davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
FIGHTING FISH.
In the Rage of Battle They Turn From
Dull to Brilliant coIors.

In the Rage of Battle They Turn From
Dull to Brilliant Colors.
In the gardens of Singapore it is the
custom to stock the ponds with all
manner of queer fishes, many Of them
of the fighting variety so dear to the
heart of the orientals. This species OF
fish is so combative that it is only nee
essary to place two Of them near each
other. like fighting cocks, and perhaps
to irritate them a little to bring on
lively conflict.
They Mt once charge each other with
fms erect. at the same time changing
color in their excitement from the dull
est of gray green's to brilliant reds and
blues. Indeed. confinement in close
quarters is not needed to arouse their
combative propensities.
Place two glass jars close together.
with one of these fighting fish in each
and they will at once swim round and
endeavor to charge each other through
the interposed glass.
Even n single fish seeing himself re-
flected in mirror will dart at his
own image and. irritated all the more
by his failure to reach his supposed
enemy. will assume the most brilliant
hues. Seeing his reflected antagonist
do the same he will redouble his eff
forts to reach him.-Exchange-
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
PRUNING AND BLIGHT.

In fruit growing sections where the
pear blight is prevalent it is well for
the orchardist to reduce his pruning
work during the winter and spring to
minimum, as cutting at these times
greatly augments wood growth. This
means n greatly increased number of
new shoots, whose tender tips are espe-
cially liable TO infection by the blight
germs from the feet of ants or other
insects that happen to alight on them
More than this, the sap moves very
rapidly in this young growth, which
increases the chance of an infection
of the large limbs or trunk on which
the shoots are growing. Moderate
pruning may be done during July and
early August, and this will not only
not induce the growth of these shoots.
but will cause the tree to produce fruit
buds for the following year. The writ
er had some experience along this line
not long ago and knows whereof he
speaks.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
Photoo, For Lawsuits.

One call fGr services professional
photographer dis,ikes above all others
and that is t. get an order for pic
ture that is to be used as evidence IN
a lawsuit. The photographers who are
most in demand for this purpose are
the busiest ones. those who make
speciality of tlking pictures of news
events for the papers and magazines
When any one wants Photographic evil
dence be is likely to remember the
name of sora firm OF professionals
that be has seen often in print and
asks them to 90 the job.
I'VE wouldn't mind that sort or
work so much if taking the picture
was all that there was to it," said one
Of these picture men. We get So or
So for the picture. Later we get 4
subpoena, and we have to send to
court the man that took it. to swear
that he recognizes his work, that he
took the picture. that he never was
arrested and lot Of other fool stun
that uses up a days time. Therefore
we never touch such job knowingly"
New York Sun.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
THE COMFORT OF A FURNACE.

Some of you folks that have money
in the bank or what comes to the
same thing-grain in the crib or fat
steers in the feed lot-and have been
heating your houses with all the way
from two to half a dozen stoves would
better look up the matter of installing
a heating plant 1t will not only
mean an economy of fuel, but a max
mum of comfort for all members of
the family, coupled with a minimum
Of dirt and ashes for the women to
clean up While hot water systems
are in some ways the most Satisfac-
tory from the standpoint of evenness
Of heat and economy of operation
when once installed, they are also the
most expensive. 1t is further quite
necessary that the houses in which the
water system is installed should be
frostproof from cellar to garrett. If
this heating system or the steam heat
ing type does not seem advisable the
hot air system should be installed,
and very satisfactory outfits can be
got at from SS5 to $3.50. The chief
point in favor of the hot air plant lies
in the fact that all parts of all rooms
which are equipped with registers will
be evenly heated. There is no frozen
on one side, roasted on the other side"
business about it. If one has been
subjected to these extremes for gen.
Grafton or more he will appreciate the
comfort of a furnace heating plant.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
The Kicker.

