davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
SNAKES AS RAT-CATCHERS.
Mexican Variety that is Becoming
Popular in Warrington,

Mexican Variety that lie Becoming
Popular in Warrington.
1.-The best rat catcher in the world is
the Mexican bullsnake." said a WASH
ington bird and animal dealer the other
day. Here we have a case Of Next
can bullsnakes that differ from the Flori-
da variety in being a light yellow, where
as the latter are coat black. These
snakes are nonpoisonous and are far SUI
nerior to cats as vermin exterminators.
You can turn one Of them into q house
or barn overrun with rats, mice, cock
reaches and the like, and in a marvellous
~ short time the place will be rid of
them. All that is necessary when win
ter comes on is to provide warm place
for them to crawl into and hibernate un-
til spring.
.They have become quite popular in
Washington, and many people are keep
ing them about their barns and stores in
place of lazy, overfed and Indifferent
cats. The repugnance that everyone
feels for snake soon passes away when
they have a reptile that is perfectly
harmless, that can be trained to answer
a call or whistle. and that will eat out
of a dish when vermin become scarce
and he has nothing to prey uDon."-
Washington Post
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
A: WhaIe's> .'Sweet". Perfume,

Writing on 'Animal Perfumes and
Their: 0figin":in knowledge, R. Lydek-
ker makes the: Following observations re-
garding .ambergris:
"Atnibergris is generally found floating
on the. surface of the sea, and very diff
ferent ideas, have been entertained as to
its nature and origin. It appears, how
eyer that SO early as the middle of the
Sixteenth century it was known to have
some connection with whales, although
the nature of this connection was not
fully realized. One writer, for instance,
in describing sperm whale stranded on
the Norfolk coast: expresses his surprise
at not finding ambergris in it's stomach.
Although, the idea that ambergris is
swallowed by the sperm whale is errone-
GUS, the writer in question was quite cor
rect in regarding that substance as per-
tanning to this particular species of ceta-
cGean: :, The fact that it contains the
horny beaks of squids and cuttles be-
longing to species that form the food Of
the gigantic sperm whale, or cachelot
(by far the largest Of the cetaceans fur
nished with teeth is alone sufficient to in
dictate that it is product of that mon
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
The Papaya Tree of the East.

The papaya tree fourishes all over
tropical India, from Delhi to Ceylon.
Its fruit is greatly priced by both Euro
pean and native, as we'll for it's edible
as for it's medicinal qualities. In the
United States it is known as the papaw
or pawpaw and wrongly identified with
the small tree and fruit of that name
is found growing in the Middle, Western
and Southern states. According to mod
ern botanists the papaya is domesticated
in India, and is doubtless a native Of the
shores of the Gulf of Mexico, whence it
was introduced into India by the Portu-
guese at all early date Or soon after the
discovery Of America. In the Burmese
by seagoing vessels" Perhaps in all the
vegetable kingdom there is no other plant
or tree that so we'll illustrates the sexual
system Of plant life. In order that the
female tree may bear and ripen it's fruit,
repeated experiments have shown the
necessity Of the male. tree being so stu
atd as to insure the influence of it's flow
them fertile. The fruit when ripe at
tains the size of a small melon, which it
somewhat resembles. While growing, it
has deep-green color, which on ripening
turns. to- dull orange. The interior. is
soft, yelowish, and sweet, and contains
numerous small black seeds arranged in
five: longitudinal lines. along the center
cavity. They have pleasant pungent
taste, not unlike mustard seed: The ripe
fruit has flavor peculiar to itself. It is
eaten: by all. classes: and is considered
wholesome. III the West Indies, it is
sometimes boiled and eaten as a vege-
table: In India, when green, it is cooked
by the natives in their curries and is
also; picked. It is. usually, however,
eaten raw, when ripe. with salt, and is
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
The Differing Intelligence OF Animals.

