davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06


In my reading on venomous snakes
again and again noticed the state
ment that snakes could charm birds
This summer l decided TO look into
this matter more fully and try and
find a solution more satisfactory to
myself if possible.
l caught a young cat-bird which
had left the nest, and put it in cage.
took a position near the cage and
remained perfectly quiet, but did not
try to conceal myself The parent
birds became quite brave in trying to
drive me away; after noticing thar
1 remained perfectly quiet they be-
came more daring as time passed, and
finally so daring as to peck me in the
face. These birds were many times
within the striking distance Of a rat
tlesnake.
l next took my position near a rob-
ms nest containing young. After 1
had remained quiet for some time,
the female came very close-close
enough for the rattler's forward cast.
have repeated these observations
in the field, with the same results.
therefore have concluded that snakes
have a charm. but that the snake in
search of food or in it's wanderings
approaches a young bird or birds
nest The parent birds, in trying to
drive the intruder away, become more
daring Guntil finally they come within
striking distance. l have had one ex-
perience, and in this case the snake
remained perfectly quiet while the
bird was flying about it. The snake,
however, was not a venomous one
]. Parsons Shaeffer, in Bird Lore.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
FIXES THANKSGIVING DAY.
President Roosevelt Tells People
They Have Cause to Rejoice.

President Roosevelt Tells People
They Have Cause to Rejoice.
The Presidents proclamation naming
Thursday, Nov. %, as day of thanks
giving is as follows:
The time of year has come when, in
accordance with the wise custom of our
forefathers, it becomes my duty to set
aside a special day of thanksgiving and
praise to the Almighty because of the
blessings we have received and of prayer
that these blessings may be continued.
Yet another year of widespread well
being has passed. Never before in our
history or in the history of any other ma
ton has a people enjoyed more abound
ing material prosperity than is ours-a
prosperity so great that it should arouse
in us no spirit of reckless pride and least
of all a spirit of needless disregard of
our responsibilities, but rather a sober
sense of our many blessings and reso-
lutte purpose. under Providence, not to
forfeit them by any action of our own.
Material we'll being, Indispensable
though it is, can never be anything but
the foundation of true national greatness
and happiness. If we build nothing upon
this foundation then our national life will
be as meaningless and empty as house
where only the foundation has been laid.
Upon our material we'll being must be
built a superstructure of individual and
national life lived in accordance with the
laws of the highest morality or else our
prosperity itself will in the long run turn
out curse instead of a blessing. We
should be both reverently thankful for
what we have received and earnestly bent
upon turning it into a means of grace and
not of destruction.
accordingly l hereby set apart Thurs
day, the 29th day of November next, as
day of thanksgiving and supplication,
on which the people shall meet in their
homes or their churches devoutly to ac-
knowledge all that has been given them
and to pray that they may in addition
receive the power to use these gifts Alright.
In witness whereof have hereuntO set
my hand and caused the seal of the Unit
ed States to be affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this
22d day of October, in the year of our
Lord one thousand nine hundred and six
and of the Independence of the United
States the one hundred and thirty-frst.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
By the President:
ELIHU ROOT. Secretary of State.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
PLACING the Blame.

In a Courland village two neighboT-
inc inns were owned respectively by
a Mr.. Lahzis and Mr.. Strunkis keen
rivals for the patronage Of the public.
Their rivalry grew into bitter enmity
when the better class Of travellers
generally seem to prefer Lahzis's
house. while Strunkis had to content
himself with the smaller fry Of travel
ing artisans.
One day recently the two innkeep-
ers. standing at their respective doors
got I'D an alteration, during which
Lahzis twitted Srunkis with the in
ferior social standing OF the latters
customers, whereupon Strunkis be
came furious and hurled a stone at
his more prosperous rival He missed
his mark, but the stone went through
one of Lahzis's windows.
The result was a lawsuit, and a
witness named Jaime gave evidence
to tho effect that he was passing when
the stone was thrown. and that Il
would have struck him had he not
ducked just in time. Whereupon the
village Solons decided that Jaime is
responsible for the damage. for, said
they. if Jaime had not ducked his
head the window would not have been
broken at all.-Riga Baltische Post.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06

