davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
MIDNIGHT BLAZE
CAUSES ALARM

A fire occurred ON the south side
shortly after IL o'clock yesterday
morning, which created considerable
excitement, especially on the Danville
side of the river, from where the blaze
seemed sweeping and destructive one
illuminating large section of River.
side.
The fire occurred on the premises of
John Murphy, just east of st. Peters
Methodist Episcopal church, Gearhart
street, and was confined to a group OF
outbuildings at the rear of the lot
which included good-sized chicken
house, one end of which was PARTITION
ed off to form small shop.
The people were aroused by the loud
and prolonged whistling of passing
locomotive, the engineer of which was
one of the first to discover the fire.
The buildings were then in a mass of
flames. The south side has no facilities
for fighting fire and about all that
could be done was to wait for the fire
to burn out, meanwhile preventing it
from spreading. The burning build
ings fortunately were not situated very
near any other structures.
Mr.. Murphy is having his house
painted. The shutters had all been re-
moved from the windows and, freshly
painted, were stored in the little shop
adjoining the hennery In this build.
ing also was quantity of paint and
/ oil.
! The shutters burned along with the
building. 1t was these along with the
paint and oil that caused such a bright
and fierce fire. Danville people, who
ran over to the south side under the
conviction that several buildings We're
on fire were amused, if not chagrined
when they found. what really caused
the blaze.
| Yesterday morning but one of Mr.
Murphy's chickens remained. Whether
the rest burned or disappeared in some
other way is question not easily an
swered. Some persons are inclined to
believe that Mr.. Murphy was visited
by chicken thieves and that they drop
ped match, which started the fire
Other persons incline to the view that
the fire was due to spontaneous com.
bustion caused by the presence of the
oils and the painters overalls, which
were in the building.
! The loss will amount to over hun
dred dollars. Mr.. Murphy has his
/ dwelling insured
Charles Frehafer, the painter en-
ployed, lost all his tools besides sew
eIal articles of clothing. He estimates
his loss at about ten dollars.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
Queer Goldfish.

Beautiful and most interesting of all
goldfish is native of Japan, and 1t is
noted for the beauty Of its tail and the
abnormal length OF fits fins. The tail
resembles delicate veil, and the fms
are developed to such an extent that 1t
is impossible for the fish to make rapid
progress In the water. 1t is therefore
solely on account of its beauty that 1t
is priced and because In this respect 1t
differs widely from other varieties OF
goldfish, such us the telescope fish,"
the eyes OF which bulge out OF the
head in most unsightly fashion; the
celestial eyed fish," which is also un-
comely because its eyes are bullet
shaped and are ever turned skyward,
and the egg fish," which IS so called
because its body is somewhat amor
phous, but resembles an egg more
than anything else.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
THE SPARROW
IS A NUISANCE

To the gardener and fruit grower
the English sparrow is nuisance
rather than help. 1t was introduced
into the United States about forty
years ago, to prey upon the measuring
worm, or canker-worm, which had be-
come very destructive to shade trees
in the cities. 1t found many other
things, however, to engage its atten-
tion, and soon became so undesirable
i'll it habits as to become despised by
gardeners, farmers, fruit growers and
horticulturists generally. 1t is a pug
nacious bird, and on account of its
violent attacks upon them many of our
most valuable native song and insec-
tivorious birds have greatly diminish
ed. 1t not only is disposed to drive
such birds from their nests, but has
been known to kill and devour their
young and their eggs.
Moreover, the English sparrow feeds
largely in the spring on the buds of
fruit trees, and, also, does great dam
age in vegetable gardens in pulling up
and eating the seeds, such as peas,
ETC., as they come up. 1t is, likweise,
destructive in grain fields, as it alights
on the stalks of wheat and oats, and
not only consumes large quantities of
grain, but wastes great deal through
swaying to and fro on the lender stalks,
causing the grain to fall to the ground.
1t has been known to tear open the
husks of green corn, devour the tender
kernels, and cause much loss through
exposing the remaining grains to
atmospheric changes and the ravages
of insects.
The martins which formerly return
ed every spring to the boxes provided
for them in towns and cities, have, in
many instances, failed to turn up, on
account of their nesting places having
been seized and occupied by English
sparrows. Many other insectivorous
birds, as useful as the martin, have
been driven away by the common
feathered enemy. In fact, there is
hardly species of our native bird:
that the tEnglish sparrow will not
molest.
In view of the pugnaciousness of the
English sparrows and their destruc.
tiveness, and but few redeeming gu.
alities, State Zoologist Surface recon.
mends that war of determination be
waged against them. twill not do:tc
endeavor to poison them, he says, as
by scattering grain for that purpose
which had been soaked in some poi
sonous solution, the lives ,ofn. usefu
birds would be endangered, as.wellea'
domestic fowls. They can be shotran(
trapped, or their nests destroyed wher
containing young, thus keeping then
down to a minimum. There was form
erly law which protected the Eng
lish sparrow, the same havings beei
passed soon after it's advent in til,
United States, but in 1888, at the sug
gestion of aTnumber of agricultural
and horticultural societies, the law wa
| repealed, and the killing of Euglisl
sparrow, and the destroying of thei
netss, eggs or young, at all seasons o
the year. is now legalized.
i
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07

