davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-04-28
The New Irish Land Law.

4AC NC" "4SA NOAN -"
The majority party in the British
Parliament has introduced a new
land law for Ireland, which, if en-
acted, will entirely abolish the land
lord system of that country which
has become so unjust and odious that
it is no longer a matter of local but
of worldwide interest. Our readers
are interested in this, partly because
a large number of them are descend
ants of former Irish tenants, others
because of their interest in all mat
tiers of worldwide character, and all
Of them should be at least because it
is the working out of an iniquitous
system of landlordism, the sins of the
landlords of three hundred years ago
being now visited by the immutable
Divine law on their children.
The title to a large portion of the
land of these landlords is based on
conquest. A system of tenancy
sprang up known as divided owner
ship which never works out any good
results and always trouble, if not
evil. That is, the tenants we're placed
on these lands, making all the i'm
provements. And in that country
improvements mean a great deal
more than they do here for much of
the land is Doggy and needs drain
age, nearly all stony beyond the con-
ception of the dweller on the prairie,
and needs to be cleared, and as the
winters are open and rainy, roads
must absolutely be macadamized, all
of which involves a cost for improve
ments of which the American farmer
has little conception. The landlord
made none of these but charged rents
in proportion to the improvements,
and, until comparatively recent
years, the tenant had no right, be-
yond the custom in some parts of the
country, to any of his improvements.
In other words, the landlord fur
nished the tenant a place on which
with infinite labor and pains he could
make a farm, and then advanced
rents, which is always the case where
there are more tenants than farms,
to a point where the landlord prac-
tically got all the profits and the ten
ant did all the labor.
These conditions have been great
Iy ~ameIiorated in the last fifty years
IN the reduction of rents by land
courts and the voluntary sales of
landlords. Under these conditions
the tenants have been able to pur-
chase their farms through the me-
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-04-28

OAu A0nO OuC gradually ACQUIRING
ownership. The good fortune
these, however, made wide disoon
tent, until at last the governmon.
proposes to buy out the landlords and
sell to the tenants, giving tbon,
about fifty years time to nav. :
other words, by paying approximate
ly the same rent they have been nov.
ing the title becomes vested in tbon,
and the debt will in time be extin.
guished. The government issues -
the landlord consuls, which are GOV.
eminent bonds, bearing two and
three-qUarters per cent interest and
in addition pays a certain amount Of
cash. This extinguishes the land.
lords title and in the course of time
gives the tenant complete ownership
with no cost SO far as the consnIs
are concerned to the government T
is believed that the reduced expense
INA
in governing the country will make
up for the cash so that in the end the
government will give nothing but its
credit to accomplish this reform,
While we are never certain of know
ing anything about Ireland until if
happens, it seems probable that this
work will be carried through and
that Ireland instead of a country Of
discomfort will become one of the
most loyal portions of the British
empire.
From personal observation, how
ever, we do not think this measure
will solve the entire problem. Ire
land is country with but few min
eral resources and these as yet very
partially developed. 1t has some coal
but not a great deal, some other min
erals also, is rich in water power, and
with the development of electricity
may become a manufacturing cOm-
try in time. Until that time comes
it must be mainly agricultural. The
difficulty is that the farms are small,
mere patches the Mississippi valley
farmer would call them, and, there
fore, do not give opportunity for the
use of improved machinery. Hence,
in grain raising the Irish farmer
even if he owned his land, would
never be able to compete with farm
ers where farms are large and IN
proved machinery can be used to the
greatest advantage. The inevitable
result in time will be that those who
prosper most will buy out the farms
Of those who prosper least. This mas
been the result in Iowa, Nebraska
Kansas, and all other countries, tD5
farms becoming larger instead o.
smaller, and this, in our judgment
will continue in the future. I'
farmer must use improved machinery
if he is to get the most out OF Ms
labor, and to use improved machinery
he must have a larger farm.
While this law will not entlre'
solve the question, it will be a grS',
step in advance. 1t will not increase
the population of Ireland, as many
suppose, but will decrease 1t unl'I
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-04-28
GENERAL NEWS
EMORY SMITH ON PRESIDENTIAL
POSSIBILITY.
A Leading Republican Editor on Demo
cratic Chances.


