davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11
HE BELIEVED HE'D REMAIN.

An absent-minded citizen had an
unfortunate experience at a Memphis
hotel, which has induced him to iOt
down a few important words for use
the next time he goes to the city.
He registered at the desk shortly
after supper, and hung about the
Office until nine O'Clock, when he re-
marked to the clerk that he believed
he would "remain.",l
every WE'LL" said the affable
clerk.
Another hour went by, and the
old man came again to the desk, and
observed with decision:
81 say, I believe I'll remain"
"Of course, by all means, if you
WISH" again replied the clerk.
AS the clock struck eleven the old
man, now so sleepy that he could
barely keep his eyes open, angrily
called out:
"By gum, I say I believe I'll re-
main ~
Certainly, so you've said" an.
swered the clerk, "and when you're
ready to retire you can find your key
at the desk"
"Retire /" yelled the farmer, jump
ing to his feet. '"That's the word
I've been trying to think of for two
hours. Gil me that key. I'll sleep
till ten o'clock to morrow to make
up for lost time !'-Ex.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11
The Home Circle.
THE OLD SWORD ON THE WALL.

Where the warm spring sunlight, streaming
Through the window, sets it's cleaning,
With a softened silver sparkle in the dim and dusky hail.
With it's tassel torn and tattered,
And it's blade deep-bruised and battered,
Like a veteran, SCARED and weary, hangs the old sword On III vail.
None can tell it's stirring story,
None an sing it's deeds n glory,
None ca say which cause it struck for, T from what limp hand Ii feu
On the battlefield they found it,
Where the dead lay thick around it,
Friend and foe-a CORY tange-tossed and torn by shot SMELL
Who, 1 wonder, vas its earer,
Was it's stricken soldier bearer?
Was he some proud Southern STRIPPING tall and straight and braveandtrueE
Dusky looks and lashes had he?
Or was he some Northern laddie,
Fresh and fair, with cheeks of roses, and with eyes and coat o. blue!
From New Engands fields of daisies,
Or from Dixes powered mazes,
Rode he proudly forth to conflict? What, l wonder, vas his name?
Did some sister, wife or mother
Mourn a husband, son II brother?
Did some sweetheart look with longing for a love who never came?
Fruitless question Fate forever
Keeps it's secret, answering never,
But the grim old blade shall blossom IN this mild Memorial Day;
Twill wreathe it's hlt with roses
For the soldier who reposes
Somewhere meath the Southern grasses in his garb of blue o. gray.
May the Flowers be fair above him,
May the bright buds bend and love him,
May his sleep be deep and dreamess till the last great bugle call;
And may North and South be nearer
To each others heart, and dearer,
For the memory of their heroes INC the colds swords o. the wall.
Joe Lincoln, IN Saturday EVening Post.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11
A YOUNG MANS PROBLEMS.
Edgecombe Co., N. G.

DEAR AUNT JENNIE How many
of our young people realize as deeply
as we should that the destiny Of the
country is in our hands? How many
of US ever stop to think that we are,
every day of our lives, whether in
the field, the workshop, or the school
room, building characters which
are soon to constitute the citizen
ship of our State and country? This
is one of the gravest thoughts I have
ever had and emphasizes the fact that
we should always be on the alert
to equip ourselves and fit ourselves
for the responsibilities soon to be
ours. Some of us exclude such
questions entirely from our minds,
saying: 600 ahead, you will do all
right after awhile. Have your fun
now" But God has so arranged
things that the best work can be
done only by thought and effort on
our part.
Let US hear from intelligent and
experienced men who read the Social
Chat upon these and other subjects.
Their advice should be of great ben
eft to the younger members.
CASTLE.
Nash 90 NJ T.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11
THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS.
Nash Co., N. G.

