davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
MACHINE PLUCKS POULTRY.
East Orange Inventor Has One That
Makes the Feathers Fly.

Theodore G. Griggs Of 1O1 North Eff
teenth street, East Orange, is the in
ventor of a fowl-plucking device, which
poultry raisers who have inspected it be-
lieve will fill a want in the industry.
Other machines have been invented to
do the work which Griggs provides for
in his machine, but none has heretofore
been anything more than an interesting
piece of machinery, with little practical
worth.
Griggs departs from the lines followed
in other machines and introduces an en-
tirely new method. The fowl to be
plucked is placed on an endless travelling
belt and carried through q series of tin
gers, which are so arranged that they go
over the entire bird, plucking it clean Of
feathers. The danger of tearing the skin
is avoided by the simple eXpedient Of
having the fingers clutch only few
feathers at time. The size Of the bird
is no factor whatever. 1t will stay in
the machine until plucked, whether large
or small. A pneumatic tube carries
away the feathers as fast as they are
removed.
Griggs is a civil engineer, and never
raised a chicken in his life, but he no.
ticed few years ago, while visiting
friend who runs poultry farm, that the
labor Of removing feathers from the birds
was one Of the chief items Of cost in pre-
pairing the product for market. 1t is said
that the owner Of one of his machines
will be able to reduce his expenses by 20
per cent.-New York Sun.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
Shady Streets of Dutch Cities.

The average Dutch town is an attract
i've place in the summer months, SINCE
practically every street and canal is
bordered with shade trees, which snut
out the glare of the sun and offer cool
and inviting avenues for the exploration
of the tourist The banks of these ca
nails are generally terraced in two levels
the lower one for warehouses and the
unper for shops or dwellings,; but each
elevation is planted with trees. At best
q city is an exceedingly poor location Tor
free culture. Narrow streets, with talI
buildings. exclude the life giving sun
light; asphalt or closely paved walks pre-
vent the necessary moisture from Sink
ing into the ground and nourishlng thlrs-
ty roots. and leakage from the gas mains
is a deadly poison to the growth OF al
vegetation. For this reason care should
be exercised in the selection of the va
riety of tree for street planting IN order
to get the best results. In Holland;
time has demonstrated that the elm ana
linden should be placed in the hrst RANK,
for there are many examples OF these
snecies in Dutch towns which have with
stood the ravages of more than two cen
turtles, The elm appears to be the
harder of these two trees and Will I'VE
nnder most adverse conditions.
The Dutch municipalities expend large
sums each year for the preservation OF
their shade trees. but the results amply
Justify the cost of maintenance. In the
last year the city of Utrecht taxed each
inhabitant q cents for its trees 1.-TWO and
One-half Dutch cents equaling an Amer
lean cent. and The Hague spent ~
cents for the same urpose.-Harpers
Weekly. ~"
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
NEW WOODS FOR CALIFORNIA.
Eastern Hardwoods to Be Transplanted
to Pacific Coast.

The Pacific coast will soon be the
scene of an interesting tree-growing ex-
pertinent. The United States Forest
service is planning to introduce number
of the more important eastern hardwoods
into California. and will experiment this
year with chestnut, hickory. Eastwood,
red oak and yellow poplar or tulip trees.
Small patches of these trees will be
planted near the forest rangers cabins
on the national forests, and, il these 90
well, larger plantations on commercial
scale will soon be established on wider
areas.
There are more than 125 different spe,
cies of trees in California, number or
which produce some of the most valuable
varieties Of lumber in the country. Al
though considerably over one-half Of the
species are hardwood or broad-leaved
trees, yet, with the exception of the eX-
otto eucalyptus, there is not single spe-
cies of hardwood there ranking In com
mercial importance with the leading east
ern hardwoods. Climatic conditions In
many parts Of California are undoubted-
" favorable for the growth of a number
of the valuable hardwoods, and the alb
sence of these trees is due mostly to IN
favorable factors of seed distribution,
If the experiments are successful, a
valuable asset will have been added to
the forest resources of California, which
should prove of special benefit to the To-
cal furniture and vehicle Industries.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
New England's Neglected Farms.

