davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
THE AMERICAN BISON.
Millions of Bufaloes Once Ranget
tna Uestern PlafnR.

millions of Bunaloes Once Ranged
the Western Plains.
The early explorers who describe the
buffalo numbers do not give us any
thing more exact than superlative ex-
pressions, such as countless herds"
Incredible numbers" ''teeming myr-
lads" "the world one robe" etc. /
have endeavored to get at more ex-
act idea OF their numbers.
The total area inhabited by the buf-
salo was about 100000 square miles.
OF this the open plains were one-half.
According to the figures supplied me
by A. F. Potter Of the forest service,
the ranges of the Dakotas, Montana,
wyoming. Nebraska, Kansas, Colora-
do. Texas and Oklahoma "a total OF
about 100000 square miles, or half OF
the plains) were, according to the CEN
sus of 1900, carrying 24.000,000 head
of cattle and horses and about 5000
600 head of sheep. This means that
when fully stocked they might sustain
a number of buffalo at least equal to
the number of cattle and horses. The
buffalo had to divide their heritage
with numerous herds of mustang. an
telope and wapiti. On the other hand.
a buffalo could find living where Z
range animal would starve. many OF
the richest bottom lands are now fenc-
ed in. and we have taken no account
Of the 100000 sheep. Therefore we
are safe In placing at 100000 the
buffalo formerly living on the entire
plains area.
Their prairie range was a third as
large, but it was vastly more fertile
indeed, the stockmen reckon one prai-
rie acre equal to four acres on the
plains. Doubtless, therefore, the prai-
ries sustained nearly as many head as
the plains. We may safely set their
population at 100000. The forest
region was the lowest In the rate OF
population. For Its 100000 square
miles we should not allow more than
100000 buffalo. These figures would
make the primitive number Of buffalo
100000.
Many other calculations based on
different data give similar or slightly
lower totals. From these facts 1t VIII
appear very safe to put the primitive
buffalo population at 100000 to Co.
100000. - Ernest Thompson Seton In
Scribner's
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
TIE DYNAMiTER.
RE Must BE q Man Of Many PartAs
with Nerve and Coolness.


In on article on Dynamite; the Pow
~ tIntamable," Samuel Hopkins Ad-
ans thus describes the man who ham
dies the explosive and his ways:
The finished type Of the dynamiter
Is the man who has had the ability to
rise and the luck to survive long
enough to graduate from the plant and
become an agent. In his best embodi-
ment the explosive agent Is something
Of chemist, something Of q quarry
man, something of IN electrician, a
good deal Of mineraloglst and above
all q man Of resource and GOODNESS. IL
Is he who does the exploding. The fac
tory gets notice from railroad that q
contract Is open for the destruction OF
q ledge of rock which blocks their line
of advance. Away goes the agent, with
his grlpsack full Of ready made de-
struction, to look the thing over. First
he draws upon his mineralogic lore to
determine the nature Of the rock. If 1t
Is very hard he uses high grade OF
his explosive, which delivers quick,
SCATTERING blow. In case Of soft rock
the lower grade supplies blast which
will produce wider effect, although 1t
will not break the dislodged rock into
such small pieces. Next as quarry
man he considers the nature Of the
ledge and the Indicated assures OF
veins and plans his drilling according
~. Then he must attend to the drilling
Of the holes, the tamping of the charge
and-here his electrical knowledge Is
called for-the arrangement Of the bat
teries. After few blasts he gives the
railroad company his estimate, and Y
it is accepted he may oversee the job
| himself.
"Often he meets his rivals on the
ground. Then comes the tug of war.
Tricks of the trade are many and not
all of them scrupulous. Where many
agents are gathered together 1t seems
to be q point of honor with every man
to handle his particular article with
the utmost apparent carelessness.
willie he manifests shrinking tlmid-
ity toward the products Of his COM
petitors. This Is to impress the out
slider. So the agent will toss about a
twenty-five pound package Of dyna-
mite like so much meal, kick 1t, drop
1t over fences or down lodges and gen.
orally maltreat It, II the dynamite is
fresh this is all right, but occasionally
something goes wrong, and theory, to-
gether with the theorist, is blown to
atoms in practice. Theoretically
high explosive should detonate only
when set off by means of illuminate
of mercury cap, and some Of the safe
ty explosives apparently live up to
this. But anything with nitroglycerin
in 1t is best treated with considera-
ton, for nitro is a very uncertain
quantity"
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
ODD COURTS MARTIAL.
Solemn Farces Tint Have Been En-.
acted In the British Navy.

