davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1919-05-04
"0S aHSs s s s T"0T0eEsD

cross them with a sled became diff
ficult matter. The season seemed tc
be full month earlier on the main
land tnan on Victoria Island.
We kept our course for Point Tin
ney. guided still by our conspicuous
mountain, for we were fortunate
enough to have clear weather all tho
way. We were still twelve or fifteen
miles off the mainland shore and just
passing the mouth OF the Crocker
River when In one of our short hats
We heard a noise as Of the rustling OF
wind among leaves or as the roar OF
waterfall made faint through dis
tance. ! took the noise to be made
by the rushing waters OF Croker
River. but Natkusiak was Of another
opinion.
Eskimo Becomes Timid.
He had been worried from the start
about the crossing. for. like all EslSi-
mo known to me, he was excessively
timid in the matter OF venturing far
offshore on the sea ice. He now de-
clared that II was clear that the ice
and what we heard was the noise OF
the waves breaking against the edge
OF the ice foe on which we were float
Ing off to sea. I did not much believe
this, but acting Gas I always mean to
do) on the principle that 1t is better
to be safe than sorry, and at the
strong insistance OF Natkusiak I head
ed straight Tor shore so as to find gu
the worst at once. The main object
OF the crossing had been accomplished
that of showing that Clerk Island
was not where 1t Is located on the
charts-but had we continued our
course for Point Tlnney we should
have saved day OF extra travel.
1t turned out that those last twelve
miles or so before reaching shore
were a very difficult stretch to nego-
tiate. Tho nearer we got to land the
more water there was on the ice and
the deeper were the channels through
which II was running toward the tide
cracks by which II Joined the water of
the sea. Many OF these channels were
eighteen inches or even two feet in
depth. and hero and there actua
holes had appeared in the ice so that
we had TO be careful to SEQ that nell
Their ourselves nor our sled and dogs
went through TO the bottom.
Perhaps three miles from shore we
were stopped by lead about twenty
feet wide. It was clear now that Nat
kusiak had been mistaken. and that
the noise we heard was really the
noise OF Crocker River. It is probable
that had we kept our course for Point
Tinney we should not have been con-
The sun., 1919-05-04

water bottle and dashed them to the
frame OF our sled. which we had pre-
viously nailed.
With a shovel for paddle we
pushed the sledge into the water and
I got aboard It to paddle across As
measure of precautIon we took care
before launching the sled into the
water to fasten a rope TO 1t for Nat
kusial5 to hold. so that in case the
buoyancy proved insufficient he would
at least be ab.e to haul me back to tho
ice again.
The floating power OF the sledse
fitted with the tin cans proved to be
just so much that 1t settled till the
water was UP TO my waist as sat on
the sled. Padding 1t was slow work,
ard much to the surprise of both OF US
1t kept settling gradually until I was
nearly UP TO my arms in the water,
and II became evident that our con-
trivance was going to sink.
This seemed to mo to controvert the
laws OF nature, but nevertheless 7 told
Natkuslah to pull tho sled back
again. When we got tho sled up on
the Ice. II turned out that the alcohol
can had half filed with water. Two
years before We had cached II with its
contents OF alcohol near the tip Of
Cape Perry. and on our return few
months after leaving 1t We found Il
empty and lying on its side. We had
taken 1t for granted that a polar hear
had upset It and that the alcohol had
leaked through the screw top. and all
though since then NO had used 1t for
year as blubber receptacle. we had
never noticed the fact that there was
In tho bottom of it a round hole n quar-
ter OF an inch in diameter through
which the water had of course rushed
In to MI the can as soon as We had
pushed the sledge raft into the water.
We emptied the can. blocked up the
hole, launched the sledge again. and
this time l was able 10 paddle it all the
way across the lead without getting any
deeper than the waist into tho water.
When ! was once across, Il was a SIM
plo matter by tho use Of a rope to pun
tho sleGRe backwards and forwards
across tho lead. and IN that way to
ferry all our gear safely over in a
dozen or 50 loads OF nifty pounds each.
Next To the last came the dogs, for H.
was freezing rather hard. and we did
rot care to mako the poor animals
swim Last OF all Natkusiak himself
was hauled over. Half ALI hour lator
We were safely ashore on the mainland
OF the continent of North America and
had built n roaring drittwood fire. Fot
the time being our troubles were over.
'CoPyrght, 1912. by Vilhjalnur stct-
ansson).
The sun., 1919-05-04
WeStchester's Dickensesque Refuge Plan

