davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

The following Is an extract from
letter actually received by house do
ing business with foreign countries. The
letter came from Kumbhakonam, South
India:
las natives of India are always wor-
shippers of all gods and idols, If you
can favor me with a list of idols, their
prices and some sample idols, will be
able to send you large wholesale
order for these gods, which will take
UP exceedingly well among natives all
over India; and II you can get me the
sole agency from that factory for in
Producing their idols throughout India,
am sure to make their business a
thorough success here in the event of
their undertaking to give the sole
agency throughout India, Burma and
Ceylon, and also a fixed travelling allow.
ance, say $50 a month, including Batta
to one of my clerks to begin with, who
will go throughout India and secure
orders from natives, rich and poor, mer-
chants and mobiles, etc.
IF you can kindly see your way to
get me the sole agency on the above
lines. l can make 1t great success
financially for both of US, you under
f. :
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
Mrs. Partington in Court.

II took my knitting-work and went
up into the gallery" said Mrs. Part
ington, the day after visiting one of
the city courts; Il went up into the
gallery, and after l had adjusted my
specs, 1 looked down into tho room,
but couldn't see any counting going
on. An old gentleman seemed to be
asking good many impertinent
questions-just like some old folks
and people were sitting around max
ing minutes of the conversation. l
don't see how they made out what
was said, for they all told different
stories. How much easier it would
be to get along If they were all made
to tell the same story! The case, as
they call it, was given to the jury, but
I couldn't see it, and gentleman
with long pole was made to swear
that he'd keep an eye on 'em, and see
that they didn't run away with 1t.
Bimeby in they came again, and they
said somebody was guilty of some
thing, who had just said he was inno-
cent, and didn't know nothing about 1t
no more than the little baby that had
never subsistence. | came away soon
afterward; but l couldn't help think
ing how trying it must be to sit there
all day, shut out from the blessed
airi"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
Roses Fed on Meat.

81 have yet to see rose equal to
those grown in Rome" said the anna
teur horticulturist. They bloom in
the greatest abundance all through
the winter and they are as large and
rich and velvety as American Beau
ties, living out of doors, climbing
like ivy or honeysuckle over the
crumbling marble walls of ruined
temples, cleaning in crimson
and green masses upon ancient col.
umns, giving to the grimmest and
'saddest of medieval palazzos an air
of gayety and youth.
Zone day on the Via Sistina, as l
passed the garden that had once been
the garden of Luculius, 1 saw an old
man tending the superb roots that
grow there. He was pouring on their
roots dark, rich-looking fluid.
Why are the Roman roses SO
beautiful and abundant said to the
old man.
Because they eat meat he ans.
wered.
Eat meat? Nonsense said I.
Well, they drink meat-meat ex'
tract, which is the same thing said
the old man. We Roman gardeners
have for centuries watered our roses
thrice week with strong decoc
ton of fresh beef-a rich grade Of
beef tea They are meat eaters
That is why the roses of Rome are
as hardy and prolific as weeds ant
at the same time as richly, delicately
beautiful and as sweetly perfumet
as flowers grown under glass y
Chicago Chronicle
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
Tho Earth's Motion.

We have no direct sensation of the
earth's motion because of its abso-
Lutte smoothness and freedom from all
jar or vibration, and. as everything
land sea and airs carried along at
the same rate as ourselves, there is
nothing to afford us any evidence that
we are moving at all until We make
reference to something altogether de-
tached from the earth-as sun, moon
or stars and even then, until rea-
soning and mathematical calculation
are brought to bear, it is these bodies
and not ourselves which seem to
move.
Gliding in a boat down a smooth
river it is often impossible to per-
ceive that we are moving except by
reference to objects on the banks,
and even then it is difficult to re-
sist the Impression that they are In
motion while we are at rest.
The mere detail of speed does not
affect the question, and, although the
earth is rushing through space at the
rate of eighteen miles a second, the
motion, infinitely smoother than that
of boat on placid water, is abso-
lutely imperceptible.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

