davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Press., 1904-09-07
CONN WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER = 1904 Vol AZ No 90
FRENCH MAY QUEENS.
A Pretty Custom Which Is Stil
Vogue In Some villages.

A Pretty Custom which ls Sfin Im
Vogue In some villages.
An ancient custom which still OBJ
tains in many villages in the south OF
France is u pretty variation of the
choosing of the May queen with which
we are so familiar The mayor md
six of his political officers choose from
among the village maitlens the most
beautiful girl. AS SOON as the choice
Is made known the queen. dressed in
white, even to long white veil and
a wreath of white. roses. assemblies
with her parents and all the villagers
in front of the mayors house. Here
he and six friends, dressed In frock
coats and top hats. form in procession.
the mayor and queen leading. and
march to the church. where there is a
short ceremony.
They then march back to the may
or's house. where Il favored few are
entertained at luncheon. When lie
proposes her health he enumrr.te tes her
virtues, kisses her on both checks and
hands her an envelope which contains
the prize. 5000 in money But the cere
mony does not end here. They form in
procession. the band leading this time,
and in sort of follow my leader
game walk through the village. up
lanes and over hills for three hours.
That evening ball is given at the inn.
where the queen dances first with the
mayor and his six friends and after
ward with the lads of the village. and
so the celebration ends. The queens
white veil, with the veil and wreath,
are carefully folded away and are
brought out again only w..en she be-
comes bride.
The Press., 1904-09-07

large areas of ground which are often
mistaken for single plantations. This
is hardly ever the case. as the large
tracts are very often owned by hum
dreds of different men, whose individ-
ual plots of ground bearing the tea
plants are carefully mapped out, SO
that each individual owner may cult
vate and pick his own crop of tea.
Each owner likewise markets his own
tea and puts his own special mark, or
"chop." on the packages. Hence the
term ''chop" signifies an individual
growth or picking of tea by one owner.
In an area of tea land of. say. a thou
sands acres. all apparently under OH
ownership. there may be some forty,
fifty or more owners of the plantation
and consequently like number {
"chops" of tea.
It must not be imagined that all these
different owners Of the. tea get the
same price for their commodity-far
from it, as each of these individual tea
growers has his own secrets for i'm
proving the quality and favor OF tea
Take, for instance. the Annoy and Flu
chau districts. whence most of the tea
for the United States comes The own
ers of CHOPS Of tea varying from lt
to 200 chests or So pounds each bring
samples or their goods to the various
foreign merchants for sale. These lat
ter turn the Chinese tea growers over
to the good offices Of the foreign OF
American professional tea faster. who
passes on the goods as to price. The
tea faster has the samples infused. not
boiled. in his presence and passes upon
the quality, flavor. twang and manner
of curing. fixing price accordingly.
from which there is never any varia-
ton and which the tea grower must ac-
cept or go elsewhere to dispose Of his
wares. In a single tract Of tea land
like the one cited above the price has
ranged from IA cents. the lowest, to
4S5 cents. the highest. per pound
among sixty-one different tea prOdu-
GERS. A matter of great moment that
also figures in the price of tea is
that very often tea from the same dis
trict will have the various 'chops'
blended together In order to produce
special favors. m
The Press., 1904-09-07
BITING THE THUMB.
Il Used to Be Considered a Pledge Ol
Mortal Revenge.

Il Used to Be Considered a Pledge of
Mortal Revenge.
In Romeo and Juliet" the servants
Of Capulet and Montague begin quar-
rel by one biting his thumb at the 9TH
ers. Commentators have regarded this
act as an insult, quoting the following
passage from Decker's Dead Term"
"What swearing is there, what shoul
dering, what jostling, what jeering,
what biting of thumbs to beget quar-
rels!'
Sir Walter Scott, however, in a note
to the Lay of the Last Minstrel" says.
''To bite the thumb or the glove seems
not to have been considered upon the
border as gesture of contempt.
though SO used by Shakespeare, but as
pledge of mortal revenge" 1t was
thus accounted to be q solemn assur-
ance that at the proper time the sword
should settle the dispute or purge the
offense.
Something of the sort may have pre-
vailed among the Romans, for it is
thought that the Latin polliceri, to
promise, is derived from pollex, the
thumb
The Press., 1904-09-07
TEAS THAT ARE
WORTH FORTUNES
Twelve Hundred Kinds Are In China's
Show at the Worlds Fair.-.The Most
POpulOus Nation of the World For
the First Time Makes an Exhibit
Worthy of Her Greatness.

