davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-10-20

dSr1CulGufdI duu Sdh1Gd1S OAoAAoSO
and furnish water supply properly
to his house and buildings. He
should also be familiar enough with
the principles of architecture to in
sure the adaptation of his buildings
to his own special needs. Political
economy and political science should
be within his comprehension, their
past as well as the present status,
that he may judge as to the bene-
fcent or injurious effect of political
and commercial measures and he
must be trained to exert wisely his
political power in the local and gen
eral governments. To counterfeit
some of the effects of the isolation
inherent IL the industry he and his
family should cultivate a genuine
love for reading, and should be sup
piled with a broad range, including
history, travel and those realistic
novels which will familiarize them
with conditions of life in>Other en-
vironments.
People who are so unfortunate as
to be thrown upon their own I'M
aided resources for amusements, who
frequently have not time or strength
for aught but the grind of work,
are painfully self-conscious when
ever brought into contact with other
conditions. If actual society is
not possible, much of its benefit
may be conferred by the books and
magazines so plentiful through
which needed, and all can travel or
enter any social "set" at will by
proxy, and can thus secure some of
the ease and polish gained by actual
social privileges.
If the above requirements are es-
sential to a successful agricultural
life the question naturally arises as
to the mode of securing them, especi-
ally where time and money are to
be considered.
The common school system sup
plies much of the technical train
ing essential to the ordinary per-
son: that is, he learns to read, write,
to conduct ordinary business trans
actions, and something of history
and kindred subjects, but, unfor-
tu~nately, much of this knowledge is
acquired at a time when the mind
is too immature to make it of the
value it should be.
wIsCONsIN's EXPERIMENT.
Wisconsin has made an experiment
which consists in organizing and
equipping two schools which shall
be free to pupils living in the re-
spective counties and which shall
supplement the ' ,rk of the district
80
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-10-20

Chased upon results in this and for
eign countries), is as interesting as
it is suggestive, and these two
schools are practical illustrations of
a scheme of education especially
adapted to farming communities.
Marathon and Dunn Counties we're
selected because both n progress
sive educationally and agriculturally,
thus afording suitable environments
for the experiment. The school at
Menomonie, Dunn County, was COM
pleted first and was opened in Octo-
Der, 1902. The building was planned
by Mr.. J. T. W. Jennings, Super
vising Architect of the Buildings and
Grounds of the University of Wis
consin, who has recently superin-
tended the construction of the mag
nifcent new building of the Agri-
cultural College at Madison. The
Menomonie building is ~ SO feet
in dimensions, and was planned to
accommodate the Dunn County
Teachers Training School, which
occupies the third story. The first
floor has a general laboratory, 20 x 40
feet, to be used for elementary sci
ence and dairy work; recitation
room, 2Ox32 feet, equipped with
blackboards, apparatus for use of
stereopticon; boiler, fuel, laundry,
janitor's and mems Mushrooms are
also on this floor. The second floor
(main entrance foor) contains as
sembly and study room, 40 40 feet,
with sinks and apparatus for cook
ing and serving food properly; a
sewing room, 19x2 10 feet, equipped
for teaching cutting, fitting and
sewing; a principals Office fitted with
shelves for the agricultural and
general library of the school, and a
store-room, 8x9 feet, and ladies'
cloak room. The third floor has a
similar assembly room and two reel
tation rooms, the remainder of the
floor being adapted to the use Of
the Teachers Training School. The
attic is unfinished and will afford
ample room for exercise in inclement
weather.
WHAT THE BOYS LEARN
Near the main building is a two
story shop building where is installed
ample machinery for the teaching
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-10-20
wIsCONsIN's EXPERIMENT

Wisconsin has made an experiment
which consists in organizing and
equipping two schools which shall
be free to pupils living in the re-
spective counties and which shall
supplement the ' ,rk of the district
schools and train their students with
direct reference to farm environ
ments. 1t is intended that the courses
of study and the equipment of these
schools shall be sufficiently elastic
to provide the training requisite to
the people in their immediate local
tiles. This feature of the work is
characteristic of Mr.. L. D. Harvey,
ex-State Superintendent of Educa-
ton, the Special Commissioner ap-
pointed by the Legislature of 1899
to investigate and report upon the
subject of agricultural training. Mr.
Harvey's report, which embodies the
results of his Investigations and his
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-10-20
HAT THE BOYS EAR

