davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12


Testsnting. He's the happicst and most independent ma or
earth. What do you van to haul him ut into the lhmelight for?' Since
that time, however, tha riousnes of the movement has grown N the puhh'
until now its place and purpose are recognized and all classes are asking
What Is the matter with the FARM" Perhaps a government investigation
"a not wholly necessary to answer this question:, but it certainly has NJ
ready been of great value In letting publicity in On methods blow b. toe
many agr1cuhursts. 1t is true that numerals farmers still cling to ancient
methods m difficult way Of living. Let Us cite some things the commits
sion las uncovered:
A great many farmers ave already acknowledged their mistake III
lot giving their boys a share In the returns, 30 that thu latter might lave
at least mail start when reaching the 81 of q. This, it seems, Is the
chief cause of SO many boys leaving the farm TO the tender herceS OF hfea
men, who, n everybody knows, re not always 20 onsidrrnt OF other I"
pies property as they might be. Too much work for The women folks IS
another cause, in that 1t deTrives the young people of their are and COM
partnership, leaving nothing FOR ny Of them but the dull routine of work. and
sleep week In n week nj. n easements is cited a IS one OF the greatest
drawbacks farm children have to meet In a large farming community IN
Kansas the only diversion vas the monthly visit of the circuit preacher
Too much seclusln from the outer world drives many boys aud girls to thu
cities, is the conclusion OF Investigators both East and West. In this day
and ae Of the telephone, cheap magazines, newspapers me rural free oN
livery routes,t hfsc condition may be classed as alnost criminal NO boy or
girl wants to grow up knowing as little Of the world as a clam, II lat IS
just what this seclusion amounts to-. And there's another thing+a that
is the love Of money that afaHts too many farmers m induces them TO
sacrifice lot only their W health in its pursuit. but that of their families
The class of farmer misers, fortunately grows smaller and smaller ach
year and 1t is altogether possible that 1t will some day disappear.
On the other hand, there are thousands OF farmers who rejoice in thu
opportunities they nave had the past few years to improve themselves and
an example that shows plainly enough how much more pheasant it is to live
reasonably than the other way. Without the commission they would have
brought about a great change. but with 1t they will revoutionte farming
methods. Many farm boys and girls will undoubtedly go to the cities, no
matter what advantages they may have at home. They must, or there will
be n one to rm the cities. But to those who remain a new era is opening
INC q new life coming. The farmer is going to be more than ever the main
stay of Observation-Disclosures (Pa) Grit
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12
AN AWFUL THOUGHT.


How in the world can you afford tc
raise all those hogs? the stranger
asked Uncle Hiram, who lives way
back in the mountains Of Lumpkin
County, in Northern Georgia. "On
they mostly dew fer theirsels,' he re-
piled, with a smile.
Tibet thai 'un," he continued, laz1ly
designating a huge razorback4 "the'
thar ,un's my ole blew saow. OrnerJ
critter, tew! Made me a n1cs bed fe1
her las family, m then hanged II she
didn't 20 nd make her own arrange
ments. Tuck the little OILS split sugar
barr'l out yondah!
"Whar's she a-goin' naow? Down
long the river to git A drink, All reck-
on"
Suddenly there vas a loud splash
which made the old man jump from
his comfortable position on the porch
and run toward the bank.
"She'll be draownded, shore 'nough
The blew sa0w! She's a-dr1ft1n' y he
screamed. CANT yew-all gwine hep
me? Hep! he'p!'
Unc;a Hiram plunged into the water
after ais favorite. BY dint Of much
pulling and hauling. amid unearthly
sQrealing, the animal was finally safe
on dry land. But h rescuer was car
rled swiftly downstream. Had it not
been for some loggers near by, It Is
doubtful whether he would have lived
to tell the tale. He was dragged
ashore, more dead than alive, and re-
vived with difficulty. A little later,
after drying his clothes, besmirched
with sticky, copper-colored mud, on
some scrubby black-jaeks, he went back
to the cabin to tell his "ole woman"
She listened stupidity to the adven-
ture, closed her s%nuff-box, even took
the gum-brush out Of her mouth, and
then began to cry.
"Why, anty, don't yew-all go cry
aow Pap's all right" coaxcd the
w~ood-cutters.
"Quit, ole lady. All jest got a wet
TIN, m All reckon yew'l low as All
needed hit" interposed Uncle Hiram.
"But If pap had err died" she walled,
p~atting the erstwhile prodlgal pig, '1f
pap had er died, All eve could hev
ct no more hdwyf"
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12
HOW INDIA IS GOVERNED.
Not Entirely by EnElishmen, as Il
Generally

