davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16
The Ransom of an OVercoat.
BY JAMES BUCHANAN.

D JAME<o oOSf1A1NA4N-
Copyright 1902, by Daily Story Pub. Co)
Mr.. E. Wilbert Marsh sailed forth
one morning, with a brand new light
overcoat thrown jauntily over his left
arm. About half way between his
lodging house and the station where
he was wont to climb up to thAt
abominable Inconvenience, the "efe-
vated," he observed a young lady
dart down the front steps of one of
the most imposing and least faxed
of the veneered brown-fronts. She
carried a letter in her hand. On her
head was nothing but a great glo-
rfous mass of piled-up saffron hair.
She was strikingly pretty and strik-
ingly conscious of the fact, If one
might judge from her makeup and
manner. 1t was evident that she was
bound for the nearest letter-box.
Hardly, however had the. little kid
slippers of this pleasing damsel trip
ped along the pavement a dozen
yards when, with the exasperating un-
expectedness which nature sometimes
displays in her most perverse moods,
it began to rain. The attractive fig
ure stopped short, wavered a mo-
ment and then turned back-just in
time to meet young Marsh, struggling
to raise his umbrella over his $25
overcoat.
With a silvery laugh and, apparent
ly the most perfect Inconsistencies
of any impropriety in thus accosting
a stranger, the girl exclaimed:
How student"
f. Wilbert Marsh smiled, and rails
ed his hat with gratif1ed blush.
Would you have the kindness to
drop my letter in the first box you
pass?" asked the girl, putting the
little square missive into the young
mans hand, and gathering her skirts
preparatory to flight. The next in
slant she fed, rustling and laughing,
back to the shelter of the brown stone
front, and E. Wilbert Marsh found
himself saying with pleasure." to
the empty air. The young lady look
ed back as she was vanishing and
nodded. Il woader if she would rec
ogniZe me, if she met me again?'
unused Marsh. Then he walked brisk
ly on.
The rattle of an approaching train
fell on his ear. He had just time to
reach the station and catch it. There
would not be another train for five
minutes. and it happened that he was
somewhat late that morning. With an
inward vow that he would mail the
young lady's letter Immediately on
leaving the car, he made a wild dash
for the stairway and rushed upon the
platform of the nearest car just as
the guard was closing the gate Then
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16
CHINESE AND HIS PEN.
Little Anecdote that Shows Deftness
of the Oriental.

A certain newspaper man, who was
induced to try" a stylographic pen,
got it out of order by reckless treat
ment, and took it to a pen-shop for
repair. The man there soon showed
him that there was nothing serious the
matter with it, the only trouble being
that he had neglected to do some little
thing in using it. Then he began to
take the pen apart for the newspaper
mans instruction, so that he might
see how very simple a thing it is
'Simple!" cried the indignant owner
of the instrument, cit is as complicat-
ed as Chinese puzzle! 1 don't won
der that l can't make it go when
l want it to-"
The penman laughed
You remind me-" he said, "that
there is Chinese in this town who
used stylographic regularly. He came
here to buy one several months ago,
and when 1 showed it to him he began
to take it all apart. l hurriedly
stopped him, supposing that he would
do it an injury, but he at once put
down the value of the pen, saying
that it was his. and then continued
his dissection of it 1 give you my
word that he handled that pen more
deftly than the man who made it,
and in five minutes he had it put to-
gether again, so that it worked better
than 1T did at first. Those fellows
beat the world at understanding little
details. Now. an Irishman or an
American beg your pardon-could
never have done that; and, remem-
Der, 1T was the first pen of the kind
the Chinese ever saw."-Philadelphia
Record.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16
Fruit Notes.

