davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-07
COSTLY ACCIDENTS.
A Lost Tin Mine and q Lead Mines
6ottorniess Pit.

A Lost Tin Mine and O Lead Mines
5ottonniess Pit.
Immense plans which seemed about
TO be completed. but have been brought
to disastrous failure at the last mo-
ment. are frequent enough in the his
tory of industry.
London Answers tells the story OF
tin mine IN England which might have
yielded fortune but for storm.
With the finding OF new vein Of
ore running out toward the sea new
level was driven out below the water;
then II was found that the lode bent
upward too near the sen bottom for
mining to be safely carried on. Undis
couraged. the owner borrowed money.
built a sen wall to cut of the water.
erected pumps and again went to
work.
On the sixth day. just as an enor-
nous mass Of rich ore was being tap
ped. gale came up. ship was blown
upon the wall. which went TO pieces
at once. and the sea drove the heavy
stones In upon the thin roof of the
mine. In a moment the workings were
hopelessly flooded and the owner was
n ruined man
A story equally tragic Is told OF the
Spcedweh lead mine In Derbyshire
Believing that rich vein OF ore exist.
ed In nearby hill. the owner risked
his entire capital to bore q tunnel
5000 feet long into the heart Of the
mountain. suddenly the miners broke
through n wall of rock into vast hid
den cavern. through which flowed a
stream Of water.
They began TO dump rock into the
stream. and after 10000 tons bridge
began to rise out Of the darkness. and
then their farther progress was stop
ped. Month after month they toiled.
aud at last. after 10000 tons In all had
been cast into the cavern. they gave it
up.
That narrow rift Is known TO this
day as the Bottomiess Pit.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-07
GERMAN CUSTOMS LAW.
Il May No. Always Be Extensive. but
u Does Take Time.

Il Does Take Time.
I'll you travel In tiermany you want
TO be careful TO declare all dutiabIe
goods AT HE border. even down to a
toOihpick." said former aliacbe. 1t
may not save you much money. but
II will save you vexatious delays.
with a friend | came over from st.
Petersburg by way OF Stockholm 10
kiel ON 0nr way TO Berlin. had
bought In Russia half n dozen gun
metal holders for tea glasses. NOT worth
over - cents apiece. and had packed
them In russian helmet. The latter
had spike on top OF II.
The customs officer at Kiel asked
whether had anything dutiable. and
as The holders were Of Insignificant
value ! said No.
THAT did not satisfy him. He
thrust his hand down into the bag
roughly. and the first thing he came
into contact with was the spike OF
that helmet. He jumped back. with a
German oath. and then he reached
down more cautiously. grabbed the
spike and pulled the helmet up. the
contents dropping out.
AHA. SO. he exclaimed In tri.
umph. transHxing me with look.
Then he charged me with evading
the law and with smuggling. He left
us under guard. and there we stayed
while we saw our train pull out. Final
ly the Herr Oberinspektor. In brilliant
uniform ana with sword clanking. came
along back with him. He pompously
inquired who we were. We explained
81 believe you. gentlemen he re-
piled after some questioning and con-
siderable deliberafion, but you are
amenable to the law and will have to
pay the duty and fine equal to the
amount of duty Then he hurried
away to get the articles appraised.
I'VE felt we had got into a mixup
We counted over the German money
we had between us. and II amounted
to less than So. We had nothing be-
sides but drafts on Berlin. and II the
duty aud line amounted to much we
were In for all sorts OF trouble.
FINALLY the Herr Oberinspektor
came back with a bundle Of papers In
his hands. He Informed US that we
could be liberated upon the payment
Of 60 pfennigs. which IL about 10 cents.
For this we had lost three hours
New York Sun.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-07

Among the things that furnish occu-
patton for the eyes and minds of trans
atlantic voyagers are the houseilies
that accompany the great steamships
from Que side Of the ocean 10 the
other. In fine sunshiny weather the
flies buzz cheerfully about sheltered
places on the decks. and when the
wind blows high they take refuge In
cabins and saloons. Flies often re-
main with the ship while IN port and
return with her on her next trip. thus
crossing the ocean several times In
succession and perhaps spending the
entire season at sea.--New York Trlb-
une.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-07

