davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19
A WARTIME DRINK.


sBillv Florence" said the doctor,
relates the Chicago Inter Ocean, told,
the day after Gen. Grant was buried.
one of the best army stories I ever
heard. Several of us were at the ST.
James hotel. in New York, and the
conversation drifted naturally into
"reminiscences and anecdotes of Grant.
Sherman and Sheridan. Florence, aft
er listening to the stories of the Off
GERS present, said that, while he was
not in the army, he had had some adj
ventures and experiences with army
men, and in his inimitable way he pro-
ceeded to tell a story, which I give in
outline:
EARLY in 1862 Mr.. and Mrs. Florence
were at Cairo, Ill. Between one and
two o'clock on a stormy night they
went to the wharfboat to take a
steamboat up the Ohio. There was
no shelter, a cold wind was blowing,
and there was a fall of half-rain and
half-snow. The two were cuddled up
in their wraps, sitting on their trunk.
when a man in soldiers dress came on
the wharfboat and walked past them
two or three times. He wore a long
military overcoat, the collar of which
was turned up about his ears, and a
SLOUGH hat, which was pulled down
pretty well about his face. He had
evidently been out in the storm and
was in no very good humor.
Eat last he stopped in front of Flor
ence and said: 4 have been out in
this storm since six o'clock this morn
ing. l have had nothing to eat and
nothing to drink. If you have any
thing in the way of stimulants about
you, you would do me a great kindness
to let me take a pull at your flask.
Florence replied at once that he had a
small flask with little whisky in it,
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19

had been riding all day with = sine4e
orderly who had in his saddle bagA
the provisions and other refresh
ments; that he had become sep
arated from his orderly and there
fore had been left without food or
drink during the day
HE explained further that he knew
Mr.. Florence at the time, that there
was great temptation to make him
self known, but he remembered that
there were always listeners about
such stations, and as he could not
explain why there was a necessity
for secrecy, he decided to let the mat
ter stand as it was. He, however, had
kept the favor in mind all the years,
and being at Concord the day before,
he had received telegram from an
old friend saying that Florence was
going up to Lebanon, and that he
would be very thirsty man before
he got drink in such "a dry town.
Thereupon Sherman decided to pur-
chase jug of the best Jersey cider
and send it down to NJ. Florence.
Fearing that a messenger could
not break through the lines without
exciting suspicion. he finally decided
to bring the jug himself, and here it
was. But why in the world, gen.
eral,' Florence burst out; why in the
world didn't you bring some good
whisky? Jersey cider is good enough
in its. place, but just then he
drew the cork and said: why. general.
it's No, it isn't said Sherman; no,
it isn't. You don't want to embar-
rass the porter who brought up that
jug, Mr.. Florence. Smell again. 1t Is
Jersey cider" Mr.. Florence obedient-
ly said: Yes, general, it is as good
Jersey cider as / ever. smelt-' The
porter was dismissed, and the two
men sat down and began the ac-
quaintance that was so treasured by
both of them in later years"
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19
Sources of SILK Supply.

The worlds product of silk is 49,
32S, 1928 pounds annually. OF this enor-
nous output western Europe produces
$500 ,O75 pounds, the Levant and CEN
trail Asia 3.933, 007 pounds, and the far
east, which includes China, Japan and
most of India, 25.5o6,s2S pounds.
China is still, as it always has been,
the chief producer of silk, yielding
nearly one-third of the entire product.
The leading countries IN this industry
are China, with 12,o26, 093 pounds;
Japan, with 7.96o,530 pounds, and
Italy, with 6,s14,070 pounds. Since
1897 the increase in the silk product
has been nearly one-third, the yield
for that year having been 14,769, 900
pounds. as against 3s,22s.s2s pounds
in 1899.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19

AN ELECTRIC DIET.
ing All Kinds and Conditions
Of Animal Life.

