davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial press and farmer., 1902-12-06

''As to Social Status," by Mrs. w. A. Edgar. Miss Clark's paper gave some pertinent suggestions as to how Inl perial could be improved and her paper showed that she had given the matter considerable careful study. She also read communication from Dr. Mur ray, of Palm Springs, giving some valuable information rega rding trees to be grown here, for road protection, street ornamentation and wind breaks.
 Mrs. ". A. Edgar's paper. "As to Social Status' showed the importance of clean, wholesome social state, and entreated that each one interested in the up-bullding of Imperial to see to it that he or she did not fail in their part to make the town clean and inviting in social way. She encouraged the idea of good schools, employing none of the social needs of the younger gen eration. Places of amusement must also be provided to keep the young people interested and their minds oc- cupied, such as gymna sium>, swim ming pools, tennis courts, croQuet grounds, parks, and the lite. Those who have social advancement at heart should give earnest though, 10 this side of the question and study to make nf l,at those who attend will go from them with purer thoughts and brighter hopes.
 The evening session ended with literary program and music, which everyone present enjoyed to the fullest extent. MT. l.. E. Farnsworth in this instance proved himself all excellent en'eriainer.
 Saturday mornings session began wi,h:increased interest and attendance Again the question box was opened and found well filled. People wanted ,o know lots of things. Although this section IS not troubled with blights, still Prof. Cook concluded it good idea to give his lecture on this pest which has infested some other parts of California. He told how to determine whether bights were present, how to do away with them, and what to do in general way for-protection. Then the meeting adjourned for dinner, and the largest crowd ever seen in Imper- ial gathered in w. D. Montgomery's new corral to help themselves to the barbacued beef which had been prepar- ed by the committee in charge. That such generous and novel dinner was appreciated was evidenced by the avid ity with which the crowd gathered around the improvised lunch counters. 1t is needless to say that there was hardly any of the beef, ham, coffee or bread left, it tasted so good.
 In the afternoon D. Nicoll, ST., told of his experimental work at Calexico. His paper had been awaited with extra interest, as Mir. Nicolli is believed to be very proficient in this line of work ,and his Judgment is looked upon as first class. He reviewed carefully his sue cesses and failures, showing samples
Imperial press and farmer., 1902-12-06

 interesting PapesW We're
Imperial press and farmer., 1902-12-06

about o'clock Friday afternoon, and after the audience had finished sing ing the National anthem. divine bless ing was invoked by the Rev. MT. Wales The address of welcome was delivered in d most eloquent manner by the Rev. MT. Hay, pastor of the Imperial church. In his address he gave a complete, Coll else and most interesting history of the Imperial valley and it's settlements, relating occasionally some instances that were indeed Imaginable, but at the same time tended to show sturdy Quali- ,les are possessed by the first among those who have set about to reclaim this valley to man and his inheritance. In response to Rev. Hay, who welcomed the strangers to our midst 50 modestly, but feeiingly, Prof. A. J. Cook spoke in happy manner and immediately put the audience in good humor, say ing he was agreeably Surprised at the number present and would still have been plea sed if the attendance had not been half as great. Referring 10 the valleyhe said we hada wonderfully fer tile soil-it was good all the way down. The crying need of California is our best help-water, water. We have it here in large quantities, all we needed, and more too. And what struck him the most forcibly was the splendid people he found in this community, and he said he would never see the word ''Imperial'' in paper without feeling thrill from head to foot, and would recall with extreme pleasure the hearty welcome with which he had been received. By way of advice the professor gave some very good hints, such hints as would help any com,nun- ity if acted upon. Union ot feeling, union of action, is what he believes in, and with that union of spirit d com muni,y can work wonders. He sug- put forth a very feasible plan whereby it conld be done. Sympathy of feel ing. he said, was wonderful thing.
 In another talk laterin the afternoon Prof. Cook took IS his subject, "Shall Imperial Have Club?" He insisted that if we did not form a club, we would be back number. Clubs did more toward encouraging the building up of a community than one could pos sibly imagine at first. As member learns something of value, he will bring his knowledge before the club and the whole community profits ma terially. He enumerated several in- stances where towns and farming dis tricts have grown and fourished as Green Bay tree under the helpful guidance of an enthusiastic and pro- gressive club.
 Friday evening the session opened with music, and seats in the hall were at premium. The question box was opened and the number of questions that were asked showed conclusively that there was wide-a-wake interest being taken. Questions about plants, crops, irrigating, drainage, etc.. came up and were discussed. Two papers
Imperial press and farmer., 1902-12-06
FIRST FARr1ERS' INSTITUTE HELD IN IMPERIAL

