davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14
Method for Construction Of Cheap but
Substantial Homes for Work.
ing Glasses.

London.-Two neat little tiled cot
tages at Newlands Corner. near Guild.
ford. stand for a practical and sue
cessful effort to deal with one Of the
most pressing questions Of English
rural life--the problem OF cheap hous-
ing
In building these comfortable, well
ordered dwellings for two Of his un.
dergardeners at a cost for the two OF
$500. st. Loe Strachey. editor of the
Spectator. has justified the faith which
he publicly expressed and which NOV
ed him to promote the Cheap Cottage
exhibition at Letchworth in 1905.
The argument which Mr.. Strachey
then advanced and has now establish
ed is this: The agricultural laborer
cannot AFFORD to pay more than $3.50 a
week house rent out Of his wages. Any
improvement in his dwelling above
that standard must ordinarily be pro-
vided by philanthropy. The obvious
way TO cope with this situation is to
cheaper the cost of construction.
This Mr. Strachey. in cooperation
with local builder. has done, by us
ing for the walls of HIS cottage con
crete blocks made In molds on the
spot. The ground floors Of the cot
tages have a scullery. a pantry and q
large kitchen sitting room. from which
an open staircase leads picturesquely
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14
PHEASANTS PEST IN FIELD
foothsone Birds Thrive Under Game
Law Of Washington at Great
Cost 10 Farmers.

Seattle. Misunderstanding are a
plague in the Nisqually river valley.
and farmers are up in arms. not
against the pheasants, but the mem
bers of the legislature who made the
closed season law. The toothsome
birds have eaten up the potatoes and
much small grain and even attacked
the apples and other fruits.
II is reported from that section OF
the state that these white-collared.
vafi-colored birds wing down upon the
farms in large tiocks. They scratch
out the tubers and pick out eyes and
centers, leaving but she'll of the for
mer potato. The loss caused by the
birds is large, and because of the
seni-domesticated instinct of these
oriental birds they do not fear scare
crows, dogs or firing of explosives.
The farmers in their petition TO have
an open season declared state that
they Go not care to go cunning in
their corn and potato patches when "a
dead pheasant means $50 fine and
court costs.
The population Of the Nisqually
river valley is united on the petition
to have an open season OF two months
declared. that hunters may have an
opportunity of thinning the pheasant
stock.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14
| Iohn Henry S
Ghost Story
| By GEORGE v. HOBART

an endeavor to produce a large arro4y-
pierced heart on the polished panel
OF the bedroom door.
What's the idea?" inquired.
I'm farewelling the place." he an
swered, mournfully. "They's only two
more doors to farewell after l get this
one finished. Amt hearts awful hard
TO draw just right, specially when the
knife slipsl"
You little imp" / yelled. do you
mean to tell me you've been doing a
panel comic all over this mans house F?
Scat!" and reached for a shoe.
Cut it," cried Tacks, Indignantly.
Didn't the janitor say he'd miss me
dreadful, and how can he miss me
'less'n he sees my loving remember
ments all over the place every time he
shows this compartment to somebody
else? And it is impolite to go way
forever and ever amen without fare
yelling the janitor"
Where do you think you're going?''
inquired, trying hard to be calm.
ITO the country to live, sister told
me-" Tacks bubbled: land we amt
never coming back to this horrid city.
sister told me; and you bought the
house for surprise. sister told me;
and it has a pizzazus all around it,
sister told me; and COW that gives
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14