The old plan of opening Indian reser
yations was to line all the homeseekers
at the edge of the coveted ground and
to let them race for the prizes. The
results of these PUSHES have beer some
thing terrible to contemplate. There
are suits still pending MS the result Of
disputes growing out of the first Okla
homa opening, in 1893. Men who had
killed fast horses in getting to valu-
able claims found their rights disputed
by "sooners,' who had crept on the res
ervation, despite all the efforts of SOL
diers to keep them off. Gun plays were
made, and the struggle for lands was
nothing short of bestial, bringing out
all that was worst in the natures of the
men engaged. The weak had no chance
against the strong, and the many evils
of the system were so apparent that
the government officials made up their
minds never to have another rush for
public lands.
Richards the Inventor.
W. A. Richards, commissioner of tbe
general land office, and former governor
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

With tile public drawing for Sho-
ihone Indian reservation lands at Ian
der, Wyo., came the sixth test of the
governments lottery system.
At the opening of the Grow reserva-
ton in Montana recently the system
worked to perfection. Sixteen thou
sand persons We're registered In two
weeks, and in the presence of large
crowd, these names were drawn from
box Mt the rate of about 1000 per
day, and the nalnes of the prize win
ners announced. III fact, since the first
trial of tho so-called lottery system at
the secow. Oklahoma opening, there
has not taen single valid objection
raised against this method of throw
Ing Indian lands open to white settle
ment, and the plan of distribution will
doubtless continue in effect until there
are no. more of Los acres to distribute.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

Hannah and Hilda, two Scandinavian
sisters, worked for Mrs. Walker. Mel
Their, by herself, was complete cook,
but the sum total Of the combination
resulted In about one highly satlsfac-
tory maid Of all work.
Hannah had lived in America for
two years. but Hilda was new, green,
and exceedingly slow. Yet whatever
Hilda finally managed to accomplish
was done with such beautiful thorough
ness that Mrs. Walker was convinced
that the girl was well worth the pa
tlence 1t took to train her. Hannah,
however, was less forbearing, and
sometimes found 1t necessary to apollo
glze for Hilda's blunders.
On one occasion Hilda had boiled the
eggs too hard. ~
1T is because she vor always too
Slow" explained conscientious Hannah,
converting the eggs into salad. "she
how always take Heelda ten minutes to
boil hers eggs tree minutes"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

of Wyoming, evolved the system which
is now in vogue. He conceived the idea
of putting the names of all applicants
in blank, sealed envelopes, and throw
ing all these envelopes in great box,
from which they were to be drawn, one
by one. In order to insure perfect mix
Ing of the names, the box was to be
turned at intervals, and, after each rev.
olution, three envelopes would be drawn
forth by as many children, chosen for
the purpose.
When Commissioner Richards made
public this plan there were warm OBJ
jections on the ground that it was lot
terry, in direct defiance of the govern
ment's own laws. The matter was
brought before President Mckinley,
and he was told of the objection to the
new plan.
"If that is the only objection. will
sign the bill at once said President
Mcinley, "as 1 am convinced there is
no element of gambling in it,
In as much MS the person who regis
tiers incurs no expense aside from %
cents notary fee, lie cannot be said to
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
years and practically the entire north
front of the AbbeY. which faces Parlla-

years and practically the entire north
front Of the Abbey which faces Parlia-
ment square, and Is therefore nearest
the highway traversedi by the motor
buses passing between Charing Cross,
Victoria and Plmlico, is to be refaced.
The surface stones will be largely re-
placed by new ones.
This extensive restoration is necessi-
tated in a great measure by natural
decay, with which in recent years the
dean and chapter, for lack of funds,
have not been able to cope. In the
opinion of more than one expert, how
ever, the vibration caused by motor
vehicles is accelerating the work of
nature and the detrimental effects of
the London atmosphere.
Quite recently n large piece of stone
on the north front broke off and fell,
and scaffolding is now being erected
along that side preparatory to begin
ming the needed work of repair.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
MAN HIS OWN SURVEYOR.
simple Method of Determining Lev
els on the Farm.