Not Entirely by EnElishmen, as IL
Generally Supposed.
One OF the commonest fallacies about
British rule in india is that the ma
tlves have little share In it. That is a
gross error. In the actual daily work
Of administration the natives play a far
greater part than Englishmen, says
Sidney Brooks in Harper's Weekly.
The queens proclamation OF 1S5S-the
proclamation that ended the mutiny
ana transferred the government Of the
country from the East india Company
10 the crown-contained these words
1T is our will that, so far as may be,
our subjects of whatever race or creed
be freely and impartially admitted to
Offices in our service. the duties Of
which they may be qualified by their
education, ability and integrity, duly to
discharge" This pledge has been abun-
dainty kept. It has been kept by ad-
herring to two principles. The first is
that the highest ranks Of civil employ
ment in India. though open to such In
dams rs can proceed to England and
pass the requisite tests, must, neverthe-
less. as n general rule, be held by Eng
lishmen, for the reason that they pos
sess. partly by heredity. partly by up
bringing and partly by education. the
knowledge Of the principles Of govern
ment, the habits Of mind, and the vigor
Of character which are essential for
the task, and that, the rule Of India
being a British rule. and any other rule
| being in the circumstances Of the case
impossible, the tone and standard
should be set by those who have Gre
ated and are responsible for it. The
second principle Is that outside his
corps d'elite-I quote from the speech
Of q recent viceroy-"we shall, as far
as possible and as the improving stand
ards Of education and morals permit,
employ the Inhabitants of the country.
both because our general policy is to
| restrict rather thar to extend European
agency, and because it is desirab Bile to
enlist the best native intelligence and
| character In the service Of the state"
This principle is qualified only by the
fact that in certain special depart
ments. where scientific or technical
knowledge is. required, or where there
is a call for the exercise Of particular
responsibility, it Is necessary to main
tain n strong European admixture and
sometimes even n European preponder.
| ance. ~
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12
R LAND CROPS.
Alfalfa That Yields Twelve Cuttings
n Year,

n S"sr,
The demand for better grass cones
largely from the arid regions Of the
west and south."Nsays Irof. &. V. Piper.
chief grass expert Of the United States
Department Of Agriculture, and our
work has been largely in these sections.
Secretary Wilson II especially anxious
to establish dry land farming on n per-
manent basis. and for this purpose
crops must he found that have sufficient
drouth resistance to be used probably
I'm rotation. With this end In view the
department Is making Il thorough ex-
ploration Of the dry regions of Man
churia and China for new grasses and
legumes. Already W" have secured many
very promising things. which we are
testing out thoroughly
Prof. Piper says the greatest success
attended the efforts Of the department
with new varieties of alfalfa. Nearly
every corner of the world was searched
during the study of the crop, with the
result that several distinct varieties
were secured which will thrive where
ordinary alfalfa will perish.
eve call It hardy alfalfa" says the
professor. land 1t is as certain OF
growth in Minnesota and the Dakotas
as ordinary alfalfa In Ka>sss. The re-
markable Arabian alfalfa found In the
valley Of the Euphrntes Is proving OF
enormous value In Arizona and Cali
fornia, where it has produced twelve
cuttings in one season, three more than
have been produced by the ordinary
g%.falfa. This result is due to its rapid
growth. and it's ability to grow In cool
weather. beginning earlier In spring
and continuing later In the fall.
"AIfalfa Is becoming a very popular
crop in the eastern States. Demon
STATIONS Of the department have al
ready proved that with proper treat
mcnt alfalfa can be grown with great
success in nearly every State east OF
the Mississippi river, and 1t bids fair
to bring about important changes In
the agriculture of these States
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12
AFRICAN MARRIAGE CUSTOMS.
A Woman Never, Under Any Circum-
STANCES, Marries Beneath Her.

