davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07

solution of the monasteries it was con-
fiscated and presented by the King
to Viscount Montague, who, though
himself Roman Catholic, had no
scruple in accepting it.
The prioress made a dignified pro-
test against the spoliation of the
church, and finding protest vain she
cursed the Montague family with the
curse of fire and water" and foretold
its extinction.
So long, however, as the Montagues
continued Catholic the curse appeared
imperative, but in the eighteenth cen
tury the then Lord Montague married
a daughter of the famous Countess of
Huntingdon. who founded the Coun-
tess of Huntingdon's Connexion. and
under her influence became a Protes-
tant. Tales are told of conventicles
held in the famous Chestnut avenue
in Cowdray Park, but efforts to hold
similar meetings in the chapel always
failed, owing to the lights being mys-
teriously extinguished.
The first Protestant Montague, how
ever, reverted on his deathbed TO the
ancient faith: and perhaps this war
the reason that in spite of the curse
he died peacefully in his bod. His
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07
HOME CLUBS
They Should Be Organized
and Active in Every
Community.
PATRONIZE HOME MERCHANTS
The Great Danger to Local Interests
That Are Found in the Mail
Order Systems-Educate
the Public.

(Copyrishted, 1906. by Alfred C. Clarlx)
Why should we trade at home?
Why should we consider home in any
way more than any other place unless
1t pays us financially? First, because
1T is our home. The pride we should
take in the prosperity of our home
town and our neighbors should be suf-
ficient inducement to give them the
preference. Second, because beyond
all doubt or question, it pays from a
money point.
The greatest menace to the country
merchant to-day is the mail order
business, and with the decline OF the
country merchant coraes inevitable
loss to the citizens of both town and
country. What at first was considered
a great convenience and an exhibition
OF commendable enterprise has grown
to be one of the crying commercial
evils. The success of the mail order
house is the result of constant. ex-
tensive and intelligent advertising. 1t
is not by persistent swindling as some
tell us, for no business was ever built
up in that way. The home merchant
can do no better than to adopt the
same method, the judicious use of
printers ink.
While the merchants are the heav-
lest immediate losers, and could do
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07

son did not live to enjoy the. estate.
He was drowned in the Rhine trying
to shoot the falls of Schaffhausen and
the story goes that the messenger,
coming post haste to England with
his evil tidings, was met at Calais by
another messenger with the news that
Cowdray house had been burned to
the ground
The tragic fulfilment of the double
curse of fire and water" was such a
severe blow that no effort appears to
have been made to preserve the half
ruined mansion from further damage
or to restore it in any way.
The estate passed to the sister of
the drowned heir and not many years
later the curse of water was again
fulfilled: her two sons were drowned
by the capsizing of a boat before the
very eyes of their parents. The title
went to the next male Montague in
the succession. who died without heir.
and the family became extinct
1t is certainly story full of strange
coincidence. A somewhat similar story
of curse coming true was related
to the writer by gentleman who was
personally acquainted VIII all the
people concerned.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07
d117F15 @81SaNF Naaa05f M Mo0caNe17 0aaS006a71

most important previous one having
been in 1898, when three types were
entered, the Baker submarine meeting
the other two Since then, however,
and even since 1900 and 1901, when all
the submarines now in the navy were
constructed there have been ire
mendous strides in their construction.
Each firm will be represented by it's
latest designs, embodying all that has
been learned about the science of
summarizing" up to the present time
The Holland company will present the
Octopus, the first of the four new
boats to be completed at the Fore Riv-
er yard. The Lake company recently
completed boat at Newport News
which it claims is the best possible
example of submarine construction.
This was taken to Bridgeport, Conn,
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07

Three young officers belonging to a
regiment at that time stationed in the
Punjab decided to build themselves a
house on hill overlooking the Sutlei
river, and in doing this they trespassed
on the sacred ground surrounding the
tomb of some half forgotten saint An
old Mohammedan who had charge Of
the tomb endeavored to persua de
them to move the site of their house
but finding them obudrate, cursed
them with oriental fuency, declaring
that not one of the three should die
in his bed and that the house would
never stand
The curse was disregarded. The
house was built. Shortly after one
officer was killed out tiger shooting
while another met his death PLAYING
polo. The third fell SO dangerously
i'll that it seemed as if he would
break the prophecy by dying in his
bed He was sent home. however. re-
sove. ed, and returning to India two
Fears later, was drowned going up the
Gauges in a boat.
On the same day, so it is told, the
river Sutlej oyerflowed its banks and
washed away the housa.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07

