davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
The Horse and Work.

1t was agricultural employment that
reduced the horse to the degradation of
an ox-like form and movement, and the
aucients never used him for that. In
Wales for centuries it was unlawful to
use horse to draw plow. The Welsh,
who had fine horses, must have known
that agricultural employment would
spoil the horses shape and speed in
time.
The plow was left to the OK, in the
middle ages, and the horse was reserved
for war and pleasure. He became a
true nobleman in his characteristics.
The thrifty Germans and Frenchmen
brough him to the plow at last, and the
ox-like Clydesdale and Percheron are
the result.
The ideal horse is the spare beast
that carries a spare man on his back,
the Arab in sooth. Nothing like this
creature was ever produced elsewhere in
antiquity, and it will take free and wild
people to develop such creature again.
If the ideal horse is developed by be-
ing ridden by spare man of free
habits, and never worked otherwise, it
may be asked why our Indians did not
develop an Arabian horse. The answer
is plain. They never had time.
They caught the descendants of the
Spanish horse which had run wild.
These had been good horses originally,
but they had had to carry men in armor,
and were not of the speedest type.
In the wild condition they became
shabby and were somewhat reduced in
size, probably by insufficient food on
arid plains. As ridden by the Indians,
they developed staying powers which
were enormous and unexampled. If
the Indians had bred them for couple
of centuries before they were interfered
with, they would probably have develop
ed beast not unlike the Arabian.
What will be the typical American
horse, native and of long American
parentage, when it is developed? The
answer is easy. 1t twill be kind of COM
bined trotter and harvester -puller.
We have already developed one horse
of that sort in the Morgan, but the
Morgan was local and too small. He
could manage perfectly either plow or
"A sulky, and no horse ever surpassed
him in spirit and courage, but he lacked
power.
If Americas final contribution to the
worlds typical and national types of
horses is larger Morgan, it will have
done we'll in producing him.-New York
Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27

We have pointed out some strange
features of the horse business, says the
Rural New Yorker. In spite of the
increase of trolley cars, automobiles
and other machines formerly drawn by
horses good animals are worth more
than ever and hard to find. In view OF
this, one would think that farmers
would raise more horses. We should
naturally expect to find one or more
colts on every good farm. Yet the great
majority of eastern farmers buy their
farm horses from the west or Canada.
We find comparatively few colts outside
of the sections where horse raising is
made business. The explanation
seems to be that most farmers regard
good colt as risky piece of property.
A barbed wire, a rolling stone, a hole in
the pasture, may quickly cut the colts
value in two. Then again many farm.
ers feel that they lack the time required
to drive and train a good colt. 1t needs
constant and steady exercise, and this
means time taken from regular farm
work. These are some of the reasons
why so many farmers prefer to let Others
oversee the first four years of horses
lifa
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
A Nice Point Of Law.

During Queen victoria's reign one OF
the solicitors of the queen who had
jurisdiction over capital cases chanced
to be a man named Bacon. BY curl
ous chance Il man named HogB was
condemned to death under his juris-
diction. The day before the execution
Uogr sent for his executioner, Bacon.
The prisoner pleaded for interference
in his case because Of his claims OF re-
lationship to Bacon. The solicitor a.
ways ready with a reply, answered.
"I have no proof Of our relationship
You are doubtless mistaken. AT any
rate, the execution must take place, foi
only in that way can matters be SCI
right. Hogg is not Bacon until It Ii
dead" 1t is said the prisoner lausheo
In spite Of himself.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27

