day, but he would not permit me to
stir. I argued the point with him, and
he has now gone to get the cider for me
on condition that I keep guard over
myself during his absence"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14

Two years ago a party of twenty-five
young men left the good old Pine Tree
state to try their fortunes in the Klon-
dixie. They were backed up by S25, 900
worth of Maine capital and a most
liberal agreement with the syndicate,
and started out with glowing hopes
There was little anchor to windward
in the clause which provided that at the
end of eighteen months they should have
their fare paid back to Maine if they
desired, but no doubt they regarded that
as a foolish precaution. The two years
have expired, and most of the men are
at home, sadder, wiser and poorer. The
claims which they staked out in the
name of the syndicate are worthless, and
the company having no assets, the end
appears to be in sight. About $50, ,OOC
has been sunk in this venture, which il
expended in some sensible Investment
or some form of honest labor right here
in Maine, would have brought in sure
and safe returns. "A bird in the HAND
is worth two in the bush;" or in Other
words, a dollar in the hand here IL
Maine is worth ten dollars in the imag
ination in far-away Alaska.--Main'
Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14

she said, extending full cigarette case
to her caller. "These are nice," she
went on, "but if you want something
stronger you will find cheroots on the
library table-my husbands, Of course
they are-but he won't miss one If you
are careful to shut the box right"
THANK you; this does excellently,"
Charlier said. 81 am so full Of my
news l must tell 1t. John Desmond,
author of "A Rope of Sand is one Miss
Thornley,. Do you happen to know
anything about her"
"What? Oh, you are joking or some
body has imposed on you dreadfully!
Cornelia Thornley,! Why, l know ev-
erything about her. and 1t Is utterly
impossible she can have written that
book. Why, l actually read 1t instead
Of skimming, as do most things"
"But she did write it-I can't be mis-
taken 80 tell me all you know. Hope
there are at least three columns Of It,"
Charlier returned. Mrs. Gilchrist drew
long breath, then shook her head at
him, with a pretended frown.
$50 that's what brought you," she
said. 81 believe you are romancing
But this Is part Of Cornelia Thornley's
story: She's OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
we finished together at Nine. Cam
pans. Major Thornley, was rich
railroad man then. No, she was not a
belle, for all she was an helress. The
Thornleys were called the handsomest
family in Virginia, but she was differ
ent-thin and slight, with the coloring
of a faded rose. Then she had a sort
of measuring look most men found 1t
hard to face II they began talking SEN
timent. Her grandmother brought her
up. 1t was not until his mother died
that Major Thornley, came to New
York and began his Wall street career.
He had year of dazzling success
there; then at the supreme minute he
was stricken down. In week he was
beggared. The newspapers will tell
you all about that. COrnelia nursed
him back to life. Then the two Of
them insisted upon giving up all they
had to pay dollar for dollar Of debts
The creditors ought to have given him
back at least few thousands. but no.
body thought Of 1t in time. Perhaps
they did not know that all the Thorn
leys had left was couple of hundreds.
at simply struck me dumb when
| CornoIIo cold che meant TO live by
writing. was sure they would be
starving In less than six months. To
think she should be famous! Are you
sure, Charlier. there Is no mistake?
Don't deceive me. 1t might put me In
dreadful position"
Charlier told her what he knew. His
pencil had been flying throughout the
recital. Already he felt sure of his
three column Sunday story. And he
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
Actors Who Stutter.

It would seem that the stage is not
only the last profession that would be
chosen by a person afflicted by stutter-
Ing, but that a stutterer would never
dream of selecting that profession.
Yet 1t Is q fact that some well known
actors and singers labor under this dis
advantage.
The strangest thing about it is that
the sad impediment which is so pain
fully evident in private life seems to
vanish entirely when they are on the
boards.
1t Is curious that appearance on the
stage or in the pulpit should have this
beneficial effect. for Sufferers in other
walks Of life do not lose their impedi-
ment when at work, however enthusi-
astic their love for their profession
London Answers.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
WONDERS OF MATCHMAKING
Queer Timepieces Owned by Two of
England's Queens.

