davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Blue-grass blade., 1909-05-23
(Bv DR.. T. j. Bowles.

Science long ago demonstrated that
high order of manhood, intellectually ana
morally, is absolutely impossible in any
human being whose mind is saturated with
the wild beasts of superstition. AS GER
tainy as "a good thermometer measures
accurately the temperature of the sur
rounding medium, so does a mans super
stitions measure accurately his intellectual
caliber and his moral character.
To hasten the advent of the brotherhood
of man. and to inaugurate the reign OF
pure and rational religion, the intellectual
and moral men of the world are now work
ing together in harmony to dig up, root
and branch. the deadly Upas Tree Of super
stition. which has poisoned the brain OF
the human race through all the dark and
bloody centuries The foundation of tins,
the greatest movement in the history of
the world was laid in the closing years OF
the eighteenth century by the illustrious
and immortal Humboldt who proclaimed
to the world the eternal truth, that the uni
verse is governed by law. This was the
death knell of superstition; this was the be-
ginning of the end of the universal night
that had enshrouded the minds of the hui
man race through all the countless ages
At one fell swoop the pen of this mighty
and immortal man banished from the
world forever, the vast army of gods and
devils. demons and ghosts, that had prcyed
upon the hopes and happiness Of the nu-
man race from the very beginning of man s
pilgrimage upon this beautiful earth; at
the very mention of the sacred name of
Humboldt every head should lie uncovered
and every knee should touch the ground.
Previous 20 the tine Of This ilusriou5
and immortal man. reason was enchalned
and the white-wireel ang' Of science
was imprisoned in The dark. Sorl and filthy
dungeons of superstition. War, pestilence,
famine, ignorance, misery and degradation
was the common heritage Of the whole hui
man family. AT the close Of the great wars
of antiquity, Europe was divided into Rus
STA and Austria, Turkey and Italy, Ger
many and England, Spain and Portugal,
and when Humboldt made his appearance
on the earth the awful shadow Of mediae
Blue-grass blade., 1909-05-23


degraded and miserable toiers of the earth
were helpless and hopeless between the
neither and the upper millstones.
The students of superstition should re-
member that all the holy books and divine
revelations were written by men who were
believers in these idiotie and infinite alb
surdities. For people living today in the
full enjoyment Of innumerable blessings,
made possible by the Angel of Science and
the Goddess of Reason, it is impossible to
imagine the infinite horrors, suffering,
degradation and sorrow caused by super
stition when Humboldt made his appear
ance in the world.
BY strange coincidence that has often
happened in the history of the human
race, Humboldt was born when great ge-
MUS was imperatively needed to save man
kind from hopeless wreck and utter ruin.
All hope had fled from the world. When
he was born, nearly every human being be-
lieved that god had made Il personal devil
and "A lake of fire and birthstone to torment
forever Il vast ma ority Of the men and
women that he had created, and that all
the poor little infants that were not sprink-
led with holy water would be consigned to
the flames of an endless hell.
In those days when the priests of super
sttion had absolute control of the whole
human family, nothing ever happened but
miracles; nothing could happen naturally;
every event was caused by gods. devils,
imps angels, ghosts, COLLINS and spools;
everything was supernatural, and nothing
but the blood of men, women and children
could appease the wrath of these mon
strous denlZens Of the air. Nearly every
body was idiotic enough to believe that god
had a son, and that god put him to death
ANONYMOUSLY on cross because the cum
ming devil persuaded an innocent woman
to eat an apple. When Humboldt was
born the inhabitants of nearly all the
world were on their knees, pale as corpses,
and trembling with fear; the Shiny ser
penis of superstition were creeping and
crawling i'll every brain; witches and wiz
ards by the hundreds of thousands were
being arrested, solemnly tried, convicted,
hanged and burned, and even horses and
cows that manifested any sign of superior
brute intelligence We're brought before &C.
clesiastical courts, tried and condemned for
being under the control Of the devil, and
burned to ashes amid the shouts of Joy and
dabolical glee When IIumb ldt was born
the air was swarmng with incub and sue
cub that paid nightly visits to the bed
rooms of sanity men and sanity women
and despoied them of their virtue. All
the languages of all the tribes and all the
nations of the earth do not contain words
nnunnL In lnSnriLn ILn nu.ELll .,L,..-. Z
Blue-grass blade., 1909-05-23
BLUE GRASS BLADE

