davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
HAD Good POINTS
Hot.Tempered Woman Evidently
Not Altogether Bad.
Surely No Hlgh-PrIeed Lawyer Could
Have Surpassed Pathetic Plea
Of Husband Which Won
Her Her Liberty.

There was negro family living In
Bowling Green, KY. The wife had
notorlously ungovernable temper,
usually taking 1t out on her husband,
who was meek and lowly. On this oc-
casion she struck him with skillet.
inflicting wound so painful and dan
gerous as to necesskate his having to
be taken to the hospital for treat
ment. The neighbors, knowing the
violent temper of the wife, and the
cruel treatment she had inflicted upon
her husband for such a long time,
were so outraged they could endure II
no longer, and procured warrant for
her arrest on the charge Of assault
with q deadly weapon.
The husband sat through the trial.
giving rapt attention to its every de-
tail. The case was handed over to
the jury and after very brief delibera-
ton it brought in verdict of guilty.
The old darkey husband rose and
said:
"Marse Jedge, / don't reckon moth
ing q ole niger could say would make
much diffunce, but / would lax to say
a word before you send the old oman
to the penltenshy. She's always been
q good mother to the chillun. all the
neighbors will tell you that. She
washes and scrubs and sews and
mends for 'em, and keeps 'en clean
and nice, an when they's sick she sits
up with 'em at night. And, Marse
Jedge, I jest want to ak you If you
won't let her 60 by the house and see
the chillun befo' you send her to the
penitenshy. They's at home all alone
right now, cryin' they po little hearts
out and 1t would do 'em good, and the
ole oman, too, If she could just 60
and kiss 'em good-by' befo' she was
put in the penitenshy."
BY this time the judge and the spec
tators were in tears and the judge
said :: Gentlemen of the jury, l
haven't passed sentence yet and II
you want few minutes to further
consider this case, / will be glad to
grant it." The jury retired and In
few minutes returned with q verdict
Of mot guilty"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
Growing Sugar Cane Under Paper.

A new and very odd method Of
growing sugar cane Is proving highly
successful In the Hawaiian islands
When the cane Is beginning to sprout,
yard-wide strips are laid lengthwise
over the rows Of little plants and held
In place with cane-field trash. The pa
per Is strong enough to keep down and
smother the starting weeds, but not to
kill the stout and hardy young cane.
In five or six weeks the weed seeds
beneath the paper have all germinat-
ed and been smotiNred to death, but
the cane shoots have either forced
their way through or erected them.
selves sufficiently to make little tent
like elevations. Laborers then pass
along the rows and with long knives
make Sits In the sheets, permitting
the shoots to come through. The lib
Grated shoots at first are blanched
white. but quickly turn green and
lusty. Wedding thereafter Is almost
wholly needless. because there are
very few weeds. There IL an Increase
Of ten tons (about % per cent) in the
yield Of cane per acre. Half the labor
is saved and the production Of actual
sugar per acre Is augmented by more
than a ton. The paper used Is made
out Of "bagasse." which is the residue
Of the cane after the sugary sap has
been soueezed out Of II
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
The Horssshoe Won,

The print of a horseshoe in soft
earth will always have the power to
stir young Missouri soldier, even If
he lives long enough to forget the
sounds of war.
II don't know yet how / went
through shelling on Friday, the 18th,
without getting hit" writes Lieut.. Law.
renee Settles of Fayette, with an artil-
lery company Of the Eighty-ninth divi-
sion.
"The Boches had been putting over
q lot of high explosives. We had been
digging in at night, keeping In shallow
shelters all day and trusting to luck. !
know one thing, however-a little jest
about the superstition Of the old horse
shoe saved my life once on that day.
anyhow.
"My sergeant and l picked out a low
fold in the ground for temporary shell:
ter and were proceeding toward It,
when 1 saw the print Of horseshoe In
a shell hole.
"'Well,' l said, as this Is Friday.
and the 18th, sergeant, let's sit on the
old horseshoe
1--WE crept In and minute later the
low fold we had first started for was
blown to the winds. That was one
time, you can bet, was not ashamed
Of having been superstitious."
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
Lure Of the Land.

