davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
Borrowing.
Ernm old Farmsr,s Almanac )


He who means to be good farmer,
must endeavor to be also good neigh
bor. He had better not depend on bor-
rowing bis tools of husbandry; but
should he be at any time necessitated to
borrow, let him be very exact and par
ticular about returning. There should
be place to deposit sll tools. This is
of high Importance, saving the trouble
and time and vexation of searching and
scolding and fretting about lost hoes,
shovels, rakes, spades, axes, chains,
crow bars, etc. Let your tools bs kept In
perfect order, but this can not be done
If your negligent neighbor keeps them
continually in his possession. 1t is too
provoking to have valuable axe sent
home all battered, like q broomstick; q
hoe or spade returned with each corner
knocked off; q chain broken with links
lost: wheeibarrow all dislocated and
smashed to wrack. Come, come, my
Friends. this will never do! You must
| love your neighbors as yourselves. This
man. YOU say, is pretty fair. and that one
pretty clever fellow; but, tell me, Is
your pretty fair, clever sort OF man
punctilious about returning what he has
borroweda This Is your sort. This Is
the true criterion for me in these mat
ters. the "real bonum!'
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03

dinner was served promptly on the
dot. So he settled himself in the big
porch chair and scowled more deeply
than before.
Later on he met the prince. Very
warmly he shook the tall young
mans hand-he even gave It q pro-
phetic second squeeze-and said:
~ am happy to welcome you to the
Catskills. prince"
"Thank you," said Prince Robin.
"a most extraordinary person." said
Count Quinnox to King after Mr..
Blithers had taken his departure,
close upon the heels Of the Feltons,
who were being escorted home by the
prince and Dank. The venerable
Graustarkian's heroic face was q
study. He had just concluded a con-
fidential hour in remote corner OF
the library with the millionaire while
the younger people were engaged in
a noisy though temperate encounter
with the roulette wheel at the oppo-
site end Of the room. "1've never met
any one like him, Mr.. King" He
mopped his brow and still looked q
trifle dazed.
King laughed. There isn't any one
like him, count. He is the one and
only Blithers."
"He is very rch?"
Millions and Millions" said Mrs
King. Didn't he tell you how manyT'
II am not quite sure. This daugh-
ter of his-is she attractive"
Rather. Why?'
"He informed me that her dot would
be twenty millions If she married the
right man. Moreover, she is his only
heir. Pom my soul, Mrs. King, he
quite took my breath away when he
announced that he knew all about our
predicament in relation to the Russian
loan. 1t really sounded quite-you
might say significant. Does-does he
imagine that-good heaven, it is al
most stupefying"
Sounds OminouS to me-" said King
dryly. "Is Bobby for sale?"
The count favored him with look
of horror. "My dear Mr.. King" Then
as comprehension came, he smiled. II
see. No, he isn't for sale. He is a
prince, not u pawn. Mr.. Blithers may
be willing to buy, butt He proudly
shook his head.
"He was feeling you out, however,
said King, ruminating. Planting the
seed, so to speak"
The count seemed to be turning
something over in his mind. "Your
amazing Mr.. Blithers further confded
to me that he might be willing to take
care of the Russian obligation for us
if no one else turns up in time. AS
matter Of fact, without waiting for my
reply, he said that he would have bis
lawyers look into the matter Of secu-
rity at once. Amazing, amazing"
"Of course you told him it was not
to be considered" said King sharply.
II endeavored to do SO, but I fear
he did not grasp what was saying.
Moreover, I tried to tell him that 1t
was q matter I was not at liberty to
discuss. He didn't hear that, either"
"He is not in the habit Of hearing
any one but himself, I fear" said
King.
II am afraid poor Robin is in jeop'
ardy," said his wife ruefully. "The
bogy man Is after him."
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
Odd Numbers.

A hen is always given an odd num-
Der Of eggs to be hatched. Why? There
Is no reason at all except superstition.
Salutes from warships, forts, ETC., are
always given in odd numbers, yet no
valid reason can be adduced. 1t Is q
remnant Of the old "odd numbers are
lucky" superstition.
vergil records all sorts Of charms and
spells practiced round odd numbers
never even ones. Seven is the favorite
Biblical number, and old divines taught
that It held a mystical perfection. It
Is an odd number.
Falstaff, In the Merry Wives" is en-
trapped for the third time. he him.
self said, "They say there Is divinity
In odd numbers because Of the old
belief In odd numbers.
Physicians Of other days always in-
sisted that "oleedings" should be In
odd numbers-one, three, FIVE, etc., and
never an even one.-London Mail.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
Transplant In the Fall.