strings. what done that?" she de-
manded, pointing to the broken flower
pot.
IL guess it was the cat" replied
Mrs. Ganderson, as the old woman con-
tinued her survey of the room.
'Hm-m!' said the visitor. 81 don't
see as you've bettered yourself much
by the looks o. things"
whats the matter with things?'
queried Mrs. Ganderson, rather sharp
ly, in her turn.
What did you do with what poor
William left" asked the old woman
still looking around and disregarding
the question.
do you mean his debts? 1 went to
work and paid 'em off," replied Mrs
Ganderson, with increased resentment
in her tone. That's all he left me-"
You must have been in a kind of
hurry to marry again, seems like" said
the old woman, with a sniff. Poor
william! He little knew!"
HE little cared, too, can tell you.
Mother Waters" said Mrs. Gander-
son, with heightened color. 81 don't
call three years being in a hurry. l
didn't see why l shouldn't have a
chance to be happy once in my life,
and when Mr.. Ganderson-'
You've been cryin'," said Mother
Waters, accusingly. You needn't tell
me- Talk about bein' happy! When
l come in an see broken crockery an
mems shoes lynn around an a woman
cryin' guess l can put two and two
together. 1 expect you've got a nice
sort of a man. When poor William was
alive"
when poor William was alive
well, don't want to speak too harshly
of him, but if you start talking that
way about the best man that ever
walked, I'll say my say. When Will
liam was alive he led me a dogs life,
if ever man did. There wasn't a day
when he didn't abuse me, and you
know it just as well as l do, and you
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
storing the Honey Crop.

Years ago it was the custom to store
honey in the cellar, as it was thought
that a cool or cold place was what was
needed for the preservation OF this
product 1t Is yet difficult to get this
notion out Of the minds Of many.
However, 1t was soon discovered that
If kept for any length Of time In a
cool, damp place the honey would com,
mence to sweat or oOze out Of the un.
sealed cells, while If left In such o
place for two or three months the cell
cappings would assume a watery ap.
pearance and finally burst
Some hecAeepers work hard all the
season to secure a crop Of honey and
then store it in such an unsuitable
place that when it reaches market they
do not get nearly so much for their la.
Dor as they would had they spent
more thought on having their product
reach the market In an attractive con.
ditiOn.
Many In the east store their honey
in an upper room or attic Where this
can be done there is no better place to
keep it.
In two or three weeks time the
honey viii thoroughly ripen. when 4
can be prepared for market-FarTa
Journal
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
woMAN'S WAY WITH A MAID.
How One Housekeeper Disposes OF
the Servant Problem,

the servant frSoten'
During fifteen years l have had in
nv service six girls who have been
comfort and help such as no mere SER
want can be, says writer in Good
Housekeeping.
l have never paid wages higher than
nv neighbors have done, and our home
is so small that a maid has TO be con-
tent with humble accommodations.
| have given, however, what every
mistress does not bestow-frequently
does not believe ina certain friend
illness, cordial sympathy, an interest in
the inner life of a girl whose flesh and
blood, whose heart. ambitions and lives
are not so different from my own.
One plan have carried out for years
has aided me largely in making the
best Of each maid who comes into my
household. Once a month l give her
an afternoon of companionship, not in
the duties of the house, but in some
little trip for recreation she chooses by
herself
SOluSllHleS L aCCOUllduN ueE 10 = mat
inee, while on pleasant summer days
we go picnicking in the woods or to
some shore resort. There have been
afternoons spent in museums and art
galleries. where a glimpse of things
rare and beautiful means much TO such
a girl.
II you viii try il, making yourself
key 10 the mysteries OF such an exhibit
you will really find great deal of
pleasure In II Hundreds of women 90
out of their way to do such work from
a settlement standpoint. but il never
occurs to them TO give such pleasure
to 4 girl working in their own kitch-
ems.
1t Is not alone the pleasure given
that is appreciated: Il is the compan-
ionship and kindly interest / find most
valued. The holiday l give is not the
weekly Thursday OF, 4 is some other
convenient dry, and you viii find as
do that the work has sill been satisfac-
torily completed before the vacation oc-
ours.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
TRAVELLING WITHOUT TIPS
Result of an Experiment Made by a
German Hotel keeper.

