davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1922-11-26

dll lHP SlTdnSt, unCOuIn anu tN-
traordnary animals which nature
has created there is one which
ranks as the QucoroSt creature on the face
of the earth and his scientific name is
Ornithorhynchus Paradoxus, popularly
Known as the duck-bllcd platypus.
1T would seem as if Nature in a hu-
morous frame of mind jumbled together
several of the outstanding pcculiarities of
various animals and constructed this ZOO
logical freak Just % sec what sort of a
funny combination i would turn out
to be
For the first tin1o one Of these strange
creatures has been brought from its ma
tive home in Australia and carefully
nursed over a journey o. 10000 miles
and landed alive in th" New York Zoo
logical Gardens in Bronx Park
The duck-hilIed Platypus is about
foot and hali long. He is a land ami
NAL, bus II" j. also water animal. He
has webbcd f, for swimming and claws
for climbing, scratching and digging. He
has a remarkable tail like a beaver and
yet, instead of teeth like beaver, he has
Instead of producing its young the way
most animals do-the creature lays eggs
like a bird And the little four-footed
babies, instead of picking up their food
like all other creatures hatched from an
egg, get milk from their mother.
But even this crazy combination of an
egg-hatchcd infant with a bony bill nurs-
ing from its mother is made even more
remarkable from the fact that the mother
has nothing for the baby to get hold of
to secure its milk-no outfit such as
COW or any other milk producing animal
i, equipped with The newborn little
IlatypuS just lcks around almost any
.ncre on the skin of its mother and,
10, milk begins to come out through the
skin and the baby gets its dinner wher-
r it wants to try for it!
Nowhere on earth has nature produced
such a hodgepodge - a combined duck
with fur instead of feathers and with
birl'S bill, an anomaly in the animal
worll which lays eggs and nurses its
young without the usual nursing ma
DR.. W. T. HOrnaday, Director of the
New York Geological Society, in a recent
number of the society Bulletin, presents
some very excellent photographs taken by
Mr. Elwin r. Sanborn, of the Zoo, and
describes the little creatures as follows:
"The spell of ten thousand years has
been broken.
"The most wonderful of all living man.
mails has been carried alive from the in
sular confines of its far-too-distant native
land, and introduced abroad Through a
combination of favoring circumstances it
has been the good fortune of New York
The Washington times., 1922-11-26

ity reproduced its river home, and its
burrow-with a submarine entrancc-in
tho dark depth Of a bank of earth.
"Tho exhibition of the Platypus was
accomplished by removing the wire-net-
ting tops Of the contraption, admitting
visitors in a i}n", in single file, and per-
mitting them to pass entirely around the
man-madc habitat of the animal. As the
stream Of visitors marched and counter
marched, the Platypus briskly swan and
emerged scrambled, and climbed up the
The Washington times., 1922-11-26

would "ickly climb out. When arrested
by Head Keeper Toomey it made nc de-
cided resistance to being handled.
when tired of feeding and showing
off, is would go up the water tunnel to its
imitation bank, wriggle through the holes
of its maze one by one, scraping off the
water on the rubber gasketS each time it
went through hole. Finally, on reach
ing its nesting place in the farthest corner
it would curl up in its bed of fine dry
hay, and rest.
"The original home of our Platypus was
in the Nancy River, New England Dis
trict, New South Wales, where it was
captured about March /, 1922 1t left
Sydney, on May IL, reached San Fran
cisco on June 80, and arrived in New
York on July livery tired and thin in
flesh, but full of spirit, 1t died on Au-
gust 80, suddenly and Unexpectedly, and
because of the demands of science DR..
Blair refrained from making an autopsy
to ascertain the cause of death The re-
mains were quickly turned over to the
College of Physicians and Surgeons for
careful study.
'The Platypus is so odd and so unique
that it deserves to occupy a mammalian
order all alone, but it has been elected,
from its egg-laying habit, to share the
Monotremata with the Echidna. To be-
gin with, it has the astounding ability to
lay eggs, and hatch them by curling
around them and giving them body
warmth. The eggs number either on, or
two, they are about three-quarters of an
inches long, and the shell is leather in
texture.
'The newly y-hatched Platypus APPEARS
in October. 1t is only about one inch in
length, absolutely naked, and it remains
hairless for the first two or three months
Of its life. The mother should have a
good serviceable nipple an inch long, but
in reality she has none, and the Young
animal is nOurished by milk that seeps
through the skin. it is a tough infant
that can be nourished and reared on milk
procured by that very inadequate process
the worst on record.
The broad, flat tail is naked below
but heavily haired above, and is very
useful in swimming.
The fur is dark brown when dry and
dull black when wet. It consists of a
coarse outer coat and fine and dense
under coat that is so much like fur
that thousands of these animals have been
killed by fur-hunters. Occasionally, flat
Platypus skins are tucked into bales of
other fur from Australia - where all
mammalian life is rapidly being swept
away.
"Other unique features of the Platypus
are the broad and leathery duck-like bill
the base of which is a leathery margin
that nicely covers the junction between
bill and fur. The front feet are fully
webbed well beyond the ends of the toes
all of which is utilized in swimming. Ir
digging and climbing, this exposed margin
of leathery web is rolled under the toes
to give the claws a chance. The web ex
tends half an inch beyond the ends of tho
claws.
"The Platypus inhabits a very few ol
the small and quiet interior rivers of Aus
tralia, where it seeks its food in thu
water, and at other times lives in a com
Portable bank burrow. One entrance Il
the burrow Is under the water, the othel
above it. The end of the burrow il
formed into a comfortable chamber
wherein a nest Of dry leaves Is main
tanned"
The Washington times., 1922-11-26
y Platypus Has to

