davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
Further Indictment of the Destructive Rat

the pest is becoming a serious menace
to game preservers. On one large
game farm in England from which l
have got eggs for several years past
| am told that the rats by reason Of
their Increased numbers are now
much more to be dreaded than foxes
and weasels.
Many gamekeepers are suffering
from the same experience and one
tells me that the rats not only rob
the nests but destroy the sitting birds
without fear. Tho fecundity of the
rat necessitates some kind of united
war being waged against ii, but 1t has
a decided friend In the careless farm
er who allows II comfortable and
unmolested home In his stockyards
and outbuildings.
In the past winter, too. rats have
done more damage than field mice in
many gardens. eating roots and bulbs
in a wholesale manner. Only the
other evening saw rat ni,bling the
bark Of newly planted shrub with
evident enjoyment-The Scotsman
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
New NEWS =
Or YESTERDAY
by r. IL Edzu0/zc

1t has sometimes been sa,d -
Senator Vance continued--,n.
knew by the twinkle OF his ~
the twitching Of his mustac6s ~ ~
some humorous thought WAS n... ~
through his mind-"it has often 49,
said that North Carolina Is repre..,.
ed by two shooting senators ~ ~
in spite OF that fact think Rao.,'
and ! are about as gentle.d,r..'.
toned men as are in the senate .
The senator saw that I looke6 H..
zled. They say" he explained NJ.
/ shoot on my mouth while Rsss--'
is shooting his cuffs"
saw the point at once. senate.
Ransom was distinguished be, ~
for the length and fulness Of his III.
cuffs. and for their capacity 10 e
velop his hands, but also for b.ha
he had of constantly pulling The cur.
when they had slipped back, 70 ~,
accustomed place. so that they "a,
cealed all Of his hands but the anger
In the slang Of the day this was call,s
shooting the cuffs" OF course, IA
explanation need be made Of sens,m
vance's remark that he was scco1.<
Of shooting OF his mouth" For 1,
was pretty constant and yiscroa,
speaker on the floor Of the senate
Copyright. 1911. by Z. J. Edwards An
Rights Reserved)
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
North Carolina Was Represented by
Zeb Vance, Who "shot OF His
Mouth" and M. w. Ransom,
Who "shot His Cuffs."

During the administration OF Presi-
dent Hayes and for some eighteen
years later, no other state was repre-
scented IN the United States senate by
two men so completely different In
physical. intellectual and temperament
tai characteristics as was North Caro-
lima.
The two senators were Matthew w.
Ransom. who as q Confederate gen.
sral fought in many of the great bat
ties Of the Civil war, and Zebulon B.
Vance. who was elected governor OF
his state while in the field for the
south Differing as they did in per-
sonal characteristics and in the meth
DDS which distinguished them while
senators. these two North Carolfnisns
were warm personal friends.
Senator Ransom was a man of great
personal dignity. He could not have
been persuaded to enter the senate
chamber unless he wore the conven-
tional frock coat and black trousers.
His linen was conspicuous for its fine
ness as well as its Wilderness. He
wore q close-trimmed grizzly gray
beard. and he was fond OF plucking at
chin whisker. He rarely spoke, and
II ne did address the chair, 1t was
usually to put a question or to make
a brief motion. He always did this
with studied dignity and grace. II
was possible to see In him the So
called typical southern gentleman. He
was one Of the two or three Demo
cratic senators with whom Senator
Roscoe Conkling of New York per-
mitted himself to be on terms OF per.
sonal intimacy.
Senator "Zeb" Vance, as he was
commonly called, was a man OF her.
culean frame. He seemed to have
come directly from the plain people
His head. of noble shape and poise,
was surmounted by a mass of brown.
fish hair. tossed about with sort OF
careless contempt of brush and comb
He wore very heavy mustache of
tawny color. He appeared to be In
different to the cut of his clothes. and
had no objection to entering the sen
ate chamber dressed in q business
sack suit. the pockets Of which were
stuffed with papers. His colleague
wore gold-framed eyeglasses. while
Senator Vance frequently perched
upon his forehead an old-fashioned
pair Of spectacles.
Senator Vance was man Of In
finite humor and much wit He al
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21