DEAR AUNT JENNIE One of the
most instructive of all our Lords
parallels is that of the master who
gave talents to his servants. Did
you ever study it carefully? To all
of us a kind God has given some
talents, which we are to improve to
the best of our knowledge and abil-
ity. The master in the parable gave
to one servant ten talents, to another
five, to another one. Each was re-
spOnsible only for the improvement
of his own regardless of what the
others did with theirs. Likewise
are we responsible for the talent
that has been given US. Others may
have more talents than we, but this
is no reason that we should not use
and improve ours that we may re-
ceive our reward, in the end accord
ing as our works has been. We
must not think that because others
have greater talents than we have,
that we car be excused for hiding
ours, to return them unimproved to
the Master. Whatever your talent,
in whatever line of work, use it in
the best possible way. This alone is
high and noble living.
MINNIE.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11
THE POWER WITHIN.

It is a pity that the word education
should be so used as to make il,
matter of schoo1masters and booLs
of time measured by school measure
ments. Lydia Maria Child, in s"Tbo
Mothers Books" says:
Education does not commence wifi
the alphabet. It begins with a moth
er's look, with a fathers nod of an
probation or sigh Of reproof, with
sisters gentle pressure of the hand
or a brothers noble act of forbear-
ance with handfUls of flowers in
green and daisy meadows, with
birds nests admired but not touched
with creeping ants and almost i'm.
perceptible emmets, with humming
bees and glass beehives, with pleas.
ant walks in shady lanes and with
thoughts directed, in sweet and
kindly words, to nature, to beauty,
to acts of benevolence, to deeds of all
virtue, and to the Source Of all
good-to God himself"
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11

Chat are lovers of fowersP am
and think that nothing is so attrac-
tive about a house as flowers. NO
home is complete without them
The article that appeared in The
Progressive Farmer some time ago,
entitled, "What the Plant Doctor
said," was timely, and I would Do
pleased to see more such articles
also letters about flowers from the
Chatterers who like them.
I will, with Aunt Jennie's permits
sion, call the names of a few OF
those who should favor Us with a
letter real soon: Tennessee Boy,
Eva Plamondon, Pansy, Jennie Ac-
ton, Spring Bird,-well I won't try
to name them all, for they are too
numerous. EKA'
Edgecombe Co., N. G.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11
WITHOUT AN OBJECT.

DEAR AUNT JENNIE If you will
allow me to join Social Chat, I will
offer some suggestions on the above
subject. I wish to call special ct
tention to an article in a recent issue
of The Progressive Farmer, which
was, in substance, "Have an object"
While many of the letters are good,
and contain food for thought, yet it
appears that many times the authors
write without an object. Now, would
it not be better for the editor, or
some n else, to select several sub
jects, either debatable or otherwise,
and publish them in The Progressive
Farmer each week? AS the first sub
ject was discussed, drop it, aud add
others, so as to have several on hand
all the time, so that each writer
could choose q subject and have a
definite object in his mind. I think
it would be more beneficial and in
teresting. l will not go further into
details. FREETHINKER.
Pamlico Co., N. G.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11
Our Social Chat.


AS CONTRIBUTORS to this department of
The Progressive Farmer, we have some OF the
most wide-awake and progressive young ladies
and young men and some Of the most entertain
ing writer's among the older people Of this ana
other States, the ages of the members ranging
from sixteen to more thOn sixty.
o ARE REQUESTED to join by send1ng
us a letter on some subject of general interest,",
and writing thereafter as often as possible.
WHEN WRITING, give full name and posi-
office address for Aunt Jennie's Information.
If you do not wish your real name to appear
in print, give name by which you wish TO De
known as a Chatterer.
TWO WEEKS OR MORE must, as a rule,
elapse between the time a letter is written and
the date of it's publication.
ADDRESS all letters to Aunt Jennie, care OF
The Progressive Farmer. Raleigh. N. Q.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11

like borax and benzoic acid. u.
says the first mentioned class sbon ~
be prescribed. The figures he nv
duces are startling, showing that -,
every case as much of the hDrtt11
drug is used in preparing a pound -
meat or a quart of liquid as is nv
scribed as a regular dose for ~
adult and in many cases seven tirona
the ordinary dose.-E. q. s., Wash
ington, D. G.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11