disturbed feeling in the even balance
of New York and in the apparent
disposition of the democrats to drop
the mistakes of the past and unite
upon an available candidate. Gov
ernor Odell was elected by less than
10000 majority last November. This
is a meagre margin in a total vote
of nearly 100000. A change of n
vote in every $50 would have reversed
the result. About 1000 Republicans
remained away from the polls in
Greater New York through discon-
tent. With the chances so closely
balanced the appearance of a candi-
date like Chief Justice Parker might,
according to this view, tip the scales
in favor of the Democrats. Though
the loss of New York would not nee
~essarily be fatal, yet the same in
fuences which cost her vote would be
likely to carry other States, and it
would be dangerous to enter on the
contest with a general feeling that
New York was prone to the other
side.
The dominant Democratic senti-
ment is for a candidate for whom
nobody has a knife up the sleeve.
There is no doubt hal for this rea
son Judge Parker is more in the
mind of his party at the present
time than any other man.. His per-
sonality is impressive, and his posi-
ton on the bench, withdrawn from
the arena of contention, leaves him
without points of attack.
In the field of speculation at
Washington he is preeminent on the
Democratic side, but not alone. The
financial interests which shy at Pres
ident R~oOsevelt's bold methods would
be well pleased with Mr.. Cleveland.
1t is true he startled them with his
aggressive and defiant tone on the
Venezuelan boundary but they had
confidence in his fiscal policies and
associations. His name is not can
vassed, and there is no expectation
that he will be in the running, but
his shadow sometimes falls across
the course, with a query as to wheth-
er any strange turn might happen.
Mr.. Olney is more distinctly on the
bulletin of announcements. He
would be a vigorous leader of iron
and blood. But the question instant
Iy comes, Why should the Democracy
go to Massachusetts, which cannot
be made doubtful, and leave New
York, which is surely to be a great
battle-ground?
There is a factor which cannot be
ignored. In any consideration of
what New York may offer David B.
Hill cannot be left out of the reck-
oning. VIII he be a candidate him
self? Will he be friendly to Judge
Parker? Nobody knows-literally
nobody, so far as can be as~certained
He could not WELD the sceptre with
out vehement opposition, and yet who
could hold it without his favor? He
iC ambitious hut h. - vuorvy nOoc
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-04-28

he cannot be King, but that he may
be a Warwick? No voice comes from
him or from any authorized friend,
either publicly or privately, and
while the oracle is silent the course
is not clear. His power over the or
ganization of his State is recognized,
but the fear that he will sway it for
himself shadows the pathway, for it
is clear that the best hope of his par
ty lies along new lines.
There is another factor that may
or may not play some part in the
nomination, and that is Nh. Bryan.
His day is over as a candidate. The
settlement of his issues and the re
version of his special territory of the
West to it's earlier affiliations have
left him high and dry on the shore
as the current has swept by; but If
he is dead as an influence in deter
mining the choice Of his party he
doesn't. know it. He is vOciferOus in
imposing his conditions and limita-
tions. But in the canvass of Wash
ington he hardly receives the cold
respect of a passing word. His re
cent visit was funeral. He doubt
less has some following, but with
the collapse of every theory and pre-
diction it is scattered and broken,
and the party wants to leave the past
behind.
Probably if it exercised its real
preference, without regard to local
ity or availability, it would take Mr.
German. That astute politician has
perennial favor. The loss of his seat
in the Senate did not obscure his
light, and now he comes to the front
again with renewed influence and
strengthened position. His party
has missed his adroit leadership in
the Senate, and his resumption of
the reins Will be a distinct gain to
it. He would be a candidate after
its own heart, and, if he could be
elected, a President altogether to its
liking. 1t would not feel that Mr.
Olney or Mr.. Cleveland would be 9
strong or strict party man. 1t would
count on more Of the tie that binds
in Judge Parker. But, above all
Mr.. German would be its ideal, and
if it were not for the vital relation
of New York to the contest he woulC
doubtless be first in it's thought.
For the Democratic hope of an en-,
couraging fight turns on New York
though it is far from certain that the
election itself will turn on thai
State. Since 1900 the conditions
have so changed that New York has
less of a pivotal position than then
Even then the transfer of the En-
pire State to the other column would
not have altered the result. Presi
dent Mckinley had 292 electoral
votes against 155 for Mr.. Bryan
The loss of New York would still
have left him a majority of 65. H
might also have lost New Jersey
Connecticut, Delaware, California
and Utah and yet have been elected
Tho o,J H. oo1:J:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-20
WELL PAID FOR HER WORK.
Addressinx Invitations Gives n New
York Woman q Handsome
Income.

