davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
Rr John Foster Frazer.

If you look at map of Africa, with
British territory marked in red, you Will
find on the west coast q splash of color
| now known as British Nigeria, three times
| the size OF the British Isles and covering
four hundred thousand square miles of
country. Running up through Nigeria is
the wonderful River Niger. the birthplace
of which was for ages as mysterious as
that of the Nile itself. II is with some of
the people who live along the banks of the
river that | now propose TO deal They are
among the latest of the Kings subjects,
for it was only in 1900 that they came under
direct imperial administration.
Near the coast the land is low lying and
swampy But as the interior is reached
there rise plateau after plateau, until at
last high mountains arc discovered. Climate
and environment play important part III
the characteristics of a people. Accordingly,
among the natives of the Niger Delta. liv-
inE IL the malaria soaked manGroVe
swamrs, there is constant disease, and the
negroes are addicted 10 every kind of
foul custom and superstition. When, how
ever. higher country is reached, where
there are grassy plains and hills studded
with fine trees, a brave and warlike type
of negroes is encountered, men who are
There is something terribly eerie about
the dark forests which cling close TO the
Shiny and foul odored banks of the Lover
Niger Along the innumerahle creeks the
heavily leaved branches of the mansroye /
trees arc 50 interlaced that the light is /
rononletely shut out The malodorous air, |
which sucks all the vitality out Of the .
white man is steamY, and tho squelching |
mud is full Of appalling and vile looking .
creatures.
Alongside these black recesses live the |
negroes whom have called the men OF !
the mangrove swamps. Something Of the .
horribleness of their surroundings seems to /
have entered into their natures. for they |
take fiendish delight in murder and tors
rre and in ractices Of the most revolt
ing character. The impression on the mind
of the traveller, when his canoe pushes up
one of the network of creeks. and IN the
bIackness OF the forest, 50 strange and so
weird after the flaming light outside he
suddenly comes across a village of wattled
huis and low caste natives. completely
naked with tattooing or raised scars upon
their black skies. is never cradicated as
long as memory holds
Life is one long terror TO them. They !
believe in ghosts which. kill with spears,
they believe that constantly on the steamy
waters are travelling misty canoes. hurry
i.y the living the regions at the ac-
rgrsed: and they arc sure of t5n existence
If evil spirits which kill without a wound,
or " hicl mark t'ieir isit bv ds ubing the
nuts with blood. sInudeing the faces Of the
4cepers with blood. au5 Some1imcs even
ilinc the cooking pots with blood
Apav ~ the Hi.,s-t-inacC corners
{ the bush, 90 hidden that ou can ap-
,roach within few szrds without knopl-
oce that ecu arc desc 70. settlement.
iEe the lbibics. who are among the low
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
THE COVENANTERS
ODD TENETS OF SECT
LITTLE KNOWN.
Fec Hundred Members an
This Merger Takes
Place To-day.

Today the members Of the Second Re
formed PRESBYTERIAN Church, otherwise
known as the Covenanters, will hold their
last service in their building in seth street,
between Eiehth and Ninth avenues Inc
building has been sold. and the consreea-
ton intends to unite with the Fourth Re
formed Presbyterian Church. IN Harlem,
the new body 10 bear the name of the down
town church and TO continue under the
-1inistrations of the Rev. r. NJ. Sommer-
Vile who has served as its pastor Tor
more than thirty-five years.
The denomination. which has only a few
hundred members in New York City anG
not above ten thousand in the United states
is notable for the marked manner in which
II is differentiated from other Protestant
denominations. It is as firm in its tenets
as IS the Roman Catholic Church, although
as far removed from the latter as any of
the Protestant denominations. 1t is prob
able thar no Protestant church maintains
with SO little modification the customs and
tenets adopted at the time OF the Refor-
nation as does this denomination. Any
one who chances TO attend the service in
West 3erh street to-day will witness ana
cb-onistic customs that he would hardly
i-nagire possible IN New York City at this
DAY
The service viii be the senli-annual COM
rnunion. usually held in May, but advanced
in this instance IL order that the last ser
vice in the building may be a communion.
The visitor viii hear no musical instrument.
for i is an article Of the faith of this
Church that the only music permissible in
Christian worship is that Of the human
voice. The basis for this custom is a Bib
lical one In the Apostolic Church, the
Covenanters say. no instruments were used,
therefore none should be used in the Chris
tan Church to-day The church never has
any trouble with quarrelsonae choirs and
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
WARN THEFARMERS
BAD SEED THREATENS
LOSS OF S13 400 900.
Cam poign to Prerent Souins
of Spoiled Corn on
Nebraska Land.

