davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02

The part China would be called
upon to play In war of this charac-
ter, In view Of the regeneration and re-
awakening which is in progress in the
Celestial Empire, is a far more ques-
tionable matter. In two years more
China will have an excellent military
system. An army Of 100000 will then
be organized In modern manner and
put upon an active service footing. 1t
Is true this military force, for some
mysterious reason, has been raised only
in the northern provinces. That the
Japanese have been instrumental in
building up this military power is an
open secret. But what Is the purpose
of this big and efficient army? 1t Is
nor to be believed that the japanese
have erected a monster to devour them !;
yet 1t is agreed the Chinese do not, as
a people. look upon the Japs with
any kindly feelings, and rather resent
their off1ciousness.
Japan's shrewd Tactics.
1t has been charged that the Japan.
ese Influenced the organization Of the
Chinese army In the northern pro-
vinces In order to use it to repel any
descent of the Russians into Manchu-
ria while the Japs were exploiting that
rich region. The fact that the south
ern provinces are unprotected and have
no army organization has been attrib-
uted to shrewd move on the part of
the Japanese to leave open door by
which, when the opportune time ar
rives, they may conquer their neigh
bors. While China has been encour-
aged to form a powerful army, she
appears to have been actually dlscour-
aged from building suitable navy.
Clearly China is more or less dependent
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
a TOMATO ORCHARD.
You Can Have One In Florida With
Tomato Trees Is Feet High.

You Can Have One In Florida With
Tomato Trees is Feet High.
II you could keep the frost away
from tomato vine for a couple Of
years 1t would get to be fair sized
tree. At least the Texas Farmer
says SO and claims that 1t actually
occurs sometimes in Florida In years
when the frost king leaves that State
alone.
BY the same sign you can plant
tomatoes in winter In Florida and
have them grow all the spring and
summer and fall, and under the right
conditions they become very large.
The midrib Of the leaf of such a
tomato plant will grow to be eigh-
teen inches long, a veritable tree
limb.
As result of having seven acres
of winter tomatoes frozen out during
the great freeze In Florida one grow
err learned something about how they
stake tomatoes in Mississippi. He
tried threequarters of an acre OF 1t
in Florida, and the rows of tomato
plants, hanging full of fruit, looked
like a dwarf fruit orchard
1t takes lot of work, though, and
time to stake and prune tomatoes.
but for a kitchen garden supply,
North or South, especially II space is
limited, the method is ideal. Six
feet is the height to which the to-
matoes should be trained, and pruned
to single stem. They can be made
to grow ten or fifteen feet as well,
but this is an inconyenient height.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
MOTHER LOVE IN A SHEEP.

Though the sheep does not possess
So much intelligence as many other
animals, none can excel 1t in affection
for its young. Here is pleasant
anecdote told Of mother sheep.
A gentleman was walking one day
with a lady through some meadows.
the path of which lay within about
100 yards of small brook. Many
ewes and lambs were in the meadow.
The gentleman and his companion
had gone about half way over the
fields. when eve came up to them
bleating very loudly and then ran OF
towards the brook. Three times did
the eve come to them bleatinga and
then run towards the brook. But the
gentleman and lady continued to walk
on, and had almost reached the gate
that sfe>--1to the next meadow when
for the fourth time the eve came at
ter them, and seemed more earnest IL
possible than before. They then fol-
lowed the eve towards the brook,
and when she saw them advance she
ran as fast as she was able. looking
behind her several times.
When they came to the brook the
eve peeped over the edge OF a hillock
into the water, looked up into their
faces, and bleated in the most piteous
manner. On stepping forward and
looking down they saw her lamb
standing close under the bank, with
the water almost over its back. The
gentleman instantly drew 1t out. and
the eve looked up at him, uttered
several sounds, evidently giving vent
to her great thankfulness and graft
tude.-Scottish American.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02

months were occupied in the task.
Transports of troops from the United
States to the Far East during the ex-
istence of war would of necessity
have to be conveyed by an enormous
and powerful fighting feet, which
would be drain upon our naval force.
Philippine Attack First.
At the outbreak of such war the
Philippines naturally would be the ini-
tial point of attack. Unless sufficient
time for preparation could be had, it is
to be conceded that the islands would
soon fall Into the hands of the attack
Ing force. 1t is also entirely probable
that simultaneously the naval base at
Hawaii likewise would be captured,
and the cable island, Guam, midway
between Honolulu and Manila, gathered
in with ease and celebrity. Assuming
such disasters to have taken place, the
passage OF either fleets or transports
across the Pacific would be perilous
One general naval engagement, how
ever, might change tine whole charac-
ter of the prospect
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
TRAGEDY I'M TREE rop.

