davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

OF Europe. there was heather festival
on the same day, but it does not appear
to have been connected with flowers. 1t
was called Beltem, and found expression
in the kindling of fires on hill-tops by
night.
Among the peasantry of Ireland, of the
isle OF Man, and of the Scottish High
lands, such doings were kept up till with
in the recollection of persons now living
In England. whence the old colonial
observances of this country were derived,
one must go back several generations to
find the customs of May-day in their full
est development. In the sixteenth CEN
fury II was still customary for the middle
and humber classes TO go forth at an
early hour of the morning, in order to
gather flowers and hawthorn branches,
which they brought home about sunrise,
with accomplishments Of the horn and
tabor, and all possible signs of Joy and
merriment. With these spoils they would
decorate every door and window in The
village. BY natural transition OF Ideas
they gave to the hawthorn bloom the
name of the May; they called this cere-
mony the bringing home the May" they
spoke OF the expedition to the woods as
going a-Maying." The fairest maid Of
the village was crowned with flowers, as
the Queen OF the May the lads and
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

lasses met. danced, and sang together,
with a freedom which may be consid cred
as bespeaking pastoral innocence and sim
plicity. In a somewhat earlier age ladies
and gentlemen were accustomed to ion
In the Maying festivities. Even the king
occasion with their subjects. In Chaucer's
Court of Love" we read that early on
May Day, Forth goeth all the court
both most and least, to fetch the flowers
fresh" And it is known as one illustra-
tive fact that In the reign of Henry VIII
the heads of the corporation OF London
went out into the high grounds Of Kent
to gather the May. the King and his
Queen, Catherine OF Arragon, coming
from their pa ce of Greenwich, and
meeting these respected dignitaries on
Shooters Hill. Such festal dcings can
not be looked back upon without a re-
gret that they are no more. They give
one the notion that our ancestors, while
wanting many advantages which an ad-
vanced civilization has given to us, were
freer from monotonous drudgeries and
more open to pleasurable impressions
from outward nature. They seem some
how to have been more ready than we TO
allow themselves to be happy, and to have
often been merrier upon little than we
can be upon much
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

as the peasantry have become expensive
and artificial in their pleasures and leo
knowing for simple enjoyment. Some at
tempts. indeed have been made of late
years by men of both taste and learning
to rally back the popular feeling to these
standards of primitive simplicity. but the
time has gone blythe feeling has become
chilled by habits of gain and trafic-the
country apes the manners and amusements
Of the town. and little is heard of May
day at present except from the lamenta-
tions of authors. who sigh after it from
among the brick walls of the city.
The custom OF having a queen of the
May, which still survives in France. looks
like relic of the heather celebration Of
the day; this flower crowned maid ap-
pears rs living representative OF the
goddess Flora. whom the Romans wor-
SHIPPED on this day. The May queen is
aloof from the revels of her subjects
While still the custom was, in England
and this country, she was placed in a sort
of bower or arSer near the Maypole, there
to sit in pretty state. an object OF admir-
alton to the whole village. She herself
was half covered with flowers, and her
shrine was wholly composed of them. 1t
must have been rather dull office. but
doubtless, to the female heart, lad its
compensations.
The Washington times., 1902-04-20
Egg LAYING.

| the picturesque old bridge that stretches
across the river from the quaint little
city of Chester. l had already been car
ried back into former days by the an
tiquities of that venerable place, the ex-
animation of which is equal to turning
over the pages of a black-letter volume,
or gazing on the pictures of Froissant.
The Maypole on the margin of that po-
etic stream completed the illusion. My
fancy adorned it with wreaths of flowers,
and peopled the green bank with all the
dancing revelry of May day. The mere
sight of this Maypole gave a glow to my
feelings, and spread a charm over the
country for the rest of the day. and as
traversed a part of the fair plains of
Cheshire, and the beautiful borders of
Wales, and looked from among swelling
hills down long green valley, through
which the Deva wound its wizard
stream, my Imagination turned all into
a perfect Arcadia. l value every custom
that tends to infuse poetical feeling into
the common people, and to sweetcn and
soften the rudeness of rustic manners,
without destroying their simplicity
Indeed, il is to the decline Of this happy
that the decline of this custom
may be traced. and the rural dance on the
green and the homely May day pageant
have gradually disappeared In proportion
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