they cannot consistently ask otheis To
trade with them when they do not
patronize their brothers In trade. The
editors should patronize home, and
even at considerable personal sacrifice
refuse foreign advertising for lines or
goods in competition with the home
merchant. The editor deserves more
credit than he receives. Many we'll
TODD farmer or city man would think
himself perfectly justified in sending
away for all his groceries and cloth
ing if he thought he could save ten
dollars thereby on years purchases,
but most editors forfeit many times
that much every year by refusing ad-
vertising from distant firms in the
same lines of business as his home
merchants and sometimes the home
merchant even then declines to adj
vertise.
Trade-at-home clubs might be or
ganized, with mottos something like
Club" or 81 Patronize the Home Mer-
chants" or II Buy Nothing from Mail
Order Houses" for members to dis
play. The acceptance and displaying
of such card might constitute per-
so nor member.
Much of the tra1ing away from
home is due to thoughtlessness and
ignorance of business principles.
Many persons consider only the first
cost; if they save rs cents ON ten
dollar order by buying from a mail
order house they consider that clear
gain. They should be shown that
merchant and his family living in
their midst, keeps up house, pays
taxes, adds to the social features, con-
tributes generously towards public en-
terprises, etc. If by buying at home
their town gives support to several
more local merchants, creating bet
ter home market, they get back lib
eral percentage. Every man and WON.
an takes more or less pride in local
affairs and is willing to contribute
something toward home improve.
ments, II the matter is fairly pre-
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07

scented. That is why say the rem
edy lies in education.
Most mail order houses claim they
are enabled to sell cheaper than coun-
try dealers because they buy in larger
quantities and get especially low
prices This is often a base mis-
statement of facts; let me cite an in
stance: A stock man from eastern
Washington was visiting in Kansas
City. One morning, walking with his
nephew, who was clerk in lead
ing wholesale hardware house, he
asked where Bland & Co.'s store was
located. Don't think ever heard Of
them," replied the young man. 20,
yes, I do remember the firm; they
have no store, they have an office liz
(giving the name of the building),
but don't see how they can sell hard
ware as low as your home merchants,
for while we sell them goods at less
than retail price, we don't give them
as low prices as regular dealers, be-
cause they buy in such small quanti-
ties, just as they get ORDERS" The
stockman was greatly surprised, he
supposed he had been dealing with
one of the largest firms in the city.
The mail order business has devel-
oped so slowly, and works so quietly
that few persons realize the magni-
tude 1t has assumed nor to what ex-
tent it is now sapping the life-blood of
many small cities and towns. Even
now we hear the excuse given for
sending away for goods, that the mer,
chants carry such poor stocks. The
wonder is that they carry any.
It is a fact that country merchants
sell the same class of goods cheaper
than the big city merchants, and there
are good reasons for Indifference in
rents, insurance, clerk hire, etc. The
same is equally true as to the mail
order house--it may save in rent and
in several ways over the big mer
chants, but it pays more for advertis.
ing, packing and shipping, SO that,
for the same quality of goods, the
home merchant can, and generally
does, undersell the catalogue house.
The latter makes selling goods study
and his advertising is carefully word.
ed and weighed. He uses few stand.
ard articles for bait, by selling them
at cost, but he adds enough to the
price of other articles, with which the
public is not familiar, to make up the
loss. Perhaps the country merchant
could not duplicate the price on these
articles while he would be perfectly
willing to sell the whole bill orderDd
at the mail order house price.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07
2ver the DECLARATIONS Cor the tests.

over the preparations for the tests.
From the notices sent to prospective
competitors outlining the require
ments and the nature of the tests, no.
tees which the navy department itself
declined to make public, the impor-
lance of the event in naval progress is
evident. For one Of the tests a storm
at sea will be necessary, since each
contestant will be required to demon
strate its stability in as rough water
as Neptune can be induced to furnish
for the occasion.
Another important feature will be
the submerged test, during which each
competitor will be kept beneath the
surface for "a hours, when the crew
will be dependent entirely on the re-
sources of the boat for food, air and
all living accommodations. This will
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07

