davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1920-09-26

The process OF digestion requires num-
Der OF days, during which the trap remains
shut. This being finally accomplished, 1t
opens, drops out the refuse OF the meal
the non.nutritious part-and is ready for
another fly. 1t Is hungry again.
DR.. Grille says that the plant exhibits
almost as much power OF perception and
discrimination as a frog-a creature that
undeniably possesses a mind. II catches
flies, eats and digests them, and elects the
refuse. A frog does the same, responding
to the stimulus OF the sight OF a fly as the
fytrap responds to the touch OF the insect.
II the sensitive hairs OF one Of the traps
be repeatedly touched In Just the right
way Il will snap shut again and again
But not more than three or four times
The energy OF the plant, like that OF man,
The Washington times., 1920-09-26

can be rapidly and surely exhausted by re-
peated stimulation.
Finally, says DR.. Grille, If the plant be
exposed to the fumes of ether or chloro-
form, It loses consciousness for the time
being, just like man, and its traps do not
respond to irritation while the effect of tho
anaesthetic lasts. The juiciest and most
appetizing fly can walk all over them with
out peril OF capture.
The tree described by DIR. Leche would
seem to be animated by the same mys-
terious reactions as activate the Venus
Hytrap.
And this mechanism is mysterious, in
deed! Many plants exhibit all the pheno-
mena Of nervous reactions The common
Sensitive plant. which belongs to the
Mimosa family, and which closes it's leaves
not only at a touch, but actually at sud-
den abrupt sound, would seem to predicate
for that little growth not only tactile sense
but hearing. The opening and closing Of
the human hand and the opening and clos
Ing OF the Sensitive plant leaves are pre-
cisely the same. How are these sensations
carried and what is the governing body
which produces the reactions from those
sensations?
The researches OF the famous Dr. Bose,
the Hindu scientist, have recently thrown
great light upon the matter, and they go
far toward confirming DR.. Leche's story
BY means OF magnifcaton and certain ar
rangements Of intense lights DR.. Bose was
enabled to produce actual pictures OF
plants growth and life. While the plants
seem to have no fibre such as we have
there is tremendous sensitiveness be-
tween their cells. The cells are, indeed,
a granulated nerve. The comparison might
be made that instead of wire such ms our
nerves may be likened to- the plant nerves
are series OF small bodies with power Of
communicating impressions each to the
other. What and where the directing force
is-in sentence, what and where Is the
plant brain lis one OF the mysteries sci
ence still have to reveal
Intense as the interest the story OF the
Madagascar tree has aroused among bctan-
lists, there are few who will dare say II is
impossible. II is TO be hoped that a scien-
tifc expedition will soon go 10 the place
Indicated by the German explorer and
make careful study Of the extraordinary
plant
The Washington times., 1920-09-26

scuSltiVc ucENo-cuuSJ
m kes the plant
aware OF the pres
ence OF the fly, and
the &C la m 3 h e IL"
snaps shut.
II one Of the hairs
be touched lightly
with the point Of a
lead pencil the trap
will instantly close.
The plant does not
know the difference;
1t simply reacts me-
chanically to the ir-
ritation. But the
touch Of the pencil
must not be too light
or too heavy; It must
be Just enough to
initiate the contact
OF a fly or other
small insect. II a
smart blow be struck
the trap will not re-
spond at all; II stays
open.
Suppose, however,
that It Is a real fly.
The trap closes, It's
marginal spikes in
terlocking to prevent
escape OF the prey.
Follows then a re-
markable phenome-
non. The trap be-
comes a miniature
stomach, which at
once begins to secret
a fluid for the diges-
tion OF the captured
insect.
The Washington times., 1920-09-26

which the maddened natives fought and
trod each other down to get one mouthful
of-the intoxicating fluid from the tree and
the blood Of the human sacrifice.
Then the feasting began again amid
much rejoicing The devil was appeased"
The plant described by DR.. Leche has
more points in common, perhaps, with the
Venus hytrap tnan any other. This pecu-
liar specimen is found nowhere In the
world except lin the swampy districts Of
North Carolina. and even there is quite
rare. 1t subsists BY catching and eating
flies and other insects. DR.. George w.
Grille. professor Of surgery in the Western
Reserve University and our greatest war
surgeon in France and author of surgical
books on the war, is authority upon the
habits and anatomy Of this plant
1t is an inconspicuous, low-growing
plant, peculiar to boggy places. All day
long its trap-leaves stand agape, waiting
for prey On the inside surfaces Of each
bivalve-like leaf is some sticky sweetish
stuff, attractive to insects. Along comes
an unlucky fly. Unsuspecting he steps
into one Of the traps Instantly II closes
upon him with a snap and he is 'goner."
Close examination OF any one of the
trap-leave. -eveals the fact that three very
minute hairs spring from the middle Of the
inside Of each OF its gaping valves. A
touch upon one Of these hairs (which are
The Washington times., 1920-09-26

