davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23

vines and laughing, merry pickers.
There seems to be an infectious jollity
about the business, and every one eX-
cept the stoical Indian or the stolid
squaw is lively and apparently happy.
The manager or oyerseer of the field
passes along between the rows to see
that the picking is clean from leaves
and twigs which are either carelessly
dropped into the baskets or intention
ally put there to increase the weight.
The cones only are picked, and it is
surprising how expert and deft some of
the pickers are in denuding the vines
of their valuable fruitage. 1t is fact
attested by hop growers in the West
generally that Indians are the most re-
liable pickers. Their pickings are clean,
and they never attempt to make IAN
honest penny" by smuggling forbidden
leaves or twigs into their baskets. 1t
is said that the inspectors rarely think
it necessary to examine an Indians
basket for contraband.
The rough, prickly vines make it nee
essary for all except the hardened pick
ers to use gloves. They usually get
cent or a cent and half a pound, and
an average hand will make dollar a
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23

liant fabrics to wear over the fronts of
blouses.
The open-work stocking is the correct
thing for small children.
Whites swiss and madeira work is
much used this season as trimming.
A pretty hat is of tuscan straw trim
med with tea roses, white roses and
green leaves.
Bobbinet makes some of the prettiest
and most serviceable of the gowns in
thin material.
White and ecru lace blcdses under elab-
crate tailor suits for afternoon wear arc
the correct modes.
Those who cannot afford feathered
boas are wearing them of accordion plait-
ed chiffon, net or tulle.
Sleeves are showing a good deal of full
ness from the elbows downward, but re-
main tight at the top.
Point Arabe and point de Venise laces
are extensively used for trimming MILL
merry, summer gowns, capes and ichus.
A pretty toilet of pale coral pink crepe
has two deep flounces of white embroid-
cred Indian muslin, divided by a garland
o. appliqued daisies. The same applique
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23

ercised in handling the cones, as ap-
pearance goes a great way with the
buyer, and broken hops bring a lower
price in market
Baling is simple matter. On the
big plantations the presses are run by
horsepower and are located on the
ground floor The hops run into the
presses from a Shute and the rest is
done by power machinery.
On small plantations, which are far
more numerous and constitute the typi-
cal hop growing farm, the press is OPP
Grated by a hand lever which is at
tached to the side of the press and re-
sembles the handle to an old-time town
pump.
The baling process is the same in
large and small establishments. The
pressed hops present clean, smooth
sides and sharp corners. The burlap
is sewn together except on one side.
This sack is drawn down over the pack
age as a pillow case is drawn over a
pillow, and is fastened at the open side
by sewing with double Irvine. Follow
ing this a rope is drawn around the
bale. it is branded and is ready for
shipment.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
LIVING sHAcKs FOR HOP P1CKERs.

The price of hops varies from 7ear to
year. In 1882 the price was 80 cents a
pound. Last year some good crops
sold for Is cents. The latter price gives
very small margin of profit. With re-
gard to the cost of production, a hop
grower is quoted as saying: at isn't
as cheap a crop as you may think. The
common estimate of the cost of raising
hops is seven cents; that is to grow.
cultivate, dry, press, and put upon the
market. Now l figure the expense as
nearer II cents. which will cover the
cost of land, taxes and improvements.
To begin with. the soil must be rich
river bottom land. Then comes fenc-
ing, planting, cultivating, buying poles
and Irvine and putting up the kiln with
its appliances. Poles cost $50 a thou
sand, Irvine So an acre. The vines must
be cultivated as long as a horse can
be driven through them. There is no
end to the work from the first plow-
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
KITCHENER CAN UNBEND.
The British Commander Not Always
- - the stern Soldier.

