davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
MISSED THE KANGAROO.
The Hunter Was After Meat. but Got
Instead a Stone.


In 1850 hunter ih New South
Wales took II fancy for some Kangaroo
meat. 80 he made n trip through the
mulga with no companion bul his gun.
He had no need of either guides or
dogs as he was an experienced bush
man.
The first kangaroo sighted was
wounded by him. but not badly
enough to disable II. Before he could
get In another shot II made or through
the salt bush ut terrific pace. but
leaving u plain trail In drops of blood.
80 the hunter followed as fast as he
could.
The trail gradually grew fainter as
the wounded animal bled less freely.
and its pursupr WAS often obliged to
stoop and examine the ground closely
for the telltale signs. After several
hundred yards had been covered with
out seeing any more crimson spots the
hunter began to think his quarry had
escaped. when he saw a single tleck
Of red before him.
As he bent to look for more flecks
the red changed to an iridesrent pale
green. and hp say II was gem stone
that lay before him. The Kangaroo
was not bagged. hut the white cliffs
opal fields were discovered. New York
Press
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
THE FIRST AST0R.
A Daring and Resourcefui Operator In
the Fur Trade.

A Daring and Resourcefui Operator In
the Fur Trade.
John Jacob Astor was born in the lit
tie village of Waldorf, in Germany, In
17G3. just as France at the close Of
the Seven Years war was ceding
Canada to England. He sailed to our
side of the Atlantic in 1888, when
George III. in the treaty Of Paris was
acknowledging our independence and
when the merchants Of Montreal were
establishing the Northwest company.
He became a fur dealer. gradually
gained control of the trade south Of
Lakes Huron and Superior. except
that which was in the hands Of the
Mackinaw company, and won n repu-
tatiOn as daring and resourceful Op-
orator, which made his name known
in Montreal. st. Louis. London and
Canton.
He had dozen vessels afloat. repre-
senting a capital Of $1.OO0,0OO, carry
ing furs to England and China In
1900. and at the time that the pur-
chase of Louisiana In 1903 pushed our
boundary to the Rocky mountains he
was the wealthiest and most success
ful merchant in the United States.-
North American Review.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
A Fish Aids Science,

There appears to be NO limit 10 SCI
entitic curiosity. especially IN Ger-
many. Not long ago scientist OF
Leipzig. wishing to ascertain whether
fish are warmer than the water they
live in. stuck a needle connected with
q thermoel9.tric circuit INTO a living
fish In an aquarium. Tne needle formed
one element OF the circuit. while the
other element was immersed in the
same water that contained the fish.
The latter was not seriously injured by
the needle and quickly became indif-
ferpnt to It, Then IN the fish swan
about. carrying the needle. the ingen-
iOus suvant closed the circuit and kept
watch Of the gaivanompter. 1t show
ed no DETECTION whatever. from which
he concluded that the fish and the
water were precisely equal In tempera-
ture. for mad either been warmer than
the other a current would have been
generated In the circuit. it.-ChicagO Rec
ord Herald.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
AN UNFOUGHT DUEL.
The Way tho Father Of His Country
Avenoed a Blow

The Way tho Father Of His Country
Avenged a Blow.
II " narrated that OH one occasion
In his early manhood Washington
came very near the settlement OF a
dispute, so common In those days. by
fighting a duel. But az he was the
one who should have issued the chal.
lenge he had the still greater courage
to apologize and admit that he was In
the wrong.
II was in the town Of Alexandria.
where the young Virginia colonel was
tiOn dispute occurred. and in the heat
Of the party excitement Washington
told a Mr. Payne that he lied That
gentleman ut once replied with blow
that knocked the young colonel down.
Word having reached the barracks
that their beloved commander had
been killed. his soldiers rushed to the
city to avenge him. He met them.
however. quieted them. and they re.
turned to their quarters.
Mr. Payne. on receiving note from
Washington the next morning asking
him TO call at his lodgings. supposed 1t
wns.. of course. to give the colonel
opportunity to demand satisfaction"
for the blow he had received the day
before. Imagine his surprise when.
instead of finding pistols or swords
ready for duel. Washington greeted
him with outstretched hand. saying:
~ believe was wrong yesterday. You
have already had some satisfaction.
and If you deem that sufficient here
IL my hand. Let us be friends."-H.
A. Ogden In st. Nicholas.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
PLAYING A WITNESS

