davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
DEALING WITH LOCUST PLAGUE.
Methods Employed by the DweIIers in
Algeria.

Algeria and Tunis have this year
suffered from an extraordinary inva-
sion Of locusts. The locusts arrive
from the direction of the deserts In
swarms so thick as to hide the sun.
They cover the ground as with a yell
low carpet, and sometimes render the
railways so slippery that the trains can
hardly run. At this stage they are not
voracious, being engaged principally
in laying their eggs But 40 days later
the young locusts, not yet winged, be-
gin to run about devouring every
green thing, including not only leaves,
but even the bark and tender shoots
of trees. The hordes, advancing in a
body, sometimes cover an area of sew
eral square miles. Barbados of cloth,
surrounded with wax strips. erected
In the line OF march, arrest the prog
ress of the insects, which are unable
to crawl up the smooth surface. Pass
ing along the line of the barbados,
they fall into bitches dug for the pur-
pose. where they are killed with cor
rosive liquids. Another method is to
smooth descending paths, ending in
poisoned bitches. The insects follow
the descents, and thus go to their
deaths.-Youth's Companion.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
FINALLY MAD USE FOR "JoHN."
Calamity Forced Laundry Company 20
Resclnd lts Boast.

1t was the boast of the 'Tncompar-
able Laundry Company" that 1t en-
ployed no Cinnamon, that II did better
work than Chinese laundries did, and
did not wear out the clothes SO quick
ly in washing. One unlucky day, how
ever, the company's building caught
fire and was partially destroyed. By
great exertion nearly all the contents
were saved, but in highly mixed and
tangled-up condition.
Drivers Of the oompany's wagons
were sent round to the various Gus
toners to assure them that they would
lose nothing; that their shirts, collars
and cuffs were all safe. and would be
delivered to them. properly laundered.
with delay of only few days.
Wasn't everything piled In q heap
when you got things out Of the build
ing?" asked one of the customers.
YES" said the driver to whom the
question was addressed.
We'll. how are you ever going to
separate them?"
"Oh, we've got a-er-Chinaman sort
ing them out" answered the driver
with some ENTHUSIASTICALLY Com
panion.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
WONDERS OF VELOCITY.
A Piece of Thin Cardboard Will Cut
Through Wood.

Velocity has great deal TO do
with one substances ability TO break
through another, and 1t is remarkable
what can be accomplished by com
paratively soft substance against a
much harder one when the former IL
given enough velocity. \ bullet made
of q tallow candle would smash flat If
fired against board from a toy gun,
but when shot from an army rifle II
will go right through the board. A
stream of water has been known TO
have such swiftness Of movement that
a sword was broken In two when a
strong man tried to cut 1t through
Cyclones have been known to drive
such frail projectiles as straws well
into a tree.
An interesting experiment showing
what soft substance can do may be
performed by attaching bristol
board disk to the motor Of an electric
fan and setting it to revolving at the
fans usual rate. If a piece Of wood
such as a lead pencil, for example, be
carefully applied to the edge Of the
revolving disk, the wood will very
readily be cut through. OF course II
the disk were to revolve slowly the
wood would soon blunt its edge.-Path-
finder.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
Roaring Muscles.

"If writer wrote of roaring mus
cles, you would laugh at him. Joints
crack, the stomach thunders, but mus
Giles, you would say, don't roar. That
Is your mistake. They do"
The speaker, a physician, put his
finger In his ear.
81 hear muscle roaring now" said
he. "Try 1t, and you. too. Will hear the
sound And TO prove that 1t is the
sound of a muscle, put plug of wood
In your ear instead, and you will hear
nothing.
CONTRACTED muscles give out a roar.
ing sound. Relaxed muscles are ST.
lent. This fact is of use in diagnos.
ing certain diseases. The stethoscope
makes the muscular roars audible, and
those strange voices proclaim the pres
ence of such diseases as tetanus, men
nights or strychnine poisoning, while
silence on the muscles part Is, so to
speak. sullen admission of the pres
ence in their midst of atrophy. degen.
Grafton. paralysis. Buffalo Express.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
South African MII,lon.Ires.

