davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
An Editor In D,fi~unies.

All pressmen are acquainted with the
difficulties of newspaper production,
but the Mafeking Mail appears to have
had an exceptionally bad time. 1t
apologies for the paucity Of news on
account of the general breakdown OF
its staff. I'VE are sorry" it says, but
VIC could not help it. One OF the stan
had rheumatics and partial paralysis
Of the. shoulder, another has had
few days collie, and yet another could
not come to work because his child
was dangerously i'll. One left with
out notice and paid e2 for an inter-
view with the resident magistrate in
consequence, and another seized the
opportunity to break into teetoatlism.
while more terrible still, one OF our
best went and got married" Such
a chapter of accidents could hardly
have been surpassed during the siege.
London Chronicle.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
PECULIAR PHENOMENON
Persons Who Appear to Hear What One
10 Thinking.

persons VINO appear 10 HeaF "'s"s O"o
is Thinking.
81 have noticed one rather peculiar
thing about the tunes which are heard
in the streets of Cities" said a man
with a leaning toward speculative sci
ence, "and that is a rather singular I'M
consciousness in the matter of imitat-
ing sounds, such as popular airs, and so
forth. / have found myself doing ex-
aotly the very thing, and suppose 9TH
er men have had the same experience.
For instance, / have suddenly found
myself humming or whistling in very
low key some popular air, or some
times l would suddenly thrum the scale
oe a familiar tune, and before walking
two blocks some other fellow would be
whistling the same thing loud enough
to be heard at least half block away.
Did he cause me to think of the tune
or to hum it? Or did my thinking
or humm:ng influence bin? So far as
my experience goes, in instances or
hearing anything that would even sug-
get the scale that would bob up in my
mind.
There could be nothing in the ordi-
nary disturbances of the street, incl
dent to traffic, rumbling wagons and
cars, shifting and shambling feet, and
things of that sort, to develop the idea
OF the particular harmony which sud-
denly came to my mind. If the man
began to whistle the air before | be-
gan to think about it, did l hear him
without being conscious Of the fact?
Did the inaudible waves of the tune
strike the drums of my ears without
any sort of consciousness of the sound
on my part? These questions | can
not answer All l know is that the
thing has happened, and it has hap
pened too often to be put down as a
mere coincidence. My thinking may
have started the man to whistling, or
his whistling may have started me to
thinking in some mysterious way. If
the man whistled what thought, why
did he do it? 1t must be some sort of
mental teiegraphy with little sound
waves of too delicate nature to be au-
dible as a means of communication. Or
are we getting SO wise that we can
hear each other think? Curious thing.
isn't it?"-New Orleans Times-Demo-
! crat
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
Art and Anthracite.

If what have written thus far reads
iike jeremiade, it is fair to say that.
in the opinion Of many who have to
live in 1t, the soft coal smoke is not SO
black as painted. Your true Pitts
burger glories in his city's SCOT, for 1t
means business, prosperity, comfort
as one goes along. and opportunity to
escape by and by.
Great artists from abroad are apt to
take sides with him. The soft coal
towns have what American landscape
generally lacks-atmosphere and aerial
perspective. Our Eastern cities-New
York in especial-have always been
distinguished by an almost disagree
able clarity and brilliance. Everything
looks fresh. One who came recently
from a Western city to Boston said
that he was impressed much as a
miner would be who should be brought
straight out of coal shaft into a
theatre. The glitter was astounding.
In Chicago and other soft coal cities the
interplay of smoke ard sunlight daily
gives color such as has rarely been
seen in our untinged air. This is the
sort of color that Svend Svensen revels
mover all haze of burnt sienna hue,
and on sidewalk or snow the delicate
purple shadows. The gold and copper
of the afternoon light is often tropical
in its fullness. We shall see greater
glories, even If We pay larger laundry
bills.-Boston Transcript.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
ATE THE RAILS.