morning, from to o'clock The sexes
apart for brief period. the moths being
handled by the wings only.
The male is more slender, and will be
observed huttering his wings and moving
about actively. whereas the female is
heavy. and she remains very quiet. Sew
eral hours after emerging take them gent
ly and place them by pairs. male and
female together, on a piece OF unbleached
cotton or cheese cloth about a yard
square
The eggs adhere to whatever the moth
deposits them on by a natural gum. and,
being fastened the worms when matching
eat their way cut better. After the de-
position of the eggs the moth lives but a
few days.
Food Plants.
The natural food plant for the silkworm
is the mulberry The mulberry is easy
to propagate from cuttings or from seeds
The cuttings should be started in rows
three or four inches apart. in ground
cultivated by deep plowing and narrowing.
They should be about six inches long and
should be cut above a bud in every case.
They should be almost entirely buried.
The pruning may he done in February or
March. every year. or every other year.
The best time for planting is in the fall.
from frost until December, and in the
spring from March until May From the
seeds only can species be reproduced.
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

should be destroyed. During the last age
the quantity OF leaves the worms devour
is something enormous, and it will keep
the person in charge extremely busy fur
nishing them with food.
The rearing room should always have a
thermometer.
The necessary requisites for successful
cultivation of the silkworms are:
1. The worms Of each colony, as far as
possible, be kept uniform in size, so their
molting will occur at the same time.
q Abundance of food should be sup
Piled, except during the molting periods.
g. The worms should have plenty of
room, to prevent crowding each other.
A. The air should be fresh, and as far as
possible of a uniform temperature.
s. The trays, netting, lattice, etc,
should be kept thoroughly clean.
6. Avoid feeding the worms with stale,
damp. or wet leaves.
Preparation for Spinning.
At the end of eight or ten days of vo-
racious feeding after the final molt, the
worms will begin to crawl over the leaves
without eating them, their color changes
to a clear, translucent, yellow, they be-
come restless and rear their heads as if
in search of something to climb upon, and
begin to throw out silk. When these
signs are noticed everything should be
prepared at once for them to spin their
cocoons in order that they may not lose
their strength and silk in seeking for
the support they require. Gather together
punches OF small twigs, or any clean, we'll
dried brush free from leaves, and make
with these small arches on the shelves
near the worms. The arches should be
formed so as to resentsa bushy appear
ance, without being too thick nor too
thin They should be about one foot
apart and the number should depend upon
the number of worms.
Gathering the Cocoons.
At the end of eight days after the COM
mencement of the cocoons they may be
taken from the ladders or arches and the
floss" removed. The cocoons or pods
are graded according to color, firmness.
and texture The soft and imperfect
ones are separated from the strong and
firm ones and sold as second quality.
For the next years supply of eggs save
4 hundred or more of the best cocoons
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

evening before and place the branches in
water. BY doing this they will be fresh
for the first meal the following morning.
During Latter Stages.
During the latter stages when the
worms have increased in size large net
ting Of quarter inch meshes woven over a
light frame will be convenient for the
worms TO rise through. Split cane. such
as is used for Gaming chairs, is the best
for this purpose The lattice tray should
be used during the last stage. The net
ting and lattice tray should be used each
time fresh food is given, as it obviates
the necessity of handling the worms, and
besides insures their being kept thor
oughly clean.
AS the fifth or sixth day approaches.
signs of the first shedding of the skin will
appear, the worms hold their heads up,
are motionless and appear to be asleep,
and this indicates that feeding will cease
for at least forty-eight hours. No food
should be allowed these until the ma
jority have changed, as this serves to
keep the colony together. 1t is essential
~ h''P t"Sh ,OiObs loSelutI u nave
the worms molt at the same time, as it
will save considerable time.
Bountiful Supply of Food.
AS soon as the majority have cast their
skins bountiful supply of food should
be given them, for they will be very hun
cry after two days fast The worms
should be allowed more space as they
grow, and 1t will become necessary to di-
vide the colony. which is easily done at
any meal by removing the net when about
half of the worms have ascended through
1t, and replacing 1t by another one.
The fourth or last molt is more la
borious, and, inasmach as it is the final
molt, II is best to give the more advanced
worms light feed when they have under
gone the change.
The temperature throughout the grow
ing period should be kept at about 20
or Y degrees Fahrenheit AT all times
the larvae should be protected from sud
den changes in temperature. especially
during the last stage. II the food has
been supplied in abundance and the tenn
perature kept at the proper point, with
good ventilation, the larvae should begin
to spin the cocoons about thirty three
days after Matching.
All litter should be removed often. es-
pecially diseased or feeble worms. which
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