For the last 25 years we have been
living In a get-rich-q quick age. Naturally
this movement has centered in the cities,
where men went apparently to find gold
In the streets. Many now are asking, In.
stead of the question, whore can I make
fortune most easily, where can l live
Q life of greater happiness and contentp
In the beginning 1t must be under.
stood that life In the country means
work, but the farmer gets enough of
health, happiness and freedom to pay
him for his labor. In speaking OF coun.
try life we must not confuse present-dsy
country life with that our ancestors
knew. As the city and country have
become more dependent upon each
other, they have been drawn nearer to-
gether. Telephones, automobiles and
rural free delivery. the grange and other
organizations have swept away isolated
rural life. oa
There are many advantages which the
country people have that city dwellers
do not. Health, intimacy with nature
and deep spiritual help are among the
benefits. To quote Goethe, "There is
no more lovely worship Of God than
that for which no image 10 required, but
which springs up In our breast sponta-
neously whom nature speaks to the soul
and the soul speaks to nature face to
face" 4a.2
Then the farm 10 On ideal place for
children, for many of. our national lead
ers have spent their childhood on o
farm. Benjamin Harrison, Daniel Web
ster, Abraham Lincoln, and In more
recent years Luther Burbank and Mar
shall Field show us how farm boys have
excelled In their work.
No man need fear to enter upon agri.
culture q professiop. No profession
in the world offerp greater opportunity
| fos men OF brains and education. The
important place Of Agriculture has be-
come Increasingly evident since the greal
world war.--C. g.. Campbell IN New Eng
land Homestead.
II saft Z. . -. = ia. ~
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
OH, YES, "THEY ALL DO IT"
Characteristic Of Mrs. Hobbs Showed
She Differed In No Way From the
Rest Of Her Sex.

"Does your wife ever"
That was as far as Hobbs got when
his office mate, Nobbs, broke in:
Eyes, she does"
"What do you mean7" !.
Anything. I don't know what par
ticular feminine idiosyncrasy you are
going to ask about. but whatever 1t is.
she does 1t. They all do It." '-
"Well, what I was going to say
every night after supper my wife
wants me to read the news to her. She
says that's the least can do, as she
hasn't time to read anything any more.
Well, that's all right. She gets In her
little sewing or knitting chair and the
children take up their usual positions
on the floor, with their paper dolls and
one thing or another, and take the
easy chair and the paper and start on
one Of the most thrilling stories. Be.
fore I get paragraph read, she sends
the eldest girl out for glass OF wa
ter. Then two or three lines more
and the little one is sent upstairs for
the scissors. Then the children get In
a fuss about the paper dolls and my
wife breaks In as peacemaker and
keeps up barrage Of conversation to
get them Strengthened out, all the time
telling me to 60 right ahead with the
reading. Sometimes, right In the mid
die of the most interesting part Of the
article, she will get up without word
and 60 out to the kitchen to get some
thing she wants or to attend to some
thing she's forgotten and II I quit read
Ing she'll ask me what I'm stopping
for"
"Yep-they all do It," said Nobbs.
"But that isn't what makes me mad,
particular. It's this: Sometimes when
! think she isn't paying the least at.
tention to what I'm reading, try to
catch her. I'll quit all of sudden and
say, what's the use, you don't know a
word Of what I'm reading. And
blamed If she don't call me every time
and come back with the last para
graph, almost word for word. It beats
me-"
"Me, too" said Nobbs. "But they
all do It."
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
"Flu" Marketing.

Marie, who was three Thanksgiv-
ing. was out trying her new mask.
Passing grocery, she decided to buy
some bananas. Mother. not having
worn her "fu" protector, sent Marie In
to make the purchase. Mother saw the
grocer pulling off tons of bananas, 1t
seemed. At length, when there was
nothing left but the stalks, Marie hand
ed the grocer her little pocketbook con.
tanning one solitary dime. "How many
bananas did your little girl want"
asked the grocer as he came to the
door. "Ten cents worth" replied
mother. "She told me she wanted
neck" said the grocer.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
TOO PREVIOUS.
Sarcasm That Berlin Newspaper
Probably Regrets.
Prophecy That American Soldiers
Would Soon Gross the Rhine and
Enter German Fortresses Has
Been Very Literally FULFILLED.