Hungry Wolves Stopped Traffic ON an
Early Northwestern Railroad.
About 1872 one Of the first railroads
CT the northwest was built in the ter
ritory of Washington from Walla !.
Walla to Wallula, along the banks OF
the Walla Walla river, and following
the general line of what is now the
Oregon Railway and Navigation COM
pany's road between those points. The
road was q primitive affair, and was
built, owned and operated by DR.. Ba-
ker of Walla Walla. 1t had no Pull
man cars, chair cars or buffet cars,
and the day coaches were mostly plat
form or nat cars. Instead Of having O
right of way the road had permission
to go through the fields of the farm
ers. Consequently the road was not
q rapid transit one, as the train hands
had to get off and lay down the rail
fences and put them up again after
the train had passed through.
The roadbed was constructed by lay.
ing crosscies six or eight feet apart,
and on those laying wooden stringers
Tor rails. The heavy traffic over the
road caused the rails to weaken in
SPOTS so that train wrecks and smash
ups were of daily occurrence. These
were not serious, for when the train
crew saw wreck coming their way
they would hop on and let it wreck.
The annoyances. however, soon be-
came detrimental to the inc ests o.
shippers, so the owners had to devise
some means of overcoming the diff
Guilty. Rails of standard railroad iron
were out of the question, as they had
to be shipped the Horn around" and
freighted by wagon quite a distance.
Strap iron could not be had. The doc
tor, with Yankee shrewdness, finally
hit upon the happy idea Of substituting
rawhide for strap iron. Cattle were
plentiful and rawhide cheap, so the
doctor soon had his track layers at
work putting the rawhide on the wood
en- stringers. The rawhide soon became
dry and as hard as iron, and answered
the purpose admirably during the dry
! weather.
The waiter succeeding the laying OF
| the rawhide track was a severe one for
that part of the country. The snow
lay on the ground for several weeks.
The wolves were driven from the
mountains by the deep snow and Skin
mished for living as best they could
in the valleys. When the snow began
to melt it softened the rawhide rails
and the hungry wolves soon found the
tracks. When spring came and the
snow had melted the wolves had eaten
up the railroad track from Walla
Walla to Wallula.-Bufalo Express.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
The Tongue of Ru,nor.

The tongue of rumor is like sharp
instrument in the hand of the stealthy
assassin. 1t inficts wound against
which the victim has no defense, for
it is aimed by hand concealed. Many
innocent ones have suffered. peaceful
homes have been rent asunder, count
less hearts broken and friendships de-
stroyed by it. Shakespeare likens the
author of the runor to a thief, and this
is not so strong a delineation of such
a character. He who steals my purse
steals trash, but he who robs me OF
my good name takes that which meier
enriches him, but leaves me poor in
deed"
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
Invented the Ulster.

A story is told to prove that DOM.
xetti was the inventor of the ulster.
One day at Paris ne sent for the tailor
to measure him for an overcoat. The
tailor found him at the piano surrey
dering himself to the rapture CT com.
position. Nevertheless, he was persuad
ed to quit the beloved instrument and
deliver himself up to the man of tape
and chalk. The tailor made the first
measurements, and then STOPPING
began to take the length of the gar.
ment. ITO the knee, SIR" he said
timidly. Lower, lower" answered
the composer in dreamy voice. The
tailor brought the measure half way
down the leg and paused inquiringly.
Lower, Iower,. The tailor reached
the ankles. Lower, lower" But
sir, you whit be able to walk
walk, walk! who wants to walk?r
with an ecstatic lifting of the arms
Il never walk; l soar"
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
No Help for IT.
I have a surprise for you