Solemn EQTccS IAnt iaVe Bceu ExQe
acted In the British Navy.
1t L. a rule in the British navy that
when q ship is cast away or otherwise
lost court martial must sit in order
to apportion the blame. Sometimes
these courts really try and condemn
those that are held to be responsible.
At other times their duties are, from
the very nature Of the catastrophe,
Eore or less nominal.
Thus, whea the Serpent was lost of
the Spanish coast, court martial as-
sembled and solemnly tried" three or,
binary bluejackets, the sole survivors
although they Of course had no more to
do with the error in navigation which
led up to the catastrophe than the man
in the moon.
A similar solemn farce was enacted
after the loss of the Captain In the
bay Of Biscay, when 483 officers and
men lost their lives. In this case O
gunner named James May, one OF the
eighteen who escaped from the wreck,
was the nominal "culprit." The yer.
dict was that the loss of the ship was
due to instability and faulty construc'
ton. This really amounted to vote
Of censure on Mr.. Cowper Coles, the
designer, but as he went down with
the ungainly monster he had created
he was beyond the reach Of either
blame or praise.
On another occasion q small MILDLY
of thirteen years Of age was put upon
his trial. and once, it is said. court
martial assembled on cat, which
CHANGED to be the sole living thing
found aboard a derelict frigate.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
For American Citizens.

When the visitor approached the
diplomatic gallery Of the senate cham
Der the doorkeeper Informed him, says
a writer in the Philadelphia Ledger.
that the gallery was reserved for for
elgn representatives.
ut Is, heyT said the visitor. "Well,
I want to tell you right now that this
Is a free country, and this is the SEN
ate of the United States, and / de-
mand admission in the name Of Ameri-
can citizenship"
"Ohw said the doorkeeper. "Why
didn't you say at first that you were
an American citizen? Just step around
to the second door from here. That
gallery is reserved for American citi-
zens."
With chest pulled up the stranger
betook himself to the door indicated
and was at once admitted to the pub
tic gallery
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
A Queer Fact About Vision.

In the eye itself certain things may
20 on which give us wrong sensations,
which, although not truly Illusions. are
very much like them. Thus, when we
suddenly strike our heads or faces
against something in the dark we see
"stars," or bright sparks, which we
know are not real lights, though they
are quite as bright and sparkling as II
they were. When we close one eye and
look straight ahead at some word or let
ter in the middle Of this page. for ex-
ample, we seem to see not only the
thing we are looking at, but every
thing else Immediately about 1t and
for q long way on each side. But the
truth is there Is a large round spot
somewhere near the point at which
we are looking in which we see moth
ing. Curiously enough, the existence
Of this blind spot was not discovered
by accident, and nobody every sus-
pected 1t until Mariotte reasoned from
the construction Of the eyeball that IT
must exist and proceeded to find 1t.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
JUSTICE OF THE HEARTH.
A Standard That Might Well BE
Adopted by All Society.