The British Comm ander Not Always
-. -. the stern Soldier.
Most stories represent Lord Kitch-
ener in somewhat stern light. Here
is one which shows that even the mod
ern man of blood and iron" can I'M
bend. During the last Soudan cam
paign Kitchener was accompanied by
a telegraphist, to whom he took the
nearest approach to fancy his stern
nature would allow. After Khartoum
the telegraphist heard that his mother
was i'll and in want at home. He ap-
piled for his discharge, to which he was
entitled. Kitchener sent for him, and
demanded to know why he wished to
leave. The man explained.
Don't you think you could help your
mother without going home, sir?" ask
ed Kitchener.
I'D rather go home, sir" replied the
operator.
"Oh, very Well" said Kitchener,
closing the interview abruptly. you
know your own business best. That'll
do"
The day came for the telegraphist to
leave, and he went to bid his chief
good-by.
"Ah," said Kitchener, you're a fool
to go. l would have given you a good
post had you stayed. I'm very busy
good-by."
The man saluted and was retiring.
when Kitchener called out:
"Here, just take this note to the pay
master for me-"
The note was delivered, and the
bearer was walking away when he
whom the irreverent subalterns call
"Shovelpenny" called him back.
I'm to give you this, by the Gener-
ais ORDERS" he said.
This was equivalent in Egyptian
money to a f10 note. 1t was character
istic of Kitchener that he would not
lift a finger to urge the man to stay,
and that he did not want to be
thanked
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
The Hop Kiln.

The kiln is 4 twO-stOry structure, and
on the more pretentious plantations the
drying floor is heated by furnaces and
pipes which distribute the heat. A
California drying process is thus de
scribed;
The drying door is a model of util-
.ty and convenience. 1t consists of two
movable cars run upon tracks extend
ing out over the coolng-room. and
worked by a windlaSS. These cars are
forty feet in length. and twenty feet
wide, and each IS subdivided into four
sections. which turn on levers. The
floor Of the cars is of Stats covered with
coarse wire mesh, on which the hops
are spread 70 the depth of eighteen or
twenty-four inches, according to their
ripeness. Before rolling them back to
the drying-rocm, the hops are sprinkled
with water to insure a more direct &C
ton Of the sulphur burning below on
the furnaces"
In the State OF Washington, how
ever. where the photographs for our
Illustrations were taken. the moisture
in the atmosphere gives the hops Il
beautiful color in bleaching without
this dampening.
During the drying process the hops
are turned over OccO SiOnally 10 prevent
everlasting and procure uniform re
suits. Hops cured at 4 low tempera-
ture are regarded as best for strength
and quality.
From the kiln the silky cones are
taken 10 the cooling noon. which is on
the lower floor. Entrance TO the dry
ing room is effected by ascending the
outside runway 10 the platform shown
T in the illustration. Descent into the
/ cooling-rOom is accomplished by open
/ ing a trap and allowing the cones TO so
/ down a shute 10 the fieor below. Here
/ they are banked up on either side OF
I the room by men armed with immense
scoop Shovess for the purpose. The
/ curing process occupies time, and US
/ ually continues through the picking
I season. In curing the hops lose their
I hrittleneSS and absorb moisture until
! they are tough enough Il withstand
serious Sceakage in bsling. At this
/ STAGE the cones are oily and exude 8
I resinous substance, which IS very
pleasant in Odor. but which makes
handling very UNPLEASANT. Care is ex-
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
1t Furnishes Many Examples of the
Importance of Small Things.

importance OF small Things.
81 have been very much impressed
with the Importance of small things in
late years" said an old steamboat
man, and the Mississippi river has
furnished me some rather good exam
pies. l can understand now why Gaze
sar looked out upon the Nile in such
curious amazement, and offered all
that he stood for to the Egyptian priest
if he would show him the source of
that wonderful river But the antics
Of the Nile look like insignificant moth
ings to me when compared with the
strange conduct of the stream that
| oozes out of the earth at Itasca and
hurries on its murky and devious way
toward the Gulf of Mexico. Towns
along the Mississippi that once stood
right on the brink of the river have
been isolated even in my day, and
there are. too. all along the course of
the stream little empires in view where
the river has encroached upon small
centers of population, finally eating the
earth away and forcing the inhabit-
ants to seek other quarters. There are
hundreds of these places that are al
most forgotten now even by the men
who are constantly on the river.
What brings about these violent
changes along the banks of the river?
Not floods. 1t is just the ordinary do
ings of the stream. In the first place
the current of the Mississippi is Won
derfully swift, and the sediment de-
posted at any point where resistance
to the flow is offered is very great. Tie
a string to the neck of bottle and
sink it with the mouth of the bottle up
and open.
IF held in one place where the flow
is normal in an extremely short period
of time the bottle will fill with sedi-
ment. Stretch net across the river.
a net so finely woven that nothing but
the pure water of the river can pass
through, and, on account of the rapid
ity of the flow and the greatness Of
the deposit of sediment, almost in a
twinkling the river would be damned
at that point. Experts have admitted
this. This brings me to the point Of
my narrative.
1.-THE flow of currents is frequently
interfered with by sunken boats, per-
haps by jackstaff sticking up above
the surface. The current is diverted
by degrees, generally touching the far
side of the stream a mile from the
rOiDt whore If n Gain meets resistance
and Immediately begins the building of
sandbar. have seen a thousand eX-
amples of this sort during my career
on the river. and have known of in
stances where the root of a tree or the
mere twig of a willow have brought
about similar conditions. These things
have tended to make riddle out of the
river; yet the stream after while will
he handled so as to undo all that it has
accomplished in this way."-New Or
leans TimeS-Democrat.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
Deficient in Dead Languages

