davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-24
By Mrs. ]. M. deCottes

The history of the school improve ment movement in Alabama is one of interest, and is entirely the work of the women of the State. Two years ago the subject of school improvement was one that claimed a great deal of attention at meeting of the Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs in Mo- bile. and later in the spring, in March, number of the prominent women of the Federation met with Mir. l. w. Hill. State Superintendent of Educa- tion, in Mobile for the purpose of starting organized effort to accom- pltsh something in school improve ment
 A committee of five women was ap- pointed to organize school improve ment associations in different parts of the State. This committee was com posed of Mrs. J. D. Matlock of Bir- mingham, chairman; Mrs. Erwin Craighead of Mobile, Mrs. Ligon of Mo- bile.. Mrs. James L. Connaughy of Montevallo, and Mrs. R. E. L. Nell of Selma
 The work of this committee was car ried on until September, and many associations were organized The work grew so fast and met with such hearty encouragement from all parts of the State whenever the subject was presented, that 1t was decided there should be some one whose whole time could be devoted to the work of or ganizing throughout the State. So it was deemed expedient to devote a part of the Peabody fund to securing the services of an energetic and efficient officer whose entire time would be spent in the work.
 Miss Burns, whose work has proven the wisdom of the choice, was select ed for the position. Her duty Is to attend the teachers institute Tn every county, and to organize associations in every county, the members of which are to organize local associa- tions in every school district. There are now nine county associations and thirty-one local ones.
 Last Wednesday, Miss Burns went to Bay Minette, and from there to stockton, a distance of ten miles, where she attended a teachers Insti- tute which lasted an entire week, the most prolonged institute ever held in Alabama. During the week, the fifty teachers in attendance were enter tained by the people of Stockton.
 Before her return, Miss Burns was successful in organizing a county as- socfation of twelve members in Butler County, and a local one at Stockton, of twenty-nine members. Mir J. s. Hamburg of Bay Minette is county su- perintendent, and the institute was in charge of A. s. Mckenzie, professor Of English in the University of Kentucky.
 A number of the counties in the State have offered a prize of $25 to the teacher who makes the greatest improvement in his or her school and Butler County is one of these coun- ties.
 II is the privilege of each county In the State to spend $10 of the Pea body fund for stamps and other neces- sities in forwarding the work of school improvement
 After the death of Mrs. James L. McConnaughy. year ago, Mrs F. ID. Thames of Greenville was appointed to take her place as member of the committee on school improvement of the Federation.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-24
Killed with Dope Needle,

Albuquerque. N. M, Feb, 22.-His Dr. Sherwood B. Ives, of New York, an oarsman, who accidental shot himself at Datil Saturday night, plunged the needle with which he had been vainly probing for the bullet into a vital organ and died almost instantly. This fact was developed at the inquest yes- terday.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-24
'. ID. PIntx fla nead

City of Mexico, Feb. 22.-J. D. Platz. travelling freight and passenger agent of the Gould lines, died here suddenly today of pneumonia. He was well known in railroad circles in the republic. His home was originally South Bend, Ind.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-24
CREAM PUFFs.

CREAM PUFFs. Nothing more delicious than nice fresh Cream PufRs. 25 cents a dozen. Order early today from
 RANDY KITCHEN, Hinds a Hyatt, Phone 5.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-24
QUALTTY,

Is what appeals to flower lovers.
 We are now cutting some Carnations that measure from three to four inches in dlameter-three to the foot. See them in our window at Montgomery, Drug Co.
 S. B. Stern & Co. il Dexter. Phone 1901.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-24
CHARLES ABERCROMBIE,s
 BIRTHDAY PARTY

