davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16

Kapok. known In Ecuador as ''lana
de ceiba," or vegetable WOOL" Il q
product Of the largest tree that grows
In the forests Of the littoral. species
Of the genus Eriodendron (allied to the
cotton planD. The ceiba bears most
Of its branches near the top, and the
appearance Of its bright yellow dow
ers marks the approaching end Of the
rainless season. After the fiowers fade
the pods that yield the kapok Of com.
merce are formed. These are gath.
cred and the fiber extracted by hand
One hundred pounds Of crude material
yield, after cleaning, forty.nve pounds
Of first grade kapok. Kapok Is gain
Ing in popularity in the United States
where, among the other uses to which
II IL put. Il + employed In atutilnn
mattresses and sofa cushions ind. Il
Ii snid, has f,NnlIl sonv H.vvr among
makers ot upMlstvry Inhrlcs
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16
A CURIOUS ANIMAL.
Tho Sea Cow Gave Rise TO the Legend
Of the Sirens.

no Seo Low Gato mise 70 tuo Ic9VHu
Of the Sirens.
The dugong. or sea COW, Is a PEI
culiar animal. II resembles the "a
miliar seal. but II has no hair on the
body and is more nearly related to the
porpoises and whales
This animal Is found on the shores
nf the Indian ocean. about fifteen de
Srecs On each side Of the equator. from
East Africa to Australia. and also In
the Rcd sen. II Il marine animal
which never ascends the rivers. its
food consisting chiefly of seaweed and
the alyae found III the water Years
ago It was reported TO have been found
In large herds Of several hundred In
dividuals and to have been SO fearless
as to allow itself to be touched with
the hand Of man. In recent years.
however. 1t is met with only In twos
and threes and has become very shy
and wary. It's flesh has been regard
ed as a delicacy. and It Is stated that
the Malay kings claim as royal proper.
ty all those taken within their domain.
Its habit Of raising Its round head
out Of the water and Its great affec-
tion for Its young, which 1t carries un-
der the fore fin. are thought to have
given rise to the legend OF the mer-
maid, In allusion to which the name
sirenia was given to this order Of
mammals. It is recorded that 1t was
with the skin Of the dugong. or sea
COW. that the Jews were directed to
veil the tabernacle and not with bad
ger" skins, as translated In the au-
thcrized version Of the BiblA--New
York Post.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16
Christmas Dolly

The greater part Of the holly that Is
used for Christmas decoration In the
western part Of the United States
comes from southern Arkansas and,
Texas. where the american holly" at
tains a greater size and more perfect
form than anywhere else In this coun.
Try. II grows there to a height Of from
forty to ifty feet.
The native hollies, some OF them
evergreen, Others deciduous in habit
are as family Of considerable interest
at this time The group of plants to
which these belong, known botnnically
as the lex family, some OF which are
shrubs and some Of tree size, "a widely
distributed through the tropical and
temperate regions OF the globe. About
dozen Of its members are native to
eastern North America: ave attain to
the dignity Of trees. -Four Of these be-
long only to regions southward Of New
England, but one brings it's northerly
range to tho vicinity Of Boston. M
II 10 evergreen In habit like its Eng.
lish cousin. which II resembles also In
general appearance and particularly In
its leaves, which are rather oval in
shape, though small at both ends. with
edges coarsely toothed and armed with
sharp spines, stir In texture, wavy and
picturesque In surface and effect ana
Of a dark glossy green color,
In the autumn the trees show rich
clusters Of red berries cleaning
through the foliage IN the most cheer
ful mnnner, They may. In fact. take
the place In some degree OF the de.
lightful British plant which most un.
fortunately viii not endure our eli.
mate. though one sees its plump form
nourishing In the most rugged health
around the wooded shores Of Loeb Lo.
mond, In Scotland. and that is nearly
as far north MS the middle Of Hudson
hay, In British North America.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16

They had ordered dinner and had
waited for half hour without results.
u wonder whai makes the waiter.
In this place no thin and hungry look.
mgr abe remarked.
y suppose Il Is because when they
sit down 20 eat they are waited on BY
the other walters" he replied. --spo
knnc Spokesman. Review.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16

The simple mixture Of ll,uckthorn
bark. gIycerinc. etc, known as Adler
i-ka. astonishes Grants Pass people.
Because Adler-i-ka acts on BOTH
lower and upper bowel. ONE SPOON
Full relieves almost ANY CASE con-
stipation. sour stomach or gas. II
removes such surprising foul matter
that a few doses often relieve or pre-
vent appendicitis. A short treatment
holps chronic stomach trouble. The
INSTANT, easy action OF Adler-i-ka
Ia astonishing. The National Drug Co.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16
FUN AND THE DRAMA.
Has the Public Turned Away From tho
Classics Of the Theater7

