davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Great Work Done on Canal in a Year

r. HE great mechanical problems con.
j nected with the construction OF
the Panama canal, which is to be
opened in January, 1915, PASS in re-
view in the annual report OF the 18TH
milan canal commission. The recOrd
of the years achievements includes:
Completion of almost th~ree-quarters
of the Culebra cut. Total excavations
from Culebra during year, 16,221,6 7
cubic yards at average cost of 5S.S
cents a yard. Big plans laid for ter
minals, including storage Of fuel,
fresh water and other supplies, repair
facilities, etc. Pacific terminal to have
dry dock, ~storehouse and coaling sta
tons. Practical completion of plans
of all locks. Elaborate scheme for
lighting. Safeguarding against land
slides.
The locks have been a great prob
lem. Designs for the approach walls
at all locks except one have been pre-
pared. Contracts in force at the be-
ginning of the fiscal year were prac-
tically completed and new contracts
entered into for a vast amount OF
frames, valves, gates and other para
phernalia needed to put the canal into
operation.
More than 954 tons of castings
were made on the isthmus. Building
Of the great lock gates-each leaf OF
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

w ASHINGTON.-Shall Uncle Sam
W follow the example set by France,
Germany. Holland and other Euro
pean nations and make it possible for
the temporarily embarrassed to OBJ
tain money on personal belongings
without paying from SO to 100 per
cent. interest on loans?
This question is called up for con-
sideration through the publication by
the department of commerce and Ia
Dor OF a series Of consular reports on
pawnbroking In foreign countries.
Needy citizens a obtain small sums
of money on short notice, avoiding
the exorbitant rates of interest
charged by the private pawnbroking
concern, and keeping free from the
greedy clutch of the professional non
ey lender.
Where the plan has been tried long
est it's success has been most marked.
The citizen Is furnished with what
money he needs up to a reasonable
amount, on personal collateral. The
Average rate OF interest charged Is
less than II per cent per annum.
Moreover, with the possible exception
of France, where the government eX-
ercises a complete monopoly OF the
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

to the ground and its nose almost
scraping the earth. With a wild bel
low it struck the keeper and hurled
him several yards against the side OF
the pen. The short but sharp horns
struck Dean or the head, n of them
partly penetrating the skull.
Calling for help, Dean ~endeavored
to protect himself from the animal.
He lay on the ground. Waterman
Kreamer was but a short distance
away at the time. He heard ~ cries
for help and ran to the pen. kream-
er, at the risk of his own life. climbed
over the fence Of the pen, witEou:
obtaining a weapon to defend him
self. He yelled at the animal to at
tract its attention from Dean. The
buffalo turned toward the Waterman,
and as he did so Dean, who was un-
able to rise to his feet, crawled to
the gate Of the pen.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

more moving one comes from the
Netherlands. 1t is said that the city
of Been was notorious for its black
and shameless sins, as we'll as re-
nowned for its beauty and magnih-
cence. To the Sodom Of the middle
ages came our Savior on n ami
versary of his birth. and went as a
beggar from door to door, but not one
in all that Christmas keeping city
gave the Master Of the abundance. Sin
he saw rampant on every side. but not
a trace of Christmas bounty and good
will, and he called to the sea. which,
as of old, obeyed his voice, and Been,
the city of sin, was buried deep. clean
out Of sight. beneath the But
ever at Christmas up from beneath the
covering waters comes the sweet call
ing of church bells buried In Been. 1t
is a legend which appears to tell in
parable that nothing which ever be-
longed to the Christ. and was dedi-
Gated to his service. is ever wholly lost
from him and alienated from service;
that ever and again something of their
inherent beauty and compelling sweet
ness rises from the depths through all
seeming ruin.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
H4z|f| \ {
%AHBBfRAR1,{4!g 83%x%
National Pawnshop is Now Proposed