Near the main building is a two
story shop building where is installed
ample machinery for the teaching
and practice of carpentry, black
smithing, the care and repairing of
machinery, engines and boilers; in
short, all hat is necessary for farm
ers to know of farm machinery.
Near these buildings is a tract of
land sufficient for vegetable and
flower gardens and for the houses
and run-ways necessary in care of
poultry.
The main farm is n and one
half miles from the school, and the
students are conveyed back and
forth when necessary. This property
belongs to the county, and thus can
be permanently maintained and
equipped as dictated by the interests
of the school. It's buildings, stock,
machinery, orchards-all apparatus
have been selected with a view to
familiarizing the students with the
best and most modern appliances
and methods. The students will
learn to select crops with reference
to the chemical elements of the soil;
to modify the soils with the aid of
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
A Lucky Big winning.

''In the old days." said Colorado
man, Senator Tom Bowen came to
Denver from Arkansas down on his
luck. Steve Dorsey had just defeated
him for the United States senate.
tom didn't seem to catch on in Den
yer, though he was a good lawyer. He
was run down at the heel, and he took
to pin pool to kill time. The stakes
were usually q round of drinks and a
bunch of mining stocks, the par value
of the stocks represented being entire
ly consistent with the cost of paper
and the price of printing 1t was al
ways a real hardship on Tom when he
lost The drinks had to be paid for In
cash, you know. But he seldom lost,
and, do you know, the little woman at
home used to go through his pockets
every night for mining stocks.
"Well, one day there was a high
strike in a prospect not so very far
from Denver, and in telling his wife
about it the future senator sighed that
he wished he owned a few shares. I
think you do, dear answered the little
woman, and then to make sure she
went and looked over her possessions
To make long story short, Tom Bow
en- went downtown that afternoon with
securities worth half a million in his
pocket, and he remembered that he had
won them all in a single half day not
long before" New York Telegram.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
Trifies as Irrftants.

We are so constituted that what is
occurring at the moment interests us
often out Of all proportion to its i'm
portance. For example, we are thrown
off our balance by the merest trifles
perhaps which occur today, but which
in a weeks time may have no signifl-
canoe whatever. Obstacles which seem
like mountains when we meet them
dwindle away to molehills when we
get away from them.
Even what seems tragedy at the mo-
ment in the future may be the most
innocent comedy.
Most Of us are so constituted that we
will make almost any sacrifice for pres
ent peace. It would seem easier to have
an arm or leg amputated two years
hence than to lose a finger today! 1t is
human nature to shrink from pain, and
we purchase release at almost any cost.
If we could only train the mind to look
at today's trouble and annoyance from
the standpoint Of the future, it would
be much easier to bear.-Success.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
A SliIlful AdvArtiser.

Many years ago Sir Thomas Upton
was passenger on an East Ian
steamer bound for Ceylon. While in
the Red sea the boat was disabled, and
it became necessary to throw over
board part of her cargo. Upton was
an interested spectator Of the prepara-
tions for tightening the ship Suddenly
he bolted the scene and by a twenty
dollar dicker with the chief engineer
secured a paint brush and a pot of
black paint. Then, to the astonish-
ment Of the captain and passengers, he
cheerfully labeled each box and bale
thrown overheard use Lipton's Teas"
The cargo, of course, f1oated ashore
and for miles in Araby and other lands
the natives saw that legend. Subse-
quently the passengers on the injured
steamer were compelled to abandon it
and take to small boats. On reaching
land Sir Thomas was the first to make
a cable Office and wire the destruction
of the boat and safety of the travellers
to London. The message was signed
Upton" OF course his name was in
every English newspaper the next
morning, signed to that message, and
he was the best advertised man in the
kingdom.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
Locked In with a Maniac.

The writer was once closeted with
patient whom he had no suspicion Of
being mad until the latter got out of
bed, tvrned the key of the door and
preferred a mild request to the writer
to have his throat cut, handing him at
the same time an open pocketknife,
which he produced from underneath
his pillow. I objected to the knife as
being too small for the purpose and
begged to be allowed to go for my case
of amputating knives, with which, !
explained, the operation could be per-
formed with greater neatness and dis
patch. He unlocked the door at once,
binding me over to secrecy and urging
me to lose no time in returning. drove
home, reported the case to the authori-
ties and came back with assistance.
He was secured with great difficulty
and sent to the asylum.-London Tit
Bits.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
The xabit of Decision.

