davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
AcetyIene Lighting.

Reliable authorities place the num-
Der of private acetylene generators in
use in the United States at 10000. In
addition there are about forty towns
and villages which use a~eetylene ex-
c~lusively. Now that ~acetylene has been
placed on a commercial basis, it is
found that the illumination costs as
much as that furnished by illuminate
ing gas at s1.25 per 1000 feet Acety-
lene, while twelve times as brilliant
as coal gas, is considerably more ex-
pensive. so hat it is now capable of
production and distribution at the
above price. 1t is considered as safe
as coal gas and is. if anything, less
dangerous when escaping into a room,
as its peculiar penetrating odor dis
overs its presence at once. Its abso-
lutte automatic production is a feature
that renders it valuable for isolated
out-of-town lighting plants. Carbide
is supplied at about 1915 per hundred
weight.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

1t is always desirable to have some
sort Of a gate in the pasture field fence
but it is not always easy to build one
that is at once stock proof and easy
to operate when necessary. The ar
rangement as shown in the ~iIlustra-
ton is not in reality a gate, but a pas
sageway so placed that the stock can
not get through, but through which q
person may readily pass. No explain
alton of the plan is needed, for it is
plainly shown by the illustration.
This fence may be arranged so as to
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
Longitude by wireless relerraphy.

The United States Coast ana Geodet-
ic Survey a recently carried out a
series of experiments TO determine the
difference OF longitude between the
lightship on Nantucket Shoals and the
shore, forty-eight miles distance. 1t
was possible o secure ch~ronographic
records of the chronometer beats and
the signals from the ship and to eliml-
nate the lag of the instruments by
causing the chronometer break 4 ex-
cite the coherer and obtain new chron-
ographic records. Time observations
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
Frightened In Battle

Gen. W. D. Snyman. head OF the
Boer delegation in this country, was
~reminiscing the other night with
several other veterans of the South
African war, and finally the converse
ton turned on the question Of being
scared in battle
I was never frightened but once"
remarked one OF those present, and
that was before the beginning OF the
first fight I wa in; but after the first
volley had been fired I was all right
That seemed to break the -ce-
Wen. 1 don't know how it may bs
with others" said the general, who
stands over six feet and is proportion
ately broad-shouldered. ~but I could
eve seem TO get used % it; I was
Just as badly f~rightened'in my last bat
tie as / was in my first And what
is more. when l looked around at the
faces OF my comrades. / found they
were Just as white as I knew mine
was. With me the ice refused TO
break"
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
Chinese Clans Fight
Trivial Disputes That Sometimes Lead to Great Loss of Life
ss& Eseses

Americans in the region around Swa-
tow, China, have been brought face to
face Unexpectedly with a curious him
drance to trade in the form of constant
fights between clans over the most
trivial things. AS nearly every Chinese
laborer is a member of a clan in that
district, the commerce of the twentieth
century is stopped every little while by
the suryivals of a past SO ancient that
the American commonwealth is an alb
surdly young infant compared with it.
The clans are all formed of blood rel
atives and are added to Systematically
by inteTmariage so that all the mem
bers are bound together by ties Of rela-
tionship. Each member pays all he can
to the headman OF his clan, and the
sums obtained in this way are enor-
nous.
Thus the Ur clan recently fought for
six months and the total cost of the
war was only 13 cents a man, certainly
as low a wa budget as there is on rec
ord.
A few months ago two men from two
different clans met in a village in the
province. One mentioned the others
clan in a disrespectful way. A pretty
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

An army officer tells the following
aneedote suggesting its application to
recent events: "A campaign against
the Sioux was on foot, and enc Of the
columns was composed of three squad
rons OF cavalry. There were present
as field officers a colonel, a lieutenant
colonel AMI a major. The colonel was
a pleasant, e~asy-going commander up
to a certain limit Tie lieutenant
colonel was a cantankerous, fault
finding man, and generally made him
self d~isagreeable to the major. The
major had TO take it, being the junior,
but waited for his opportunity. The
day came when on the march the lieu
tenant-colonel committed some fault
which reused the anger OF the colonel.
and he was then and there, in the
presence OF officers and enlisted men.
promptly brought to account The
colonel spared no words, and the cen
sure was complete He then departed,
snl after he had gone a sufficient dis
$nce. the major rode up to the leu
tenant-oolonel and gently remarked:
HIM dFml and now does it seem
for a lieutenant-colonel 10 be sat
upon2'-Army and Navy Journal
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