The most biting irony that came out
OF Germany during the war was con-
tained In the Berlin Lokal Anzeiger, a
little more than year ago. Several
OF our soldiers had been captured by
the Germans. They were dragged all
over the empire and exhibited to the
enraged pOpulace. just to show the
Germans that the Americans were
not to be feared" The day the un-
fortunate prisoners arrived In Berlin
the paper printed the following under
the heading. "Good Morning, Boys"
Three cheers for the Americans
Clever chaps they are, 1t cannot be de-
MED. Scarcely have they touched the
soil Of this putrefied Europe when
already they are forcing their way into
Germany. Before long they win cross
the Rhine and also enter our for
tresses. That Is express train speed
for American smartness.
1T Is our good fortune that we are
equipped to entertain numerous guests
and that We shall be able to provide
quarters for these gentlemen. How
ever, We cannot promise them dough
nuts or jam. and to this extent they
will be obliged to recede from their
former standard Of living.
"As Americans are accustomed to
travel In luxury and comfort, we as
sumo that these advance arrivals
merely represent couriers for larger
numbers to follow.
I'VE are sure the latter will come
and be gathered In by US. At home
they believe they possess the biggest
and most colossal everything, but such
establishments as we have here they
have not seen.
Look here, my boys, here Is the big
rrm Of Hindenburg q Co., with which
you want to compete. Look at its &C
complishments and consider whether
II would not be better to haul down
your sign and engage in some other
line.
Perhaps your boss, Wilson, will re-
consider his newest line Of business
before we grab on more Of his young
people"
Clever chaps they are. II cannot be
denied" Yes. they were "clever
chaps" So clever that today. a short
year after the sarcasm was printed In
the Berlin newspaper, they are actual
ly crossing the Rhine and entering
fo-tresses which seemed 30 secure
when the fiippant editor gibsd the lit
tie handful Of soldiers who had been
overcome.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
AT Attention" Before God.

Paying tribute to the services per
formed by the British Y. NJ. G. A, W..
Gordon Spriggs, writing in Associa-
ton Men, the organ Of the Ameri-
can "Y," il reminded Of the reply
made by Field Marshal Sir George
White to an inquiry addressed to him
at the close Of the three months siege
Of Ladysmith, South Africa. In the
Boer war. Sir George was asked to
explain how he maintained his cheer
fulness and upheld the spirit and mo-
rale Of his weary troops amidst so
much discomfort. depression and un-
certainty. Because" said the field
marshal. II stand at attention before
God every morning 80 that may re-
ceive my daily marching orders"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
SOUTH PARIS, MAINE, TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1919.
How n. Got N..s.s uu,,.n,

How He Got Needed Umbrella.
W. NJ. Hughes. the premier Of Aus.
tralia. once came by an umbrella
through Illicit means. He is fond of
telling the tale against himself.
While be was walking home one
pifch'black night a sudden storm
broke and. seeking shelter from the
rain, he fastened to the nearest door
way. After waiting there for a few
minutes. he spled a small boy coming
along with an enormous umbrella.
The premier. thinking the owner
might offer to share. called out sharb.
iy: Hi. there, young man! Where
are you going with that umbrella?"
The lad. startled at the sound which
apparently emanated from nowhere.
dropped the umbrella and fed up the
street as hard as his legs would carry
him. he vanished utterly, and Mr..
Hughes predicament was solved.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
NUMBER 10.

vised that hereafter parcels not ex-
ceeding seven pounds in weight, con-
tanning mailable articles, including
books, may be accepted for mailing
to soldiers and others, including civ
ilians, connected with the American
expeditionary forces in Europe with
out being accompanied by request
of the addressee, approved by his
regimental or other commanding Of
fcer."
Massachusetts, is dumping ground
for stolen automobiles, according to a
statement made by Col. Sohier, chair
man Of the state highway commits
sion, to the legislative committee on
legal affairs, in advocating legisia'
ton designed to regulate dealing in
used cars. A bill introduced bp Col.
Sohier, would require persons selling
motor vehicles to notify the highway
commission and the local chief Of po-
lice four days before the sale Of
machine, while dealers would be re-
quired to keep a record Of all used
cars purchased or sold by them, or
machines stored for the purpose Of
sale. All such dealers would be IL
censed.
Darius Cobb, famed for many years
as a painter of religious and historical
subjects, died at his home in New
ton Upper Falls, Mass, after weeks
serious illness at the age Of "a. He
was born in Maiden, twin brother Of
the late Cyrus c. Cobb, and one Of
nine children born to the Rev. Sylvia
nus C. and Eunice Cobb. While in
their teens, the brothers mapped out
a course in life. They decided, first Of
all, to avoid every dissipation or indul-
gence which might interfere with
their physical condition. Cyrus
went so far as in the winter time to
break the river ice for the purpose
of taking plunge.
During the next five years the Bos-
ton Elevated trustees estimate that,
on "a conservative basis" $19 500, 900
will be needed, according to a state
ment made by H. Ware Barnum, gen.
eral counsel for the trustees. This
total ts split up by Mr.. Banum az
follows: For cars, $500, 900 power.
s5,O8e, 900; track work, $1,000, 700;
shops, $3.50, 900 miscellaneous. g..
500, 900. He said: "A large amount Of
new capital will have to be furnished.
at least $5,ooo,o 900 is urgently needed
at the earliest possible moment and
further sums in the following years.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
Art 70 Re Reeoxered.

