davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24

FIo. u-Poon WAY To LAY TILE.
tile. It is a good plan 20 use sewer
pipo for few feet back from tho out
let, as It is not so easily displaced by
freezing.
Many drains arc built with nm out
let in box at the side or the road or
next 20 n neighbours fence. Such an
outlet Is not very satisfactory, but
sometimes It is tho best that can be
provided. Tho box should bo well
built TO keep out rubbish. Tho mouth
OF the tito I'm this as well as I'm other
forms of outlets should bo covered to
keep out small animals during dry
weather. Tho bottom OF the box should
bo at least foot below the tile. The
silt that settles here should DO clean.
cd out occasionally. A. much better
plan than the use of tllo box is to CO.
operate with tho road authorities or
with the neighbors and extend tho limo
OF tilo to somo permanent outlet
Laying tho Tile.
1t rarely pays q farmer 60 lay his
own tile, but no should keep closo
watch OF tho men whom he hires to do
tho work. A little carelessness I'm lay
system practically worthless. If at
any place tho tile dips an inch below
tho grade line, that inch Will All up
with silt, and the capacityrof tho whole
system Will bo reduced that much.
Tho old saying that n chain is no
stronger than its weakest link applies
with especial force to tile drain. No
man can lay tilo to grade accurately
by eye. even if there is water running
I'm tho ditch at tho time. Remomber
that II IS your money that is paying
for the drain and that &c is your priv
ilego TO have It put I'm as you want It.
The only way TO getltho tilo laid ex-
ac1y 10 grade IS uso.targets. When
an engineer lays out u limo OF thefiIe
no sets a row Of grado stakes, each
ono marked with the depth-the ditchis
60 bo nt that point. When tho ditch
is down nearly 20 the required point
targets are set up at these grade
stakes. A target consists OF an, upright
stick on each side Of tho ditch with
a crossbnr clamped 1t These cross
bars should be adjusted 80 that they
are level and Just seven feet nboye,fho
grade llno. For instance, IL tho cut
marked on the grado stake is four
feet tho crossbar should DO three feet
above the stake. After u number OF
these targets have been set a string S.
stretched across tho tops OF them.
Then n measuring stick seven feet Tong
will just reach from the string tostho
correct grade line. With one man 10
hold the measuring sticlsand another
to scrapo out the bottom OF tho ditch,
II can be dug to grade very accurately.
or course both digging tho ditch
and laying tho tile should begin ot tho
outlet. Don't let tho men stand on
tho bank ana lay the til0 with q hook.
Make them get down into tho ditch
and put them I'm BY hand, standing on
those already laid to hold them In
place. By handling each tho any
cracked or imperfect ones can DO dis
covered and thrown out. After the
tile are laid n llttlo dirt should bo
scraped from the side Of tho ditch TO
hold them I'm place. As soon as the
whole limo Is I'm no time shouidIbo lost
in covering the ditch.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
BOWED LEGS.
How This csformlty can Re Avoided
In Early LIE.

IN carry I've
II child's legs have tendency 20
curve or bow it should not be allowed
20 walk. The wise mother. however.
Will let II twist and roll on the carpet.
The legs Will then soon stralghten
themselves. What pity Il Is that
many young mothers are 81 unwlse as
to make their babies walx too soon.
before the little, soft bon = have be-
come sufficiently strong L. bear even
30 light n weight.
or course when the baby first shows
an inclination TO stand upon his own
feet he should be allowed TO do 80 and
should even be provided with a chair
to keep him from falling. Then the
nrst little step must be encouraged.
too. and the child should learn To the
best OF his abnily, but slowly. All OF
this exercise Is natural and should
therefore not be checked.
The carelessness thai is particularly
deplorable IL not the innocent play OF
a child who will rest when he IL tired.
1t IL the walks that he Is forced to
take hanging to the hand OF his moth.
er. You have no idea how mucs more
difficult IL is for people TO walk long
distance on stone pavement than
on wooden floor. Furthermore.
mother walks perhaps slowly. but
steadily. There is no lettering on the
way TO rest the aching little feet.
Mother Is not tired herself. and she
therefore forgets that TO every one OF
her steps baby must take about four
and that he will soon he tired It is
then that the strain comes upon the
legs. and even the bones themselves
are not able to Withstand II.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24


