davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26

big ants from the colony in the hollow was pass
Ing in irregular course that way. There were
three In the party and the course of one of them
was taking 1t within the line of the toad's vision.
but at least four inches distant. AS the ant came
in line the toad cooked his head on one side as II
to make sure that he saw something, and then,
quick as a fash of lightning, he hurled his long,
g%lutinous tongue at the ant and in another fash
the ant was in the toad.
"One Of the ants companions had been eye
witness to this tragedy, having turned in that d.
rection at that instant. He stopped and quickly
backed away out of possible range and seemed
to ponder the situation. The third ant, uncon-
scious of the sad fate that had befallen his COM
rade, was some distance ahead, hurrying toward
the tree. The ant that had witnessed the tragic
taking off of his late associate paused but an in
slant as he was beginning the trip up the tree
trunk. He must have told this ant right there
and then what had happened, for this one raised
TO an almost upright position, and for all the
world 1t looked to me as II he was exclaiming:
Great heaven You don't tell mel
AT any rate, after an excited confab at the
foot Of the tree the two ants went up the trunk
a ways and then made their way around it until
they came to a spot directly above where the toad
sat. The two ants gazed down at the monster
awhile, held another excited confab and then
turned up the tree and disappeared into IT
through a smaller opening, which I had some DAYS
before discovered was a rear entrance TO the
colonys abode. l was quite sure something was
going TO happen.
Soon out Of that rear entrance a stream OF
ants began to pour, enormous fellows, bigger than
any I had seen yet. Some Of them seemed half
an inch long and they were armed with powerful
Continued on Page Threel
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26

ing. The boss ant appeared on the scene some
time after those ants had found that trip unneces-
sary and he acted to me as il he was all put out
because the others were not following orders. But
he soon discovered what had happened and re-
turned calm and satisfied to his post, whatever it
was, down in the mining district of the tree.
Thus the work went on, days and days, with
out further incident until the mound from the hol-
low tree had risen three or four inches in height
and covered a foot or more Of ground. Then ]
noticed that at intervals several of the bigger ants,
the inspectors or bosses, as l classed them, came
out of the works and made tours of the mound,
going around it and over II and evidently sizing
it up. Then one day down anne half a dozen or
so of these big ants, and with them a host of the
ants that seemed to be doing the mental labor.
These instantly threw of their coats, so to
speak, and buckled in to the work of carrying that
mound of stun away. Taking it up grain by grain
that army of laboring ants carried it of in all di-
~rections, spreading it around on the ground until
after several days the mound had been reduced to
a level. l couldn't see any reason for this, but II
wasn't for me to reason why. When the work
was done at last the laboring ants returned to
their places in the depth of the tree.
THE work of mining inside the tree and the
dumping of the debris out of the opening contin-
ued all through the month of June, and although
another mound Of dust was formed IT was not dis
turbed. But in the meantime there had been ex-
citing episodes in the life of the colony. Our mas
turtiums had ONE into bud and blossom and the
radiant bank Of bloom attracted to it various
winged things and things that were not winged.
And one day, seeking these, came a solemn, big
eyed toad, sitting between the edge of the refuse
and the inner border of the nasturtium bed. What
was either an inspecting OF scouting party Of the
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26
Associate of the Websters

During his residence in Boston the Mexican war broke out. He
to raise a regiment When half of the regiment was raised Fletcher
Webster was ordered to the front with it while Mr.. Croft remained
behind for the purpose Of recruiting the other half Before this was
accomplished peace was declared.
The number of his friends in erudite New England is great
He met Mrs. Pierce, while he was teaching in Concord, N. H.,
and through her he met her husband who was to become presi-
dent of the United States. He was a frequent visitor in the home
of Prof. Lord. president OF Dartmouth college.
He left Boston in 1S4S and went to Philadelphia where he
became identified with the big music publishing firm of J. E.
Gould g. Co. He went from there to Harrisburg, Pa, where he
opened a branch store for the house. His natural qualities, his
energy and interest in affairs which have always been in striking
contrast to the artistic temperament which he certainly has, soon
made him acquainted with the political leaders. Not only was
be acquainted with them, but he was on intimate terms. His
music store there was made unofficial headquarters of many OF
the big state and national leaders. Many a n unrecorded meeting
ut which big plans we're made was held in a little room back OF
the music store. Once James Buchanan. Chief Justice of the United
States Gibson, Attorney General Black, Simon Cameron, Dave"
Wilmot and David Porter were assembled in this room at one
time.
Mr.. Croft was already SS years of age in 1883 when he decided
10 come west. That was eight years before the civil war began.
These two facts give a vivid impression of the age to which Mr.
Croft has attained. In that year he married Miss Elizabeth Nichols,
of Boston. Her family was one of the Oldest in New England
having settled near searsport, Me, on land granted by King George
l. Miss Nichols was the niece of Jacob Sleeper of Boston. known as
the richest Methodist in the United States.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26

