davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-07
RIGHT OR LEFT HAND?
Relative use of the Two Discussed by
an Authority.

| There Is no reason to suspect even
tie most vague or faraway. begin
nings in animals. writes DIR. George
II. Gould in the Medical Record. SO
long as the fore feet are used for To-
comotion there could be no lateral
differentiation Of function. I have
watched for it in squirrels that use
their front paws to hold nuts, cats
that strike at insects in the air or
play with wounded mice, and m
many other animals, but 1 am sure
that to neither paw Is preference as
signed. There is thus probably 10
dominancy of either eye in animals.
Even in the monkeys and gorillas,
who of all animals most use the fore
paws as hands, one catches no Sug-
gestion Of preferential use or super
Tor expertness in the dextral or sin
ister side. My very intelligent dog,
trained to shake hands" with his
right paw, lost his right eye, and af-
ter that he always offered the left
paw.
But in the lowest human savages
all over the world choice or greater
expertness of one hand is as clearly
| present as in civilized cases No saw
ages, however, are so near animal
ian conditions as to exhibit its differ
entiating origins. Fixed in all our
military and social customs and liv-
ing at the back of language itself are
two more facts which solve the rid
die and make clear whence and how
right-handedness arose. In all tribes
and countries since man used imple-
ments of offense and defense, the
sinistral or cardiac side was protected
| by the shield, and the sinistral hand
was called the shield hand as the
dextral was called the spear hand.
Next to fighting and synchronous
with it was the need Of barter and
the fundamental condition of barter
ing was counting with the low num-
bers, one to ten. The fingers or the
free or dextral hand were, OF course.
| first used, and all fingers are today
called digits, as are the figures them
selves, and the basis of our number
| ings is the decimal or ten-hngered
system. The tally stick, notched or
numbered. is the record of the digits
held in the air. Every drill and ac-
ton Of the soldier, from Xenophon to
West Point, is dextral in every detail.
The dominancy of the right eye Is
shown i'm firing from the right shOul-
der and sighting with the right eye.
I have two patients, left-handed in
every respect, who have been taught
to fire their guns from the right
shoulder, but Of course, they are left
eyed and they depress the right eye be-
low the level of the gun and sight
with the dominant left eye.
Right foOtedness, less differentiated,
| of course, must follow right
handedness, so that all soldiers (and
FreemasOns, tOO) must step off with
the left foot first; that is the spring
must be made with the right. The
loss of the right hand or right eye,
mutilations, etc, very common in
barbaric times, would help to ac-
count for the preservation Of the
present four per cent Of left-handed
lpeOple.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-07

them. They were so careful that when
rescued they still had nine left.
By way Of variety in their diet
they gathered some shellfish and
caught a few lizards. Turtles fortu-
nately were rather plentiful. What they
longed for most was bread, and when
they knocked down n few birds they
tried to grind up the bones into -four.
Another island about a mile distant
seemed more promising. 1t showed
considerable vegetation. But they were
cut off from it by an impossible marsh
and their boat had been smashed.
1t was plain they could not exist
long where they were, so four Of the
most daring undertook to swim, to
the other island and explore it. They
found much better conditions, includ-
ing an abundance Of good water, and
they swan back to give the news to
their comrades and concert ways to
reach the better region.
All except one resolved to attempt
the swim, some making life belts to
help them keep afioat. One of the par
ty had fallen into despair. To all pleas
lie returned the answer that the spot
where he was, was good enough to die
in. He remained behind. and later,
when help came. his skeleton was
found on the beach.
The rest all made the passage in
safety They found their new quarters
much better than the old. Food was
more plentiful and there was no trou-
BILE about water.
But a new trouble was in store for
them. The place swarmed with ants
and mosquitoes. Sleep was almost i'm
possible. The men were covered with
sores. Their nerves were racked by
loneliness and despair and more than
one showed symptoms Of mental de-
rangement. The mate in charge Of the
boat party lost his mind completely
and for five weeks he had to be watch
ed day and night.
One of the sailors, a German named
Schaffer, irritated at a temporary
scarcity of food, started out on a
foolhardy exploring expedition along
the cliffs which bordered part of the
shore. He fell into the sea and was
killed.
Weeks heightened into months. The
castaways almost lost sense of time.
They became pale and emaciated and
almost too listless to search for food.
They grew to abhor the things they
had to eat monotonously and their
cravings were all centered on bread.
Their sight became impaired. too.
probably from the merciless sunlight
as much as from weakness. Sometimes
they sat whole days gazing out over
the sea but really not seeing it. They
all told of visions of life elsewhere, at
home, on board ship, in ports they had
visited.
Early after their landing they had
put up a pole with a shirt for a signal
in case any ship should pass that way.
1t was their salvation. The other boat
had not been lost. 1t had made one Of
the inhabited islands and the castaway
crew had been sent to the mainland.
A small government chartered
schooner was sent from Iquique to
search for the missing boat and its
men and after a couple Of weeks vain
cruising among the islands and just
on the point Of giving up the quest it
sighted the signal of distress. IT was
October 29, just five months and twen-
ty days from the date Of the abandon
ment of the bark. The survivors Of the
party could not have lived more than
week or two longer.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-07
MONTHS ON A LONELY ISLAND.
Sufferines of Norwegian Sailors In the
Pacific.