The farms of New England are only
half cultivated. / have travelled in
motor over miles of country not crossed
by railroads, and have found the shift
lessness of the farmer really appalling.
Not only are his fences in bad repair,
but his house and barns are in many in
stances tottering to their fall, and he
does not even take the trouble to keep
under cover such farming implements as
he may own. The despised "city man.
comes along, and with his book farming
makes glad the waste places. He builds
anew, or rebuilds; he houses his tools,
takes proper care of his live stock and
cultivates the soil in scientific manner.
lie may not make farming pay the first
year that he tries it, but he will in time.
if he sticks to it and gives it the atten-
ton he would give to any other business.
The modern farmer, the man who makes
farming pay, is a scientist. The old
fashioned farmer got living, such as it
was, out of the farm, but the new-fash-
toned one gets more than a living out of
the soil, and finds time to cultivate his
mind as well as his acres. | can imagine
few more enjoyable combinations than
that of farming and authorship. The
farmers busy season is in the spring and
summer and the early fall. The long
winter evenings he can devote to writ
ing, and by an occasional run to town
keep himself in touch with men and
things.-Putnams
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
Some Orchid Values.

If you had quite an ordinary orchid
collection you could take up one of the
better bulbs that had lowered prettily
and go out and buy with the proceeds
of it's sale q peachblow vase, high
powered touring car or a reasonably
safe and sane balloon.
London auction knockdowns recently
ran from go guineas to 200 and $40
guineas, and so on, and the highest
price. 875 guineas (S4500), was not for
a wild but for garden hybrid. an Odon-
toglossum Crispum Rogers Sander" w.
Thompson of Walton Grange, Stafford
shire, realized from 60 TO $50 guineas
Tor from about 1914 to $3.50 eachl for
bulbs of duplicates" in his collection.
Last year a garden hybrid Cypripedium
went for the equivalent of $500, and
Brussels buyer paid $4,000 for a wild
Cooksoniae Crispum. Count Apponyi Of
Budapest paid $4,000 to a Venezuelan
for one of a species so gigantic that
oxen were required to convey it and the
section of tree to which it was at
tached. Because Cattleya had VIC
rose coroJa of its species it's price
II. T. Pitt collection, small plant, the
high bid was $4,000. Mr.. Pitt himself
paid $1,000 for the celebrated imported
bought in open market, before Towering.
for Sc cents. 1t is the plant that has
demonstrated how it can bloom that
costs dear. For the. spotted Crispum
Frederic Sander" Mr.. Pitt, after. see
ing the bloom, paid 1000 guineas-near-
" 1O,5OO.-Franklin Clarkin, in Every
hodU'S t'
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
RETURN OF THE TOP HAT.
It's Regained Sway This Spring Among
London City Men.

''Top hats" says the English Gentle
woman, "are on top again. 1t is not to
be denied that the silk hat has of late
years experienced somewhat anxious
time A succession of unusually hot
summers, aided and abetted by a fash
ion among business men for offending
city satorial tradition by going to thei1
work in lounge suits and bowlers, to say
nothing the panamas, gave the silk hat a
very severe knock.
'This was made pretty plain by the
silk hat manufacturers meeting at the
White city last year, to protest against
our desertion Of a tile by which they
themselves kept a roof over their heads.
But their troubles, if ever they were
very serious, are over now. The silk hat
has most surely come into its own again,
and we shall hear no more, for some
years at least, Of strawyard Ascots and
panama Goodwoods.
st is now and will be during the sea-
son absolutely the correct thing for all
dressy occasions. ALI the best dressed
men both of the west end and the city,
both of the club life and the Office life,
have discarded their less formal hats and
taken very seriously to their silk hats
and morning coats. The excellent ex-
ample shown in this respect by the King
and the Prince of Wales is having its eff
feet ~
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
GOOD WORD FOR FAT MEN.
Indications That They Are Gaming in
Popular Appreciation