Methods Of Two Famous Cross Ex-
aniners Of the Irish Bar.
Two famous cross examiners at the
irish bar, says Francis l.. Wellman In
.'The Art Of Cross Examination." were
Sergeant Sullivan. afterward master
of the rolls in Ireland and Sergeant
Armstrong. Barry O'Brien In his
Life Of Lord Russell" describes their
methods with perjured witnesses.
sullivan" he says. approached the
witness. quite in u friendly way, seem
cd to hp an impartial inquirer seeking
information. looked surprised at what
the witness said. appeared even crate
ful for the additional light thrown on
the case.
"'Ah, indeed, Well. as you have said
so mu~h perhaps you can help us
little further. Well. really. my lord,
this ~ Il very intelligent man.
'"So playing the witness with caution
and skill. drawing him stealthily on.
keeping him completely In the dark
about the real point OF attack. the
little sergeant waited until the man
was IN the meshes and then few at
him and shook him as terrier would
a rat.
"The big sergeant (Armstrong) had
more humor and more power. but less
dexterity and resource. His great
weapon was ridicule. He laughed at
the witness and made everybody else
laugh. The witness got confused and
lost his temper, and then Armstrong
pounded him like a champion In the
ring"
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
LONDON STREET CRIES.
They Must Have Made the City Bed
lam In OIdsn Days.

They Must Have Made the City Bed.
lam In oIdsn Days.
London must have been a lively city
In the days when the street erier
jOined In competition with the bell Of
the postman and the muffin man. The
boy who goes round the streets with
the early morning cry OF Hot rolls!'
still fingers In the outer suburbs. but
the old street rrier has long been silent
In the land.
Some Of the ancient cries have been
collected by Frederick W. HackwoOd
In his book. ''The Good O'd Times"
They include CHERRY Ripe, o." "Bak-
ing or Boiling Apples" "Green hast
lngs" these were early peas': "Laven-
der. sweet lavender. six lunches
penny" or perhaps rabbits. wild
rabbits" and when there WAS good
cat, h Of fish It might be "Mackerel.
o." or "Herrings. alive. all alive"
"Some Of the cries" writes Mr..
Hack wood. would sound strange to
the ear now. as 'BandboEes, 'Bas-
kcts.' Buy broom Hair brOOms,'
.Iyot spiced gingerbread Prick DUST
.Sard, O. Bellows to mend Chairs to
mend .Bill OF the play More familiar
perhaps were Old clothes Cats and
do"s' meat and Dust o.
"NOw we are redu'e to little more
than the shrek and howl which are
supposed to represent milk and GOALS"
London Chronicle.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
Oeceived nv n Cloud.

The instinct Of animals Is sometimes
supposed to be more infallible than
human reason. but scienti't's obser-
vations OF the katydid rather contra
dict that opinion. The kat,did. with
its musical membranes. produces two
distinct "songS." one peculiar to the
night and familiar to everybody. the
other daytime tune. which Is rather
a rasp than melody. According to
the scientist mentioned 1t Is sometimes
quite comical to hear the singers sud
denly change their tune when dark
cloud obscures the sun. Immediately
resuming their daytime song when 1t
has passed. This recalls the hens that
go to rOOst during solar eclipse.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
INITIATING THE CUR
Stunts the New Boys In Some Banks
Have to Face.

Have to Face.
Now. when a tyro goes to work In
machine shop he is sent to the tool
room fer left handed monkey wrench.
a foundry wGg, will send the new boy
IN search of "cOre holes" A printers
devil Is sent to the typefounders with
a wheelbaTow for hair space. HUI
morists in certain Kansas City banks
have revised code, says the Times
Of that city.
Here are six things the beginner
probably will be required to seek-at
irug stores. in stationery shops, even
Mt the county courthouse, where one
trustful youth went the other day to
inquire diligently for a ''speed BALI to
assist him In his work:
There is the speed ball." then. and
there is the "check stretcher," pre-
sumably used to increase the size Of
checks that do not conform to the fil-
ing cases; the discount board" sup
posed to be checkered In manner to
facilitate the handling of discounted
paper: the clearing house key" in
search for which half day easily may
be consumed, and for the red and
black lines that lie artistically on the
fair pages what could be more apprO-
pirate than striped ink" and lest the
ink becomes too thick should not IN
link strainer" be procured?
Ask the new boy.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
OIL CHEAPER Than Water.

