davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
CUSHIONS THAT ARE NOVEL
Bow Variety Seems to Have the Pref
erence for This Summer,
at Least.

There are many novelty cushions
this summer.
Some of them are for garden chairs
and hammOcks, some for divans and
lounging chairs and some for the floor.
One that is very attractive is shaped
like big bow. The cover is made of
beautiful silk and velvet, and is per-
haps four feet long and a foot wide,
when finished. 1t is filled lightly with
soft down and is tied with a band of
velvet ribbon through the center. It is
really most comfortable shape to tuck
behind the back, and could be made of
less expensive materials thin silk or
cretonne.
Shocked cushions are another pretty
novelty. They are covered with silk
shocked into shape. These are made
in light colors for the bedroom or bou-
dOir.
For the hammock perhaps the most
serviceable cushions are those covered
with black and tan cretOnne, in small
blocks or checks. 1t is sold especially
for cushions for outdoor furniture, as
its cOlors make it show dust very little.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
TAX ON STREET ADVERTISING
How They Do Things in France to
Make and Keep Their Cities
Beautiful.

The imposition of a tax on mural ad-
vertisements, which Mr.. McKenna is
reported to be considering, has pro-
duced satisfactory financial results for
many years past in France, the Lon
don Chronicle states. Not a bill can
be displayed on any boarding or in any
window in that country without hav-
ing affixed to it an inland revenue
stamp costing at least a penny. The
atrical posters, cards announcing
apartments to let, and bills offering
rewards for recovery Of lost dogs all
come under the same law. On printed
matter the stamps are usually attached
before printing. Frequent inspection
renders evasion difficult
In this connection our French neigh
bOrs put into operation, just over three
years ago, another excellent idea
which might we'll be adopted in this
country, is the plan adopted to get rid
of the hideouS advertising boardings
which then desecrated so many of the
national beauty spots. A bill was
brought in proposing a tax of $40
square yard per annum on all board
ings under six yards square, 500 yard
up to 10 yards, $40 up to 20, and $3.50
on those above 20. If two separate ad-
vertisements appeared on the same
boarding, the tax was doubled; If
three, trebled, and so on. The bill was
introduced solely on artistic grounds
and was passed with the enormous ma
jority of 500 votes to 8.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19

after filing the silo breaks the land
from which the silage corn was cut
and sows COW peas. The corn ripens
in August and he gathers it in Sep
tember, and turns the hogs in. He
uses the hogs to clean up crops that
would otherwise so to waste. He puts
the hogs in the velvet bean field in
which he plants corn and the hogs
fatten rapidly On tho beans and corn.
He plants largo fields Of corn and
velvet beans in alternate rows. He
says he can make more corn by plant
ing in five-foot rows with a row of
beans down each middle than he can
get in three and q half or four-foot
rows. The corn is gathered and the
beans grazed by all kinds of live stock.
The grazing season is long and the
cattle do we'll on native grasses until
about December 1. The cattle are then
turned on a field of velvet beans and
fatten very rapidly. The velvet beans
make beef Of very fine quality. Large
numbers Of his cattle usually go
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
DIvEPSIFICATION TELLS STORY
OF SUCCESS OF FLORIDA FARMER
en Frost Killed His Orange Trees He Turned His Attention to
Good Pastures Live Stock, LegumnOus Crops Large POws
and Strong Teams-ImproVed His Herd of Cattle by Pur-
chase Of Purebred Shorthorn Sire.

through the winter with very little
feed, except what is obtained from
the fields.
Silo ls Useful.
He built his silo for the cows and
calves when the grass does not prove
sufficient to keep them in good con-
dition. 1t is not a winter or summer
silo, but is used at any time during the
year when the silage is needed.
He grows great variety of crops
and has good grazing crops for his live
stock II months in the year. He uses
no fertilizer on his land. He grows
leguminous crops 10 feed the live
stock, and the live stock spreads the
manure over the farm. The growing
of leguminous crops fills the soil full
Of nitrogen, adds immense quantities
of humus to the soil and furnishes the
most valuable grazing for all kinds Of
live stock.
Mr.. Gaitskill uses large plows and
strong teams and turns under large
quantities Of vegetable matter to fur
nish humus. He does not abuse his
land by burning off the vegetable mat
ter and plowing with a One-horse plOw.
He is planning to get a tractor, plow
deep, turn under vegetable matter and
grow better crops each year.
Good pastures, good live stock, legu>
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
Hone 0UJI|
7 Y: Helps Y |
GARDENS IN BACK YARDS
Mistake ls General, According to Au.
thority, Of Starting Them Too
AmbitiousIy.

