davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
WILL FIGHT RURAL DELIVERY

A concerted movement against the con-
tinuance Of the rural mail delivery system
in its present character has been started
by organizations of business men and
merchants all over the country, saws
Fourth Estate. Tue men in these organi-
cations will protest to Congress against
the extension OF the present system and
will advocate its curtailment along sweep
ing lines
1t is understood that the system has
never been pronouncedly popular with
business men and opposition against it
has become more pronounced than ever
recently on account of the exposure of
some OF the uses to which it has been put,
and especially since the publication of
Postmaster Gen. Wynne's estimate of
the cost of the extensions authorized
by Congress for the coming year.
The class of business men who are sup
posed to be the most directly hurt by the
rural free delivery system are the: mer-
chaLts. Through the operation of the
system they are said to be more than
ever exposed to the competition of the
mail order houses and they declare that
in many sections the farmers have stopped
coming to town to buy since the estab-
lishment ofthe free delivery routes. This
OF course, reacts on the jobbers and whole
saers in the large cities and the result is
that the trade of both city and country
has suffered severely.
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
THE FEBRUARY AMERICAN BOY

The Washington's Birthday number of
The american Boy is replete with matter
of historical interest. Its contents in
clude full page, illustrated article,
"How Artists Pictured Washington,
"Francis Hampton, the proud little lad
of Valley Forge" "a Nations Honor at
the Penis Point" "A Washington's Birth
day Party" "The Story OF Lincoln's Boy
hood" Washington and the Flag"
The cover OF The American Boy this
month is an intensely interesting one, as
it represents Washington at prayer in the
Valley Forge days, being a reproduction
of photograph of the bas-relief recently
put into the East Side Y. NJ. C. A. build
ing in New York City. The stories this
month, in addition to those named, are
further chapters of Kirk Munroe's s"For
the Mikado,". further chapters of "My
Four Years at West Point" the first of
new series of bear stories entitled 4Cap-
turing Thief" the story of little Ital-
ian entitled "What Happened to Pietro,"
"a Thousand Miles in Small Boat" ga
Piratica Misadventure," "The Young
Midshipman's Adventure" 'Down
Brownlow Hill." "Grog'' and ''Tatters
Helps the Editor" AS leading articles of
miscellaneous nature are, the Editors
page, Gust Between Ourselves" in
which he discusses the subject of ''Qiut-
ting School, ''The Boy Who is Faithful"
"a Message from Governor Dockery of
Missouri'to American Boys" full page
illustration of the Company of the Battle
ship Indiana, "How the Batwa Pygmies
were Photographed, short biography
OF General Stoessel, Maxim Cork, Carol
OF Roumania, "a Successful Young Hum
ter, "A Homemade Auto Wins Race"
Boys, How About Your Finances?s zone
Boys Success with Angora Coats" ..Lit-
tie Pete, carrier pigeon that travelled
eight thousand miles to reach home.n IA
Cheyenne Celebration" "Among the
Birds "The Boys Corn Exhibit at the
st. Louis Exposition, Amateur Journal
ism, " Stamps, Coins and Curios," !" .'The
Boy Photographer" First lesson on how
to play the Mandolin, second installment
OF How Two Boys Built a Wireless
Telegraph" Clever Work with the
Pocket Knife" and Puzzles. 80 pages.
ga illustrations. $l.0O a year. The
Sprague Publishing Co., Detroit Mich.
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
GOVERNORS STAFF

Dover DEL, Feb. 13th.-Governor Lea
to-day announced the appointment OF
several additional members of his mill
tary staff. Colonel J. Ernest Smith of
Wilmington, who was member of Gov
ernor Hunn's staff, is re-appointed Judge
advocate general on the staff of Governor
Lea. Other appointments were To be
colonels, George W. Sparks, Horace Will
son of Wilmington, and John 7. Vanden-
berg of Bridgeyille. Mr.. Sparks is the
well-known state senator, and Captain
Wilson is manager of the Wilmington
Steamboat Company and widely known.
Colonel Vandenberg is Representa-
tive in the Legislature. He comes from
Bridgeville, a strong Republican district,
and is one of the most popular assembly,
men here. He is fruit dealer, and real
estate agent at Bridgeville. Represents
tive Vandenberg was kept busy to-day.
acknowledging the salutes of Colonel
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
THE GAME
SUFFERED
The Weather Conditions have
Killed Birds and Rabbits
WILL PAY FOR THE FEEDING