A New York woman of considerable
social prominence, but limited means,
succeeds in maintaining her position
by q novel industry that does not, in
the opinion of 'the set" place her out
side the pale of responsibility. She
addresses invitations and attends to
correspondence as a means of adding
to her income. She has the entree to
most of the well-known houses in the
city. Many of her patrons consider it
an unusual favor to have their invita-
tions go out to the world addressed
in her unmistakable cbirography.
She realizes how much some. of her
patrons appreciate her services and
her prices are high-much higher than
any other persons charge for the same
service. She makes very good living
out of this rather arduous work and
her time is much occupied.
It is a familiar saying that persons
who are most occupied by social duties
are most punctilious in discharging
them promptly. This shows itself
strikingly in custom thai developed
first this season.
It is now considered the smartest
usage by persons who devote thought
to such matters to leave cards the day
after a large or elaborate entertain
ment. It is not expected. of course,
that the hostess will be seen. That is
now the least part of call. But it is
good form to leave cards the day after.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-20
BEAVER DAM IN NEW JERSEY.
Curious Conflict Between Wild Ani.
NAL Life and Agriculture Near
q Great City.

Mr.. Justus Won Lengerke recorded
in our columns two years ago the dis
covery of colony of beavers in the
wilds of New Jersey, region from
which the animal was supposed to have
been exterminated long ago, says For
est and Stream. The precise location
of the colony Mr.. Won Lengerke judi
ciously withheld. for he was apprehen-
sive that the beaver would prove a
temptation to the trappers. But now
the animals have revealed their where
abouts and forced themselves into pub
lie notice by reason Of their beaver ma
ture and the activity and enterprise
which it has prompted. They have
built dams and overfowed the ada
cent farm lands, and landowners have
at last become tired Of destroying
their work, and are now seeking some
measure of relief. At Mr.. Won Len
gerke's suggestion, the New Jersey leg
islature passed a bill for the protection
Of beaver; and the aggrieved farmers
are thereby restrained. Taken alto
gether, this is very curious conflict
between wild life and agriculture
within two hours of New York city.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-20
DAINTY BAss1NET.

and the outer side of the basket can
be hidden by graceful valance cur
tain hung from the top and gathered
to the edge of the quilted lining. It
one wishes, canopy can be added
by fastening wires in an a1ched
shape to the side at one end and
shirring the same material used for
the valance closely to the wires, let
ting the extra fullness fall at the
sides to the same length as the val
ance curtain.
A pillow placed in the bottom OF
the basket, and baby's rest is COM
plete, and there is no temptation to
rock him to sleep! One OF my tod
dlers came with the June roses, and
I made for him homemade bas-
sinet. Then I would carry 1T out on
the piazza for his morning nap, ana
1 could read or sew while he slept,
and both of us were. better Tor
breathing the fresh air.-Orange
Judd Farmer.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-20

loafing along. s'pose you try him q
whirl.''
Not any for me. I got rid of the
jack-rabbit habit when was little"
''Down by Mustang Water-hole I saw
wolf-tracks one day, Ben" said Moss
in whisper.
The muscles stiffened, the ears lift
ed slightly, the tail became straight as
an iron, bar, the moist black lips
curled upward, and low, thunderous
growl sounded in the dogs throat. 1t
said as plainly as words, and more
strongly:
II know about 'em. ] hear 'em some
times at night. l was afraid of 'em
when was little chap, but I've got
over that. They mean harm to our
sheep, and if they come around TN
nail 'em sure
"Good boy, Ben! You're not afraid
Of q wolf as big as house, and you've
got more sense than the ranch-boss."
This was praise that could be answered
only by series Of rapid leaps, a dozen
short barks, and tremendous scurry-
ing round and round. Then Ben would
make complete circle of the flock,
driving in the stragglers, and, return
ing to dignified seat on the hill, cock
his eye at the sun to estimate the time
of day.-H. s. Garfield, in st. Nicholas.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-20
TIE DOG WHO TALKED.
His Eyes, Ears. TIA IL and Mouth HelDed
In Carrying On an Intelligent
Conversation.