Was Decided From Fnsage Attendance at Each Session--Geat Interest Manifest all Through
 reeng
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
He Boiled 1t Down,

An amusing story is told Of the edi-
tor of a go-ahead London evening
newspaper, who, in the eternal rushing
to press to get ahead of the opposition,
was constantly impressing upon his re-
porters the necessity for condensing
all news.
A terrific boiler explosion had taken
place on board big ship lying at Ports
mouth.
"Get down there as hard as you
cam he said to one of his men. If
YOU catch the lao from London
bridge you'll be there soon after and
can just wire us something for the
fifth edition, but boil it down."
And the reporter went.
Soon after o'clock that afternoon
they got a wire from him:
Terrific explosion. Man-o-war.
Boiler empty. Engineer full. Funeral
tomorrow No flowers
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
Geography With q Revolver.

"While 1 was dining at London
club" said a traveller, II heard San
Francisco man tell fairy tale about
revolver practice in the west that was
swallowed without a whimper by our
credulous hosts. 1t started by his be-
ing asked if it was true that all west
erners were natural marksmen.
"'Not ALL answered the man from
the Pacific slope. Shooting, you know,
is taught in our public schools
"Tndeed?' returned the Britisher.
and how do you proceed with such in
struction?
"'The teachers combine revolver
practice with geography calmly eX-
planned the cheerful liar. You see,
they have big map Of the world hung
on a schoolroom wall, and IN the low
er classes a small boy is asked to To-
cate England on the map. The boy
doesn't say anything, but just draws
his six shooter and puts bullet in
the middle of England or any other
country that happens to be asked for.
"'Among the more advanced classes
the scholars are required to pick out
the cities and towns as well. IT any
one fails to ,puncture the right spot on
the map, it's a sign be doesn't know
his geography; that's ALL New York
Times
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.

Any girl vino induces a young man
to propose begs the question.
When a man gets full it is a good
time to take his bust measure.
If a man amounts to anything he
doesn't have to boast Of his ancestors.
Truth lies at the bottom of a well,
but the angler never goes there to fish.
1t makes woman heartsick every
time she has to cut valuable piece OF
lace.
When locomotive goes off on foot
the engineer is generally carried home
in a cab.
What a nice old world this would be
if everybody were as polite as politi-
cal candidates!
Justice is so busy holding her scales
that she hasn't time to give some peO-
pie what is coming to them.
If you recommend a man for a posi-
ton it's doughnuts to fudge you will
be blamed all the rest of your natural
life if he happens to go wrong.-Chica-
go Daily News.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
Minister'S Attack ON Choir Singers.

The Rev. a. L. Moore of Atlantic
City caused a good deal of stir in the
New Jersey Baptist convention a few
days ago by making an address in
which he spoke in this way regarding
women in church choirs: "a young
lady wi b plumed hat, fearfully and
wonderfully made; a waist laced sew
eral inches less than it's natural size
and a piece of sheet music in her
hands, stands up and opens her mouth
and emits a series of noises in strained,
unnatural tones, trilling, warbling,
screaming and rolling sounds inarticu-
late, artificial, unnatural, not one OF
them expressing an honest emotion OF
the heart, but simply exhibiting the
compass of her voice, which is fire.
quently as metallic as the coin that is
paid for her performance"
A matter-of-fact nearer broadly hint
ed that Mr.. Moore was talking non
sense, because woman laced several
inches below her natural girth could
not sing a note as any physician could
tell him."
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
rha Toner and the Whisky.