Zealously guarding for weeks her
nest from the attacks Of cats, moth
er robin, whose devotion to her young
has been watched with interest by
neighbors of Charles Basler. 1928
Cherry street, Pottstown, was herself
the cause of the tragic death Of he.
two little songsters.
High up in tree in the Basler
yard Mrs" Robin had her nest, but
the cats discovered 1t long ago and
perched themselves in nearby limb
to swoop down on the nest as soon
as the little birds were Matched. The
mother bird, with great chatter.
summoned her mate to her aid, and
managed to keep the mousers of, and
when matters became serious tho
Baslers and their neighbors put the
hose on the cats and drove them from.
the tree.
Ten days ago two little leads peep
ed from the eggs, and the anxiety Of
the mother became SO intense for
fear that the cats would devour them
that she injudiciously began teaching
them to fly before their wings were
ready to carry them. Today one took
plunge to the ground aud broke
its neck and the second met a similar
fate.-Chicago Inter-Ocean.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02

ther removed-using the Suez Canal
as the shortest route--were it now call
ed upon for similar service. The Jap.
anese navy is now fifth in rank of the
nayles Of the world, and the United
States practically ranks as third. and
at the end OF. the year 1908, according
to present programmes, it will be ex-
ceeded in size only by that of Great
Britain.
A strong American squadron Is main
tanned in Asiatic waters; yet, In the
light of experience. this fleet could
hardly hope to engage successfully such
powerful battle line as Japan could
send against 1t. Russia's yladivostok
+ feet was regarded as powerful fight
Ing machine. but. one or two engage
ments, principally by japanese torpedo
boats, made It oulescent
Would Fight In the East.
A Conflict between japan and the
United States. In all probability, would
have Its scene In the Far East. This.
would mean that, as in the last two
Eastern wars. the "Bushis" would be
within easy distance Of their base,i
while their opponent would be at the
disadvantage of fighting thousands of
miles from his base. As inconvenlent
as this state Of affairs would prove to
the naval arm, 1t would be almost par.
alyzlng to the military arm. The diff
Guilty Russia experienced in transports
Ing her armies over slender railroad
5000 miles long would be easy. COM
pared with the problem of sending at
least half million men by transports
across the Pacific. Great Britain sent
oyer 100000 men to South Africa to
hight the Beers, who had no navy to
interrupt communications. and many
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02

on Japan. If any conquests are to b.
undertaken, the Land of the Risin,
Sun Is to take the initiative and man
age the undertaking.
What position China would take n
the event of a break In the harmoniou,
relations between Japan and theUnited
States can only be left to conjecture
The progress of such conflict mn
doubtedly would have some bearing OF
the case.
A glance at the present financial
condition of Japan shows that tn.
plucky little country cannot afford thu
luxury Of war. If 1t Intends to "a
to war with either China or the United
States 1t must postpone the evil day
for some years. By that time the
whole complexion of the situation in
the Pacific may be changed by the
opening Of the Panama Canal. When
that great work Is finished, 1t will
require strong nation to dispute the
mastery of the western ocean with
America,
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
FATTENlNo OYSTERS.
Government Experiments at LynA.
haven Va, Promise Good Re-
suits.

