davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16

A Happy Day for Everybody
fishing place which. along with other
plantation scenes is pictured above,
will strike responsive cord in the
heart of any Birmingham fisherman
who knows Blackwell creek:
Feminist the inlet to the lake
And sneaking off among the rushsss
Where the tupelos plant their stubs
born feet,
And in the brink the willer pushes
Where rushes grow,
And lilies blow;
Where foxtails stand as stin ~
steeples.
And watch the herons stalk about
Like solemn Sunday peoples
There We can alters find a spot,
Beyant the weeds and water truck
Where ye may bait for trout and
speckles.
And always count on havin' luck.
They seem to have a nimble knack
OF turnin' out this kind Of fry;
For it's been fshed for forty year,
And never onct has been fished dry.
In spring or fall,
Sunshine or squa11
They alters seem to be a waitin'
And kalkerlate you're wastin time
Then when your hook wades down to
them
The foremost nabs 1t fair and square
And jerks the cork clean out o. sight
If I was seekin' fer gift
To give friend ! liked right smart
Some token. likewise of respect
To show the feelin' of the heart;
Id lead the way
Some well-picked day.
To this lone spot bound in by bushes
Where the tupelows plant their stub
born feet
And in the brink the willer pushes,
Beyant the lilies and the moss;
Wher black the water gets and deep.
ia pint him out this favored spot
And make it his'n forever to keep.
And then I'd want him fer to feel
That peace of SOUL calm-rike and
white,
That alters steals upon me when
I'm waitin' for another bite.
And when the hook
With KNOWN look
Drops gently down the watry ways
And when his cork goes out O. sight.
I've fished in many place
Moren thirty year
In days a most of every kind,
And not the least I've landed high
Was peace and comfart to my mind;
And when some day
] go the way
That all must go, I'd like right well
To rest where could see this spot.
And catch a whiff of old Blackwell
So thinkin' while I bait my hook,
| pull my pipe with cheerful sighs
And feel content In this fair nook
And thankful, bless my Paradise.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
Z A Plantation Breakfast

The dining room of this -bellum
place is one of the front apartments.
Simple it is, but CHEEKY, with its Dutch
yellow walls, it's old marble-topped
sideboard and narrow table-the two
simple articles which Mr.. and Mrs.
Ashford candidly admit were the dining
room furniture of their early married
life. A more massive buffet of solid
mahogany is another bit of furniture
which was a relic of the old place, the
home of Mr.. Ashfords parents which
became his not more than dozen years
ago On the nower-trimmed table
temptingly arranged for each service
in the daintiest OF white napery If
sometimes quite plain. the faithful
Louise spreads a wonderful repast. be-
ing wonderful cook and graeed with
wonderful array of foods.
Any former guest of The Planta.
tion will be familiar with the items
mentioned in this typical breakfast
menu: Grapefruit, quail on toast snipe
broiled in butter, hominy, fried frog
legs, country cured ham, muffins
scrambled eggs, coffee. hot waffles and
molasses. A dinner as tempt
ing may follow 1t, with tomato bouillon.
baked duck. French peas. rice, candied
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
"Where the Tupelos Plant Their
Stubborn Feet"

A CURIOUS blending of ante-bellum
"a and modern hospitality is permit
4 ted the fortunate visitor to THE
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
Sweet Nancy McAllister

Two smaller portraits, hanging at op-
posite sides of the mantel, are likenesses
of the grandfather and grandmother Of
the plantation host He Is a statesman
like parsonage of whom feminine guest,
more candid. than thoughtful, said, What
father is. SO different from his
sweet little wife," She appears a
Tiny woman in the portrait, with
slender shoulders and tender mouth
friled mob cap framing her
face for ali The world like the head dress
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
The Evenings

Because Mr.. and Mrs. Ashford are per-
feet hosts the evenings that follow a day
out of doors never proves long and tire
some. without apparent effort the even
ing hours are winged like the days in the
woods. When Mrs Ashford is a guest
she arranges a card game il other efforts
fail; Mr. Ashford is not a card player
but his bachelor parties sometimes sup
plement the days sport with a game In
winter the group sitting about the bic
fire relate their choicest stories, to the
accompaniment of corn merrily poppina
among the embers Sometimes possum
hunt is spontaneously arranged and of
they go to don heavy clothing and head
wrappings.
The close of the season was celebrated
the other evening with bird roast The
party at The Plantation numbered only
five. just a cosy group enough to sit
about the big fire upstairs and offer sug-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
Personalities