The notion of fattening pigs by cleo
:ricity is at all events novel, and if the
inventor of the pSocess be not disap-
pointed the idea will yet be applied to
sther animals, and even to human be-
ngs. To DIR. w. J. Herdman, OF the
medical faculty of the University of
Michigan, the world owes this discov-
Fry, which is to the effect that the gal
ranic current promotes the growth of
Essue-that is to say, the increase of
flesh. It had previously been ascer-
tained that plants develop more rapid
| " under the electric stimulus, and
there was no obvious reason why ami
mails should not be equally responsive
! 20 it.
Hence the ca of DIR. Herdman, which
promises well, though its application
cannot as yet be said to have passed be-
FOND the experimental stage.
The doctor, for the sake of con-
venience, began his experiments with
guinea pigs, half dozen Of which he
put in each of two cages, taking care
that they should all be Of exactly the
tame age, so as to make the conditions
of the trial as free from flaw as possible.
Around one of the cages he strung sew
era1 wires, through which a current of
electricity was kept passing night and
day, while nothing of the kind was done
with the other cage Meanwhile for a
stated period, the animals in both cages
were fed with precisely equal guam
tity of provender of the same kind, so
that there should be no advantage in
this respect on either side. AS a result
it was found that the guinea pigs that
lived in an electric environment gained
in weight during a measured time ten
| per cent. more than those of the non
electric cage.
DIR. Herdman is confident that ordi-
nary pigs, if subjected to similar treat t.
ment, would exhibit like results. He
proposes to build suitab by wired pens
and to furnish the growing swine with
Irregular supplies of electricity, much in
the same way as was done with the
guinea pigs.
Nobody can say what may be the
final influence of this new discovery
upon the packing trade, or whether
the electric bacon" of the future may
not command a special price in the
market. The Imagination extends the
application Of DIR. ,Herdman's discov
cry to almost any lengths. Why may
not the day come when every COW in
her stall shall have her private wire:
And if electricity is good for pigs, il
may serve to fatten babies, or ever
| grown persons who are DESTROYS of in
creasing their avoirdupois, and thu:
most interesting possibilities for the i'm
provement Of the human physique are
opened up.-Saturday Evening Post.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19
sELF-1NFLArING RAFT.

without waiting until it strikes the
water. The raft is intended for the
use of several persons, If necessary,
and can also be utilized for carrying
supplies. To accomplish its imitation
chemical compartment is provided
with a quantity of any suitable so
dunn or potassium, which will be at
tackled by an acid, SO as to evolve a
sufficient quantity of gas for the ex-
pansion of the air-tight ring. In or
der to provide the raft with means for
giving q day and night signal, the
central mast is hollow and contains
quantity OF calcium carbide, which
forms an Illuminating gas as soon as
submitted to the action of the water.
As the tube is provided with burners
at either end, it makes no difference
which side up the raft falls. For day
signalling flag is dashed to the mast.
The netting in the center is tightly
strung and will support several per-
sons. being suspended above the wa
ter level to keep the passengers as dry
as possible under the eircumstances.-
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19

trail portion which are adapted to en-
gage the earth as the cylinders are
drawn toward each other, scooping
the earth into the rear portion OF
the cylinders. The arrangement is
such that the vessel can be hoated
to any required position and then
drawn apart to the required distance
and sunk to the river bed. The con-
trolling apparatus on the ship above
then begins to tighten the chains,
causing the cylinders to be forced to-
ward each other, which presses the
scoops into the earth and causes q
layer of the material of any desired
thickness to slide into the cylinders.
When the latter are filed they are
tilted backward until the opening is
at the top. Then the water in the
end compartment is forced out by in
jecting air and the vessel rises to the
surface, to be transported to the
dumping ground. Chicago Daily
News.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19
WONDERFUL NEW CAMERA.
RumOr Has 1t That with 1t Fair
Photographs Have Been Taken
Through q Mile of Fog.