= uoULD Dickenss six Poor Tray
ellers" cross the ocean in about
~ a year. hoodwink the immigra-
ton officials and journey over the Bos-
ton post road to Port Chester they
would find a haven equal TO that
which they left in tho quaint English
city Of Rochester. Food, entertain
ment and a lodging for the night will
be theirs, free of charge. FREQ OF care
and free of that worst of bugaboos of
INDECENT wanderers In fact and fiction
work. As an Offset 10 this state of
bliss they will find that It lasts for one
night only. After breakfast the way
farers must be up and packing. just
as they did in the English refuge.
1t was Richard Watts, Esq, who by
his will of August 90, 1879. founded the
British charity for poor travellers. II
was James S. Merritt. eX-Sherin Of
Westchester. who provided "a FREQ
lodging house for INDECENT transients'
in his will of April 7, 1919.
The estimable Watts specified in his
bequest that travellers "who not being
rogues or proctors may receive gratis
for one night lodging. entertainment
and fourpence each" No such restric-
ton is placed on the legacy left by
Mr.. Merritt. BY power OF his office he
had learned that no rogue within his
district would be in need OF assistance,
and as for proctors. well, as the dc
tlouary gives half dozen definitions
-.,,4A g. . I-S,.
The sun., 1919-05-04

mated the stratum NJ ten feet, I
should feel sure It was more than ten
feet. and anything from fifteen to for
~ feet in all probability. That Is
"conservatism"-to 20 sure you al
ways underestimate everything.
In crossing Dolphin and Union
Straits we had one OF the many strik-
Ing examples OF this that have come
to our notice. Richardson estimates
the height of the Melville Mountains
on the mainland at about five hundred
feet. We could see them from Vic
toria Island TO the vicinity OF Point
Dease Thompson. though We stood on
the sea ice. In other words, the high
from $500 to 1000 feet high.
During our stay at Cape Kendall
We found that 1t was not a cape at all
but an island. This surprised me not
so very greatly. for while the Ad-
miralty charts OF this region arc good
enough to sail by, one Is accustomed
to finding them unreliable in the de-
tails OF the coast. Indeed they cannot
we'll be anything else, for most of
them are made from ships OF sreat
draught standing a long way offshore
From the masthead OF such ship
even in clear weather there Is much
difficulty in seeing the true character
of the coast line. and bad weather OF
course makes this impossible.
DR.. RAGS Excellent Work.
The interesting thing about our dis
covery that Cape Kendall" Is an
island is not that We discovered It,
but the fact that DIR. John Rae had
discovered Il long before, as I have
since learned from consulting his con-
tributlon TO Vol. 90 OF the Pro-
ceedings of the Royal Geographical
Society. In his excellent Journey in
1851 he had found here an island
which he had named Bell Island. and
ne had located 1t correctly off the
mouth Of bay which in reality ex-
lists exactly as he portrays It on his
sketch map.
Collinson, when he sailed past this
point year or two later, made OBJ
servat!on to the effect that, true
enough, at a distance, this looks like
an island, but on close approach he
found 1t to be part of the mainland
and he therefore struck out the name
OF Bell Island and called 1t Cape
Kendall" and his correction" was
adopted by the makers Of the Ad-
miralty chart.
We camped at the spot for several
days and hunted seals all around the
island and found 1t to be shaped as
DR.. Rae indicates in his chart, to be
located with reference to tho bay ex-
actly as he locates It. and to be sep
The sun., 1919-05-04

