davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18

This is parable. He who runs
may read; or, to use the modern YER
sion, he who travels per Mercedes will
see the world.
There was once too-old-at-forty
merchant. He had toiled-toiled unto
grayness.
But fortune had not come.
He pared the point of a quill pen 0le
remembered his father using one in
that very room, and gazed gloomily
at an ancient inkstand filled with a
viscous, tarlille mass. And the spirit
that was in him evaporated and dried
up like his ink, with only the drcgs of
gall and iron left behind.
He thought of the days of fret and
worry, the nights of cramping pen
work, when he had set till the small
hours checking Eiffel Towers OF fig
ures and writing letters which an
office boy had smudged into gray indie
cipherability with the aid of copying
book and n brush charged with solid
sloppiness,
He thought of the headaches and
the restless nights in which he lived
again through the petty annoyances of
the day, and as he dispatched boy
with message Che had always hated
telephones> he decided to end 1t all.
So he retired and lived economically
in the suburbs, and another man
reigned in his stead This is the pro-
logue.
Six months passed. The too-old-at-
forty merchant again visited his old
Office. 1t was in the same room, but
The new manager was seated at a
roll-top desk. Before him was pho
nograph with a neat recording mouth
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
A Royal Treasure-Houss.

At Marlborough House the plate.
room contains what is probably the
most valuable collection of treasures
in any private house in England. The
room is underground and lighted by
electricity the walls being lined by
bookcases containing many rare vol
umes presented to King Edward and
the Prince of Wales from time to time,
forming valuable library. In big
iron safes in the center of the room
is stored away wonderful collection
of gold and silver plate Including two
enormous silver pilgrim bottles pre-
scented by Alexander III. of RUSSIA to
King Edward, and a priceless en-
bossed gold shield, which was pres
ent to the sovereign from a number
of Indian princes.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
OFFICE MORK By
E GIlx51ffaAzH z MAcAvuERy

rily. Would YOU like to see the other
things?' asked the new manager.
Nov this machine" he said, NOV
ing over to another instrument in a
neat-looking case, mot only prints let
tiers In exact imitation of typewriting,
but 1t also prints a different name and
address on each and adds perfect
Imitation of your signature in black
ink Mt the bottom
II begin to feel very DID," said the
former owner of the business. 81 sup
pose your chief cashier is made of
levers and sprockets and your conf
dental clerk is driven by a main
spring."
well. l think there are cog wheels
and spacing gears In them, too," said
the new manager. "Now, here is the
book typewriter, with which we keep
our ledgers, and, in fact, all the books
In our firm. We only use pens here
as pipe cleaners. You lay the book on
the table, so, draw the machine over
1t, and make your entries cleaniy and
neatly.
But bound books are now out of
date. The loose leaf book is the mod
ern idea. DR.. and CIR. sheets are of
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
CURE FOR TIGHT DOORS.
How You May open Dresser Drawers
When They Stick.

patrons come to me every day and
say that the drawers of dressers and
other furniture stick fast and cannot
be opened or shut without great diff
Guilty." said the complaint man" in
downtown furniture store. This
is trouble with much furniture,
especially common in the spring
What do we do in such cases?
We simply tell the customers to wet
the surface of bar of common laun-
dry soap and rub it firmly over the
parts of the wood that stick. This
makes the surface smooth and slip
perry, and in nearly all cases the
drawer will slide easily, especially
after it has been opened and shut a
few times.
This also is valuable with doors,
which, in new flats, are likely to set
tie or are apt to scrape at the top as
the building settles. Just use soap
on them and save the trouble of call
ing in carpenter, who will plane the
varnish off.
China cabinet doors, with curved
glass, cause us lot of trouble, but
most of the tightness can be rene
died by the use of soap and few
applications of sandpaper."
The furniture man gave another
helpful hint"
IF mission furniture, with the dull
finish, loses its smooth surface and
characteristic waxy appearance" he
said, do 10. despair and send it to
the renovated. -r.Ee a pound cake OF
common door wax vau rub it over
the surface until the finish is restor-
ed. If you have no floor wax use
beeswax, and if you prefer something
made especially for the purpose you
can buy liquid preparations, one of
which will remove the old finish, leav
ing the table top or other object
ready for the application of the other
substance, which will duplicate the
original finish"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18


