davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
PROVING His Motto.


"Well, SIR" exclaimed the millionaire,
what do you want this morning"
'I've come again to ask for your
daughter" said the poor but ambitious
young man.
Haven't told you six times over
on as many different days that it IS
out Of the question? What do you
mean by bothering me in this way7
You are making a nuisance of your
selfv'
III seem to be more persistent than
circumstances warrant, l must insist
that you, sir, are to blame"
"Me?' shouted the indignant old man.
II don't understand you"
There" said the man who loved his
daughter as he pointed to motto over
the bankers desk, ''is my excuse for
coming here day after day, If at first
you don't succeed, try. try, try again.
DO you believe in that sentiment, or
have you put it up there simply to de-
ceive people?"
After he had scratched his head
awhile the mean old plutocrat said:
"Yes, believe in that ! haven't
succeeded yet in making you under
stand that my daughter shall not be-
come the wife of fool, but am going
to keep on trying till do! Good morn
ingv'
And that time he did it.-Strand
Magazine.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
SAND-CLAY HIGHWAYS
As Useful as Macadam Roads
For All Practical Purposes.
SIMPLE AND CHEAP TO BUILD
Requires Less Money to Construct
Than Any Other Type of Road Ex-
cept the Earth Kind and Less to Re-

PdlFs
The office of public roads at Wash
ington has issued a farmers bulletin,
which contains the following reliable
information about the construction and
value of sand-clay roads:
1.-The possibilities Of the sand-clay
road may not be fully realized by the
public for a long time to come. still
the progress being made in this form
OF road building In nearly every part
of the United States Is encouraging.
Such benefits as have come to Rich
land county, S. c.; Pike county, Ala;
Dallas county, Ala; Cumberland coun-
ty, S. c., and many other sections
throughout the Atlantic and gulf states
from the use of sand-c'ay roads should
be sufficient incentive for general
study of the subject in those parts of
the United States where these ma
terials exist in adequate quantities.
"Sand and clay had always been
abundant in Pike county, Ala. Still.
a combination of the two for road pur
poses was not thought of until four
years ago. At the present time there
are nearly 12O miles of sand-clay Qad
in Pike county, which for all practical
purposes are as useful as macadam
roads and which have cost about one
sixth Of the amount standard mac
adam of the same or less width would
cost in this section. With this system
the remotest section of the country
may be reached.
.At the present rate of improvement
every important public road in Pike
county will soon be serviceable high
way, over which wagon loaded with
six bales of cotton may be drawn easily
and quickly. whereas before the i'm
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
Good Work In Illinois

President Miller of the Galva (IllD
Good Roads association stated recently
that over twenty-five miles of road had
been graded and as much dragged un,
der the auspices of that organization
He said further: I'VE have specimens
of road where the grade was complet-
ed in this manner and draintile land
where the water line was within one
foot of the surface and through which
for many years people waded hub deep
in mud in the spring and sometimes in
the fall when it rained But these por-
tions of the road are now firm and as
good us any we have" He also stated
that the highway commissioners had
been making contracts with the farm
ers for dragging their roads at SS a
mile and that the cash system of road
working is heartily approved by both
the taxpayers and road users
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
NO Use For a Pessimist,

Freddie and his mother were having
a thoroughly satisfactory romp when
a visitor was announced. AS one top
ic Of conversation after another came
up it developed that the caller was 10
an extraordinarily pessimistic frame Of
mind and expressed her disapproval in
no measured terms of everything and
everybody under discussion.
This impartial knocking" disturbed
Freddie's amiable soul nightly. and
he slowly drew nearer and nearer un-
til he finally stood before the lady.
with his small face puckered and the
corners of his mouth drawn down.
She stopped In the midst of an ''Oh,
a dreadful bore, my dear" to say:
"Why. Freddie. please do unscew
your face I don't like to see little
boys look like that
Freddie surveyed her for moment
and then said trenchantly. but with
ali obviously sincere wish for informa-
ton:
81 guess you don't like most any
thing, do you?'-New York Times.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
Bible Blunders.