1t was no mean feat Of strength that
he performed. He swung the heavy
and cum5rous canvas into position as
If it were a dust cloth. He emerged
from the gloom Of the driven cloud red
eyed. but triumphant. Instantly the
vapor OH the ledge lessened. and they
could breathe, even talk. Overhead
and in front the smoke swept in ever
increasing density, but once again the
sailor had outwitted the Dyaks' ma
neuvers.
1--WE have won the first rubber" he
whispered to Iris.
Above, beneath, beyond, they could
see nothing. The air they breathed
was hot and fetid. 1t was like be-
ing immured in a foul tunnel, and al
most as dark. jerks looked over the
parapet. He thought he could distin-
guish some vague figures on the sands,
so he fired at them. A volley Of an
swering bullets crashed into the rock
on all sides. The Dyaks had laid their
plans we'll this time. A firing squad
stationed beyond the smoke area and
supplied with all the available guns
commenced and kept up a smart fusil-
lade in the direction of the ledge In
order to cover the operations Of the
scaling party.
jerks realized that to expose himself
was to cour: serious wound and
achieve no useful purpose. He fell
back out of range, laid down his rifle
and grabbed the crOwbar. At brief in
tervals a deep hollow boom came up
from the valley. At first it puzzled
them until the sailor hit upon an eX-
PLANTATION. Mir Jan was busy.
The end of strong, roughly made
ladder swung through the smoke and
banged against the ledge. Before
jerks could reach it those hosting 1t
into position hastily retreated. They
were standing in front of the cave. and
the Mohammedan made play on them
with rifle ut thirty feet.
jerks, using his crOwbar as lever,
toppled the ladder clean over. 1t fell
outward and disconnected section Of
the musketeers.
"Well done." cried Iris.
The sailor, astounded by her tone,
gave her feeting glance. She was
very pale now, but not with fear. Her
eyes were slightly contracted. her nos
trils quiveripg, her lips set tight and
her chin dimpled. Resting on one knee,
with revolver in each hand, she SEEM
ed no pulling mate for the gallant man
who fought for her.
There was no time for further speech.
Three ladders were reared against the
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27

needed.
rock. They were so poised and held
below that jerks could not force them
backward. \ fourth appeared, its
coarse shafts looming into sight like
the horns Of some gigantic animal.
The four covered practically the whole
front of the ledge save where Mir Jan
cleared little space Oh the level.
The sailor was standing now, with
the crowbar clinched in both hands.
The firing in the valley slackened and
died away. A Dyak face, grinning like
q japanese demon, appeared Mt the top
Of the ladder nearest to Iris.
Don't firew shouted jerks. And the
iron bar crushed downward. Two 9th
ers pitched themselves half Oh to the
ledge. Now both crowbar and reyolv-
er were needed Three ladders were
thus numbered somewhat for those be-
meath, and jerks sprang toward the
fourth and NEST distant. Men were
crowding it like ants. Close to his feet
lay an empty water cask. 1t was a
crude weapon, but effective when well
pitched, and the sailor had never made
| q better shot for goal in the midst
of hard fought scrimmage than lie
made with that tub for the head of the
uppermost pirate.
Another volley came from the sands
A bullet plowed through his hair and
sent his sou'wester flying. Again the
besiegers swarmed to the attack. One
| way or the other they must succeed
| A man and woman-even such man
| and such a wOman-could not keep al
bay an infuriated horde OF fifty saw
ages fighting ut close quarters and un
der these grievous conditions.
jerks knew what would happen. Hc
would be shot while repelling the seal
ing party. And Iris! Dear heart! She
was thinking Of him.
keep back! They can never gain
the ledger she shrieked.
And then, above the din OF the fu
sillade, the yells Of the assailnnts and
the bawling Of the wounded, there
came through the air screaming, tear
ing, ripping sound which drowned al
others. 1t Travelled with incredible
speed, and before the sailor could be
lieve his ears-for he well knew what
1t meant-a shrapnel shell burst II
front Of the ledge and drenched thu
valley with flying lead.
jerks was just able to drag Iris ma
against the rock ere the time fuse op
Grated and the bullets few. He coulc
form no theory, hazard no conjecture
All he knew was that twelve poundel
shell had flown toward them through
space, scattering red ruin among th'
amazed scoundrels beneath. Instant!
he rose again, lest perchance any OF tn
Dyaks should have gained a footholt
ON the ledge.
The ladders were empty. He couit
hear a good deal of groaning, the foot
steps of running men and some dis
tant shouting.
"sahib! yelled Mir Jan, drawn from
bis retreat by the commotion without.
"Yes," shouted jerks. -,
The native, in voice cracked Wit
excitement, told him something. Tn
sailor asked a few rapid questions {
) make quite sure that Mir Jan was no
mistaken.
Then he threw his arms round 1rt'
drew her close and whispered:
"My darling, we are>saved! A wal
ship has anchored just beyond th
south reef, and two boats filled wit
armed sailors are now pulling ashore.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27