A story of suffering at sea, followed
by months of privation on a lonely is
land is told by survivors Of the Nor
wegian bark Alexander Dubis, who
were recently landed at Southampton
England. and sent thence to Christi
ania. The story is not one Of ship
wreck: it is of disaster produced by
a succession of calms. The region was
the neighborhood Of the Galapagos
Islands, in the southern Pacific Ocean.
and it was on one Of the smallest of the
islands that the men were marooned
for nearly six months.
The story as told by one of the quar-
termasters, a man named Morrison,
goes back to the beginning of 1907,
when the bark fell into a series of
protracted calms. varied only by light
and adverse winds. These conditions
lasted for over three months. during
which her position varied little.
Food ran short. the fresh water be-
came foul and undrinkable. There
seemed to be no hope of getting into
wind zone and still less of making
port.
About May land was sighted,
which the captain recognized as out
living members Of the Galapagos
group. Every effort was made to steer
the bark toward them. but without
avail.
The islands were III sight for two
days without any sensible approach TO
them being made. Then as the bark
seemed to be drifting away from them
and conditions on board had become
hopeless it was determined to aban-
don the vessel and make for the land
in boats. There were two Of these,
barely big enough to hold the crew.
The crew took to them on May 8,
leaving the bark to her fate, all sail
set
Then came a desperate struggle to
make the shore. A strong current
tended to carry the boats out to sea.
At last the boat that Morrison was in
seemed to get out of the direct cur
rent and distinct progress was made
toward one of the islands. 1t was the
tenth day after abandoning the ship
that the men were able to make
landing. About the same time they
lost sight of the captains boat.
The landing brought dissapoint-
ment to the castaways. The island was
bare and barren. BY splitting cactus
leaves and sucking the pulp the men
cooled their thirst.
Never have 1 experienced SUCH
pleasure as when the sap moistened
my lips" says Morrison.
They found a turtle and made
fire with driftwood and seaweed and
cooked it in it's shell. The fire they
kept burning day and night, for they
] had only sixteen matches among
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-07