The condition of wild game all over
this section at this time is deplorable
| As a rule thousands OF birds and rabbits
can find shelter and sustenance in the
deep pine woods when heavy SHOWS cover
the fields, but they can not find that
shelter now.
The last two SHOWS have been ennnusually
heavy, and they have been accompanied
by high winds which drove the snow
into the deepest recesses of the forests,
and even under the heavy underbrush
the ground is thickly covered with frozen
snow.
This renders the condition of the little
denizens of wood and field absolutely
helpless, and they simply huddle together
where the last snow banked around them,
and freeze or starve to death. 1t is esti-
mated that thousands have perished
within the past week, and woodmen who
nave been forced to break their way into
the woods state that they have found
both rabbits and partridges frozen stiff,
alongside of wood piles and underbrush
The snow which fell last week was
unusually heavy and packed closely
where it fell. Coming on top of that
which fell the week previous, and the
entire mass in turn being converted into
almost solid ice, has imprisoned the birds
that had managed to keep sheltered up
to that time.
Hunger has also driven birds, rabbits
and other game into barns, poultry yards
and other places around the farms, and
one farmer reports that he found two
large coons in his hog pens the other
day. Turkey buzzards have also be-
come desperate through hunger, and
they have to be driven away from gar
bage receptacles in back yards even in
the towns. Old sportsmen say that the
present conditions are the worst and
most fatal that the game of Sussex and
the Eeastern Shore has had to undergo |
for thirty years.
The Game Protection Association is !
taking steps to alleviate the conditions as
far as possible, and as will be noticed in
the local columns the Association is will |
ing to pay those who feed the BIRDS The |
State Register.
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
CALIFORNIA

The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
has arranged for special personally.
conducted tour throught California, to
leave New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
and Washington on February 16, by the
Golden Gate Special" composed ex-
c!usively of Pullman parlor smoking.
dining, drawing-room sleeping, compart-
ment, and observation cars, returning by
March 81. This special train will be run
over the entire route. The best hotels
will be used where extended stops are
made, but the train will be at the con-
slant command of the party.
Round-trip tickets covering all neces-
sary expenses, 1876 from all points on
Pennsylvania Railroad except Pittsburg,
from which point the rate will be $3.50.
For itineraries and further information
apply to ticket agents; C. Studds, East
ern Passenger Agent, 1858 Fifth Ave,
New York; Hugh Hasson, Jr., Passenger
Agent Baltimore District, Baltimore, Md,
b. M. Newbold, Passenger Agent South
eastern District, Washington, d. c..
Thos. E. Watt, Passenger Agent Western
District, PIttsburg, Pa; or address Geo.
W. Boyd, General Passenger Agent
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
SOME GOOD "NEvERs"

Never lean the back against nything
that is cold.
Never begin a journey until after a
good breakfast has been eaten.
Never fail to keep the back well cover
ed, especially between the shoulder
blades, also the chest well protected.
Never breathe with the mouth open in
sleeping in cold room, but establish a
habit Of breathing through the nose.
Never ride in an open carriage or near
the open window of train for moment
Immediately after exercise of any kind.
1t is dangerous to health, and even to
life.
Never go from warm atmosphere
into a cooler one without keeping the
mouth closed, so that the air may be
warmed in its passage through the nose
before it reaches the lungs.
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
ANNIE OAKLEY WILL SHOOT BL LUE ROCK

Annie Oakley, Frank Butler, Miss
Parker and seventy-five professional shots
will participate in the tournament of the
Wilmington Gun Club to be held on the
clubs grounds, Wilmington, on April
18th and l4th Much interest centers in
the shoot for the cup of the Delaware
Shooting Association.
1t is now held by the Wawaset Gun
Club and was won at the tournament at
Middletown last fall. The Wawaset
Club defeated the Wilmington Club by
five points. There will be an individual
shoot and several sweepstakes. The
Wilmington Club expects to have sew
enty-tive crack shots to participate in the
tournament. The State clubs are much
interested in the affairs as five men from
each club will participate in the shoot for
the silver cup.
Arrangements are being made to Sc
cure large tent to accommodate those
who will attend as the club house of the
Wilmington Club is not large enough to
accommodate all who will be in attend
ance.
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
NEW RECORDER TAKES CHARGE