Some curious errors have crept into
the Bible at various times, giving
names to the editions containing them.
Here are some instances: The I'm
righteous" Bible, from the misprint
''the 'unrighteous' shall inherit the
kingdom; the "Placemakers' Bible,
"blessed are the placemakers' peace
makers); the printers Bible. "the
printers (for princess have prosecuted
me-" the "Treacle" Bible, "Is there no
'treacle' balm) in Gilead?" the WIN
egar" Bible, 1.-The parable of the vine
gar" (vineyarD; the bug" Bible,
thou shalt not be afraid of bugs
(bogies) by night" the "Breeches" b.
BILE, "they sewed fig leaves together
and made themselves 'breeches;'" the
idle" Bible, "woe to the idle" (idoD,
and finally the wooden Leg" Testa-
ment, so called from the frontispiece
depicting Satan limping with wooden
loo
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09

She has so much money she doesn't
know what to do with it all, but folks
have just found it out. She has pre-
tended to be poor for reasons. We're
both going because you said you
would"
i would do anything OF go any
where to please you, little girl" l
answered with so much meaning that
Iolanthe flushed and her dear eyes
wavered before my gaze. don't know
quite how it happened, but suddenly
had my dream in my arms-my unre-
sisting. perfect. red Tipped dream-and
l was quite mad with delight.
Then presently she cried out that l
must never let anything come between
us.
Nor height nor depth nor any other
creature" I said reverently. :.
"'Nor any other creature" she re-
peated after me and made me say 1t
every little while all the rest of that
wonderful day, and | did not tell her
about my fortune after all. though l
had intended to- When you come to
think of it. money is sordid thing to
discuss when two folks are quaffing
nectar and nibblng ambrosia.
The next evening | went to the re-
ception and was presented to the lady
of riches 1t seemed to me that all the
room hushed it's breath and waited
while we two went through what was
required of us. 1t seemed to me that
lived an con before we were free from
the great eye Of the room and in some
place where there were q splash Of
water and quiet and heavy perfume Of
flowers. There in the dim light she
stood, slender as an English laburnum
tree, swaying in her yellow silken robes
toward me. Her hands, weighted with
jewels. We're held out to me. Her
mouth that had kissed was smiling
at me-was saying:
Nor any other creaturer"
l stood there staring at this wonder
full new 1olanthe, and all I could think
of and all said was:
"Barefooted came the beggar maid,
Before the king Cophetua!"
Which. considering the circum-
stances. could hardly have been more
absurd.
Iolanthe's laugh rang out; then she
came closer to me. and her eyes grew
very grave.
Dearest" she whispered, II was too
rich to be happy, and SO ran away
from everybody and went to work in
the studio. | wanted to accomplish
something. | wanted folks to say. She
Is great painter not She is the rich
est girl in the country Then I found
you, and-and-I didn't care any more
for fame, because wanted something
greater. love-your love-and-you said
Nor any other creature you know
you did!'
"And meant it. too, my angelr' | ex-
claimed. coming out Of my trance and
taking her hands in mine. "You shall
give me all the money you think |
need, and I will sit on the throne with
you like good little man."
81 am so glad you are going to be
sensible!' she said ferventIy.
And then had to explain to her
why was laughing
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
STATE ROAD Improvement.
Radical Changes Recommended to
New York Legislature.

Radical Changes Recommended to
New York Legislature.
Radic5,! changes in the methods Of
construction, supervising and main
tanning highways in New York state
are recommended in the report recent
ly transmitted to the legislature by
the special legislative highway investi-
eating committee appointed by the leg
islature.
The more Important recommends
tions are:
The creation of department of
highways. to consist of three members
appointed by the governor. to have SUI
pervision of highways, now in the
hands of the state engineer.
The recodifcation OF all existing
highway laws into one statute and the
repeal of all existing laws Oh this sub
ject.
The establishment of four systems
of highway construction. representing
two now unknown in this state and
continuing in force the present IIigbie-
Armstrong and Fuller-Plank systems
OF the four systems of construction
proposed perhaps the most radical is
the first. which provides for the con-
struction of thirty-fiye trunk highways.
connecting the larger localities OF the
state and to be built entirely at the
expense of the state. At present the
state does not undertake the coustruc-
ton of any roads unless the county
and towns pay a proportionate share.
These thirty-five trunk routes would
extend to all parts of the state.
The second and third systems are
the present Higbie-Armstrong and
Fuller systems, which have long becn
In operation. The fourth is what is
known as the French system and pro-
yides for the construction of purely To-
cal roads, the expense to be borne by
the counties and towns. the state TAX
ing no share of the burden.
A bill accompanies the report. but re-
lates only to the highway code. Pro-
vision is made for the imposition of a
provisional tax on automobiles to de-
fray the cost of maintenance.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
What the Cat Had.