Elephants are among the most severely
drilled of animals; their intelligence does
not have free play in consequence. But
all English trainers agree that there is
a great difference in capacity between
them, and that some will learn and re-
member a lesson far more quickly than
others. Cats have very 'levep' brains
and are too self-centered and self CON
tanned, as a rule, to show the distinc
lions which exist between them. Their
strongest instinct is toward kind Of
domestic comfort not exactly shared with
human beings, but enjoyed in their COM
pany, to which the cat perfectly adapts
itself. Yet there are misanthropic cats
which make no secret of their dislike
and contempt for mankind in general.
only come into the house under protest
and would prefer to sleep in coal cell
lar to taking their nap in good society.
These are the exceptions, i'll the cat
world, but everyone has met with them.
Birds are usually regarded as possessing
the origin of the belief being probably
the fact that birds Of one species usually
build exactly the same kind of nest. The
generalization is not correct. The same
species may have brains of all capaci-
ties.-LOndOn Spectator
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
ECONOMY IN SOAP.
There is None i'm Usin: Soft Instead
of Hard Water.

AAcTC ~ none In Using oOIt 1uStc0u
of Hard Water.
1t is commonly supposed that the use
Of soft WATERMAN water, for example
for washing purposes economies soap.
But while it is perfectly true. and the
lime salts in hard water nullity to some
extent the soap by forming insoluble
lime soaps, yet the expenditure OF soap,
at least i'll toilet purposes, will be found
water is used, While the cleansing effect
is just as good. The explanation of this
is that soap is so very readily soluble
i'll soft water that considerably more
soap is used than is necessary. Every
body knows the slippery feeling Of rain
water in which the hands have been
washed with soap, and no amount of
rinsing would appear to remove the soap
mess from the skin. IN this case it is
doubtful when the soap is used whether.
after all, rain water or soft water is
hard tap water. 1t is certainly not so
refreshing. In manufacturing processes
or in the washtub it is true the use of
soap in soft water is an economy. I, is
in this way, of course, that the addition
Of soda, throwing out the lime salt. saves
soap. 1t has been estimated that if
London were supplied with soft water
the saving of soap would amount to tens
Of thousands Of pounds per annum, and
Glasgow is estimated to save f36, 900
annually III the matter Of soap since us
ing Loeb Katrine water. That may be
so, but in the matter of personal washing
The fact that a tablet of soap disappears
much more quickly when rain water is
used instead of hard tap water is proof
of this aSsertiOn.-LOndOn Lancet
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
LOST IN A CAVE.
Intellectual Attempt to Explore a
Mysterious Cavern.

Intellectual Attempt to Explore a
Mysterious Cavern.
For four days and four nights, in the
depths Of the earth, wandering in absolute
darkness through winding gorges, crawl
ing OH hands and knees through Shiny
passages in the jagged rocks, hating at
times on the brink of precipices, growing
from hardships which he was forced to
endure, are few of the experiences that
befell Caleb Johnson, Mississippi river
pilot, when he attempted to explore the
mysteries of Dead Mans cave, at St.
Genevieve,, just across the river from
Redbud, III.
The cave remains as much a mystery
as ever, for johnson was without light
for most of the way, and has no idea
how far or where he wandered. He only
knows that he entered the cave in Simms
in the bank of the river, one Monday
morning, and that on Thursday after
noon farmer found him in a sinkhole
on his farm four miles from the en-
trance.
Johnson accomplished nothing, save,
perhaps, to take away the superstition
that no one could go far into the cave
and come out alive.
Such has always been the reputation
Of Simms' Hollow, or Dead Mans Cave,
and it has been borne out by the disap-
VI uOI leSS Iudu lOuI venture
some men, if the tradition Of the town
is true, who went i'll to explore and
failed to return.
Johnson was equipped with every
thing that man could carry which
would serve to make such a trip easy.
When he came to the mysterious river
which runs through the cavern he en-
barked in canoe to cross the stream.
The current was swift, and when he eff
fnCtQ1 landing on tho other side he WAS
far from the point of entrance.
Tying his canoe, johnson started out
to explore the grim darkness. After
several hours Of exploration lie returned
to the river, but could not find his canoe,
as it had become unfastened and drifted
away. He first endeayored to swim the
river, but failed. He then started along
lost in the impenetrable darkness. the
rays Of his lantern being unable to
pierce the gloom.
On Tuesday party started out to res
cue the explorer, but after an Ill days
fruitless search of the cavern returned
The oil i'll Johnson's lantern gave out
on Tuesday night, and after that he was
in absolute darkness. Still following the
river, keeping i'll touch with it by the
noise of the rapidly running water, John
son walked all that night with no signs
Of place of. exit. Day followed day.
and at last when he had given up all
hope of rescue he came to turn and
saw ahead glimmer of light. Crawl
ing down narrow passage he emerged
into the open air and lay faint from ex-
haustion, helpless in hollow, where he
by farmer, who conveyed him to
house in the neighborhood, where he is
being treated for the nervous shock
caused by his terrible experience.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28