The ponies had put sad crimp in
my roll, and l had 20 square myself
with Clara ]. I told her had bought
q cottage in the burbs, and Bunch had
helped me out by lending me his coun-
try house for day. ] was supposed
TO show it to Clara j., and then renig
on 1t because It was haunted.
When the alarm clock went to work
the next morning Clara ]. turned
around and gave 1t look that made
Its teotn chatter
She had been up and doing an hour
before that clock grew nervous
enough to crow. a
Her enthusiasm was so great that
she was a Busy-Lizzie long before
o'clock and We were not booked to
leave the Choo-Choo House till 10: 80.
About o'clock she dragged me
away from a drama and / reluctantly
awoke to a realization of the fact that
i was due to deliver some goods which
] had never seen and didn't want to
see.
Get up. joint" Clara j. suggested.
voice. tits getting dreadfully late and
you know I'm all impatience to see
that lovely home you've bought for
me in the country"
Me under the covers, gnawing holes
In the pillow TO keep from swearing.
"oh, dear mel" she sighed, I'm
afraid I'm just bit sorry to leave
this sweet little apartment We've
been so happy here, haven't wei"
/ grabbed the ball and broke
through the center for 10 yards.
Sorry" I echoed, tearfullY; 'why,
it's breaking my heart to leave this
coy little collar box Of a home and
go into great country house full Of
of--of rooms, and-er--and windows,
and-er-and-er- and-and
and cows and things like that"
"Of course we wouldn't have to
keep the cow In the house." she said,
thoughtfully.
"oh. no." said, that's the point.
There would be a barn. and you
haven't any idea how dangerous barns
are. They are the curse of country
life. barns are"
well, then. John, why did you buy
the cow?" she inquired, and went up
and punched hole In the plaster.
Why did buy the COW? Was there
n COW? Had Bunch ever mentioned
COW to me? Come to think Of II,
he hadn't. and there l was cooking
trouble over slow fire.
When l came to she was saying
quietly, Besides, l think I'd rather
have a milkman than a COW. Milk
men swear lot and cheat sometimes,
but as a rule they are more trust
worthy than cows, and they very sell
dom chase anybody. Couldn't you
turn the barn into a gymnasium or
Something?"
"Dearie," said. trying my level
best to get a. mist over my lamps SO
as to give her the teardrop gaze,
something keeps whispering to me,
SSidestep that cave in the wilderness!'
Something keeps telling me that a
month on the farm will put crimp
in our happiness, and that the moment
we move into home in the tall grass
I'll luck will get up and put the boots
to our welded bliss"
Then l gave an imitation of chok-
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14
CAT IS DRUG HEND
Savannah Tabby Sent TO New
York for Treatment.
Animal. Owned by Druggist, Contracts
Morphine Habit In Store and
Seeks Bottle Where Opiate
is Kept.

New York.-When the Savannah
Line steamship City OF Montgomery
arrived here the other day from Sa-
vannah. Ca. she brought a most res
markable passenger TO New York in
the shape of a valuable Persian cat
that has been credited in the dis
patches from Savannah as being
confirmed morphine fend.
The Persian cat is the property Of a
druggist in Savannah named Rollin-
sky. man prominent in the southern
city. and he sent his pet Persian to
New York for treatment by specialists
in the hope that the cat may be cured
OF the morphine habit
Some months ago the cat shifted at
some morphine. powdered. that was
being used in prescription in Mr..
Roliusky's pharmacy. The animal
acted peculiarly after that, and was
constantly on the shelf on which the
brownish bottle containing the drug
stood. Several times Mr.. Rollinsky
found the morphine bottle open with
the powder scattered about. and each
time the cat acted In the same manner
that human being acts when under
the influence of the opiate.
The morphinestricken feline was
taken on board the Savannah liner by
Mr.. Heaton. the druggists assistant,
and placed In room on the City of
Montgomery. There were many per
sons on the pier at Savannah to sea
the cat leave Ior New York, for tab
by's fame had spread throughout the
southern city. and 1t was considered
very much of local celebrity.
No provision had been made for
morphine on board the the steamship,
and the cat, frenzied because of the
absence OF the drug. made its escape
from the cabin In which 1t had been
placed and leaped overheard into the
Savannah river, There was thrilling
rescue. and the Persian tabby was
placed again in the room that had
been reserved for it and for Mr.. Hea-
ten after much correspondence with
the Savannah line officials. and Sc.
curely locked up.
ance OF he drug, and this was con-
firmed upon the arrival OF the City
OF Montgomery. when the cat was
taken. in fairly good shape. to cat
hospital in West Flfty-third street.
SO well known is the cat in Savan-
nah that there was much opposition
TO It's being taken away.
Mr.. Heaton watched tenderly over
the four.footed passenger and super
intended the transfer to the cat hos.
pita.
While Mr.. Heaton would not com.
NIT himself without first having con
suited the veterinaries. he said be
thought the treatment OF the cat
would be about the same as thai
given human being under similar
circumstances. BY degrees the allow
ance Of morphine will be discontinued
and remedies administered that will
cause the unnatural craving for the
drug to disappear.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14
WOMEN CRAVE TOYS