According to the figures given out
by the commissioner Of public works
of Rhode Island. It cost less last year
to lay the dust on the highways by the
use OF oil than 1t cost to attempt to
do so by the use Of water In previous
years. The total figures which were
made public give about $1,000 In favor
Of the oil.
But it will be very generally admit
ted that the advantage in other ways
Is so much greater that had the money
cost for the oil been greater every one
In the city would have approved the
policy Of the highway department. OF
course the cost Of oil Is greater than
the cost of water hut the saving Is ia
the matter Of labor.
One man with wagon and p:.r OF
horses can keep only small section OF
the city sprinkled with water. while
that same outfit. having gone over
stretch Of street with oil. is not te-
quired to visit that particular place
again for weeks.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
Tho Man of e:rt,re

Most OF our rich men work very hard
not always because they want to, but
in many instances because they have
to. The husbandry Of big estate In
itself may he a task for the whole Of
the time and thought. not Of one man,
but of several. As n general thing 1t
Is fair to say that our only man OF
leisure Is the tramp. The social pariah,
the mutineer against the rule of work.
is the only one who can be sure OF a
care free. sybaritic existence. and even
he lives in constant danger Of rock salt
from the farmers gun or the onslaught
Of the watchdog around the corner as
the hobo knocks at the kitchen door
or pauses ut the water trough to drink.
The poor tramp IL certainly more
frequent social phenomenon than the
rich One.-Philadelphi Ledger.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
The Earl and tho ANGLER.

One Of the earls Of Mimic had a
kindly nature. One day Hawick an
gler was throwing his line on the river
near MintO when tall gentleman
came up to him and inquired what
kind of sport he was having. The
fisher replied that 1t was not very
good and that he could do better II
he were at the other side Of the water,
adding. "l'il gle ye sixpence II yen
carry me across" The bargain was
struck. and the gentleman. getting the
angler on his back. carried him through
the water to the other side. True to
his promise. the angler produced the
sixpence. which he prOffered to the
stranger. who. however. smiled and
remarked. "Give 1t to the first beggar
you meet and tell him 1t is present
from the Earl Of MintO."
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
CALIFORNIA ROAD.
Fins Stretch Between Fl Monte and
Pomona.

Pomona.
Without doubt as fine stretch of
country road as can be found In the
United States IL that now nearing com
pletiOn between FL Monte and Pomona
under one of the contracts of the good
roads project. In fact. It probably ex.
GELS any rural road In any other part
of the country. as II Is built by a proc
ess that has only recently been per
fected and tried In Germany
After the roadway Is graded and all
depressions filed the earth il packed
hard with steam roller. and chen ii
layer of crushed rock is laid on 1t. the
pieces averaging several Inches square
On this Is spread layer Of consider
ably finer rock. and then comes Il third
and last layer Of very fine rock.
These are pressed firmly tOpether
with q heavy steam roller and then
thoroughly saturated with crude petro
ieum. Lastly. the roadbed is covered
with a layer Of rock dust as fine as
powder and then smoothed and packed
many times again with the steam roll
er The result is road as smooth
aud firm as any asphalt paved city
street and one that with little care
ia practically indestructible
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27

Courtesy Good Roads, New fork.1
me;nud Of construction which is giving
fairly uniform results. This method Is
aa follows:
A shoulder furrow is plowed on each
side of the center of the roadway,
making the width to be treated from
sixteen to eighteen feet. and the loose
earth graded outside of this width un-
less the crown Of the road Is too steep,
in which case 1t should be plOwed and
this material thrown oH to the sides.
Flowing only the shoulders renders
It easy to shape the subgrade with
crown Of about one in h to the foot.
The grade Of oil to be used Is much
more important than the kind Of soil.
Light oils and those having II paraffin
base are little better than so much
water. The oil should he one having
an asphalt base Of at least s. per cent.
1t should be free from paratfin and all
lighter oil. The oil should be applied
10 the road at a temperature of not
less than go degrees f., and an oil
containing IS per cent Of asphalt will
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
WHERE DRAINAGE IS GOOD
you FlND. coon, ROADS.
Not Simply Surface Should Be Drain
I'd, but Entire Foundation.

