davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

A Kansan Bought Property High Up
ON q Mexican Mountain.
The vivid prospectus writer has
landed another victim, says the Kan
sas City Star. incidentally Henry n.
Engle, farmer who lives near Abilene,
Kas., will never again trade sight un-
seen" or buy anything until he has
looked at it under a magnifying glass,
no matter what the prospectus says.
Some time ago Mr.. Engle read pros
pectus containing beautiful illustrations
and vivid descriptions Of land in the
Luis Garcia Teruel tract in the terri
tory of Topic and the republic of Mex
leo. Then, through the agency Of a
colonization company, he purchased
160 acres, paying $50 in cash and Civ
ing his notes for the rest of $3.50, the
purchase price.
Mr.. E1gle returned the other day
from a trip to Mexico, where he viewed
his purchase. This morning he brought
q suit in the circuit court against the
land company for the recovery Of his
$50 In cash and his notes.
In his petition to the court Mr..
Engle says that this description Of the
land was given to him by the land COM
pa1y:
1.-THE soil is rich, deep lOam, easy
to cultivate, capable Of producing al
most any product known to the agri-
cultural world. The best evidence to
prove the fertility of the soil is the
luxuriant growth of blue stem grass,
two or three feet high, with which this
whole tract is covered. 1t will grow
the following:
Coffee, vanilla, sugar cane, ba-
nanas, pineapples, oranges, lemons,
lines, grape fruit, figs, goOseberries, al
monds, strawberries, raspberries, black
berries, English walnuts, apricots, pears,
peaches, apples, plums, dates, corn, rice,
rye, wheat, barley, broomcorn, tobacco,
cotton, beans, onions, melons and all
vegetables, including clover and alfalfa.
1.-The annual profits on these prod
ucts range from 500 to $500 and $500
an acre. The land Is easy of access
to the markets. A railroad has been
surveyed through the land and con-
struction has begun"
After a visit to what he really be-
lieved to be a valley of the Nile, Mr..
Engle gave this description of the land :
at Is on top Of a mountain and is
1000 feet above sea level. The land
ls barren Of vegetation and, because
Of the high altitude, nothing except
pine trees will grow there. The land
is wholly inaccessible and it takes ten
days, with the aid of burro or mule,
to make q round trip to the nearest
railroad"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29
A Substitute.

Mrs. Millsap'S new girl, who never
had gone out to service before, and had
had scarcely any experience as a cook
appeared to be willing and Industrious,
and was quick to learn. In view of
her inexperience, she had readily agreed
to work for three dollars and fifty cents
a week. Mrs. Millsap, who was an ex-
pert cook, had taken much pains with
her education in that line, and at the
end of five or six weeks Jemima was
equal to any demands upon Her in the
line Of kitchen work The mistress was
greatly surprised, therefore, when the
maid one morning gave her weeks
notice.
What does this mean, JemimaY'
she asked. Haven't 1 treated you
fairly?"
Eyes, ma'am," answered the girl, "but
I've learned how to cook now, and I've
found a place where can get five dol
lars week right at the start"
'YOu didn't ask me to raise your
wages. Do you think you are acting
fairly with me?"
ooh, I'm going to do the square
thing with you, Mrs. Millsap," said Je-
NINA. 1--WE got a sister about a year
younger than l am, and she's perfectly
willing to come here and work for three
dollars and half a week-tlll she
learns cooking, anyhow"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29
DROPPED COFFEE.