In an effort to prevent the loss II r.-
braska farmers oS slsoea 90 on their ta-n
corn crop, the Omaha Commercial Club ba,
enlisted the assistance Of Thousands q.
business men in all parts Of Nebraska. and
a whirluiud crusade has been begun hav-
ing for its end the saving of = dsae0S bush,
els of corn to the state this year
The condition which confronts the Ss
braska farmers, and which has called
forth concerted action on the part Of ,ha
business men of the state is one which
has, been brought about by the vet. cold
winter. which has prevented the farmers
from gathering their corn crop, with N.
result that the corn which will be utilIzsd
as seed for the 1910 crop has deteriorat.6
to such an extent that a large amount OF
II is unfit for planting. To make mat
ters worse this deteriorated seed does not
outvardly differ from good corn. so that
the farmers are likely TO plant this year
corn without the knowledge that II will not
sprout and produce crop
The Nebraska State Agricultural Colegs
some weeks ago called attention TO this
damaged corn condition. and the Omaha
Commercial Club Immediately took the mat
ter I'D. Samples OF seed corn were 90
tanned from every county in the state. and
scientific examination Vas made Of the
sa arnples The result was astonishing. one
out of every six ears submitted was found
defective
What this means to Nebraska and 70
the food supply OF the country can "a
understood when il is said that this de-
fective seed. if planted. would diminish the
Weld of corr, by IS 924 900 bushels. valued at
between sf2 90 90 and s14 10000
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
NEW RIVER BOATS
To Supplant Familiar Types
on Mississippi.

Drawings made from the engineer plan
! Of the new boats TO be used by the MIS-
sissippi Valley Transportation Company
| have been received. and show remarkable
| divergence from the type of boat With
which river men are familiar
There are two types shown by these
! drawings one a fowboat and the Other
| a freight barge AT first glance one no
tees the towboat is a sidewheeler, rad
| ically different from the Sprague and other
/ sternwneel boats now in use. The alb
| sence Of the high cabins and Immense
sr,okestacks forward and the substitution
| for them of a low. stout, raking smoke
stack like that Of an ocean steamship mex,
catches the eye.
The hull of the boat, as it appears in
these drawings. is shaped like that of
yacht, running out gracefully forward, so
that il displaces the water with the least
effort. The cabins, with ample accommo-
dations for the officers and crew, rest on
the main deck, where ordinarily in the old
fashioned river boat would be the boilers,
and the pilot house, looking more like the
pilot house of an ocean liner than river
boat, is Immediately above the forward
cabins. Back of this is to be seen the
hatch covering the fuel hopper, for all the
fuel Will be taken aboard from chute
overhead, it is taken by. the loco
motive tender, thus saving time and labor.
The engines, which do not appear in the
picture, lie horizontally, and are double
compound, fast working engines, the wheels
being designed to turn forty revolutions a
minute Steam capstans ana bits forward
and aft show that this towboat is designed
either TO lash up with her tow ahead Of her
by the present system. or TO tow il on
long line astern by the system used on
other rivers and the, Great Lakes. 1t is
possible IL will be used TO tow by the one
method downstream and by the otter up
stream.
In spite Of her difference from the cur
rent type, the new towbcat has everything
in her favor as regards appearance. She
looks trim, powerful, fast and efficient, and
more like boat than like floating board
ing house, which the old type always re-
sembled p,
The freight barge is long, broad, steel
barge. absolutely lacking in the superstruct-
ure even in the shed roof. which is used in
the old Crescent barge. Her deck is cut by
frequent succession of matches, through
which every part of the hold can be used
The holds in the bow and stern indicate
the fact that there is q small cabin at eacn
end for work and storage and for the crew.
The towboat is TO cost $4,000 and the
baiges S,ocHo each. The barge is designed
TO carry 1000 tons on 8 feet of water and
120o tons on 1 feet The .towboat has
1000 horsepower. and is 150 by 3S feet.
and draws 50 inches with her fuel on board.
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
MP. LINCoLN'S S ORDER,