| through the atmosphere it burns and
| fixes certain nitrates from the air.
These in turn are washed down by the
rain into the soil. producing fertil-
iZer. This has presented a new
scheme to some of our scientists and
as we have made many attempts to
harness the lightning in the way of
our tremendous electrical develop
ments, it Immediately occurs to the
scientists that he should be able to
make these nitrates from the air. The
scientist further has weighed the con-
ditions. and has noted our enormous
products moving from our productive
, soil to other places, and the fast dis
appearance of our fertilizer mira beds.
He has come to the conclusion that
unless there is some provision made
for fcrtilizing. that VIC will surely find
ourselves without bread and in the
midst of famine and country that
is almost a desert.
"Whle this is to the ordinary lay
man a very startling assertion. 1t is
none the less an absolute fact, that
unless some provision is made it must
occur.
AS stated above the harneSSins of
our immense water powers and our
imitation of the production of light
ning has given us an opportunity TO
nake these nitrates which. If carried
on successfully. will remedy these
startling conditions.
About 10 years ago the AtmoS-
pheric company was formed at Mag
ra Falls and from all their expert
ments succeeded successfully in MAX
ing nitrate acids and some COM
pounds of nitrogen.
1--WE are told that in Norway and
Sweden enormous plants are. now
successfully working. which are pro-
ducing fertilizers and nitrogen COM
pounds. The matter that comes near
er home to us is the manufacture of
nitrates in our own immediate terri
tory. From all indications 1t will be
but a short time in which the entire
output Of our water powers will be
consuming their energy in burning
nitrogen and producing fertilizer for
our farms right at home.
Each year our electrical improve
ments are enabling us to accomplish
greater results. High voltages and
excessive currents of n few years ago
are very commonplace today. There
has been recently perfected apparatus
that is not costly but we'll adapted for
the manufacture of nitrates from the
air.
1--WE expect to see at no distant day
the farmer who is situated near an
electrical development or near their
transmission lines. with his own plant
producing his fertilizer. and doing 1t
at a season of the year when the pow
er company has plenty Of surplus
power that could be sold cheap. This
production Of fertilizer will obviate,
to large extent, the work Of hauling
from railroad stations to remote
farms in the country"
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-07

Mr.. Prier went to the pOstoftice i'm"
mediately after his interview with Mr..
Aldrich. There was a registered letter
for him-a bulky letter. He opened it.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-04-07

3@ Glass bricks, a German product,
are translucent but not transparent.
and possess the advantages of being
fire proof and of harboring no disease
germs.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-10
State Ceremony.

LONDON, Nov. 1O.-The Express
claims to have authority to state that
the king Of italy and members of the
royal family wish the Abruzzl-Elkins
marriage to be solemnized in italy
with state ceremonies. so that the ma.
ton may participate, as 1t is among
the Italian people the bride will spend
her life.
According to the Express the wed.
ding probably will take place early Ia
1909, though possibly not before Lent.
Difficulties arise through Senator Ell.
ktns' refusal to sanction a morganatlc
marriage and because OF the opposi.
ton of the queen mother. who had 9th.
err matrimonial views for the duke.
The kings consent, however, has been
obtained and the bride will be fully
recognized as royal princess. Queen
Helena has ben strong supporter of
Miss Elkins throughout.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-10
ROOT SLATED
FOR U. 5. SENATE
PRESENT SECRETARY OF STATE
WILL PROBABLY SUCCEED
IL SENATOR T. C. PLATT.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.-1t is the
general opinion in Washington that as
a result Of a long conference at the
White House between President Roose.
welt, James Wadsworth, Jr., speaker
of the New York State assembly. and
William N. Ward, Republican national
comitteeman and one of the foremost
leaders fn New York State politics
the man who will be supported by
them next January as the candidate
before the New York legislature to
succeed Thomas c. Plat on March 4,
1909. as United Suites Senator iron,
New York, will be Elihu Root, Of Clln-
tin. N. Y. the present secretary Of
static Of the United. States,
Neither MIR. Ward nor Speaker
Wadsworth would discuss the matter.
but it is known that the secretary is
not averse to accepting the candidacy.
providing he Is assured there Is no
opposition to him. President Roose-
velt personally favors Secretary Root
for the senatorship.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-10

