davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
Carrier Pigeons

The general notion that all that ha. to be
done in forwarding dispatch by pigeons
is to catch the bird, tie letter to its leg
and then liberate it is wrong, as the method
of attaching the message is of great inn
portance.
Prior to the siege of Paris the method of
affxing the message to the bird had not re-
ceived that attention which it demanded,
and consequently many dispatches were lost
in transit.
AT first the message was merely rolled up
tightly, waxed over to pr otect it from the
weather and then attached to feather in
the birds tail. But it was soon found that
the Irvine which kept the missive in place
cut or damaged the paper, and therefore in
order to prevent it from being pecked by
the pigeon and from being injured by wet
the dispatch was inserted in small goose
quill two inches in length.
The quill was then pierced close to each
end with redhot bodkin, so as not to split
it, and in the holes waxed silk threads were
inserted to afix it to the strongest tail feath-
ef. By attaching the message to this part
of the birds body its flight was not in any
way interfered with.-Sel.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
InCased Postage Stamps

New York City was the birthplace of
peculiar sort of money, made by putting
United States postage stamps in fiat circular
brass cases, with the faces protected by a
thin sheet of mica. The incased stamps
consisted of these denominations: 1, 3, 5,
10, II, "a, 80, and 80 cents of 1862, and this
method of protecting the stamps so they
could withstand the wear of circulation was
the invention of John Gault, who was in
business at Park Place, New York City.
Mr.. Gault manufactured many kinds to
be used by business firms in place of small
change, as we'll as the mutilated and worn
postage stamps used for money at the be-
ginning of the war. Many of the incased
stamps bore the name of the firm on the
reserve side, so that the currency served to
advertise the firm that issued it.
Occasionally a subscriber asks US in re-
gard to these stamps and their value. Our
reply always is that they are of consider
able rarity and not infrequently they COM
mand big premium. This is particularly
true of the IL, "a, 80, and 80 cents denomi-
nations. These stamps are eagerly sought
by collectors of both stamps and coins, but
especially the former, and they fetch good
prices whenever offered at auction sales.
American Boy.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
From The Vedas

Out of spatial abysses man comes riding,
Man and his world, which are one and
the same;
Back of him, past 60 the meanings sliding,
Good and evil, and praise and blame.
The head of the steed has a crest of dawn
ing,
Its hammered tail is Haunting fire;
Time is mans horse foaled new each
morning,
To carry him forward to his desire.
Things of sense like river flowing.
Body and kindred and earth and trees,
Man gallops through them all, well know.
ing
That he rides to tryst which is none Of
these.
Grace MacGo,can Cooke, IN Nautilus.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
Are not Really VoCalists

The folk in the little brown house call
the two musicians--one who makes music
in the maple tree at the sidewalk and the
other in the apple tree behind the house
singers But this, like much of our
current information, is incorrect, says the
Indianapolis News. They are not vocalists
at all, neither of them. They are instru-
mentalists. The one in front of the house
turns up about mid-afternoon and as the
sun goes down his notes rise higher and
higher until about eight O clock, when he
ceases. 1t is then that the backyar per-
former begins. The performer in the maple
is the cicada, which is usually and improp-
erly called the locust; the one in the apple
tree is the hyla versicolor, that is the tree
frog. Both are credited with prophetic
power; the tailless batrachian is held to be
a predicter of rain and the ccada in his
shrill insistence announces that frost is
coming, coming in six weeks from the
evening when he first began his nocturne.
But, it must be said, that little reliance can
be placed on either of these minor prophets.
The tree frog is drummer. The instru-
ment he thumps upon is his own abdomen,
and as drumsticks he uses his own toes and
fingers. The musical apparatus of the CT
cada is at the base of the abdomen. He is
a fddler-not violinist-and he produces
his music by drawing his wings and legs
across his handy little fiddle.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
To a Grandfather Clock