DAAA HDAA FAhI hs
 In celebration of his 9th birthday. Master Charles c. Abercrombfe enter tained number of friends Friday at a George Washington party at the home or his parents, MT. and Mrs Charles G. Abercrombie, on Perry Street. The entire lower floor was devoted to the pleasure of the little folk, and was lav- ishly adorned in narcissus roses and carnations.
 During the first part of the afternoon games of various description were n1av- ed in three of the apartments. and a iittle later grand march opened the dancing portion of the festivities. The guests were formed into marching line In the library with the young host leading with Miss Elizabeth Stevenson, oaugnter or pr. and Mrs. John For ney stevenson. The line of march led Into the reception hall from the Ii- orary. and thence into the drawing room through two other apartments | and back into the library.
 After several beautiful figures were introduced the march broke into the waltz as first number on the dance pro- gram. At the conclusion of this games were once more the order of amuse- ment until refreshments were announce ed and the marching line was formed again. The host led the way into the dining room, where a splendidly ap- pointed and adorned table was laid with covers for forty-one
 In the center of the table tall cut glass vase of white and red roses was surrounded by tracing of cherries l and foliage. From the chandelier to each corner of the table scarfs of red and white ribbon were drawn and caught with bow knots. A line of six crystal candlesticks tied with red rib bon and hatchet in which white and red candles burned surrounded the ta- l ble, and a row of hatchets was suspend ed from the outer edge of the chande- Her, to be pulled as souvenirs of the happy occasion.
 Red and white bon hons and the cake on which six candles burned. completed the charmingly effective picture. When the cake was cut by the little host the dime fell to Miss Alice Grigg, and the nickle to Master Roman Greil
 Miss Alice Grigg assisted Master Charles in receiving his friends and entertaining them. The guests were Misses Elizabeth Dent, Julia Marks willaleen Moore, Jane Massey. Sarah Ferrall, Ella Frances Bealc. Elizabett Fowler, Julia Anderson, Ruth Sadler Elizabeth Adams, Elizabeth Stevens Mary Seal West Winona Peck, Gather the Powell, Dorothy Cobbs, Virginia Smith, Elise Parrish, Sophie Gerson
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11
rAE oLp MANS \
Deposition Was Altogether Too saspl.
cious Of Bank officials.

"Did you hear bout the old mans
experience in the bankln' business -
NO; what was it,
why. he put $50 in b%ank-hrst
money he'd ever put there-an' the
boys toll him that he'd better keep a
eye on the bank. as they failed mighty
frequent, an he wuz liable 10 lose
ALL"
"Welle''
well. he hung round that bank so
constant that the bank people got sus-
pic!ous of him. an thought he wuz
goin' TO blow the bank up; whenever
he seen the cashier come out he fol.
lowed him round town. always keep.
in him In sight; an II wuz the same
way with the bank president. an all
the clerks; an when he finally ap-
piled fer a job as ianitor o the insti.
tution-so's he could be on the spot
In case o. tr%ouble-they had him ar
rested an the judge decided that he
was crazy an they wuz jest about to
send him to the lunatic asylum when
his friends explained things an the
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11

tom to the joists by using a measur.
ing stick OF the proper length. but
the floor should be lower in one cor
ner, enough to drain readily. Every
cement cellar bottom should have o
drain to carry off the water when the
cellar is being cleaned. A clean eel.
lar is necessary for health and If pro-
vision is made for easy washing when
the cellar is built the cleaning will
be done much oftener than it will be
il this %precaution Is neglected.
Another point that should be re.
membered is the cement top surface
which should be about three-quarters
OF an inch thick, composed of cement
one part to three parts of clean sharp
sand, first thoroughly mixed dry,
then thoroughly mixed wet enough SO
that water will follow the trowel In
smoothing. This coat should be put
on the concrete foundation while the
concrete is still damp, otherwise 1t
may not stick properly and you will
have a floor that sounds hollow.
Another point in cement construc-
ton is the opportunity to make the
cellar window stills Of cement and to
embed the frames thoroughly and
carefully in the wall. In the north.
ern part OF the country where the cold
is extreme in winter this p~recaution
will help a great deal in making a
frost proof cellar.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11

ODDS md Ends Can Pc Turned to
Good Account.

lEELLEA Lfa HHltNfEH H4s
Old baibriggan underwear and out.
Ing or wash flannel may be used for
mop rags, but better stili Is the waste
or woven mop cloth which can be
bought at any furniture shop. Mop.
ping floors Is hard on cloths. and it
pays to buy something woven for the
purpose.
Old silk skirts and waists can be
cut up and washed, for busters. Moth.
ing except perhaps chamois is better
for a piano case than soft old silk.
For taking finger marks and spots on
q piano case use a chamois and cold
water. Polish dry with chamois or old
silk. Old silk is also good for busting
b~ric-a-brac.
Old black stockings may be made
into mitts with which to rub dust out
OF SILK skirts. Put a mitt on either
hand and rub the silk on both right
and wrong side. These mitts do bet.
ter work than any clothes brush
made, especially II mud or clay is
thickly encrusted in the silk.
DO not employ old stockings for
holders to be used around the stove
unless You cover them with ticking.
Better even than stockings to fill hold
ers Is conton flannel or asbestos.
The best dish rags are made from
cheese cloth doubled and sewed with
seams turned inside. Next to cheese
cloth come old gauzc shirts, sewed
double. Either of these fabrics Is SO
porous that grease and CRIME wash
out easily.
Boil your rags in a washing powder
and household ammonia. Do not let
them get hopelessly and %irremediably
dirty. And have handy hooks and
racks on which to hang them where
air and sunlight will strike them.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11

