davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
Is tho Robin Friend or Foe

An Illinois professor, who has made
a study of birds and bird-life, says:
Gardeners have long looked on the
robin with suspicion; It's abundance.
its size, its boldness in entering orr
gardens and orchards, render him quite
a factor for the veal or woe OF the
fruit grower; SO it has received an un-
usual share of attention from inves-
tigators. Even when the SHOWS OF
winter linger late the robins come at
their appointed time and content them
selves with last years sumach or wild
grapes. Once the lawns are clear they
descend to them and subsist chiefly
on fly larvae, Of these It's have been
counted in single stomach. Az the
season advances the diet is more var
led, larvae Of many kinds, beetles,
grasshoppers and other ground in
sects receiving attention. During
March twenty per cent of their food
Is cutworms; in April beetles are often
in the majority; but up to the end of
May, ninety-five per cent Of their food
Is insects. Then comes a change.
During June-I use figures compiled
for our own state-fifty-fve per cent
is fruit, in July this figure rises to
seyenty-nine per cent, in August 1t is
fifty-six but more than half Of this is
wild cherries. For the balance of the
year fruit predoninates, wild grapes
being most favored but forty-one diff
ferent kinds of wild berries have been
found in the stomachs. For the whole
year sixty-fiye per cent Of the food Is
insects, twenty-five domestic and ten
per cent wild fruit. OF the insects we
find that forty-three per cent are in
furious and thirty-six per cent bene-
fetal species, while twenty-one per
cent are neutral. The question be-
comes very complicated for we would
not only have to know the value OF
the fruit, but the damage done by the
injurious species, including those that
would have been destroyed by the ben
eficial species, and other details, all
reduced to dollars and cents. 1t Is evil
dent we cannot enter on this sub
ject here, but 1t has been worked out
thoroughly and carefully elsewhere,
and in concluding an exhaustive paper
on the subject Professor Forbes says:
81, for my part, do not believe that the
horticulturist can sell his small fruits
anywhere in the ordinary markets OF
the world at SO high price as to the
robin, provided he uses diligence that
the little huckster does not overreach
him in the bargain"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
THE RLAcK COLT.


Whoa!" was the Simultaneous ex-
clamation Of the two old Brownstown
farmers as they met on the road and
pulled up for little chat.
Coin on past 81 Jones placer" ask
ed one of them after they had disposed
of the weather and their families.
yep. I'm goin' couple O. miles be-
yont him. Why?
Say" after a prolonged chuckle,
when you git front O. his place, walk
the hoses If ST don't showup jest let on
suthin' has gone wrong with the wagon
and go in and borry wrench or a
hammer. It's worth walking half day
to see Sim. JENNY! But he's sight"
Bee stings, or what?"
II hain't sayin' a word, only see
him. That's all. Mornin'. Git ep."
AS good luck would have it Sim was
limping up and down in front of his
place and no strategy had to be used
in getting sight of him, says the De-
troit Free Press. There was a towel
about his head, he had but one eye in
commission, and it was two-thirds
S1ooS0, LIS udlT WAS cut OUT III UlOLCuGS
to accommodate an adhesive plaster,
and he could just manage to locomote
with a crutch and cane.
Hello, Sim," shouted the man from
the wagon, "keers run over you?"
"No, the keers didn't run over me.
burned GURUS how much people
wanter find out when they come along
here. But hain't maxim no grumble
bout you, Abe, cause you and me allus
been friends. know / look jest s
though I'd been sawed and split and
piled up. Did you see that Teller round
here last week peddlin' a pop-eyed
black colt 'ithout white hair on imp"
"Yas. Stopped at my place and
stumped me fur dicker."
well, you'll never see him again,
Abe, eff see him first. He tole me
positiy' that colt was as gentle as a
kitten, and bought him. That night
rode him inter the woods to look fer
the cows, and when they found me
about midnight, was DANCED sight
worse'n l am now. Eff you ever see
that cuss. Abe, git me word,ef it costs
a dollar"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23

survived the crucial test OF actual ex-
pertinent. The capitalists are generous
in the matter OF royalties. | knew YOU
all would be glad OF my good fortune!"
So frank, SO kind SO manly he
locked standing before them in the
pride of his youthful success, that it
would be an uninpressionable heart
indeed that would not go out to him
in spontaneous congratulation.
wonderful delightful possibility
took Theo's breath away What /.
he had only been waiting for this good
luck to say to her the words she ha0
hoped so long to hear him speak some
day! Dot heard the news rapturousiy
Rod she cried, we've got to cele.
brate!"
Surely" laughed Merrill. He and
Dot were great chums. I'm going to
take you all to the theater tonight
The last act is a bore, so we'll cut il
out and drop into Lucy's for suppe,
and whirl on our way home. M,
sister gives little dance, you know
You got cards. Won't you Gomez"
OF course we Will" replied Dot
Catch us refusing!"
'And-Miss Marsh?"
"She never goes anywhere" Theo-
dosia in.erposed quickly.
She isn't asked to many places"
put in Dot. She's young enough and
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
The Sweet Potato.

