davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
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w ASH1NGTON.-How many Amer
w leans realize the huge bulk of
the population of their country, in the
same sense that coal is heavy or the
hay crop Is immense in cubic feet?
Just as a matter Of physical bigness,
this is great nation, not In posses
sions but in people.
If all of the Inhabitants of the
United States, grownups and children,
were to lie down in a long line, one
PERSONS head touching the feet of the
one In front, there would be about
$4,000 miles of such a human chain.
II every American stood up to be
counted. in long row of men,
women and children, even If they
stood so close together that they &C.
cupied only foot and half apiece.
the file would be more than $4,000
miles long. 1t would girdle the earth
at the equator.
Averaging the 100000 people in
the United States. young and old,
adults and babies, at 100 pounds
apiece, the American nation weighs
4'5oo'oo0 tons. That is enough to load
1000 good-sized steamships with hu.
man freight, If it were piled in like
coal or grain. with no regard what.
ever for space or air.
II the 100000 Americans, babies
included, drink, on the average, pint
OF some liquid every day, which is an
extremely modest estimate, the peo-
pie of the United States consume
about $4,000 tons of water, beer, milk,
coffee, tea. ETC., daily. The quantity
may be twice as great, or even more.
But As 900 tons would load 900 freight
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06

Bunch Jefferson's country house l
had borrowed for q day to present
to Clara j. and then take back, was
hard to pry loose from wifey's loving
care. Poor Bunch in desperation had
played burglar to scare her out, but
Tacks, my scamp brother-in-law, had
caught him in cellar trap, and he
was in the hands of the village police
force, even now en- route for the can
merry, with me trailing along.
Ahead Of me, plodding along the
pike under the moonlight, were Bunch
and his cadaverous captor, the former
bowed in sorrow or anger, probably
both, and the latter with head erect,
naughty as Roman conqueror.
Bunch's makeup was a troubled
dream. Over pair of hand-me-down
trousers, eight sizes too large for him,
he wore three-dollar ulster On his
head was an automobile cap, and his
face was covered with a bunch of eel
grass three feet deep. He was surely
all the money.
AS I drew near I could hear Mr..
D1ggs expatlat1ng on crime in gen.
eral and housebreaking in particular,
and fancied I could also hear Bunch
boiling and seething within.
'Mr. Bugglar," HARMONY Diggs, the
police force, was saying, Il don't
know just what your home trainin'
was as a child, but theys a screw
loose somewhere or you'd a never
been brought to this here harrowful
pera1ckyment, nohow. s'pose you
jest started in naturally to be a heen-
yus maleyfactor early in life, huh?
You needn't to answer if you're
afeared it'll incrimigate you, but
s'pose you took to it when a boy,
p1ckin' pockets or suthin' like that,
huh?"
"Oh, cut it out, you old goat, and
don't bother me-" snapped Bunch.
just as joined them.
"A dangerous maleyfactor." said
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
THAT the United States army is in

THAT the United States army is in
ferior in military organization to
the armies of every other large nation
OF the world is the sentiment of H. Lee
Clotworthy, military expert, associate
editor of the United States Infantry
Journal, and formerly a captain in the
army. He asserts that Uncle Sans
military department is inefficient as a
fighting machine, and that any one Of
the big powers-notably Japan-could
whip the daylights out of US without
half trying"
There are 30 regiments of infantry
in the army" he says, but hardly any
one of them has been modified to-.
gether in order to give the men the
proper training. They are scattered
all over the country at various need
less military posts. Consequently, both
officers and men suffer for lack of ade-
quate drill, and would be absolutely
unprepared to fight All army of real
soldiers.
There are great many needless
military posts. OF course, it is neces-
sary to keep men in the Philippines
and Alaska, but not in small towns.
The latter type-known to military
men as 'hitching posts'-were estab-
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
Expert Offers Criticism of the Armv