At ST. JOSEPH'S

The annual entertainment by the
young people of Saint Joseph's parish
will take place on Friday and Satur-
day evenings5of this week in st. JOS
eph's hall. For some weeks company
of the young folks have been rehears-
ing for two pretty plays which will be
the features of the evening s.entertain-
ment.
"kingIRene s. Daughter, a..Danish
lyrical drama, swill:.be giyenI BY six
young men and two young ladies, as
follows:
King Rene, of Provence, James Fin
nigan.
Count Tristan, of Vaudemont, James
Gill.
Sir Geoffrey, of Orange, VIM. Reilly.
Sir Almerick, Edw. Gill.
Ebn Jahia, a Moorish physician,
Jas. Powers.
Bertrand, Bernard Shevlin.
Martha, Bertrand's Wife, Catherine
Rogers.
Iolanthe, King Rene's daughter,
Sarah M'Hale.
Following this niness young ladies
will present "The Rainbow Kimona, .
comedy in two acts. The act of char.
acters is as follows:
Nellie Van Tassel, President of the
Rainbow Kimona Society, Nellie
Curry.
Ruth Ashton, Vice President, Marg
aret Kilfoil. -
Alice Marion, Treasurer, Mary Cady.
Isabel Sutro, Secretary, Margaret
Curry.
Beatrice Courtney, Glass Poet, Cath
crime Deem.
Olive Mercer, President of Basket
Ball Team, Mary Finnigan.
Winifred Turner, Student, Ella Cir
ton.
Edith Jones, New Senior, Catherine
Powers.
Rose Jackson, Colored Maid, Mary
Rooney.
Between the two plays a vocal solo,
1.-THE Mission of the Rose" is to bt
rendered by Miss Catherine Rogers ant
recitation by Miss Alice Tooley.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
Why They Were Selected.

1t has been recorded that General
Henry Knox in 1888 was the great
est" of eleven distinguished officers of
the army, weighing $50 pounds. Noah
Brooks in his book entitled Henry
Knox" gives the following incident re-
lating to the generals full habit:
With a Captain Sargent he was Sc
lected to present the hard case of the
starving and naked men at Valley
Forge to the attention of a committee
of congress. One of the congressman,
wishing to show his wit and sarcasm,
said that he had never seen a fatter
man than General Knox nor a better
dressed man than his associate. Knox
managed to keep his temper and re-
mained silent, but his subordinate re,
torted, THE corps out of respect to
congress and themselves have sent as
their representatives the only man
who had an ounce of superfuous flesh
on his body and the only other man
who possessed a complete suit OF
clothes"
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07

excan ASat in
e o
c a s pol
g rhamca8o profits
NnowoH in
h b lone q
of
very
ph in lie
il e
h t lin
Of
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
Tho Tears In Books.

1t is not hard to understand why.
when book makes. you laugh, you
want to read 1t, and to read 1t over and
over again. But it is rather puZzling
to find that one also enjoys reading
and rereading books that make one
want to cry. What can there be in US
that likes to be made to feel unhappy?
In real life we don't try to do things
that will make us suffer-not at all!
But there are books that you cannot
think of once you have read them
without tears coming TO your eyes, and
yet you Will find that YOU love those
books perhaps more than any others.
To feel deeply is one Of the best
things in life, and there maybe lies
the explanation of why we do love
sad stories. They make us unhappy
in way, but they do not leave behind
any bitterness or sense Of personal
loss. And they usually have n special
beauty Of their own.-St. Nicholas.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
EXPOSITION IN CHINA.
American Products Will Be Shown at
Marking In May.