The great thing in all education Is
10 make our nervous system our ally
instead of cur enemy. 1t is to fund
and capitalize our acquisitions and live
at ease upon the interest of the fund
For this we must make automatic and
habitual as early as possible as many
useful actions as we can and guard
against the growing into ways that
Ire likely to be disadavantageous to
as as we should guard against the
plague. The more of the details of
our daily life we can hand over to the
effortless custody of automatonism
the more of our higher powers of mind
will be set free for their own proper
work. There is no more miserable hu-
man being than one in whom nothing
is habitual but indecision and for
whom the drinking Of every cup, the
time of rising and going to bed every
day and the beginning Of every bit of
work are subjects Of express volitional
deliberation. Full half the time of
such a man goes to the deciding or re-
GREETING Of matters which ought to be
so ingrained in him as practically not
to exist for his Consciousness at all.
If there be such daily duties yet not
ingrained in any one of my readers,
let him begin this very hour to set the
matter rfSht.-From Psychology" by
Professor William James.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
OBJECTED to Free Pun..

John Knapp of the st. Louis Repub-
ncan had little use for press agents,
and 1t took a mighty shrewd man to
get free puff from him. He never
would publish a lawyers or a doctors
name If he could avoid it, for fear they
might derive some benefit from the
free advertisement. 1t is said that one
morning mention was made In the Re
publican - they call it the Republic
now-of a man having died of Brights
disease. Old man Knapp hunted up
tine proofreader and called him into the
private office.
"Why did you let that get into the
paperr asked the>old man, indicating
with his forefnger the Objectionable
paragraph.
'I don't see but that's all right" said
the reader.
you don't, eh?" snapped old man
Knapp. you don't, eh? Do you think
we want to advertise that man Bright
for nothing? He never had an ad. in
this paper in his life"
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
Unapprectnted.

The shrewdness of one of the found
ers of famous estate in Maine gave
rise to many amusing stories, one of
which has recently been retold.
One day the man, who was a large
lumber operator, was experimenting a
crew which was breaking up log jam
in the river. Suddenly the spruce on
which he was standing slipped. The
lumberman dropped out of sight in the
water, and the logs closed over him.
The nearest Frenchman saw the ac-
cident. Hopping briskly over the Slip
perry logs, he helped the "boss" to land.
Nothing was said about the accident
After an hour or so the Frenchman be-
gan to get anxious because the reward
which he considered due was not forth
coming. He approached the lumber
man and, pulling clumsily at his cap,
stammered:
II see you fall in, m'sieur, an run
queek to pull you out fore you drown
ed"
"Prob'ly," snapped the lumberman-
"prob'ly if you'd been tending to busi-
ness as you'd oughter you wouldn't
have seen me fall inp'
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
Manx Cats.

The peculiar breed of cats found in
the Isle of Man differs from others only
in that they have no tails, and the lack
thereof is the insoluble puzzle to nat
uralists. Since it has become the fash
ion to explain, everything by the prin-
ciples of evolution, two theories have
been offered-one that, owing to the
limited range and lack of dense forests,
the original cats had no use for tails,
and consequently they (the tails. not
the cats) gradually atrophied for lack
Of use and became rudimentary; anoth-
er that the primitive Manx cut off all
their cats tails and in the course of
time developed tailless breed. One
thing Is certain-the cats are there, and
they have no tails.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
The EARLY Maine Schools.

The first schools in some Maine towns
have been attended with romantic cir
cumstances. The first school in Gull
ford, for want of better place in
which to fertilize the young idea, was
held 'in the loft over Captain Ben
nett's open she'd" In Dexter the first
gathering of urchins for instruction
was in Lieutenant Stafford's barn.
In Corinth the first school was held in
the open air under large tree.
The first schoolroom in Exeter was
perhaps as unique as any. Crotched
poles were set in the ground back Of
MIR. Barker's barn and on these other
poles were laid, while around the sides
loose boards were set up on end to in
close the space where the school was
held. Scholars Of the present day
would look askance at such conven-
ienceS
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
Harmony In the Leaves of a Tree.

