davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-08

and prayerful perusal by every farr
husband, father. brother and son. 70
upon the trivial incidents and worrie
are built up oftentimes the soluble
stroying annoyances and heart-ache
that bring misery and failure to s.
many present-day homes.
The first letter is from a yount
lady in Louisiana:
The careless ways OF men
who live in the country Is the
main reason the girls and wom-
en- dislike the farm. | am very
fond of man who is a farmer.
but | cannot marry him. In
some ways he has beautiful
manners, but he stirs his coffee
as though he was working a ma
chine, eats with his knife occa-
sionally, taking all his mouth
VIII hold, lifts up his plate to
scrape It, keeps his elbows on
the table and does many other
uncouth things. He is quite
handsome, but comes to town
looking like hobo. He rarely
shaves oftener than once a week
and looks anything but neat.
When dressed he compares fav-
orably with other men. But when
4.
beard and dirty clothes in town
could stand it when he is at
work), | think there is some
thing wrong in his breeding.
and that have very bad taste
to be at all attracted by him.
The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-08
THE HOME CIRCLE
AN AMERICAN IDYL.

rvyHEN travel
M roof-ree a gloom,
Y land alone And scare he cob fancies
Are
nd area Those fances which
tumut, From hny corners file,
heavy duled, Too finely webbed and subtitle
Hassu in To
AS though
Then shall
Tho, sbau Won draw closer
And, n
Eorg Wen kiss life
Know wrangle
ear ave
To numbered On
Wheh daily apors ehoeo And
o tho inge-noot ~ 90.
ana gaze out And here
s acko, us 80, -,
n a IN
a
How ncei in N"0 '"'
roam;
bending like the When fare home
In Com
oubly kissedt heyc close PAM
The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-08

If | were TO marry him, would
always be ashamed OF him. No
really we'll raised and refined
woman could marry him II sho
knew him at home as he really
H.
He Is probably only one OF
many. He is college man and
should and does know better.
but excuses himself by saying.
I'm a farmer" But can't farm
ers be gentlemen? | think the
women and girls really try TO In
ject refinement Into the farm
home. but often with little sue
cess. | know all cases are not
like the one have noted. but
you know no woman can really
love man she is ashamed of.
] have talked with n great many
girls on this subject and they nil
agree that they prefer a less
worthy man with good manners
who dresses well. TO n substan-
tial man with bad table manners
and a careless appearance. and n
week-old beard.
We may be wrong. but Il ia
only natural"
From her infancy n girl ia traIne
o iastidious taste. Her baby dresss
Icquire an extra frill because she
slrl baby. Throughout her chilli
lood and girlhood daintiness of mar
ier ana OF appearance Is the keynot
n her rearing. With lessons +,
leaniiness, tastefulness and agre.
'oie manners instilled into her fro,
'irth' Is II any wonder that n fresl
Aqulsite young woman should reco
rom this careless, unshayen. n,
tempt young man who eveidentl
'rldes himself upon his strength ,
VIII which, when analysed. ia sbee
'ostlnacy. Our hero hopes 10 excus
llmself for all his uncouthness wit
I'm a farmer"
Inc farmers lack OF pride in h
lppearance-like the lack of nrIda
ne profession OF farming-is largel
esponsible for the unrest among N
'oung people upon our farms. | d
ioI mean to say that farmer ca
II should be a fop or dandy. Viii
u his work, he may make himse
IS comfortable as possible, but
The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-08

many OF the griey-
ances C 1 { Q d In
these letters. to
[ h e indifferent
outsider, may APP
pear as clouds no
b ! & & e r than a
mans hand" yet
the conditions as
portrayed by these
W o m @ n deserve
the most careful
The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-08
BY Mrs. r. L. Stevens.