An extraordinary violent 0uststorm
which recently broke out near Ade-
laide. South Australia, calls attention
TO the popularity OF these phenome-
ma, to which Australia is especially
subject Sometimes the storms burst
with startling suddenness, and for a
quarter of an hour unsneIuered people
are overwhelmed with sand and occa-
sionally bombarded with small peb-
bles. The average duststorm gives
due notice of ats approach and affords
time for prudent persons u get within
doors and shut down the windows. In
the quarters from which II Is coming
the sky gradually darkens, and by the
time it arrives with a rush and a roar
all overhead is Cimmerian gloom.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

Velvet cuffs on coats, after the plan
of King Edwards new frock, were
hailed here as a great invention sever
al years ago when they were introduce
ed. The wear and tear on the cuff OF
an oyercoat is always likely to be so
great that the cloth soon shows it
There was never any means of repair
ing this until the velvet cuff was heard
Of No other consideration did so
much to gain for the style in vogue it
cot. Nine out of ten Americans who
wore velvet Guns on o~vercoats did it
10 hide the repairs that had been
made.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

There are few persons, " says a sol
der who long since returned to civic
ranks, who know how the name OF
blackboard came to be applied to q
vehicle. It was way back in the '20s,
when the transportation of goods.
wares and merchandise was principal
ly all by wagons Dr. Buck, who for
long years after was the military store
keeper here, was then in charge of
stores en- route to army posts in the
southwest In east Tennessee Difficult
ty was experienced by reason of the
rough roads. and there were frequent
mishaps. mostly from the wagons over
turning. DR.. Buck o~vcrhauled the out
fit, and abandoning the wagon bodies.
long boards were set directly on h
aMes or hung below, and the stores
We're reloaded In such a that
there were 10 further delays from
breakdowns. and the stores safely.
reached their destination The idea
doubtless was not new, but Dr. Bucks
example was followed. especially when.
roads were rough, and soon much haul
ing was done by the use of wheel, axle
and boards only. Now the fashionable
blackboard recalls the old gentleman
to some of us-"-Washington Star.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
WITH HI VETERANS.


been right the other way, that / was
constantly on the point of speaking to
him. In all my life | never had seen
a man SO absolutely helpless as lie was
before a large crowd
Zone day I pressed through the
crowd II the balcony where the gem
eral vas to stand. and as / was then a
pretty large man, / had a hard time Of
it. / got to the balcony out Of breath
and out of patience with ali the but
tons of my coat / found two boys
Longing about the little balcony. and
II struck me that they were very mur1
out Of place. and. without making any
inquiries Of the Only other newspaper
man on the balcony. / caught the boys
by the arm and was hustling them out
when Gen Grant said quietly; These
are my boys.
For an instant there was the old
general that had known on the field
Those four words said all there was
TO say. and / stood 1Dashel as under a
singing rebuke- Then ! turned TO my
newspaper friend and said, Captain.
wont you kick me down stairs and
kick me up again and report to Cen
Grant in writing2" That struck Gen.
Grant very f~ayorabIy. He held out
his hand TO me and said, Never mind,
we all make mistakes"
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

Il IL curious and interesting in read
10 the lives Of great military COM
lenders TO observe among the large
-nmber of generals who have held in
1aoendent commands how few have
aoroers Of uninterrupted success A
non who can go through a campaign
nd fight many battles and never suffer
reverse must, indeed, be a command
~ of the first order.
rhe Duke Of Alya, one of the most
eminent soldiers Of the sixteenth cen
turg never, throughout his long and
,ventful career, lost a battle. The
archbishop of Cologne was struck By
5is efforts to avoid a conflict, having
nm M occasion urged him to engage
tbe Dutch. The object of a general"
replied Alva, lis not to fight. but to
conquer; he fights enough who obtains
the victory"
oliver Cromwell, throughout his mil
.tary career, lost a battle. though
he very nearly sustained a reverse at
Dunbar.
The Duke of Marlborough affords an
excellent example of a successful SOL
dier. He combined all the qualities
necessary for a great commander, and
although he fought several battles
against the most experienced generals
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
sfr-. rurehIp.s wer Reeord.