threeTyear limit allowed by the gov.
eminent. The keel OF the big vessel
was laid on December l6 last, and by
October / last the ship was 81 PEI
cent. completed. 1t Il. expected that
the North Dakota will be in. commits,
sion within two years from the date
of the laying of her keel, which will
break ain records Of American ship.
yards. When commissioned, she will
be commanded by Captain Charles j.
Badger, superintendent of the Annapo-
lis Navy Academy. $50
The North Dakota Is a sister ship Of
the De aware, in process OF building
at the yards of the Newport News
shipbutlding and Dry Dock Company
at Newport News. va. On October /
the Delaware was "A per cent. com.
pleted, according to the official reports
to the Navy department. A fierce ri,
yalry has marked the construction II
the sister ships.
The North Dakota and the Delaware
are almost precisely alike. each hav.
ing long forecastle deck extending
from the bow almost to the center OF
the vessel. The ten twelveanch guns
are arranged in Eve turrets, two to a
tufret, the forward turret being so
located that the axes OF its guns are
twenty-four feet above the water line.
Just abaft this turret is another, the
barbette Of which Is Of sufficient
height for It's guns TO clear the root
of the forward turret, Abaft the break
of the forecastle deck, and, also stu
ated on the axis OF the ship, are two
more twelve inch gun turrets. and
abaft and near the stern is the fifth
and last OF the big turrets.
The wonderful speed of these big
ships, twenty-one knots, makes every
other battleshlp not turbine driven a
tortoise-like affair In an action a
fleet of Dreadnoughts might accept or
decline battle, as suited its convent.
ence. It could also choose its own
range and control the rate of change
OF range. ag5 ~
Although the tremendous power Of
concentration secured by the ten
twelyelnch guns Of a Drealnought is
the principal reason for the adoption
Of this new type by all the navies Of
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-10
By I. N. DAVIS, Business wanager I.

ships which she is having constructed.
In spite OF their poverty the little
brown men of Japan are riveting and
hammerng day and night on the great
hulls which are to be the bulwarks OF
her coming national prosperity. In
1911 the quaint flag of the mIkado will
fly over seven Dreadnoughts and nina
Dreadnought cruisers. At that date
Uncle Sam will have four ships Of the
highest efficiency and two Others of
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-10

the world, Its cost is mucl less chan
four small battleships aggregating the
same power. AS to the question of
maintenance, it costs no more to keep
the big ship in commission than the
small one. A million year is about
the expense OF it. Strange as It may
seem, 1t does not require so many Off
GERS to man 1t. Fewer men are neces.
sary to serve the ten guns of one of
our new Dreadnoughts than are re.
quired for all the guns of the Mis-.
souri,.
In combat such ships would conquer
without wasting a single shot. Secure
in the possession of impregnable
armor, one of them could descend on
he'd avversaries, and with the concen.
trated fire Of her ten hard hitting guns
hammer the little ships to the point Of
surrender or speedy humiliation. Her
perfect FIRE control would never per.
NIT miss. Sweeping nolslessly across
the sea, her pointers. following the
enemy in the crosswires of their
sights. her ben enormous guns high
above the waves spray, would seek
out the vulnerable point Of the enemy
and by continuous pounding would 81.
lence his heaviest guns.
Naval experts are now generally
agreed that the Dreadnought type is
the battleship OF the future and that
the nation with the largest and most
efficient fleet OF these monsters will
control the world. Although late in
getting into the game. Uncle Sam will
find his two new ships a valuable ad.
dition to the navy. although many
more will be necessary to cope WITH
the great nations of Europe.
Germany is now building seven
Dreadnoughts, each with an armamen.
of twelve elevea.inch guns, which are
to be ready by 1911. This last stupen.
dous effort to retain the supremacy
will cost the Germans $1OO,OoO.OOo. Az
yet the empire has no docks big
enough to accommodate these levia.
thans, and the Kiel waterway viii
nave to be widened and made deeper.
On the South American continent
Brazil is first to acknowledge the far
reaching influence of the DreadnougAt
force on account Of the three great
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-10
A VERY FINE
ATTRACTION
ILLUSTRATED LECTURE OF cELE-
GRATED sALLooAlsT WAS A
RARE TREAT.

