davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
TRAINS COLTS TO KICK RATS
Wisconsin Man Rids Stable Of Ro.
tents Through Conservation Of
Energy.

Klondike, Wis.-Hiler Oswailer is
receiving letters from all over the
country from persons who want him
to come with his trick colts and assist
in exterminating rats. Hitler, in a con-
fidential mood the other day, told how
he trained his colts. The idea came
to him one day when he entered the
stable and saw them kicking away
at nothing in particular.
II saw all that energy going to
waste" says Hi.er, and it made me
sick. / knew there ought to be some
way to utilize their activity. / had
been troubled with rats and l figured
the colts could help me. l tied q
dead rat on the end Of a whip and
banged the colts on the shins with it.
If they kicked the rat I rewarded
them with an ear of corn. Now it's
as much as q rats life is worth to
venture in the Oswaile. stables"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
Stopped 10 Though a Knife Had Cut
Out His Tongue.


in a whisper, my sisters voice-my
sister is singing!"
More! More! Others by my sister!
Put them ont" he cried when La Bo-
heme" was finished. "Despuis 10 jour"
and "Rigoletto" followed, and other
operate records of Mile. Lucienne
Breval's voice were put on, and La
bordi, with eyes streaming, stood in
the door and listened.
The manager told the clerk to keep
playing records for Labordi, and he
escaped and telephoned for the police.
Mrs. Valerie Bell, who was in the
store and knew Mile. Lucienne Bre-
val, questioned Labordi and asked him
intimate questions concerning the
singers life, all of which he answered
readily and correctly.
Squandered Her $4,000 Francs.
THE last time / saw her, ten years
ago, she gave me $4,000 francs to in
vest in a business" he said, "but I
sQuandered 1t, and since then ! have
been ashamed to meet her. She is
singing now in Buenos Aires, in the
largest opera house in the world"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

the water has carried OF much Of the
best soil and impaired the value OF
what has been left. On moderate
slopes in the Piedmont region OF
North Carolina erosion has been esti-
mated to q yearly loss in crop
values alone of three dollars an acre,
making the total loss in this region
over two million dollars each year.
On the other hand, there are many
hilly farms in which excessive ero-
sion is effectually prevented. Farm
ers who wish detailed information of
fhe best methods Of terracing and 9TH
er means of control, should write to
the United States department Of agrf-
culture for Farmers Bulletin No. 20,
Circular No. 81 Of the Bureau Of Plant
Industry or u. S. Department CT Ag-
riculture Bulletin No. 100.
When land has once been badly
eroded the task Of reclaiming It Is apt
to>be .dificult and long. Il can be
done, however, and ut times may be
made very profitable. An instance of
this is q tract of 38 acres near John
N City. Tenn, which was purchased
four years ago for $53 an acre. At
that time the land was badly eroded
and there wal one gully eight or ten
feet deep. This the new owner nlled
with debris and soil. 200 loads Of ma
npr e applied. and the soil was
lAowed to q depth Of g inches. plant
q to rye and the rye turned under.
The deep blowing and the organic
natter In the rye left the soil In such
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
DETECTED, LEAPS 100 FEET
Fear Of Blindness and U~seIessness
Makes Determined Suicide Of
Scranton (Pa.) Man.

Scranton, Pa.-Believing that he was
gradually becoming blind, deafness
having come on him three years ago,
and that his usefulness in this life was
at an end, Willard Carpenter. aged
seventy-four, committed suicide here
by jumping from the Linden street
bridge to the Lackawanna river. 100
feet below.
When picked up Carpenter, although
suffering from a dozen injuries, was
still conscious and insisted that he was
going back to the bridge and try it
over again. although he died within
half an hour.
He was a member of one Of the best
known families Of the city.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

hdianapolis--L A. Campbell. .
brakeman On the Monon road, had an
exciting experience recently that Il
most equals the stirring scenes In the
movies Campbell. looking ahead
OF the freight train on which he was
braking. saw an object that resem-
bled the form of . woman on the
track.
Hastily climbing to the pilot Of the
engine. Campbell made ready to make
q heroic Of the person In dam
e He got . firm grip and prepared
to grab the oma as the train
reached the spot.
When the engine was within q few
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
Realized With a Chill That II Was
Black and White Pony.

hundred feet of the object Campbell
realized with a chill that it was not a
woman, but a white and black pony.
He fastened to the engines running
board in order to avoid being crushed
between the pony and the pilot. Just
before the engine reached the spot
where the animal was standing. the
latter %leisurely walked off the track.
Beads of pe~rspiration fell from Camp
bells forehead.
mo more movies for mine," said
he as he returned to his duties az
brakeman.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
READS BIBLE WHILE L0oTING
Pickpocket Works at Trade at Can
ton, o, and Keeps Eyes
on Testament.

