davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
LSAAC G. Ms CIR 2 3

1928. When scarcely five years old
he took to the use of the pen. From
his mothers side of the family, he
says, he inherited his liking for the
art. Before he was seven years of
age he was able to write an even, flow
ing hand, and while still a boy became
known as the best penman in eastern
Washington county.
After course under John D. vii,
| liams, in Washington, supplemented
| by three-months' course under Rice
& Spencer, in Pittsburg, young McGigr
soon became recognized as a master
of the art of penmanship. He early
turned his attention to drawing, and
With pen and pencil produced pictures
| that have since been pronounced per.
| ,ect. Many of them, which he still
treasures among his possessions, can.
not be distinguished by the naked eye
from steel engravings.
While still a small boy Isaac Nc
Iirr learned to play the violin. Be
| fore he was 20 he had practically mas
tered the instrument. His desire to
see the world led the Beallsville lad
to New York city. In the metropolis
le readily rose to the top in his .chos
IN professions. He soon became first
violin in one of New York's leading or
chestras.
In New York Mr.. McGirr continued
his pen and pencil work, and there he
| produced what he believed to be his
nest nearly perfect drawings. MIR
Mr. McGirr's parents having reached
and advanced age, their son returned
| to the West Pike Run farm to care
for them in their declining years. This
| was in 1870 That farm has since re
NAMED his home. He has never since
been back to New York ard the scene
Of his many triumphs.
McGirr the elder died in 1876 and II
| 1890 the mother followed her husband
| to the grave. To the care of Isaac
McGirr two sisters were left Bott
the sisters died in 1895, and Isaac Nc
| SIR has since lived entirely alone
Within the next two months he will be
| 80 years of age.
Despite his advanced years and his
enforced solitude, Mr.. McGirr is ia,
from dissatisfied with his lot In fact
with him to exist is selfsufffcient He
lives close to nature, is a thorough
vegetarian and honest, upright citi
zen. To these circumstances the aget
man points as the explanation for bis
'obust health and splendid physiGa
condition.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
LIVES As A HERMIT
ISAAC G. M'GIRR, FORMER MAS,
TER OF PEN AND VIOLIN.
Passing Declining Years Alone ir
Farmhouse Home in PennsyI-
Vania-Gives Nature Cred
it for His Greatness,

Washington, Pa.-Washington coun.
ty has produced many distinguished
men in the century and a quarter of
her history. The notable achievements
of numerous of her sons are written
in many places on history's pages. 9th.
ers-many of them-equally entitled
to distinction have been
Born to blush unseen"
For lack of more fortunate circum
stances their talents and accomplish
ments have remained hidden from the
world.
In the latter category a striking ex
ample is furnished in Isaac Griffith Nc
Cir, the aged hermit-artist and must.
clan of West Pike Run township. In 8
humble cottage surrounded by his &c
or more acres of land, not far from the
village of Beallsville, lives now alone
the former master of pen and violin
The casual caller at the little cottage
Iof Isaac McGirr would little dream
that the aged hermit had hidden away
in his oaken chest, ever guarded with
jealous eye, specimens of his handi
work which the most notable art crit
les of America have pronounced fault
less. He would never suspect that un.
der the old colonial bed in the corner
Of the room, carefully laid away in its
ebony box, reposed the violin that
years ago furnished melody for the
most fashionable audiences in the
country.
Isaac Griffith McGirr was born in
the cottage in which he now lives, in
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25

This second dazzling gravestone ap-
peared one day in March. Before the
season was over Wildwood had built
it's first summer hotel and planned and
subscribed the capital for the narrow
gauge branch around Swallow Hill to
connect with the railroad at what is
now Wildwood Junction.
The new road had hardly been run.
ming two seasons when Abraham Jen-
kins, white-haired and tottering, fol-
lowed his second wife to the grave
yard to which, after his funeral, all
eyes were again turned. Among the
townspeople it had always been sus-
pected that the first slab was put up
by the Perkinses and the second with
money left by the consort who had
been Matilda Brice These conjec-
lures were confirmed when the will of
Abraham Jenkins was read and a
gravestone was erected in accordance
with his last instructions, between
those Of his departed partners, and it
was also conceded that in death he
had proved equal in wit to all his
wives relations, for this was the sculp-
ture it bore, surmounted by hands at
tached to arms spread out as il in
benedictiOn:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
Breaking the News.

