davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15
His Time Was Not I'm,

A man of mercenary spirit had
several sons. one of whom was on the
eve of his twenty-first birthday. The
father had always been a strict discipli-
marian, keeping his boys well under pa
rental charge, allowing them few liber-
ties and making them work hard.
1t was with feeling Of considerable
satisfaction that the young man rose
on the morning Of his birthday and be-
gan to collect his personal belongings
preparatory to starting out In the
world.
The farmer, seeing his son packing
his trunk, which he rightly judged to
be evidence of the early loss Of a good
farm hand, stopped at the door Of the
young mans room and asked what he
was going to do.
The boy very promptly reminded his
father Of the day Of the month and the
year and declared intention of strik-
ing out in the world on his own ac-
count
Not much you WON'T" shouted the
old man, "at least not for awhile yet!
You wasn't born until after II o'clock.
so you can just take off them good
clothes and fix to give me another half
days work down in the potato patch"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15
THE PENALTY OF IGNORANCE.

He was one of those rare and queer
specimens who in some manner had
lodged and neglected all the splendid
educational advantages which America
offers its young people and at the age
of forty-five could neither read nor
write, save that he had learned how to
write his name in a sort of crows foot
fashion. He was worker and, having
inherited some property from his ia
Their, knew how to successfully raise
hogs and corn and had made himself
quite well off. One day gang Of tree
peddlers got after him and loaded him
up with an order for almost 1000
worth of stuff-trees and plants which
could not possibly survive single
northern winter-he in his ignorance
actually not knowing what he had
bought or how large a sum he had
obligated himself to pay. When he did
find out there was blood on the moon,
der, an ironclad one so far as he was
concerned, was in the hands of COM
pany which will pick him clean if
they can. If we were in his place we
would quit raising hogs and corn for a
couple of years, attend the country
school and meanwhile apply for the APP
pointment of an administrator to look
after the business. While it is true
that a sucker is born every minute it
is not often that one cf this kind is
Matched.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15
The Kangaroo's Kick.

When bi "Old man" kangaroo stiff
ems his tail and converts it into a sort
of revolving pivot bearing the whole
weight Of his body, leaving his tremen-
dously powerful legs free for attack
and defense. everybody who does not
want to be ripped up or thrown in q
heap for a considerable distance will
give the marsupial wide berth. Only
those who have seen the full grown
kangaroo in his native Australian bush
with his back to a tree, scattering dogs.
bleeding and torn, right and left, can
form any adequate idea Of the prodi-
gious strength the animal is capable Of
exerting when he finds himself in a
tight corner. KangaroOs are now get
ting scarce in the. southern parts Of
Australia. but they are still pretty nu-
merous in the thinly populated north.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

Fate at times works some strange
ironies.
Mr.. McHugh, an Irish member of par
lament, some years ago brought for
ward bill for the amendment of the
law relating to contempt Of court in Ire
land and was soon afterward sentenced
to three months Imprisonment for that
offense. Mr.. McHughs bill was sent to
him in proof form while he was under
going his sentence and revised in Kill
mainham jail
Two convicts were executed at the
Ichigaya prison in Japan. and one Of
them as he assembled the guillotine re-
marked that he had built it himself
while serving sentence for larceny
two years before.
A few years ago story came from a
town in Staffordshire, England, of a
man who took his dog to the river to
drown 1t in order to save the expense
Of a license, but slipped and was
drowned himself, while the dog re-
turned home.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15
LIVING OBTAINED ON THE FARM.


The living secured by the man of the
farm is often entirely overlooked when
summing up the disadvantages con-
nected with farm life, and what such
living is worth is proper to investigate.
The man in town who has to buy every
thing which enters into his daily living
knows well enough that good part of
farmer has no house rent to pay, no
water tax, no heavy municipal tax, and
he is almost entirely exempt from the
hundred and one calls on benevolent,
charitable and public account, species
Of municipal tribute from which 1t is
utterly impossible for the town resi-
dent to escape. On any well managed
farm all the breadstuffs needed for
family use are obtained, also the milk,
butter, cream, eggs, poultry, vegetables
and fruits, and all of these of the very
best are found on the farm. The bill of
fare at the farm home is always good,
quite often more varied and Of much
more costly things than would be
found on the table Of the average town
resident. Now, assuming that there
are seven persons in the average farm
home-the man, his wife, four children
and hired man--is it supposable that
they could live as they do for less than
$7O0 per year if they lived as well in
town? Now, this 500 should in all
fairness be credited, with house rent
say $3.50 more-to the advantage Of liv-
ing on the farm, when the fact is that
very little account is made of it by the
majority of people.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15
THE NORTHWEST WIND.