Radical changes are necessary IN the
culture OF apples on this continent or
the United states, and Canada will bo
forced In few years to import apples
instead Of exporting them. III Il had
not been for the enormous CROPS I'm
the orchards OF the Pacific and north.
western states and provinces last year
an apple famine would have resulted
Many OF the middle western and
eastern states reported small yields
In 1908 due to failures in numerous In.
stances. but generally because OF pests.
Many orchards were neglected. and I'm
scores Of places the trees were per
mitted % die because Of inattention.
In 1890 the total product OF the crop
OF the country was G0.OTO.OOO barrels.
or i7IO75,OOO bushels. Since then hun.
dreds OF thousands OF acres have been
added, and methods Of fruit growing
have improved. yet the government
reports show that the aggregate crop
I'm ali the states In the Union wag not
more than 25yOOO.OOO barrels. or g..
10000 bushels. IN 1e1o
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
How TO Test a Motor.

Probably the best test OF the condl
tion or motor Is to run II ns slowly
as possible, observing whether its ac.
tlon is perfectly even or not In many
cases, to be sure, motor which runs
powerfully and well at normal or high
speed will not hit evenly" when throt-
tied down owing either to improper
cnrburation or 10 uneven ignition. The
motor which runs perfectly well at low
speed, however. usually retains its ac-
ton under higher speed and load con-
ditions, provided only It Is equipped
with proper carbureter. Incidental
ly II should be mentioned that prev
alent and most deceptive cause OF ir-
regular running at low speeds is lost
motion In the llnkage between the con
troll levers and the carbureter and
timer. Where such lack exists even
slight amount OF vibration is often
sufficient 20 throw out the regulation.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
BOX PLANT PROTECTION.

second cut, Is made entirely OF wire
screen. The one shown was made by
cutting circular piece OF wire screen
twenty-four inches In diameter and
then folding over a section, amounting
TO one-fourth To one-third of the cir.
conference, and fastening with short
pieces OF small wire pushed through
the meshes and the ends twisted to-
gether. II gives good idea as to
how these protectors are made. At re-
tall prices the protectors made this
way Will cost S cents each. but they
have this advantage over the box
style-the light and air have full nc-
cess TO the plants, as glance at the
Ink bottle IN the wire plant protector
VIII prove, the bottle being placed I'm
the center OF the protector. These
pictures were taken early I'm April, and
the Ink bottle had TO do duty in place
OF the plants. Another advantage OF
this style is that the protectors may
be nested together and stored easily
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24

watch, and she won, not in fifteen min
utes. but In as many seconds.
"rhereP she cried and gave the box
to her brother.
He uttered q yell like a wild Indian.
The diamonds had come back TO the
ebony casket.
1t required no very great penetra.
tion to see through this case. Sylvia
had learned the secret Of the bor from
the cipher In the old blank book. Des-
perately anxious about McKellars at
fairs, she had striven to raise money
to help him secretly, since he would
not have accepted open aid from her.
But she saw that she would never get
the money in time to save him.
The jewels had inspired her with
wild ides. She had taken them as
soon as her brother was safely up-
stairs-borrowed them, let me say, for
she put them In pledge and raised the
money to redeem them ut the earliest
moment.
Barber Swartz's brother stole an
empty box and was nearly a murderer
for the sake Of It. After shaving in
his brothers shop he was suddenly
alarmed, and he fed. leaving the box
behind him. FITS brother found II
next morning. and as he was thor
oughly honest fellow ho returned n.
Of course with the discovery OF the
Jewels my work ceased.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
WIRE PLANT PROTECTOR.