l1shed years ago and small towns have
grown up around them.
These posts also are one Of the
principal causes of desertion. A re-.
crult enl1sts because Of visions about
now grand it is to be soldier. On
arriving at some post, however. he
finds he must be carpenter, a garden.
er, or telephone operator. At some
stations half of the men are emploved
In this way rather than occupvin9
their time in learning to be soldiers.
Instead of useless military posts,
the army should be divided into large
divisions, located at large central
points. There are only 5000 infantry.
men along the Pacific coast, where the
present situation demands that 4
strong force be concentrated.
AT the Golden Gate there ara
enough coast defense guns to blow all
the warships of the world out of tho
water. Yet, Japan, If she wanted to.
could capture every town along the
coast, without shot being fired, from
Seattle to San Diego. All she would
have to do would be to land her
troops at some unprotected point and
march.
IF the trouble in Mexico, on our
own frontier, had necessitated our
men getting into action, we could not
mobilize a full division there within
a month. Even Mexico could teach us
a severe lesson.
THE war department, however-has
recognized the inefciency of the army.
and is taking steps to make it the In.
stitution our navy is getting to be-"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
The Physical Bigness of Uncle Sam

cars of the largest size. That means
about rs long trains. =
The physical bignessv of Uncle Sam
is impressive If viewed from any di.
rection or calculated upon any ba.
sis. If the average consumption Of
solid food-bread. meat, potatoes and
other vegetables, cake, pie. fruits,
etc.-is only pound and half day
that means 1875 ,000,0 900 pounds. or g.
500 tons, every "a hours.
On the strength gained by such in.
roads upon the food stores OF the
world the people of the United States
can easily lift 100000 tons at the
same instant. II they walk only
mile apiece in day, which is GER
tainly too low an estimate, the total
is equal to walking three times
around the earth at the equator, and
more than half way around the
fourth time.
There are about 100000 hogs in
the country, but they do not more
than balance the human inhabitants
of the United States in weight. The
men, women and children outweigh
the sheep, and they weigh fully half
as much as the 10000, 900 horses, more
or less. The people of this country
weigh about as much as the apple
crop, in an average year.
If the clothing worn by the people
of this country averages five pounds
weight, shoes and hats included, of
course, it follows that when every
body is ready to go outdoors the ma.
ton is about 225,O00 tons heavier
than it is when ready for bed. When
Uncle Sam puts on his collar he uses
more than 5000 miles of cloth bands.
without taking Mrs. Sam into &C.
count at all.
Truly We are big nation. We bulk
tremendously on the scales and un-
der the tape measure American
quantity will evidently care for it.
self. Quality requires more attention
in all countries.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06

prospects for the winter are based on
the approaches to his home.
Every grounding with any preten.
sfons to class has two entrances tC
his domicile. One of these faces the
north and the other the south. AS
signs are observed he closes one en-.
trance, and this year, according tc
those who had wandered about the
woods, the northern entrance was
closed, an indication that the ground.
hog expected a cold winter.
To Offset this, another delegate re-
ported seeing turtle and two black
snakes wandering about as if they
thought it was May instead of Novem.
Der. This, he insisted. was a sure
sign that the winter is to be mild.
Squirrels are depended upon by
many for a tip on the winter. This
year the squirrels have laid in a very
small supply of nuts for the winter.
According to those who back the
squirrel as an authority this means
that the ground is to be bare and the
weather mild.
The moss on the trees was reported
by another delegate to show conclu
sively that a hard winter is coming
Go out in the woods" said the moss
man, and look at the trees. On the
north side of them you will find g
heavy growth of. moss That's natures
protection for the tree and a sure sigr
of a hard winter.
Among all the varying signs thu
goosebone is still the most credited
one Where the breastbone Of young
goose shows black spots it is con
ceded that the winter is to be severe
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
SIGNS PUZZLE THE
GQ] /: s. | / S3AGjE|S
CONVENTION OF FORECAST IN
TERPRETERs BREAKS UP IN .
> DISGUST At REPORTS.
DISCUSS WINTER OUTLOOK
Much Conflicting Evidence for 1eIiev-
ers in the Goosebone, the Ground
hog; the WrinkIeds Tomato, the
Thick Husk and Other Signs.