Melancholy MAJ, Thinks He Has Made
Great Discovery.

Il think announced the melancholy
man, that I have discovered the sc.
cret OF much u~nhappiness in This
world. Il Is that large numbers OF
people are constitutionally incapable
Of knowing what they want to do"
1T follows" he went on with a sigh,
that the things which they are doing
are, very likely, those which do not
appeal 10 them. They can stop them,
OF course, but what u have
they that they will be any better of
the next time?
1t Is only by a process Of gradual
very gradual-elimination that they
a hope to arrive at anything passa.
bly, satisfactory, and even when this
end is attained it Is more by luck than
by design. The person who really Is
10 be congratulated is the man or
woman absolutely sure of what he or
she wants and who goes after 1t with
every bit of energy that can be sum
moned up.
Such persons may not succeed In
their aims" the melancholy nan con
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11
.
TO PICKLE SMALL cUCUMBERs.
Instructions That II Followed Will
Give Best Results.

Take a hundred small cucumbers,
dry-picked and fresh from the vines,
wash the sand from them and wipe
them dry. Place them in a large
stone jar or wooden vessel, put on top
OF them a pint Of salt, a piece OF
alum size of small nutmeg and cover
with boiling water. Cover with a
close fitting lid or tie several thick
nesses of parafin paper oyer the top
and let stand 20 hours. Take out the
cucumbers, wipe them dry, place them
in a clean jar in alternate layers, with
following spices: Take one table
spoonful Of mustard seed, one If all.
spice, a root Of horseradish grated or
cut in thin strips, a few small red pep,
pers and sufficient vinegar to fill the
jars, which must be only two.thirds
full Of cucumbers. When cold cover
closely and they will keep for years.
Pour the vinegar oven the pickles
while boiling hot.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11

- Ma LL
everything goes together right, but
when you have to stop and chisel
blocks to At then the expense for
labor mounts up at . lively rate.
Before signing the contract find ont
positively II the builders know ex-
actly how to design and manufacture
blocks that Will 60 together without
this extra expense. The house owner
is the one who pays the bills whether
the house Is built under contract or
by days labor. A contractor that un.
derstands his business will make a
bid that Is reasonable, but a contract
or who has not had experience In ce-
mcnt block construction il likely to
lead himself and the owner into dini-
cuties.
Hollow cement blocks are very
much the best. They require consid-
erabiy less material In the making,
and the open space IN the wall 10 =
benaft y Il permits the construction
Of hollow walls which are universally
preferred.
Ppovfsion u made In this plan for :
cement Aoor in the cellar - wel - =
cement outside cellar entrance. the
waiIs * which and the stairs yre
built totethsr ma whtn finished rel W
make - Nc splid stone. The "a
pOoiti0a lor ~ cellar bottom 4
IflxxHAk ~ &-xxHe~~ -
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11