Doctor Gains 20 Pounds ON POstums
A physician of Wash, D. c., says Of
his coffee experience:
"For years 1 suffered with periodical
headaches which grew more frequent
until they became almost constant. So
severe were they that sometimes I was
almost frantic. was sallow, consti-
pated, irritable, sleepless; my memory
was poor, trembled and my thoughts
were often confused.
'My wife, in her wisdom, believed
coffee was responsible for these ills and
urged me to drop it. 1 tried many
times to do SO, but was its slave.
FINALLY Wife bought a package Of
Postum and persuaded me to try it, but
she made it same as ordinary coffee
and was disguised with the taste. Il
make this emphatic because fear
many others have had the same ex-
perience.) She was distressed at her
failure and we carefully read the direc-
lions, made it right, boiled it full 10 min
utes after boiling commenced, and with
good cream and sugar, l liked tit
invigorated and seemed to nourish me-.
THAT was about year ago. Now
have no headaches, am not sallow,.
sleeplessness and irritability are gone,.
my brain clear and my hand steady. L
have gained 20 lbs. and feel 1 am q,
new man.
81 do not hesitate to give Postum,
due credit. OF course dropping coffee
was the main thing, but had dropped
it before, using chocolate, cocoa and
other things to no purpose.
Postum not only seemed to act as
an invigorant, but as an article OF
nourishment, giving me the needed
phOsphates and albumens. This is no
imaginary tale. 1t can be substantial
ed by my wife and her sister, who both
changed to Postum and are hearty
women Of about 20.
Il write this for the information
and encouragement of others, and with
feeling of gratitude to the inventor
of Postum"
Name given by Postum Co., Battle
Creek, Mich. Read ''The Road to Well
VILE" in pkgs. There's a Reason"
Ever read the above letter? A.
new one appears from time to time.
They are genuine, true, and full Of
human interest.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29
AS OTHERS HEAR US.
oN0NOO~NN@O

eyes, it's readable enough" said Mrs.
Frayne, passing over a new novel to
the member Of the book club whose
turn followed hers. But it eXasper-
ated me so much 1 couldn't enjoy it.
An Englishman wrote it, and he's taken
an American girl for his heroine. He
means her for q lady-breeZy and bit
unconventional, but educated and re-
fined-and one minute she 'caTlates'
like a down-easter, and the next 'reck-
ons' like a Southerner, and she spices
her conversation with slang Of all sorts,
from the cowboy variety to that Of the
Bowery and the college. To cap the
climax, she begins every other sentence
with 'Say!"
Mrs. Grayson laughed. Il should
think it would be too absurd to be vex-
atious," she remarked.
Perhaps that's the way to look at
It," agreed Mrs. Frayne. ''Only-I
don't like to think that that's their
idea of us. OF course some well-bred
girls do use slang-but not such slang
nor SO much slang. And whoever heard
an American of education or breeding
who addressed everybody with 'Say!"
at can't be usual" agreed her hear
er. She added, cautiously, "But there
may be some Americans who ought to
know better and yet do it. We don't
always notice what we hear among
ourselves. The first time visited Lon
don a popular play was running, OF
the catchword Of the piece, was Why,
certainly! John and l agreed that
why, certainly! was neither an Amer
icanism nor even a common phrase in
America, and we had never heard any
one use it habitually. We'll, | can as
sure you that we began to, if we hadn't
before. 1t seemed as if every Ameri-
can we met for the rest Of our trip
couldn't agree with us in any other
form than why, certainly"
"But why, certainlyv doesn't sound
like 'Say!' It isn't nearly as common
and aggressive protested Mrs. Frayne.
'I'm sure no nice American girl"
There was a rush of swift feet on
the stairs, and the door flew open. A
bright-faced young girl called eagerly
from the threshold:
"Say, mother, can go driving with
Bess? She's here with her horse. All
right-yes-got my wraps-so lorgw
She was gone again with a rush, and
the door below banged thunderOusly.
1.-THE things girls do pick up at
SCHOOL," murmured Mrs. Frayne,
flushed and apologize. "Such Ian
guage as they never would hear at
home. But you know how it is; you
must have been through the same ching
with Isabel"
"Why, certainly" Mrs. Grayson
agreed, consolingly.-Youth's Compan-
ion.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

