davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
POPULAR BELIEFS.
Ignorance ms to the Law in Every.
day Occurrences.

Ignorance as to the Law in Every.
day Occurrences.
1t is an American prediction to be-
feye the outre and freakish stories
that are based solely on hearsay testi-
monplace matters Of fact. A list Of
the cheerful lies that are commonly
believed would fill a volume. Only a
few Of them are given below:
How often have you been inflicted
with the story of the man who was
overpaid when cashing a check at the
bank, and the cashier telling him that
no mistakes would be corrected after
the customer left the window? Ac-
cording to the story, the cashier laid
down the mandate before he knew the
mistake was in his favor. It makes an
excellent yarn, but diligent search dis
closes that it never had any founda-
ton in fact. Banks have no such rule.
If a customer is underpaid or overpaid
the mistake will appear when the bal
ance Is struck at the end of the day
business, aid the error will be cheer
fully rectified. But the majority of the
public believes the fictitious story of
l"how the fellow got the best Of the
bank simply because it is a good story
and they like to believe it.
Probably the most common error on
the part of the public is the belief that
when a dead body is found no one has
a right to touch or move the remains
until the coroner comes" There never
was any such law, is not now and
probably never will be. The citizen
who Is of an inquiring turn Of mind
has a perfect right to examine dead
bodies he runs across in the course Of
his travels, to move the remains and
even search the pockets of the do.
ceased, provided, of course, that his
motives are honest. That is all that ia
necessary.
There is also a prevalent belief that
a note signed or contract entered into
on Sunday is void and that either mar.
ty can plead the fact OF the sacred dav
to get out of a bad bargain. This ia
not d IT a man enters into a con-
tract or signs a note on Sunday no ia
legally bound and can have no do.
lenses that he would not have II the
transaction had occurred in the mid
die of The week.
I had my back against my own
hoase when ! struck this man.. says
the defendant In police He ,,e.
eve that his proximity to his castle
gives him more rights tan he would
ave Y ne were in the street. This
belief has been the cause Of much ear
tankerou1 litigation, and Il has eyer \.
eosees = ~ yuans Nat : M hasl
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22

right to defend himself in a reasonable
manner IL he Is attacked. whatever
may be his geographical position, and
the incidental contiguity of his home
'cuts no ice' in the case.
Doctors agree that the public is
wrong in the popular conception that
burglars sometimes chlorofOrm the In
mates of a house before committing Il
robbery. The usual story Is that the
anaesthetic was squirted into the sleep
ing room through keyholes. A Kansas
City surgeon who has had occasion to
administer chloroform or ether 800
times says that chloroform admins
tered in this manner would put Il
quletus on the burglar, as we'll as the
inmates Of q home. Physicians have
tried many times to administer chloro-
form to sleeping persons, and have met
with very poor results. The first effect
Of IN anaesthetic is not to lull to in
sensibility, but to arouse all the men
tai and physical vigor Of the person to
whom 1t is given.
The public has great confidence in
the magic No. 3, and without any rea-
sonable basis for the belief. 1t is COM
monty believed that if a drowning per-
son sinks for a third time he is gone
for good and all. The facts contradict
this. Many persons die ID the first
sinking, and if one has the strength
and the vitality to rise to the surface
of the water twice it furnishes an eX-
cellent presumption that he will be
able to do so again. In an eddy or
rapidly-moving waters people have
sunk from sight a half dozen times
and lived to tell the experience to their
grandchildren.
Then there is the third congestive
chill, commonly believed to be fatal.
Most people who die from this cause
succumb to the first or second attack.
If a man succeeds in ~weathering two
of them the odds are in favor Of his
coming out victor in the third. Almost
every community possesses a citizen
who boasts the fact that he has a sill
yer plate in his skull. Surgeons say
that very few attempts We're ever
mad at such an operation, II all Of
them were failures. There Oes not
exist a MAI who has a silver plate in
his skull, although many men honest
ly believe that they are carrying this
species of paraphernalia in their crani-
M The bone Of the skull canno
live and be healthy in the presence of
a foreign body. 1t is said by surgeons
to be a physical i~mpossibility, but this
serves in no way to overcome the COM
mon and erroneous belief.
The medical fraternity has another
false belief to combat in cases Of
shingles" The disease consists Of a
skin eruption always following affect
ed nerves, and commonly appearing on
the body. 1t is u very common belief
thai if the '~shingles' completely sur
round the body and strike a meeting
point the patient will die instantly.
The belief is untrue. - Kansas City
Journal
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
read that s1.do Hi.tory.