Harry Barnato, who has Just died
In the prime of life. Is the latest addi-
ton to the list Of South African mil
lionaires whose lives have closed pre-
maturely and often traEically. Cecil
Rhodes, II will be remembered, did not
live to see his forty-ninth birthday,
although he had qualified as a million.
aire at least 20 years earlier, and Bar
ney Barnato was only 46 when he
came to his tragic end on the high
seas, but he had lived long enough
to leave nearly 91,000,000 behind him.
Woolf Joel, Barnato's nephew, was
much younger when at "a bullet put
an end to his life at johannesburg ten
years or so ago. and yet he was able
to leave an estate valued at R1.226..
900; Herbert Matthew Davies accumur
lated e734,000 before he died at the
age of 43, and Mr.. Belt had made and
left his millions before he had long
completed half century of years.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
PASSING OF THE CIGAR BOX.
Glass Jars Expected to Take Place Of
Old Receptacle.

Il don't believe it viii be long be-
fore the cedar wood cigar box is q
thing of the past" said the clerk as
he knocked the nails out of box and
scratched off the internal revenue
stamp. Several big cigar manufac-
turing concerns have been experiment.
Ing recently with glass jars as q sub
stitute, and they are proving a great
success. OF course, they are heavier
than the wooden box and there Is q
slight percentage of breakage, but In
the end they are cheaper, for the price
OF the wooden boxes is going up all
the time. The package Is attractive.
and the cigars packed In the Jars will
not dry out so rapidly.
Fifty cigars are packed In the Jars,
which have a light, nickeled screw
top. The best part of the glass jar
idea is that the smokers wives can
put them to good use after the cigars
are all gone. They can be used around
the house for a thousand different
things But a wooden cigar box wasn't
much use for anything after II had
served its first purpose. You could
break, shatter or do most anything
with 1t, but the scent of the tobacco
stuck to It,"
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
THE ONLY SAFE GROUND.
Total Abstainer Alone Certain He VIII
Not Become Drunkard.

DR.. Samuel Johnson, one of the
his writings Except his dictionary
were 80 unimportant, never uttered a
more universal truth than when he
afirmed of himself: II can refrain en-
trely, but cannot be moderate" 1t
ID probably at least ten times as hard
to be q moderate drinker" as to main
tain total abstinence.
We are wont to lament the awful
prevalence of intemperance, and 1t is
indeed appalling; but it is not as bad
now as when presidents and cabinet
members habitually drank to excess,
as some Of them did even no further
back than In the sixties of the last
century. Within the memory OF men
and women now living, ministers of
the Gospel were sometimes seen
abroad In a state of intoxication, and
were thought no worse of for It, That
could not be to-day.
Still, II is q melancholy state of
things when in our foremost clubs, in
whose membership are included pro-
ACpSiohdi AhCu Va hi6n btdHuluS, even
clergymen. spirituous liquors figure
prominently on the table. Apparently
there Is widespread feeling among
an excellent class of our citizens that
II Is marrow" and "bigoted" to re-
frain entirely from wine and whisky.
But 1t Is hard for some of us to un-
derstand how such men can free them
selves from feeling Of awful guilt
when they see the drunkard Keeling
through the street and hear the ag-
onized cries of his wife and children,
declares the Christian Herald. Most
men cannot go forth and give temper
ance lectures. Usually the most that
they can do IL to set a strenuous ex.
ample-which should be one Of total
abstinence. God help us all to stamp
out from our beloved land this awful
curse Of rum!
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
MEMS CLOTHES.
Not What They Used to Be In the
Days of Elizabeth.


Most men nowadays do not get
much pleasure from dress and scarce
ly notice the changes of fashion In
mems clothes. They are vaguely
aware that a hat looks odd when its
shape is old fashioned, and they ac-
cept the hat of the moment because
they do not wish to look odd them
selves. But this is merely negative
interest They are also apt TO be con-
temptuous of women's greater inter
est In the fashions, as if 1t were a
mark of frivolity.
This is an ignorant mistake. Dress
is or ought to be an art, and therefore.
If only a minor art, 1t Is more seri-
Gus matter than any of the games to
which many men give so much time
and pains. Besides, men have only be-
come Indifferent to their clothes In
modern times.
In the heroic age Of Elizabeth they
made themselves as smart as pea
cocks. Great soldiers and poets then
took pains to be In the height OF the
fashion, and fashions changed with
some violence and rapidity In the
eighteenth century, too. which we do
not think Of as a time Of effeminacy
and when men were wanting neither
In enterprise nor in seriousness, they
were as splendid and extravaganza In
their dress as women.-London Times.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
RES5MIsRIl5al1ea
WATER DRINKERS.
Bishop Lawrence Compares Socls
Customs Of England and America.