the city, we planted naSturtiumS and
other flowers last spring, and as they began to
appear above ground l spent a good deal of my
spare time watching them grow. Although the
apple tree is in bearing, it's stem is hollow at the
butt, with a large, knotty opening on one side
three feet or so from the ground.
AS the season advanced l began to notice that
what l had at first supposed was a little sprinkling
at the foot OF the tree, beneath the opening in the
side, was growing and forming into a mound Of
considerable size. And then for the first time ]
began to take notice of numerous black ants, some
OF them a third of an inch long, and with enor-
nous heads, whose travelling up and down the
stem of the old tree had Tot before attracted my
attention. l was not long in discovering that
they were of a colony of ants that had taken pos
session of the hollow tree trunk and which was
fixing up that interior for its home. Then the
mystery of the mound of sawdust was cleared I'D.
Somewhere in the hidden depths of that hoI-
low IT was plain that members of the ant colony
were busily mining away the decayed wood to
form such apartments as were required, while 9TH
es were industriously bearing the debris up from
the depths and casting il out at the opening. Ant
after ant appeared at the edge of the opening, in
continuous procession, each with a grain Of wood
in its jaws, which it would drop to the ground.
stantly.
About three inches below the opening TO the
hollow trunk a bit of the trees bark was loose at
the upper end and hared out from the wood so
that it made a pocket a couple OF inches wide and
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26
Meeting With King George Nv

That monarch, shut up by necessity of state within his exiguous
island, used to talk to the little boy who lived with Lady Cecil
and had travelled all the way to America. One day the king patted
John T. Croft o his boysh head and said:
Little boy, what do the people in America do In the EVENING""
And he was surprised when he learned that the people in
far off America had as many amusements IS the people in the
midst of civilized England. Victoria, who was to become queen
of England and empress Of India, was a little girl at the time
also and little Johnny Croft knew her in their childhood days.
Thus early was he intimate with great people and continued to
be Sc through his life. He became intimately acquainted with three
presidents of the United States. Franklin Pierce. James Buchanan
and General Grant. besides knowing scores of lesser dignitaries.
At an early age he ran away from home and began work on a
farm. From a child he had had an idea of harmony and a fine voice.
He naturally took to the study of music. In 1882 he was attending
McGin college Montreal, Canada, when the plague of Asauc cholera
ragged there and saw the carts driving through the streets with the
ghostly call. Bring out your dead" When he was IT years of age
he took charge of a school in Canton, N. Y. Later he taught in
Kingston, Upper Canada. About 1910 the time of the "Tippecanoe
and Tyler Too" campaign, when Croft was already a man Of rs
years-he went TO Boston and had attained such proficiency as a
musician that he became a teacher in the Boston Academy Of Music
under the famous Lowell Mason. He was there eight years, during
which he made a name in the world of music. He gave many
concerts in the high circles Of Boston society at which the famous
Mendelssohn quintet played which included Anna Stone, the great
singer of Boston and George F. Hayter, the great pianist. During
the summer he conducted floral concerts" In England cities and
towns,
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26
Omaha and Prosperity