A Woman Never, Under Any Circum-
STANCES, Marries Beneath Her.
While the marriage customs Of West
and Southwest Africa differ of course
in different tribes, they have broad
lines in common and are in all cases
extremely interesting.
A coastal tribe always considers It,
self superior to an inland tribe and
even It's meanest member claims to
rank higher than the most powerful
man Of an up country tribe. A man
may marry any women he likes of any
tribe, it being held that he gives her
his own status. whatever that may be,
but 1t is almost unheard of for a wom-
an to marry "beneath" her. AS a re-
suit some Of the ONE Of the most
superior coast tribes, like the Mpongwe,
look to marriage with white men and
frequently attain 1t.
The parents on both sides rule abso-
lutely in the matter Of marriage be-
tween natives. First the would-be
bridegroom goes empty-handed to OBJ
tain the consent of the brides father.
Then he goes again with gifts and the
father calls in other members of the
family to view the gifts. On the third
visit he carries trade gin, n sufficiently
poisonous compound, generally from
Hamburg. In the old days 1t was palm
toddy or wine.
On this occasion he pays over an In
stallment of the dowry. On the fourth
visit he takes his parents with him and
is permitted to seq the girl herself.
When next he calls his prospective
mother-in-Iaw provides a feast for him
self and his relatives, the host and
hostess eating nothing, but taking a
hand in the drinking. Finally the man
| goes with gifts and the balance of the
Edowry and takes the woman away. On
arrival at his village she is welcomed
with singing and a strenuous dance
| called "nkanja."
For three months the bride is not
required to do any hard work, but after
that she buckles to with his other
wives Mt gardening and carrying bur-
dens. Polygamy is general and the
number of n mans wives limited only
by his u in the matter Of pay
| ing dowries. The man may divorce his
wife whenever he chooses and for nj
most any reason. But it is rare for a
woman to be able to obtain divorce at
her own wish. Divorce entails the re-
turn Of the dowry.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12
DON'T RIDICULE YOUR BOY.

-, Him Follow the Useful Tendency
Nature May Have Implanted.
Many a boy has gone to bed In tears
IN cause his father criticised or de-
nounced his effort at playing the violin;
made fun of a simple little composition
on story which he wrote; discouraged
his attempt to make some little me-
chanicul device. or threw a wet Dlanket
ON his dreams. laughing at his predlc-
uion OF what he would do in the future.
4 man who has recently come into
great prominence in his profession says
that wien, tremblingly, he told his
father what he wanted to be, he was
told that Il padded cell was the only
place for a boy with such crazy IDEAS
and thai he was forced for years to do
that which God had forbidden in every
fiber of his being. and against which
every drop Of blood in him protested
The father who has made up his
mimi that his son must continue his
business and keep his estate Intact, Is
not in Il position to decide on the boys
bent-his special aptitude. lie is pre-
JUDGED Mt the very outset.
The reason why there are so many
mediocre men md women in the world,
and so many failures. is because they
never found their right places.
Everywhere we seen men and women,
cannble Of much better things, who
were discouraged and diverted from
.their natural bent when young. Ihelr
own families did not take stock In
them: they laughed at their young am
a,jtio,,s. and strangled their aspirations,
either by harsh treatment, or, what IS
oven worse. ridicule; and their teachers
did not understand them.
Won cannot read the sealed message
witch God has wrapped up In your boy
nv ,;r1. and YOU should regard it as sa-
cred. You should respect the dreams
of future greatness of your son. De-
..,usc the Creator nay have intended
him for Il grand and far-reach1ns mis-
sion. YDu cannot tell what is going on
i'm his mind you cannot tell what pos
xsMsy;tjes are locked in his brain. lie
may ts perfectly conscious at this mo-
mont that he was intended for a much
higher place in the world than you are
occupying yourself. and to
him to scott at his dreams, to laugh at
his predictions for the future may be a
source, Of great humiliation to you
N. day. 1t nay also work incalcula'
BILE injury to your boy. \ Thousand
times better strike him with your
hand than blast his hopes by ridicule or
nv a cruel, chilling. cutting word
.Or,son SWEET Marden, in Success Mag
.azina 1919 w.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12
COMES FROM SPAIN.

