davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
Opan Winters.

When snow covers the ground It pre-
serves vegetable life without develop
Ing 1t. Snow is three times less power
ful as conduo tor OF heat than rain: II
screens the ground and prevents noe
turnal radiation.
Vegetables. cereals In particular. can
endure considerable lowering OF tenn
perature II the fall OF snow precedes
the frost. Ground planted to wheat can
pass through period when the tenn
perature falls far below zero II the
snow covers 1t well. While rain brings
10 the ground azote In the form OF am
monia or nitric acid. snow enriches the
soil In much greater proportion. A liter
of rainwater contains much less fer
tilizing material than the same amount
OF hoarfrOst or melted snow. and when
the winter has been open" or mild,
when there has been rain instead or
SHOW. the farmer Is forced to spend
more money for fertilizers than when
the winter has given the earth snow In
abundance. lHarper's.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
Some Unnecessary Travel.

Time is monay to the farmer, as we'll
as to any one else. Time saved in doing
chores, in going to and from the fields
or in working the land can often
be used for the purpose Of improving the
farm buildings, or In caring for crops or
stock that will pay good profit on la
Dor. That time can be saved In doing
the chores no one will dispute who is
familiar with farming. A trip of ten
rods three times day across the farm
stead will amount in year to thirty
four miles of travel, and will require one
and one half days. On many farms the
arrangement of the buildings may call
for number of such trips in different
directions, and the distance travelled un.
necessarily will easily reach several hun.
dred miles in year. No one would
think OF making such an arrangement OF
buildings II it called for the waste time
In ono stretch, but because the waste Ia
spread out over the daily tasks or chores
no attention Is given the matter. The
needless trips take energy and cause loss
of time, nevertheless. Count your steps
for day or week, and see how many
miles of travel you can save In year.
Long fields can be worked more eco.
nomically than sqnare ones. Three-cor'
nered fields are especially expensive
to handle. 1t is calculated that
q diagonal ditch or road across forty
acre tract will increase the cost of oper'
ating the land from Is to 25 per cent
Andrew Boss, In Farmers Guide.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
HOMELY CHILDREN.
Often Develop Into Beauties When the
Face 10 Fully Grown.


Let NO parent despair Of plain
enild. Beauty so far from being skin
deep" largely depends upon the proper.
ton between the different parts OF the
face. and this depends upon their rate
OF growth. Before boys voice breaks
lie may have very defective chin, q
serious blemish for our ideal Of manly
beauty. But that chin may be destined
to grow just when the boys beard be-
gins to grow and may transform him.
saw the other day an old school fel.
low whom could scarcely recognize.
SO vastly improved was he since his
young boyhood by the acquisition OF
that chin which anatomists tell us Is a
popularity Wnd therefore beauty OF
our species Robert Southey was de-
scribed by his nurse rs a great ugly
boy" when he was born. but he grew
to he 50 handsome that Byron said lie
would be almost content to father
Southey's poetry II he might have It's
authors head and shoulders.
cannot say what percentage OF ugly
children turn ont handsome later In
life. but certainly many do partly be-
cause in earlier lie the various parts
Of the face have developed at some
whu. rnc lual rates and partly because
OF the influence of another factor OF
beauty. In which Southey was rich.
It's old fash 'oned but familiar name Is
the soul.-Dr &. W. Saleeby In Strand
Ma g;lZiue
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
Continued on page 81
Jrges Enforcement of Attendance.

Urges Enforcement OF Attendance.
State Superintendent Of Schools Pay
son Smith has issued the following cir
cular to school superintendent through
out the state:
The United States Census Bureau re.
ported in 1890 that there were 25,5S7 IL
iiterates 10 Maine, 5.5 per cent of the
total population. In 1900 the same
Bureau reported that there were 29,O6O
illiterates representing 5 per cent OF the
total population. In the United
States Census report just published for
1910 there are shown to 6e in Maine
4,554 illiterates representing 3.2 per
cent Of the population.
This reduction in illiteracy for the
decade 1900 and 1910 is extremely gratify-
ing. 1t would probably be too much to
say that the public schools are alone to
receive the credit for this reduction In
illiteracy since many agencies are CO.
operating to that end. On the other
hand the existence of illiteracy can hard.
| ly be held to be altogether criticism oil
the system of public education as ap-
piled to youth since many illiterates are
those who come into the state after they
have passed the school age.
However, the school must be held in,
creasiugly responsible for a condition OF
iiliteracy aud the further reduction OF II
must depend upon the extent of the
faithful enforcement OF the Compulsory
Education Laws and upon the extension
Of educational opportunity among per
Sons who are past school age.
note that last year there were ex.
cused from school attendance persons OF
compulsory school age to the number OF
1868. | note also from the returns oi
the schools that there were 1919 persons
of compulsory school age who were ou'
| of school without excuse from the com
mittee. These classes contain elements
Of possible illiteracy.
Ny object therefore, in writing you ID
| to call your attention to the encouraging
aud favorable indications shown In ths
census returns now at hand and to urge
You with other school authorities to joir
| in still more careful attention to tht
two points the observance Of which
must give our state still better record
In this matter. Very truly yours,
PAYsoN SMITH.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
Officers of the conference were chosen
aa follows.