For the past 1900 years the relative
popularity and efficiency of fat men have
been mOOted questions. Two of the most
distinguished citizens of that rather ex-
tensive period have arrayed themselves
on opposite sides of the question. Julius
Caesar declared. at least in the hearing
of William Shakespeare. that he pre-.
ferred to have about him fiat men. sleek
headed, and such as sleep O. nights" On
the other hand Edmund Day. who has
given to the world a couple Of the most
delightful fat men in all dramatic litera-
ture. declares: "Shucks! Nobody loves a
fat man." Only he didn't say ''shucks."
To the literature of this all-absOrbing
question a Philadelphia contemporary
contributes the suggestion that Mr.. Taft
has established for all time in American
history the fat man as an institution en-
titled to public esteem. He is wanting
in neither avoirdupois nor in mental
Dolse. He is thick-headed only in regard
to the size of his hat. He is technically
obese, but not lethargic either mentally
or physically. Some one remarked long
ago that in some fat men the fat pre-
dominates. and in others the men pre-
dominate. In Mr.. Taft it is the man.
The future political fashion historian
will probably note that during the clos
ing years of the first decade and the
early years of the second of the twentieth
century the Americans wore their big
men large.
Mr.. Taft discounts the efficacy of the
clean and hungry Cassius''' whom Caesar
disliked and he disproves Mr.. Days PES
simistic despair as to the possible degree
of public confidence and esteem which
fat man may attain. This is at least
keeping up with the procession in these
days of historical iconoclasm, If nothing
more. May not the fat man, after all,
be the victim of circumstances? Is thin
ness a condition precedent to the possess
sion of lovable qualities or the accumu-
lation of kindly wishes on the part of
ones fellow citizens? There is much to
be said in favor of the fat man. even if
Falstaff and Henry VIII were inclined to
mbonpoint-Kansas City Journal.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
The Useful Swallows.

From the standpoint of the farmer and
the orchardist perhaps no birds more
useful than the swallows exist. They
have been described as the light cavalry
Of the avian army. Specially adapted
for flight and uuexcelled in aerial evolu-
tons. they have few rivals in the art
of capturing insects in midair. They eat
nothing of value to man except a few
predacious wasps and bugs. and in re-
turn for their services in destroying vast
numbers OF noxious insects ask only for
harhorage and protection. 1t is to the
fact that they capture their prey on
the wing that their peculiar value to the
cotton grower is due. Orioles do royal
service in catching weevils on the bolls,
and blackhirds. wrens, hycatchers, and
others contribute to the good work. but
when swallows are migrating over the
cotton fields they find the weevils flying
in the open and wage active war against
them. AS many as forty-seven adult
weevils have been found in the stomach
of single cliff neutrality-suspicious. of
Agriculture Bulletin.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29

pose. You must take off at least fifteen
pounds. Come. Well find him around
the grounds"
Her voice trembled
DON'T" she said. "Pease don't!
Really II can't play at all, so there!
He beat me yesterday. Pm awful at
golf. I'm not sport. Truly, Pm not.
It's only the dreadful vocabulary. l
picked it up at college, you know. l
didn't mean to fall into it, but some
how, after I got started, l felt that
must 60 on. And | wouldn't go up in
your flying machine-for anything. 1t
makes me shudder to think of it."
put my arms around her at once. [
felt there was no time to lose. Fortu-
nately, we were in pergola, screened
from common observation.
"This comes" | said, kissing her al
most sternly, "of too much learning
I've always felt it wasn't good for a
dear little girl like you. But | beg of
you, my dear, not to take this too much
to heart"
"But I do" she said-there was al
most sob in her voice.
Then she looked at me archly.
"You see," she said, 81 didn't realize
how I must appear to others until 1 saw
you"
"Saw me-"
'Yes-tell such whopper-excuse me
about yourself and then I knew how
I must have appeared. And it has made
me so remorseful"
I did not lose my nerve even then.
"Never mind, darling" l said, fold
ing my arms about her more closely.
eve are in the same boat Let us get
over it together" -Chesterton Todd in
Life.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
,ne could rave q quoted softly that little

If one could rave q quoted softly that little
face of hers
Painted upon background of pale gold .
No shade eLcroaching on the matchleSs
mould
OF those two lips, which should be opening
| broke off. Her fingers trembed III
mine, and were suddenly withdrawn.
With little. embarrassed laugh, she
thrust her book upon me. l gazed at it,
bewildered.
''Se lie fazion che port" l read again,
and turned my eyes to the opposite page.
IF the features which thou wearest
be not false
looked up in amazement. Ike girls
lips were Quivering humorously
1 turned a page. Yes, no mistake.
Dante's Inferno, with the English YER
sion opposite the Italian.
"Well?" said the girl, softly.
l caught my breath. "You-you-are
English?''
She looked at me reproachfully.
Didn't you hear me say wasn't?'
''Well. but"
'Irish," said the girl.
l suppose l still looked puzzled.
"It--it was too hot for anything" she
explained. further.-V. FL. Friedlaender
in The Sketch.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
The Rat Problem.

