davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

which fshino is to be allowed 90 of specify
ing the number Of boats on each area and the
number of days that are to be devoted TO the
fishery, and (4) of making an Official valua-
ton of the prospective pearls IN oruer lndI me
fishery may be advertised
News that fishery is to be held travels as
by wireless telegraphy throughout Ceylon,
India and other parts of the east and at the
prescribed time 10000 to $4,000 people gather
in a few days on strip of desert sand, with
the Persian Gulf on side and the jungle
on the other, at point convenient to the
pearloyster grounds.
It can readily be understood that the pearl
town is a place of intense activity from the
moment the government agent opens the fish-
cry. The extensive business connected with
the mere existence of the people would alone
be sufficient to give great hustle and life; but
added to this are the special industries de-
pendent on the various phases of the pearl
fishery.
AS soon as the fishery is over, the entire
place seems to dissolve in day as if by magic,
the people hurry to their homes, the pearl town
lapses again into solitary sandy waste, and
the beasts of the jungle take possession.
Marichchukaddi may spring into being the
next season, but may remain nonresident for
many years.
There is no particular style of vessel spe-
ciay required in the pearl fishery, and con-
SeQuently find a great diversity Oh figs,
depending largely on the regions from which
the divers come: narrow snge-masted canoes
with an outrigger, square-sterned luggers,
large sailing lighters, three-masted canoes,
and clumsy doneys. Some of the larger YES
sells carry 65 men, Of whom about half are
actual divers, and the average crew of the en-
tire feet is 80 to 35 men.
Owing to the boisterous seas and strong
winds of this region, the fishery can be con-
Quoted only during period of few weeks in
March and April, when the northeast monsoon
has waned and the southwest monsoon has not
begun. The fishery is thus of briefer dura-
ton than any other pearl fishery of import
ance, and is characterized by strenuousness
that is quite foreign to the east.
The fishing boats start for the grounds soon
after midnight so as to be ready for work as
soon as daylight comes, about a. RI. They
take positions about the government vessel
moored over the particular ground selected,
anchor and remain actively engaged until
noon when the entire fleet sets sail and starts
for the shore. AS there Is crowd Of pearl
merchants eagerly awaiting an opportunity to
speculate, there is considerable rivalry among
the diving boats in the matter of reaching land
and discharging their catch as soon as pos
sible, and consequently one witnesses some
wild scenes of excitement when the oysters are
being unloaded in the surf and the natives are
rushing irto the kottus with their catch.
Except for loin cloth, the divers are naked.
Their fingers are covered by flexible leather
shields to protect them from the rough corals
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
FOR EVERY FAMILY
MEDICINE CHEST

To the head of every family the
health of it's different members is
most important, and the value of an
agreeable laxative that is certain fin
it's effect is appreciated. One of the
most popular remedies in the family
medicine chest is combination or
simple laxative herbs with pepsin that
is known to druggists and physicians
as DR.. Caldwell's Syrup Pepsin. This
preparation is mild and gentle in it's
action on the bowels, yet positive in
it's effect. A dose of Syrup Pepsin at
night means relief next morning,
while its tonic properties tone up and
strengthen the muscles of stomach,
liver and bowels so that these organs
are able in short time to again per-
form their natural functions without
help.
Druggists everywhere sell DR.. Cald-
wells Syrup Pepsin in SOC and $1.OO
bottles If you have never tried this
simple, inexpensive, yet effective
remedy, write to DR.. w. B. Caldwell,
2O1 Washington St., Monticello, Ill,
and ask for sample bottle. DR.. Cald-
well will be glad to send it without
any expense to you whatever.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
1T HRER4EN0 70 eSZ1PT I0P zzT RE19z aay2I1D5