A hundred years ago the eyes of
America were on the Southwest. We
were on the edge Of a war with Spain
over the closing Of the Mississippi, and
under orders from Washington Will
kinson, in command OF Fort Adams,
held solemn conclave with the Indians
who owned the east bank Of the big
river, and by treaty established a sa-
cred postroad through their country.
1t left Nashville on the old Buffalo
trace, crossed the Tennessee at Col
bert's ferry below the Mussel shoals,
and striking the hills back OF the Big
Black, came down to Natchez and on
to New Orleans, with a branch to the
Walnut hills. The road was more than
a military necessity. for SO many pi-
rates infested the Mississippi that mer-
chants returning from New Orleans
needed a safer route home with their
money.
After 1t was opened it became all
things 10 the Southwest. Methodism
went down that way In the person of
Tobias Gibson. later LORENZO Dow fnl-
lowed him with the camp meeting
spirit. Old Hickory marched his army
down 10 Matches over this route in
1878 md marched It back again next
spring. Ard from that day till ear
IL our At ghes been the great cen-
ter q that countryss ACTIVITY. Now
the railroads have come. the settlers
Observation-Disclosures ts,a faalers md
opened up poorer roads III the beds Of
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22

upright, SO that the bowels will rest
on q Dashboard. Make - marks
where they rest, and bore two holes to
hold them. The base may be made of
one board about an inch thick, or two
half-inch boards. 1t would be about
six inches wide and eight inches long.
The top can be made Of one piece,
about six inches long and an inch
wide. Be careful to bore the holes In
this piece just the right distance apart,
or the elevator will not slide easily.
The windlass which is used to wind
up the cords of the elevator has two
sides made of thin wood three Inches
long and an inch wide. After they
have been cut out. hold them tightly
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
INSECTS THAT ARE MUSICAL.
All Arc Tenors-Males Are Always
the Musicians.

All Are TenOrs-Males Are Always
the Musicians.
Musical insects of the winged type
may be divided into two groups: %
Those which dc not use their wings
and (2) those which do, for the produc-
tion Of sound. or the two, the latter
species is by far the most numerous.
A very curious fact is that all insects
are tenors, deep bass voices being
quite unknown; In addition to this,
the males are always the performers,
female insects being dumb-contenting
themselves with stopping at home n
looking after the children instead Of
standing at the front door singing like
their lords and masters.
Many insects sing by day, such, for
instance, as the chickadee, which, how
ever. are not Of the 'violinist" type,
as they play upon a series OF hard
plates attached to the abdomen, much
In the same way as a Spanish anc
uses the castanets. Another insect Of
this type Is the black field cricket,
which has its home in a small. cave
like dwelling 1t prepares In the earth.
Other insects only sing by night
such, for instance, as the domestic and
tree crickets, whose regular modulated
notes are known to everyone. The APP
paratus used by these insects exactly
resembles a violin, the abdomen being
partially endowed with small bridge
like edges or ridges. against which the
wings are rubbed, thus producing the
strident note characteristic of the In
sect.
Other insects, such as locusts and
their kin, have veritable bows covered
with fine ridges and attached to the
wings by two buttonlike growths.
Others have cavities covered ver with
a fine membrane which erves the Of
fee OF resonators; In almost all in
sects Of this type there is a parch-
ment-like part OF the abdomen which
acts az a kind Of sounding board.
Strange to say, many OF these har-
monious insects are deprived OF hear
in9. Crickets, however, are an excep-
ton, as they have sharp ears and cease
their vocal efforts at the sound Of APP
preaching footsteps. Some insects, al
though apparently deprived Of any
means for the production Of sound, are
none the less capable Of making a
noise In the world. A notable instance
Of this IL to be found in locust re-
1oicing In the ~euphonious name of
Microcentrum tetinervis, which pro-
duces q short m0aotonous note Ike
two pieces Of metal or Clint rubbed to-
gether.
~ far the hcId of insect voices has
not been widely explored. It would
be interesting to study them from the
paint of View oe musical notation. and
also to determine whethss fhAiE song
Aiteg9 f ~ ~ recording \ Dea5oA
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
The Power of the Press.

inc ROVER OF Inc k-reSS.
The value of newspaper publicity is
both indicated and impugned in the
story below, which comes from Mad
anne:
The man who approached the edi-
tors desk was visibly excited.
Its all through your wretched pa
peri" he s%pluttered.
What's the matter now?" asked the
editor, without looking up from his
leader on the Chinese boycott, for he
was used to excited gentlemen.
why, you stated the day before
yesterday that a thief had entered my
room, broken open my desk and stolen
a sum of money, but that fortuna tely
he had overlooked the gold watch
which usually lies in the lower small
drawer"
"Well," said the editor, weren't the
facts stated correctly
'Correctly?" the excited gentleman
repeated, derisively. Eyes. That's
just the trouble. The man came again
last night and took my watch, and
he'd never have known where it was
If you hadn't told him."
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
UP AT HIRAM'S.