The sweet potato is coming to be
recognized as one of the most i'm
portant products of our soil. The in
terest in it as an article of food for
botn man and beast is steadily in
creasing. Net many years ago north
ern people had sweet potatoes on their
tables only during the short fall sea-
son, lasting from the time when sweet
potatoes were mature enough to dig,
to perhaps the end of November. Now,
on account of the more scientific ways
of handling, transplanting and storing
them they are on our tables during
large portion of the winter. Canning
them has also become practice. New
ways of keeping and utilizing them are
being tried. They are being dried and
some are being ground up into sweet
potato -four.
1t is said that the sweet potato
thrives only in warm climate, but
what that means depends on the un-
derstanding of the word warm. 1t may
be said that the sweet potato thrives
only where the temperature during its
time of growth does not fall below As
degrees. On this point a government
bulletin says: con soils suited to the
sweet potato it may be grown wherever
the large dent varieties of maize reach
maturity, but when grown near its
northern limit or at high attitudes 1t
generally lacks sweetness and favor.
This loss Of quality must be attrib-
uted to the cool nights, which are like
~ to prevail in high ATTITUDES, and at
considerable elevations in lower lati-
tudes during the latter part of the
growing season, condition that does
not admit of the growing of sweet po-
tatoes in large way" Then follows
the suggestion that in high ATTITUDES
farmers may grow sweet potatoes by
starting them in pots and afterward
transplanting them into the open
ground after the danger of frosts is
past. For profitable general field cul-
ture the sweet potato requires at least
four months Of warm weather, free,
not only from frost, but also from cold
winds and from the cool nights that
prevail in summer at the north and at
high attitudes everywhere. Sweet po-
tatoes do not suffer as quickly as Irish
potatoes from drouth, but are injured
by excessive rainfall and overirriga-
ton.
| In a suitable climate and with good
cultivation the sweet potato will thrive
on any well-drained soil. Nevertheless,
it should not be planted on heavy or
peaty soils unless intended for stock
feeding. It is not always practicable to
harvest the crop when the ground is
dry. and such soils, unless they are
very dry, adhere to the tubers and so
detract from their value. Moreover,
the quality of sweet potatoes grown on
these soils is always relatively low.
The best soil for the sweet potato is
light, well-drained, but not leachy
sandy loan that will not adhere to the
potatoes. If the best quality is desired,
soils which have an excess of organic
matter should be avoided.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
A SLIGHT MISTAKE

The otner morning, going down
town on Sixth Avenue 81" train in
New York, a woman, stability dressed,
reached over to another seat and pick
ed up paper that had been left by
man who had just got off. The woman
with the shabby dress had her nose
buried in the paper. A philanthropist
and business man were riding in the
seat back of her.
You see," said the philanthropist,
"how eager the poor working people
of this country are to acquire knowl-
edge. Now, that good woman ahead
of us cannot afford to buy paper, but
she is ready, nevertheless, to gain in
formation, and picks up paper wher-
ever she can. Commendable, isn't it?"
DO you know who the woman is?"
asked the business man.
No." said the philanthropist. who
Is it?"
''hettie Green, the richest woman in
the United States Pittsburg News.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
An Appeal to Breeders

The committee representing Poland
,Chinas, composed Of R. D. Burnham,
H. NJ. Kirkpatrick and Frank d. Winn,
makes an appeal 10 the Poland China
breeders throughout the United States
for help in making the Kansas City
show the great success 1t promises to
be with the support Of the liberal
spirited breeders of the United States.
The condition Of the Poland China
breed in this show is most unfortunate
in having no association or Record
Company behind it. When the Kansas
City Stock Yards Company offered
$500 to each breed on condition that
this amount be duplicated by each
breed. the Berkshire and Duroc Jersey
record Aspirations made the guaran-
ees WIZ the $500 of the Poland
u ad to be guaranteed imme-
the three members of the
The committee wishes 1t
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
As THE WORLD
II E. evolve S.
May RiyaI Mcr9an.