When two years old Ben was noted
for intelligence and industry. One of
the herders remarked of him, one day,
that he could do anything except talk.
Moss became indignant.
Anything except TALK" he retort-
ed. HE can talk. Why, we do lot
of talking on the prairie. He talks with
his eyes, with his ears, with his tail,
sometimes with his mouth"
The others laughed at this, but it
was true. The man and the dog, in
the hours of watching the sheep graz
ing, held lengthy conversations. Moss
sitting with his back against q big
gray rock, Ben with his head upon the
mans knees.
Feeling all right to-day?" Moss
would ask.
"Yes!" Ben would answer. "Fine as
silk"
TITS nice weather now, and the
sheep are doing WE'LL
"You bet; this weather makes fell
low feel as if he could jump out of his
skin, and the sheep never did better"
II think We'll try a new grazing
ground for them soon, though. The
flock needs change
"Yep-yap! That's a good idea. In
fact, everything you say is all right.
You are great mantle greatest
man in the world"
"Yonder goes jack-rabbit, Ben,
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-20
BABY's FIRST CRADLE.
to BE Adopted by Young
American Mothers.

When baby first comes to reign in
nursery land, don't put him into g
cradle right away for his 20 hours CT
sleep a day! The custom that the
French have of providing a dainty
bassinet is not only pretty idea,
but practical one as well. The bas'
sinet can be placed where one wishes,
and its depths OF luxurious comfort
prevent all danger of draught.
A pretty homemade bassinet can
be made out of an ordinary clothes
basket. Make the lining by quilting,
with thin layer of cotton between,
two thicknesses of any soft material;
then fasten this in place around the
inner sides by baby ribbons. sewed at
intervals and fastened to the wicker
work of the bassinet.
The handles can be wound with rib
bon and tied with finishing bow,
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-20
THEY LACKED TACT.
True Stories of Two Women Who
Made Remarks That Had Better
Been Left Unsnid.

A woman who would consult her
husband on his deathbed as to what
mourning she would wear for him
might fairly be pronounced lacking in
tact. You agree with me? l should
not hesitate to say that she had not
proved herself perfect wife. ''Mon-
strous!" I hear you say. Yet this
really occurred the other day. The
woman in question belongs to that
class in which reticence is a quality
almost unknown, and in which argu-
ments are conducted by means Of
lighted paraffine lamps and sharp
edged tenders. Think of the poor
man clinging to life and cherishing a
hope that he would get better, and be-
ing plunged into an abyss of desolation
by the wife of his bosom murmuring
tenderly in his ear: 1.-THE doctor says
you are too far gone to recover, AIRY.
What sort of widows bonnet shall ]
buy?"
Several instances of want of tact
have come before me lately. One was
the case of a wife who had gone abroad
and sent home foreign postcard to
the following effect:
safely arrived, and have just en-
joyed the first well-cooked meal ]
have had for months"
Her husband wrote to her:
''What madness possessed you to
write what you did on postcard You
have bitterly exasperated my mother
and her cook, and the house is in such
a turmoil in consequence that I am
most uncomfortable"
The peccant wife's reply was this:
II can't forgive myself, and I am
sure you will never forgive me for
writing that idiotic postcard. Youwill
scarcely believe me when / tell you
that writing in Germany, as I did,
some ridiculous idea possessed me that
a postcard in English could not be un-
derstood, forgetting that its destina-
ton was England" London Truth.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-20
Ml.R{Et I||{|M|2 7|;iF|R =
S4EzAik||l(j!5ji}SS:A4
DUCHESS IN sLuMs.
Her Grace of Newcastle Lives In
WhitechapeI, the Most Degrad-
ed Part Of London.