when no longer needed. II given n
coating OF coal tar or some weather
proof paint occasionally these protect.
ors should last for years. Some OF the
smallest beetles can crawl through the
meshes OF wire screen, but one cnn
easily kill the very few that get inside.
The bush or summer squashes n
taken when tender and cooked like
eggplant are much superior TO that
well known vegetable or course
where the bush squashes are about
mature and before the borers leave
the stem 10 hibernate In the soil the
vines should be pulled and destroyed
to Kill the bOrer. This should be done
about Aug. 4; the time varies with the
latitude. Spraying the FIRST four or
five joints OF the squash vine mot the
leaves with Kerosene emulsion Is n
good plan. as also arc catching and kill
Ing the adult moth. which is very con
spicuOus and easily found when once
known. However, the trap crop plan
VIII DO found to be the most practical
and satisfactory method OF dealing
with the squash borer. In using the
above described screen protectors Il IS
well TO remember that the soil should
be drawn up about the edges OF the
box or wire screen and frmed down
so as 70 be sure that none Of the bugs
can crawl under the sides.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24

IL he had to choose he would identity
this man by his eyes rather than
swartz by his uustache.
They look very much alike" he
said. and I had begun 20 think so.
too. though at first had not seen the
resemblance. made up my mind
that this WAS Swartz's brother. nj.
though both swartz and the prisoner
denied it.
At this stage of the Investigation 1
was switched 20 u wholly new theory
by discovery which was partly ac-
cidentaL l learned that George Mc.
Kellar had encountered some sort OF
good fortune and had tlded himself
over his difficulty. Where had he
got the money?
asked myself this question and
set to work 20 End an answer. 1t
appeared that he must have raised
about $4,000. which could have been
done by selling the stolen diamonds.
But the money seemed TO have come
from a loan by McKellar's bank. al
though he had already owed the bank
an uneasy sum.
lt was In the midst OF the late
money stringency. and could not
believe that the bank had obliged
him TO that extent Well. had n
friend inside that bank. as / have IN
some others. and I learned the facts.
A lady unknown TO my friend and
without McKellar's knowledge had de
posted $4,000 In cash 10 secure this
loan.
This must have been done by some
woman from whom McKellar would
not accept a loan. and Il did not take
me long TO work down TO Sylvia Dim
stead. But here 1 came upon n queer
thing. Miss Olmstead was worth
about $4,000 In her own right. but Il
was chiefly In real estate and very
hard to realize money upon I'm time
or panic-in fact. nearly impossible.
1 learned that she had raised $50. 900
or thereabouts by n great sacrifice. but
she had not succeeded until one week
after the $4,000 had been put into
McKellar's bank.
There was no way by which she
could have got the money, unless she
had stolen the jewels from her brother.
But how had she opened the casketr
Did she know the secret7 In order
TO test her i arranged little comedy.
told one OF my assistants how the
box could be opened IN order that he
might be able to work with Il clever
ly In Sylvia's presence while watched
the girls face. Then we went TO the
Olmsteads' and held little session
with the brother and sister and Nc
Kellar
explained that It was absolutely
necessary for me TO discover whether
a person could guess the trick OF open
Ing the box. My theories had ad-
vanced. said. 10 the point where
must have evidence az to the real DIFF
hculty OF the puzzle Undoubtedly
the thief had been lurking outside tho
window on the night OF the robbery
and had seen the jewels put away. He
had stolen them I'm the casket. Could
he have got them out or Il I'm a half
hours work.
Certainly not" said Olmstead.
MY friend here" said I. thinks he
can do the trick. and I'd like you to
try. Mr.. McKellar, and you also. Miss
Olmstead."
'T1l wager" said she, "that can
open the box inside OF ffteen min
utes."
'Nonsenser' said her brother. but
Sylvia took the casket. while ! held the
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24

pn'a sandy soil will draw seventy-fiyo
feet on either side. whilo I'm clay soil
their effect will not DO felt third as
FAR. As already stated, tho width OF
tho strip OF good corn or other grain
over drain is good indication or tho
pulling power OF tho drain. Where q
drainage system is being put I'm little
nc q timo tho laterals can bo put I'm
from 75 60 200 feet apart Mt first. de-
pending OH tho soil, and others put I'm
between later if experience shows
them 10 bc necessary.
Tho Outlet.
Ono OF tho most important parts OF
tho drainage system is tho outlet. IL
tho drain empties into ditch or
stream stone bulwark should bo
built up TO keep tho end tilo from be-
Ing washed away. Tho drain should
enter tho stream above tho Lowell Of tho
water if possible. When it enters be-
low tho force OF the current IN check
cd. and if tho water is carrying much
silt somo OF It Will DO deposited In tho
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
How to Candy sw.., PO,s,O.,