keen lookout for these beacons ana
would get any information We had left
in them
We hud now made IN our minds
not TO go to Banks Island because OF
learning that 1t was unlnhabited in
summer, and as Bell Island ("Cape
KendallO was ono OF the proposed
beacon sites. we built on its south
west corner a tall cairn OF stones and
left there a short account of our do
ings and plans. enclosed in one OF our
alright matted milk tins. We had
long ago consumed the last OF the
matted milk, but We still kept a few
of the cans with us, for they were
excellently made and ideal receptacles
for matches or anything else that
must not be dampened or affected by
tho weather. OF course. this can
would have been plumber TO the Eslli-
mo had they found II, but we knew
that none OF them were duo to visit
Cape Kendall" until the spring Of
tho following year. and we felt sure
the Teddy Bear would come along
before then. as she eventually did.
I learned later from DR.. Anderson
more than two months after we built
the cairn, that they sighted 1t with
their glasses from the schooner eight
or ten miles out at sea and came in
to pick up the message. Incidentally
they verified in summer what I had
seen clearly enough In winter. that
the place is really an island and not
n cape.
Startling Climatic Change.
Few things In my travelling ex-
periopce have been SO startling as the
change in climate apparent on our
southwestUard journey of sixty miles
The morning of our day OF leaving
Bell Island was the first thaw OF the
year at that place. The second day
out from there, thirty or so miles to
the southwest, II became evident that
warm spring weather had been in
force for a considerable time, for the
snow was nearly gone of the ice. A
few Of the deeper snowdrifts only re-
manned and water channels furrowed
tho surface everywhere.
On the third day this became still
moro apparent, and on the fourth
when we approached the mainland
shore, the ice was in a condition that
could be produced only by three weeks
or n month OF thaws. The tide cracks
which at this season OF the year
should in tho neighborhod OF Victoria
island he no more than a foot or eigh-
teen inches in width had near tho
mainland less than sixty miles south
been eaten by running water to
width OF four or five feet, so that &c
The sun., 1919-05-04
Thaw Catches Party and Necessltates
Conversion of Sledge Into Boat to
Garry Explorers Over Danger
ously Wide Lead in Ice

-
fronted at landing with go wide lead
as this was, for the fresh water
brought down from inland by Crocker
River had evidently contributed much
to the decay OF the ice in tho irimedi-
ate vicinity. In fact the mud brought
down by tho river was scattered all
over the ice. and this had much ac-
tolerated the thawing. The point at
which we were trying TO land was
four or five miles vest of the mouth
OF Crocher River.
A twenty foot lead is, OF course, far
too wide to cross in the ordinary way.
but before devislng extraordinary
means we secuted n mile or so cast
and west along the lead 10 see If there
wore no narrow places, or else loose
Ice cakes. one OF which we could use
for a raft in crossing. There was no
sign of either. To the eastward the
lead naturally got wider and wider
toward the mouth OF the river; TO the
westward It maintained its width, and
It's course ran through such rough
pressure ice that 20 follow It with a
sled was out Of tho question.
The lead was fun Of seals. We first
thought Of shooting two or three Of
them, skinnlrg them. Initiating the
skins and using them for floats to
carry the sled across tho lead--a thing
which Eskimo often do (such an In
Hated sealskin has the buoyancy Of
about 400 pounds. We had, however.
been wading knee deep through water
for ten or twelve hours and were cold.
tired and sleepy. and impatient Of any
delay such as would have been caused
" the killing end SHINING of several
seals. Besides the wind was beginning
to blow from offshore and there rs no
means OF telling that delay would not
be disastrous. At this season of tho
year a strong land wind may drive all
the ice away from shore and break it
UP into small cakes-just what Natku-
siak had supposed was happening
when we first heard the noise of
Croker River.
An ImproNiscd Raft.
We had with us a ten gallon gal
vanized iron screw topped tank, which
had originally contained alcohol FOR
tho preservation Of geological spcci-
mems, but which we had for year
used in our sledge travel as a rocopta-
Gle for blubber for our dogs and lamps.
We had also a five gallon kerosene tin
and brass water bottle which We
had used for carrying drinking water.
What kerosene there was left in the
tin We emptied into tcapo. and
Tin dish VIC had with VS.: then VIC
closed tightly the alcohol tin and the
Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-07-26
EDITO

bling. quick wealth without commen-
surate Iabor-these do not build de-
pendable prosperity.
Through building up agriculture and
stock raising, encouraging industry,
promoting immigration, and planning
intelligendy for years ahead, Vernon
can make place Of which she may be
proud. She cannot do it by robbing
herself Of her timbered resource, or by
gambling on what may be under the
ground. The agricultural method is
slower. but it is like the oak-it is a
fixture when it does attain its growth.
1t lasts. Mushrooms make a greater
showing in shorter time, but there
nothing to show where the mush-
room grew a month after it comes
through the soil.
Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-07-26
PERMANENT PROSPERITY