When through the darkness of winters day
watch the freight flashing on tiny face;
Or when moonb beam, on its merry way,
Eliminates thy form with mellow grace;
What voices from the long forgotten years
Call down the opened corridors of time;
What springs and fountains of unbidden tears
Are loosened by thy slow and stately
chime!
0 lone survivor of former age
When life ran gently as tranquil stream;
Before the fervor of our fretful rage
Darkened its golden and unsullied CLEAN;
Our hearts are weary of the greed and guile,
The shoutings of the crowd that never
cease;
Oh, charm us back-oh, charm us back
awhile
Unto the long departed days of peace!-.
Unto the days of purer love and joys,
OF beauty unsupped by low desire;
Ere yet man quilted for world of noise;
The cloistered quiet of the settle-hre,
Or left his cherished hower-beds, to fight
For selfish ends which, gained, dissolve
in foam;
But found for consolation and delight
The simple hospitality of home.-Er.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
Story of the Potato

The question of where the potato is in
digenous and where introduced by man has
never been strictly answered. 1t seems sure,
however, that the potato is native of the
mountainous districts of tropical and SUBJ
tropical America, from Chile to Mexico
and even as far north as the southern part
of Colorado.
Data concerning the known use of the
potato for food is not very definite. 1t
probably was first taken to Europe from
Peru by Spaniards early in the sixteenth
century and spread from Spain to Holland,
Burgundy and Italy, though cultivated
only as curiosity in few gardens and
little known or thought of. In "The
Complete Gardener published in 1719,
it is not mentioned.
AS food it was first used for pigs and
cattle. Then, on account of its great yield,
it was suggested that it might be useful for
the poor and prevent famine, due to the
failure of the grain crops.
AS early as 1868 the Royal Society Of
London adopted measures to encourage its
cultivation in England. 1t spread quickly
in Ireland, but not until the middle of the
eighteenth century did it acquire any real
importance on the Continent of Europe
or its first cultivation as crop in NORTH
America we know even less.--Neao Yorl
Times.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
Chautauqua SeCretary's
Report

The Pierian Chautauqua Circle held its
regular meeting in the school room Sunday
afternoon, April 18th. The roll call dis
closed twenty-five members present and one
absentee.
The Debate was the main feature on the
program; the question for discussion was as
Observation-Disclosures a League to
Enforce Peace can be Made Effective.
The debators delved deeply into the subject
and presented their views in clear and
logical manner, which held the closes.
attention of the circle from the beginning
to the end of the debate. A final count
gave the decision to the negatives. The
cast of vote was as follows: Negatives, IA;
Alternatives, 9. The subject also gave
cause for lively discussion thereafter by
the members. There being no further
business, the critic gave his report. Ad-
journment. F. F. S.-Sec'y.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
Baseball Chat
CONTINUED from first page

In casting about for live man to put at
the helm as president of the Cardinals the new
owner decided that Branch Hickey, already
under contract as business manager of the
Browns, would just about fill the bill. A
temporary salary was offered and promtly
accepted, but it caused an enstrangement
between Mr.. Hickey and Mr.. Ball, owner
of the Browns. The latter took the matter
to the courts applying for an injunction
restraining Mr.. Kicker from breaking the
contract. However, outside pressure too
strong to ignore was brought to bear for a
settlement outside the courts and the happy
ending followed. Messrs. Hickey and Ball
will again mix as of yore.
There are the usual number of pennant
claims being pushed by the owners or
admirers of the major league teams but
the loudest seems to emanate from White
Sox quarters. In the past the Whits Sox
followers could scarcely have been called
backward about calling attention to the
teams sure cinch but their predictions
failed to pan out as the records indicate.
Picking winners is a favorite pastime at
this period each year and some of the
guesses are sure to win so there will always
be good crop of ''I-told-you- sos The
current issue of The Sporting News comes
forward with two choices in each league
and while many will disagree-their choice
is based on something solid. In the
National they prefer the Phillies or Boston
while they incline to Cleveland or Detroit
in the American.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
:. P o EFT r Y :.
From Our Exchanges.
Farmer Jones on Alfalfa Meal