Coming west with his beautiful young wife, he stopped first
In Chicago where they remained a few months. Then they came
on to Davenport, Ia. There the young musician invested his savings
In Iowa lands. In the winter of 1856 they arrived in Omaha
MT Croft Immediately invested heavily in a suburban farm which
Is the land now comprised between Sixteenth and Twenty-fourth
street and Ames avenue. He laid out 1872 lots and built seven
houses. The following year he lost the whole thing because the
homestead title of the man from whom he had bought 1t was
proven TO be valueless. This took practically all his possessions
But he was not discouraged. He managed to get a start and
bought and sold cattle to the Mormons. At one time he had
1000 oxen, $50 horses, 200 mules and scores of wagons standing
on his property near Nineteenth street rnd Ames avenue; for he
again secured possession of the land out of which he had been
defrauded.
When the civil war began he was commissioned through the
Influence OF his friend, Senator Simon Cameron TO raise two COM
panies of cavalry to be attached to the First Nebraska. Later
these companies were consolidated at Benton Barracks with Min
nesota, Missouri and Iowa companies and became known a Is the
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26
Home of His Old Age

Visit this remarkable man who seems to have foiled Father Time
and who defies death, this man who has fought bravely and cour-
ageously, loved deeply and increasingly and at the same time
listened with trained and appreciattve ear to the lifelong harmony
which is vouchsafed only to the Hottest souls. The house in
which he lives is built in bungalow style. 1t stands back from the
street at 1920 Ames avenue on part of that land which young
Croft bought when he first came to Omaha in 1856. 1t is
ideally situated, commanding a wide view across the valley to where
the Missouri flows and across that stream to the high bluffs on the
other side. There is a garden around on one side of the house;
there are vines climbing up at the windows; a long wooden trough
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26
Charming as a Host

You may talk to this man for hours and you won't get tired of
your father was born and tell it with viudness, as though it had
happened yesterday. He talks rapidly and animatedly and he laughs
freely as a boy. He has a piece of music which he will sing for
you. 1t is the song he used to sing with the daughter of Prof
Lord, president of Dartmouth college more than seventy years ago.
The messy marble of the tomb has rested upon her mortality for
will tell you of his experiences in the hard fight of the world and
of his delight in the realm of music. He tells of all these things
without Boosting.
1t is easy to see that his whole soul is bound up in music. He
taught music in recent years without compensation beyond the
pleasure of seeing his pupils develop under his instruction. Today
not need to do it for his living. His whole heart is wrapped up
in them. When he talks of some of these juvenile pupils tears of
affection come into his eyes. They are to him al his own children,
For he has a nature which demands some object for its love.
His wife is gone and all his children are dead but one, his son,
John Croft who lives in the house adjoining him. In his music
and his pupils he finds outlet 70, his affection.
when l am playing and when am instruCtng a beloved
pupil" he says, 81 forget my grief Music makes me forget. When
l am with people they think never am anything but happy. But
1 have some of the most gloomy and melancholy moments that
can possibly come to men. My wife died in 1872 and never
cared for another woman. She was said to be the most beauti-
full woman who ever came to Nebraska. She was as good as she
was beautiful. She was also a great social favorie. When General
Sherman visited Omaha, for instance, he led the march at the ball
given in his honor and Mrs. Croft was his partner. She dropped
dead on the street in 1872. She had never been i'll a day before
that"
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26