the most famous band in France num-
bers seventy musicians.
The United States has always held
a high place in the world OF band
music. thanks not only to our great
governmental bands, such as the noted
United States Marine band--the
Presidents own" which plays at the
White House--but also to the famous
private bands. such as those OF Sousa
and the late Patrick Gilmore. Inch
IDENTIFY II may be mentioned that
American band music has the call alf
over the world The lively. character
istic. inspiring marches. such as those
composed by the March King" John
Philip Sousa. have been translated"
into the band renditions Of every civil
lied nation.
One OF the jokes Of American his
tory is that the first band which Is
mentioned as being aboard an Ameri-
can warship was deliberately stolen
by the commander Of the vessel who..
it seems was mighty fond OF band
music. This was more than century
ago. The officer who boldly kidnapped
full-fedged band was Capt Daniel
McNiell. and his good ship was the
corvette Boston. carrying twenty-eight
guns. The Boston had put into an
Italian port for a brief stay, and
band attached to one Of the regiments
stationed at that port came aboard to
give a concert. The Yankee captain
was so fascinated with the music that
he forthwith tripped anchor. made all
sail and escaped to sea with the pro
testing musicians. OF course there
was a big howl over the episode. and
the government of the United States
had to hasten to disclaim all responsi-
bility and send the musicians back
home. The first real worthwhile band
In the American navy was likewise
captured, but the intrepid Decatur
came into possession OF this band
through the capture OF British war
ship and then induced the British mu-
sicians to enlist in his service. When
this band reached New York and
marched through the streets at the
1 nedQ Ol q PiOCCooAOn "a AcHACC -~-~~
Jackets It created a sensation.
The greatest latitude has always
been allowed In the matter OF the
uniforms worn by bandmen. Except
! in the United States army and navy.
there are no rules or restrictions gov
erning the sort of costumes the must
clans shall wear when on parade. and
our private bands have taken advan-
tage of this license to bedeck them
selves In gorgeous attire.
Perhaps the handsomest and showi-
est Of all band uniforms is that worn
on state occasions at the White House
by the Marine band. It consists OF
light blue trousers and brilliant red
coat, literally embellished with black
braid. The mounted bands Of the
United States cavalry are a novelty
and never fail to arouse wonder that
they can give as good music as they
do, considering that each member
even to the drummer. is mounted on
prancing steed. In all bands the
drum major Is the most gaudily CARRIED
member Of that organization. and
wears a hat designed to make him ap
pear about eight feet in height In ths
eyes OF the small boys.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
Had Two Shooting Senator's

ways commanded close attention
when he spoke. His colleague never
failed to pay him the courtesy Of TAX
ing seat close to Vance and listen
ing with apparently absorbed atten-
ton to the entire speech. And when
Senator Vance had finished, Senator
Ransom was the first to extend con-
graduating hand.
One Saturday afternoon I saw Sen
ator Vance walking around the Thorn
as Circle. looking at the statue OF
General Thomas from all points Of
view.
"That is fine statue Of Thomas"
he said. II sometimes think he was
the best soldier on the Union side. all
things considered. My colleague. RAN
som, agrees with me-"
ventured to say to Senator Vance
that l had observed that his colleague
always made 1t point to be the first
to congratulate him after he had
made a speech
"Yes. he does do that" was the re-
ely, "and he is sincere in 1t. too.
do all the talking for North Carolina,
and Ransom keeps up general appear
ances by his elegant manners.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
suuqe stIon Of a Friend That induced
John Hin to Advocate First the
Postal Card and Then the
Reduced Rate.

In the spring of 1883. few weeks
after the adjournment Of congress. l
had good opportunity to chat with
John Hill of New Jersey. whose term
as q member of congress expired on
March of that year.
''Mr. HILL" | said. Il presume you
feel greatly gratified over your sue
cess in persuading congress to adopt
the two-cent rate for letter postage.
presume you have been congratu-
lated, aud l want to tell you that l
have heard members Of congress say
that your triumph is the only one
they know of the kind. for 1t was ex-
clusively a one mans fight from the
beginning to the end
Yes" replied Mr.. Hill. Il have re-
ceived many expressions Of congratu-
lation. and some from quarters where
l least expected them | am abso-
lutely certain that all predicted as
a result of reducing letter postage
from three cents to two cents will
be found to have been accurate with
in the next two or three years"
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
Magnate's Bookkeeping Lesson