pawnbroking business, the national
and municipal institutions have sue
cessfully combated strong competi-
ton from private concerns that have
been permitted to charge much higher
rates of interest.
The pawnshop of Amsterdam, the
Oldest and probably the most lenient
in the world, Is known as the Bank
van Leening. 1t a been under the
control of the municipality since 1914.
n o. has fifteen branches through
interest Is less than 10 per cent. a
year. Still the bank is able to main
tain a working balance of more than
81, 200, 900. In France b pawnbrok-
ing business Is strictly a government
monopoly, which the Mont de Piete,
the nations pa~wnbroking concern, has
enjoyed o more than fifty years.
The policy of advancing only a
small percentage Of the actual worth
Of the collateral offered is followed IN
most European public p~awnshops, the
fact that they receive only a small
part Of what the collateral was really
worth furnishing the owners with fur
ther incentive to redeem the pledges.
Much the same policy as outlined
in the Dutch and French institutions
is followed in municipal and govern
mental pawnshops in Germany, Rou-
mania, Italy and Russia. The aver
age interest charge is about ~ per
cent, the patrons are protected as
fully as possible and every incentive
is offered to redeem pledges.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

which is fifty-four feet eight inches
high-was expedited. 1t each lock
entrance strong fender chains at
tached to powerful springs will be in
stalled to prevent ships from batter
ing down the locks.
A floating caisson gate is being in
stalled for use in closing a lock so
as to enable workmen to repair the
permanent locks and the bottom
sluices. Canal illumination will be
provided by range lights for establish
ing the direction of vessels on the
longer tangents and by side lights a
mile apart marking each side of the
channel. Buoys and lighted beacons
built OF reinforced concrete will
abound.
Culebra cut is ten miles long and
deep enough to receive the United
States capitol. From this cut, despite
the enormous excavation during the
year, on July last there remained
23, 1929, 140 cubic yards to be removed.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

we'll awaken envy in the lover of the
antique, lies a copy Of christian
Hymns and by its side an open
Bible, used, doubtless, in the sad rites.
Hung over the back of a mOhair
cushioned chair a shawl of some fine
fabric is. fast falling to pieces. On the
table by the side of the shaded lamp
sits a work-basket, with the spools of
cotton, its needles and skeins of yarn.
On a wall shelf the dishes are ar
ranged just as they were left after the
final meal. By a peg on the wall a
sunbonnet had hung, but the strings
have rOtted away and 1t has fallen
to the floor. A broom stands in the
corner, having swept the now faded
rag carpet the last time when hands
now folded upon a %pulseless bosom
were vigorous and strong. And by the
table with it's shaded lamp, its work
basket and a few simple books, is a
child's ~rush-bOttomed rocking chair.
How it links the dead past with the
living present! Out with the thresh-
ers in n of the fields of the 60 odd
acres which James Perry Mugg holds
here, is a stalwart young man, sing
ing as he thrusts the yellow sheaves
into the greedy nav Of the noisy ma
bottomed chair and heard the stories
of the dust-covered books from his
mothers lips.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
HOUSE Of SILENCE
Kept As a Memorial to Dead
Wife.
Hoosier Homo In Which Nothing Has
Been Touched Since the Death
Angels Visit Three
Decades AGO.

Center, Ind.-The story, however
strange, is now so old that the people
in and about this village have long
ceased to discuss 1t. Occasionally an
elder Of the neighborhood. in driving
with a stranger along the narrow
highway, will point out the House OF
Silence" and In a matter-of-fact way
relate its half forgotten history-the
home that for 80 years or more to all
the world, save alone its master, who
lives elsewhere, has been as close
locked as the tomb that for as many
years has held its one-time mistress.
And SO it will remain they say until
James Perry Mugg is laid beside tho
wife Of his youth. whose simplest
thing touched by her ~vanquished hand
he treasures as never miser treasured
boarded gold.
Without the old house is not unlike
scores Of the humble structures one
will see in a days drive in the u
try, with weatherboarded front and
window lighting either cramped room.
the paint rain-washed and sun-burned
from every board these many years.
But about all is the scar Of decay. The
plank step at the doorway crumbles
under the lightest football. The time
stained blinds are close-drawn. shut
ting out every ray Of light. The
swallows and the wasps have nested
in the caves and in the window Lodges
and spiders draw their feathery films
over the unwashed panes. Nearer the
highway the bluegrass lawn has been
close cropped by the grazing cattle,
but about the house the weeds grow
rank and wild. At the rear is a de-
tached shed, mounted by a dinner bell
in which the sparrows have found a
home.
Within not one thing has been
changed since the call of the death
angel three decades ago. On an old
fashioned dressing case such as might
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