submarines are An extremely recent
development of naval science Few
people are aware that they were ac-
tualIy employed by the American col
onies during the revolution and that
during the civil war a federal cruiser
was blown up by confederate sub
marine.
The boats thus employed were, of
course. crude affairs in comparison
with the craft that will meet in COM
petition down the bay, but they were
interesting examples of early expert
ments and sufficiently refute the no.
ton that submarines are strictly mod.
ern affairs. But for an unforeseen OBJ
stacle the submarine built by David
Bushnell. a Connecticut inventor, dur.
ing the revolution would have blown
I'D one of the British men-of-war lying
off Brooklyn at time when the col
to the bottom did the same thing for
the submarine, and there it still rests,
a tomb of iron for the nine intrepid
men who formed her crew.
Before she was employed against
the Housatonic several crews had lost
their lives in experimenting with her,
and this has been used by advocates
of the submarine as proof that in time
of need men will always be found
ready to risk the dangers of the tickle
craft. This has been still further dem
onstrated by the ability to secure
crews for submarines in spite of the
disasters which have befallen boats of
that type in the French and other
European navies during the past few
years.
Since the days of the crude subma.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07
NEWS OF WISCONSIN
HAPPENINGS OF INTEREST IN
THE VARIOUS TOWNS.
CONVENTION AT WAUSAU
Buttermakers of the State Will Meet
February 6, z, and 8-Premium
Fund Is the Largest That
Has Ever Been Offered.

Madison.-The sixth annual conven'
ton of the Wisconsin Buttermakers
association will be held in Wausau,
February s, Z and s. The premium
fund, to be awarded on the pro rata
plan to all makers having butter at
the convention scoring 80 points or
over, is the largest ever offered by any
state organization, viz: $1,139.42.
This fund will be distributed as soon
as the scoring of the butter is finished,
which is done in the presence of the
maker, If present, in order that the
judge and critic may explain wherein
the faults, if any, lie. This feature
is distinctive1y Wisconsin one, hav-
ing been first tried at the first Wis
cOnsin convention.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07

rlne of the civil war the development
onies were in dire straits and success
in Bushnelps enterprise would have
seemed like a miracle sent from
heaven by the underwater route.
Had Washngton's Approval.
Bushnell's plans were approved by
Washington, and turtle-shaped boat
holding air enough to permit the sim
gle operator to remain under water
half an hour was built. The operator
succeeded in getting under the bot
toms of several of the British vessels,
but found them copper sheathed,
which prevented the attaching of the
torpedoes with screw as had been
the plan. 1t was the primitive char
acter of the torpedoes available, there
fore, rather than the limitations of the
boat ITSELF which caused the enter
prise to fail.
During the civil war submarine
constructed by an Indiana shoemaker
was employed by the confederates in
Charleston harbor, and they succeeded
with it in sinking the cruiser Housa-
tonic The boat was cigar-shaped
craft carrying crew of nine, and was
propelled by oars ingeniously equipped
It has been claimed that she was run
ming practically on the surface when
she made her attack and. that there
fore her effectiveness as a submarine
was not fully demonstrated.
1t remains, however, the only in
stance when submarine has been
successfully employed in actual war
fare, and the manner of the attack
will never be known, for the explosion
of the torpedo which sent the cruiser
of the submarine has been marvellous.
but most of it has been based on the
Introduction of the gasoline engine.
thus providing practical motive pow
er for the conditions that must be
met. The modern submarine, there
fore, owes its standing to the same
thing that has created automobiles as
an important factor of civilization and
has made the perfection of the aero
plane appear to be among the posi-
bilities of the near future.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07

lieved to be building them in it's own
yards.
Six of the eight submarines of the
American navy are practically identi-
cal in size and type, being of 120 tons
each. They are the Adder, Grampus,
Moccasin, Pike, Porpoise and Shark.
The Holland is older and smaller, be-
ing the original one of the modern
submarines to be adopted in our navy,
while the Plunger is identical with the
others in practically every respect
save that it is slightly heavier. The
cost of each, except the Holland, was
$4,000
Those now building at Fore River
the Octopus, Viper, Cutie Fish and
Tarantula-are larger than the earlier
ones and show many devices not in
cluded in them The Octopus, though
details concerning it have been care
fully guarded, is known to be of about
800 tons.
Varying Methods Used.
To the landsman there would seem
small difference in submarines. The
general principle of all is the same
When ready to go under the surface
they are made almost as heavy as the
surrounding water by admitting water
to the ballast tanks and then dropping
below the surface either by diving,
through the movement of the boat and
the use of the horizontal rudder or on
an even keel by further admission of
water.
In the methods employed, however,
there are differences between the Hol-
land and Lake types which are radi-
cal in their effect on the efficiency of
the craft. and friends of the Lake boat
have maintained that in the coming
test its superiority will be demon
strated in spite of the governments
previous adherence to the Holland
boat.
The great increase in attention Civ
en- by naval powers during the past
two or three years to submarine con-
struction, of which the Narragansett
bay tests are evidence, naturally Gre
ates interest in previous attempts to
employ submarines in warfare. 1t is
popularity but incorrectly assumed that
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07

