davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12
Origin of the Easter Egg.

The custom Of Easter eggs is one OF
ancient origin, being derived from the
Greeks and Romans, who employed
eggs, and undoubtedly colored eggs,
as accessories for their pagan festi'
walls. At any rate magical powers
have always been ascribed to eggs In
times gone by, and Cesarius Won Heis'
terbach, who wrote in the middle ages,
tells many stories Of bewitched eggs
They were said to be able to fly OF
their own accord toward the sun, and a
certain celebrated egg was believed to
have been laid by rabbit, which egg
when Matched produced basilisk.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12
HOMESPUN
HEROES
BY Claude PamareS
Copyright, 1905, by E. c. paroells

One OF the habitues of SINNERS gro
Gerry, at the village of SkInnersville,
was Abe Langford. He became "sit-
ter" when he was twenty years old.
and for twelve years he never missed
but one night. That was the night of
his marriage to the Widow Durham.
She was his senior by ten years. and
she married him mostly that he might
have mother. Every night, rain or
shine, summer or winter, Abe was
there.
During the first year the old veterans
crowded him around somewhat, but
after that one OF the cracker barrels
was marked with his initials and duly
recognized as his throne.
AS for occupation, Abe was most
anything. He did days work here
and there, but the wife mainly support
ed the two Of them by sewing for the
neighbors. Abe was mild hammered
and easy going. and he was not much
OF V6lker.
But Abe Langford's wife knew him
better than his fellow sitters. They
had often remarked among themselves
that he had no ambition. She knew
better Under that quiet and humble
demeanor was hidden away an ambl-
ton that longed to soar and impa-
tiently waited Its opportunity. Almost
every night when Abe reached home he
said:
"Doggone 1t, | don't amount to
shucks and never will. Why hain't
as big man as Deacon Whlte?"
whats the deacon been doln'T'
"a horse thief tried to git into his
barn last night. and the dog woke the
deacon up, and he went out and yelled
at the fellow that II he didn't git out
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12
Superstition of the TurLs

The superstition of the Turks is no.
where so apparent as in their fear of
the "evil eye" Jugs placed around the
edge of the roof or an old shoe filed
with garlic and blue beets (blue glass
balls or rings is a sure guard against
the Illusion. Whenever a pretty child
Is playing upon the street the passers-
by will say, ''Oh. what an ugly childy'
for fear of melting the evil spirit
against its beauty. The peasant classes
in Turkey are of course the most su-
perstitious because they are the most
ignorant. They have no education
whatever and can neither read nor
write.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12

-le observation-disclosures of a certain
eel known Scotch professor is notori.
Gus. Not long ago lie invited few So.
lect friends to dine with him, and upop
their arrival, some short time before
the hour set apart for dinner. the pro-
tessor suggested walk through the
conservatory and grounds until the
gong should sound the dinner bour
After spending short time inspect.
ing flowers, plants, etc, host and
guests came suddenly to a small gate
at the end of the lawn. "Ah," said the
professor to his astonished guests, "as-
suredly this will be much nearer way
home for you than going back to the
front" And, all unconscious of his in
vitation to dinner he opened the gate
and bowed his guests out.-London An
SWers
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12
REPUBLICAN LEAGUE.
Ninth Biennial Convention of South
Dakota State League of Republican
Clubs.