Say, 81, don't it just beat ye what changes
time has brung
Since the good old farmn' days, when you
and | was young?
Why, take this thing O. raisin' stock, how
strange it makes me feel,
To feed my cows and HOSES this blamed
alfalfa meal.
We used to feed the cow on bran and then
little hay,
Perhaps feed of mangle bout every other
day,
We had team of HOSES, too, we fed on
oats and corn;
We'd work them late at night and start
early every morn.
They'd work all right for week or two,
but then they start to lag,
And the.sassin, used to give them brutes
would make sailor brag,
'Twasn't long before them bosses wuz
a-getting mighty thin,
Looked like bunch of graveyard bones
a-covered up with skin.
We had some Poland China hogs that cost
US quite sum;
We raised 'em up on beans and corn, and
when the full days come
We butchered for our winters meat, and
then we put in store
Enough to whet our appetites and make us
wish for more.
Them hens we had did fairly we'll, and they
would lay eggs right
Till winter days obliged US to shut them up
real tight;
Then they'd quit laying eggs and layed
around instead
I'd get so gol-durn bloomin' mad I'd want
to kill them dead.
Frank, you know, that boy of mine, went
down State to school,
And came home not long ago swelled up
like fule,
| let him have his way one day, and he
brought home some feed
They grind from hay out West some place
where it grows like weed.
He fed it the chickens and he fed it to the
COW,
He fed it to the bosses and to the old brood
sow,
The hog grew big and husky on very little
grain,
And to figure how she did it would drive
man insane.
The chickens started laying eggs the cow
gave milk for fair,
The bosses got SO risky. thought twas
in the air;
| tell you, ST, us old men think we're so
ALFRED wise,
1t takes them peskey boys of ours to open
up our eyes,
-"Bill' Nye, in Colorado Manufacturer
and Consumer.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
The Song of the Straying
Sheep

Our fleece is torn by briar and thorn,
The way is long, the wind is cold;
Weary and wet with chilling dew
We think upon the happy fold,
Sick are we of our wanderings past,
No longer do we seek to roam;
Out of the CHILL and WEAKNESS,
Oh, Shepherd, bring US home!
Far, far upon the peaceful hills,
Where warm and gold the sunligh,
CLEANS,
Thou lead st Thy flock in pastures fair,
And giv'st them drink at quiet streams;
Thou max st them rest beneath the shade,
Thou soothest all their vain alarms,
And Dearest, when they weary grow,
The young lambs in Thine arms.
Oh, Shepherd of the happy fold,
Ours was the fault, not Thine the lack;
Of our own will we went astray,
But only Thou canst bring US back,
All rugged is the path, we know,
And set with thorny sting and smart,
But, if Thou sought'st US not, more keen
The thorns would pierce Thy heart!
A fresh wind blew from unknown fields
And lured us, but its charm is Ger,
And, oh, we long to hear the call
Of Thy beloved voice once more!
Chastise US, if it be Thy will,
Rebuke our sin, as needs must be,
But bring Thy last. most wretched sheep
Safe to the fold-with Thee!-Sel.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
Old Freight Cars

An average freight car costs about $3.50,
but the refrigerator and special cars built
for carrying .perishable goods may cost two
or three times that amount. The average
freight car weighs about %. 900 pounds and
has carrying capacity of ~, 900 pounds in
freight.
There has never been a time when the
companies had enough freight cars to meet
the heavy demands of trade in seasons of
unusual prosperity, and though thousands
of new cars are built every year, car famines
occur every time the seasons crops are
ready to be moved. The number of freight
cars that are strapped each year almost
keeps pace with the number of new ones
built.
The scrapping of a freight car is one of
the fine arts of efficient railroacing. A car
may go to the repair shop half dozen
times before it is ready for the scrap pile.
Not until the trunks are practically worn
out SO they cannot be renewed has the
railway wanderer passed beyond its life of
usefulness. Even then every part of the
ironwork is recovered, and such parts that
are still useful 60 into other cars before
they are finally scrapped.
The wooden platform and the boxed
insdes are the first to be renewed, and then
the coupling pins and mechanism, and
finally the wheels. A freight car will
frequently use up two sets of wheels before
it is entirely worn out and ready for final
demolition-Popular Mechanics.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
Inmates. Attention.!