'Fain would | write a poem on the
delights Of fishing" sighed the poet.
but woe If me. can't find word to
rhyme with nngleworm."
But why use that word at the end
Of a linei" queried the friend.
because" Kissed the poet between
his set teeth. ian angleworm is always
at the end OF n line"
And for an hour the silence was so
still that one could have heard n pin
Drop Chicago News.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-07
ILL TIMED APPLAUSE.
II Distraets the Players and Annoys
the Audience.

u Distraets the Players and Annoys
the Audience.
Applause. the strongest tonic TO the
actor. sometimes annoys your true art
list. II II halts the action OF the play
too long or II II browns the sentence
just begun II Is evaporation TO the
judicious In the audience. The bright
er the dialogue the more Irritating Is
anything that dIstracts from t. II is
the fashion at our theaters. especially
on first nights. 10 greet each player
voclferously 10 such way as to mar
the pleasure OF the performance. II II
contains any.
Here Is practice from which the
thoughtless or the ovcrenthusiastic
should forbear II may take the mind
Of the actor of his work In hand IL he
IL the object OF great deal of ap-
piause aud may have the like effect
on some who do not receive any such
mark OF esteem when others are get
ting too generous share OF 1t.
There is plenty of time between acts
for this handclapping. which the play
when they are taxing their memories
for the text Of their parts and tryias
10 concentrate on their work. ii Is
not In goud taste TO approve with
mere noise II scene or a situation when
the enjoyment of II by ones neighbur
may be heightened by the absence of
such distraction. There is vast room
for the Improvement of general play
house manners hut inconsiderate and
promiscuous appreciation OF acting
while the story is flowing from the
stage Is one Of the chief drawbacks 10
enjoyment of the drama. Encourage.
ment by managers 20 such custom In
the mistaken belief that 1t adds to the
general pleasure Of patrons Is largely
responsible for It's increasing bane.-
New York Press.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-07
BIRDS OF PARADISE.
Their Dancing Parties and Arrows
With Blunt Heads.


With Blunt Heads.
Birds of paradise mott about janu.
airy. and In May. when they are in full
and gorgeous new plumage. the males
assemble each morning for their dane.
Ing parties. Certain trees are selected.
being chosen on account of widespread.
ing branches and scattered leaves.
and In one Of these trees from dozen
to twenty OF the birds will assemble.
They raise their wings. stretch ont
their necks and elevate their exqul.
site plumes. keeping them in contln-
ual vibration. The birds hop or iiy
from branch to branch apparently IN
the greatest excitement. So. that the
tree appears TO be seething With gold.
en- orange plumes. The long. plumy
tufts which are the pride of the bird
Of paradise spring from the sides be-
meath each wing. and when the bird
is In repose they are partly concealed.
but during the dance" the wings are
raised vertically across the back. the
head IL bent and stretched out. and the
long plumes are expanded until they
resemble two magnificent golden fans.
striped with deep red at the base and
fading or into pale brown tint at
the finely divided points.
II is hard to determine just what Is
the motive of the dance of the birds
Of paradise. but the natives take adj
vantage OF the occasion to secure speci.
mems OF the birds without injury TO
the feathers. As soon ms 1t is found
that the birds have fixed upon a par
ticular tree for their dances native
builds a little hut or blind of palm
branches among the leaves and here
ensconces himself just before daylight
armed with bow and a number of
arrows with round knob upon the
end. instead % sharp point. A boy
waits at the foot of the tree. aud when
the birds have assembled and begun
their dance the hunter begins to shoot.
The blow OF the blunt arrow stuns u
bird. which falls TO the ground and
Is secured by the waiting boy. not n
drop OF It's blood being shed and the
plumage being uninjured. The other
birds rarely take any notice of those
that fall until their number has been
considerably reduced. Harper's Week
~.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-07

Some persons do FIRST. think after.
ward and repent forever Seeker
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-07
Dr.. PierCe'S FayOrite Prescription

Is the best Of medicines for the Of diseases. ~
]. ! ! ! :
disorders and nessesp peculiar IL Is the
nreparaton Of its by regularly fadu-
ated physicn-an experienced and skilled specialist in
Of
II Is safe n any condition Of the SYSTEM Inn
THE ONE REMEDY which contains no alcohol
and no Injurious habitformne drugs and which
create. no craving for uchsi muants ~
THE REMEDY good that its makers NJ
ares not afraid to print ingredient on "
cash outside wrapper and attest to the
truthfulness of same under oath.
dealer who hasn't
Of
Pierces either mistaken
Such 70 DC
trusted taine your priceless poscon-your health
may be life self rha asst for
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-07

not sleep 1t kept
growing larger and
by fall II was as
large as a hens egg.
I could not 60 to
bed without a hot
water bottle applied
to that side. | had
one of the best doc
tors in Kansas and
he told my husband
that | would have to
be operated on as it
was something like
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-07
Nj. Fair Mindsdnas..