Nj. william A. Radford win answer
questions and give advice FREE OF
COST or all subjects pertaining to tho
subject Of building for the readers Of tIia
ricnce as Editor. Author and Manufac-
turer, he is, without doubt, the highest
authority on all these subjects. Address
all inquiries TO William A. Radford. No.
1874 Fifth Ave-, Chicago, H.. and only
enclose two-cent stamp for reply.
A cement block house IS feet long
by 81 feet wide without. measuring
the porches, is given in this plan. The
first cement block houses were eypen-
sive and unsatisfactory, because no
one knew how to make the blocks or
how 10 avoid the many little difficult
ties that presented themselves. Me
chanical ingenuity. however, and our
acquired knowledge Of mixing cement,
gravel, broken stone and cinders, with
improved block making machines,
have simplified matters until it is now
quite possible to build a better house
OF cement for less money than the
ordinary wooden houses cost.
OF course there are many side is.
sue which affect this general state.
meut. In some parts Of the country
the right kind Of sand and stone Ia
abundant. in other places 1t must
be brought from a distance. In ce.
ment construction one OF the greatest
problems is the cost of teaming the
heavy materials necessary to make
the blocks, but there are locations
where the block machines may be
set down on the lot where the house
is to be built and the gravel or sand
from the cellar excavation used In
the mixture that goes through the
block machine. In q last of this kind
the only teaming necessary is to have
the bags of cement, the millwork
ioists and lumber necessary for the
floors and the shingles and rafters for
the roof.
In building a cement block house,
where stone is plentiful, it is a good
plan to lay up a stone wall to the
grade and to plaster the wall on the
outside with a layer Of cement mortar
TO keep the dampness from the
ground from striking through into the
cellar. The top of this stone wall
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11
Bran Gems.

This recipe is for bran gems, and
so delicious are they that anyone
might find eating them a gastronomic
pleasure, says a writer In the House
keeper. A clean hygienic bran may
now be obtained from any up-to-date
grocer.
The recipe calls for n egg, n
tablespoonful OF butter, one.half cup.
full Of sugar, IL liked sweet, one cup.
full milk. one cupful flour, two cupfuls
bran, two teaspoonfuls baking powder
and a pinch Of salt. Bake in gem pans
in a hot w One-third Of a cupful Of
currants may be added, II desired, and
will be found extremely nice.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11
PIums in Batter.

Make a batter with two beaten eggs,
Ave tablespoonfuls of flour, rather
more than a pint of milk, and a pinch
Of salt. Remove the stones from a
quart of large ripe plums, crack them,
put the kernels inside of the plums
again, mix the fruit with two heaping
tablespoonfuls of moist sugar and
stir 1t lightly into the batter. Turn
1t into a buttered pudding dish, and
bake in a hot oven until done, about
40 minutes. Sprinkle powdered sugar
owe the top, and serve hot with half
a cupful of butter, one cupful of sugar
and M w%ell-beaten egg stirred to a
cream and favored with half a tea
spoonful Of nectarine. This dessert is
especially popular with masculine pal.
ates,
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11
In the Shadow Of the sacrsd Cod.

A young lady, evidently al ANA
teur fisherman, presented an odd
sight as she walked up Atlantic ave-
nue. Sunday with a large cod in her
hand. To all appearances she had
been fishing and the fish that she
carried was the prize of the catch,
She insisted on carrying it with her
on the electric car, and although
many held their noses as the car sped
on she paid no attention to them, but
instead simply smiled.--Boston Even
ing Record.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11
Frozen Maple Sirup Souffle.

One pint maple strip. one cup OF
sugar. one-half box of gelatine, one.
,half cup of cold water, yolks of six
eggs, n quart Of cream. Mix the
sugar and strip together, cover the
gelatine with cold water and soak one,
half hour; then add one pint of boil
Ing water and stir until dissolved.
Beat the yolks of the eggs and stir in
the strip and gelatine, Freeze. When
about frozen stir in quickly the cream.
which must be whipped stiff. Set
aside, well packed In ice for two hours
before serving. This Is nice served In
paper cups. There are innumerable
designs for these dainty cups, and
they look very pretty when served
with a cherry In the center of each.
Serve narrow slices of fingers OF
chocolate frosted cake with this souf.
de.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11

OF the fourteen archbishops in the
United States, Archbishop Ryan of
Philadelphia is the oldest, and he is
but 76 years of age. Cardinal GSbbons
is 70. Archbishop Ireland of st. Paul,
who comes next. in point of years, is
50, Archbishop Keane of Dubuque is
68, and Archblshops Farley and Rlor.
dan OF New York and San Francisco
respectively are 65.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11
ARE WORLDS FINEST STABLES.
Most Luxurious Horse Quarters on
Earth TO Be Found In Newport.