Marking In May.
Preparations are going forward rap
idly at Nanking China, for the open
ing Of the Nanyang exposition, or Ma
tional Industrial exposition, rs IT IS
called. 1t Is to be opened May and
to continue for six months.
Hsi-Chen UwanE. director of works
for the exposition, m%y be quoted as
saying that there are to be sixteen
large buildings, most of which are well
on toward completion. Most of them
are in English and French styles of
architecture.
The exposition grounds cover an
area of about 80 acres and are laid
out artistically with ponds, lawns,
trees, flowers of every Chinese variety,
pavilions and graveled walks leading
to the several entrances. Display light
ing with electricity will be feature
of the decoration of the grounds.
Among the amusements will be hip
podrome, Chinese theater and other
shows, both Chinese and foreign. Mu-
sic will be furnished by the new army
on the grounds will be one of the at
fractions.
The exposition grounds are reached
directly from the railroad by the Nan
king city lines. Chinese capitalists
have furnished the funds for suitab BILE
foreign hotels near the grounds. There
will be accommodations for 1000
guests at these hotels. 1t is expected
that there will be 10000 to $4,000 Wis
itors daily to the grounds.
The total cost of the exposition is
estimated at 100000. Twenty-Five
provinces of China are to be represent
ed in the exhibits. and 5000 square
feet each have been allotted to Amer
lean, English. German and japanese
exhibits in the Chinese government
building
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
Lead Pencil Experiments.

An English statistician was asked
how many words could be written
with an English lead pencil, and. be.
ing determined to answer it, he bought
a lead pencil and Scott's "Ivanhoe"
and proceeded to copy the latter word
by word. He wrote 95,60S words and
then was obliged to stop, for the pen.
ell had become so short that he could
not use 1t. A German statistician who
heard of this experiment was dissat.
isfied with 1t because all the lead IN
the pencil was not used on the work,
and therefore he bought pencil and
started to copy a long German novel
When the pencil was so short that he
could not handle 1t with his fingers
he attached a holder to it, and it is
said that he wrote with this one pen.
ell 100000 words. Possibly, however
his pencil was longer or the lead in
1t was of more durable quality.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
FIRST CHILDREN'S BOOKS.
Sheets of Horn Protected the Pages
From Soiled Finaers

The earliest English book for chill
Gren was The Babies Book, or q
Lyttl Report Of How Young People
Should Behave" The horn books ex-
listed in Elizabeth's reign. The writ
ing was covered with a sheet of horn
in order to protect the lettering from
contact with dirty fingers.
The chap book contained most of
the familiar nursery rhymes and sto-
ries which have appertained to nursery
lore for generations. They exhibit
very crude woodcuts, often daubed
with inappropriate color, and the COM
nonest paper as a rule was used. They
were hawked about by the chapman or
peddler and cost only q few pence
apiece,
They served to perpetuate such IA
miliar ditties as "Sing a Song of Six
pence" which dates from the six
teenth century; Three Blind Mice"
Ia use, with music. in 1909; "The Frog
and the Mouse" in existence In 1880.
and Girls and Boys Come Out to
Play" which was sung by the vii
layers In the time Of Charles II. Lit
tie Jack Horner," we know, is older
than the seventeenth century. and last.
but not least, Lucy Locket," the tune
from which originated Yankee Doc
die"
A few of what were called battle.
door books" have been handed down to
US. They were three leaved cards
which were folded up into oblonG
pocket shaped volumes These taught
reading and numerals in the dame
schools in town and country. The lit
tie gilt books, as they We're called,
adorned on the outside with gilt Dutch
paper colorcd flowers, were much
priced gift books of that period. Chill
dren were employed coloring such pic
ture books by hand. one child doing all
the Ped in the series of illustrations,
another all the blue, and so on OF
course they gained precision by rcpeti-
tion, but we very often find the tints
overlapping as If carried out by an in
experienced hand,-London Queen.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
GREAT WEALTH
IN ALASKA