Omcers OF the cOnIerence WeEe Cuoseh
as follows:
Secretary-R. A. Rich, Fairfield.
Assistant Secretaries-William Wood, kenes
Hill; Frank G. Potter. Cornish.
Statistician-C. /. Spear, Monmouth.
Assistants-C. o. Perry. Gorhan, N. H., W.
P. Holman, Strong; c. E. Brooks, Mechanic
Falls.
Assistants-J. NJ. Arters, Portland; Ernest Z.
Doughty, and John II. Roberts, Brunswick.
The conference then rose in respect to
two members deceased during the year,
C. A. Southland of st. Albans and G. A.
Brooks of South Portland.
For the committee on moral reform,
Rev. j. NJ. Arters of Portland presented
series of resolutions commencing the
action of Governor Haines in bringing to
account certain sheriffs OF the state, and
complimeuting the members of the legis-
lature for their action in the same mat
ter. The resolutions were passed with
hearty applause, such as punciuated all
remarks on the temperance question
throughout the conference.
Several of the official visitors to the
conference, some of whom had to leave
early in the session, were introduced to
give their messages at this time. Dr.
Sheridan spoke in behalf of the Epworth
League as that which was to feed the
church and maintain its strength.
Rev. Clarence True Wilson, d. D, of
Chicago, who is the field representative
of the temperance society of the Method
ist church, told of the work that is
being done and the progress that is being
made in the line Of temperance and pro-
hibition, with special note of conditions
much improved in Maine over what they
were a year ago, and gave credit to the
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
Black OpaIs.

Black opas seem almost m!sno
merS. for while some of the stones are
actually black and all Of them have
dark body or underground they are
really wonderful. flashing, changing
masses of color All the colors OF the
solar spectrum vibrute through them.
some In small pinpoint markings. 9th
crs In harlequin. peacock and formal
designs Some Of them show broad
flashes Of red. blue. green or purple.
which change rapidly from one TO M
other on the slightest change Of angle
or light Others exhibit cloud effects
and sunsets such rs Turner painted
and only Ruskin could describe.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
FEAT CT A FOX.
It's Remarkable Display Of Cunning In
Securing a Meal.

In Il field of feeding hares foxes have
been obSc:gc,l Ia approach with a slow.
lim.inc motion and holding down their
hends. ms II eating clover. until they
were near enough 10 secure their prey.
The following Is IN extraordinary In.
stance II FIX cunning: One week when
the ground was frozen. but bare OF
SNOW. a farmer placed hen under
strong. heavy chicken coop. The coop
was boarded on one side and lathed on
the other the lower lHth within an inch
OF the ground. which was smooth. but
slopng. with a furrow-like depression
a few inches I'm depth about two feet
up the slope.
In the morning the hen was gone.
The coop stood Immediately over the
depression. the laths bearing numerous
Impressions OF M animals teeth, and
the small one NJ the apex was scratch
ed by It's claws
The fox nad wasted no strength on
the board trying 10 push the coop over
In an uphill direction. but he tried his
best on the other side Failing In this.
he bit and tore nj the lnths 10 break
them and finally drew the coop up tho
hill over the hollow, dragged out the
hen nnd made or, leaving no blood.
very few feathers and only three OF his
hairs on the laths -IIarper's Weekly.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
Medal for Composition on Roads.

A gold medal to the boy or girl be-
tween the ages of 10 and Is who writes
the best composition, not to exceed 500
words, on the repair and maintenance OF
earth roads, is to be awarded by Logan
Waller Page, Director, Office OF Public
Roads, United States Department of
Agriculture, Washington, D. c, All
compositions must be submitted to Mr..
Page before May Is, 1918, and the medal
will be awarded az soon thereafter as the
compositions can be graded. The COM
position may be based on knowledge
gained from books or other sources, but
no quotations should be made.
After many years. experience In deal
ing with the public road situation OF the
country, it is Mr.. Pages belief that ig-
norance on the subject of repair and
maintenance of roads is as much the
cause of their bad condition as any other
one factor. 1t is expected that the COM
petition will bring about better under.
standing of the subject OF repair and
maintenance In the rural districts.
Many children living in the rural dis
tricts have experienced the disadvan-
tages Of roads made impossible through
a lack of proper maintenance and 1t Is
expected that their interest in the COM
petition will stimulate greater interest
among the parents. Bad roads have pre-
vented many children from obtaining 3
proper education and have even prevent
ed doctors from reaching the side OF
rural patients In time to save their lives.
Any child between the ages mentioned
attending country school, may COM
pete. Only one side Of the paper must
be written on; each page should be num-
bered; the name, age, and address OF the
writer, and the name and location of the
school which he or she is attending
must be plainly written at the top OF the
first page. The announcement of the
competition has been sent to the super
intendents of schools in the rural dis
tricts. No further information can be
obtained from the Office OF Public Roads.
This announcement should be plain to
everyone, and all children will thus start
on basis Of equality.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
Why Are Apples. Low2

