davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26

fered, from our cousins across the
sea.
Five or six hundred years ago, the
boys In the, old town of Grimsby.
Lincolnshire, Eng, looked forward 10
Plow-MondHy as eagerly as those Of
today anticipate Christmas. This
feast was never overlooked. 1t meant
wild excitement. a procession, a the
atrical entertainment, usually out OF
doors on the broad docks, a church
service with sermon, and q grand
barbecue and feast extending far into
the night 1t was known as Plough
Monday" or the giving of thanks for
the harvest of crops. 1t came at the
close of the Christmas holidays, was
officially recognized, the Mayor of the
town leading, the procession. and his
brethren" following proudly. The
day opened early and active. Crowds
fiocked into town. Shop-lieepers opened
wide and dispensed generous hospl-
tality, Good cheer, good food, good
ale, shone In all faces. The plough
common farm implement-was
decked with brilliant fabrics. The
young people lined up along gaily
colored ropes attached to the clevis.
His Honor, the Mayor, at the handles
like steamboat pilot, for 1t was often
n chase like the wind, up street and
down, pell nell. His official subor-
dinates followed; then the people of
=
mers from the neighboring country.
Like the Circus Parade.
They dragged the plough and the
Mayor and all the old folks through
the streets, singing, shouting. and bog
gIng from door to door for clothes,
food. or whatever else was to be
given away. Aims and presents were
given for distribution among the poor.
The company was led by n fool, or
clown, n witch, several dancers. fid-
der, or several, called minstrels, and
strong man with cart to carry the
presents gathered on the way. When
the procession had covered every
street the plough was dragged into the
church and placed before an altar.
All hands then withdrew TO a broad,
open space, near the docks, when a
play was held on an improvised stage.
This play was called Creation" and
the company of performers consisted
OF priests, clerks, and others, who
took the parts of God the Father, God
the Son, the first woman, the first
man, the, serpent, the devil. Noah.
Adam, and other historical and scrip.
tural characters. This play was re-
garded as most sacred, and the great
crowds witnessing it were duly i'm
pressed by its solemnity.
The details of the play are not given
but the idea of Gods blessing in the
shape of light, air, sun. water, earth,
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26
REFORM IyLAU-MAKING.
Ex-Attorney General Griggs ar
Advocate of Deliberate LegiS-
lation.

John W. Griggs, at one time Attorney
General during the Mckinley admins
tration, where he achieved fame for his
ability as an exponent of the law, and
later one of the strongest members OF
The Hague tribunal, has lately been
expounding to the people of New Jer-
sey a doctrine of real reform. 1t is
believed that he knows whereof he
speaks, for hardly any man in that
states political life should know either
the need for reform or the difficulties
of achieving it better than he. Before
President Mckinley induced him to
become a member of his Cabinet Mr..
Griggs had earned his way to the head
of the New Jersey bar, served as MEM
ber of the General Assembly and State
Senator, been elected president of the
latter body, and met the responsible
ties OF the governorship. He recently
spoke at a celebration on Forefathers'
Day in Orange, and laid this law down
mildly but clearly to the State politi-
clans in the name of the decent men OF
the Commonwealth:
Publicity, no backstair legislation;
no passage of bills because some one
has o KID them beforehand; discus
sion of measures on the floor of the
House; real reasons to the public CIV
en- why measures are favored or pro-
posed, and n return of the days when
legislative bodies were debating socie-
ties and the public favored as much
with reason for voting as with elo-
quence."
Mr.. Griggs advocates reform in the
enactment of State legislation when he
says:
Rarely is a bill read each of the
three constitutional times. except by IT,
tie. 1t passes in accordance with a de-
cision made previously somewhere else.
do not say the influence is an improp-
er one, but that influence was felt in
the side rooms or on the back stairs
before the fate of measure was de-
cided. This method is repression of
individuality, sinking rights into
mere expression of some one else's
views or Wishes"
Reports from New Jersey seem to
show that legislation at Trenton is
practically in the same condition as
that which existed at Jefferson City
before Governor Folk washed the Mis-
souri, capital clean. The policy advo
Gated by Mr.. Griggs has tendency to
break up the State Organization" for
actual debate. The return of the legis-
latures to their old standing as delib
erative bodies puts premium on in
dependent and personal individual
strength-and these qualities are the
death Of Organization"
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26
THE MCKINLEY PORTRAIT.
PAINTING OF M4RTYRED PRESI-
DENT HANGS IN TIE WHITE
HOUSE.
Artist Murphy. Hitherto Unknown.
Paints This Portrait Without a
Sitting and from Photographs Only.
BY Francis B. Gessner.