or base ones, then it is of impor-
tance for US to know something
about good art and bad art, and
also important for US to realize that
all art including music, the drama,
pictures, statuary and architecture,
is a matter for the concern of serious
men and women.
Bad art may be defined as follows :
First, all novels, poems, paintings
and decorations, interior and exte-
rior, which ignore what is real and
lead US to seek our love for the beau
tiful in the realm of the ideal-in
things, in persons, in scenes and in
circumstances that never existed
except in the imagination of crack
brains, who like the witches of
Macbeth, seek only to stir up hell
broth. Whoever leads us to dwell
always in the realms of unreality
and idealism causes US at the same
moment to lose interest in the things
that are-in the real work of God,
in real men and women, in real land
scapes, animals and flowers. Such
art makes Us all thoroughly pessimis-
tic and dissatisfied with the common
place lei and things of life, and
thoroughly Indifferent to and ig-
nOrant of them. The employment
of the imagination in the creation of
ideals is a proper function of an ar
fist when it takes for it's subjects
persons and objects that are true to
life and to nature for instance,
such as Shakespeare and Hugo take
in literature, or as Turner and Mil
let take in painting. In the realm
of truth there are infinite and mex
haustible themes for all artists who
have any serious purpose In life
All good art intensifes our interest
in things as they are. CRuskin's
Modern Painters, vol. l, D. 81.
Socialists, dream away life and feed
upon unreality. They are so alb.
sorbed in some impossible picture of
the future that they lose the faculty
OF seeing any good in either the past
or the present. All paintings not
from nature, and all decorations.
such as zig-zag wall paper and geo.
metrically designed carpets, have a
similarly bad effect in p~erverting
our tsste, depressing our spirits, and
deadening our sensibilities to what
is real. Only people who are thor
oughly acquainted with the present,
and who can see a great amount of
good In living men and women, and
living institutions are capable of
leading US through the realms of art.
~to'better things in the future.
In the second place, all art is bad
which sacrifices truth for beauty.
Mere love for what is beautiful in
color and form is not only no ii
dence of susceptibility to art, but is
Il positive demonstration that we
have no idea what art is. Butter.
flies, chickens, snakes and lizards
have a love for this sort of art, and
they know well enough what is pref,
ty and what is not. In the processes
of natural section all animals are
more or less influenced by beauty of
form and color. Everything beau.
tiful in color or form or in poetic il.
fusion should be associated with the
transmission of some eIevatine
thought r feeling. There is no GOOD
art aside from good ideas or pure
emotions. Most people of modern
times have come to regard love o.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11
PRESIDENTIAL LOVE AFFAIRS.

One married abroad.
One married a divorced woman.
Cleveland was oldest married
at 40!
Three presidents were twice mar,
ried.
Four married olergymen's daugh.
ters.
Three became engaged while at
school.
Johnson was married at 10.
Mrs. Cleveland was the only White
House bride.
Tyler's wife was 35 years younger
than himself.
Dolly Madison was the youngest
presidential wife.-Ex.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11
WHAT PAT DID WHEN THE WELL
FELL IN.

An Irishman took a contract to
dig a we'll. When he had dug about
twenty-five feet down he came one
morning and found that it had fallen
in and that it was filed nearly to the
top.
Pat looked cautiously around and
saw that no person was near, then
took off his hat and coat and hung
them on a windlass, crawled lnto
some bushes and awaited events.
In a short time the neighbors dis
covered that the we'll had fallen II
and, seeing Pats coat and hat on tn0
windlass, they supposed that he was
at the bottom of the excavation.
Only a few hours of brisk digging
cleared the loose earth from the
we'll. just as the excavators hao
reached the bottom and were VOL
dering where the body was, Pat came
out of the bushes and good, naturedy
thanked the diggers for relieving
him of a sorry JOB. Some of the dS.
gers were Disguised, but the JoA0
was too good to allow of anybnlNS
more than a laugh, which followed
prOmptly.-Selected.
It is the mind that maketh goo"
or, ill, that maketh wretOhednesS u
-
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11
ART IN THE SOUTH.