What constitutes genuine prosperity
IS something which is littIS understood.
A timbered country enjoys tram
sient prosperity. Il Is during the time
when its one crop is being cut There
after il IS a desoIate wilderness. Il is
a harvest field after the harvest. With
no other crop planted to take its plaNe.
An oil country is much the samg,
its period Of prosperity IS fleeing.
This IS tue Of almost any mineral.
The lasting sort Of prosperity is the
kind that IS built solidly on labor. la
Dor applied e the soil. labor applied
to manufacture. bring prosperity which
Is permanent. L IS not based on spoil-
iainon Of natural resources. Il is con-
slFuctive. rather than destructive.
If Vernon Parish IS to win a lace
Of lasting security, she must begin
making plans. Her limbeged wealth
Is going. Deserted towns and dreary
wastes Of siumps q not produce much
weaIlh. Nor must shs place TOO much
hope 81 81 wealth. This Is a specula-
tors game e Is shifting. changing.
Us snd down. unstable Constantly
g@ ee
Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-07-26
Screen Fancy a Typical


ANGS@toAeBs1 OgDl.4O
When Graustark was closed to the
tourist travel by the war, it seemed that
George Barr McCutcheon would have
to suspend his literary efforts until the
coming of peace; but Mr.. McCutcheon
was not to be side-tracked in any such
manner. He solved the problem by
bringing his princes and princesses to
America. In Green Fancy. his lat
est story, Mr.. McCutcheon weaves a
thrilling tale about an international
conspiracy that is Matched right in
staid New England. A wealthy New
York clubman becomes involved in the
plot. He matches wits with the con-
spiritors, outWits the cleverest crook Of
two continents, rescues a countess in
distress. RECEIVERS the crown Jewels Of
a royal house in Europe, and wins
charming bride. Anyone who has read
McCutcheon's stories knows what he
would do with a plot of that kind.
The Vernon Parish Democrat has
purchased the exclusive publication
rights to Cen Fancy" in this teri
tory and it wnl appear in this paper as,
a serial. beginning in an early issue.
Watch for the opening instalIment, as
you will not want to miss line Of this
unusual story.
Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-07-26

mother was able to see smile on his
face when she babe him gOodby at
the opening of the morning session.
But what Iabors we had taken upon
our hands with her helpless, pitiful
pet! How much harder his little bat
tie through life had been made and
how much unhappiness he suffered!
Many a mother thinks the age be-
tween 3 and 4 much coo early to lay
the foundations of self-reliance in her
children. She says, my child is too
young to learn yet. When he goes to
school he will be taught to do every
thing and that will be time enough.
And SO she waits upon him day and
night, amuses him when he appears
lonesome, or silent, provides for his
every want, and seldom asks him for
a response of any kind. In fact, she
absorbs his whole personality, impress
ing her own where his should have a
chance to demonstrate itself.
FroeBel said: "Qur children must
learn to do by doing" Then what hap
piness, individuality, and calm, deIib-
crate department, even at the early age
Of four, they may possess. and what
self-controled, law-abiding citizens
they may become if only mothers will
try day by day to develop their self.
relianceI
How shall this be donep Just teach
your child to dress himself, to wash
his hands and face, to lace his shoes
to comb his hair, to button his coat
to use his spoon. knife, and fork
Commend his initial tugs and struggle.
and sooner or later those struggles vii
be converted into finished actions
And hands so trained at home will lat
er in school life grasp scissors more
firmly and handle crayon and pencil
with a much finer precision.
Fill the child's day with little respOn
sibilities: the care Of garden. Of cal
or dog, care Of toys, and care and pro
per place for clothes. Help him to an
ticipate your wants, and give him III,
joy of waiting upon you. Have hin
run little errands for your scissors
your needles. your thread. Let hin
care for baby brother or sister once IL
a while. There will be lots Of time be
sides for play, and greater valu,
placed upon play time. Such dutie
to a child are not burdens. but rea
delight. because they develop in hin
sense of independence and helpful
ness.
Help to reach all the parents Of III,
country by cutting this out and pass
ing it on to friend.
Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-07-26
MERCHANT PRINCE OPPOSES
MILITARY TRAINING
IN HIGH SCHOOL