val superstition still hung like 1uneral
pail upon all those countries.
The great continent Of Europe was. lit
orally mad-house, insane with supe! sti-
ton Every event in Nature, every event
in the life of man and nations was belIev-
ed to be due either to a good or a bad
spirt-to a god or "A devil Sunday was
believed to be a holy day, a sacred day,-a
day entirely different from all other days,
and that god would damn anybody that
INDUCED in any kind of work, recreation or
pleasure on this Holy Day. The poor, ig-
norant masses believed that god himself
was faigued after working six days in ere
ating the world out o. nothing and actual
ly rested himself on Sunday. Friday was
considered deviish day,-a day different
from all other days and any important
work done ON this day god would see to
it that il came to naught. Thirteen was a
very dangerous number,-a Number entire
ly different from all other numbers, and if
thirteen people happened to dine together
god would see to it that one of them would
be killed or die in year.
Nearly everybody believed that the era
chmneys of hell The belief was univer-
sal that the world was just three stories
high,-the devil living in the basement be-
low the surface of the earth; man lived
in the second story on the surface, and
just above the surface of the earth was
a armament, and this was the floor of the
third story, where God and his Son and the
Holy Ghost and the angels lived: it was
also believed that God and the devil were
engaged in a constant war. and that each
Of them worked night and day in trying to
capture the souls of men, and that the devil
being more cunning than god succeeded in
capturing an infinitely greater number than
god.
Nearly everybody believed that eclipses
and comets, cyclones and earthquakes were
manifestations of god S wrath, and that
they were sure to be followed by war, fam
inc and pestilence. The bones Of dead
saints and aprons worn by holy women,
and hairs from the heads of martyrs, and
pieces of wood from Christ's cross, and the
milk from the Virgin Mary, and the teeth
and finger nails of holy men, and the foul
rags worn by filthy saints. and rusty nails
from the cross, were used TO brighten and
drive away the devil and prevent floods and
drouths Counting beads, fasting and
prayer and holy water were relied on to
stay the ravages Of pestilence and to pro-
tect the people against the wiles of the
devil and the vast swarms Of leering fends
that filled the air. God and The devil kept
Blue-grass blade., 1909-05-23
Persistence of Superstition

When the Immortal Humboldt Announced
n that the Universe Was Governed by
Law the Death of Superstition
Came
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
20
/. Trees

..ls
S Trees grow. on mountain-sides, IN
remote country districts, and in some
residential quarters They furnish
shade, Presidential timber, and, when
sliced thin, delicious breakfast foods.
Trees are useful for cutting down,
end furnish occupation for the other
wise unemployed. In the form of
railroad ties, they furnish basis for
bond issues and for stock market
Ianics. Trees may be oak, beech.
chestnut, or elm, but they are always
popular. They make excellent fire,
especially when made into some
novels. Trees are brown and green,
but when made into paper are gener-
ally yellow. This is when they bark
loudest.
Trees were at one time used for
hanging purposes. Now we use In
y'estigating Committees, thus show
ing the advance in civilization.
Among Rock-a-bye babies. the tree
Top is a favorite. Later on the
Christmas tree is in vogue At the
club, the only tree used is the hat
tree. Americans consider themselves
superior TO all trees. That is why
they cut them so.-Thomas L. Mas
in March Lippfncott's.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
Have a Seed Plot.

"A seed plot should be kept by
every farmer for all his staple crops.
On an area sufficiently large to pro-,
duce all the seed needed for next year
he can well afford to spend consider
able time. Out of the plants on this
seed plot he can select the very best
for the next years seed plot, and the
balance, after removing all defective
plants, he can use for seed for plant
ing his general crop the next year.
This is considered too much trou-
BILE by many, but no greater mistake
could be made. An increase of twen-
ty-five to fifty pounds of lint cotton
per acre and of three TO five bushels
of corn or oats can easily and quickly
be secured in this way by the result
ing Improvement of seed alone.
The same methods should be fol-
lowed with. corn, but greater care is
necessary to prevent the mixing of
corn with other varieties planted near
by. If the seed corn is to be .pur-
chased with which to start breeding
or selection, by all means require
that the seller send you the corn on
the cob. 1T will pay you even If it
costs more, as you will get better
corn.-Progressive Farmer.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
Where Winter -is- Summer.