either like an extremely simple toy
or a really 'brainy' amusement. such
as making electrical experiments. put.
ting toy aeroplanes together. or soien-
tific kite flying"
Popular silly" toys already selling
well are Baby Bumps" fitted with a
Can t-break-'em-head." and very
live looking duck called a Puddle
duck" Each of these toys has been
bought as a mascot by ladies and
taken out in motor cars.
An interesting reason for the boom
in simple animal toys was given by an
enthusiastic theater-goer.
Plays like the Blue Bird. 'Pinkle
and the Fairies and Peter Pan. in
which animals possessed of wonder.
full intelligence are seen on the stage,
have a considerable influence over
children" he said.
In the Blue BIRD animals such as
the cat. dog. and horse are made to
possess a soul. They reason and ar
que like human beings.
Now the successful toy manutactur-
er endeavors to put this live, soulful
quality into his goods-he makes the
cloth dog or rabbit as cute and life
like as possible.
1T is the soulful quality OF these
toys-f ] may SO express (which
attracts. ! have known ladies' posi-
lively rave over a fluffy little cloth
dog, making 1t sit by them at dinner
and talking 10 it for hours In baby
voice"
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14

shine smiling a welcome over all, Il
made picture calculated to charm
the most hardened city crab that even
crawled away from the cover Of the
skyscrapers.
AS for Clara j., she simply threE
up both hands and screamed for help
She danced and yelled with delight
Then she Rugged and kissed me with
a thousand reiterated thanks for zy
glorious present.
felt as joyous as a jelly fish. Ten.
legged microbes began to climb into
my pores. Everything l had in my
system rushed to my head. I could
see myself in the giggle-giggle ward in
bat house, playing / was the king
of England.
! was a joke turned upside down.
After they had examined every
nook and Granny of the place and had
talked themselves hoarse with de-
light.'I called them all up on the
front piazza for the purpose Of put.
ting out their lights with my ghost
story.
! figured on driving them all back
to the depot with about four para.
graphs of creepy talk, 80 when / had
them huddled l began in a hoarse
whisper to raise their hair.
l told them that no doubt they had
noticed the worried expression on my
face and explained that It was due
chiefly to the fact that had learned
quite by accident that this beautiful
place was haunted.
Tacks grew so excited that he
dropped a garden SPADE off the piazza
and into a dollhouse below, breaking
seven panes of glass. but the others
only smiled indulgently and / went on.
/ jumped headfrst into my most
blood-curdling story and related in de-
tail how murder had been com
mitted on the very site the house was
built on and how fierce bewhiskere6
spirit roamed the premises at night
and demanded vengeance / described
in awful words the narrowing spec.
tacle and all got at the finish was
the boot from Uncle Peter.
TUT 5ouu5 bdAu IldIa j. "a had
no idea you were so run down. Why.
you're almost on the verge of neryouz
prostration. And how thoughtful you
were to pick out haunted house. for
/ do love ghosts. Didn't you know
that? III tell you what let's do. III
give prize for the first one who sees
and speaks to this unhappy spirit
won't 1t be Jolly? Where are you go
ing. John?"
Me. to the undertakers-T mean
must run back to town. That tele.
gram sthis morning-importan bust.
ness--forgot all about it-see You
later-dont breathe TIL get back
mean. don't live till Lob. the deyil,y
Just then fell over the lawn now
er, picked myself up hastily and
rushed OF to town to find Bunch. 70,
! was certainly up against II good and
hard.
Copyright. By G. w. Dillingham; Col
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14