and travellers each year. But the pearl fishery
is SO remote from Colombo that not one visitor
in ten thousand ever goes there.
The pearl fishery of Ceylor. and of India and
the Persian Gulf is of veiy great antiquity
and is thought to be the Oldest established
fishery now in existence. The Sinhalese rec
ords going back to about $50 b. c.. indicate
that the fisheries were then well developed
and there is reason TIC believe that they -four
ished at least 500 years before At very
early period the pearls brought the island into
prominence abroad and were in great repute
in Rome at the time Of Pliny who, referring to
CeylGn under the name Of Taprobane, wrote
that it was ''the most productive of pearls of
all parts Of the world
From the most remote period Of which there
Is any record, it would appear that the pearl
fishery played very important part in the
history OF Ceylon having had more or less
direct aid intimate relations with every i'm
portant aspect of the civilization of the island
The Information available clearly suggests that
from the earliest times the fishery was con-
Quoted in much the same way as in our own
day-the same methods of obtaining the pearl
oysters, Of handling the catch on shore and
of extracting the pearls.
It is hardly necessary to state that the pearl
oyster of Ceylon, like the pearl oyster of other
lands, is not an oyster at all. It is more nearly
related to the mussels than to the oysters, and
it differs markedly from the latter i'm having
byssus, or a bundle of tough ibers by which
1t attaches itself to the bottom
There are pearl oysters and pearl oysters
There are the huge thickshelled species Of the
South Seas, Australia, Philippines and Burma
that are as large as dinner plates and weigh
to 4 pounds as they come from the water;
there are the small, thin-sheled forms of Vene
zuela, Japan, Persia and Ceyon, that are only
a few inches in diameter and weigh only Few
ounces
The large pearl oysters produce the mother
of-pearl of commerce. which is so valuable that
the fishery is profitable even when no pearls
are obtained The smaller mollusks have little
value except for the pearls they yield.
The maximum size attained by the Ceylon
pearl oyster is only inches, and the shells are
SO thin that they may be crushed between
the fingers Of an average man.
Pearl oysters are found on all parts of the
coast of Ceylon, but exist in sufficient abund
Rnce to support an Important fishery only in
the Gulf of Manaar, which is large indenta
ton between Ceylon and India, lying imrne-
diately south OF the line of giant stepping
stones known as Adams Bridge.
The area Of the pearling grounds is about
800 square miles The bottom is for the most
part sand, diversified by outcroppings of cal
careous rocks, which form fat or slightly in
clined lodges, on which the pearl oysters grow
Aggregations Of lodges constitute paars," or
banks, which centuries ago received names
that are still applied
The largest and most important of these
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

Pine). An engraving of the fort shows
1t was in this shape when Sir Fran
els Drake attacked st. Augustine in
1886. The fort was again attacked
In 1865 by John Davis, freebooter and
buccaneer. The people fled to the
woods while Davis PLACED the town.
Later the fort was rebuilt and named
Fort Marion, now the property OF the
federal government and maintained
chiefly as an interesting antique.
Thousands of persons visit it annually.
In it's early life st. Augustine was
the most cosmopolitan city in the
land and all because of mixed col
ony of Minorcans, Italians, Greeks and
natives of southern European coun-
tries brought to the state in 1859 as
laborers for an indigo plantation
owned by English capitalists. They
settled in New Smyrna, but soon re-
belled against their English employ
ers. That probably was the first or
ganized labor strike in North Amer
ica
Moving to st. Augustine, where
they were allotted land and given pro-
lection, the indigo plantation workers
intermarried with the Spanish and
English residents and their descend
ants form large proportion OF the
population of the present city.
In 1921 the United States paid
Spair $5,000,000 for the territory Of
Florida and General Andrew Jackson
became its first governor.
Indian, pirate, Spaniard, British in
vader each in turn has scourged the
town, but after the passing of each it
has arisen better than before, changed,
but each time improved in character.
From the Indian village OF Seloy,
through four centuries Of battle and
change to the quaint old town with
its foreign airs, st. Augustine has be-
come fashionable winter resort.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
- CAPRVIKG L[4ltZ CySlZZlEJ
IEZO 0OEZIRXzE2TK O7TOS