ders. Such was their talk when | left
them
"Will they not miss you!'
"They will miss the Goatskin, sahib.
| 1t was the last full one."
mir Jan. do as bid and you shall
see Delhi again. Have you ever used
| Il Lee -MetfOrd?'
Il have seen them, sahib. but l bet
ter understand the Mahtini."
81 will give you rife. with plenty
Of ammunition. Do you so inside the
cave. there. and
Mir ian was startled.
Where the ghost is, sahib!" he said.
Ghost That is tale for children.
| There is no ghost. only few bones
| of man murdered by these scoun-
| drelS long ago. Have you any food:'
Some rice. sahib; sufficient for day
or two at pinch"
Good. We will get water from the
well. When the fighting begins at
dawn fire mt every man you see from
| the back of the cave. On no account
| come out. Then they can never reach
you if you keep full magazine. Wait
| here"
| 81 thought you were never coming"
protested Iris when jerks reached the
ledge. 81 have been quite creepy. l
am sure there is some one down there.
And, please, may have another
| drink?'
| The sailor had left the crOwbar be-
meath. He secured rifle, a spare clip
and a dozen packets of cartridges,
meanwhile briefly explaining to Iris
the turn taken by events so far as Mir
Jan was concerned. She was natural
ly delighted and forgot her fears In
the excitement caused by the appear
ance of so useful an ally. She drank
his health In q brimming beaker OF
water.
She heard her lover rejoin Mir Jan
and saw the two step out into the
moonlight, while jerks explained the
action of the rifle. Fortunately Iris
was now much recovered from the
fatigue and priyation Of the earlier
hours. Her senses were sharpened to
a pitch little dreamed of by stay-at
home young ladies Of her age, and she
deemed it her province to act as sentry
while the two men conferred. Hence
she was the first to detect, or, rather, to
become conscious of, the stealthy crawl
Of several Dyaks along the bottom OF
the cliff from Turtle beach.
"Robertw she screamed. "The Dy'
axis! On your left"
| But Iris was rapidly gaining some
knowledge Of strategy. Before she
shrieked her warning she grasped
rifle. Holding 1t at the "ready'-abou'
the level of her waist-and depressing
the muzsls sufficiently, she began 1rinl
down ths side Of ths rock a. fast al
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
NUMBER 26.

| to have left much for us to do. Miss
| Deane." the officer said. Indeed
turning to Robert, "is there any way
in which my men will be useful"
81 would recommend that they drag
the green stuff off that fire and stop
| the smoke. Then detachment should
20 round the north side Of the island
and drive the remaining Dyaks into
the hands of the party you have landed,
as understand, at the farther end or
the south beach. Mir Jan, the Moham.
medhn here, who has been most faith
full ally during part Of our siege, will
act as guide"
The other man cast comprehensive
glance over the rock, with its scaling
ladders and dangling rope ladder, the
cave. the little groups Of dead or un-
conscious pirates-fOr every wounded
man who could move a limb had
crawled away after the first shell burst
and drew Il deep breath.
How long were you up there" he
asked.
"Over thirty hours"
at was great fight
Somewhat worse than IL looks" said
Anstruther. This Is only the end Of
it. Altogether we have accounted for
nearly twoscore Of the poor devils"
Robert looked toward the approach
ing boat. She would not land yet for
a couple Of minutes.
by the way" he said, Twill you
tell me your name?"
"Playdon = Lieutenant Philip II.
Playdon."
"Do you know to what nation this
island belongs:"
ut is no mans land, l think. 1t is
marked 'uninhabited on the chart"
Then" said Anstruther, ~ call upon
you, Lieutenant Playdon, and all others
here present to witness that |, Robert
Anstruther, late of the Indian army,
acting on behalf of myself and Miss
Iris Deane, declare that we have taken
possession of this island in the name
of his Britannia majesty the king Of
England. that we are the joint occu-
piers and owners thereof and claim all
property rights vested therein"
These formal phrases. coming at such
moment, amazed his hearers. Iris
alone had IN inkling Of the underlying
motive.
Il don't suppose any one will dispute
your tirie," said the naval officer grave
ly. He unqucstionably imagined thar
suffering and exposure had slightly dis
turbed the other mans senses.
Thank YOU" replied Robert with
equal compOsure, though he felt IN
clined to laugh at Playdon's mystifica-
ton. II only wished 10 secure suiii-
cient number Of witnesses for Il verbal
declaration. When l have few min
utes to spare | will aiiiy n legal notice
on the wall in front Of our cave"
Paydon bowed silently. There was
something in the speakers manner that
puzzled him. He detailed II small guard
to accompany Robert and Iris, who
now walked toward the beach. and
asked Mir Jan to pilot him rs suggest
ed by Anstrutler.
The boat was yet many yards from
shore when Iris ran forward and
stretched out her arms to the man who
was staring at her with wistful de-
spair
Father. Fatherw she cried. Don't
you know me-"
Sir Arthur Deane was looking ut the
two strange figures on the sands, and
each moment his heart sank lower.
This island hcld his final hope. During
many weary weeks. since the day when
kindly 3dInir&l pied the cruiser
Orient at his disposal - had secured
tie ina gen. ihc COSTS nf Bornc0 and
Lay: g.. Spi t:'inlS o! the iii fatcd
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
Beef and Beef Cattle.
NO INDICATION THAT THEY WILL SOON
BE MORE ABUNDANT OR CHEAPER.

