davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02
Grotesque Trees That Grow in DRY Desert Lands

of the hot wind. looked about me-,
and imagined that had reached
some vast. Dantean Inferno. where
the bleached bones Of the worlds In
Vulnerable dead lay scattered over
the burning floor OF gruesome des-
ert cata comb.
Here, early In the morning and
just before dusk. We took scores Of
photographs OF the saksaul in all it's
eccentric manifestations, collected
beetles and scorpions, and imbibed
buckets Of saline we'll water. Nature
photography has probably never
been carried on with more obstacles
to contend with. The intense light
and heat, the absence of shadows or
relief, made picture making during
most Of the time practically impos-
sible. ! shall never forget how loud
like a rifle shot-was the sharp
click OF the camera shutter as Ii
rang out In the awful silence of the
desert.
"On our way back to the railway
we encountered some stretches or
sand formation called barhanies.
which, with their long, naked, cycle.
like ranks OF drlfted sand, made IL
seem 10 rs as II We were standing
on the crest OF mountainous wave
In the midst of raging sea- Our
horses, By keeping to the wind-har-
dened rims OF these waves. carried
MS up 10 dizzy heights. whence we az.
cured some magnificent negatives.
But it was binding, eIhaustinx
labor
We returned to the railroad nv
forced marches What thrills Of
pleasure stirred us as We wound M
TO the summit Of the long sand ridge
about mile from the station. and
reaching the top, saw the long
thread OF rails curving away into the
distance, and, just before us, and
barely visible, the cluster OF rude
structures that formed the desert
post known as UchAji! The bath
had there and the cool drink Of
lemonade were ec.static e1periencaS
which shall never forget as long al
live.'
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

gan from tiny station in the
centre OF the Kara Kun sands
called Uch-Aji. II Is situated
on the railway at point about half
way between Askhabad and Box
hara. We made up small caravan
composed OF Professor Dubiansky, a
Russian, and one OF the first authori-
ties in the world on desert vegeta-
ton myself as assistant, local
Cossack as guide and interpreter
Turkoman camel driver and two
camels, three horses and one donkey
Besides our sandproof camp kit and
guns, We were armed with a large
field landscape camera, a stereo-
scopc camera and kodak, all fitted
with special lenses and shutters
About eighty miles from the rail-
way we came upon the last we'll be-
tween us and an illmitable, I'M
charted ocean of sand, where man
has never left his footprints We
rested there in native kibitka.
made meal OF sour sleeps milk
and sun-dried bread crusts, and then
we pushed on into this unexplored
region After half days travelling
and battling with the terrible heat
which overcame first my companion
and then myself, we made our bly,
ouac in the very heart OF forest
OF virgin saksaul
The desert from that spot pre-
scented the most desolate and melan-.
choly sight In all nature The sands
there were what is known as bu-
gristie desert and look exactly like
the surface Of ne moon. Far off
Into the burning distance, ending
In mirages and sand clouds, there
was nothing but an endless sea Of
irregularly shaped hillocks. sparsely
covered with the half dead, roiting
ghosts OF trees we had come thou
sands OF miles to photograph
The tawny sand was strewn with
tho grayish, twisted, grotesque
branches that had died and fallen OF
their. own weight Standing on the
summit Of dune. With my hands
pressed to my cheeks under my he'll
met TO protect myself from the pain
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

well preserved, In fact, that undi-
ses'ed grass in the stomach of tho
huge beast showed plainly the
character Of It's last meal short
time before It slipped into crevice
In the river bank there TO be
frozen in and embedded in a block
OF ice that was 10 remain IN
tnTVed aud untouched except by
natural forces for two hundred
centuries
Professor Herr tasted the meat
of the monster and found il per
tectly good. He then planned a
BANQUET. al which the mammoth
furnished the roast. while the other
"dlbles were OF remarkable an
lauiiy.
Monsieur Amelineau. the distin-
cnished Egyptologist, furnished
grain which had been recovered
rom the pyramids of Egypt to make
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

G tNCE the days Of Nero and
y Elegabalus men have racked
their brains in the effort TO
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