Cardinal Pedro Gonzalez was a pious
man who believed in the gospel of
peace. He noticed one day that a
priest in his train carried a short sword
under his cloak. The cardinal reproved
him, saying that a cleric should not
carry arms.
True" answered the priest humbly,
"but carry the weapon only to defend
myself should be attacked by a dog. ~
In that case" said the cardinal.
land if saw a dog running toward
me- 1 should begin to recite the Gospel
of John"
That" returned the priest. would
be wise thing. indeed, but may it not
be that there are some dogs that do not
understand Latin ?'-Youth's Com
panion.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
Beginning to Blossom.

About the middle Of July the hop vine
Begins to blossom. During that period
the male hop vine. one of which is
planted for every 100 female or produc-
tive vines. Scatters the almost imper-
ceptible pollen. or bees carry it 10
neighboring blossoms. which are fertil-
lied or strengthened Instead Of the
eoue-Shaped flower Of the female vine,
the male has little lunches Of small
seeds which burst open and scatter the
pollen in the air
During the period of growth the rows
are cultivated with 4 horse CuluvatOr
in the same manner that corn is cult
waited. The horse. culuvator and driver
pass under the green canopy Of vines,
which is high e.Ough 10 admit Of their
passing without injury 10 the vines.
The picking season begins in the first
hals Of September aud lasts from three
10 I'VE weeks. according 70 the size Of
she crop. \ good average crop is $500
pounds 20 the acre. and land producing
such crop sells from $500 to $500 IN
Ecre. Crops Of 5000 pounds 70 the acre
are not unknown on farms which are
scientifically and carefully attend
ed. ON large plantations oper.
atsd by companies" says a
writer. ''the superintendent engages his
plckerS weeks before the season opens
That they may not desert the field
when they are most needed, the com
panies generally have q rule by which
promiSSory checks are issued 70 the
plckerS for forenoon work and negotia
bic slips for afternoon pickingS. Then
n the picker deserts or is discharged
for cause. he fOrfeitS The forenoon pay
ments that would eventually have beer
made to him at the end of the season
Pay is by the pound. and is based or
the prevailing price Of hops"
The hops'are picked II sacks or has
kets and are dumped into 3 largS
t-ouSh-hke crate until the crate is full
The long testooned aisles are aromati,
with kvI<, =ud alive with noddinl
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23

scheme of deep banding. The other
gown OF this picture Illustrates this trick,
its tucked white lawn being finished with
valeneiennes insertion and appiiqued with
black lace. The bertha was white lace,
the v of plain lawn set OFF with Gre
tonne flowers.
Though little jackets of taffeta, usually
much tucked, have been overdone. hand
some coats of black taffeta and louisine
silk cut away in front and with position
backs will be feature of many summer
gowns. They are made with collar and
revers of white satin or contrasting
color covered with lace or embroidered in
silver and gold silk threads. The ore
seen in this picture was made with a
vest of satin embroidered in gold. These
coats are worn over any of the fluffy
muslin or soft silk gowns.
The new fancieS of the gowns in the
concluding picture will be understood
from brief descriptions. First is q pale
pink null appliqued with cluny lace flow
ers and trimmed with cluny lace. The
gown shown in half length was linen
colored batiste embroidered with black
silk. Yoke and collar were tucked white
uluIl, anu the uSep COkldA was hh4IS AaCS'
The third gown pale blue organdy, the
ruffles of its skirt edged with black vel
vet. Often such ruffles are put on hori-
zontally and at equal distances apart,
and again the spaces between them are
graduated. A white organdy figured in
rose pink was the last of these dresses,
its design coming the nearest of all the
currently fashionable figured goods to the
''microbe" silks of three years ago
Bands of beading run with green velvet
trimmed it, and yoke and V We're en-
broidered white batiste.
Soft cloth gowns of white, delicate blue,
corn color, green and pale gray are still
stylish. Those shown in white are love-
ly when trimmed with q contrasting cloth
or silk and banded with gold or silver
braid. Persian and Bulgarian embroid-
cry are used for these. This embroidery
in delicate colors comes with an edge
embroidered in oriental shades. The skirt
is made up with the edge at the bottom.
and the bodice usually has the edge at
either side of the V and on cuffs, collar
and belt.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
PARTY OF HOP PICKERs.