The teacher of the Sunday school
class was telling the little boys about
temptation and showing how 1t some
times came in the most attractive form.
She used as an illustration the paw of
a cat
"Now." said she. you have all seen
the paw of cat. 1t is as soft as vel
vet, isn't itY'
"Yessum," from the class.
And you have seen the paw of a
dog?
"Yessum."
"Well, although the cats paw seems
like velvet, there is nevertheless con-
cealed in it something that hurts. What
Is it?"
No answer.
The dog bites," said the teacher.
"when he is in anger. But what does
the cat do?'
Scratches" said boy.
Correct" said the teacher, nodding
her head approvingly. "Now, what has
the cat got that the dog hasn't?"
"Whiskersv' said a boy on the back
seat.-Home Magazine.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
a Bad SHOT.

A hot headed Irishman accidentally
insulted an equally hot headed French
man. who insisted Oh fighting duel
with the Hibernian to wipe out the
slight. The 1rishman suggested that
the two Of them should each draw q
card from a pack, and the one who
drew the lowest was to go into an ad-
joining room and blow his brains out.
The Frenchman demurred at first, but
finally fell IN with the idea, and the
two opponents drew out the cards, one
of which was bound to carry death in
its wake The Irishman drew the low
est card, and, with a smile. he charged
his revolver and betook himself off to
a small anteroom to complete the trag-
edy. Presently a loud report rang out,
and the white faced people ran wildly
to the little anteroom, fully expecting
to see the Irishman CORY corpse. In
stead he came coolly along the passage
to meet them. and as they stared won
deringly at him he cried:
"Begorra. Oh missed meself"
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
Peculiar "Cure Stones"

Occupying an isolated position on the
moors about five or six miles above
Penzance. in Cornwall. peculiar trio
of stones is to be seen. They are ar
ranged in straight line. the two out
side ones being four feet high and up
right. while the center one Is little
lower. but much wider. In the last
mentioned there is a round hole large
enough to admit of a man passing
through. This pile is known as the
.'Men-an-toI.' or .'holed stone" Popu-
lar tradition states that any one crawl
ing through the hole in the center stone
will be forever immune from rheuma-
tism and allied complaints. In times
gone by the country people used to
bring their children to the holed stone
and pass them through Strand Maga-
zine.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
lust a Fish Story.