prisons have been reorganized, youth
full offenders have been separated from
hardened ones and provided with edu-
cational facilities, societies have been
organized to care for released convicts.
1t has been recognized more and more
plainly, In the words of noted GRIMM
ologsts, that II Is sin and tragedy
to keep any man in prison who ought
not to be there or to fail to reclaim
anyone who is reclaimable. On the
other hand, the feeling is equally
strong that 1t is a crime against So
ciety to open the prison gates to any
man who cannot be trusted, who is
sure to resume his evil and predatory
life and to be a constant menace to his
fellows. Generous treatment OF the re-
deemable delinquents is, manifestly,
not incompatible with severe, rational
discipline Of the really habitual GRIM
inal, the human beast Of prey. Our
criminal legislation and administra-
tion should reflect both Of these tenden-
cies. They are, In fact, reflected in m
important bill recently introduced in
the British parliament by the liberal
government. In order to make better
provision here for the prevention OF
crime the measure not only adds to ex-
listing facilities for the reformation AID
training of young offenders, but also
authorizes prolonged detention Of habit
nal criminals. It defines an habitual
criminal as a defendant who has been
at least three times previously convict
ed Of crime, AID who at the time Of the
commission Of the fourth offense was
leading a persistently dishonest life.
In the case Of such criminal the court
may impose upon him a further SEN
tence Of indefinite detention In addition
to any sentence Of penal servitude to
which he may be liable under the stat
utes. That is, upon the expiration OF
his regular sentence he may be kept
in prison during the pleasure Of the
king. Such an offender may also, by
special license, be discharged on pro
baton and placed under the supervision
Of q society or person competent to take
charge Of him. If detained the habitual
criminal is to be given work and paid
wages for 1t. These provisions are q
novelty In practical legislation and Will
be studied with great interest. The bill
is commended on all sides and is GER
tain to pass.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29
RIGHT TIME TO WRITE.
II Is Not When One Is Feeling Blue
and Discouraged.

and Discouraged.
It was 10 o'clock, and Irene, who
had been reading all the evening,
looked up from her book in surprise
as she heard carriage wheels on the
driveway. A moment more and there
was a soft, familiar tap! tap! tap! at
the door.
Its Nanw she cried, and, running
into the hall, joyously admitted her sis
ter.
How perfectly lovely! How did you
happen to come? Have you a holt
dayY
The tall, pale girl, YEARLY dropping
her suit case, did not answer these
questions, but asked another:
"How's mother?
ooh, she's all right"
"And father, is he any worseY"
"Why, no, think his rheumatism is
really better. They're both In bed.
Why, what's the matter, Nan, dear"
asked Irene, in establishment, as her
sister sank into a chair and began to
cry. "Is there anything wrong at the
office? You haven't lost your position.
have your"
mo, oh, no" sobbed Nancy. Its
only that I've been so worried and IN
happy all day, and it's such a relief to
find everything all right. I'll be all
right myself in a minute"
Irene, still mystif1ed, said nothing
but busted herself by gently removing
Nancy's hat and pulling off her gloves,
while Nancy grew slowly calm.
"Was mother very sick yesterday"
she asked, at last.
"Why, no; she just had one Of her
old headaches"
"Was father In a very serious condi
tionT
"Well, hardly. He was gardening a
good part of the afternoon"
''Then, Irene, why did you write me
that he was failing fast and that moth
er was lawfully illY I got the letter
this morning, and I've been SO nervous
about them all day that 1 could scarce
ly work, and just before closing time
at the office made up my mind that
1 simply must come home, even If ]
could stay only few hours, for have
to go back on the earliest train to-mOr
row. OF course, at this time Of the
night I had to take a cab from the
station, and the trip from the station
will cost me nearly five dollars, and
you know we can't well afford to throw
that amount away. l don't see how
you could send me such an alarming
letter."
!"Oh, Mamie, I'm SO sorry! 1 didn't
realize how my blueness would affect
you. 1 was discouraged for a little
while yesterday, when mother was in
bed with the headache and father COM
planned that his rheumatism prevented
his digging and hoeing the way he used
to. 1 felt lonesome, too, because my
best girl friend has gone away to study
music, so I scrubbed a wall to you
Mother got up quite well for tea, and
some of the boys and girls happened
in in the evening, and we had such a
jolly good time I got entirely over my
blue mood"
81 wish you had waited until then
to write Please select your cheerful
moments for writing to me. It's hard
enough to have to live away from home
without being worried unnecessarily"
Tears again welled up in tired Nan
cy's eyes, and Irene, throwing her arms
round her, said:
"Oh, Mamie, how thoughtless and
selfish I've been !'-Youth's Compan-
ION
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

There is no panic. There is no rea-
son to expect one. If such a contin-
gency were imminent, the best and
mrest way to avoid 1t would be to pat
sonize the banks instead Of the broken
seapots, holes In the wall, old stockings,
n even safety deposit boxes. Deposits
Inable the banks to loan, and such loans
mean the upholdLng Of all business, the
moving Of crops included. Depositors
ave 1t within their power to kill bank
ing credit, but to do so is very like
micide.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

