davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
The Prairie Dog Of the
Great Western Plains
His Method Of Living and His Influence Asri-
Conditions

grass annually eaten by these pests in
the great Texas colony would support
500, 800 head of cattle. Hence, it is,
no wonder that the annual loss from
prairie dogs is said to range from so
to rs per cent. of the producing ca
pacity of the land and to aggrega mil
lions of dollars.
When person approaches dog
town the animals see him a long way
off and keep a close watch onhis move
ments. AS he comes nearer an alarm
note is sounded, at which those away
from their burrows rush to the en-
trance mounds, where they sit or stand
erect. nervously twitching their tails
and chattering and barking eXcitedly.
If he continues to move toward them
the excitement increases. and most of
the animals on the near side OF the
colony lunge headlong into their bur-
rows. Some withdraw more slowly.
and for some time their heads and
eyes may be seen peering up from the
funnel-shaped openings of the mounds.
Those near by are usually silent, while
those at a little distance continue to
scold and chatter. This chattering or
barking. as it is usually called, can
often be heard after the animals have
gone down out of sight in their holes.
Along railroads the animals have be-
come so accustomed to the trains that
they no longer take fright as the great
noisy engine PUSHES madly by, and they
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23

taken of that fundamental principles
right dealing be violated The this
vision with the greatest sewdne and who readily
old principles their surroundings, whose
in greatest demand.
although founded upon solid general principles may
grain allowance early to bed and early
healthy, wealthy and wise, may still be regarded perhaps
good enough general but should not be taken
literally We have always been taught that lit is the early bird
catches the but few people have stopped consider
that this case observant person remarks the early
worm that gets caught.
know who has made it life practice lie in bed
until o'clock the forenoon During the hours when other
rushing about snacing their breakfasts and attending
depends upon him, better
clear calm judicial thought he takes each problem which
he will be called upon solve during the day,
sensible suggests When
his office the detail of the days volume of work
aey mapped Errors of hast judgment thus practically
eliminated and smoothly lie credits
cess in life O this habit of lying abed mornings!
incident advantage is taken of the old proveb
clearly intended protest against the habit
made in that day of manual labor and the Of
performance and of the continual keepngat The modern
his much and his feet and hands little
possible He has discovered thousand shortcuts and
suit added leisure modern proverb would be-
little work the performance OF duties
Saturday.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Their vindictivclessnes..

"A few years ago, when we had a
spell Of liveliness on u.s." said the
landlord of the Pettyville tavern, a
trifle pessimistically, 1--WE tried to get
the insane asylum located here; but
Rustletown beat our best efforts and
secured the institution. However,
our people are not resentful, and the
fact that the asylum didn't come to
Pettyville don't prevent some of us
Pettyvlllains from goin' to the
asylum, once in awhile.''-Pucls.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23

the numbers that continue their beyond the eight years
work OF the district school and the public high
private academy and this great increase secondary
furnished its quota OF population prepared college The
hrst aspect OF this secondary pupils opening
high schools 1t would though
country all its sections, north SOUTH
to have free high school instruction for children past
ten yea-and three 895, 1896 1897 years
financial dlsaster-tere the total number high
schools from $50 in 1890 to COOS in 1900.
The number of high schools States in 1860 was
about At that time people
1T is doubtful if the constitution permits the of the
people In tree high schools District schools
but orefathers intended education
all children at the of the taxpayers The
high schools somewhat uneasy this. ten
the number Of high schools
numberthe 40 of 1860 had increased $780,
III the next ten the continued by 1880 there
were IN operation nearly 800 public high schools These
have seen, reached $3.50 in $780, and COOS in 1900
The most noteworthy circumstance with this that
the increase of public high schools has gone
the country Take for example, the North Atlantic states these
already had 7So high schools $780, doubling
their which year they reported 18 The South
Atlantic states had only high schools
they had operation nearly four times they
The South Central did this they
increased their public high schools from 58 67 The
division Of those the Pacific
the mounnshad high schools in $780, but 20 1900 The
North Central states long led secondary
schools They had in 1890 than half of all the high
the country, and they have than half Their
creased from 1876 to 3,1o3 public high schools
We all know that increase the number
not always increase in the number of pupils add
the increase high schools the regard
pupils And is gratifying to know that the whole the
secondary pupils high greater than the
the number The United
enrolled round numbers 100000 high school pupils $780,
100000 in 1900
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
DISTRIBUTION OF PLAINS PRAIRIE DOGS.
The Occupied Area is Marked With Dots.