IN ECENTLY two letters have
come to the Home Circle Editor
IA that mirror with exceeding
sharpness certain country-life prob
lens as they affect women. and while
The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-08

Two Letters Which Tell Hardshps Women May Have 20
Endure Because OF
tidy Farmer Selfish Hu band.
The progressive farmer and southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-08
NY At Lowest Factory Price
Save One.Ha1f

Write today for the wonderful Cornish Book tell
ing how we do without dealers and save you
money and why only the Cornish instruments good
enough for you. Also Reference Book Of 5000
recent purchasers and copy of our Bond Of In.
CORNISH co w r..ss.s S. :r % S; T.:s.
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-18
We Must Have That Packing Plant

lie
II legitimate connection with their
A burden of
the council of protect
also the duty the council
patible with limitations
negotiations and if
take hold of the proposition without delay
the packing
teres:
habit Of letting things slide instead
going working other cites do FL Po
without
greatef 1T on he par
continue Conditions have been favor the Pas
golden platter.
badly
satisfaction the
city and
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-18
Give Notice and Stick To 1t

effort
II the lighted places where
A people where youth
both exposed
dand o
applies removing
should originate with
basis When direct appeal
heed The value of
the Broadway
than
1t be continue in its degradation
argument the let their
not cupable
half pbe the landlord
allows used for such
purpose
the worthless
of their purid gains
in
hand there giving positive
MONTHS
administration
of
OF o the city.
district
procedure But there
in
scattering
pro-
given right absolutely
the
sizzling
in frying
weather
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-18
IA Years Ago To-
From The Herald OF L.
This Date 1894 40y

Judge Blacker returned this morn
ing.
DR.. Yaire returned today from Me-
silla-.
DR.. Penrose came down from Pueblo
today.
DR.. Van Cleve went to Silver City, TO
return Saturday.
Governor Ahumada and wife left
last night for Chihuahua
Floyd Payne returned this morning
from hunting trip up north.
"F1tz Mac is in town from Denver.
en- route to mining camps in southern
New Mexico.
The Presbyterian people are talking
Of charging their church. Folding
seats for use in the aisle will prob
ably be adopted.
The little smeIter has been started
up again for experimental ruas by
George Fitzgerald.
John Clemens has been appointed
special night policeman for Magoffin
lectorship, but it may be step in that
direction.
Tom Holland and John Connors are
candidates for chief of the fire de-
partment next month. The race last
year was between Tim Lyons and
Frank Powers.
There are already three candidates
for the Ell Paso collectorship, Moses
Dillon, Fred Fench1er and r. F. Camp
bell. The two candidates for the post
mastership are j. A Smith and Ed
Roberts.
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-18
Dorothy Dir On Oh. Old Maids, Maids, Past

a Man in Brooklyn has been sued
- for damages by a woman who
L overheard him refer to her as an
"o1d maid" 1t appears that the lady
considers the term an opprobrious epi-
tibet, and although the man has eaten
humble pie and explained that he didn't
mean anything defamatory to her char
acter by what he said. and that he
wouldn't have said it if he had known
she was listening, she refuses to be
pacified and purposes taking a dark
and bloody revenge upon him
Or elsa cash consideration.
1t sounds archaic in these enlighten-
ed times to hear of a woman Directing
so strenuously TO being called an old
maid. for the appelatioR. from being one
of reproach, has become one of dignity
and honor.
The old maid is no longer scorned:
she is envied. Her friends and espe-
cially her married friends, it is true,
once were wont to look upon her with
something of pity, but in these parlous
matrimonial times, when marriage is
oftener a failure than success, and
the divorce court ever looms promi
nently on the horizon. the spinster has
turned the tables and does the sympa-
thizing act herself
SpinsterhoOd's Delights.
With a good grace she thanks heav-
en- that she has no husband to dole out
carfare to her and dictate about the
color of her gown and the shape OF her
hats. and, praise be. there is no man
who has a legal right to tell her of her
faults, and cast her mistakes in her
teeth, and blame her when things go
wrong.
She has a long score Of supercillious
condecension to settle with the married
woman, and so, instead Of hanging her
humble head in the presence of Mrs.
Muchlywed as she has done in the past
you find the old maid of the present
Haunting her latchkey and her individ-
ual pocketbOok in the face of her ac-
quaintances who are tied down to hus-
bands and babies.
In reality, the evolution of the old
maid from being the under dog to be-
ing the cock of the feminine waikiki
Mr. Darwin will concede that such an
evolution is possible-is one Of the
most interesting Of social phenomena.
1t is also one Of the most beneficent
for it removes from our midst, as it
most uncomfortable and disturbing fac
tor and makes of her creature who
instead of being an undigestible mOrsel
in life, is now its cordial. For the old
maid, who used to keep every commu-
nifty by its ears. is now the chief pro-
mOter of sweetness and light
WOman's Status Changed.
This altered status of the old maid
and the esteem in which she is held are
coincident with the altered status Of
woman. In the dark ages, when every
career except that of matrimony was
closed to woman. the old maid was nat
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-18
Ell wha.,ar vT:I On The Tragedy Of
Lid w IINUA Old Age