Simple Method of Determining Lev.
els ON the Farm.
A very simple way of roughly deter
mining levels, and one which can read
lily be practiced by any one, and which
has the advantage Of not requiring any
special apparatus, is by means of
spirit level and board with straight
edge, says Farming. The way to go
about it is this: First determine on
two points the levels of which you wish
to determine, and drive stakes Into the
ground. Then take board with
straight edge and tack it to tree, IL
one happens to be available in line
with these two stakes; otherwise drive
a third stake into the ground. Put the
board at such height that you can
readily sight over it, and carefully
level this board by means of the spirit
level. Then sight over it toward one
of the stakes, having some one at that
stake who will by means of small
piece of paper locate the point at which
your line of vision cuts it-in other
words, where line projected from
your sighting board would strike the
stake. Make some sort q mark at
this point, and then sight to the other
stake in the same way, and mark the
point where the line would strike 1t.
By measuring distances that these
two points are above the ground you
can get the difference In levels with
reasonable accuracy. For instance, IL
your line of vision hus cut one stake
eight feet from the ground. and the
other one five feet from the ground.
then obviously the difference in level
is three feet, or, in other words, the
vicinity Of the stake on which the
mark is five feet from the ground Is
three feet higher than the other stake,
and you will have three-foot fall
from draining from this point to the
~
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
Sorry He Spoke.

He--I read to-day in newspaper
that the best emergency ration" for
lifeboat men who have been out for
many hours in the cold without food Is
chocolate. ,,s
She-Well, as we are going out in a
boat, Fred, we might meet some of
these poor men. Don't you think you'd
better go back and get four or five
pounds of chocolate ms?-Yonkers
Statesman.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

minds in the country were seeking
some way in which the game could bs
beaten. One clover chap conceived the
Idea of registering several times under
the same name But this plan was
frustrated when Commissioner Rich.
ards devised card index for filing all
the names after registration. Thus the
names that were similar had to come
together, and the scheme of the willy
one was exposed. If man registered
under false names he courted long
term In prison, for proof of his right
name had to be made at the time of fl
ing on his homestead. The very sim
plicity of the plan makes detection
easy.
AS to the absolute fairness of the
scheme, many tests have been made.
For Instance, at the opening of the Uin-
tab reservation In Utah, there were 49,
QUO soldiers registered by proxy. Mr..
Richards kept careful check of the SOL
dters who drew lands. There was an
exact proportion of soldiers drawings
something like one successful appli--
cant out of every six registered. The
names of the soldiers were mixed with
the others, so that the exact ratio of
their drawings proved that the chances
OF success run in proportion to the to.
tai 4lmber OF claims and the total num-
Der of registrations. When the regis
tration Is high, the chances of success
are small. The Grow reservation open
ing offered the greatest chance, as there
We're only 10000 registrations against
$500 claims for distribution. So each
mans chances of drawing something
three. AT the Uintah opening last year
there We're over 10000 registrations
against 6,500 claims, so the chances of
success We're much smaller.
Encouraging the Homesceker.
1t is the aim of the government off
Gals to keep the registration rs low MS
possible. This is with the idea Of en-
couraglng the bona fide homeseeker and
excluding the born gambler, who mere
ly wants to take Il chance" in the
thope of drawing the magic first number
out of the big box The first number
is the prize desired by every one of the
thousands who register In these land
drawings. At the Grow opening there
was standing offer of $4,000 for the
first number. In the eager crowd that
gathered about the drawing booth on
the opening day there were men of all
walks of life who had taken chances
in the hope of securing No. 1. But the
first name drawn from the box by the
proud youth who had been selected to
act as emissary for the goddess of
chance was that of Owen B. Williams.
of Custer. Mont.-a "squaw man." Tru-
ly. opportunity never knocked more I'm.
expcctedly than on the door of the
"squaw mans" shack on the Big Horn.
But that is merely a sample of the
strange freaks Of fortune in these land
drawings. 1t is this element of chance
that makes these government lotteries
such fascination to so many people
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
THE oI1EST