- TIT TVU aW TW TITU VV TT BWUVTUTg u" WW"H V9"""
The Siberian pine and the palm tree are notfound growing
III the same soil and climate. The battering power OF the
n threshng machine and the gentle, musical ticking of a fine
watch are not found in the same mechanism. Take the
latter two and combine them and convert the hybrid resultant into
a human being and you have John Thorn Croft, a citizen of Omaha
who is remarkable in many ways. He possesses the qualities both
of the lion and the lamb, of the threshing machine and the watch.
He has moved in the thick of raging battles; he has dealt with
the lawess breed Of men who rubbed the first roughness from the
wild western plains; he has fought the Indians; he has hunted
the fierce wild animals of the mountains These activities show
the qualities of the lion. But he has also devoted fourscore years
to those gentle symphonies of the great life which is not seen, the
life of music He is a true Bohemian in his present style of lv-
ing and has been so always. He carried violin with him through
1t has soothed him, comforted him, encouraged him, for he under
stands that language which is known to so few.
In addition to being a sort of combination of threhing machine
and deicatey balanced watch, Mr.. Croft possesses the qualities Of
a powerful dynamo, a dynamo that does not wear out Look at
that erect figure, those clear eyes unglazed. the full head of white
hair, the healthy hue of his face, the softness of the skin on his
hands. See him move about with quick, alert step and hear him talk
with animated voice and with perfect memory. How old would
you judge this man to be? Possibly seventy but very well pre-
served for that age. Your guess is good but you have missed it
just twenty-four years. Mr.. Croft is in his cath year, a marvel
of perpetual youth, physical and mental.
He was born January 23, 1915. He inherits longevity. His
grandfather died at the age of 96; his grandmother at the age
of SO and his father wa cut off at the untimeIy age of 80 years.
land, His great grandfather wF Commodore John Thorn Croft
of the English navy who was with Nelson at the battle of Trafal-
gar. Much of John Crofts boyhood was spent on the sea. He
had relatives in New England and in England and, a s his uncle
was captain of a ship. he travelled back and forth, getting part
Of his education on each side. His aunt had married Lord Cecil
and they lived at Brighton, England, near the house where King
George Nv spent part of the summer.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26

serves to catch the raindrops from the kitchen roof and convey
them to a rain barrel.
You knock at the door. Immediately there is the sound Of
a quick step, evidently that of a young man. He appears. 1t is y
young man in spite of white hair ard mustache. But this young
man is "a years of age. He ushers you in with that cordiality
which is universally recognized as the outward sign of a warm
heart. 1t is necessary to remove two viohns from the chair in
order to provide a place for the visitors. The room is large and
a glance around gives the impression that 1t is inhabited by violins
There are four lying on a small center table, two repose on top
OF the piano, three are standing in a conversational group on a
large arm chair. They seem to be everywhere while in one corner,
like the widower father of the whole family stands a cello. There
Is also a piano. On the walls arr pictures of famous violnists
ranging from some of the old masters down to Kubelk. 1t is
evident by a glance at this and the adjoining room. that the master
of the house keeps bachelor hall and also that he has the Bohemian
temperament, too much bound up H. the charms of his art to care
for the everyday routine of eating and drinking and sleeping.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26

tain OF Company B. The troops remained at Benton Barracks for
some time during which Captain Croft ives raised to the rank Of
major with his battalion. Then an order came that he should be
permanently detached from his regiment and report to General
Grant at Fort Henry. He reported and on March IL, 1868 he
"a ordered with bis battalion to Paris, KY where with part of
General Lew Walace's regiment and Buells battery he attacked
Clay Kings command known as the Kentucky hellhounds," and
gained a victory over them. He was wounded near GAINESVILLE
and came home to Omaha on a furlough.
After the war he began fretghting, working some time for
the Western Telegraph company, He was successful and made
money rapidly. He took a contract to "clean up all the freight
OF several wagon trains of the Butterfeld Freighting company
which had been captured by the Indians on Smoky hill. The trains
were valued, with their contents at 81, 500, 900. He was successful
In this venture and brought the goods to Denver and contracted to
take them on to Salt Lake, At the latter city he sold his train
for 1922, 600.
Il never saw one cent Of that money" he says with the amused
laugh Of the philosophicaly minded man who looks back upon
the ventures he has made in the affairs of men, ventures so puny
and ephemeral and unimportant viewed from the eminence of four
score and fourteen years. 81 think my fault was having too much
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26
Intelligence Displayed by Ants at Work and at War

T AND around the foot OF IN old apple tree
IN our back yard" said IN Omaha man
who this year is leading the simple
life in the pleasant country north of
the city. 1--WE PLANTED nasturtiums and
Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-26
Ohm THORN CROFT WATCHES THE WORLD DRIFTING BIZ
Simple Story of a Man Who for More Than Ninety Years Has Borne a Life of Unus