AOulu OC COuItcu
on in the future
for fuel.
THE only way
was 10 penetrate
TO virgin haunts
OF the tree, where
no camel drivers
ever had been,
In order to study
II and bring ba OK
photographs. The
scientific name
Of the tree Is
Haloxylon Am
modendron. Ii
only grows in
Turkestan, and
Possesses [ h Q
talent OF being
able TO flourish
in a soil com
parable TO a bed
OF hot ashes that
is oUris b q d
semi.annually by
q hve-minute pat
ter OF rain.
Our dash be-
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

reptiles seemed to crawl and Dap
about the Internal crags. The guests
represented eternally doomed NOR
tails. while the walters were demons
with horns and barbed tails. who
served The food on red.hot pitch
forks-hot food 1t was. too: red pep
pers with every course. meats pre-
pared TO resemble live Goals, and so
forth. Beer was consumed in enor-
nous quantities 10 mitigate the in
fernal heat or the place.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

X TMEMBERS OF an expedition
MI sent out by the Russian I'm
perial Biographical Society
have returned to ST. Petersburg with
accounts of It's experiences in the un-
charted interiors of the Turkestan
desert which read like a prose chap
ter from Dante's Inferno.
"Russia's new military railway.
which now sweeps down 10 the Ar
CHAN frontier" wrote a member OF
the party, dep ends for it's fuel on
certain tree called the saksaul
tree. Already the sands for many
miles along the railroad have been
denuded OF their saksaul by the ma
tive SRrts. who haul the wood 10
the stations on their camels. The
question OF fuel became a pressing
one
Our expedition was organized TO
determine whether the saksaul
would grow up again. whether 1t
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

ner' spacious room in a beer col.
lar Vas engaged. and transformed
with red paint. papier-mache deco
rations and concealed colored lights
to resemble Dore illustration in
Dante's inferno" Huge blocks OF
coal served for tables. which. by the
use OF silk steamers agitated by
electric fans and with red and blue
lights thrown on them, appeared 10
be in the midst OF flames.
Bats, owls and horror-inspiring
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

WINE OF a de.
Hcious quality
had been found
in a vault in
Corintb W h 1 c h
W as destroyed
by the Roman
General Mum
mius in the year
140 b. c.
Other vaults
contained onions
apples and pears.
p r e s erv d in
sealed a mphoras.
They are some
what wtthered.
but when sub.
iected to q moist
atmosphere they
regained b OF b
their natural ap-
pearance and fla.
vor.
George Kess-
Ter, the Ameri-
can millionaire
and Champagne
king" gave 4
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

North Pole dinner at the SAVOY
Hotel, in London, that holds
a high place among freak din
ners
EnterprisIng Mr.. kessler re-
moved the roof Of the hotel so that
real stars might shine DOWN upon
the Arctic scens INFO which the
large room was transformed.
From the margins where the CELL
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

these hummocks were given a fur
Their poa" region touch by the
presence of polar bears, startllngly
lifelike. The roof being off. the
temperature was appropriately arc
tic.
The great round table represented
waste OF arctic snow with
peaked hummock in its centre.
through which emerged the Great
Nall" as the Eskimo people call
the pole. TO the pole was attached
a gigantic menu card.
The dinner guests were In con-
ventional costume, with the addi-
lion Of necessary wraps, but the
walters were all attired as Eskimos
The dishes they served bore appro-
pirate names, such as "Caviare des
Sibiriens," TURTLES a la Peary,"
North Pole glace." "Bombe dos
Esauimaux," and SO on.
A "Chantecler dinner" was given
in Paris during the run OF Edmond
Rostands interesting drama, in
which all the participants were
dressed AS fowls. roosters and ami
mails of the barnyard. They were,
in fact. dressed like the actors In
"Chantecler."
Toward the close OF the banquet
much amusement was caused by the
efforts of the diners to initiate the
cries and habits of the animals they
represented.
The gilded youth OF Berlin last
November planned dinner At which
the surroundings represented the in
fernal regions.
For the scene of the Inferno Din.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02

school. The horses were all thor
oughbreds. the diners good riders,
the attendants wore smart livsries
and the scene was brilliant az we'll
as original.
a group OF New York business
men who were dissatisfied with
things recently planned "A Jonah
Dinner" A huge whale was con.
structed In a rath skeller aud within
this the brothers in misfortune
Toasted and discussed their troubles.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02
Hl,.A.A-.