In general, the fall is the best time to
plant trees and shrubs on the home
grounds. When planted in the fall, the
plant is given an opportunity to spend
its strength in producing new root
growth rather than top growth. These
new roots are the feeding" roots, and
if we'll established will give added vigor
to the plant the following year. The
protection and health of the root system
is the most important consideration in
plant growing.
There are some exceptions to this rule.
II the summer and fall seasons have been
unusually dry and the plant has suffered
from drouth, it may be best to wait until
early spring to transplant, as plants
may recuperate during the winter. In
some parts of the country, late summer
planting of evergreens has proved best,
but for Missouri early spring planting
seems more satisfactory.
1t is best to transplant all trees and
shrubs in the fall. 1t is possible to move
plants after they have "leafed out" but
there is some danger of over-evaporation
of moisture from the leaves and bark
which will exhaust the strength of the
roots. The plant will then show wilt
and spend its strength on new leaves in
stead of readjusting its roots. To lessen
the danger from evaporation, 1t is always
we'll to cut the tops back severely, and
if in leaf, the trunk of tree should be
wrapped with straw or sphagnum moss
to keep 1t moist. 1t is better to trans
plant early in the morning or late in the
afternoon.
Rainy or cloudy days are the best ones
in which to do planting. Transplant
after the leaves drop in the autumn or
before they open in the spring. Remove
injured roots, broken branches, and cut
back the tops. Preserve the fine hair
like roots; they are the feeders, the 9th.
ers only serve as anchors. Never allow
the roots to dry out in the wind or sun.
Cover them with earth or wet straw.
Dig the hole much larger than the spread
of the roots and do not bend or crowd
them. lamp the soil firmly and closely
about the roots, but leave about two
inches of loose soil at the surface. These
planting rules are important. A tree
lives longer than a man; take time and
care in planting it, and in general, plant
in the fall.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
Tho Library Of the Bible.

The Bible Is not book, but a L.
brary-perhaps I should rather say a
literature. It is composed Of sixty six
different books, written by between
forty and fifty different authors-writ,
ten centuries apart, In different Ian
guages, to different peoples, for differ
ent purposes, In different literary
forms. It Is the selected literature OF
fifteen centuries. It includes law, his.
tory, poetry, fiction, biography and
philosophy. It is to be read as 1T
erature, judged as a literature. One
may therefore reject book from this
collection Of literature and yet believe
in the literature. It Is not like paint.
Ing which either is or is not the work
of one master. 1t is a gallery Of paint
ings, in which some works may be
originals and others copies.-Lyman
Abbott.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03


prince. Slipped my mind, however.
Well, well, we're coming up In the
world, eh, having real nabob among
u.s."
won't you sit down, Mr.. BlithersT'
said Mrs. King. "Or would you prefer
q more comfortable chair on the porchl
We
mo, thanks, I'll stay here If you
don't mind" said he hastily and drag.
ged up the camp chair that Lieutenant
Dank had been occupying.
"Fetch another chair, Lucas" said
King to the servant "And another
glass of lemonade for Miss FELTON,"
"Felton% queried Mr.. Blithers, sit
ting down very carefully on the rather
fragile chair and hitching up his white
flannel trousers at the knees to reveal
a pair Of purple socks, somewhat ele'
mentary In tone.
eve know your daughter, Mr.. Bnth'
ers," said little Miss Nellie eagerly.
II was Just trying to remember
1--WE live across the road-over there
IN the little white house with the ivy
"-where I'd heard the name," pro
ceeded Mr.. BNthers, still looking at the
prince. "By Jove, I should think my
daughter and the prince would make
q rattling good match. / msan," he
added, with a boisterous laugh, "a good
match at tennis. Well have to get iem
together some day, oh. up at Bafther
WOOD. Hew Ing 4, 1Uan1H 11tal
~ n. ~ x111r
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03

