davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
MACHINE PLUcKs POULTRY.
East Orange Inventor Has One That
Makes the Feathers Fly.

Theodore &. Griggs of 1o1 North Fiji
teenth street, East Orange, is the in
ventor Of fowIplucldng device, which
poultry raisers who have inspected it be-
lieye will fill u 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 follc wed
in other machines and introduces a en-
tirely new method. The fowl o be
plucked is placed on an endless trs Yelling
belt and carried through a series of FIN
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 expeGien of
having the fingers clutch only q few
feathers % a time. The size of the bird
is Nc factor whatever 1t viii stay in
the machine until plhcRed, VIII tlrer large
or small. A pneumatic tu1e carries
away the feathers as fast - they are
removed
Griggs is a civil engineer, and never
raised chicken in his life, but he no.
tieed a few years ago, while visiting a
friend who runs a 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.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14

The United States department Of acri-
culture in recent publication upon
"The Rat Problem" assures us that this
rodent destroys annually Sl0GW0,O00
worth of grain. The statement Il 50 as
founding that were it not vouched for
by experts in the biological survey LITTLE
cradence would be given it, These scieu-
t;he 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 Il is pest.
Tho most common aud destructive
member of the rodent family IS the Nor
way rat, which has been carried in shire
10 the furtheSt corners IF tnc earth, and
has multiplied wherever it has landed.
Rats live on most anything chat man
eats. but they are especially fond Of
grain. Thesc 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. II is
well therefore, to can public attention
to these facts as an incentive to renewed
warfare against the pests, Among meas
ures suggested for their eXtermnat0u rs
the reduction Of their food 10y the dis
posal of garbage and the better prutcc-
ton by use OF concrete of our food sup
plies Buffalo Commercial
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
RETURN OF THE TOP HAT.
Its Regained Sway This Spring Among
London City Men.

Top hats" says the English Gentle
woman, ARE on top again. 1t is not to
be deIaed 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 sa :orial tradition by going to then
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, t. 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 Hseots and
panama Goodwoods.
1T is nov and will be during the sea-
son absolutely the correct thing for all
dressy occasions. All 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 excellgnt ex'
ample shown in this respect by the King
and the Prince of Wales rs having its eff
feet"
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
tonrrepation n One.

FROM mission IL Null with $50 q
year Dr. Cameron Lees went 10 one Of
the remotest parishes ia tSe Il Shands-
the parish of Carnoch-~a shadow If q
congregation The people had ,een gll
swept into the Free church, aa1 a hand
full only were left in the Moderate
Kirk There GA one stormy Sunday the
Young minister preached 80 Il coacrega-
ton of one. The Gaelic service was the
first service Of Ike day. and only one
man-Maerae by uqme- Macrae eff Ach-
lorachan, the legend says -braved the
elements and came to the Gaelic service.
The minister went out and asked him 80
come into the manSe and wait for the
English service but the Gaelic ,ougre-
CATION declined "'The PROMISE" said
Macrae, us thi, fhcre TWO or three
are gathered togv>her ia 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 viii Just so on
with the service" And the service did
20 on, and the Young minister preached
10 the Gaelic congregation of one.-Lon-
don Globe
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
Shady Streets Of pvtch 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 shut
ont the glare of the sun and offer cool
and inviting avenues for the exploration
of the tourist. The banks of these ca
mails are generally terraced in two levels
the lower one for warehouses and the
upper for shops or dwellings; but eacn
elevation is planted with trees At best
a city is an exceedingly poor location TOT
tree culture Narrow streets, with tai
buildings. exclude the life giving sun
light: asphalt or closely paved walks pre-
vent the necessary moisture from SINK
ing into the ground and nourishing thlrs-
ty roots, and leakage from the gas MAINS
is n deadly poison to Nthe growth OF an
vegetation. For this reason care should
be exercised in the selection OF the va
r;ety of tree for street planting in order
10 oct the best results. In Holland,
time has demonstrated that the elm and
linden should be placed in the first rank,
for there are many examples OF THESE
snecies in Dutch towns which have with
stood the ravaCes Of more than two CEN
turtles The elm appears to be the
harder of these two trees and VIII hVe
under most adverse conditions.
The Dutch municipalities eXpend large
sums each year for the preservation or
their shade trees. but the results amply
iustify the cost of maintenance. In the
last year the city of Utrecht taxed eacn
inhabitant p cents for its trees 1.-TWO ana
one-half Dutch cents equahng an Amer
lean cent. and The Hague spent -
cents for the same purpose.-Harper
Weekly.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
NEW WOODS FOR CALIFORNIA.
Eastern Hardwoods to Be Transplanted
to Pacific Coast

The Pacific coast viii 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 hardwo0ds
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, if these DO
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, numher of
(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-
ly favorable for the growth of 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,
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.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
'MATUSHKA voIGA."
Melody of Sorrow and Unrest Heard in
Prison and Palace in Russia.