We cannot refrain from recording
the most curious capture Of fish that
has come to our notice. The circum-
stance was retailed many years ago by
Mr.. Heathcote. one Of the great au-
thorities on the fens A Mr.. Richard
son Of Peterborough was skating on
the dikes when the ice was very clear.
and he noticed large pike swimming
In front of him. The fish was terrified
by the apparition and swan In front Of
the skater until it stopped from sheer
exhaustion. The skater broke the ice
and took out the fish with his hand.
which proved to be a pike weighing
twelve pounds. 1t Is a story difficult
even for a fisherman or local histo-
rian to cap.-London Outlook.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09

- ~~~-~'>~ ~--~~~ --~->~'
provement began only small loads were
possible. 1t is important that success
like this should be given wide publicity
because it carries with it method as
well as encouragement. The first thing
done in Pike county was to find out
which of the clays accessible would
make good road After this inpor-
tant matter had been decided bonds
We're issued to raise money to buy
equipment. This comprised eight out
wagons. plows. scrapers and hand
TOOLS
''The extent to which this form of
road construction can be used in public
road improvement throughout the coun-
try can hardly be overestimated. In
making small repairs to roads if in
stead of filling mudholes with brush
few loads of sand or gravel from sand
bars and gravel beds found along the
streams in hilly portions of the country
We're hauled to the road. permanent im-
provement would result
''It has been found that this kind of
road is admirably suited to the north
western part of the United States as
well as to the southern. and it is be-
lieved that It will be found worthy of
more general study than 1t has ever
received heretofore. Its study should
be of interest to the public schools in
the rural districts Of the country. If
schoolboys were encouraged to make a
sand-clay walk to the schoohouse, the
teachers task of keeping clean school
building would be sufficiently lessened
to make up for the time taken to inter-
est the boys. Besides this actual i'm
prOvement a lasting benefit would be
given to that community from this sim
pie study of a valuable process For
large part of the country the sand-clay
in the reach of the rural districts. 1t
requires less money to build than any
other type of road except the earth
road and less money to repair. 1t is
simpler in it's construction than any
other except the earth road and lasts
iuIStl With tue SttLuc d-uOuuC Ol re-
pair
On the subject of cost the bulletin
says:
ut is Of course impossible to state
definitely the cost of this form of con-
struction. as it will be found to vary
with the price of labor, the length of
haul, the width of roadway and depth
and nature of material. II we assume,
however. that the clay can be procured
within mile of the road which is to
be improved and that the cost of labor
is about 81 per day and teams S3 per
day, the cost of constructing twelve
foot sand-clay road on sand founda-
ton, covered with clay to an average
depth of six inches, would be approx
mately for distance of one mile
$57926.
According to the experience of this
office, the cost of sand-clay construc-
ton in the south has been found to
range from 5000 to 1900 per mile. in
most cases running from $500 to $500.
IN case changes of grade have to be
made, with consequent cuts and fills,
ihe cost would be proportionateiy
greater than the figures given above"
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
Road Maintenance Scheme,

County Engineer George r Horton
of Houston. Tex. has introduced the
stitch in time system Oh the roads un-
der his supervision. Inspectors are en-
ployed by the month whose duty it Is
to patrol the roads at regular intervals
and repair all damaged places and care
for the bitches and culverts Stations
are established along the high hways
where supplies are stored 1t is expect
ed that this method of maintenance
will prove far less expensive and keep
the roads in better condition than the
old way of leaving them until they re-
Quire almost entire rebuilding
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
WE ATE OUR 'ssCRUMPTIoUs'' LUNCH

WE ATE OUR ''sCRUMPTIOUs'' LUNCH
ny, and all due to a never known rich
old uncle. now dead But Iolan:he was
proud, so first | would win her prom
ise-win it while she believed me poor
as herself
and beauty-that was my lolanthe.
Mine? All, when our May day was
over, should be calling her mine?
"Who are you today?" she asked.
stopping to fill her lungs with the
buoyant air.
We had a habit of playing we were
other folks when we went Oh these ex
cursions-childish no doubt. but we
were never going to grow old, we said
SO it was best to be children long
time.
"Why, | am King Cophetua,' | an-
swered promptly, with great inflat-
ing of my kingly chest and throwing
back Of my kingly head as we walk
ed on.
Her arms across her breast she laid;
0ne was more lair IMAM WUIHo can say
In robe and crown the king slept down
To meet and greet her on her way"
"Who are you today, Iolanthe:''
"It's pretty story" she mused, not
answering my question. but suppose
it were turned around. Suppose that
1t were Queen Cophetua and the beg
gar man. Would he be good and let
her love him? And would he be will
ing to sit on the throne with herr
"Oh, that's differentv' | said. "Of