king.
Personalities
To a guest the chief pleasure OF visit
comes from the people with whom he is
surrounded. Mr.. Ashford chooses his
companions with care good sportsman
ship being the CHIEF requisite His COM
panons just now are particularly inter-
esting. First, his lovely wife-and if
those who are familiar with Mrs. Ash
fords cunning at auction bridge, her
prettiness and her always exquisite
grooming-if these feminine friends of
Mrs Ashford's are surprised to hear her
placed in the category of good sportsman
ship, they should see her at the Planta-
tfon sitting upon saddle horse like one
born to life in the open. They, should
see her again in an open boat on Black
well Creek drawing in one wriggling,
speckled beauty after another-and calm
ly disengaging him from the hook; they
should see her leaning over the Goals of
campfire toasting bread or fish for
hungry hunters; they should see her
again, in crisp white bodice with the
light shining on her soft white hair and
faint pink flush on her delicate skin
quickly answer as Mr. Ashford inquiries.
"Will we have pie for dinner, Susie?'-l
why, how should know? I'm guest!''
This is charming thing about their life
together. There he is host and house
keeper-thoughtful of every smallest COM
fort of his guests. In their town house
his every thought is anticipated, his every
f,,v n
He is a decidedly pampered person.
One of the two men now at the Planta-
tion is English and as his youth was
spent as gamekeeper on the estate of
an English nobleman he knows a lot of
hunting and fishing in two countries.
Surrounded by the dogs which are as
necessary an adjunct to Mr.. Ashford's
household as his very excellent cook and
his capable man Mr.. Allen fits into tha
scene Just as the old Plantation house
fits into it's background, and the Planta-
ton itself into the miles of rich farm
country familiar to Judge Oscar Humid
ley's boyhood to Mrs e. r. Garrett some-
times visitor here but great granddaugh-
ter Of Alabamas first governor and
resident, in her girlhood of an ante
bellum colonial mansion to Mrs. c. M
Stanley, whose father Mr. Greet built
beautiful manor house a few miles from
the Ashford place, and to other well
known people who know the beauty OF
those lordly north Alabama farms.
AS characteristic an inmate OF The
Plantation is the other guest-not En-
glish nor yet American; he is probably
Of French birth--his quaint accent de-
clares il anyway. He loves The Pian-
tation, as everybody loves 1t VINO
knows it, The Plantation host values
him according to his craftsmanship
which is par excellence-and accord
ing to his mental graces, which are IN
usual. He has touched life at many
angles, has seen the world from many
viewpoints, and he is an all round com
panlon, shooting straight and true and
when the stories are going round re-
lating with becoming modesty his
hunting experiences In the Maine
woods and the Louisiana swamps' HIS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16

yamS, sliced tomatoes and mince pie,
among the delicacies. For delicacies of
game and vegetables are always in
season at The Plantation and Mr.
Ashfords guests receive the best Of
town and country provender.
To the city bred person whose life
among the paved thoroughfares has
given 1anguor and a nervous crav-
on roll and a soft boiled egg is some
times an achievement, and such an ar
ray as described above seems a hec-
tic and monstrous exaggeration. But
wait until a days hunting through the
sedge grasses or the snipe bogs of the
plantation has been followed by Il
dreamless sleep in the feather bed
of big quiet room upstairs-and see
how many of these delicacies you are
willing to test. And then ask your
self if the addition of a further course
OF country sausage would seem as to-
tally impossible as it sounds to you
now.
MementOs
Formerly the Kitchen of The Planta-
house in conspicuous view. from the
entrance gate, and the present Kitchen
was the masters bedroom. 1t has
been lately torn away and pergola
paved with red bricks was raised there
instead. Under its white lattice are
served the refreshments for dances and
other evening parties given during the
summer and it shelters the big refrig-
orator which is rare treasury house
during the hunting season. M
Upstairs are three mammoth bed
rooms, each capable of sheltering quite
party One-Mr. and Mrs. Ashford's
owns chosen in midwinter as the
sitting room The floor is covered and
the sun brings a mellow light through
the big windows, while the glow from
the Dig CRATE warns the remotest cor
ners Here suite Of priceless old rose
wood furniture makes the surroundings
perfect. A bed quite big enough for
the seven sleepers is topped with a
tour-post canopy whose octagonal coll
umns are eight inches in diameter. The
massive wardrobe and other articles of
furniture are in harmony with its pro-
portions and the decoration Of the wall
In hunting scenes is altogether ap-
propriate. The girls room-just any
girl, that is, who visits The Planta-
uon-is decorated in rambler roses and
the furniture is all white enamel, like
the very modern bathroom with its
very urban porcelain tub and steam
ing water. OF more sombre color is the
other big apartment. done in walnut
and mahogany, where Mr. Ashford's
gentlemen guests are put up.
one of the most interesting relics at
the Plantation is big spread, made for
the rosewood room by the grandmother Of
the host dainty Nancy McAllster, whose
portrait hangs downstairs 1T is Just u
little creamy with age. but has held its
own In eloquent if silent tribute to the
good old days
ihe iittie grandmother picked the cot
ton from which this spread was made;
she then seeded it and afterward wove II
into CLOTH AS the looms were not more
than Is inches or thereabouts in width, she
sewed the cloth together with the seams
of the fine needle woman that sh was
made the broad fringe that borders the
spread and embroidered an elaborate and
intricate pattern over the entire surface.
using quaint fogotten stitch
Ihen, across the foot Of the spread she
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16

