davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
REVERTED TO TYPE
Ferret's Night Off an Orgy of
Slaughter.
Little Killer Left Thick Trail OF Dead
Which He Had Destroyed for the
Pure Joy of Staying, and
Went Home.

His mother was a ferret, lean, yell
low and pink eyed and she devil
to boot, says a writer in London An
Swers.
His father was worse, a wild pole
cot of the mountains, and a worse
devil than ever
But he, the cherub, was so soft ana
furry and fat and creamy, and, though
he had got pink eyes, there seemed
to be nothing else of his mother ana
father about him. He never bit, ne
never spat, and he never used bad IAN
guage, and he lived upon bread ana
milk, like gentleman.
So he was till the spring broke.
It was their own fault, the ferret
ers. They took him out rabbitlng, as
usual They put q collar with q bell
ON round his neck, as usual, ana d
long, long string on the collar, as
usual, and they turned him into a
rabbit warren, as usual. And ne
sneezed three times, as usual and hs
walked docilely down the first rabbit
hole he came to. as usual, to turn oHt
the rabbits from their burrows, as
usual, that the sportsmen outside
might shoot them as they bolted.
So far, until he got into the middle
of the mazes Of tunnels, the inky dark
nesses, and the stuffy heat, full OF
the smell of castor oil-don't know
why, by the way-and he could hear
the drumming of rabbits feet fleeing
before his ghostly, terrible self, every
thing happened as usual. Then nothing
did.
He was pulled up with jerk that
nearly choked him. He tried going for
ward, but it was all no good. He
had only yard of play either way.
His line was entangled in a root.
The hours passed, and the ferreters,
after trying every device known to
man to get him out, gave it up and
went home The cherub did not give
it I'D. He worried slowly, and h''
chafed, he pulled, and tugged, h.
backed, and he sweated, and he
sneezed, and finally his collar came
undone or broke.
The cherub sneezed three times, and
walked three yards. Then he realized
i.e was free It was the. first time il.
all his life he had been free, and il
acted upon him. In that second his
,,o+bor Y,117S hic father pOf TO WORK
in his own body, and he began.
It was really very clean killing. Fiji
teen rabbits done to death, each with
single, clean fang stroke behind thi
cars-was not so bad for one small
ferret. But he improved, for he slew
20 in the next hour-leaving ever!
carcass untouched where it lay-and
getting thirsty, came above ground TO,
water. The water he did not find, bu
discovered fowls in O foWlhouse in.
stead, and, as I said, being thirsty.
drank blood. There were no live
fowls in that hen roost when he left
He visited the hutches of the BelgiaL
hares, which he slew, and the pigeon
cote, where he got more blood.
After that he returned mile across
county, killing three cartridges OF
the way; drank at the dogs trough
biting the dog badly In the process
walked into his own hutch and was
found curled up, calmly asleep, among
the. hay next morning.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
All France at War.

"If you want to see whole natioh
in arms. 20 to France" says hearty,
good-looking United States soldier
how lust back from the war front, ana
now in hospital. ''It's not just IN
the cities. It's in the little country
towns. I'VE seen old women at work
in the fields, women so feeble that they
had TO walk with c0ne when they
weren't working. I've seen an ola
French mother wheeling fertilizer up
to the top of the hill. She had to DO
the work because her men folks were
in the trenches. After every trip up
hill she came tottering down, and you
might have thought she couldn't wheel
another load. She did, though. l tell
you, the spirit of those French people
is the wonder of this war;"
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
NEW YORNS MANY MINERAL
Astonishing Variety Is Known to Exis
Beneath the Streets of American
Metropolis.