The northwest wind Of the great in
terror prairie region Of the northwest,
while during the winter season the
bearer of the blizzard and the pitiless
cold-savage. merciless and destructive
becomes an angel of mercy, bearing
healing on its wings. during the trop-
zeal heat Of the summer. What tonic
like that of the northwest wind after
days Of enervating and depressing
heat! 1t is the twin brother OF the
clear, cool spring water and is as cool
Ing refreshing and satisfying as the
gushing water to thirsty lips. We know
that 1t will whirl the snow In mighty
drifts all too soon. that II will persist
emily seek out every crack and Granny
In house and barn and sting and roar
In midwinter revel, but during the
dog days 1t comes to us like benedic-
ton.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15
The Harvest Moon.

1t 30 happens that the position of the
moon is such that the full moon pre-
ceding the autumnal equinox for sew
eral successive nights in the latitude
Of London rises only nine or ten min
utes later each succeeding evening.
This phenomenon is called the harvest
moon" from a notion that 1t Is provi-
sion Of all wise Providence calculated
to enable the husbandman to take care
of his grain at night II there Is 50 much
Of 1t that 1t cannot be handled during
daylight
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15
Safeguard the Children.

Notwithstanding all that is done by
boards of health and charitably in
clined persons, the death rate among
small children is very high during
the hot weather Of the summer months
in the large cities. There is not pro.
badly one case of bowel complaint in
hundred, however, that could not be
cured by the timely use of Chamber.
lain's Collie, Cholera and Diarrhoe,
Remedy. For sale by Engbretsop'
Pharmacy.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

We have two inquiries about the adj
visibility of fall planting of strawber-
ries. In the north country. where the
winters are long and severe. it is all
wrong to plant this fruit in the fall.
There they should be planted in the
spring as soon as the ground is in good
condition. Farther south, where there
is little or no frost during the winter,
fall planting is all right.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

With view to doing away with the
prejudice against white oleomargarine
the manufacturers of the stuff are now
the yellow color in butter or cleo is the
cause of the sallow complexion in so
many women. What next?
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

EYES," remarked the thin chap, "he
told me to name my own salary"
"Well," replied the fat one. that
was very liberal Of him. should
think"
1T was So" retortsd the thin one
sadly. "but he didn't seem to take to
the name. He changed 1t. and now
I'm getting wages only."-Cincinnat
Commercial Tribune.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15
A NOTABLE IRRIGATION SCHEME

The first and one Of the most impor-
tant Of the irrigation projects under
taken by the general government I'M
der the new law will be on the Salt riv-
er about fifty miles from Phenix, Ariz.
The dam to be built at the mouth Of
the canyon where the river energies
from the mountains on to the plains
will be 1873 feet thick at the base, $50
feet long at the top. $50 feet in height
and will contain 100000 cubic feet
Of masonry. The reservoir thus ere
ated will contain 1920, 900 acre feet Of
water. drain over 5000 square miles of
mountain territory and irrigate over
800 900 acres Of now worthless desert
land In the valley of the Salt river
When thus reclaimed the land will be
easily worth $50 per acre. as the soil
IL wonderfully productive.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

The plant food in the soil is taken
by the plant or tree by absorption, the
tiny rootlets, which are the mouths Of
the plant, sucking their food from the
soil; hence the necessity of SO prepar-
ing the soil that the plant may readily
obtain its food. AS well expect baby
to thrive by feeding it crusts Of bread
and tough meats as to expect a plant
to do well with nothing but clods to
feed on.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

The man who is not horseman in a
technical sense who wishes to raise a
colt or two on his farm will find 1t safer
to confine his efforts to raising the
heavy draft breeds-beef horses we call
them1-because they may be raised with
as little care and trouble as steer.
There is always a good market for
these horses at three or four years Of
age at good prices and always will be.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

The tomato is much more easily
cared for and will produce a better
quality of fruit if tied to a good, stout
stake four or five feet high. 1t can then
be readily thinned and pruned, some
thing almost indispensable in the pro-
ductiOn of fine tomatoes.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

1t has been white clover week the
week this is written, an ocean of white
bloom in the pasture, a delicate fra
GRANGE right from the garden of the
gods filing the air and droning mono
tone of bees as they foraged for clover
sweets and elaborated into geometric
squares the most delicious and delicate
product of the farm.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

The birds and the milliners and the
fruit growers are coming to better
understanding Of things. The milf
ners are going to quit using dead birds
for decorative purposes, and the birds,
allowed to live, will eat the insects
which destroy so much Of the fruit
crop. 1t is a good thing all round.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15
The difference.

