davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
MAGNETISM OF MISERY.
Men Haunt Scenes That Revive Mem.
cries of Pain.

Every storm, earthquake or disaster
Of any kind brings out curious phase
Of human nature. Many Of those who
have seen their houses destroyed or
their nearest relatives killed return
as soon as possible to the scenes of dev-
astation In some instances this Is ex-
planned by the fact that there are more
opportunities Of earning n livelihood
among old neighbOrs than among new
surroundings. In numerous cases, how
ever, no such business reason operates
as an inducement The magnet Is SEN
timent, not money. AS some mourners
devote every holiday to visiting graves,
so large fraction Of the homeless and
bereaved go back to spend the remain
der of their days in the scenes that re-
call calamity and gloom.
It was so after the great London fire,
It was so after the Lisbon earthquake,
1t was so after the yellow fever swept
Philadelphia. and in more recent years
the Chicago fire, the Mississippi floods,
Charleston, Johnstown and other ca
tastrophes confirm the old experience.
Apparently the desire to gain new
pleasures is no more keen than the
wish to revive the memory of old pain.
Our last storm destroyed much proper
ty and many lives, but we will see
people choosing homes in sight OF the
telegraph pole from which the fatal
live wire danglcd or the flooded stream
in which the only son was drowned
Philadelphia Ledger.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
Used In BOokbfndinR.

It seems somewhat surprising
statement to make that eggs, condensed
milk, olive oil and vinegar are all used
in the binding Of books. Yet such is
the case. The white Of egg is used fol
Sizing" to cause the delicate orna
mental gold leaf to adhere to the
leather. To make the Sizing" perform
its adhesive work even more delicately
a little milk is added, and to help fur
ther in the important work Of adhe
sion, q coating of olive oil or diluted
vinegar is sometimes applied to th'
leather. Wise old bookbinders have
been seen to use the light froth Of als
as coating over binding Of silk. The
froth holds the gold leaf with perfect
success and does not stain the Silk
Many of the old expert bookbinders
have little secret methods of their OWL
by which to produce peculiarly fine re-
suits, and these secrets they guard a'
jealously as the housewife does her IN
vOrite family recipes. - Pearson
Weekly.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
ADVISING AN ARTIST.
The Novel suggestion Tint "as
Contributed by Uncle SiIas.

Contributed by Uncle Silas.
Uncle Silas Eastman ard his wife
took summer boardcrs. One year they
had q number Of artists. who We're at
tracted by the picturesque loneliness
Of the Eastman farm, and Uncle Silas
never hesitated 10 say afterward that
artists were beyond him.
"They make no trouble about their
eating" he said to a friend when at
last the boarders had taken their way
to fresh fields. you couldn't call 'em
prompt, but then they never minded
whether things were hot or cool. Least
ways they never found any fault.
But they've got curious lotions and
mighty little faculty and common
sense. One of 'em was to work on
sunset piece all the time he was here.
I went out one evening and asked him
how he was getting on, and he says:
"'Oh, Uncle Silas, the light changes
so fast. and the effect is so hard to get,
and there's only one night more
"He was nice little fellow, and l
felt sorry for him, so l says: well, why
in tunket haven't the rest of 'em took
hold with We and helped ye out? There's
room enough on that canvas for all
four OF We to be working together! l
bet ye never thought of asking en-
now did ye?' says.
"And do ye believe me, I'm as sure as
I'm standing here In my overshoes
from the blank look that spread over
his face that the idea had never come
into his poor, foolish head till l put II
there.
They've got their place, artists have,
but there'd ought to be q gardeen
pointed over every one Of 'em that l
ever saw! Yes, sir!-Youths Com
panion.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
OF Age.

Some few days ago policeman was
sent to serve summons on notorious
poacher. This person, who lived alone
and had evaded service successfully
for some time, was the owner OF
male goat. Ny friend, whom l VIII
call Mac, went to the defendants
house, but the willy poacher, observ'
Ing his approach, had fed, leaving the
door unfastened. Mac saw the goat
tied up in q corner, entered and SOL
emnly read the summons to him, arter
which he stuck the copy on his horns.
He then went home and Endorsed tho
paper thus:
"Served by leaving a copy or THIS
summons in defendants residence az
-, with an inmate" etc.
When proving service, Mac was
asked by the magistrate:
"Was the inmate Of age"
"Your worship" said my friend, lay
ing his hand on the middle button OF
his tunic, "he had beard down TO
that."-London Tit-Bits.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
Some Historical Window.