take place a woman is forced to climb into
the tree and drink. II the devil inside 10
in good humor then the girl will be al.
lowed to get down again in safety. II he
was feeling ugly, however, then the poor
girl was out OF luck. Exactly how the tree
was going to prevent her Jumping down l
could not make out, but ! was to learn
eventually.
81 desired to draw closer and examine
the tree carefully, but my guide begged
me not to, warning me that the tree god
would certainly be angered at my sacri.
lege and would take my life in revenge,
explaining that the leaves would rise up
and crush me. or course, I did not pay
much attention to this, but, nevertheless,
left the tree alone, for It has always been
my habit to respect native superstitions
and customs.
zone evening my guide presented him.
self to me and told me that what he had
been waiting for would take place that
night.
"That night, having made the chief
present to insure that would be welcome
to witness their ceremony, followed the
tribe into the forest, They made their way
to the sacred tree, and round II built
twelve fires, 80 that the whole surround
ings were lit up brightly. Then they dis.
posed themselves about them and made
themselves at home, some eating, but most
OF them drinking huge gourdfuls of native
ferment Very soon they we're all Of them
more or less intoxicated, both the men and
the women, with the exception OF a young
girl nearby who neither spoke nor moved,
but glanced about her as II she were terri
fed out Of her wits.
Suddenly without warning the yelling
ceased and they scattered away like fright.
ened deer. The crucial point had arrived.
For a moment there was complete silence
but for the cracking OF the fires. Intuition
told me that the girl had noted before
was the oLs that was to be the sacrince
I looked at her and saw mortal terror i'm.
printed on her features Yet for the life
OF me I could not imagine why, and put
down her fear to Imagination.
by now the first group OF dancers had
somewhat recovered, and, suddenly spring.
ing up. rushed upon the poor girl with un.
earthly shrieks and yells. They surround.
ed her, and with shouts and gestures or.
dered her to climb the tree. Terrified she
shrank back, apparently begging for mercy.
At that the whole crowd Joined I'm, furi-
ously bowling at her to obey. Once more
the dancers gave out their orders; then,
The Washington times., 1920-09-26
By Dr.. B. II. William.
The Distinguished American botanist.

ing upward, nalf
a dozen frail look-
ing 8 t a m Q n s.
palpi would be a
better name, l be-
lieve - that shiv-
cred constantly,
as II agitated by
some strong wind.
1T seems the
plate-like affair on
top OF the trunk
contained som Q
thick sweet Juice.
This liquid, which
is a product OF
the tree and was
probably origin
ally intended to
attract birds, is
highly intoxicat-
ing, and even q
very small guam
tity very soon
produces coma.
When sacrifices
The Washington times., 1920-09-26

How the Venus Flytrap
Captures Insects, (1) The
Fly Alighting Upon the
Leaf, (z) the Fly Il Stuck
Fast Upon the Viseous
Substance with Which il
IL Covered and the Leaf
Begins to Curl About 1t,
(3) the Leaf Holding the
Fly Now Securely in Place,
and (4) the Bent Plant
Digestins the Insect. After
Il Has Digsstsd, the Car
sass Of the Fly Is Dropped
and the Leaf Il Opened
for Another Victim
The Washington times., 1920-09-26

The seemingly dead and notionles: before had
ife The pap frah looking suddsny
and had cod themselves shoulders
holding her firmly that all her
solutely useless"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
SUPREME COURT
DECISIONS