The enormous hidden wealth of AL
aska. especially its inexhaustible sup
ply of coal, has been disclosed by the
Ballinger- -Pinchot controversy before
the Senate committee of investiga-
tion, and in the light of testimony
given. Congress will be found guilty
of serious negligence and disregard of
duty if it allows the session to end
without taking measures to protect
Alaska from the raids by private in-
terests, and prevention of further land
grabs. Alaska, covering an area OF
535. 900 square miles, was purchased by
the United States government in 1867,
from Russia, for a pittance of $780,
600. 1t is one of the most wonderful
stories of great wealth ever revealed
by the probing of the earth that, less
than half century later, the value OF
the coal alone in the two principal
regions is two hundred and fifty times
greater than the purchase price, or ap-
proxiamtely, 81, 500, 900, 900. 1t is not
astonishing, consequently, that in a
spirit of greed, various interests should
bend all their energies toward gaining
possession of portions of this unknown
land 1t has been only recently that a
fair idea has been obtained of the i'm
mense value of Alaska and perhaps it
is not altogether the fault of govern
ment agents that private interests have
not been checked in their endeavors to
seize the territory.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
He Obeyed Orders.

Old world domestics make the best
possible servants because they work
like machines, never forgetting an or
der and doing exactly as they are told,
without presuming to think for them
selves. But once in awhile this literal
adherence 10 duty produces some awk
ward results. An American woman
living in India. with native servants,
once told her butler to see that there
was always a napkin at the bottom of
the fruit dish, cake basket, etc, when
these Were brought to the table. The
napkin was thereafter always seen r.
its place. But one day a tureen of
vegetable soup was served, and the
hostess began to WELD the long, old
fashioned silver ladle about In it.
Something very like n fringed rag
made its appearance in the first plate
full. The butler was summoned to re
move the dish. 1T cannot be that the
mem sahib found no napkin at the
bottom" he hazarded, much distressed
because of this unexplained disap-
proval. "for I myself placed there the
largest one could find"
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
THE SPEAKERS.

Special concerts will be given
throughout the day by number of the
very best bands in the State, the Ad-
dress of Welcome will be given by
Judge Voris Auten who will be in
troduced by Chief Burgess Pensyl at
the time he will extend to the visiting
members the freedom of the city.
Grand Master James S. Montgomery
will be the principal speaker of the
day. Major E. G. Wagner, President
of the Orphanage, will be present and
will have with him in line the direct
ors and trustees of the home. The Re-
bekahs will be represented by their
Chief officers of the State. The Patri-
| archs Militant will be led by Major
X. A. Raney, Commander General of
the United States and Major General
J. b. Andrews of Penna., will accom-
pany him.
Special decorators are in the town
attending to the details of the general
plans as the committee have contract
ed for. Reception committees will
meet every incoming train. The troll
ley company will run every available
car in order to carry the largest num-
Der of passengers possible in the short
est given time so that visitors may
reach places of interest without trou-
BILE or delay.
Every fraternal and social organiza-
tion without exception will keep open
house and have already appointed
special reception committees TO receive
Odd Fellows generally aud particular
! ly Odd Fellows who happen to he
members of such particular fraternity.
1t is expected that fully 10, 600 visit
ors will attend this great celebration,
every Odd Fellow in the district should
make "A special effort to turn out and
take part in the demonstration.
Massive banners are being prepared
to mark the various headquarters and
immense signs are to be strung across
the streets bearing the generous "Wel-
come Brothers. -
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
BIG PREPARATIONS
At MT. CARMEL

The Mount Carmel Odd Fellows are
making arrangements for the holding
of the largest celebration in the his
tory of the District on the occasion of
the Ninety-First Anniversary of the
Founding of Odd Fellowship in Am.
erica to be held in Mount Carmel,
April 26, 1910. They are advertising
the town and the occasion in a very
creditable manner and the reports al
ready begin to show of the judicious
use of printers ink the towns daily
papers have joined hands in assisting
the local lodges in stirring up enthusi-
asm throughout the district. The COM
mittee has issued an immense quantity
OF Anniversary buttons which bear an
invitation to Meet me at Mount Car
mel on April 26, 10" E" Their advertis,
ing labels have the invitation "Come
with us" within the three links. The
stationery and printed matter lands
the towns facilities to take care of a
large number of visitors and BRIEFLY
sets forth the various Industries of the
community.
Extensive preparations are being
made to have the town assume a gen
eral holiday appearance and the com
mittee has requested the management
of the several mining operations to
suspend work on this occasion in order
to permit the entire community to
turn out and enjoy the day.
Several special features are being
planned one of which is to have the
one hundred and twenty orphans now
in the home to participate in the par.
ade. Another is to be the massing OF
the bands at the finish of the counter.
march of the parade. This promises te
be very successful affair and is to be
so arranged that every marcher in line
will see and hear the great musica
body which will move over some OF
the towns principal streets, followed
by the Patriarchs Militant and led b,
the mounted MaIshals and Aides al
well as the massed banners.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
An Airship DESTROYER.