Tho FsIrmont Lyceum Association
opened their course very auspiciously
last night at the Normal School audi.
tortum The attraction was Prof.
Henry Helm Clayton, who gave an IL.
Illustrated lecture on ballooning. Prof.
Clayton was che OF the pilots on thu
German bailOon. 'Pommern" which
won the great international balloon
race, starting from at. Louis October
Of last year. This balloon Travelled
nearly 900 miles eastward and landed
on the Atlantcl-cea >, and had It not
been for the ocean 't6et tflp,eould, have
been prolonged one day longer making
three instead Of the actual two full
days spent in the air. The lecture
was protusely illustrated by means OF
unique pictures: many Of them being
taken from TIE clouds.
IN elarge audience present was d..
lighted with the entertainment and
frequently applauied come amusing
tale Of the great TIP. Prof. Clayton
predicted the widespread use OF aerial
navigation within the coming years.
The Lyceum Association Is receiy.
ing tae highest praise for taking up
this line OF work and bringing attrac.
lions to the city that are OF real value
in an educational way as we'll as en-.
pertaining. It was seemingly a bold
step to contract for such large AMI
comprehensive lecture course the hrst
season and many thought 1t a leap IN
the dark but such is not the case as
Il? would seem from. the present sale
OF season tfcKers that the Association
was guided by It's foresight as to the
nigh character of the taste Of the peo,
pie Of Fairmont and that the aim was
necessarily high because high class
taste was to be catered to.
The lecture course provided TO-.
Fatrmont is about the same as secured
by Charleston and the ether larger
cities Of the State and most all OF
the leading attractions that will ap
pear here will be duplicated at
Charleston during t:1e season.
The next attraction booked by the
Association appears the latter part
of the Month when the Hungarion Or.
ehestra which has a world wide fame
and is under the leadership Of Louis
Lepskl who has won many medals in
music An English baritone soloist
OF note, accompanies the organin.
ton also. Music loving Fairmont may
look forward with pleasant anticipa
ton for this event.
The demand for tickets to this mn.
steal attraction is so great that 1t was
found necessary to secure the Opera
House in order to furnish the proper
staging for the musicians and ade.
quate accommodation for the patrons
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-10

This book complete library Of the literature Of the b
authors selected with to home reading and the Ill
nothing evatng refining influence home life edited by Mar
shall Everett the well known author and historian The Wit ana
wisdom Of the greatest writer's origin Of the fayorte son
appropriate selections in poetry and prose- jewels patriotism And
selections for the children including biographies Of great authors
and Orators witty after dinner speeches by Of note great his
oca oraons and all of by the greatest humorists
with striking likeness of Mark Twain Supeby illustrated
including galaxy portraits of great authors By all means take
this book home wthyou while it costs you nothing
In addition to this offer yearly subscription to THE AAERI
CAN FARMER OR THE AMERICAN FARM REVIEW will be
given also free.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-10

ELKINS. " Va. Nov. 1o.-While In
creased interest seems to have lately
conferred in the reported engagement
Of Miss Katherine Etkins, daughter Of
United States Senator Stephen B.
Efkins. and the Duke Of the Abruzzt,
It Is declared here In circles close
to the Elkins ihouseaold, that there
has been no change in the status Of
AFFAIRS during the last several months
and that no definite announcement of
any sort Is Il be expected in the very
near future.
There Is absolutely no disposition
here To deny tao strong attachment
that exists between the young Italian
noblenan aaA aGABS Elkias, but tia.
the affair has approached the trous.
seau stage IL hot admitte "a G6fS. III b
further pointed out that II there ever
should be q formal announcemsht It
would come, according to court Ell.
uette. In an Dfdciaf statement Afom
Rome.
There are so many considerations
entering into a proposed marriage Of
this sort, aside from the personal
wishes OF the young people involved,
that even Miss Elldns' closest III.
friends here are not discussing the.
matter. The young lady herself, typ,
tcal and loyal American girl In ali
her views aud modes Of life. is enjoy.
ing herself in buoyant spirits WITH
gallops into the mountains amongst
which she was reared, and in hunting
trips with her brothers, who are no
more enthusiastic than she over the
joys OF out Of doors.
The many Unauthorized and specuIa.
tive stories that nave been printed re
garding the affair have been very an.
noying to Senator Elkins and the mem.
'bers of his family. This was especial
~ true oil, the report that a morganatfc
marriage had been suggested. It is de
clared with emphasis that there has
never been the slightest intimation Of
such an arrangement and none would
be considered for a moment. Thu
report that Miss Elkins had ordered
trousseau is declared to be without
the slightest foundation. It is also
declared that talk Of a special dowry
Is entirely erroneous and that such
subject never has been preached.
1t is finally started that corresDond.
ence between Turin and Elkins has
been confined solely to the duke anil
Miss Elkins herself. This being the
case 1t ts pointed out that many OF
the published stories have not only
been erroneous, but unjust to the
young people.
Senator Elkins has set no date, for
his departure for Washington.