Even the city dweller can cut ex-
penses by utilizing small yards for
raising vegetables, and the Garden
Club of America has engaged experts
to tell how it can be done. The in
formation is being embodied in book
for backyard farmers. The book was
begun in the fall, when members of the
club anticipated hard times and scare
ity of money for the working man, and
it will be ready for publication and
free distribution in a few weeks.
"We plan for the average yard of
about 25 by 10 feet" said Mrs. ]. Willis
Martin, president of the club.
"Our aim has been to state the prin-
ciples of gardening as simply as pOssi-
BILE, planning the needs Of the average
family of four through the entire sum-
mer."
Philadelphia has the distinction Of
being the birthplace Of the Garden
Club of America, which embraces %
clubs in other parts of the country.
and Mrs. Martin is also a resident Of
that city.
The mistake that is made by nine
out of ten amateur gardeners, how
ever,'is that of trying to do more than
they are able to accomplish, and Of en-
deavoring to grow too many things
within the restricted bounds of an
average suburban lot. 1t were well to
bear in mind the fact that, after one
has worked eight or nine hours in an
Office, ones strength is equal only to
an hour or so of work in the garden.
1t should also be remembered that only
about so many plants of any kind will
grow and mature on a given area Of
garden ground.
Instead of trying, therefore to grow
half dozen plants each of a score or
more of vegetables, cOnfine your efforts
to those vegetables of which the fam
fly as q whole is most fond. Every
body, almost without exception, likes
some vegetables more than others, and
when the list of favorites is compiled
it frequently will be found to be re-
markably restricted. Here is the ten
tative list, which may be modified to
suit individual tastes:
Sweet corn, an early and late va
riety or a single variety planted for
succession; string beans, planted for
all summer succession; peas, two or
three paintings ten days apart; to-
matoes of q long bearing variety or
planted for succession; lima beans,
either the bush variety, if the garden
is small, or the kind grown on poles,
if more space is available; a small
plot for lettuce, preferably the kind
that form heads; another small bed of
onions; two or three hills of cucum-
berS; and, if desired, a short double
row Of beets for early summer use.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
ROAD
BUILDING
MONEY FOR IMPROVED ROADS
Sixteen Million Dollars in Auto Fees
Spent for Building. and Mainte.
nance During 1915.
E'rom the United States Department OF
Agriculture.)

(E'rom the United States Department OF
Agriculture)
Ninety per cert of the registration
and license fees paid in 1915 by auto
mobilists to the states, or $16,213,G87,
was spent for the building and main
tenance of county and state roads, ac-
cording to a compilation just published
by the office of public roads, U. S. de-
partment of agriculture. In all, 2,445,-
664 motor vehicles were registered in
that year and their owners paid a to-
tai of $1S,245,713 for registrations and
drivers and dealers licenses. This is
an increase of So, ,S63, ,760 over 1914, and
an increase of 734,325 in the number
Of vehicles registered. Automobile
fees now defray nearly per cent of
the total amount spent on rural road
and bridge building, whereas in 1906
the income from this source was less
than three-tenths of / per cent of the
total expenditure.
The growth of the volume of fees
and registrations is noted by the fact
that in 1901 New York, the first state
to require fees, collected only 1854. In
1906 only $4,000 cars were registered
throughout the entire United States.
BY 1915, however, the number had
jumped to the figure given, so that
there is slightly more than one motor
car registered for each of the 2,375OO0
miles of road outside of the incOrpor-
ated towns and cities.
The relation between cars and road
mileage varies widely in different sec
tiOns. There is only one motor car for
every six miles of rural road in Ne
vada, but nearly six motor cars for
every mile of such road in New Jersey.
There is an average of one motor car
registration for every Al persons in
the United States. Iowa apparently
leads, however. with one motor car for
every 16 persons, Willie only one for
every 200 persons is registered for Ala
bama.
1t must be understood, however, that
the figures Of registration do not ne
cesSarily represent total number of
cars, as some of the states do not re-
quire annual registration, others group
pleasure and commercial cars and mo-
tOrcycles In their accounts, while still
other states do not require registra-
ton of motorcycles.
There is great inequality in the reg
istratiOn fees charged by the different
states. The average for the United
States was $7.46. The state of Yer
mont, however, secured in 1915 a gross
revenue of $3.50 for each motor car,
while Minnesota received only about
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
is HANDY WORKBAG