"HERE is a woman who has lived
a long life. She has passed
through many trials. as most
mortals Go; she is now past three score
and ten: her memory is failing, and she
is drifting back to the ways OF little
children, without possessing any or the
charms of childhood.
She asks questions over and over;
she is full of childish curiosity; she is
petulant and oftimes complaining. She
wants to know the time Of day and for
gets she has asked and asks again;
and she is every day more and more OF
a care.
She lives with her son, an only child
one she spoiled by making an idol
Of him for her own worship
The boy grew up selfish, domineer-
ing and lacking in self control. The
mother had not been a well controlei
woman she had given way to her tenn
per ofttimes; and so the boy had no
good example. He matured in this I'M
fortunate manner and married and
brought children unto the world, to be
like unto himself.
A Typical Household.
This ageing woman has no home, save
with this son and his family. She has
toiled for them many years, but now
she cannot do hard work, and she is
very great care to her sons family.
They are irritable and impatient with
her, and make her feel they do not
want her about
And there is nothing for her to look
forward to save the grave.
One who has been associated with
DID, childish people of this type can
understand there are two sides to this
story.
Only those who have had the expe-
rience can understand just what a
strain it is upon the nervous system,
and how the patience is tried, and the
strength Slapped by close association
with one, who is entering second child
hood
a woman who has reared a family
and has growing children, besides the
care of the old person., needs to turn to
God and the Invisible Helpers almost
every hour in the day to keep her spir-
itual batteries charged with divine
courage.
But if a woman possesses any heart,
any feeling and any of the spirit of
Christ it seems as if she would not be
unkind and ill-natured to an aged wo-
man whose mind is failing.
One Proper Course.
It seems as if a son who treated his
ageing mother harshly and made her
feel that she was an annoyance by her
failing mental powers must be lacking
in all the common qualities which go
to make decent manhood.
There are old women and old men
who are too cruel and too unkind to
entitle them to a home with their de-
scendants. One such is recalled who
followed her daughterinlaw about with
vindictive speeches; distorted every
word and act, told malicious falsehoods
about her and her children. and who
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-18