To speak of photography in fog
sounds like cutting from comic pa
per rather than a serious scientific
fact; but it is scientific fact, none the
less, and the man who is conducting
Investigations in this peculiar line OF
photography is the shrewd, energetic
ruler Of the German empire.
Quite recently the kaiser has been
stea ming about in the Baltic on his
yacht, ostensibly on pleasure bent, but
in reality with far different object.
He was accompanied by two men whose
skill with the camera and whose knowl-
edge of it's construction are unequaled,
and the result of that little trip will be
the beginning of important develop
ments in connection with the navy and
merchant service of Germany, if not of
other countries.
By means of specially constructed
camera the kaiser's friends succeeded
in obtaining clear and distinct photo
t.graphs of vessels, and of the coast line,
when those objects were mile off and
both the photographer and the photo
graph were enveloped in a thick fog.
This wonderful result was obtained
with an exposure of two seconds only.
The necessary complement to the
camera is an apparatus that will enable
the operator to develop his picture in q
few seconds so that it can be thrown on
screen. The perfection of this appa-
| ratus is now engaging the attention of
the two scientific men, the expenses
being paid by the German government.
| Merchant vessels in fog could take
| their bearings in similar way, and
| they would find it more effective than
sirens in preventing collisions.-Chi-
cago American.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19

It is impossible to say when the
first bridge was built, so shrouded in
antiquity is the date. But the first
metal truss bridge, the erection of
which marks the beginning of mod
ern methods of construction, was put
up no longer ago than 1910. Almost
all Of the great bridges + the world
have been built within the last quar-
ter Of century. In 1863 bridge was
thrown across the Ohio river with q
span Of 800 feet, then unprecedented.
At the present time the limit of q
single span has been extended to Ito
feet In actual construction, while
others Of nearly 5000 feet have been
designed by able builders and un-
doubtedly will be erected.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19
HAS ROYAL PATRONS.
Chicago, Does Work for EN-
presses and Queens.

George .Hofer, fur skin dresser to
kings and -emperors, lords, dukes and
millionaires, lives with his three dogs
in quaint, gloomy little room in the
rear of 1919 North Ashland avenue,
Chicago.
Hsslitfle shop, 10 by 80 feet in size,
sees skihs Of fabulous vaftfe arrive in
the green state from all parts of the
world and leave again by express in
the most perfect condition fur skins
can attain. From South Africa, Asia,
all parts of Europe. South America
and all points in the United States, and
even from Alaska and Australia, come
bales of skins to be dressed by this little
German living in an obscure part of an
obscure street.
The approach to his workshop is
through one of the worst streets in
the city. Mud to the depth of two
feet or more makes the thoroughfare
impossible to vehicles, and the wabbly
board walks are made safe only by the
constant care of Hofer and his indus
trious neighbors. The walks leading
to the rear building, where the shop is
located, are as clean as daily scrubbing
can make them, and the building in
which Hofer carries on his work is so
thoroughly disinfected that the odor
of skins or that vile smell usually per-
ceptible in a tannery is entirely absent.
The entire place bears that evidence
of bachelor neatness and thrift that
comes with years of toll and economy
peculiar to the German.
Hofer has lived in Chicago IA years,
having arrived here just. IL days be-
fore the Haymarket riot in 1886 from
New York, in which city he had spent
16 years from the time he left Ham
burg. A g
Comparatively unknown to all ex-
| cept those engaged in the handling OF
| the most valuable fur skins, Hofer,
in his unassuming way, continues to
| use his art in dressing skins for roy
Ealty and all the big fur houses OF
! America.
He was born in 1916 at Waringkin
Germany, and after slight schooling
| started as an apprentice to learn the
trade of skin dressing in Preylau, Prus.
| STA, province of Konigsberg, at the age
of ten. He served his apprenticeship
and afterwards travelled extensively
through all the countries of Europe
seeking new information that woul6
lead to greater proficiency in his
| trade.
During these travels he gained {
reputation as curer and dresser o.
skins that brought him work from the
royalty Of all Europe. He has dressed
skins for three czars of Russia for EN-
peror William of Germany, and two o.
his predecessors, for Queen Victoria
and King Edward, and, in fact, for al
the nobility of Europe that could at
/ ford to buy their skins in the rough
and have the dressing and tanning
done privately.
Hofer dressed the skins for the com
ing-out cloak Of John Wanamaker',
daughter upon the occasion of her en-
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19

