davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07
Leaving a Trail of, Oil.

Crude oil from CALIFORNIA; wells has
deprived the Mojaye desert from the
Needles to Barstow of the discomforts
which for years made passengers
dread the ride across the dreary waste.
Even into Pullmans in other years the
fine sand of the desert which was
raised in clouds by the passage Of the
train percolated, although double VIM
dows were closed. There was no es-
cape from it. If a passenger retreated
from the sitting air of the car to the
rear platform he was blinded not only,
by the flying. sand but also by show
ers of hot cinders from the locomo-
tive. Driven back into the car, the
passenger prayed for the quick transit
Of the desert.
But the blistering Mojave has lost
it's greatest terror. Only the heat re-
mains, but this is uncomfortable only
in the summer and may be avoided
then by night ride across the plain.
One Of the Pacific companies has bath
ed it's roadbed all the way across the
desert with crude oil. The California
oil has an asphaltum base and it has
soaked in and bound the sand together
in compact mass, so that not par
ticle of dust can be raised, no matter
how swiftly a train is travelling. The
storms OF the desert sweep the sand
on the right Of way, but the smooth
oiled surface affords it no resting place
and it is swept off.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07
Reading for the Love of 1t.

AS each member of our little family
grew old enough to enjoy it, we began
reading aloud to them simple stories
and poems, with just enough eXpiana-
ton to arouse imagination and humor.
We read Eugene Fields poems, the
Bible stories and Mrs. Abby Morton
Diaz's Incompatible stories. A little
later came Hawthorne's "TanolewOol
Tales" and Grimms FAIRY Tales"
"Alice in Wonderland" Uncle Re-
mus" and all the fairy lore which
children love. Soon they learned to
read for themselves without help Or
urging. AS the years passed we put
within their reach the books we wish
ed them to read, and without seeming
to do so, excluded all others. In the
winter they read the books at hand
over and over, and in our summer
home took up another set which we
left there. Thus twice year the oil
books were read with all the freshness
of new ones, until the children were
so familiar with them that they were
able to repeat whole paragraphs at a
time. At eight years of age they en-
tered school, and were then ready to
read any book which would be placed
in the hands of child. Their mem
cries are good and their interest keen.
-Woman's Home Companion.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07
Changing the Food.

One of the curious features Of res
taurant life is the evolution of the man
who kept a good chop and oyster house
into the proprietor Of a poor French
restaurant.
1--WE observed several cases Of men
who made money at their oyster
houses" said a man who knows the
city, and then decided to improve
their places. They were redecorated in
elaborate fashion, and to that change
there was no objection. 1t was when
the food was changed to suit the style
of the decorations that the real cause
for sorrow came. Good, plain food
disappeared and imitation French took
it's place-usually to the disadvantage
of the proprietor, who wondered why
he lost old customers and got no new
ones. But few proprietors can resist
the temptation Of changing the food
with the decorations"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07

just bought some OF your sugar cook.
ies,' and wanted to tell you how de.
lighted was to find them. They look
exactly like those dear Oil aunt used
to make when was child. do
hope you'll keep on making them all
your life."
The woman in black looked up at
her-a pathetic look it was, revealing
the pain of countless sights and hui
Mutations.
L guess you don't know what
you've given me-" she said.-Youth's
Companion.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07
A Lunatic's Witty Reply.

Prof. William Bacon Bailey, who
has published in the Yale Review the
most thorough study of suicide that
has yet been made, had occasion, in
the course of his researches, to visit d
number of insane asylums. There he
would question such inmates as had
attempted, or had threatened to at
tempt, to kill themselves.
Prof. Bailey spent a certain after
noon with lunatic who had thrice
tried suicide. He had long and in
teresting talk with this man. Finally
looking at. a clock on the mantel and
noting the lateness of the hour, he
was amazed
us that clock righ, = he said.
Friend" replied the lunatic, with
superior air, 'do you think it would
be here if it was right?''
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07
SUGAR COOKIES.
The Lady Who Made Them Found an
Appreciative Purchaser.