Harry H. Billany, who was appointed
Recorder of Deeds Friday by Governor
Lea to succeed James S. Moore, deceased,
assumed his new duties Saturday morn
ing. Mr.. Billany arrived at the recor-
der's Office about o'clock and found
considerable business to be disposed of,
which could not be attended to by the
deputy. Many of Mr.. Billany's friends
called at the Office to congratulate him on
his appointment. 1t is said to be one OF
the best paying offices in the county and
is estimated to be worth anywhere from
5000 to $4,000 year.
There will be no changes among the
clerks in the office. Deputy Recorder
Anthony McGarvey will be continued in
in that position and the clerks, William
H. Taylor, William P. Clayton, Walter
K. Babcock and Irving L. Ball will also
be retained.
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 11th, 1905.
John Wanamaker the merchant prince
- of Philadelphia and New York was
Postmaster General during the admins
tration of President Harrison and one Of
the best Postmaster Generals if not the
very best the country has ever had. He
strove to make reforms and improvements
in the post Office department but soon
found that he could not do much. He
said recently that there we're four reasons
why we cannot lave parcel post and
other po tai facilities that have long been
enjoyed in Germany, France, England,
Italy and other countries. The four
reasons were the four great American
Express companies. There were four ex-
press companies then; there are six now.
They are amalagated into trust. They
are the successful rivals of the United
and in its peculiar domain monopolizing
the most important part Of the postal
carrying business compelling tie people
to pay many hundreds of thousands of
dollars yearly and bringing the country
through the postal system into debt
when if it were not for these express
companies there would be yearly sur
plus to the credit of the postoffice. This
condition of affairs could not exist in an
alleged free country and under Republi-
can form of government. 1t could not
exist here were it not for the fact that
il has behind it the boss of the most
powerful state of the Union, state that
furnishes thirty-nine votes in the electoral
college and that represents large pro-
portion of the wealth of the Union,
contains the largest city in the Union and |
with over twelve hundred millionaires,
many of them rich in Express company |
stock. How long, 0, how long will the
country tolerate this particular octopus
Will it continue after the decrepit Sena-
tor who is now the president Of the yex-
press company trust and its attorney in
the Capitol has passed away? The
thieves in the post office department were
sent to Moundsville penitentiary this
week. The beef trust is supposed to have1
received stunning blow from the Su-
preme court of the United States. The
appear to be docile and plastic
to legislation. May We not hope that
this entrenched truet may also have
to loosen its grip?
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
THE FARM, GARDEN AND DAIRY
Little Paragraphs That will Interest Every
Member of the Household

To the man or woman who uses TIN
kerosene can as a fre-kindler, we earnstl,
say, "Don'tp
To change the male in every flock
every year, is proved economy. Tht
chicks are always more hardy.
Do you know of anything meaner thar
to sell COW with bad trick to a neigh
| hor? Or horse, either?
The battle of life is like a barrel oi
arp'es-the big ones are on top; and what
is more, they usually stay there.
II ole pound Of corn is raised to each
hill ON an acre Of ground the product will
be fifty bushels. This would mean about
two fair sized ears.
Remember, your success will increase
with your experience. If the business
was SO simple that any one embarking in
it could make money, it would not be
long before the market would be glutted.
Here's wringle for .melon-raisers. A
French farmer near MarseilIes has dis
covered that by watering his melons
with milk they will grow to twice their
ordinary size. He carries off all the melon
prizes at local agricultural fairs.
Il makes everything look brighter OH
the old farm to go for several days to some
city, where one has to buy everything to
eat and drink, and place to sleep. Such
way of existing will make farm life and
home more fully appreciated than ever,
and so satisfying that great benefit will be
derived, and one will feel like sticking to
the bright side found at the old farm.
The grower of corn can we'll afford to
put in some of the spare hours of the
winter carefully sorting and selecting his
seed corn. If he will put in a days work
on each half bushel of seed he will be
making. more money than in any days
work done during the whole year. A
twothirds stand of corn means a two
thirds crop. Seed weak in vitality pro-
duces either barren stalk or nubbins.
The man who will cheerfully pay $3.50 for
bull can well afford to apply the same
with reference to his seed corn.
An exchange says that with the intro.
duction of interurban lines and the gen.
eral trend to the cities, rural schools are
going to suffer. Every year the attend
ance of graded schools increases on ac-
count of children coming in from the
country districts. Up in Iowa steps are
being taken to consolidate rural districts.
The superintendent reports that there are
IL schools with all average daily attend
ance of only three pupils and three with |
only one pupil. One hundred and forty-
live have daily attendance of only four,
293 an attendance of only FIVE and 35 an
attendance of only six.
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
HOW YOU PAY
FOR WATER
Aqua Pura Comes High When
Purchased as Food
1T COSTS $3.50 PER GLASS