for the finishing touches. Each of the
rivals, therefore, will be offering the
extreme limit of it's achievements to
| the government.
In spite of the fact that some naval
officers are strongly opposed to sub
| marines and that their actual worth
in war is still to be demonstrated, the
United States in deciding to continue
their construction is merely following
the example of European powers. Rus
STA and Japan each ordered subma-
rines during the recent war, but none
of them was put into use so far as is
known. France has thus far led the
way, and now has fleet of over SO
submarines. They are, however. of
varying sizes and types, the French
having apparently been unable to de-
eide upon a fixed type.
Britain Uses Holland Type.
Great Britain paid small attention
to submarines till within a few years,
but now has considerable fleet much
more homogeneous in character than
Frances, the British admiralty hav-
ing practically adopted the Holland
type. 1t has also been constructing
submarines of 500 tons, believed to be
the largest that any nation has at
tempted.
Germany has recently begun the
construction of submarines with great
zeal and plans to develop a consider
able fleet of the craft, while both Italy
and Austria are beginning to acquire
them. Little has been known of the
naval activity of Russia and Japan
since the war, but each nation is be-
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07

Ghosts have long been made sub
ject OF careful scientific inquiry; we
wonder that the Psychical Research
society does not enlarge its sphere
and investigate the failure or fulfil
ment of prophecies and curses. hered-
itary or otherwise.
One of the most singular recorded
instances of the apparent fulfilment
of a curse, says the London Chronicle,
is told of the Montague family, the
original possessors of the Cowdray
estate at Midhurst, now in the hands
of the Earl of Egmont The Cowdray
property belonged to the Roman Cath
Ollie church, being a dependence of
Easebourne Priory, somo portions of
which arc still to be seen. At the dis
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07

under water for longer periods than
have yet been attempted in official
tests.
Limit to Safe Depth.
Previous tests have lasted IL hours
and the crews have declared that the
limit was by no means reached. The
amount of fresh air carried and the
amount used during the test will be
carefully noted.
| A depth of $50 feet is about as great
as submarines would be called on to
reach in actual service, but in the
coming tests, to quote the announce
ment to builders, mo boat will be &C
copied as fulfilling all the require
ments of the navy department unless
the boat will stand without damage
the stresses due to an actual sub
mergence of at least 200 feet"
Other tests will include speed trials
over measured mile courses in light,
cruising and awash conditions, sub
merged speed trials, firing of tOrpedoes
in submerged and other conditions.
mining, countermining, cable cutting
and handling torpedoes.
The details of the tests, including
the number of trials to each boat un-
der the varying conditions, are left
entirely in the hands of the trial
board, of which Capt Adolph Mark,
u. S. N, is chairman. The test is to
last as long as necessary to complete
the trials under every condition of
weather that is desired. 1t was sug-
gested by the secretary of the navy
that the date be changed on account
of the probability of cold weather at
that time, but no action was taken on
this suggestion.
Winter weather is of small cOnse-
quence to submarines in action, as
was demonstrated during trial of the
Lake Submarine company's Protector
in January, 1904, when the mast was
carried away by the ice under which
80 feet, and she rose to the surface
through an ice foe from five to ten
inches thick without suffering harm
1t may, however, be more of factor
in adding to the difficulties of the "a
hour submerged test.
Two Companies Compete.
So far as is now anticipated, the
only competitors will be the Holland
and Lake Submarine Boat companies.
Between these two the competition
has always been most bitter. The fact
that the navy department has stuck to
the Holland type has aroused much
criticism and the contest has been
waged with great warmth in congress,
where charges have been made that
the devotion of the department to the
Holland type was due to political in
fluence.
There have been previous tests in
which the two designs have met, the
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-07
SUES DRUG FIRM FOR $3.50.
NapervilIe Man Accuses Concern of
Fraud and Hypnotism.

Milwaukee William F. Dahl of Ma
perviIle, ILL.,, has started suit in the
Dane county circuit court against the
HOLSTER Drug company of Madison,
Wis, manufacturers of Rocky Noun
tain Tea" charging fraud, hypnotism
and undue influence He says he was
induced to expend $3.50 in vain eff
fort to introduce the product of the
company in a territory in Illinois to
which he was assigned. He seeks to
recover $3.50.