Drainage may he said to be the most
needed condition for permanent good
roads. not simply drainage OF the road
surface. which Is very Important. but
a proper aud complete drainage OF the
entire rondbcd and foundation, this in
such a manner thaf there would not
br any standing water In the roadside
dltcnes to seep back under and soften
the rOadbed.
We are all familiar with the manner
in which a railroad keeps its roadbed
droined-by means Of lateral bitches on
each side of the roadbed. dug with
grade sufficient to carry the water lat
orally to some intersecting ravine. creek
or other natural drainage way. AS ap-
piled to highway construction the lat
eral drainage would be largely by
means Of open bitches at the roadsides.
with. in some cases, a covered drain OF
some suitable material In places where
the necessary grades were lower down
from the top surface than would be
best or adv bic for open bitches.
This would mean the working out
carefully Of the contours not only for
the highway. but Of practically the
whole drainage basin affected In order
tina. size depth Of bitches and location
Of outlets could all be balanced so that
the maximum Of results could be OBJ
tanned with the minimum Of labor and
cost.
The proper drainage system would
be governed largely by the area of the
basin. contour Of surface. character OF
soil aud location Of outlets. and this is
a twofold advantage to the farmers-at
least to many Of them.
There are hundreds of farms all or
part Of which would I've greatly bene-
f1ted by tile drainage. but in many cases
the work cannot be done because they
have no available outlet Drainage
work as outlined above would give a
general knowledge Of the entire drain
age basin and would In majority Of
cases provide the farmer with all out
lei in one OF the highway bitches for
his tile drainage. In most cases the
t,ehefits to he derived from the Oppor-
tunity to have an outlet for tile drain
age system would be as great If moi
greater than those resulting fiom I'm
proved highways.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
CURIOUS DOMESTIC PETS.
Musical Insects and Waitzing Mice
Popular In Japan.

PoPN'as Sdfous
Among the many curious domestic
pets Of the japanese are their musical
Insects and waltzing mice.
Hung up In the verandas Of Japa-
nese houses may he seen small. exqui
sitely cut bamboo cages. from which
in the hush of dawn and at the close
of summer days proceed quaint little
whstlngs. tinklings and trlls. Usual
ly II Ia at evening that the japanese
sit at their ease 70 listen to the music
of their imprisoned insects. One called
the "suzu mushi" gives out. II il said.
kind Of trill so delicate and clear as
to sound like All etherealiZed birds
song.
One species " japanese mouse may
be said to waltz through the greater
part OF the waking hours Of Its life.
never firing. though its feet wear ont
IN the process This peculiar little
rodent Is black and white and has
pink eyes Its chief regularity ia that
at II time when baby mice Of other
species are just beginning to move
about this terpsichorean mouse Is al
rendy able to waltz.
Put together these japanese dane
Ing mice will waltz In couples. and at
times more than two will join in
mad whirl So rapid is the movement
of the dancers that II Is difficult to
distinguish their heads from their
tails.
The Japanese says that waltzing
seems to be as essential TO the happi-
ness Of this mouse AZ midair somer
saults are To the tumhling pigeon. An
upright peg forms convenient pivot
round which the mouse can whlrl. but
II Is said that without any such guide
they would not In several minutes
cover m area larger than dinner
plate. and they easily spin under
tumbler.-New York Herald.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
wjndow Leaves.

Six species Of plants that possesS
window leaves have been discovered
in South Africa. They are all STEM
less succulents. and the egg shaped
leaves are imbedded in the ground,
only the apices remaining visible.
The visible part of the leaves Is fat
or convex on the surface and color
less. 80 that the light can penetrate
It and reach the interior Of the leaf
below. which is green on the inside.
With the exception of the blunt apex
no part of the leaf Is permeable to the
light. being surrounded by the soil In
which 1t u buried.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
Hedges and Weeds.

On some public roads the hedges and
the weeds give them the appearance Of
a wilderness. 1t causes them to hold
the moisture after rain and keeps
the roads soft and muddy. The weeds
prevent the use Of any part Of the
road except the beaten path in the CEN
ter of the lanes, and that wears deep
holes and ruts in the track.
II the highways were graded and
the drag applied after every rain 1t
would do way with the weeds and
make a good, WIDE free roadway. But
the hedges must be kept down to &C.
cure the best results.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27

The Iowa Federation Of Women's
Clubs has decided to join In the good
roads movement In that state.
While the men are agitatlng the nd
visibility Of making drag roads or es.
tablishing cross state highways the
women will make a plea for the abof
ishment Of landscape disfguring sign
boards and that trees be- planted along
the cross state routes that the roads
might be made shady and llore beau.
uful.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
Why She Worried.