Ninth Biennial Convention of South
Dakota State League of Republican
Clubs.
Pursuant to a resolution adopted
by the executive committee of the
Republican State league, notice IL
hereby given that the ninth biennial
convention of the South Dakota State
League Of Republican clubs will be
held at the auditorium in Sioux Falls
on Monday and Tuesday, June 4 and
s, 1905, for the purpose of electing
officers for the ensuing two years, for
the election of fourteen delegates and
fourteen alternates to attend the next
biennial convention of the National
Republican league to be held at Phil
adelphia. and for the transaction of
such other business as may properly
come before the convention. Each
club Is entitled to one delegate for
each fifty members or fraction
thereof.
on Monday evening, June 4, a
grand rally of republic clubs will be
held at the auditorium under tina
auspices of the state league. Hon.
Leslie M. Shaw, secretary of the
treasury, and prominent orators OF
this state will address the meeting,
and one of the most interesting and
largely attended conventions in the
history of the state league is expect
ed.
The business session of the league
will be held on Tuesday morning,
June 9Th, 1906, commencing at
o'clock, at which time officers for thu
ensuing two years, and delegates t.
the biennial convention of the ma
tional republican league will be
elected. This convention of the ma
tional league which will be held at
Philadelphia on June 18th, 18th, and
9th, 1906, will mark the fiftieth an
niversary of the holding of the first
national convention of the republican
party and hundreds of those who par
ticipated in that tremendous move
mdnt destined to reyolutionfze the
politics of the country and who voted
for the candidates then selected are
prepared to join in this Golden Ju-
bilee Celebration"
BY order of the executive commit
tee,
Sioux Falls, S. D.. March 81, 1909
w. G. Porter, Pres.
VIM. FL. Stanley, Sec
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12
inst . LIE.

II once" said the colonel solemnly
Il once. and only once, had all thirteen
trumps dealt me-"
Ell suppose you were the dealer, =
suggested candid friend.
mo, sir!' roared the colonel. enc
sirl was not the dealerrs
Then may j ask what happened to
the trump which the dealer turned
upT"
And terrible silence ensued.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12
Easter Monday In Bulgaria.

In Bulgaria young men and women
meet on Easter Monday, congregatinG
in the churchyard attired in holiday
dress, and indulge in social games. II
during these games a girl allows her
handkerchief to be taken away by a
young man this Is a sign of proposal
and acceptance. The next day her par.
ents send a jug of wine to him as
token of their approval.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12

Gas dead as a doornail" at first
seems utterly senseless, but becomes
lively and picturesque when we re-
member that knockers were once uni
versally used. Beneath the knocker, in
order to prevent disfiguring the door, a
large nail or bolt was driven. An i'm
patient caller, waiting for the door to
be opened. would frequently use the
knocker with great force, and the If
responsiveness Of the nail gave rise to
this expression.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12

Hasty or unwise selection of hymns
has caused more than one minister Sc
rious modification. A minister in an
eastern city had charge of the Easter
programme in the Sunday school of his
church. Each child present was to re-
ceive an Easter egg, and when it came
time for this part of the programme
the minister rose and said:
1--WE will now sing Awake, My Soul,
to Cheerful Lays after which the
Easter eggs will be distributed. Lip
pincott's.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12

Visitor ito convict)I suppose you
find your life here very tiresome. my
friend, do you not? Convict Oh, no.
sir. have been a burglar for good
many years and have worked hard aud
conscientiously at the business, and as
I'm only In for three years / feel that
the rest is doing me good.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12

WANTED: Ten men in eich state to
travel, post signs, advertise and leave
samples of our goods. Salary $500
per month. $500 per day for expenses.
ROYAL SUPPLY Co., Dept. W.,
Atlas Block, Chicago.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12
An Eerntinn Easter egg.

A very rare specimen of egg decori
ton, as 1t was practiced In Egypt,
shown In the Detroit Museum of Al
The etchings on the shell follow Il
same general design as do the pain
ings of men and animals recent.
found In Cairo.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12

WANTED: District Managers to p..
signs. advertise and distribute samples.
Salary $500 weekly, 50 GO per day for
expenses. State age and present EN-
ployment. IDEAL SHEAR Co, 80 Ran
dolph ST.; Chicago.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12
The PLAY In Paria

BY fortnight all Paris Is supposed
to have seen a new play. 1t is not con-
sldered smart to be seen at a play aft
er 1t has been running for more than
that time-LOndon Bystander.
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12

