davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1901-01-17
OVERPLUS OF RATS
 IN MORGAN COUNTY
Eating Up the Farmers Corn and Making Themselves
 Otherwise Obnoxious

New Decatur. January 16.-(Special)- Many farmers near town are complaining of an overplus of rats and in many in- stances-the little rodent quadrupeds are said to have devoured hundreds of bushels of corn for the farmer.
 Farmers say that such large number of these noxious animals have not infetsed this locality since the fall of 1888, at which time they seemed to have been on a migiatory journey. No one was able 10 explain from where or when they came or when they went.
 It is said that whole army of rats will visit a corn crib and cannot be driven off until the last ear of corn is eaten up by them.
 Nor do they conflne themselves wholly to the barn and crib, but in some incidents they have invaded the dwelling houses in such great numbers as to become almost intolerable.
 The Crovenendyke family, who reside on farm in the Tennessee river bottoms, just opposite this city, say that they have so many rats that they are exceedingly ob- noxious and that the rats are so be1d that they run over the beds at night and upon three different occasions two of the boys have had their ears almost bitten off while they slept.
 The question of how to exterminaHe the rats has grown to be a most perfiexing problem
 Injustice to Decatur.
 A news story which appeared in Chat tanooga paper yesterday has called forth considerable discussion here from the fact that the story does this city a grave in- justice.
 The story, which was without date line, appeared under the heading Railroad News and is as follows:
 The Southern Railway is reported to be considering a move to consolidate their shops at London, Tenn, and Decatur, Ala, and locate them at Ensley, Ala. Plans are now being made and the grounds sur veyed for the new shops at the latter place."
 The Southern Railroad does not now or never have had any shops in the Decaturs.
 The only railroad shops here are those of the Louisville and Nashville, which are the largest repair shops of that great sys- item. Their shops give employment to 1500 skilled mechanics, and owing to the geo. graphical location, and other causes, these shops will never be moved.
 At various times the Southern has fig ured on building shops here, but for some reason they have never done so.
The age-herald., 1901-01-17

Hoods Sarsaparilla cures rheumatism, dyspepsia and catarrh because they are blood diseases.
The age-herald., 1901-01-17

meeting of the fire department held last night it was decided to rent hall for the company
 Frank Winstein, of Birmingham, and his father, of Dayton, Ohio were the guests yesterday of MT. and Mrs. De Lacee
 The Pratt City Musical and Diamatic Club yesterday afternoon for rehearsal and contemplate giving their first entertain ment early in February.
 The Tuesday Evening Club met with Miss Mamie Morrow last evening at her home on East Highlands; there was a large at Recitations by Misses Carrie Emerson and Lena Culr copper were delightful features of the evening. Miss Morrow served dainty refreshments and is a charming hostess brother, c. B. Lentz.
 Preparations are in progress by the Cath olic congregation for giving supper at the city hall on next Tuesday and We'd nesday evenings for the benefit of St. ~Catherine's church.
 Irby c. Hill, of Ensley, was the guest of friends at Pratt City last night
 There have been. rumors current to the effect that petition would be circulated to keep East Highlands from being incor- porated. but as yet no definite step has been taken.
The age-herald., 1901-01-17

Smoke Da Costa Cigars. Da- Costa Nickel.
The age-herald., 1901-01-17

The meeting of the City Council which was to have taken place last night, was postponed until tomorrow night.
The age-herald., 1901-01-17
An Excellent Combination.