4 The ocean beats against long and
seemingly interminable sandy beach
es with innumerable towns and
camps, as in summer when the great
interior valleys become hot the ranch
er brings out his camping outfit and
starts for the shore. So popular is
this idea in the rainless summer that
in various parts of the state are seen
tstent Cities" where for a modest
sum one can rent completely equip
ped camp with an accompanying guar
antee of perfect, stormless weather,
and in many places guarantee of no
thunderstorns. Off shore flows the
Japanese Gulf Stream, which, with
the ocean, modifes the entire region,
as the Gulf Stream effects England,
though some students of weather
deny this; the people, however, be-
Iieve it because it is mild. The result
is, the mountains Of the state, from
north to south, have a real winter,
s but the valleys live in perennial
spring or summer. 1t does not rain
from May to November, SO there is a
wet and dry season, and when the
East is frozen up, California of the,
lowlands is vivid with greens, and
4 wild flowers of every hue and tone
3 convert the land into garden. In.
+ word, the climate of all California
is much like that of Italy and the
Rivira, with this exception: it is
not so cold in winter nor SD hot in
summer, hence is really remarkable
and particularly adapted to those
who desire an outdoor life all the
year round without ice and snow. In
winter the country below three thou
sand feet looks like the East in June
or July. All the wild and garden
flowers are in bloom, yet there is
decided crispness in the air, and peo-
pie wear winter clothing and have
fires to keep warm o. nights. Near
/ Los Angeles, tourist center and
city of nearly 100000, in February
The adjacent Sierra Madre may be
capped with snow, yet the bathing is
good at the beaches and the water
not colder than in July in the East.
From " Along the American RiM-
era, in The Outing Magazine for
February. 3.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03

placed in advance of the opening.
By this novel. arrangement Of the
fixed blade and the disposition of the
movable blade and its arm, the move
ment of the one blade past the other,
besides effectively severing the stems,
tends to impel the severed fruit into
the opening. In practice the device
is held in either hand and as the
stems of the fruit are cut it slides
down the incline and into the recep-
tacle. When the latter is filled. the
contents arei easily discharged
through the hinged lid at the end.
BY reason Of the sound and cleanly
condition of the fruit, loss and de-
terioration incident to mutilation and
soiling when picked and gathered di-
rectly by human hands is prevented.
Washington Star.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
Fall Preparation of Cotton Field.

For the best results the field
should be plowed in the early fall
O., winter, not later than the 1st to
the 10th of January, and earlier If
possible.
If the farmer uses an ordinary
p!ow, then the fall plowing (break-
ing) should be one or two inches
deeper than usual and the burrows
should be set on edge. If disk
pow can be secured, use it and plow
as deep as possible-the deeper the
better. In case a disk plow can not
be obtained, use subsoil plow after
breaking. Following the breaking
plow with narrower plow in the
sane furrow Is better than not to Sc
cure depth in plowing, but this Is not
equal to the use of the disk plow or
the subsoil plow. It is not advisable
to throw large quantity of cold sub
soil to the surface at cue time. After
wards, during the autumn and winter,
tie field should be disked or plewed
three and one-half to four inches
deep every three weeks, being gov
erned by soil conditions. 1t is not
well to stir land when 1t is too wet.
If no fall or winter plowing has
been done, plow without, delay about
ore inch deeper than usual and run
narrow burrows to set well on edge.
Disk or plow again before planting.
Tillage is manure. The soil gets air
by stirring, and plant food which
would not otherwise be used by the
growing crop becomes available.
Most plants first throw out their
feeding roots in the warm surface
soil if finely pulverized, and it is best,
therefore, Immediately before plant
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
NEW IDEA
Helped Wis. Couple.