Inmates will observe the following
rules to insure prompt mail service.
Place register number and page num-
her as per example in upper right hand
corner of envelope in space to be covered
by stamp.
Your future page number will be same as
shown in stamp space in example, and
will be found on all incoming letters.
Do not write between lines.
Sign your full name to all letters.
j. SULLIVAN. Deputy Warden,
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
N IR R 0 R EFT ES
By Uncle John

There would be fewer seamy sides to
life if we all tried to keep right side upper
most.
God gave you brains to think good
thoughts with. Use that gift for what it is
intended.
Christian Science services were held in
the Auditorium last Sunday morning and
were we'll attended.
-Four more weeks and both the school
and Chautauqua Circle will take their an
nual vacation, both have done good bust
ness up to date and deserve long needed
rest.
Rev. ]. S. Shannon, of Minneapolis,
delivered good and forceful sermon in the
Auditorium last Sunday morning and all
inmates paid close attention to what the
speaker said.
The opening game of the season was
won by the M. S. P, but it was very
close shave. The Oak Park team is stronger
this year than it used to be and they will
sure come back hard next time.
Quite a few of the Oak Park young
people came along last Saturday to see their
team win, but they were disappointed.
They made runs in the first which made
them jubilant, but our boys came strong
and made it S runs.
Baseball is again in full swing and the
blackboard is again telling us what the
teams are doing all over the country. Each
inmate is eagerly looking at the board as
soon as he gets in the dining-h hall to see if
his favorte team has won or lost.
The Movies last Wednesday were the
best ever, it does man good to see one
like that. Give us some more like it and
we will promise not to miss any. heard
my neighbor laughing in his sleep that
night and say: ooh you Chaplin!'
There are a good many of the inmates
who are holding papers and magazines
longer than they ought to. Anyone ought
to be able to read newspaper in one night
and magazine in two nights. Give the
other man chance to read unless you are
the last one on the list.
The only road to advancement is to dc
your work so well that you are always
ahead of the demands of your position.
Our employers do not decide whether we
shall stay where we are or 60 up; we decide
that matter ourselves. Success or failure
are not chosen for us; we choose them
ourselves.
Life is noble, if to any it is not so it is
because they made it otherwise. 1t is an
inestimable privilege to live, it is greater
still to live we'll. Each man can start q
train of consequences for good that will be
as the pebble cast into the water which will
start ripple which will extent to eternity:
shore to bless or to curse man, to sweeter
or to embitter life.-W. p. Richardson.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
The Thinker

Back of the beating hammer
By which the steel is wrought,
Back of the workshops clamor
The Seeker may find the Thought
The Thought that is ever master
Of iron and steam and steel,
That rises above disaster
And tramples it under heel.
The drudge may fret and tinker
Or labor with lusty blows,
But back of him stands the Thinker,
The clear-eyed man who knows;
For into each pillow or saber,
Each piece and part and whole,
Must 60 the brains of labor,
Which gives 10 the work a soul.
Back of the motors humming,
Back of the bells that sing,
Back of the hammers drumming,
Back of the cranes that swing,
There is the eye which scans them
Watching through stress and strain,
There is the mind which plans them
Back of the Drawn, the Brain.
Might of the roaring boiler,
Force of the engines thrust,
Strength of the sweating toiler,
Greatly in these we trust,
But back of them stands the Schemer
The Thinker who drives things throue
Back of the job-the Dreamer
Who's making the dream come tn
Anonymous
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
The Band

The man who plays the French horn
Makes music with the rest,
But he can't say his instrument
Is of them all the best;
The man who pumps the trombone slide
Does well, but then, you know
He can't look down upon the man
Who plays the piccolo.
And so it is in general,
In life's tremendous plan,
Each gets special instrument
To play the best he can.
So always do your very best
While you are here on earth,
Just take the instrument you get
And play for all you're worth.
-SOmerville Journal.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
p o ET.T r e e =.
Leares From Oar Poets.
The Other World

The Other World
1t lies around us like cloud
A world we do not see;
Yet the sweet closing of an eye
May bring us there to be.
Its gentle breezes fan our cheek
Amid our worldly cares;
Its gentle voices whisper love,
And mingle with our prayers.
Sweet hearts around us throb and beat,
Sweet helping hands are stirred;
And palpirates the veil between
With breathing almost heard.
And in the hush of rest they bring
IT'S easy now to see
How lovely and how sweet pass
The hour of death may be.
To close the eye and close the ear,
Wrapped in trance of bliss.
And gently laid in loving arms,
To swoon to that-from this.
Scarcely knowing if we wake or sleep,
Scarcely asking where we are,
To find all evil sink away,
All sorrows and all care.
Sweet souls around US, watch US still,
Press nearer to our side;
Into our thoughts, into our prayers,
With gentle helpings glide.
Let death between us be as naught-
A dried and vanished stream;
Your JOY be the reality,
Our suffering life the dream.
-Harriet Beecher Stone.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
Two Anglers

