davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-05-13

| SHARPLY.
SOS all those different colored stripes
would make squares outside each 9TH
err? And the outside border is black!
That's real tasty"
Valera smiled proudly. THE white
square in the middle is made out of
my little frocks. and each stripe out
side of it is year of clothes"
And every year the stripes are
wider. showing how extravagant you
are getting. But don't tell Tom. Dick
and Harry all about those stripes, be-
cause any fool could figure out how
old you be-" Aunt Susanna's voice
dropped to a secretive hiss.
"Humph. l don't care who knows
how old ! am" replied valeria con-
temptuously.
Mrs. Bird pursed her lips mysteri-
Ously. There amt soul in Little
Vile that knows how old | be-" she
muttered. IF you want to be stamp
I'd as an old maid. Valery. just run
around and tell how old you be-"
II want to be an old maid." said
Valeria calmly as she placed the wal
nut center table exactly over the white
square in the new carpet. ''I'd rather
be Valera Bird and die unmarried
than to change my name to any 9TH
er. Think I'd change my name to
Jones or Gibbie or Riddle or Smith ?
Humphw
Just as Valera Bird shifted con-
temptuously some one raped smartly
at the side door. and Aunt Susanna
creaked across the floor to admit a
tall. broad shouldered man with thick
hair plentifully sprinkled with gray.
He was indeed very handsome. and
perhaps his good looks found express
sion in his kindly eyes and firm mouth
as well as in the physical beauty of
these features. He removed his hat
with friendly smile at Aunt Susan
ma.
I'm selling spices. ma'am. Perhaps
you would like to give me an order
] bought out William Riddles bust
ness. and I've got a perfectly fresh
stock"
Come right In" said Mrs. Bird
cordially. 1--WE got to go down to the
missionary society, but Valery will
give you an order. She had 1t all made
out for Billy Riddle. Where's Billy
goneT
BILLY got the gold fever. He's gone
out to the Klondike." replied the spice
man. wiping his feet carefully on the
doormat and then tiptoeing across
Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-05-13
VALERA AND
THE SPICE MAN,
The Romance That Was Woven
Into a Rag Carpet.
BY CLARiSSA MACKIE.

copyright. 1910. by American Press Asso-
ciation.I
When Valeria Bird was thirty-6ve
years old she emptied all her closets
and wardrobes and spread the contents
about her room-over the chairs and
on the bed OF wherever space afforded.
Like all the Birds, valeria was fond
Of dress. and the summer I had the
pink organdie." 1.-The winter | wore the
green cloak" and other instances were
fixed dates IN valeria's memory. Va
leria's clothes formed the calendar of
her years.
tits all they're good for" she said
decisively. III cut them into carpet
rags and make me handsome carpet.
There won't be another like 1t In Lit
tleville."
And there wasn't another one that
compared with Valeria Birds rag car
pet when 1t was woven and in place on
the sitting room floor. Out in the
woodshed was an old loom-Uncle
Joshua Bird had been famous weav-
er in his day-and valeria had learned
now to operate 1t In the face of Aunt
Susanna's strong disapproval.
You'll spread your feet all out of
shape working that treadle. Your Un-
Gle Joshua had fat foot to the end of
his days from that old loom! You bet
ter take 1t over to the blind weaver.
He can do It first rate so long as it's
hit or miss
"'Tisn't going to be hit or MISS"
said valeria stubbornly. mo one could
make it this way but me-"
When 1t was completed and the
breadths sewed together 1t made a
large carpet, for valeria had had many
garments. Aunt Susanna peered curl
ously at the intricate pattern.
Il never see a rag carpet like that
What's that little white square In the
middle breadth. and how did you fx it
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
DOTS PROn DALLAS.

Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Wood Goodwin on May 2l, a boy.
 Several worked in the Dallas cemetery Monday while it was too wet to plow.
 Remember the working at the Dallas cemetery Friday, May 27 Everybody be sure and come.
 Miss Lucille Moore and little sister, Ruth, of Mena are visiting with their grand parents this week, MT. and Mrs. A. l.. Dur ham.
 Mrs. Geo. Hall and daughter, Dessie, and Miss Vira Mantooth, visited at the home of Mrs. Halls parents, MT. and Mrs. Bill Grant, at Meua Saturday.
 Little Charlie Ritchie got bad ly burned Monday morning. He was at the home of Mir. and Mrs. Jack Harris aud jumped up to get a limb of a small tree and fell backward into kettle of boiling water.
 Chatterbox.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
OLD POTTER NOTES