The pleasant method and beneficial effects-of the we'll known remedy, SYRUP OF FIas, manufactured by the CALIFORNIA Flo SYRUP Co.,, illustrate the value of obtaining the liquid laxa- tive principles of plants known to be incidentally laxative and presenting them in the form most refreshing to the taste and acceptable to the system. It is the one perfect strengthening laxa- tive, cleansing the system effectually, dispelling colds, headaches and levers gently yet promptly and enabling one to overcome habitual constipation per manently. Its perfect freedom from every objectionable quality and sub- stance, and it's acting on the kidneys, liver and bowels, without weakening or irritating them, make it the ideal laxative.
 In the process of manufacturing figs arc used, as they are pleasant to the taste, but the medicinal qualities of the remedy are obtained from senna and other aromatic plants, by method known to the CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP Co. only. In order to get it's beneficial effects and to avoid limitations, please remember the full name of the Company printed on the front of every package. CALIFORNIA FIG SYRUP co.
 SAN FRANc1sco. CAL.
 LOUISVILLE, KY, NEW YORK, N. Y. Forsale by all Druggists. 6oc. per bottle,
The age-herald., 1901-01-17
PRATT CITY.
Many Items of News from the Prosper
 ous Mining City.

Pratt City, January 16-(SpeciaL)-At the meeting of the fire department held last night it was decided to rent hall for the company
The age-herald., 1901-01-17

Miss Mary Lovett of Columbiana, form erly of this place, is the guest of Mrs. E., F. Suinn for few days.
The age-herald., 1901-01-17

Frank Winstein, of Birmingham, and his father, of Dayton, Ohio were the guests yesterday of MT. and Mrs. De Lacee
The age-herald., 1901-01-17

The infant son of Dr. and Mrs. R. P.
 Mcryiere is dangerously i'll with bronchi- He
The age-herald., 1901-01-17

Mrs. T. G. Bailey and two children of Gulf Port. Miss, arrived today and are visiting the formers mother, Mrs. Wiley Hill.
The age-herald., 1901-01-17

Mrs Mike Clifford and Miss Ethel Cliff ford of Birmingham were the guests of Mrs. Wm. H. H. Judson and family yester- day and today.
The age-herald., 1901-01-17

Mrs. T. F. Robinson and babies left last night for Mobile, where the former S mother. Mrs. Marston, is very i'll.
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06
Mann rscturinr .Artiaci ai silk.

Artificial silk can he made Il OF
glue. thus demonstrating that our an
cestors were not so foolish and ignor-
ant rs We like to think. So far as we
can Judge there was no reason why
they Should not have made the pro-
verb read: You can't make q silk
purse out OF a cows heel But they
didn't say that. They used another
smile. They were smart enough. AT
Ter taking all the trouble to make Il
provcrb they did not propose TO have
science get the laugh on them by max
ing silk out OF cows hOOfs and horns.
The yelatinc Is dissolved in water to
the proper consistency, dyed and
forced through" tiny glass tubes as
with the cellulose silk. 1t IL really an
animal product like the silkworll silk,
but The manufacturers have not yet
been able to get the appliances for
watcr.prOOflng the thread with the
vapor Of formaline that the silk worm
has which secrctes the same drug for
the same purpose. Also. it IL quite
difficult to dry the thread quickly Oh
The carrying belts. Tor you can easily
see that they cannot DO made very
long. I suppose every onc that reads
this viii instantly think 1t would be
easy to dry the threads II the room
were made warm, but, unfortunately,
| warmth aud moisture together hay
the property Of making the glue softer,
| Another difficulty Is that the silk must
be dyed before it Is spun, and as gela'
tine has a way Of not being the am
shade Tor the same quality OF stlcki
ness, it Is pretty hard to tell what
color you viii get til 1t IL dry. If the
spun threads are soaked in the dye
pot the stun thinks that this Is 4 new
| way of making wine jelly, and makes
all possible haste to change itself from
dress goods into dessert. Still, Il
makes u very pretty silk II you don
wear II out In a rainstorm. --.Ainslcc':
Magazine.
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06
Severe Treatment.

