davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
Dancers of Crowds,

When q man Is stlnding still E1
weight acts vertically downward, but
on moving he exerts a side thrust
greater than his weight Consequently
a crowd moving rapidly on structure
like a pier exerts tremendous side
wise pressure which tends to throw
the pier over II man stands on a
plank bridge 1t bends slightly. but II
he walks across 1t sways violently up
and down. A regiment Of soldiers
marching In step across a trestle or
other light bridge would cause such a
tremendous swaying motion that It
would give way. and so soldiers al
ways "break step" in crossing such
bridge.
On a certain swing footbridge across
q glen In the north Of Scotland Is
notice forbidding Newfoundland dogs
to be taken across These dogs trot
In such perfect rhythm as to cause
dangerous SWAY" in a small bridge.
A man rising to standing from
sitting posture exerts on the ground
force equal to twice his weight Thus
when q crowd suddenly springs to Its
feet at a football match or theater the
strain on the supporting stands Is
enormous and has to be allowed for by
the engineers.-Pearson's Weekly.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
The School of Common Sense.

We used TO know quaint old farmer
by the name Of Uncle Sam Evans. BY
the way, did you ever hear a man called
"Uncle" that the people did not respects
Uncle Sam wa, talking to group OF
young men at a barn raising about their
ambition to show off their physical
strength and prowess and said:
"BOys, I'll tell ye. II you really want
to distinguish yourselves, there 10 one
place where you will find mighty little
competition. That 10 in cultivsting you,
common sense. With all our schools
and colleges, about the scarcest kind Of
learning Is common sense"
Wouldn't it be grand thing If there
were school where boys and young
men could 60 and be taught common
sense? What 10 common sense9 So fal
a. We can ZEE, it is the wisdom thai
comes from a broa1, true under
standing of common things-the things
that constantly surround US and frot
which we can never escape. Just fol
the lack of that wisdom there are grea
many failures iu everything.-Hoard''
Dairyman.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
How Posts Should BE Set.
REVERSING THE POSITION IN wHICE
THEY GREW BASED ON A FALLACY.

It is very common belief among
farmers that post will last longer II
set in the ground the reverse Of the way
it grew in the tree; in other words,
with the butt end up. Accordingly, one
sees many posts, especially end and gate
posts, with the small end down. The
supposition is that sap in tree is always
ascending, or at least that it is easier for
the sap to GO up than down. Conse-
quently, it is argued, turning post up
side down tends to prevent the rise of
water. helps to keep the wood dry and
therefore renders it less liable to decay.
As matter of fact, sap or water can
flow in either direction with equal facili-
ty and the popular notion to the contra
ry ia incorrect.
Careful experiments on the relative
durability of post timbers have been
made at the Ohio Agricultural Expert
meut Station and tho above question was
considered. One fence in particular
contained 156 black locust posts, Of
which SO were set with the top end
up, 80 with the top end down and 81 did
not show in what position they we're
set. At the end Of twenty years 80
posts, or 10 per cent, were decayed. Of
this number, Is were top up, Is top
down aud 4 undetermined. In other
words, one third of those set top down
rot,ed off, as compared with only little
over one one-sixth Of those top up. From
this aud numerous other observations
the conclusion was reached "that there
Is no difference which end is put in the
ground, except that the sounder or larg-
or end should have the preference"
The decay of post is mostly at the
ground line, since 1t is there that the
conditions as to the air and moisture
are most favorable to the development
of rot-causing fungi. Other things being
equal, the larger the post the longer 1t
will last. Inverting post often means
putting the small end in the ground and
when this is done the time required to
rot of is less than where the big end is
down. IL both ends are equally sound
the larger should go in the ground. Ii
one end is defective it should be up,
since the conditions above ground are
many times more favorable to durability
than just at or below the ground line.
Scientific American.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
STATE OF MAINE.