are best observed, perhaps, from the
windows OF passing trains. Their in
difference at such times is amazing. |
have often watched them from the
overland limited" some standing
erect on their mounds; others chasing
one another about or quietly feeding
within 40 or So feet of the roaring,
train, without showing the least out
ward sign that anything unusual was
happening. One would think the
fury and deafening roar would be too
much for their nerves, but they appear
to regard it with absolute pDconcern.
On ranch lands prairie dogs have
proved destructive to a variety Of crops,
among which are alfalfa, grain, po-
tatoes and sugar beets, and on graz
ing lands they are said to consume or
bury under their mounds, so much
grass that the capacity Of the land for
supporting stock is reduced, as already
noted, from SO to rs per cent.
The general apathy of few years
ago, when land was plentiful and of
little value, has given place to wide
spread and active effort to rid the coun-
try of the pests. Wherever our field
experiments have been made, from the
Dakotas to Texas, the inhabitants
were found fully awake as to the neces-
sity for immediate action, and hun
dreds, if not thousands, of them had
already expended time and money in
single-handeG efforts. The recent at
tempt Of the. national government to
ascertain the simplest and most eff
Gent means of combating the evil has
been received with universal approval.
With one or two exceptions govern
ment field men were granted free ac-
cess to private lands, and in most in
stances were enthusiastically received
and accorded every assistance and
courtesy. In some cases, where the
animals are rapidly increasing, the
actual and prospective losses are so
great that ranchmen expressed their
willingness to pay for the destruction
of the animals at a rate per acre ex-
ceeding the actual market value of the
land.
In the case of prairie dogs, as in the
case of gophers and ground squirrels,
numerous remedies have been suggest
ed and tried, most of which have met
with a certain measure of success.
Few, however. have proved available
on large scale. 1t is easy to DESTROY
isolated animals, and to completely
eXterminate the inhabitants of iso-
lated colonies, but, as a rule, the prob
lem confronting the sufferer from prai-
RE dogs is one of larger dimensions:
to cope with it means the employment
of measures and remedies that are
simple, easily handled, available on a
large scale, and Last but not least, not
too costly (either for materials or la
bor) to be used over areas COMPRISING
thousands of acres. The cost on large
ranches should not exceed is cents
per acre, and should fall as far short
of this as possible.
Among the measures that succeed
well enough on a small scale or under
special conditions are trapping, drown
ing, destruction by domesticated fer,
rets, and capture in sand barrels and
straw barrels placed over the holes,
On a large scale, poisoning and fumi-
eating have yielded the best results.
! c. HART MEFsI.IAM
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23

81 don't mind telling you," said the
maiden fair, as they sat in the leafy
nook, chat L feel like accepting your
proposal, but there are certain OBJ
stacles at present"
name Them" said the impassioned
sutton. 81 will overcome any OBJ
stacle.''
''But these do not need overcoming
I happen to know that ten other mer
want to propose to me this week, anc
if our engagement should be an
nounced | should miss all that fun
Louisville Courier-J ournal.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
He Knew the Plus,