worn by ''the Marchioness" of Dickens
fame. And she is sweet and confiding. and
capable, too, this little Mistress Nancy
McAllister as shall presently explain. A
portrait of Mr.. Ashfords father is hung
here, too, inclosed in a strong and very
pleasing frame made on the Plantation.
AS we looked at him, his son told of his
prowess as hunter and his love of the
chase, and the pride or a sportsman. of
the owner Of many prize winning retriev-
ers. of the late Won CULTS owner-looked
out of his eyes as he told it.
Among the big paintings hang two
quaint photographs one of modish lit
tie twentieth century chap, and another
of dainty little girl, now the mother
of the jolly long clothes fellow. Mrs.
Robley c.. Munger of this city. daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. Ashford, and her little
son, Robley, Jr., are the originals of the
two photographs which were made as the
two wore frocks which Mr.. Ashford had
himself worn as an infant in this old
house. They are all hand drawn and
tucked and embroidered with the infinite
care and skill bestowed by the mother Of
those early days, and they tell fine
story of patience and exquisiteness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
.-.--.

embroidered her initials, IN. NJ and the
date, '1sl2," which stands out as boldly
today as though it had been placed there
yesterday instead of a hundred and one
years ago
Another quaint relic of the past is the
pair of hose worn by the same indus
trious lady on the occasion of her mar
riage. Instead of the silxen web that
one would fancy, they were made of cot
ton, and of her own weaving, though of
so fine texture and so gracefully woven
were they, with their embroidered flow
ers and monogram, they would not be the
scorn of a bride of this silk stockinged
day.
In a rack high in one of the guest
rooms rests a gun of aspect different to
the graceful beauties in Mr.. Ashford S
splendid collection. This is the gun with
which his father hunted deer-for the
country in that locality was formerly filled
with this type of game.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16

sestions for the preparation the seasoning
and toasting of the birds. Suspended
from spits on the overhead mantel the
twine strings carried each plump little
bird down opposite the red Goals. Two
long pans filled with butter, red pepper
and salt were stationed below and at in
tervals the birds were immersed, until at
u o'clock the toasted bread was also
dipped In butter and each piece received
the dainty little morsel that had been
cooking since s. With accompanying con-
diments it was bird supper fit for a
king.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
Trophies of the Hunt

In the hall are two of the most inter-
esting and beautiful objects in the house
a giant moose head and it's companion,
an elk, perfectly mounted and lifelike in
their beauty They are suspended high on
the ceiling, and yet the broad antlers are
almost too wide and high for the wall,
and quite impossible for the Ashfords'
town house. These are comparatively re-
cent additions to the decorations of the
home, and are souvenirs of the visit Of
one OF the many who have been fascinated
by the Plantation. A few years ago a
wealthy Canadian. friend of the host.
paid him visit designed to be of brief
duration, but so charming did he find the
hospitality of the Plantation he remained
for months, and his return TO Canada
was marked by the gift of these two
beautiful heads, In Mantoban periodi-
cal of this winter he wrote of the celebra-
tion of Christmas on southern planta-
tion and the story is the story that the
people of the south know of departed
dayS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
Plantation Life