Everyone knows that Boston is {
great center of copper mining, ant
that New York Is the center Of al
Other mining industries Of the coun
try, but few realize that either of thes
cities have opportunities to mine fc
anything except subways at home. /
seems, however, that New York's ey
traordinary activities in the mlnin'
business must have received their frs
impetus not from Wall street, but froi
varied experience gained In dealin:
with the rock Of Manhattan.
More than 113 varieties of mineral
and several kinds Of gems have bee:
found on the island, according t;
Electrical Experimental. AQuama
rines weighing IL karuts have beer
found at Broadway and One Hundrc'
and Fifty-seventh street. The mir
Ing possibilities at Broadway and On
Hundred and Seventy-sixth street az.
almost unlimited. Green tourmalir
gems, magnetic and iron ore, cha
copyrite, malachlte, pyrrhotite and !;
crystal form Of nickel have beci
found there.
Other minerals to be had on tn
island are Zincite, used In the manu
facture of perikon detector, roeblingitc
agate, amuzon-stono, amber, amethyst
chrysoberyl, fire opal, garnet, periste'
lite, prehnite, rock crystal, rose quartz
smoky quartz, precious serpentine
tourmaline and willemite, silver, lead
zinc, copper, iron, teldsnar, molybde
nite-which Is used in the molybdenitt
Electromagnetic, asbestos, mica, beryl
torbenite and uraninite.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
FREE IN CRITICISM
Marginal Notes Upon Books Are
Sometimes Severe.
Readers Estimates of the Works In a
Circulating Library Apt to Be
Irritating to Author, If
= ' He Saw Them.

Not only is the battered condition OF
certain works of fiction in circulating
libraries a sure proof Of their popular
ity, but one may even gather details
from the marginal notes made by
feminine readers. 1t is not sufficient
for the commemorative pencil TO under
score admired passages, observes a
writer in the New Orleans Times-Pica-
yune; adjectives Of praise also are
freely if not always Discriminatory
| bestowed.
On the closing page Of some favortte
novel may often be read: "Fine!'
splendid 'Lovely!" or-highest
commentator Of all-"Grand! One
notemaker undertook the large order,
81 would read every single word size
writes" and another ayowed, with
more justice than she knew, You
don't often find book like this"
On the other hand, these unprofes-
sional critics caa DC terribly severe. 4
novel which takes them out Of thaiI
depth is denounced as "a great biz
bore" or, with ruGe terseness, "Rot i
or even, In one case CT evident e:1as-
peration, "You think you know it all
A vigorous commentator on one OF
Mary Cholmondeley's novels did not
wait for the last, but on the. first page
warned away possible readers with
the word, "Punk," and three exclama-
ton points. The sprawling, uniformed
hand pursued the author with inVat-
crate scorn throughout the book, Eiani-
Testing that strange sense If super!-
ority which frequently chGracteIizes
| ignorance.
A verse Of French poetry evoked
the impatient query, "Why not write
Greek7" while above another was
scrubbed, SAW, piffle! We are not ali
French, you know" Observe that nc
intellectual curiosity was kindied il
| that thick brain to know what the
French words meant, nor any realiza-
ton awakened that we enrich our
selves by knowledge Of another Ian
guage.
The authors humorous touches were
clearly taken as serious by this out
ragged reader who, after one passage,
wrote mockingly, SHY hero!" When 4
masculine character says something
"hoarsely" 1t is asked with lifting sar-
| casm, "Did he have cold?"
The hero conducts the heroine
through q dark room, knocking her
carefully against pieces of furniture"
as usually happens when one person
tries to pilot another through obscure
ty, but this merciless critic, demands,
| "WaSn't he chivalrous?
Of q tastelessly arranged room the
author said, "The furniture vas not OF
| the kind that expresses only one IDEA,
and that bad one,"s which calls forth
| the comment. Like this book" The
sun is not permitted to shine brave
ly" without the jeer, "The sun ought
| to have a medal"
Finally the cup of the authors III
| EQUITIES, so far as the captious reader
is concerned, quite overtlOws, and on
the last page we find the verdict, This
| book is the buggieSt ever"
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
Animals and Proverbs.

1t is singular at first sight how large
" animals are referred to In proverbs,
but since proverbs are built on mems
lives and their observations, 1t Is real
iy not so odd.
The docile sheep reminds one Of ODE
dent children or tractable servants
the strutting peacocks, with their large
and beautiful tails, of gaudily dressed
women; the rock-climbing goats, of
bold adventures; the cunning foxes,
of unprincipled and shrewd tradesmen
the chirping crickets, Of care-free mer-
rymakers, and the slippery eel, Of unre-
liable employers.
This readiness to see resemblances
everywhere shows itself In proverbial
SMILES and comparisons-the man with
sluggish mind is "as stupid as an
aux" a cheerful companion Is "as
happy as a clam" the headstrong
youth "as wild as buck" the diligent
workman is "as busy as bee;" the
courageous soldier is "as brave as a
lion;" the neighbor who is lean and
tall of stature is "as gaunt as a grey.
hound"
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
The Naive Indexer.