Appreciative Purchaser.
It was half past 5 o'clock, and the
bazaar was to open at Z; the parlors
Of the First Church were full Of work
ers doing the hundred 'last things"
Suddenly Mrs. Reynolds, who was in
charge of the cake table, bounced
upon paper bag and held it out to her
assistant with tragic gesture.
"There they are!' she exclaimed,
despairingly. II did hope that for
once was going to escape them, but
no such good luck! suppose I've got
to make a place for them, but they'll
Just spofl the table," There were actu-
ally tears in her eyes-she was very
tired.
"It is too bad,' the other sympa-
thized, "but not even Mrs. Becker's
cookies can spoil your lovely table.
Besides, there's one comfort-they
taste better than they look"
ooh, tastev' Mrs. Reynolds repeat
ed, scornfully. Maybe they would If
anybody ever tasted them, but who
buys sugar cookies? They'll just be
left on my hands, as they were last
time. I should think Mrs. Becker
would have taken the hint and not
brought them again." She put the
cookies in a plate as she spoke. They
were not very well shaped, and few
Of them were almost burned; it was
quite true that they did not add to the
attractiveness Of the table. II suppose
ri have to buy them myself" she
thought, grudgingly.
But she did not buy them herself.
About the middle of the evening tall
young woman appeared at the table,
and Mrs. Reynolds, with fiutter Of
excitement recognized her as the rich
Mrs. Ruthven. Mrs. Ruthven had just
come to Eastport, and was said to be
as charming as she was wealthy.
II don't know just what 1 want"
she remarked, pleasantly, unless
Are those sugar cookies?''
I'm afraid they're burnt a little,' -
Mrs. Reynolds apologized. "The-
the one who brings them hasn't very
much to do withs' She was ashamed
of the laundering words, but it seemed
to her that she could not let those
cookies go unexpl ned.
II think I understand,n Mrs. Ruth
ven replied. rs she here? 1 should
like to speak witt her moment"
"She's over there by the bag table,"
Mrs. Reynolds answered. 1.-THE one in
black" She fused a little as she
said it; she had not realized before
how wistful and sc..tary Mrs. Becker
looked
The tail young v-enian swept across
the room TO the woman in black.
Il hope You'll forgive my presump-
tion," tie cordial yccc said, "but I've
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07
COLONY OF QUEER OWLS.
Monkey-Faced Birds Live in Colony in
California Cliffs.

MOnkey-Faced Birds Live in Colony in
California Cliffs.
On the banks of the Santa Ana Riy-
er, in Southern California, is queer
colony. 1t is situated in the cliffs
which rise above the surface Of the
river, and has a multitude of inhabi-
tants. In passing along the river by
daylight one would not imagine that
the cliffs were inhabited, for the mem
bers of the colony are fast asleep in
the chambers Of the cliffs. But at dusk
there is change. At every one of the
openings with which the cliffs are per-
forated appears a countenance so hui
manlike in its expression that the be-
holder is apt to imagine that these
must be the faces Of the pixies and
elves Of whom he delighted to hear in
his childhood days.
The tiny faces belong to a family
having name nearly as large as the
individuals are small. 1t is the family
Of striX pratincola, or monkey aced
owl. SO much do their faces resemble
those of human features that they are
often called the human-faced owl. In
the holes Of the cliffs they pass their
days and rear their young. At night
they emerge in focks and search the
fields for mice, gophers and insects,
upon which they live. This owl does
not boot, as do most owls, but utters
low, chuckling whistle as it flies
about in search of prey.
Farmers and fruit raisers in South
ern California are warm friends of the
bird, for it destroys many of the pests
which annoy them and injure their
crops. The eggs Of the little owl are
white, and five or six form litter
Los Angeles Times.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07

R2Y @S2S55Gj9]Fg

Russell Doubleday's interesting
"Stories Of Inventors" have been
brought out in England.
A new edition Of the Life of George
Eliot" by Mathilde Blind, justified by
much new matter gathered since the
work appeared in the Famous Wom-
en-" series, is promised soon by Little,
Brown & Co., Boston.
George Cary Eggleston's "a Captain
in the Ranks" completes his triology
Of romances of the civil war and what
followed. It deals with the wonder
full development of the great West
that followed the war, in which Vir-
ginians played an important part.
The new series of the dodge Clas-
sizes" will embrace thirtyone titles Of
old favorites, such as Borrowings,
Gold Christmas" by Irving; Favor
tic Poems," ''The Rubaiyat'' and 9TH
ers no less famous. Mechanically it
will improve on the former series.
Mrs. Roger A. Pryor, whose "Rem-
iniscences Of Peace and War" is just
out, was the only Southern woman
who, from first to last, was practically
within the Confederate camp. The
Confederate line was finally broken,
just before Appomattox. in her back
garden.
Burton e. Stevenson, author Of 'The
Holiday Case" has found time from
his supererogatory work of condens-
ing good old English classics and his
more admirable editing Of Theodore
Winthrop's posthumous novel to write
another detective story to be called
1.-THE Marathon Mystery"
Felix II. Schelling, long the pro-
fessor of history and English litera-
ture in the University of Pennsyl-
vania, whose Queens Progress and
Other Elizabethian Sketches has just
been published by Houghton, Milf
fin & Co., Boston, is esteemed to- be
the best and most accomplished
scholar in Elizabethan literature now
in this country.
William Andrews has written new
book, entitled "At Sign Of the Bar
ber's Pole" 1t will embrace a series
Of illustrated studies Of hirsute history
and deal with such topics as From
Barber to Surgeon" 1.-The Origin of
the Barber's Pole," 1.-THE BARRIERS Shop
inthe Olden Time" Sunday Shaving"
"Bygone Boards" 1.-THE Age of Wigs"
and cognate subjects.
James Pryor has written a striking
romance called 'Hyssop." 1t is the
story of dissolute woman, who, after
| meeting with a terrible accident, COM
pletely loses her memory, and becomes
once more an innocent and happy girl.
But gradually her memory returns to
her, and with it her old self comes
back, and she is once more the wretch
ed creature that she was before the
happy accident changed for the time
her whole character.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07