From the most recent weekly re-
ports issued by the Climate and Crop
Service of the Weather Bureau, we
gather the following information con-
corning fruit prospects:
Georgia = Peaches, apples, pears
and plums continue to rot and these
fruits are below normal in quality and
quantity The dry weather has given
decided set back to the water melon
crop.
Ilinois.-The apple crop ranges
from very poor to very fine. In some
localities the prospects have been Inn
proved by the rain. Though in some
places the peach prospects are fair.
they are generally very poor.
Iowa.-The average condition OF
apples is 65, plums so, grapes 65.
Maryland and Delaware.-A further,
thought slight, decrease in fruit pros
poets is noted throughout the section,
due to continued falling and to
measurable loss of good fruit by
wind gusts. Some spraying is being
done in the orchards of Washington
county Early apples are now ripe,
with poor to medium yields, affording
an ample supply for home use in most
localities, but not many for market.
Peaches continue to drop freely, ex-
cept in the southeast where they are
holding fairly well and still promise
moderately good yields. Some april
cots are now ripe in Prince Georges
county Japan plums are ripening in
Cecil, and are falling off freely in
Anne Arundel.
Michigan.-Cherries are yielding
only moderately and in some cases
poorly. Plums indicate a light crop,
but apples, pears and peaches COM
tinue promising.
Missouri--The apple crop continues
to decline and little more than one
third of a crop for the state is now
indicated.
nnsylvania--Apples and peaches
are dropping in nearly all sections;
cherries are good in some districts
and in others failure; and the con-
ditiOns are not such as to warrant
expectations of the usual berry crop.
Higher temperatures are needed to
promote growth and maturity.
Observation-Disclosures cherries,
currants and other small fruits have
ripened very rapidly and improved
somewhat in quality during the past
few days. The prospects for apples
is generally discouraging although in
some localities the crop will be fair
Cranberries are in good condition.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16
On Ducks.

From Farmers Review: The idea
that a duckling covered only with
down if allowed to get entirely wet
is a dead duck is prevalent and really
good it is that everyone almost be-
heves this. The down, If it gets en-
tirely wet, is quite while in drying,
So long that the duck is very apt to
chill; after it is feathered they shed
the water, thus protecting the down,
so it is doubtful if ever feathered
ducks down gets wet A down
clothed duckling might enjoy itself
in water, not cold, of a warm sunny
day, with only benefit derived from
the exercise, but how many would
watch that they got to swimming wa
ter only in such favorable times!
Thus it is best to not allow ducklings
water in which they can swim; nor
allow them to be out in the rain until
after they are feathered. But don't
forget they must have water In
deep vessel, deep enough for them to
cover their entire bill above the nos
trils. If this is neglected the nostril
openings will get clogged with feed
and dirt and the duck will die. This
is the only way they have of blowing
their nose. Ducks blow their nose
with water and hens battle in dust,
but both require lots of grit and char
coal. Little chicks and ducks require
their grit to be in the shape of coarse
sand, or at least large part of it to
be sand. Don't let the downy duck
lings bathe in water or get caught
in the rain; they won't come IN; II
might not hurt them We have had
some that thrived on it, but it is
risky.-Emma Clearwaters-
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16
Four Kinds oil Patrons.

A speaker at a dairymen conven-
ton described four kinds OF patrons
of the creamery: l. The model pa
tron, the man with first-class barns,
first-class cows and first-class feed. To
these are added first-class methods.
e. The dairyman that has al the ap-
pliances named above, but has poor
methods 8. The man that mas good
cows and good barns but cares moth
ing about feed or methods. trying to
get the most money out of the cream
cry possible for the least work. 4.
The farmer that has poor harms, poor
cows, poor feed and poor methods. He
generally produces poor mllk and lit
tie of it
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16

The crimson clover" used as cul-
tivator. is charming for lawn borders
or the rear sections of narrow lots 1t
may be successfully transplanted,
with careful treatment, and will prove
a revelation to many people. The
blossom is vivid crimson, long, point
ed. and makes the prettiest of bou-
c-:ets-
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16
Bitter Rot of the Apples.