An Invention in connection with pro
jectiles to be fired at balloons and air
ships has recently been made by Her
Wagner, landlord of the Railway no.
tel at Ensdetten, near Munster, in
Westphalia, Germany. The projectile
is so constructed that when it leaves
the cannon four knives in the casing
open, thus giving the missile greater
destructive power.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
When Silenca Is Deadly.

Silence is commonly the slow poison
used by those who mean to murder
love. There is nothing violent about
it. No shock is given. Hope is not
abruptly strangled, but merely dreams
of evil and fights with gradually sti.
fling shadows. When the last convul
sions come they are not terrific. The
frame has been weakened for dissolu
ton. Love dies like natural decay. II
seems the kindest way of doing 2
cruel thing.-George Meredith.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
lnspirinq Air.

He-So you think married life ought
to be one grand, sweet song? She
Yes. He-And what air would you
prefer for this matrimonial songi She
A millionaire!
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07

Therefore, # Kidney
trouble is permitted to
continue, serious re-
suits are most likely
to follow. Your other
organs may need at
tention, but your kid
neys most, because
they do most and
should have attention
first. Therefore, when
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
RecinrocaI Heln.

Doctor-Well, my good woman. what
do you want? Beggar-A quarter. doc
tor. Give me quarter and I'll tell
everybody that you helped me.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
A Double Hold.

Miss Moonlite-Er-let me hold the
reins. please. Mr. Bashphul-W What
will l do then? Miss Moonlite-You
might hold the holder of the reins.-
Boston Herald.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07

Death is the golden key that opens
the palace of eternity.-Milton.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
COWBOYS to Use Automobiles.

Cowboys mounted on ponies will
soon be supplanted by automobiles on
the larger cattle ranches in Texas, ac-
cording to an announcement made the
other day at Chicago by the represent
ative of a Texas ranch owners organ
ization. He said that automobiles were
so constructed now that their use over
the ranges was practical. Already 200
machines have been ordered shipped
from Chicago and New York to vsri.
GUS Texas points.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07

how to find out if you have kidney or
bladder trouble. Mention this paper
when writing to DR.. Kilmer G, Co.,
Binghamton, N. Y. Don't make any mis-
take, but remember the name, Swamp
Root, and don't let a dealer sell you
something i'll place of Swamp-Root-if
you do you will be disappointed.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07

Association Stock selling the low price of share order
plant destroyed We this low
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
Often The Kidneys Are
Weakened by Over Work.
Unhealthy Kidneys Make Impure Blood.

Weak and unhealthy kidneys are re-
sponsible for much sickness and suffering,
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07

should have the best.
Sold by druggists in
ifty-cent and one-dol-
lar sizes. You may
have a sample bottle
by mail free, also a
nar11nh1et telling Won
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07

your kidneys are weak or out OF order,
you can understand how quickly your en-
tire body is affected and how every organ
seems to fail to do its duty.
If you are sick or "feel badly" begin
taking the great kidney remedy, DR.
kilmer's Swamp-Root. A trial will con-
vince you of its great merit.
The mild and immediate effect of
SwampsRoot, the great kidney and
bladder remedy, is soon realized. 1t
stands the highest because its remarkable
health restoring properties have been
=. cncnr ..nol .,.nl:L.;.... ..e..
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07
a Reliable
Remedy
Ely'S Cream Balm

Gives Relief at Once.
1t cleanses, soothes,
heals and protects
the diseased mem
brane resulting from
Catalrh aud drives
away a Cold in the
Head quickly. Re-
stores the Senses Of
Taste and Smell. En-
r,fg4r -.