The noise made by the burglar In the
Ferguson pantry. slight as it was, dis
turbed the light sleeper Ia the bed
room not far away, and the midnight
maraudcr was surprised Il moment
later to find himself covered with n
big revolver in the hands of n deter.
mined looking man In Il long. white
robe.
IL hain't done nOthin' but cat Il few
cold vlctuals. mister" stammered the
burglar.
Il see" stcrnly replied George Fer.
guson. you have been eating the re-
mains of n strawberry shortcake my
wife made for dinner last night. Do
YOU know what I'm going to do with
yUu:"
"Tnrn me over TO the police. l
s'pOse," gaspcd the helpless thief.
Worse than that said Ferguson.
with a ferOcious grin. 'I'nl going to
make you eat Il quart of health food.
It's n new kind my wife heard OF and
fixed up for Us yesterday. and it's
pretty dry eating. but you'n eat every
particle of 1t or I'll bore six holes
through you. There IL is, In that hi.
bowl. Turn yourself loose on IT,
With grim determination the indig.
nant householder stood oven him ill It
was finished. after which lie picked
up the lucklcss scOundrel. who had
fallen exhausted to the floor, and
threw him out of the open pantry win.
dow.
1T may kill him." soliloquizcd Mr..
Ferguson somewhat remorscfully. as
he crawled back into bed. without dis.
turbing the rest of the family. but a
man who breaks into another man
house takes his life In his bands any.
woy."-ChicagO Tribune.
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06
Pccuiinrities of Some city s,rects.

pennsylvania avenue. Washington.
Is said to be the longest street In the
world. extending. as Il docs. for scv.
entcen and Onc.half miles. The
shortest street is the Rue Bile. Paris.
which In thirty feet long. Havana
has the narrOwcst street Ia tho world
in the Via Sol. which liz only three and
Il half feet wide. Main Street. Denver.
IL believed to be the highest street and
Main street. Georgetown. Dcmerara,
the lowest street. The most crowded
street is probably the Rua do Ouvidor,
in Rio de Janeiro. This narrow thor.
Oughfare is rs crowded at all times as
Nassau street In the busiest portion
of the day. and no animal Or wheeled
vehicle Is allowed to enter It.. 1t is
lined with houses painted white, blue.
pink. yellow and other colors, and
opening off the street are the shops of
the dealers In diamonds and other
precious stones, the workers In silver
and gold and the beautiful shops Of tho
feather workers, who manufacture the
most exquisite feather flowers and
fans.
For crooked streets it would be hard
to lind one to beat Pearl street. which
beginning at State street, which, prlc-
tically Is Broadway. wanders ainlless-
ly about the .ower portion OF the city.
To end again in BrOadwny.-Ncw York
Press,
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06
Advertising . .rallsr.

\ remarkable percentage mace his
appearance down In the inanc.ai dis.
trict OF New York City recently. itc
IL still going the rounds Of the town.
He IL n singularly good-looking. well
built man Of thirty. with a smoosh
wcll-shaven face ard q smiling pair
OF brown eyes. lie walks into yoUr
Office and waits for you 10 look W.
from your deck and say ''Weli.' He
smiles pie. sanity at you. and inquiries:
How DO you Ike this suit:
You look ut the su.,. .lu you per
ceive that 1t IL IN admirable specimen
OF the sartOrial art-cloth OF iinc tex.
ture. cut tip-top. fit perfect. But you
can't see the point. OF course. OF Vi.
query Of this total stranger 10 yoa.
The suits ell right" you probably
reply. But what OF IT."
Nothing. except that 1t cost me only
twenty dollars. and I had it made at
Shears" the man replies. in the most
polite sort Of way. at the same time
handing you one OF Shears buS.nt ~
cards; and then. with Il most graceful
bow. he passes out. leaving you III Il
natural state OF wonder. The scheme
is said TO have paid Shear-which. o.
course. Is not his namp--so well that
he has Quadrupled the size Of his
tailoring plant. Washington Star.
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06
Lerro.y In the United states.