ne toVens nters. therefore, when the a-ar
broke out, wanted 10 enlist in the Union
armies. u is said that the SYNOD Sen, ,
committee 10 President Lincoln. eyniai,,ir. q.
the situation, and he issued an order t,a,
'ovenanrers should be ACCEPTED v-it,,ou+
taking the cath
This Is all because they believe that civil
government is q divine ordinance .nd ,bo
Constitution begins, we. the peorle of ,te
United States" etc. giving no credi, %
divine authority. 1t is therefore . s.,,,,.-
government. although. as they ad,,i.
form Of government OF very bigb ordor
They believe that the Bible furnishes
isis 1or all moral laws and thar :, ;s the
litigation Of a nation TO recognize ,boea
.-"S. nation is God-created, tbe,, CO..,
:. men are born into il, but the lay-s -
ue United States are n,an-naade. fa,lj,s ~
-cOgnize the divine nature Of the govern
asent which should exist in the reafp, 80
ne Son Of God.
20 CoFenanter may be a Mason or =
member Of any oathbound secret societv
ia this respect they are following the ex-
ample OF Jesus. who said, In secrer have. 7
said nothing"
Claiming history beginning with ,be
preaching Of John Knox in Scotland aud
thersfor", the right TO be considered the
parent stem Of the PRESBYTERIAN Church
the aola strictly TO ralyin's i've points Of
Jelief. They do not believe in card plsying
dancing, smoking or the use OF tobacco -,
any form. or ia fuc use Of alcohol ss ::
bcEerage. and no one a-ho violates these r.
quirements may be n minister or hold an
Jffoe Of any kind ~ the denomination Al
though 50 modest q denomination, il man
-alns denonaiastional press Its members
support it 50 ioyany thar il ranks v,au with
IT, press Of other denominations.
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
MAKE FIGURES STRIKE HOME.

ga For instance. the farmers &C saunders
County are shown that they stand 10 loSe
ss42 200 by the use OF unsolicited seed; those
ot Gage County. sS49.s12; Custer County.
s43n 81, and Lancaster County. SSi,l@-
These figures are based on the average
Weld of corn produced by these counties
and are taken from the state and govern
ment crop reports. They are absolutely ac-
curate and. as such. have set the sensloe-
hard-headed farmers TO thinking Of Esl
what portion of that loss Will be SUSTAINED
by each of them.
Then these conditions are brought SUI
closer home The man who ordinary
plants ! 90 acres of corn is Informed that
unless he is careful in the selection Of MS
seed. instead of producing the average
crop of $500 bushels his 1.eta acres VII
only produce 1850 bushels, loss 0f 4t''
bushels. Allowing only - cents a bushea.
this represents a loss TO that farmer e'
s2O7s-and all because of his failure 70 plant
good seed And the farmer who plants ~
acres of corn is shown that his loss. undS'
similar conditions viii De sS3 bushels. vorsh
at least sai6. Even the little felio$ "no
plants only % acres 10 corn IS shown that
he will lose los bushels. worth 81. unless
he takes care of his seed this year
But Nebraska farmers are not the ofeS
people interested in this rCVvihel''
Twenty-six million bushels of corn Veisn
555s OIO. .0sn pounds. and Nebraska ralirodu'
are interested TO the extent OF thar nlucH
extra grain to haul II the farmers VIII t7S'
their seed And grain dealers are ihteA
ested to the extent OF handling thd'
amount of corn which they would me-
otherwise do And banks are interested ~
handling the SIS 6onooo for which the gram
would sell And sto-ekeepers are intefes'su
in selling goods which farmers VII pu
chase with the s13.oon.ooe so obtained Ana
millers are interested in grinding zi.e'"
bushels of corn
And lastly. every family in the Cni'ea
states is interested 10 the extent OF 'h
enc bushel Of meal for every family II 'ha
country which would be provided eV 10
extrs - Ooo 30 bushels of corn the NsHrasSs
farmers will produce If they VIII only hss'
the advice of The business men Of "
hraska and pay attention TO their seed corn
this spring.
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
GETTYSBUR SHIFT
Nc,c York Sculptor to Erect Ii
for Virginia.

roF William SieVPrS a young New loFA
..r,I,tor has lust been awarded the COM
.,,t.sio, f,r the execution of monument u
,ns virginia soldiers who took part N 'ns
h,,t,Ie of Gettysburg. The award was mau'
s,fter a competition. in which about t"eh''
ove. scuIpeors took part-nearly ons-hSI' =
,ba designs being sent from New AorN ~
the Getsvshurg Monument CommiSS'o',
rhe Virginia Legislature has appropriate
10000 for the monument.
In the winning design the sculptor
,,ericted General Robert +. Lee m"uh''.
., his we'll known horse. Traveller. "''
s,,,dvinS the federal reserves eeyoas
near line of battle. ON the pedestal WI.
a,leSerical groups syGlbolizinS Nf=ihis "s.-
,he branches Of the service, misi'i''
cavalry and artillery -.
The monument viii be set up nea' -
,er.s woods in Confederate avenue. s''- "a
on The exact spot where teh'i 60, -
,,arrd the Confederate soldiers
Cemetery Ridge. ,t.b L,
The sculptor has three wears ~ So II
6nish his work lfe expects 10 80, ~
re adv for unvenins at the great ,a,I
Union and Confederate sofheFS u
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20