lawyer
Il replied that was one already. in
bud at least.
Sammy. you know enough law.
now, don't you, to keep out OF jail?'
the Commodore said; and knew from
his manner that behind the pleasantly
he had some serious purpose.
"'Yes, Commodore replied 7
think that know enough law to keep
out of jail. but l also think l know
enough to keep out even though were
not lawyer
Sammy he said. I want you to
give up the law. Dan Torrance Is go
ing to quit the steamboat business.
/ have got to have somebody that
can trust In his place. and want to
put -ou there. / want you to begin
next week
but, Commodore 1 protested. I
can't take Dams place. don't know
the first thing about bookkeeping
The Commodore looked quizzically
at me for a moment. and then he told
me that he could find out in an In
slant whether had told him the truth
or not when I said that didn't know
anything about bookkeeping.
Sammy he said. you know
enough to take in all the money that's
coming. and to say how much you
have taken in. don't your
why. of course / do. Commo
dore.'
"NWen. Sammy. you know how &c
pay out what l tell you tor
"'Of course. can do that
well. you know enough to pay
over to me all that Is left. don't you?
"'Of course, that's easy / said.
well. that's all there is in book
keeping. Now. you quit over there
with Sam Barlow as soon as he'll LEI
you go. and come over here and taks
Dan Torrance's place
"Of course there was nothing to d,
but to accept the Commodore's offer
and that's why l gave up the law fol
business."
copyright. 1911. by e. j.. Edwards. Al
Rights Reservedl
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21

rels From the feathers lying about I
presume that the rats have killed the
sitting birds as well. but l have so
far not actually seen them do so.
have tried catching the rats in trap
baited with the most tempting NOR
sells, but the only success have had
was when the bait was a sparrow
fedgling which was killed by falling
from its nest In the waterspout and
whose body made use Of. Other
dainties have quite failed to lure the
rats and 1t would seem from this that
they are very partial to young birds.
Perhaps In this, too. may be found an
explanation Of the scarcity Of birds
in. districts where they were once
plentiful and from which they have
disappeared owing to no apparent
cause.
Every poultry keeper knows what
a nuisance the willy rat is in the
neighborhood Of his hen runs and
chicken coops. ana the increase of
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
How Commodore Vanderbilt 1rov>d to
Samuel Barton That He Could
Easily FIN the Position Daniel
Torrance Was vacating.

In my early manhood" said the
late Samuel Barton, nephew Of Com
modore Vanderbilt and one Of the ex-
ecutors OF the vanderbilt's estate. lit
was my ambition to become a great
lawyer. l thought that In the family
and it's various connections there
ought to be some one who was neither
merchant, a financier nor steam
boat man.
so / studied law, was admitted to
the bar, and became managing clerk
for one of the greatest law firms of
New York city OF that time, Barlow.
Shipman, Laroque & Mcfarland. At
that time the Commodore was very
much occupied with his own steam
ship lines. and with his Long Island
sound steamboats, as well. although l
learned afterwards that he was just
beginning to think of changing his
career from that of steamship own
err and manager to railways.
"The Commodore had placed in
charge of the steamship lines as his
direct representative, his son-in-law.
Daniel Torrance. He was pretty much
everything under the Commodore
cashier. bookkeeper. manager. and
all that. / knew that Torrance was
becoming a little tired Of the work.
and was looking around for an oppor-
tunity to go into business for himself.
But l didn't believe he would ever be
able to break away from the Commo-
dore.
"One morning the Commodore asked
me to call upon him at his offices.
which were then In building which
faced Bowling Green. very near the
Battery. He was not In his Office
when I called. but he came In few
minutes later and greeted me with
his usual salute: Hello. Sammy
Then, when we were alone. he asked:
SAMMY. do you expect to make q
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
Dreamed Fish.

Cut in pieces two and one-half or
three pounds fresh fish and four med
ium sized onions. Add large handful
salt and Eve bay leaves. Cover with
boiling water and boil fish Eve to ten
minutes. When fish is done. drain OF
water and lift fish out with a fork.
Then put the following sauce In dish
and boil: Two and one-half cupfuls
milk, one heaping tablespoonful flour.
one heaping teaspoonful sugar. one
teaspoonful salt, one-half teaspoonful
pepper. one-quarter teaspoonful all
spice. tip of knife cloves. and large
piece Of butter size Of an egg. Last
add two tablespoonfuls vinegar. Let
this boil and then put fish in and let
boil a few minutes longer.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
Trio May Become Members Of Nature
Fskirs' Organization II Colonel
Sees Following Narrative.