ing in February to the pulling up and
slowing away of the poles for the win
ter. 1t needs careful hands TO sucker
the hills in spring and start the shoots
up the poles Give me digger every
time for this work. An Indian takes
TO hop picking as 4 duck does to water
It's just lazy enough work TO suit him.
When it comes 10 curing and baling
get more intelligent help"
Indians Preferred.
Another authority says: The train
ing and harvesting of hops embrace the
utmost limit of the 'digger's' capabil-
ity as a husbandman. Apart from his
admirable fitness for this work he has
not the continuity OF purpose to raise
even his favorite watermelon. An In
dian never makes the mistake OF try
ing TO persuade hop vine 10 grow the
wrong way up pole. He knows the
shoots have an inyincible impulse 10
follow the course OF the sun, and must
be trained from east to west in their
spiral climbings. He can also readily
distinguish the sex OF the roots, and
every seventh hill in seven rows IS
carefully set 70 8 male vine"
As the hop picking season approaches
these degenerate Indians. remnants OF
once powerful tribes. take up the
march and sometimes travel hundred
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23

in large numbers the dressmakers may
stick safely to a few distinct types, but
when accepted novelties are so few as
they are just now it is small wonder
that the gowns of a score of fashionably
dressed women have very little in COM
mon. Since new fabrics, too, are not
numerous, resort is had to host of
familiar ones, though the weavers keep
the latter from seeming old by an in
crease of delicacy or beauty in the goods.
A new feature of linen dresses is the
very stylish use of sage green and green
ish gray, both shades that make up.
handsomely when trimmed with lace or
stitched bands of the goods. These
dresses usually are made with a Spanish
flounce banded with a stitched fold of
the goods. The waist, on the shirt waist
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23

appears on the pockets and cuffs OF the
Louis XVI. vest, while frills Of Indian
muslin fall from the sleeves.
Old-fashioned Powered organizes are
in again. Pale yellow on a white ground
or pale blues and pinks are preferred.
These are deliberately trimmed with
handmade lace.
For bridal costumes this season. net.
chiffon. silk crepe de chine, mousseline
de sole. silk null and China silks are
taking the place Of the severely made
white satin gown.
The womaH who has to shop in the
mornings viii find that a black or dark
blue skirt with the same color blouse
in one Of the new soft silks or crepe de
chimes, is a charming and serviceabie cos
tune.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
HOPS AND PICKERS.
JOLLY TIMES ON THE GREAT
WESTERN PLANTATIONS.
Methods of Cultivation and Process of
Handling the Crop of Resinous Cones
Drying, Cooling, Pressing and Bal
5ng-Fun, Frolic and Industry.


In the fall Of every year scores and
hundreds Of men and women flock to
the great hop-growing districts Of the
United States to find employment. 1t
is so in the East, it is SO in the West,
though the personnel of the hOp-pick-
ers varies somewhat in character &C
eOFding to location. In the hop districts
IN Central New York, for example,
young men and maidens from nearby
cities, and boys and girls from the
farms seek to earn a little extra money
In this way. In the older States the
after picking time at night is devoted
20 merry making and practical jokes,
and other devices for driving dull care
away and tightening labor by keeping
up the spirits.
In the West all these things are noted
plus the employment Of reservation
Indians. AS hops are picked by the
pound, the earnings of the pickers de
pend upon their dexterity and industry.
From the countryside, from the cities
and from the mountains come individ-
Gals. and families, and groups. They
dwell in matched huts, tents and board
shacks, and either cook for them
selves, or are boarded ut a dining shan
T., where the menu is plentiful and
nOurishing, if not modelled after lay
cut at DelmonicO's or Sherry's.
Roofing the Hops.
To begin at the beginning. hop roots
are planted six feet apart in accurate
rows, making 1910 to the acre. Every
ten years the old roots are grubbed
cut and rene wed. though the old ones
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
Optimism.