organizations in the state will gather at
Albany next Wednesday and Thursday to
attend the annual convention of the Ma
tionaI Guard Association of New York
Governor Hughes will be entertained at
dinner by the delegates on the night of
February "a at the Ten Eyck House.
At the review of the 22d Regiment to-
morrow night by General P F. Wanser
commanding the national guard of New
Jersey. there will be a large delegation of
national guard officers from that state
Colonel Hotchkin has nominated Sergeant
Ladew, of Company A, to be second lieu
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
PSALMS THE ONLY HYMNS.

As the communicates approach the COM
nlunion table they will sing a netrical YER
sion Of the Psalms Of David. precentor
leading them The Psalms of David. which
means all OF those included in the book
of Psalms are the only hymns sung in wor-
ship by the Covenanters. They covenant
not 10 sing hymns in any other church in
which they chance TO find themselves for
they take the ground that all other songs
OF praise are OF human origin. the Psalms
cnly being from the hand OF God The
Inetrical version used is that of Francis
Rous, an English theologian born in 1879
who was an intimate friend of Pyn a MEM
her Of several Parliaments and a supporter
Of Cromwell and the Commonwealth. His
Psalms Of David in English Meter is his
chief claim 10 remembrance. This version
had the sanction Of the Westminster As
senblv, the estates Of Scotland and Of Par
lament
As rhe coun7unicants reach the con1nlun-
Jon table each viii hand q card 10 a mem
her Of The Session standing at the foot of
the table. This card contains The name Of
the person who presents j. In some Cove
nsnter churches the Token as it is cailed
Is metal piece. The tokens are distrih-
uted at The preparatory services held in
the course of the week prior to the cop-
rnBnion service 10 those who announce
their intention Of participating. The token
Is z nemento Of the davs when thu Scotch
CovenanteTs were hunted ny the myrnlidons
If Charles II They were not safe even in
iheir homes, notwithstanding that the edict
~ss supposed not 10 affect. gatherings in
private houses. They met in caves in order
10 conduct services, and for the purpose Of
preventing spies Of the King from interfer-
Ing with their meetings they gave tokens
- those who were entitled 10 attend The
services. These were the passports 10 the
secret communion services
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
WASTED LAND AND EFFORT.

Nebrashs annually plants 6.5oOoHo acres OF
corn. II the farmer plants seed 50 poor
that one grain out of every six does not
sprout the effect Is the same as II LOS 40
acres of the most fertile land in Nebraska
we're permitted TO lie idle this year More
than that the farmers would plough ard
care for the poor corn plants the same as
for those which produced the best crops.
If tested and good seed are used these
1.075.10 acres will produce 5.s24."0 bushels
of corn. according 10 the average Weld N
this state
Corn is planted in Nebraska in April and
MAY and in the mean time thousands Of
business men, storekeeperS and grain buy
ers and dealers will be dinning il into the
farmers that they should carefully test their
seed this year Additionally thereto lectur-
ers from the State Agricultural College hays
been placed in the field and are raLkns
nightly to gatherings OF farmers. Inc m
dustriaI departments of the Burlington,
Union Pacific and Northwestern railroads
have got into the game. and, lastly pFac"
tically every newspaper in the stare ls<teh-
ing the farmers Of Nebraska that they must
be careful this year to see that their SEED
corn is good. the penalty. for general tai-
ure being the loss of $4,000" to the farm
ers and of millions Of bushels OF meal 10
the consumers of the country
One Of the most effective points oi t"7
campaign is that no Eenerahtles are
in b. the men behind the movement Ed.H
county Is taken up seParateiy- ana 'h9 Ns'
to that county alone is shown. Shouid ths
moor seed be used Then the loss for eaeh
particular township is shown and the mat
ter is finally driven home by showing TO
hn
bodies of land the loss which they. lndlyd-
tair
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20

b. next Wednesday night and Companies
and d will play game next Thursday
night.
4 review of the Sth Regiment by Briga-
dier General David E. Austen, chief Of
coast artillery, will be held next Tuesday
night
Open Olympic games under the auspices
of the ed Regiment will be held at the
arnory next Wednesday night. The meas
urements for the twelve events will be the
same as were used in the Olympic games,
and large number of the athletes who
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
GUARD NOTES.