3. H. Hartman during the last few
years has achieved reputation as
financier and an organizer of railroad
combines second only to that Of J.
F!erpont Morgan. Up to two years
ago, when he organized syndicate to
purchase the Chicago and Alton, he
WIS but little known in railroad or
financial circles, except as member
Of the New York brokerage firm of
Harl man Bros, and a director of the
illinois Central railroad, with which
he has been prominently connected for
the last fifteen years. Since acquiring
control of the Alton, Of, which he Is
chairman of the board. he has become
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
"To me. Miss Brinker.

the room. Immediately Dot broke into
q string of reproaches.
IT don't see how you could speak so,
Theo! You as good as told her you
suspected her Of stealing your jewel.
You know when alls said the Marshes
are better family than the Drinkers
any day. If you've noticed the way
Rod Merrill looks at Jasmine when he
calls here, you'd think your chances
were mighty SLIM"
Dorothy Brinker-you keep still"
Theo's voice was hoarse with anger.
GAS If Rod would lower himself to adj
mire common nursery governess!
do think she stole my pearl-and you
may tell her SO If you want to-"
Whereat Miss Brinker swept from
the room. Still trembling with resent
full excitement, she founced into the
library, and found her mother was not
acne. It was too late to retreat. The
visitor was Roderic Merrill.
whats wrong?" he cried rising
"Such a tempestuous countenance,
cousin mine! The-the what? The
pearl? You surely are not troubling
your head over that! I'll get you an
other as perfect and larger. I've just
been telling your mother I can afford
to be wildly extrayaght. An apparent
" impossible theory mine has just
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
KIND HFARTEDNEss.

(From the Indianapolis Sum
gingham-shirted boy had made III
to pass the ticket seller at thdsii
entrance, but that gentleman
caught him and rudely THRUST
back. wv
Poor little DEVIL" said seedyA
ing man in the crowd: IF / hal
money I'd buy him ticket myset
The crowd looked sympathetic
said nothing, while the boy sobbe
if his heart would dissolve.
I've only got nickel, little fel
went on the seedy-looking one,
that won't do you no good. Say,
continued, turning suddenly to
crowd, "let's do one good act II
lives. Let's buy him ticket"
1t looked for a minute as If d
ton was to be started, but a bel
lent-looking old gentleman nipped|
the bud by slipping a half-dollat
the hand of the boy. who prom
disappeared into the tent.
II thank you thousand tina
that kind act, sir" said the see
ing man.
you seem to take quite an int
in the little fellow" remarked tn,
nevolent one.
We'll. ! should think l ought
answered the seedy-looking man,
some proudness. That's the only
l got" y
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
LOOKED BETTER THAT WAY.

We deemed it the part of wisdom to
confine the conversation, as far as
might be, to generalities.
"The average sailor" we accordingly
observed, lis apt to be pretty bad
egg"
"Ah, yes" replied the cannibal; "you
are quite right! Why, the last sailor
we had was such bad egg that we
couldn't do thing except make Gus
tard of him!''
From this we cleaned that these saw
ages were not altogether ignorant Of
the culinary devices of civilization
Detroit Journal.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23

b ~
Yes. Twill grow like tree
Nothing shall keep me from waking
Down in the dark and breaking
Out of the earth to Sect
Feeling with eager fingers
After an unseen light
warm through the chill that fingers,
Lifting me out from night
Up toward the days outbreak;ug.
res. I will grow like tree.
Nothing shall keep me from growing
~, Nothing shall hold me from knowing
me sun that is calling me-
EVER apace with Time,
Up through the earth rain-fed
Nearer the glow climb,
Hearing above my head
Laughter OF life Overlooking.
Up from the things that creep.
nearer the rain. the singing.
April. what are you bringing
After the winters sleep?
Rere will climb nor tire,
On, and the thirst is nllne
LIVER to journey higher
Onto the wide. divine
Ar where the clouds so win:yiug.
bud. are you through the sod?
iere. in glory of wonder.
Where all the shadow sinks under
The living garden of God?
All. what a mighty patience
Fed all the trees that won
10 these tkousandfold Civilizations
Toiling to find the sun
Till they Glove the dark asunder.
1 will arise and climb,
Higher to higher growing:
Hail to the four winds blowing.
And good morning. Time!
If but grow, for speech.
If sing leaves, not words,
Yet will call and reach
Oh. will shelter the birds!
Yes. am here, and growing.
fs Youths Communion.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
wi,e Handling of clay so,.s.