Ramsey County: Moller vs.. Robert
son, affirmed; Brown, commissioner
and judge.
Watonwan County: Home Insur-
ance company VS.. st. Paul, Milwaukee
and Omaha Railway company, affirm
ed; Brown, commissioner and Judge.
Hennepin County: Mueller Furnace
company VS.. ,Colvin, affirmed; Holt,
Judge.
st. Louis County: Wieland vs.. St.
Louis County F. Mutual Fire Insur-
ance company, affirmed; Holt, judge.
Ramsey County: Nienhauser VS..
Robertson Paper company, affirmed;
Hallam, judge.
Houston County: Collins vs.. Joyce
and Rasmussen, affirmed; Hallam,
judge.
Ramsey County: Geiger VS.. SAM
tary Farm Diaries, affirmed; Hallam,
Judge.
Waseca County: GAINESVILLE Live
Stock and Shipping company VS..
Hines, reversed; Taylor, commits
sioner.
Wabasha County: Estate of L. Per-
son, Wallerstedt vs.. frank, affirmed;
Taylor, commissioner.
Ramsey County: State VS.. Tri State
Telephone and Telegraph company,
affirmed; Lees, commissioner.
Rice County: Lawler VS.. Counties
of Rice and Goodhue, ct al; per Cur
lam, motion to dismiss denied.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
RED CROSS OFFICERS.
They Have Been Selected For L.
Sueur County

They Have Been Selected For L.
Sueur County
The officers Of the Lesueur County
From Fridays Daily.
Red Cross organization, who were
elected at the meeting few days ago,
are: Chairman, C. G. Kolars, Le-
Sueur Center; Vice. Chairman, H. H.
Flowers, Cleveland; Treasurer, John
Sheehy, Montgomery; Secretary, John
RE M. Caldwell, LeSueur.
Committe Chairman: Nursing, Miss
Marie Piesinger, New Prague; Home
Service, Mrs. D. w. McDoughald, Le-
Sueur; First Aid, DR.. L. F. Wood
worth, LeSueur Center; Junior MRS.
T. e. Novak, New Prague.
Other members of the Executive
Committee: Mrs. G. w. Babcock,
Kasota; C. w. Glotfelters Waterville;
John s. O'Grady. Kilkenny; Mrs.
Long, Elysian; Jane Griffith, Ottawa;
Mrs. Mike McCourtney, st. Thomas.
BY a unanimous vote 1t was dec1d-
ed that each branch should retain
it's own funds in it's own treasury.
The Executive Committee was auth
orized to make arrangements for
county nurse for one year and to ap-
propriate 100000, or more, to fin
ance the expense, this amount to be
apportioned among the branches or
the County Chapter by the committee.
The headquarters Of the County
Chapter will be at LeSueur Center.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09

wool, and he could not see why this
state could not benefit by such a
step. There is no market for the wool
at present. so there is nothing to
lose in pooling the same or consign-
ing 1t to some central ware house.
Mr.. French advised having repre-
sentative at Chicago to look after the
state. A man who now looks after
the wool of the state of Wisconsin
could be secured. .
1t was finally decided at the meet
ing to 60 home and advise on two
plans Of action. These were to either
constgn the wool to the National
Wool Warehouse company of Chi
cago, or keep the wool on the farms
until such time as prices advance. An
effort will be made to have those fav-
oring the consignment of the wool to
the Chicago warehouse to ship the
same between July IL, and August 10.
The majority of the counties favored
consignment of the wool to Chicago
for storage until the market comes
at least back to normal. Those who
do not consign Will be urged to hold
the wool at home and not by any
means dispose Of 1t at such redicu-
lously low prices.
~%he meeting was brought to q
close by ]. 8. Jones cautioning coun-
ty agents to not engage in accepting
money for the purchase of blooded
stock. 1t might throw suspicion on
them.
Mr.. Jones called on R. F. Grim,
county agent Of Cottonwood county,
for few words upon the subject of
fake stockmen going about the state
proposing to sell thoroughbred sows
at about $166 each. One such unre-
liable man had gotten a number of
contracts from unsuspecting farmers
in Cottonwood county, but County
Agent Grim got on his trail, made him
return the contracts and told him to
make himself scarce. Mr.. Grim did
not like the idea of these men pos
sibly purchasing the SOW for say $50
and disposing Of a scrub animal at
q fat profit.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
CARP Will HAVE JAGS
Forty Quhrtsof Booze Is Spilled
Ilh the River At
Rochester
From Fridays Daily.