It doesn't pay to stick too closely
to old notions of things. New ideas
often lead to better health, SUCCESS
and happiness.
A Wis. couple examined an idea
new to them and stepped up severa!
rounds on the health ladder. The
husband writes:
Several years ago we suffered
from coffee drinking, were sleepless,
nervous, saIlow, weak, and irritable.
My wife and / both loved coffee and
thought it was bracer." (delusion).
81 Finally, after years Of suffering,
we read of Postum and the harmful
ness of coffee. and believing that to
grow we should give some attention
to new ideIs, we decided to test Pos
tum.
When we made it right we liked
1t and were relieved Of ills caused by
coffee. Our friends noticed the
change ge-fresher skin. .sturdier nerves,
better temper, etc.
sThese changes were not sudden,
but relief increased as we continued
to drink and enjoy Postum, and we
lost the desire for coffee.
Many OF our friends did not like
Postum at first. because they did not
make it right. But when they boiled
Postum according to directions on
pkg, until it was dark and rich they
liked it better than coffee and were
benefited by the change There's
Reason
Name given by Postum Co., Battle
Greek. Mich, Read ,"The Road to
Wellyille' in pkgs.
~ Ever read the above letter? A new
J one appears from time to time. They
are genuine, true, and full, of human,
{; interest ~; 81;
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
Experiments in Molasses Feeding.

The results of experiments carried
out in Germany as to the amounts Of
molasses that may with advantage be
fed to horses and cattle are worthy
of notice. For cattle 1t was found
that six pounds Of molasses per 1000
pounds live weight is probably the
maximum daily allowance that
should be given, although eight
pounds were fed without evil effects.
Horses that do considerable work
were fed with molasses with encou-
raging results, the ration being mixed
in the proportion of seven and a half
pounds of corn, seven pounds of bran
and five pounds of molasses. 1t was
noticed that on this diet horses per-
spired very little during hot weather.
Even when ten pounds of molasses
per day were given to the horses, no
evil effects were noticeable, but some
difficulty was experienced in getting
the animals accustomed to it.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
For Picking Cherries.

With the aid of an improved fruit
gatherer, designed by an Indiana
man; the most delicate Of small fruits,
such as cherries, can be severed from
their stems without mutilation, in
fecting or soiling of the fruit in the
least, and without the necessity of
the hands of the person coming in
contact with the fruit. AS shown in
the Illustration, the ga.Lerer is Of a
size to be easily manipulated by the
hand. In one end is an opening, to
freely admit the fruit, stationary
blade. and movable blade be. &
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
Idle Thoughts.

The accounts we would like to kavt
on our books are usually cash Gus
toners of our competitors.
If we always had the good times We
thought we were having. how different
it would be in the morning.
Could we preach to all the worll.
our message would be-better a true
and happy heart than great riches.
He who loves ways, will SOON ful
that evil ways SO love him that L
cannot be divorced from them.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
Here and There.

Be cautious-but don't let the other
fellow get there first.
Business that is worth while, leav-
ing is not picked upin day.
An excuse is good thing to keep
wrapped up in moth paper.
He who plays games with the cat
is most likely to get scratched.
There are so many men who have
nothing to say, and insist on saying it
Cultivate the habit of cheerfulness !.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
Remedy For Cabbage Blight.

This is a fungus disease, and is in
your soil. 1t is like the cotton BLACK
Root or Wilt" You must plant your
cabbage in an entirely new place some
distance from this land. BY planting
this affected soil in other crops for
two years this fungus disease will die
out for lack of something to feed
upon.-Sontbsrn CultiYetor.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
PEN For Small Chickens.

Here is a drawing of rather
unique pen for feeding young chick
ems, and at the same time preventing
the old ones from "butting" in and
getting the bulk of the feed. The cor
respondent of Prairie Farmer says
that he selected convenient place
near picket fence and inclosed an
area about four feet square by driy-
ing pickets into the ground for few
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
orchard Grass For Broken Land.