The contemporary poets are full of joy
How fresh and sparkling is Sponsors de-
scription of the going out for the May:
Skier this morning, no longer ago,
! saw shole of shepherds outgo
With singing. and shouting and jolly
cheer;
Before them yode lusty tabrere,
That to the many a hornpipe play'd,
Where to they dancen each one with his
maid.
To see these folks make such jOnissance,
Made my heart after the pipe to dance.
Then to the green wood they speeden
them all,
To fetchen home May with their musical;
And home they bring him in a royal
throne
Crowned as king; and his queen atone
Was Lady Flora, on whom did attend
A fair flock of fairies, and u fresh bend
OF lovely nymphs-O that / were there
To helpen the ladies' their May-bush to
bear!"
Shepherds Calendar. Eclogues.
Not content with a garlanding OF their
brows, of their doors and windows. these
merry people of the old days had In every
town, or considerable district of town,
and in every village. a fixed pole as high
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

of the tray. IT, however, they have been
wintered in the loose condition, they
must be spread out thinly over sheets of
paper or cloth. The heat of the room
should be increased about two degrees
each day, and they should begin to hatch
out about the fifth or sixth day. Do not
expose the eggs to the suns rays, and
when the Matching time approaches the
atmosphere must be kept moist by sprin-
king the floor, in order TO enable the
worms to eat through the eggshelI more
easily.
Cultivation of the Silkworm.
The silkworms should be given the
closest attention during the larval stage,
which lasts from thirty to forty days.
The rearing room must have north
eastern exposure and be easily ventilat-
ed. The air sould be pure and fresh, and
the room should be clean and free from
dust. Several times during the larval
stage burn fresh Eucalyptus leaves TO
rid the atmosphere of -microbe germs.
The smoke will not injure the worms no
matter how dense, whereas tobacco
smoke is extremely injurious to the
worms. Open the windows to allow the
smoke to escape.
Average Temperature.
Maintain an average temperature of Y
degrees Fahrenheit until several days
previous to the beginning of the spinning
OF the cocoon. When the larvae begin TO
spin the temperature should be allowed
to rise to so degrees Fahrenheit, as the
silk will flow more easily at that tenn
perature. Rats and mice should be
guarded against, as they are the silk
worms worst enemy, and under no cir
cumstances must the eggs or worms be
exposed to the suns rays, or draughts of
air.
AS soon as the buds of the mulberry
tree begin to unfold, the eggs should be
taken from their winter quarters and
brought into the rearing room. There
they should be spread out thinly on clean
manila or white paper. or. when laid on
cloth, place the cloth on the tray. When
the first worms appear. which should be
about the fifth day. under favorable con-
ditions, place over them mosquito netting
upon which few buds OF hnely chopped
leaves have been scattered.
The baby worms soon become aware of
the presence OF their food and pass up
ward through the netting. When the
buds or leaves are devoured place another
sheet of netting, upon which new food
has been spread, over the old one. The
worms will leave the old food, and ascend
through the meshes to the fresh leaves
placed above. When this occurs remove
the old netting with the remains upon it.
Only by experience can one learn the
amount of food that should be given the
worms. Giving too much food in the
first age very often results in the loss Of
a great many of the worms in the latter.
Do not under any circumstances feed with
stale, damp, or moist leaves. For the
early morning meal pick the leaves the
The Washington times., 1902-04-20