Has the Public Turned Away From tho
Classics Of the Theater7
Wherever they come into competi-
tlon In the American theater today
tragedy yields to comedy and melodra-
ina to farce. Even In the movies" fun
rirst have sway or the public com
plains.
That once great public Of theater go
ers who sat through and appIauded the
woes and emotions. the loves and sor-
rows and desperate adventures of.the
heroes and heroines Of the legitimate
drama. who loved acting for its own
sake and gloried III the sonorous Gu
'lences or the great folk Of the stage.
seem now agreed that no theatrical at
traction Is a good show unless It -hands
them laugh
Real plays nowadays are launched In
small tteaters. Here foregather few
~ the old guard. devotees Of the an
.ient and honorable art Of acting. few
students Of dramatic literature. a hum
,lred of the elect drawn from the mil
lions Of the largest cities-like an old
family Of aristocrats who have seen
better days. But the masses do not
want the literature. the art. the class
les Of the theater.
To stir the imagination. to touch the
heart. to stimulate thought. to put wis
dom and heroism into contact with
|mankind-all Of these old and earnest
motives OF the theatcr have passed or
are passing into the dim and dusty
property room.
To be amused. to be Jolted but Of all
serious thought. TO be distracted from
every hard facet Of llfe-that Is what
the show going public OF America
wants now. That Is what the stage Is
now for. 1t Is to laugh AIinneapolia
Journal.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16
PORTLAND MARKETS

Wheat Club. o2h 0s5; bluestem,
9G@ssM.
oats--No. ! white feed, 1850
2t.b0.
Barley Brewing. asa 1880; feed,
2s0a7.7S.
Hogs Best live. O.
Prime steers, e.50@7.5o; fancy
cows. 5@5.0o; best calves. 7.bo,
Spring lambs. Ia 7,bO.
Butter--city creamery. 80.
Eggs Selected local extras. 40.
Hens. i3df1sts; broilors. l2@fs;
geese, Z.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16

Nllnlnr tlaul's, conris- once,
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16
DRAYAGEsAND TRAxSFER

COMMERCIAL. TRANSFER co. All
kinds Of drSyage and transfer
work carefully and promptly done.
Phone lsa-R. Stand at freight
depot. A. Shade, Propr.
r G. ISHAM. drayage and transfer.
Safes, pianos and furniture moved.
packed. shipped and stored.
Phone Clark & Holman. No. So
Residence phone l24-k.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16
Letters to Santa Claus

IYlITH the approach OF Christ.
vi mns each year the Santa
~, Clnus Association OF New
~ York, which each Christmas
4 tries to answer the requests OF
4 thousands Of poor children who
I would otherwise receive no
presents Christmss morning.
B receives hundreds Of letters
J each day from all parts OF the
4 United States and Canada.
I Below nre a few Of the hun.
dreds OF letters received by
/ the association. The first IL
! from a little girl in the Bronx:
Dear Santa clsus--Do you live
n fart Would you please come up
\ my house Christmas day7 l..
Rosc. ten years OF age. wants a
II doll. John, feven, wants en-
sine: Alice, about 1--WE. wants a
! doll: Beatrice. Just moro than
. three. wants set OF dishes. and
1 Andrew, not two yet wants q
! Teddy bear.
p. ST. hope 10 get what / ask
\ for. | am very poor. and my
! father II not wording. Your lit
to friend. ROSE ----.
\ This letter was received from
a little girl whose home Is on
! the west side not fur from
Times square:
Dear Santa Ciaus--I heard about
q your great kindness TO poor chill.
dren. and hope you viii bo good
70 US. have little cripple Sis
4 ter and baby sister and brother.
4 My little cripple sister is only
Ave. and my papa has been out
/ OF work NIL GUNNER ! hope you
q viii answer soon and won't for
! get US Your little girl friend.
HARRIET ----.
Z A six-ycar-oId lad whose
! home Is In a distant part Of
! Brooklyn sent this letter to
' the general postofiice. The let
ter was forwarded to the Santa
! Claus association:
Dear santy-I wants q p,ce
small train. not a expensive ONE
\ one that's just strong and Will
ana s ~ car.s ans .rorS % = rc.n,rs ~ wsns, sh,s
! winter Yours truly,
I DONALD -.
This letter hns been received
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16

I. o. cLENENT, \. D.--Praclies
limited TO diseases Of the eye. sar,
nose and throat. Glasses fttsd.
Once hours o-l2, rs, and on sp-
pointmsnt. once phone 81: rssI-
dencs phone 3Ss-J.
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16

THE WORLD MOVES: 50 do We.
Bunch Bros. Transfer Co. Phone
15-R. NJ
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16

y. r. CROUCH, assayer chemist,
metallurgist. Rooms 2o1-2o3 Fad
aock, npilfInF crpr's psrs
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16
soRlr.