Dread for the banquet. 1t had been
proved that this was good grain.
for whea, SO found when planted
grew like any other.
Wine, fruits and vegetables grown
In the period OF two or three cen
turtles before the birth OF the
Saviour we're contributed by NJ.
Homolle. Director OF the French
School OF Archaeology in Greece.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02
Fantastic and
Gr0tesque Banquets
Of 1912, i7 Uhich Octo=
puses, african Gnus,
Jungle Scenes,
JhipWrecks
and Horses
TOOk Part

Every year at Glasgow a "Ship.
wreck Dinner" Is held by the sur
vivors OF the wreck OF the Jeanie
Deans, a great disaster that oc-
Cured off the Scotch coast.
The diners sit In water up TO their
knees and eat from a. table made
from the wood OF the wrecked shin
they wear the clothes, night shirts
or whatever they may have been, in
which they were rescued
=. Is. G. Billings. rhe New York
millionaire sportsman. gave a fam
Gus horseback Dinner" at which
everybody sat on a. horse The
guests and their mounts faced a sort
OF morse block table. from which the
dishes we're served by grooms. The
banquet was held In great riding
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-02
The Horseback Dinner
Given in New York by c.
K. C. Billings, Millionaire
Sportsman, Which Was
Duplicated Last Year.

Ing had been
hung great lei
Giles, and the
whole floor, ex-
cepting a space
in the centre re-
served for the
great d in n e 7
ia BILE, was piled
with realistic ice
hummocks. The
tons of some OF
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01
Proving the States Re sources


 The story coming out of Bolton as to the success with which Italian berry raisers are meeting, is another indica- tion of what may be done in this state to provide palatable and necessary fruits for table use. The men referred to have engaged in raspberry raising with remarkable success. They have four acres at present in black rasp- berries, and this year-the third since the setting out of the plants-they are reaping great harvest.
 Now there is nothing so very re- markable about this except that these men from over the water realized the possibilities for two things-the possi- bilities of the soil and climate of Con- necticut for fruit raising and the great market for the produce. The require ments for berry raising on large scale are not so very great, the chief, per- haps, being an intelligent desire to raise the fruit. Wonderful results can be obtained on an ordinary city lot if intelligent direction is used in planting and tending and marketing the fruits. There is enough waste land right in the city of Hartford to raise all the berries the city could consume.
 N hat is true of raspberries is also true of black berries, red rsspberries, strawberries, entrants, :gooseberries, and several other varieties of small fruits. Ali of these come 10 a bearing in conveniently short time after planting so that there is no long and wearisome wait for the return of the money invested.
 Asparagus is another crop that pays well and can be raised on small plot of ground. It doesn't take lot of ground and once planted is there prac- tlcally forever, if properly attended to each season. And there is always reasonably good market for asparagus.
 These are only suggestions as to what city men might do to relieve the pressure on their purses oeeasioned bv the high cost of living. Incidentally, the more general attention to small fruit raising and the raising of vege- tables for which there is a steady de- mand might incidentally go long way towards reducing the high cost of living. And also, quite incidentally, of course, il might be intimaIea that more money can be made in specializ. ing in few stanoard lines than in at- tempting to go too generally into fruit and vegetable production.
 Wage-earners of the city, both men and women, should consider the mat. ter of taking up some side line. but they should not undertake the work haphazard, for therein lies the danger of failure and disappointment. Study well the situation and the class of things one desires to raise and then go at il with enthusiasm. That is the SC. cret of all success.
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01
Aims to Protect Birds