Mrs. Parham of Mena visited relatives here last week.
 The Murphy and Imoe families are digging storm house.
 Bud Wilcox and wife visited at Mena Saturday and Sunday. Grandma Thompson left Satur- day to visit friends at Cove.
 Farmers are getting a little more rain than they think they need.
 Charlie Phillips and wife left Monday for Oklahoma to make their future home.
 Walter Jones and wife of Okla. homa, are visiting MT. Jones mother here this week.
 Some of the people of this com. munity, who are afraid of meas les, wish it announced that there will no all-day singing at this place the fifth Sunday in this month.
 Aunt Polly.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26

nant parties are at fault. and the Socialist party is the only party that offers any relief, for it opposes trusts, combines or corporations in any shape, and believes in the peo- pie that produces the wealth of the earth controlling it. Now we will say to the Socialist party of Polk county:
 Dear Comrades: The Socialist platform is opposed to private own ership of public property and private ownership is opposed to socialism in every sense of the word, and we know that the dominant parties are owned and controlled by the capital ists, who are the private owners of all public utilities. Now, in the face of this fact, we cannot afford to sac rifice our principles as Socialists to fuse with, aid or assist either one of the old parties, or the independent element which has no party Com rades, look for the two tickets, the Democratic and the Independents and Republicans combined, but in the name of God and in justice to yourself, your wife and children and the laboring masses of this country, stand by your principles and vote the the Socialist ticket or nothing. Let us rally with renewed courage, call our forces together, put out full ticket and not sacrificesthe grandest and noblest principles ever set forth for the laboring class. Comrades. we have the number, if we will stand by our principles, to come out vic torious if all opposing parties should unite. But if we should meet defeat, let us meet it honorably. We have just as good material.in the Socialist party as they have in the old parties, so let's put them out and come in a solid phalan to tn cir support. Now, comrades, we should he reason able in our proceedings. but there is no halfway ground. Those that are not for us are against us; so let us vote our principles or not vote at all. e ITO o,,r,Yaort o no,ooerat had itct as soon vote for the one who has a platform to step into office on as to vote for an independent Democrat who has no platform. Now we ex- pect this little article to call forth a bitter protest, but we feel able to de- fend our principles and would like to do so through our county papers. Respectfully yours for Socialism,
 J. 1. Philpot, Grannis, Ark, May 16, 1910.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
INK sPLAsHEs.

Mss Brook Harris visited friends at Big Fork last week.
 Misses Bird Harris and Ella Quinn attended church at Liberty Friday night.
 Jake Cagle, who purchased the ]. F. Cullen farm opposite Iuk, has moved onto his property.
 Fireman Bud Einbry returned to Mpna Thursday after a few days visit with his mother and friends.
 Rex Harrison of Mena, attend ed the first supper at A. B. Bal entlue's Friday night.
 Our merchant, II. E. Cham bers, purchased a nice hack last week.
 H. E. Chambers, wife and chil- dren spent Sunday afternoon with D. Russ and family near YokaneT.
 The school election Saturday resulted in K. 5. Wear being elected director.
 George Enbry and wife spent Friday night with Mrs. Embry's parents, Mir. and Mrs. Henry Ros- sen of Elm Springs.
 
 Everybody come out next Sun day and take up the work with new and better courage to make our Sunday school a grand sue cess.
 Among those attending the Literary at Holly Springs Satur. day night were: Messrs. Jesse and Dan Talkington, Ben Cross, Sam Mitchell, Jack Ballentiue, l yin M Coy aud Harry 2abb.
 The fruit supper Fnday night 1t A. E. Ballentine's was well at- tended in spite of the rainy weather. All report a good time also good music by Miss Matte Crowsou and Mrs. Bert Ballentine at the organ.
 Brown Eyes.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
exonerate his secretary of the in- terior. Kansas City Star.
Nine Per Cent Against 90

The latest estimates of the Depart ment of Agriculture show that in the decade from 1899 to 1909 the production of field products---corn, wheat. oats and other crops--has increased 9 per cent. In the same decade their value has increased 90 per cent.
 Whether the increased gold SUD- ply had anything to do with this tremendous rise in prices must be left to the economists to figure out--- and they disagree. What is certain is that this country has got to get back to first principles and produce more farm stuff if the cost of living is to be brought down.---Kansas City Star.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
 THE WORK OF BALLiNGER