The GUEST.
We followed the Rainbow Road
When the storm had grumbled by
The rainbow stood by the big east
wood
With its top against the sky.
Dot and the dog and |,
The dog with the curly tall
And a spade to dig for our treasure
big,
A spade and new tin pail,
(She was the company, in command,
And the dog went along to guard the
band).
The colors came down to the ground,
Somebody told us So
And somebody told how a pot OF gold
Was hid at the end of the bow.
We hurried along, arrow,
Ready to seek and find;
led the lot and next came Dot.
With the curly tailed dog behind.
(She was a girl, and so, in case
OF danger, | gave her the safest place.)
o, we were almost there,
And we would have been rich, no
doubt,
But the wind came by with a dread
full cry,
And the Beautiful Bow went out.
When we turned to look about
The great black dark had come
We ran SO fast that Dot was lost,
And the dog was the first one home.
(And the rainbows come and the rain
bows go,
But Dot and the dog and I've
know!)
Nancy Byrd Turner in st. Nicholas.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
4 Window Cleaner.

A Window Cleaner.
All day they have toiled up the sun
burned slope,
Homeward bound with their heap.
ed sheaves;
Brawny the arms in their blue
checked sleeves.
Buoyant each heart with youth and
hope.
While watch through tree with
yellowing leaves.
From the window behind the hello
trope.
Do they guess for moment the
splendid dover
They bear up the hill, those har-
vest hands?
With their ringing song DER the
harvest lands
Day at the food, and life at the flow
err?
The wheat that cannot be bound
in bands,
unlimited gold in a Midas shower?
Not they! But that other whose
couch is spread
BY the window o'erlooking the wag-
on track;
Who cries bit at the sweetmeat
lack,
With the daily portion of bitter bread.
While this the taunt of each creak-
ling rack
Who go not afield must stay unfed!"
But now that the last Of the loaded
s. wains
Has rolled out of sight. my tired
eyes close;
And river of dusk thro' the still
room flows.
Till the travail passes, and peace re-
mains.
I look-and the sky is a dew-damp
rose,
And the panes of my window cathe-
dral panes!
Look down the steep where the hol-
Has lows lie,
Full to the brim Of the red-gold,
light;
And q picture unrolls on the fall
ing night,
Limned by the artist, Imagery!
o purblind reapers gone over the
height!
Ye have passed much goodiy sub
stance by!
60 must CLEAN from my window
seat,
Nor go afield with the hale and
strong;
When the daylight fails and the
shadows throng.
Behold! my gamers are full of wheat!
A marvellous canvas, sheaf of
song.
Aud vision above and beyond them.
4. sweet!
Emma Herrick Weed. in Youths
Companion.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
ANIMALS, QUEER WAYS.

Birds, as we'll as four-footed ami
mails and insects, often avail them
selves of the labors of others in home
making. have photograph of a
barred owl nest in a remodeled hawk
nest. Skanks use woodchuck bur-
rows, white-hooted mice and flying
squirrels are fond of building holes
in decaying trees made by woodpeck-
ers, and bumblebees take possession
of mice nests in the ground.-From
Nature and Science in st. Nicholas.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

pile, which has successfully withstood
the ravages of time and centuries.
A thorough examination of the struc
ture has just been made by the eccle-
slastlcal authorities and extensive re-
pairs have been found necessary.
As matter of fact, constant repairs
are being made In some part Of the
fabric, but 1t is evident that much
more extensive renovation is lmpera-
tive. 1t has been decided to spend
100000 during the next three or four
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
HISTORIC PILE ENDANGERED.


DumhHe 10 Westmihtster.
Wonderful old Westminster Abbey,
the historic burying place Of England's
rulers and famous men, is said to be
In grave danger in consequence Of the
constant vibration aud shaking caused
by heavy motor omnibuses. The dean
and chapter are said to be very I'M
easy regarding the effect Of this new
form of rapid transit on the venerable
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

taking to supply me with Idols and 1
undertaking to sell them as fast as
possible. There is no competition for
this line OF business here, and hence 1
wish to be the first in the field and ma
tives are such bigoted people who will
sell their souls, If possible, to worship
an Idol of their own."-Kansas City
Journal.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
THINGS EVERY GIRL SHOULD
LEARN.