Rear Admiral Goodrich, United States Navy retired, of Pomfret, re. gently appointed by Governor Bald. win member of the state fish and game commission, is going to be an ac- tive official ss he is greatly interested in the work of the commission, espe. cially the preservation Of birds.
 In conversation with a PATRIOT representative Saturday morning the admiral spoke enthusiastically on this subject and told of his desire to create public interest in the matter, because he believes that in such interest lies the remedy to stop the slaughter of birds. He told of the alarming sitns. tlon that eonfronts the country and the great loss yearly sustained on sc.
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01
Watch Q" Show Windows Byron D. Bugbee

count of the depreciation of the num- Der of birds. He said that il seemed hardly credible but it has been shown that loss of billion dollars during the past year is traced directly to this source. And not only this but the loss is yearly increasing and will continue to increase until the public rises up and puts stop to it.
 One plan the admiral has in mind, which he expects to put in operation in the near future, is to procure lan- tern slides of the different kinds of birds that habitate in this state, pro- cure hall in his home town, invite the public, young men and boys espe. ciaily, and point out to them which birds are their friends. These illus trated talks will be given in the yari. ous towns in Eastern Connecticut and Is hoped will enlighten the public as to the serious question that is confront ing them. There are few birds that can be classed as enemies. Perhaps one or two species of hawk. The crow, the admiral stated, has evidence both for and against him and has not yet been conclusively proven guilty. It Is his desire to so stir up public senti ment that person will consider it a shame and a disgrace to serve a bird on the table out of season.
 With 'the birds the friend of the farmer, saving him thousands upon thousands of dollars, it would seem that the farmer would be the friend of the birds and gladly cooperate to pro- tect them. The alarming devastation Of vegetation by all sorts of pests that infect them is due in great measure 10 the decreasing number of birds. This Is fact that is being surely but too slowly brought home to every think. ing person. Asked if he did not think 1t would be a good plan to have all guns laid aside for a period of years the admiral answered that he did. but 1t can not be done without legislation.
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01

For this purpose there has been Committee formed with President and Executive Board of New London, Norwich Putnam Wimantic and Danieson Business Mems Associa ons and there have been three four meetings The meeting wlsbe August at Norwich when it will be say Putnam produce with the other associations what she have several thousand copies of publication to be gotten in cooperation with the New Haven Rail- road Industrial Bureau to Boom Windham and New Lon don Counties regard establishing industries showing up Business locations Water Powers used, any farms that may be for sale or locations for nice houses We this part Connecticut be apart from the of the State somewhat and If get what ought-we will have show what have and be after it. To further this we invite any that furnish information regard ing any the above things do and furnish pho tographs of same
 Now ask you look this up in Putnam, Pom fret Eastiord Abingdon Union, Thompson Woodstock any intervening places that should be included with Putnam the center, and communicate before August Ist with
 O. Williams of the Patriot regarding Mill Power Sites. Geo E. Shaw eweer regarding Quarrie and Business Block
 Sites
 Ernest Morse Lawyer regarding Sites for Nice Houses E. M Wheaton of the Wheaton Building X Lumber Co.
 garding any Farms or Agricultural Interests
 Will you all make this subject of thought and action A1:oNcE
 IF. NJ WHEATON, President Business Mems Association.
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01
A New Form of Corn

Not all new varieties arise through the ingenuity of plant-breeders. Oc- casionally some farmer discovers in his field plant, or part of plant, that is quite unlike it's brothers and sisters about it. Such "sportn is an entire ly new form of Indian corn that ap- peared four years ago in an Illinois corn field. Dr. Walter B. Gernert of the University of Illinois, who writes of il in the American Naturalist, be- lieves that the new variety will prove an ideal food for livestock. Doctor Gerneft's account follows:
 While harvesting plot of yellow dent corn, a strain of the Leaning va- riety, one of the workmen found a strangely shaped ear, which he laid aside in the drying room as a curiosity. The corn came from a strain that had been subjected for several generations to careful selection for high protein content.
 The new kind of ear, which repro- duees itself faithfully from its seed, is cone-shaped, and composed of mass of kernels borne on numerous irregular branches. A longitudinal section shows kernels throughout the ear. For this new variety the writer proposes the name Zea ramosa, from the Latin "ramosus-having many branches" /"
 The ear of Zea ramosa is borne al the usual place near the middle of the culm, and is not to be confused with the sparsely branched ears that are sometimes found on the culm, or with the ears that are frequently found in the tassels of ordinary corn plants.
 ttiS interesting to observe that the tasscls of the plants of the new type are also much branched and cone shaped.
 IL is matter of conjecture how this strange variety of scorn happened to arise. Mir. w. T. Craig, who has been connected with the eorn-breeding work al the University of Illinois for num- Der of years, says that no other ear like this was ever before harvested on any of the breeding plots at this station.
 Several more generations of the branched corn must be grown before we can be sure of it's economic value. Bul it is hoped that the new ear may be greatly improved by Adjudication and subsequent selection. At present il does not bear as much grain as the unbranehed ear of the strain in which Il was found.
 The branched ear is an ideal form to feed whole to livestock. Cattle can easily mas;ieate the cob with the ker- nels, and it is not necessary to grind or chop it. It may also prove to be an ideal type for ensilage. Whether it will yield freely enough to justify the farmer in growing it for these purposes remains to be seen.
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01