Many Southerners hold that art
belongs to a class of things having
no serious value and being suitable
only for the idle Drained and frivO-
lOus. Men are not unoOmmOnly
found who will admit with an air of
pride that they know nothing about
art and care nothing about it.
Again, men of the most serious and
profound minds ask themselves this
question, Will our people gain or
lose by taking on the so-called cul-
ture and glitter of modern civiliza-
ton? There is something, they
say, about an agricultural life that
make for independence and man
hood. Family life is we'll knit, wo-
men are v~irtuous, and children are
trined TO work and obey. Life is
simple and character is solid. We
had better leave this condition undis-
turbed unless we are sure of some
thing better to take it's place.
In answer, the writer lays down
this proposition as indisputable, that
a people who cultivate all of their
talents, learn to trade, manufacture,
navigate, explore, build, paint, sculp-
ture, write poems, compose music
and direct affairs of State, are more
entitled to the respect of mankind
than people who live a sluggish life,
satisfied with three meals a day and
a soft place to sleep. Neither ma
tions nor individuals are deserving
of respect unless the talents and
faculties, with which they r en-
dOwed, are developed and made
useful. If the people of the South
can put to use all of their talents
and learn to do something else than
farm, they are deserving of reproach
if they do not. 1t is not a sufficient
excuse for folding our talents in a
napkin to say that we are afraid of
spending our income in dissipation.
1t is not at all necessary for US to
take on the vices and false idealism
of modern life in order to develop
into a people of general culture, and
this is the very point that is sought
to be made clear in this article.
What is art? Taking the defni-
ton of TolstOi, art is the medium OF
communicating feelings from one in
1=.g- -. ,-0Lhnr md tho nn1U
medium of such communication.
There are many different methods or
instruments by which what n per
son feels may be transmitted to
another. 1t may be done by the
voice, by conversation or song, by a
sermon, a, lecture, a drama or by
printed words, magazines or newspa-
pers, or by architecture, sculpture
and monuments, Or by the paint
brush and and a piece of canvas.
All these different methods are chan
nels for the transmission of feeling.
(TolstOi's What is Art, p. 46.) All
feeling being imported through the
H1CuLUOA VI Ill g 10 ID VI ZIG ALSG ILL
pOrtaLCe that people know the diff
renCe between good art and bad.
Every piece of art embOdies an in
vidual, and exerts an influence for
good Or evil upon all who gaze upon
it, hear it or read it. Association
with bad pieces of art is just as cor
rupting as association with bad men
and women, and in fact is the same
thing.
If it is of any Importance whether
people are infected with good idea!
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11

It is the mind that maketh goo"
or, i'll, that maketh Indebtedness -
happiness, rich or poor.-Spenser'
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-14
"You don't believe that"

Here, you're playing fair. Keep that,
will you. II die, it's yourn to get
rich on"
He did die suddenly the next night.
They aroused the doctor and he
reached "Dominant's' bedside just in
time to receive feeble hand pressure
or two, and the man was gone. 1t
cost DR.. Hastings some authority and
some money to keep his promises. He
buried the pauper in a cheap cemetery
and stood moment beside his grave
as the clods were thrown in. Then he
went home to examine the oilskin
pouch and to wonder at his own folly.
1t contained bit or two of yellow
paper; map, apparently of the west
coast of Florida. with one island of a
group of three marked in red ink. 1t
also contained letter from one Jules
Shoral to Pierre Restieaux, telling OF
the wealth of Black Caesar, negro
pirate. This treasure was buried on
the island marked red on the map.
DR.. Hastings was a cool-headed
young man, but his heart leaped. II
the improbable could come true. he
might yet aspire to the hand of Flora
Mcdonald. Only yesterday he had
spoken to her for few brief moments.
I'VE go to Florida next month" she
said, Il wish / could see you there"
Black Caesars treasure came into
B his mind.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-14
WOMAN Is A PuzzI.