What We buy as solid food is not solid
| says writer in Pearson's Magazine. Il
is partly water; some of the commonest
foods are almost entirely composed OIL
| water
Bought as food, water is tolerably
expensive luxury. In several instances
it costs something like two dollars and
| fifty cents glass.
Lett begin with breakfast.
Look at that loaf of bread. To all ap-
pearance it is solid enough. But it is not.
When it came into the hands of the
baker as wheat -four it contained water
orly to the extent of IL per cent. In
working up the materials into dough, by
kneading and in baking. great change
takes place, and the quantity of water has
more than doubled. The percentage of
water in the crust is about half that in
the soft inside.
Cured pork does not contain large
proportion of water; in fact wherever
there is good deal of fatty matter,
there is also scarcity of moisture. So
the man who enjoys his slice of break
fast bacon may comfort himself with the
reflection that he is getting fairly solid
value for his money, because bacon con-
tains only % per cent. of water.
Fresh eggs, on the other hand, are
composed of no less than 65 per cent. of
water.
The best dairy-made butter, no matter
how carefully prepared, contains COM
parativeiy a regal per centage of water.
Out OF l 5000 samples of butter examined
by well-known authorities, small num-
ber contained over l6 per cent. of water
The larger number contained IL and 13
per- cent. Careiessly manufactured or
adulterated butter often contains much
more water than is permissible by law.
and the breakfast table may include a
supply of butter containing as much as
20 per cent. of water.
1t is only to be expected that milk,
owing to its origin, should vary consi-
derably in its composition. Much de-
pends on the health and surroundings OF
the animals yielding it.
1t is interesting to know that morning
milk, as it comes from the COW, is by no
means as nourishing as the evening sup
ply; there is more water in the former.
The daily quart of milk even in its pur-
est states contains an average S7.6 per |
cent. of water.
The choicest fish contain the largest I
per centage of water, some kinds as high |
as Is per cent.
Gas cool as a cucumber" is house.
hold term. The GOODNESS is easily ex-
planned. Cucumbers are almost entirely |
of water. They contain fully
95 per cent.
Lettuce also contains 92 per cent. of
water.
1t will be seen that most of the good
hings of life are largely composed of
water; but it is better for us that this is
10. Nature knows more about our diges-
i've powers than we know ourselves, and
HE has designed her products-fsh,
1esh, fowl and fruit--with so cunning
land that the water contained in each is
Food, containing very little water in
tsicomposition is not, as rule, good to
'at until suitable process of cooking
las rendered it safe by adding a further
uppy of water to it, and boiling, as is
veil known, is the process that renders
'nr food most wholesome and easy of
DIGESTION.
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18

The ball in the evening will, of course
be the climax Of the day and inasmuch
as the Fourth OF March comes on Satur-
day, the ball must close before twelve
o'clock or profane the Sabbath. After
much discussion, Congress permitted the
use of the Pension Office and the decora-
tions of flags and flowers are already in
preparation. Thousands of dollars will
be spent in flowers and the majestic COL
umns Of the Pension Office will be
wreathed with color. No more suitable
place can be found in any country for
great festive gathering than the Pension
Office with its smooth floor of nearly an
acre in extent and its tiers OF balconies
for the convenience of those who prefer
to look on and do not care to dance.
The building is perfectly heated and
ventilated and no matter how disagree
able the weather may be outside, the
guests will be thoroughly comfortable.
At General Grants last Inauguration in
1873 temporary structure was made
near where the Pension Office now stands?
1t was not heated and the unique spec
tacle was presented of gentlemen in over
coats and ladies in seal skin shivering
and shifting their hands while they
danced.
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18