"What's the matter with the congre- gation today2a asked minister last sunday, who entered upon his present. work only last winter and who up 10 now had faced large congregations. Mine automobiles are owned in this parish,n was the laeonic reply Of Dea- con Faithful, and the pastors bewil- derment vanished. Acceptance of situation does not, however, always mean aequiescence in it.
 Pres. John Willis Baer of Los An geles told the Presbyterian Assembly he would "rather go staggering drunk to the gates of heaven, an unconverted man, than to go as Presbyterian eld- CT who has rented his property for brotheIs or saloon purposes We pre- sume this is the modern version of doorkeeping in the house of the Lord versus the tents of wiesedness!
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01
Our Home Papers
Dear Edito

Dear Editor: As you so often speak kindly of others it is only just that. we should utter word of appreciation of you oc-  Thank heaven for the home papers In good old Putnam town. They are no low muek-rakers In this city of renoun. They strive to be our helpers, And toward all kindly feel, They are no canine yelpers, Snapping at every heel. And yet each is a fighter
 Galnst wrongs in church or state. Making the world grow brighter Till men all wrongs shall hate. Then let each worthy herald Proclaim the truth in love, And never be imperiled AS onward they shall move. May press and pulpit ever, Promote our highest veal While we, as one, endeavor To help, with holy zeal.
 Most truly yours in all that is just
 and true,
 T. P. Briggs. Ciiftondale, Mass, July 26.
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01
HOw's This ?

We offer One Hundred Dollars he5 5, sny case of Cstarrh that cannot pc e''' HsI's Catarrh Cure. 1r-,.sa q
 F.J. CHENEY & co. Io'eJry l. We. the undersiene have knoNn hs Cheney for the last l5 wears, and eeiie's s,.o.. perfectly honorable in all business ltI md financially able to carry outsaf ions n.ade by his firm
 WALDrSG. KISNAS & AlAk.iss, 1I-s,,xo Q.
 Wholesale Druggists, iosssss iassr ss Halls Catarrh Cure is taken lnte. .: .ur- ng directly upon the blood and mt s.s frss faces of the system. Testimonials ses s,, Price -5c per bottle. Sold by all DruEgls'-ai als Take Halls Family Pills for constipation
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01
Decided kit

Did Algy make a hit at inc lite. sry club?" T guess he did He nro. nounced Les Miserables' iri a brand new way, and then alluded to 1t as Victor Herbert's masterpiece"
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01
Same Thin1

Wife (bitterlyl-"How can you talk that way? You know that l never pester you for money" Hub-~No, put the people you buy things from do"
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01

s "I suffered habitually from consti- patton. Doan's ReguleIs relieved and strengthened the bowels so that they have been regular ever since, -E. Davis, grocer, sulphur springs, Texas
 adv
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01

According to Professor s. J Hunter of Kansas, the best way to get rid ol grasshoppers in the alfalfa fields $ 2 the use of the disk harrow, Professoi Hunter has been carrying on expeir ments for several years to eliminaS the destructive hoppers and rom 'ns results of those experiments De ha, learned that disking is not only las- to the grasshopper. but that a.s
 greatly increases the yield of alisns
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01

There are few soils in the United States where an application of com plete fertilizer-one containing nisr0 gen, potash and phosphorus-wih re turn sc much profit as the application of just the elements that are needeo' Few soils are exhausted in all three elements.
Putnam patriot., 1913-08-01

Sweet clover does the best when sown upon sod, but any soil, unless acid, will grow sweet clover. Sweet clover likes a limestone soil. In fact 1t will grow upon gravel beds which are rich in limestone.