Grit 10 the grain of character.
Il may oenarally be described aa
horolom matsrlalizod and
VIII thruot into heart, brain and
baakbone, 90 90 70 ,rna pert Of
tho phyrical substance Of tho
a'nn --WAippIe,
Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1915-12-16
SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRIST
MAS TREE.

~ v--i - 7
SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRIST. !
\ MAS TREE.
1 This Ia q custom practiced
I by q Sunday school where the
children are all OF the wealthy I
class. but II Is u plan that
many schools may like to try. !.
On the platform stands beau j
: tiful large tree made gay with
ornaments and lights. but to- !
/ tally devoid Of presents. The !
| classes assemble. each pupil
bringing a gift. marked "for a I
4 a girl" or 'for boy" with
tho age Of the recipient writ !
ten on. too. so those who make i
: the distribution viii have
some idea which is the pack !
1 age to give to who"
The gifts are carefully wrap
ped and made Just us Christ 1
masy" looking rs possible. I
When the class roll Is called !.
responses are made by each +
} class going forward and lay
ing their offerings beside the /,
tree. In return each child is \
: handed an orange and a small |
box Of candy. this treat being \
usually provided by some (
wealthy pafIshioner who Is !
fond Of the children and who +
does not work regularly In
the Sunday school. /.
Christmas carols and short !
service follow, and the next |
day the presents are taken to q
the city mission or some spe-
! cial charity. Toys aud books /
that nre In perfectly good con- 7
dltion ure accepted. but only \
|, such articles rs may be Of n
fered without compunctinns at
conscience to one Of Gods IT. I
tie ones. This general clearing y
house Is n splendid idea. and \
the children learn the lesson \
Of passing on what has given 4
them pleasure. A dear little \
mother says that her children y
were Interested all the yenr
In trying to keep their toys Y
mice" for the sake Of the y
"other child's Christmas" 4,
~ .x.ua<, r>1a<;s xur>6ss .u.><,, ...,ss, \
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-09-09
Auto and Motorcycle Met.

A touring car driven by Fred Had
ley, of Gainesville, Mo motors
cycle ridden by Glenn Detrick and
Will Sanger met at the northwest
corner of the square Sunday evening
and the motorcycle and riders came
out second best. Mr.. Hadley was
driving west along the north side OF
the square and was turning south on
Main street at the corner when tho
motorcycle come from the north and
turned east along the north side OF
the square, being on the proper side
of the street while Mr.. Hadley vaa
off side. Both car and motorcycles
slowed down before they met or the
result might have been more serious.
The riders of the motorcycle were
both thrown to the pavement, San
ger receiving a severe cut on the leg
and Detrick being considerably bruis-
ed and cut up, but neither were SER
iously injured The motorcycle was
somewhat disfigured. Mr.. Hadley
acknowledged he was at fault and
gave orders to have the motorcycle
repaired and he would pay the bill
The frequency of accidents of motor
vehicles, makes it absolutely impera-
tive that all drivers should observe
the state rules and drive on the prop
er side of streets and highways.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-09-09
SCHOOL BEGAN MONDAY
.leen Schools Opeaed Monday with
& Increased Attendance. l78 In
Mich School. Total Is GIG.