Ballinger. as Secretary of the In- terior, possibly is serving the Ameri- can people in some manner, but there is no denying the fact that this service, if there is any, is minimized by the predicament in which his acts have placed President Taft and his administration. @s@ His defense has placed the President in one position after another where he has had to explain" his actions to the people. and the last situation where both the President and Attorney General Wickersham have had to acknowl- edge things that arel not pleasant, at least. It is plainly indicated that Ballinger directed the preparation of the data on which were based im- portant parts of the letter for his own exoneration sent out by the President, and Wickersham ac- knowledges that he pre-dated a com munication that was furnished the President in the Glavis matter also in the defense of Ballinger.
 And so far as given publicity, Bal fingers acts in recent weeks have been merely to discharge from pub lie service, or secure the discharge from such, of men who merely told the truth-those same men who, by their words, saved to the nation wealth untold that otherwise would have gone, by Bsllinger's consent, into the hands of grasping groups of individuals.
 President Taft had best revise his cabinet. There's plenty of room to revise it upward, too, in lines of character and honesty.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
VINEGAR HILL lTEnS.

Elah Medford made business trip to Mena Saturday.
 A singing was much enjoyed at the home of J. W. Sargent Saturday night.
 B. M. Medford and Robert Reyes was visitors at the Board Camp school Friday evening. Earl Cagle attended prayer meeting at Midway Sunday even- ing.
 D. T. Keepes Il d Afford Abernathy attended the literary at Hilliard Saturday night.
 John Wimberly aud MT. Craig made a business trip o Mena Saturday. Remember the children's day aud celebation at Board Camp the second Sunday in June.
 Dew Drops.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
SHADOWS FROM SHADY.

John Avants is putting up a new barn on his farm which he recently got of his father.
 Jessie Bedwe.l of Empire, who is moving Dr. W. M. Yeargon of Mena to Empire, is at Chas. Hig- gins during high water.
 We had quite a wiud-storm Friday mig Int, which blew a lot of fencing down, but did no further damages that are known.
 J. l. Bell and 1. D. Nichols of .dena, came down to shady Mon. day. l. D. Nichols returned home Wednesday accompanied by c. H. Higgins.
 We have had quite flood here the past week. The creeks are all past fording and several are water bound. Mir. Ailshawr and son of Sugar Creek stopped at W. B. Miller's Saturday and Sun day. They had been to Mena aud were on their way home. No. 39 had to lay over at Shady.
 MT. and Mrs. Higgins enjoyed visiting with some Missouri peo- pie last Friday, Saturday aud Sunday, Mfr and Mrs. Mays. who were out travelling by land for Mrs. Miys health. Mir. and Mrs Mays and two of their brothers
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
The Filthy Fly.

Dr. w. E. Evans, Chicago's com missioner of health, has issued a series of "healthograms" "---epigrams relating to sanitation and health. Here are few samples:
 Filth for flies and flies for fever.
 When you don't know what to eat---eat nothing.
 Dark living rooms speedily plant candles at your head.
 Teasing baby to make it laugh is a crying shame.
 'The birth of fly may mean the death of baby; kill the flies and save the babies.
 "A heap of rubbish about your house is a tombstone to your self respect and civic pride. New York Tribune.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
BIG FORK BITS.

Oscar and Carter Rsines of Mill Greek, visited here Sunday. J. K. Moore is doiug some fine work at the mill this week.
 Duck Widener of Alder, was here Monday on business.
 Guilford A. Bates of Board Camp, was here Saturday.
 Guilford and Roger Bates at tended church at Lower Big Fork Sunday.
 Miss Edna B. Harris of Iuk, spent last week with her many friends in and around town.
 There are prospects for good crop since the rain though things may be late.
 Mi. and Ms. J. l.. Cox of Stat. tngton, visited here last week as guests of Uncle Calvin Bates. Dr. Simpson was called to Red Bird Monday to see Mrs. John Dilbeck, who is very sick.
 Mir. Rowton and wife of Wom ble, passed through Friday CT route to Mena; also Frank aut Ernest Rind.
 The mail will be discontinued to Opal on account of bad roads caused by heavy rains and higi water last week. Will Robertson, of the Dilbecl & Robertson Dry Goods Com pauy, went to Meua on business Monday, returning Tuesday.
 Plow Boy.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
For Sale.