A Standard That Might Well Re
Adopted by All Society.
Over the dinner table husband was
telling his wife Of the financial mis-
dealings Of one Of their social &C.
Quaintances, a wealthy and popular
man. He had contrived the ruin Of Q
certain company and Its subsequent
reorganization, q process which had
put money into his pocket and taken
money from innocent stockholders.
The husband touched the facts light
", because he thought that a woman
could not be interested In them or I'M
derstand them in detail. This WON
ans understanding throughout her bus
bands narrative was occupied with
one or two simple questions.
Ts he totbe punished" she asked.
Furnished? How? His conscience
won't punish him-indeed. he probably
thinks he has obeyed the rules OF busi-
ness. The law technically Is broad
enough to cover his ease, but 1t Is
hard to get evidence. You see. the
district attorney must 40
Excuse me for interrupting, dear.
Explain that to me later. think we
shall not dine there next Wednesday.
I will write note to Mrs. Berry"
"Not dine there? Why not2"
Because he is not at man to re-
ceive in our house or for US to visit"
"But nonsense! He's just as good a
fellow, just as respectable
Zone minute. BY your own words
you prove that he Is a wicked man.
taking what Is not his. listened to
your story until there could be no
doubt that you yourself condemned
him by the facts. which I do not un'
derstand. If what you say Is true he
and meet no more as equals"
And her Judgment stood. OF course
her neighbors and friends pursued the
usual course of accepting a man In
social relations whom their husbands
distrusted In business.
But the standard Of the hearthstone
shall 1t not some day be the standard
Of all society ?-Youth's Companion.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
The Hardness Of Orators.

American political orators are orten
charged with being unduly harsh to
tho other side. The following extract
from a speech of the late Earl OF
shaftesbury, published in his memoirs
srours that IL our stump speakers ex'
S,h,t harshness they come honestly by
- The noble earl thus described and
.,hoo,od. when Gladstone runs
Sown a steep place, his immense ma.
tority, like the pigs in Scripture ous
Son,ng for a better issue, will go Win
lin roaring In grunts Of exultation.
Boston Transcript.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
Man Against Horse.

A man (Shrubb) has run ten miles IN
30 minutes 40 seconds; another man
Uutchens) has run 300 yards in 30 Sec
onds; another man (George) has run q
mile In 4 minutes 12A seconds. OF all
running records this last appears most
unapproachable, and it seems likely to
stand for a very long time. Men like
Shrubb, Bacon and ''Deerfoot," who
have covered very close on twelve
miles in the hour, could certainly hold
their own with most carriage horses
over a good road. If the gait chosen
were walking instead Of running, the
quadruped would be badly worsted.-
Grand Magazine.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
"Dead" Leaves Not Dead.

Leaves do not fall from the tree be-
cause they are dead" which we may
take as equivalent to saying because
they are no longer receiving the con-
stltuents of their being from the sap
and from the air, but as consequence
Of a process Of growth which devel-
ops just at the junction OF the leaf
stem with the more permanent por-
ton of the tree, certain corklike cells
which have very little adhesion, 80
that the leaf is very liable to be broken
away by influences OF wind and
changes Of temperature and Of mols-
ture.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
Only London Humor Genuine.

All the best humor that exists In
our language is cockney humor. Chau-
Ger was q cockney. He had his house
close to the abbey. Dickens was a
cockney; he said he could not think
without the London streets. The Lon
don taverns heard always the quaintest
conversation. whether 1t was Ben JON
sons at the Mermaid or Sam JOhnsOn's
ut the Cock. Even In our time 1t may
be noted that the most vital and genu-
Inc humor Is still written about Lon.
don.-Illustrated London News.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
His Gueaa.

"What would you do If you had Q
million dollars handed your *
"Well, of course can't say precise
", but the probabilities are that I'd
become mean and grouchy, break
away from all my old friends and put
In the rest Of my life trying to skin
mankind out Of another million. Phil
adelphia Bulletin.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07

There is real pleasure in chewing
the best tobacco grown-where the
best tobacco grows-in the famous
Piedmont Country. $3.50
Only choice selections Of this
well-matured and thoroughly cured
tobacco is used in making
SCHNAPPS. Thatsway SCHNAPPS
and others Of the Reynolds brands,
as shown by the Internal Revenue
statistics for a fiscal year, made the
wonderful growth of six and one
quarter million pounds, or a net
gain of third of the entire
increased consumption CT chewing
and smoking tobaccos in the United
States.
Evidently, chewers cannot resist
the flavor and they cheer SCENAPPS
because SCHNAPPS cheers them
more than any other chewing to-
bacco, and every man that chews
SCHNAPPS passes the good thing
along one chewer makes other
chewers- the fact is now es-
tablished that there arc many more
EN{< ~ nd
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
CentIemanly Kind.