L. B., Lylerue, writes: We have
piece of rough, stumpy land which we
would like to seed to some grass that
will make a heavy underground and
also permanent pasture. The land is
on top of hill and the rocks are
loose and on top of the ground. How
would orchard grass do?
Answer by Professor Soule: I do
lot think you will find any grass bet
ter adapted to the land described in
Sour letter than orchard grass
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
sllssESssFF.;EsglsEasSfs7Ias;,

inches. Around the top of the stakes
he wove a light wire, as shown in the
He removed one picket
before taking the picture, so as to
show how the wire was interviewer.
and how easily one picket may be re-
moved If desired.
This sort of pen Is also used to
hold the turkey hen with poults, pro-
viding it Is not desirable. to give her.
liberty. which is often the case during
the early part of the season.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
Business Maxi1ns.

qrit seeming busy and get busy.
Keep your promise to deliver goods
on time.
If you aren't booster you needn 7
be l,nocker.
II is far easier for some to guess
wrong than think right.
a. funny story always sounds bet
ter after business hours.
= About the last place to carry a
grudge is in your business.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
"a Domestic Tragedy,
Proverbs and Phrases.

A thread too fine spun will easily
break. German.
Stand with anybody that stands
nght-Lincoln.
Think twice before You speak, and
/ then talk to yourself.
E A william when he seems most kind
us most to be uspected-Spanish.
The world never sours upon a man
until he sours on himself.
That man is the most educated that
is the most useful.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
Proverbs and Phrases

: If yog monkey" with your quail
ties they will "monkey" with your
business.
The business having the most intel
ligert staff has the greatest chance for
success.
Promptness is the essence of all
good business, the lack Of it the cause
# most failure.
: Often the MD word that turns
IVA! wrath, will fail to disperse the
COX agent or "ie bill collector.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
Southern Agricultural Topics.
Modern Methods That Are Helpful to
Farmer, Fruit Grower and Stockman.

ing, to use a tooth or disk harrow,
shallower than the plowing.
Plant as early as is safe from
frost. The actual date Of planting
depends on locality. The important
point is to plant as early as the
weather and soil conditions permit.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
H2o.s

AEttle boy was asked by his teach
er to define the fluid known to chem
lists as H2O. Almost without hesita-
ton, the bright little chap answered,
SssWater is a colorless liquid which
becomes black when you wash your
hands in it. March Lippincott's.
A Domestic Tragedy.
She went to buy wool underwear,
The warmest she could get;
But struck a bargain-counter
And bought-embroidered net!
March Lippincott's.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03

If man is in the cheese business,
don't joke with him about the odor
if you expect an order. Most people
take their business seriously.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03

In order to make trouble for other
people, you have also to make it for
Yourself. -
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03

land with good sod provided you do
not Craze it too closely. Orchard
grass stands second inthe list of graz
ing grasses, and it remains on the
land for number of years. One OBJ
lection to it is its tendency to grow in
tussocks and form rather an uneven
or open sod.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
To Keen Rabbits From Fruit Trees

1V 1NocP 1sesPD1eS 4 ~ 1Ohf1 : - 0S''
Take q. sheet of ordinary newspa-
per and carefully wrap it around the
tree, using all of one sheet-not half
of ito each tree, observing to At
it closely down to the ground and up
the tree eighteen or twentvtfnnr t"-
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03

Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup for Children
teething, softcns theg gums, reduces lnaamma.
fion. elays pain. cures wind coiic. 25c Q, bottle
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03

A mans vices get more free ad-
vertising than his virtues. 7:
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03
A Domestic Eye Remedy

Compounded by Experienced Physicians.
Conforms to Pure. Food and Drugs Laws.
Wins Friends Wherever Used. Ask Drug.
gists for Murine Eve Remedy. Try Murine.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03

He who has all he wants has more
than he needs. Z.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03

Only One "Bromo Quinine'
That is Laxative Bromo Quinine: Look
for the signature of E. w. Grose. Used the
World over TO Cure Cold in One Day. 25o.
Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-03-03

Address the Garfield Tea Co. as above
when writing for, free samples pi Garheio'
Tea. the true renedy sfor constr si ipation. 't