A word now should be said upon
the common name. Very commonly
the infected flesh of an apple is dis
tinctly bitter to the taste, but there is
much variation in this. Sometimes
the bitterness is very slight, in other
cases almost equal to quinine. But
such bitterness sometimes results
also from other causes. Other fungi
produce similar taste in the affected
fruit, though those usually attacking
stored apples have no such effect The
musty flavor due to common molds is
altogether different. If the word bit
ter is not always characteristic, the
word rot is not especially appropriate.
The affected tissues are never slushy-
soft There is indeed no extra ac-
cumulation or Incorporation of water.
The spot is hard and firm and at
length becomes sunken somewhat
from the shrinkage of the drying pulp
of the fruit. There is no odor. The
apple seems to be converted into q
semi-woody substance which is re-
sistent of decay. 1t is in this condi-
ton that the shriveled fruit remains
for year or more attached by its
dead stem to the twig, or endures for
a similar length of time upon the
ground. If, however, the affected
fruit is neither constantly bitter nor
really rotten, still the name is as ap-
propriate as any that can probably be
found and is certainly better than
that of ripe rot' which has been pro-
posed.-Prof. T. ]. Burri1l.
Bitter rot of the apple is directly
due to a vegetable parasite which,
starting from spore lodged upon the
Of he in,
made by other instrumentalities
grows in the pulpy tissues of the
fruit and in a few days bears another
crop of spores, by means of which
the process may be indefinitely re-
peated-
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16
Good for Her.

The Living Church quotes this from
a Connecticut woman's diary, dated
1790- I'VE had roast pork for dinner.
and Dr. s.. who carved, held up q
rib on his fork. and said: Here. Ia
dies, is what Mother Eve was made
Of Yes, said Sister Patty, and it's
from very much the same kind az
critte--'
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16

Enormous Consumption of Cheese.
Great Britain and Ireland import
about 2e5 900, 900 pounds of cheese
each year. Canada supplies about 60
per cent of the whole.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16
Water in Butter.

The government is taking steps to
regulate the amount of water that can
be incorporated with butter-at least
butter that has been reworked and
that is known as renovated butter.
The government is not at all certain
as to what percentage of water should
be allowed, but the department
having the matter in charge is in
c1ined to fix 16 per cent as the out
side limit of water allowable. The
Department of Agriculture holds to
the opinion that no butter should con-
tain in excess of Is per cent of water.
The water in the best made butter
will run from 10 to IL per cent and
the experts believe that three per cent
is enough margin to leave. 1t is re-
ported that 16 per cent is the limit
fixed by the English government re-
Gently, though the amount in some
English butter is far in excess of that.
In some cases water has been pur-
posely incorporated with the butter,
which is thing easy to do under GER
tain conditions. 1t is an easy way Of
increasing the bulk and weight of re-
worked butter, though doubtless 1T de-
creases its keeping quality.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16

he slipped the letter into his over
coat pocket, and straightway did what
all men do under such circumstances
forgot it.
Presently another young man left
his seat, came up the aisle, and stood
smiling down upon Marsh. "Goirs to
the ball game, this afternoon" he
asked.
Why, hello!" replied Marsh, recog-
nfzing chum in whose company he
had aforetime done his part toward
hoarseiy eulogizing the national
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1902-08-16
SCORING Milk.

8. C.. Keith: The Hanford-Hazle-
wood Cream company in Iowa have a
method of scoring milk as butter
judges score butter, and there is some
little rivalry among milk producers
to see who will receive the highest
average score; they take pride in
sending milk that will score high. l
do not know whether it is practicable
or not, but 1 honestly believe that If
we could to-day pay for milk by what
it scored, and if we had a good score
system, we would see them fall into
line. The surest way to get good re-
suits is through a mans pocketbook; !;
if you can make him realize that it
will benefit him financially and that
it is for mis- interest to send in good
milk they will soon fall into line;
they will wash their cows three times
a day if necessary, but ii he thinks
you get all there is and they get
nothing they win not want to do any
thing for you
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-07
SOME WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
DESCRIPTIONS OF HOMES OF SOME
NOTED PEOPLE.