OXFORD, IS:
Court Of County Commissioners, December ses-
sion, A. ID. 1918, held at Paris. within and for
the said County Of Oxford. on the last Tuesday
Of December, A. ID. 1913, being the 30th day OF
said month.
rINHE County Commissioners for the County
/ OF Oxford, In the month Of September. A. ID.
1918, as provided by law, made actual inspection
or the County roads duly located and open for
travel lying in unincorporated townships and
tracts Of land hereinafter mentioned In said
County, for the purpose of ascertaining the con.
dition of said roads and estimating the amount
needed to put the same In repair 80 as to be safe
and convenient for public travel; and IL appear
ing on said inspection that said roads were not
In good repair and not safe and convenient Tor
purposes OF public travel and that tax should
be assessed on said lands for the repair OF said
roads therein; they do therefore ON the 3Oth day
of December. A. ID. 1918. sdjudge and order that
the following sums be assessed and the same are
hereby assessed upon the following lands In un.
incorporated townships and tracts OF land here
matter mentioned. for the purpose of repairing
the roads passing through them during the year
1914, to wit:
ON Andover West Surplus, for the purpose Of
~ repairing that part of the County road lead
ing from Andover Corner to Upton which lies
In said Surplus the sum of one hundred and
seventy six dollars forty five cents Is assessed as
fnll
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
Building A Grade Dairy Herd.

Building A Grade Dairy Herd.
An Iowa subscriber writes us ant
says:
~ want to get dairy of number ont
grade Holstein cows of the best quality
and in the shortest time possible. Civ,
m your best judgment as to the right
way to succeed"
We understand that there are no Hol
steins in the vicinity of this inquirer
The prevailing type of cattle there are
Shorthorn grades.
Perhaps we can answer this inquiry
best by stating the course We would pur
sue. The first thing we would do would
be to buy the best Holstein bull Is to ~
months old we could find for 5000 tC
$500. We speak Of the price for the rea-
son that we should not expect to get a
bull of the quality we would demand for
any less money. Bulls worth having are
bred by men who cannot afford to
sell them at cheap, low grade prices. II
you 90 among these grade herds you
will find large proportion of scrubs,
poor trash, and you will fiud almost in.
variably that they were sired by a bull
that was bought because he was cheap.
Not one farmer in hundred ever starts
out to buy a registered bull with the
question of bis quality first and fore.
most in his mind. Yet you need bull
of stronger breeding power at the head
of mixed herd of cows than you do at
the head of herd of pure-bred COWS
The universal cry ia "HOw cheap can
buy him?" and so they are accommodate
ed with cheap bulls In good earnest.
Second: We would look about and
buy the best milking Shorthorn cows we
could find and breed them to this good
sire. His hefers we would raise; the
bull calves We would veal or keep to
feed ss steers. When the daughters of this
bull come to 10 to IS months of age We
would breed them back to their own
sire. Meantime we would be on the
lookout for every good cow we could
find and try breeding them to this first
sire. So we would 60 on breeding for
the best heifer calves We could get and
mating them in turn to their own sire.
As fast as these half and three-quarter
bred heifers come into milk, we would
keep record of the weight of their
milk and it's butterfat content twice
month as long as they gave milk, and We
would be sure to milk them as long as
they gave any milk, 80 as to establish
long milking habit
When the granddaughters Of the first
bull come in milk we would provide an-
other bull of the same family line, not
too close, and mate them with him.
We would feed generously, especially
the heifers, up to the time they dropped
their first calf. In about eight years We
would have herd OF grade Holstein
cows worth looking at and working with.
We would select aud weed out the poor
est very closely aud rigidly, pursuing
that course Of breeding steadily. II
would not be many years before we
would have herd of cows that would
take mighty fine herd of pure-bred
cows to equal.
Where man breeds his own cows he
can govern their breeding by giving
them the best sires possible to mate
with. When he buys his COWS, he gets
as a rule, too often, the culls, and those
that farmers have bred from the cheap
est, most indifferent bulls they could
buy.-Hoard's Dairyman.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13