Channahon, Il.-The local nature
prophets can't quite agree on what is
coming off this winter in the way of
weather. There is much conflicting
evidence, for believers in the goose
bone, the grounding, the wrinkled to-
mato, the thick corn husk and other
signs supposed to give correct fore
cast to consider that at a gathering
of the prophets here no final forecast
was risked.
One prophet had the courage to rise
up and state that he had been in the
habit of basing his prediction for the
winter on what the weather was each
September 20, but that last year all
|: signs failed, due, he thinks, to the dis
concerning advent of Halley's comet
then approaching the earth. At the
finish, he had choice lot of unfulfill-
ed forecasts on hand.
Following this abject confession of
prophecies that failed, another mem
Der OF. the convention announced that
he pinned his faith to the appearance
Of tomatoes. Each autumn he digs up
a tomato vine and hangs it in the eel
lar. After giving the tomatoes on the
vine two weeks in which to line up
as weather prophets, he examines
them. If they are soft and wrinkled
the winter will be mild This years
test found them in that condition.
The consensus of opinion among
those who have faith in worms as
weather prophets is that the winter
will be mild because worms have been
seen everywhere, and If it was to be
a cold winter the worms would be in
their steam-heated flats or some 9TH
er comfortable home by this time.
Some new work in crude meteorol-
ogy was introduced at the convention
BY making the grounding do semi
annual instead Of an annual stunt.
Heretofore his appearance on Feb. 2
has been the only time in the year
when the little animal had the center
Of the stage, but they said at this
meeting the little grounding is just
as reliable in the fall as he is in Feb
ruary.
On Candlemas day he is supposed
to come out at noon, look for his
shadow and 60 back, If he can see it.,
Tor six weeks annex to his winters
nap. In the fall what he thinks about
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06

GOVERNORS ISLAND is to lose it's
" Oldest soldier. He is Sergt. David
Robertson of the Hospital corps of the
army, who has spent Sc years in the
service and now, at the mature age Of
seventy-eight, has been recommended
for retirement upon full pay and al
lowances. It will take a special bill,
Of course, to thus recognize the serv-
ices Of Robertson and major generals
and brigadier generals have recon.
>mended to the secretary of war that
he present to congress such a bill.
An interesting thing about the long
and faithful service of Sergeant Rob-
ertson is that it has been almost con.
tinually spent on Governors Island.
He has seen generals and colonies
come and 60. He was a veteran when
''Hancock's Superb" came to take
command of the department Of the
east and the military division Of the
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
Disgs Turned and Eyed Him in Open. Mouthed Silence

Diggs to me, as he frightened his grip
on Bunch's arm; "but they amt no
call for you to assist the course Of
justice, because if the dern critter
starts to run I'll pump him chuck full
OF lead. He's been a-tellin' me he
started on the downward path to pre-
dition as child-stearer."
Il told you nothing, you old tad
POLE" shrieked Bunch, unable to con-
tain himself longer.
Very WE'LL" said Harmony, sooth-
ingly, they amt no call for you to
say nothin' that'll incrimigate you be-
fore the bar Of justice. Steady now,
or I'll tap you with this here camel"
Brace. good old sport; I'll get you
out Of this in a jiffy," l whispered to
Bunch at the first opportunity, and he
gave me cold-storage look that chased
the chils all over me.
Presently we arrived at the little
brick structure which Jiggersville
proudly called it's calaboose, and after
much fumbling of keys, Mr.. Diggs
opened the jackpot and we all stayed
The zap policeman was for taking
Bunch right back to the donjon cell
In the rear, but with IS bill I Sc
cured a stay Of proceedings.
My forehead was damp with perspi-
ration, 50 took off my hat and laid
1t on the bench in the little court
room where Bunch sat moodily with
bowed head.
Then coaxed the rural Vidocq over
In the corner and gave him a game
talk that l thought would warm his
heart, but he listened in dumbness
and couldn't see mo sense in believ-
ing the maleyfactor was anythin'
more'n a derned cuss, nohow!"
Il have every reason to believe that
we have made a mistake" l said to
Harmony in hoarse whisper From
an envelope dropped by this party in
my house am led to believe that he's
a respectable gentleman who entered
my premises quite by mistake
The chin whiskers owned and en-.
gineered by Diggs bobbed up and
down as he chewed a reflective cud,
but he couldn't see the matter in my
light at all.
had used all kinds of arguments
and was just about to give up in de-
spair when a voice in the doorway
caused us both to turn.
There stood Bunch Jefferson, the
real fellow, looking as fresh as
daisy!
Whats the trouble, john" he
asked, smiling benignly on Diggs.
While I was talking to the repre-
sentative OF the law, Mr.. Slick saw
his opportunity and grabbed it by the
hind leg. He had quietly reached the
door, and once outside the shedding
was excellent.
Bunch had his business suit on un-
der the burglar makeup. It didn't
take him two minutes to work the
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
Asst year the death rate in the