Individuality in the Railways of
HOuses-It Was the Boast of Con-
gressman De Graffenried, Who
Died I'm Washington the other Day,
That He Had Never Been III "A Day
in His Life-In Texas He Was
Pfney wOods"-Mr. Bryan's COmeIy
Daughter-Other Matters of Special
Interest.
Washington, Sept. 3.-Tf one had been
called upon at the close of the last
Congress to designate its members who
would not be likely to return by rea-
son of death Representative Reese De
Graffenreid would have been the very
last to be thought of in that connec-
ton. Only 43 years old, a giant in
stature, broad-shouldered and brawny,
weighing nearly three hundred pounds,
his proudest boast was that he had
never been i'll day in his life. Aside
from unusual size, his most striking
characteristics were flashing black
eyes, perfect name of black hair,
never clipped close in the prevailing
fashion, heavy black mustaches that
the pirate Blackboard" might have
envied, an abrupt, out-spoken manner
that sometimes made him enemies, and
a genial good temper that won him
many more friends. All over the great
state of Texas he was affectionately
known as THE Black Eagle of the
Piney Woods" 1t is hard to realize
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-07

simple tale was received whenever he
offered it for consumption.
Perpetual Season
If the season ever may be said to be
dead, it is dead from the beginning of
December to the last week in Febru-
airy. During that time only the hardy
ones 90 forth. Clad in oilskins and
boots, they shiver off the Coney Island
beach, over the Rockaway shoals and
Tar off shore for miles down the New
Jersey coast, angling for the useful but
not brilliant Goldfish and ling.
Washington birthday is the opening
of the real season. Then the fleets go
forth to seek the spring run of cod
and ling and hake. The trains roll cut
loaded with men who aim to capture
the founders. All around New York
there is no vessel so mean that it is
not eligible as a receptacle for as many
anglers as can crowd into il.
The number of founder fishermen
that crowd into any particular boat
when the rush is on is estimated sim
ply and beautifully on the basis of the
, room in it. Abstract questions of buoy
ancy and seaworthiness do not enter
the problem except occasionally, when
a fault finding curmudgeon happens to
be of the party.
Why several hundred do not drown
each week is past finding out. New
York's salt water angler, as a class. is
too deeply occupied with speculations
as TO catching fish to devote much time
or attention TO the means; and he goes
forth, with supreme unconsciousness of
danger, in craft whose condition would
make an old sailor shudder il he saw
them essay 10 cross a duck pond In a
fiat calm. Shops whose every timber
bear convincing testimony 10 their
having been launched from Ararat be-
fore the water subsided: tugs that roll
guards under IN the wash from a fer
ryboat; launches that toss as cratic
ally as an empty barrel rOwboats
whose lines are appallingiy and pro-
phetically cofiin-like-all 20 out filed
with tfustful persons with 6shrods.
and ~ prove that truth is stranger
than h0ion they always return.
There has been only one really great
accident 20 fishing parties Do New
York waters in many years. This exc
caption Was the captlxinF ~ the tuR-
boat Alchols on sandy Hook.
There ars a. least two hundred
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-07
BY JULIUS w. MULLER.