Many eXpositions of stupendous char
acter make up the Worlds Fair of
1901 Each part is vast and distinct
show. Each building shelters many
acres of wonderful things wonderful
because they are the choicest of their
kind. Every nation on the globe Is
represented. Every state and territory
is here with it's best and making the
most of it's greatest opportunity.
The fact that China has not been u
large exhibitor at worlds fairs gives
to her great exhibit here prominence
quite exceptional. 1t is wonderland
of ingenious productions. We know
China best by reason of her extensive
exports of teas, which have found
vast market in the United States for
generations Her commercial interests
therefore prompted her to make dis
play; of teas that we should not for
get
In sealed glass Jars China displays in
the Liberal Arts Palace some 1000
kinds of tea. Young Hyson and Old
Hyson have string of tea relations
longer than the genealogical chain of a
1lyuiOuIn hOck. 4uey are neatly Be-
lected "chops," in the language of the
tea farmer, and these classes do not
embrace medicinal teas, which are
quite another lot in the rather modest
number of 400.
The teas exhibited vary In price from
a few cents pound to some rare and
exclusive kinds that are worth their
weight in gold, the tea In the latter
cases being placed on one side of the
scales and pure gold ON the other
that is to say, the tea Of this expensive
kind is worth about $40 gold an ounce.
Only a very small quantity Of this ex-
elusive leaf is exhibited, and it is
grown in carefully guarded tea planta-
tions or gardens right under the shad-
ows of the great wall of China. Its cul
tivation is prohibited for any use save
for, the imperial family of China and a
few of the favored high officials.
Mention has been made Of the word
"chop' in connection with tea, and it
may be interesting to the everyday
reader to know what the word actually
signifies. The tea leaf Is grown In va
rious districts of the Chinese empire on
The Press., 1904-09-07

At the present time we are always
talking about the rush and hurry of
the twentieth century. Are we really
SO rapid as we think we are? Ger
tainly few girls of fourteen have any
thing like the amount of experience
and emotion in many weeks of life that
Juliet, Shakespeare's heroine. had
crammed into five days and half
The time is thus apportioned: On
Sunday the ball took place, and on
Monday Romeo and Juliet were mar
ried. On Tuesday Juliet took the
draft, and on Wednesday she was
placed in the tomb. On Thursday Ro-
meo returned, and on Friday the hap
less pair committed suicide.
The Press., 1904-09-07
GRAY SQUIRRELS.
They VIII Eat Meat and Have Been
Known to Rob Birds Nests.

Known to Rob Birds Nests.
1t has been well said that the gray
squirrels one sees everywhere i'm SOM.
of our New England towns are an in
dication of higher civilization. 1t il
certainly a pleasure to see these grace
full creatures running across trolley
tracks or over lawns unmolcstcd. :
stranger would have a very high esti
mate of the people of a city that cOult!
draw to it these shy animals. Like
many rodents, however, gray squirrC.s
will eat meat OH occasions. They will
even rob birds nests. \ friend on
whom / can rely told me of two or
three instances in Arlington. Mass,
where gray squirrels had robbed rob-
ms nests. having been caught in the
very act
One winter day, in going along a wild
mountain stream, was attracted by n
fresh gray squirrel track. and on fol-
lowing 1t found where the squirrel had
killed and eaten mouse. He had evil
IDENTIFY dug out the mouse. for | saw
where he had dug snow and leaves
away from the roots of some black
alders to some depth. Then, taking
the mouse in his teeth, he had run a
few feet to a knoll. the mouse's tail
having left its print In the snow be
tween the tracks Of the squirrel, and
eaten 1t, leaving blood. hair and pieces
Of bone to tell of the feast.
One time / gave a young woodchuck
to an old Irishwoman. who fed the
chuck on ham, Now. If woodchuck
would eat ham. why not a gray squir-
rel eat mice or young birds? We have
abundant proof that many flesh eaters
Will, on occasions, eat vegetable food
as well as rodents eating flesh. Lovers
Of both squirrels and birds may find II
possible to protect In some way the
nests Of thrushes, warblers, etc.-John
Burroughs in Outing.
The Press., 1904-09-07
PRISONS OF SILENCE.
Where COnvicts Ever Wear ShrOuds
and Sleep Beside Collins.