The Leon public schools opened
Monday morning, and there is quite
an increase in attendance this year
I over the opening day of last year.
This year there are 178 students en-
rolled in the High School as against
l74 year ago. In the grades there
| is a total enrolment of AL as against
last years enrolment of 405. The
total enrolment this year is 6l9
while last year the total enrolment
was 579. The new teachers elected
| for this year were all on hand ready
for duty Monday morning, and Prof.
| Gass and his assistants soon had
things running along smoothly, al
though on account of the crowded
condition of some of the rooms 1t
was necessary to change some of the
grades and assign them to other
teachers.
Superintendent Gass will be ably
assisted in the High School by Miss
Marea Sears, principal, the other
members of the High School faculty
being Misses Margaret Hurst, Himena
Hoffman, Hattie Whitney, Nina
Walker, Dorothy Scott, Ruth Golding,
Mida Bradley and Prof. Fred J. Ehr-
\,
the manual training and agricultur-
al classes. Miss Bradley will have
charge of the music and Miss Ruth
Golding is the new domestic science
teacher.
Everything starts off with bright
prospects for one of the best school
years in the history of the Leon
schools. Under the supervision Of
Prof. Gass, the Leon schools have at
tanned an enviable record as being
among the best in the state. He has
splendid corps of teachers under
him, and the best of results are an
ticipated.
Tho following is the assignment Of
teachers and the number of pupils in
each grade:
NORTH BUILDING
High School-Prof. o. NJ. Gass,
superintendent; Miss Marea Sears,
principal; assistants Misses Margaret
Hurst, Himena Hoffman, Hattie
Whitney, Nina Walker Dorothy
Scott, Ruth Golding, Mida Bradley,
and Prof. Fred J. Ehrhardt, enroll
ment '17S.
Sth grade Miss Halle Moore......39
7th grade-Miss Nellie Mullin.......-42
9Th grade-Miss Ora Konklin-..-.-.3 9
5th and 9Th grade-Miss Nora
COlter.... .-.....-................34 4
4th grade-Miss josephine
Cooney. :a.-.........-'0 @
End and 3rd grades Miss Har-
riett Beavers .....3 8
Primary-Miss Bernicc Bruce!...--.3 5
Primary-Miss Adaline Crawf0rd..32 2
SOUTH BUILDING
4th and 5th grades-Miss Ella
GrOgan...-..----...-.--..
End and 3rd grades-Miss
Grace Beavers.
Primary-Miss LYDIA Epperley..-..33
Primary-Miss Frances MenOugh..3
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-09-09
Many New Residences Being Built.

Many new houses are being erect
ed in Leon this year. In north Leon,
Mrs. Hales new residence is almost
completed, Mrs. Nancy Moon has
commenced the erection of a neat
residence on her lots on north Main
street purchased from Vince Robin
son, Lew Gillham is occupying his
commodious new residence and Milan
Sanger. has completed a fine little
bungalow on his lots, c. E. Stubar
has just moved into his pretty new
bungalow on north Church street.
Fred Townsend is living in his new
summer home in the now VanWerden
addition, VIM. Mitchell has built q
new residence on his lots in the new
Smith addition and others are get
ting material on the ground to build.
Mrs. Len Hamilton is building mod
ern new home on Church street and
Miss Helen Whistler recently COM
pleted new bungalow in west Leon.
Geo. w. Penniwell has moved into
his elegant new home on west Com
mercial street, and Frank Farquhar
is occupying his big new bungalow in
south Leon. J. A. Caster is erecting
a big new residence on the Gardner
lot on south Main street, and NUM-
Der of other residences are in course
of construction in various parts OF
thef.city. 1t has been pretty pros
per6us year in Leon in regard to new
residences.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-09-09

The Decatur County Improved
Stock Breeders Association held q
meeting Saturday to see if it would
be possible to hold a stock show this
fall. There has already been several
inquiries about making entries, so 1t
was decided to elect all the old offic-
ers to hold over, and appoint a COM
mittee to canvass all of the old mem-
bers and as many new ones as pos
sible to see if they could raise the
necessary funds to pay premiums.
The president appointed the follow
ing members on committees: Lewis
CARRIER, w. H. Hazlet, Milton Man
chester, A. G. George, c. NJ. Kline.
NJ. ]. Porter and A. E. Cotterill. 1t ID
to be hoped the committee will meet
with favorable response. The stock
shows that have been held the last
few wears have created quite an In
terest in better stock and Decatur
county is especially adapted to stock
raising on account of its being locat-
ed in the best grass country known.
also growing all the forage crops
necessary to maintain stock through
the winter at minimum of expense,
combined with good climate.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-09-09
YEARS AGO
Items Taken from the Files of The
Reporter Published q Quarter
Of q Century Ago.