In a little country village crowd
of loafers around a store got to talk
ing about echoes. and Jim Sanders
said down where he was born and
raised there was an echo. and he used
to put 1t to peculiar use. He said
that every night before he went to bed
he would put his head out the win.
dow and say:
Jim Sanders. Seven o'clock; time
to get up"
He would start the echo going, and
next morning at seven o'clock It would
get. back and say Jim Sanders! Seven
o'clock: time TO get up."
Deacon Witherspoon said he didn't
know much about echoes; but he'd
seen 1t rain about as hard as anybody
ever seen 1t rain Somebody said;
Deacon. how hard did you ever see
1t rain?"
well, sir" said the deacon. "once
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21

of those conscientious committeeman.
who feel that something must be hap
pening every moment In the after
noon the band is equally busy. and the
only difference from the morning is
that the players get to sit downfall
is they are called upon to play In
connection with the speech-making
and the singing in the local park or
the races at the fair ground or other
set program. In the evening there is
more band music as an accompani-
ment for the fireworks. and then the
bandman, who does not work at 1t
regularly" can go home convinced
that though he has been earning
money while everybody else was
spending 1t, he has worked just as
hard for his "a or IS as he could
have done had be been brick laying or
farming or clerking or barbering.
The band which has become so IA
miliar to US that we regard II as q
necessity, is an institution OF ancient
origin. Our own army and navy have
had bands for more than a century
and civilian bands In this country date
back almost as far. The band as an
organized body OF musicians could not.
variety of different musical instru-
ments had been invented and tho de-
velopment along this line proceeded
somewhat slowly a few centuries back.
From the outset. however. the most
uncivilized nations recognized the
three chief factors of band music
rhythm. melody and harmony. as
manifested by the three basic instru-
ments. the drum, the fife and the
bugle or cornet In this connection #
Is interesting to note that the drum.
which is closer to the heart of young
America than any other unit in the
band. Is an instrument which came
to US from the Orient
The bugles and comets. which are
so much in evidence on the Fourth OF
July, have been developed from the
single tubes of antiquity. Originally
the range Of these instruments was
limited to two notes. but In time the
tubes were bent and finally the in.
strument was made In several coils
with the result that the musical range
was broadened proportionately. The
whistling instruments such as fifes
flutes and clarinets. are the outcome
OF a somewhat similar development
1t is worthy of note that II is seldom
nowadays that anybody attempts tc
introduce a new instrument or a rad
ical adaptation of an old design fol-
use in bands.
1t cannot be said that there Is any
standard membership for a band
Many an American village that has
a band of ten or twelve pieces plumes
itself on the possession. whereas the
small city is rare than can boast 4
band OF more than sixteen to twenty
members. Yet even this latter mum
Der appears small when compared
with the membership of our great con
cert. military and naval bands. Suci
a band usually has In the neighbor
hood Of fifty members. and some o
them. with fife, drum and bugl'
corps added. muster nearly one hun
bred men on parade. In Germany ant
Italy the regulation military band II
made up of forty-five musicians. Will,
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
Rodent Set Forth as Robber Of Nests,
In Addition TO It's Other
lnlqulties.

From the great increase that is no
ticeable in the number of rats this
spring 1t is evident that the severity
Of the last winter has had no dimin-
fishing effect on these destructive
rodents. though It has had on all
other wild animals
My shrubbery has been suffering
from plague Of rats OF late. but Il
was only this week that discovered
what the attraction is In the last
Few wears | have succeeded in entic-
ing a great many wild birds TO build
N my garden and the contents Of
their nests have been providing night
" meals for the rats.
These marauders do not come SIN
gly but in dozens. and they go from
nest TO nest taking out eggs or young
birds as the case may be. while they
climb trees with the agility Of SPUR
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
Apple and Rhuharb PUDDING.

Soak one pint Of very fine bread
crumbs in one quart OF milk until
they are soft, then spread buttered
dish with pared and cored sour APP
plea cut as thin as a wafer; lay over
these some thin slices of rhubarb;
beat three eggs with one-half pint OF
sugar and mix with the milk and
crumbs. pouring over the fruit; set In
a pan Of hot water in moderate
oven to cook until the custard is
firm and apples tender. Serve with
meringues on top. placing . bit OF APP
pie Jelly In each ring.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
Fabric wan Papers.