81 have surprise for YOU
. AS Won Blumer spoke his face.
beamed, while Mrs. Won Blumer took
on an air Of mingled resignation and
hopelessness that came naturally to
her from long experience.
81 hope" she said, that it is some
thing different from the common run
of your surprises"
1T is indeed" replied her husband.
Its grand, it's stupendcus. The fact
is, my dear, you are tired out. You
need rest; you need quiet. You need
to be alone awhile, amid strange
scenes of real interest. / have there
fore prepared a little trip for you."
Mrs. Won Blumer looked resigned.
"sThere?" she asked
ITO Canada" said Won Blumer.
Nov, don't say nc, for I've already
bought the ticket"
He displayed as. he spoke long
strip of printed paper.
You leave tomorrow for Montreal.
After browsing around that wonder
full place for few days you go to the
quaint old town of Quebec, then back
up the St. Lawrence, through the
Thousand Islands, Lake Ontario and
home-picturesque, beautiful, enchant.
ing-what do you saw"
Are you mad?" she exclaimed
do you think that I would make a
trip like that alone? Never!"
Her husband rose and faced her
you refused" he cried. Very well
madam. But never forget that it was
I that asked you. planned for you
Now, If only to save tina. ticket, will
go myseIf!"-New York Herald.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
Grading Cream.

To pay the same price for rancid
cream as for sweet cream is manifestly
unfair and ruinous to the whole BUSH
ness. To absolutely reject all of grade
c,eam will improve the grade Of but
ter made. But off favored cream has
some value, although less value than
good cream. Only three things are
possible-mix all together and dam
age the whole churning, return the
pcor grade and lose the patronage and
insure heavy loss to the patron, or
grade and lay for each grade according
to approximate value.
It takes a man with q trained nose
and trained taste to grade cream. 1t
can be done by mechanical tests, but
practically the human senses are to be
relied upon, and man without these
senses well developed is out of place
In a creamery. We are speaking of
gathered cream plants, and believe that
All ambition to get into the best class,
best in honors and best in payment,
can be stimulated among the patrons,
and that time put in showing the pa
tron how he can get there and stay
there will be very profitably spent.
This Is something more than theory,
for it has been made an accomplished
fact in so many cases that it must be
acknowledged to be practical. We do
not mean that grading cream, holding
IL different watts and churning sepa-
rately, have become every day prac-
tees in creameries, but that keeping
out the worst and churning it after
ward can be done, and that rushing
direct for the home of patron with
a road horse and road cart has done
wonders il improving the cream o.
those patrons. In all such cases The
rutter maker should not stop to argue
or talk much, but speak to the poin
and leave at once without listening tt
excuses or terminating palaver.-
Creamery Journal
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
Investing In q Farm.

The beginner on farm usually es-
Inmates the cost of the farm as the
largest expenditure, but farm is an
incumbrance if the owner has not
sufficient capital to derive the most
from the land. There is heavy out
lay to be considered for buildings,
horses, cattle, wagons, machinery i'm
elements, seeds and labor. The cost
for the first year may exceed the val
ne of the farm itself. 1t is better to
begin with a small farm where the
capital is limited than to undertake
TOO much and lose all by going into
debt.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
oxcrreelinr of Chickens.

The overlooking of chickens so sell
strange tor call attention to it, but over
feeding in connection with too little
exercise is so common that many
might profit by considering the ques-
ton. Feed the chickens with liberal
diet of cornmeal, mash, oats, bran and
middlings, and if they do not take too
much exercise they will become dumpy
and heavy, and some will actually die
over night without any apparent cause.
Some chickens are naturally active
enough to take all the exercise they
need to keep their systems in good
condition, but there are others consti-
tutionally lazy, and they will fatten
themselves to death, and never at
tempt to work off the great amount of
food accommodating in their systems
They become lazier the more they eat
OF the heavy food. One must in such
instances either reduce the quantity
and quality of the food or make the
chickens take more exercise. Inc lat
ter is not always satisfactory because
OF the effect it has upon their egg lay
ing.
The best method is to Study the food
question. We must learn something
about the individuality OF our focks
in order 10 understand their needs
properly Some breeds are SO much
mere acti7e and nervous than other:
that t...a s-@lz 12-2- 81 ire3-.z-sl4
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
Mere s,pinian.

