davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

which fishing is to be allowed, (3) 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 order that the
fishery may be advertised.
News that a 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 a strip of desert sand, with
the Persian Gulf on one side and the jungle
on the other, at a point convenient to the
pearloyster grounds.
1t 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 a day as II by magic.
the people hurry to their homes, the pearl town
lapses again into a solitary sandy waste, and
the beasts Of the jungle take possession.
Marichchukaddi may spring into being the
next season, but may remain non-existent for
many years.
L Y a As NJ PaA y u NSSoSA spy
cialy required in the pearl fishery, and con-
sequently we find a great diversity of rigs,
defending largely on the regions from which
the divers come: narrow single-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 fleet is 30 to IS men.
Owing to the boisterous seas and strong
winds Of this region, the fishery can be CON
Quoted only during a period of a 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 a 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 8 a. M. They
take positions about the government vessel
moored over the particular ground selected,
anchor, and remain actively engaged until
noon, when the entire feet sets sail and starts
for the shore. AS there is a 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 into the kottus with their catch.
Except for a l0in cloth, the divers are naked.
Their fingers are covered by flexible leather
shields to protect them from the rough corals
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
~ HHZ NHR1RMW 70 SZPT o W H1N 0RWHD5

and travellers each year. But the pearl fishery
is SO remotef from Colombo that not one visitor
In ten thousand ever goes there.
The pearl fishery of Ceylon and of India and
the Persian Gulf Is Of very great antiquity.
and is thought to be the Oldest established
fishery now in existence. The Sinhalese rec
ords. going back to about 800 B. G., indicate
that the fisheries were then we'll developed,
and there is reason to believe that they -four
ished at least 500 years before. At a 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
Ceylon 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
Pc any record, 1t would appear that the pearl
fishery played a very important part in the
history Of Ceylon, having had more or less
direct and intimate relations with every i'm
lportant 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
IL differs markedly from the latter In having a
Ibyssus, or a bundle Of tough fbers, by which
1T attaches itself to the bottom.
There are pearl oysters and pearl oysters.
There are the huge thick-shelled species of the
South Seas, Australia, Philippines and Burma,
that are as large as dinner plates and weigh 8
to 4 pounds as they come from the water;
there are the small. thin-shelled forms Of vene-
zuela, Japan, Persia and Ceylon, that are only
a few inches in diameter and weigh only a few
ounces.
The large pearl oysters produce the mother
lofpearl 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 4 inches, and the shells are
lso 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-
lance to support an important fishery only in
the Gulf of Manaar, which is a large indenta-
ton between Ceylon and India, lying lmme-
|diately south Of the line Of giant stepping
stones known as Adams Bridge.
The area Of the ~pearling grounds is about
1900 square miles. The bottom Is for the most
part sand, diversified by outcroppings Of cal
careous rocks, which form fiat 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
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

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 its early life st. Augustine was
the most cosmopolitan city in the
land and all because of a mixed col
ony of Minorcans, Italians, Greeks and
natives of southern European
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
gained labor strike In North Amer
lea.
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 a large proportion of the
population of the present city.
In 1921 the United States paid
Spain s5,000,0OO for the territory Of
Florida and General Andrew Jackson
became it's 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
It's foreign airs, st. Augustine has be-
come a fashionable winter resort.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

ness in each side, could not stand tight
clothing, and was irregular. I was COM
pletely run down. On advice I took
Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com
pound and am enjoying good health, 1t
SNOW o than two years and I have
not had an ache or pain since. I do all
my own work, washing and everything,
and never have backache any more. /
think your medicine is 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.
II you have the slightest doubt
that Lydia e. Pinkham's Vegeta-
BILE Compound will help you, write
to Lydia e. Pinkham Medicine Co.
(confidentiaD Lynn, Mass, for adj
vice. Your letter will be opened,
read and answered by a woman,
and held In strict confidence.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
= NERWW AAEZ OJZZE0
mo GDNERX1ZW ROzTOS

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 4 to 3
feet below the surface by means OF a
cord attached to an outrigger.
When ready to descend, the diver
places one foot on the stone, the 9TH
er on the rim of a 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 foot
and quickly crawls over the bottom,
tearing loose all the oysters he can
reach and putting them in the basket.
When neal 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
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
Pulpit Bar to Legacy.