To one who knew slavery days" there
in the eyes of one who pictures those
days of the past only through hearsay,
the Plantation seems very near to the
original plan, chiefly because of the num-
Ter of negroes scattered over its broad
acres and the adjacent farms. 1t is an
excellent class of negroes, clean, energetic
and respectful; in the words of rhyme
dedicated to the owner. "The negroes no.
where seem so white as on the Planta-
tion." There are the older ones, always
ready. With the suavity of her race,
cbon-faced Aunt Julia stepped to the side
Of the hack as it fingered at her doorstep
the afternoon we arrived, and said. (Which
is your wife, Mr.. Tom. and which is the
young lady? l tell you, dey is two hand
some pullets; de older one looks like a
pullet and de other one is pulletr' with
which equivocation she was satisfied she
Lad tactfully kept within the graces Of
both. A. day of sport, whether hunting
or fishing, at the Plantation, is JOYOUS
thing. To prepare for such day in rooms
kept warm because of weather stripped
doors and windows as cosy as those
planned for northern winter; to then
dress for any kind -ofs weather and have
ones host regard ones slightest need.
furnishing deficiencies of sweater or
shooting coat, woolen gloves boots and
ear protectors; to come home to blazing
fire and stove waiting with the hot din
ner ready to be supplemented by the re-
suit of the days sport-this makes the
day glorious. But to- be furnished with
gallant horse and a gun of any prefer
ence, or a seat in a spring wagon to the
scene of distant endeavor-to pause at
noontime for the preparation of lunch
con of cold birds and ham toasted over
the Goals of a camp fire-this makes ii
perfect.
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-02-20


ME Newman and Otto Faga spent
Sunday at the Mrs. Thielen home
The little son OF Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank Tibben is quite sick.
Mr.. and Mrs. Tune Thomas spent
Sunday with the formers daughter,
Mrs. George Schlater.
M S. George Kness visited Satur-
day and Sunday at the homes of
Mrs. Hate Croy and Mrs. VIM.
Williams
Rev. Smith is planning on hold
ing Revival Meetings at the church
the first OF next week. if the wea.-
Their permits.
Miss Nettie Rogers, who teaches
Audubon No. A, visited from Fri
dya until Sunday at the Henry
Hansen home
Misses Nellie Meyer and Nettie
Tibhen returnd to their homes Sat
urday from Extra, where they have
been attending Mrs Connrardy' IS
sewing school
John Baker spent Sunday eve
ming at the VIM. VanAernam home.
Mr.. George Peters of A,dair and
Charles Jacobsen spent Sunday at
the Ed NVahlert home.
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-02-20

Jens Mikkelsen is on the sick
list this week.
Bertha Brandt visitad friends
in Audubon over Sunday.
Harvey Lauritensen has hired out
to Jess Beck for this summer.
NJ S Fred Alvey, who has been
vety i'll fer the past two w6eks,
is reported better at this writing.
Kan Mcrtensen sold his mules,
last week, receiving $40 for them,
which Karl thinks is a good price.
Alfred Miller of Extra was in
HamLin between trains last Satur-
day
Mr.. ard Mrs. Peter R. Eissan
have BIO III been on the sick list, the
past week.
G RS Petersen made a business
trip to Extra, Sunday, returning
Monday morning.
Mr.. and Mrs. X j. Petersen Wis
tied friends in Atlantic from satur-
day until Sunday.
Peter spirrup bought new team
and harness last week and he is
going to have a new buggy too. Sc
gir's, Smile.
George Mortensen. son of Nels
Mortensen, was very sick last Sum
day but is better at this writing.
VIM. Olsen and son visited al
Jacob Jacobsen's near Extra, las
Sunday.
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-02-20

I'll daughter and children of
T. j. Stafford, who live i'm Malvern,
arrived in the city Tuesday to visit.
Steve Hemstreet and fami v of
Atlantic arrived in the city Nom
day to visit at the C. H. Stocking
home
R. B. White and family, formerly
of this city but now of Magnolia,
Iowa, arrived here Sunday to visit
| friends.
Mrs. Ben Carr and ch,ildren of
Enid, Oklahoma, arrived in the
city Thursday to visit her sister,
Mrs. A. C. Harmon.
DR.. G. H. Rathburn and, wife of
Fremont, Nebraska, visited in Aud
! uton last week with his mother,
Mrs John G.. Davis.
| Rev. w. F. Raeber returned to
his home in Canton, Ohio, Thurs
: day, after being here to attend the
funeral CT his mother and father.
! Mrs. Clarence Alice, who had
bsen here visiting, went to Guthrie
Center Thursday to visit before
returning to her home in Manila.
Mrs. Arthur Shay arrived i'm the
city Friday to visit her parents,
John Frieze and wife. She re-
turned to her home in Omaha,
Sunday.
Mrs. Robert Kelly returned home
Thursday from New Sharon where
she had been to see her sister,
Miss Dolly Petty, who was injured
a few days ago. Miss Petty is get
ting along nicely now.
Mrs. G. E. Long returned Sunday
from Chicago, where she had been
to get the latest millinery styles
Mr.. Long, who is working in Har-
Ian, came over Sunday to visit.
Mrs. L. Gibson and son returned
10 the1r nome I'M Omaha Sunday.
Mrs. Gibson has been cook at the
Boos er's Cafe and new cook az
rived Sunday so she returned to
her home.
Mrs. F. NJ. Zion, who spent the
winter with her daughter, Mrs.
Will PARROT in Dowds, Iowa, re-
turned Tuesday from that place,
She is net very we'll so Mrs. Par
rott accompanied her home.
| JOHN Weighton departed Friday
for Daytona, Florida, to join his
family, who are down there. He
will return i'm couple of weeks
but Mrs. Weighton and the child
rem will stay a little longer.
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-02-20
LIES STRUGGLE
With ILLNESS
Mrs. Stewart Tells How She
Suffered from l6to45 years
old-How Finally Cured.