From Philadelphia Public Ledger,
I'VE should be in no hurry to take
up military training" said John Wan
amaker lat the meeting of the Board
of Education, of which he is mem
Der. to consider the establishment OF
military training in the Philadelphia
high schoolsl. THE Board Of Educa-
ton is in debt. | cant understand
why a committee Of seven men can
come before this board and try to
force us to approve of military train
ing without a clear knowledge Of just
what military training is.
I'm my own store have had mil
itary organization for twenty-seven
years. ! have paid out so much mon
ey to maintain this system that | hes
itate to tell you. The great expense
would dishearten you in your efforts
to have military training. approve
Of military drill for wage earners, but
! do not approve of course in miIit-
airy training in the public schools OF
this old Quaker city.
Il feel that Mr.. Rowen's infoma-
ton has not been correct, believe
that the majority of the people are
not in favor Of military training. The
best educators in the country have
tried military training, have found that
it failed and they have abandoned it
Such a plan would take the minds. Of
the students off their work. 1t viii
make them crave the applause of silly
crowds. Besides that. it does not serve
its purpose of making soldiers.
feel that it is a great mistake for the
city to 90 into it.
let us be united. This question
Of opposing military training does mo-
affect the question Of mans patriot
ism or loyalty. The simple fact tha
appeals 70 me is that the board IS nov
doing things only half way. and be
sides, we need the money badly.
You can't go plunging -pIantin,
things in the schools because they ar,
novelties and appeal to the fancy
The administration Of the schools i
not a matter Of sentimentality.
We are not giving a proper return
to the taxpayers. There will be
great popular revolt against our kin,
Of management if we distract the at
tention Of the pupils with the lure 0
outside interests such as miIitar
training.
Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-07-26
GRADE DAIRY VS..
FLOODED DAIRY STOCK

sAN9OSAAD DAAAANA ~ = WIN
There are very few of what can be
called good grades of dairy cattle in
Louisiana. Most of the so-called range
cows used for dairy cattle in most
cases are scrub cows and will hardly
ever sgive more than one gallon of
milk for more than SIX months in the
year, and if pastured on the common
louisiana pasture without some grain
feed of some kind, will not produce
one gallon of milk for six months.
AS dairy cattle, the range COW has
no standing whatever, and would re-
ceive no consideration whatever by an
up-to-date dairy man.
Here and there throughout the state
you will find few fairly good range
cows, but in almost every case they are
daughters Of registered dairy males.
and are held at prices far beyond that
paid for the common range scrub COW.
Indeed. it is very hard to buy a good
milk COW in range cows. They are not
to be had.
A COW that will give only one UOn
of milk is a very costly animal, for the
reason that the same feed given to a
good dairy cow will give from three
to four times the results. An old say
ing accepted among all good dairy and
cattlemen is, 1t takes just as much
feed to keep up range COW or scrub
as it does to keep up good COW, and
you get from three to four times bet
ter results. Why not feed good cowp
You get so much better results for the
same price.
In our own experience here .on the
farm, we have three cows Of the very
best to be had in the neighborhood of
so-called RANGE dairy cows. They
are now almost six months in milk;
and while they gave about two gallons
Of milk each COW per day, they are
down to three-quarters of gallon each
per day and some days below that.
. And they are positively the very best
that we could buy for any money. and
the same thing applies to all the range
dairy stock in. the parish with only one
or two exceptions, and those exceptions
were not for sale at any price.
ANY one advocating range COWS for
a dairy herd is certainly very ignorant
of the dairy business and such proceed
: ings could bring failure. and failure Of
the worst kind.
Even at prices asked today for So
called range milk cows. it is far cheap
r er to buy can milk at the stores. You
t at least get what you pay for. where
: as in range cows you would not.
A good hog raiser would hardly buy
up raiser back hog stock to build up
: good herd of hogs. and the common
Z range COW is a scrub pure and simple
and you can get no more out Of hel
than you would raiser back hog
. Any Agricultural University in the Tn
e tied States will verify this Statement
8 from start to finish.
The easiest. safest. and cheapes
way to build up dairy herd is t
raise your own herd from bIoOdeC
stock that you know Is good and from
reliable sources. then you absolutely
make no mistake. This gives you two
absolutely two. sources Of income lha
{ are really worth something, that from
{ the dairy products. and that from III,
1 sale Of blooded stock for the building
Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-07-26

When you feel lazy. out Of. sorts,
and yawn good deal in the daytime,
you can charge it to a torpid liver
which has allowed the system 10 get
full Of impurities. EIERBINE cures all
disorders produced by an inactive liver.
Il strengthens that organ. cleanses the
bowels, and puts the system in good
healthy condition. For sale by all
druggists. -Advt