A certain butcher in village in the
north of England was standing before
the shop of Geordie, the baker, whose
loayes of bread were rather small,
when Geordie came up the street.
Just been in your shop. Geordie, buy
in a loaf" said the butcher. Where
is it?" asked Geordie. "In my waist
coat pocket" said the butcher. No
more was said. but Geordie thought for
a long time how lie could pay the
butcher back In his own coin. A few
days later, US he stood before the
butchers shop, an idea came to him.
Meeting the butcher on his way home
from market, Geordie said: Been in
your shop buyin' a calf's head!"
Where is it?' asked the butcher. "Un.
der my hat!~ said Geordie, with an an
initiating look.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
HE AR1TnMoMETER.


different colored papers, and the
leaves can be removed and reinserted
In the binder at moments notice.
"Then all you have to do Is to cast
up the figures" said the old merchant.
Pardon me, we do nothing of the
kind" With calculating machines that
will tell you in ten seconds what
9,756,S34 multiplied by 458,S73
amounts to, and which will extract
the square root of S7,s67, 9O1 with a
few turns of handle, the human
brain becomes too slow for practical
purposes.
Now, IL you will look at this .Arith-
mometer' for moment, you will see
that all YOU have to do Is to place tho
pointers at the figures which YOU wish
to multiply, subtract from or add TO.
gcther, then turn this handle, ana the
result will appear in that row of
spaces at the top"
An office boy now came up and re.
ported that the two thousand letters
had left the office at 800.
ut seems to me that brains ore
quite obsolete" said the antediluyian
merchant.
And that is the biggest mistake of
ALL" returned the Notwithstanding
manager. brains are what we want,
and all we want. We are freed of the
old grinding routine that business men
used to break their hes rts over: now
we have time to think. Our clerks
have shorter hours and are better
paid; but those we do employ have
brains, otherwise we should have no
use for them.
mo, brains are not at discount,
but brainless handwork is."-AIontreal
Star.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18

ADDREsSoGRApu wax cylinder md
handed If TO n hoy who carried 1t into
the newt room where the natter of
many tvnewriters sounded like hail
on the roof
Tho too.o,d.ot. forty merchant looked
on with smil,na federation.
az +,,;,,. ,,o,, ,,oao ,,;s+o,o IN th.+
,ot+ar y no soid Ut haard ro,, diotota
+,,o+ ,o,, ,,.anta, 40 tho,,s.n, nontas
7 s,,rnos, ~, r,oa,t t,no da.o,, -
Tho rot,,rn smila yos of tondar oon,
nossion no wos ,nfornod thn+ ta.o
thousand was correct
.But Won said they were to he sent
off by the four O'Clock mail. md II. is
one-thirty now. However hio yon,.
STAFF may he Won con hordIv I'm va two
thousand letters typed md the envai.
ones addressed nnd slammed In two
md n hnlf hours."
az sho,I on,,o, oxoo+,r
o,ar,. ava ho, ~, +,,ot 80, - =,
tbo now ,n,naoor Iooni,,a haa,. -
uriousIy T., his oh.;r ..n,,,, 70 .I,a'. 4..,..,
e.. a,,,,la 10 da,,,,,o 49, - ~
a., +,,,,a,, -
M ,o.o .po,, -,
TO see the mirncle?o he said nc 10
opened the door next TO his room
girl twist wos TAKING down IN
shorthand the words Of the letter nc
they were dictated from the r,onn,
craph on which she Ind pl,cad tho
wax cylinder. This was comn,etad In
one minute forty-fiye seconds Inv tho
watch She then adjusted sheat of
wax paper on her typewrItino pacbtna
and typed the letter
fo,,. ,;,,,,+o ,.4 a.,
nor was fitted to n rotary dun,ico+nr
md nm office how was reel,no Off eighty
comics per minute
"Rate of $500 nm bonrn commen+od
tbe new manager
The too.old.n t-fortv merchant ,oo,,oa
tbouphtfu,
Meanwhile tho p,r, c,or,, wos food.
Ing envelopes into the addressing ma
chine, which was printing them leach
with different name and address) at
the rate of 1000 an hour.
The t-o-a-f merchant seemed to want
to ask questions.
"Ouite simple" said the new man.
ager. EVERY customer on orr hooks
has his name and address set I'm in
rubber type. The boy does this in his
spare time. The address. set nm in n
little metal galley. is then attached to
one of these endless chains which mass
through the machine. Each fine mn
envelope is printed by the machine the
chain moves round SO as to bring nm.
other address into position for the next
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
ON TREAcAeRous GROUND.
Fearful Experience of Hunter Trapped
In Quicksand and Saved.

