davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08
seven Ri1lions I'm cron..


For years the agricultural production
of the United States has been steadily
increasing and during the last three or
four years this increase has been by
leaps and bounds. Last year it was
announced that our farms had yielded
the almost unthinkable value Of S4,-
915,0OO,o00 as compared with $4,000
100000 for 1904 and $4,4S0,0O0O0O for
1908.
This enormous production has called
forth many pessimistic statements. We
have been repeatedly told that such a
pace could not long be maintained; that
diminished yields and agricultural de-
preston must soon come. But the end
is not yet.
Farm production was thought to have
reached its highest point in 1905, but
this year has far eclipsed all others
and rolled up total which now prom
ises to reach the stupendous sum of
$1,000, 900, ,000.-Farming.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08
Noses Indicate Temper.

Women who have the long, straight,
thin nose, extreme in all Its outlines,
are usually women Of very timld, sweet
dispositions, 8
Women who have little, short, fat
noses, are generous, easy tempered and
pleasant to live with, but not as rule
handsome
The sweetest Of American types is
the nose that is just long enough but
the least trlfle broad for it's length. 1t
Is not squat by any means, 1t suggests
good health and good temper 1t is the
ideal judged from the American mans
standpoint Statistics show that the
nice, full, sensible nose gets the hus-
bands.
If the nose Is thin and the nostrils
fine and narrow 1t means that the WON
an has poor air supply and that she
Is liable to suffer from lung troubles
and all things that have their origin In
the heart-Pittsburg Press
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08
q dld notl And you snow | dIdn't

II did notl And you know ! didn't
And you're telling hOrrid-"
Here l felt that must interfere.
y "ParentsrI said, firmly, mo more
of this disgraceful talk Father, I'm
ashamed of youI The idea of speaking
so to your own wife. Mother, you
should know better than to answer him
when be says such things!"
/ finally bade him goodbye, called
him back to get his papers, which he
was leaving at home, and at last saw
him off.
"Now," said my mother. II hope we
shall have a little rest! Men are so
fussy about the house!'
Il think that is hardly proper
way to speak," objected. Don't say
things that you might be sorry for.
Suppose anything should happen to
papa, how you would regret your care
less. heartless wordsi"
81 didn't mean any HARM" said my
mother, beginning to whimper again.
There, don't cry" / said, hastily.
'You are so sensitive; the least thing
sets you to fretting. Dry your eyes,
and set about the housework" |"
She took up the duster and went to
work reluctantly enough. But as she
went on she became interested and
soon heard her humming little tune
to herself as she went about the parlor
polishing the what-nots and making all
the little bric-a-brac as neat as pins.
"Now, I'll just get away to school
before there's another trouble" l re-
marked, and l left the house compar-
atively cheerful, though a little vexed
at the thoughtlessness of my parents.
When came home to luncheon, l found
that the table was not even set.
"How is this, motherp 1 asked.
was disturbed, but l resolved not to
blame her unless she were really at
fault.
'The cook has gone away" she re-
piled, sitting with her apron to her
eyes, had found my mother in the
kitchen.
"Indeed!" / remarked. "Why was
that"
"It's her day out" said my mother
disconsolately.
"Oh, is that all?" l exclaimed, much
relieved;. 81 was afraid it was some
thing serious"
rs that all?" repeated my mother.
"Yes; that's all. And it's enough, too |"
TT isn't polite to repeat my words
over in that way" l reminded her,
but as 1 see you are not in a very
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08

