davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
AST0RS' TRALE DAYS
Post Stand Century Ago Comes
Again to the Family.
Ranchers Of the North Platte Valley
Are Interested In Somewhat
Curious Chain Of
Events.

Cheyenne. Wyo--A little known ro-
nance OF the Astor family is being
told among the ranchers of the North
Platte valley. where the old original
John Jacob Astor had fur-trading
post just century ago.
The first link In the chain was
forged by the Astor traders in 1912.
The second was created when young
William ii. Force came to Wyoming
thirty years ago and purchased a
ranch upon which were the remains OF
the old Astor trading post. The third
has to do with the time when Kate
Talmadge of New York came to visit
Forces sister and remained to marry
the brother, the courtship taking place
around the old trading post The fourth
link was the birth of little Madeline
Force. Other links are the marriage
of Madeline Force and John Jacob As
tor and the probable return of the old
Astor trading post site to the great
great-grandson of the original Astor,
himself bearing the name OF the found
er OF the American family.
A century ago last December seven
trappers, headed by W. Price Hunt,
who was returning overland from AS
toria, Ore. stopped on the Ncrth
Platte river. built winter quarters and
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10

opened trading post, They all wore
the insignia OF the American Fur com
pany the Astor concern. That post
was the property of John Jacob Astor.
and remained so until 1t was deserted
by the trappers in the spring of 1913.
when the men loaded their furs in
canoes made from cottonwood trees
and fioated down the Platte and Mis-
souri, rivers to st. Louis.
Thirty years later Bruce Husband.
In charge of Astor affairs in Wyoming
dropped down the river and built a
new post. this time within two miles
Of the post OF 1913 The Importance
of this post to the Astors can be seen
when 1t is told that the hides OF $1,000
buffalo were shipped to ST. LOUIS from
THE post in a single year. But by
1850 the Astor company had lett the
field. and not until member of the
family became director of the Union
Pacific railroad did they again hold
an interest in that part OF the world
Along in 1883 when so many easr ern
men of wealth were investing in great
western ranches, William H. Force
and others bought a big tract of land
in eastern Wyoming and western Ne
braska On the tract was the old AS
tor trading post, now in ruins. Along
with Force were the Arbuckles of cof-
fee tame and some others. Western
ranchers say the books of the com
pany showed an ownership of 5000
brood mares. Mr.. Force was manager
= Mr. Force has long lived In the cast.
- - n. n
ranch--one OF the largest In the west.
This ranch probably will some day
come into possession of FORCES grand.
son, the posthumous son Of John jacob
Astor. who went down in the Titanic
with the ranch will, of course, go the
site of the first trading post estab-
lished by the Astors in the trans Mis-
sissippi country.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
SWISS LAW AIDS MOTHERS
Insurance Against Illness and Mater
nlty---Oniy Seven Per Cent. Of
Women Have Subscribed.

Geneva.--The insurance of Swiss
women agains. illness and In view Of
maternity. as provided by the new fed
eral lawr--which measure is known in
this country as the pearl of the new
code"--has received general approval
but so far only per cent. OF the Swiss
women have, taken advantage OF the
law, which came into force two months
ago. Several women's societies are
therefore arranging and giving confer
ences to Lake the law known. espe-
cially among the women Of the work
ing classes. For minimum yearly
subscription there is provided medi-
cal assistance, necessary repose, and
daily allowance to women who are
expectant mothers or are i'll. II is be.
lieved that with. an active propaganda
the majority CT Swiss women Will.
within year. enjoy the benefits OF
the new code in this particular
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
CYCLE OF THE RAlNDRoP

A German professor named Mein-
ardus has amused himself WITH; calcu-
lating how long a drop OF water stays
in the ocean before It is evaporated.
and how soon it returns to the sea.
Calculating does not Say how--the
total evaporation from the surface OF
the ocean and estimating the total
volume Of water in the, ocean, drop
of water entering the ocean will stay
there S,46O years. provided, 1t awaits
its turn to be evaporated. However.
the professor admits that lthe surface
water stands afgood ephapoes sof getting
ahead OF its turn. The average stay
out of the ocean'is only " days.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
.SToRK IS FAR 0UTcLAssEO
Doctor offers Couple Board, Lodging
and Unique Chance Of
Glory