Prof. L. H. Bailey, in his recent book,
Principles Of Vegetable Gardening"
says: Many people spend more time
and muscle on wet lands than are re-
quired. The one important item is
timeliness. When the soil is betwixt
wet and dry, it breaks as it turns from
the pillow. Turn it up loose and open.
Then let it lie for few hours or a
day. AS the clods begin to dry work
roughly with a strong harrow. Do not
try to work it down fine. AS the
Jumps begin to dry after the next rain.
hit them with the boot. If they break
and crumble, work the land again,
this time with lighter harrow. A
few timely workings when the soil is
just right will accomplish more than
thrice the labor at other times. Many
people make the mistake of tilling
their clay lands until they become too
fine. Then a rain packs and cements
them, and the trouble begins all over
again. Because sandy and loamy soils
are best when fine and mealy. people
,hink clays must be; but clay is not
'and. The addition of humus enables
me to make clay 3soil mealy.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23

largely interested in the Union Pacific,
Southern Pacific, Pacific Mail Steam
ship line, Oregon Railway and Nayiga-
ton company, and Kansas Southern
railroad, and practically holds sway
over the destinies of all these roads.
Through affiliation with the Goulds
and Rockefellers he is also interested
in the roads controlled by the latter.
His conflict with J. ]. Hill over the
possession of the Northern Pacific,
which precipitated the great stock
panic, brought Mr.. Hartman still more
into public notice.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
Or:din at Peabody Board.

Portraits of William NJ. Evarts, who
was one of the original Peabody board
appointed by George Peabody, and Of
DR.. Barnas Sears, first general agent
of the Peabody fund, have been pre-
scented to the University of Nashville.
Former Governor Porter Of Tennessee
gave the Sears portrait, and the other
is gift Of DR.. J. L. NJ Curry, the pres
ent agent of the fund.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
WON WITHOUT TRYING.

A travelling circus recently pa
visit to a Lancashire town, and, al
attraction, offered a prize to the
who could, as the natives term it, 4
tn ugliest mug" The rules laid d
We're that each person should n
three tries. Consequently competit
ran high, some of the contortions be
horrible to behold After all had d,
their level best to win the prize,
clown, who acted as a judge for
competitors. coolly confronted u
sitting among the audience, who
noted for his ugliness, and said:
"Tha's won tn prize, OVID mon"
mel" said the astonished indiJ
ual; "wha, aw worn't tryin' for'tS;,,s
"Tha's noa need to try; tha's y
wi'out. "-Tit-Bits. IN
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23

A PeregFIHatIng foGTl.
BY KATE M. CLEARY,

BY KATE M. CLEARY.
Copyright. 1901. by Daily 5iory Pub. Coz
Theodosia was turning the house up
side down. She had lost the pearl out
OF the ring Roderic Merrill had given
her. It :!asn't an engagement ring,
although Theo had allowed Jasmine
Marsh. to suppose it was. Roderic
was Theodosia's second cousin.
Oh. you're fdget, Theo!" cried
her sister. 1ottie. "Sweep the room {!
Look under the dresser. It's just rolled
into some corner. You'll find it'll"
Maybe WON'T" said Theo. Her
round, greenish eyes cleaned signifi-
cantly. You see-I may not have lost
TT"
Dottie wheeled around. What do
you mean by that, Theo Brinker?"
1t was valuable stone." declared
MISS Brinker, darkly. ut could have
been pried out of the setting. 1t would
oe comparatively easy tS dispose of
by one who-who lookl ike a lady,
and"
:; s,l. s .s:s ,; ;s:
,
ment. 'dase
Her shrill young voice reached Jas
mine Marsh, and arrested her steps al
most on the threshold of the bedroom
She was a dark-haired, slender girl,
with face patrician of feature and
gentle Of expression. She taught the
Brinker twins, wlo being considered
delicate, were receiving their educa-
ton at home.
shouldn't be surprised to learn it
was! You remember the other day /
was speaking of its value to-"
To me, Miss Brinker," said Jasmine
Marsh, quietly. She came forward into
the room. Il recollect your stating
that Mr.. Merrill had been at pains to
secure such a fawless stone"
She stood waiting, silent and digni-
fed.
Theodosia turned a brick-red all over
her broad, rather fat face.
II did not say that anyone in this
house would steal" she said, defensive
~. But Twas sure the setting was
fast. It." glancing challengingly at
the young teacher, certainly looks
queer"
Jasmine made no reply She still
waited as though for Miss Brinker to
speak again. When she did not, she
remarked that 1heo's mother had
asked to see her at once. Then she left
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
mo; they done up their shirts"
THE BIGGER BOYS SIDE OF II.