good temper won't say anything more
about that now. Can't you let me have
some luncheon?"
There isn't a thing In the house."
she replied helplessly.
mot thing in the house |" repeat.
ed in surprise.
'There!" my mother retorted, who's
repeating things now? You just said
1t wasn't polite!"
This rather nettled me, admit.
mo matter" l said sternly, why
isn't there anything In the house?"
II forgot" she said, slowly.
"You forgot!' said l, reproachfully.
"Do l forget to go to school and to
get an education to do honor to my
parents? What would you do If / for
got?"
81 don't know" said my mother, in
very low tone.
mo, Of course you don't know" 1
said, not unkindly, for l saw she re-
pented of her fault "Never mind.
Let it go. dare say you will remem-
Der next time"
When l returned home In the even
ing found that her good temper was
entirely restored, so l said nothing
about the little misbehavior Of the
morning. Until after dinner nothing
occurred to disturb the serenity of our
home. l was busy over some difficult
problems In compound interest-a most
interesting and delightful subject
/ was very willing to give my father
permission to pass the evening at
friends house.
AT about o'clock he returned In a
peevish mood.
Il don't see why we can't have
things as nice as the Quinns dor he
said, discontentedly, as he came in and
threw his overcoat upon the sofa and
put his high hat upon the table just
where it cast heavy shadow upon my
papers
Probably" rejoined, ''it is because
MT. quinn Wnen ne comes nome at
night hangs his overcoat neatly upon
the rack and puts his hat where it
belongs -
Hang It! I'm tired exclaimed my
father.
NO" replied firmly, 81 shall not
hang It. but you can take your hat
and your great coat and hang them
where they belong"
But Iys he began.
Go at oncel" l said in tone that
admitted of no delay, "or you shall go
to bed, sirl"
Then he went. As he came back,
somewhat subdued, inquired:
Now, father should like to know
In whas respect you think the Quinns'
home so superior to our ownr'
.swell," he answered, rather unwlll-
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08
RIGHT KIND OF EXERCISE.
Some Practical Advice that Everyon
ghnuld Have.

Some Practical Advice that Everyone
= Should Have.
The kind of exercise that hits the
mark is the kind man likes for its
own sake; and the kind a man likes
for its oyn sake has something of the
play spirit in 1.-THE life and go Of a
good game. The good man gets out
of a good horseback ride In the park is
something more than what comes sim
ply from the activity Of his muscular
system or from the effect of the con-
stant jolting upon the digestive organs.
There Is the stimulus to the whole sys-
tenn which comes from his filing his
lungs with fresh, out-of-door air. There
is the exhilaration Of sunshine and blue
sky and Of the wind on the skin. There
ls the excitement of controlling a rest
i've animal. All this makes the phe-
nomenon a complex one-something
much larger than the mere term exer-
else would imply. A man could sit on
mechanical horse in gymnasium
and be jolted all day without getting
any Of these larger effects.
The best forms of exercise will call
the big muscles Of the body into play
the muscles that do the work. This
gives bulk effects. 1t reaches the whole
system. Playing scales on the piano,
though exhausting to oneself and 9TH
ers, does not belong to this class
Exercise should not be too severe.
Many ambitious people injure them
selves through trying to accomplish too
much along this line. Where the mind
is already tired the body can only lose
by few moments of violent exertion.
Exercise breaks down tissue, exhausts
nerve energy. II any good is to be
gained from 1t this body waste must
be repaired. But when the system IS
already exhausted, it cannot afford an
additional expenditure. A city man
with a conscience is in danger of max
ing too hard work Of bis exercise when
he takes 1t at all.-World's Work.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08
CONVINCING THE ARABS.

4 TT IL hard to make a nomadic Arab
believe that white man can by any
possibility know anything about the
desert especially SO to persuade him
that the lines and letters on the trav-
elers map convey any accurate infor-
nation which will guide him on his
way. Interpretation of these mystic
symbols, says the biographer Of Henry
Clay Trumbull, gained that famous
mission worker something Of the repu-
tation Of magician when. he went to
find Kadesh- Barnea, the place where
the people of Israel rebelled against
Moses. f2rE
'Ayn Qadees was the modern name
Of the place he sought. When he asked
his Arabs If they could lead him thith-
er, they steadfastly maintained that
they had never heard of 1t.
"Oh, WE'LL" said Mr.. Trumbull, know
ing what pride the Bedouin has in his
knowledge of the desert, ''the trouble is
you don't know your own country as
well as / know it. We ought to change
places. You give me bakshish and I
will show you the country.
Tomorrow morning we will 60 to
'Ayn Muwayleh. We will 60 past that.
Then we will turn off from the track
to the right, We will 60 down that
way about one hour. There we will find
one, two, three wells. Beyond them
will be flags and rushes growing. Then
little farther on we shall find more
wells. That is Qadees. You don't
know 1t, but l do Give me bakshish
and I'll show it to you"
There was CONSERVATION among the
Arabs. They discussed the matter ex-
citedly. Then their spokesman came.
'Mr. Trombool," he said, Il tell you
now the true, honor bright. They tell
me true now on the Koran. They know
that place you tell them, but they no
call it that name. They no call that
Qadees. They call it Qasaymeh."
1t flashed across Mr.. Trumbulla
mind that Bartlett, who had preceded
him and whose map he was following,
had been deceived by the Arabs.
Every WE'LL" he said. "But do they
know where Qadees Is if this is not it?''
The spokesman knew-yes, indeed.
What is more, he knew there was no
use wasting time trying to fool man
who could describe the desert paths az
this one could; SO forthwith they turn
ed from the main road, and over a most
difficult trail made their way to place
which, 1t was evident at glance, was
what Mr.. TrumbulI sought, the place
Of the Fountain Of Judgment.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08