In history and literature the window
holds conspicuous place. There is the
window in Leven Castle tower through
which the wistful eyes Of Mary, queen
of Scots, strained their gaze across the
lonely lake; there is the window In
Greenwich palace from which Eliza,
both waved her farewells to her brave
seamen as they set forth in their tiny
"cockboats" to seek a westward path
to far Cathay.
There is the window in the tower
through which the aged Laud stretched
his hands in benediction as STAFFORD
passed onward to his death; there is
the window '"in Carlsbrook's narrow
case" which baffled the unfortunate
Charles in his attempt to escape; there
is the window in the Louvre from
which that other and guiltier Charles
witnessed the massacre of st. Barthol'
omew.
Then there is the window in the mar
row Linlithgow street from which
Bothwellnaugh shot ''the good Ear
of Murray" and the window in the
High street of Edinburgh whence Ar
gyll watched the chivalrous Montrose
borne onward to his scaffold, with
never q thought or forecast Of what
his own fate would be.-London
Standard.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15

Waiting at blacksmith shop yester-
day for my horses to be shod l heard a
man talking down the Guernseys at a
great rate. He did not think much of
them. They have nothing to them, and
so on at considerable length. And all
in the face of the fine record made by
the cows on exhibition at Buffalo last
year, too. The fact is, mans pref
udice goes great way in this as in
other matters. The cows We like best
are the cows we should keep. Holstein,
Guernsey, Durham-whatever may be
the name or the nature-that is the stock
for us. We will take better care of them,
feed them better, pet them more-and,
by the way, that counts for more than
the most of us are willing to admit-and
so will get better returns from t hem
than any other breed.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
Art of Pnper Making.

In the matter of making and using
paper we are not in line with the Chi
nese and other Asiatics, who not only
make the finest paper in the world, but
amply it to all sorts of uses. making
window panes, fans. umbrellas. sandals
and even cloaks and other garments
Of 1t.
The art of making paper from mul-
berry bast is said to have been invented
In China in the second century Is. {.
Afterward bamboo shoots, straw, grass
and other materials were also used
The manufacture spread to the ada
cent countries.
The Arabs learned 1t in Samarkand
and their learned men carefully kept
secret the process by which they made
paper for their own use. The cruSades
made Europe acquainted with the art
and the first paper mill in Germany
dates from the twelfth century.
To this day the process of paper max
ing In the east is simple and apparent
ly crude. the flbers being torn apart
with the fingers and the pulp pressed
in primitive contrivance.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
What BOrax Ii.

One Of the most desirable articles In
the laundry or the washroom and val.
liable in many purposes connected with
the household economy as well as In
scientific use Is the simple salt known
to every one under the name Of borax,
but probably not much known as to Its
constituent elements or its nature by
most of those who use 1t more or less
frequently. Biborate Of sodium, to use
its chemical name, first comes as nat.
ural product from Tibet by way OF
India under the name Of tincal, the
salt being covered with green crust
of soapy nature which requires re-
moyal before the borax is available
for use.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
NUMBER 2s.
THE BOW.
Lasting superstitfons That Hang
| AbOut the Arch of Promise,

About the Arch of Promise.
Rainbow gold" used to be the warp
and wool Of many a childish dream.
The pot of treasure buried where the
end of the bow touches the ground"
has been searched for by trusting chill.
dren again and again. The present
generation Of childhood is so blase,
however, that such gentle fantasies are
apt to be received with scorn.
There are many lasting superstitions
connected with the arch Of promise,
however. In many countries the rain
bow is spoken Of as being a great bent
pump or siphon tube, drawing water
from the sea by mechanical means.
In parts of Russia, in the Don coun-
try and also in Moscow and vicinity.
the rainbow is known by word which
is equivalent to "the bent water pipe"
In nearly all Slavonic dialects 1t is
known by terms signifying "the cloud
siphon," and in Hungary 1t is "the
pump" "Noah's pump" or Gods
pump"
In the province Of Charkov, Russia,
the rainbow is said to drain the wells,
and to prevent this many are provided
with heavy, tight fitting stone plat.
forms. In the province Of Saratov the
bow is said to be under the control Of
three angels, one Of whom pumps the
water, the second feeds" the clouds,
and the third sends the rain.
The Malayan natives call 1t by the
same name that they do the banded
water cobra, only that they add "boba,"
meaning double headed, the equivalent
in English being ''the double headed
water snake"
The Turkish children are told that
IL they can touch the rainbow they will
ut once have silver heads, eyes Of ruby
and teeth of gold. In Greece they say
that the person so unfortunate as to
stumble over the end Of the rainbow
will have his or her sex changed In.
stantly.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15