Herr Grauer, a wealthy German
hotel proprietor, has carried out an
experiment with amusing results on
the tipping custom. He had theory
that all hotel employees should be
paid living wage and that tipping
should be abolished in hotels.
So he started, accompanies by his
wife and daughter (the Lausanne cor
respondent writes) on three weeks
tour of the chief German and Swiss
hotels, determined not TO spend
sou on tips. in order to test his opir
ions.
One weeks experience of the con-
and daughter, who returned home
disappointed and indignant with Herr
Grauer for the discomfort and insults
to which he had led them.
Mysterious hieroglyphics and secret
signs-known only to hotel employees
announced the arrival of the Grau-
ers-"the non-tippers sat the various
resorts they visited. The result was
always the same-nobody seemed to
want them.
At the stations they were told that
the particular hotel they wished TO
was merely waiting for a few old
clients to depart" When they insist
ed on entering the omnibus there
was nobody to carry their luggage
and railway porters had to be employ
ed and paid Arriving at the hotel
their heavy baggage was unceremon-
iously thrown on the ground and the
boxes were damaged.
The maid took hall an hour to an
swer the bell, and the "hot water"
when it did arrive, was cold. At table
d'hote the Grauers were always serv
ed with the last portion. The con
cierge did not know" of any inter
esting trips in the neighborhood, and
was generally busy" when they de-
scended to the hall Complaints to
the manager were futile.
Herr Grauer who perseYered with
his three weeks tour to the end sums
up his experiences as including the
following:
Lost three trains; luggage unable
to be found.
Had four pair of boots, two being
new, ruined; cause unknown"
Two suits of clothes, one dress,
three blouses mysteriously contracted
ink stains.
Herr Grauer now believes that tip
ping is a necessary evil, with still
long life-London Daily Mail
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
Sufficiently Identified.

She walked into a branch bank on
upper Broadway and pushed a check
through the paying teller's window.
You will have to be identified" said
he. Il don't know you, madam"
You don't, eh?" said the woman,
with fire in her eye. Aren't you the
father of the Smith family that has
fat in the Pileremin apartments?"
Yes"
swell, l am the red headed janitress
that your wife's always complaining
about. 1 heard you say: Emily, If
our children get fighting with that old
fury in the basement don't quarrel
with her. Wait till get home and let
me talk with her. Now. if you think
YOU can get the best of an argument
WITH
Heres your money, madam" said
the paying teller. And she took it and
went Everybody Magazine
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
Sharks from the Wires.

Jacob Field, one of the best-known fig
ures on the New York stock exchange, is
to retire on Nov. 1.
Fanatical nonad bands have been mo-
5ilized in southern Morocco and are al
ready in armed rebellion.
Three trainmen were killed in Great
Northern collision near Whitefsh, Mont.
when a passenger and freight train met.
E. c. Cox. former president Of the Mid
dIeport. Ohio. bank. which failed a few
days ago, has been indicted by the grand
Jury.
By the eollapsing of an elevator in
the grain store of d. G. Stewart & Co.
of Pittsburg Adam Rhogus was killed.
Jacob Thayer may die.
There is scarcity of labor in Provi-
denee, r. l., cotton mills, notwithsJand-
ing the recent increase in wages there.
About 600 looms are idle.
Volunteer fire departments organized at
points on the Panama canal have been
unusually successful according to reports
to the isthmian commission.
Thomas O'Regan shot and killed Mrs.
Becky Bradford at Maysyille, KY and
later threw himself IN front OF a moving
freight train and was instantly killed.
The Aetna Banking and Trust Com
panv Of Washington, d. c.. has been cos
ed BY direction Of the acting comptroller
of the currency. Robert Lyons IS re-
ceiver.
The estate OF Corwin H Spencer, the
daring Spectator Of st. Louis and Chi
earo. who died suddenly May last. IS
valued at S40S. 036.SS, exclusive Of real
estate holdings, according TO the inventory
fled in s.. Louis.
Joseph l. White. alias Charles Holt.
who finished a two years sentence 81
Fort Leavenworth for robbing the post
Office az Fulton. No.. was arrested as he
left the gates. charged with ro5bing q
bank at Muncie, Ind.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
Near the Breaking Point.