Mr.. James B. Sheehen, the leader OF
the Union party in the First ward,
tells a story of an Irishman who had
become addicted to the use of strong
drink to such an extent that the priest
of the parish was called ON by his
family to get him to reform, and, aft
er much persuasion, he was induced to
Join the T. A. 7. society. A few
weeks afterward the clergyman met
him on the street carrying demijohn,
which, upon being questioned. he adj
mitted contained whisky, but said he,
the half of it belongs to my brother.
The clergyman advised him to pour it
into the street, at least his own half
Of it. "Ah, but" said he. ''your river
ence, my brothers half is on the top
Philadelphia Ledger.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
He Wasn't Fooled.

A good story has recently been re-
vived of a once famous publisher. He
was a man we'll acquainted with gener-
al literature, and it was often said of
him that he never failed to name the
author of any given passage. A would
be wit, thinking to have little fun at
this gentleman's expense, told his
friends at a dinner party before the
said publishers arrival that he had
himself written some verses in imita-
ton Of Southey, and that he intended
to puzzle old F. with the question of
their authorship.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
Practice Before a Glass.

How few women ever attain the fac
ulty of holding up the skirts on rainy
days with ease and daintiness. Al
though it is the rule to wear fiounced
underskirts that almost touch the
ground, petticoats that reach only to
the top of high boots have hitherto
been the rule; and on wet days these
are still reverted to. When out walk
ing, the clever woman arranges her
skirt, and then, with one hand, or per-
haps two, she lightly lifts it so that
it falls evenly all round. This is where
the knack comes in. To hold up q
skirt on one side and let it sweep the
ground on the other is very natural,
but it is not good taste, and when it
falls evenly all round, and the frills
Of the petticoat are almost, If not
quite, visible, the effect is charming
and dainty in the extreme.-Chicago
Post.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
THE
;, DEALERS
S TORY
3 y z. O. Ackle
Copyright, l.0l, by r. 0. Ackley
,. o. 90. .. =. o. 9. H.%.~. o.

= was one cold night just two years
so that | first noticed him. | didn't
learn his name until later. | was deal
ing roulette at that table over there, the
same as now, and had had hard day
of it-a lot Of plungers playing the linn
it, scattering bets all over the table, and
the worst of it the bank was losing
all the time.
Well, the crowd had pretty well
thlnned Quit was along toward morn
ing-when in walked young fellow
and Staked a big bet He was well
dressed, tall and slim and fine looking
any way you'd take him, but | could
see by his face and by the way he ham
died the chips that he was in some
kind Of trouble. We get so we can read
face pretty accurately-it's part Of
our business-and felt certain when l
first looked at that young man that his
closet contained pretty big skeleton of
some kind.
He played for couple of hours, scat
tering chips all over the table, never
counting a bet, and half the time he
would have played against himself if
hadn't interfered. What's that? No,
sir. l can't sit and see a man place
bets that are bound to lose for him,
and then believe I took an interest in
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
Queer Police System.

When King Edward landed at Por-
tree, in the Hebrides, the only person
in sight was the local policeman, with
whom his majesty entered into con-
versation. A correspondent, writing
about the peculiar methods Of these
guardians Of Hebridean law and order,
says:
Some years ago it transpired that
a constable who had prisoner in Gus
tody waiting for the next steamboat to
take him to the sheriff followed sin
gular plan. knowing that his prisoner
could not very well escape from the
island by swimming, he was in the
habit of letting the man free of morn
ing, with injunctions to fish for his
subsistence and to collect enough
wreckage to cook it. The penalty,
should the culprit abuse his parole,
was to lock him out for the night. This,
in the stormy times of the year, was
no slight threat, as the policeman well
knew; and no liberty was taken with
him by any prisoner while in his
charge"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
Beauties of Nature.

Georges aunt was worried because
he failed to understand or appreciate
anything not strictly practical. Har-
per,s Magazine tells of an experiment
she tried to test his aesthetic powers.
In her desire to rouse him to a per-
eeption- of better things she took him
to Niagara falls. The train brought
them into a sudden and magnificent
view of the great wonder. She
watched him closely as the moment for
the test drew near. and was delighted
to see him press his face to the win
dow, and keep it there.
Then he turned to her with beaming
countenance, and, pointing to a hill
side in the background, said: "Say.
see them ooatSr'
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
Ice Cream Croquettes.