EntOmbed in grim castle on the
outskirts of Lisbon are some of the
most miserable men on earth. These
are the inmates of POrtuga's deadly
prisons of silence In this building ev
erything that human ingenuity can
suggest to render the lives of it's pris
oners a horrible, maddening torture is
done. The corridors, piled tier on tier
five stories high, extend from a COM
mon center like the spoEes of huge
wheel. The cells are narrow, tomb
like, and within each stands coffin.
The prison garb is a shroud. The at
tendants creep about in felt slippers.
No one is allowed to utter a word.
The doors are unlocked, and the half
a thousand wretches march out. cloth
ed in shrouds and with faces covered
by masks. for it is part of this
hideous punishment that none may
look upon the countenances of his fel-
low prisoners. Few of them endure
this torture for more than ten years.
The Press., 1904-09-07
The best aunrtaea Graduate.

1t is the custom Of the graduating
class cf the medical department of
Queens university of Kingston. Cana
da, to designate by ballot the fellow
student who they believe could be ex.
pected ito do the right thing under
all circumstances" The successful
student is -honored with special prize
by the faculty. We believe that such
a man is really the most capable of
his class and If not Identical with the
gold medalist is probably his superior
In all that goes to make up the sci
entific and successful practitioner
New York Medical Journal
The Press., 1904-09-07
HOME NEWS.
STAFFORD SPRINGS.

Miss Laura Sabourn gave a birth
day party last Saturday evening.
Anders Jacobsen offers his farm on
the upper Hollow road and, his bust
ness in the Foster block for sale.
w. H. Carey, employed by the Fl.
B. Smith foundry company of West
field, and Arthur Black burn, machine
operator on the Marlboro Enterprise,
were in the borough over Sunday
and labor day.
M. F. Hampston, a former resi-
dent, was the guest of his mother,
Mrs. Ellen Hampston, over Sunday
and Monday. Mr.. Hampston has
taken a position as boss weaver at
Washington, R. l., having resigned a
similar position at West Conshohock-
en-, Penn. Before leaving the latter
place he was presented with fob
chain and charm, pair of cuff but
tons, with diamond setting. gold
headed umbrella, shaving set, a suit
of clothes and $25 in gold.
At the republican caucus held at
the town hall last Wednesday even
ing f. 81. Baker acted as chairman
and W. FL. Hea1d clerk. A commit
tee, consisting of H. s. Abel, J. M.
Larned and w. P. Lasbury, was ap-
pointed to bring in list of names of
delegates for the various conventions
and reported the following, who were
unanimously elected: State, Ell. s..
Abel. J. G. Wightman, R. Fl. Fisk,
L. F. Eaton; congressional, W.sP.
Amadon, J. M. Larned, G. P. Brad
way, G.. s. Baker: senatorial, W. Fl.
Heald, M. W. Leonard, E. D: Ellis,
H. E. Burwell; probate, w. P. Las
bury, O. W. Comins, Daniel MAGICAL
-lum, F. W. Preston.
The Staffords in a ten-inning game
defeated the Springfield Athletics last
Saturday afternoon 6 to 5. It was
one of the most exciting and interest
ing games of the season. Although
there were many errors on both sides
the score was close enough all through
the game to keep up the interest
Collins pitched good game. His
two errors were wild throws to Sec
ond. Smith came from Springfield
with team that he expected would
down the locals, but has got to try
again. He was in the box for the
Stebbins team of Springfield that
was defeated here August 18th to
o. In the ninth inning Collins sent
q long fly to center, which looked
sure for three bagger or homer,
but Sessions made a fine catch near
the rail after long run. At the end
of the eighth inning the score was 4
the ninth. In the tenth the Athlet-
les, after one was gone, made squirt.
Martens made three-bagger and later
scored, Sessions famed, Emerson hit
the ball and reached second, but
failed to score, as Porter got out at
first. It looked then as if the game
was lost, but Curtis made hit and
reached first. Brennan also hit the
ball, which was thrown wild to first,
and both ran home before the ball
was back. After some discussion
they were put back to second and
third, as the ground rules allow only
one base ON a wild throw. Mack was
next up, and sent a hot grounder
through the short stop, bringing in
two runs and clinching the game,
with no one out. The score -
The Press., 1904-09-07

Mr.. Sharpe (old lawyerC Beatrice, Is
1t possible that. in spite Of my positive
orders to the contrary, you have been
allowing that young 'Snoodle to persist
In his attentions to you? Miss Bea-
'trice- Father, ! decline to answer that
question. Mr.. SharpeYou do. hey:
I'd like to know why. Miss Beatrice
On the ground that the answer might
incriminate me. and I'd like to see you
get around tliat!-Chicago Tribune.
The Press., 1904-09-07
The Japanese Ra NV.