Farmer Hoefast-There's as many
miracles now as there ever was.
There's whole columns about miracles
every week in the Bungtown Bugle.
Mrs. Hoefast-If you'd read the pa
per, stead of JUS skimmin' over it,
you'd see them articles is all about
people gittin' cured by DR.. Dosem's
Bilious Pills-the same you tried.
Farmer Hoefast-Eh! Did those
pills ever do anybody any good? Well,
that's miracle.-N. Y. Weekly.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23


cago is sure to have his attention ar
rested by colonies of small animals
about the size of cottontail rabbits.
These animals are prairie dogs. Some
stand erect at the mouths of their bur
rows, viewing the passing train; others
are engaged in feeding or running to
and fro about the colony. The land
they occupy is the broad eNpanse of
level and slightly rolling semidesert
country known as the Great Plains. a
vast tract which stretches from the
Rocky mountains easterly to the west
ern edge of the Mississippi valley. and
from Montana and North Dakota
southwark to Texas and Mexico.
The prairie dog loves sunshine and
dry atmosphere, and in ranging easter
ly from the arid plains toward the
humid prairies of the Mississippi valley
becomes less and less numerous, till
between the ninety and ninety
eighth meridians he disappears alto
gether. Not even the luxurious vegeta-.
ton of the prairies is sufficiently at
tractive to lure him into the humid
belt adjoining his chosen home. That
he is fond of rich vegetation and pre-
fers it to the dry bunch grass of the
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Like Man,

He wrote her a letter that told her
He loved her with passion divine,
And in it, with fervenu entreaty.
He said: will you, dearest, be miner"
He waited in vain for an answer,
The weeks went despairingly by,
And still, to his sorrow and anguish.
He never received reply
"a false-hearted creature"' he though,
her,
"Alas, she's as tickle as fair!'
Then one morning he felt III his pocket
And found that the letter was there"
Brooklyn Life
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Re.tralninr circumstances,

Ethel used to play a good deal in her
Sabbath school class. One day she had
been very quiet. She sat up primly and
behaved so we'll that after the recita-
ton was over the teacher remarked:
Ethel, my dear, you were very
good little girl to-day"
''Yes'm. l couldn't help being good
I've got stiff neck. Philadelphia
Record.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
s *. ~ = LE a
Turn About.

Turn About.
"Mr. Cornrow looks ticlzled this
morning." remarked the grocery
clerk as he brushed the flies off the
cheese.
Hes gotter right to-" said Uncle
Jim from the cracker barrel. "He
poured lot of oil in his we'll to
kill the mosquitoes, and a week later
that city Teller what sold him q
gold brick last winter came to board
with him.
"Well?" said the clerk.
"Well, Cornrow's sold his farm tic
him for three times what he paid
He's goin' to bore for oil!"-Cincin-
natl Commercial.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
At Home All Day.

"Why weepest thou, woman?"
My lord will be buried this day."
MY wife was buried yesterday. To-
morrow l must get me another"
Whereupon the widow shook the
ashes from her shining hair, dried her
eyes, and, looking into the face of the
widower, smiled.
II will be at home tomorrow all
day." she said.-Smart Set.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
He Showed His Conceit.

Phyllis-Harry is the most conceit-
ed man l ever met.
Maud-What makes you think so?
Phyllis-Why, he first asserts that
l am the most adorable woman in the
world, the most beautiful, intellec-
tual, ard in every respect paragon,
and then he wants me to marry him!
Washington Times.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23

or so to the acre. In old towns many
holes are abandoned, or used only as
refugees, so that it is difficult to ascer-
tain how many animals live in stated
number of holes. Another difficulty
lies in the varying number of animals
in the occupied holes, for in winter
and early spring the usual number is
two Ga pair), while after the birth of
the young the number is at least quad
rupled, and then decreases with the
advance of the season, as the young are
killed by enemies. 1T is certainly a con-
servative estimate to assume the av-
erage number of animals per acre to
be s5. On this assumption, the nun
Der of prairie dogs in the great Texas
colony must be at least 40O0OO,OOO.
According to the formula for de-
ternining the relative quantities Of
food consumed by animals of different
sizes, 80 prairie dogs consume as much
grass as one sheep, and 256 prairie dogs
as much as one cow. On this basis the
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Boston Pie.