Three million acres less of land devot-
ed to agriculture in England now than
there was quarter of century ago, fifty
thousand less cattle than there were "A
year ago, and falling off of two and a
half per cent in the number of sheep in
the last twelve months. These are the
figures which must worry our friends
across the water. But is not here the
opportunity of the farmer of the United
States? Aud we should be quick t.
seize it. 1t is nothing to be ashamed oi
if we are raw material producing
country, as some say We are, speakint
with something of sting in the words
We are all the time gaining better hole
upon the manufactures of the world. Ii
the mean time, let us put our beef and ou
grain and our fruits into every spot ant
place that is left vacant anywhere. Thu
is business, and it is business that will
pay.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
How Wars Begin.

"Papa, how do nations get into war
with each other?" asked Tommy Sea-
sonby.
sometimes one way, sometimes an
other" said the father. "Now, there are
Germany and Spain; they came nea.
getting into war because Spanish
mob took down the German flag"
mo, my dear" put in Mrs. Seasonby;
"that wasn't the reason"
But, my darling" said Mr.. s., don't
you suppose l know? You are mis-
taken. That was the reason"
mo, dearie, you are mistaken. II
was because the Germans
"Alrs. Seasonby, say 1t was be-
cause
"Peleg, you know better. You are
only trying to-
MADAM, don't understand that
your opinion was asked in this matter
anyway"
"Well, don't want my boy instruct
ed by an old ignoramus."
"See here, you impudent"-
"Put down your cane, you old brute
Don't you dare bristle up to me or Ill
send this rolling pin at your head, you
old"-
"Never mind" interrupted Tommy
81 think / know how wars Begin
London Answers.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15

Can man be too lavish in his ex.
penditures for farm machinery? This
is the day of the mower, the reaper and
the horse and the steam machine on the
farm. So many of us find it difficult tt
get reliable hands to do our work thai
we feel compelled to buy machinery t.
just the greatest extent possible. Prob
ably not many of us make the mistake
of spending more than We should in thai
way, but now and then possibly one
does invest more in given year then he
can well afford. The better way would
be to set apart some definite sum eacl
year and not go beyond that figure. A
few new tools every year will soon equiv
the best farms with machinery enough
for all practical purposes. 1t is tint
thing to know when to say"No" to tn,
persistent statesmen of the various agri
cultural manufactures which worry III
so much.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
Editorial PIeasantries.

Two editors quarreled, and one re
ferred to the others early career in his
paper.
"As for our contemporary" he wrote
"what can we expect from man who
was five years ago hawking from door
to door with donkey, and an i'll condi
toned beast ut that!'
His rival did not deny it, but in his
next issue appeared the following:
"Our contemporary says that hvt
years ago we were hawking from dool
to door with donkey, and an Ill condi
toned beast at that He is quite right
We were so occupied. But we are sur
prised to find the donkey has such q
good memory"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
A Hatching EGG.