One of the remarkable characters
tics Of tree is the process of LEAKAGE,
and if we examine the bough upon
which the leaves grow the admiration
Of the scientific agriculturist will be-
come thoroughly aroused over the per
feet consistency and artistic skill mani
tested in the arrangement Of each
spray and the exact number Of leaves
arranged with the most exquisite art
and regularity. Every group Of leaves
forms merely long lines-some short
and each one different-no two alike,
no two in the same position, yet all so
perfect and harmoniously blended that
there can be no antagonism, no same
ness and all those thousands and thou
sands Of strange and delicate forms
grouped together, neither confused nor
Ill arranged.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
Tbe .orom q, BeaIam..o

In the old days, when the supply Of
lunatics exceeded their accommodation
at Bethlehem hospital, the difficulty
was not met by the building Of tempo
rary annexes, but by the admission Of
outdoor patients, who went by the
name of Tom O. Bedlams. AS an old
chronicle tells US: "They had on their
left arm an armilla of tin about four
inches long. They wore about their
necks q great horn of an OK in string
or bawdry, which when they came to
house for aims they did wind, and they
did put the drink given them into this
horn, whereto they did put stopple."
1t was found, however, "that several
vagrant persons do wander about the
city of London and countries, pretend
ing themselves to be lunatics under
cure in the hospital of Bethlehem, with
brass plates about their arms and in
scriptions thereon" and these occasion
al patients had in consequence to be
abolished in 1675.-London Chronicle.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
THE JOKE AS A POWER,
1t Is Rapidly Becoming Mightier
Than the Pen

1t Is Rapidly Becoming Mightier
Than the Pen.
Men who fear nothing else shrink
from joke upon themselves. Soldiers
who do not finch before opposing guns
dread to be made ridiculous. Woe to
the national hero who makes one tri-
fling mistake which may subject him
to clever caricaturel His meritorious
career is henceforth shadowed by one
eolored illustration. A comic paper will
tip the scales Of justice, snatch the vic
tors prize from his extended palm and
rob the orator of choicest laurels. A
brilliant satire will mar the fortunes
OF the greatest statesman, laugh will
turn the tide of political convention.
Indeed the Joke is fast becoming
mightier than the pen. The orator has
learned its value, and even the clergy
man resorts to it when he desires to
stir the tagging interest of his flock.
It furnishes sufficient excuse for the
impertinence Of children. and In Its
name the daily papers deride the high
est national dignitaries.
What is the meaning Of its steady
growth in power and what results may
we predict from its humorous tyranny?
Is there a chance that our keen relish
for fun may finally produce kind Of
humorous dyspepsia resulting from
overindulgence, unless with epicurean
discrimination we demand quality, not
quantity, and stubbornly refuse to
swallow other than that which should
appease a wholesome, nay cultivated
appetite in jokes?-Caroline Ticknor in
Atlantic
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
A Brave Woman Sailor.

There are any number Of instances
on record Of women sailing ships into
port single handed when compelled
circumstances. A typical case is that
Of the brigantine Moorburg, cholera
stricken in the autumn of 1877 while on
q voyage from China to Australia. The
only one that escaped the pestilence
was the captains wife, and she was
handicapped by having baby in arms
to suckle and attend to. Nevertheless
she navigated the vessel into Brisbane,
a voyage of some seven weeks dura-
ton, reef1ng, steering and generally
performing the work Of full crew,
while tenderly nursing the sick during
her spare moments.-London Tt-Bits.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03

SAFE DEPOSIT.-Safe deposit boxes can be
rented from the Bank OF Amador County at the
small expense OF IS cents a month, thereby Sc
curing you against any possible loss from fire
or otherwise. Don't overlook this opportunity
Of protecting your valuables.
SAVE MONEY-PatroniZe home institu.
tion. Send money away through the Bank OF
Amador County; you will save 10 per cent and
upward over postof1ce or express. Money sent
to all parts OF the United States and also all
parts of the world. We have the latest quota
tions on foreign exchange.
SAVE MONEY-It doesn't cost anything to
deposit money in the Banktof Amador County.
They receive deposits from IS up. Commence
the new year by opening up bank account A
man woman with a bank account has a
financial standing. Don't bury your money;
when you die 1t can't be found and you are liza
BILE to be robbed while alive
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
The Public Spirited rather.