= HE lion and the lamb do not generally lie down together
The Siberian pine and the palm tree are notfound growing
III the same soil and climate. The battering power OF the
threshing machine and the gentle, musical ticking of a fine
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-08-13
ONLY ONE BEST"
vermont People Give Great Where
Credit iS Due

People ~ Vermont slp sufer with
Siel kidneys aud bad hacks want .
kidney rrms,ly thai csu te drpendc,l
upon. The best !. bean. Kidney
l'ills. modleine fus the kidurys only,
made from pure naots and hrrhs. and
The only our thai j. backed by cures
in Vermont. Here's Vermont TEST.
many.
T.. \. kennon. 2es North Street. Ben.
uiugion. W.. says. II suffered from
kidney trouhle for years. There was
= soreness IN The region fmy kidneys
was bothered by dizzy spells. There
was also distressing kidney weakness
aud Was ia pretty bad condition
when got boan's Kidney Pills at =
drug store and began using them.
They proved 30 Ice the remedy ! ~.
quired and soon the aching aud lame
ness LETT my back aud the kidney
weakness was corrected. My friends
have also used Doan's Kidney Pills
and from the satisfactory results oh
tanned recommend them highly.
For sale by all dealers. Price 10
cents. Foster MiIburn To-, Buffalo,
New York, sole agents for the United
States.
Remember the name poan sand
take no other.
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-08-13

and Garden ray tluhs Is hehiu ihs
yeraasui siais rslf ehampion. W. a..
feAIei Fw-lsfsek A Marin. ktvapek
aud baaa,auth College. % ihs Anhi
thirty "a holr maieh 81 ihr katlafd
CsaMsry s'iab ilisk. saturday ~ ihs
score u . 40 and ~ play Mr. Hes.
neshssa san tie tide on the saair ilnks
ID 1904 TIE Camden City man sAs .
np whsn The uaru niigrsi ior lunch. In
lbs Afternoon lhe liariannuih golfer pui
~ gaiar hight. and hr opponent was
Obliged to ~, a bnliiaHi =, ~ iucnrase
me lead, Thur aiisanoon cards fol
lowl
fnrdrriek nereshon
om 433T3a353- B
Ia 64i3443aJ "a
Frederick Martin
cot 54JGs545a-ll
la 4a3444J76--3s ~
The ttic has gone 10 an Ekwanok
player ever SINCE the Vermont Stale
hoii Association was formed. hui ne
native Nermonter has ever won. Ia
fact tins h the iirsi lime that bonn
side Nermonter has survived until Ga,
finals.
EdWsrk W. CLARK. 81, Ekwanok and
Philadelphia Country Club, champion
las, year, had 10 be content with win
ming The losing eight cup. He put out
Or. Il. NJ. Pond. Rutland Country Club.
q np and 4 10 play.
w. c. Houston, Ekwanok and phila-
delphia Country Club. defested ]. n.
Woodtin IN the second sixteen division.
) np and 10 play.
In the handicap at eighteen holes
medal play in the morning j n. Wood.
fin, Rutland County Club. captured the
gross score prize With IS. This also
won him the gold medal for the best
score IN the qualifying round, IN which
be was tied Mt 81 with Frederick Her
roshoI aud Dr. H. NJ. Pond. The net
score prize went 30 Fritz Jennings,
Mount Anthony Country Club. He re-
turned card Of st--s-sl.
AT the meeting of the Directors Of
the Vermont State Golf Association il
was decided 10 hold the championship
next year on the Mount Anthony Coun-
try Club links at Bennington. George
Worthington was elected President and
X. b Wellington Secretary.
The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-08-13
In VERMONT.

The officials of the Rutland County
FAIR andRutland Horse Show Associa-
ton are actively at work getting ready
for their joint exhibition Sept. 2, 3 and
l. They are rebuilding the grand stand
recently burned. A model, up-to-date
stand 800 by 40 feet will be built on the
old location, setting same back from
the track Tar enough TO leave pleanty
OF room for nice paddock in front OF
the grand stand beacheis. The new
grand stand will be great improve.
ment on the old one all the seats hav
ing backs and portion OF them being
reserved, There will be two entrances
from the rear aud exits at each end
When completed this stand will be one
of the best in New England.