makes at the end of April and the
beginning OF May excites SO joy
full and admiring a feeling in
the human breast that there is
no wonder the event should have at all
times been celebrated in some way. The
first emotion is a desire TO seize some
part OF that profusion of flower and bios
som. which spreads around US. to set it
I'D in decorative fashion. pay it sort Of
homage. and let TIE pleasure 1t excites
find expression in dance and song.
Among the ancient Romans, the feeling
inspired by this genial season found vent
in their Floralia, or floral games, which
began on the 2Sth OF April. Nations taxi
ing more or less their origin from Rome
have settled upon May l as the special
time for fetes of the same kind. With
ancIents and moderns alike it was one
fnstinctiye rush TO the fields; to revel in
the bloom which was newly presented on
the meadows and the trees; the more
city-pent the population the more eager
apparentIy the desire &c get among the
fields and flowers, and bring away samples
of the latter; the more drudging the life.
the more hearty the relish for this one
d,y of communion with things pure and
beautiful
Among the barbarous Celtic populations
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

for breeding. Those can be strung upon
a strong sewing thread through the end
of the cocoon, great care being taken not
to pierce the enclosed pupa with the
needle. They then can be hung upon
place free from rats and mice to await
the emergence of the moth, which should
appear in about two or three weeks after
the cocoon has been formed.
Killing the Pupa.
Before the cocoon is pierced by the
emergence of the moth, which would in
jure it for reeling, the pupa is subjected
to the sitting or choking process. In
the warm Southern States this may be
done by exposing the cocoons to the sun,
from o'clock until in the afternoon,
for three days. The dry heat method con-
sists of placing the eocoons In clean pans
in an oven and leaving them for from two
to twenty-four hours with a temperature
of about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. A hum
ming noise is discerned SO long as life
remains; at its cessation the life Of the
pupa is extinct.
Egg Laying.
The room In which moths are produced
should be darkened, only sufficient light
being admitted to enable one to distin-
guish objects In from eleven to eighteen
days from the time the worm commenced
to spin the moths begin to emerge from
the cocoons laid aside for breeding pur-
poses. They issue usually in the early
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

silk with but small outlay of time and
capital.
Nature of the Silk Worm.
The silkworm proper, or the Chinese
species from which the ordinary CONNER
cial silk is produced. is the lava of n
mednm-sized moth, which feeds upon the
leaf of the mulberry tree, and is COM
monty called the mulberry silkworm.
Early in the spring, at about the time
the mulberry leaves begin to come forth,
the eggs will hatch after having been ex-
posed to warm temperature for five or
six days.
During the Larval Stage.
During the larval stage, which lasts
from thirty to forty days, the larva
spends most of its time in feeding, and
growing rapidly, attains length of about
three inches. The larval stage is divided
into five different ages, separated by what
are called molts, at which time the worm
casts its outer covering, or skin. The
rapid increase in size of the insect rem
ders the original skin too small to allow
for its growth, and hence four molts oc-
cur during this stage.
When the fullgrown worm is ready to
spin up it crawls over the leaves, shrinks
somewhat in size. and changes to a clear,
translucent, yellow color. Finding some
suitable place to climb upon TO spin, it
commences to throw out threads of silk,
which IL forms into a cocoon, which is
completed in about three days.
In seven days the larva changes to q
pupa, which is brown, oval, and consider
ably smaller than the fullgrown larva
In from two to three weeks the pupa
skin splits, and the moth, of a cream
white color. secretes liquid which mois-
tens the end of the cocoon and dissolves
the hard, gummy lining. The moth then,
with crimped and damp wings. emerges.
Soon after the female begins laying her
eggs.
Wintering and Matching Eggs.
Silkworms should by all means be kept
at an extremely low temperature, not
too moist nor too dry. A northeastern.
exposed. cool. dry cellar is a suitable
place to winter eggs.
At intervals they should be inspected.
and where mold is found it should be
brushed off and removed to a more dry
location; they should likewise be protect
ed from rats, and predaceous insects.
They should never be allowed to hatch out
until mulberry leaves begin to unfold,
and about the time mulberry begins to
come forth the eggs should be brought
from their winter quarters into a we'll
aired room, with an average temperature
of about 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the eggs have been deposited on a
cloth spread the cloth over the bottom
The Washington times., 1902-04-20