which he rendered the stranger. The
officer put the flask to his lips and
drank the last drop. Then he returned
the flask with an apology for drinking
it all, saying there was no excuse ex-
cept his dep1orable condition. Flor
ence replied, with some warmth: You
are welcome to the whisky, but you
are no gentleman
'That closed the incident. The Off
Ger walked away from them, took the
boat and neither Florence nor his wife
saw anything more of him either on
the boat or at Paducah, where they
landed. Some years after the war,
Mr.. and Mrs. Florence went to Leb-
anon, N. H., where they expected to
visit relatives of the latter. They
stopped for the night at the leading
hotel, and on Sunday morning Flor
ence went down to the bar for his
morning drink. He was informed that
no liquors were sold in the town, and
the clerk told him confidentially that
no whisky could be secured under any
pretense whatever. Florence pooh
poohed this, but the clerk assured him
that it was a true bill. When he found
that he couldn't get anything to drink,
to drink more than ever before in his
life, and he worked himself into a sort
of fury over the situation.
Mrs. Florence went off to church,
but Florence himself, disappointed
and surly, shut himself up in his room.
After a time the porter raped at the
door and said that a gentleman, who
had just come in, sent a jug of Jersey
cider up to Mr.. Florence with his COM
pliments, and he placed on the table
gallon jug plainly labeled Jersey
cider Florence asked the name of
the donor, but the porter said that no
name was given, but the gentleman
was waiting. He was invited to come
up, and a tall man of military figure
in citizens dress walked into Mr.. Flor
ence's room. In introducing himself
he said: My name is Sherman-Wil-
liam T. Sherman Florence greeted
him cordially and said that he had
never in his life had the pleasure of
meeting him, although he had looked
about his audiences scores of times,
hoping to see the general Of the army
in one of the boxes.
HE repeated that he had never met
Gen. Sherman, and that he was par
ticulaPly glad to see him then and
there. You are mistaken, Mr.. Flor
ence,' said Sherman, you have met
me. You met me- on one occasion
when you said that I was no gentle
man. It was on wharfboat down
at Cairo, when I drank up all your
whisky Florence was greatly sur
prised. but he was equal to the occa-
sion and asked why in the world the
general didn't make himself known.
Then he might have had not only the
whisky and the flask, but the coat
and the hat and the purse and every
thing that Mr. Florence owned. Sher-
man explained that he was on . Sc
eget mission for Gen. Grant; that he
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19

trance into society IS years ago. The
skins were those of the sable and sea
otter, which are the most valuable
Of all skins, according to Hofer, ex-
cepting the real chinchilla, which is SO
small the quantity required in the
makeup of garment places upon it
fabulous price. Sea otter skins bring
from 5000 to $4,000 each and sable from
$4G0 to 5000. The Wanamaker cloak
cost 1900.
Hofer, previous to his coming to this
country, worked in various large cities
Of German, Russia, Norway, Sweden.
Austria and France. His first work
in Chicago was for firm on the West
side. It was while engaged at this
place his life was saved by a Mrs.
Schweyer when strikers attempted to
kill him. and at this place he also saved
the credit and reputation OF his en-
ployers By advancing to them, without
security. money sufficient to pay of the
striking employees.
He later worked for glove concern
for five years, then started in for him
self. doing some of his first work for
Lincoln Park. This work was the
dressing of monkey skin, which was
wanted in hurry. but great care re-
CURED. Hofer sarcastically requested
the messenger to seat himself and wait
for the skin, as he could do it immedi-
ately. The visitor gave him time, how
ever, and Hofer. after working faith
fully for "a hours without sleep, deliv-
cred the skin.
When asked for his bill he replied !:
"Oh. when I Go any thing for arts sake
I never charge" This gave him the
start with the park officials and he has
done all their skin tanning since.
Hotter is bachelor and descendant
of Andreas Hofer. the Tyrolese patriot,
and proved his fighting qualities by
serving as sergeant in the Forty-fifth
German infantry. earning his medals
for bravery in the battle of Gravelotte
and numerous other skirmishes.
Only last year he received magnif-
cent medal from Emperor William in
recognition Of his services to his inn
periA father.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19
CHANNEL ExcAvAroR.
tended to Make Building of Deep
Water Ways Easy.

The dredging of a deep-water cham
mel for large ships by any of the sew
eral methods now IN use is a laborious
task in spite of all the improved ma
chinery designed for the purpose. but
Maurice j. O'Connor, of Drunshambo,
Ireland, believes he has invented an
apparatus which will do this work
more economically and thoroughly
than it can be accomplished by any Of
the old methods. He has taken out
patents on the invention in s differ
ent countries. The apparatus consists
of pair of large steel cylinders, with
elongated lips projecting from the CEN
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19
WHEN BABY Is SICK.
Who Have No Experience I'm the
Rearing of Children.