At recent dinner of tThe Fossils, -
given recently, James M. Beck. was
one of the speakers. 1.-THE Fossils" Is
an organization composed of former
amateur journalists, and Mr.. Beck, as
one of the organizers of the National
Amateur Press association in Philadel-
phia in 1876, has never lost his inter-
est in this most admirable training
school for young writer's.
I'm looking back upon those days
when the publishing of amateur pa
pers seemed the most fascinating
thing in the world" said Mr.. Beck in
the course of his address, 81 feel in
deed that I am quite in the fossil
class. The organization of the Ma.
tional Amateur Press association
seems almost prehistoric. In looking
back through the years it is almost
as misty as the stone age. I was a
very small boy when l took part in
those weighty deliberations. 1 feel
like the youngster who said to his IA
Their:
Father, was writing done on tab
let's of stone in the old days?'
Eyes. my son., replied the dutifu
parent.
'Gee!' unused the boy Then il
must have taken a crowbar to break
| the news"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
Hvrrlcsne Terrors Detailed.

A girl friend of Miss Ethel Barry
more made her first trip abroad last
spring on the same ship with the dis
tinguished actress. She kept journal
which she allowed Miss Barrymore to
look over on her return. 1t was the
usual schoolgirls journal, very much
like the one Mark Twain kept in
which for seven days he recorded the
important facts that he got up,
washed and went to breakfast" except
when she described the trying time
she had in crossing the channel.
Il firmly resolved to stay on deck,
the journal reads, although the tenn
pest increased to such frightful hur
ricane that it was only with greatest
difficulty that could hold up my para
sol."-Short Stories.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
Twenty Year Supply of Pine.

The wood chemistry section of the
forestry bureau has been giving some
attention to the subject of the produc.
ton Of turpentine from yellow pine
waste. It is stated that for the recoy.
cry Of turpentine from waste wood the
steam distillation process is far su,
perior to destructive distillation, max.
ing more uniform crude turpentine
and usually higher grade refined
product. The wastage from the yellow
pine cut each year would yield as
much turpentine as the entire pres
ent annual output in this country
with a value of S14,OO0,O00. At the
present rate Of cutting the supply OF
long-leaf yellow pine in the south viii
be practically exhausted in 20 yeats
but the methods of exploitation now in
use convert only about half the tres
into market product.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25

grow in value offered an opportunity
for an investment
He made an offer on the place
which has since been accepted, and
now he is going west to take title to
the property and plant 20 acres OF
corn, at the same time getting the
benefit of the high altitude and out
door life. Mrs. Hadley will go to New
Mexico later in the summer.
In appearance Mr.. Hadley shows nc
signs of poor health. Most of his
friends have come to the conclusion
that indigestion is his most serious
trouble.
When he works under high pres
sure 16 hours a day he occasionally
runs down because his nervous system
affects digestion. He is the reverse
of Gov. Folk, who eats four big meals
day when he is working hard and
grows fat on a hard campaign.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
Famous English Outlaw.

Robin Hood is a traditionary Eng
fish outlaw and popular hero. He is
said to have been born at Locksley
Nottinghamshire, about 1850. He lived
in the woods with his band, either fol
reasons of his own or because he was
really outIawed, his haunts being chief
ly Sherwood forest and BarnsdaeI IN
Yorkshire. He is also said to have
been the outlawed earl Of Huntingdon
According to tradition he was extrava
giant and adventurous, and though kind
tn tho moor. robbed the rich.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
Human Hair in Wedding Gowns


Madge O'Rourke, the famous Ir1Ih.
American dressmaker, was showing a
customer an assortment of wedding
gowns, relates the New Orleans Times
Democrat.
In every one of those gowns, were
you to rip them apart" she said, YOU
would find a lock of hair hidden-retl
hair, brown hair, golden hair, even
ray hair.
Sewing girls believe that she who
orks on wedding gown, if she sews
lock of her own hair into it, will be
married herself within the year.
"Oh, yes, the belief is universal.
Every wedding gown in the world is
apt to reveal, when cut up, a lock OF
tair-some red, some gold, some
black, and some, alas, gray"
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
benedictiOn:

Tourists to-day throng to Wildwood
in greater numbers than ever. Tour
naments are played on the golf links
Of Hotel Wildwood and the tennis
courts of the Minister, near the Ciois-
ter Pines. Bear Nook glen, Artists
point and Lectern ledge are visited by
shoals of sightseers in buckboards, in
automobiles, awheel. on horseback and
afoot, and the views from Sunset rock
were never finer. But the tide Of curl
osity has ebbed away from the little
cemetery on the hill where the bones
of Abraham Jenkins rest between
those of his two wives, and they and
the feuds of their families are almost
forgotten.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
HADLEY TO BE A FARMER.
Missouri Attorney General seeks
Health Filling Soil.

