davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

A lady writing from Illinois COM
plains that her hens don't lay in the
winter and wants to know what to do
for them. In the first place it is not
natural for hens to produce their eggs
during the winter season, and more or
less artificial means must be used to
induce them to do it. Warmth. sun
shine and the feeding of egg produc-
ing food to young hens will usually re,
suit in egg production, even in mid
winter. Without these things no eggs
need be looked for.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

The butter exports Of the state of To-
wa for the year ended Sept. 80, 1902,
were 100000 pounds, bringing an av-
erage price of 24.1G cents per pound.
The big year was 1897, when S4,00o,00O
pounds were produced, which, how
ever, only brought 1885 cents per
pound.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

Bastard stalks of corn may more fire.
quently be TRACED to lack of fertility
in the soil than the inferior quality of
the seed used. Many a field which will
produce a growth of stalk of fair size
is still too impoverished to furnish the
food for ear and grain development. 1t
will be found upon examination that
unless the corn is planted too thicllly
the bastard stalk will rarely be found
ON rich ground.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

In the state Of Ohio the crows have
learned the bad trick from their York
state brethren of digging up the sprout-
ing corn. An Ohio farmer adopted the
novel method of stretching Irvine on
poles ut intervals across his field to pro-
tect his corn from the crows, the birds
for some reason being afraid to fly I'M
der the strings.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

We saw model windbreak for the
prairie farm homestead the other day.
1t consisted of two rows of Scotch pines
set twenty feet apart each way, break
ing joints in the rows. These trees were
sixteen years old, twenty feet high and
formed a solid evergreen wall, proof
against the worst that the winter
winds could do.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

A claim is made for a newfangled
milking machine that the cows MIXED
by it have in ten days increased in
their milk product to the extent of one
third. We had always supposed that it
was what was put into the COW and
not what was taken from her that de-
termined her milk yield.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

For some years an effort has been
made to secure corn with a small cob
and consequently small shank where
it was attached to the stalk, thus max
ing the corn easy to husk by hand. The
introduction of the corn harvester
makes bad work with this kind of corn,
the ears being so easily knocked Off by
the operation of the machine. New
things always beget new troubles.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

The claim is made that the soil OF
North Dakota is SO well adapted to the
production of fax that this crop may
be grown continuously on the same
land year after year. We are inclined
to doubt this story, for in every locality
where we have known fax to be grown
fax following fax has proved almost
invariably failure
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

A SO called grade Angus steer won
first honors at the late Chicago stock
show. 1t is due to every raiser of pedl-
greed stock to say that the breeding OF
this animal was n full blooded sire and
a seven-eighths dam, for if it gets out
that a common grade steer can win
first honors away from registered stock
there will be plenty of fools who will
Immediately want to know Of what use
blooded stock is anyway.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

The government now has 100000
acres of the public lands set aside as
forest reserves. This is all right, and
the area should be doubled. What is
all wrong is allowing the sheep herders
of the west the range Of these forest
reserves, for it is not possible for young
timber to grow and develop where the
sheep are allowed to run.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

1t having been demonstrated that one
cause of the failure of alfalfa to do well
in many localities is the lack of that
bacterial life in the soil necessary to
the plants development, we incline to
the opinion that it would DE good pol
icy to put the alfalfa on land which
had previously grown clover, these two
plants being relatives in the legufne
family.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

Two men settled in two adjoining
western communities forty years ago.
Both We're lovers of trees-one loved
the hard maple, the other evergreens.
We recently passed through the towns
which sprung up i'll these two commu
mites. The one has its cemetery and
park filled with beautiful specimens Of
white and Scotch pines. and nearly eV-
cry homestead in the city possesses
more or less Of these beautiful trees.
1t might very properly be called the
evergreen city. Ten miles away the
hard maple trees which were so liber-
ally planted forty years ago now make
miles of shaded avenues and streets
and present wealth Of color and tint
in the fall of the year which have not
been duplicated since the forests were
cut down. These two men have long
since passed to their reward, but have
left to posterity magnificent legacy,
forever perpetuating their memory.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