The engagement between a wealthy
Baltimore belle and an impecunious
clubman of that city was at one time
last winter perilously near the break
ing off, point, and all by reason of the
unfortunate mistake Of a florists as.
sistant of whom the yeung man had or
dered flowers for his beloved.
1t appears that the young fellow had
hastily dispatched TO the florists estab-
ushment Two cards, one bearing an or
der for roses TO be sent TO the young
lady's address and the other intended
to be attached TO the flowers
What was the establishment and In
dIgnation of the beloved one wher on
taking the roses from their box she
found affixed the csrd bearing the le-
gend:
Roses Do the best yo5 can Cor 2.-
-Harper's Weekly.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
Labor,s Share in Prosperity.

The United States bureau of labor has
issued a report on the cost of living,
wages and hours of labor covering six
teen-year period beginning with 1890 and
ending with 1905. The figuring shows
that, although the prices of many staple
commodities have gone up, the purchasing
power of average wage for q shorter
weeks work has risen appreciaby. For
instance comparing the average wage
per hour in 1905 with that of 1894, it
appears that there has been an increase
of 21.5 per cent, while the average num-
Der of hours WORK per week has de-
creased 80. Thus these figures show that
the average wage Garner with shorter
hours makes 1864 per cent more than he
did in 1894. The estimate of the cost of
food is based upon the average family
consumption in 2.56T workingmen's fam
lilies. According to this, the price of food
has increased 1871 above 1890 and 9.S per
cent above 1894. Thus the average wages
would seem to purchase a. per cent more
food in 1905 than in 1894 and 81 more
than in 1890. At the same time, these
statistics show that the number employed
has increased - per cent over 1894 and
400 over 1890. Thus the total amount
paid in wages has been increased COT
per cent since 1894.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06

L wonder what has become of "Bub'
Hinkley. Remember him in the old
school days? He simply couldn't learn.
He knew more schemes for getting out
of work than any fellow you ever saw.
He was an expert with the slingshot,
bow and arrow, fists, and was the boss
all-around wrestler in the school, But
learning?
One time the teacher, Old Man Bruce.
you remember, gave "Bub" one Of those
examples like this: "A has a piece of
land. Half Of AS land and 80 acres
is twice as much as BIS and One-third
more than C's. How much land did
each have?"
"Bub" worked and perspired over his
slate for two solid hours and then gave
an awful yell and jumped right out of
the window. And we never saw him
again, for his folks moved away the
next day. 1 wonder what became Of
Bub-Legislature or pentitentiary?
You never can tell.-Cincinnati Post.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
Ventilation of Barns.

One of the great defects these days
in all large barns and many small ones
which are built is the lack of good
ventlating facilities. This is partly
due to ignorance and partly to indiffer-
ence and partly to lack Of good plan.
ming. This question is claiming the at
tention of some of the best architects
Of the day. No matter how well
barn may be equipped or how perfect
the sanitary conditions, it will not be
a success until ventilation is under
proper control Many of the largest
barns are built with the express pur.
pose Of raising blooded stock, and the
prevalence of tuberculosis among the
herds is thought in many cases to
originate from bad air.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
Getting rid of sassafras.

Sassafras is one Of the worst pests
that can find a hold on a field. Cut il
down, or even grub it up, and it will
reappear almost unexpectedly, grow.
ing rapidly and taking possession Of
the land There is a time when it can
be removed to the best advantage, how
ever, and that is by grubbing about the
LIST of September, removing the roots,
and then clearing off the field Should
any plants appear next spring, go into
the field and touch a little sulphurie
acid on each-half a teaspoonful will
answer-and repeat should any roots
reappear later, first cutting off all The
plants that snow above ground. This
is also an excellent method Of eradi.
eating thistles and other weeds that are
difficult to remove.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
The Reason WHY.

Yes said the honest farmer, q
know there are people what always
puts the big apples at the top of the
barrel. but I don't"
Yes" said his son; "our school
master was telling US today that that
sort of thing doesn't pay in the long
run"
Quite right, exclaimed the parent;
"if the folks round here would only
90 TO the big towns once in while
they'd learn something I always put
my big aples at the bottom Of the
barrel"
@WeH. that's honest enough, any
way"
YES: you see, people has got 50
suspicious that they most always or
en- the barrel at the bottom nova
DAYS. 4-Chums.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
A STRIP OF RAIL FENCE.