Fine truck, fruit and poultry farm of 2S l-2 acres, in Wander voort, Polk county, Ark, five squares from the postoffice, thoroug hly fenced and fine water. 1 have four acres in Irish pota- toes, 5 4 acre Bermuda onions. one acre early cabbage, (the cab. bage and potatoes will be ready for June market(, one acre straw bssries (new), l-2 acre in Elber- la peach orchard, 5 years old, one acre of Success tomatoes, late crop, and complete garden. All l.oes TOT $500. A bargain. For information, terms. etc, address the owner, Frank A. Rose,
 l9 At Vaudervoort, Ark.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
But look at this this table.

So, the high cost of living cannot possibly affect the producer, ex- cept to make him more money, and any man who wants to, in Ar kansas, at least can become a pro- ducer.
 There are hundreds and hundreds of untitled acres and any man who can drive a street car or a dray can drive a mule to a blow.
 There is opportunity for men to go back to the farmland the call is strong.
 There is not single article raised on the farm which has not doubled in price in the fourteen years since 1896, and men grew rich on farms in 1896.
 It does not cost a cent more to raise corn and wheat and butter and lard. and beans and pork and beef and eggs and potatoes than it did in 1896.
 And it does not matter either if high prices are based on fictitious values, they are none the less real the farmer who has these things to sell can sell them here in Little Rock every day in the year at the prices quoted.
 It does not matter who is to blame for high prices or who is now profit ing by them---it is the fault of the farmer and the landowner if they are not getting all that is coming to them out of the conditions which exist. .---Arkansas Democrat.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
"Gum Shoes. !.

The only real friends the people have had among those directly in volved in the Ballinger controversy have been in the men who, though deposed, have refused to keep silent; the men who. knowing what has been going on, have refused to stand by and see the natural treasury sacked. And certainly these men can not be charged with ''gum shoe" methods. Indeed, it ill becomes any man hav- ing had anything to do with the De- culiar manner of MT. Ballinger's s "exoneration" to protest against the use of rubber footwear. as was done by attorney Lawler. who prepared
 in Ballinger's office, the notes on
 which President Taft depended to
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
ANNOUNCEMENT.

In this issue of The Star we wish to announce our candidacy for reelection to the office of the leading druggist and furniture dealer in Polk county, subject to the will of the people. We en. tered this race in Polk county nearly thirteen years ago and are still running and expect to keep on whether division moves or not. WE ARE HERE FOR KEEPS and are continually improving our stock of Drugs, Paint, Glass, Wall Paper and Furniture to bet ter serve the demands of the country. We certainly appreciate the patronage given us in the past and earnestly soliciting a continuation of the same in the future, we are yours for business and prosperity,
 Jackson Drug & Furniture Co.,,
 Mena, Ark
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
ItemSOf Interest
 ..As Gathered By The Stdfs... Correspondents
MOUNTAIN FORK NEWS.

Mrs. Patton Ernest, who has been sick is improving.
 B. Joplin of Hatfield, was here cn business last week.
 Mir. and Mrs. Frank Shores of Slabtown, visited here Sunday. Tom Wilcoxen, who has been dan gerously ill, is improving slowly. Patton Ernest transplanted about 1400 sweet potato plants last week. James Ernest of Slabtown, made a flying trip to Pike county last week. Mr. and Mrs. Luke Cummings visited with Mir. and Mrs. Marvin Cummings at Slabtown Sunday. w. L. Harrison met with a bad accident one day last week. His horse fell on his foot, crushing it badly.
 Tucker.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
Polk County Socialism.
ro Editor of The Star

To Editor of The Star.
 Dear Sir:-The burning question of the Twentieth century is the one that relates to the struggle between Labor and Capital. All people are interested in this great issue, as it affects the income and and expenses of each family and will decide the destiny of the rich and of the poor. Capital is strong in money and.brains, while Labor is strong in muscle and brains, and each side is contending for the field It is not hard to find the cause of this strife when we think of the few growing immense ly rich. and the poor growing poorer every year.
 Now we know that the two domi-
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
TWO-MlLE TWITTERiNGs,

Miss Blanche Lane of Potter, is visiting friends here this week. T. ]. Hicks went to Mena last Fri day an business.
 Miss Bertha Daniels went to Cove Monday to visit her sister.
 Sid Anderson Of Mena, visited with his parents here a lew days last week.
 Will and Guy Whitsctt spent Saturday night and Sunday at Nnnley.
 Mrs. Florence Cravens and lit- tie son ot No. 3. NH, are visiting here.
 Mayme Anderson of Mena, is
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
 AGAIN TEEN NOT PARTY,

It is again worthy of note that the Railroad bill written by Wickersham and supported by Aldrich will be put through. if at .all, against the best efforts of the Republican insur- gents and by the aid of Dem 5cratic regulars. Aldrich feels sure he can get all the aid he needs from the Democratic ranks to put through a bill that suits the "big interests. And he's always made good at it so far
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
BOOSTER AT oDEN
Preparing to Hold Land Congress in
 Montgomery County.