u can readily understand" said the
Casual Caller, why a physician who
makes a specially of attending women
feels that he is entitled to demand ex-
ceptlonal!S large fees. The nervous
strsir he undergoes is simply terrific.
ttAs tte Is one constant series of sur
pri9s, and he never knows just what
| he flll find a patient doing the next
tire he calls.
] when man is sick there is some
Ming tangible the matter with him,
and When he is ordered to bed there is
reasonable certainty that the doctor
Will find him there when he comes to
take his temperature and look wise.
But with a woman it is different.
He is called to see her in the morning
and he finds her a nervous wreck She
has splitting headache and a fever
and her bones ache. He tells her she
is threatened with pneumonia or some
other old thing, gives her some medi-
cine and says he will call the next day.
Then perhaps he gets worried and
drops in again later in the same day,
only to find her out in the kitchen put
ting up preserves. You never can tell
about a woman. She may have ner-
vous prostration in the morning and
be acting as general superintendent OF
church sociable in the afternoon.
Il have left my wife in such a condi-
ton sometimes that have worried
about her all day, and then come home
to find that she had gone to the matt
nee. l knew another woman in town
about fifty or 100 miles from Chicago
who would have the doctor in twice a
day for three or four days, and when
he called on the fourth or fifth day he
would find that she had got up that
morning and gone to Chicago for a
two days shopping excursion that
would be enough to tire out horse.
When she returned she would go to
bed again and send for the doctor.
That's the way it goes all the time
"A sick man is at least halfway re-
liable, you can't tell anything about
sick woman, and the man who makes
a specially of looking after the health
of women is justified in charging a
good, big sum for the jars she is con-
stantly giving his professional self
esteem. Chicago Post.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-14
come back" said Cutter on the fourth

come back" said Cutter on the fourth
| day.
At the hotel DR.. Hastings found
Flora Mcdonald with her mother. He
had long talk with her. He told her
OF the quest, showed her the map and
his dilemma
1T is my wild and foolish hope OF
winning you," he whispered.
After time she asked him If 1t
could be arranged that a yachting
party would go down the coast, she to
be chaperoned by a young married
woman who was a distant relative OF
the Cutters.
ut may be nonsense" she said
softly, but we were all hypnotized last
winter at her house, and found a
handkerchief that was hidden. They
say i am good subject"
Cutter was called in and entered into
the conspiracy to carry few tried and
true souls on the cruise. Mrs. Nc
Donald was averse to Flora's trip, but
finally gave her consent.
The third day out found them among
the islands. DR.. Hastings was to hpno-
tie Flora and suggest to her search
for the treasure. The rest of the party
thought it but a huge joke and jest.
They gathered in the cabin to witness
the test.
The young girl readily sunk into
the hypnotic state under the doctors
passes.
There is treasure buried on one Of
these islands," suggested the doctor,
his voice trembling in spite of'himself.
"A black man, some black sailors,
buried it. Can you find it?"
In little time, Flora said in faint
voice:
II see it. 1t is buried Deep But
you have made a mistake. You are
not near it."
This produced visible excitement.
His island was one of three. Two
are now submerged reefs. All vessels
avoid them. See the scarlet buoy for
danger! 1t floats in a line with the
middle isle. IT'S but rock point"
Where is it," asked the doctor.
ITO the northward. We passed it
yesterday. The box is broken. the
coin is scattered in the rock crevices
There have been shocks, earthquakes,
what not? You will find it. Yes, see
you with the broken box lid"
The guests were disappointed at the
girls restoration.
Glow real it was!" they exclaimed.
Positively theatrical. One would
think there was actually buried treas
ure about. What a wonderful power
of suggestion you have, Dr. Hastings!"
The yacht made fast run to the
hotel. The guests had delightful
trip.
They would have been amazed on
the next Sunday morning could they
have seen two wet and grimy men
working on rocky islet a hundred
miles away. They brought up old gold
coins by the bucket-full and set steam
straight for port where they could
bank gold coin safely.
That night old Mcdonald received
telegram:
"A cool four hundred thousand dol
lars left me. Am still sutton for Miss
Flora Mcdonald. Address me at Tam
pa Bay Hotel at once.
"Francis Hastings