"why d, you insist on reading that
newspaper: II always seems to offend
you"
because" answered Mr. Sirius Bar
ker. II believe In always looking at
both sides OF n question. ] rely on
that publication for arguments on the
wrong side" Washington star.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-05-07

Freshman ah. rah. rah, Rah. rah.
rah. Rah. rah. ran. sophomore Is
that kid stewed: SenIor-No: that's
'srea" Smith. so called because he's
the pup that cheers. but does not In
ebriate cleveland Leader.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-05-13
CORNER IN 3-CENT PIECES

The disappearance of the three-cent
piece has for years been a matter OF
mild speculation. Few persons are
aware that a large proportion of the
coins of this denomination which re-
manned in circulation when the gov
eminent stopped issuing them are
peacefully slumbering in sundry
large, fat canvas bags in the vaults
of a certain electrical manufacturing
company of Chicago. They are not
for sale just yet.
Each of the coins is an evidence of
petty larceny.
Years ago the company equipped
many telephone pay stations with
dime slot machines. It was supposed
that they could be worked only with
dimes. The three-cent pieces were
becoming rare and no thought was
taken of them.
Hardly six months passed before
one of the telephone companies dis
covered that the collectors were
yielding harvest of three-cent
pieces. Then from all over the coun-
try came similar complaints.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-05-13
BLINDED BIRDS SING.
Needle Inserted Back Of Eye De-
stroys Optic Nerve.
La5orer Prosecuted in London Police
Court by Society for Prevention
OF Cruelty to Ami mails for
Operating on Chaffinches.

Loadon.-How birds are cruelty
blinded with needles in order to make
them sing better was told at the Lam
beth police court.
Extraordinary revelations were
made regarding the practice, and as
a result laborer named Frederick
Collins Of Sultan street, Camberwen,
was sentenced to three months hard
labor-the extreme penalty under the
wild birds in captivity act.
Collins, who gave his age as Sc, ap-
peared before A. A. Hopkins charged
with i'll treating two chaffinches by
binding them, between October / and
Is.
In prosecuting on behalf of the r.
S. P. c. A., S. G. Polhill said that a
practice existed among some men of
catching wild birds and binding them,
the reason being that the birds thus
treated were supposed to be better
songsters.
Owing to the secrecy observed by
these men, 1t was difficult for the So
c1ety to gain admission to a room
where the birds happened to be. 1t
was only lately that they had succeed.
In doing so.
Great skill, said Mr.. Polhill. was
shown by the men engaged in this
cruel practice of binding birds. be-
cause they did not wish to burst the
eyeballs. A needle is inserted in
such way as to destroy the optic
nerve.
After while the wound healed up
and the birds. which had, of course,
suffered intense pain in the operation,
adapted themselves to their sightless
condition in wonderful way.
They found their way about the
cages in the most natural way. and
the ordinary observer would be unable
to say that there was anything the
matter with them.
Inspector Wtlmot of the r. 8. p. c.
A. described how he was introduced
to Collins In Walworth on Sunday. Oc-
tober II. The conversation turned on
birds, and Collins said he understood
that Wflmot wanted some.
i've got two ready for you," said
Collins, "and you can have them II
you wait until have sold three Nm
nets"
The inspector, who was in plain
clothes, accompanied Collins to his
house in Sultan street. Camberwell.
and was taken upstairs to an apart.
ment practically full of birds of the
chaff1nch kind.
AFTER showing me several chat.
f1nches, all of which were =, blinded"
said Inspector Wilmot. he showed
me the two which form the subject of
the charge. One, he said, he had
caught at Croydon, and the other Just
outside Orpington I put 'em through
fright OUT said Collins.
What do you mean by right
out'?" asked the inspector.
"Blinding." was Collins reply, but
1t is dangerous word to use. II ]
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-05-13
A RATTLESNAKE RANCH.