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 q
$4,000 cash beQuest to his wife and
$1,000 TO Mrs. A. J. Whiting, a 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 II they become
ministers Of the gospel. Mr.. Church
had no deeprooted feeling against the
clergy, but wanted the boys to follow
business careers,
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
LARGE JADE BRINGS $4,000
Curious Chinese Relic Is Bought al
Auction by st. Paul (Mlnn.)
Man. q

New York.-T. B. Springer of st.
Paul had the distinction Of carrying
of the most coveted and curious ex-
ample of Chinese sculpture at the
Squiers sale, It is a Jade mountain,
weighing $40 pounds. 1t measures 20
inches in height and is 3Sh by 1871
inches wide.
This fs 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.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

testator, II not mere birds Of passage;
whose faculties, p~erfunctorily rel
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
disdain the use Of ceremonials
which would give an Inherent proba-
tive force to our action? o writer in
S~cribner's asks. II It be argued that
dying testators cannot always procure
the attendance OF an Official whose af-
fidavit and seal would carry weight.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
NOTEDFLORIDA CITY.
St. Augustine Was Once an In
dian Village.
First Colony Established by French
H~uguenots 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, 1872,
Ponce de Leon, Spanish explorer,
landed there in search of the "Foun-
tain of Youth" After he and his men
had f1oundered 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-
manned unmolested by white men for
more than fifty years.
A colony of French Huguenots land
ed at the same point in 1864, but
o moved on to the St. Johns river.
The news of, their arrival reached
Phillip II. Of Spain, and upon realiz-
ing the full import of the message
that a 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 (St. John of the
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
ZHEsZE4RZERC LOOK
RRAZIA CREWS

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 various
grounds in the November
preceding a fishery, and a
preparatory inspection of
the particular grounds Sc
lected in the following Feb
ruary. The advance inspec-
ton Of the oyster beds on
which it is proposed to per-
init the divers to work Is
for the purpose "a of as
pertaining the approximate
number Of pearl oysters
that may be taken, 90 OF
marking the areas on
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

ity, and could be set aside only by
convincing Testimony, We should have
taken a 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-
tives.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

and that In a 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, 1t 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 al elaborate as those
who frame our laws deem necessary.
II they have the popular Anglo Saxon
prejudice against the notary u q rou-
tine functiohary who might become AZ
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

easy tool, 1t would be q simple matter
to require also the affidavit Of physi-
clans or even OF a Judge after careful
Interrogation as a condition precedent
to the erection Of q rampant between
te~stators and their greedy kin.
Surely our society needs some such
protection. The blackmail and extor-
ton current here are practically un-
known In foreign countries where the
notarial system Of a~ttestation prevails.
II It were the law that a viii carefully
executed under prescribed forms
should have the presumption Of valid
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

wonderful p~rofusion 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, cat's-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 its coral strands and sandy
beaches. The poetic name of Ceylon
today is THE Pearl on midas Brow"
Colombo, the principal city of mod
orn Ceylon, is a stopping place for all
the steamers plying between Europe
and Asia and Australia, and is there
gore visited by thousands of tourists
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
BACKACHE
NOT A DISEASE
But a Symptom, a Danger Sig
nal Which Every Woman
Should Heed.

Backache is a 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
sll's experience.
Morton's Gap, Kentucky. -'T suffered
two years with female disorders, my
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
WILL MAKING TOO CARELESS
lRIackmaII and Extortion Would Be
Decreased " the Formaiitles
Were More Elaborate.