The librarian who indexcd Wilde'S
Importance Of Being Earnest" as the
ology must have been kin to the libra
rian of a public library in Il certain
Cornish town who indeXed BOrrow's
''Bible in Spain" under the same head
ing. But he excellcd himself when he
included in his catalogue Besant's
Golden Butterfly" as entomology, and
a book on American drinks as educa-
tional. However, librarians are not
the only people who increase the hui
NOR of nations by their indexing.
Even the index of the Encyclopedia
Britannica used to read: Art, Art
Squares, Art Teaching, "Art Thou
Weary ?"-Loadon Dailx Chronicle.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
Prayinn and Doinu,

Lord lmerston-"Pam" as he was
efsectionately termed by his friends
was one Of the shrewdest statesmen
that ever lived. When petitioned by
the Scotch clergy to appoint day for
fasting and prayer, so that a threat
ened epidemic Of cholera might be
averteG, he replied:
"Clean yolr streets, keep your homes
clean, promote cleanliness and health
among the poor, see that they are
plentifully supplied with good food
and clothing, and employ right SAM.
tary measures generally, and you will
have no occasion TO fast and pray, nor
viii the Lord hear your prayer while
these his preventors remain unheeded."
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
STIRRED BY GREAT PARADE
Many Will Think That the Little Man
Was Trifle Unjust to His
Own Importance.

The swelling roar Of cheers outside
made the Little Man drop a paper
weight on his ledger leaves and bolt
to the nearest window, says Golfers
Weekly. Down the street came the
guard of honor, mounted police pre-
ceding some sunburnt regulars from
our Mexican border, and behind them
swung half company of real French
pOius, the sort that turned back the
Boche from Verdun and the Chemip
des Danes. Short, quick stepping.
steel built men Jf France they were,
with keen, dark faces under the lop-
ping tam O. shanter headgear of the
Corps Alpin, rolling along with their
Noah's ark packs and bayonets SET
for action. The cheering actually
seemed to shove the buildings back
from the street. Long ago the Forum
must have welcomed thus the legion.
aries who had saved Roman clviliza
ton from the barbarian in those bit
ter struggles through Gaul and Dacia.
Every mans sleeves showed the stripes
that meant wounds, and his breast the
decorations that meant valor.
'They did make one feel so old and
useless and out of it," as the Little
HAN told his wife next morning. Sc
he ground out the days work with his
teeth set hard, bought some more
thrift stamps, took the first car for
home, spent the rest Of the daylight
hours in caring for his beans, pota-
toes and cabbage, got through war
fare dinner and put in the evening
selling Mr.. -McAdoo's pet bonds t.
some boss metal workers whom ht
had met in the lodge last winter. Get
ting home at 1880 p. NJ, he routed
cut that 1917 model straw hat, cleaned
1t up for another campaign, and som'
time later fell into bed as If it haG
been dugout.
'If this gets much worse I'll lear
to knit" was his last waking thought
"and if they want to keep me out o.
this war they'll have to put bolts o!
It." After all, things seen are mightie:
than things hard, and the Little Maj
and Tennyson are both right.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
SEE DEER AS FOOD SUPPLY
Se!lef That Animals Can Be Domesr
ticated and Raised Like the
Ordinary Live Stock.

There has been advocated the
scheme Of raising deer as a source of
meat supply in this country. 1t is be-
.eyed that deer farming could be
made as profitable as any other live
stock industry.
1t has been pointed out that the Vir.
ginia deer and the Rocky mountain elk
are best suited for this purpose. Elk
have been acclimatized in many parts
Of the world and everywhere they
show the same vigor and hardness.
They adapt themselves to almost any
environment and their increase under
domestication is equal to that of ordi-
nary cattle.
1t Is contended that there are large
areas OF rough land in the United
States, like the Ozarks and the Allie
ghany regions, where elk could be
Drofitably raised. The Virginia deer
is adaptable to almost all parts Of this
country and thrives on land unsuited
to horses.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
The Confessional Daily.

The old Congressional Globe was
merged and name changed in 1873 tt
the Congressional Record, which is is
sued daily during the sessions Of con
gress. Each member Of both houses
Of congress is supplied with certain
number of the daily issues, and it is
also furnished TO subscribers for S.
during the long session of congress and
81 during the short session. The SUI.
pcrintendent Of documents, United
States government printing office.
Washington, is authorized to sell pub,
lie documents at cost, and on applica.
ton that official will furnish, free of
charge, price lists showing, under top
ical headings, the publications avail.
able for sale.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
COILS FAR BACK IN HISTORY
French City of Mohtdidier Was of I'M
portance in First Millennium OF
the Christian Era.