"Sir," said the proud mother to the
popular author, my son, who is now
fourteen years old, admires you great
ly. He also is an author. He has
written a number of stories, and 1
would have so liked to have you read
and criticise them"
"Ahp said the popular author,
breathing hard.
"But his father put all of them into
the stove"
II should like to make the acquaint-
ance of such man." said the author
with enthusiasm. HE has the spirit
of a Roman father" = indianapolis
News.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
FUR TRAPPERS.
The Kind Of Life They Lead Up In
the Wilds of Canada.


the Wilds of Canada.
"You admire furs," commented an
old trapper as he sat contentedly smok-
ing his pipe. "You should go where we
get them. All, that Is the life-pure
air, plain, wholesome food and then
after the seasons work that brigade of
fur loaded canoes going off down the
lakes. Every canoe is loaded, you
know. almost to the gunwale, and they
string out one behind the other, a long
line of them. They usually start out
early in the morning and paddle, pad
die, paddle, hour after hour down this
stream, through that lake and so into
civilization.
'But they don't forget to eat-oh, mol
About noon they go ashore. They
'snub' the canoes to overhanging trees
and hunt around for a good fiat rock
on which to start their fire. But those
fellows don't take an hour for lunch
con. Time is too valuable to them.
They take drink Of tea, bite of pork
That is about all. Then they are of
again. The men spell each other ut the
paddles, and occasionally the canoes
are punched by steersmen for a good
smoke.
when night comes, the brigade goes
ashore and pitches its camp. Tents are
put up, campfires lighted and the sup
per prepared, great clouds of black flies
and mosquitoes lowering around. Some
of the men busy themselves preparing
the great brown fiapJacks for the next
day. while others dry their moccasins
or get their blankets ready to bunk in.
Perhaps a canoe has to be patched the
next morning before the start can be
made.
''Oh, it is great life up there in the
wilds Of Canada, where they get the
furs. You should try it."-New York
Tribune
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
Boys whs Play BAH ON Sunday.

The bishop coadjutor Of Pennsylva-
mia, Alexander Mackay-Smith, was on
the way one Sunday morning from the
Bryn Mawr railroad station to the
chapel Of Bryn Mawr college, where he
was to preach.
AS he drove In the hired station wag-
on along the country road he saw ap-
preaching on foot little boy with q
ball and bat and catcher's mask.
The bishop caused his carriage to pull
up. Little boy" he said, leaning out,
little boy"
Sir" returned the lad.
"Do you know where little boys go
who play ball on SundayT
Eyes, SIR" the other answered. "They
go to Heston's lot, over there behind
the DAM" New York Tribune.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
Castor OIL.

A simple method of taking castor oil,
according to Medical News, without
producing any nauseating effects is to
instruct the patient to wash out the
mouth with water as hot as can be
borne, swallow little Of it. then swal-
low the oil and follow this by rinsing
out the mouth well with hot water.
The first swallow of the water cleanses
the mouth, makes the membranes hot,
so that the oil does not stick, and con-
sequently slips down easily.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
An Old Legacy.

A Wednesday, England resident in
the sixteenth century left 81 ZOO to pro-
vide annually on St Thomas day three
gowns and three coats to INDECENT per-
sons Of the parish. Following the Gus
tom of the times, the money was in
vested in land Gin this case in miner
als), and the original legacy has in
creased in value to $4,000. Instead of
the three gowns and three coats the
charity commissioners who administer
the funds are able to present 200 gowns
and sixty coats.
Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
A Large Order.

The proprietor Of a certain restau-
rant had "leased" the reverse side Of
his bill Of fare to carriage manufac-
turer, who prints advertisements there
on.
The other day customer in great
hurry ran into the restaurant, sat at O
table and was handed bill wrong side
up by the flurried waiter.
The customer put on his pince-nez,
curled his mustache with his left hand
and shouted in a voice of thunder:
Bring me a fly, landau, two victo-
rias and dogcartl Got any wheelbar-
rowsT
The waiter f1ed.-London Answers.