~
The oyster eating public is already
familiar with the process of fatten-
ing adopted by some unscrupulous
dealers in oysters, says Country Life
In America. This consists merely
in throwing the oysters into fresh
water, which they absorb in large
quantities and become plump. The
flavor is thereby injured and there is
danger OF injecting the oysters with
typhoid.
At Lynnhaven, Va. the United
States Bureau of Fisheries has been
working for several years on plan
to establish an artificial fattening
bed for oysters. The oyster lives
chiefly on diatoms and other micros-
icopic marine plants, These plants
require for their growth a large sup
ply Of inorganic salts in the water.
The necessary plant food is supplied
by putting commercial fertilizers into
the water.
The fattening bed must be in shall
low water so as to have relatively
high temperature. A wall is main
tanned around the fattening ground
so as to retain the fertilizer and dia-
toms. Even after the diatoms have
multiplied enormously the oysters re-
ceive no benefit from them unless a
current is maintained in the water
to carry the food to the oysters
Salt water is pumped In to pre-
vent the fattening beds from becom-
ing too fresh. and a little lime is
added to the water to prevent the
growth of algae and other plants
which would give disagree eable flavor
to the oysters. Too much lime, on
the other hand, will destroy the food
plants OF the oyster.
The process seems somewhat COM
plicated. but 1t has been demonstrate
ID to be feasible and to yield fine re-
suits in the number and quality Of
oysters.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
A cHTLp,s VERSE

Three little children were spending
the evening together when a violent
thunderstorm came on, which obliged
them to stay where they were all
night. Just before prayer time the
gentleman of the house told them that
they might each choose the Bible
verse they liked best. and tell why.
they loved it. ~ -
II know what my verse Will be for
this night" spoke up Margery. II don't
know where to find it, but it says,
The God of glory thundereth.'
why did you choose that verse.
Margery?" inquired her friend.
Because think It's so nice when
you hear that awful noise to know 1t
is God. 1t makes me think Of one
day long ago. Aunt Annie was out,
and l heard a great noise up in the
loft when I thought was all alone
in the house, and was so frightened
/ screamed, and fathers voice called
out, Don't be afraid, little Margie:
it's only father And now. when it
thunders very loud. 1t always seems
as If l heard God say, Don't be afraid,
little Margle; it's only Father and
/ don't feel bit frightened" Scot
fish American.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02

been asked from time to time by
American firearm manufacturers re-
gafding the manufacture Of the imi-
tation Damascus barrel, and IL the
local manmactWerers could supply
them with a certain number. etc.
When the gun Is manufactured In
Liegd and not having a genuine Da.
mascus barrel attached, 1t goessto the
PROOF station with plain barrel. II,
after the test, the manufacturer de-
sfres to have an imitation barrel, he
calls into use some silk paper and
takes the design Of an original Da-
macls barrel. By means of decal-
comania transfer it is attached to
the plain barrel by the use of GER
tain acids. which are held as Sc
cret. No separate barrels are ever
covered with the imitation design, but
only when attached to gun. Double
barrelled shotguns are usually the
only sort thus decorated. It is quite
a dificult matter to distinguish
between the real and imitation Da-
mascus barrel, and to make a test
1t would be necessary to erase the
design. II an imitation, no acid in
the world will restore it; bat If the
Damascus is genuine the application
Of sulphuric acid win Immediately
bring out the original design.
Tho gun manufacturers say that
the trade demands both sorts Of Da-
mascus, and while 1t is certain that
the importer will know which arti-
Gle he is buying, the retail dealer
could easily be imposed upon unless
he were an expert in the business.
No doubt the ordinary person has
been often under the impression that
he possessed genuine Damascus
while the opposirte was true.
It is impossible to obtain statisti.
cal information as to the number
OF guns Of the imitation Damascus
barrel exported from Belgium, for
while an accurate account is kept
at the proof station of all guns and
barrels undergoing the test, the same
being designed after the test. no in.
telligent estimate can be made. One
of the dealers, however. informed me
that no less than 100000 annually
Of these barrels bore the imitation
mark. Most Of the imitation Damas-
Gus barrel guns are sent to the
United States and South America. OF
the latter section Brazil Is the larg-
est buyer, while Argentina is close
second.
The steel imitation Damascus bar
rel can be bought as cheap as so
cents. while the most ordinary of the
genuine will command from 81 to
$1.25.-From Daily Consular and
Trade Reports.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
CONSIDER THE cLncK