Every man has a gift Of some kind
but the trouble with most gifts is thai
they have no market value.
Few people under the age OF 40 are
satisfied with the names their parents
gave them.
Nine men out of ten would rather
hnd 500 worth of gold in an old poi
ttan to have written Paradise Lost
Some men are more anxious to be
heard than to be respected.
The woman who worries over leav.
ing her children to the care of nurse
doesn't get very far into society nova.
days.
A man who can sit and fish for si1
hours at a stretch without bits
would get all out OF patience if he hat
to mind the baby 10 milutes.- Chicags
= e~>A -
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
Birds and Weed Seeds.

y While all birds aid the farmer in de-
stroying insects it remains for num-
her of them to eat weed seeds and
thus help keep the weeds in check.
The family of birds that do the most
toward this are the native sparrows.
The English sparrow is not to be
classed with them in this regard. Eng
Iish sparrows do harm, also, when in
large numbers, in driving away the
native birds from their nesting places,
thus exposing them and their young
to danger in more exposed nesting
sites. They. also eat grain and are
more harmful than beneficial.
On the other hand, the song, vesper
and chipping sparrows, as well as the
field bunting, consume great quantities
of weed seeds from the time they first
rjpen until late In the fall, and the
song and tree sparrows with the snow
bird practically subsist on them during
the winter.
The redwinged blackbird also eats
large quantities of weed seeds, and the
meadow lark and brown thrasher both
consume some during certain seasons
Of the year.
It is pleasant to see and hear these
birds, but it is pleasanter still to real
lie that they are preventing the growth
OF a great deal of noxious vegetation.
III. E. Haydock. in New York Tri-
hume and Farmer.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

Tess-Why do you dislike him so?
Jess-Oh, he says such hateful
things He told me last evening that
beauty was only skin deep, and
Tess-And you Immediately proceed
&c to show him how thin-skinned you
were-Philadelph Press.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

Confucius had just received licking
from his father. He sat down to de-
liberate, but for certain reasons i'm
mediately stood up. Furtively looking
at the old man he was heard to muir
muir. worship your ancestors, or your
ancestors will horsewhip you." Hence
the Confucian philosophy.-Brooklyn
Life.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

The Dirt Mover states that por.
ton of tusk of an American masto-
don was recently discovered IA feet
below the surface by railway graders.
near Harlan. Iowa. The circumfer-
ence of the tusk at either end is IL
inches. and the unbroken portion is
6 feet in length and weighs about Sc
pounds
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
lE{]AIERF2S
MC,(glF{(!lIEfR2
Fconomv on the Farm.

The science of successful farming,
as we'll as success in any other line,
recognizes the all-important factor OF
economy. Everything must be made
use Of; nothing be allowed to go to
waste. The bran of the mill must be
turned into feed, the manure to soil
and so on; everything must be put to
use.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
His Art.

"Oh, Mr.. Growelle," gushed Miss
Nupson, how did you ever learn to
paint such beautiful pietures?'
" Iasked man once" replied the ar
fist. and he told me how."-Indian-
arcl.s News.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25

Currie-Bighead is quite a charac-
ter, is he rot?
Peters-Ies. He is one of those fell
lows that are willing to make fools
OF themselves to show their individual
ity.-Judge.
The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25
AWoman's Crown.

& woman's idea OF a crown comes
pretty near to being one of nice curly
Lss.rr.-slsY x2.) I-sSs.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-15
CASTRO BECAME ENRAGED
WHEN THE MOB SUGGESTED AT
TACK UPON FOREIGN RESIDENTS.
Addressing a Great Conoourse Of His
People He Counseled Prudence
and His Eloquence Prevailed.