loom bundles of quaint embroideries,
cid laces and rich oId-world brocades.
Either plain or quantity shaped
boxes, by the air of rich fabrics and
scissors and paste, are skillfully con-
verted into things of beauty-and of
ten of value, for they are covered not
only with rare brOcades, but with
everything old and interesting.
For instance, a miniature chest Of
drawers, covered with pieces of heir
. loom silks that belonged to bridal
gowns of a long list of ancestors,
with imitation knobs and handles
made from buttons and gold lace cut
from old uniforms, is to be seen dec
Grating the room of one woman, who
not only uses her latest handiwork
as an ornament, but uses it as a re-
ceptacle for all letters written to her
by important peOple.-ChicagO Record
Herald.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19

The most useful workbag for the
housewife is that attached to screen
shape that has a handle running along
the top Of it.
These articles made up cost good
deal Of money, but one can easily be
made at home. If there should be an
old One-piece fire screen at hand like
that in the Illustration, there is no
difficulty whatever, and even If there
is not. one can often be picked up for
a few cOppers at a secondhand store.
Just little paint or enamel will make
1t like new again and excellent for
this purpose.
If there is panel in the screen, just
take it out neatly, as only the frame
work is required. If the wood needs
renovating, do it before making the
bag; stains and varnish can be bought
combined and they are quite cheap.
Simply brush on the frame and leave
to dry.
The size Of bag will depend upon the
size of the frame. 1t is a good idea
TO make it from some material that
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
tBy g. II. AFFORD, State Demonstration
Agent. Maryland1

tBE @. II. Afford, State Demonstration
Agent, Maryland)
s. H. Gaitskill, Mcintosh, Fla,
came to the state in 1884 and began
growing oranges, but did not sell his
Kentucky farm for sume years after
ae came to Florida. He was quite well
satisfied with his orange-growing ven
ture until the freeze of 1895 killed all
Of his trees. This freeze was a great
shock and the orange grower did not
know what to do. Mr.. GaitskilI started
TO rebud and build up his grove, but
did not feel that it was advisable to
rely upon oranges for everything and
began to grow corn, hay and other
crops for man and beast. Prior to the
freeze he made no effort to grow feed,
but used some Of his orange money to
buy everything he needed. He soon
learned that he could grow very fine
crops of corn, hay, oats, peas and
other general farm crops and finally
decided to raise good live stock to
consume the crops grown. Having de-
cided to go into the livestock business
ne sold his Kentucky farm and bought
an old sugar plantation adjoining his
farm and proceeded to make the grow
ing Of pork and beef his main work.
Bought Purebred Shorthorns.
Mr.. Gaitskill was not satisfied to
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19

work with the native stock, but went
to Kentucky and bought some pure
Bred Shorthorn bulls and few pure
bred females and bred the native cows
to the Shorthorn bulls. Improvement
was very rapid and he now has a very
fine lot Of cattle, as the picture shows.
In the meantime ne continued the
work of rebuilding his orange groves
and now has big trees in his large
orchards. He has INDUCED in some
kruck-growing for the northern mar
kets and has made quite bit of money
from his shipments. He grows some
cabbage and watermelons, but he does
not advise the average farmer to at
tempt truck on a large scale and do
general farming at the same time. He
says that vegetables must be given
the best care and attention at the
proper time. He is gradually quitting
all truck crops except watermelons.
He plants from 20 to 60 acres every
year and plants velvet beans in the
melon field at the last cultivation. The
velvet bean is fine crop for fattening
all kinds of live stock and transfers
large quantities of nitrogen to the
soil
Peanuts for Hogs.
He plants peanuts for the hogs to
harvest after eating the small and bad
shaped melons. He plants corn and
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
Shady Lanes.