The southern method of cooking
sweet potatoes has gained widespread
popularity In the north. but few cooks,
amateur or professional, know how To
get these right Even Mt high priced
restaurants, where one pays n neat lit.
tie sum OF money for sweet potatoes
In southern style. one does not get the
toothsome dish that Is served almost
daily from Richmond TO Tallahassee.
The potatoes are there. but the Juice,
the candy. the softness, are all left out
Sometimes this Is from cnrelessness az
well as ignorance. Cooks will not take
the time to do the work slowly and
well. The correct recipe is as follows:
Boil together half cupful OF sugar
and n pint OF water until It spins a
heavy thread. After the sweet pota-
toes are boiled tender I'm their skins
take them out, peel them. slice them
and lay them I'm baking pan with the
fiat side up. Pour over the potatoes
the sugar and water. Place those I'm a
hot oven until the potatoes are slightly
warm. II brown sugar is used instead
OF white the candied effect Will be
much better and more palatable. This
should be served In the pan In which Il
is cooked. Therefore II Is wise to use
one OF the brown and white earthen
dishes
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
no. r-PnorFcrvo ru.y ot,rr,yr.

hardpan the tile may have 90 be laid
shollower or the water will never get
TO them. Deep tile mean a deep layer
OF mellow soil. which acts as a sponge
90 hold capillary water for tho crops.
The deeper the tile the farther their
effect Will bo felt On either side.
The size OF the tile depends upon the
fan and the amount Of land 60 bo
drained The engineer who lays out
the drain Will usually be ablo 20 com
pute tho size required.
In estimating the number OF acres TO
be drained by n given limo OF tllo nll
the land from which surface water
flows toward It should bo included, as
well as all land drained by laterals
which empty into it.
Tho depth OF the drains and tho char
octer OF the soil are the chief factors
that determine the distance aport 60
place tho drains. Tile four feet deep
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
PAYS TO RAISE WEEDS.
These "Pisnts Out ot Place" Have q
Fixed Market Value.


Money in wcedsg ro be sure The
national department OF agriculture has
been for many years telling the farm
ers OF the large money value going 10
waste each year In tNfs country In the
shape OF perniclous weeds aud has
been issuing bulletins with directions
for collecting, curing aud selling the
weeds. A quarter OF century ago
DIR. George II. borlng. tho commission
or OF agriculture. called attention 60
the fact that I'm Germany many OF the
eommonest and most pernicious weeds
that the American farmer has 60 con-
tend with were successfully and prof
itably cultivated. Burdock, dandelion,
witch grass, foxglove, mullen, hore.
hound, Jimson, mustard and water
hemlock are among our commonest
weeds and grow In great profusion nj.
most everywhere I'm the United States.
ordinarily thoy arc regarded merely
ms troublesome weeds. The trouble, or
course, Is In tho lazy habit OF attempt
Ing 20 grow weeds and cultivated crops
on the same land at the same time,
SO IL often happens that the witch
grass between tho potato rows IN more
valuable than the tubcrs I'm the hills.
When you raiso weeds you must make
II business OF IL. Land that will raise
nothing else will raise weeds. The
jimson grows I'm rank profuslon about
the feed lot. the front yard is yellow
with dandelion flowers, and the flow-
ers OF the mullen hedcck tho pastures.
The burdock grows in the roadside
fence corners. and the waste lot pro.
duccs an abundance OF witch grass ana
comfrey, yet n majority OF tho drug
weeds used In medicine In this coun-
try are stlll imported and paid for at Il
high rate.
Without counting wormwood, tansy
and rhubarb, all OF which are weeds I'm
favored places. and without including
catnip or pennyroyal or any OF the
mints, the American people are pay
Ing out more than 100000 year I'm
hard earned money for imported
weeds which are growing Wild In near
ly every part OF the country. The i'm.
ports for the year 100T-S were as FOL.
lows.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24

A man who once had bad fall
when going down his cellar stairs now
has broad strip OF white painted on
the foor at the end OF the last step.
This is easily seen. even II the cellar
be dark, and many a nasty accident is
avoided.
II the house Is rented and you do not
like to paint the boards. a piece OF
white oilcloth can be tackled I'm the
floor at the foot OF the stairs. See that
the tacking Is securely done or worse
fall may follow than from a mis-
gauged step.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
+ arm ano
Garden
PROTECTION FOR SQUASH.
Two Practical and lneSpen,ive Plans
10 Prevent RaVases Of 1orers.