Caracas. December 1.-THE news Of the
hombs rdment Of Puerto Cnbelo caused the
most intense excitement here The popu-
lation flocked into the streets and patri-
otto demonstrations continued all night
An immense crowd. whose numbers are es-
timated at more than 10000, gathered in
front Of the presidential palace and called
on President Castro to appear Some OF
the orators among the concourse having nd
vocated reprisals against the foreigners
resident On Venezuela, President Castro
In rage at the suggestion. refused the
demands, in the following speech
"Citizens: The size Of nations, Ike the
s'ze Of men s measured only By thor
acts. Those born brave prove their valor
on the battlefield. not against the defense
less citizens. who. perhaps, are innocent,
who are in their hearts With us and who
are ashamed OF the lnfamy of their com
patriots.
1--WE win seek prisoners for Venezuelan
tails on the hattched our action viii
be directed only against those who come
armed However great may be our IN
dignatlon. we must behave as a cultured
and civilized people, especially now. and
when the most powerful nations Of Europe
are behaving Ike real ssvsgeA counsel
the greatest prudence, in order not 10 aban.
don our rights, the Justice Of our cause
and our reputation.
THE good name Of Venezuela must re-
main secure whatever emergencies may
ARISE in the struggle II we fell II will
be sloriously and heroically, but assure
you that our country win be saved, be-
cause the Supreme Being above, who sees
and directs all can not abandon Us In
this fatal emergency, justice and right be-
ing on our side
II. who never trembled before danger,
swear | will fulnll my duty aud joyfully
sacrifice my life for the honor and dig
nifty Of the nation. | recommend great
clrcumspection. prudence and even cordi-
atty, so that strangers resident in or
country, Americans. French. Italians. Span
iards and even the Germans and English,
may be the first TO proclaim in the face
Of the world that Venezuela is a cultured
and civilized nation.
The speech Was applaudeh and pro
cesdon Of whites and negroes troyersed
the city without an act Of violence bc.ug
committed.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-15
READY FOR ARBITRATION
BRITAIN WILL AcCEDE TO AN AMER
lCAN SUGGESTION.
Probable That Gernn' ny Has Also De-
oided to En-er Into Such an Agree
ment--Two Conditions Only.
Especial to The Post }


New York. December 6.-The Her
AIDS London cable says; It is quite likely
that Great Britain will be roady to submit
the Venezuelan question TO arbitration
when the United States makes proposal
Now I learn from Berlin that the kaiser is
quite willing that the matter should he
referred To the arbitration Of some official
appointed By the United States, which
seems to show that both countries have
come to some agreement on the subject
before the action took place which has
created SO much surprise
understand from Inquiries in official
circles that Great Britain viii be prepared
to submit their clnims against Venezuela
to arbitration on certain conditions. Two
Of these I am told viii he First, that
Venezuela shall pay down the sum Of $40.
900 as evidence Of good faith; second.
that while the arbitration Is proceeding
the arbitration shall control the customs
Inc attitude taken by Germany is not Mt
present known In Downing street. but the
British government Is lp communication
with the Berlin foreign office On the sub
ject
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-15

Omaha. Nso. December 14.-seven inches
OF snow Is on the ground Trains tonight
are coming IN late from all directions. No
wind accompanied the storm.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-15
FORTRESS BOMBARDED
Anglo-German Fleet SheIled the Forts
at Puerto CabeIo.
The United States Consul INTERVIEWED But Could
Not Alter the Purpose of the Allies-Only
Few Persons Were Injured.

cruiser cnods ana
quickly
ceased the charod
The commander of Castle LO0r has taken prisoner The
sau
for Venezuelan boA The two cruisers sent their boats into the port
gunboats
which
visited the British commodore on board the chyeds and lodged protest
with detachment atty marines the The popoee
was greatly excited " this Incident and raised the cry ITO arms but there
disorder
beO, demanding having
Forthcoming
message to Castro asking for insrue aOns
cbenO American
consul here peton him to Intervene The consul accepted this
reply
hzes the chief official here the British commodore ample satisfaction
Before this could be communicated to tho American consul the hour sh
scitemen port yhousen vpsco
Puerto cabeo for this pTep action tho
Of the pc proof
inside Puerto
channel channel
Eighteenth
h
Of 1 a
comparatively little protection shipping Tho
commodicus