One of the arts which must be re-
paired after the war Is the art Of con-
versation. A subcommittee In the min
istry Of reconstruction might look into
it. 1t will be to small purpose that we
have reclaimed thousands Of acres,
achieved the citizenship of women,
improved the art of cooking and per-
formed many other unexpected feats,
If the genial reflection Of all this, and
indeed the very stimulus to action, Is
dried up or muddy. The link between
cookery and conversation is notorious
and not a freakish one. It Is the
chefs aim to set us free for ideal
pleasures. We must talk at meals,
but we need not talk about our food.
We have all been doing that too long.
London Times.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
what Sold tho Butter.

In-the flrst place, 1t was good butter.
We did our very best to have 1t 90. 1t
was ip putting up the butter that We
made our best hit.
We sent to Vermont for Impressions
of different butter prints and picked ont
one of the neatest We could find. The
print was a. flne % the printed impres-
sion, and when the butter bad been put
into that print, wrapped In parchment
paper and taken downtown, We sold Il
hand over fst. One man took 1t ell. He
stacked the butter In bis front window,
and that great pyramid left nothing Tor
him to do but to hand It out and take
the money. We received several cents
more for thatbutter than We could have
gotten In any other way.
But It was good butter. Otherwlse'
the print would not have been worch
snythiug.-Farme Vincent.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
Cecil ebode,, Dream Realized.

The early completion Of a tunnel un-
der the Straits Of Gibraltar. which, In
connection with the tunnel from Dover
to Calais, will practically complete an
all-rail connection between Cape Town
and London, will more than realize the
dream of Cecil Rhodes Of Cape-to-
Cairo railroad. The necessary links
along the Barbary coast will be simple
matters when the intervening waters
have been spanned.. England is taking
hold Of the Gibraltar tunnel in way
that means the success of that glgan
tic enterprise.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
Sad Waste Of Time.

An American engineer tells OF an
occasiop when be tried to illustrate to .
native of Mexico how proposed rail-
vav v0uld benefit that district.
asHoH long does It take you to carry
vour produce to market at the present
Simop'' he ssksd the Mexican. ).
with q mule it takes three days.
was the reply. .LA..
I 'vrhere, you see!' excisimeo sne N
sineer. "Wheu the new railway gets 20
Soina. you will be able to take your
Ufo6uce to mafket and return home tne
same dsyr' aychr.Iyrr.Lx.,s.
cent reply, s'but what shall I DO witn
the other two dayss"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
The MILKY Way.

The arch of the Milky Way stretches
across the evening sky from east to
west, rising between Orion and Gemi-
nj. where Jupiter seems q gorgeous
diamond depending from Its laces; ;
passing through the golden chain OF
Cassiopeia in the zenith. and descend
ing to the western horizon between
vega, the dazzling gem in Aponos
lvrA 5000
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
linel.. s.n,a IsIands.

The. island of Tutuila and other
small, Samoan islands came Into the
possession Of the United States In
January, 1900. This island has an area
of about fifty-four square miles, With
a population Of $500 Mauna and tine
other, ,islets have a united area of
about twenty-five square miles, with
about 700 inhabitants. Pago Paso u
the only good harbor. .sflfs-a '''n
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
Eurs From the Arctic.