ster. And from time to time it is actu-
ally found in the alimentary canal Of
that whale. It appears, indeed, to be a
hillary concretion, closely analogous in
its nature to bezoar stones, and due to
the existence of disease in the individuals
of being found only in old and strong
specimens, it is generally at least met
with rather in those in poor condition or
which have died natural death. When
first taken from the sperm whales in
terror ambergris is soft, greasy SUBJ
stance, exhaling an exceedingly disagree
able odor; and it is only after exposure
to the air that it hardens and acquires its
characteristic aroma, which is described
as being sweet and earthy.''
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
The Pronunciation Fad.

Where polite usage gets it's authority
nobody knows. Now it is saying that
valet" the final syllable of which We
have. learned to- give offf-hand with a
high-bred "a" shall be Anglicized just
as 'sparquet'' was few years ago, and
shall appear in. polite society in it's plain
English stubbiness. It is likely that we
shall all stumble and stutter and make
mistakes at first, but eventually fall .lE:
line of ''ets." There are those who claim
that polite "suburb'' should have Il
long su," that tapestry should be 'a''
long, and that the sun never ''shone'' 20
litely with a: long ''o.'' The same au-
thorities are busy with the new: auto
mobile importation chauffeur (sho-
feur)-which has been called everything
that is polite. It might be called some
thing more, for it is not a truthful term.
1t means, when interpreted, "6remah"
''stoker," and is innocently good joke
on our millionaires who speed. their oW Il
"autos.''- Great Round World. J
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28

MRS. JENNIE T.. ODONNELL, i
President of Oakland Woman's Riding Club.
the wonderful curative value of Lydia
e. Pinkham's Vegetable Com
pound. For eight years'1 had female
trouble, falling of the womb and other
complications. During that time was
more or less Of an invalid and not much
good for anything, until one day II
found a book In my hall telling of;
the cnres,yo could perform. became
Interested I bought bottle of Lydia
E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com
pound and was helped; continued it's
use and in seven months was cured, and
since that2time: l. have had perfect
health, Thanks, dear, Mrs. Pinkham
again, for the health I now enjoy
Mrs. JENNIE O'DoNNELL, 27s East 31st
St., Chicago, Ill. - $4,000 forfeit u abous!
testimonial is not genuine. NJ = @ss1ES
Women suffering from any
form Of female ills can be cured
by Lydia p. Pinl1ha1n's Vegeta-@
BILE Compound. That's sure.
Mrs. Pinkham advises sick wO-l
men free. Address, Lynn, Mass
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
Seven Years Ago He Had but Va -
Now He Has Seventy Head
/ { Of Cattle. 4 !: ....
This Is What Couple Of Eastern
Farmers Learned When on Re. 81
cent Trip % Canada.
Splendid Word. About Saskatoon, Ros.hern
and Hague District, Where They f
viii Locate. ~