The National Geographic society Is
sues the following war geography Dui'
letin on Montdidier, few miles east
of Amiens:
"This little town, whose history
dates back to the first millennium OF
the Christian era, had a population
of less than 5000 at the beginning Oh
the war. but 1t was rich in historic
associations. It Is said to have de-
rived its name from the fact that
Didier or Desiderius, the last OF the
Lombard kings, was imprisoned mere
in TIA by Charlemagne. 1t VIII De re-
membered that Charlemagne, having
nut aside his first wife, DeslderluS
daughter, took up the quarrel OF Pope
Adrian l with the Lombard monarch
and after marching an army across
the Alps, captured the erstWhile Ia
ther-in-law's capital city, Ilcinuln'
and took the vanquished ruler PACK
to France, where he died in captivity.
"AIontdidier is attractively situated
m an eminence on the banks OF the
river Don. It is the capital OF an ar
reimbursement in the department CT
the Somme, and is G2 miles north OF
Paris by rail. and % miles southeast
of Amiens. It's chief industries be-
fore the war were tanneries ana the
manufacture of zinc-white.
"When the tides of war finally re
cede it Is probable that the three bullo'
ings in which the citizens OF MONT
didier took the greatest pride VIII Dc
crumbling ruins. These are the churcn
of ST. Pierre, which was built Defore
Columbus set sail on his voyage OF
- discovery, and which contains tomf
and font of the eleventh century; the
church Of St Sepulchre, a tltteentf
century edifice, and the Palais dc Jus
tice, formerly the city castle. In the
last named building visitors before the
war were shown six unusually HAND
some Brussels tapestries of the seV
enteenth century. These were I'M
doubtedly removed before the Ger
mans entered the city.
"Montdidicr's most famous son was
Z Parmentier, the scientist who gave
! impetus to the culture Of the potato
in France 4 statue erected here com
memorates his gift to the nation.
':For a number of years this little
city was governed by its own lords
then passed under the dominion of tht
counts of Creepy and Valois. In the
twelfth century it became q posses
sion of the French crown and received
a charter of liberties. In 1886 1t of
fered a gallant and successful resist
ance to the Spanish inv"ders."
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
They DON'T Have to See the Flag.

When one is as patriotic and re-
spectful to the flag as Great Lakes
bluejacket is the colors can be heard
even when not seen.
Facing the station on the sidewalk
In front of her home In North Chicago
woman noticed several jackics alb
ruptly stop in their walk, come to at
tentlon and salute, standing thus for {.
couple of minutes. On several occa
sions she noticed this and finally her
curiosity made her ask the reasoi.
thereof.
"Colors," replied sailor.
"But where do you see the flag?
asked the lady.
II can't see it," was the reply, "but
I hear the sound Of bugle and drums
in ITO the Colors,' and I know this is
the time of day."-Chicago News.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
Good General Rule.

A New York magistrate, warning
chauffeurs to avoid accident told them
not to confuse q small child in the
roadway by loud blasts Of the horn
but to slow down and give the child
a chance to get out Of the way
Fewer accidents would happen to Pc
destrians of any age were other meth
DDS of prevention used by motorists
save the single one of blowing horn
and leaving the rest to chance or prov.
idence.-Baltimore American.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
LIFE FIFTY CENTURIES AGO
Discoveries Show There Were Many
Points OF Resemblance to That
of the Present Day.