Capt. Louis L. Lane, a veteran Of
the Arctic trader and miner. Is on his
way to northern Canada as an ad-
vance scout for vast chain Of fur
supply stations to be operated by a
Boston firm. More than $1,0OO.000
worth of choice furs annually will be
shipped to Seattle, Wash, from the
company's stations and then dis
tributed throughout the country.
"We have % fur stations along the
Athabaska, Peace and Mackenzie riv.
ers and expect to establish 25 more"
said Lane when he departed. From
the mouth of the Mackenzie the furs
will be shipped around Point Barrow
to Seattle, a distance Of $500. miles"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
Need for More ConsuIa

The chairman Of the shipping board
has called the attention Of congress
and the people to the need OF enlarg'
Ing our consular service abroad, In
view of the fact that our great mer-
chant marine will be released for use
In foreign trade.
Mr.. Hurley tells US, observes the In
dependent (New York;, that the Uni.
ted States will have 25-0OO,0OO tons OF
merchant shipping by the end OF l9Io.
and that as fast as these ships can be
freed from military work they will en-
ter commerce. The present consulates
would be entirely inadequate to handle
this enlarged business. There are NOT
enough Of them. their stats are too
small and they are handicapped by In
experience with duties that will be de.
manded and by antiQuated regulations.
Even now the burden Of work. espe.
cially in the way of inquiries to be an
swered, Is Overtaxing the undermanned
and underpaid force. Mr.. hurley
therefore pleads that immediate steps
be taken to remedy the situation.
1--WE need more consuls and larger
consular staffs," he tells US. III we 90
not provide them today and prepare
for the great growth in our merchant
marine and trade after the war. fear
that we shall suffer serious break
down" .Il .4.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
Aax Eaxar Pollens.

The development Of hay fever In any
locality depends upon the atmospheric
hay fever pollens increasing to q point
which overcomes the resistance Of tas
baticnt," says Doctor ScheppesrsN. 1T
wns asceftained that most Of the
tpring and summer cases OF hay fever
are caused by the pollen Of the grasses,
Although the pollen Of other plants
such as the yellow dock, anaranth.
koose foot, ETC.. may cause the attack
Or help to maintain 1t when set up by
the grass pollens."' ss =
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06

"protsc. tho birds" has become :
nation. Wide slogan, and We all can do
our bit Ii this Work. 10 various places
school children have been organised into
protective tocieties. The yonnaeters do
good work and enjoy II. The bird kill.
Ing boy h rapidly bscdming IN extinct
animal" .a .g.r s i YEs3
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
THAR Revenoe.

"The Yanks In Russia must be hav.
ing great fun"
I'm what wayf"
"In hearing the Russian correspond.
ents worry over the English and Amer.
lean names" U
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
Here's FIapJaek Frying Record.

Here's the worlds fapjack frying
record: Eight thousand six hundred
and forty in 20 hours. all fried on one
hot cake plate, four feet square. at
the rate Of SO every Ave minutes. The
big fapjack fry started at Z 80 o'clock
one morning up at the front and con-
tinued without intermission till $50
o'clock the next morning. Yanks just
out of the trenches ate the hot cakes,
swimming in rich sirup. The frying
crew was made up Of Salvation Army
men, led by Ensign Fred Huderson.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06

Jane had broken her second doll that
morning, and mother. very much pro-
voked, was putting the careless baby
through the third degree when from
the depths Of the apron in which the
sweaty little face was buried came the
words Mother. did you know the
war was over?"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
When Mother Bakes.

The kitchen window opens wide
And from the fairy realms within
A perfume comes-a cooking crust
That makes us want to Gator busti
And coaxes grouche1 TO grin.
It's bread-the loaves Of sturdy shape,
Such bread - only farms can know;
A slice Of It win mako you try
To eat loaf In passing BY,
Big chunks of wheat % white as snowl
And then the pies-those wondrous pies,
All fiuted-flled with wonder things.
They stand upon the ledge and cool,
To tempt the kids On route to school,
Each slice will disappear on wings.
When mother bakes, Il seems to me
That oven perfumes all the air.
They somehow know the trick OF II
Tn goodies that will make hit
With men. .folks-almost everywhere.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-05-06
The Lonu Arm.

The war has furnished many strange
condolences. Here Is another. A
young officer came home on leave and
brought his fiancee piece of shell
fired by the Germans, but which had
evidently been among ammunition cap
tured from us. He thought 1t would
interest her, and 1t did, for she was
able to Identify 1t as having come
from the munition works In which she
worked. It interested her still more
when she found her own mark on Il.