The principal of the Illinois Normal
School advised the members Of the
Isaiah Womans Club of Chicago that
il was foolish to try to keep up on all
the current books and magazines. He
said: II rather would have read and
have tingling in my veins one play Of
Shakespeare than to have mastered
ali the current literature. If l read
Trilby' / cannot read Les Misera-
bles.'" The same thought and the
same moral are emphasized by Fred
eric Harrison in his excellent essay
on the choice Of books. Every worth
less book that is read steals time from
a great book, and the time thus lost
cannot be regained. But though this
is true, and though the truth is gen
orally acknowledged, the ban against
current literature remains ineffective.
People buy the new books in increas-
ing quantities and turn from the older
authors with Indifference. Nor is it
difficult to explain their infatuation.
The current literature attracts them
because it is easily intelligible.> Mind
and sentiment respond to it quickly.
The language is familiar, the treat
ment is fresh, the work is not bur
dened with the mere lumber of the
past. Moreover, the best in current
literature is by no means contempti-
BILE. 1t bears the impress of the world
progress and is suggestive of progress
III the future. That being the case,
denunciation by wholesale will not do,
and when readers look for the great
books they are confronted with many
puzzles. They find, first, that they
still have before them the task of Sc
lection. Different authorities make out
different lists. Some are hardy enough
to say that all of Shakespeare is not
great, and it is a fact that there are
many passages in Shakespeare that
produce fatal apathy instead Of a tin
Cling. Then there is Dante, whose
text requires the illumination of a
guide book and a biographical and
classical dictionary. We have seen
resolute, conscientious people all
athirst for culture wilt under short
course of Dante. They are oppressed
with the tragedy of the unattainable,
and have their own sad realization Cf
the line
All hope abandon, We who enter here.
The value of the reading really de-
ponds so much upon preliminary train
ing and education that rule OF uni
yersal application is impossible. At
the same time the Importance of the
great books as sources of inspiration
cannot be Oyerestimated.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07

One pretty myth after another is
vanishing. 1t is found that Mary Chi!
ton was not the first person to land
from the Mayfiower and that the land
ing Of the body of pilgrims did not oc-
cur on Forefathers' day, as was sup
posed. For the sake Of the numerous
Mayfower societies, it is to be hoped
1t will not finally come to light that
there was no landing, no Mayfower
and no pilgrim fathers and mothers,
and consequently no descendants.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07
BLESSING THE ANIMALS.
A Curious Medieval Religious Practice
that Survive.

A Curious Medieval Religious Practice
that Survive.
One Of the curious religious prac-
tees that have survived the gradual
death of all medieval customs is that
of the solemn blessing of animals,
which still obtains in France, Italy,
Spain, Portugal, Mexico and certain
other countries where the people are
largely of Latin origin. In Mexico
and Spain the custom takes on q
wider significance than in France,
where it is usually restricted to one
specific purpose-that Of the hunt
with the intercession of st. Hubert
only invoked. The MeXicans, for ex-
ample, seldom think of asking bless
ing for the hounds in a hunt, though
it is sometimes done, but do bring
pets of all sorts to the church.
horses, dogs, cats and so forth-tO be
blessed for many reasons, and each
one usually in the name of the saint
especially invoked by it's owner. The
MeXicans follow it, however, with
many ramifcations, and though this is
the practice in general in some par
ishes the blessing occurs only on one
particular saints day, in others on the
occasion of some special festival
Some carry the animals directly to the
church, in other parishes they are not
allowed inside the sacred edifice, and
the blessing occurs at the main door
outside. In most Of the parishes the
blessing is made the object of consid-
cradle ceremony and display, preceded
and followed by an elaborate parade
through the streets of the town, while
there are those where it is conducted
i'll the simplest possible manner.
The procession in a Mexican town
to a blessing Of the animals is a gay
affair. The people who desire to have
their favorite animals blessed gather
at some appointed spot with their pets
thoroughly clean and decked out with
ribbons, flowers and so forth. The
men and women, too, are gayly attired
as for a holiday, and when the time
arrives it is a curious as we'll as pic
turesque parade that leaves the des-
ignated place for the church. Women
and children carry cats, small dogs,
birds, chickens, rabbits and even little
lambs, mich cows and large dogs.
Horses to be blessed are ridden OF
driven with bright-colored ribbons for
feins, and altogether it is a poor ham
let indeed which cannot muster up a
brave array for this event.
The arrival at the church is time /
so that it will Immediately follow n
celebration of mass, and the officiating
priest, attended by numerous acolytas,
leaves the altar and proceeds to the
steps without the main entrance. The
multitude in the open kneels reveren1-
ly during the brief service which fol
lows, and when the blessing itself is
given the large animals are led for
ward, while the smaller beasts are
held aloft with appraised arms. After
the ceremony is over the procession
returns as it came and the affair
winds up with a fiesta in which cock
fighting plays prominent part.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07
Had No Seams.