from Fridays Daily.
Rochester, Mimi, July 2.-Forty
quarts Of good drinking liquor are
floating down the river today and
fishermen below Rochester in the next
few days are likely to catch a bunch
OF intoxicated carp,
AT the fateful hour of ten this
morning, Judge C. E. Callaghan of the
district court; George S. Harmon,
clerk OF court; William III. Mitchell,
county sheriff, tremendously poured
into the sewer the contents of sun
dry bottles containing whiskey. There
was little comment as the booze
gurgled out OF the bottles while out
side the racuous notes OF a blackbird
furnished funeral dirge for the flu
neral OF old John B.
various brands of whiskey were
represented in the forty quarts but
all met common fate.
The liquor has been in custody at
the court house for months, being the
evidence accumulated from time to
time against alleged bootleggers.
II seemed fitting to the officials in
charge to cause 1t to disappear on
July first, the first anniversary of the
Done dry regime. and so that which
would have caused much hilarity had
some splendid" drinkers been per-
mitted to taste of 1t, became as 1t
were, FOOD for the fishes.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
SEARCH FOR missing SON.
c. +. Paine Sends Out Call To tt
NEWSPAPERS For Aid

c. r. Paine Sends Out Call To the
Newspapers For Aid.
Fearing that his son, S. Collins
Paine, may be wandering about the
country victim of ,ainnesia, or may
have teen waylaid by robbers, C. F.
Paine, circulation manager of the
Eldora, Ia, Herald, has APPEALED to
the newspapers of the country to aid
his search for the young man.
Young Paine, the principal of the
Maynard, la, high school, was living
with his wife's PARENTS on a farm
near Maynard, as the litter were in
i'll health. On June 21t lie drove into
money for his motherAsn Jaw. drew
$3.50 from his bank, waikei I toward
the railroad station and vasislhed. He
did not purchase a ticket, Eor was
he seen on any train.
According to his father, >he young
mans family life was "iteall" The
theory of mental lapse a-isies from
the fact that, while young Paine was
tinkering with his father in-law's au-
tomobile several days before he dis
.'""eared >, wrench slipped and
struck him between the eyes. He
was i'll for a day, but had apparently
recovered
He is six, feet tall, weighs about
l5O pounds, tfhas a light complexion.
is blue eyed and brown haired, and
wore among other articles a grey
soft hat, brown suit End blue tie.
He may have obtained employment
In a printing establishment. A
substantial reward has been offered
for information regarding his where
abouts.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
MORE CHEER is OUT OF LIFE.
Uncle Sam Removes Blackberry Cor
dial and ChArru Nina Erax,A nrinL

Uncle Sam Removes Blackberry Cor
dial and Cherry Wine FROM Drink.
washington, d. c.. July S.--Black-
berry cordial and wild cherry wine
were today added by the bureau of
internal revenue to the list of intox-
icating liquors and may be sold by
druggists in retail quantities of less
than five gallons only to persons who
have obtained permits to purchase
intoxicating liquor.
Instructions were issued to federal
prohibition directors today detailing
a number of preparations containing
alcohol which are held to be fit for
beverage purposes and are therefore
regarded as intoxicating and subject
to the prohibition regulations.
Elixir of licorice came under the
bureaus ban along with the elixir OF
anise and bitter orange. Compound
spirits of juniper and myricia were
ruled intoxicating as well has COM
pound tincture Of lavendar and a
number Of other pharmaceutica cal prep
arationS.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
COAL SUPPLY RUNS LOW
Receipts At the Duluth Docks
Are Far Less Than
Year Ago
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.l

Duluth. Mimi, July 3.-Receipts of
coal at the Duluth Superior docks
during the month Of June totalled
only 217. 800 tons of anthracite and
716,600 tons of bituminous, according
to figures given today by the Tomlin-
son company, Duluth agents. This is
approximately 100000 tons less btu
minous than was brought up lakes in
June last year and nearly $4,000 more
of anthracite than last year.
The total receipts for the year up to
July / are given at 392,070 tons OF
anthracite and $4,000 tons bitumin-
Gus; for the same six months Of 1913
the receipts were 403,4 400 tons anthra-
cite and 1854, 100 tons bituminous.
In addition to the much larger re-
ceipts In 1919 than this year there were
approximately 100000 tons Of coal
left on the docks in 1919 when the ma
vigation season opened, while this
spring there practically was none.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
DeIiqhtfuI Affair.

A delightful affair was the party
given by the eight young ladies who
are spending the week at the H. A.
Patterson cottage at Lake Madison.
Upon the arrival of the young men
from Mankato the party enjoyed a
swim. Following a delicious dinner
the evening was spent in dancing.
Those present were the Misses Eliza
beth Grierson, Helen Patterson, Mer-
tyce and Genevieve Schmitt, Evelyn
Wiseman, Katherine Jones, Margaret
Miller and Mary Helen Meagher, and
the Messrs. Hubert and Louis Klug-
hertz, Babe Zimmerman, Tony, Ray,
and Jack Busch, William Spencer,
and Harry Carney. Mrs. Charles
Wyatt chaperoned the party.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
LINES TO SOUTH AMERICA.
Western Union Lines Have Estab-
Ilshed Direct Communication.

ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.
Chicago, July 3.-The Western I'm
ion Telegraph company announced
today that it will have direct COM
munication established between Chi
cago and Buenos Aires shortly. The
new cable to be put in from Miami,
Florida, to the Isle of Barbados in
the West Indies and then on to Mar
antham, Brazil, connecting with the
land lines. The cable to be laid to-
tails 5000 miles.
At the present time messages to
the east coast Of South America must
be sent to London and thence back
across the Atlantic, or else down the
west coast of South America through
the Andes and back northward to
destination. 1t was remarked.
The Western Union officials said
today that they will make the Bra
lillian rate, which has been reduced
from 81 to so cents a word, still low
er when the company opens its new
route.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
SH0RTH0RN SALEDATED
Time Set On December 2 at the
Mankato Stock
Pavilion

Directors of the Blue Earth County
Beef Breeders association held a
meeting at Mapleton last evening and
decided to hold a shorthorn sale at
Mankato stock sales pavilion on De-
cember 2. This is the second sale
scheduled for the new pavilion which
has just been started. w. R. Adams,
has engaged the PAVILION for October
%. for pure bred Poland China hog
sale: Those having short horn beef
cattle to enter in the sale December
2, should correspond with either l..
E. McMillen, county agent at Man
kato or with the president of the beef
breeders association, Grant Hazel Of
Mapleton.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
Some Travelling, To Be Sure.

panied by some other parties recent
ly made an auto trip from Elysian to
a point in Aitken county and returned
In one day. The distance covered was
435 miles. In a note in his paper
about the trip Mr.. Wilcox says: 1.-THE
good roads all the way were a revel-
alton, and we must confess that this
part Of the country has nothing on
Northern Minnesota when 1t comes
to road building. Even in the sparsley
settled sections fine graveled roads
are in evidence, and the country has
improved greatly in the last few
years" sA ,..a ats,
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
Quick Ruildina Record.

Perhaps one of the quickest build
ing operations on record in this part
Of the country was held a week ago
Friday when a crew of men started to
put up temporary quarters for the
Window National bank. On Satur-
day night the building was finished.
and after working Monday all fixtures
were installed. e..,
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
MRS. JOHN swEoBERe DIES.
Had Been Sufferer From Complica.
lions For Some Months.

Mrs. John, Swedberg, a resident of
this city for the past thirty eight
years, passed away at her no me, HAS
North Seventh street, last night at
seven o'clock from the effects of COM
plications from which she had been
a sufferer for some time past. De-
ceased was born in Sweden seventy
six years ago. Mrs. Swedberg IL sur
yiyed by two sons and one daughter.
William and Adolph Swedb@rg and
Mrs. Fred Schultz of this city, and
three grand children. The funeral
will be held Sunday afternoon at two
o'clock from the residence on North
Seventh street, and from the Swedish
Lutheran church, at $3.50, Rev. 0: j.
Arthur conducting the services. The
remains will be laid to rest in the
Swedish Lutheran cemetery.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
CAN BE IGNORAMOUS,
Still Hold Office, Opinion Of the At
torney General

Still T1oiu OHiCc, OpInIon OF the At
torney General.
st. Paul, July EVEN though he
were unable to read or write, any
voter in Minnesota is eligible to any
elective office, the state constitution
providing no literacy test for officials,
Attorney General Hilton ruled late
yesterday.
Il am going to ask you for some
advice which | honestly hope you Will
let me know soon," an inquirer wrote.
We have treasurer of the school
board that can neither read nor write
only his own name and has some one
else do the work for him.
Can he lawfully hold the job?
He is dirty, dirty radical non
partisan. ! wish you would let me
know and make it very plain"
The answer was that a person is
not required to know how to reao
and write to hold the school office and
no attention was paid to the other
objections made to the official.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-07-09
EVERETT CROSS RECOVERING
Young Man Had His Hair Badly
Singed BY Lightning

Sherburn, July Everett Cross
struck by lightning during the storm
last Monday afternoon, will recover,
according to information received
from DR.. R. G. Parrish, who is attend
ing the young man. His recovery was
in doubt for some time after the ac-
cident. The young man who is Just
twenty years old, was struck while
working in the farm of his father, C.
H. Cross. The lightning singed his
hair and melted a watch chain which
he carried and also rendered him to-
tally blind for many hours. The doc
tor says that the fact that he wore
rubber soled tennis shoes undoubt-
eddy saved his life.