A rattlesnake ranch does not seem
a particularly inviting sort of estate.
but F. B. Anthony Of Brownsville,
Tex, has made a small fortune out Of
his. The rattlesnake ranch-every-
thing is a ranch in Texas-is a tract
OF land surrounded by high fence Of
boards. There are no doorways Of
any kind, entrance being effected BY
means Of ladders over the top.
Inside, the space is divided into
three Enclosures for the safety and
comfort Of the snakes, some species
OF which are deadly enemies to 9TH
ers. Brush and dried grass afford hid,
Ing places and shade.
In these pens and in boxes in which
the snakes are shipped hundreds u
snakes. many Of them monsters IN
size. are kept in stock. The snakes
are captured by Mexicans Ill over
Texas, Mexico, Arizona and othar
states and territories. and are sent
In with the certainty Of sale. foe. Mr.
Anthony always has q markat. lov
thsm.-Whe World NaGa&tnA
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-05-13

When Nature is in one Of her freak
ish moods she perpetrates many q
Joke, sometimes on man, and some.
times on his four-footed servants, as
the at takes her.
She has fairly surpassed herself
however, in the case of a ram owned
by an American gentleman farmer,
by endowing the animal with an addi.
t1onal pair of horns, perfect in every
way. The ram is now full grown, and
this Is all the more remarkable, mas.
much as freaks of this kind seldom
live to grow up.
The rams parents we're in no way
abnormal, nor is it expected that its
own offspring will differ from any
others of their kind. If it is not case
of like father, like son." they will
nevertheless have a parent of whom
they may we'll be proud.
Despite it's double set Of weapons
OF offense and defense, the ram does
not present a very formidable appear.
anoe. In fact, it wears very sheep
lsh" look.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-05-13
A VEGETABLE COMPASS.

The compass plant grows in the
prairies of western North America
and, as its name indicates, is of great
value to the wanderer. It is dwarf
variety of the osier, is perennial, at.
tains usually height of three feet
flowers.
The help it renders the traveller
arises from the fact that the long
leaves at the base of the stem, which
are placed, not fat, as in plants gen.
orally, but in a vertical position, pre-
sent their edges north and south.
The peculiar propensity Of the FOIL
age of this plant is attributed to the
fact thtat both surfaces of it's leaves
display an equal receptivity for light.
All the other known varieties of its
class are characterized by the pres
ence, on the lower surface of their
leaves, of from twice to thrice as
many respiratory vessels as are con-
tanned on the upper surface, which is
therefore the most sensitive of the
two to the influence of light.
But both surfaces of the compass
plant are clothed alike, with an cpl
dermis exceptionally receptive Of
light: and the same instinct of its
leaves that prompts them to require
an equal distribution of light upon
either surface causes them to assume
vertical position and to point their
edges due north and south.
Travellers, on dark nights, are said
to feel the edges of the leaves to as
certain the points Of the compass,
when no means are available for help
ing them on their way.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-05-13
Cause Of Truancy Traced BY a Penn.
sxlvania Educator After Much
investigation.

Shenandoah, Pa.-A personal inves-
tisntion of truant led Prof. J. w.
Cosper, superintendent of the public
schools, to dive further into the case
aoa to learn that there was Irritation
ard love-making going on among the
pupils of the higher grades, which
vas the subject of his address before
the local institute of the II school
teachers.
To break up Irritation and lovemak-
ing among the goods Of the Shenan-
doah high school he urged the teach
err to use the dart of ridicule. He
said it was the teachers most effec-
tive weapon in dealing with such SILL
ness. These flirtations led to truancy,
which had affected the morals of the
high school.
Henceforth goods must not indulge
in roguish smiles, amorous glances or
in making eyes. under pain OF being
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-05-13