We hope to go to realms above
when we lie down to die; we
hope the choir all clad in white
will greet my wandering eye;
we know that we'll be filled with
Joy in regions free from care,
for angels tell me in my sleep
there are no kickers there.
Though rugged be the Jasper
pave, no soul shall more complain
though sunlight shine the ages
through, no spirit call for rain
though crowns be half a size too
small, no seraph tear their hair,
and all is joy above because
there are no kickers there.
Their music may be out of tune,
no one will hold his ear; the
robe will not be taylor made,
there'll be no means and tears,
the sandals may be often worn,
none ask a better pair; for glory
to the Lord of Hosts, there are
no kickers there. And when the
Heavenly councils call for, paving
the streets, the man who gets
the contract may work onward
swift and fleet; no spirit will in
junction bring nor cranks nor
croakers swear, the realms above
are free from chumps-there are
no kickers there. Then take me
from this vale of tears where
cranks comeinot to the front,
where men who never work or
toll still lie around and grunt;
we long to wear celestial robes
and climb the golden stairs; for
well we know that in those lands
there are no kjckeEs there. -Ex-
change;
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
The Tree Dentist.

The.oak had a tig cavity in the
trunk, like the cavity in a tooth,
and with a huge gouge the tree
dentist cleaned out the soft
brown dust, the rotten wood.
When the cavity was quite
clean, he disinfected it with cor
rosive suhlimate- he sprayed it
as tooth is sprayed.
Next he filled it, very careful
ly, with a germ-proof cement.
The top of the filling he smooth
ed neatly off, and the edges of
the adjacent bark he drew over
the cement.
''The bark" he explained. as
he threw his huge instruments
into his waiting automobile, will
grow.over the filling hiding it,
in time, completely. And the
rot, which would have destroyed
the tree, will now cease, as de-
cav ceases in filled tooth.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
PROOF OF GENTILITY.
Sleeves That Hid the Hands Showed
the Wearers Didn't Work.

The practice observed among Span
nails to grow into claws was to DEM
onstrate that they had never done any
manual work. The same custom ex-
lists among the Chinese for the same
reason.
Among the Romans the wearing of
long sleeves, which came down over
the hand, was the fashion in aristo-
cratic circles. This advertised to the
world that the wearer did not engage
in any labor and freedom from en-
spectability.
English boots and shoes have been
designed more or less for the same
purpose as that of the Chinese, who
bind their women's feet in proof Of
their gentility. AS early as the time
of William Rufus peaked toed boots
and shoes had their points made like
a scorpions tail, and n cOurtier nam
ed Robert stuffed his out with tow,
and caused them to curl round in the
form of a rams horn. fashion which
took nightly among the mobiles. 1t
is plain that the purpose of this fash
ion Was to show that the privileged
wearer was not dependent on any kind
Of labor or feetneSs Of foot for his
daily bread.
The practice of wearing tight fitting
boots and shoes is an old one, for
Chaucer. writing of them in his day.
says that it is
Merveyle sith that they site so pleyn,
How they come on or off again.
Later. in 17G5. Horace Walpole said,
Il am now twenty years on the right
side of red heels. "-Harper's Weekly.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20

something of capital significance
in the selection of the Maryland
city for the Democratic Conven.
ton. There is something rather
satisfying in the thought of Bal
timore in June for the time and
place of naming the next Presi-
dent of the United States. At
the gateway of the North and
South, the candidate who goes
out from historic town will be a
striking appeal to united cOun-
try for commercial and industri-
al peace.
Mr.. LaFollette's progressive
ness; Mr.. Roosevelt's aggressive
ness, Mr.. Cummins' radicalism
and Mr.. Taft's wanderings have
sort of fumbled and crosscur-
rented government affairs until
neither merchant nor manufact-
urer, capital nor labor, knows
just what is expected of them,
nor what to expect next in the
way of government activity.
Whichever of the Republican
possibilities finally receives the
nomination there will be enough
of discord in his wake to shock
even Chicago.
There is no Republican candi-
dacy that spells peace. The
nomination of any of the candi-
dates mentioned, particularly
President Taft, the hero Seized
ule X, indicates a greater turmoil.
1t is only a few weeks to the
convention date. The task of
naming delegates and preparing
for the convention trip will de-
mand the attention of party or
CARNATIONS from now on. The
Democratic Committee has de-
termined that delegates may be
chosen by direct vote where such
action is not conflict with the
State laws, and is decided upon
by the State Committee. In
this respect the Democracy has
granted the greatest possible
freedom in the naming of con-
vention delegates. The results
should be a thoroughly represen-
tative convention.
And the next station to Balti-
more is Washington. -E-Town
News.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
WEIGHED THE ELEPHANT.
a Problem Which Hindu Prince Was
Able to Solve.