Union water ROVER 70, Oi
Lewiston. Gam. lot and build. 10000, ,,o -,
ings, Do $iOoVS sZoo !"
gree, Ann Maria Wheatand
and Anna p. Peabody, two
thirds of remainder Of said
township except public lots, 2ss5l S759l4 75l 50
ss5l So
And II Is hereby ordered that OF this amount
the sum OF 1883, which Is special assessment
provement on the State aid road In said township,
ami sl5+.50 be expended on the Black Brook
road. And Henry L. Poor of Andover is ap.
pointed A gent to superintend the expenditure OF
the same, and Ia required to give bond as the law
directs. And that the balance Of 3264. be ex.
pended on the Carry road In said township. and
E. 4. Coburn OF Middle Dam is appointed Agent
TO superintend the expenditure Of the same, and
Is required TO give bond as the law directs.
ON &c" Surplus, for the purpose of repairing
so much OF the County road leading from
Andover to Upton as hes In said Surplus. the
sum Of fifty dollars Is assessed as follows:
Upon the entire tract, supposed TO contain nine
thousand three hundred acres, exclusive OF
public lots and owned one-third by I. U. Coe OF
bangor, and two-thirds by David Pingree, Ann
Maria wheatlsnd and Anna +. Peabody,
the sum OF fifty dollars; and Burt Dunn,
aforesaid, Is appointed Agent 70 expend the
same and Is required to give bond as the law
directs.
nS Riley Plantation for the purpose OF repair
\ ing the road In said Plantation running up
TO the place formerly occupied by VIM. German
the sum OF one hundred and fifty seven dollars
and forty cents Is assessed rs follows:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
NUMBER 2
There Were Others.

He was rather perseyering young
man, and he had proposed to q beatl'
tful girl something like dozen times.
and on each occasion the answer had
been q negative one. Still he persever'
ed, and one night on moonlight walk
with the soft south wind blowing
caressingly he once more started to
tell her of his wondrous love.
Della. dear" he tenderly remarked.
throwing away his cigarette to give
his eloquence further play. there Is
something that must tell you before
we return. You have heard 1t before.
but
Look here, Jimmy" impatently in
terrupted the beautiful girl. "how
many more times are you going to ask
me to marry you?"
mot many, I guess, Della, dear"
answered the young man with great
frankness. "One of the other three
girls that am proposing to Is begin
ming to show signs Of weakening."-
Philadelphia Telegraph.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
How Is Il Done?

Men often say that. they are doing all
they can, but personal experience has
taught US that the amount Of work a
man can do, or supervise and look after
depends very much on how 1t Is done.
The measure Of efficiency, as we'll a.
quantity of work, ia governed almost en-
tirely by the skill and comprehension
with which we do the work. There is
an old maxim which says, "s dull cat
catches few MICE"
The real money value Of mans work
upon the farm depends upon the way 1t
is done, that Ia, whether 1t Is done with
full understanding of what Is Involved.
Thousands OF farmers have worked
themselves to death with but little to
show for 1t In the end. There must be a
thoughtful, 8 udious brain behind the
hands, whether they belong to farmer or
hired man. if gnod results are to flow
from labor. On the farm especially is II
true, that "the mind is the measure of
the ."-Hoard's Dsiryman.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
Neulect Of Tho SCALP,

Inheritance has something to do with
badness Men In family usually
have q disposition to get build at about
the same age. Certain scalp diseases
cause badness. but the largest factor
in badness is neglect The scalp IS
exceedingly dirty in the average run
of men aud boys II any other sir
inches of skin were kept as dirty as
the scalp It would be considered dis
grace. There is no reason why boys
should not be taught to wash the hair
with soap and water every day. then
dry and brush 1t well. As soon as the
boy gets old enough to wash his ears
and to keep his face clean down to
the collar line he should also keep bis
scalp clean. II the hair after wash
ing Is too dry little grease can be
used. Following this plan there should
be no premature badness. Generally
the horse Is out before the stable door
Is locked. Chicago Tribune
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
funds that can be made available for thi.