A baby's cry should be to the intelli-
gent mother the best index to its ply
steal condition. The healthy baby
cries very loudly and in lusty, ex-
plosive, angry manner, and the tears
flow freely. The sick baby, or the one
on the verge of sickness, cries peev-
ishly or whines in low tone.
Watch the manner in which the
baby takes it's food. If it is perfectly
well it will attack the bottle greedily
and will express its satisfaction much
in the same manner as any other
young sucking animal-that is, by
soft and inarticulate noises OF grunts
If. on the other hand, the baby con-
templates its food before touching it,
or after tasting turns. from it, be sure
there is something wrong.
Watch the baby closely while it
sleeps. If it is in perfect health the
skin will be moist. the lips damp and
scarlet, the palms OF the hands and
the soles Of the feet pink. The eyelids
will be completely closed and there
will be no twitching Of the muscles
about the mouth or nose or eyes.
Save for faint rhythmic sound of
breathing the healthy baby when
asleep will be as still as q piece of
carved marble.
If the baby smiles in it's sleep. If it
throws out its little hands and feet
with swift, spasmodic motions; if the
eyes are only half closed, the corners
of the mouth drawn down, the breath
ing irregular or labored. the face
flushed and the head hot, then lose no
time in calling in the family physi-
cian-St. Louis Republic.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19

fixed to this number of the Casket
contains correct profile licensees OF
Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, Maria
Louise, his consort, and the king Of
Rome, his son. Their location on the
plate we leave to the ingenuity of the
reader to discover. k
"Bonaparte, it is well known, was a
man who placed great faith in omens
and predictions. One of the most re-
markable of his own predictions, and
which was completely verified, he
made to a portion of his confidential
adherents on quitting France to take
up his abode in the island of Elba-
it was, that he would return to
France and again place himself at the
head of the government, in the violet
season. In short time all of his
partisans were distinguished by some
badge of violet color, such as rings,
with the following motto: Ellie re-
paraitra an printerus!' tit will ap-
pear again in the spring.; violet
watch ribbons, etc. The partisans of
Napoleon generally carried about
their persons one of the violet prints,
which were freely circulated in France
without exciting the least suspicion
among the Bourbons.
1.-THE manner in which the friends
of Napoleon recognized an adherent
to his cause was by asking the ques-
ton: 'Aimez vous la violette? Do
you like the violet?) If the answer
returned was 'opiIi fyes), tie person
was discovered not to be a eonfeder-
ate; but if he anewered Eth bien'
(welD, he was acknowledged to be
one of their party. and the questioner
completed the sehtsnces' sEile repair
aitra an printerus.' iBonaparte- was
toasted by the name of General or
Corporal Violet among his adherents
from the time of his quitting France
until his return"
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19
robaeeo Culture I'm Greece.

Encouraged by the success with
which Kavaila tobacco has been grown
in Greece, the Hellenic government
has decided to devote special attention
to the extension of tobacco culture
in that country. Large quantities of
seed will be procured from Trebizond,
Havana and Maryland. and experts
will be engaged to teach Greek agri-
cultuItsts the best methods Of cultiva-
ton.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19
How to hon vexetabIes,

Vegetables composed largely Of
starch and water, potatoes particu-
larly, should be boiled at continu-
GUS high temperature. Otherwise
they viii become water soaked and
0f peer favor.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19
IMPROVED LIFE RAFT.
Into a Small Compass When
Not In Use.

This invention relates to a self-in-
flating little raft, which is capable of
being folded into small compass when
not in use, and which initiates immedi-
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19
NV Work.

NY work, however small.
No hands can do but mine:
1t Is Gods special call
To me, voice Divine.
-Antoinette Van Hoesen, in Har-
per.S Bazaar.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19

Per Capita Grain Products.
It has been figured out that the
United States produce ago pounds Of
AGO pounds.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-19

Noted Living Ex-Confederates.
Forth Carolina can still count up
three surviving confederate brigadie1.
Observation-Disclosures NewA