It is somewhat remarkable that the
portrait of President Mckinley that
now hangs in the White House was
painted by an humble and hitherto un-
known artist in New York to whom
the President never accorded a sitting
The lamented Mckinley did pose for
famous artists of Europe and the best
portrait painters of our own country,
yet it remained for Mr.. William d.
Murphy, OF New York, to produce with
the aid only of photographs the one
portrait of Mckinley most acceptable
to the family and friends. More than
that, it was considered the most de-
sirable one to be hung on the historic
walls of the White House.
Mr.. Murphy has modest little stu
do at II East Sixteenth street, New
York, Just off Union Square. He had
achieved some local fame as a palms.
taking portrait painter, but had never
dreamed of having picture hung in
the White House along with portraits
done by the most famous artists of sew
eral generations. After the terrible
ira -edy at Buffalo, Mr.. Murphy made a
collection of the Presidents photo
graphs. together with information as
to coloring and aided by Mrs. Murphy,
who is also an artist, produced a pic
ture in pastel. When the picture was
finished Mr.. Murphy made efforts to
have Abncr Mckinley. the brother of
the President, see and criticise the
work. Finally the artist had an in
teryiew with Colonel Wilbur C. Brown,
Abncr's business partner and who had
been very close to the beloved Chief
Executive. 1t was after much plead
ing that Colonel Brown consented to
bring Abner to the studio. Neither had
ever heard Of Murphy. They had seen
a hundred portraits of Mckinley, good,
bad and Indifferent, and were them
selves Indifferent, the more so because
they knew that this unknown artist
had never been given a sitting. How
ever, his pleadings were so earnest
that they finally went to the studio.
The picture was unveiled and the
brother stood amazed and startled, as
If the dead had suddenly come to life
Tears came to the eyes of Abner and
the eyes of Colonel Brown. They gazed
in silence for a time, and then the
brother said, THAT is the best portrait
of dear VIII that l have ever SEEN"
Colonel Brown said the same, and
both advised the artist to put the con-
ception in oil and compete for the hon
or of having it hung in the White
House. Mr. Murphy did 50, aided by
his wife. and it was chosen in prefer
euce TO the hundred or more paintings
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26

and charged up to the municipal ac-
count that prices or labor and food
are many times higher now than in
that time when trusts and combines
were unknown. Actors were rated
exceedingly low, as appears by the
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26

is believed that he hardly ever
had a case worthy the name. When
the war broke out he entered the vol
unteer army and rose rapidly to a high
position. In August, 1898, when Ma
nila fell, Mr.. Smith was made Deputy
Provost of the city. Then he became u
member of the commission which met
the agents of Aguinaldo at the begin
ming of the following year. Later he
commanded the Island of Negros with
much success, and ultimately the De-
partment of the Nisayas. This was but
stepping stone for him to n place on
the bench, and later q promotion to a
commissionership.
Mr.. Smith has been successful as a
member of the Philippine Commission,
being in charge of the educational sys-
TEN now being established in the
islands. He Is close to Secretary Taft
understanding all Of the Taft methods
of dealing with Philippine problems.
A rumor is current that were Secretary
Taft to become President of the United
States Smith would more than likely
become Secretary Of War.
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26
West Point Religious.

The American Messenger, the organ
Of the Annual Tract Society, says. in
an account of the annual presentation
Of Bibles to the graduating class at
the United States Military Academy at
West Point that there is strong re-
ligious atmosphere there. that nearly
all the cadets are members of the
Young Mems Christian Association,
and that about half of them attend
some twenty Bibles classes, conducted
by leaders chosen from among them
selves, who are in turn enrolled in a
normal Bible class, taught by the
chaplain.
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26

trained and educated to meet his city
competitors. No more can the farmer
of to-day expect to keep abreast of the
procession unless he equips himself
sith knowledge which will enable
elim to reap full harvest OF the farm.
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26
Their OzVH
Crop.