Queer Timepieces Owned by Two OF
England's Queens.
Among the treasures Of a Swiss mu-
scum, inserted in the top Of an old fash
ioned pencil case, is the tiniest watch
ever constructed. 1t Is only three-six-
teentts Of an inch in diameter, and It's
little dial not only indicates hours, min
utes and seconds, but also the days OF
the month. So perfectly formed is this
lilliputian watch that 1t keeps excel
lent time and Is q marvellous piece OF
mechanical workmanship.
Two of the most elaborate and curl
Dus watches which the world has ever
seen belonged to Queen Elizabeth and
her unfortunate contemporary, Mary,
queen of Scots. Good Queen Bess had
q watch made for her in the form OF
duck, with beautifully chased feathers,
the lower part Of which opened. The
face was of silver, with an elaborate
gilt design, and the whole was kept IN
a case Of brass, covered with black
leather thickly studded with big silver
knobs.
The Ill fated Mary was the possessor
of q watch in the form Of skull. The
dial was introduced where the palate
should have been, and the works occu-
pied the place Of brains in the crani-
um. In the hollow Of the skull, more
over, was bell which had works of Its
own and by means Of which hammer
struck out the hours upon 1t.
One Of the choicest rarities OF the
Bernal collection was book shaped
watch. This curious time Indicator was
made by order Of Bogislaus XIV. Duke
of Pomerana, in the time Of Gustavus
Adolphus. On the face Of the book
where the dial Of the watch Is set'
there is an engraved inscription OF the
duke and his titles and armorial bear
ings, together with the date, 1877. on
the back the engravings are also very
finely and skillfully executed, among
them being the portraits Of two gentle
men of the seventeenth century. The
dial plate is Of silver, chased in relief
while the insides are beautifully chased
with figures of birds and foliage. The
watch has two separate movements and
a large, sweet toned bell. At the back,
over this bell, the metal Is ornamental
" pierced in circle, with a dragon and
other devices, while the sides are pierc'
ed and engraved with complicated
design Of beautiful scroll work.-Lon-
don it-BitS.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
CURIOUS PRIVILEGES.
Some Of the Prerogatives Which En-
bnssadors May Exercise.

some OF the A'hA
bassadors May Exercise.
A curious privilege Of an ambassador
Is that lie and he alone when dismiss
ed NAV turn his back to the sovereign
TO whose court he is accredited. The
mode Of procedure is as follows:
When the ambassadors audience Is
over. he waits to be dismissed by the
sovereign. When dismissed, the en-
bassador bows, retires three PAGES,
bows again, retires another three
PAGES. bows third time, turns on his
heels and walks to the folding doors.
But il Is felt that more polite methods
should obtain when the reigning SOW
erelgn is Il woman. To turn his back
Is to be discourteous, to walk back
ward Is to resign a privilege. Ihe ehi-
bassador rctires sideways. like a craD.
lie keeps one eye OH the sovereign ana
with the other tries TO see the door.
He thus shows politeness TO the SOW
ereign and ut the same time retains
one of his privileges. AS the embassa-
dor Is usually an old gentleman. often
short sighted. he sometimes falls to
reach the door and comes in collision
with the wall.
Another privilege Of ambassadors Is
the right Of being ushered Into the
royal presence through folding doors,
both of which must be flung wide
open. No one except an ambassador
can claim this privilege. The most
any nonembassadorlal person can ex-
pect Is that one of the leaves shall be
opened to him. The reason for this
privilege Is not known. There are GER
tain irreverent suggestions that have
been made, but we prefer to be silent
with regard to them.
Another privilege. capable OF causing
great inconvenience, Is the embassa'
doris right of admission to the SOW
ereign at any hour of the day or night.
Thus the minister representing some
little bankrupt state could go down 70
Windsor and demand an audience at
4 o'clock I'm the morning. The audience
would have to be granted, though II
could be delayed by the exercise or In
genuity.-Chambers' Journal.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
Cauldn,t Follow Him.

At a small country church In Eng
land a newly married couple were Just
receiving some advice from the elderly
vicar as to how they were to conduct
themselves and so always live hap
PLY.
"You must never both get cross ut
once; it is the husbands duty to pro-
tect his wife whenever an occasion
arises. and n wife must love, honor
and obey her husband and follow him
wherever he goes"
But. SIR pleaded the young bride.
81 haven't yet finished" remarked
the clergyman, annoyed at the inter-
ruption.
"She must
"But. please. sir I'm DESPERATION.
can't you alter that last partf My hus'
band is going to be postman."
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
y,ctori. Got Her primrose..