There is story often told in India
of Shajee, a Hindu prince. who on a
certain occasion showed himself al
most as clever as Archimedes.
A high official had made a VOW that
he would distribute 10 the poor the
weight of his own elephant in silver
money. But the great difficulty that
at first presented itself was the mode
Of ascertaining what this weight real
Iy was. All the learned and clever
men of the court seemed to have en-
deavored in vain to construct a ma
chine of sufficient power to weigh the
elephant.
At length Shajee came forward and
suggested a plan which was simple
and yet ingenious in the highest de-
gree. He caused the unwieldy animal
to be conducted along a stage special
" made for the purpose by the water
side into a fiat bOttomed boa. Then.
having marked on the boat the height
to which the water reached after the
elephant had weighed it down, the
latter was taken out ard stones sub
stituted in sufficient quantity to hold
the boat to the same line. The stones
were then taken to the scales, and
thus. to the amaZement Of the court.
was ascertained the true weight or
the observation-disclosures.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
WINTER BLOOM.

No flowers suitable for indoor culture
give such a return in both beauty and
fragrance of bloom as do hyacinthS
and narcissuses. Varieties are now OBJ
tainable that for color and thriftineSS
Of bloom are remarkable. While one
may use more elaborate pot, COM
mon tin tomato can will serve the pur-
pose unless one wishes to have a bank
or bed of flowers, in which case
larger receptacle will be necessary.
The pots should be filed with light
sandy soil and the bulbs set with the
crown just below the surface, the soil
being well firmed around them. The
pots should then be given a thorough
watering and covered with earth in
the cellar to the depth Of three or four
inches above the bulbs. II they show
a tendency to dry out they should be
given another watering. In from four
to six weeks the bulbs will start to
grow, when they should be removed to
quarters where there will be plenty of
light, yet where it will be cool. Both
Of the plants mentioned will produce
more perfect blossoms if they are not
subjected to direct sunshine at all.
The paper white narciSsus has a some
what different habit and may be put
In vessels containing water and small
stones at once.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
A Curious Locomotive.

The DarjeelinG- Himalayas railway Is
one of the most curious in the world.
1t is Of two foot gauge and on ac-
count Of the steepness is full OF loops,
curves and spiraIS. many OF the curves
having only seventy feet radius. Some
of the gradients are IS high as one
foot in tTenty-eiSht y special type Of
locomotive, the Garratt. had to be
made for it at Manchester. This loco
motive was required by the specifca-
tons to be able to travel on reverse
curves not exceeding sixty feet radi-
us, with only twenty feet OF length OF
tangent between the curves. The en-
CINE consists of frame supported at
zach end by four wheeled bogieS. each
Of which is described as Il miniature
loo omOtive without boiler. The boiler
is carried on the frame between The
bOgies.-YOuth's Companion.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
Both Wrond.

Sandy and his master drove up 10
the small station rs the train approach
ed Here's yer train. sir" said SAN
dy. THAT is not my train" replied he
master. who had his own ideas about
correct speech. But it's the train /
am going by" But it happened TO be
special train and didn't stop az the
station, whereupon Sandy exclaimed,
Were bath wrang. for it's neither
your train. nor the ane ye're gaun by,
ut It's the ane that's game by YOU
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
AN ENGLISH PENSI0NER.
Superannuated at Birth and Drew the
Stipend All His Life.

OuPeT annuaIeu at oITIn ana DTeW tHc
Stipend All His Life.
The wife of an English cabinet min
lister had promised to stand godmother
to an infant and. calling on the parents
a day or two previous to the christen-
ing, expressed her regret that her hus-
band had nothing left at his disposal
of any Importance ami that the only
thing he could do for her godson was
to put his name on the pension list as
Il superannuated general pOstman.
The offer was accepted. The pension
was regularly paid to the parents dur
ing the minority of their son and to
him afterward as long as he lived. He
thrived in the world, became an alder
man and attained a considerable age,
often declaring that he had more pleas
ure in pocketing the few pounds he
drew half yearly from this source than
he derived from the receipt of any 9TH
er portion of his income.
He died n few days after one pay
ment was due, and one of his executors
came to town to announce his decease
and to receive the money. On asking
the clerk who paid him if it was neces-
sary to produce a certificate of the
death he was answered.:
''Oh, no. not in the least. l will take
your word for it. My father paid his
pension as long as he lived. and 1 have
paid it myself for the last thirty years
I am quite sure that the old gentleman
must be dead by this time
This recipient Of the public bounty
had been a superannuated postman for
upward Of eighty years-EXchange
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
Tryino to Be Witty,