Ice cream croquettes suggest an
anomaly, as one hardly looks for a
frozen dish in the frying kettle. But,
managed Alright, they are delicious
dessert TO make them very firm ice
cream must be used. Shape it into
croquette forms with a knife or GRO
quette mold. Roll each croquette III
the slightly beaten white of an egg and
then in powdered macaroons. The GRO
quettes may be fried or not, accord
ing to taste If they are to be fried,
put them into a wire basket and dip
them quickly into hot fat Serve with
hot chocolate sauce.-What to Eat.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
How Water Freezes.

It used to puzzle all thinking people
why ponds and rivers do not freeze
beyond a certain depth, says the Ma.
riOn Journal. Now water is at it's
heaviest when it reaches 40 de-
grees fahrenheit; that is, eight degrees
above freezing point. On a frosty
night as each top layer of water falls
to 40 degrees, it sinks to the bottom;
therefore, the whole pond has to drop
to 40 degrees before any of it can
freeze. At last it is cooled to this
point, and then ice begins to form.
But ice is very bad conductor Of
heat; therefore, it shuts off the freez-
ing air from the big body of COMPARE
lively warm water underneath. The
thicker it gets the more perfectly does
it act as a great coat. and that is why
even the Arctic ocean never freezes
beyond few feet in thickness.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
Was WILLING. to Try.

At musicale where the Rev. Thorn
as P. Mclaughlin, known as the ''sing-
ing priest of Chinatown" was guest,
a young woman, with a robust soprano
voice, did most of the entertaining.
She was very proud of her accomplish
ments and her musical education. She
sang songs IN German, Italian, French,
and English. When she appeared to
have exhausted her repertoire and the
company present were wishing for a
change in the programme, Father
Mclaughlin said:
"Why, Miss Jones, think you could
sing ad infnitum."
''I really don't know it," responded
the obliging young woman, "but if the
music is here, I'll try it."-Portland
(Ore) Evening Telegram.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18

Although he had not known the lady of
his love more than a few days and her
parents were not even aware of his ex-
istence, he presented himself one day be-
fore them and boldly asked permission
to marry their daughter. In vain the
father fumed and clustered and threat
ened to have the young man forcibly
elected from the house for his imperti-
nence. II am sorry to annoy you, sir"
the young soldier said, "but I must re-
specially decline to leave the house
until have your consent" Nor did he,
although the consent was given in these
ungracious words: well, suppose you
must have your way, but cannot COM
pliment my daughter on her choice of
mule for a husband
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18

The proposed dinner at the Newport
Clambake club fell through. Some
twenty of the young women who fire.
quent the Haymarket and some of the
similar resorts in Twenty-ninth street
were to have been present, but some
thing turned up that made it neces-
sary to call the affair off. The caterer
and the musicians had already been
engaged, and the committee was par
ticularly DESTROYS that only help be sent
to Estor's Point that "knew how to
keep their months shut" The scheme
is by no means original at Newport,
for within the last three years two
similar functions have occurred at one
Of the best-known fishing clubs near
Newport. At one of these affairs the
famous flagship Carrie, of the Kat
Bote IElCb played a prominent part
Town Topics.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
With a Free Hand.

"What are you hammering out on
your typewriter now?" asked the sal
aried contributor
II am writing an account of a
fierce combat between an English
sparrow and a rattlesnake," replied
Spacer.
(Which whipped"
Il am going to make the sparrow
whip the snake, and not only whip
him but kill him. Don't you think it
would be more exciting to have it that
way"
''Then you didn't really see the
fght?"
Certainly not. 1 don't suppose
anybody ever saw such fight. That's
why I'm writing the story. There are
no facts to hamper me."-Chicago
Tribune.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
Draining a Sea.