funds that can be made available for this
purpose. Although money for timber
sale work Is necessarily subtracted
from what is needed to protect the for.
ests against fire, improved organization
OF the fire protective system has in
creased Its efficiency. Owing partly to
favorable weather conditions the total
fire loss was only S67, 900, less than 10
per cent. of last year, which was the
best to date.
The resident population of the forests
ia given as nearly 100000, and the iran
sient population as over 100000. Rec
reation use of the forests is increasing
greatly, and is In some places giving rise
to the need for careful sanitary regula-
tiun in the interest of the 1900 cities
deriving their water supplies from
streams protected by the forests.
MONEY FOR THE STATES.
Under existing law 25 per cent. Of the
gross receipts from the forests is paid
over to the states by the federal govern
ment for the benefit of county schools
and roads. An additional 10 per cent.
is expended in building roads and trails
for the benefit of the public. About
S5S7, 900 will be available for the states
during the current year from last years
receipts, besides 1926, 200 provided for in
the road fund. Altogether, including
special funds for Arizona and New Mex
leo. the national forests provided nearly
1857, 900 to be expended for the benefit
of the states in which they are situated.
APPALACHIAN FORESTS.
More than 700 thousand acres have
been acquired for national forest pur-
poses in the southern Appalachians and
White Mountains, of which considerably
more than half was secured during 1913.
These lands are being protected against
fire, and the work of the government
has greatly strengthened local sentiment
against forest fires. Some 250 miles OF
trail, to help in fire control, were com.
pleted during the year.
COOPERATION WITH STATES.
Cooperation with states in protecting
forested waters heds from fire has brought
about cooperative field organization In
fifteen states, and the same arrangement
is contemplated with three others.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
r,ooo.d onIv esnIu.es a. Eton.

Some Of the hardships Of life at Eton
In bygone times might be regarded as
complimentary to the sufferers Only
the best Of the boys were called upon
to bear them. The biographer OF Dr.
Parr records that the famous Eton
head" "believed in 6ogGng for all
offenses and even for absence OF Of
fense," but never punished stunted ca
pacity or tried to extort much from
mediocrity. II Parr made up his mind
that boy was to be classed as 'medi-
ocre'' that boy enjoyed practical inn
munity from the birch ever after But
when the head assistant told the doc
tor ~ believe So-and-s0 Is O lad OF
genius" the answer was: "Say you sol
Then let the logging begin tomorrow
London Chronicle.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
Nice Distinction.

In q restaurant in the Wall street
district where stock ticker attracts
large crowd Of interested men at the
opening hour every morning. a
young Japanese has become one OF
the regulars. and his remarks when
the various tape wise oracles hold
forth have afforded those who watch
the eager group no little amusement
The questions why X. Y. z. continues
to sag and the possibility OF cut
in the dividend Of o. p. B. seem as
easy Of solution to him as they are to
veterans like Mr.. Near Broke or Mr.
Has Been. Mr.. Once Rich said to him
recently, "Bet you cigar A b O.
goes higher before II goes down.
mo-" he said. mo gamble-only
speculate" and he pointed a nervous
finger at the ticker.-New York Trib
una
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
An Extraordinary ProisetiIs.

A child's struggles with the Intricate
facts Of history are sometimes almost
rs serious a matter to him rs the bat
Ties of which he reads. The results
however, are not always without hu
NOR. as n story in Eyerybody's Maya
zine shows.
A small boy handed in the following
in an examination paper In United
States history:
General Braddock was killed In the
Revolutionary war He had three
horses shot under him. and a fourth
went through his clothes"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13

Hon. j. S. Duff, minister OF agricul-
ture for Ontario, .a:s he hopes the time
would never come when butter and eggs
c ,uld be bought any cheaper than they
are to-day.
"The poor woman on the farm strug-
pled too many years to make money on
I5.cent butter" he said, ''and the heus OF
Ontario have wasted altogether too
much energy in laying lO-cent eggs"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
Two Ways of Doing 1t.