otherwise gave such proofs OF an un-
sound mind and unsafe disposition, lhdt
the only proper course OF action Wouio
have been to place her in some lnsu-
tuition and pay her board. But, having
small means, the son and his wlfe en-
dured the awful cross until death
made a change in the situation
An old man of the same type Spolleo
the lives of his children after driving
two wives into the grave, and in this
case, as in the other. it would have
been wiser for the children to work al
any labor, no matter how hard, TO earn
the money whereWith to support MIN
away from their home
Forging the Penalty.
But. where the aged person is mere
ly childish, and, where the idosyncra-
cies are merely those of a failing mem
DRY and lessened vital forces, the chll-
dren. or "in-laws," who withhold KIND
ness and permit irritability to drive
away patience in their treatment o.
the old who are left to their care, are
committing cardinal sins-sins which
will bring their own punishment, both
in this world and in worlds to come
They are shaping for themselves
disagreeabIe and unlovely old age
which will render them undesirable IN
mates of any household.
It is great misfortune that al
young men and young women are no.
taught the necessity Of preparing FOL
old age in. more ways than merely
saving up for "a rainy day..
Independent means are indeed OF
value to the old.
But lovable characters and sympa-
thetic qualities are of even greater
Importance.
To be tolerant, to understand the
changing times, manners and customs
to be charitable in speech, and TO looR
for the agreeable things as topics oil
conversation, are rarely characteristic
of the old.
Prepare for Old Age.
These characteristics must begin tc
be cultivated in youth.
One does not grow old suddenly Ii
is a gradual process.
The old person who is making q
home uncomfortable by fault-findine
irritability- intolerance and i'll temper
once. without doubt, looked with sur
prise on some ancestor who exhibited
these disagreeable traits of character
IT is an easy matter to comment OF
the unpleasant traits OF others, WINE
at the same time, we are allowing our
selves to follow directly in their foot
steps.
The young or middle aged men ahu
women who are impatient and unklno
to the old left in their charge, shoulo
pause and look forward a few decades
Even if they have not sufficient hu-
manity and sympathy to control the1l
words and actions in their care OF the
old. let them at least cultivate these
virtues for selfish purposes in order tc
pave the pathway to their own old age
Copyright, 1910, by the New forR
Evening Examiner Publishing COM
pany-
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-18
The Herald's
Daily Short Story

front of Grey's "Bookshoppe' under
going an artistic transformation. They
picked up among their morning letters
quaint little envelopes containing
| daintily conceived advertisements OF
the service to be obtained thereat
People began to make journey
purposely to that end of the High
of THE Bookshoppe," and the coun-
terblast Of 1.-The Bookeries."
Weeks elapsed, and the improved
trade was pretty we'll maintained, N
spite of the fact that "Bookeries" had
brought down their smartest man
from London to manage the shop.
Still pessimistic?" asked Muriel one
day.
Grey smiled That was the question
she invariably asked when departing
daily after her few hours at the shop.
Not unduly So" he replied. though
inwardly chatting at the cruelty of his
position, and unable to perceive that
she understood.
On this very day. the managing di-
rector of "Bookeries," Limited, was
pursuing in his office of ducal SPLEEN
dor the tit-bits of one Of these spe-
cial items.
"Counfound this Market welton
branchp he said to the suave secre-
Leng, that you must go down there at
once. I suppose we didn't take lease;
that's piece of blithering stupidity
on somebody's part!"
Arrived at the busy country town,
Leng's first visit was to the agent who
had dared to send notice to quit to the
great multiple firm; and he found ii
rather annoying to be refused any ex-
PLANTATION. Their instructions, they
Two
to add. He next bent himself to the
task of finding other premises. Max
ing a tour Of the only three possible
streets-for the business area of the
town is somewhat restricted-he care
fully noted the only suitable empty
shops, and the names and addresses OF
their respective agents.
Next came a round of visits to these
latter-five in all. Groome & Dem
dixie were the agents for the best Of
the vacant shops. They apologized for
rot having the ITO Let" notice re-
moved, but, as a matter of fact, that
was explainable. The premises had
only been taken that day.
When he had completed his five
calls and found the net result similar
in each case, there was nothing for 4
but TO return to London, and he re-
ported to the managing director the
next day.
The great western" required much
convincing that suitable premises were
not to be had.
Well" he asked. when at last he
had yielded to facts, what do YOU
suggest"
I'VE could close the branch down
II hasn't paid yet"
Never We're there-we'n stay
| there"
I have another plan. "Tll go dow
there myself tomorrow
While Mr.. Western was approac ching
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-18
VICTORY
CBy III. r. foggo