Did you ever take time to consider
the clock? You should have done
so if you have not, seeing the clock
gives you the time whenever you ask
it. ono, this is no joke. 1t is a
plain statement of fact)
The clock is SO sensitive that it
constantly keeps its hands before its
face. This is due to the fact that
through no fault of its own it has
been doing time" for many years in
the most public manner 1t may be
that as the face of the clock has no
eyes, nor mouth, nor nose, nor chin,
nor cheeks, nor any of the usual fac
ial appurtenances. lit keeps its hands
over it to hide these defects, but this
can scarcely be, We fancy, because
its hands have no fingers nor thumbs,
nor has it any arms, and any attempt
to conceal one defect would only ex-
pose another.
Most clocks have only two hands,
but many have three, and 1t is some
what remarkable anatomically as well
as numerically, that the third hand
!s the second hand, 1t may ALSO be
4
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
remarked that the minute hand ID MOI
the minute hand, for it is longer

remarked that the minute hand ID nol
the minute hand, for 1t Is longer
than the hour hand.
The clock has neither feet nor legs.
but 1t runs just the same. It may be
fast Or slow, but 1t does not walk.
1t always runs, and 1t never runs up.
1t runs down unless 1t Is kept rum
ming round. Providence wisely did
not give feet to the clock.
The clock has key, but no lock,
and for that reason even the most ig-
norant person never tries to open a
clock with the key.
Some clocks strike and some do
not, but no clock ever strikes with
its hands. Just why clock should be
SO. peculiar is no affair of ours. cor
course this is no joke. The striking
of clock may be an affair of hours.
but it is not spelled the same way.
We. are not trying to be funny. This
is dignified article. Please do not
interrupt us again.)
The clock speaks a universal lam
guage, and no matter whether 1t, is q
German clock or French or Spanish
or Italian. 1t can tell you the time
just as distinctly as II it were plain
Yankee.
The clock differs from all other
human affairs in that while their op-
erations end when they are wound
up, the clocks do not begin until they
are wound up.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
Puanla,e;ltx,o Of BATS.
A glove manufacturer took from

A glove manufacturer took from a
cabinet handsome pair Of brown
gloves.
These gloves are made of ratskin.n
he said. '"Hhey look well at first
glance, but examine them carefully
Look into the skin.
The skin, though soft and fine, re-
vealed on close examination great
many cuts and scars and scratches
None of these went quite through;
nevertheless their effect was to weak
en- the gloves greatly.
"Those cuts and scars" said the
manufacturer, ARE what bar ratskin
out of glove-making. You never get
a skin without them. Hence you can't
make a good, strong, perfect, ratskin
glove. Rats fight so much that they
become at an early age mass OF
scars. Their torn hides are of no use
to commerce" New York American
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
AT THE LIGHTHOUSE.

Little Sermon Heard There from
an Unexpected Source.
A merry crowd of young people had
run over in q launch that clear August
morning to visit North Island light.
They scrambled laughingly up the
'ocky path and then stood GREATNESS,
looking across the desolate pile of
'ocks, softened only by a few buckle
'erry bushes and stunted frs. That
vas not quite all, either, for in shell
cred angle of the house was a tiny gar
en- Of portulaca, marigolds and zin-
HAS.
The keeper and his wife and son met
The visitors, the two men with cour-
tesy none the less genuine because 1t
was silent, the little gray-haired wom-
IN with vivid interest. The eagerness
in her bright. dark eyes appealed ire
'istibly to one of the girls. She
lropped behind as the crowd trooped
after the men, and turned back to the
little woman.
1--WE seen lights before" she said.
Il wonder if you'd let me come in and
make you little call instead"
She was almost startled at the sud
len Illumination of the old face.
Would l let you, deary? Land
sakes, l guess you don't know what It's
like to live on rock. tell father and
William the only time envy them Is
when visitors come. and go tagging Off
after them. Most always they have to
hurry right off MS soon as they've seen
the light, and scarcely get look at
them. tease the men-folks powerful
to tell me what they wore and how
they looked, but neither of them is of
the noticing kind, and when men-folks
amt noticing they amt, and you can't
make 'em.'
The girl leaned forward, moved bv a
sudden impulse.
How do you endure it?p she asked
They have the light, but you, OF here
alone-oh. don't see how you endure
itw
The wise old eyes met the young blue
ones with quiet humor. "Oh. there's
lots OF ways of enduring" the keeper,s
wife said. II think of farmers wives
as far off from folks as / am. with onlv
land all around them. / was horn IN
sight of the sea, and it doesn't seem 10
me could live away from 1t. Then I
belong to the light, too-you have to II
you keep one. And If I don't touch tbe
lamp, l cook for the men that do. md
that counts. They'd get blue and oueer
in hurry If they had to do for them.
selves guess that's the real secret os
1t. You don't get very much out Of
sorts as long as you've got somebody
to do for-and 1 guess most people
have that, If they'd only realize It"
The girl drew long breath. "Thank
you," she said. ut Is real lighthouse
sermon. Youth Companion.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
Her Tomorrow Became To-day.