But" said the count, with frosty
smile, II am not the emperor Of Ger.
many"
Better let me make I'm appointment
for you to see him at his Office. It's
just around the corner" There was a
pleading note in the speakers voice.
"You might save your face, Calvert
by saying that the count will be pleas.
ed to have him take tea with him at
the Ritz" suggested King.
"Teaw exclaimed Calvert scornfully.
''Blithers doesn't drink the stuff"
"It's a figure Of speech" said King
patiently.
Gall right; I'll telephone" said the
other obviously.
He came back a few minutes later
with triumphant look In his eye.
"Blithers says to tell Count Quinnox
he'll see him tomorrow morning at
half past at his Office. Sorry he's
engaged this afternoon"
"But did you say I wanted him to
have tea with us?" demanded the
count, an angry flush leaping to his
cheek.
81 did. I'm merely repeating what
he said in reply. Half past 8, at his
Office, count Those were his words
1T is the most brazen exhibition Of
insolence I've ever began the count
furiously, but checked himself with
an effort. "I-I hope you did not say
that I would come, sir!"
Eyes; It's the only way
"Well, be good enough to call him up
again and say to him that Pll-I'll see
him blanked before I'll come to his
Office tomorrow at $50 or at any other
hour"
And with that the count got up and
stalked out of the Office, putting on
his hat as he did so.
Count" said King as they descend
ed in the elevator, 1--WE got an idea in
my head that Blithers will be at the
Ritz at f."
"Do you imagine, sir, that I will re-
ceive him?"
Certainly. Are you not a diplomat?
asked King.
81 am a minister Of war;" said the
count, and his scowl was an indication
Of absolute proficiency in the science.
"And, what's more" went on King
refectively, 1T wouldn't in the least
surprise me if Blithers is the man be.
hind the directors in this sudden move
of the banks"
"My dear King, he displayed the
keenest interest and sympathy the 9TH
er night at your house. He"-
"Of course may be wrong" admit
ted King, but his brow was clouded.
Shortly after luncheon that day Mrs.
Blithers received telegram from her
husband. 1t merely stated that he was
going up to have tea with rhe count at
4 o'clock and not to worry, as things
were shaping themselves nicely.
tTo BE CONTINUED
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
The kInq's Way.

It was characteristic Of the late King
Edward VII. that he never showed too
much or too little courtesy, but just
enough to maintain his reputation OF
being the most gracious gentleman OF
Europe. Some years ago, according to
the author Of "The Peoples King" his
majesty visited Aberdeen and knighted
the lord provost At the luncheon
which followed the king sat next to
Mrs. Lyon, the wife Of the lord pro-
vost, and noticed on the table the card
denoting her place.
II must alter this" the king said,
smiling on the lady.
With his pencil he effaced the word
Mrs. and in its place substituted Lady
md graciously handed the card to her
newly made ladyship.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
The Roll Call Of Friends.

Have you ever sat alone In the even
Ing looking over the pictures and the
books associated with the friends OF
yore7 In the busy whirl Of life is there
not q Joy In calling the roll Of old
friends and wondering where this one
and that one may be! Then comes that
moment Of retrospective and intro,
spective eulogy to absent friends, and
wells Of gratitude are opened as We
think how greatly various friends
have Influenced our pathway on LIES
journey; how this one or that one may
have unconsciously determined the
crisis Of q career.
We become mellowed when we think
Of those passed beyond. The memory
Of them comes to US gently and softly
as the sparkle Of the eye and the out.
lines Of the individuality are recalled
from the haze of past years.-Nadonal
Magazine.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
Clean LIN Your Garden.

If the weeds have fourished in your
garden or in parts of it, NOW them down
now. II they have not gone to seed,
they can be plowed under later to help
out the stable manure you apply, but II
they have, they should be removed from
the garden and thrown on the compost
heap; composing kills weed seed.
Weeds are expensive things to have 10
gardens or anywhere else; they rob gar.
den crops of food and moisture, many OF
them are natural food for all kinds of in.
sects which, when they have devoured
the choice parts of weeds, attack adla'
cent garden crops. Weeds may also
support plant diseases that would other.
wise die, and they induce mildews and
rusts by reducing air and sunlight
around the garden plants. These weeds
are now going to seed, and winter winds
will Jar that seed out, and the chances
for a heavy stand of weeds next spring
will be quite good.
Other good things to remove now, and
as the later crops mature, are the croI
remnants, especially If there has beer
disease or insect infestation. Dead stalks
are wintering-over places for diseases
and insects.
Stalks removed had best be burned
though If a compost pile is made, the In
sect-infested stalks may be thrown on II
Disease spores survive the composing
temperature; burning is safest.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
sootsmen Are Frsneh Citizens.