Cigarette Habit Which Has Spread
Over the United States.
Nothing has been more notable IN
the social changes Of the last few
years than the extent to which the
cigarette has increased In popular use.
The modern cigarette seems to have
originated in Spain, where. maize or
other suitable vegetable envelopes for
the tobacco being unobtainable, a thin
sheet Of paper was substituted. Thus
the cigar and cigarette assumed dis
tinct forms. A Spanish proverb de
clares that "a papelitos Ga paper ci-
gar). a glass Of clear water and a kiss
from a pretty girl will sustain a man
for a whole day"
The dainty. unsubstantial, airy CT
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12
+ 4sS"e* *** tt*~" t1~~": *+t*t1
! ! ! kltz|I!zG1DlToRlAlS S.: !
f. Opinions of Great Papers o. important Subjects. :
A4~*~A* *A* a.&1tI& IT, 49, 4~

arate existence Of the three Scandinavian groups is the
lostpopement, perhaps forever, Of a Scandinavian empire
able to play a large part in world affairs.
With a sentimentality that has no place In interna-
tional affairs, the United States undertook to renounce
the prize of a war which Spanish folly had made fnevt-
table. For this political blunder no heavy price has yet
been exacted. Possibly the Providence which has 80
visibly protected this nation against it's own follies will
forgive the debt. Yet 1t is as certain As the rising OF
tho sun that Cuba will ultimately become American ter
ritory in form as well as in fact. Whether by some slow
process OF absorption or by the red hand Of war this end
Will come, and many now living will see 1t coms.-Chi-
caCo inter Ocean. "#
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12

garette is the natural smoke Of the
Latin peoples. Its use in his country
dates from only some 40 years ago.
In 1915 an English writer noted that
the cigarette was smoked in England
by foreign visitors only. The Crimean
war Of 1876 led many English mill
tary and naval officers to adopt this
mode Of smoking, then common in
Malta, the Levant, Turkey and Rus
STA.
English officers, unable to procure CT
CARS, and driven by the hardships Of
the Crimean campaign to the allevia-
ton of tobacco, took to the cigarette,
smoked by their French and Turkish
allies. Returning, they brought the
mode to England, and the ciga rette be-
came fashionable among clubmen and
In the higher circles. Eventually 1t
came to America.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12

ell, 50 that the spray can be made to
flow in any direction to reach any por-
tion of the body. producing a healthful
and ~invigorating effect. When 1T Is de-
sired to use the shower 1T Is swung
downward and the water turned on.
The spray can then be regulated as de
sired.
After use It is swung back into a
vertical position, where 1t is out OF the
way. 1t is also convenient for rinsing
the hair after Il shampoo.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12
Old aavorites

The Snow Storm

The Snow Storm.
sky,
fields,
Hides hill and woods, the river, and tho
heaven,
And wells the farmhouse at the gardens
end.
The sled and traveller stopped, the cour-
ier's feet
Delayed, all friends shut out, the house
mates sit
Around the radiant frelace, inclosed
In a tumultuous rivacy of storm.
Come, see the north winds masonry.
Out of an unseen quarry evermore
Furnished with tile. the fierce a~rtificer
Curves his white bastions with rejected
roof
Round every windward stake, or tree,
or door,
Speeding, the myriad-handed, his wild
work
So fanciful. so savage, naught cares he
For number or proportion. Mockingly
On coop or kennel he hangs Parian
wreaths
A swanlike form invests the hidden
thorn;
Fills us the farmers lane from wall to
wall,
Mauger the farmers signs; and at the
gate
A tapering turrct overtops the work.
And when his hours are numbered, and
the world
Is all his own, retiring, as he were not,
Lea yes. when the sun appears, astonished
Art
To mimic in slow structures, stone by
stone,
Built in an age, the mad winds night
work,
The frolic architecture of the snow.
Ralph Walso Emerson.
We Lay Us Down to Sleep.
We lay us down to sleep,
And leave to God the rest;
Whether to wake and weep
Or wake no more be best.
Why vex our souls with care!
The grave is cool and low
Have we found life SO fair
That we should dread to go?
We've kissed loves sweet, red lips,
And left them sweet and red;
The rose the wild bee sips
Blooms on when he is dead.
Some faithful friends we've found,
But they who love us best.
When we are under ground,
Will laugh on with the rest.
No task have we begun
But Jlher hands can take;
-'2 no work beneath the sun
For which we need to wake.
Then hold us fast. sweet Death
If so it Seemeth best
To Him who gave us breath
That we should go to rest.
We lay us dow to sleep;
Our weary eyes we close;
Whether to wake and weep
Or wake no more, He knows.
~Iouise Chandler Moulton.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12