Now listen to the woes of lightning
rod man. He lit down in Nebraska
with a team of good horses, new
spring wagon, a timber tongue and a
lot Of rods. He was all prepared to rod
up lot of the unsophisticated old
grangers of that state. In just week
he was after warrants for the arrest OF
twelve of these grangers who he
claimed had beaten him out Of every
thing he had in trading horses. so that
he had lost his team and his rig and
his rods and had to walk back to town
Finding out that Nebraska law did moi
prohibit men from making horse
trades, he took the first train for the
east with no money and lot Of expe
rience.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-06

The principal need of the apple or
chards OF the west is more moisture.
The irregularity of the rainfall and Of
tentimes it's marked deficiencies are Sc
rious problems confronting the apple
grower Every means which will re-
suit in conserving the rainfall for the
use of the trees should be adopted. This
may take the form Of mulching or of
persistent surface cultivation during a
dry time, and care should always be
used to so cultivate the surface of the
land as to throw the water toward the
roots of the trees instead of having the
trees grow 'cIon the apex of ridge
which runs the water all away from
item. Moisture is absolutely indispen
sable to the hearth of the apple tree and
to the production Of perfect fruit.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07

kit bag, and on the top of the kit bag.
also hanging from the right shoulder, ;
is an aluminium water bottle which con-
tains III pints. To the greatcoat is
strapped pair of boots and an alumni
ium mesS-tin. Besides this, every six
men carry between them the materials
for one tent
The annals Of the Crimean war and of
the Russo-Turkish war tell US Of what
good stuff the Russian soldier is made.
and Archibald Forbes, who, with a
vast experience of military matters,
was keen critic, once said of the Rus
sian private: ST regard him as the
finest material for soldier that the
soldier-producing world affords. He is
an extraordinary weight-carrying
marcher, tramping on mile after mile
with a good heart, with singular free
dom from reliance on sustenance, and
with a good stomach for immediate
lighting at the end of the longest food
less marches. He never grumbles. Mat
ters must have come to bad pass, in
deed, when he lets loose his tongue in
adverse comment on his superiors. In
ured to privation from his childhood,
he is a hard man to starve, and will live
on rations at which, the British soldier
would turn up his nose. His sincere
piety, according to his narrow lights,
his whole-hearted devotion to the car
which is engrained into his mental sys-
TEN, and is not the result of process
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07
THE WORD OF HOPE

A poet in whose heart despair
Had sunk her fingers tore them loose,
And putting on a hopeful air
Sent out a song of courage where
He feared 'twould be of little use.
The proud he said. perhaps will
sheer
And make my song of hope a jest,
But shall triumph If I cheer
One weak and weary soul clear
But doubt from some aching
breast.
The ones who-scoff, self-satisfied
And free from woes that warp and kill.
VIII toss my song of hope aside
And in their wisdom and their pride
Show pity for my lack of skill"
''Tis strength" he sang, gives faith to
seek
The glad, fair ways that lie ahead:
They fail who sit downcast and meek,
For hope is strong and doubt is weak
Joy comes by patient courage led
There came from those he thought to be
Self-satisfied one who confessed,
Who bowed in deep humility
And cried: New hope has come to me
Despair was hidden in my breast.
Why fear to preach good cheer? We
neer
May guess what heart lies deep in pain
Is fated to descend somewhere
IS. E. Kiser. in Chicago Record-Herald.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07
OLDEST LIVING CAT.
Michigan Feline Which Recently Gel
ebrated It's Eighteenth Birth
day at Ga1ien.