Chicago Board. lodging, Incidental
expenses for fifteen months and the
glory ultimate OF being the parents of
the Acknowledge is the offer of Chi
cago doctor. to any young couple who
will put themselves entirely iM his
charge for fifteen months.
Minerva, goddess of wisdom. says
mythology, sprang full panoplied from
the head of love. The little stranger
the doctor wishes TO euperintend into
the world will, he promises. arrive
with perfectly formed mind and soul.
and will inhabit this world forever
and forever
He claims to have solved the rid
die of eugenics. He says that given
normal man and wife he can. In If
teen months. make them parents OF q
baby which. at birth. will weigh fif-
teen pounds and have teeth and eyes
Moreover, it win know all things
and live forever. 1t will be devoid OF
those temptations and faults to which
the human race is heir. II, and its
kind, will inhabit the earth. and re-
produce its kind (not its young, for
there will be no young, in the sense
of todayl once about every 500 years.
1t will eschow meat and have dis
taste for all that it should not eat 1t
will live on nuts. fruit and vegetables.
He says that he win place $4,000
In any bank as forfeit, that he can
accomplish this result, but he must
have perfectly normal people. educat-
ed, and in receptive mood. He de-
clares that the result of his expert
ment will be to change the entire
course of theosophy.
He does not divulge his method. but
says that he would go about It as a
superarchitect would plan wonderful
. and lasting ediice. He Will lay out
the plans and specifications. The
young couple who agree to the offer
must put themselves entirely in his
charge. and must not deviate from
the rules and regulations he lays down
for them. He has no fear Of the out
come. The doctor Is married, and
has no children.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
PRETEMDs SHE WAS ROBBED
Girl, Afraid TO Tcii Fiance Of Change
Of Heart, Fakes Loss Of
Jeweiry.

New York.-Agnes Erhart. nineteen.
engaged to marry Feador Heinickel.
decided at the eleventh hour that she
did not really love him, but was afraid
to tell him 80. She thought the loss
of what money and jewelry she had
might chill his intentions.
In league with a friend she concoct-
ed robbery. and turned up at po-
lice station with pitiful tale OF how
a man had leaped out of a closet in
her room. tied black bag over her
head. choked her and bound her and
made away with her valuables
When the detectives broke down
her story the girl admitted that she
wasn't really robbed, but had to do
something to keep from marrying
Feador She signed q long writ.
ten statement and was allowed to go.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
BETTER ROADS ARE COMING
Recent Convention Held. at Peoria
Gave Powerful impetus to the
Movement In IlIinois.

The recent good roads convention
at Peoria gave powerful impetus to
the good roads movement In Illinois.
Prospects are that some sort OF road
legislation will be passed by the leg
islature this coming winter.
Opposition to the hard road move
ment will come mainly from two
sources. The first is that class of peo-
pie who do not trust the state to spend
money wisely and economically They
believe that the township or county
can use the road money more effec'
lively The second and largest source
of opposition is from the northern part
of the state, where the main roads are
now pretty thoroughly. graveled OF
macsdamized The people there say
with some justice that after having
taxed themselves to build their own
roads, they should not be compelled
to help build roads for the rest OF
the state. %
This should not block the progress
of the good roads movement. however.
IL should be easily possible to devise
law to provide for an equitable dis
tribution of the state road money. In
the sections which already have mac
adamized roads, the money could be
spent for concrete pavement on the
roads where traffic is heaviest.
AS for the first objection, the state
with force of trained road makers
ought to be able to put In permanent
roads much better and at less cost
than the township or county. Expe
rience does not show that misuse Of
funds Is any more likely to occur un
der state than under county admins
tration.
Ii is important that the good roadt
question be thoroughly threshed Out
this fall and winter We should like
to hear from our readers on this sub
iect and will be glad to give space
In the paper to as many letters as pos
ble.--Prairic Farmer.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
FILM RECORD OF WEDDING
Relatives Of Couple Unable to Attend,
So Ceremony Is Conducted Be-
fore Movies Machine.