and shells. In order to facilitate the
descent, each diver employs a fiat,
oval stone, weighing 80 to so pounds.
The stone is perforated at one end to
receive a rope, and close to the stone
a kind of stirrup is made in the rope
to accommodate the Divers foot. The
stone is suspended at a depth of to
feet below the surface by means OF
cord attached to an outrigger
When ready to descend, the diver
places one foot on the stone, the oth
er on the rim of rope basket attach
ed to a rope, initiates his lungs, loos'
ems the slip-knot holding the stone,
and sinks rapidly to the bottom.
There he at once disengages his loot
and quickly crawls over the bottom.
tearing loose all the oysters he can
reach and putting them in the basket
When near the limit of his endurance,
he gives a signal with the basket rope
and is quickly hauled up by the
watchful attendant, or "manduck,
with whom the diver is provided The
helper has meanwhile pulled up and
secured the diving stone, and when
the basket is hauled in he culls the
catch from the miscellaneous refuse
that is attached to. the oysters
The divers usually operate in pairs.
with a common attendant and diving
stone. The descents occur at inter
walls of five or six minutes. The best
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

ness in each side, could not stand tight
clothing, and was irregular. ] was COM
pletely run down. On advice / took
Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com
pound and am enjoying good health. 1t
is now more than two years and have
not had an ache or pain since. / do all
my own work, washing and everything,
and never have backache any more. ]
think your medicineis grand and / praise
it to all my''neighbors. If you think my
testimony will help others you may pub
lish it, Mrs. OLLIE WooDALL, Nor
tons Gap, Kentucky.
If you have the slightest doubt
that Lydia Il. Pinkham's Vegeta-
BILE Compound will help you, write
to Lydia II. Pinkham Medicine Co.
(cOnfidential) Lynn, Mass, for adj
vice. Your letter will be opened
read and answered by woman
and he'd In strict confidence.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
Pulpit Bar TO Leoacv.

Boulder, Colo.-The $4,000 will of
the late John L. Church, wealthy cat
tleman, has been fled for probate in
the county court. This will include a
$4,000 cash bequest to his wife and
$1,000 to Mrs. A ]. Whiting, niece.
The remainder is to be divided among
grand-nieces and grand-nephews after
Mrs. Church's death. A peculiar pro-
vision of the will is that the nephews
forfeit their shares If they become
ministers of the gospel. Mr.. Church
had no deep-rooted feeling against the
clergy. but wanted the boys to follow
business careers.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

and that in free country they ought
to be at liberty to call on strangers
to attest their signatures rather than
on friends who know them and might
babble, it would seem reasonable that
legislatures should at least establish
some presumption of validity In favor
of wills executed under more formal
conditions. Let the formalities-the
safeguards-be as elaborate as those
who frame our laws deem necessary.
II they have the popular Anglo Saxon
prejudice against the notary as a rou-
tine functionary who might become ar
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
ZzEeE E4lREEJ LOOK
ZZtE .Rl44WZ4Z CRlcT5

termined when a fishery
should occur and what
grounds should be opened
to the divers. This deter
mination was based on an
examination of the vafioue
grounds in the November
preceding a fishery, and q
preparatory inspection OF
the particular grounds Sc
lected in the following Feb
ruary. The advance inspeci
ton of the oyster beds or.
which it is proposed to peri
nit the divers to work is
for the purpose ID of asr
certaining the sppE ximate
number of pearl oysters
that may be taken, CD OF
marking the areas on
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

testator, if not mere birds of passage;
whose faculties, perfunctorily exer-
cised, can recall nothing but the hazy
fact of signature when tested subse-
quently on the witness stand.
Why, in connection with one of the
most serious of human affairs, should
we disdain the use Of ceremonials
which would give an inherent proba-
tive force to our action? writer in
Scribner's asks II 1t be argued that
dying testators cannot always procure
the attendance of an official whose af-
1dayit and seal would carry weight.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
BACKACHE
NOT A DISEASE.
But a Symptom, a Danger Sig
nal Which Every Woman
Should Heed.

Backache is symptom Of organic
weakness or arrangement. If you have
backache don't neglect it. To get per-
manent relief you must reach the root
Of the trouble. Read about Mrs. Wood
all's experience.
Morton's Gap, Kentucky. ct suffered
two years with female disorders, my
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

easy tool, it would be simple matter
to require also the affidavit of physi-
clans or even of Judge after careful
interrogation as a condition precedent
to the erection of rampant between
testators and their greedy kin.
Surely our society needs some such
protection. The blaclmail and extor-
ton current here are practically un-
known In foreign countries where the
notarial system of attestation prevails.
If 1t We're the law that will carefully
executed under prescribed forms
should have the presumption OF valid
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
LARGE JADE BRINGS $4,000
Curious Chinese Relic Is Bought at
Auction by st. Paul (Minn.)
Man.