munities where men own the land they
live upon and obtain their sustenanCe
from the soil
l. Yet there is an undercurrent Of quiet
force at work, year by year becoming
better organized and with broader pow
er, whose tendency is to overcome this
hurtful condition and stem the tide
of immigration away from the land and
into the already overcrowded ccnters.
Industrial and agricultural schemes OF
education are finding footholds here
and there, and nature study courses
and school gardens, where children
are taught to know something of the
soil and plants and the real wonders OF
nature. are no longer scoffed at or
looked upon as fads.
To Fit for Real Life.
This movement embraces the de-
mand for the teaching OF domestic
science and both agriculture and man
ual training In all the public schools,
80 that children shall be taught to
work with their hands and to force
from the soil the greatest possible
production. as they to-day learn in the
public schools of France, Denmark and
other of the older countries. The new
movement maintains that every school
should have a school garden, where ev-
cry child should be intelligently taught
to be a lover of nature and of the
country and trained toward the land as
g source of honorable livelihood, rath-
er than away from it.
Some of the work of the Department
of Agriculture shows the tremendous
need which exists for farm training.
Need for Farm Teaching.
To be a successful farmer to-day
means that q man must not be satisfied
TO plant and reap as his father did be-
fore him, but that he must study the
conditions of his soil and climate, and
If necessary discard as Improbable
the crops which have been raised in
his locality from time immemorial and
substitute those which scientific ex-
periments have demonstrated are the
greatest money makers; he must study
she breeding of plants as he would the
breeding of animals; he must learn
now to fight and overcome the many
insects and other enemies of his crops
and live stock; in word, he must de-
vote as much hard study and thought
60 farming as he would to any other
chosen trade or profession which he
might elect to engage in, il he moved
gnto city community. No young man
6ould expect to pass from the farm
Into the city and make even bare liv-
lng unless he felt himself specially
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26

submitted in the competition. 1t hangs
side by side with portraits painted by
Stuart and others of international
fame. Mrs. Mckinley has never seen
the original painting, but admires the
Photographic copies. The engraving
herewith presented lacks, of course, the
fine coloring of the painting. but the
pose, the expression is striEingly i'm
pressive to anyone who knew the be-
loved Mckinley in life. As before
mentioned. the remarkable thing is
that the artist created the picture from
photographs and the result seems to
those who have seen the portrait to be
something little short of an inspiration.
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26
New Philippine Governor.

1t is reported that James F. Smith.
member of the Philippine Commits
sion. is slated by the Administration to
become GovsrnorGeneral of the Phil
ippines.
Mr. Smiths career during the past
four or five years has been remarkable
in his extraordinary rise to occupy an
important position under the Govern
ment Before the SpanisE-American
War he was a young lawyer of
no standing in San Francisco. 1t
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26
OLD BRITISH FESTIVAL.
PL0w MONDAY, As OBSERVED IN
FOURTEENTH CENTURY AT
GRIJISBY, ENGLAND.
Farmers and Townsmen Gathered
tc Celebrate Bountiiul Crops-Io~n
Treasurer Paid Bills.

All old-time country people remem-
Der evenings at corn-husking, apple
pairing and sugar-boiling. Not so long
ago a huskinE bee was great event,
and boys and girls, old and young,
gathered from far and near TO sit on
the floor of the barn, husk big ears of
rlpened corn for several hours, end
ing with a grand feast of pie, cake,
hot coffee, cider. and all the other
goodies OF the farm cupboard. But in
this country there are no definite and
fixed festivals held in the fall of the
year at harvest time. Thanksgiving
is only a formal remembrance. In this
we differ, and we have always diff
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26
YaIuabIe Small Library.

DR., Frederick Rowland Marvin has
one of the rarest libraries in the coun-
try. 1t contains only about 1000
volumes, but many of them are first
editions and the manuscripts are me-
msntoes of gifted men and women no
longer living.
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26
Works MI Oyer lis house.