Investigation has been going ON at
Washington for several months, with
a view to learning the extent OF leprosy
in dis country. 1t reveals that there
are about 90 cases in the United
States. II is thought probable that the
real number may be nearer n thou
sand. Seventy-four of the known
case are In New Orleans. chiefly
amo lg the Italian population. There
are twcnty.thrce In Minnesota, mostly
Scandinavians In the rural settle
Ments. There are fifteen cases in
North and two In South Dakota.
Chicago has i've cases end New York
six. IL Is noteworthy that nearly AIN
the reported victims e 70 DO fOr.
eigncrs. Tho ScaLdinavians seem
peculiarly susceptible. They either
had 1t when they landed IN America
or contracted it shortly afterward.
Every one of the eases in the Dakot.- {"
and Minnesota &c located in the nj
try. in localities rather remote even
from small towns. The disease seems
To be spreading most rapidly in Lnuisi-
ana, and for several years there bus
bccn ar agitation there In favor OF
efficient supervision and control OF all
leprous patients, either by tho Sta.c
VI ny ne general Government.
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06
why People Are Liable to Colds.

Besides general weakness, two
things make people liable TO colds:
One. any chrome irritation OF mucous
membranes; the o, her, lack Of tone ~
the tissues covering the body. The
latter Is the most frequent source or
colds. II people bathed ana rubbed
briskly oftncr than they DO there
would be Io need OK wearing so mucii
clothing to keep them warm. She
glow OF healthy skin circulation is
warmer and more protective than the
thickest OF WOODEN garments. u,,cli
heavy wOolcns, by Irritating the SKIN.
make the woa,cr still mere suscpp:i-
bic to cold. The skin is ktEt IN
state OF irritation that seriously inter
fevcs with the delicate mechanism W
It's blood supply. Considr: how irs;an-
taneoUs Is Il blush. and realize the
perfection OF this mechanism in
health.
The best protection against colds In
the ordinarily healthy individual Is
the daily bath IN cool. not cold. water.
followed by n brisk rubbing TINT tells
by the plcasurable glow produced how
welcome 1t Is to every little nctvr III
the skin.-New York Journal.
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06

tons. The Roman city Of Urlsonium.
Bcauijeu Abbey ana various other
ruins. Ia England have been buried
through this agency alone. The worms
find their ,'ay through cracks Ia con.
crete, disintcgrating II. and have been
known to destroy boil, bricks and
tiles. While they arc responsible for
landslidcs. they also heap ridges which
are the beginnings of lodges on the
blllsldcs.
Darwin's volume on ""rhe Forma.
ton of Vegetable Mold" is devoted to
the work and private character OF
these modest members of creation.
Any boy or girl may find II the same
facts by inducing n colony of earth.
worms 10 make u home IN u glass fruit
jar. They will plow. dig. bury and
carry to the surface any leaves, twigs
and bits of gravel given thcm.-Chi
c.,go Post.
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06
Heard I'll. Own pun~ra, Grafton,

a few weeks ago at a meeting Of The
Agricultural Society OF the Depart
mcnt Of the Pas-de-Calais, France, onc
~ the members wac astounded to hear
his own funeral Grafton pronounced by
the president.
IN. IL President he exclaimed,
starting tn his feet, Il BEG your pafd-
on, but ! think there is some mis &c.
! am the dead mani"
When the roars OF laughter TINT fol.
lowed this announcement had sub.
sided the President. with many apollo
gios, explained thrt tho mistake had
arisen through the annual report OF
their proceedings that had hecn for
wardcd so the man having. through
SOME error OF the postoticc. been re-
turned with the wcrl "Deccascd'
marked on H.
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06
Most Valuable Diamonds.