wv -trss'Ses 'fSfoS SSNft~ts W.
Earth TO Be Found In Newport,
No one feature Of Newport extraya-
gance more clearly shows the mint
Of money lavished on this playground
OF millionaires than the wonderful
stables attached to every establish
ment, says the Broadway Magazine.
Take, for instance, the O. II. p.
Belmont villa. 1t has q stable for It's
ground floor Of such dimensions that
o coach and four q drive In. turn
about and drive out again. II con-
tains the most elaborate equipment
Of carriages and harness In the world;
It's walls are decorated with rare old
prints and b~lue-ribbon prizes. The
estates Of the brothers Vanderbilt,
Alfred and Reginald, At Sands Point,
are veritabIe villages Of stables. As
you pass, DR.. Austin Flint whirls by
In his motor, and You remember that
people from Maine to California are
reading that Miss Reginald Wander.
bilt Is confined in the house with .
cold"
The mere incidents impress You at
hrst with the extravaganza Of New.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11

also receives a coat Of cement mortar.
in fact the stones that compose the
wall are laid in cement and the inter
stices are filled with spalls imbedded
in the soft cement mortar. This
makes a very solid stone wall and a
splendid foundation for the cement
blocks.
One difficulty which has been over
come is the designing Of cement
blocks that fit in around the windows
and doors and that match right at
the without the necessity of
making a whole lot of blocks Of espe.
cial sizes. Cement blocks are large
and the wall goes up quickly when
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11
An ExcaIIent starch.

While starch is still hot on the
stove, drop into it a lump OF alum
and stir slowly until dissolved. A
lump the size OF the end Of your little
finger to a quart of starch In about
the right proportion. Your irons will
not stick and aprons and blouses and
80 forth will keep clean longer. As
this starch gives the fabric somewhat
of a waterproof nature, spots can
often be rubbed on before the ma.
terial has had time to absorb the
dirt.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11
HON. EvERARD ST. cYR.
British Legation.

Soon after the train arrived In
Washington Daphne's papa was In
the Office Of the war department, pre-
ferring charges against Capt, Dare,
while Dapbne's too enthusiastic adj
mirer, In his room at the Ebbitt house,
was developing the film Of his latest
snap shot.
As he proceeded 10 do so, he re.
marked, rather pensively: II sup.
pose I did wrong, and there will be
old Nick to pay, but was / to miss
an opportunity like that? The pic
ture will be a gem"
Subsequently, he was placed under
arrest and confined to his quarters
at the hotel. to await trial BY a mill.
tary tribunal.
One morning, who should call on
him but Daphne, darkly yelled. and
accompanied by her maid, who looked
a modish duenna In her Frenchihed.
black garb.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11

and four parts small clean broken
stone. The word clean to a cement
man al that the sand and stone
used must be free from clay or ordl-
nary earth because clay or loan will
not combine and II used the cement
will be crumblF. The ann Of mix.
ing differs somewhat with different
workmen. but the old method Of mix.
ing the materials thoroughly dry. then
mixing again thoroughly wet has
never been improved upon.
II the owner understands some OF
the general principles Of cement con.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11

As attractive and tasty q salad as
has been seen for many . day was
served It a luncheon recently. Green
cages cut into halves and bananas In
cubes had been covered with oil and
powdered sugar and allowed to stand
on the Ice for . couple Of hours. Whip.
ped cream topped the salad when II
was sent to the table.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11
School Teacher ! Growing Giant.

4N VSVSSs tSSstvs = wi 0I0UIs CAV
Greene county, Pennsylvania, has
produced a prodigy in Stanley Wright.
It's youngest school teacher. who. for
height and avoirdupcis. It IL believed.
stands without o peer In the state.
Young Wright 10 = product 81 Rich.
hill township. and although only IA
years old, stands six feet seven inches
in HIS hose, tips the beam It z5e
pounds, and IL still growing. H
a a No. is shoe, which he has
made to order. The young giant Win
teach In n Of the schools or Richntl
township. and the foolish Richhsl1
schoolboy who undertakes to lick ~
teacher will need to be : David -
know how 10 throw stones.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11

struction he is in much better position
to talk and deal with contractors and
with much better satisfaction on both
sides. 1t is an important piece OF
work to start to build a house that
n expects to live in for probably a
number of years and it pays well to
read up and know for certain whether
things are just al others represent
them or not.
One point in making a cellar bot.
tom that every n should know is
the n of leveling the ground. A
cellar bottom usually is not put in I'M
til after the first floor joists are In
place. The ioists of course are level,
and it is easy to level the cellar bot