$50 that distinguished looking lady is
your wife, ehY
mo. I'm that distinguished looking
lady's husband"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

A streak of windstorm near where
the writer lives cleaned out seventy
windmills along its path of a few
miles. Here is where the bull at the
head of the herd on tread power or a
gasoline engine has the advantage Of
the wind wheel
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

A young friend wishes to know why
a dog always turns round before lying
down. 1t is hereditary trait derived
from his wolf ancestry, the wolf seek
ing a resting place in the grass, having
to tramp it down to secure it. 1t is the
same hereditary instinct which makes
the dog sit and howl at the moon.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

Bermuda grass is to the south what
blue grass is to the north. the natural
all round dependable grass which
creeps and covers the waste places and
affords a most nutritious ration for
stock. On good land one acre will sup
port one steer and add 200 pounds in
weight to the animal in six months.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

Daughter-Papa. mamma says BIRTH
day gifts are luxuries. but ] say they
are necessities. Now, what do you say
they are?
Father-I2 Oh. I say they are nui-
6anCes.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

A friend Of ours owning large farm
has taken the trouble to so smooth
down the highways bordering his farm
that he can run a mower over the sides
of the roadway as easily as he can in
his adjoining meadow. The result Is
that he gets about three tons Of fine
hay-blue grass and clover-about the
middle of June and does for his farm
what nice lady does when she puts
on her collar and ribbons and natty
white apron.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

Judge-Oficer. what Is this prisoner
charged with?
Officer - Electricity. your honor. I
caught him stealing trolley wire.-Phil-
adelphia Telegraph.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

We are inclined to the opinion that
stupidity and ignorance have a little
better chance on the farm than they do
not that these qualities are any help
to the farmer, but instead ever draw
back and hindrance, but that nature
deals more kindly with incompetents
than do employers of such men.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

A strike was in progress in manu-
featuring town, and 800 operatives
were out Of work. About the first man
to realize the economic effect of the
strike was the town milkman, whose
patrons nearly all reduced their milk
orders from two quarts to one pint.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

When there is an excessive rainfall
the water finds three ways out-by
running off, by evaporation and by Al
tration through the soil. The first meth
cd is almost always destructive to soil
and crop; the second is a slow, and, so
far as growing crops are concerned, a
ruinOus process; the third is the natu-
raj and best way, as the surplus water
is thus stored for future plant use, but
it is often prevented by lack Of proper
subsoil drainage.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

We have raised the bush lima bean
for some years with much satisfaction.
The bush variety of this delicious bean
is equally as good and prolific as the
pole variety and not one-half the both
er to care for.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

Where one has a large clover field 1t
is almost imperative that some of it
must be cut before it is just right in
order to save the last of 1t in good
shape. There are only about three
days when the clover is just right to
cut, and that is when three-fourths of
the blossoms have turned brown.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

Uncle Reuben says, "Silence may not
allus be wisdom, but If yo' don't say
muffin yo' can't be called fule fur It"
detroit Free Press.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

Where one wants clover for land rem
ovating purposes specially it is best to
SOW the Mammoth variety, but the Me-
dunn will give better results where it is
wanted for fodder purposes.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

We saw the daisy in full bloom down
on the Pennsylvania pastures not long
since and wish to caution the farmers
of the west not to let this pestiferous
weed get foothold on western farms.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

In South Africa the ants will eat up
q railway tie in about four months.
The more automobiles there are put
into use the better the demand for good
horses. We are pleased to note this
fact, though we cannot tell why it is.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

When -four sells at over a dollar a
sack it will pay the farmer to raise his
own bread timber, provided his land is
suited to a wheat crop.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

A wet spring followed by dry sum-
mer almost always brings fruitful
year. The damage wrought by dry
spring is hard to overcome.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