Col. Thomas G. La-Ier, postmaster
of Rockforl. Ill, tells an interesting
story of Gen. Turchin's widow. to
whom the senat has voted a pension
of $50 a month. Mrs. Turchin has
been at the door of actual want at her
home in Radon for several months.
Contributions by members of the
Grand Army Of the Republic and
others have been sent to her from
time TO time.
AT the outbreak Of the war Gen.
George B. Mcclellan was a civil en-
gineer in the employ Of the Illinois
Central and Turchin was an assistant
on the same road. Col. Lawier was a
machinist in the shops, and all Joined
the Nineteenth Illinois regiment
Mrs. Turchin followed her husband
when his regiment was called to
Washington to defend the capital after
the battle of Bull Run. En- u the
train went through a bridge. the tim
bers of which had been cut by the
Knights of the Golden Circle. near
v%ineennes, Many Of the soldiers were
badly injured, and on this occasion
Mrs. Turchin cut up much of her cloth
ing for bandages.
Col. Lawler says that it is a matter
Of record that Mrs.. Turchin, in Paint
Rock Valley, between Winchester,
Tenn. and Larkinsvile. Ala. went to
the rear and brought up a section of
artillery and personally directed its
IRE on the bushwhaekers who were
mercilessly peppering the federals
from the rocks of the mountain.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
American Philosophical Society.

The American P~hilosophic1 Society
has completed arrangements for a
general meeting on April J and 4. A
large number of scientific men from
all parts of the country have an
nounced their intention OF being pres
emit. The secretaries request that those
desiring to present papers communi-
cate the titles as early as possible, so
that they car be printed in the pre-
liminary program. Members intend
ing to attend the meeting are also ask
ed to notify the secretariesfas prompt
ly as they car so as TO facilitate the
making of arrangements for their en-
tertainment.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

st had a very interesting expert
ence," said a veteran lieutenant re-
Gently, with Gen. Grant 1 had been
In the telegraph and signal corps ser
vice in the army. and l had een him
a good many times at his best. After
the war I went into the newspaper
business, and when Grant made his
tour of the northern states in 1866 I
was assigned 70 several of his big
meetings, and, do you know, I could
scarcely resist the temptation TO shake
him. he seemed so timid and en-
barrassed in the face of $4,000 people.
He seemed so afraid of cheering men.
women and children. when in the pres
ence of $4,000 soldiers he would have
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

battle was fought in consequence by
the clans. Several hundred men were
on each side. About fifty were killed.
1t was a satisfactory affair.
In Chao Peng two men of the Ur-
Chang clan went out frog-catching and
passed through one of the villages with
less clothes on than the law allows.
1t was late at night and only one viii
lager saw it. But the indignity was not
to be borne, and war was declared. 1t
involved 5000 men on one side and
10000 on the other.
Another battle in which property
valued at $4,000 was destroyed was
caused by a dispute between mep OF
rival clans over a gambling debt. 'fhe
amount at issue in the quarrel was
.0028 cent.
At present there is more or less de-
sultory fighting between the Chow
Yang aud the Jao Peng clans. No one
knows what they are fighting about,
but the rate of deaths is estimated as
being ten o twelve a day, which is
pretty good for mere pickering.
It is hard to be poor. Of course. But
then. ii isn't easy to be rich.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
pestrue,lon Of bacteria.