Fearful Experience of Hunter Trapped
In Quicksand and Saved.
"You must be careful Of your
ground" my host warned, as, gun in
hand. was about to set out for a
few hours shooting. laughed.
With n glorious afternoon before me
| felt my spirits rise. There was a
crispness in the air that BODIED we'll
for sport. Beneath my feet the ground
heaved and squirmed as when one
treads upon sponge. But cared not,
for where the grass grew short and
thickest there knew the ground
would bear.
Tired, but satisfied with my sport,
l had arrived within quarter of n
mile of the bog's edge, when from a
clump of PUSHES loud quacking told
me that ducks We're near.
Whether the birds saw me or not
cannot say, but of n sudden they rose.
Thinking to get better view of them,
l moved some yards to right, and gave
them the contents of both barrels. AS
l did so my right foot sank into the
ground. In n flash 1t passed through
my mind what had occurred.
wrenched 1t free. The mud gurgled,
and the effort sunk my left leg to the
knee. Again struggled. This time
found it impossible to raise either leg
above the ground.
The mud soon reached my elbows. I
tried to collect my thoughts. My eyes
fell on my gun. Better far to end
my sufferings quickly than to feel the
cold mud ooztng about my neck, then
creeping up, Icy us a serpent, towards
my mouth, and then
Across the bog the lights from Thy
friends house cleaned.
The horrible sensation OF sinking
had ceased. Under my feet it seemed
to be solid ground.
Was it a shout that heard, or was
It some wild freak Of fancy 1t came
from behind me. With an effort /
looked over my shoulder saw light
IA bright yellow light.
fired my gun. A score of startled
ducks rose and vanished noisily into
the darkness. The light drew nearer,
and few minutes later, to my joy, l
heard my friends CHEEKY voice. With
the help of ropes and planks was
soon rescued from my perllous POSI-
ton, half frozen.-Ch Chicago Tribune.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
A Mark of D,stino,ion.

A short while ago a certain we'll.
known country magistrate who is
blessed with a tremendous head Of
hair, which is generally in state Of
wild disorder, was questioning n
youthful witness in order to make sure
that he comprehended the character
and Importance of the oath he was
about to take. Boy" he said, in
his seyerest magisterial manner, do
you feel sure you could identify me
after six months? Now, be careful
think before you speak" "Well, your
HONOR replied the boy, after a pro-
longed survey of the magistrates port
ly figure and rugged features, 81 amt
sure, but think could If you wasn't
to comb your hair!"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
Fertilizers and Manure.

Farmers who have used fertilizers
and manure together claim that the
combination is superior to either alone.
and that acid phosphate is excellent as
an addition to the manure heap. The
mixture of fertilizers and manure gives
the crop soluble plant food in the
early stages of growth and the manure
provides n supply later. Every farmer
values his manure, and will apply 1t
somewhere, hence the best mode es
deriving the greatest benefit from 1t is
to increase Its efficiency by adding
fertilizers In some form to the heap.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
Over the Line With Dad.


From the Topeka State Journal.
If could be boy again,
On the wings of fancy loose,
Free from the cares that make us
men,
In my dear old dads caboose;
OF all there was now recall
That made my boy heart glad,
l wish that l might go again
Over the line with dad.
Chums with the brakemen laugh and
joke,
Ride on the engine awhile,
Washing away the CRIME and smoke,
Standing up straight in the aisle;
Climbing up on the counter high,
o, what treat for lad!
Coffee, sandwich and custard pie
Over the line with dad.
Sit way up in the lookout, too,
With an eye on the jostling cars,
Climbing there in the night to view
The way of the lanterned stars;
Struggled close TO the truest friend,
That ever fellow had,
Wishing the trip might never end
Over the line with dad.
grudge no one the train de luxe,
With its splendid woods and brass,
For fond keep in memory's books
A record none may surpass;
All. could l only by magic ruse,
Take any trip to be had,
I'd rather ride in that old caboose,
Over the line with dad.
The old caboose has gone long since,
And its crew has whistled the sky,
Fancy still with its radiant tints
Illumines the days gone by;
And when Gods caller comes round
for me,
My heart shall be far from sad,
If only know that Pm to go
Over the line with dad!
ID. A. Ellsworth.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
LING oLN,s We AKNEss.