They were sitting in the parlor with
the lights turned low. The hour was
pretty late. He and she had talked
about everything, from the weather to
the latest shows. He yawned, and she
yawhed. but he made no attempt to
move toward home. and she was be.
coming weary. At last she said: Il
heard noise outside just now. Iwon-
der if it could be burglars?"
OF course he tried to be funny.
3 maybe it was the night falling" he
said.
"Oh, I think not" she exclaimed.
More likely it was the day breaking"
Hasty exit of he.-Pearson's Weekly.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
THE WORTH OF COMMON TOLL.

While it is entirely proper for par
ents to hold before their children the
room at the top" idea as affecting the
life pursuits they are to follow, it is
sensible to lay stress also on both the
worth and dignity of the service of
those who do the commoner though
just as necessary work of life-who till
the soil, lay sewers and water mains,
hew wood and dig coal, provide shell
ter. food and clothing and make the
thousand and one other articles that
add to the comfort and satisfaction of
living. These toilers may wear rough
er clothing and get more dirt and cal
louses on their hands, but the service
they render to their fellows is as noble
MS that Of preacher. teacher or profess
sional man.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20

One should not only exercise care In
the matter Of the terms of notes which
enc signs, but also in the wording and
terms of contracts for land that he
may contemplate purchasing. 1t is
some bother perhaps TO look into this
matter carefully and if necessary pay
a good attorneS for doing so, but in the
end one may save hundreds and pessi-
bly, thousands of dollars.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
heroic Wife Of Morgan Sinister.

AAo wiz SO- AOs
Though l hourly expected to see
my husband assassinated by a
Russian fanatic or murdered in
cold blood by Cossacks, yet l
would gladly have remained in
Persia with him for the entire
three years if we could have aid
ed the people of that tortured
land.
Mrs. w. Morgan Shuster, he
roic wife of the former treasur-
er-general of Persia, made this
statement, Mrs. Shuster, before
her marriage, was Miss Pearl
Trigg, of Glasgow.
DULY when we saw it was best
for Persia were we willing to
leave" she added. 81 am heart
sick for Persia, 1t would be a
blessing to the world if England
would awake to her duty and
drive out the Russian and the
Belgian.
l have tried to forget the hor-
rors of.those days, butt am not
able to Go so. Imagine our little
American band of prisoners in a
magnificent palace set apart for
US by the Persian government.
The Persians were so grateful;
their faith was really pathetic,
Missionaries have told me that
the people looked to Mr.. Shuster
as their last hope from the en-
croachmentsSof Russia.
The first discord was from the
diplomatic crops. Impossible,
they said. Mr.. Shuster will nev-
err be able to stay here.
Then came the news of the
Cossacks marching down on us.
When the Persains brought word
of atrocious deeds committed by
the uncivilzed troops, my blood
ran cold.
AS they drew near Teheran a
guard OF 200 Persian soldiers was
thrown around the palace to pro-
tect US. But we knew that if
things went wrong the Cossacks
would make short work of them.
Whenever Mr.. Shuster was away
l could only'hope that he would
return safe. Unquestionably a
price was on his life.
On the day the Persian Parlia-
ment decided not to request Mr..
Shuster's resignation, as it was
ordered to do by Russia, women
and children carrying banners in
scribed Give US liberty or give
US death, paraded around our
park, shouting in a frenzy of joy.
| told Mr.. Shuster then that
we would not be frightened
away by Russia. But it was a
hopeless fight. Our own govern
ment could not help us, and the
Persian did rot have the strength
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
BETRAYED.

Say, mamma, can Anna see in the
dark. like a cat?'
"Why. child. what makes you ask
such a question:
"Oh, last night when Cousin Carl
was here | heard Anna say in the
dark room. You must really shave
oftener. Carl "-EYchange.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
Scriptural Place Names.