Canton. O.-"Are you a Christian
Abraham Tanner was asked a few
days ago by a man for whom he had
just purchased q meal in a restaurant.
II think / am" said Tanner.
The man pulled q small testament
from his pocket and began to read
from the Scriptures while he removed
Tanners purse from his pocket Tan
ner grabbed him. The thief broke
away and ran into the arms Of a po-
Hceman.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

Holdup Man Hears Record as He
Threatens Music Shop
Head.
MILE. PREVAILS VOICE
Memories Of France, With Folk sonssI
n Melodies Of the Vineyard,
Trap Labordi and Hold
Him for Police.

Chicag0.-Ten years and many OF
the imaginary lines with which the
map workers have gridironed this sad
old earth separated Franz Labordi
from his sister. the little French night
ingale. who has made q ladder Of the
musical scale and mounted 10 a place
in the armament OF operatic stars.
But her voice, swelling with melodies
Of the vineland, trapped him and held
him prisoner for the police of an alien
country.
Labordi, sprucely dressed and dap
per, entered the Offices Of a talking
machine concern and asked the mana;
ger for a job.
No Food for Three Days.
I'm hungry" he told the manager.
Il haven't eaten for three days. and I
thought as this is a French concern
o could find something for me to
do"
The manager gave him several let
ters to translate from the French He
finished this work and then burst out
angrily, asking why he was made to
work when he was hungry.
Il gave him some change and told
him to get himself lunch and come
back" the manager recounted. Then
he few into a rage. I'm not after that
kind of money; / want big money!
he shouted. He reached back under
his coal and said, I've got 1t there
a gun, and I'm going to get some
money"
The manager said from the mans
manner and blazing eyes he conclud-
ed he was insane. He began to try
to quiet him but Labordi was tossing
his hands wildly and talking in a tor
rent of French, Italian and English.
And then at the pitch of his anger he
stopped as though a knife had cut
u his tongue.
All! fla Boheme."
La Boheme!'" he breathed, and
his eyes closed in a sort of ecstasy.
The clerk in another room had put
or the record for a customer.
As the voice rose more distinctly
Labordi jumped up suddenly and said
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
STORK SAVES DAD FROM JAIL
Unemployed, He Was on Trial Charged
With Stealing When
It Came.

Chicago mite of a girl baby
saved Powet Rokoezure from a pos
sible jail sentence for stealing six
potatoes. The man has walked Chi.
cago's streets for work for Is months.
His wife did the same thing until re-
Gently.
Rokoezure was in court charged with
stealing the potatoes from the rail-
o yards.
Are you married" asked Judge
Caverly.
YES; we have little girl" replied
Rokoezure.
How old?" asked the court solicit
ously.
About five hours" said Rokoezure.
case dismissed. Congratulations
said the judge, who then ordered his
own grocer to take some things out
to the new little girl"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