Up to March %, the total export hat
been 1855 $3.50 barrels against 2,729, ,69t
barrels last year. Has the much talked
Of middle man been getting rich on the
business? Let those who have marketed
their own apples answer this question
What have apples brought? have fig
ured out many of these sales and the av'
erage was 81 Is on board car at the load
ing station.
l asked q very practical, intelligent
farmer from one Of the best apple towns
in this state where they have shipped
large quantities of their own apples, IL
An estimate of an average net Of sl.25 t.
o. b. car would be too high and he re.
piled that they had not received as much
as that on an average and some lots had
not paid the expenses. Some have re.
celved high prices, how does 1t happen?
It Is very simple, in most cases this is
the reason. There are about twenty
eight weeks that We ship apples during
the year. When the season Is closed
there will have been about eight weeks
that nets have averaged fairly high for
the simple reason that supplies in the
market at that time were light, but it is
very evident that We cannot all ship our
apples when supplies are light. To get
at the matter we must consider the aver
age net, not the exceptional one, and We
all know that the average has been so
low that the apples have been grown at
a loss.
In order to be understood from the
start, to speak plainly and briefly, / will
say that the low nets are due to system
attic robbery. This robbery is in the
transatlantic freights and it 80 curtails
the use of our apples in foreign markets
that our home markets are over sup.
piled and prices consequently low.
Let US compare the ocean freight
rates of February 10, 1910, with those of
the present time. To make it plain l
have figured them all upon basis of 100
lbs. each.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
RIInX'a Yarns.

Pliny's yarns about human anatomy
were something wonderful. He tells
of race ~ savage men whose feet
nrr turned backward and OF n race
known as Monoroli. who have only
one leg. but are able to leap with sur
prising agility. The same people are
also called The Sciapodac. because they
are In the habit of lying on thcir
backs during the extreme heat and
protecting themselves from the sun by
the shade OF their feet These people
dwell not far from the Troglodytne. to
the west OF whom again there ARE a
tribe who are without necks and have
their eyes In their shoulders
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
I'd u Packard. usneral agent a

Ed II. Packard, general agent and
lecturer for the American Humane Edu-
cation Society, whose headquarters are
at As Milk Street, Boston, has written to
the Maine Woods asking readers who
may have photographs touching on trap.
ping to send them to this office. He
wishes to help educate the public to de-
mand humane trapping and the trappers
to use modern traps which do not cause
unnecessary suffering to animals. Some
traps, he states, kill an animal instantly;
some drown them promptly, some are
rubber faced 80 that the flaws" OF the
instrument grip the animal firmly with
out tearing the flesh or crushing the
bone. Mr.. Packard seeks corporation
In Maine and holds that as humane traps
are not more costly than other kinds
there rem aims no excuse for cruel trap
ping.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
Greatest Countries,

Great Britain. or rather the British
empire owns the largest share OF the
earth. The figures arc as follows:
British empire. In square miles. H.
81 900; Russia. S.GG0,0O0; Chinese em'
pire, 4,2iS.O 900: United States (continen-
tab. 10000 Brazil. 100000 These
five nations own wo-thirds OF the
world In wealth the United States Is
far In advance Of any other nation
New York American.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
FAIR EXCHANGE
A NEW BACK FOR AN OLD ONE. HOW IT
CAN BE DONE IN SOUTH PARIS.