l do not mean to say told you so,
but my prediction the American people
will be paying more for beef or eating
less of it in the near future, has come
true sooner than had expected.
So far they have not decided to eat
less of it. am not sure they may not,
because they had some discipline in this
during the summer and fall of 1902,
when good beef was so scarce, and
again last summer during the strike at
the packing centres. There are some
factors which might put good beef on a
higher level this summer and fall than
it was in 1902. In that season beef was
scarce enough, but there was then,
without doubt, far larger reserve OF
feeders which could be quickly warmed
up into some kind of beef than there is
in the country now.
Besides the fact that good, thick beef
is scarce at this time, | believe it has
been many years since the country was
as short on feeders of good weight as
now; so that, no matter how much corn
we have on hand or raise this season, it
would appear that no oversupply or
even normal supply of beef could be
produced in many months to come.
This country is so big in all its in
terests, and we move along so fast that
scarcely any one is able to tell "where
we are at" until we are in it, and more
often past it.
The truth is as to the meat and fowl
and fish supply, we have at least enter
ed, if we are not already in the midst of
old country conditions. None OF these
are likely to be so plenty and so cheap
as in the past.
In big, new, rich country, sparsely
settled, there is at first plenty of wild
meat-buffalo, antelope, deer, squirrels,
lack rabbits and fish and fowl of every
kind, to afford an ample supply. 1t is
not long since we were in that condition
in many parts of this country. That
supply has gone. Following the cheap
pasture and cheap feed of every kind, it
was natural that the domestic supply
could be furnished cheaply. Now it has
come about that the domestic supply
will cost much more in this country,
Just as it does in the older countries of
the word.
And so | say again with more conf
dence than before, that meat of every
kind, if the people continue to consume
it in normal quantity, or in such guam
tity as they have been used to consume
it, will cost more because it costs so
much more to produce it.-Cor. in
Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
[coSTrNuED.l

jerks swarmed halfway up the lad
| der.
"Yes. Iris" he said.
Il am not sure, but imagine some.
thing moved among the bushes behind
the house"
"All right. dear. will keep sharp
lookout. Can you hear us talking"
Hardly Will you be long?"
Another minute"
He descended and told Mir Jan what
the miss sahib said. The native was
| about to make search when jerks
stopped him.
"Here"-he handed the man his re-
volver-"I suppose you can use this"
Mir Jan took it without word, and
jerks felt that the incident atoned for
previous unworthy doubts Of his dark
friends honesty. The Mohammedan
cautiously examined the back of the
house, the neighboring shrubs and the
open beach. After brief absence he
reported all safe, yet no man has ever
been nearer death and escaped it than
he during that reconnaissance. He, too,
forgot that the Dyaks were foxes, and
foxes can lie close when hounds are q
trifle stale.
Mir Jan returned the revolver.
"Sahib," he said. with another sa-
laam. II am a disgraced man. but if
you will take me up there with you l
will fight by your side until both my
arms are hacked off. | am weary Of
these thieves. Ill chance threw Inc in
to their company. will have no more
of them. If you will not have me on
the rock, give me gun. will hide
among the trees, and l promise that
some of them shall die tonight before
they find me. For the honor Of the
regiment, sahib, do not refuse this
thing. All l ask is if your honor es-
capes that you will write to Kurnal
I-shpence- sahib and tell him the last
act of Mir Jan, corporal in r troop"
jerks was profoundly moved. He
reflected how best to utilize the serv-
ices of this willing volunteer without
exposing him to certain death in the
manner suggested. The native misin-
terpreted his silence.
81 am not rascal, sahib," he ex-
claimed proudly. 81 only killed a man
becauSe'-
Listen, Mir Jan. You cannot well
mend what YOU have said. The Dyaks,
you are sure, will not come before
morning?"
"They have carried the wounded to
the boats and are making the lad.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
Az this time there is no mistaking the