back Of an ordinary heavy office chair,
and when not in use the apparatus can
be pushed up out of the way and the
chair used for its regular purposes.
To use the telephone the caller sits in
the chair and draws the hood down
over his head. 1t Is open at the bot
tom, Of course but the other sounds In
the room are reduced to Il minimulL..
In front OF the hood Is the trans-
mitter, and the receiver is attached
TO the headgear, which relieves til
person using the instrument of the
necessity Of holding the receiver to his
lar. For persons who have n great
deal Of continuous telephoning to do,
his apparatus is a blessing undis-
nisad.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12

an economic independence. Cuba's economic prosperity
now depends OH the grace Of the United States. BY no
conceivable Industrial reorganization can this situation
be changed.
Furthermore, all the tendencies of mankind are
against the continuance OF small nations. AS mechanical
invention makes the earth smaller, SO men gather for
safety in larger groups. The struggles to preserve tiny
nationalities. by means of linguistic and literary REVEALS,
are interesting but futile. The product Is, after all. but
a parlor piece. WheE such efforts have apparent success
the price is heavy. For instance, the price of the sep
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12

tural population. Equally distributed among the rural
Inhabitants, each would receive $259-not an amount
that would represent colossal individual wealth. This
distribution does not represent net profit, but aggregate
gross production of wealth on the farm per capita.
Is it not time that the general government should
take more coSnizance Of the agricultural Industry and
disco> er the cause why so many farmers are dissatisfied
with their profession? Farming is conceded to be the
most important industry In the nation and the founda-
ton Of the prosperity Of manufacture and other enter
prises. An industry of such paramount Importance
should attract the lest men IN the country to It's ex-
ploitation, and yet the profits Of many farms are too
small for remunerative operation.
1t is safe to predict that agriculture will never at
tain its inallenable position Of the most profitable as
we'll as the most paramount Of the professions until the
government changes its policy In the disposition of pub
lie lands. or what avail is it to the farmer to improve
his holdings when the government stands ready to give
the immigrant 100 acres of frstclass land If he will only
agree to make his residence on 1t? The New England
farmers are unable to sell their estates when the gov
eminent offers to donate a better farm If the homeseeker
will agree to live on and improve It. Not until the fer
tile free lands Of the government are exhausted by dis
tribution TO competitors will the present condition OF
farmers be materially im~proved.-Goodalfs Farmer.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12

which can be moved up and down the
body, so that 1t can be adjusted to al
most any size picture. The whole af-
fair can be made to sell for a very
little money and it takes but a mo-
ment to hang a picture by It..
The trouble Of measuring wire and
gauging 1T 30 that the picture hangs
fiat is obviated. MS the body rests fat
against the wall for its whole length
and keeps the picture at a proper
onplo
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12

we're In a state Of stupefaction, and 80
quiet; and the same idea caused the
invention Of the wheel illustrated. AL
though, when It was erected In 1904,
the FOOLS Tower marked a great
change for the better in the housing
Of the insane; it's appointments We're
most primitive compared with those
now IN favor. From 200 to $50 pa
tients occupied 1870 cel!s.-lllustrated
London News.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12

The thick forest along the banks OF
+6S Semliki, in eastern Africa, Is
~denseIy Inhabited by pygmies. They
are cannibals, and when pressed for
food exchange their children for those
OF other families. They refuse to cat
members of their own families.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12
An Unreliable Dog.

"Come right on in. Sambo," the farm
or called out. II won't hurt you.
You know a barking dog never bites"
Sure. boss. ali knows dat" replied
the cautious colored man, "but ah don't
know how soon he's going to stop bark
i~n'."--Success Magazine.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12

\ e Olk
man has invent
ed Il hood which
Il n S w G L the
$ Il IN @ purpose
and takes up no
extra room.
The hood can
he made Of wood
or metal and is
bowl shaped. 1t
is pivoted to an
upright which is
attached IN tbo
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12

Wheel Which Turned Every Time
the Lunatic Inside 1t Moved.
The Fools Tower, Vienna, which is
replaced by a more modern building,
was remarkable for its extraordinary
collection of strange instruments and
letters used in the treatment Of luna
tics Of past ages. In the machine I'M
ruly maniacs were swung until they
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-03-12

body has a loop
at the top by
which it can be
hung on Y nail.
The legs fare
o t w ard and
have supporting
hooks for feet
and the single
arm, bent al right
angles at the ell
bow, has a hook
at the top.