He Was Inclined to Always Temper
Justice with Mercy.
Abraham Lincoln's weakness, if 1t
can be called n weakness, was ten-,
dency, in matters not involving great
or general issues, to let his heart run
away with his head. 1t was difficult
for him tosresist plea for a pardon
for man who had been condemned
to be shot or hanged. His inclination
to temper justice with mercy saved
many innocent lives during the civil
war;" said William o. Stoddard to a
representative of Success Magazine.
II remember one day when he was
heels over head in work and had spent
nearly all of the previous night at his
desk, delegation called at the White
House to intercede for certain no.
torious leader of band of hard cbar-
acters who had been carrying on n
sort Of guerrilla warfare and had done
some needless killing. 1t was the pur-
pose of the delegates to tell the Pres
ident that the bloodshed had been due
to zeal, and that the man had moth
err and family.
Il had previously investigated the
case and had laid the facts before Mr..
Lincoln. He agreed with me TINT the
man should be made an example of
and executed. received the delega-
ton, and to relieve the President from
the pain the visit would cause him Mt
time when it was necessary to spare
him In every possible way, told them
that the President had positively made
UP his mind not to interfere, and was
engrossed in very important matter
that made 1t impossible for him to be
seen.
II stood guard, and at last the dele
CATION went away. Afterward told
the President of their visit.
WELL he said, with an almost
lmperceptible sigh, L suppose you did
right, The man ought to hang, but
he has n family. / believe that if l
had met those people should have
signed an order for pardon"
When the walters and attendants
around restaurant work fast, the
customers eat In q hurry.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
Care of Horses, Feet.

II your blacksmith knows his busi-
ness your horses will be properly
shod. but do not lay foot troubles OF
the horse at the door of the black
smith. for the chances are you are
at the bottom of the trouble because
you will not keep the floor of the
stables clean and thus avoid thrush.
There is no reason why there should
not be gutter behind tile horses
such as are behind the cows, and
thus avoid to some extent the posi-
bility of the horse standing In his ex-
crement. Then, keep close watch Of
the hoofs and see that they are cleaned
daily. With sticks dig out any sub
stances and then cleanse with a stir
brush and finally wash with sponge,
using tepid water. in which a dozen
drops, or teaspoonful, Of carbolicG
acid has been mixed. Try 1t, keep It
up and avoid thrush.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
Give Plenty of Water.

1t is astonishing how many people
think animals do not particularly
need water. They give the horses and
dogs all they want and frequently,
the cows not SO frequently, and tile
rest of the stock on the farm when
they think of it. frequently people
say that cats do not require water,
and yet those who have had experl-
ence know that cats crave water-not
much at time, but several times
day. The lack of water has thrown
them into commissions. If man needs
considerable water In order to he
healthy, there is 10 reason why uni-
mails should not need it. Water porl-
try and other stock us regularly and
as carefully us they are fed. luke
swine as another example. Make It
a business to see that they have clean.
fresh water daily in clean vessel,
and you will see how readily they
drink it, and drinking 1t they must
need 1t and 1t must do them good.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
To Tell a Horses ACE.

The age of horse cannot always
be told by looking at its teeth. Aft
err the eighth year the horse has no
more new teeth, SO that this me't,od
is useless for horse which is more
than eight years old. AS soon as the
set of teeth is complete, however,
wrinkle begins to appear on the edge
of the lower eyelid and another wrin-
kle is added each year, SO that 10
get at the age of horse more than
eight years old you must count the
teeth plus the wrinkles.-London Tit
Bits.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
summer WORK on Potatoe..