First Burglar-How'd you happen to
break into Smiths house last night1
Second Burglar-I was going past there
yesterday, and heard Mrs. Smith tell
In some one that she walked up three
times the night before listenin' for .
burglar, but nobody come. You know.
I never like to disappoint woman&-
Detroit Free Press.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
Not Quite q Tempest.

A young gentleman with an unmu-
sical voice insisted upon singing at
social gathering.
"What does he call thatT" inquired
q disguised guest.
""The Tempest / think" answered
another.
"Don't be alarmed" said IN old sea
CAPTAIN present. THAT'S no tempest.
II is only a squall and will soon be
over"
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
Sarcasm.

Grcvne-Whom are your children said
10 take after, Mr.. Enpeck? Enpeck
with mental reservation)-The youn-
ger. with a sweet smile and angelic
temper, takes after his mother. The
elder. that cross eyed young viper,
takes after me, I'm informed.--London
Fun
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07

An Englishman tells the story OF q
bow who saw an exceedingly bowleg-
ged man standing in front Of a hot fire.
Finally he could restrain himself no
longer and said, "Hey, mister, you'd
better get away from there; you'ss
Xarpin'."
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
xo.h,. Advantage.

Mrs. Noah was complaining that hes
clothes looked as If they had come out
of the ark.
ION the contrary" returned hex
spouse, 'they have just come across
the water"
Herewith he congratulated himself
on the cheapness Of imported gowns
New York Sun.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
POlften es0.

The greatest thing in the world ID
poiiteness. And no schooling Is nee
essary to be agreeable. Simply have
a little consideration for others and be
uniet and modest.-Atchison Globe.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
Chew What You Know About and
i Know What You Are Chewing

chewers and pounds of tobacco
chewed, to the population, in those
States where SCHNAPPS tobacco
was first sold than there are in the
States where SCHNAPPS has not
yet been offered to the trade.
SCENAPPS is like a cup of fine
Java coffee, sweetened just enough
to bring out it's natural, stimulating
qualities. SCHNAPPS pleases all
classes of chewers: the rich, be-
cause they do not find a chew that
really pleases them better at any
price; the poor, because it is more
economical than the large 1Oc. or
15c. plugs and they get their mon
ey's worth of the real snappy, Slim
ulating flavor so appreciated by to-
bacco lovers. All limitations con-
tain much more sweetening than
SCHNAPPS. They arc made that
way to hide poor tobacco improp-
erly cured.
For the man who chews tobacco
for tobacco s sake, there is no chew
like SCENAPPS
IS. Strictly zoe. and l5c. Plugs IA,
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07

The men who go through life with
chips on their shoulders always avoid
meeting the right man. = New xorx
News.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
A Brick.

Knicker-Which side of the house
does the baby resemble? BOcker-Ths
outside. Don't you see how red he 50
-Harper's Bazaar.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07

There is no virtue in the Sunday that
makes children cay. II wish u was
Monday"
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
slandering q Saint.

"Fifteen years ago." said the aged
brother, addressing the congregation
IT gladly gave my heart to the Lord"
"And that's the only cheerful GIT no
ever made" whispered the deacon
whose business 1t was to collect the
annual subscriptions.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07
They May Recover.

When q couple is engaged 1t doesn't
necessarily follow that they will nsvss
have any sense.-New York Press.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-12-07

Boldness Is ever blind, therefore !: "
III in counsel, but good In execution
1 Bacon.
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-07-26
Finger Prints for the Navy.