In the old days when the young men
used to talk about cards and women
and horses It was held to be bad
form" to make too much Of ones dis
eases. But the old subjects are little
threadbare and the pOpularizing of
medicine has opened up an unlimited
Held Nowadays men and women dis
euss their ailments with equal warmth
md pride, Boosting about their disor-
tered stomachs and hvers and kidneys
and gloating over the details of their
symptoms. There was a time when
you rarely, If ever, heard men talking
about their nerves. The 'vapOrs"
were reserved for women In those days,
but now any man is at liberty to en-
10Y all the luxuries OF neurasthenia
and psychasthenia and whatever else
he pleases. There is no reason why
the doctors should not lend a hand.
The public is always greedy for further
information concerning their inwards
and nothing could be more popular
than the discovery Of a few new dis
eases. The only danger is that real
education might dispel some pleasant
decisions and by improving the health
of the pie spoil their conversation.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29
A Lucky Horseshoe.

The Australians, when they find a
horseshoe, throw it over their shoulder.
A lady in Sydney found one and threw
it gracefully over her shoulder. 1t
went through a hatter's window and
hit a customer who was trying on a
new hat. The gentleman, under the
impression that one of the shopmen in
a fit of temporary insanity had played
the trick, promptly struck him and
sent him through the plate glass Win
dow A general melee ensued, although
on consideration nobody knew what it
was all about.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29
AN INSECT TRAGEDY.
The Nest the Mother Butterfly Builds
for Her Young.

The Nest the Mother Butterfly Builds
for Her Young.
There is something really pathetic in
the way a mother butterfly builds q
nest for her children. In the first
place, the little home where the eggs
are deposited represents a great deal
Of sacrifice, for it is lined with severaI
layers Of down plucked from the moth
er's own soft body. The eggs having
been laid carefully upon this luxurious,
pretty couch, are protected by an equal
" pretty coverlet made of the same
material
These butterfly bedclothes are often
arranged with an intricacy that is quite
curious and perplexing. Sometimes a
bed is made so that each separate deli
cate hair stands upright, thus giving
the entire nest the appearance Of lit
tie brush of dOWny fur. Then again,
the eggs are laid spirally round tiny
branch, and, as the covering follows.
their course, the effect resembles the
bushy tail of a fox, only the nest is.
more beautiful than the brush of the
finest fox that ever roamed over coun-
try.
The building Of this downy nest is
the latest earthly labor of the mother
butterfly, for by the time it is COM
pIeted her own delicate body is denuded,
of it's natural covering and there is
nothing left for her to do but die, a
sacrifice which she promptly and hero
ically makes in the interest Of the COM
ing butterfly generation.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

~0SNOr@0ON~S|~N~NSN~N
The fluffy girl with the sapphire mar.
quise neck chain raised her eyebrows
into high arch Of surprise.
"Was Billy there?" she asked.
IL should say he was there" replied
the young woman beneath the plumed
hat. dc you know him?'
''Only too WE'LL" said the girl with
the sapphire neck chaAl. What Oh
earth did they ask him for?"
probably because they thought that
he might come. They're all crazy about
him. l am myself"
"About Billy?"
Certainly"
'Billy KribshawY
az think he's just too lovely for any.
thing"
The girl with the sapphire neck chain
gasped. do you mean to tell me that
you think Billy Kribshaw is perfectly
lovely" she asked, solemnly, land that
other people think so? Why, it's abb
surd"
II don't know why it should be alb
surd," said the girl beneath the hat.
"He's the incest looking man I've seen
In / don't know how long,"
'He isn't man, he's a boy-a silly
boy" said the girl who wore the neck
chain. 'I've known Billy ever since
was little girl. l never thought he
was a bit good looking. l believe You
have got him mixed up with somebody
else"
Possibly. But his name is William
Cunning Kribshaw and he is at least 20
and he dances beautifully, and"
"Billy does? Why, 1 didn't know he
danced bit. wonder where he learn
ed. He never would go to dancing
school. But he's so stupid, my dear !"
"Hes the cleverest talker 1 ever
met" said the girl under the hat in a
decided tone, land he says more bright
things. Have you heard, him sing
Wen Hang Jeff Davis Oh Sour Apple
Tree and There Is a Tavern and
things like that? don't believe you've
seen him since he came back from the
East"
"I was the first one he called on"
said the girl with the sapphire neck
chain, absently. 81 didn't see any par
ticular change in him. He certainly
didn't say anything especially bright to
me. Honestly, Jessie, is he really pop
ular"
"I tell you that they are all just
crazy about him."
"Any one in PARTICULAR"
"Not yet, perhaps"
Does he seem to be taken especially
with any one?"
st couldn't say. He's very nice to all
of MS. 1 don't see how you can think
he's anything else but simply fascinat-
Ing. You say he called on you when
he came back|
"Half a dozen times, anyway" re-
piled the girl with the sapphire neck
chain, still with the far-away look In
her eyes. 81 suppose he would have
kept right on calling" she continued,
musingly, IF hadn't think l made
him mad. l wonder If he knows I've
got back? Do you know if he's going
to be at GATHERINGS party?"
''Iost likely. He's going everywhere.
He says he's getting to be~a regular
society belle Are you goingT"
eyes," replied the girl with the sap
phire neck chain. I'D like to see if
you know, Jessie, don't really mean
to say that Mr. Kribshaw is actually
stupid, and 1 don't believe he's so very
bad looking, but you know how it is
when you have known anybody a long
time and he has always persisted-oh,
you know"
"And when you find that other peo-
pie appreciate him if you don't" laugh
ed the girl beneath the hat. Yes, |
know" -Chicago Daily News.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29
RootIess Cactus of California.