G. Leslie Nye, commonly called
Pretty or Purt, is the oldest cat in the
United States, having just celebrated
his eighteenth birthday. AS a frolic-
some kitten he was conspicuous among
the wedding gifts of Mrs. F. A. Nye, of
Galien, Mich, and after a long life
his mistress insists that he is the
most even tempered cat in the world
because he is always cross. But this
is really libel, as he has been per-
fectly devoted to Mrs. Nye's only. son
and is fondly attached to the whole
family.
But he hates felines and wars with
every cat that ventures on the place.
Mrs. Nye raises thousand chickens
every summer, and for years he has
assumed the responsibility of protect
ing them from cats. dogs and rats.
Even the willy weasel is no match for
C. Leslie Nye. who catches and kills
every one who visits the chicken
ranch His only utilization is with the
family COW, which allows him to ride
bareback fashion when she is grazing
in the pasture.
He is an epicure-loves a good
brand of coffee and dotes on raspberry
pie. Also squash, corn, cabbage. and
tomatoes, but his chief delicacies are
fish. oysters, and game. He is per-
fectly Indifferent to yellow legged
chickens, but wants his milk served in
a pink saucer, and insists on having 1t
warm and foamy from his friend the
bessie.
G. Leslie Nye is a beautiful orange
cat with white markings, and Mrs.
Nye has a life sized pastel made of her
famous pet Notwithstanding his adj
yanced age. he is in perfect health.
and the fact that he has lost most OF
his teeth does not cripple him as a
ratter, as he holds the rodent with
both paws and worries it to death by
twisting it's head until its neck is
broken.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07

For instance, young men who reach
certain standards of education are
granted diminution of their service to
one, two, three, or four years, accord
ing to their degree of service. 1t is from
his class that the majority of reserve
officers are obtained.
Cossacks serve under special regula-
tions. Service with them begins on
The completion Of the eighteenth year,
and lasts 20 years, of which seven are
spent actually serving. These rules do
apply, however, to the Ural Cossacks,
who are volunteers, although they must,
ooowever, serve actually once year.
Since the days when the allied armies
entered Paris no part of the Russian
army has taken such hold on the pop
llar Imagination as the Cossack cav
airy.
Lila the French Zouave and the Prus-
sian Uhlan, the Cossack has acquired
4 certain air of romance, and lives in
story far more than his less known COM
fades. The Cossacks make excellent
lighting material, and furnish the best
scouts in the Russian army. On active
service the CosSacks are the eye and
soul of the army. Like a pointer. they
, seem to smell the enemy when no one
else seems to think of his existence.
Neither Cossack nor his horse appears
to- know what fatigue is, and man and
oeast seem never to want to sleep. The
Cossack finds his way everywhere. If
4 commander wishes to send an order to
!, distant column whose exact position
he cannot quite locate, he employs a
Cossack, who is bound to find way of
delivering the message. Cossacks are
splendid hands at guerrilla warfare and
give an enemy no rest.
In peace the. Cessack regiments num-
Der 52-44 Of six squadrons each and
eight of four squadrOns. There are be-
sides 81 Independent squadrons. But
In war times these figures are consider
ably increased, there being then $50
regiments of six squadrons, Is of four
squadrons, and 53 Independent squad
rons. The term Don Cossacks, which is
most often used, is derived from the
tact that the Don province, north of
the Sea Of Azov, furnishes the largest
number of regiments. With regard to
The armament Of the CosSack regiments.
is curious to note that the sword
which they use has no guard. The men
are AIMED with rifles which take the
same ammunition as the infantry rifles.
but have no bayonet. Front ranks
garry a lance nine feet long, but, unlike
bur troops. they carry no pennon on
heir lances. The Kuban Cossack cav
airy have no lances-
The Russian infantry consists of 2OS
regiments, each, Of four battalions of
Our companies and of q noncombatant
sompany-17 companies in all. OF these
zoe foot regiments, IL are regiments of
the guard, Is are Grcnadier regiments,
and 1S1 are footsregiments Of the line.
A Russian infantryman. is admiralty
equipped. His belt contains 80 rounds
If ammunition. He wears his overeoat
rolled over his left shoulder; beneath
bandolier with so rounds. and q re-
ser~e pouch with another 80 rounds
aangs from strap over the left and is
attached to his belt. From tae right
Ihoulder is suspended his waterproof
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07