Euphemia, Ohio" Because of total
ignorance of how to care for myself
when verging into womanhood, and from
taking cold when going to school, ] suf-
fcred from displacement, and each
month I had severe pains and nausea
which always meant lay-of from work
for two to four days from the time 1
was 16 years old.
Invent to Kansas to live with my Sis
ter and while there doctor told me of
the Pinkham remedies but did not use
them then as my faith in patent medi-
cines was limited. After my sister died
came home to Ohio to live and that
has been my home for the last 10 years.
The Change of Lifecame when was
Al years old and about this time I saw
my physical condition plainly described
in one of your advertisements. Then
began using Lydia E. Pinkham's Veg
etable Compound and cannot tell you
or any one the relief it gave me in the
first three months. 1t put me right
where need not lay off every month
and during the last IS years have not
paid out two dollars to doctor, and have
been blestwith excellent heath for wo-
woman of my age and I can thank Lydia
e. Pinkham 'sVegetable Compound forit'
"Since the Change Of Life is over
have been maternity nurse and being
wholly self-supporting cannot over
estimate the value of good health. 1
have now earned a comfortable little
home just by sewing and nursing sit &c
was Sugars old. Ihaye recommended
the Compound to many with good re-
suits, as it is excellent to take before
and after childbirth. Miss EVELYN
ADEL1A STEWART, Euphemia. Ohio.
II you want special advice write to
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Co. Conf
dertiaD Lynn, Mass. Your letse, W
be opened, read and answered nv 9
woman and held in strict coui: .encc
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-02-20

Lou Ba.er and family spent Sum
day at VIM. Baier's
j Inn T lben and wife spent Sun
day at the John Crees home.
Frank Thielen marketed hogs in
Extra Wednesday of last week.
VIM. Baier and wife spent Sun
day evening at the Geo.g kness
home.
Roy Coll and wife spent Saturday
and Sunday with relatives in
Adair.
W:ll Savoy and family and Mrs.
Hen Tibben visitel Mond;y at
Henry Bake
Mr.. John Schlater and wife spent
Sunday at the home CT their son,
George Schlater.
Mrs. Thomas Hill visited the lat
ter part of LAST week with her moth
er, MrstLohn Schlater.
August Dr.er and Charlie Faga
and families and Mrs. Anna schwar
ting and son, Sam, spent Sunday
at John Petri's.
Ella Platt and Lena Fag, Emma
Wahe and Hannah and Loretta
Bochert spent Sunday at the Rev
VA. Deletzke home.
Mrs. Arthur schwenneker and
Mis-. George schirm and children
spent Saturday and Sunday at the
John Wahlert home.
Chris Hickman ST., wife and son
Carl, Schwarting's and Tibben's
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-02-20
5 )ss;itt,,s,'' 9

An English tourist who was tell
Ing am Irish peasant about the Brit
ish empire, said:
Well, Pat, and do you know that
tie sun never sets ON the kings
dominions.''
mo, your honor replied Pat.
Well, such is the case" went on
the tourist, but do you know the
reason"
Pat Immediately answered.: 81
suppose it is because heaven is
afraid to trust am Emglishman in
the dark -
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-02-20
Edward Raebgl Dead

Edward Carl Conrad Raebei was
born in Ruegen, Germany, May 1s,
1884, and died in Audubon Feb.
IL, 1913, after a short ILLNESS. He
leaves three children to mourn his
loss. his wife having proceeded him
to the gre t beyond ten days ago.
The funeral services were held in
the M. E. Church, Thursday after
noon at 1 p. M, Rev Freedline Of
ficia ing.
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-02-20
SHE GBSECTED

Little Madge contracted appended
tbs, and had to be sent to the hos
pi al 10 have an operation perfonme
She bore it all very cool and piucky
When she became comvalescent,
the surgeon came to remove the
stitches that had been put in the
wound. The childfs idea of dignity
was very much upset, and she de
manded Indignantly:
DO you s'pose l come here to
be all stitched up and them un-
picked again.