Joel Chandler Harris only works
when inspiration seizes him. He has
no settled library, no study, no desk,
no workroom of his own, but in every
room of his house is to be found a
table with pen, ink and paper, so that
If the happy idea comes to him it can
be caught and fixed without delay.
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26

strates that men will go out from the
cities and live on the land and make
good citizens. when they are taught
about the land after they get on it.
Agricultural Educa zion Needed,
Viewed from both standpoints. it is
a demonstrated and unquestionable
fact that American public schools need
far more of practical agriculture, in
their courses. than they now teach. In
fact the majority of them do not teach
agriculture. IN any OF its branches, at
all. The teachers themselves, as they
are graduated to-day, know nothing
of the subject. Their educational sys-
tenn is in a Tut from which it cannot
be moved except by a strong popular
demand, which in itself must come
from an intelligent comprehension of
the weak points of the system.
The problem is one for the serious
consideration of our most far-seeing
statesmen-the stemming of this CEN
tripetal movement which is oyercrowd-
ing our centers of industry where men
work for day-wages. and which is
steadily drawing from our rural COM
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26
Ny Pipe.

when love grows cold, thy nre still
warns me.
When friends have fed, thy presence
charms me.
II thou art full, though purse be bare.
smoke and cast away all care"
German Smoking Song.
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26

NJ
exceedingly low, as appears by the
following entries:-
To the Mlnstrels. els.........-........ g
To Noah and his wife. ......... 9
To Robt. Brown, playing Code. o g
To Jenkin Smith. playing Noah. o o
To NOah's wife fe-.................- 9
Mechanics came little higher:
To the carver. mendinG the Trinity,
making his crown and painting
To the carpenter for making Noah's
ship NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 8 o
An address from the rector was not
costly:
To Mr.. Lewis, for a sermon. ..... o 10 o
And this miscellany of services, re-
came dirt cheap:
To I'VE priests. nr-penny bell by
bell-man. and making a grave. o 10
Miscellaneous supplies were not
costly:
To straw for Noah and his child
rem ........-............ o o 2
a pound OF wax to set before the
Trinity o 10
a peck OF barley y....-.....-........ o q
To sugar. cakes. wine. ale, etc..
with the Mayo and his breth-
ren Observation-Disclosures. o
To six stone Isl pounds of cheese. o
To kegs Of sturgeon. ...-......... 1 @
To four capons.......-....... 8
To -FOUR geese. U 8
To four ptgs... ............,.... 3 4
To three doz. and eight chickens. 10
To a pound and a half OF pepper. o o
To lambs with their appurtenan-
CeS .....-......... -..-....-. U 1U o
To twenty-six stone 1854 lbs) of
beef OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Il g
To three quarters OF mutton. o 4 o
They were not backward with the
cup that cheers. as this will show:
To six dozen Of ale. 2 o
To one kilderkin Of bocr....... o 8 4
To one gallon Of hnewine for the
priests ....................-.
To seven gallons and bottle of
cIaret ................. } IT o
To 10 gallons of wine. ........... IS 8
And for one who would not waste
his time on such fat mixtures:
To one gallon OF old rum. ......... 4
On the docks, where once the theat-
ricals and the barbecue were held.
now rises the great Tower of Grims-
by, 200 feet high, serving as n land
mark, and as n lighthouse to guide the
ships of Grimsby's great
fishing fleets, into her safe harbor.
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26
LiBruisfic Parrot.

A parrot which can talk in two
languages, and which has seventeen
phrases, has been added to the London
geological Gardens. 1t is a native Of
Northern India
The La Jara chronicle., 1906-01-26

The Yellowstone trout has been
caught in the very act of going over
Two Ocean Pass from the Pacific into
the Atlantic drainage.
Amador ledger., 1906-02-23
Bonus Withdrawn.