But, mother. why do you object to
my being pleasant to the young men?
You can't hope to keep me with you
always. you know. One of them will
take me away from you some day."
''Take you away from me? Well. II
that 'happens shall not complain. 1t
is the certainty that none Of the young
men who have been coming here so
far would take you away that has
worried both your father and me-
Chicago Record Herald
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
Better Roads Shorten Distances.

81 wish my farm was only half the
distance from town that 1t Is" said
a farmer to a prominent business man
after he had hauled a load Of corn
over muddy roads for eight miles.
"Well. we can take your farm and
move II fonr miles closer to town." re-
piled the business man. The farmer
looked incredulous. "HowT" he ask
ed. "By building good roads," replied
the merchant.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
A Better Trade.

II understand young Rriefess Is
nbOut 10 marry the daughter Of old
Bonds. the millionaire?"
"Yes. 30 ! am told +"
"Will he give up the law businessT
Eyes He will give up the Inv busi.
ness aud 70 into the son ln-law busi.
ness"
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
Only Wanted the Chance.

Emperor do not care to hear your
proposition. sir. Everything that is
submitted must first be put through
the prime minister. Subject-Nothing
would please me better. wanted to
show you the new bayonet which I
have Invented for army use.--Lopdon
Answers, - i,
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
An Old DeIusion.

Father of the Fair One-How cGn
you possibly think of marrying my
daughter? You say that by the strict
est economy you can save only $40
month! Poor but Worthy Poet-Oh,
yes. but II we both save 1t will be 500,
-MeggendOrfer Batter.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
ROADS MADE CT STRAW.
One Hundred and Forty Miles Bedded
Down Around WalIa Walla.

One hundred and forty eight miles of
straw roads have been made within a
year around Walla Walla. Wash.
Straw holds down the dust and pre-
vents the wheels from sinking too
deeply into the mud in the wet sea
sons.
Straw Is favOrite road building ma
terial and Is good while 1t lasts. Sage
brush Is also used In sOnle places This
latter Is tougher than straw and
little travel.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27

Father Ito his son. a doctorDz.If this
isn't the limit! pay all that money
for you to study medicine. and the
first thing you do Is to cut me OF my
drink.-Fliegende Batter.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
TURKEYS ROADS.

A French company has obtain
ed tho concession for the repair
and construction Of roads in
Turkey. It covers ALSO miles in
Turkey in Asia and 1000 miles
in European Turkey. The esti-
mated cost 10 $13,608, 900.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27

heretofore the average farm.
or has taken a prid, in tho pub
lie schools and churches, in
farm buildings and in the ap-
pearancs Of his field fences, but
pride in tho roads passing his
field and over which hs has 20
travel whenever he stirs from
his farm has been totally lack.
ing. But an awakening has
taken piaeo. and already the
farmer is beginning to ask him
self why no should not put his
roads first instead Of last. He
10 the chief sufferer when they
are bad. =
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
Touoh Combination.

Probably there is no combination on
earth harder to live with than an ar
tistic temperament soused in bad
cold.-GalvestOn News.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27

ingratitude IN monstrous. and for rhs
multitude 10 be ungratefnl were 10
make a monster Of the multitude
Shakespeare.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
Willing, but Cautious.

"Yes, my daughter eloped."
~ suppose you will forgive the
young couple?
"Not until they have located place
10 board, Washington Herald.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
TREATING EARTH
ROADS WITH OIL
kethods Which viii Give Fair
Results.
PREPARATION OF SUBGRAOE.

Sam. Care Should Be Taken With
Th;a as With Maeadsm Road-Ths
Greater Part of Work Can Be Done
VITA /. Traction Machine In Prepar-
i:,s the Road For Treatment. \
The oiled earth road Is still in its ex.
prriucntal stage, and 1t will have to be
given considerably more study before
1t can be expected to give uniformly
good results under all the varied con-
Giticns Of soil and the available oils.
Different methods of construction have.
been followed ip different states, but
there seems to be only one practical
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
GOOD ROAD MAKES FREE
: MEN.

A farmer living on a good
read 10 q free man. He 10 not
dependent on wsathsr eondi-
tions. hs 10 able to cell his
stock and grain and fruit at the
best market prices. The rail
roads have to serve the man
who can get his stuff to q ship.
ping point any day in the year.
Catoctin clarion., 1911-04-27
DULL EDGE DRAG.

A King split log road drag
with q dull edge will make q
road impervious to wator il
used in wet weather.