course . man could not take iavors
from a woman. The beggar man
would have to go out into the world
and win his fortune. He couldn't take
it from his queen. You know he
couldn't, don't you, Ioanthe!'
"No, | don't know anything about
it." she said a bit GROSSLY. But iolanthe
never could stay cross long enough to
make it pay. SO in a moment she was
talking merrily again.
Presently we reached the spot we
were bound for, 4 spot OF sun and
shade and running water and new
spring flowers. We ate our "scrump-
tious'' lunch, and then we sang and
talked and had long spells of social
silence. and all the while | WIS Won
dering how l should make her say
Eyes" If at first she happened to say
mo"
II am going to tell you a pretty
story" she remarked after one OF
these silences. Its true one too.
am invited and so are you, and you'll
go. won't your
"Oh. sure" | answered recklessIy
tWhere:''
"a reception tomorrow evening te
meet the richest girl you ever saw
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
Not Disturbed.

political economist, was frequent
guest Of Lord Lansdowne at Lans-
dOwne House and on one occasion was
busily writing, quite distracted as
usual, In a room full Of company when
Tom Moore was singing. The scratch
Of his pen was not an agreeable ac-
compartment, and at last one Of the
company asked very politely. You are
not fond Of music, Mr.. Senior?" No"
he replied, but it does not disturb
me in the least Pray 60 on"
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
}NorAnyOther
Creature.
BY Ina Wright Hanson,
Copyrighted. 1907, by c. II. Sutcliffe.

Looking up from long drawn reverie
before the unfinished picture on my
easel. saw Iolanthe beaming at me
from the doorway.
"Come on.' she cried. "Put up your
work and come with me into the coun-
try. I believe you don't even know it
is May day. Don't you remember the
month of May. when the air is so full
of sweetness and love that even one
shaving begins to feel an affection for
another shaving? Come. let us May
ing CO."
II can't" answered I'm up
against it. Pm crowded to the wall.
TIM broke"
Iolanthe langhed-the sweetest sound
in this wise old world.
81 had ;,n intuition so. but that
doesn't matter This is my treat You
see, Isabel Dory took me to dinner yes
terday. SO have enough to take us pic
nicking today. Come. brave knight.
put on thy helmet and hasten.''
! FASTENED. No one could resist To-
lanthe. took her little covered bas-
ket. and we went along the hall and
down the stairs. with mock -doleful
messages following us from our fellow
workers, who were not going out into
the blosoming May day world.
"What car are we going to takey'
l asked rs we reached the street
Iolanthe blushed deliciously.
Eve are not going to take car You
see. ! got so interested in buying a
'scrumptious' lunch that forgot about
the car, and
Il see," l said gravely. "And you
don't know how glad am that we are
to walk. 1t Is so much healthier.
Then we won't have to mingle with
the plebeians on a common car. When
rich aristocrats like US
Iolanthe glanced up at me rather
sharply, thought. 1t couldn't be that
she knew-of course she couldn't know
No one knew but my uncle's lawyer
and myself, and maybe my uncle
wondered if my uncle did know in
that unknown country he had lately
entered. BY and by should tell Ioian
the that, when the preiminaries were
over, l should have enough money tC
buy her everything she wanted, even
IL on this blithe day had not !: pen
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
Gold For Good Road Prizes.

The King drag road meeting held
recently at Williamsport, Pa. was all
that could be desired. Eight hundred
voters wedged into the auditorium ut
the courthouse to hear D. Ward King
of Missouri speak on Good Roads
Right Now" Deputy State Highway
Commissioner Ensign spoke in the
morning The audience contained men
from all the surrounding counties.
some of whom came seventy-ti five miles
The board of trade raised $1,000 in
gold for good road prizes.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
Careful About Worry.

A physician was recently attending a
patient whose husband came to see
him concerning her condition and
greeted him with the words. "Mr.
Irving, do you think there is any need
for any unnecessary anxiety about my
Mife?"-Argonaut
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
Beautifvino Road Sides.

The Women's State federation OF
Delaware has begun the work of plant
ing trees for the purpose of Identifying
the road leading from the fork in the
New Castle causeway to Farnhurst.
1t is announced that the federation win
extend i,s work to ether parts Of the
state.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
Renovated.

Puffer-What's happened to my meer-
schaum pipe? Mrs. Puffer-Why, dear,
l noticed it was getting awfully brown
and discolored, 50 put coat of that
white enamel on it.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
Variety.

Visitor-Why do you make some Of
your pies round and some of them
square? Wife-Because my husband
has been complaining OF sameness OF
his diet lately.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09
Guessed. Il.

Guest (suspiciously eying the fat
tened pillows and the criDpled
sheets)-Look here. landlord. this bed
has been slept in! Landlord trium-
phantly)-That's what it's meant for!
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-04-09

testers must be content to taste Of
their brOth.-Laiin Proverb