The back aches at times with a dull
indescribable feeling, making you
weary and restless; piercing pains shoot
across the region of the kidneys, and
again the loins are so lame that to stoop
is agony. No use to rub or apply a
plaster to the back II the kidneys are
weak. You cannot reach the cause.
South Paris residents would do well 10
profit by the following example.
NJ NJ. Kilgore, farmer, Danforth ST.,
Norway, Ne, says: ~ know of no
other remedy like Doan's Kidney Pills.
I had backache and rheumatic pain for
u ore than year. My kidneys were the
cause of the trouble. Sometimes l was
so lame could hardly stand. did not
rest much and was feeling miserable
when | was advised to try Dosn's Kid
ney Pills. got them and few boxes
cured me. / never fail to recommend
this remedy"
For sale by all dealers. Price so cents.
Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, New York,
sole agents for the United States.
Remember the name Dosn's-and
take no other.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

Writes Skowhegan correspondent:
Carleton Merrill of the Savings Bank has
an interesting telephone directory which
dates back to 1890. At that time In
Skowhegan there were 10 telephones,
and now there are about 600. At that
time there were only about 40 in the
whole county, aud only one town In the
county besides Skowhegan had more
than one telephone. At that time there
were only about 200 telephones In
Maine. There have been about $50 tele-
phones added in Skowhegan In the last
two years.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

Don't let the stock, especially the
dairy COWS, sip their water supply from
bitches and stagnant pools during the
summer. The water-supply that serves
very we'll during the early part of the
grazing season, usually falls short dur.
ing midsummer. Be sure to make am
pie provisions for your water-supply be.
you really need 1t.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

Biddeford Record: "Jack," Chief En-
gineer Charles B. Bonser's educated par
rot Is dead. The bird became Ill Sunday,
and although verything possible was
done In an attempt to prolong his life,
grew steadily worse until Thursday
morning, when he died. "Jack" was a
very old parrot, q good talker and a pet
of the family, and bis death occasioned
almost az much sorrow a. that Of a
child would have done. He had been in
the Bonser family for 48 years.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
A Free Hand.

"You sketch with free hand. Miss
Brownsmith." remarked the professor.
who had been critically examining her
portfolio.
"Enur.y free" said the young lady
ms she asst down her eyes In soft con.
fusion ard waited for the professor to
follow VI The opening
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

BY the way, Maine muskrat hunters
will be interested to learn that there Is a
market for tho animal after the pelt has
been removed, according to the Maine
Woods. Heretofore the bodies have
been thrown away az useless but now,
the humble muskrat, served with sweet
potatoes and garnished with candted
sweet flags is the latest delicacy served
to New York epicures.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
L Mia A ikkle Hint.

FRS, I.'rut"nunt-iIow do you Ike
the horse YOU bought from me last
week. So nnd l.icuienant-Very much-
iI. r,irht nd his head n little higher,
though First I.ieutenant-Oh, that Will
come all r,.ht when he Is paid for
London I'll .bits
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
A Busy Week OF Maine Conference.
Time Well Filled with the Various Sessions of the
Methodist Episcopal Governing Body.

In the list of public assemblies of vari-
ous kinds, you may look far to find one
that is livelier than Methodist con.
ference. From the time it is called to
order until the reading of the appoint
ments is finished, there is something
going on every moment. 1t is tremen-
dously earnest body of men, too. This
is shown not only by the frequent
"Amens' but in all tho proceedings,
even to the discussions in which these
ministers sometimes engage over the
business affairs of the organization. In
short, it must be an exceedingly dull or
utterly irreligious person who cannot lind
something Of interest in . Methodist
conference.
All of which is preliminary to a brief
summary of the work done at the eighty
ninth session of the Maine Conference Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, held
last week in Dsering Memorial Church,
South Paris. There is no need to say
that 1t was an interesting session, though
that is intimsted above. 1t may be
briefly said that it brought into South
Paris nearly hundred ministers OF the
Methodist church, and the wives OF
many of them, together with some of the
brightest and brainiest men connected
with the General Conference of the
church, to hear whom has been a pleas
ure and an inspiration. 1t was q nota-
BILE occasion for Oxford County.
Preceding the opening of the confer
ence proper, on Tuesday evening, came
the anniversary of the Epworth League,
with an address by the general secretary
of the League, Rev. Wilbur F. Sherid IN,
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

A man can put his stocks and bonds;
into deposit vault for safe keeping, but.
there's no place he can keep his reputa-
tion out of danger. 4.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
Than Che Said No.

"But you are old enough to be my
father"
81 wish were your father. Then
I'd have his fortune without having to
marry you."-Houston Post.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

The only sure way to keep out Of
trouble 10 never TO get into It.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

One reason why 30 many men fail is
because they are unable to borrow any
more money.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

It matters more which way ones face
Is set than low fast one procseds.-Ar
thur @. Benson. ..!
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

Get your neighbor into the silo-bulld-
ing spirit, and begin to convert him now
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

Plan your work and then work your
plans.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22
AMONG THE FARMERS.
" SPEED THE Flow"

on practical agricultural top:c.
is solicited. Address all communications In
tended for this department 70 HENRY u
HAMMOND, Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem.
ocrst. Paris. Ne.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-22

Work first, then rest.