New York is unique among the cities
of the world for the wonderful number
of anglers who go out daily to fish in
the sea purely for sport.
1t is impossible to make any estimate
of their numbers that shall be more
than fairly exact, for they go out in
every kind of marine vehicle from
handsome, especially built and equip
ped double-deck wheelers to glar-
ingly inadequate scows, that are but
doubtful Improvements over the primi-
tive dugout.
Several thousand go out daily in the
regular fishing banks steamers. The
railroads that run to the various fish
ing stations on Staten Island, Sandy
Hook and the Highlands, the Long
Island Sound, and the great bays on
the south shore of Long Island, carry
10000 anglers every day in the season,
according to a moderate estimate made
for this article by the traffic manager
of one of the lines. In the rush
days" either when there is a holiday in
the good fishing season, or when there
happens to be an unusual run of fiodn-
ders, weak fish or porgies, the number
is more than trebled.
In such favorite waters as Jamaica
Bay which lies partly in the bound
aries of the city, II is common matter
TO count as many as a hundred boa.s
filled with anglers within view from
any of the faVorite lighthouses.
In the early spring and again IN the
autumn, when the fiat founder begins
10 bite. many of the railroads send out
founder trains" early in the morning
for the sole accommodation Of anglers.
They are crowded TO the guards every
time
To the salt water angler the season
- all the year. There never has been a
snow storm 50 fierce that search would
not have disclosed some hopeful spirits
casting the Zine into the sea on New
York II r. 81 record that during the
famous blizzard ~ 'ss an amateur an
gler u parts caught "a goldfish on the
point Of Roadway Beach. That an
ger f. dead nOw-driyen 40 bis grave.
4 eaia, ~ the geers with nhleh his
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-07

over the death of Julia Lamont,
daughter of Col Daniel S. Lamont,
who was President Cleveland's secre-
tary of war. She was believed to be
recovering from an illness of many
months and entirely out of danger,
when she suddenly entered the Eternal
Sleep, at Sorrento, Maine, where she
had been taken to hasten GONZALES
cence. She was just Is and would have
graduated last June, had not illness
overtaken him. The Lamont children
were familiar figures here during the
Cleveland administration, especially
Julia, who was daily seen crossing La
fayette Square to the White House
from their residence opposite, her arms
laden with dolls and toys, going to
visit Ruth Cleveland and play on the
White House lawn, or in the wonder
full nursery, walled with pictures that
children love.
BY the way, another nice-looking
Ruth" who barely missed being a
White House girl, has been attract
ing considerable attention in Washing
ton of late. She is the 17-year-old
daughter of William Jennings Bryan,
who has been visiting relatives here
until called home for the opening of
the University of Nebraska, on Sept.
g., of which institution she is a stu
dent. The young lady has her moth
er's soft brown eyes and is short and
stocky, like her father, and manifest
ly entertains the opinion that papa"
is the greatest man in America.
Capt. Richmond P. Hobson, u. S. N,
and his sister have been making the
gayest kind of visit at Annapolis
and Washington. Life among the navy
people, especially at Annapolis, is a
continuous merry go-round of dinners,
dances, tennis, golf, ping-pong parties
and the latest fad of moonlight bath
ing. The redoubtable Richmond, hero
of the Mefrimac at Santiago, is still
somewhat inclined to enact the role
of lion; but how can the poor fellow
help it, when everywhere he goes peo-
pie are bent on lionizing him?
If the candidacy of the Hon David
B. Hill depended upon female votes,
he would better nip his boom" in the
bud. DO you know what the ladies
are saying of him? They say that
man who has never kissed a woman
and is ungallant enough to admit it,
is certainly not fit to be President Of
the United States.
I have been making a study of the
Railways of some famous houses, as
indicating the character, or rather the
individuality, OF the occupants. Ger
tainly the hallway of house ought to
be considered the kenynote to the taste
Of the dwellers within. OF course. il
would be unfair to apply this estimate
to those statesmen and their wives
who come TO Washington only for the
sessions of Congress and rent houses
or fats already furnished. The place
10 them Is simply a sort OF private no.
tel. whose draperIes and furnishings
represent the taste Of some local own
er or real estate man, and though The
tables and chairs represent an styles
and epochs and the coiors Of dfaperles
and carpets obviously "cuss" one am
other, they tolerate u without "A MUIR
Wuf. But there are famous people
from on parts Of the country whore
lines are east 10 fhe nationals capital
for considerable length ~ time ana
Who, therefore. bay o. lease q tempe
fafy home here and furnish IL IS care.