New York.-T. B. Springer of st.
Paul had the distinction of carrying
off the most coveted and curious ex-
ample Of Chinese sculpture at the
Squiers sale. It is Jade mountain,
weighing $40 pounds. 1t measures %
inches in height and is 1914 by 1874
inches wide.
This is said to be the largest mass
of sculptured jade in existence. 1t
once occupied a prominent place in
the Chinese emperor's summer palace,
west of Pekin. Mr.. Springer Obtained
the specimen for $4,000 after keen
competition, the principal underbidder
being Frank Partridge.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
NOTED FLORIDA CITY
st. Augustine Was Once an In
dian Village.
First Colony Established by French
Huguenots In 1864 Was Raced by
the Spaniards and Its lnhab-
itants Killed.


st. Augustine, Fla.-Four centuries
ago an Indian town known as Seloy
stood on the site of what is now st.
Augustine. On Easter Sunday, 1912,
Ponce de Leon, Spanish explorer,
landed there in search of the "Foun-
tain of Youth" After he and his men
had floundered through the sandy
swamps of the vicinity and tramped
among the scrub palmetto, bathed in
every stream, pool and mudhole they
came across, without success, they re-
embarked and the Indian village re-
NAMED unmolested by white men for
more than fifty years.
A colony of French Huguenots land
ed at the same point in 1864, but
soon moved on to the st. Johns river.
The news of their arrival reached
Phillip H. OF Spain, and upon realiz-
ing the full import of the message
that colony of Protestants was set
Ting in his new world domain-he dis
patched Pedro Menendez to extermi-
nate them.
This second group Of invading
Spaniards landed at the same Indian
village on August rs, 1865, and be-
cause that was st. Augustine's day up
on the church calendar they gave the
place its present name. st. Augustine
is consequently the Oldest permanent
settlement of Europeans within the
territory of the United States. The
Huguenot settlement was not perma-
nent for the reason that Menendez and
his men destroyed their fort and mas
sacred the inhabitants
The first fort was built in octagonal
form and was constructed OF the
trunks of pine trees. 1t was named
San Juan de Pinos est. John OF the
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

wonderful profusion and variety of
precious stones; if such surrounding
waters did not yield the most re-
splendent pearls.
Ceylon has long been celebrated for
Its sapphires, rubies, cats-eyes, moon
stones, opals, amethysts, carbuncles,
and emeralds; but none of these, nor
all of them combined, have given TO
the island the fame and the romantic
setting that have been conferred On
1t by the product Of the limpid waters
that battle it's coral strands and sandy
beaches. The poetic name of Ceylon
today is "The Pearl on midas Brow
Colombo, the principal city of mod
ern Ceylon, is stopping place for all
the steamers plying between Europe
and Asia and Australia, and is there
fore visited by thousands of tourists
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

ity, and could be set aside only by
convincing testimony, we should have
taken long step toward checking the
crying abuse of speculative attacks on
Wills. Assuming also-though this is
not yet settled-that there may be in
herent difficulties, either of law or
propriety, in the way of probate be-
fore death, the present situation might
be further improved by imposing some
restraint on the action of distant rela
tive6.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
WILL MAKING TOO CARELESS
5lackmal and Extortion Would Be
Decreased II the FormaIities
Were More Elaborate.

How haphazard the preparations for
the making of will in this country
are apt to be! Whom does the aver
age lawyer invite to attest the solemn
disposition OF his clients estate? His
Photographer, some student in the Of
ice, or casual acquaintance on the
same floor; wholly unfamiliar with the
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

use Doan's Kidney
Pills, which have
cured thousands.
J. w. Priest,
Third ST., Marys-
vile, Ohio, says:
IT was in awful
condition from kid
ney trouble, hav-
ing run down in
weight from 220
to $50 pounds. The
pains across my
back and loins
w ere constantly
growing worse and
kidney secretiOns
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

health was very pad
and / had a continual
backache which was
simply awful. Icould
not stand on my feet
long enough to cook
a meals vic tn ais
with tout my back
nearly killing me,
and ] would have
dragging sensa-
tons / could hardly
hear If T had aOro-
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

caused untold annoyance. Doan's Kid
ney Pills cured me after doctors failed
and I have had no trouble since"
when your Back is Lame, Remem-
Der the Name-DOAN'S. ''50c all stores,
Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
\ T6e Pearl fisheries Of Ceyl0n
ZYzEZ5 DTEP NR0Y ZKF R5RG4lY
QUIZ MN, AGNE CZLP