That the chief aim of man is not de-
structlveness finds so few exceptions in
these parlous times that any evidence
to the contrary calls for mention.
A comforting instance of this sort is
contained in brief news item from an
exchange, thus: "On q leading road
way out Of this city farmers for six
miles have agreed to plant shade trees
on both sides 60 feet apart. The same
variety of tree will be used the entire
distance"
This is a little message with an ap-
peal that is vital. These public-spirited
farmers have their counterparts in all
directions from the shaded avenues
that will result from this wholesome,
sensible, artistic and altruistic en-
deavOr, already conceived, and, it is
fervently hoped, already on the way
toward being made an accomplished
fact.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
MILK is GOOD FOR CHICKENS
One Of Most Valuable Poultry Feeds
Available on Farm-Encouraaes
Hens to Lay.

The most valuable poultry food
available on most farms is milk. Many
farmers feed all their surplus milk to
the hogs. Milk, when fed to the hogs,
makes flesh that sells for seven or
eight cents a pound. When fed to
poultry, especially during the winter
months, it makes eggs that sell for 25
cents a pound, and flesh that brings
twice the price ordinarily offered for
hogs. And besides, in discriminating
markets, milk-fed poultry always sells
for premium.
Given all the milk they will con-
sumo, hens will lay well in season and
out of season. One cannot overfeed
of milk. It is safe to keep it before
the hens always.
The vessels in which the milk is fed
should be washed and scalded daily.
Earthenware crooks are the best for
the feeding Of milk since they are cas-
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
Bearers of Perfume.

Do you know those little crystal
pottery bulldogs, so-called 'lucky
dogs" which are provided with bril-
liants for eyes and are supposed to
bring good luck to the owner as they
repose as weight on the desk? Well,
you can use them for another purpose.
Make a tiny bag of silk and fill it
with a pungent sachet; tie 1t about
the dogs neck, and you will have a
most attractive custodian of the bit
of elusive perfume for the dressing
table or desk. In the latter case, the
perfume should be less dainty and
more Of the sandalwood or oriental
character.
Elephants in the same solid crystal
have huge borders Of silk-covered
sachet on their backs. Both these ami
mails make cunning favOrs for parties,
and with cards attached may be used
as place cards as well.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
BEST USE FOR EMBROIDERY
Transparent Cotton Materials May Be
Trimmed to Advantage When This
Method Is Employed

Waists and dresses of transparent
cotton materials are trimmed with
hand embroidery done in mercerized
floss in Oriental cOlors, often outlined
with black. This embroidery is quick
ly done and is very effective if one is
careful to make a good selection Of
the cOlOrs to be combined. Small
wooden or china beads are frequently
combined with these embroideries in
this way, carrying out further the
Oriental idea of establishment.
An easy way to pad embroidery is to
take a spool of darning cotton and
fasten one end to the work and let the
spool run at will in making scallOps on
children'S dresses and other fancy
work, such as simple doilieS, center
pieces or scarf covers. The work just
flies as one holds the darning cotton
down and buttOnholes over it all at one
time.
Bone or ivory rings used for fancy
work may be dyed with common dye
that is used for cotton goods, follow
ing directions carefully. White rings
may be dyed any shade desired,
When embroidering the turnover
part of flower leaves, especially when
the turnover is large, after the padding
is done, keep a needleful of the thread
with which the work is done and mark
the stitch direction all the way across.
This helps to keep the stitches straight,
The woman who uses stiff canvas for
crOss-stitching will find that her fing-
ers will be less harmed if, upon finish
ing her stitching, she dampens the
canvas and presses the material on the
wrong side with a hot iron until dry.
She can then remove the threads with
greater ease, for they will have lost
their stiffness.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19

80 cents annually for each car. In
Texas and South Carolina no annual
registration fees are collected, the only
requirement being county fee Of 80
cents and 81 respectively for perennial
registration. Most of the states, how
ever, also levy annual taxes on motor
vehicles and this adds Importantly to
the public revenue contributed by the
owners of mOtOr-propelled vehicles.
In the use of fees, however, there
seems to be a general policy of apply
ing the major part of the money col
lected from autOmobilists directly to
road betterment. In 42 of the states
of the Union all or the major portion
of the motor-vehicle revenue must be
expended for the construction, I'M
prOvement, or maintenance of the pub
lie roads, or for the maintenance of the
state highway department. In 20
states, all or the major portion of the
net mOtOr-vehicle revenues are ex-
pended by or under the supervision or
direction of the state highway depart
ment. In seven states one-haf TO one
fourth of the state motor-vehicle rev.
enues are expended through the state
highway'department, and the remand
er by the local authorities. Many
states, in addition to applying license
fees to road construction expend for
this purpose a large part of the fines
and penalties collected from owners.
In the number of registrations New
York state led in 1915 with 255,242;
Illinois was second with 180,S32; Cali
fOrnia third with 163,797; and Penn
SyIvania fourth with 160,137.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
NEW ACCESSORY TO BoUDoIR
Pretty Table Boxes Are Much in De.
mand by the Fashionable Wom.
an of Today.