Waiter-Have piece of pie, sir?
Pincher-No, thank you; never eat
pie; it doesn't agree with me.
Waiter-To every person who has
eaten one order we give pie without ex-
ira charge.
Pincher-Come to think it over, you
may bring me three pieces of pie, two
OF berry and one of custard.-Boston
Transcript.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
OrnithOl0EY.

Roderck-Your wife used to say
you were a bird before the wedding.
Any change now?
Van Albert-Well, I guess she
thought was a jay then, but from
the quality of cooking she gives me
now, she must think I'm an ostrich.
Chicago Dolly News.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Not His Job.

"Your husband is a foorwalker in
a department store, isn't hep"
YES"
"Then, why don't you have him get
up and walk the floor with the baby
when she cries?"
II can't wake him up. When
shake him and tell him what's the
matter he mumbles something about
soothing sirup in the drug depart
ment three aisles down, and then
goes to snoring again = Chicago
Tribune.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23

Gyer-It's a fortunate thing for
the inhabitants of this terrestrial
ball that they are not treated nova
days as Ananias was for lying.
Myer-What would be the result
if such were the. case?
Gyer-Why, there wouldn't be a
living soul on earth but you, and
and
Myer-And what?
Gyers-And you would be para
lyzed.-Chicago Dally News.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
1t Was II Match

He was practical, and had been
making love on that basis. She was
little that way herself.
"Can you COOKE" he inquired.
"Can you supply everything to ue
cookedT she replied.--Tit-Bits
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Cured 1t. hut

Clear, cool atmosphere is the best
thing for hay fever" said Knowital.
$50 = thought remarked Sneeze-
out, so I went up to AlaslSa for my
vacation
And got rid of your hay fever?'
asked Knowital.
'Sure; traded it for the heaviest
cold l ever had" -Cincinnati Com
mercial Tribune.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
She Couldn't Stand That.

All pallid in her shroud she lay;
A woman sadly said:
How wretchedly her robe is made
The lady In the coffin laid
Woke right up from the dead.
Chicago Record Herald.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Fate of the Early Worm
BY MILTON MARKS.

0DERN business is often secured along lines that
would have been regarded extremely hazardous
Ingenuity is the keyword in the present day and age
and many Of to-day has its very foundation
Odtne conservative business principles may have been
evolved the result of sad experience but it
perence of slower age than this. This is an age o.
"new kinks Old methods need revising. being
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Twas Ever Thus

High priced meat makes boarding house.
Harp the same continuous tunes;
They give you hash for breakfast. and
For supper you get prunes.
Chicago Daily News.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
LIES Inequalities.

The ways of fortune fret the soul
OF him who has his bread to win;
For some were born to own the coal
And some were born to put IT. in.
Washington Star.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23

She-,I wonder how you can bear to
see me go out in this old hat.
He-I can't-Fve got an idea.
She-What is it?
He's it cooks day out?
She-No.
He-Then borrow hers! = Ally
S1oner
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Ole GROWTH ofPUBLIC
HIGH SCHOOLS ~ ~ ~ -
By HON. w. 4. HARRIS.
United States Commissioners of

UGH as we are pleased with the contemplation of the
army OF school children marshaed each year into the ele
mentary school, there is another phase Of our statistics
which really gives greater for rejoicing and
wish briefly to go with you of the statistics
relating to secondary and higher education for while
there is progress in securing longer school year
increased number of days actual attendance in the
elementary school there is far greater ratio
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
A PRAIRIE DOG RuRRow.