Aunt Martha sighed painfully. and
Uncle Peter chuckled inwardly like q
mechanical toy hen.
On the train out to Jiggersville,
Clara ]. was picture entitled The
JOY Of Living kind regards to Mrs
Pat Campbell: Ibsen please write
As for me. with every revolution Of
the wheels I grew more and more e
half portion OF Clipped beef.
''Oh. joint" said Clara j., her voice
shrill with excitement: II forgot te
tell you! ] left my key with mother
and she's going to superintend the
packing of the furniture this after
noon. By evening she expects to hay,
everything loaded in the van and We
won't have to wait any time for om
trunks and things!"
Great Scott!" l yelled Maybe
you won't like the house, Maybe fiji
only shanty with holes in the roof
err. mean. maybe you'll be disap
pointed with the layout What's the
bStthS-ing sense of being in such
consuming fever about moving the
fiendish furniture? I'm certain you'll
hate the very sight of this corn-erit
oR among the ant hills. Can't you
back-pedal on the furniture gag and
give yourself chance to hear the
answer to what you ask yourself?"
Clara ]. locked tearfully at me for
a moment; then she went over and
sat with Aunt Martha and told her
how glad she was we were moving tc
the country where the pure air would
no doubt have soothing effect on
my nerves, because l certainly had
sgrown irritable of late.
At last we reached the little old log
cabin down the lane, and after the
first glimpse knew it was all of.
The place l had borrowed from
Bunch for few minutes was a dream,
all right, all right.
With its beautiful lawns and its
glistening graveled walks; with a
modern house perfect in every detail:
with its murmuring brooklet rushing
away into a perspective of nodding
green trees, and with the bright sun.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14

ing sob which sounded for all the
world like the last dying shrek of a
oathtub when the water is busy leav-
ing 1t.
Nonsense. joint" laughed Clara j.;
'its only natural that you regret
leaving our first home, but after one
day IN the country you'll be happy as
q king"
Make 1t a deuce" 1 muttered; "a
dirty deuce at that"
Now" she said joyfully, I'm going
to cook your breakfast. Thif may be
your very last breakfast in a city
apartment for months, maybe years.
SO I'm going to cook it myself rye
got every trunk packed-hayen't |
worked hard? Get up, you lazy boy."
and with this she danced out of the
room.
Every trunk packed Did she in
tend taking them with her, and II she
aid how could stop her?
Back TO the woods
I began to feel like street Just
before they put the asphalt down.
For some time I lay there with my
brain huddled UP in one corner Of my
head. futtering and frightened
Presently an insislent scratch-r-r-r-r
aroused me and began TO sit up and
notice Things.
The things I noticed consisted
chiefly Of Tacks. my youthful brother.
fn.law, and the kitchen carving knife.
The former was seated on the floor
gabor1ously engineering the latter In
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14
New Jersey Chestnut Blight Spreads
70 Other speeles--5eIIeVed to
Be Fungus Disease.

Summit, y. with the chestnut
tree blight not having gene far enough
In It's work Of utterly destroying the
tree in this state to be yet matter
of common knowledge, tree experts In
this vicinity say they have discovered
signs that point also to the destruction
Of IT'S companion tree. ths hickory.
Hickory trees In this vicinity and In
Essex county have been exhibiting
signs OF the blight. the precise nature
e: which. however. remains unex-
pie ined.
Only here and there are 10 be tound
as yet casey Of destruction e. the
pest. whatever it is. but the instances
are sufficiently numerous to convince
observers that probably some fungus.
AS n the case with the chestnut tree.
has attacked the trees.
So FAR AZ outward signs go the tree
that Is affected simply dies II oom-
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14
HICKORY TREES DYING, TOO

bats the parasite as best It can. some
times with success for more than one
season. indicating only by an earlier
failure Of fits foliage that something
hidden is feeding on its vitality. The
final act is the fading OF the leaves or
the utter denuding Of the branches Of
foliage
Experts are OF the opinion that on
examination It will be found that
fungus. similar 20 the one lately dis
covered as the enemy Of the chestnut.
is attacking the hickory trees. At the
present state Of the attack only a mi
croscopical test by experts would re-
yesi the facts and the existence Of
the blight IS go new that such an ez-
animation has not been made. That
the fungus. n II turns out to be such.
win eventually prove az fatal TO the
hickory as 10 the chestnut is greatly
feared The future may find New Jer-
sey bare entirely Of either tree.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14
CEMENT COTTAGES FOR POOR