The japanese baby's head is shaved
In a curious fashion, and never, under
any circumstances, does the mother or
baby wear hat or bonnet. Nor does
he wear shoes, even in the coolest
weather, but his shaven head and his
pink toes peep out from the mothers s
garments, and he rides pickapack,
strapped on tightly. happy, chubby,
smiling always and dressed, when he
Is allowed to get out of the binding
garments, In the most dainty of kimo-
nos, all embroidered and painted and
decorated with the designs which are
supposed to typffy the final trade or
occupation of the infant
The Press., 1904-09-07
AlOea.

The most valuable aloes come from
the island Of Sokotra. which lies just
off the east African coast from Cape
Guardafui. The drug itself is the bit.
ter resinous juice of the leaves of the
aloe plant that has been hardened in
the sun. These leaves are OF fibrous.
feshy nature. and. in addition to the
Juice. the natives make this fiber into
rope, ninny insisting that it makes a
better rope than hemp.
The Press., 1904-09-07
Letter to g. H. Baker q Co.
STAFFORD SprinRs. Conn II


Dear Sirs: Three churches in Bald :
winsville, N Y, have had their first
lesson in Devoe.
Messrs.. Osterhout & Lockwood
painted the Presbyterian parsonage
estimated 80 gaffSgis; took %.
Messrs. Singerland & Shutter paint
ed the Episcopal church; estimated
40 gallons: took %.
Same painters painted the Catholic
estimated so gallons; took
SO.
OF course, they estimated from
what they had been using. The. saw
ing in paint and work is 81 or $5 q
gallon. Total saving ON three jobs
$125 to $15O-the, painting costs two
or three times as much as the paint,
you know.
Yours truly i
F.W DRvoR d Go
h. Chapman & Co. sell our paint.
The Press., 1904-09-07
A Sense Of Per.on., insecurity.

"What would you do IL you saw a
ghost? said the man who tries to make
sport of people.
dat amt de question" answered
Mr. Erastus PinkIey> what botherS
me is what dat ghos' is gwine to do
he sees me."-Washington Star.
The Press., 1904-09-07

II pity the man who can't learn any
thing from his own mistakes. Now,
that's one thing can do" said Bragg.
"Ah! You're always learning some
thing then. aren't your replied Knox.
Exchange
The Press., 1904-09-07
Bucklen's Arnica saIve.

Has worldwide fame for marvellous
cures. 1t surpasses any other salve, To-
tion, ointment or balm for Cuts, Corns,
Burns, Boils, Sores, Felons, Ulcers, Tet-
ter, Salt Rheum, Fever Sores, Chapped
Hands, Skin Eruptions infalIIble for
Piles. Cure guaranteed. Only 25c, at
A. G. EatOn's, druggist.
The Press., 1904-09-07

One radical difference b{tween a
boy and girl is that the gill can get
enthusiastic about treeful Of cherry
blossoms without thinking Of tile cher.
t1eaI-EomefvilIc Journal. ,rss
The Press., 1904-09-07
Her Objections.

"Does she object to the fact that her
husband deceives herT
mot SO much as she does to the fact
that he let's her know he does it."-New
York Tribune.
The Press., 1904-09-07

Oprlngn6Iu, U U / q q 10
Stolen bases, Smith, R. O'Neill,
Mack, M. O'Neill. Crowther. Two
base hit, Quinley.t Three base hit,
Martens. Struck out, by Collins 10,
by Smith 6. Batter hit, Townsend
Double play, Smith to Quinley
Passed balls, Mulholland 2. Wild
pitch, Collins. Time, 2h 2Om. Um-
pire, DR.. John English. Attend
ance, 300. -.
The Press., 1904-09-07

The STOMACH Is THE MANA weak
stomach weakens the man, because Il
cannot transform the food he eats into
nourishment. Health and strength can
not be restored to any sick man or weak
woman without first restoring health and
strength to the stomach. A weak stom-
ach cannot digest enough food to feed the
tissues and revive the tired and run down
limbs and organs Of the body. KodOI
Dyspepeia Cure digests what you eat,
cleanses and strengthens the glands and
membrapes Of the stomach, and cures in
digestion, dyspepsia and all stomach
troubles. Sold by w. d. Heald.
The Press., 1904-09-07

Heaven send that no friend with q
pocketful of pebbles be tempted by the
shine and glimmer of our glass houses,
for indeed we meant well. Here ii is
the knowledge in which imagination
must take root II stone throwing Is
ever to go out of fashion and the world
become a pleasant place. to live in
namely, that most everybody else
means well too. The creed Of the i'm
aginative and kindly heart which will
not throw stones Is brief:
There 10 30 much good In the worst Of us.
There Is 80 much bad In the best OF US. 10
That 1t i'll becomes any one OF us
To talk about the rest of US
unless we can do it with truth and
synpathy-in other words. with imag-
ination. n.1Margaret Deland In Harper's
Bazaar.
The Press., 1904-09-07