Abound. B-Funnel Shaped Entrance to
Burrow. C-Main passage ~ inches In dame
ter, about 10 feet in length. D-Horizontal pass
ages 9h feet in length. E-Unused nests filled
with earth and refuse. F-Unused part of hor.
zontal passage. G-Nicne large enough for one
prairie dog. H-Nest of grass. J-Absorbent
matter, Exposition OF prairie dog as found
after OF bisulphide of carbon. L-Dept of
horizontal passage IA feet Z inches,
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Disconnected,

He ran a street car for awhile
And took the fares up merrily.
Until they found he kept few
A non-conductor now Is he.
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23

Dolly--Please, Miss Sharp, mamma
says, have you really left your songs
at home?
Miss sharp-Yes, dear. Why?
Dolly-Wcll, papa says sit sounds
too good to be true!" Punch.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Common Sentiment.

grieve to see these millionaires
Who glitter on the highway
Spend money on these fads of theirs.
l wish they'd spend it my way.
Washington Star.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Sailing and Sailing.

"Well, Sailing a mine may be y
good way to sell it to folks what
want to buy anything, but it don't
work with other things" remarked
Johnny Upthecreek to his friend, Will
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23
Been tryin' it?" asked Willie.

Been tryin' it?" asked Willie.
No; but a teller 1 sold string
of fish to the other day came back
inside an hour and said he would
lick me if 1 didn't give him his
money back. He was real mad Jest
because Id sold him some salt mack
erel, out'n the grocery store. Gin
cinnati Commercial Tribune.
The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-23

n CROSSING the United
States by any of the trans
continental railways the
traveller who looks out of
the car window on the sec
The Washington times., 1902-08-17

the flowers during encampment week
and see thatNthey are properly cared for.
The chairman of the floral committee
| is Mrs. Mary Goundie. Mrs. Helen Engle
| is the vice chairman ari secretary. All
contributions OF flowers or money with
which to purchase them may be for
warded to Mrs. Engle at the Berthold,
rs Maryland Avenue southwest.
The committee on courtesies. of which
Miss Cornelia Clay is the chairman and
Mrs. William Srencer. vice chairman.
has a pleasing duty in having been COM
missioned to extend the courtesies OF
the city to G. A. R. visit ors. The plans
OF this committee have not been definite
ly outlined as yet, but there is no doubt
that the officers and their assistants
Will do much to render the time en-
joyable to the veterans.
The four main women's organizations
will be provided with separate badges,
while the subcommittee will also wear
distinct ribbons. In order that these
badges may be properly designed and
conveniently secured, a special commit
tee has been appointed to look after this
detail of the encampment. Miss Helen
Matthews and Mrs. F. B. Wilson are
chairman and vice chairman. respect
lively. of the badge committee.
One of the busiest committees now
preparing for the reunion of the vet
Grams is that which is looking after the
press matter preliminary to the en-
campment. Mrs. Isabel Worrill Ball is
chairman and Miss fielen Mccarthy vice
The Washington times., 1902-08-17

as it were, by the ladies appointed for
Charlotte E. Main is the chairman OF
the committee.
Mrs. Lizzie Calver is the chairman OF
the public comfort committee and Mrs.
Fanny Pomeroy is vice chairman. These
ladies' have forty assistants. all livine
r different sections OF the city. Each
one is securing options on rooms and
board. the terms of which will come
within the means of visiting women.
BY applying to this committee women
who desire to attend the encampment
but who are strangers in Washington
NAV have quarters secured for them
with desirable people. For several days
before the encampment members of the
committee will be stationed at both
depots for the purpose of meeting and
taking care Of arrivals. If necessary,
the members Will accompany strangers
TO their quarters.
The committee on decorations has
been detailed to superintend the duty of
decorating all meeting places. Flags
and bunting will be used exclusively by
this committee. of which Mrs. Weiss
is the chairman and Mrs. Emma Myers
the vice chairman. This committees
work will in no way conflict with that
of the horal committee, which will see
that flowers and plants are placed where
occasion demands. The committee will
later be divided into subcommittee,
the members of which VIII look after