to the Citizens and Paid for by the
Government" 1t Is something Of a
strain on the mind to make a good ar
gument Consequently was late to
breakfast next morning. Now, don't
say 1t is right to be late to breakfast
as a regular thing, but do say that
there should be such a thing as justi-
fable tardiness, and that my case came
under that head.
Well what was the result7 First,
there was mother. She was crying
bitterly when came down.
81 do think" she said, between her
Bobs, that you might have some con-
sideration for your parents, Alphonso.
Here it is half-past 10 o'clock and the
parlor has to be busted, the dishes to
be washed, the baking to be done, and
| don't know what!'
Then my father began.
"And here I've been waiting an hour
for you to say goodbye to me-" he
complained. "You know perfectly we'll
that / ought to be at the Office earlier
than this !"
II know it, father, DEAR" l replied
soothingly. "But you needn't have
waited for me-"
"But can't find any of my papers,"
he said in most Irritating whine.
"Where did you leave themP' l asked
calmly.
"I'm sure don't remember he said
despalringly.
IF you would only be system
attic" suggested as delicately as
could, but he. interrupted me.
There you go again. he said, any
thing but politely, | must confess.
"You are always telling me to be 'sys-
tematic and orderly until l just hate
the sound of those horrid words"
"Come, papa" said, a little more
severely than had yet spoken. You
ought not to be so snappish. l spoke
only for your own good What is that
bundle see under the sofa plllowY'
II don't know" he answered, sui
lenly, and not even looking towards
the place.
81 suspect that it Is the missing pa
pers," l said. Don't you think you
might go and see?"
He went on, unwillingly enough. OF
course, it proved to be the very thing
he wanted.
II don't see how they came there
he mumbled.
Probably they went and hid there
by themselves" remarked with a lit
tie sarcasm.
Maybe your mother put them there, =
said my father.
81 didn'tw she replied. sharply.
"You did, tool" he insisted.
Il neverw she said. firmly.
II know you must have!" be went
on.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08

ingly, Johnny Quinn lets his father
sit up until II o'clock"
"Indeed" l said. "And would you
like to look like Mr.. Quinn?"
What's the matter with Mr..
Quinn?" asked my father, sulkily.
"Come, you must not use slang" 1
said. You know very well that Mr..
Quinn is thin and pale and anything
but strong, while you are rosy and
bright and ready for your work"
But it's all work, and all work and
no recreation makes Jacks father a
dull man'-you know the proverb,"
said my father in a whining tone.
NONSENSE" / answered, laughing.
Remember the other proverb: Early
to bed now like good business man
father win the prize Come, father, 60
to bed now like a good business man
and let me hear no more of these fool
ish Quinns. | do the best l can for
mother and for you, and you must try
to do me credit"
They seemed sorry for their in-hu-
NOR during the day and kissed me
goodnight affectionately.
After had finished my problems
made up my mind to write out this
account of my days experience, so
that other parents may see how much
trouble they may thoughtlessly cause
their children. could not help think
ing as shut up the house and went
to bed myself what queer world II
would be If children should act toward
their parents with as little considera-
ton as my parents show toward me-
Chicago Daily News.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08
Dick Wins.