In Jackson Park yesterday a girl Of
sat on a bench and for long time
examined the legs Of her kid dol.
Then she pushed down her stocking
and looked at her own chubby legs.
Ellen" she said presently to the
nurse who was with her, couldn't
God sewY
"Sew!' repeated the astonished Ell
len. Lam sakes what does the child
mean?'
"Cause l can't find any seams on
me-" said the child. "Dollys got
seams. Chicago Inter Ocean.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07

In the good time coming there will
not be any single-track railroads, nor
any trains going in opposite directions
on the same track; grade crossings will
have been abolished, the roadbeds,
tracks and rolling stock of all rail
roads will be as sound and safe as
science, skill and money can make
them, and no effort to insure safety
will be spared. Very few of our enor-
NOUS aggregate of deaths and injuries
by rail would have occurred had all
OF these conditions been present. 1t
is the absence of most of them that
piles up the appalling list. So long as
that absence exists, the slaughtering
will go on. 1t will decrease in pro
portion to the extent to which the CN
vious causes are removed.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07

That incoming aliens are not vert
rigidly scrutinized is evident from the
astounding figures Of report an
nouncing that 60 per cent of the in
mates of New York insane asylums are
OF alien birth and that no less than
$50 insane aliens who had been in
mates Of foreign insane asylums are
now awaiting deportation. Meanwhile,
Of the 4743SO individuals who com
prise the average annual immigration
into this country large percentage
that should come under the heau Of
undesirable and be returned to theig
native shores are allowed to pass With
Il cursory inspection, and by just that
number is the population of our cities
augmented by criminals, paupers, beg.
CARS, anarchists and the wretched fiot,
sam and jetsam Of the undertow of tho
old world.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-07
FIRST AMERICAN COINS.

Copper Half Cents We're Issued f,o,,,
the Mint in 1893.
The Treasurer Of the United States
On May 6, 1908, redeemed two half.
cent pieces, says the Gateway Maya
zine. This is the first time in the his
tory of the country that any such
coins have been presented for redemp-
ton. 1t is more than a century since
the first half-cent piece was coined.
and 1t is nearly fifty years since the
government discontinued minting
them.
The last annual report of the direc-
tor OF the mint shows that 1896, 900
OF these coins, representing $39,476.1I,
were issued. For almost half a CEN
tury each annual report of the Treas
ury Department has included them
among the outstanding obligations
Of the government.
The half-cent piece was the coin of
the smallest denomination ever made
by this country. 1t enjoys the distinc-
ton also Of being the first coin issued
and also the first whose denomination
was discontinued. The United States
mint was established in 1732 and cop
per half-cents and cents were issued
in 1893. Half the total number OF
Ealf-cents issued were coined previous
to 1910, after which year their coin
age, with few exceptions, was limited.
None was coined for circulation from
1912 to 1924, nor from 1886 to 1913.
Finally, in 1857, their coinage, with
that Of the big copper cent, was dis
continued. On account of their limited
issue in the last years Of their coinage
they practically had disappeared from
the channels of trade.
The nedes Of adopting the half-cent
as the lowest value computing factor
for a coin were made in the early
days Of the republic. Colonial half
cents and British farthings of the
same commercial value were then in
circulation, and many articles were
priced and sold in half cents. With
the progress of the nation values rose
and the needs for a half cent disap-
peared, and their use following the
first decade of the century was almost
entirely confined to multiples.
While all other discontinued types
and denominations Of United States
coin have found oblivion, the half cent
is the only one of which the treasury
reports do not record some portion OF
the issue redeemed. This singular and
unexplained fact has been one Of fire.
Quent comment and inquiry from mint
and treasury officials.
Large quantities Of half cents are
to be found in the stocks Of coin deal
ers. The most common dates are sold
at a good premium and the extremely
rare ones are worth their weight in
gold.
Ferran Zarbe, of ST. Louis, was the
man who sent the two half-cent pieces
to Washington for redemption. He
now prizes highly the little voucher
calling for lone cent which was sent
to him with that amount Of current
coin in exchange for the two half-cent
pieces he had forwarded.