The rich and handsome dowager
duchess of Newcastle, who lives by
preference in Whitechapel, London's
worst slum, has at last consented to
tell the story of her slum life. She's
not intellectual, at least she says she
isn't. but she tells good story of
her home in Whitechapel in the cur
rent number of the Pail Mall maya
zine, and, furthermore, she has given
us few pleasant opportunities to
see how she lives. Her grace says
among other things that she thinks
there is more morality on the White
chapel side of London than in the
West end. She says she never be-
gan to know the value of money IN
til she moved from Mayfair. She
thinks it would do society good if
they'd give up comfort for part of
their time and see how high their in
come seemed when spent in White
chapel, on Whitechapel proportions.
The duchess is an English edition
found in her grace an ardent advo-
cate When she fOrsOok society Tor
the poor, the duchess was thought OF
merely as beautiful and rich wom-
an. Ten years of Whitechapel life
have shaken her up considerably, and
the English have begun to take her
seriously.
While Miss Adams is a student of
economics, the duchess is urging peo-
pie to go to mass. She visits the sick
and befriends the orphan. Commit
tees galore claim her grace as mem
Der. and she's very much in with the
clergy of the Catholic church. Even
the pope recognizes in the widow Of
the tate duke of Newcastle valiant
ally, and when she visits her daugh-
ter. Princess Doria, in Rome, as she
Is doing now, all sorts of favor is
shown to her in high places. all of
which is very different from Miss
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-20
How to Make Kalsomine.

One pound of uncolored gelatine
glue, as free from grease as possible,
is soaked over night in cold water suffi-
Gent to cover the glue. Thirty pounds
of English cliffstone Paris white, bolt
ed or best bolted gilders' whiting, is
also soaked in sufficient water to make
a paste over night and next morning
both are heated with steam or over :
moderate fire in a water bath to the
boiling point and when the glue is fully
dissolved the two materials are thor
oughly mixed. In summer time on
cooling, small portion of carbolic
acid, say about one-eighth of an
ounce, diluted with water, is added for
each pound of glue used in the afore-
said formula to keep it from souring,
and in this way the kalsomine will
keep for some weeks. It is said that
the workmen rather like this prepara-
ton, because of its good working prop
erties.-Painter's Magazine.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-20

Adams, far removed as her life is
from Journalism.
But the two are in some ways alike.
The duchess is much older than Miss
Adams, although she looks nearer
40 than 90. In expression, these
women resemble each other closely.
They seem to have absorbed the same
calming influences from their contact
with the slums. In fresh coloring
they are alike and in full figure,
while was struck by their similar
ity of taste in dress. The last time
I saw Miss Adams she wore Sc
verely plain tailor-made gown, from
which the duchess might easily have
copied the dress she has had on
every time I have met her. The Eng
lishwoman and the American are
both simple of manner and gentle
voiced. Each is fred by the same mo-
tiye--an overwhelming sympathy for
the worlds under dog.
The dowager duchess of Newcastle
has been twice married. Her second
husband, musician and man with
out a title, died before her grace
went into philanthropy. She kept
her title by courtesy. It's title, by
the way, that May Yohe might one
day have had if she had stuck by
Lord Francis Hope. For Lord Francis
is heir to the present duke of New
castle and is the younger son of the
woman who looks like Jane Adams.
Journalism is fad with most of
the Newcastlers. The little lame
duke is high church Anglican, al
most a Roman Catholic, like his
mother, who left the English church
to go to Rome. The chapel attached
to Clumber, the family place in the
north of England, is the finest private
place of worship in England, but the
uninitiated would think it Roman
Catholic, not Anglican. The duke has
some democratic tendencies. For in
stance, he taught his little nephew's
governess to ride the bicycle, and
trotted along beside her day by day
regardless of the weather. The pu-
pill, moreover, was neither young nor
beautiful. His grace was merely
kind.-Lady Mary, in Chicago Chron-
icle,
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-20

growth of younger tortoises, it is in
ferred that he is more than 200 years
old.
A century ago these big tortoises
were common on all the Galapagos,
SEYCHELLES and Mascovene islands in
the Indian ocean, but they were hunted
and slaughtered ruthlessly until only
few are left. These remnants now
enjoy governmental protection, but 1t
has come foo late to save the race,
which is gradually dying out.
Very few geological gardens possess
specimens, and notwithstanding the
utmost care and freedom these big
tortoises have never been known to
breed in captivity.-N. Y. Herald.