The withdrawal of the bonus offered
by the Sierra R. r. Co., for the plant
ing of fruit trees in the territory
tributary to the line of their railroad
is suggestive. The company, desiring
to secure the settlement of the lands
suitable for fruit raising along its
route, offered a premium for every
tree planted. This was four years
ago. 1t was reasonably expected that
the free transportation and other in
ducements held out would result in
the stimulation of this industry, and
thereby foster business for the road
in years to come. But the scheme has
not worked satisfactorily. Only in two
or three instances have parties plant
ed trees and secured the advantages
offered. The railroad company has
therefore withdrawn its offer, as q
complete failure. This is the first
effort of the kind in the mineral belt
of the mother lode section, and that
it should be received with such poor
favor is discreditable. That the soil
and climate of the Sierra railroad
route to Angels are conducive to
fruit growing there can be no doubt.
We cannot accept the idea that the
residents are Indifferent to the build
ing up of the horticultural interests.
We are inclined to believe that the
failure to plant trees Is owing to
causes which the land owners cannot
control. One of our exchanges in.
Inmates that 1t is because of the lack
of irrigation facilities. Tree plant
ing would not be justified by the
small bonus offered, unless there was
a reasonable prospect of the trees
thriving and yielding fruit in after
years. Without irrigation the orchards
would die. And this fact, that would
be settlers knew perfectly we'll thai
the lack of water at the critica
period would neutralize all theil
efforts in the horticultural line, il
responsible for the flat failure t.
enter upon fruit culture along tn,
Sierra road. This drawback is no
applicable to Amador county. Her
water can be secured during the dr.,
season almost at any point available
for fruit growing. And with the ex
tension of the railroad to the mlnera
belt, this source of wealth ought t,
be developed largely in the next few
years.
Amador ledger., 1906-02-23
State Politics.

There are candidates galore for the
republican nomination for governor.
In the multitude of candidates it is
difficult for the most astute politician
to forecast the outcome. The return
of Geo. G. Knight from Washington,
and his declaration in favor of j. N.
Gillet for governor, has given quite
an impetus to the movement IN favor
of the congressman for this district
to head the republican ticket. W. G..
Ralston, the senator from this dis
trict is also said to be lined up on the
side of GilIet. Other influential
workers are quietly working in the
same cause. 1t seems, therefore, that
GIllet will go into the convention
with strong force OF delegates. No
one can tell what changes may take
place on the political checker board
between now and the convention time
in July or August. His strength may
wax or wane ere them. All the same,
from the present indications his
candidacy is formidable, and is
likely to become more so as the
campaign advances. Pardee wants a
denomination. He has made good
governor. Every fair-minded man
must admit this. He has made mis-
takes, no doubt. He would be more
than human if such we're not the
case. Still, he must be credited with
having filled the executive chair with
ability, and with sincere desire to
promote the welfare of the state.
California is not addicted to honor
ing a governor with a second term
In her whole history no man has
been elected governor for two sue
cessive terms. 1t has been very rare
that a governor has succeeded in
securing a denomination for second
term. All the state officers, except
Jordan, clerk of the supreme court,
and surveyor general Wood, are
candidates for denomination on the
republican side. Most of them have
served two terms. They have made
efficient and faithful public servants
and probably most of them are likely
to succeed in their aspirations fol
third term.
Amador ledger., 1906-02-23
Notice of Sale of Real Property.

In the Superior Court of the county
OF Amador, State of California.
In the matter of the estate of Mary
A. Hall, deceased.
Notice is hereby given that in pur-
suance of an order of the superior
court of the county of Amador, state
OF California, made on the 9th day of
December, 1905, and further order
made on the 18th day of February.
1906, in the matter of the estate of
Mary A. Hall, deceased, the under
signed, the executor of the last will
of said deceased, will sell at public
auction to the highest bidder, for
cash, in gold coin of the United
States, and subject to confirmation
by said superior court, on Saturday
the 10th day of March, 1906, at y
O'Clock M. of said day, at the front
door of the Court house of the super
lor court in the town of jackson, in
said county of Amador, all the right,
title, interest and estate of the said
Mary A. Hall at the time of her
death, and all the right, title and
interest that said estate has by opera
tlon of law or otherwise acquired
other than or in addition to that OF
the said Mary A. Hall at the time ot
her death in and to all those certain
lots, pieces or parcels of land situate,
lying and being in the county oi
Amador, State of California, and
bounded and described as follows, tc
wit:
Lots Nos. ten (10) and eleven III,
in block No. nine (9) of the town site
of Volcano, Amador county, Cali
fornla, together with the dwelling
and other improvements thereon.
Terms and condition of sale: Cash
in gold coin of the United States, ter
per cent. of the purchase money tC
be paid to the auctioneer upon sale
and balance on confirmation of salt
by said superior court.
Dated, February 16, 1916.
| w. Ii. S1EFt LER,
Executor of the will of said deceas
ed.
JOHN +. DAVIS, office: Summit
street, Jackson, Attorney for said Elk
ecutor.
2. 16. t. 4.