Oden, May 23.-The first step toward the organization of a county land congress in Mont gomery county was taken at Oden last week by the organization of a Booster Club.
 The purpose of this club is the furthering of the interests of the town of Oden, of Montgomery county and the State of Arkansas.
 Much enthusiasm was shown and promises to be one of tbe leading factors in our county.
 Officers elected by the club were: Clyde E. Goodner, presi- dent; Joe J. Miller, secretary and treasurer.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26

spending this week with her grandparents, Mir. and Mrs. Hicks.<
 Robert Higgins of Six Mile, spent Friday night at the home of J. H. Brandons. Ben Taylor and Henry Daniels at tended the singing near Potter Sat urday night.
 G. w. Murphy and family, whoa recently came in from Asher, Ok, have moved to the Linn sawmill.
 Paragrapher.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
yANDERVOORT WON ALI
Defeated Mena Ball Team in h,
 Games Social Courtssies
Special to The Star.

Special to The Star.
 Vaudervoort, May l2.-Tl baseball games yesterday and x day between a team from M,. and the home boys drew l.,s crowd aud gave much pleasurs < lovers of the game. Tue sco,' were as follows:
 Friday, Vanderyoort 1, Meu,i
 Saturday moraing, Vaud. voort 4. Mena 3.
 Saturday afternoon, Vand,, voor,, 5, Mena 4.
 The Mena boys were grain, and genial under defeat ard < cially were treated royalty.
 The social club gave deligt sul dance in their honor FIid, night. Saturday night a recs ton was given the visitors Mrs. Albaugh's beautiful hou
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26

started from their home in Webb City, Mo-, last September aud have been travelling since that time and have written book of their journey. They started to Mena to look over our little city. Chas. Higgins and MT. Bedwell went with them to show them the road around the creeks.
 Sunshine.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26

Tom Payne, the Democratic nomi- nee for representative from Scott county. surrounded by his gang, " attacked and beat, battered and pulled out the hair of H. N. Smith, the editor of the Waldron Sentinel. Editor Smith is a cripple. slender, weak man physically, but has the nerve to carry OF a consistent fight for the people of his county. Be sides that he is brave enough in spirit that he refuses to arm himself for defense or fight back at the cow ardly lawbreakers. He is to be con graduated. Such patience is rare.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26

John D. Rockefeller would go broke if he should spend his entire income trying to prepare a better medicine than Chamberlain Collie, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy for diarrhoea, dysentery or bowel complaints. It is simply impossible, and so says every one that has used it. Sold by all dealers.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26

A correspondent writes The Star of proposal to rebuild and main tain the old military road from Fort Towson, Ok. through Choctaw and McCurtain counties to the Askansas state line, thence through Polk and Montgomery counties to Hot Springs Little Rock road. This cross-coun- try boulevard proposition is a most attractive one and would, if carried out. result in a great impetus to development in this part of Arkan- sas. Polk county should lose no opportunity to bring it about.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
Could Go Into Small Space.

Scientists say that the comets tail is so thin that although it is 10 mil lion miles in length it could be packed in a suit case. And all that the scientists know about it could be packed away in less space than that.
 Kansas City Star.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
Bone Hollow Phllosonhv

"Never let a chance go by
 To murmur something good; If you cannot speak it out,
 Better just saw wood. If you've got little grudge, You'd like to satisfy, Take it as an asset
 When you go on high.'
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26
How It Affects the Producer.

The difference in the price of what we eat is more largely responsible for the Thigh cost of living" than anything else, and while it is urged that watered stock helps cause it, cold storage abuses promote it, high tariff adds to it, and trusts are blamed for a share in making it, all contribute to make the burden heavier.
 D--A i--f- ALE- A- lg--
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26

Halley's comet has come and now is getting away in a fashion that makes the speed of a scared wolf look like a snail's pace.
The Mena weekly star., 1910-05-26

A fine pasture for stock 1 mile southeast from Acorn. Horses Sl, cattle, 75c yearlings Soc per month. Finest spring water; hog-tight fence. See Geo. Cor ley, agent, postmaster at Acorn. 30 6i Is 4t