The navy department has completed
arrangements for the adoption of the
finger print system of Identification.
This is system which has been
adopted for the army and which will
go into effect on Sept. 1. The navy
department is not able to go into the
matter SO thoroughly as is proposed in
the army. but every man accepted at
naval recruiting Office will be re-
CURED to leave his finger and thumb
prints. Records of these taken from
the usual glass slides will be, sent to
Washington and classified in the bu-
reau of navigation, where two civilians
Will be employed at specially au-
thorized salary of $1,000 each to de-
velop and maintain the system. 1t is
apprehended that men already in the
navy will have a prejudice against
submitting to this method of identifi-
cation. and it has been decided to sub
Ject only new recruits to the process.
New York Tribune.
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-07-26
RICH SAPPHIRE MINE.

The geological survey makes the
interesting announcement that the
sapphire mine at Yogo gulch, Montana,
is the greatest gem mine in the world.
The Yogo dixie is four miles long on
the surface and descends to an un-
known depth. The entire contents OF
workable sapphire-bearing rock ap-
proximates 100000 cubic yards.
The stones found are not of large
size, ranging from "culls," used for
watch jewels, to gems averaging from
one to three carats in weight. They
are sent to Amsterdam for cutting.
Never before in the history of the
United States was there such demand
for diamonds as during the year 1905.
Large numbers were imported, and
still the demand was not satisfied.
The rapidly increasing price of this
queen of gems has started afresh the
search for it in this country. In 1903
diamonds to the value of $50 were
found in this country, in 1901 the out
put was worth $3.50, and in 1899, 5000.
All have been found in superficial de-
posits, and accidentally. 1t is not un-
likely, however, that some day the
original source of these small finds
will be discovered, for that this CONT.
nent has rich diamond deposits is the
belief of the scientists.
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-07-26
Charms of Summer Travel
On Our Inland Seas
How Americans Are Discovering at Last
the Attractions C America.

Buffalo, July 21.-When Russell
Sage announced that a man did NOT
need vacation he stirred up a storm
Of protest which proved that he was
in the hopeless minority. This is the
vacation season and it is safe 10 say
that Of the 100000 Americans at
least 100000 will manage to get
some kind Of an outing during the
summer or fall. The old saying that
all good Americans go to Paris be-
fore they die has ceased to be rep
resentative of the aspirations of the
Yankee globe-trotter. The love of out
door life is finding expression in
new routes taken by tourists through
European countries and the stay-at-
homes on this side of the water are
showing more and more a disposition
to wander far afield instead of set
Ting down for two or three weeks in
the seaside hotel or the country board
ing house. :
The wealthy, who are given to
globe-trotting are crowding the out
going Atlantic liners. Americans are
wandering through all the highways
and nearly all the byways of the old
world. They have followed the
Arctic explorers northward towarc
the pole. Some are at the North
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-07-26

00o for his share. That story Is
now a part of ancient history, for his
tory is made fast in this region, and
these events happened back IN the
seventies. But Silver Island contin-
ues to be productive. The stories Oh
the development of the copper mines
of northern Michigan and later the
romance of the Iron Ranges are close
" connected with the history OF the
lakes.
The navigation of the unsalted seas
has created a race OF sailors Wno'
while salt water tars may soon al
their accomplishments, are never
iheless brave and hardy mariners,
who face danger of shipwreck in the
fierce storms which sometimes de-
scend upon the lakes just before the
season of navigation is closed by the
freezing up of the rivers and canals
At these times, long after The tourists
have gone home and resumed their
ordinary occupations, the lake sailors
make their trips when the great
waves dash over the decks of the YES
sells and cover houses, masIs and rig
ging with ice just as the oceans team
ers are similarly coated after fierce
winter voyage.
Travel on the lakes gives many
glimpses of America in the making.
To the east, Buffalo, Cleveland and
Toledo, and farther west, Milwaukee
and Chicago are not young as Ameri-
can cities reckon age. But Duluth,
at the far western extremity OF the
chain, counts among its people those
who lived there when the place was
only a trading post, without railway
and with harbor yet to be made by
cutting The canal which now affords
access to the quiet waters of St.
Louis Bay. The tourist travel on the
lakes is of recent development.
Should il increase as has the water
borne commerce of the inland seas,
they will become as famous as those
old world bits of fresh water whose
attractions have been known for gen.
erations.