esXVTELL, of all the said Miss
w forward. she bade her
chauffeur turn and draw up by the
book shop they had just passed 1t
was rather a smart looking. though
small shop; and. having alighted, she
entered it Immediately, to the evident
surprise of the proprietor
Il saw Henry Grey over the win
dow" she said, land then you your
self standing here; and l couldn't re-
sist the desire to speak to the one
friend who has never congratulated
wondered why he never did, and why
he disappeared so completely"
But do congratulate you, Miss Hill
dage-weu. Muriel," ne added, seeing
her frown. And as for why 1 have
not congratulated you before, perhaps
1 was jealous of your wealth"
Tell me all that has happened to
you. Harry. since-since then.
In a room above the shop. from
whose windows they could see the
busy high street of Market Welton,
they sat together, while Grey dis
pensed bachelor hospitality.
quite jolly" said Muriel, looking
round the room. You live here them
"Oh. yes: and it has been pleasant
enough he replied, perhaps little
sadly.
HAS been?" she asked quickly.
And why not tsp"
Look across the way. I lost most
of my money trying to be cleverer
than the brokers. 1 came here with
what there was left, bought this bust
ness, and got on splendidly for a
while There was no competition at
cl hot 20
be done in the place, the great firm
of Bookeres, Limited, come along and
open up right opposite. And they've re-
sources that 1 can't command, so that
the end is sure I'm making fight of
it, though"
1T looks like a fight against odds,
doesn't it," she said, glancing across
the street at the artistic front of thu
opposition shop
YES" he assented; they had a
thousand and one shops, and they must
needs come here to open the thousand
and second"
DO you KNOW" she said, Il envy
YOU? / need excitement. Things are
dull for me, and I'm pining for excite
ment Will you do something for
me?'
why. certainly" Grey answered.
Promise, before 1 tell you WHAT
Honor bright, I'll do it,''
IT want you take me as a partner.
I can't have anything to say--or
hardly anything-in my own affairs
But this business" said Grey depri-
cstingly, lis such very small beer,
compared with your affairs"
Mo- she eagerly corrected him;
its the real thing-a fight" I'll so
now and call tomorrow. But I believe
Mr. Independent, you're sorry you've
agreed"
The people of Market Welton wero
surprised a few days later, to see the
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-18

urally pest, and her name became an
anathema because. having no business
or her own to attend to, she was driv-
en- TO attending to everybody else's
Having no real interests of her own.
she kept herself from dying of ennui
by poking her nose into her neighbors'
affairs; and. having nothing to do but
talk, she talked too much.
What wonder that, under such cir
cumstances. the old maid became Bit
ter and disgruntled, a busybody and a
ScandalmOnger. 1t was her revenge on
world that had used her badly and
treated her like a stepchild.
All Of this was changed the day that
the unmarried woman battered down
the door of opportunity and rolled up
her sleeves and went TO work for her
self For dependence she substituted
independence; for vicarious interest in
other peoples affairs, a vital interest
in her own; for dawdling days that had
TO be filled in with crocheted tides
and gossip, real work that meant some
thing to herself and others Instead
of being the fringe on somebody else's
family, she achieved a position Of her
own in society.
Success is the great sweetener OF
life. and the minute the unmarried wo-
man of uncertain age becomes a sue
tented, happy, and the term "old maid
lost its sting because it no longer
stood for a pariah, but for a guardian
angel.
OutgrOwing the Sur.
When matrimOny was the only re-
spectacle occupation of woman, and
the only means whereby she could
have any individual life. It was true
that practically every woman who had
any sort of a decent chance to marry
jumped at it. and grabbed the man be-
fore be could change his mind Then
for a woman to be single indicated
that she was less charming and less
desirable than her sisters and so the
term "Old maid" carried with il a sIur
Nobody is Grass enough in 1910 to
think that because a woman is single is
any indication that she hasn't had
slathers of proposals. Women feel free
to follow their own bent in the matter
now. Many women do not marry be-
cause they are born celibates Just as
do not marry because they prefer to
follow their careers and know that the
woman travels the fastest who travels
alone" Still others, who would have
liked TO marry had the right man come
along, declined TO take the makeshift
that offered.
But because they are single does not
mean that the old maids of today are
mOping through a dull existence On
the contrary. they are the brightest.
cheeriest, busiest women you find any
where
And the majority. of them do not re-
sent being called old maids, either
They are proud of the title.