England can boast that no other
country possesses so many Scriptural
place names as it does. The name of
Jericho occurs six times on the ord
nance maps. paradise five times and
Nineveh, Mount Zion. Mount Ararat
and Mount Ephraim three times each.
In Bedfordshire there is a Calvary
wood and in Dorsetshire a Jordan hill
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
A QUESTION OF PROTECTION.

That the health and longevity Of
many of the less hardy types Of apple
trees are largely dependent upon the
way they are protected has been pref
ty plainly demonstrated in the case of
4 Fameuse tree from which the writer
picked the fruit few days ago. The
tree in question stands on the north
side and about five feet from a shed
which effectively protects its trunk
and lower limbs from the winter sun.
Not only has the tree made prodi-
gious growth, but it is remarkably
thrifty and sound. Twenty feet to the
north of it, but exposed to the sun, is
another tree of the same variety
which has been badly hit with sun
scald and is already sick unto death.
We have watched these two trees for
a number Of years and are convinced
that, while some other factors may
have played a part, the difference in
their condition today is due to the
protection they have had. 1t is this
principle that makes many orchardists
in northern states favor the rather
close planting of apple trees in rows
north and south. This serves in a
measure to give the protection men,
toned.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20

In ponds where carp are raised for
market the practice is quite common
Of fattening the fish before catching
them by feeding them soaked shelled
corn, which they are said to eat greed
ny. Even fish know a good thing when
they get it.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
Benefits FORGOT.

Alice-What a rude, boorish fellow
Mr.. Brown is Ethel-What did he
do. dear? Alice-Why. he gave me his
seat in the street car without lifting
his hat.-Boston Transcript
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20

The San Jose scale is pest that re-
quires a stronger spray than tender
growing foliage will stand. For this
reason the treatment should be slaGe
between the time the leaves fall III au
tumn and the time they start in the
spring. If the job is delayed until
spring the spraying will also play
smash with the green aphis, which is
a troublesome pest in many sections.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
Gave Him an Opening.

Lay a little by" advised the pub
Usher.
I'D like TO-" said the poet. Buy q
little layT-Washington Herald
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20
Better.

Your wife never sings any more.
Did she lose her voice."
mo: she found her senses."-ToIedo
Blade.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20

The Kansas City Star, owned and
published by William II. Nelson, has
put up 5000 in cash prizes, which is to
to be distributed to the boys of Mis-
souri,, Kansas and Oklahoma who raise
next year the best acre of corn as well
as the most perfect specimens Of single
ears and groups of ears. Already the
boys in the states mentioned are be-
ginning to plan for the contest, which
not only gives promise of being
splendid means of arousing the inter
est and occupying the energy Of the
boys, but of having very tangible re-
suit along the line of a production of
more and better corn.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20

Self indulgence deprives a man OF ev-
rything that might make him great.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20

They are getting on to the ropes
down in German South Africa, having
recently ordered 5000 bushels Of pedi-
greed seed corn from the agronomy
department of the University of Wis
consin. Experiments in corn growing
have been conducted in the territory
mentioned and have been attended
with such good results that CORN cul-
ture is to be taken up on n more ex-
tensive scale The season in South
Africa is the reverse of that in the
north temperate zone, corn being plant
ed on the LIST of October instead Of
the LIST of May.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20

A fine team of six-year-old Perche-
rons which friend drives to town fire.
euently and for which he would hard
" take a cold $500 INDUCED in a short
but vicious run the other day. In ex-
planning it the owner said it was not
due to any meanness on the part Of
the horses, but to the fact that the
harness and double trees were in poor
repair. This team will not run away
with him for the same cause again.
The Adair County news., 1912-03-20

1t is seldom that profit or benefit
comes through getting two bad things
together, but there seems to be an ex-
ception in the case Of using convict
labor on the bad roads Of the country.
In several states where the system
has been or is being tried a twofold
result has been noticed-rOads have
been improved ut a minimum cost,
while the men performing the work
under the supervision of proper au-
thority have, through the wholesome
influence Of exercise, sunshine and
fresh air, taken a decided step ahead
toward better citizenship. Every state
has its bad men and its bad roads.
The two should be got together