Chimerical schemes for the flooding
Of the Desert of Sahara have often
been discussed but far more inter
esting and useful engineering feat Of
just the opposite kind is about to be
accomplished by that most practical
of peoples. the Dutch. 1t is a
proposed scheme for pumping dry and
turning into arabic pasture land the
Zuyder Zee, that island sea which
covers over 1,400 square miles in the
heart of Holland. This undertaking,
which will take many more than
twenty years to accomplish, should
result in providing homes for $4,000
people and in adding greatly to the
wealth and prosperity of Holland, AS
an example Of the interior expansion,
this undertaking is unique in history,
and no more stupendous engineering
feat was ever planned.-Chicago Post.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
Too Swift for Him.

Not long ago bright young lawyer
whose progress was due to the celebrity
with which he disposed of cases placed
in his hands approached one Of tbs
famous leaders of the bar with a
proposition to be admitted into part
nership. ooh, yes, 1 have heard of
you," said the great legal light. "You
won that suit Of -- against heavy
odds, and from retainer to final fee
were occupied less than five weeks.
Such expedition is most reprehensible.
Why, young man, that case would
have occupied any experienced lawyer
at least two years. 1 am not prepared
to admit into partnership one who does
not understand the most important
word in the legal vocabulary-'de-
lay New York Press.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18
Peculiar Tree In India.

There is a peculiar tree in the for
ests Of central India which has most
curious characteristics. The leaves Of
the tree are of highly sensitive ma
ture, and so full of electricity that
whoever touches one of them receives
an electric shock. 1t has a very sin
gular effect upon magnetic needle,
and will influence it at a distance of
even seventy feet. The electrical
strength of the tree varies according
to the time of day, it being strongest
at midday aod weakest at midnight.
In wet weather it's power disappears
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-12-18

that young fellow right from the start.
Anyway | rather wanted him to win.
And he did win. No matter how reck-
less he played he didn't seem able to
lose.
After that he dropped in pretty regu-
lar, always playing in the same listless
way, not even looking up when the ball
stopped and the strangest part of it.
! hardly ever losing bet.
It ran along in this way about six
months, and although he didn't show it
much each day could see some fresh
indication Of the fast life he was lead
ing. And it worried me good deal.
Not that it's an uncommon thing in
this business to see young fellow go
ing down the line, but somehow this
young man seemed different; just slip
ping along so quiet like, down, down,
all the time. The worst of it was he
seemed to realize it himself, but didn't
care, and then any one could see that
he wasn't made for that kind of life.
He had always come in alone, and one
night I was surprised to see that he
was accompanied by a young man
about his own age. They both came
over to my table and bought stack of
chips. For, some time they played in 81
lence; then the stranger said abruptly,
"By the way, Allen, | heard something
the other day about that pretty Bernice
Arthur you used to be so intimate
with
Aliens face turned a shade whittier,
but he answered quietly enough,
"What is it?'
"You haven't heard? She's to marry
a fellow by the name of Franklin-im-
mensely rich, they say. The wedding
takes place this fah.''
Aliens face had grown as white as
chalk, and his hand trembled as he
suddenly pushed his whole stack OF
chips over on the red. | spun the
wheel, and he lost. And when he lost
that bet, sir, although I'm not very SUI
perstitious. 1 felt sure his luck would
change for the worse, and it did. More
over, from that on there was marked
change in the man. He was dissipating
more than ever.
It was the last night of the carnival
they hold a street carnival here every
fall. The play had been pretty heavy
all day, but about o'clock, when the
crowd had thinned out, Allen walked
in. He laid 500 bill on the black and
in low voice said: MY last dollar.
Black / live Red-well, why not?
Chance has decided the fate of far
greater things"
l rolled the wheel. The little ball
rolled around the groove. We both
watched it in breathless silence. Know
ing the man as did, felt sure his life
hung on the chance. He had come to
the end of his rope and staked all. Sud
denly and with a sharp click the little
ball struck the diamond. bounded and
rolled off, struck again, then glided into
the black, only to be thrown out again,
roll partly around the Wheel then set
tie down, '"Twenty-one, red" He had
lost!
For a moment he stood there. look