Kansas City.-Herbert S. Hadley, at
torney-general and a candidate for the
Republican nomination for governor.
is to become farmer.
A short time ago when the doctors
thought Mr.. Hadley's health was
breaking he went to Texas and from
there to New Mexico. While staying
at Roswell he found a little farm, two
miles out of that place, that he fan
cled as an ideal place for country
bone while the chance that it would
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25

The first stranger to notice the cd
dity of this bit of mortuary sculpture
was a touring bicyclist. What could
it mean, he wondered. The sexton,
whom he happened to catch on the
premises, denied all knowledge of the
significance of the inscription, but he
grinned. The bicyclist was followed
buggy. Soon the country SWANS, with
their companions, drove from places
25 miles away to read and ponder
upon the strange inscription. Picnic
parties came and gazed upon it and,
after eating luncheon in the grove of
tall pines-now known as Wildwood
went away to spread the intelligence
of the peculiar monument in Wild
wood cemetery and extol the charms
of the neighborhood.
The years sped swiftly by, and bits
of moss and lichen gathered in the
| deeper lines of the carved index and
chung to the angles of the sculptured
| letters, but an increasing army of Wis
itors noted that the traces of time and
decay were periodically cleaned away
by unseen hands. The seasons passed
each bringing new curiosfty-seekers
from a wider radius to behold the in
explicable legend and exercise Their
ingenuity upon its Interpretation
Summer boarders began to come from
New York and Boston, and tourists
from the south and the fiat, treeless
regions Of the middle west, to whom
the towering peaks and dense, sweet
smelling woods were as inspiring as
they were unfamiliar.
Then, to the amazement of every
body, when Abraham Jenkins became
a widower for a second time, the lone
ly slab was discovered to have com
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
CHIEF OF MODERN WooDMEN.
Head Consul A. r. Talbot Unanimous
Iy Reelected.

Lincoln, Neb.-Head Consul A. r.
Talbot OF the Modern Woodmen of
America, who was unanimously re-
elected at the triennial convention
held in Peoria, ILL.,, is lawyer of this
city, and was formerly the partner of
William Jennings Bryan. He has been
at the head of the Woodmen since
1908, when he succeeded Lieut-Gov.
Northcott of Illinois. Previously he
had been director Of the order for -
years Mr.. Talbot has served in the
Nebraska senate. Under his admins
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
Where 20 Stand,

motor cars an SIGH air all right, "
said Farmer Bligh, but I'll stand by
the Missouri mule"
Then be keerful, David" cautioned
his spouse, ito stand by his head, not
his heels. kansas City Times.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25

tration the Woodmen have flourished
now having $4,000 members, OF
whom 10000 are in Illinois. The sal
airy of the Office was increased from
$4,000 to $4,000. The election is for
a term of three years
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
The Weakening of Wildwood
By Stanley E. johnson
By Stanley E. johnson
Copyright, by shortstory Pub. Coz