THE BIGGER BOYS SIDE OF IT.
Don't you know, sad the kind
faced old gentleman who stops to talk
to the children, that it is very wrong
for you to fight boy smaller than
yourself?"
Eyes" was the reflective reply. I'm
willing to take my share o. the blame.
But l think he ought to have lee
ture. too, on the imprudence of speak
ing rudely to boys that are bigger
than he is. Washington Star.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
Rex,iyoi of OroforY.

"Oratory is the masculine of music"
is the way Ex-Gov. Altgeld puts it in
his newly published volume. entitled,
"Oratory; Its Requirements and Its
Rewards" Mr.. Altgeld shows that
the successful orator must be a close
student Of his subject and must take
up the various phases of speech the
same as the successful singer does with
music The book is reported to be in
big demand.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
Noted Metro .Scienfisf.

DR.. John w. Hoffman, professor Of
agriculture in the Florida State Agri-
culture college, is one Of the most
noted negro scientists in the world.
He has just been elected a member Of
the Massachusetts, Horticultural soci-
ETY., and he also belongs to the Royal
Agricultural society of England and
many similar Organizations.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
TALE FROM THE EAST.

The great lecturer caused the plat
form to vibrate emphasis.
"The red suin sprouted up from the
China sea. Suddenly the bugle rang!
To arms! But the dozen brave Am
orleans were too late. Ten thousand
Chinese surrounded them. And now
let us draw the veil"
did the Chinese DIDO up 1.-THE Am
ericans?" asked voice quivering with
emotion.
mo; they done up their shirts"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
FULL OF MEANING.

Mrs. styles-"How hate that Mrs.
Topping
MIR. Styles What's the matter with
Mrs. Topping?"
"she asked me if Eta was my
youngest daughter" ~
What Of that?'
you men can never understand any
thing! It was the way she said it!"--
Boston Transcript.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
SHE WAS RIGHT.

Eezymark-"A fortune teller told M
yesterday that would meet with
financial reverse" ~
Nebb-"And did you?v.
Eezymark-"Yes; his charges v
$5."-Ohio State Journal.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
ONLY HALE TRUE.

The following is an opinion doubt
less to be shared by many Americans
who heard Matthew Arnold lecture
during his stay among US. Aft9r Ahis
return to London at the close d his
first American tour he visited Mrs.
Proctor. the widow Of Barry DORM
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
President Hadlev az yale "a !,

President Hadley OF Yale is to de-
liver the principal address at the semi
centennial on May Is Of the founding
Of the Hill School in Pottstcwn, pa,
and DR.. Rossiter w. Raymond OF New
York IS to deliver the commemora{ion
address.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23

p. 7. M.-Married man aged
troubled with sore eyes for 10 Yea
getting worse; if 1 read any or goz
IN strong sun or wind, they will
all night; feel as though somel
was in them; have to rub then
quently and wink often; neve
anything for them. What tre
would you advise? Ans.-Use d
lowing: Yellow oxide of mercul
grains; white vaseline, one ounc1
Apply to the margi2g of the Ii
evening.
Never contradict "
Il abusing her b
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
SHE SAT DOOM.

A Glasgow servant girl went ~
few evenings ago with her head \
ped up in shawl.
Her young mistress asked her
allied her, and was told that she
suffering from bad attack of
ache, brought on by sitting in tn
But you ought not to sit in
cold, chilly night as this" said Il
tress. "You should walk at a
pace"
The girl looked at her min
though plying her ignorance. al
answered:
"You Gamma coort right walking
must sit doom. London Spare
ments.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
THERE TO sTNY.

Belle Towne-"Y You seemWery ha
this morning."
Sue Burb-"And there
cause. Our new cook has TO-
round-trip ticket back to the city,.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23
,lRa9 szf f e S>61
s@ " ST NAE&'E>S>SstzD5 $

wall" and mother Of Adelaide Proctorl
The lady was then so years old, and
in giving Mr.. Arnold a cup Of tea 81
asked, with the pardonable frankne
of age:
And what did they say about
in American"
WELL" said the literary autd
"taey said was conceited Thee
my clothes did not fit me-"
well. now" commented &
lady. II think they were mist
to the clothes" Youths Coml
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-23

Succotash is a dish borrowed from
the Narragansett Indians and called by
them m'sickuatash.