The cult of the box is growing
apace, perhaps because the modern
woman has more fal-lals to keep in
order than her grandmother had, or
perhaps merely because box adorn-
ment is an interesting art. Incidental
" it calls for q fair amount Of in
genuity, and 1t entails no little time
and trouble in searching out suitable
trimmings, most of which belong to
bygOne periods, and can only be found
in old curiosity shops or among heir
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
Hat Rrlms Are prnnninn

Already one sees more hats that
have a tendency to dropping brims
than those that are straight.
White satin hats have a bias fold
at their edge and sometimes it is of
black or cOlored velvet This edge
droOps over the brim. Velvet brims
are stitched and allowed to droop at
will, and shapes that have soft Of.
feet are at present the choice OF the
up-tO-date summer girl.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
cItx,s Final Test.

mo city can become industrially
great until it has solved successfully
the great underlying problems and
made itself satisfactory city in which
to live" That is the way Secretary
BabcOck of the Dallas chamber Of COM
merce expresses it. He is right. The
final test of any city is its desirability
as place of residence and no city Is
a good location for a wholesale house
or retail store or a factory unless it
Is first of all good place in which to
live.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19

lily cleaned. If wooden troughs or yes
sells are used, they will, in very short
time, become so fouled that thorough
cleaning is almost impossible.
If only limited quantity of milk is
available for the hens, the better way
of feeding it is to use it in moistening
the mash. When used for this pur-
pose the milk will be evenly distrib-
uted to the flock.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
GOOD MIXTURE FOR sILAGE
Alfalfa and Sweet Sorghum Found to
Be Satisfactory by Nebraska
Experiment Station.

Indications are that excellent silage
can be made with mixtures Of alfalfa
and sweet sorghum, according to ST.
lage investigations in progress at the
agricultural experiment station of
Nebraska. Such mixtures, containing
One-half alfalfa and one-half sorghum
cane, put up on q small scale, give
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
SECURE GOOD YIELD OF CORN
Selection, Curing and Testing Are
Three Of Most Important Factorc
to BE Considered.

A good yield of corn depends upon
a number of factors, of which three
Of the most important are the selec-
tion, the curing and the testing of the
seed. Under average farm conditions,
the proper amount CT care taken in Be-
curing the best seed will be more
than repaid.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19

perfect silage three mouths after silo-
ing. The acidity is somewhat lower
than normal silage, but .k:s does not
seem to impair the keeping qualities
Further investigations Of this subject
are in progress, but the present re
suits would indicate that q farmer
might safely put equal parts Of alfalfa
and well-matured sorghum cane in his
silo with expectation Of securing
good quality of silage.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
Shoes Of Fancy Skins.

Both lizard and snakeskin figure
largely in the materials of boots and
ties on exhibition in a ney "Style
Studio" in New York. The snakeskiG
boot Is high with the lower part OF
brown leather. The lizard tie is made
with plain gray kid. the lizard b,sDs
used only for tips and foxings.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19

gowns have stiff, straight collars, not
very high but fastening snugly round
the neck and modelled exactly after
uniform collars, which are embroidered.
thickly. Big embroidered flaps over
side pockets have "a distinctly soldier.
like touch.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
Rusty Black Lace.

If black lace has grown old and
rusty-looking it can be improved, as
far as the color is concerned, by soak
ing 1t for few hours in vinegar and
water. Then it must be dipped in
coffee and ironed while damp, with a
piece of flannel laid over it.
Middletown transcript., 1916-08-19
Military Touch

In hats and top coats and even in
afternoon dresses military inspiration
is seen quite definitely. Instead of the
soft reversible collars which have be-
come so popular, many of the new