"The following little anecdote. told
by Queen Victoria herself. will show
her independence Of character" says a
writer in The Century. Every fond Of
primroses and finding none In the
royal gardens. she sent word to have
some planted. The gardeners. the
queen said, made many objections, and.
finding shortly afterward that her
wishes had not yet been carried out,
she dispatched a messenger inquiring
the reason. 7 suppose Queen Anne
had none,' she said, so they did not
think it proper for me to have any,
but l sent them word promptly that
Queen Victoria would have some--and
she did,"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
RIDING ON AN AVALANCHE.
Down steep Canyon without .
Bruise or a Scar.

Down steep canyon WITHOUT
Bruise or n Scar.
Few mountaipeers go far enough
Into the avalanche regions to see much
of them. and fewer still know the
thrilling exhilaration OF riding on
them, says John Muir in The Atlantic.
I'm all my wild mountaineering | have
enjoyed only one avalanche ride, and
the start was so sudden and the end
came so soon | thought but little of
the danger that goes with this sort OF
travel, though one thinks fast at such
times.
One calm. bright morning in Yosemite,
after n hearty storm had given three
or four feet Of fresh snow to the noun
tains, being eager to see as many
avalanches as possible and gain wide
views of the peaks and forests array
ed in their new robes before the sun
shine had time to change or rearrange
them, set out early to climb by side
canyon to the top Of commanding
ridge n little over 1900 feet above the
valley. But was not to get top views
Of any sort that day, but instead OF
these something quite different, for
deep trampling near the canyon head
where the snow was strained started
an avalanche, and was swished back
down to the foot of the canyon as II by
enchantment. The plodding. wallow-
ing ascent of about n mile had taken
all day. the undoing descent perhaps
about minute.
When the snow suddenly gave way,
instinctively threw myself on my
back and spread my arms to try to
keep from sinking. Fortunately,
though the grade of the canyon was
steep, it was not interrupted by step
levels or precipices big enough to
cause outbounding or free plunging.
On no part of the rush was | buried.
was only moderately imbedded on
the surface or little below 1t and
covered with Kissing back streaming
veil, and as the whole mass beneath
or about me joined in the flight | felt
no friction, though tossed here and
there and lurched from side to side,
and when the torrent wedged and
came to rest | found myself on the top
Of the crumpled pile, without single
bruise or scar.
Hawthorne says that steam has spir-
itualized travel, Notwithstanding the
smoke. friction, smells and clatter OF
boat and rail riding. This flight in a
milky way of snow flowers was the
most spiritual of all my travels, and
after many years the mere thought OF
IL Is still an eXhilaration.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
The Man and the Rope.

A Chinaman who had been condemn
ed to wear the cangue, or wooden col
lar, was seen by some Of his friends.
"What have you been doing" they
asked, 'to deserve thisT
"Oh, nothing" he replied. u only
picked up an old piece Of rope"
"And are you to be punished thus Sc
yerely," they asked, "for merely pick
ing up an end Of rope?
"Well," answered the man, "the rae
is there was bullock tied to the othe
end."-H. A. Giles History of Chines'
literature"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
II In Written.

"sov said Mr.. Upjohn In his most
wttheringly sarcastic manner. Johnny
gets all his good qualities from you.
and all his bad ones from me. does
heT
Certainly" answered Mrs. Upjohn.
triumphant but calm. Doesn't the
Bible expressly say that the sins Of the
fathers are visited upon the chiidrenF
Chicago Tribune.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-05-14
ORDER OF NOTICE THEREON.

DISTRICT OF MAINE, IS.
Gu thi, 20 h day of April, A. d. 1901. on read
Ing the foregoing petition, 1t IL
Differed by the Court, That hearing be had
upon the same on the 18th day of May, \. ID.
lyl, before said Court at Portland, In said Dis
ulct at 10 o'clock In the forenoon; and that no.
lice thereof be published in the Oxford Demo,
srat, a newspaper printed In said District, anu
that all known creditors, and other persons In
Interest, may appear at the said time and place,
ami show cause, II any they have, why the
prayer Of said petitioner should not be granted,
And Il Is further ordered by the Court, That
the Clerk shall send by mall to all known cred
it0Fs copies of said petition and this order. ad'
dressed to them at their places of residence as
stated
Witness the Hon. NATHAN WEBB, Judge OF
the said Court and the seal thereof. at Portland,
N said District, on the auth day of April, "A. ID.
Eol.
u. 5. A. III. DAVIS, Clerk.
true copy Of petition and order thereon.
Attest. A. Ill. DAVIS, Clerk.