Two brothers, aged 8 anda10, respec-
lively, pupils in a public school Of
Washington, were recently absent for
period of two weeks. When the elder
of the boys returned to his class he
brought note from his father stating
that the cause of the. absence of his
children was illness.
where's your brother, DickT asked
the teacher. rs he still slck?"
"Yes, ma'am," replied the pupil, hes
still in bed with broken arm"
Sim sorry to hear it. How did II
happen?"
We'll it was this way. ma'am. You
see, Dick and | we're trying to see
which could lean out of the second
story window the furthest, and Dick
n."-Evening Wisconsin.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08
our CLOTHES ARE MERcIFuL.
They Hide Our Ugliness and Ph1si-
cal Shortcomings.

caI Shortcomings.
Now, what's the consequence Of the
present universal lack of exercise? Mind
you, | am not suggesting that somebody
get up an actual Un-beauty show, but
surely Mr.. Comstock win not object If
in our minds eye we imagine all the
men we know standing on pedestals and
posing as the Apollo Belvidere and all
the women we knew as the Venus de
Medicl. l think it would be right fun
nv. Such wlzened skinninessl Such
shapeless bagginess!
"Oh, but" you protest, I'VE can't all
be Apollos, and Venuses."
We aren't, If that's what you mean,
but I'm not so sure that we couldn't be
liz we had been treated right.
Why aren't we all handsome, thenf
The main reason is that not one moth
er In a thousand knows her trade. An
old Irishwoman, who raised five fine,
big, strapping, honest sons. said to me
one day:
vThe Lord forgive me TOT spedkin
disrespectful of Him, but declare to
you | donno what He's thinkin' Of
whln he gives some women childher."
And that's about so. The doctors
tell us that 90 per cent of our troubles
we may blame our mothers for. And
vet they're not so much to blame, either.
The only way they had of getting
living was catching a husband. Once
caught they had him for life. The
catching was the main thing.
Ignorant they may be of their trade
as mothers, and some say they are ig-
norant Of their trade as wives, but mo-
body will accuse the women OF being
Ignorant of the art and craft of catch
Ing husbands.
The start a wise mother can give ls
lot, but it isn't everything We are
too busy to be good looking. 1t just
about takes our time scufling around
for food and clothing and shelter
Woman's Home Companion.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08

difficult to imagine greater faciiltS in
the annulment of parriage than now
obtains in most of the States. No
reform" is necessary to bring about
precisely the condition. in effect. which
Mrs. Parsons proposes. The reform is
needed in the other direction. We
need to get rid of the feeling that mar
riage is mere experiment. OF course,
all couples at the time of marriage
expect to live happily ever after. Trial
marriage could mean nothing to them
at that time. People who do not feel,
for the time at least, that they can
take each other for life need no trial"
to prove they are not fitted. The alb
sence of offspring during trial. would
be powerful cause Of failure in many
marriages that might otherwise have
been successful. But that would be
nothing new 1t Is the case now and
always has been. Until there are chill
dren to tie the heartstrings together
there is no real trial of marriage. We
are too apt to forget that most Of the
laws which operate toward successful
marriage are provided by Nature.
Human statutes provide for failure
and, alas! there are too many Of them
already.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08
Mtaunderatoo0.

He was in his first week at college,
and when he went to the stationer's to
buy a fountain pen, he felt desirous
that the young woman who waited on
him should know that in spite of his
youth he was no high-school boy.
When she handed him sheet of pa
per he wrote on it with many
fiourishes, in a large, bold hand, Alma
Mater, Alma Mater" eight or nine
times.
The clerk watched him with simper,
and at last she spoke.
why don't you let her try 1t her
self" she suggested, 'and then If 1t
doesn't suit, of course Wen change it"
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08

Most people have their weak spots.
Few are roundly normal. Some slap
their friends on the back, some whistle
In public places some keep barking
dogs, some speak monologues and think
they are "conversing" and so on but
there Is some hope for tendency or a
habit that Is not deliberately designed
to be mischievous, such as the playing
Of pranks on newly married people.
These jocular outbreaks have under
gone various "reflnements' and they
have now reached the point where
honeymoon voyage has been anticipated
by "bill of particulars" printed in
circular form and distributed among
the passengers of the ocean liner. The
discouraglng thing is that the propen-
sity does not refine" itself out Of ex-
istence. It Is generally speaking, as
perverse In Its latter day manifesto
tions as It was when the uncouth but
equally well-meanlng country folks sur
rounded the house Of the bashful bride
and groom on their wedding night and
made the time hideous with the beating
Of pans and old copper boilers with
what was called "belling."
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08