How haphazard the preparations for
the making Of a will In this country
ARE apt to bel Whom does the aver
age lawyer invite to attest the solemn
disposition OF his clients estatef His
stenographer. some student In the Of
nca, or casual acquaintance on the
same floor; wholly unfamiliar with the
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

use Doan's Kidney
Pills, which have
cured thousands.
]. w. Priest,
Third ST., Marys-
vile, Ohio, says:
Il 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 e constantly
growing worse and
kidney %secretions
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

health was very bad
and / had a continual
backache which was
simply awful. Icould
not stand on my feet
long enough to cook
a meals ~victuals
without my back
nearly killing me,
and / would have
such dragging 8
tons I could hardly
! hear il. I had sore.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

caused untold annoyance. Doan's Kid
ney Pills cured me after doctors failed
and l 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.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
Resinol stops
itching instantly

FrHE moment Resinol ONT
ment touches any itching
n skin, the itching stops
and healing begins. With the
aid Of Resinol Soap, it quickly
removes all traces of eczema,
rash, letter. ringworm, PIN
pies or other tormenting, I'M
slightly eruption, leaving the
skin clear and healthy. 1t is
equally effective for sores.
boilG, burns, chafings, red
rough hands, dandruff, and
itching piles.
Your druggist sells Resinol
Soap (25c) and Resinol Oint-
ment (50c and 81. Ask him IL
what we say Is not more than
true. Better still, send for q
free sample of each and test II
yourself. Address, Dept. ok.
Resinol Chemical Co.. Balti-
more. Md.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
Assuming That.

Brown-What reason have you for
hating Blank?
smith-Wel you see. he's a relative
Of mine, and
Brownies, yes, l know, but what
other reason?-Harper's Bazaar.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
MZZB NYzR M1NM RsgMN
QUIZ MZXA0H CP'

) SOON as a traveller
sets foot on the shores
of Ceylon he m
under the subtle charm
of the land, and is
quickly imbued with
the feeling that 1t
would be most incon-
gruous il such a eli
mate did not produce
the most luxuriant
foliage, the most beau
tiful flowers, the most
luscious fruits; II
such a soil did not
give forth the most
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

Don't make shipwreck Of your health when
a course Of Garfield Tea can cure you Of
indigestion.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09
DOES YOUR BACK AcHEr

Aches and Twinges Point to Hidden
Kidney Trouble.
Have you a lame back. aching day
and night? Do you feel a sharp pain
after bending over? When the kidneys
seem sore and the action irregular,
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

No, Cordelia, the grass widow Is
anything but green.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-05-09

Dream Of beetatew means pot luck
Williams news., 1912-11-16
Another New Law

It may not be generally known, but nevertheless true, that a re- gently enacted law of the Arizona legislature makes it a misdemeanor punishable by Imprisonment of not more than one year in the county jail or by fine of three times the amount of wage owing, for any per son, firm or corporation to employ laborers without first having at least two weeks wages for each and every one of said laborers within the state, over and above exemptions allowed by law, and who does not at all times keep and hold said amount of two weeks wage within the state from which to pay the labor so em- ployed. This law was passed for the purpose of preventing fly by night gentlemen from employing men without having the necessary money in bank to meet the pay roll, and protects them where the miner s lien law may be inadequate. King man Miner.
Williams news., 1912-11-16

people what sound athletics are to their bodies.
 At cost of less than four cents a week The Youths Companion opens the door to a company of the most distinguished men and women in America and Europe. Whether they are revealing the latest discov- cries in science, or describing great industrial achievements, or telling of their wanderings in strange cor ners of the world, or feeding the inn agination with rare stories, they are giving Companion readers the best of themselves.
 Seven serials at least will be pub lished by the Companion in 1913, and nearly 200 other complete stor- ies, in addition to some 50 special contributions, and a treasure-box of sketches, anecdotes, expert advice as to athletic sports, ideas for handy devices round the house, and so forth long hours of companionship with the wise, the adventurous and the entertaining. Announcement for 1913 will be sent with sample copies of the paper to any address on request.
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 THE YoUTH's COMPANION,
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