Twenty years ago nobody went to
Wildwood, and yet, 20 years ago, its
mountains were as picturesque, its
sunsets as gorgeous, the white moon
light, streaming through the tops OF
its tall, dark pines, was as glorious
and impressive as to-day. But now,
from an unknown crossroads, it has
become one of the most noted and I'M
portant places on the White Mountain
map of summer travel. The little
place that slumbered is bounding with
life. From the first day of July to the
first week of October, every year,
more baggage is handled at Wildwood
Junction in a single day than had en-
tered the township in the whole
course of it's existence prior to its
awakening. And it's awakening was
brought about by the great transform
er, Death. This is how it came to
pass:
In the best room" of the lonely
hillside farmhouse of Abraham Jen-
kins-a room seldom opened except to
the minister and book agents-were
assembled, one November day, the
clans of the Jenkinses and Perkinses,
to attend the funeral of the late Mar
tina Perkins Jenkins, the farmers wife.
A stalwart son, the eldest of family
of nine children, had, after Abraham
himself given voluble testimony to
their high appreciation of the depart
ed. The Ieanest of a covey of maiden
sisters of the deceased took the wild
over aside and said: Il only hope she
knows how yer feelin' fer her; it
would be a good bit satisfyin' to her,
I'm sure. She seq to me once, SEE
she, Eff 1 go, l know that Abe'll marry
some young thing that never'll TEX no
interest in the young ones, and they'll
be left ter shift But We wouldn't do
that, would We, Abe?"
Disregarding this pointed appeal,
Abraham Jenkins cleared his throat
and addressed the assembled COM
pany:
1--WE jest decided ter tell We, s'long's
yer all here, that I've sort O. felt ez
eff / sh'd foller her soon. So I've
bought lot in the grayeyard-to be
paid fer in instalments-and when I
die l want yer ter put me by the side
of Marthy. Then shell rest in peace.
Thems my final instructions." Turn
| ing to the maiden sisters of his la
mented wife, he added: Il know yell
| tex good care O. them thar youngsters
that Marthy sot so much store by"
Then he broke down and sobbed wild
ly, "Oh, Marthy, Marthy, why heV We
gomez"
Four months after the funeral an
other Mrs. Abraham Jenkins was in
stalled in the lonely farmhouse, and
she was all that the first Mrs. Jenkins
had foreboded. Young and frisky,
pretty Matilda Brice had attracted
Abraham Jenkins at a Grange socia-
BILE, and his mourning had ceased from
that moment
That there should be great indigna-
ton among the Jenkinses and more or
less establishment in the community
at-large was matter of course, but it
was some months after the wedding
of the widower before marble slab
mysteriously appeared in the new
Jenkins lot in the village cemetery,
bearing the following inscription:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25

panion on the opposite side of tn
family lot. 1t was thus inscribed:
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
DR.. ]. F. PIGOTT,
Covington, La.

Residence in the Exterstein raised
cottage, two blocks west Of public
school building.
public.
ONCE at the City Drug Store on Co
lumbia street.
St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-07-25
Alnfpantnuul Uurnn

DR. QUITMAN KOHNKE
las established his residence and
olnce IN CONVICTION, LA, at the
Sorner OF Massachusetts and Boston
streets. Telephone 81.
Aorring Hour: 9 to 10.
Evening Hour: to 4.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-02-15
THE PHYLLIS WHEATLEY HOME
ASSOCIATION.

The members fthe Phyllis wheat
lev Woman's Club, re-incorporated TO
Gently. and from henceforth' II VIII Dc
known as the Phyllis Wheatley Home
Association.
Many of the most self sacrificing
women who are ever ready to work
for the uplifting Of those who need
helm are connected with the associa-
ton. and they are putting forth
every honorable effort to raise
money to assist in paying for q
home at $3.50 Forest ave-. which win
be used as a home for young girls,
coming to this city from the South
seeking employment, where they can
find a safe home. until they can get
themselves adjusted to the new order
of things.
The women connected with the
Phyllis wheatley Home Association
are worthy of the highest considera-
ton, and any one desiring to render
them any financial assistance, can
send their contributions. to Mrs. A.
E. Hunter financial secretary Of the
Phyllis Wheatley Home Association,
1929 La Sale street.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-02-15
A NEW coLoRED THEATRE.

A $4,000 brick theatre building and
dancing hall is being erected at 1887
Mt. Vernon avenue, by Samuel Clark,
a Colored man. and it is expected that
the building will be completed by
March l. The theatre, which will be
for the use OF amateurs at present,
is fully equipped with a stage So feet
deep and 40 feet wide and the house
has a seating capacity Of 7OO.-The
Colored World, Columbus, Ohio.
1t is too bad that there is not some
Colored man in Chicago, enterprising
enough to construct a fine large hall
which could be used in which first
class dances could be held and all the
important gatherings among the Afro
Americans.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-02-15
How the World Gro,.n.