Wall papers are initiating all sorts
of weaves and copying no end of an
tique designs. Among the fabrics
there are denim, burlap. linen, crashes.
basket cloths, chambrays. dimities,
batiste, muslin and the like. These
come plain or striped. These fab
RIGS are especially well combined for
summer homes with chintz and ere.
tonne patterns and the old stencil mo-
tifs. OF papers in cretonne pattern,
with the actual fabrics to match them,
there is an endless assortment Two
toned all-over leaf and flower designs
on fabric grounds are among the new
things.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
Potato T.mbale.

Heat up two pounds OF mashed po-
tatoes with three tablespoonfuis OF
butter. add two well beaten eggs and
season with salt and pepper. Butter
plain timbale mold. sprinkle It with
breadcrumbs, and line the bottom and
sides an inch thick with the potato
puree. Chop half pound Of cold
beef. mutton or ham and season with
salt. pepper and butter. Put this in
the center OF the potato and cover 1t
with the remainder Of the potato and
bake for 80 minutes In a hot oven.
Turn on hot dish. pour some brown
sauce around the base Of the timbale
and serve.
Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-21
Origin of Two Cent Postage

AS we walked along observed lh,|
Mr.. Hill was a much larger and hear
Ter man than he appeared to be uAer
seen from the galleries Of the kso..
of representatives He was elem
shaver and OF large features. and hsi
especially clear ard penetrating eys,
1t was easy to see In the lines oi hs
face that patience and persever,nc,
were fundamental characteristics /.
his nature, and as l studied hin Il
close range l began to realize hon 4
was that he. who in 1881 had into
duced a bill which was almost
laughed at and generally deemed d
surd-a bill which called for re61>
ton OF letter postage from .kr&
cents 20 two cents-stuck to ihsl
purpose until. at last. he persuaded
majority Of congress to agree VA
him. 1 asked Mr.. Hin wnen "a
how the idea of two-cent letter pat
age had occurred to him
Il think that the FIRST sugse.liu Il
two-cent letter postage came % NJ
while l was serving as postma1ier h
my native town of Boontcwn. NJ
he replied. "One Of my friends sz|i
to me one day: Why can't We ca
three-cent stamp in two. and lfe
with each half send an open letter.
At the moment / thought this rens,<
no more than joke. but Il set ne 3
thinking, and / speedily became psr
suaded that n the government shouE
issue blank cards. bearing on<cs1|
stamp. they would be purchased b
enormous quantities. for they could
be used either for advertising o. o.
open letter-writing purposes.
The more I thought Of thai ~
more persuaded l was that The ka
was sound one. ! determines =
take It up. began to egitnie t1'
is now called the postal card \
first the IDEA did not take with nsn
bers Of congress, but at last he con
mittee on postoffices and post ro1l3
thought it was worth while 70 r<a'
the experiment. and In that Tay y
got postal cards.
What followed made II clear 70 -
that II we were to reduce le'iF
postage from three cents % 10
cents. there would be such a D
crease in the use Of the malls Io[ -
respondence as would more :Hf
make good the loss Of one ct1k
decided to devote myself to this pm
It was the only reason Why ! ~
willing to stay In congress I >zf7
feed everything else to II ! be|'ar
that is the way to succeed ln ss'H
ing favorable action upon any rs't
ure before congress-stick to 90
thing.
We'll. ! stuck to twc-csnt '<''R
postage. presume I bored g
friends. but at last / compelled %
committee to study my statistics '''
It was persuaded that my visF y
correct. That, after ali. vas po!1'as
bat the adaptation Of Ordinary ~
ness methods. The chsapef Z A''t
the greater the sale. The che'r
postage is. the larger viii Be 'nt -
| Of the mails. II we're q youngn ~
/ should begin agitation IN fkfc' Z
universal one-cent postage for a''
tiers It won't come in my dab ''' ?
may in yours"
Having brought about twocsn' =
ter postage. Mr. Hill gradually
turned to his peaceful life ~ '''.
er at Boontown. New Jersey sr'' ,.,
that his name would be ioez -
with a sweeping reduction ID
price of letter postage to any n
OF the United States. +,
Copyright. 1911. by f. J. EDWARDS
Rights Reserved