In the great inaugural parade on the
Fourth of March 35, 1000 thousand men
will march OH Pennsylvania Avenue.
OF these five thousand will be United
States regulars, $4,000 state militia and
about five thousand civilians from all
parts of the country. The four great
races will be represented for Indians,
Filipinos and negros will march beside
the white man. The President will be
escorted by squad of his own trough
riders" and this with the other features
of the show will make it more bewilder-
ing than three ringed circus. The route
of the parade however will be contingent
on the condition of Pennsylvania Avenue.
That throughfare is occasionally under
water and it may be that the procession
have to make a detour to reach the
Capitol. The snow fall of this winter is
almost unprecedented and when the
waters begin to rise they may submerge
the Avenue. March fourth is an especi-
ally favorable time for flood and the In
augural committees are anxiously await
ing the date. Stands are to be erected
along the Avenue and for from fifty cents
to dollar person may buy seat from
which to view the parade. Many
thousand dollars are invested in these
stands which are uncovered and the in
vestor risks all his money on the state of
the weather. fthe sun shines he sells
his seats and makes haul. Ii it is cold
and snowy he draws blank. Windows
in hotels and business houses along the
Avenue are all engaged in advance. The
prices range from five to fifty dollars
window, the latter being the price asked
in the New Willard and Raleigh hotels
for room with window on the Avenue
for the day. In these high priced stations
prominent officials or residents collect a
number of their friends and serve lunch
con, and make social affair of the oc-
cassion. Humber citizens are content
to pay twenty-five cents for a dry good
box somewhere near the edge of the
pavement on the route Of the parade and
the enterprising African who can gather
together number of boxes, or get his
wagon in a good situation is sure of hav-
ing patronage. The committee this year,
it is said will not permit wagons and dry |
goods boxes along the route but there are |
pretty sure to be some cheap coins of van
tage Somewhere.
~
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18

The NeW York Tribune Farmer is the
most thoroughly practical, helpful useful,
entertaining, national, illustrated agri-
aultural and family weekly in the United
States. You may secure it with the
TRANSCRIPT" both papers, one year, for
s1.25,
Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18

The Delaware Game Association will
furnish free of charge, grain to any
farmer who has quail or pheasanis on his
farm and will feed thelnswbile the snow
is on the ground. Call OF write to James
G. Bice, Dover, Del.
Amador ledger., 1905-12-15

l. This report Is based on broad general
view of the public-land situation, not on
specific cases.
2. The present laws are not suited to
meet the conditions of the remaining public
domain.
3. The agricultural possibilities of the
remaining public domain are unknown.
Frovlsac;a should be made to ascertain
to hold under Government control and In
trust for such use lands likely to be de-
veloped by actuai settlers.
a. The right to exchange lands in forest
reserves for lands outside should be with
drawn. Provision should be made for the
purchase of needed private lands inside for
est reserves, or for the exchange of such
lands for specified tracts of like area and
value outside the reserves.
0. The former Recommendation for the
repeal of the timber and stone act is re-
newed and emphasized.
6. The sale of timber from unreserved
public lands should be authorized
z. The communication clause of the home
stead act Is found on examination to work
badly. Three years actual residence should
be required before Communication
3. The deSert-land law is found to lead
to land monopoly in many eases. The area
OF desert entry should be reduced to not
exceeding 100 acres. Actual residence for
not less than two years should be required,
with the actual production of a valuable
crop on one-fourth the area and proof of an
adequate water supply
9. After thorough investigation of the
grazing problem your Commission is op-
rigid system to all grazing lands, but
recommend the following flexible plan
.(O Authority should be given to the Pres.
ident to set aside grazing districts By
proclamation.
() Authority should be given the secre-
tary of Agriculture to classify and an
praise the grazing value of lands in
these districts; to appoint such Off
may require; to charge ana collect n
moderate fee for grazing permits, and to
make and apply appropriate regulations to
each district, with the special object of
patton Of the country by actual settlers and
home seekers.
10. The fundamental fact that character
ICES the situation under the present public |
land law Is this, that the number of patents |
issued Is increasing out of all proportion to |
the number Of new homes.