Kuban and Terek Cossacks wear dark
gray Circassian frock. One of the most
comfortable uniforms is that worn by
the infantry in summer time. 1t con-
sists of white linen blouse and trou-
sers, with caps like the forage caps worn
by our Irish guards, only of white with
distinctive band of color. The horse
guards. too, in their white blouses with
scarlet collars, and dark green breeches,
look very picturesque in the summer.
The officers shown in our last illustra-
ton belong to the Kuban Cossacks.
whose headdress is a conical 1ambswool
busby with a red top.
Finland had, until recently, an army
OF its own which was distinct from the
Russian army. and was commanded by
It's own commander in chief. but by the
new military service law recently pro-
mulgated, the national army was prac-
ttcally abolished, and body substi-
tuted for 1t which forms an integral part
OF the Russian army. Firms are in fu-
ture to be called upon to do duty in other
districts than their own. while Russian
troops may be called upon to garrison
Finland
GEORGES sco1n
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07

of reasoning his constitutional
courage combine to bring it about that
he faces the casualties of the battle
field with willing, prompt and long-sus-
tanned courage"
The predominant color in the uniform
of the Russian army is dark green. The
infantry wear doubIe-breast blouses
and knickerbockers of this color. The
footguards have a colored collar and
cuffs, and piping on the knickerbock-
ers. and patches of the same color on
their sovercoats. Grenadier regiments
have yellow shoulder-straps. The cav
airy also mostly wear dark green tu-
mics, but with distinctive facings; but
Lancers wear dark blue, and the en-
peror's hussars scarlet. The dress Of
the Cossack regiments is mostly dark
green or blue, but the guard Cossacks
have scarlet tunics in the emperor's,
and light blue in the Ataman regiment.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07

serted on the following day.
1t was still exceedingly hot and hue
mid on the following morning, and at
the breakfast table Mrs. Jobson asked
Mr.. Jobson If he was still in the same
mind as to renting the house, furnished,
for the summer.
I don't change my mind every 20
minutes, Mrs. Jobson," he replied, crush
ingly, as he wiped his brow before clap
ping on his hat. Mrs. Jobson, ODE
dent to "orders," had the ad inserted
that day
A cool. rollicking breeze out of the
northwest sprang up that afternoon, and
Mr.. Jobson was whistling eheerily when
he arrived home.
What corking breeze this nd make
for the yacht races!" he said, delighted
1y, to Mrs. Jobson, as he ate his din
ner with gusto-but Mrs. Jobsen did not
look happy.
Mr.. JobsOn was watering the front
grass with hose, and humming to
himself, when they began to arrive.
They" were the folks who had read
the Jobson advertisement of a furnished
house for the summer. Mr.. Jobson had
forgotten all about that affair, and he
looked at the stream of prospective fur
nished house tenants with amazement
plentifully mixed with wrath. He
dropped the garden hose and went into
the house and gloomed around the sit
tfng-room, while the procession of crit
icising women, and their helpless, but
half-ironica1 husbands, were taken all
over the house by Mrs. Jobson. There
was lull in the procession along toward
eight o'clock.
Mrs. Jobson," sternly commanded
Mr.. Jobson, you will please get on your
hat-we are going to close this house
up against this tide of impertinent rub
bernecks, and go for car ride"
Mr.. Jobson kept his lips tightly COM
pressed until they were on board the
car. Then he turned to Mrs. Jobson
with an expression of deep pain.
$50 he said, sepulchrally, s'you have
at last rugged up scheme to take the
roof from over my head, have your"
Dear me- began Mrs Jobson, didn't
you tell me TO-
you've finally cooked up a plan to
have the things that it's taken me years
| to get together macerated to pulp and
ruined, and destroyed, hey?" said Mr..
Jobson, ignoring her words, and warm
ing up. But it don't go, madam-I'm
| telling you that-it don't CO."
But" hopelessly expostulated Mrs.
Jobson, didn't you tell me that you
were going to live in the country this
summer, and
1--WE been living in Washington for a
! good many years, madam, and the cap
ital of the United States is good enough
| for me-" broke in Mr.. Jobson. ''And if
you think for holy minute that you're
going to chase me out of my own home,
during the best season of the year for
housekeeping, just because you're too
tired to keep house you think you're
going to turn my bed over to any old
Iiff-raff that comes along to sleep in
| my chinaware to eat off of and smash
to smithereens- furniture to maui
around and mess up-my piano to pound
rag-time tunes On-my bathtub to
splash fn-then, madam, the sooner
have you taken before lunacy commits
sion the better it's going to be for all
hands, and 1 can tell you that that time
is not far off, either!
| Star.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07
Where Monev WIN c.