1t was proved in 1877 that sunlight
was fatal to certain bacteria, especial
ly the violet and ultraviolet rays. The
rays from radium consist of two sys-
TENS of radiation with very different
properties, one systematic Becquerel
rays-analogous to sunlight. the other
not so. Experiments lately tried have
demonstrated that the Becquerel rays,
likewise, are fatal to bacteria and show
that these rays are, therefore. similar
to sunlight in their physiological as
well as in their physical effects.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

The chief of ordnance of the army
has submitted estimates to the secre-
tary of war looking 10 the enlargement
of the Springfield Armory plant so
that its daily capacity viii be 80
rifles. He has also submitted an esd
mate for the enlargement of the ar
senal at Frankfort, so that 10000
rounds of small-arm ammunition can
be supplied each day. Gen. Crozier is
energetically pushing all the work be-
ing done under the ordnance depart
ment He has ben advised that the
work on the new army rides is pro-
crossing. and that satisfactory prog
ress is being made with the tests of
field guns at Sandy Hook.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

II Europe. he was never once defeated
Inc famous Russian general. suwar-
on, was another commander destined
never to suffer defeat. de gained sey-
efal Victories against the Turks and
against the Poles, and in Italy he was
opposed BY Moreau. Being completely
outnumbered. he effected a brilliant re-
treat over the mountains Of switzer-
iahd' through Germany. into Russia.
de was held in great respect by his
soldiers, and although ne showed him
SER to be an exceedingly able tactician,
ne used to say that the whole Of his
system was comprised in the words,
advance and. strike"
The Duke Of Wellington. throughout
his brilliant campaigns, both in India
and in the Peninsula. has preserved to
himself a remarkable record OF unin-
%terrupted successes from the first bat
tie IN which he was vested with u
preme command throughout the Pen
insular war, in which he defeated the
ablest OF Napoleon's marshals, until
the eyentful day Of Waterloo, when he
defeated the greatest soldier of modern
times.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
WORK OF INVENTORS
Latest Discoveries OF importance in the World
OF seemed.

A paper on modern machine meth
DDS read by Dir. H. f. L. circuit before
the British Institution Of Mechanical
Engineers is interesting as a contri-
button to a discussion low prominent
in England. especially as it gives an
English point Of view. The use of ac-
curate l~imit-gauge, instead of micro
meters or caiipers, is strongly urged,
even in small shops. There is, he
says, a Widespread and erroneous idea,
particularly among European manu-
~facturers who desire to emulate Amer
leans, that the latest methods cannot
be economically adopted except where
work is thoroughly standardized, spe-
cialized and made in large quantities.
Mr. circuit thinks otherwise. and re-
marks that a single hole is more
cheaply bored in a chucking machine
than in a lathe. 1t is more easily
made to a limit gauge than when cali
pers are used. One spindle is more
cheaTly finished in the grinding ma
chine than in the lathe, quality duly
considered; and again, I. is more cas-
lily finished to a limit gauge, employ
ing less skilled labor. The idea that
large quantities and standard work
are necessary before modern equip
ment begins 10 play an important part
iii the economics of manufacturing is
described as a delusion Of those who
have grasped only a small part of the
problem. The advantages of possess
ing a well-equipped laboratory and
testing department are pointed out
Materials should be studied with refer
ence TO selecting the most suitable and
easiest worked, the cheapest. Where
the size of a shop will not warrant
the expense of a testing department,
several shops should join to support
one. 1t is in this direction that Mr..
circuit looks for decided advance and
improvement in English practice.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
wireless Telephony through Earth.

NJ. Ducretet, repeating the expert
ments of Bourbouze made in 1876. has
lately ~endeavored, with success, to
transmit human speech through ordi-
nary telephones, using the earth as
the only conductor. The results are
very interesting, though difficult to ex-
plain. One thing is certain, says the
experimenter, namely, that earth fl
tiers out, so to say, the continuous cur
rent necessary to the operation of the
apparatus. The current is diffused
into many others capable of actuating
a certain number of telephones dis
tributed around the transmitter, and
in the experiments cited these difused
currents were strong enough I oper-
ate a relay with a call-bell.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

provide a double gate by Ringing the
open portion in the foreground so that
when closed the post viii come in
snugly against the fence post, and be
held in place by a wire loop dropped
over both posts; then the gate in the
background should also be placed on
hinges. so thar when closed it will lap
oFer against the fence about two feet,
and be held in favor by a staple and
rcok.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