In a little more than a hundred
years, according to government figures,
the population OF the world has grown
from 640,OOO.O00 to 1.6O0.OOOOOO an
Increase Of 150 per cent. At the end of
% many hundreds Of centuries, In 9th.
er words. there were In the world in
1900 only 64oOO0,OOO Of persons, and
In 1O6 years, from 1900 to 1906, to this
number had been added e6OOO0,OOO.
The total commerce Of the world I'm
1900 was about $500. 600 900; In 1900
1t was more than $4,000, 600, 900. 9th
er figures show that In wealth and the
growth Of various Industrial agencies
the Increase has been far swifter than
that Of population.
The overpopulation Of the world Is
not a present menace to the thinkers
Of today, but the thinkers Of a period
when there were less than half as
many people in the world as there are
now seriously debated the imminence
OF the catastrophe that the oYercrowd-
ing Of the earth would produce.-Bos-
ton Globe.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-02-15
MASKED CARNIVAL At THE CHA,
TEAU DE PLAIsANcE.

The Chateau de Plaisance, 1924
State street, will be a scene OF
pleasure and beauty next Wednesday
night, February 18th, when Photo
grapher Jones, at 1920 P. NJ. takes
flash light of the varigated colors
Of the immense audience and skaters
under the Kaleidoscope Calcium,
which will be used on the occasion of
this masked Carnival on wheels Of
the Leland Giants further efforts to
amuse and please its many patrons
Those who skate can not afford TO
miss this affair, the first of its kind in
twenty years.
The recent damage to the Rink has
been fully repaired and the French
American Chinese Restaurant will be
in full operation. Face masks can be
had at the Rink. Prizes viii be
awarded for the most original and
unique costumer and a good time in
store for all who attend.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-02-15
English Etchings.

Deaths from hunger and destitut o.
In the United Kingdom average no
than 500 every year
A letter addressed to THE Man W
Wears the Tallest Hat In Bristol L.
been correctly delivered In that Eng
llsh city.
A London physician asserts that cic
arctic smoking is increasing amOu-
women to such an extent as TO be cauS-
ing a change in their diet. They now
want spiced and highly seasoned dishes
where they used to take creams and
ices.
An interesting experiment is in prog.
ress at Sunderland, England. The
thousands OF unemployed continue TO
suffer more from the cold than from
hunger To mitigate this the elemen-
tary schools are opened every evening
and provided with light, fires, reading
matter and games.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-02-15
SHORT STORIES.

Dates thrive on the Colorado d,sar.
In Holland fifteen out OF every To
sand inhabitants are foreigners.
The newly formed Chinese cah.,.,
has decided on the regular publicar ,-
Of a government newspaper
The great Guadalupe artesian v.
at Guadalupe, Mexico, which useG e..
SQUIRT a hundred feet high. Is r.....
and only goes half that now.
There Is one American book wi
should be counted among the besr o.
ers. Over 100000 copies have ,a.
sold. It is The Horse Book" s....
by the government
Judge Tuthill OF Chicago do.
that II Is as much the duty Of ....
as a mother to walk the floor wi o.
crying baby and warm the inf
milk bottle at night.
Rockingham Junction, y. H $685.
recently a thriving railroad center.
practically ceased to exist. The
road station cafe has been closed o.
the telegraph wires taken out.
Few persons realize the anon -
work required to give an autOn,' o..
body its completed dress. To O.r.'!
new blue finish. for instance. !. b.
stated that no less than THIRTY 20.
painting operations are required
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-02-15
Tales They Tell.

A live snake five feet eight inches
long kept in the barber shop Of Louis
Schulz Of Trenton, N. J., Is petted by
the BARRIERS customers.
Irwin h. whaley OF Galestown, Nd.
ate two ounces OF black pepper on a
wager, but the services OF a physician
were needed Immediately.
Adolph Goldblatt Of McKeesport, Pa.
has a boy nineteen months old who
weighs sixty-ive pounds and who Is
said to eat more than a pound Of meat
Q day.
John Smith OF Traverse City, Mich.
Set out trap for mink recently. When
he went to see what he had got he
found trout ten inches long securely
caught by the lower jaw.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1908-02-15
Modes of the Moment.

Shoes are to be much observed this
spring. for the street skirts are short
er, and shoes are more elaborate.
Bright colors are promised for spring
and summer millinery to give tone 10
the darker shades. which are prophe-
sled for gowns and suits.
The negllgees Of the season are very
sheer, which means that one must
wear very fine underwear. and this
indicates that the petticoat must be OF
lace and the corset cover OF equally
beautiful material
A touch OF gilt Is upon the gowns Of
the season, and the prettiest costumes
both for the house and the street are
those enlivened by a little gold to
waken them from their duIlness and
make them accord with the brilliancy
Of the modes.-Brooklyn Eagle.