Messrs. J. e. Blum and ]. Grumper
of Manchester, Washtenaw County, !
Michigan, paid visit to Alberta last
summer and saw there Mr.. Shantz,
one of the good old Pennsylvania stock.
who had come recently-some seven
years ago-from Ontario, with $M In
his pocket. He has certainly prospered,
as he now owns over seventy head OF;
cattle, has good log house framed
over, also good barn, and in all re-
spects looks a thrifty and well-to-d do
farmer. He had some good crops Of
oats and barley. After spending some
days in Calgary and Edmonton they re-
turned to Regina, Assiniboia, and look
ed around the country north to Lums-
den and Balgonie, where the crops ap-
peared very promising and heavy, con-
tinuing up the Regina and Long Lake
road. they came to Saskatoon, on the
crossing Of the South Saskatchewan:
river. OF this district they say: !
.''The country here pleased us better
than any we have seen. We drove out
eighteen miles in a northwesterly direc-,
ton through the Smith settlement This
is wonderful district; the growth was
splendid, all kinds of grains and roots
were perfection. The older settlers had!
good buildings of all kinds and looked,
very prosperous, in fact We came to:
the conclusion that we had found what
we We're looking for, good country
While the nature of the soil changes.
and is in some parts light, in others.
stony, and again heavy, generally,
speaking it leaves nothing to be de-,
sired. Hay and water are also in,
abundance, and wood can be found
along the river slopes and islands. We:
have decided to locate there and shall
certainly advise our friends to do like,
wise. We also trust that this report
may have the effect of drawing the at.
tention Of land seekers to this district,
and can honestly advise all such to To-;
cate there. They will find a good thing.
AS farmers ourselves, from good dis
trict in Michigan, we have come to the,
conclusion that properly farmed West
ern Canada will grow almost any
thing"
Ask for information from any agent
of the Canadian Government
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
The Bees Tongue.

The bee lives by it's tongue, with
which organ it is able to extract the
honey from flowers. Now, bees tongue
is naturally about twenty fifth of an
inch long. Clever beekeepers, by keep
ing only those bees with naturally long
tongues, have succeeded in frightening
the tongues of number of bee colonies
to the extent of another. hundredth of
an inch. 1t does not sound much, but it
enables those insects to do a quarter as
much work again in the same time
Boston Budget.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
More Niagara Harvesting.

The Canadian Niagara Power company
has startled electrical engineers by order
ing generators of. 10000 horsepower.
double the size Of any previously made.
The order is placed in the United States,
however, although :. the engineers are
Swiss. The company will have 10000
horsepower in current to sell, and. the
nearest ready market is. Toronto, eighty
miles distant. This need not dismay, for
in California the transmission of 10000
volts pressure over 200 miles is accom-
mercial fact -,
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
WHEN JUDY SINGS K

Whin Judy sings t.,..: ,s
Sure, quanes an kings.
Attinds wild looks surproisiH'.
The woods an hills
Sind jocund thrills
Horizon to horizon.
The echoes mate
TO circulate
Her honey-laden quavers,
An angels pause
10 give applause
10 her entrancin' favors.
The little thrush.
Wild many q blush
For his own congregations,
Cocks up his ear,
Surprised to hear
SlcA heavenly mOdulatiOnS.
The braces lay
Their flutes away,
AS be some myst'ry ha'nted,
An Music's silf
Gets on the shift
An hOWlds her BIRTH enchanted.
Hut man! So schwate
Her vice 'tw'ud bate
FantaZy or aytudy,
An SuZys band!
They'd quit the land
Eff once they'd hear my Judy.
Wade Whipple In Richmond Dispatch.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
Beautiful Old BOdices.

~ D1Ouoe VI OySIei-t1nIeO LOulSlne
has the two fronts cut away from the
neck and down either side in scallops,
button-holed over at the edges with gold
thread, to reveal an under chemisette
and front of white chiffon, finely tucked
to the waist, each tuck hand-sewn with
gold thread. The Louisine bodice part
and the sleeves were hand-embroidered
all over with dainty bouquets of roses
and violets in their natural colors, pouch
ing. at the. waist over a deep belt Of
white silk elastic, embroidered in gold,
and fastened with an art nOuveau buckle
of roses and violets quite eight inches
deep. These deep waist buckles are a
feature on most Of the belts of today.
An odd bodice Of black chine silk shot
in all shades was quite plainly made,
with gaugings of narrow black gauze
ribbon running from neck to waist back
and front and down the sleeves, at in
tervals Of about three inches apart, with
very good effect, the collar being one
Of the new V-shaped ones sharply point
ed in front, of gagged black gauze.i I
ward stripes Of black velvet to meet a
broad piece of Venetian guipure running
round the center of the bodice, has a
knot of black tulle placed to the right
side: the elbow sleeves being finished
A blouse Of pale gray taffetas, worked
with roses. is slashed down either side
of the front and down the sleeves. to
show creamy lace underneath, laced
across with black velvet, and bordered
with minute pearl buttons. The lace
yoke is outlined with black velvet lines
to match the top Of the sleeves
A pink flannel shirtwaist is patterned
with flowers in faint check, the top of
the corsage and down the front outlined
by a 'straDping of pink taffetas, dotted
with fat gold buttons. The yoke and
cuffs are of stitched taffetas, with black
satin cravat, tucked in at the top and
reappearing below the belt with fringed
ends.-New York Commercial Adver-
tiSnr
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
Law to Protect Dressmakers.