Translation of prehistoric tablets In
the University of Pennsylvania mu-
scum at Philadelphia has revealed that
women mayors were regularly consti-
tuted public officials in Asia Minor
5000 years ago. That prototypes of
newspaper men at that remote time,
true to more modern traditions Of the
profession, occasionally became in
volved in litigations Of the present day
'1ibel suit character, but generally
were released ION BALI is also indi-
Gated in the newly deciphered writ
ings. ." :,
The TRANSACTIONS which concern
once-powerful, well-organized govern
ment and people Of which nearly all
trace has been lost through long for
gotten centuries have just been com
pleted by DR.. A. B. Sayce Of Oxford
university, famous oriental scholar. He
copied the tablets two years ago and
took the copies to Egypt, where he
was finally able to master their time
shrouded messages.
The tablets were the work Of Hit
tites Of Cappadocians, whose national
boundaries 80 centuries ago extended
| from the Mediterranean to the Black
sea and from the headquarters Of the
Euphrates into what is now Persia.
Each province was subdivided into
cities, and these were supervised by a
mayor and a prefectress, whose pow
ers, the tablets indicate, were co-ordi'
| mated. In one instance 1t appeared the
woman mayor had an official status In.
dependent of the male head of the
municipal" government.
An insight into many other interest
ing and hitherto unknown phases OF
life in the ancient kingdoms whose
lands comprised the present-day Meso-
potamian battle grounds are afforded
by Doctor Sayce's discoveries.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
Clemenceau's Compromise.

Here is q bon-mot Of Clemencear
which is making the rounds of Paris
The usual number Of rifles used in 8
French firing party at the death of G
traitor Is twelve. Many persons wenl
to Clemcnceau trying to influence hin
not to impose the death penalty or
Bolo. Anyway, he was only half q
traitor" said one influential man tc
the Tiger. ."That being so, it is easily
arranged" said Clemenceau. awe will
give him only six rifles"
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
Improves Revolver.

By providing ti:e ordinary revolver
with circular cartridge frame or clip
Joseph Fl. Wcssoa of Springfield
Mass, has given the older weapon al:
the convenient features of the newer
automatic weapon that Is, the rapidly
of fire and quick reload. His clip,
holding five or six cartridges in position,
serves to push them into place in the
revolver barrel st one operation, In
stead of individual loading, as is usu-
ally the case.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
Safety In National Resources.

The Transvaal mines, in South AT
RIGA, are producing about $190000,00G
In gold each year. The British gov.
eminent controls this supply and gets
1t for use in its business. This helps
as security for government notes is
sued at home and as bracers of Brit.
ish credit in foreign countries. No
country makes mistake in public pol.
Icy when it adds to It's own natural re-
sources. The gold, the mineral ores.
the oils, all count for red blood in the
national system when day Of trouble
arrives Hartford Courant.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
Spinach Puff.

With all the other things which the
reserve man power Of the nation has to
worry about at this very peak and
crisis, why should the household editor
devise an alleged comestible known as
spinach puff and spread the plans and
specifications just where the noble
womankind of the nation will be sure
to see them and pounce eagerly upon
them?-Ohio State Journal
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
Labor-Savinq Harvester.

One thousand improved wheat-har-
vcsting machines, known as combines,
will be used in Washington state and
other states Of the Northwest this
year, according to farm-help special
Its of the United STAGES department of
agriculture, and will effect a great saw
ing in labor. These machines, which
cut the heads from wheat and thrash
the grain as they travel across the
field, can be operated by two persons,
and each machine will harvest from
$50 to 400 acres of wheat during a
season. They are marked labor savers
over the old type combine, which re-
uuired about 20 men.
Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-08-23
Where He Stopped.

"AIr. Bligglns speaks four or five
languages" remarked Miss Cayenne.
valuable accomplishment"
SIT would be if he could think up
something worth saying in any one OF
them"
Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-15
FOR FAMILIES OF :
MEN IN SERVICE
Monthly Get-Together Meeting
Next Wednesday After
noon in the Civic Club

A special feature of the monthly
get-together meeting for the moth
ers, wives, sisters and daughters of
the men in all branches of the. Unit
ed States service next Wednesday
afternoon, February 20, in the Civic
Club. will be a showing of several
films of motion pictures from the
State Museum. Some delightful mu-
sical numbers will be given and tea
will be served.
These meetings are under the di-
rection of the Home Service De-
partment of the local Red Cross,
with Mrs. William i. Laubenstein,
general chairman, the committee in
cluding: Mrs. Charles e. Ryder,
Mrs. Martin G.. Brumbaugh, Mrs.
William Pearson, Mrs. Arthur A.
Herr, Mrs. Walter p. Mcguire, Miss
Cora Lee Snyder. Miss Mary Pear
son and Mrs. George b. Kunkel.
All relatives of men in any branch
of the United States service are COR
daily invited to be present, from
any of the Red Cross auXiliaries
throughout the vicinity. There are
no dues, and 1t is hoped that many
who have not already enjoyed these
most informal and delightful events
will endeavor to be present next
Wednesday at o'clock.