There is an air 50 popular in Russia
that it is even more familiar than tisir
national anthem TO the people OF that
great mysterious empire l have heard
it in all parts Of the Cars dominions.
from the Baltic sea to Bering Strait and
from Archangel TO the Caspian, in the
glittering palaces Of Petersburg and in
foul prison dens of Siberia.
1t is a simple melody in the minor
key, suggestive, like most Slav music, of
sorrow and unrest, and it is called Ma
tushka" or Mother Yolga," as for some
cryptic reason every Russians be he noble
or Nihilist, is taught from childhood to
regard this great river in the light of a
maternal relative Yet the river is full
of sad associations, for convicts formerly
Travelled a portion of the journey to 81
IBERIA along its broad, sluggish stream.
can never forget the haunting sweet
ness Of ''Matushka Volga" as | heard it
sung on a prison barge one quiet summer
evening by party of fettered pOliticals
banished TO the great lone land Of exile.
For Mother Yolga' was their last link
with home and the loved ones they might
never meet again.
Fortunately the condemned are now
sent into Asia by the Trans Siberian rail-
way and the unhappy exile is spared at
least one bitter ptrting-that from his
well beloved "2Iother Nolga. Travel
Magazine
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
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 tile
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 view 20
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 a room for 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.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
Some Orchid Values

If you had ogdte an ordinary orchid
collection you could sake up one of the
better bulbs That had lowered prettily
and go out and buy with the proceeds
of it's sale 4 peachblow vase, q high
powered touring car or a reasonably
safe and sane balloon.
London auction knockdowrs recently
ran from SO guineas to 300 and $40
guineas. and so on, and the highest
price S15 guileas (S45O0l. was not for
a wild but for garden hybrid, an Odon-
toglossum C,'ispum Rogers Sander" W.
Thompson Of Walton Grange, Stafford
shire realized from 60 to $50 guineas
tor from about 1914 to $3.50 EACH for
bulbs Of duplicates" in his collection.
Last yeaD garden hybrid Cypripedium
went for the equivalent of $500, and a,
Brussels buyer paid $3.50 for wild
Cooksoniae Crispum. Count Apponyi of
Budapest paid 5000 to q Venezuelan
for one q a species so gigantic that
oxen were required to convey it and the
section of tree to which it was at
tt ched. Because Cattleya had VIC
let blue corolla instead OF the violet
rose coroDa of its species its price
II. T. Pitt collection. "a small plant, the
high bid was $4,000, Mr. Pitt himself
laid $500 for the celebrated imported
Persinmon Crispum This had been
bought in open market before Towering.
for Sc cents. 1t is the plant that has
den onstrated how it can d I'M that
cots dear. For the spotted CrSpum
II Frederic Sander" Mr.. Pitt, after see
ing the bloom. paid 1000 guineas-near-
Is $40. 5O0.-Franklin Clarkin, in Every
hO1v's
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
A Fair Exchange.

Americas sweet corn has been traded
for Roumania's little waterhelons. 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.
Wien Mr.. Knowles found the melon,
about the size of a 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 me 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 its culture-Philadelph Inquirer.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
German Actors Poorly Paid.

The world in general is frequently
stold 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 $50
a year and fully half make less than
$3.50. Stars in the provinces and the
smaller court theaters receive only from
$3.50 to 5000 and have to spend from SGT
to 5000 on their warSlrobes. In Nurem
berg, a city with nearly 100000 inhabit-
ants. salaries at the Volks theater range
from 1915 to about $40 month.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14

The danger Of leaving infants alone in
their cradles in room with dogs or cats
has been cxempH6ed once more in the
case of poor family Of charcoal burners
near Coulommiers, France After their
midday meal the parents. who are named
lluot. went into the forest to resume
their work. leaving their little daughter
Suzaua, aged 3 months. sleeping IN her
cradle, under the protection of two dogs
curled itself up 20 sleep on the top Of the
infant. When the father and mother re
turned some hours later they saw the
dog jump from the cradle and run out of
the door. The mother hurried to her in
the poor little orlp was quite dead, sutfo-
Gated by the weight Of the dog lying
upon her for some hours. Accidents Of
this nature have frequently been record
ed.-Correspondent, London Telegraph.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14

II one could rave q quoted softly that little
fies u Ecrg5
,diata4 npon background u pale gold i.
NJ shade sieroacling on the mifchlcss
iEagid
Of those two lips, which should be opening
broke off. Her fingers treniLled in
mine. and were suddenly withdrawn.
With a little. embarrassed laugh. she
thrust her book upon me. / gazed ut ia
bawildered.
,'~e le faziun che D rt;-'' I read again.
and turned n.y. eyes to the oEBosite page.
If the. features Which thou 'r-arest
be aot false
! looked up in an.azemcnt. The girls
lips were quiysring htungr0uSy E.
turned paga Yes. no mistake
Dante's Inferno. with the English YER
sion opposite the Italian.
"WellI' said the girl, softly.
| caught ms breath. ''You-you-are
English =
She looked at me reproachfufly.
Didn't you hear me say | wasn'tT'
Wei. but"
Irish. said the girl
] Suppose / still looked puzzled.
lit was too hot for anything she
explained. furtEer-V. II. Friedlaender
in The Sketch.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14