/ The bishop OF Massachusetts was In.
terviewed by the representative OF
The Treasury, an English monthly
magazine. while he was In London.
and was asked to express his views
upon a number of topics.
/ The reporter represented him as
saying that while he did not favor
prohibition, II am In favor of all
national legislation tending to the dis.
couragement Of the drinking habit.
With whatever faults my own country
may be charged. Americans are tenn.
perate people. In my country hospi.
tality can be dispensed and appreciat.
ed where no alcoholic liquor is offered ;
In yours we Americans have the ut
most dufficulty In getting any water to
drink at your hospitable tables Every
kind Of substitute for 1t, spirituous
and non-spirituous, is put before us,
but to offer or accept nothing but
water seems to be considered outside
your scheme Of hospitable entertain
ment."
This utterance of the bishop will
probably be much objected to by those
who regard a dinner as very incom.
plete without the use of some alcoholic
drinks. says Temperance, and who
make a concession to what they re-
gard as the foolish objections of some
OF their guests by offering some substi
tute, but they never think of offering
water. They regard water at dinner
as being as much out Of place as cat
nip tea.
While the bishop cannot be quoted
as the antagonist of all spirituous
drinks. he can be quoted as making a
plea for people who do not want to
use them or the substitutes sometimes
offered. In the judgment of some ii
is far better to offer guests the bottled
mineral waters and the like than in.
toxicants, but there are many who pre-
fer water. Why should they not have
It? One reason why 1t has not been
offered Is the dread of appearing to be
mean, and another is the notion that
digestion is improved by draughts of
wines and the like.
Bishop Lawrence has settled one
point, viz: that IL Is good form" to
provide a guest drinking water at
dinner II the guest prefers 1t, and the
doctors tell us that too much liquid
Is taken now by most people at meals,
and that all would be better off, even
water drinkers, If less fluids of any
kind were taken at dinner.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
THE RING AND
THE GIRL
BY ZELLA ARMSTRONG
copyright, by Bobbs-Merriil Coz

Close to zero the mercury plunged,
as though to show the jewellers In
Dixie by glorious contrast what an
agreeable brand Of weather Is the
sunny South variety. The girl shiv-
cred. and reflected whimsically that
she was no better equipped Tor the
cold than were the managers OF the
road over which she was being 1erked
through sleet and snow toward Chatta-
nooga. The chill of the outer air was
only slightly tempered within the
coach: the wind whistled and the
snow drifted through the rickety case
ments, while her pretty tailor-made
suit seemed the least possible protec'
ton from such bitter draughts.
Marston saw the involuntary shiyer,
and. leaving his seat, he spoke 70 her
in a winning, apologize way.
Wont you let me help you into my
coat?" he asked. as he held out the
garment of which he had Invested
himself Il can go into the smoker
where there is a red-hot stove. No
you can't. There are too many men,
and there is too much smoke" lie
shook his head at her suggestion, as
he still held the coat in an authorita'
tive manner.
Her thanks were scarcely audible
but she obeyed him meekly; and as
she slipped shivering into the grateful
warmth, a glance from the darkest OF
blue eyes spoke her gratitude. AS yir'
tue is sometimes its own reward. SC
that glance Unexpectedly warmed his
blood, and made him regret his vol
untary exile to the smoker and the
stove.
His destination, Dalton, was only a
few miles away and night was almost
down when he left the smoke-thicB
atmosphere to find the other coach
deserted, save for the blue-eyed one
who was fast asleep, close-wrapped In
his overcoat. Her long lashes curled
on cheeks pale with cold despite the
relief he had conferred. A moment
he stood in contemplation of hei
beauty, more and more resenting the
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
Endurance Of = Guide.