There IL no little fiction about the
famous diamonds OF tile world. and
their value Is largely fictitious. They
IRE few In number, cannot be repro
duced. are everywhere highly prizei
and can bc bought only by the very
wealthy The Prince Edward Of YorS
diamond, sale. to have been bought b.
Il New York firm Tor 100000. ~
thirteenth In the list Of large dinnoi.t!s
given me by an importer. There are 4
dozea different lists. II we may be
Heyc what, Is told with straight faces.
the largest of all the diamonds In eS-
istcnce Is the Braganza. it's weight
being no less than 1850 carats. IL
Is uncut. and it's vnlCe Is actually ret
down mt 1921 100000! 1t is now
among the crown jewels of Portugal.
II II thought that ;his diamond. which
IL the size of n hens cgg. is in realit.'
4 white topaz.-New York Press,
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06
suRleo ey TWO HUSBANDS.
iis'nsrisabie Case I'm England Recalled bs
One I'm America.

iis'ns risabie Gaze In England Recalled by
One In America.
Apropos of the rem afkablc' instance
OF conjugal devotion which has re-
Gently been displayed by Mr.. Cannon,
of Cincinnati, In bringing his wife's
body FROM America to her nnt'vc
place In this county for intermept.
says The London Globe. Il is intcrcs..
ing 10 recall n somewhat similar, but
even more romantic story which IL
recorded &C Lord Dalmeny, eldest sou
VI james, second Earl of Roscbcry.
This young nOblomaD. who died IL
1916. net in London come yeas previ-
u 10 his death Il lady with whom he
fell violently In love and whom he
persuaded ~ marry him. The mar.
rage. though concealed from the rela.
tives on both sides, proved to be an
extremely happy one. the pair living
together in the greatest harmony until
the lady was overtaken by u mortal
Illness. When assured that she was
dying she aat el for q pencil and paper
and wrote the following message: II
am the wife Of the Rev. Mr.. Cough,
rector of Thorpe. In n.ssex. My
maiden name was G. Cannon. and my
last request IL to be buried at Thorpe.
In what circumstances she had de-
serted her husband does not appear.
but Lord Dalmeny protested that lie
knew nothing of her former marriage,
and Immediately set about fulfilling
licr last wishes. He had the body en-
bnlmed and nclosed In u chest, and
then. under the assumed name OF
Williams. he brought 1t to England.
landing at Colchester. Her" the chest
was suspected by the customs house
officers of containing smuggled goods
and was opened by them. TO the great
distress Of tie bertaved husband. Who
grew almost distracted under the
darker suspicious which arose when
It's real contents were revealed.
However. after Infinite difficulty, he
succeeded In conveying the body to
Thorpe. and when 1t had been placed
In the church on an open bier. took his
seat beside Il. evidently absorbed In
grief. the scene having reminded n
%bystandcr OF Romeo and Juliet" At
length he gave II full explanation OF
the circumstances Of his marriage.
and Mr.. Cough was sent Tor to come
and identity his wife. which the latter
gentleman dill without n moments
hesitation. The meeting between the
sorrOw.strlcken young and tho indlg-
nant husband was described as a most
moving ono, but neither seemed in
clincd Ia waive his right to the other.
though of the two Lord Daimeny was
the most anxious to do honor TO the
deceased. lie had u splendid coffin
made for her. and followed her body
to Thorpe. where lie was met by Mr..
Cough. and In their presence the burial
was performed with MI due solemnity
thus probably furnishing the only in
stance on record OF q woman being
attended w her grave by two hus.
bands at the same time. immediately
after the ceremony Lord Dalmeny left
for London. apparently inconsolablc at
his lUsa. In the peeragc he is lie.
scrlbcd AS unmarried.
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06