pose. Yen must take Of a. ,east fifteen
pounds. Come. Wen hHi AJH aTouas.
the grounds -
She Looked q me ia frightened way
her voice tIcmbied.
Don = she said "P'e5se don I!
Really II can't pay al al. so there!
He beat r1e yes,arday IN a#Iai At
2.t. I'm rot a sport Truly, ! "a not.
us only lhc dreadful vocabulary |
p.eEed 1t up at ollege YOU know.
didn't mean 80 tas} iHta =, but some
now. after / gJt started. ! Ieit shat /
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
MAIL cARRIER,s DOG TEAM.
Their Severe Winter Route Along thu
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 postofi1ee
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 i'm
possible to get through, but up to the
present time the big dogs have proved
themselves equal to any emergency. In
pleasant weather aI.j 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 $50
pounds each. They are st. Bernard and
them side by side TO specially con-
structed sleigh large enough to hold him
self, another passenger and the mail.
In fact II 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 a little meat, but only at rare in
tervals and in small quantities, 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
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
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 naexcellcd IN serial evolu-
tions. they have few rivals in the art
Of capturing insects in mi1air. They eat
nothing of value TO man except few
predacious wasps and bugs. and in re-
turn for their services in destroying vast
numbers of noxious insects ask only for
harborage and protection 1t is to the
facE that they capture their prey on
the wing that their peculiar value to the
cotton grower is due Orioles do royal
serviE in catching weevis ON the bolls.
and blackbirds. wrens, tycatchcrs. and
others contribute TO the good work but
when swallows are migrating over the
cotton fields they find the weevils dying
In the open and wage active war against
them. As many as forty seven adult
weevils have been found in the stomach
of a single cliff swallow Department of
Agriculture Bulletin.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
Away with the curryeomb.

Still another humane movement in Syr-
acuse Which has the distinction OF be
lug uniaue originated with the Syracus :
FIRE department, the CHEW of which,
John +. Quigley, some months ago sent
out an order by which he abolished the
use of currycombs in his department,
and expressed himself thoroughly con-
r-incad that the currycomb in the hands
~ the average man is an instrument of
torture to the horse. The shingling Of
the foretop of horses is also ordered 70
be dispensed with. the foretop and name
AZ horses being now allowed to grow.
As a substitute for the currycomb Chief
Ouirlev recommended the use Of fiber
cloth or fiber brustB-Fogue
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
No $50, Al Published June %. 1909
CHAPTER 54s, LAWS OF 1909.

AN ACT to amend section 5Gla Of the
statctes relating To the state board OF
control
The people of the state Of wisconsin. rep
resented In Senatt and Assembly, do enact
as follows
Section !. Section 5G1a Of the statutes
Is amended to read Section 5Gla. !.
The governor. by and with the advice AMI
consent of the senate, shall appoint five per
sons one of whom shall be woman. no two
of whom shall at the tine Of their appoint
ment be- residents Of the same congressional
district and not all Of whom at such time
shall belong 10 the same political party,
members Of said board one
member shall be appointed whose term u
Office shall expire on the first Monday in
April, 1910. another whose tenn shall eX-
pire on the first Monday 81 April 1911,
another whose term shall expire on the
first Monday in April, 1912, another whose
term shall expire on the FIRST Monday M
April 1913, and another whose term shall
expire on the first Monday IN April. 1914.
At the expiration Of these terms Of Office
members shall be appointed for the term OF
five years. Appointments TO NIL vacancies
shall be made for the Gcexpired term.
2. Each person who accepts such APP
pointment shall, before entering upon the
discharge Of bis duties, take and subscribe
an oath to support the constitution Of the
United States, the constitution Of this
state, and faithfully discharge his duties
rs a member of said board TO the best OF
his ability. Such oath shall be died In the
office of the secretary of state.
g. Each member Of said board shall re-
ceiye a salary of twenty-five hundred dol
lars a year and be reimbursed his actual
and necessary expenses incurred in the
performance Of his duties. and shall devote
his entire time TO the duties Of his Office.
Section 2 This act shall take effect and
be in force from and after its passage and
publication.
Approved June II. 1909.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-14
Rahu English.

The English language has pitfalls for
others than our continental neighbors.
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 a recent
ceremonial parade. at Delhi DEN the eos cont e
with new boots. He accordingly tele-
graphed to a Calcutta firm: Send one
thousand pairs of boots for Middlesex
by next train" Days passed and no
boots arrived The colonels anxiety in
creased hourly. Just when he had be-
come almost frantic the Babu manager
in Calcutta sent him this telegram: Ut
der received. but not comprehended.
Male sex | know, ditto, female sex; mid
die sex, however, not known. Please
send specimen" - Cosmopolitan Finan-