Many potato growers make the mis-
TAKE of stopping the sprayer as soon
as the plants have gotten good
start. From the middle OF July on is
the time when the sprayer gets In It's
most effective work, although 1t il
not necessary to do the work as fire.
quently MS earlier In the season. If
it is thoroughly done once a week Is
sufficient. The formula of Go OF the
Bordeaux mixture is quite strong
enough for potatoes, using at the
same time the paris green for the bugs
and thus overcoming the blight and
the bugs Mt the same time. 1t has
been demonstrated that the blight cln
be overcome by the use of Bordeaux
mixture, and 1t should be freely used
all through the summer by potato
growers. The cost can be reduced 10
n minimum if one has large areas In
potatoes by using horse sprayer. N
some sections men make nice living
operating the horse sprayer FOR their
neighbors and by frequent practice
become experts in the work, doing II
cheaper than the grower could him.
self-Exchange, ].
~
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18

piece. Into this he
w as speak Ing
quickly: II want
two thousand cop
les of the follow
ing letter posted to
our regular Gus
toners in time for
the four o'clock
mail this after
noon. Take down:
Dear Sirs-Owing
to our having new
labor Saving ma
scllinery in all orr
factories, we are
able to quote lower
for all our goods.
w Ii ic Ii you will
note are now ten
per cent cheaper
than those offered
by foreign Compel
itors. A glance at
the following fig
ures will"
For thirty sec
onds lie continued
to talk into; the
photograph. Then
lie re m o v ed the
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
Knocking.

''That horrid brother of mine has
trained his bulldog to howl every time
/ sing
Must be very unintelligent dog
THANK you, ="
'"To have to be trained, you know"
cleveland Leader.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
The LandIord NiiscnIcnlated

Departing Guest-Do you permit
your servants to accept little-er-
presents?
Summer Landlord-Great Scott! You
haven't any money left. have you?-
Cleveland Leader.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18

The London County Council an.
nounces that hereafter school man.
ayers may exclude from board school
children under five years old,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18

~ was surprised to hear the elder
Miss Timmins propose kissing game
at the house party"
what would you? 1t was her only
chance" -Cleve1and Plain Dealer.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
flee; The stood, he had nerve. Ny

flee; The stood, he had nerve. Ny
conjunction was gone; the hunters
passion rushed over me.
For an instant the smoke hung over
the muzzle. When it cleared, I saw
the grass family tremble where he
had stood. He was laid low, war;
rior marked with the scars of many
boar battles, an old giant of whom
any hunter might be proud.-Field
and Stream.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
Inten.ive Farming In Japaii,.

When 1T comes to intensive 6tiltiirs
of the soil the Japanese seem to take
the lead. According to experts who
have investigated agricultural Sondi
tons in Japan there is nothing Id ths
annals of agriculture that ever ap
preached the scientific skill In, Japan
csc husbandry. If all the 14,Go5;O0a
tlllable acres Of japan were merged
into one field man in an automobile.
travelling Mt the rate of fifty miles
an hour could circle arabic Japan in
eleven hours.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
Preserving Manure.

Experiments recently made In Ed.
rope with view to ascertaining the
best method Of preserving manure
show that manure allowed to atcurn,i.
late under cattle three Months Oh
more, iii specially constructed, deep
stall, was found lii every case AZ t6ni.
pared with that Of ordinary manure
heaps, in more workable condition;
the ammonia salts were better pro.
served and the useful ingredients
were present in greater proportions:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18

Destroying Insects by Eicctricity.
An apparatus is mentioned, invent.
ed by Russian, for killing injurious
insects by electricity A dynamo 10 !
SO placed upon hand car that no
electricity is engendered while the car
is standing still. When in motion the
current passes into the ground through
the iron wheels of the car upon one
side, and upon the other through the
points Of brushes of copper wire.
which are fastened in the rear OF the
car SO as to be a few inches above
the ground. The result is said to that
all insects In the vicinity. Of the cop
per brushes are killed us II by light
ming.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18

terial lies useless in her paunch. Her
failure to chew the cud is due to Ill
health, just as lack of any desire fdt
food characterizes a sick man. A COW
that fails to chew the cud ID sick
COW, and as soon as she receivers from
that sickness she Will recover her de.
sire and ability to chew the cud.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18

Do not make the earth in the boxes
and flower pots too rich. All plants
protected during the winter by setting
them on a stand in n warm room, such
as geraniums, should not make heavy
growth, but be kept in good condition
for slipping, as the spring and summer
are the proper seasons for having them
to perfection. The mealy bug must
be guarded against when the plants
are kept in warm atmosphere.