Someone has suggested twelve
things that every girl can learn be-
fore she is fifteen. Not every girl can
learn to play or sing or paint well
enough to give pleasure to her friends,
but the following accomplishments"
are within eyerybodys reach: Shut
the door and shut softly. Keep your
room in tasteful order Have an hour
for rising, and rise. Learn to make
bread as we'll as cake. Never let a
button stay off twenty-four hours. Al
ways know where your things are.
Never let day pass without doing
something to make someone comfort
able. Never come to breakfast untid-
lily dressed.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

Young man." said the friendly adj
wiser, whatever you do, avoid debt"
II guess that's what I'll have to do"
was the answer. unless my credit gets
better Washington Star.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
A short story.

Wraggsby-Once there was an Or
angeman at Hibernian picnic.
Naggsby-Well, go on with the story.
Waggsby-That is all there is of 1t.
Naggsby-It's mighty short.
Waggsby-But just as long as the
orangeman's stay at the picnic, judge
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

mother often substitutes doll for
the last little one. She fills the
empty cradle with feathers, arranged
in the form of the child, and carries
this around with her wherever she
goes, talking to 1t and caressing 1t as
she would her loving child.
The reason the Indian mother car
is because she thinks that the little
dead child is too small to find its way
to Paradise. BY substituting the doll,
1t will help along until the dead baby
has grown large enough to make its
way to the Spirit-land alone, at least
this is what the sad Indian mother
believes. Christian parents know that
when their little ones die they go to
be with the Lord forever.
The children of the Passamaquoddy
tribe of Indians play with a doll moi
more than a couple of inches high
In fact, it is smaller than the word
which means doll. for this word is
"Ampskldahekanek One had almost
rather go without make-believe babies
than to be obliged to call them by
such an outlandish name, don't you
think so? Just fancy wee papoose
crying, Il want a Ampskudahekanek!"
The Sioux doll is made of chamois
and deer-skin. The curious thing
about it is that it is perfectly fiat.
To judge from this, one might think
that the Sioux babies were systemati.
cally starved. This is not the case,
for they are as round and fat and
jolly as any children you ever saw
PRESBYTERIAN.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

1t is calculated that England loses
over 1900 acres yearly through the
sea encroaching upon the coast
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
ABOUT INDIAN DOLLS.

Students of the Indian race tell us
that when an Indian girl dies, her
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

Upton Sinclair is trying to solve The
servant problem. He is up against a
much tougher proposition than the
meat trust, declares the Washington
Star
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
BIRD CITIES.

All along the coast of the Atlantic
Ocean are little cities inhabited by
birds alone. GARDENERS Island at the
extremity of Long Island, is the place
where the fish hawks come during
their breeding time and owing to the
friendly attitudes of the family On
the island the ospreys have become
very tame, and build their nests upon
the ground instead of in the high
trees.
In the Indian river, Florida, is a
small island called Pelican Island
1t received its name through being
one of the favorite settlements for the
pelicans during their nesting season,
Away up in the mouth of the st.
Lawrence river is the famous Bird
rock, "the greatest bird tenement
house in the world as one naturalist
expresses it. This rock rises abrupt.
ly from the water, and in its formid-
able clefts thousands of northern sea
birds dwell--the snowy feathered gan
nets. On the crest of this rock rises
a light house, whose keeper is on the
hest of terms with his countless
feathered neighbors.
These bird cities, or settlements,
are under the protection of the Ameri-
can Ornithological union.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05

The Russian imperial crown is
valued at se,QoQ.aQQ,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-09-05
First Test in Oklahoma.

The first test of the lottery system
was the second Oklahoma opening,
when the Kiowa and Comanche reser-
vations were given over to white settle
ment The plan worked practically
without hitch, though all the bright