I Asst year the death rate in the
Il United States was probably the
lowest ever known. It certainly was
less than the mortality of any other
year since vital statistics have been
collected in a sufficiently large part of
the country to indicate clearly the
general state Of the public health.
In 1909 the death rate in states and
cities which contain more than half of
the population of the United States
was almost exactly Is to every thou
sand persons living. 1t was not quite
one in the thousand below the aver
age mortality rate of the preceding
five years. The fraction was nine
tenths. That means nine lives in
every 10000 Of the population. It is
900 in every million inhabitants, or
81. 900 in 90,0O0,000.
The cutting down of the death rate
enough to save 1000 lives in a year
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06

riment until Bunch pressed the button
and the scene was changed to Green
lands Icy Mountains.
Funny, isn't it," he sneered. Reg
ular circus, with yours truly in haste,
Bunch Jefferson, to do the grand and
lofty tumbling! I'm the Patsey. oh.
maybe! It was a fine play, all right,
but I didn't expect you to stack the
cards!"
ION the level. Bunch, believe me.
it wasn't my fault" I spluttered.
Not your fault" he snapped back:
then I suppose it was mine! I sup
pose I fell down the elevator shaft
just to please mother, Ell? Maybe YOU
think l dropped into the excavation
just to pass the time away? Have
you an idea that dove down into the
earth because wanted to get back to
the mines? Wasn't your fault, indeed,
Maybe you think fell in the we'll
simply because wanted to give an
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
A VentrIIoquist's Trick,

LeOminster, Mass.-Winfred H
Whiting, who has just learned ven
tri1oquism, caused anxious moment.
for a crowd on Prichard street wher
he put his new vocal accomplish
ments to practical test. A wager
piled high with wood was driven vi
in front of store. Soon cries fol-
help seemed to come from the bot
tom of the load. Tossing of thei,
coats. a dozen strong men started
pulling the wood of the wagon. By
the time most of the wood had beer
thrown into the street Winfred tolG
how he had been making a f1,sl tes1
In throwing his voice ..z. II.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
Furnishes Milk for Babies.

The Morningside Presbyterian
church of New York City has con-
Quoted a milk route for the benefit of
A bequest of $1,000 enabled this char.
ity to be founded. 1t is reported that
some of the ENTHUSIASTICALLY a
minority-are now objecting to the
milk route on the ground that it is
not business Of sufficient dignity for
a church to be engaged in. Some years
ago the parishioners OF Massachu-
sets church objected to their pastor
selling milk on the ground that it was
not dignified avocation for clergy
man.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
Tribute TO Painters Skill.

One of the still life paintings BY
Jan van Huysen In the museum at
The Hague was recently injured. but
it is believed the perpetrator was
neither vandal nor thief.
The picture represents basket Of
fruit on which q number of insects
have gathered. On a pale yellow ap'
pie, which is the centerpiece in tho
cluster Of fruit, is a large fly, painted
SO true to nature, 80 say the officials
Of the gallery, that the canvas was
injured by some one who endeavored
to 'shoo'' it and brought his cane o.
hand too close to the canvas. "A
tribute to the painters genius" says
the letter recording the fact. "for which
the work had to suffer-"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
For Pen-and-lnk Workers.