The old folks. the own folks-oh. how I'D like to spy EN-!
Like to 60 this minute and Jest sprise 'em with a call,
Bill asd Mary Ellen, yes. and Martha Jane and Hiram.
Dan and Ed and Sarah and Mehitabel and all.
Like to go to Ehram's like W used to on a Sunday.
Drive up in the carryall and find the others there,
Shake of age and worry, If twas only jest day,
Like to go to Hiams and be young and free from care.
Like to have a dinner taste the way them dinners tasted,
Health In every platter, plumb from turkey down Il pie,
Appetite for everything, and not a gody wasted.
And no mean dyspepsy to be fought viii by-andby.
Like to light my pipe up and be sociable and lazy,
Loaf out through the barnyard with the chickens n n doSs'
Talkin' crops and gossip in the autumn sunshine haZy,
Leanin' on the fencerail looking down at Hrams hogs,
Breeze across the corn field settn' every shock a-twHchin,
Blackbirds' whistle soundn' from the bushes on the HILL
Click of dish and laughter from the doorway of the kitchen,
And the pigeons cooin' IN the old barn window sill.
Leanin' on the fence rail, BLOWN smoke wreaths with efeHers
Guesan' weights and prices of the hogs that grunt below,
& Takin' crops and prospects while the Sunday sunshine melers-
Don't that make a picture of the kind you used to know?
Hear the horses stompin' as they rustic in the stable,
Hear the dog a-barkin' owe yonder by the ridge.
Hear the girls alaughin. a they're clearin' off the table,
And a team arattin' as 1t goes across the bridge.
Leanin' on the fence rail, takin' corna and rye and weather.
Drftn' out of one thing to another, fancy free,
With the old home round you and the home folks all together
Jest a common picture. but it's awful dear to me.
Jest a common picture, but it's got a heart touch in II,
Youth and hope and knship and tho good old homely joys,
And all Time has brought me / would give TO be this minute
Leanin' on the fence rail talkin' gossip with the boys.
Like 10 go to Hirams AZ We used to OH II Sunday,
Drive up in the carryal and find the old folks there,
Shake of age and worry, If twas only jest for n day,
Like to go to Hiram's and be young and free from care.
copies Home Journal.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
TRADEMARK ARTIST TALKS.
Most Successful den IL Signature
and Coined. Word.

Most Successful den Is Signature
and Coined. Word.
Art is a fanciful mistress and has
many wooers. One of the latest Is the
trademark maker. There are a half
dozen prosperous members of this trade
in the city. The best-known is an
Irish-American with more wit than
talent for line or color. He was a
mediocre lawyer before he took to in
venting trademarks for merchants.
His legal knowledge makes his ser
vices doubly valuable, says the New
York Post.
"There are lots of tricks in this
trade" said he, "and one has to keep
his eyes open. Did you know one
couldn't register a trademark unless
he was a merchant or engaged in a
business Of some kind? An insurrec-
ZIONIST or an exile cannot register eth
er, but Indians and married women
can, although some States with an
tique laws won't allow them to own
property in their own names. Women
get us into a lot Of trouble. A COM
plexion maker ordered a mark called
Easter Lily Balm. 1t didn't go, be-
cause it had nothing Of the Easter lily
in it.
Another woman collected insects
eggs and preserved them and ordered
"a mark. American Caviar. That was
void, too Then the feminine mind de-
lights In actresses names for goods,
and IL there is any possibility of the
h%istrions ever going into the business
the marks suggest, the government re-
fuses to register. With historic names
such as Dolly Madison. Martha Wash
ington, ETC., it's all right.
Animals make splendid marks and
give the artist a chance. 1 think the
most successful idea, however, is the
signature and 9, newly coined word. In
the former patent-medicine makers
turn out the most novelties, and In the
latter the cereal-food manufacturers.
Some Of these merchants think nothing
of turning out a new food and q new
mark each month. Sometimes prizes
are offered for newly coined words. and
sometimes the artist supplies the word.
the legal knowledge OF registry and
the sketch Of the mark. In this case
there is bound to be a splendid fnan-
cial return. The latest thing Is the
collector OF trade marks and labels.
He hnunts the studios and makes life
a burden to u.s."
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
The AVfNGING SPIRIT OF PAIL.
~@O~~