man. who was sitting in a orner
smoking his pipe.
Under his chair was the most re-
markable specimen Of a uog that the
gentleman had ever seen. 1t had the
-appearance of a pug. with rough red
hair and a long tail. 1t was impossible
10 resist laughing at the placid old
man and his n%ondescript dog.
what kind of a dog is that?" ask
ea the gentleman.
~ don't know, replied the German.
u suppose you use him for hunt
ing?"
No"
rs he good for anything?'
mo"
"Then why do you value him so?"
Because he likes me-" said the old
fellow. still putting at his pipe, and the
expression of the dog as he looked up
ron under the chair fully confirmed
the statement.
"There is no better or stronger rea-
son thar that" asserted the gentleman
emphatically, as he walked away.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
A Little Heroine.

A Little Heroine.
1t was lover in Jersey that a little
incident happened a few weeks ago
In which an ~11-year-old girl displayed
qualities of character wortny to be
compared with the men who stood by
their posts in the New York tunnel
disaster. The girl in question, with
a companion somewhat older than her
self was playing on the ice in the
Tartan canal, near New Brunswick,
when the latter suddenly went down
through an air-hole, says Leslie's
weekly. No help being in sight. the
younger girl promptly laid down fiat
on the Ice around the hole and waited
LOT her friend to come up, but when
the latter appeared she was too far
away, and her reseuer coulu not grasp
her. Twice the girl sank out of sight,
ana when she r~eappeared, the other
VINO mad commenced to yell Justify for
neip' but without changing her posi-
uon' managed to grasp ner friends
mar, She could not pun the drowning
slri out OF the water, but she held on
desperately until a man who heard
ner cries came up and rescue both.
Inc water had flowed over the ice
around the hole so that the younger
sHl was half submerged, and more
man half frozen when help came, but
sne did not shrink from her effort, nor
seem TO realize that she herself was
~ any danger, her only thought being
ner companion, whom she had
@HS'ehed from the very jaws of death.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

were made and the first determination
Of longitude by wireless telegraphy
were obtained. (The first determina-
ton Of longitude by iand telegraphs
was made between Washington and
Baltimore in 1874. and the method is
to-day specifically named "American.")
For work among islands like those OF
the Alaskan archipelago the new wire
less methods are likely to be Of great
value.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10
A DREAM O
And q Very Good One for Those Who Can Believe II.


A former Boston newspaper man told
a story not long ago of an experience
of a young woman Of his acquaintance,
which, while it has not yet been m
bodied in any work of fiction, at least
gives evidence of imaginative powers
and may be considered later. The
young woman spent her summers at
an old Marshfeld farmhouse, the win
dows of which had an outlook on the
ocean. She had a fad, OF course, and it
Was the collection of various kinds of
seaweed.
According to the story, she had a
dream n night of a storm-tossed
mariner who came and stood by her
side and implored her aid in going on
a search for treasure lost at a certain
point in the Indian ocean. The dream
passed and the morning came. The
young woman was about to leave her
room when she noticed a small pool
OF water which might have been caused
Dy a dripping umbrella, near the fire.
place. In the pool tloated a small piece
OF seaweed of a variety which she had
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

walks .or two years; sea sails kills
thistles and a spray OF suiphate OF lron
is effective against injurious giants OF
sIl kinds.
The chemical destruction OF weeds
is advocated BY learned French norti-
culturists, One application of mineral
oil and water keeps down the grass in
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

Erection. Since the
ar of the sheep is
~urrounded by the
lorn, he infers that
he latter acts as
n ear trumpet not
mproyin the
caring of distant
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

SOUNDS. DuI uIselOsing the direction
of a sound. This would be useful in
enabling the sheep to ascertain the ex-
act points from which sounds come
when there is a mist or fog covering
its feeding grounds-Youth's Compan-
ion
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-06-10

A correspondent of Nature has found
that the spiral horn of a wild sheep,
when so placed hat the a is in the
axis of the coil. makes the ticking of a
watch more audible in one particular