EINCLE SAM o has a system Of
~ balloon recording for help in fore
casting the weather. He makes bal
looms Of different kinds and sends
them up at the various stations over
the United States to bring down rec
ords of the upper air. These are sent
up from day to day and the results
are telegraphed all over the country.
1t is partially from them that our
weather forecasts come. These bal
looms are filled with hydrogen Of a
quality which is difficult to obtain.
Indeed, there are only me or two
places in the country where 1t can be
lad. The result is that the govern-
ment makes it's OWL hydrogen and 1t
has a great machine for the purpose
at Mount Weather in Virginia.
Hydrogen is one Of the two gases
which form water. The other gas Is
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Left Millions to Hostesses.

Koenigsberg.-Thirty married wom-
en- and young girls will divide the mil
lions left by Herr Moeller, the late
retired merchant prince, who liked to
call himself a bachelor, though he was
really a childless widower. His wife
died before he was thirty, n the
succeeding 40 years Of his life he
spent being entertained and entertain
ing himself in right royal fashion. The
80 women and girls he named in his
testament were either his hostesses
or dinner companions, always kind.
always agreeable, always trying to
contribute to my happiness" he says
in the remarkable documents. Among
the beneficiaries are old and young
society women whom he met only
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, stenographers.
etc.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Justice Arralgns Himself.

New York.-.Police Justice j. Martin
Roll of South Orange, N. j., arraigned
himself on a charge of violating a
village ordinance, pleaded guilty and
fined himself as per the following
monologue:
y. Martin Roll, you are charged by
Policeman Aber with allowing n OF
your employees to tie his horse to a
tree in Church street, this village.
How do you plead, guilty or not
guilty."
Guilty" he continued.
Il fine you S." added the judge to
himself, and dipping into his pocket,
he paid the fine.
Judge Roll is head of the firm Of
Roll & Stickley, coal and lumber deal
ers. William Jackson, n of the
drivers, had tied the horse to the
tree.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
CLOCK MADE FROM OLD JUNK
British ViiIaser Constructs Timepiece
Which Is the Most Remarkable
in the World.

London.-It was proposed to cele-
brate King Georges coronation by
providing a clock for Wootton Rivers
church, but lack of funds forbade.
Then a villager, MI. Spratt, stepped
into the breach and offered to make
q clock free Of charge If some one
would undertake the heavier work
and the villagers would give him all
the scrapped iron, steel, brass and
lead they could find. He was taken
at his word and was as good as his
word, and this resulted in the clock
illustrated, which was dedicated the
other day.
To the making Of the timepiece
went parts Of agricultural machinery.
fire irons, bedsteads, old bicycles,
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
DUCHESS GOES TO ThE FRONT
A~ristocratic Woman Disregards lrate
King and Relatives Who Object
to Her Decision.

Rome, Notwithstanding the COM
mands of Italy's king and the fervid
objections OF all her royal relatives.
tho duchess OF Aosta has left her
home and her life Of luxury for Tri-
poll. There with several other
vomsn Of noble blood who have an
swered the call Of compassion she
will nurse the sick and wounded,
whether they be sons Of Italy or
TURKS.
While it is not to De presumed that
this sristoCratic woman will suffer ex-
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
a., Return. Lost Money.

Ocean View, Del.-Lost last sum.
mer, a pocketbook containing $87 has
Just found its owner, being washed
ND at his foot as he vas walking along
the beach near here. 1t was bloated
by the water and almost ready to fall
in pieces, but after being dried II
was found that enough of the money
was left to be redeemed at the United
States treasury.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