1T binds the end of the orchard
That slopes away to the east,
And stored in its tangle borders
Is many luscious feast.
a butternut guards one corner,
Wild grapes weave leafy screen,
And Haunting its orange berries
The bittersweet creeps between.
Each spring it hides in its shadows
A bright-eyed bird on a nest,
And curves in alluring fashion
rail that invites to rest.
1t leans in quiet contentment
Against a thornapple tree,
And watches over meadow
Where bobolinks sing in glee.
Dark stained and warped by the weather
And furrowed by rainy tears,
1t wears odd patches of lichen
Put there by the passing years:
Yet clothed it is in a beauty
That changes from day to day,
And leaves on my mind a picture
That never shall fade away.
New York Sun.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
CHINESE SKILL WITH AXES.
Carpenters of Cathay VIII Compare
with Credentials.


with Credentials.
Naturally pre-eminent among the
skilled craftsmen of China the carpen-
ter still maintains the leadership.
Though almost invariably welded to
the use of the tools of his ancestors
and to their methods, judged by re,
suits he is more efficient in his line
than are the average of the foreign
trained filters and machinists in theirs,
though a constant diminution of the
difference is in progress.
In judging the performance of the
native workmen it is almost impossi-
BILE to avoid the popular bias that adj
dictiOn to their own methods and tools
invariably bespeaks fatuous conserva-
tism. Though this is In many cases
true, it will often be found on careful
observation that what has passed for a
stubborn blindness to the virtue of in
novation is in reality a keener percep-
ton of comparative merits than the
judge himself was aware of.
This is particularly true of Chinese
carpenters. While most of their COM
moneSt tools differ in some radical way
from our own, it is never safe to as
sumo the superiority of the western
product Their small AK, for example,
is a beautifully balanced tool and they
are remarkably adept in the use of it,
being able to work as true a surface
Herewith as can he obtained with an
adze in the hands of the white man.
On heavy work it is customary for
two to hew together on opposite sides,
striking alternative blows. Both hands
are used and the recover is over the
sho alder, alternate right and left.
There is a freedom of swing with an
accuracy of delivery that is a treat to
watch and the rapidity of blows is al
most bewildering.-Engineering Maya
zine.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
SUITABLE LIGHTNING RODS.
Galvanized Iron Wire Said to Be as
Good as Copper,


A leading fire insurance company
having found that over 80 per cent.
of the losses of farm property are
due to lightning, it is said that the in
sGrance men intend to raise their
rates on property which is not pro-
tected by lightning rods. 1t is now
known that the rods are not infalli-
BILE, even when properly constructed,
but there is ample reason now for
thinking that they are much better
than nothing.
One of the abfeS5 technical periodi-
Gals in the United States, "The Elec-
trical World" insists that a galvaniz-
ed wire an eighth of an inch thick is
as useful for this purpose as a cop
per rod five times as thick and far
more expensive, but the iron wire
should be used freely. There should
be eight or ten galvanized iron wires
let down to ground level from the
roof, all tied together at the top and
also at the bottom by horizontal
wires. The top wire could safely lie
bottom wire should be connected to
permanent moist ground in two places
at least All joints between crossing
wires should be soldered and painted.
The aim of the method should be the
birdcage construction, and not the
mere insulated rod.
Finally, after enveloping barn in
a cage of galvanized iron telegraph
wire, judgment upon the results
should not be passed upon single
cases, but only upon collections of
hundreds of cases. There can be lit
tie hope of preventing all damage
from lightning End al fire hazard due
to lightning. The farmer can hope
only to reduce the danger, especially
when in dealing with so inhammable
a material as stored grain.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-06
How to Graft Grapevines.

The method of grating grapevines
is somewhat different from that prac-
ticed on apples and other orchard
fruits. The grape is grated a short
distance below the surface. The soil
is removed, the stock sawed off and
split, and the cion inserted after the
ordinary cleft method. The soil is then
returned and banked up around the
cion, on which there should be at least
two buds. The best time to do the
work is just as the stocks are starting
growth in the spring.-John Craig, Cor.
nell University.