An Alpine guide. Philippe Allamand,
of Bex. has gained publicity in the
Swiss papers by marvellous pedes-
trian achievement. He started on a
Monday from Taesch and assembled
to the Weisshorn hut. whence he re-
turned to the valley to fetch q mem
Der of his party who had been left be-
hind. There was time for only three
hours sleep after that. and then the
Weisshorn had to be climbed. 1t was
In bad condition, and the ascent took
nearly IL hours. No sooner had he
reached the top than Allamand hast.
ened down and proceeded to zermatt
to join another party who had en-
gagged him for the Matterhorn. He
overlook them In the hut at four
o'clock on Tuesday morning. went up
the Matterhorn at once, and did not
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
Not So Very Precious.

New York hotel Is going to have
enough gold dishes to serve dinner
Of seven courses to rs persons. OF
course, this suggests moralizing on
prodigal luxury and illusions to Luz
cullus and Apicius and also to Bel
shazzar. But there was time when
even kings dined from trenchers. The
introduction of pewter was probably
denounced by the philosophers Of the
day as prodigality, and while silver
Is not commonly used for dishes from
which persons eat. 1t is In such gen.
eral use for the larger pieces and for
spoons. forks and drinking vessels
that the use of silver must represent,
as compared with the previous GUS
toms, about as great an increase Of
expenditure as the use Of q gold din
Ing service does now. The precious
metals are not 80 precious as they
were ce.-Philadelphia Record.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07

Sore If every mother could
~rLA realize the danger thai
throat turks behind every case %
.WiSdOn, sore throat, she wouldn'
\ rest until she has effected
a cure every time a child has II.
Your family physician will verify the
statement that it is positive fact that every
child with sore throat is in immediate dan
ger OF contracting Group, Quinsy, Tonsilitis
or Diphtheria, and is not removed from that
danger until the throat is cured. Think of it'll
Liniments or outward application of
medicines do not and cannot cure the all
ment, though they may offer temporary
relief. Neither can you cure sore throat
with a cough syrup or cold cure.
10 cure, you must get at the seat of
the disease, removing the cause. Moth
ing does that so quickly, safely and
surely as TONSILINE. A single dose of
lONSiLlNE taken upon the first appear
ance or sore throat may save long weeks of
sickness, great expense, worry, even death.
TONSIL!NE. is the stitch in time.
Use little sore throat wisdom and buy
bottle of TONSILINE today. You may
need it tomorrow.
TONSILINE is the standard sore
throat remedy-bes known and ~
most effective and most used. Look IN
for the long necked fellow on the Ia
20 or 80 cent sized bottle when you
go to the drug store to get it. I'D
The Tonsiline Co., Canton, Ohio. "a
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
A Busy Little Chap.

II has been ascertained that the
mouse, when he IL free to range about,
sleeps only two hours in the "a, or
less than any other animal known.
During the rest of the time he is on
the hustle and probably covers five
miles in his running.
The honey bee sleeps from dark to
dawn, and that old saying: "as busy
as a bee," should be changed to "as
busy as a mouse" In four days and
nights a mouse will either eat or con-
vey away a pound of cheese. He has
always got his appetite with him.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
EnoIand's Drink .BIll.

That the enormous amount OF mon
ey once spent In the United Kingdom
for drink is now diminishing is shown
by the following figures. In 1900 there
we're 80 gallons of beer per head con-
sumed. Now 27.63 gallons. In 1900
the consumption Of spirits was two
gallons per head. Now 1t is less than
one gallon. Ten years ago there were
2S3.342 liquor shops. To-day there
are 1911 less. making 21S,631 In all.
Now that this sober sensible tenn
peranoe revival has begun 1t looks az
II there would be much greater
change In the next ten years than has
been seen in the past ten years. Sure
ly q change Is needed.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07