The United States department Of agri-
culture in recent publication upon
"The Rat Problem" assures us that this
rodent destroys annually S1OO00O,OO0
worth of grain. The statement is so as
founding that were it not vouched for
by experts in the biological survey little
credence would be given it. These scien-
tific men. however, have made an ex-
haustive study of the rat and they are
quite serious in urging an active cam
paign to rid the country of this pest.
The most common and destructive
member of the rodent family is the Nor
way rat, which has been carried in ships
to the furtllest corners of the earth. and
has multiplied wherever it has landed.
Rats live Oh most anything that man
eats. but they are especially fond OF
grain. THESE rodents are also destruc-
tive in killing young poultry and steal
ing eggs, and the pollution Of food
products causes as much loss as that
which they consume.
Their fecundity is remarkable. 1t is
well. therefore. to call public attention
to these facts as an incentive to renewed
warfare against the pests. Among meas
ures suggested for their determination is
the reduction of their food by the dis
posal of garbage and the better protec-
ton by use of concrete of our food sup
plies-Buffalo Commercial.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
A Fair Exchange.

Americas sweet corn has been traded
for Roumania's little watermelons. Hor-
ace G. Knowles, former American min
lister to Roumania, who is soon to start
for his new post as minister to Mica
ragua, consummated the transaction in
the interest Of good living.
When Mr.. Knowles found the melon
about the size of grapefruit, growing
in the Carpathian foothills, he realized
that it would be just the thing to serve
individually in America. He obtained
a quantity of the seed and transmitted
it to the department of agriculture. The
little melons have been cultivated with
success at the government experiment
stations in those regions where huge
American melons are grown.
Having gained this desirable delicacy
from Roumania, Mr.. Knowles was anx-
ious to repay the gift. He noticed that
the people were utter strangers to sweet
corn. Accordingly he obtained seed for
this product from the department of
agriculture, hired several plots of ground
himself, and instructed the Roumanians
in it's culture-Philadelphi Inquirer.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
Babu English.

The English language has pitfalls Tor
others than our continental neignDors.
In illustration of this an instructive
anecdote has recently been imported
from India. 1t is to the effect that when
a battalion of the Middlesex regiment
was ordered to take part IN q recent
ceremonial parade at Delhi. the COM
handing officer determined to refit it
with new boots. He accordingly tele-
era nhed to a Calcutta firm: s.Send one
thousand pairs of boots for Middlesex
by next train Days passed and no
boots arrived The coloneps anxiety in
creased hourly. Just when he had be-
come almost frantic the Babu manager
in Calcutta sent him this telegram: Or
der received but not comprehended.
Male sex know, ditto, female sex; mid
die sex. however, not known. Please
send specimen" - Cosmopolitan Finan-
cipr
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
German Actors Poorly Paid.

The world in general is frequently
told that in Germany the theater is
much more popular, much better under
stood and more intelligently appreciated
generally by both public and actors
than elsewhere. If this is true the
managers Of other countries may have
cause to revise their salary lists, for it is
in the matter of pay apparently that
there is the great fundamental difference
between Germany and the United States
or England.
The figures published by the German
Stage association show that only 10 per
cent. of the artists earn more than $3.50
year and fully half make less than
$3.50. Stars in the provinces and the
smaller court theaters receive only from
$3.50 to $500 and have to spend from 500
to 5000 on their wardrobes. In Nurem-
berg, city with nearly 100000 inhabit-
ants. salaries at the Volks theater range
from $3.75 to about $40 a month.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
CONGREGATION of One.