70 the upper story OF three bedrooms.
AS Mr. Strachey points out, this ex-
traordinarily low cost OF $1,000 for a.
pair OF cottages-s2 $3.50 is the figure.
usually accepted--has been reached
not only by the employment OF cheap
material but by rigid exclusion OF
snowy and unnecessary ornament, by
dlpensing with an architect and by
leaving only small margin for build.
ers profit. At the same time he main.
tains that his experiment has shown
taat II would be possible for any coun-
try landlord to house his people at the
same cost by employing the labor and
material Of his estate Further. Mr..
Strachey asserts. the addition Of $50
to the sale value Of the cottages would
turn them into a profitable venture
for the commercial builder.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14
Children Show Preference for
Scientific Devices.
Youngsters Call for Aeroplanes, Kites
and Models Where Electricity
Supplies Power-Reason
for Boom.

London.-Siznple silly" toys are all
the rage Just now.
The Teddy bear is responsible for
the boom, and following him a host
OF simple. unbreakable. woolly ami
mails. manikins and babies" has
sprung upon the toy market.
Cheap mechanical clockwork TOYS
and things that "windup" seem to
have temporarily lost favor with chill
dren.
Boys up to twelve years of age, girls
Of all ages. and even grown-ups have
taken a violent fancy to the cloth or
woollen toy which can be punched.
kicked. sat on or kissed without i'll eff
fects. either to the owner or to the
toy.
Inquiries made at the leading London
toy shops show that during the COM
ing winter season the simple toy will
be the chief article sold.
At one large Regent street estab-
lishment one side of the shop is al
ready stocked with silly" toys, and in
a few days time hundreds more will
arriye-lions. elephants. bears. sheep.
dogs. rabbits, etc.--costing anywhere
from 25 cents to SIS each.
The simple toy is having an I'M
doubted boom just now. 'ssaid the man.
ager. These toys are really intended
for babies. but ! have known ladies'
to fall in love with them and buy them
for themselves.
While the craze is certainly affect.
Ing the sales Of cheap mechanical
rlock-work toys. it has not hurt the
scientific toy trade
1T seems that children nowadays
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14

oh. love to hear the thrum and the
rumble OF the drum
When the fifes are shrilly singing and the
marching soldiers come,
For think OF how tho beat has been
timing trudging feet
Through the years that are forgotten.
over path and road and street.
All the legions OF the past. armies small
and armies vast
Trod the measure OF the drumbeat while
the dice OF war we're east
And the rattle and the roll wake an echo
In my soul.
Wake a war song from the ages when
men Jared to glory's goal
As a word is caught and flung on the
hreeges from the tongue
so the shouting song of warfare by the
drumming drum is sung.
And the shouts OF days OF yore that ones
swept the plain and shore
Arc re-echoed and re-echoed In the vi.
brant roll and roar.
And the blood within my veins races on
until II pains.
While the ancient song OF battle In Its
cadence Gibbs and wanes.
And l know now why II was men could
perish for cause
Why they died upon the altar for their
precepts and their laws
Ho, thousand thousand feet have gone
marching 10 fits beat:
That has rolled across the valleys in ths
cold and In the heat,
Men have gone from home and hearth.
from their grief and from their
mirth,
When the drum sent forth fits summans
for the country OF their birth.
And ! cannot tell you why. but o tear r.
In my eye
When / see the flashing beauty OF Ola
Glory In the sky,
As l hear the throb ana thrum and the
rumble OF the drum
When the nfes are singing shriiiy anS
ths marching soldiers come
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-12-14
A n win q.

Il know II sounds unkindg remarks
The man with the uncertain eye. 'But
] shall be glad when there are no old
inhabitants left to tell us about how
they remember shooting deer where
the heart Of the city now is"
Well" observes the man with the
false shirt front. when that day ar
rives there will be an entirely new
lot Of old Inhabitants who will remem-
Der the days when the original old in
habitants told about those deer being
shot"