thought of awakening her to claim his
property.
81 can't do it," he said under ihs
breath. Poor little thing" watch
ing the long lashes on the smooth
cheek, lat least she is not suffering
now. can get my heavy coat from
my trunk at Dalton-Tll leave this one
with her."
A hastily scrubbed note on his card
explained that he was off at Dalton
but that few days later would find
him in Chattanooga, at the Read
house, where she could leave or send
the coat. Edging the card into a con.
veniently gaping pocket. he gathered
his belongings reluctantly from his
own seat and swung from the platform
just as the conductor yelled "All
Aboard" and the long train began to
rumble past the station.
Throughout his transactions in Dial
ton Marston felt an impulse of impa.
tient haste toward Chattanooga and
his meeting with her. More than once
he wished frankly that he had gone on
with her.
But after all, what awaited him at
the Read was merely bulky package
the coat. Searching the pocket post
office vainly for a note, he suffered
what he told himself was an absurdly
bitter disappointment On the heels
of his defeat he found-a consolation
prize-a ring set with a single pearl
which had evidently slipped from her
chilled finger that cold afternoon. He
cleaned further grain of comfort
from the fact that the ring was in
the right-hand pocket, and therefore
not an engagement ring" as he rea.
soned. The trinket complicated mat.
tiers; for in the mail came an en-.
velope, white and square, addressed in
an unfamiliar feminine hand, and with.
out doubt from her.
Thank you so much" were the
words on the sheet within. No form
Of salutation, and no signature!
We'll, like that" said Marston,
ruefully. Mice impression must
have made, II she couldn't trust me
with her name and whereabouts. II
she were not so haughty-or so shy
she could have her ring" he grumbled
Serves her right" and thereupon he
made formal arrangements with him
self to Immediately dismiss the mat
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
Its Meaninn.

Every occupation affords opportuni
ties of its own for The study of human
nature" says Boston man, IF only
there be a little aptitude for putting
two and two together.
Il was browsing in bookshop al
the Hub, which does little business
in stationery on the side, when a
young woman was asked by the genial
old proprietor:
land when does the wedding take
place, Miss Blank?'
1.-THE weddingl' exclaimed the
young woman. blushing. Why. you
don't think
"'Ah, Miss Blankl' rejoined the old
bookseller, When young lady buys a
hundred sheets of paper and only rs
envelopes | know there's something
In the dv"-Harper's
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
Imnartinn Knowledge.

What do you do in the college, Mr..
Smitts?" inquired the child of the
hostess of the learned guest at din
ner.
I'm professor in the college," re-
turned the guest, magnanimously. 81
ippart my knowledge to my stu
dents!"
Then, If you keep on impartihg it,"
declared the child, pretty soon you
won't know anything, will your"
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
Her Excuse.

MRS. Skandell was telling me a
story to-day about that odious Mrs.
Galley" began Mrs. Jigsley.
See here!" interrupted her hus-
band Il thought you hated gossip"
"Why-er-so | do, but, of course. I
can't hate 1t thoroughly until know
just exactly what 1t Isl
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07

get back until II o'clock on Wednes-
day night, having been "A hours with
out sleep, walking and climbing all
the time. Even then he took only a
days rest before leading party up
the Dent Blanche.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
Prohibition Sustained In Maine

Prohibition was an issue In the
Maine state campaign, which closed
with the recent election. The Repub-
loans, who opposed the resubmission
of the question of prohibition. won by
about 5000 plurality
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
The Provinces.

why does that man have such ut
ter contempt for everything west of
the Alleghenies?"
HE has lived In New York for
nearly IL months"
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
Absorbing.

There is one subject on which II IA
difficult to keep up interest"
What particular subject is that on
which 1t is difficult to keep up in
terest?"
"The mortgage of my house. -
Stray Stories.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07

Wants Something . Little Better.
Hardly any man is satisfied with the
living that the world really owes him
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07
CALLED

BY CURED PATIENTS on be-
half of their friendswho have chroni c
ailments, Rev. Edison A. Titus, NJ. d.,
Ph. ID Associate Dean of the Inter-
national College; teacher and demon.
strator, will be in Bedding for ONE
WEEK from Jan. 4, at Mrs. Tanners
Cor. of Liberty and Pearl St., and
will treat
Chronic Diseases
by the international Method. Testi-
monials of more than one hundred
cures by this method furnished or
application.
Home Office ia S. Division Street
Grand Rapids, Mich.
CONSULTATION FREE
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-07

Scbscribe for the Banner now
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-02-17
The Prodiaal's Return.

Martha had been naughty, so naugi.
ty that the punishment had been Sc
we're. Martha thought It too severe,
and decided that she would run away
from n home where people were I'LL
just, unreasonable and cruel. She
stay ed away two hours: then the
pangs 0! Inconsistencies overcame her
and she went back. To her great sGr'
prise, there was no demonstration over
her return; every one had been 50
busy that her absence was unnotice,l
Martina felt that something must be
said, SO in order to attract attention
TO her RETURN, she remarked: 4
II see you have the SAME old cat!
The February Deaineator.