70 the Republican Electors of the
state OF South Dakota
The republican state coYnnaIstee OF
South Dakota In compliance with stat
utory requirements has called a dele
gate convention 10 the republicans OF
the state OF South Dakota, to meet In
the city OF Sioux Falls. on Tuesday,
the NTH day OF June. 1905. at twelve
O'Clock. noon, for the purpose of
nominating United States senator,
and also for the purpose OF ncminat.
ing candidates for congressional, and
state offices to be filled at the election
10 be held In November following, and
for the transaction OF such other
business as may be properly consld.
cred. The nominations to be made
are as follows:
A candidate for United States SEN
ator.
Two candidates for congress.
candidate for governor
A candidate for lieutenant Cover.
nor.
A candidate for secretary OF state.
A candidate for state treasurer.
A candidate for state auditor
A candidate for superintendent of
public instruction.
A candidate for commissioner of
school and public lands.
A candidate for attorney general.
A candidate for railroad commits
sioner
The ratio as fixed by law will be as
follows: One delegate for each fifty
votes or major fraction thereof, cast
for Hon. Samuel III. Elrod, republican
candidate for governor at the election
or 1904. The representation to which
the several counties will be entitled
under this call is as follows:
Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1906-04-12

He-Don't you think that some of her
sayings are smart? She-They aren't,
but they do.-Brooklyn Life.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-04-26

took three and one-half acres OF the
very highest, driest and poorest section
Of my field. 100 feet above the water
line, and intensely cultivated II to the
depth Of six inches or more. Then
sowed twenty-five pounds OF alfalfa
seed to the acre on the Sd Of June and
300 pounds Of high grade fertilizer to
each acre. On July "a, fifty-two days
after seeding, cut and cured 10,760
pounds Of dry hay, and on Sept. Is
cut and cured 10,85O pounds more Of
dry hay, or 21.610 pounds. almost elev-
en- tons, In 103 days from time Of seed
lng-it Is safe to say three tons to the
acre Of dry alfalfa hay. I would not
advise others to go into the cultivation
of alfalfa very extensively at first. yet
I think that there are many high and
dry fields In New England that could
be utilized In the production Of alfalfa
George NJ. Clark In Farm and Ranch.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-04-26
POPULAR GARDENING

Sowing seeds too deeply Is one OF the
most common mistakes Of beginners
and Is a sufficient reason why SO much
Of 1t falls to come up. All small seeds,
such as carrot. cabbage, lettuce, celery,
etc., should be left within an inch OF
the surface; larger seeds. such as
peas. beans, corn and beets, within two
to three inches.
Thinning the fruit. plentiful feeding
and watering, careful prevention Of In
jury to the foliage-these are some Of
the steps In growing large tomatoes.
BY planting earlier and later varie-
ties and the latter repeatedly In sue
cession supply Of corn may be OBJ
tanned until frost and fine lot of fod-
der for the COW.
Have you an asparagus bed2 No
vegetable is grown with greater ease
and certainty and none Is better relish
ed. Set fifty or 100 plants now. They
will give full supply for years to
come.
Do not plant squash till the ground
has become thoroughly warm and ON
rich, well MANFRED soil only.
II beets were started under glass set
them In the open ground now as soon
a. large enough to transplant.
Nitrate Of soda IL good for both cab
bage and caulifower.
Spring II the best time to get out
bed Of strawberries. and just a. soon
% the ground u At. and good planfa
can be had
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-04-26