sc YOUNG Englishman stood on
IN the deck of a sailing vessel COM
Ing into the harbor Of Honolulu.
He had been living in the wilds Of Aus
tralia for three years, and was max
Ing his flrst return to the land Of his
birth, where a pair Of blue eyes We're
waiting to give him a lovers welcome.
The vessel was several days over
due, and his brow clouded when he
was told that the American ship
which transferred the Australian pas
sengers had sailed the day before.
That meant a month or more in this
out-of-the-way island. The man paced
the deck and said unkind things of
fate.
He passed to the wharf, gave his
bag to Z native boy. and followed him
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
AN UMBRELLA INTERVIEW.
Russell SaRe and "Free-Lance''
NeWspaper Mnn'a ExchanXe.

Russell Sage and "Free-Lance'
Newspaper Mans Exchange.
In an article on writing for a Liv-
ing" in The Worlds Work, ellison Will
lets tells the following anecdote Of a
memorable interview with Russell
Sage:
In that early morning of my writing
life n in the evening Of my day I
interviewed Russell Sage. The editor
who gave me the assignment had said:
persistence and impudence will do
it." l rang the bell at No. 5O6 Fifth
emu Mrs. Sage opened the door
and behind her l saw the gaunt form
of Mr.. Sage. well, well, what is it,"
he asked, rubbing his hands as if they
Were chilly. l told him what I want
ed and he replied: You must excuse
me-" Putting ON his weather-beaten
derby he added: II am going out"
told him that l would go out with
him. He smiled as he buttoned his
faded overcoat and stepped out. 1t
was raining. l asked him to take my
umbrella, for it was larger than his,
and as we turned into Forty-second
street we exchanged umbrellas. He
was going, he said, Just down the
street. to DR.. Paxton's Presbyterian
church to prayer meeting. At the
church door he said: Good evening.
We part here"
But I, too, went into prayer meeting.
When Mr.. Sage bowed his head so did
I. The meeting over, I rejoined him
at the church door. 1 had prayed in
that meeting and now my prayers
were answered. For, as we walked
back through the rain to his house,
Russell Sage answered my questions
for publication" We both forgot
the exchange Of umbrellas and the
skeleton of his umbrella is still in my
attic
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22

&S@x~4s. .-~s EEgB.sA4e.Z $500
MlS0 q - pussel .iunse
Mskls SHOPS wnere aionso-
ana fat natise Women sa.. wn.e
ls aAt-0reea cniidre spiayeu - .ne uvoI-
gWeys pepoiine in me musical 'an-
q9aes oIStne islana.
- passe0 ,ns wy ~ .ns vei luz
800 Qualns niue ao'e'' 'nnalans .ne
.ss,...s -. a.s .,avas ana
ss,r.r,.1. -ars w,thin reach of Ma
49,. ~ r.irn. and c-ocosnrrt. n the
Ss.4.nc~ hc~ea v,th .ha sIipht hreaxc
~s n rtv,np him honorable welcome
rhet nisht there v.s I ban IN the
n.e.I savcr q honor ~ . Rrtti.h man.
evsr iyine II the harbor. A native
SSnd pleyed weird minor airs. beauti-
IN 1870 and handsome men n nnI-
ec.m nn.he danced ana fiirted "a
tSsy mieht AVE done IN any city in
~ ~ WorJd.
~4 1890 $50. ...u.a =. Z.
.....s.- -,en ~ .ost voInn.,,o.snas
49,. t,nrs~ -. Th.n the nersn,r.
- ,..r,srs ac-.r IInre.I vim 4
~ mellow isnrhter, ar,fted
n~Arconi,-ht ~. thar. ~. tha
$3.50. "a mr. srsr+. ths n.sh - !.
80. ae,s ~. .na :. ma,
~ oreen q ~f.iryisnd had come.
~ ~sa.,sy m.r vith s .1ivht O,r,.
- 49, cs,n~snr lirht,v q RI arm
.H
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22

A brake may be made by screwinG
a small stick on one side. as shown in
the picture; place a loop over the iowel
and fasten the ends on this stick. By
pressing on this little stick, articles
may be lowered from a table to a
tioor as fast as desired. a good hook
may be made on the end of the lifting
string by bending a hairpin into the
correct shape.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
john Hays Humor.