"It would therefore seem well, from
this point Of view, to encourage early
trial marriage, the relation to be en-
tered into with view TO permanency,
but with the privilege Of breaking 1t il
proved unsuccessful, and, in the absence
Of offspring, without suffering any
great degree OF public condemnation. I"
Mrs. Elsie Clews Parsons, doctor of
philosophy, for six years a lecturer on
sociology In Barnard College, daughter
Of a rich banker and wife of Con-
gresham, proposes this startling re-
form. in book The Family" just Is
sued. 'srrial marriage" certainly sounds
sensational But as prosaic matter of
fact, the commonness, cheapness and
respectabillty OF divorce has rendered
III marriage "trlal marriage" 1T is
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08
In Upset Land
.~NNN0oNNN

" believe that none of you have pa
Il rents so troublesome as mine.
am sure that 1t is not my fault
for | do everything in my power to
make life easy and comfortable for
them. But don't ask you to take my
opinion Of them. I'll simply tell you
my story, and you may judge for your
selves whether or not l am unjust.
don't intend to exaggerate, only to re-
late to you the events of an average
day, so that you may understand what
have to go through with, about 365
times year.
Take last Wednesday, for instance.
OF course you know that our debating
club meets Tuesday nights, and when
a fellow has the affirmative of such a
question as, Resolved, That Circuses
Ought to Be Furnished Free of Charge
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08

The one hundredth anniversary Of
the birth of Henry Wadsworth Long
fellow is to be celebrated by the Cam
bridge Historical Society. A special
bronze medal will be issued In honor
OF the event. copies of which 1t Is
hoped will be preserved In libraries
and museums. Longfellow wrote many
lines which will be preserved in the
popular heart longer than the bronze
will last. This Is one of the reasons
for celebrating the anniversary of his
birth.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08
The sultan,a Hon.

Mehmed Rechad Efendi, the heir
presumptive to the Turkish throne,
awaits as prisoner his turn to reign.
The death Of ABDUL Hamid would draw
him from a Jail to assume supreme
power. For many years he has been
shut up In bis harem; he has seen no
one but his wives, his slaves and bis
jailers. He has had no conversation,
he has read nothing, books and COM
pany being interdicted. One of these
days he may be Sultan; now he is in
the depths Of a tomb.--Figaro.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08

The coroner who investigated the
wreck on the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road near Woodville, Ind, in which
sixty-one lives were lost, made a report
In which he fixes the blame In the
most positive manner. He finds that
the engineer Of the first section Of the
passenger train did not properly give
the required signals and note the re
sponses to them. Consequently he Is to
be held to the grand jury for man.
slaughter. But beyond that the system
by which the road was operated provid-
ed no check for any such Individual
neglect as that of which the engineer
was guilty, and consequently part of
the blame was placed by the coroner
upon the road itself. There was a
time when 1t would have been unrea-
sonable to ask railroads to install elab-
crate systems for the safeguarding of
their trains, because the traffic was too
light to justify the financial burden,
and so light indeed that the evil was
not great. In those days when wreck
of this character occurred all the blame
was properly to be attributed to the
guilty employe. Now, on many Of the
roads which do the heaviest business,
the burden has shifted so that it Is a
question whether the employe immedi-
ately at fault Is more to blame or
whether the greatest responsibility
falls upon his superiors who left the
door open to his carelessness. Before
long a time will come when the great
weight Of the burden will be trans
ferred to the shoulders Of the railway
administration, IL indeed that time has
not come already. 1t Is purely ques-
ton of danger versus cash. The meth
ods of making such accidents as that
at Woodville impossible are well
known Some form Of the block sys-
TEN, especially the form which uses the
STAIR as an entrance key to each
block, would reduce the ordinary en-
ploye's falllbllity to a minimum. The
Woodville accident Is simply one more
reason4or, better said, 1t is sixty-one
more reasons-why the railroad COM
panles should be required to spend the
dollars which will save the lives.
The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-01-08

Persons who may have felt like ask
Ing Mrs. Russell Sage for enough mon
ey to get start In life will do much
better by saving the price of the post
age stamp and making it the nucleus Of
a bank account