Every Scotsman is French citizen,
with all the rights and privileges OF
such, II he chooses to claim them. In
other words, every Scotsman born In
Scotland is also Frenchman and b
thus possessed of two nationalides,
surely unique position.
After his coronation at Rheims In
1920 Charles VII. promulgated a de-
cree that, in return for the assistance
rendered by the Scottish soldiers to
Joan Of Arc, who defeated the Eng
lish and made his coronation possible,
Scotsmen were for all time to be con.
sidered free citizens Of France.-Lon.
don Answers.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
The "Ear Of Dlonysius."

A cunningly constructed prison cav
ern, consisting of large chamber con-
nected with one of smaller dimensions
situated near Syracuse, Italy, has gone
into legendary history with the title
Of the Ear Of Dionysius."
The smaller chamber was unknown
to the prisoners kept in this under
ground dungeon, and the tyrant by
whose name 1t is known had a habit
Of secreting himself there to listen to
the conversation Of the convicts, who
were mostly political offenders.
An ingenious device constructed at
the smaller end Of the larger chamber
transmitted the sounds through the
partition, thus enabling the suspicious
ruler to hear even the whispered con-
versations of his suspects"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03

n HR. BLITHERS reached home IN
" high spirits. His wife was
asleep, but he awoke her with
out ceremony.
II say, Lou, wake up! Got some
news for you. Well have a prince IN
the family before you can say Jack
Robinson"
She sat up in bed, blinking with dis
may. "In heavens name, Will, what
have you been doing2 What have you
BEEN
"Cutting bait" said he jovially. I'm
a day or two I'll throw the hook In
and you'll see what land. Hes as
good as caught right now, but we'll let
him nibble awhile before we jerk.
And, say, he's corker, Lou. Finest
young fellow I've seen In many day.
He"-
'"You don't mean to say that you
you actually said anything to him
about-about-oh, my God, VIII, don't
tell me that you were crazy enough
to- cried the poor woman, almost IN
tears.
"Now, cool down, cool down.! he
broke In soothingly. "I'm no fool, LOU
Trust me to do the fine work in a case
like this. Sow the right kind Of seeds
and you'll get results every time.
merely dropped few hints, that's all
and in the right direction, believe
me. Count Equinox will do the rest
I'll bet my head we'll have this prince
running after Maud so"-
She faced him once more and angruy.
"Listen to me-" she said. "PVe had
talk with Maud. She has gone to
bed with q splitting headache, and I'm
not surprised. Don't you suppose the
Door child has q particle Of pride? She
guessed at once just what you had
| gone over there for, and she cried hel
ewes out. Now she declares she Will
never be able to look the prince IN the
face. and as for the Kings-oh, Its
sickening. Why can't you leave these
things to me? You 60 about Ike 9
bull In a china shop. You might al
least have waited until the poor child
had an opportunity to see the man be
fore rushing In with your talk abou,
money. She
"she'n like him all right" said he
confidently.
"she will refuse even to meet hin
II she hears Of your silly blunder to
night"
His face frightened. Lowering hi
voice to a half whisper, he said: I'VE
needn't tell her what I said to that Ole
chap, Lou. Just let her think ga
around like a gump and never said
word to anybody. We cam
"But she'll pin you down, WILL ant
you know you can't lie with stralgn
face"
"Maybe-maybe I'd better run dow
| to New York for a few days." ne NUT
tered unhappily. "Yod can square
better than ! can"
"In other words, I can lie with
straight face" she said ironically.
81 never thought. she'd balk Like this,
said he, ignoring the remark.
II fancy you'd better go TO New
York." she said mercilessly.
Sure enough, Mr.. Blithers was Q,
| for New York soon after daybreak IN
next morning, and with him went {
mighty determination to justify him
| self before the week was over. HI
| willy brain was working a. it ha
never worked before.
Two days later Count Quinnox re
| ceived q message from New Yorl
bearing the distressing information
that the two private banking institu
tions on which he had been depend
ing for aid in the hour Of trouble ha
/ decided that 1t would be impossibl
Tor them to make the loan under con
sideration.
vastly disturbed. Count ouinno
took the nrst train to New York 9
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03