Denver, Colo--Harry L. Rand of
this city and Helen Stanford OF Salt
Lake City wanted to repeat the mar
riage ceremony In the presence of
their families. Circumstances pre-
vented the appearance of any rela-
tiyes. SO it was decided that the entire
ceremony would be taken on motion
picture films.
Therefore. every action Of the young
couple, from the time Rand kissed the
bride-to-be at the station until the con-
clusion OF the ceremony, was recorded
ON motion-picture films.
Rev. A. A. Tanner of the First Con-
gregational church of this city per-
formed the ceremony.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
CAT GIVES LIFE FOR KITTENS
Rector Tells Unusual story Of Feline
6ravery--Entered Burning
Building.

Rome.--This story Of the devotion
of a cat to her kittens is vouched for
by the rector of San Juan Letran.
Three kittens were trapped In a
burning house. The mother went to
the first floor, took up one of the kit
tens with her mouth and carried II
outside to a place of safety. She re-
turned and fetched second kitten
and then went for the third. though
the staircase had begun to burn.
The flames spread. SO the cat, still
holding the kitten. went to window
and jumped to the street below. She
was picked up with her back broken
and her fur all scorchedSand died soop
afterward.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
.0UNTYs HUNT
Montana's Pest Run Down by
Dogs and Men.
Colts and Two-Year-old Cattle A.
tackled and Manaied While Still
Alive In Corral by the Hun
cry Animals.

Philipsburg, Mont.--A big gray vol
that had been the terror of the stock
men of the Rock Creek country, Gran
lite county. since early fall was finally
run down by pack of dogs and a
force OF mounted hunters. The wolf
was laid low by six shots fired on the
rum by Jack" Guinnane, rancher of
Rock creek. and Fred Elkins, profes.
sional hunter from Colorado. Mr..
Elkins' dogs continued the chase for
gray VOLTS mate after darkness com
PEELED the men to discontinue
Wolves we're never seen In the
Rock Creek country before last fall.
This pair is supposed to have come
across from the Big Hole country.
Many depredations among the stock on
Willow and Rock creeks were COM
mitted by the wolves before stockmen
we're aware of their presence in this
section. A few stockmeu who knew Of
the characteristics manner In which the
wolf attacks his prey started the be
lief that wolves were actually In the
country. and the stockmen of Granite
county offered reward of SIS to any
one killing wolf in the besieged sec
tion and afterward raised It to 500,
when the effort to sight wolf proved
unavailing by individuals on the hunt.
About three weeks ago the whole
Rock Creek country rose up to the
pursuit. but found the wolf a willy AMI
NAL to deal with. All day the crowd
would track the animal and just before
nightfall be obliged to give up the
chase without result.
The wolves commAted their depre
dations in the dark of the early morn
ing visiting pens or fields where stock
might be corraled for safety and de-
vouring from the living animal what
meat they needed Colts and two-year.
old beeves were their special prey.
Sometimes the victims would escape
with the loss of their tails or portions
of their hand quarters. but would die
from the effects OF the attack G
An attack would be telephoned from
one ranch at daybreak, and at the
same time fresh tracks of the wolves
Z would be found at another ranch miles
away. This made 1t confusing and dis
couraging for the stockmen In pur-
suit. The services of Mr.. Elkins. a pro
iGcotOhdi huhbCi. anu hAoi pawn ~ eAe@AAf
ed hounds we're obtained and since
then the wolves have been sighted re
peatedly and shot at, but never over
taken until crowded back into the
Meadow Creek range
Great relief is felt and general re-
joicing prevails among rachmen
throughout the country over the fact
that the larger and more vicious one
OF the pair of wolves has been killed
He measures s feet 7 inches from tip
to Tip. height feet 8 inches and
weighs $50 pounds
The chase for the female is being
continued by the hunters. and 1t is be
lieved that she will be easily run
down. since her "meat getter." as one
OF the hunters called the big wolf. if
+ dead
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
BAD ROADS WASTEFUL
Antiquated Methods in Illinois
Cause Big Loss.
Conference Held at Peoria Approves
Program for pulling Illinois Out
Of Mud'--Reeommend State
Prisoners to Be Used.