From a mission in Null with G40
year Dr. Cameron Lees went to one of
the remotest parishes in the Highlands
the parish Of Carnoch-a shadow of a
congregation. The people had been all
swept into the Free church, and a hand
full only were left in the Moderate
Kirk" There on one stormy Sunday the
young minister preached to a congrega-
ton of one. The Gaelic service was the
first service of the day. and only one
man-Macrae by name-Macrae of Ach-
lorachan, the legend says-braved the
elements and came to the Gaelic service
The minister went out and asked him to
come into the manse and wait for the
English service, but the Gaelic {! eongr s
Macrae. ''is this-Where two or three
are gathered together in my name, and
where the two or three will be, there too
will be the blessing; and | am one and
YOU are two-and we will just go on
with the service" And the service did
go on. and the young minister preached
to the Gaelic congregation of one.-Lon-
don Globe
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
A German Business woman's idea.

One of the cleverest young business
women in Germany. we'll known in Ber-
lin society and considered one of the
prettiest girls in the German capital has
Just secured on behalf of the company
of which she is chairwoman {. contract
from the Belgian State railways which
marks the last thing in railway economy
effected by foreign government. Miss
Stoete's syndicate has received permits
of every description left in carriages in
the Belgian railways. and in return con-
tracts to manufacture and supply free
of charge from the paper thus obtained
as many cardboard tickets as the rail-
ways may require. 1t is estimated that
the company will make profit of from
- to Is per cent. year.-Bystander.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
MAIL CARRIERS DOG TEAM.
Their Severe Winter Route Along the
Bank of the 500 River


One of the unique sights to a stranger
at the 500 is the fine dog team used by
Capt. Mathews Of the local postotIice
force In the delivery of the United States
mail
Capt. Mathews has a route covering
approximately twenty miles and with
the team usually covers this distance
every day. The route lies along the 500
river from the postoffice in the heart of
the town to a small suburb called Nease-
vile, or more POLITICALLY. after an old In
dian tribe. Algonquin. Sometimes the
roads are drifted so that it is almost inn
possible to get through, but up to the
present time the big dogs have proved
themselves equal to any emergency. In
pleasant weather and binding snow
storms alike the team has trotted on it's
way for the last five winters and seems
good for many more
The dogs are named Spike and Bounce,
and are almost identical in size, shape,
weight and color. They are as large as
Shetland ponies and weigh over 100
pounds each. They are st. Bernard and
Newfoundland. Capt. Mathews bitches
them side by side to a specially con-
structed sleigh large enough to hold him
self, another passenger and the mail.
In fact it will hold many more, as. OBJ
serving persons have noticed when the
captain leaves for the city every morn
ing. Then there is always a merry
crowd Of perhaps ten or dozen school
children crowded about the captain in the
sleigh and hanging to it from all sides.
Spike and Bounce are fed on corn
meal and suet baked in cakes and served
piping hot on the snow, with occasion
ally little meat, but only at9rare in
tervals and in small quantitiesy1'a as the
captain has found the team works better
on the simpler diet. The dogs are six
years old and have been making the mail
route every day during the winter for the
last FIVE years.-Detroit News-Tribune.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-07-29
FLOWERS KEPT BY FREEZING.
Method of Bringing to the North from
Tropical Regions.

Freezing flowers to keep them fresh is
a modern idea. They are picked in the
bud and preserved by refrigeration while
being transported. They can travel safe
ly in this way for several weeks. When
unpacked they are found free of dam
age and when placed in water and left
alone they slowly awaken and come into
full bloom.
1t appears that experiments are being
made in South Africa with a view to
despatching them in this way in bulk
at the seasons when they are scarce else
where. The flowers undergo no deteri-
grafton from their treatment either in the
beauty of their color or in their longevity
after immersion in water. Curiously
enough growth suspended by refrigera-
ton appears to resume so slowly that
the blossoms thrive in room for a con-
siderably longer period than if placed
there Immediately after being cut in the
garden.
The process would also serve to intro
duce to our notice many beautiful mem
bers Of the horticultural family with
which at present we are unfamiliar,
such plants as the gorgeous iris, which
grows wild in luxurious profusion in
South Africa, or those which abound on
the slopes Of the Andes in South Amer
ica.-Chicago Tribune.