The little couturieres who enliven the
Rue de la Paix, Paris, are again attract
present law forbids the employees to take
meals in the part Of the premises used as
workrooms. AS the employers cannot COR
will not furnish special restaurants. the
girls must go into the street for the mid
day meal, even when the weather is in
clement, and where temptations are 1lu-
merous. A Lew law is being framed, in
tended to avoid such difficulties.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
Automobile Trains.

Railway automobiles are to be used
in Errooe on early and late trains: on
branch lines and others where passengers
are few; on trunk lines, where it is often
difficult to secure convenient secondary.
trains; in industrial centers and city sub
urbs. The automobile tram can be at
tached at the station where the road
branches.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
Responsibility of che citizen:

:. No. man should prefer the victory Of
his party to the good of the city. He
should be, first. Christian, next a pa.
triot. and, finally, partisan There are
moral responsibilities attached to the
feel obliged to vote, and secondly. he
should vote for the best men and the
best MISUNDERSTANDING Observer. e.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
Where Champagne Froze solid.

The ascent of the Weisshorn by a.
young Englishman named Ryan, only IS
years old, has created a good deal of in
terest in Switzerland. He was accompa-
MED by three guides. It was SO cold at
the great height that the champagne
they had brought with them froze solid,
and they had to cat it instead OF drink
ing it -. =: y 4. -. 4 80 II q g.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
Hat Made of Diamonds.

A hat made Of diamonds valued at
$2,500,O00, perched on the top being
ruby Of unknown value, is worn by Sir
Jung Bahadur, the King Of .Nepaul's
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
Tumblers that Proved Useless.

Some months ago, before the outbreak
of the war in. South Africa, a consign-
mept Of 10000 tumblers was sent to-
Cape Town. They were. engraved with
and meant. for drinking the health IF the
burgers in when they took Cape Town. i
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
MRS. ]. (. 0'D0NNELLI
Was Sick Eight Years =. with
Female Trouble and Finally
Cured by Lydia E. Pinkhanf's
Vegetable Compound.

"DEAR MRS. P1NKHAM IL have
never in my life given testimonial
before, but you have done SO much for
me that feel called upon to give you
this unsolicited; acknowledgements Of
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
.sQu1aNchaM<r


IS in action o Rosedtreg
3a mRx S s fSs t Fs&s w @ sS % @ @
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28

The appropriation for the care Of
Grants tomb for 1902 is $4,000. ::
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28

Have you seen Mrs Austin's new dress?
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
l|:aZ{RF

---- low taxation high prices.
for cattle and grain, low railway rates. and eyery
possible comfort. This Is the condition 81 the
farmerin Western Canada, Province Of ManitobaI
and districts Of Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and
Alberta: Thousands Of Americans are now settled
seekers and settlers. New districts are being
opened up this year. The new 40 page Atlas Of
WesternCanada sent free to all applicants Applyt
+. Pedley, Supt Of 1mmigration, Ottawa. sail. de
to T. 0. Currie, New Insurance Buildin 4, Mil
waukee, Wis, gent for Government OF & anads.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28

Cooper Union has received a gift of
$25O,OOO. The gift was made on the
condition that the name Of the donor be
withheld.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-02-28
JUS - THINK OF I

Every farmer his own
landlord, NO tncum- .
brances, his bankaccouil
increasing year by yeat.5
land value Increasing
stocs increasing, splen-;
did climate, excellent
schools and churches