Curious among vegetable growths Of
the New World, and one which is sell
dom seen Of men, is the roOtless cactus
of the California desert. This plant, a
round, compact growth, rolls about the
level floor Of the desert for some eight
or nine months Of the year, tossed
hither and yon by the winds which
blow with fierceness over all Of Cali
fornia's sand plat during those months.
At the coming of the rains, or, rath-
er, the cloudbursts, which sweep the
desert IL the springtime, this cactus
takes root, wherever it happens to have
been dropped by the last wind Of which
1t was the plaything, and Immediately
begins to put out all around it small
shoots, which in turn become cacti, ex-
actly like the parent plant.
These young growths increase in size
rapidly, sucking the moisture from the
parent plant and from the surrounding
earth. The roots do not penetrate the
soil deeply, but spread often over a
circle whose radius is not less than ten
feet. These roots, too, are small, but
practically innumerable, and they gel
every bit of moisture and plant food
to he had in the territory they cover
Technical World Magazine.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

A Connecticut woman is suing for
divorce because her husband compelled
her to jump a rope for the purpose of
keeping down her weight. 1t will have
10 be admitted that he is a mean man
who won't let a woman get fat If she
rants to.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

It IS now asserted that without step
ping of his own right Of way Mr.. Har-
Ftnan could walk from Savannah to
San Francisco. But, being practical
man." Mr.. Hartman is not likely to
undertake the stunt.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

It is reported that most OF the
''rats" worn by women are made Of
hair cut from the heads of dead China
men. And women pay money for these
rats" tool
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

There is everything III the world in
minding your own business. If you
haven't any TO mind, get some. The
only successful people, and the only
happy ones, are those who make their
own affairs take up SO much of their
time they don't worry about the affairs
Of others.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

A daughter Of Bismarck declares
that she will marry the man she loves,
and European society is looking up
history to find If anything quite so dis
graceful ever happened before.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

One Of the curious things about the
case of King Manuel Of Portugal is bis
desire to marry the daughter Of a lady
Il waiting when he might as we'll have
picked out q chorus girl.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

A New York man left loaded re-
volver where q small child could get
II, and for a while thereafter he was
busy lodging the bullets his playful
progeny was pumping ut him. This is
only one of the many instances where
the fool killer failed to get his prey
on the first visit.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

A Missouri man who has a beard
six feet long is running for Office. If
he gets 1t there will be no reason to
believe that people could not run some
even If they wore skirts.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

Benjamin Franklin and J. Plerpont
Morgan were both graduates Of the Uni.
versity Of Geottingen." Bet they didn't
belong to the same frat, though.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

Peary will find the North Pole for
So, 1000, which Is about the most rea-
sonable offer that has been made for
such difficult undertaking.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-29

The man who originated the ex-
preston yelled threats" must have
foreseen the days when women In
gauzy hoods would run motor cars
through the crowded streets.