Mr.. Charles J.. Glidden and his
wife, the donors of the prize for the
completed Glidden tour, have travel.
ed $4,000 miles In thirty-fve coun-
tries around the earth. They have
passed through more than 10000
cities, towns and settlements, motor
ing 271 days and travelling by steam
ship 44,760 miles in 149 days. Mr..
Glidden says that he will consider his
tour of the world complete when
he has driven his car $4,000 miles
in fifty countries.
While travelling on lonely stretch
of the road near the Arctic Circle,
in Sweden, Mr.. Glidden overlook
an old Finnish woman plodding along
at the rate of half mile an hour.
Where are you going?" the inter.
prefer asked.
ITO my daughters was the re
ply.
How far is it?" the interpreter
asked.
Fifteen miles"
when do you expect to get there?"
Tomorrow morning"
Mr.. Glidden picked the old woman
up and in forty minutes had set her
down at her daughters home.-Sat-
urday Evening Post.
--------------------------------
1t is said that the contract under
which w. j: Bryan wrote for a syndi-
cate, during his tour OF the worla.
will yield him net profit of $25 900,
clear of travelling expenses Of him.
self. wife. son and daughter.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
{ For You.

For You.
Shall yoa complain, who feed the
world, 81
Who clothe the world, who house the
world,
Shall you complain, who are the world,
OF what the world may do? 9
Az from this hour you show your
power,
The world must follow you.
The worlds life lies in your right
hand,
Your strong right hand. your skilled
right hand;
You hold the whole world In your
= hand,
See to it what you do!
Or dark or light. or wrong or right,
The world is made by you. s
Then rise, as YOU never rose before,
Or hoped before, or dared before,
And show as was never shown be-
4 fore
The power that lies In you.
Unite as one, see justice done;
Believe and dare and do!
Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02

completed the discontinue Of Japan's
pretenslons.
These well remembered incidents I'M
doubtedly are responsible for much Of
the prophecies Of a future war between
the United States and Japan. There
are other factors, of course, but the re-
membrance of the Japanese protest
against the annexation of the Hawaii
an Islands, in which action Russia was
usually regarded as kind of abettor,
and the generally believed report that
the "Bushis" had offered the American
government 5000, 0oO, 900 for the Philip
pines before the Paris Peace Commits
sion had drawn up the treaty with
Spain. have undoubtedly prejudiced
opinion in favor Of coming conflict.
May Forestall the Canal.
II Japan really intends to draw the
United States into a war which will
decide the supremacy of the Pacific.
It Is foregone conclusion that the Mi
kado's government will force the fight
Ing before the completion of the Pana-
ma canal. To picture the Japanese
waiting until the interoceanic water
way is completed is to Underestimate
their character in manner inconceiv-
able In view of recent events. At the
present time the United States would
be In a position analogous to that of
the Russians when the Japs suddenly
few at their Threats.
The Russian Baltic feet was about
1900 miles from the seat of war mt
the beginning OF the late conflict In
the Far East, and the Atlantic feet
of the United States would be even far.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02
DAMASCUS GUN nARRELs.
Tho United States Great Market
For Hejuian limitations.

Consul j. c. Mentally writes that
the Damascus gun barrel manufacture
ers OF Liege have tried from time to
time to influence legislation to com
pei the manufacturers of the imita-
ton brand to mark on their barrel
the nature Of their design.
The firearm manufacturers who in
the makeup OF their guns use both
the genuine and imitation opposed
such legislation. with the result that
one must distinguish for himself
whether he is purchasing the real or
!Nitgtiep article, The. Consul has
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-02

THAT stage manager is very rood
one, but there is one inconsIstencv
about him."
"What is that?"
"He gives bad actor more prompt
attention than a good one."-Baltimore
American.