The Wealthy apple tree is like the
Jersey cow-bears very young and
needs good care and treatment.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

that he has a dead sure cure for hog
cholera. If he has he can wear plug
hat, own an automobile and yacht,
endow a college and take summer trips
to Europe just as soon as the farmers
get on to the fact. But. then, he is like
a hundred others-hasn't got any sure
cure; only thinks he has. His theory
may seem all right and work In some
cases, but the first thing he knows he
will find it knocked into smithereens
Just as all the rest Of the 80 called cures
have been. Hog cholera Ia like original
sin-can't be cured.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

1t all depends upon the point OF view.
The man who has an orchard Of
young fruit trees and puts out poison
and sets traps to destroy the rabbits
which girdle and destroy his trees is
looked upon as a pretty mean man by
the sports who are fond Of rabbit hunt
ing, and these same sports are regard
ed as an unmitigated nuisance by the
farmer when they raid his place. scare
his stock, tear down his fences and
shoot his pet squirrels and quail.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

The American Is a great fellow to
hang on. but many man would have
either saved or made fortune II he
had known enough to let go at the
right time. We know of a case where
a man hung on to 5000 bushel crib
Of corn then four years old when he
was offered Is cents a bushel for 1t and
was forced to sell 1t later at 40 cents;
we recall case where a farmer was
offered $500 for well matched draft
team and refusing, was busy digging
hole to put the best horse in inside of
ten days: we have known scores of
men to hang on to some public office
from which they might have graceful
~ retired with credit and honor until
they were ANONYMOUSLY kicked out by
an irritated constituency. Hang on"
is good motto sometimes, and often
"Let 60" is better one.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

There is this season a volunteer crop
of winter wheat up In Minnesota which
Is curiosity. A field Of spring wheat
last year for some reason or other was
not harvested. and. the fall being very
favorable, the wheat grew and covered
the field with thick mat Of volunteer
wheat. Ordinarily this wheat would
have been killed out by the severe win
tiers of that latitude. but heavy snow
covered the field early In the winter
and remained on until spring, and the
field now gives promise Of yielding
twenty-five or thirty bushels per acre
Of No. winter-spring wheat.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15

Given sufficient rain to secure the
proper termination Of the seed In the
spring, It is entirely possible to raise
almost any sort of vegetable or root
crop by continuous cultivation Of the
surface Of the soil without another
drop Of rain until the harvest is ready
and the crop matured. We have seen
this done with cabbages, turnips. tOma-
toes, potatoes and sweet corn by sur
face cultivation of the crop every three
days during a fifty day midsummer
drought. the crop seemingly never suf-
fering for want Of moisture.
There is a natural affinity between
children and dirt Every mother has
found this out 1t is all right that 1t
should be so. We are made of dirt to
start with; have to dig our living out
of II while we live and return to the
bosom of old Mother Earth when we
are through with our trouble. Nearly
all mothers want to keep their children
clean and slick when nature Is work
ing against them all the time. The
best way is to let the kids have all the
dirt and water they want to play with
and then have a tub OF water handy to
throw them into when they get
through Dirt doesn't hurt children
bit II you get II Off them every night.
The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-09-10
Fairfield

Mrs. Forrest Drew has been visiting in
Lewiston for few days.
Mrs. Everett Libby OF Portland, is
visiting friends and relatives here.
Miss Izadore Whittier OF Clinton, is
visiting her sister Mrs S. c. Scammon.
w. G.. Rice, superintendent of the
Portland & Brunswick Railway, has been
visiting at his home here.
c. r. Simpson, who has been 10 the
employ OF the Textile Mill here, has gone
to Derby, Conn, where he will take
charge of the card room at A. II. & B,
Allng's hosiery mill
Walter F. Kenrick, who recently re-
signed as principal OF the Fairfield High
school, to accept position as teacher in
the Hartford Public High school of Hart
ford, Conn. left Friday. to take up his
duties in the near future. 1t is greatly
regretted by all interested 10 the welfare
OF the schools that Mr.. Kenrick decided
to make a change, bul the best wishes OF
all for the succ, SIS in his new field OF
labor 90 with him.
The Clionea Club held its annual pic
mic at Bunker Island Park, Thursday
afternoon. There were abou, 50 present.
A picnic supper was served. after which a
corn roast was enjoyed, and later little
dancing, music being furnished by Theo-
dore Stephens and Miss Mamie Ware.
A very enjoyable time was reported.
Among those present from out OF town
were Mrs. Nell Pettngl OF Lewiston and
Mrs. Fred Philbrick of Skowhegan.