condition that practically all the water
which fell on it was absorbed. As a
result the land increased in value SO
that the owner declined 800 an acre
for it. The cost of reclamation was
approximately SO an acre 1t is sim
pier, however, to prevent excessive
erosion than to reclaim land after 1t
has occurred.
Locations for creameries.
In developing the dairy industry
throughout the South a very important
matter is the selection of the loca-
tons in which to erect creameries.
No one would build a sawmill where
there is little or no timber suitable
to be made into lumber, and it would
be equally unwise to start a creamery
where the supply of milk and cream
is insufficient for economical opera
ton of the plant. In many dairy re-
gions creameries have been operated
successfully and have brought pros
perity to the community. On the 9TH
er hand, there are many closed cream
cries in the United States and many
farmers who have lost money by un-
wise investments in them.
The first essential for the success
of a creamery is a sufficient supply Of
milk and cream. An insufficient sup
ply mean a loss for all concerned.
The number of available cows in a
community is frequently overestimat-
ed. About six hundred southern cows
should provide raw material enough,
and if this is Sent to the creamery
in the form of whole milk the cows
should all be within five miles Of the
creamery.
In order to keep expenses .reasona-
bly, low, an average of at least 1000
pounds of butter must be made each
week, which will require about one
thousand pounds Of butter fat. The
smaller the output the greater the cost
per pound of butter, for some of the
expenses will remain approximately
the same whether the daily output is
one hundred or two hundred pounds.
If a careful canvass reveals the fact
that, excluding those required to meet
the demands of home consumption,
the necessary cows are available, the
Information should be sen to either
the state agricultural college or the
Dairy Division, Department of Agri-
culture. Washington, D. c.. with a re-
quest for plans and advice for the
organization, building and equipment
of a plant that will be likely to sue
coed under existing local conditions.
Next to an insufficient supply OF
milk, one of the most frequent causes
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture.)
Nearly four million acres in the
United States, it is estimated, have
been devastated by soil erosion, and a
vastly larger area has lost much of it's
fertility. Nowhere is soil erosion
more serious than in the South. The
climate, the character of the soil, the
economic conditions, and the type
OF agriculture, which has hitherto pre-
vailed, have all contributed to the
damage, yet with the exception of the
amount of rainfall every factor in ero-
sion can be controlled by man.
Soil erosion is the carrying away of
the soil by the action of wind or wa
ter. In the South the action Of water
Is much the more important. If all
the water that falls upon a given area
to be absorbed by the soil, it
would cause no erosion. This, how
ever, scarcely ever happens. Where
the slope of the ground or the char
acter Of the soil is such hat the wa
ter run off rapidly, it carries with it
q very ~appreciable quantity of soil
particles, the quantity increasing as
the speed of the running water in
creases. Where this erosion is exces-
sive the soil is left bare and quilted.
The land is hard to cultivate and so
much organic matter is taken from it
that it is frequently abandoned as too
poor for profitable agriculture.
To check this process, terracing.
deep blowing and the use of cover
crops are advantageous. Vegetation
not only hinders the flow of water
over the surface, thus %lessening the
amount of erosion, but the roots strik-
ing through the soil loosen it and en-
able it to absorb the water more read
lily. In the South the use of cover
crops for this purpose is particularly
important because 50 much of the
rainfall in this section Is in the win
ter when the land is frequently bare
of crops. Winter rye is particularly
advantageous in holding tho soil. The
value of deep blowing lies in the fact
that this loosens the soil for a consid-
cradle distance below the surface and
thus enables the water to be absorbed
quickly. Terracing obviously is de-
signed to provide level areas for the
water to fall on instead of steep hill
sides down which it can rush.
The importance of measures that
will check erosion Is indicated by the
fact that in some southern states vast
areas amounting sometimes to so per
lent Of the arabic land in these sec.
tons have been abandoned because
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
lily Rolling Field Invaded BY Guile. That started on sleeper slopes.

49, Ht%TEA FE#4 49, g~[aE#SzE-@
of creamery failures Is the erection OF
poorly planned and cheaply construct
ed creameries equipped with expensive
but more or less useless machinery.
Many creameries have been organized
by promoters who derived their profit
from the sale of the plant and its
equipment, not from it's successful op
GRAFTON after they had severed their
connection with it. In consequence,
it was to their interest to unload Is
expensive and as poor q plant upon
the farmers as they could.
Cases are on record in which promo.
tiers have secured the signatures OF
farmers to documents which purport-
ed to be nothing more than q general
expression of opinion that a creamery
in that place would be q good thing.
Later 1t developed that the document
was an iron-clad agreement to take
stock In the company. Creameries or
ganixed In such q way prove profitable
failure Of one or two such companies
serves to discourage dairying in that
region for many years thereafter.
Before Il il decided to build q cream-
cry. therefore, it's prospective share
holders should convince themselves
Of three things: III That there will
be milk and cream enough TOR it to be
operated economically; ca that the
marketing facilities are adequate; and
(3) that the plant to be built Is wen
designed and equipped and the cost
reasonable.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
Heavy Truck Shipment.