There is no vacancy on the First Brigade
staff as aid. General George Moore Smith
selected man for the place some two
weeks ago. although he made no formal an
nounCement of the fact. Tho general was
very indignant at the statements that he
desired applications from wealthy society
men for the place. He said:
There is absolutely not one word of
truth in the statements in question. nor did
] ever authorize them in any way. When
I desire to I'll any vacancies on my sta #
il is not necessary for me 10 advertise Tor
applicants, as there are any number of de
seT1 ing officers in the guard 70 choose from
aside from my persona. friends in civil life
Company F. of the 9TH Regiment, will
hold q dinner al the Princeton Club next
THURSDAY night. Some professional talent
viii be on the programme. Colonel Apple
ton. who for some years was commandant
of Company i. viii be among the guests.
The riding class of the company will go
on an outdoor ride w in Nestchester Coun-
T. next Tuesday Teams from Companies
{ and 4 will play a game of indoor base
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20

tenant. and Second Lieutenant Deeves. of
Company NJ, TO he first lieutenant. 1t has
been decided to form signal detachment
Of tUenty-four men, made no by detailing
two men from. each company Lieutenant
McEwen will be in charge. Captain Henry
S: Sternberger, the regimental commsSsry.
viii go to the West Indies for a plea sure
trip for MONTH leaving the city on the
Moftke on February %. Besides the West
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20

Officers of the sd Regiment will be dI-
yided into two equal parties tomorrow
night at the armory. in order TO hgnt out
theoretically problem of defence and at
tack between. Blue and Red army
Second Lieutenant Charles X CONN., OF
Company C, has been unanimously elected
first lieutenant vice Robb.- promoted. = FIRST
Sergeant George g. Douglass, of Company
x. has been unanimously elected second
lieutenant.
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20
CAUSE FOR GENERALIZATION.

u, say said the friend. I'm in need of
suIN Tor YOU, old man. | Ccnsra tufate
iou' replied the ether. You're ten times
nst,et OF Than am ] need a whole lot
CT IL Detroit Free Press.
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20

took part in them will compete. There
will be three prizes in each event
Officers of the national guard In Man
haitian and Brooklyn are wondering when
the Arnory Board is going to hold a meet
ing and pass upon a number of matters
that need attention. 1t is now several
months since the board met.
Delegates from all the National Guard
New-York tribune., 1910-02-20

Indies, he will visit ports on the Spanish
| Main and the Panama Canal. Bermuda and
| Nassau. Companies A and l. are to give
| joint games open to the Military Athletic
! League in April. Company. D will hold a
! promenade concert at the armory on March
! r. Despite the uncertain weather. consid
erable work has been done on the new ar
! nory.
Rrigadier General George Moore Smith.
| First Brigade. will leave for Camden, S. C..
| on February a. to be gone a month for a
rest His departure will leave the brigade
| under the command of Colonel Daniel Ap-
pleton of the 7th Regiment
.. The seth Regiment. at its annual inspec-
tion and muster on the night of February
H. made the best record in its history, and,
SO far as the general appearance of the
men and the condition of state property
were concerned. one of the best records in
the state say the inspecting officers These.
represented both the War Department ana
the state. Companies D. F. | and Is each
sparaded 1CG per cent of their membership
Cut of 773 members on the roll there were
755 present Company I, Captain Charles
Healy, had full membership of 1oS of1cers
ard men present-the first time in the his
tory of the regiment that such a record mas
been made at the state muster. On the
morning of the day set for the inspection
Company / had two newly elected lieuten-
ants who had not been sworn in, and 10 get
this done it was necessary for the Governor
to get the examination papers in order; 10
wire authority for the officers to take the
oath Private Eagan was chosen TO take the
papers to Albany, leaving here at $50 a. m
Permission was wired from Albany. at So
n m that Lieutenant Colonel Conley could
administer the cath of office TO ms Two
rerItenants, and Private Eagan returned
from Albany the same night, in time TO be
mustered in with his company.
review of the 69th Regiment by its
former colonel, Edward Duffy, will be held
in the armory next Saturday night and a
reception will follow. This will be the first
review by the colonel since he was retired.
Company {. Captain McSherry, will hold
an exhibition drill and dance at the ar
mory tomorrow night.
CAPTAIN George /. Bouton, First L1euten- |
ant Albert Clements and Second Eieuten- |
ant Angelo Bianch. of Company A, 18th |
Regiment have each the unusual record /
of performing 100 per cent of duty for ten |
wears. All three officers are Spanish war |
veterans. !