"An egg in the process OF hatchlhG'
saws an expert, 'is remarkably senil'
tive to vibration. Half the failures
that amateurs encounter in Matching
out chicks by the incubator method
are due to lack Of precaution in pro
viding against the effect OF vibration
on the eggs. The rumble OF train OF
the passage of a wagon along the
street will spoil whole incubator full
of eggs if the faintest vibratory wave
reaches the apparatus. Even such a
little thing as the banging OF door
in some other part of the house will
destroy the chances Of Matching out n
brood where care has not been taken
to place the incubator Beyond the
reach of such disturbances. y thunder
storm always gives breeders scare
as thousands of eggs may be spoiled
by n sudden heavy thunderclap. Ic
sneeZe or cough in the vicinity of the
incubators will sometimes work Il dis
astrous result."-New York Tribune.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15

| should change, ito refuse your very
| kind Offer for reasons which l cannot
explain, and to return you the books" F"
She thrust score and libretto into his
hands, He stared at her astonished.
"Why, Miss Clara" he exclaimed,
"you will at least take till tomorrow to
think it over. You will at least try
the score. You cannot refuse me
surely YOU
NO" she said firmly, for she would
have no more words with this man
than she could help. 81 am sorry II l
disappointed you-sorry if gave you
to understand this is final, and l
must go! There is my CALL" she added
hastily as she heard the song out on
the stage drawing to an end. Then she
ran out and stood for an instant in the
wings.
Il may repent it afterward," she said
to herself, but won't If l can help
it. 1t was real nice Of him sending
me those flowers. 1 am glad, though,
that he'll never know how much they
happened to mean to me. He'd think
it was too silly! shan't dare to look
at him again"
The star brushed past her with a
kind jest and a laugh, and she went
on. crying to meet Strephon in blue
satin, who vainly endeavored to wipe
away her tears. She was too much
occupied with her business to have a
fair look at the front seats. After a
few explanatory sobS on her part
Strephon, with histrionic intuition,
seemed to grasp the situation. and
they advanced to the footlights to-
gether. joining in duet. The air was
familiar to every street boy now, and
unless she gave it her entire attention
each person in the audience would
think that he had heard it better done.
She dared not glance even once to the
spot toward which she was half un-
consciously acting all the time, but
when she ran out for the last time she
thought that a certain lifting of her
eyelashes and saucy shrug of one
shoulder just as she kissed her hand in
that same direction would be accepted
as reparation for her apparently cold
treatment. She almost fancied CLEAN
of gratitude as warm as her own COM
ing toward her from the golden haze
of the footlights on the end.
That seat, had she but seen 1t, was
empty. 1t had been empty since the
first scene. The man in box of the
upper tier scarcely remembered that
he knew one of the girls on the cast.
He was engrossed for the present in
quite a different sort of young wom-
an-the one for whom he had brought
some flowers and whom he had been
able to find only after the second act
She was sitting a little behind the rest
of her party, and as he leaned over
her chair she bent her head back until
1t almost touched his arm and laughed
softly into his eyes at something he
had said. There was charming un-
derstanding between them. They had
both forgotten that there was any one
on the stage.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
FOR SALE! !
A RARE CHANCE FOR SOMEONE.
NOTICE OF SALE.

Pursuant to "a license from the Hon. Judge OF
Probate, for the County of oxford, shall sell al
public auction, on Saturday, the second day OF
August A ID. 1902, at ten O'Clock In the fore
nOOn at the house on the first described parcel
all the right title and interest VIII ch Mary ID
Merrill, late OF Denmark. In said County, de.
ceased, had In and TO the following described
real estate viz: certain parcel of land IN saii
Denmark with the buildings thereon, lying on
the southwest side of the road leading from Den
mark to Fryeburg and ON the easterly side OF the
old river road, so called. containing sixty acres
more or less and the same conyeyeh To the SAID
Mary ID. Merrill by samuel +. Gilman by deed
dated July 18th, A. ID. lS9s. and recorded In
oxford Western District Registry OF Deeds
book 20. page 272.
Also another certain parcel OF land In said
Denmark containing sixty acres, more or less
lying on the opposite size OF said river road from
the above parcel, and being the same conveyed
tn the said Mary ID. Merrill by ;. Ernest Gilman
by deed dated october 8. A. ID. ls94, and re-
corded in said Registry. book -, page ll5.
Dated this twenty third day Of June, A. ID
1892.
EDWARD C. WALKER.
Administrator with the will annexed.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
A Really Poor Author.