Geo. w. Blair, of Lamont, declin-
ed the democratic nomination for
county recorder and Mike Grogan
was named by the county central
committee to fill the vacancy.
Several Leon people had their
pockets picked at the state fair last
week. Among them were Mrs. Mary
Warner and Mrs. j. D. Brown, who
lost their pocketboOks, and Miss Ida
Brooks, who lost watch. The po-
lice arrested great many suspicious
characters, but from the above II
would seem that they Gid not get
them all.
Mrs. Kate Weatherby went to Chi
cago last Saturday to visit few
days.
A surprise party was given Miss
Cora Biggs by a number of her
young friends Tuesday evening.
Miss Hortense Dilsaver went to
Des Moines Monday morning where
she will attend school the coming
year.
Frank Cook, of near Kellerton,
was in Leon Tuesday trying to buy a
residence property here with view
of moving to this place to educate his
children.
J. E. Brooks, L. P. VanWerden
and Charles E. Harvey started for
Iowa City, where they will attend the
State Univ srsity the coming year.
Williams Showers died at his home
southeast of Woodland on August
31st, at the age of II years.
Miss Rebecca Schenck, daughter
of Daniel and Jane Schenck, died al
her homs in Decatur City on August
3Oth,. a12 was buried in the Decatur
cemets:J the following day.
Mrs. Hattie M. Taylor, daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Silas Johnson, died al
the home of her parents in Leon on
Sept. 3rd. Her home was at Fair.
field, and she came to Leon for a
visit when she was taken ill.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-09-09
R1NGL1NG CIRCUS ANNd
Worlds Greatest Shows an
tacle "SOlomOn and the Queen
of Sheba" Now On Way.

Official information confirms the
announcement that on Monday, Sep
tember goth, Ringling's circus will
give two performances in Centerville.
Many new features have been add
ed this year, the most notable of
which is the spectacle Solomon and
the Queen of Sheba." This colossal
production is presented with cast
of 1850 people, ballet of 800 dane
ing girls, 1886 horses, and train
load of scenery, costumes and prop
critics, on the biggest stage in the
world.
Following the spectacle, circus
program of unusual brilliancy will be-
presented, including an array of for
eign and American acts new to the
circus world. The menagerie con-
tains 1908 wild animals, Al ele-
plants, and a "baby zoo." The cir
Gus is transported on SO double
length cars. Special arrangements
have been made by the railroads to-
accommodate the crowds that will
visit the circus from this city and
the surrounding country.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-09-09
Visited Her Old Home.

Mr.. and Mrs. j. H. Butts and
daughters, Misses Madeline and
Berenice, and Mr.. H. w. Lewis, OF
Wichita, Kansas, spent Saturday
night in Leon. They were enroute
home from Flint, Michigan, where
they went to secure one of those fine
big Buick skies, one of the incest
cars ever seen in Leon. Sunday
morning they detoured down to
Pleasanton id order to visit the old
home of Mrs. Butts, which. she left
when she was girl of eleven years,
forty-four years ago, and she had a
longing to see the old place. Her
father was Jacob King, who will be
remembered by some of the older
residents of this county. The King
family resided on a farm in Mercer
county, Missouri, which adjoins the
Iowa state line, just west Of Pleasan-
ton. Mr.. King was one of the pio-
neer school teachers and taught a
number of terms of school at Pleas
anton, then Pleasant Plains, and
also at various places in Decatur
county. While in Leon they met DR..
O. w. Toxworthy, who was raised
near Pleasanton, and went to school
to Mr.. King.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-09-09
A Good Example.

A number Of the property owners
on the paved streets have done much
to bsautify the parkings in front of
their property this year. On east
Commercial street there is one whole
block where the parking is planted
with beautiful flowers which attract
a great deal of attention and favor-
kable &C mment. Alexander Bros. gar
age, James Harmon and Henry
Bright have right to feel proud Of
the appearance of their properties
and it is the prettiest block in the
city. A block cast of it at the Eome
of Stephen Varga Mrs. Varga has
made a magnificent flower garden
which fills the corner intersection
and she is a regular wizard at MAX
ing flowers grow. Other property
owners in various parts of the city
have also done their share to beau
tify the streets, and have set an ex-
ample which others would DO we'll
to pattern AFTER
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-09-09
Ankle Broken in Auto Accident.

George Cox, who last week bought
new Buick six touring car, says he
is satisfied the car will outrun any
thing in the country, forward or
backward, although 1t cost him q
broken ankle to find it out. Last
Saturday afternoon Mr.. Cox and fam
lily and Rev. and Mrs. Elba Dale, OF
near Pleasanton, started for Davis
City in the new car, which was driv-
en- by Mr.. Cox's son, Almon. While
going up the Little river hill Almon
attempted to shift the gear but slip
ped it into reverse and the car start
ed back down the hill faster and fast
er. When the car commenced to ex-
ceed the speed limits, George jumped
out and fell, the heavy car running
over his ankle and fracturing the
bones. Rev. Dale, who also jumped
was considerably bruised up and 9th
er members of the party who jumped
were slightly bruised. Almon and his
mother remained in the car which
ran into the ditch at the side of the
road and stopped, the car not being
damaged in the least and neither OF
the occupants were injured at ALL