lovelorn bachelor had started for the
Office Of the village lawyer to have the
deed made out when he met the Wild
ow Thomas. She noticed his excite
ment and asked the cause. and when
he had told her she said:
Look here, Jed. don't you take too
much stock in the orphan business"
How do you mean?'
you're an orphan yourself, and you
don't want to let any other orphan get
the better Of you. Can you get horse
and buggy anywhere for an hour?"
"Of course"
"Then let's drive out to your land
and see what kind of place it would
make for the poor orphans"
On the way out Jed required to the
old subject saying that he was on his
way to drown himself when he met
the stranger.
Come, now" interrupted the widow,
''this is straight business and you keep
quiet"
When the meadow, which lay along
the highway, was reached the widow
insisted on walking across it from
level as floor. but near the center was
a sort of sink hlA In rainy weather
considerable water stood there, but the
earth was now dry.
"Um.' said the widow as she halted
and shifted. ~.
"Do you mean that smell?'
"Yes. Ever notice II befOrer
"Once or twice. Smells as II some.
body had been breaking rotten eggs
around here"
"Get a pole and thrust 1t into the
ground as far as you can"
"Here's one right here, and some
body's been poking. What do you
make of 1t, Martial"
"Jed, you've asked me to marry you,"
she said In reply.
81 have. but you don't seem to care
whether you drive me to a suicides
grave or not"
II don't know but I'd be willing to
take chances"
"As howT
eff you'll deed me this land today
I'll promise to marry you within a
month. I shan't answer any questions.
It's yes or no right or"
'Then It's yes. by thunderr' exclaim.
ed Jed as he reached the roadside
fence.
The deed was made out before sun
nd q 70 hn fv
to be recorded. Next day the man
who was looking for an asylum site
called upon the Widow Thomas. He
had scarcely mentioned the poor or
phans when she laughed and said:
Don't let your philanthropy cause
you to lose a good thing. The ground
up there is full Of natural gas, and
you know It. It's only twenty miles
to pipe 1t to Chicago. II it's under the
meadow, then it's under hundreds Of
acres around here. Go ahead and
make any test you will AID then come
back with your Offer"
A week later he was willing to hand
over $4,000 in cash, and when Jed
Wheeler had seen the money counted
out and the deed passed he exclaimed:
"By thunder, Martha, but that was
the only piece of land had, and when
a piano Teller comes along and wants
to trade me goose farm for the rails
ing Of speckled geese, what am go
ing to say to him?"
"Refer him to your WIFE," she an
swered as she kissed him for the first
time
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-04-26
N z w S NOTE S

General excellence In farming Is to
have a chance to bring prize In clear
cash In Minnesota. j. ]. Hill, of the
Great Northern railway, is Offering
three prizes-$30O, $3.50 and S75-in
each congressional district Of the state
The judges will take into considera-
ton the system Of rotation on each
farm, character of cultivation, cleanli-
ness Of farm, crop yield, number and
quality Of live stock kept In proportion
to area.
The head farmer" Is a new railroad
official. One Of the western roads
sends practical farmer from place to
place on Its lines In a special car,
delivering lectures and giving advice
to new settlers on the crops and meth
DDS best suited to their lands, thus
saving them many costly and dlsheart-
ening mistakes.
One of the lessons that latter day
scientists In the plant breeding line
have learned Is. according to recent
writer. that plants to be a commercial
success must be bred on the ground
where they are to be produced-that Is
to say. with conditions of soil and eli
mate approximately the same as they
will find In the field where they are ex-
pected to flourish.
'Etherized" rhubarb at the Cornell
experiment station. Ithaca. N. Y, was
ready to cut ave days before the un-
treated rhubarb and yielded a much
larger proportion OF edible stocks.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-04-26
EARLY LAM BS.
Crowded Right Along to Desirable
Market Weight.