Bankers, farmers, automobilists.
educators, labor and business men
from all over Illinois met at Peoria
the other day and approved unani
mousiy general program for pull
Ing Illinois out of The mud"
After three rousing meetings they
; prepared a resolution to the next state
legislature setting out the lines ON
should be based.
The Illinois highway Improvement
commission. which called the meeting,
declared $55,000,000 will be wasted In
Illinois during the next twenty years
unless the present antiquated meth
ods are changed.
To prevent this waste the confer
ence urges the creation OF small
state railway commission to replace
the present army of local commission
ers, more active assistance by the
state for the trunk lines. and more
active insistence by tho public on
good roads.
1t Is proposed that prisoners In the
state penitentiaries be used not only
for the preparation of road building
materials, as at present. but, If posi-.
BILE. for actual construction work
through the state.
1t is proposed to follow the Colora.
do method. using the honor system.
and sending the gangs out with
guards
The legislation recommended by
the conference would provide:
State and county cooperation in
the construction and maintenance Of
main highways and bridegs
A non-political state highway com.
mission of at least three competent
members. who shall devote their en-.
tire time to their duties.
Improvement in such counties as
elect to come under the provisions OF
the law, of main, continuous inter.
county highways connecting county
seats and other important cities. prin.
cipally at the expense of the state and
county; such roads to be selected and
improved by county authorities. sub
ject to the approval of the state high.
way commission and after improve
ment to be turned over to the state
for perpetual maintenance.
Improvement. maintenance, and con.
troll of remaining roads (about 80 per
cent. of the whole) under supervision
of county and township authorities.
Effective measures to guarantees
maintenance after roads are once con
structed.
Use of the state automobiles tax
together with such other funds as the
legislature may appropriate in the i'm
provement of highways.
Use of.state prisoners-under state
direction-on an honor system, in ac
tual road work when practicable.
Payment of all.road taxes in cash
Compulsory dragging OF all earth
roads.
Proper construction and guarding
OF crossings at railroads and inter
section of street and highways.
The platform of the conference
includes resolutions In favor of fed
eral aid for postroads and nationa
highways. and calls attention of llfi
nois congressman to this position.
: Jesse Taylor OF jamestown, o.. told
the convention the difference betweer
hauling cost In Belgium and America
13 cents a mile. meant waste o
s127.500.000 In this years farm crops
alone
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
TWO MEMS HEARTS SHIFTED
x-Ray eshovse Organs on Right Side Of
Breast Bone Of Males In Phil
adeiphIa.

y Philadelphia. Pa.--Following an ex-
animation in the X-ray department of
the University OF Pennsylvania. II was
announced that Frederick Steiner.
forty-two years old. of Gil Henry
street. Camden. was suffering from a
displacement Of the heart, the organ
being four inches to the right OF the
breast bone.
1t was the second case Of the kind
brought to light In Camden by 6 doc.
tor. the other ,being that of Edgar Mer
rill, sixty-three years old. of - Fo-
garty avenue. 1t was stated that with
rest and care cure can be effected
In both cases.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
GOO Material.

The laying mash has become gen
orally recognized as the most conve
.nient as we'll as economical method
of providing hen with egg material
The following is good formula
Coarse wheat bran, coarse middlings
ground corn and oats, alfalfa meal
meat scraps. each 100 pounds. linseed
meal forty pounds. fine table salt ten
pounds. This $50 pounds Of feed, cost
ing around $40. should be enough-tc
last flock of 100 hens one month
and should produce during that time
at December and January prices, from
$50 to 500 worth OF eggs. There is
not another animal on the ranch that
win show this profit from the same
amount of feed given in addition tc
the regular rations.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
400 Brides Under Twelve.

Bombay -Four hundred weddings
were celebrated simultaneously recent
Iy at Surat among members of the
Lewa Kunbi caste All OF the brides
were under twelve years of age, the
majority being one to seven years old,
while the bridegrooms varied from
three to nine Most Of the contracting
parties sat OF lay on the laps of their
parents during the ceremony. and
were given sweets to keep them quiet
The caste celebrates weddings only
every ten or twelve years.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
GOAT HAS BANKNoTE MEAL
Farmer In French Town Has Animal
Killed to Recover 5000 II
Masticated

Paris.--A farmer living near Tou
louse has just presented to the Bank
Of France the Fragments OF ten $50
notes for payment. They were much
torn, having been eaten BY a goat
few days ago the farmer on entering
the goats stable. placed his coat on
the ground. Later he found that the
goat had got at his pocketbook and
was quietly eating the contents. He
Immediately had the goat killed and
he recovered the fragments Of the
notes.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
WASTING OF ROAD MATERIAL
Estimated That 50 Out of Every $40
uselessiy squandered Annually
In Statea Of Corn Belt.