While riding through the country th'
other day, I took dinner at farmhouse
where have stopped once each year TO
the last six years. First, let me tell 30,
how it looked the first time ! called
The farm is located on a side hill, ant
the first view / had of 1t at a distance
thought it was large sheep farm, bu
on going nearer, what was my astonish
ment to discover that my sheep were
merely rocks. The house and barn were
on the south side of the road, while the
hen houses and few other SMALL build.
ings were on the north. hitched my
horse to an old broken fence and went
up to the front door and raped; an old
lady came to the door, and on inquiry
found her "old man." as she called him,
was doing the chores. / went 10 the
barn, and this is what l saw: One COW
that looked as though she came out of
the Ark; two horses standing half way
to their knees in dressing and hadn't
been properly cleaned off for weeks.
don't believe they had had one good
feed since the owner bought them.
Some half.dozep hens and as many
chickens were scratching In the barn
floor. The farmer himself was busily
engaged in trying to pick a quart OF
beans out of bushel of dirt.
In the course of our talk, asked him
how be made 1t farming?
"Well, sir" says he, ~ don't make 1t.
The old farm has been the ruination of
me. had worked in the mill for years,
and when Uncle Joe died and left me
$4,000, just bought this farm, thinking
to take life easy the rest OF my days,
but Pm going to sell and 90 west where
my son is"
Well, Just what he did was to sell the
farm and go west, and that is the last
I've heard of him, but the new owner!
We'll, he came from AroostoOk county,
had bought this farm through an agen'
cy, and a madden man you never saw
than he was the first time lie saw his
farm, but he went right to work, and to-
day there isn't farm with the same
number of acres that pays better or looks
better. The old manure he used to cul-
tivate the land. He started out and
bought up calves that his fool neighbors
were almost giving away, and raised
them all; started in with few pigs, and
now has ten times as many. His wife
attends to the chicken business, aud
does greater part Of the dairy work,
besides her household duties and the
care of two small children. When first
they moved on the farm, the neighbors
all thought she was just gone in con-
to-day she is strong and well,
aud should judge happy.
When 1 got chance, asked Mr.. X.
how he liked farming, and If he thought
farming paid. With twinkle in the
corners of his eyes, he asked me If I had
seen his farm the year he bought it. /
told him had.
"Well," says he, "when bought this
farm thought had got stung in good
shape, but after had carefully looked
It over, l made up my mind to see what
a change | could make 10 it with the
least money, and you see the result.
Yes sir; farming pays, not in one or two
ways, but in every way, aud l wouldn't
sell my farm for three times what it cost
IN. E. H., In Maiue Farmer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
Tho Family Doctor.

"Tm the family doctor"
"But l thought you were veterinary
gurgeonT
$50 / am. But then. you see. their
family consists Of French terrier.
st. Bernard and q Chinese poodle
Detroit Free Press
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
Mlxtura Of Harmony,

Mrs. Sharp ito next door neighbour
How do you like the design Of our
new wall paper? Neighbor-It seems
to me to be rather loud. Mrs. Sharp
Yes. that's why we select It We
thought II might drown the sound OF
your daughters piano playingl-Lon,
don telegraph.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
Good Hindsight.

"Is Dibble q man who can be de-
pended on to give a good account OF
himself In an emergency
"Yes-after the emergency has pass
ed."-Birmingham Age Herald.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13

And It Is hereby ordered that Of this amount
$500, which is q special assessment for that
purpose. be expended for permanent Improve
ment on the State aid road In said Surplus; that
sS2 50 be expended on the Black Brook road ;
and Henry l.. Poor of Andover Is appointed
Agent to superintend the expenditure Of the
same, and Is required to give bond as the law
directs. Ami that the balance Of s462 IS be ex.
pended on the road leading from Andover to
Upton and Burt Dunn OF Andoyer North Surplus
Is appointed gent to superintend the expendi'
ture OF the same, and Is required TO give bond as
the law directs.
ON Township Letter &C" for the purpose OF
J repairing the Black Brook road. 30 called,
living In said township. and also the "Carry
Road, 80 called, which lies In said township,
and for permanent Improvement on the State
road In said township, the sum Of nine hundred
and ftyone dollars and eighty three cents Is as
sessei as foloWs.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13

Ice water to drink when the mercury
ia on a still hunt for the bottom OF the
thermometer brings the shivers to the
cow. and that means that her owner will
shiysr when he looks into bis pocket
book for the profit from her keeping.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
Virginia Dare.

The nrst white child born on the
American continent WIS Virginia
Dare. She was born on Roanoke Is
land in 1887. She was the grandchild
Of Governor John White.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13

Lots of US are 40 busy acquiring and
taking care of the means OF enjoy
ment that we have no time to enjoy our.
selves.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
Jailbirds,

II b estimated that in the United
States 1872 persons out Of 100000 are
IN prison on any given day. In Italy
PIT. and in the United Kingdom 46
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13

The trouble with good many Of us Is
that We are trying to make tomorrow
nay for day befote yesterday.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPEED THE PLOw.'

Correspondence on practical agricultural topics
L, solicited. Address all communications |
tended for this department to HENRY d
HAMMOND. Agricultural Editor Oxford Dem
ocrat. Paris. Ne.