Crystal Springs.-Forty-one express
car of truck went out of here May 20
for Northern markets. Twenty cars
were loaded with beans and others
with carrots, peas and beets. A few
crates of tomatoes have been shipped
and soon they will begin to move by
carload lots.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
Planter COMMITS
SUICIDE WITH Gun
I. J. CAMPBELL, AGED ~, NEAR
NATcHEz, DISCHARGES PIECE
WITH HIS FOOT.
AUTO ACCIDENT IS FATAL
When Machine Skids OFF Levee
and Turns Turtie-NeWs
From Over Mississippi.

Natchez.-T. ]. Campbell, 72 we'll
known planter OF this county, was
found dead May 81 on Duck Pond
plantation, his home, about II miles
from Natchez. Beside him lay a muz.
zle-loading shotgun, discharged. The
charge of shot had taken effect just
above his right EYE, and death must
have been instantaneous. Apparently
he had discharged the gun with his
foot, as one shoe was of.
He had been in bad health for some
time, and was Respondent. On May 80
he came to Natchez and transferred
his property; $4,000 in a local bank
was put in his wife's anne
A coroner's inquest returned a yer
dict of death from a gunshot wound
self-inflicted.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
Cashier Suicides.

Aberdeen.-John T. Gettys, cashier
and bookkeeper for the Aberdeen
Hardware company, committed suicide
May 80 at his residence by shooting
himself with a pistol. Mr.. Gettys was
sitting on his front porch with his
wife and little girl, when he Isl and
went into the house without saying .
word. fired the fatal shot.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
Attains Ace of los.

Natchez.-Thomas Burke, negro, a
resident OF Natchez, died May 81 at
the age OF los. He is believed to have
been the oldest man in the county.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

RAILROADS WIN IN CASE
Supreme Court Holds That Power Of
Commission to Issue Orders Il
Limited-Act Violation Of
y. s. Constitution.


Two of Mississippi's largest educa.
tional institutions. the University OF
Mississippi and the A. & NJ. College,
having q total enrolment OF more than
1900 students, r now in the midst
of their commencement exercises.
Gov. Brewer and members of the
general board Of trustees have gone to
Starkville and to the University to
witness the presentation OF diplomas
to a class of ninety-three graduates,
the largest "Ole Miss has ever turned
out at the close of a session.
Congressman B. p. Harrison deliv-
cred the commencement address at
the University of Mississippi.
Summer terms are to be arranged at
both institutions.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

the University of Mississippi.
Summer terms are to be arranged at
both institutions.
| Curtails commission's Powers.
The question OF powers and limita-
lions Of the Mississippi Railroad Com
mission in the matter OF issuing arbi-
trary orders to railroad companies to
undergo certain expenses and obliga-
lions In the matter Of laying spur
tracks for the convenience of private
corporations located on or near their
right Of way, was presented to the SUI
preme court in the case of A. X. Nc
Innis ct al. VS.. New Orleans & North
eastern Railroad company, from For
rest county.
The supreme court, through Justice
Cook, handed down an opinion cover
ingsthe case fully, which sustained
the action of the circuit judge below,
holding in effect that the act com
planned of was clearly v~iolative of the
constitution of The state and of the
United States, since it imposed an
unwarranted hardship on carriers,
which amounted to the taking of prop
erty without due process of Law.
Charges Attempted Murder.
H. ". Brantly. employed in the ship
ping department of the Enocns lum-
Der factory, was arrested and later re-
leased on a 81, 700 bond, on a charge
of shooting with intent to kill R. c..
l Unhh forpaor1v ornn1nun1 hv Tho
| Enochs Lumber Manufacturing COM
pany, May 80. The case was continued
until June s.
Drive Goat Team for Distance.
v. III. Alternately, a Simpson county
farmer of eccentric personality.
passed through Jackson en- route to
Yazoo City May 81, driving a team of
black goats. The unique travelling out
fit attracted much attention. He Gov
cred a distance OF more than sixty
miles with his goat team in less thar
two days.
Reduced Fares Granted.
Southeastern Passenger association
has granted reduced fares from all
points in Mississippi on all railroads
to the Observation-Disclosures"
tons meeting to be held here June 10
and II.
Jitneys Hurt Street Cars.
The jackson Light and Traction
company has discontinued conductors
on some Of the street a lines, and
is now operating a one-man car. So
far but three carr have been thus
trimmed, but the probability is that all
others will be minus a conductor in
the near future.
This curtailment Of forces and ex-
penses is due to the advent Of the jit-
ney. Since their appearance on the
streets of Jackson, it is said, the street
car system has lost an average OF
$4,000 q month.
Bio Convention June 10.
More than 1000 delegates from va
rious cities and counties In Missis-
sippi, it is expected, will attend the
"Grown-in- Mississippi convention to
be held in Jackson on June 40 and II.
Programs for this big event have
been prepared and will be announced
in a few days. A number OF ad-
dresses by prominent men will be de-
livered. One of the features of the
convention will be the exhibits OF
Observation-Disclosures" products.
Frank G.. Wisner Of Laurel is presf
dent of the Grown-in-Mississippi asso-
citation, and Commissioner Of Agricul-
ture H. e. Blakeslee Is the secretary.
It is now planned to entertain the
visitors with q big barbecue.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