Each company forwarded the pieces
to the manufacturing company and
more or less politely asked that a cor
responding number of dimes or a
check for an equivalent amount be
sent back in exchange.
A council was held at the Office of
the manufacturing company. The
cost Of correcting the boxes was CON-
pared with fairly trustworthy infor-
nation Of the number of three-cent
pieces in circulation. It was found
that balance was in favor of the
three cents and it was decided to &C.
cept the pieces as dimes.
Gradually the inpour Of three-cent
pieces narrowed down to an intermit-
tent current. The company seemed
to have about all the pieces.
It is said that If ever the premium
on three-cent pieces goes high enough
the coins will be offered to collector,
at prices which will be based upon
the original cost to tho company. plus
six per cent. a year, plus cost Of stor.
age, plus cost of guarding, plu, cost
of carrying the fund upon tho books.
Long ago the slot machines TINT COL
lected them were RELOCATED = The
scrap heap. ,...>---~
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-05-13
LOSSES FROM THE BOIL WEEv,L

The bulletin of the department OF
agriculture on the Mexican boil weevil
sheds very little new light on the sub
1ect. No remedy has been found for
tnat most voracious and destructive
insect; and the department merely re-
1terates Its recommendation with re-
gard to the burning of the cotton
Stalks and the work during the winter
looking to keep down the pest-points
upon which the southern farmers have
oeen we'll instructed Of late, and which
they are thoroughly carrying out. The
only gratifying part of the bulletin is
the estimate that the amount of DAM
age caused by the weevil is $25,OOO,OOO'
In1s Is the figure given two and three
years ago, when the Weevil was re-
str1cted to Texas. The damage had
grown from year to year up to that
time, and it was expected that it would
continue to grow as the weevil spread
eastward, until it rose to heavy pro-
portion of the crop. In spite OF this
spread of the pest, the total loss re"
mains the same, amounting to not
more than four per cent. of the crop.
OF course, some localities Louisi-
ana most of all-has suffered more,
but the cotton crop as a whole is not
materially reduced by the weevil, and
the amount it returns to the southern
farmers will be very little cut down.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-05-13
TO PICTURE MIDDIES' BONES
Photographs to Be Taken at Annapo.
lis Academy as a Contribution
to Scientific Theory.

Annapolis, Nd. - Midshipmen will
shortly be allowed to offer Photograph
pictures of their joints as a contribu-
ton to science, as an order is about
to be issued by the navy department
that there shall be thorough testing
of "Kotch's system" for determining
of ages by means of photographs Of
the ends OF the bones, the midship-
men being used as subjects.
1t is explained that there is a por-
ton of the ends of bones which in
youth are held to the shafts by car.
tilaginous substance only, but which
in adults become part of the bone.
1t is claimed by the founder OF the
system that photographs of the ends
of bones offex an accurate method of
determining the ages of the subjects.
Statistics which it is thought will
be useful in enforcing child labor
laws, detecting fraudulent enlist
ments, etc, are to be gathered by the
examination Of the midshipmen.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-05-13

age was mailed by Mrs. Estelle Ros-
et+ to Mrs. E. D. Ledgerman, Of Deal
Beach. The package was reported
lost and the valuation, $40, was paid
by Postmaster Weart. Subsequently
post Office inspectors discovered that
the package had been delivered to the
addressee and the records mislaid.
When the facts were disclosed es.
cry effort was made by the depart
ment to return the amount to Post
master Weart He had moved from
Deal Beach to Hood River, Ore In
quiry showed that he had died there.
An effort to locate his heirs proved
unavailing. Neither Of his two sons
could be located, although they both
were traced by post Office inspectors
from place to place. The search al.
ready has cost the department sew.
eral times the amount of the original
loss, but the disbursing Office Of the
department still has the check ready
for delivery to Weart's estate II his
heirs can be located.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-05-13

was given away it would mean three
months. I played the game on 'em
last Friday week. This one (pointing
to the Croydon bird). has just got
over it.
Collins admitted to the inspector
that he had blinded the birds himself.
Il have been at the game 20 years"
he said.
Il tested the two BIRDS" continued
the inspector in his evidence, by
passing my hand in front Of them.
Neither of them moved, and both were
undoubtedly blind. noticed that
there were at least eight other chat
finches. also blind, hanging in cages
in the room. I bought the two for 80
cents each"
They had q drink at neighboring
public house and Collins had cider. Il
see you are teetotaler," was the In.
spector's comment
Eyes, at my game you have to be"
said Collins In reply, "as you want a
steady hand with the needle"
1T is cruel thing to do" said the
inspector. whereupon Collins re-
marked: "Others do it, and others
have not the heart to do it,