s. WI T is not SO many centuries
N$HS ago since there was that holy
X thorn at Glastonbury which
hlossomed every Christmas. and, SD
ran the legend. had done ever since
ST. Joseph of Arimathea. having corse
as apostle to Britain, and. landing at
Glastonbury. had stuck his staff Of dry
ha wthorn into the soil, commanding it
to nut forth leaves and blossoms. This
the staff straightway did, and thereby
was the king converted to the Chris
tian faith, the faith which preached
life from death.
The holy thorn Of Glastonbury Jour-
ished during the centuries until the
civil wars. During those it was up
rooted; but several persons had had
trees growing from cuttings from the
original tree. and those continued to
bloom at the Christensen, just as
their parent, which had grown from
ST Joseph's staff, had bloomed. And
about the middle of the 18th century
if was recorded in the Gentleman's
Magazine how the famous holy thorn
would not deign to recognize the new
style calendar, which had then come
into force but would persist in BIOS
soming as Of old on old Christmas
day!
In those days the anniversary Of the
advent of the Babe had certainly
mean more tt the common people
than merely a time for feasting n
revelry. for giving and receiving; 1t
had been also a season for holy OBJ
for they refused to go to
church on New Christmas day. the
holy thorn not being then in blossom.
So serious became the trouble that the
clergy found it prudent to nnoun
that Old Christmas day should also
be kept sacred as before. Only an
other story of mems weak, supersti-
tious minds? True. perhaps; but they
are better who evidence some spiritual
weakness than those who wallow in
the wholly material. and when we
Sc to be careful Of the cup and the
platter. we become not over careful OF
their contents.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Not for Her.

The verger of a large church. see
ing an old woman in one OF the seats
reserved for some important persons.
beckoned her to come out But just
at that moment the organ started play
ing. The old woman, having
been in a church containing an organ,
startled him and the congregation by
calling: "Ha, man. get somebody
younger; my dancing days r past"
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Women Smokers Barred.

Chicago.-Women may have a legal
right to smoke, but they will not be
permitted to do so publicly in Chicago
hotels. Managers OF the largest hotels
have declared thai If a woman at.
tempted to smoke in a public dining
room or cafe the waiter would ask her
to stop. Failing to do SO, she would
be asked to leave.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

a gracious cline. which testify with
subtlety to the depth of the appeal OF
the birth of Christ. Here divlneiy
spiritual symbolism and there sweet
human tenderness and pathos appear,
and, blended. they evidence the worlds
belief that this vas both Son OF Mar
and Son of God.
An Irish legend tells that. on Christ
mas eve, the Christ-Child wanders out
in the darkness and cold, and the
peasants still put lighted candles In
their windows to guide the sacred lit
tie feet. that they may not stumble on
their way to their homes. And in
Hungary the people go yet further in
their tenderness for the Child. they
spread feasts and leave their doors
open that He may enter at His will,
while throughout Christendom there is
a belief that no evil can touch any
child who is born on Christmas eve.
The legend which tells how the very
hay which lined the Manager in which
the Holy Babe was laid put forth liv-
ing red blossoms at midwinter at the
touch Of the Babes body coul only
have arisen from belief in the renewal
of life through the Lord Of Life.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Evil in Excess Of diversion.

1t is found by an Italian doctor tnat
the excess of diversion in the ives OF
New York women is bound to orlnE
upon them the miseries Of neurastne-
mia. This disease has, according 10
the doctor, different ways OF ahectins
limp with exhaustion, the pure sax
ons are dull and torpid and the Amer
can is merely overstimulated and tries
70 go faster and faster.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Made From Old Junk.

brass weights and perambulators, dis
used milk separators (for the two big
wheels) and a governor ball from a
steam engine (Which acts as ham
mer) to strike the hours on the larg-
est bell of a peal Of five. One OF the
three dials has the words GLORY Be
to God" instead Of the customary
numerals.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Saws Crows Are Good to Eat

Topeka. Kan.-Prof. l.. L. Dyche hao
eaten crow, but unlike a few OF our
politicians he considers 1t 'tirst-class
eating The professor AYERS that
the flesh of the young crow is as good
as that of the guinea hen. 1t is a lit
tie dark, but 1t has a good flavor and
ts- fine Of texture" He Is also fond
of the young red-tailed hawk which.
cooked right, he declares, could not
be distinguished from chicken.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
A Drain Of tho Company.