S SOON as a traveller
sets foot on the shores
of Ceylon he comes
under the subtle charm
of the land, and is
quickly imbued with
the feeling that 1t
would be most incon-
gruous if such a eli
mate did not produce
the most luxuriant
foliage, the most beau
tiful flowers, the most
luscious fruits; If
such a soil did not
give forth the most
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
sure Thinn.

do you believe she will love me
long?"
We'll, know she won't love you
short"
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

AS soon as woman discovers that
she is unable to reform her husband
she begins on her neighbors.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

Dyspept1cs, despair not While there's
Garfield Tea, there's hope
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

Bangs asked that Chinaman when
the Chinese invented fan-tan.
Wangs-What did he say?
Bangs-Why, he said they invented
fan-tan when they got tired playing
bridge whist six thousand years ago.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
Stop the Pain.

The hurt of burn or cut stops when
Coles Carbolisalve is applied. 1t heals
quickly and prevents scars. 25c and SOC by
druggists. For free sample write to
]. w. Cole & Co., Black River Falls, Wis.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23
DOES YOUR BACK AcHEY

Aches and Twinges Point to Hidden
Kidney Trouble.
Have you lame back, aching day
and night? Do you feel sharp pain
after bending over? When the kidneys
seem sore and the action Irregular
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

Don't kick till you know just where
the shoe pinches.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-05-23

: Dream of beefstew means pos luck
The daily sentinel., 1912-04-29
NO MORE FROSTS
SAYS WEATHER
PROPHET
Denver Weather Official Predicts
Frost Season is Concluded The
Path of Storms is South of
State and Fruit Is Safe.

While it is very seldom that the
weather bureau Will forecast the
temperature conditions for more
than AS hours, District Forecaster
l.. ID. Brandenburg has stated that
every indication this year points to
the fact that the killing frost season
for the West is over. If this is the
case the Grand Valley will harvest
the biggest crop by about three
thousand cars that she has ever sent
out of the valley.
The weather here has been so cold
lately that the buds are not advanced
last year by two weeks. A large
portion of the apples will stand a
drop to fifteen, and almost any of
the apples will stand twenty-five.
The peaches are out a little more,
but they will probably stand twenty
i've.
The storms this year are at least
500 to 500 miles south of the normal
path causing severe and long win
ter in that part of the United States.
but also it is expected that the frost
wave will also be the same distance
south of here, therefore not touching
this section.
Henry Wagner, who is in charge
of the orchard heating operations of
the upper valley. said this morning
that few pots We're lighted in one
or two ranches Sunday morning as a
matter of protection but that not a
bud was lost. I'VE don't expect any
general freeze this late in the sea-
son." said MIR. Wagner, and we now
consider ourselves safe. There may
be a few local frosts which can be
fought off easily but in this part of
the valley we are congratulating our
selves that the danger is past"
Many local people are optimistic
of the temperature conditions of the
next two or three weeks and believe
that all danger is now past and that
with the advent of the pear and ap-
pie blossoms the frost will be out of
question.
The daily sentinel., 1912-04-29
DR.. HARVEY W. WILEY.
Chief Of Bureau Of Chemistry.

return unless he can have untram-
meled authority in his department.
1t is admitted, however. that Secreta-
ry James Wilson can never hold his
portfolio for another term. While
his long service in the cabinet pre-
vents President Taft from asking for
his resignation at this time, the exec
utive recognizes that to reappoint
'Tama Jim" next spring if he him
self should be reelected, would be
fatal to his chances Certainly no
other President would reappoint Will
son. Therefore, the President while
"whitewashing" his cabinet member,
is said to be remembering the former
bureau chief and will request his re-
turn. DR.. Wiley. however. has re-
fused to make any statement.