II would be difficult to give In ac-
tual figures the amount OF money that
is annually wasted in road work In
the states of the corn belt. To say
50 out OF every $40 Is uselessly squan-
dered would be putting It too strongly
for some communities. but 1t would
not be wide of the mark In others.
says the Iowa Homestead. Strange
as IL may seem, those very localities
having the worst roads are stanchest
In their support of the old-fashioned
system whereby the highways are In
charge OF those who know absolutely
nothing about the scientific construc-
tion OF roads.
We are not assuming to give ad-
vice on how to build roads, because
road making is not our profession.
but 1t is sometimes in order to point
out how not to build them. While
travelling recently on highway that
has almost a nationwide reputation
for It's excellent condition due to drag
ging. we found at one place twenty or
thirty teams. applying gravel. Al
ready several miles had been grav-
eled, application being made to
surface that was in many places at
least thirty feet wide without the
slightest attempt having been made
to make a grade For a distance Of
many rods in places the center Of
the highway was considerably lower
than at either side and yet these faith
full "gravelers" were dumping their
loads in the very middle of what
might be called the saucer grade
No attempt whatever was made to
pack down the loose gravel, so that
all traffic was being diverted to the
sides. Heavy traffic following wet
spells had resulted in cutting the en-
tire surface into well-nigh impassa-
BILE ruts. the situation therefore pre-
senting the pleasing prospect OF hav-
ing the ground freeze up this fall
with the surface in frightful condi,
ton.
1t requires no expert knowledge of
road making to conclude at once that
labor expended in this way is prac-
tically wasted, Instead of first get
ting rid of the water, which has all
ways been the fundamental principle
of road making, and then applying the
simply because the cash was avail
able for putting SO much labor on the
surface began at the wrong end and
it may safely be predicted that not
two years will elapse before this
gravel has disappeared into bot
tomless bog. Here was an expendi.
ture of $500 a mile that was in our
opinion worse than wasted because
this loose unpacked gravel by its di
! version of traffic to the sides sim
ply means that where formerly some
good@ could be accomplished with a
drag, now this benefit cannot be ex
pected because dragging the soil to
/ the center will only the more quick
ly bury the surface material-the
/ gravel.
While we have given but one in
stance we believe that similar cases
| could be found in a great many coun
| ties of the corn belt where gravel it
available and If this IL trle 1t is high
time that some system is developed
! whereby every dollar that is spent or
highway must be for labor that IL
superintended by someone who Ii
schooled in practical way on the
scientific principles of road making
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10


which is almost filled withsrHw chest
nuts. They are covered with sec
ond wet cloth, and put on the fire to
steam. Hot steamed chrstnuts are
carried around the city streets inlbas-
kets or pals. The. majority OF, the
working people, who usually have no
fire early in the morning eat t1hem for
their breakfast. with or without milk.
Physicians state that, as an article of
food, chestnuts are wholesome. nutri-
tious, and fattening. These nuts are
often used as a.yegetable, and are ex.
ceedingly popular, being. found on the
table OF the well-to-do and wealthy.
They are served not only boiled, but
roasted. steamed. .pureed. and as
dressings for poultry and meats.
Chestnuts are also made into bread
by the mountain peasantry. a.it
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
plant rood.

When plants run to vines and tops
Il is sure Indication that the sol.
is full OF nitrogen and lacking In pot
ash and phosphoric acid. This fire.
ouentiy comes from the use OF large
quantities OF stable manure A fer
tiilzer low in nitrogen and rich In
potash and phosphoric acid VIII bal
ance up the plant food ration
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-05-10
HAS BALE OF WIGS TO SELL
U. 8. seized Them When Attempt to
smuasic Was Discovered In Ho-
boken.

Jersey City. N. .I.--Goingi GOING
VINO wants wig? The United States
government advertises for sale a
whole bale OF them. Of all kinds and
colors OF hair The sale will be at
auction In the Jersey City post office
The wigs were seized recently by GUS
toms ofIicials In Hoboken when an AT
tempt to smuggle them into this coun-
try was discovered.