Merchants Next Meet at Jackson.
A telegram from Yazoo City states
that the Mississippi Retail Merchants
association decided to hold Its next
annual convention in jackson
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

CBy r o. SELLERS. Acting Director OF
sunday School Course OF Moody Bible
Institute, ChicagoJ
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
Wound Proves Fatal.

Greenville.-James Roselle, a citi
Zen of Greenville, died as the result
OF an amputation Of the arm. More
than two minths 8 as MI. Roselle
was leaving his store for home in the
evening, he was held up by a robber
and shot in the arm. The arm was
later amputated, but the Infection from
the inflamed arm reached the body
with fatal results.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
Doctor Killed in Auto Accident.

Doctor Killed in Auto Accident.
Batesville.-Dr. ]. d. Miller, n OF
the o popular physicians OF the
town, was instantly killed May 81 on
the Belmont levee, nine miles east of
here, when his auto turned turtle. He
was on his way to see a patient. The
rains had made the roads slick. and
his driver, Maurice Harmon, got too
near the embankment. Harmon 81
capped without injury.
Guard Alleged Bandit Closely.
Bay St. Louis.-Harry Lester, the
alleged train bandit and murderer, re-
mains secure in the Hancock county
Jail, Bay ST. Louis, and though the
county bastile was recently lined with
a sheetfng Of steel plate, Sheriff E.
Van Whitfield is running no risks, for
he has placed extra guards around the
premises.
Lester is charged with holding up,
on the night of April 20, Louisville &
Nashville train No. l between Lake
shore and Pearl river, and with shoot
ing Peter Marcy, the baggagemaster.
lightning Strikes Two Churches.
Greenville. - During an electric,
thunder and rainstorm here May ~
lightning struck the spire of st. Jo-
seph's Church and set fire to the build.
ing. After heroic efforts the building
was saved with damage OF $1,000. st.
Joseph's is one Of the handsomest
churches in the state. St. Matthews
Colored Methodist Church, a brick
structure, was also considerably dam.
aged by lightning.
The rainfall was more than two
inches in a few hours.
Nine Admitted to the Bar.
University Of Mississippi.-Nine vi
the 1915 law graduates, of the Univer.
sity of Mississippi were admitted to the
state bar here May rs before Chan.
cellor, J. G. McGowen of the Third
chancery court district of Mississippi.
There are 20 graduates and each OF
them is entitled to be admitted to the
bar upon the successful completion OF
the final examinations in the Law de
Dartment of the university.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04
CHARGE. At+emnted Murder.

Charges AttemPted MurdeF.
II. v. Brantly, employed in the ship
ping department of the Enocns lum-
Der factory, was arrested and later re-
leased on a $1,000 bond, on a charge
of shooting with intent to kill R. C.
Webb, formerly employed by the
Enochs Lumber Manufacturing COM
pany, May 80. The case was continued
until June g..
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

Reduced Fares Granted.
Southeastern Passenger association
has granted reduced fares from all
points in Mississippi on all railroads
to the "Grown-in-Mississippi" assoca-
tons meeting to be held here June 10
and IL.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

LESSON TExT-u Samuel 1l:22-l2:7a.
TExTICreate in me a clean
heart o God.-Psalm Sl:l0.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-06-04

Drive Goat Team for Distance.
". H. Abernathy, q Simpson county
farmer Of eccentric personality
passed through jackson en- route te
Yazoo City May 81, driving a team Of
black goats. The unique travelling out
fit attracted much attention. He Gov
cred a distance OF more than sixty
miles with his goat team in less thar
two days.