When the optimist was dispossessed
and thrown, along with his household
impedimenta. into the cold street, he
chuckled furioLsly.
why do you laugh. my friend?" in
quired q passerby.
Because have just now been eman-
cipated from toll" replied the optimist
"For years my life has been one long
struggle to keep the wolf from the
door But now that have been de
prived of the door no longer am COM
PEELED to toll. Sweet, indeed, are the
uses of adversely"
Then the optimist walked of, whist
ling gayly. into the sunshine-New
York Evening Sun.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
Automatic Postal Weighing Macb,.o.

To overcome the difficulty caused nv
the loss Of time and the reluctance Of
postofice clerks 10 weigh letters. the
French authorities are installing small
automatic weighing machines in post-
offices. You place your letter on that
part Of the balance which corresponds
with your idea of the weight OF vour
letter. and if it is too heavy a label con
tanning that information comes into
view
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
day; but many picBers make more than
twice that amount.

day; but many piclerS make more than
twice that amount.
Some Drawbacks.
But, picturesque as some features of
the work are, it has its drawbacks.
The rose has its thorn, or the hop vines
have rough, harsh stems that irritate
and scratch the hands, aud in many
cases poison them so that they break
out in a kind of eruption.
The weighing is an important func-
ton, for both picker and owner, and
it is attended with considerable ami.
nation.
Each sack or basket is numbered, so
that il its contents prove dirty it can
be traced back to the person who pick
ed it. When the weighing takes place
the number and weight of the basket
are set down in a book opposite the
picker'S name, so that there can be no
mistake as to the amount he has gath
cred.
After the weighing the baskets or
crates. as the case may be. are piled on
Il great wagon and conveyed to the
kiln.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23

rufies edged with narrow black satin rib
bon. White null gowns are edged with
narrow Persian ribbon and gain newness
thereby. Embroidered and lace beading
is another trimming that is used extern
siYely on wash dresses. This is
usually run through with black vel
ret or delicate ribbons. Gowns with
three or four handsome lace hOunces
are coming in The lace must be OF the
very finest and usually is Of a delicate
cream shade. The left hand dress of the
next picture was one Of these. II was
white linen Iar and cream duchess lace.
Many delicately cClored mulls are made
I'D in this way, the waist finished of
with a handsome lace collar or fchu OF
lace TO match that on the skirt. More
often the lace put on lawns, and deal
Of 1t Is employed, appears in some
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23

TO left. If started the other way
they will not stay on the string. Rough.
with hundreds of minute. hook-like ten
drills, the creeper clings 10 its support
and keeps growing upward until II gets
4 hold on the top wire. Then it spreads
out and makes Il canopy which viewed
from an elevation, presents 4 beauti-
Sul picture
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23

of his garments exactly alike is breed
ing dissatisfaction.
There are lots OF things that Will
give man 'postman's shoulder such
as leaning regularly over a desk. driv-
ing a team of horses. reaching for a
strap in a street car and a hundred 9TH
er things. Chicago Record-Herald.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23
rhe Prn,inotion nr Raw MINI

China still easily leads the world in
the production of raw silk, Europe
ranking next with about half the pro
duction Of China, and Japan making 4
close third. In 1890 the exports from
China were 16.9s6.443 pounds. and
from Japan 7.s0S. 693 pounds. The en-
tire production Of Europe was only
sS2e,O75 pounds. divided as follows:
Italy, 6S14.0T0 pounds; France, 1.234.
$40 pounds; Austria Hungary. COS. 40
pounds: and Spain, II, 959 pounds.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-23

to do a full day $
work since he fell
and broke three
ribs a month ago.
Uncle Jerry" is
106 years old, and
he declares he can't
think of settling
down to idleness at
his time of life. In
cidentally Mr.. Glee-
son was born in
Ireland in 1898,
onj nov,,n 20 Ohio