Laughable errors in illustrated advef.
tisements are often apparent to the
thinking man. 1t makes one wonder
why the designers Of the ads. don't get
their information first hand from some
one who really knows. Accuracy, even
In advertisements, has the same at
traction 1t has anywhere else.
For instance, when the seltzer bottle
in an electrical sign on Broadway is
Glling the empty glass the level de-
scends as fast in the bottle as 1t rises
in the glass, yet the bottle is five times
as big. 1t couldn't possibly be, accord
ing to physics.
Still worse Is picture Of piano
with a pair of hands striking certain
keys. Fortunate 1t is indeed that that
piano can't sound, for the particular
keys struck would be a Jangling dis
cord. Why couldn't the artist have
gone to a musician for pleasing
chord among the infinite offerings Of
music?-Wall Street Journal.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03

companied by Tru1ton King, who was
confident that outside influences had
been brought to bear upon the situa-
ton. influences inimical to Grau-
stark. Both were Of the opinion that
Russia had something to do with it.
1--WE may be able to get to the
banks through Blithers." said King.
"How could he possibly be Of as
sistance to us?" the count inquired.
"He happens to be q director In
both concerns. besides being such q
power in the financial world that his
word is almost law when 1t comes to
the big deals"
All the way down to the city Count
Quinnox was thoughtful, even pre-
occupied. They were nearing the
terminal when he leaned over and,
laying his hand on Kings knee. said
after long interval Of silence be-
tween them:
T suppose you know that Grau-
stark has not given up hope that
Prince Robin may soon espouse the
daughter Of our neighbor. Dawsber-
gen."
King gave him a queer look. "By
Jove, that's odd! was thinking Of
that very thing when you spoke"
"The union would be Of no profit to
US in pecuniary way, my friend" ex-
planned the count. "Still it is most de-
sirable for other reasons. Dawsber-
gen is not a rich country, nor are its
people progressive. The reigning house,
however, Is an old one and rich in ira
ditions. Money, my dear King. is not
everything In this world. There are
some things it cannot buy. 1t is sin
gularly ineffective when opposed to an
honest sentiment. Even though the
young princess were to come to Grau.
stark without farthing she would
still be hailed with the widest ac-
claim. We are race Of blood wor-
shippers, If I may put it in that way.
She represents force that has domi.
mated our instincts for great many
centuries, and we are bound hand and
foot, heart and soul, by the so called
fetters Of Imperialism. We are fierce
men, but We bend the knee and we
wear the yoke because the sword Of
destiny is in the hand thatdrives US. To-
day we are ruled by a prince whose
sire was not Of the royal blood. Our
prince assumes an attitude Of inde-
pendence that we find difficult to over
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03

Mary's mother found her busily en-
gagged In cutting up potatoes. why,
Mary" said the astonished mother,
"what are you doing that forr
Pausing a moment In her task, Mary
looked up and replied, II heIrd the
man over at the store say that there
was money In potatoes this year, nam.
ma, and was Just looking for some"
New York Times.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
Dangerous Locality.

"Now, II this proposition appeals to
you. sign here" said the brisk agent at
the end of half hour harangue.
II didn't say it appealed to me-" an
swered the man at the desk.
mo, but I saw an expression OF
pleased interest In your face"
"Oh, that wasn't due to anything
you said just happened to remem-
Der that Mike, our head porter, Is due
here In about three minutes. The last
time he put an agent out the fellow
was carried to a hospital Oh, must
you go7 Well, good morning."-Bir.
mingham Age Herald.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-03
etssp Farming.

A slope In the valley Of the Onan-
taytambo, Peru, with an angle Of about
45 degrees, or sleeper than the roofs
Of most houses, Is covered with trans
verse ridges, showing that the entire
surface was cultivated In former times.
Parts Of the same slope are still culti-
vated.-Nationa Geographic Magazine.