A barefoot boy, a white birch pole;
A can of worms, a swimmin' hole,
A baited hook, a tug and swish;
A steady haul, a string of fish.
A white duck suit, a canvas boat;
A costly rod, a patent float,
A gaudy fly, a cast and swish;
A pretty sight,-but nary fish!
Rod and Gun.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19

Now that Venice has opened technic-
al school for boys, the chap looking for a
soft berth might apply for the job of teach
ing little Venetians how to swim.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
n 0 7 | c E

Before presenting themselves to the
dentist for the purpose of having
their teeth examined and treated, all
inmates should procure a tooth
brush and have their teeth as thor
oughly clean as possible.
C.S. REED, Walden.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
Chapel prngrai,1
Sunday, April Is

The following is the program rendered
in the Auditorium last Sunday, Reverend
Benson officiating.
March-Panama Pacific Orchestra
Sketches Meditation Orchestra
Holy, Holy, Holy-- Congregation
Invocation Chaplain
Scripture OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Chaplain
Hymn-Ring the Bells of Heaven
---------------------C Congregation
Prayer ------ ----------------C Chaplain
New Flower Song
Hearts and Flowers Orchestra
oermon---- Kew. Shannon
Hymn-All Hail the Power Congregation
Benedlction -------------C Chaplain
March-Mt. Healthy Orchestra
K. ]. Reichkitzer, Musical Director.
pupulatinu
Up to April l6
Number of Inmates at Prson.......... 1856
Number in First Grade ..........7S5
Number in Second Grade. .,I81
Number in Third Grade 20
Received During Week.. ...............
Discharged Observation-Disclosures. ........
Last serial Number.............
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19
Pressing business-cider mill.

Pressing buSlnesS-CI1er m1II.
Men of all types-compositors.
To rise in Boston-ascend the Custom
House tower.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-04-19

The following is the program rendered
in the Auditorium last Sunday, Reverend
Benson officiating.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1917-06-15
The County Commissioners.

The board of county commissioners
disposed of an immense amount of
routine business this week; in fact the
present board is making a record for
prompt work and getting things done
without dragging through four or five
days. The June meeting this week
saw everything before the board COM
pleted On Tuesday afternoon.
The board directed Engineer Stall
ings to get after the contractors on
road district No. 2, and tell them
they must make good for failure to
complete the road within the contract
time.
The board authorized The Palatka
News to publish the Acts of the Leg
;slature as soon as they had been COM
piled and distribute same over the
county as the law requires.
County Superintendent c. H. Price
was appointed probation officer for
Palatka and Putnam county without
compensation. As such officer Mr.
Price is to have a fatherly care of al
Juvenile offenders, and do his utmost
to start them on the right road. Mr.
Price is well fitted for this work
both mentally and morally; he has 8
whole lot of the "divine spark" in hi:
make up and to turn one derelict from
the wrong path would give him joy
Twas a good appointment.
The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1917-06-15
PAlATKA'S SPECIAL
TAX SCHOOL DISTRICT
VIII be Dissolved at Request
of East Palatka Section.

Possibly the most important mat
ter to engage the. attention of the
county school board at its meeting on
Tuesday was action on the petition
to dissolve the Palatka Special Tax
district. The petition was for
severance Of all that part of the dis
trict on the east side of the river.
The petition, which contained the
signatures Of nearly every voter on
that side of the river, was granted.
1t means that until this severance can
be legally made, nothing can be done
in the proposed bonding election for
a new high school building in this
city. That will cause a delay of at
least three months.
However, it also probably means
the success Of the high school bonding
election, as it will remove from the
franchise large number who are op-
posed to paying taxes to construct
a Palatka school.
The board also decided to add a de-
partment of domestic science to the
high school, and to do away with
the department of music.