It is said that the late John Hay
wss once the subject Of a cane presen-
tation, and stood while the spokesman
Of the donors made a speech that ran
into IN elaborate GRAFTON.
A friend afterward commented to the
diplomatist on the length Of the
speech.
sYes," replied Hay, "he didn't want
me to have the cane till I really need.
Cd IT."
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22

the fragrance Of jasmine trailing be-
hind her.
The two men lighted cigars and talk
ed. Champion told enough Of his az
fairs to win Brickwood's confidence.
The elder man was Devonshire born,
and had settled On the island when 1t
had n few white occupants, and had
married a full-blooded native woman,
the daughter of a chief. He was now
postmaster.
Long after the dancers had departed;
Champion sat IN the veranda, putting
clouds Of smoke into the feathery
moonlight and thinking of a beautiful
girl with bronze skin, gowned in soft
silk and Grape. her only ornament a
crown OF jasmine flowers, the odor of
which still fingered with him.
He had accepted an invitation from
her father to dine at their cottage next
day, and he longed for the morrow
that he might see her again. She
seemed n part Of the music and moon
light Of this new, delightful world.
For the first time for years he retired
that night without looking at the por-
trait In the back OF his watch.
Into a. yine-clad arbor OF roses
Champion passed. to be welcomed by
the vision of the previous: evening.
Again he drank In the scent OF the las
mine flower, again he wandered in
Elysium, entranced by the luster Of
those fawnlike eyes, again he heard
1 Al,n <n ,.x,uctusV knvon ~ &hnk QrAoas,,
velce. He was as one dazed by some
strange spell, having its birth in a
beauty new to him.
But when her mother came into the
room he felt a sudden shock, as though
he had fallen from a height. She was
an enormous woman. dark copper In
color, with irregular features. deep. lu-
minous eyes. a broad, fat nose and
straight black hair. She wore but one
garment, a loose robe Of bright red
| silk.
Could this be the mother of the beau
tiful creature who had SO enraptured
him? There vas no resemblance save
in her voice, which was low and mel
low, like that Of the girl. She sang
native songs, drumming an accom-.
paniment on a small instrument, hall
guitar. half banjo.
One OF these songs, a wild, weird
chant, moved the E~nglishman so that
he asked for an Interpretation Of 1t
She told him 1t was the spirit song Of
the Pail.
Many years ago there were several
tribes ON the island. They were con
stinually at war with each other. Fl
Alally two great chiefs formed all the
people into two armies and went Out
to battle for supremacy.
The struggle was long and bloody
Many thousands were slain. At last
tKamehameha defeated the followers
OF Oahua and drove them up the New.
auna valley to the top Of the crater OF
Pail. On this mountain the last battle
was fought and the Oahua and all his
followers were driven or thrown owe,
the clif.
After the great slaughter q mist
arose and began to fall like tears or
the dead. 1t had never ceased. And
In this mist the spirit Of Pail. the pro
tecting spirit Of the natives. has hey
home. When any one wrongs q de
scendant OF a chieftain's line the spirit
arises out OF the mist and wreaks
speedy vengeance.
While she recounted this legend ths
woman seemed TO be inspired He
Immense body swayed back and fortf
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
Primitive Ideas.

If boys had teeth like ~crocodiles.
How terrible would be their smiles!
How il would shock the human eye
To see them eating apple pie.
If little girls had horns like deer,
They surely would look very queer,
And it would be a sad affair
To see them doing up their hair.
If men had long legs like CRATES,
No doubt it would cause many laughs:
But what would be their dreadful pligh
Trying to lie in bed at night!
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
Novel Home-Made Toys.

Novel HOme-Made Toys.
One Of the easiest things In the
world to make is a toy elevator. They
can be made as high as q table, SO
thai toys may be lifted from the hoor
to a table, or only a few inches hlgh.
One thing only it is necessary to Sc
cure, and that Is q pair OF smooth
sticks on which the elevator may slide.
These sticks may be purchased ut any
hardware store. They are called dow
els, are three feet long, and are of
different t~hicknesses. One-fourth inch
thick is the best size to use.
The elevator may be any small
wooden box whose bottom Is removed.
One may be made Of wood half an
inch thick. The right size to make
such a box would be four inches high
and two inches wide. Screw four
screw eyes into the sides through
which the bowels will slide. Double
pointed tacks may be used If screw
eyes are not available.
After the eyes are screwed in and
the two bowels slid in place, stand it
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-22
sons Finixin FiIosofy.

SOA0 FIWI8I0 ElIODO1ys
Tn mon that tells yez not t worry
has aeytaer got through wid q job
w worryin' or II about z begin utA'
1al9moe1 Aweyican4