On his way home from the theater.
wnere he had g a performance OF
"Othello," Bobby vas unusually quiet
Didn't you enjoy the play" his
grandfather asked at last.
"Oh, yes, very much" replied Bobby.
But, grandpapa, there's one thing l
don't quite understand. Does the
black man kill a lady every night?"-
Youths Companion.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
First Christmas Observance

dered, and upon n authority Of the
tables of the censors in the Roman
archives December rs was agreed up
on as the date Of the Savior's nativ-
ity. Tradition fixed the hour of birth
at about midnight. and this led to the
celebration of a midnight mass In all
the churches, a second at dawn and .
third in the later morning.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

At first Christmas was what is
known as a movable feast, just as Eas-
ter is now, and owing to nisunder-
standings was celebrated as late as
April or May. In the fourth century
IN ecclesiastical investigation was or
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

Christmas gets its name
from the mass celebrated
in the early days Of the
Christian church in honor
of the birth Of Christ. its
first solemnization having
been ordered by Pope
Telesphorus. This was In
or before the year 1873, for
in that year Pope Teles-
phorus died.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Kindred Spirits.

Lady" said Flooding Pete. II amt
had a square meal in two days"
well" said the ~resolute woman.
as she turned the dog loose. neither
has Towser. SO / know you'll excuse
him"
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Rose.

G8Ig MOTHER of those spiritual
IN parallels is the legend Of
E0SA the Christmas rose. and it
tells how good things, fit for giving.
spring up ready &C the hand which
earnestly desires to give to the Child
It is said that a certain maiden Of
Bethlehem was so poor that she had
nothing to give to the Babe to whom
kings brought wealth from afar, and.
as she stood, longing and mourning,
and angel appeared to her. saying:
Look at thy feet. beneath the snow"
and 10! on obeying the maiden found
that a new flower had m~iraculously
sprung up and blossomed at her needs.
Every since then. runs this story, this
exquisite flower. with it's snowy petals
just touched by suggestions Of pinkish
bloom, is to be found at this season;
and, indeed, it's h~alf-opened cups are
like chalices of love, and it's fully
spread petals are like a happy inno-
cence. fit symbols for the gifts fort the
Babe of spotless innocence, whose
heart was the vessel Of love.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
1GBHsT7ndS EDe Legends.
HERE are several exceeding
ly touching legends concern

$50 " touching legends concern-
ing bells. which are heard
ringing from buried cities and villages
at this season. One belongs to a vii
lage near Raleigh. in Nottingham
shire. and the story runs that once
where there is now but a valley, there
was a village which. with every trace
of life and h%abitation, had been swal,
lowed by an earthquakes; but ever
since. at Christmas. the bells of the
buried church are heard to ring as OF
old
A similar legend is told of Preston,
in Lancashire. and yet another and
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
AS to a Friend.

Hes too irascible."
II know. He says things that he
doesn't really mean. He got mad at
once and called me a poet"
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Natural Deduction.

Natural peductIon.
Papa, are lawyers always bad-tem-
pered?"
mo, daughter; why do you ask
that?"
Because l read SO much in the pa
pers about their cross-examinations."
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
Making Sure Of His veaetabl..-

Making Sure Of His VegetabIe.L
Are you going to start a garden
next year?"
Il am not" replied the luckless ANA
teur. Next year. instead OF burying
good stuff in the ground, I'm going to
eat it."
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
its Status.

"our congress is the finest legisla-
tive body going"
mo, the British house Of commons
is, and / can prove It."
How so?"
why, you aust admit the house Of
is without a peer"
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
a ausIne.. connection

A BUSINESS Connection.
Messenger Boy-Who's the swell
guy ye was talkin' to. Jimmy?
Newsboy-Aw. him and mes woiked
togedder for years. He's the editor o.
one O. my papers-Life.
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

HU4HTdS

IL around the season OF
the Coming Of Love as
a little Child there have
sprung legends and be-
1iafs like blossoms in
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

|ty of
Ill be
tativG
b the
bling
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22
@mQEHk8Hob Thorn.

~ T is not so many centuries
ago since there a that holy
thorn at Glastonbury which
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-12-22

MOTHER OF those sp1rltual
parallels is the legend of
the Christmas rose. and it