~ RESPECTS are strong that the
- United States will soon produce its
own silk. A bill is now before
Congress for the encouragement of
silk culture in this country, and Sem
ators and Members of Congress are
interesting themselves in the subject.
Booker T. Washington thinks that silk
culture can be carried on by the poor
colored people in the South. Silk culture
associations are being formed in South
Carolina and Georgia. A company has
been started in New FORK, backed by
ample capital to start establishments for
. reeling silk in portions of the South, SO
that local supplies of cocoons can be de-
pended upon
A Paying Industry.
Silk culture was once paying industry
in this country, on a small scale, but
continued competition with the cheap
labor Of foreign countries was found 20
be impracticable. AS late as the passage
of the Mckinley tariff bill efforts were
made to secure an import duty on raw
silk. Opposition by the manufacturers of
forts. But it seems now to those who are
pushing the matter that the time has
come when silk culture can be taken up
to advantage in many portions of the
country by poor families and non-produc-
ing members of comparatively well-to-do
families. With a sure product, and with
reeling establishments once started, the
product cannot fail to continue to in
crease
Silk Culture Is Easy.
Silk culture is easy, requires care, but
may be carried on by unskilled labor, by
the women and children of the household.
That is the way it is done in France and
Italy, and that is the way it is largely
done in Asia Minor, China. and Japan.
1t has often been said that silk culture
in this country does not pay where there
are so many other avenues which are
more lucrative. This may be true; never
theless, there are thousands of families
in this country, especially in the South,
that could gladly add few extra dollars
to their annual income by undertaking
this easy and light employment for few
months each year. This work can be
performed by the aged. the young, and
more especially by' the women of the fam
lily. The raising OF limited quantity of
cocoons each year need interfere but little
with household duties. The question
arises, Why cannot this industry be car
rio1 on as well in this as in other coun-
tries?
1t is to be hoDed tat the facts herein
given relating IL this interesting and in
dustrious creature will aid the beginner
who wishes TO engage in the production OF
The Washington times., 1902-04-20
SILK WORMS READY TO HATCH.

United States May Produce Its Own Silk in the
Near Future---BiI Before Congress for the
Encouragement Of the VeRture--Conpany
Formed New York to Open Establishments
for Keeling in the South, So That Local Sup
plies Of CocooRs May Be Depended Upon.
The Washington times., 1902-04-20


- nted State wills produc s capital
The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1902-01-23
Twas a False Alarm .

l have used DR.. Caldwell's Syrup
Pepsin and can truthfully recommend
u. Sems four years ago DR.. told me
that l bad BrIght'c Disease. l wa
d up three months and nothing
used helped mt aud no food wou q
stay on my stomach. used one L
ne of your DR.. CALDWELL. syrup Pep
sin aud food wouls stay Or ml
stomach aud / craved something To-
eat. / got we'll. There was no
Bright's Disease about me. II was a
false runor." Ever since have rec
.muended Dr. Cald~eii's Syrup Pep
,in ~ friends and strangers. II w.
just splendid. ] have full cniidehce
it.-Gro. +. Benedict. go. W+st
KING ST., Decatur, III Sold ~ Pro-
e. drug store as
The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1902-01-23
ncKinIey Memorial.

Subscriptions for the Mckinley
National Memorial, will be receiv
ed at this office, and all amounts
so received, published AMI for
warded to the appointed custodian
of the fund.
The purposes of the Mckinley
National Memorial association un
der whose auspices. the subscrip
tions are being received, is to erec
and maintain a memorial to the
late president at Canton, ONO.
Any surplus of funds will be de
voted to the proposed memorial
at the National Capital
The memorial is to be. in the
highest sense, the sincere expires
sion OF all the people of the coun
try Of their love for the martyred
executive.
Those desiring to express their
esteem, of the eminent character
istics Of the departed president,
through this agency can either
mail OF leave subscriptions at thi-
Office, and they will be promptly
acknowledged. through the col
umns Of the Daily and Weekly
Chiefsisn, or any of the following:
Judge Joseph A Gil, PHay L