II you have to draw a straight line
with pen and ink. and have not the
necessary beveled ruler or line instru
ment, place an ordinary ruler on a
blotter, with their edges exactly par
allel and touching. and hold the pen
so that It's side projections touch the
blotter. There Is then no danger OF
an ink-smeared line. but the pen mari,
viii! be clear and smooth. and the pa.
per clean and unblOtted.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
Why Do Thew

Why women like the baldheaded
man it is somewhat difficult to define.
It may be because he appears to be-:
Thoughtful and kind.
Trustworthy and conflding. Whim-
sical Past the follies and frivolities
of youth.
Usually successful.
A man of property.
Opinions why women like the bald
headed man obtained by the Daily
Mirror are as follows:
He is not silly like young men.
He accepts refusals of marriage 90
nicely that one is sorry one did not
accept him.
The bald patch looks so clean and
nice. One would like to kiss 1t.
A doctor welcomes badness when Il
comes to him, as it is q sign Of 30
dateness and dignified learning, which
invariably increases his practise.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06

the drivers of the gasoline carts
wear" Bunch suggested.
Its him; it's the maleyfactor!" ex-
claimed Harmony, Tightening his grip
on the night stick; which way did
the derned cuss go?"
Bunch pointed to the southeast, and
with howl Of rage Diggs sprang for
ward and bounced down the pike like
a hungry kangaroo on its way to a
lunch counter.
I began to wrap my enjoyment and
send it forth in short gurgles of mer-
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
Rise Above Circumstances

The most thankful, joyful, and glad
hearted people we come across are
often those who have least in this
world to make them happy.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
Cents Made bv the MiIlior

Cents Made by the Million.
The Philadelphia mint coined LAG,
100000 cents last year. and is expect.
ed to exceed the 160,000,000 mark this
Year
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06

Some wise philosopher once 70
marked that we live in thoughts, not
years. This is especially true Of WON,
en- after they pass thirty.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06

1ln. Wmslowss Soothing Syrup
Fcrchildfen teefhinR, aoftenS tho gums reduesafD.
nammation allays cures Wind collie. &ca boeflA
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06
British Vital Statistics,

The birth rate in 76 great towns IN
England, in 1909, was 25.7 1000. The
death rate averaged III.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06

No matter how long your neck may b.
Or how sore your throat, Hamlins Wizard
Oil will cure it surely and quickly. Il
drives out all soreness and Inflammation.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06

People avoid him because they ars
afraid Of his tongue.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06

Truth has . sliding scale. regara
lea1 of the frank person.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-01-06

Dobbins-1s there a list of million
hires published?
Bronson that know of, but
you can probably get a list of the fol-
lows who dodge their taxes.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-06-29
Hosiery and Underwear
The Bargains in this Department Never Saw Before,
Be sure and Buy up Supply

Be and Buy up Supply
s Ladies. Hos, in seconds very sheer ~ cts
Is. 1..,e. Hose in black and without seam only .. cts
81" Isle Hose sntpe dye and very Fa0ay usually sold Is cts
s Ladies, Hose. very sheer the aa that never wears out 49, II cts
se cna,sn Hose fast back Isle finish two thread cts
guaranteed wear double heel and toe 10 cts.
Csc children. Hose very dne rib and very Is cts
in full seamless
BILE heelan customer ~~~
l'e Mems Hose silk finished in full line Of '0'F' black 'n cts
Csc Men. silk s Hose TAM only tn. sheer 10 cts
'ss Ladies' Vest low neck no sleeve and low neck and cts
''' A ss. 81 al: sass':s's ~ Is cts
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-06-29

CSC HandBgWe purchased dozen bargain round shape and
comes white pink TAM grey, brown, etc. with gilt
zed frame and long double cord, Special only 39c
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-06-29
SPECIAL
Muslin Underwear
Stunning Styles and Big Assortments All at
Bargain Prices.

soc Night Robes of fine cambria with ruaed yoke
9c Night Robes deep lace yoke pey ribbon full widf
Skirt and of fine cambria
S2o Night Robes the prees robes that have been shown in
Skowhegan, tucked yoke, inch wide ribbon and
fine soft, nainsook
1925 Night Robes the styles MENTION al
beauties in lace and embroidery
Sc White Pettcoas cambria muslin tucked founce
great bargain at
$125 White Petcoats prety embroidered tucked
S15O White Pecoats 20 inch founce tucked and heavily
$3.50 White Petticoas with lace inserted founce
1925 founoe, handsomely
tucked inch wide ribbon and with fine embroidery
29c Drawers value and has been sold
35c with lace inserted rufie, for only