It will cost S., 2O5, 236 to ruiz the state
until June 80, 1905. That is why the
tax levy for state purposes was raised
to 81 mills on the dollar The appro-
priations made for the different state
institutions by the legislature last win
ter follows:
Charitable institutions SOC for
1903; 1851 ,595 for 1904; s791, 14S for
1905.
Penal institutions-s49,4S 3 for 1908;
1925, 100 for 1904; $263. 62O for 1905
State schools-$34, 412 for 1908; $780,
$50 for 1904; $426. $50 for 1905.
Executive and Judicial-$e,5 $40 for
$1,000; SAG. 800 for 1904; $41O,460 for
1905.
Lsgis1atIve-$122, 600 for 1908. -
Soldiers home-$3,000 for 1908; $685.
eco for 1904 $95, 900 for 1906.
Miscellaneous items-$346,6 03 for
1908; s222,620 for 1904; $242. $50 for
1906.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07

All "A NIIH Japan carrying CHIP on
T ANH her shoulder which she is
NESH inviting Russia to knock of,
AEH and with the bear seemingly
w " willingly to accommodate
% the empire of the mikado,
the world becomes interested in the
lighting powers of these two nations,
and the following sketch Of the Rus
sian army should be of more than
passing interest:
The Russian army of to-day, as at
present organized, is only about %
years old. It was called into existence
by the imperial ukase of January Is,
1874, by which the whole male popula-
ton of the empire, with the exception of
certain outlying districts, is liable,
without distinction of rank or class,
to military service from the beginning
Of the twenty-f1rst year to the end of
the forty-third year-of which time the
first 10 years are passed in the stand
Ing army, and the remainder in the
opolchene or militia.
Service with the colors last four years
(Which may be extended to .five), and
with the reserve Is years, during the
latter of which a man is liable to two
trainings of six weeks each. In any
given year about 1900, 900 are liable to
service.
The law admits of many exceptions.
and of the $50, 900 who should join the
orces, not more than half actually join.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07
Big Salary to Manage Farm.

d. H. Otis, professor of animal hus-
bandry at the agricultural college, has
resigned to become manager of the
Deming ranch at Oswego, Labette
county, at a salary of s., 400 per an
mum, with free house rent, fuel, gar
den, cow, chickens and a horse and
buggy.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07
Chicken Thief In n Tree.

Benjamin Litcher, a Wyandotte ne
gro who stole a chicken from a neigh
Dor, was 'treed'' by the bulldog and
put in Jail. He must answer to the
charge of grand larceny, under a law
passed by the last legislature making
the stealing of a fowl after dark
felony
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07
Maude Adams has returned from her

Maude Adams has returned from her
long visit to the other side Of the At
lantic Her health Is reported to be
such that there is no doubt as to her re-
appearance on the stage next season.
AS has been stated, she will use new
play Nf. Barrie has written for hszs
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07
Prompt Payment of Taxes.

Ninety per cent. of the state taxes
for the present year have been collected
already. Treasurer Kelly believes that
not over three per cent. of the taxes
will be delinquent. He also says it is
barely possible that no warrants will
have to be stamped this year. All the
big expenditures of the state have been
met
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07
Raspberry Crop Paid.

W. W. Clark, living below Atchison,
sold 1858 cases of black raspoerfieS this
season, receiving s1,60 per case. net
His patch is not more than an acre and
q half in extent
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07
Rad News for Toners.

Eight girls are studying pharmacy
at the state university. The entrance
of women into that field of employ
ment will no doubt check the sale
of liquor at drugstores. A person would
hesitate to ask a woman clerk for
drink of LIQUOR.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07
Dairying in western Kansas.

H. P. Hood, member of the state live
stock sanitary board, says that The
dairy business in western Kansas is
assuming greater proportions every
year and that within few years it is
likely TO become as important an in
dustry as the dairy business is in YER
mont.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-08-07
Farm to Grow Wolves.

The commissioners of Lane county
have stopped paying bounties on wolf
scalps pending the investigation of a
story that wolf-breeding ranch has
been established in the northern part
of the county.