When DR.. Johnson was resident oil
Grub street, he made the acquaintance
of poet named Samuel Boyse, whose
poem on the Deity and other works
had earned him high praise. Boyse
could not 90 abroad to seek work be
cause his clothes were in pawn, so ne
lay abed with his arms thrust through
two holes in the insective blanket
which was the only covering, writing
and starving. Johnson raised enough
money to get his clothes for him, but
two days later Boyse was in bed again
eating stew of beef and mushrooms
purchased by the repawning of his suit
II might as well eat while may" he
said, for l must some day starve
whether | will or not"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
HAYlNG.

The season for haying is close at hand.
While there has been too much rain and
too little warm weather for the greatest
growth of grass, yet on the whole there
is fairly good stand of this greatest of
all Maine crops now awaiting the hay
makers. In discussion on the proper
time to cut grass, listened to a few days
ago, all the farmers were agreed that
the proper time to harvest this crop was
at the blossom stage or Immediately
following it, and before the seed has
formed. No doubt when the character,
kind and quantity of the food nutrients
contained in the hay are taken into ac-
count this conclusion of the farmers is
correct. In fact, the combined judg-
ment of intelligent farmers on matters
of practice in this and other directions
will generally be found the best known up
to date.
If the limited time named is the best
for securing the hay crop, then the effort
should be TO secure it in the shortest
time possible. 1t is not that we should
begin the cutting earlier, but that it
should be done more quickly.
In the same discussion it came out
that the earlier cut hay and the later
each had its most profitable place for
use. The earlier was best for COWS in
milk and for growing calves and lambs,
while the later cut was better material
for feeding horses and working teams.
This gives chance for selection of hay
best suited to the purpose wanted, and
should be borne in mind when storing
in the barn, that each kind may be avail
able when wanted for its special use.
There is no doubt but that fodder
plants, grass and clover with the rest,
contain their greatest content OF nutrition
at the time of the completion of their
growth. White there has been found a
further increase in total nutrients from
allowing the crop to stand uncut until a
somewhat later time, yet without doubt
that increase comes from an additional
growth of grass, rather than an increase
in the contents of that grass whose
growth was alreay completed.
Grass cut before the growth is COM
pleted feeders say ''does not spend we'll"
That is, it contains less of nutritive ma
terial than that left to complete its
growth. Thus the conclusions of feed
ers and scientific Investigations agree in
the conclusion that the time to harvest
the grass is at and Immediately follow
ing the blossom stage.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
A Turkish Custom.

Upon the graves Of the dead IN the
Turkish cemeteries little vessels OF wa
ter are placed for the benefit OF the
birds, and some Of the marble tomDs
have basins chiseled out for the same
purpose. the superstition being that
birds carry messages about the living
to the dead and. like everything else IL
Turkey, are suspected Of being spitefu
unless something Is done to curry theil
Pavor
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
NotOriety Seekers.

Mrs. Greene-Aliss Black and thai
Brown girl made themselves ridicu
lously prominent at the musical las
night. 1t was positively scandalous!
Mrs. White-For mercy's sake! VIVA
did they do?
Mrs. Greene-Do? They just sa
there all the evening listening to th'
music and never passed a word he
tween them.-Boston' Transcript.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15

The farmer seems to be the last of all
to get any benefit from the rise in the
price of beef. 1t is interesting some
times, and would be more so if it were
not so provoking, to note the rapidit!
with which an animal sold for beef will
advance in value between the farm and
the butcher shop. But at present prices
there is money to the Eastern farmer in
raising cattle for beef. Even if he does
not make it speciality, if he has now
and then steer or dry cow to turn Oh
it will add to his exchequer, and at the
same time keep the farm in good con
| ditioD
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15
The Word lawful"

In Mrs. Oliphant's Life Of Principal
Tulloch" of st. Andrews we find DR..
Tulloch speaking Of some one as IAN
awful Tory" Mrs. Oliphant says in a
footnote:
LEST the principal should be accused
of slang, may say that the adjective
is strictly Scotch and had been en-
ployed for generations by Il people
fond of strong speaking before II
crossed the border and gave to the
youth of England freshly energetic
II inelegant word"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-07-15

A good many farmers of late years
have been setting away the old wood
stove and burning coal. If the price OF
black diamonds keeps on increasing,
however, they will 60 back to the wood
nile for their fuel. There is no heat IN
the world more calculated to promote
comfort than a good, old fashioned wood
fire.