At this time there is no mistaking the
fact, to person familiar with the farm,
that grass is not in condition favorable
to good crop. Grass and what there
was of clover came out of the winter
showing a good condition, and the
promise was accepted as favorable to q
bountiful crop of hay. The season as it
has advanced has not held its early
promise. At this time the stand hai
lacked moisture and Is thin. With
favorable conditions of rain, however
there is still time to make up CROP
Maine Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
Getting Rich slowly.

Ordinarily a great fortune Is bui't up
like n stone wall-a stone ut time.
The young man who declines to NY
the first stone because 1t comes SO far
short of q wall will never make prog
ress in financial masonry. An I'M
n.cnse proportion Of the people OF this
country live up to their incomes. lay.
ing aside nothing for the TRADITIONAL
rainy day. Because they cannot save
81 900 in bunch they save notmns'
The greatest financial kings OF the
world have not been above taking care
of the pennies even. The great imam
cial Institutions look after even tne
fractions of pennies.-Troy Press.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27

There are mysteries in that plot OF
earth. Plant seed therein; in due
time Nature brings forth plant,
and in its own invisible way builds
its growth and ripens its seed. Another
seed is planted, and in due time differ
ent plant is builded from the same soil
and bearing different fruitage, and all
from the same plot of earth. What
guiding hand directs its forces?-Maine
Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
U,hat are HumOrs?

They are vitiated or morbid fluids cours.
ing the veins and affecting the tissues.
They are commonly due to defective diges-
ton but are sometimes inherited.
How do they manifest themselves?
In many forms Of cutaneous eruption,
salt rheum or eczema, plmples and boils,
and in weakness. languor, general debility.
How are they expelled BY
Hoods Jdrsdparilla
which also builds up the system that has
suffered from them.
It Is the best medicine for all humorA
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27

All profitableness begins and ends in
the excellence or low grade of the sheep.
To be profitable, the sheep must attain
high average in quality Of both fleece
and carcass.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27

Sheep are especially suited to the
small farmer and to the farmer OF limit
ed means.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPEED THE PLow."

Correspondence on practical agricultural topics
Is solicited. Address all communications In
tended for this department to HENRY d..
HAMMOND, Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem
ocrat. Paris, Me.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
NOTICE.

Paris, Maine, May ~, 1905.
All persons are hereby forbidden
trespassing on the premises of Colum-
bia Paris by dumping refuse or tax
ing stones from the stone walls.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27
Have Larger Fields.

WEED OUT THE UNPRoFITABLE COWS.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-06-27

TlHE drifting smoke was still so
dense that not even the floor Of
the valley could be dlscerned.
jerks dared not leave Iris ut
Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-05-23
UNPRECEDENTED RAINS.
Livestock Drowned, Hay Destroyed, Po-
tatoes Ruined and Other Damage.

Denison, May 23.-Unprecedented
rains have been falling throughout
this section. Thousands of acres Of
farming lands have been submerged
and enormous damage done to crops.
Every stream of Importance has over
flowed. A great many bridges have
been washed away. Hundreds of head
of cattle, hogs and sheep have perish
ed in the flood. Vast quantities Of
hay have been destroyed, and potatoes
and other crops are ruined. Splendid
farming lands along the Choctaw are
completely under water. Cotton and
corn crops are damaged so per cent.
Mr.. James Kemp, who has resided in
this section forty years, says that the
rainfall is the heaviest he ever wit
messed Many families have moved to
high lands to escape the flood. TRAY
cling men report they never saw so
much water North Texas reports from
Red River valley and Chickasaw ma
ton are that crops are damaged. Red
river has just started on a big boom
with heavy rains in the Panhandle.
The general damage will amount to at
least 100000.