~ ''eNeHN NaNsSes OF borcrs.
The most difficult matter about
growing sQuashcs is to protect tho
vines from the various insects that
prey upon them. This is especially
true In the home garden and small
plots near buildings or near where
squashes or other vine crops were
grown the previous year, because the
insects hibernate In the buildings and
In the ground near the vines they fed
upon for the winter. For the striped
cucumber beetle there IL no poison or
rcpellent that will prove effective and
satisfactory at all times. The box
plant protector shown In the cut Is IL
by IL inches and six inches high. cover.
ed with wire screen. which Is set over
the hill when the seeds are planted
and left on until the plants get too
large. Protectors OF this type may be
made OF old pine boxes or other odds
and ends. and they need not cost over
cents apiece. even If the lumber must
be purchased. Another style. I'm the
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
How to Make a Floor Filler.

To make a good floor filler put one
pint OF broken glue in an old tin
bucket and cover with one gallon OF
boiling water. Put the bucket into n
second vessel Of water. and the glue
Will dissolve without burning. When
II boils add enough slfted sawdust to
make good putty. Fiji the floor
cracks with this and smooth with n
steel wood scraper or thin bladed cnse
knife
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
EASILY CLEANED.

shown In the accompanying inustra-
ton. The nest IS made OF wire and IS
supported IN a suitable housing. both
OF which can be removed from the
chicken house when cleaning IS neces
sary. When thus removed they can be
conveniently placed I'm u suitable re-.
ceptacle containing boiling water and
thoroughly cleansed OF all Impurities
nnd undesirable insects.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24

To make palms thrive In an ordinary
sitting room sponge the leaves once
week with lukewarm water TO which
a little milk has been added. Then
stand the plant In lukewarm water.
deep enough to completely cover the
pot, until the water stops bubbling
This Is the proper way TO water palms.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24

The present day tendency 20 employ
sanitary measures In the dairy, the
stable. the dog house. etc. has at last
extended TO the poultry yard. The in
dustrious hen Is to he provided with
sanitary nest which can be readily
washed and scrubbed. as occasion dc.
mnnds. This recent development Is
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
How 10 swsetsn Rancid Butter.

Melt and skim the butter and then
put into II n piece Of well toasted
bread. In n minute or two the bread
VIII have absorbed all offensive taste
snd smell and the butter Will be per.
fectly sweet
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
THE THEFT or
THE EBONY BOX.
A Detective Story Involving Cost
ly Gems and a Cipher.
BY HOWARD FIELDING

icopyright. 1900. by American Press Asso.
ciation.l
In tho possession OF the olmstend
family there wns jewel casket more
quaint aud curious than any other that
! have ever seen. though have Gu.
countered some oddities In that line I'm
the course or nearly thirty years OF
detective work. II was made OF ebony
ornamented with silver and measured
D by Inches by 4 In height There
were many peculiarlties OF the silver
inlay. and the design was thought to
be highly artistic. but the chief point
10 be noted here Is that the thing an.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
How to R.ndsr Flann.l.i,. So.

After hannelette articles have been
washed they should be rinsed I'm water
In which one ounce of alum or sal am
moniac has been dissolved This little
precautlon VIII make them noninham-
mable and may be the means Of saving
many little lives.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24

Three hundred billion bees made
enough honey last year 10 al n train
OF cars long enough 10 reach from
New York TO Buffalo. At tho low
wholesale rate Of 10 cents q pound Il
was worth 500 100000
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-06-24
Planning tho Drainage system.

In Planning Drainage system tlero
arc three especially important consld.
eratlons-tho depth and size OF tho
tile and the distance apart OF tho
drains. More tile drains arc put in too
shallow than too deep. In most soils
four feet is about the right depth. In