the plaza. 100 feet ahead OF tho BAN
from Zapuri. on the first trip around
the valley.
The race went on all night. Ear into
tho afternoon they ran. but in q little
less than fourteen hours the balls l,a,,
made the prescribed number of tripa
around the valley and four ruprcrs
on u side and three on ti,e oii,er.
were coming at the ton of the,r speed
over the last three miles or grassy
lawns toward the goal. 4. lire was
drawn in the dus' across the street
at'tiic edge'of the PLAIN am the crowd
gathered back. awaiting the victors.
As they rushed toward us 81 was
impossible to say which would win.
But as one runnc from, each side
reached the balls one failed To- clicl,
the ball OF his side fairly on his foot
while going nj full speed AMI his
throw was weak: the other. catching
the ball fairly. rave q great hound
and, twisting his lcg as IL it were
an arm. hurled the ball fair and
square over the line and ove. o,,.
heads.
How the crowd yelled. and how we
yelled with them, and how the rccs-
ing visitors were praised and pettc,
as'sthcy sat down to- tiivir.c fiiei;'
winnings! Soon after n curse OF
about ten miles was laid Gut around
the town and q race wns run by ;hr
girls OF the two pueblos. Like tbe.r
brothers. they had only the blue s.;v
Owe them and about three ynrds ~
cloth and the Republic OF Me.:co
around them; bet how they did ru..
and how they set the bal splnning.
The bronze Dinrns of Gucch,rchic
@ thereby softcn.ns Tn, defeat OF
their dusky brothers.
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06

Fruit Blscuit-Mi2 together two cups
Of flour. one-thlrd t%easpoOnful OF salt,
three tablespoons of butter. creamcd.
add to flour and mix well: add one.
hale cup sugar and two-thirds cup OF
milk. with two well beaten eggs mixed
In II: add one cup of currants or
ralslns. Drop from spoon and bake
0n creased pans In good oven about
twenty-five minutes.
Banana Cream Custard One pint
Of milk. one cup sugar. 1--WE eggs.
When cold. add one pint Of crGam and
six bananas cut In slices (add u little
lemon juice, If the bananas lack
fiavor). sugar to taste. Put In n
freezer and pack with Ice and salt.
When the cream Is frozen remove
dasher. Stir well and pack down In
bottom OF can. Let 1t stand an hour
ut least, to rlpen.
Spice D~rOps-Cream one-half cup OF
butter and one cup OF molasses, one
half cup OF sweet milk, the yolks OF
three eggs and three cupfuls of flour In
which has .been ,sifted three teaspoon,
fuls OF baking powder. Add a salt
spoonful Of ground nutmeg. cloves and
cinnamon. and flavor with the grated
rlnd OF u lemon. Drop IN small .,oon-
fnls on a tin lined with buttcred u
lake IN a "quick" oven.
Berry Muffins-Mix two cups OF
sifted fl0ur. one-half teaspoon salt
and two rounded teaspoons baking
powder. Cream one-quarter cup. but.
ter with 0ne-half cup sugar, add well
beaten yOlk of egg, cup milk. the
Hour and tho white OF an egg beaten
sti6: stir In carefully one heaplng Gun
blueberries, which have been picked
over. rinsed. dried and rolled in flour,
Bake In muffin pans twenty minutes,
Tomato Ice Salad-Put a quart car
OF tomatoes In a saucepan over thu
fire with half an onion. a slice o.
green pepper. II convenient. three
cloves. two bay leaves. a sprig o,
parsley. Il teaspOonful OF sugar, ant
pepper and salt to taste. Cook unit
the onion IL tender, about ten minutes
remove from the fire, press through
q sieve fine enough to retain the seeds
When cold freeze as waterloo an,
mould. a melon mould Is very pretty
for II; pack In salt aud Ice In the usha
way; turn 1t out In n nest OF crisI
young lettuce and serve with a may
onnaise dressing In a sauccboat.
The Red Cloud chief., 1901-09-06
An Old Land Grant.

j. IL. Brakeman brought to the Jour.
nal office Il land grant to property In
what was formerly Virginia. The
decd il signed by Governor Patrick
Henry At Richmond ON the Gath day
of April, lISG, and printed on sheep
skin. The land consists Of 80 acres.
and Is now located OH Back Greek.
Garrard County, six miles from Ian
caster. Mr.. Brakeman go. the deed
from John Saunders. who lives in
GarrarJ. Mr.. Saunders married a
great-grandaughter of elijah Walker,
to whom the deed was assigned. and
who was the grandfather OF Mrs. J. II.
Brakeman. The deed is yellow with
age and the writing barely eligible
Jessamine (ky.) Journal.