A BOON To, CHILDREN IN THE HAT OF
Summer. Williams' Root Beer is cooling
and invigorating.
The Press., 1904-09-07

We oTer One Hundred Dollars Reward for any
case OF Catarrh that cannot be cured BY Hairs
Gatarrh Cure.
FL. CHENEY CO., Props, Toledo, O.
We, the undersigned, have known p. ,. Cheney
for the last 1b years, and believe nfm perfectly
.cially able to carry out amy obligations made BY
their 6Km.
Wnsr TnUAx, Wholesale Druggfsts, Toledo, o.
WALDrNa, KMMAN a MAMvxM, Wholesale Drug
gfsts, Toledo, O. @sA
Halls Catarh Cure 10 taken internally, acting
directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces OF
the syste1A. Price. nc. per boexle. Sofa by an
OEuRgiatA Teaf1moniala free.
HANS yizaily fills kfs sns bees. 4
The Press., 1904-09-07

h. Chapman 8 Co. sell our paint.
D
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-10

lot OF cranks. You're got right to the sun ana
some recreation and enjoyment Of life. even if you
dressmaker."
Al the thought OF the dressmakers' wrongs Nine
Wade grew militant.
But * you can't escape a crank-and the proba-
bilities are that after you have cornered her she
will realize that II you won't work for her the
other dressmakers won't. either, probably-then,'
eKhorted the speaker charge her from one-half
one-third more than you would any one else
and tell her And tell her Just why II is-be-
she's crank, and you know she IL make a
lot Of trouble for you ard your girls. and YOU
propose get paid extra for YOUR extra work.
But the trouble with women is, We don't stand
out for our rights We not born 10 business
like men. who natural hreadwinners. The Lord
put them in the world for that express purpose.
How make dresSmaking an attractive calling
to Young women was Of the topics 10 which
Nine Wade turned after she had settled the
crank ITS my experience" she said, that the
average Young woman likes TO be where there are
coming and going 10 her work In elevating our
profession lies only hope of attracting the best
class OF girls. Only IN establishing the fact that
dressmaking IL not a trade. and a common ana
rather degraded one. at that. and that the dress
maker is not a common working woman. but an
artist worthy to stand with other professional
rromen-only in this lies our hope
When Nine. Wade had concluded her declara-
tion of Independence they demonstrated a new
corset-a that laced up the front instead OF
the back and had two laces. instead or one II
was said 10 be so constituted as 20 give backbone
10 the meekest sister.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-10
RESPONSES.

Mrs Seymour of South Norwalk. Conn. writes
that II the Daubury mother win communicate with
her she Will give the address of a home in. Con-
nectlcut FOR crippled children; Josephine NJ. Grfs
void, secretary OF the Connecticut Chidren's AID
Society at Hartford. has written to the T. S. 5.
thai the organization she represents mayEbe able 10
assist the little helpless girl and another interested
reader at Spring Lake. y. j.. suggests that the
child might find resting place at the Home OF the
beer forwarded tho Danbusy mother. and those
who have so kindly interested themselves in this
matter heartily thanked by the 4. S. s. presl-
Mrs. Gode Of Brooklyn has asked for the ad-
dress of the distressed family in her borough where
children's clothes urgently needed that she
NAV give generous aid. n r. r. sends thanks for
"a ees 10 a Virginia member. Mrs. Stevenson OF
bright coiored picture books for crippled boy In
Texas.
sponGed TO the call for directions for making sweat
ers also Miss Annie Miller of Painheld. n. J.
The large number OF copies of the old song en-
deem the beautiful sentiment has entered into and
in hearts of the seu6ers, who expressed
themselves as pleased 70 make copies of the song
ctate took time 20 make complete copy OF the
song and all who have responded cordially
thqnked for their efforts 10 pass on what would
give plea sure another. Mrs Collins of New
GerseY writes: 1T ~ old favorite of mine that
IIave loved since childhood days / hope you will
NOT find II TOO long for the column as am sure
,ranii others would like copy In the complete
,nr3 there are six long verses besides the chorus.
which makes II too long for the column. but a
~ writes for one Mrs Collins will be pleased II
some one is able TO send her the words OF the OLD
song. beginning;
I came to the spot where the white pilgrim lay,
And I Tensiveiy stood by his tomb:
w. ~ = INV murmur heard some one say
,sTIny sweetiy sleep here aione!"