Market Weight.
1t Is an excellent plan 10 have some
small pens In or near the sheep shed.
As fast as the lambs come they can
be removed with the mother TO these
pens, where they can be cared for
much better than II compelled to re-
main with the flock An old fashioned
teapot with round spout, on which
one can put rubber nipple, Is con-
venient to carry milk from cows that
have recently freshened and feed the
more rhan they are getting from the
mother.
Lamb Creep.
Fix little creep that the lambs can
go through. AS fast as they are large
enough TO take out of the pens and put
with the flock with their mothers they
can be allowed to go into an adjoining
pen or room where they can be fed
some grain. Bran and fine mlddlings
that has been sweetened little with
graduated sugar are excellent
As soon as they begin to eat leave
Vul Tic SuSdl anu uuu OulS W tue OiutI
feeds. Feed only as much as they will
eat each half day and clean the trough
each time before putting In new sup
ply. Lambs are very fastidious and
will not eat IL there is the least bit of
dirt In or near the feed Put some
clover hay where they can pick 1t over.
Change that which has been picked
over for fresh supply often.
Continuous Feeding.
Continue to feed both lambs and
ewes grain as long as they are retained
In the sheds. IL a regular and reason
able supply Of roots can be given the
ewes II will help them to give larger
amount Of milk and consequently push
the lambs along faster After the sheep
are turned out to grass and are brought
In at night 1t Is a good plan to keep
up the grain feeding. leaving out the
mlddllngs. II necessary. and feed the
bran and oats.
II II Is desirable to market the lambs
early they can be crowded right along
until they have attained the weights
that the market requires. To one who
has not followed this practice the re-
suits would be surprising, concludes a
writer I'm Orange Judd Farmer.
know instances where lambs have gain
ed a pound per day after the first
month to the time Of marketing.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-04-26


"A feather In his cap" signifying
honor and distinction, arose from a
custom which was common among the
Syrians and perpetuated to this day
among the various semicivilized people
Of adding a new feather to the head
gear for every enemy slain. In the
days Of chivalry the embryo knight re-
ceived his cocque In q feathsrless con-
dition, and then won his plumes as he
had won bis spurs. In q manuscript
written by Richard Hansard In 1888
and carefully preserved In the British
museum IL mentioned an ancient Hun
garian custom, that Of allowing no
man to wear feather In his cap who
had not killed Turk. The Hungar-
ians had a law. which was In vogue
~ late a. 1872, which allowed warriors
to add feather to their headdress col
lection "every time the claimant could
prove that he had succored q starving
Hungarian or had killed an ablebodied
Turk or other Moslem." These old GUS
toms are now obsolete. but It Ii inter-
ssting 10 know that there were once
such laws upon the statute books Of
nations thought to be civilized.
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-04-26

Here Is a story Of Scotch sailormen
told by the Dundee Advertiser: THE
ships crew had been made up in a
hurry, and when they had passed the
bar and were beginning to feel a trifie
hungry II was discovered that they
had no cook. So the old man asked
Geordie to try his hand at the job, and
Geordie scratched his head and rubbed
his chin and said he would do his best.
Next morning he consulted Jack about
breakfast Oh said Jack, rice will
dor VIII 1t, dye Think said Geordie.
Moo, about how much shall l cookT
Lets see,' replied Jack. There's four
teen of us with the old man. / should
say bucketful would be plenty 4
doot but 1t WILL said Geordie and went
Off to the galley. He got bucketful Of
rice and put 1t In large pot, and
when It began to boil 1t likewise began
to swell. SO he baled out portion in
to another pot, and that also did like
wise. Then he baled out of both pots
into other pots until all his pots were
full Still It swelled, and Geordie be-
came alarmed. So he put on all the
lids and dashed them tightly down.
Then he went forth and locked the
door and stood against the bulwarks
watching 1t. Soon the skipper came
along and made inquiries regarding
breakfast. Whist. manr replied Geor-
die softly. I'm cooking rice, and
don't know the mint 1t will burst the
door,"
Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-04-26
Keep Pessins Away with Piggy.

The Kansas hog Is emblematic OF
American push, energy and pluck. You
cannot down him. He Ii the Kansas
corn belt hog and is here to stay. Let
us put aside all prejudice, put aside all
complaints, put our shoulders to the
wheel and push this great money max
ing PolandChina machine to the front.
The hog, our star, goes up and some
times down, but never sets. The fact
that his prosperity goes down Is the
best evidence 1t will rise again, that it
will some day soar above the zenith,
and the man that keeps pegging away
with piggy will surely live to prosper.
Howard Reed, Kansas.