wire netting walls of its main salon in
efforts to get out. Head-keeper John
Toomey stage-managed the display, and
handled the little creature whenever its
errng ways needed to be checked.
From the beginning of captivity the
food supply of a Platypus is a serious
responsibility. In Australia, angleworms
are the mainstay. -:,.
"The two features of living Platypus
that make the daily life of its keeper a
nightmare and a burden are its food
The Washington times., 1922-11-26

habits and its water habits In this vale
of tears there seem to be just about five
kinds of food that it will consider aid
consume. Named in the order of their
acceptability these are: angleworms, very
small shrimps, wood grubs (of the kind
most difficult to findO, oysters and
water insects. OF any one of the three
leading kinds the animal soon tires, and
requires a change. The cost of digging
angleworms even if it is possible to pre-
serve them, is quite serious; and wood
grubs cost US ten cents each, with few
purveyorS.
while it lived our little Platypus-
about half grown-cost us between 81
and SIS per day to feed. Even in Sum-
mer the food problem kept us moving,
but we looked forward with apprehen-
sion to the horrors of Winter.
Zone trouble lies in the voracious ap-
petite of healthy Platypus. Mr.. Joseph
solemnly declared that often one will con-
sumo half its own weight of food in
day. One days ration of our specimen
was as follows:
august 6, y lb. earthworms, 40
shrimps and 40 grubs.
zone weeks food supply for the Platy-
pus consisted of the following:
Each day, between three and four
o'clock, the animal was given one-quarter
of pound of earth worms.
"On Tuesday nights and Friday nights
~ of nonDH Of ShriponS nd
one-half pound of grubs were given.
"On the evenings of Monday, Wednes-
day, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday he
received one-half pound of shrimps each
day.
Concerning the food of the Platypus
in captivity, Mr.. Joseph has kindly fur
nished the following statement:
In the feeding habits of the Platypus,
l find that its taste varies. have with
held food from them and then tried to
feed them on oysters, and | found that
two out of three would not eat them,
while the third one ate no less than twen-
ty-two in one night In the winter months
shrimps are hard to get in Sydney, and
on several occasions put cooked shrimps
in their tanks and they ate but sparingly.
Only on one occasion did the animal last
quantity of food he consumed in one
night was one pound and a quarter Of
raw or green shrimps and one measure of
a condensed milk can full of earth worms
These shrimps were headed so that the
quantity mentioned was actual net
weight
Really, is seems incredible that an
animal so small could chamber a food
supply so}large know Of nothing equal
to Il among other mammals.
Contrary to my expectations, our
platYpus proved to be an animal of
nervous temperament, and much more
lively and active than we had anticipated.
It swan in lively fashion, padding
rapidly, and independently, with it's out
spread feet. To keep it from acquiring
momentum which would carry it against
the walls of its main tank, and injure its
bill, Mr.. Joseph placed in the center Of
its tank cylindrical sheet-metal tower
with a fat top. Round and round this
the animal swan, while feeding on the
bottom or exercising, and when tired of
the water II would scramble up and perch
for a time on the top of the metal tower.
''When on exhibition with the wire net
ting cover of the tank the little beast
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
BOOKS SELECTED; LTE!D FOR
USE IN COUNTRY SCHOOLS

Bf the vote Uf the National Edu-
cation Association and the American
Eibrary association, d list of twenty
.fve=booksawereA selected" for=use in
small country schools where book
fluids WeMs limeited.,s These books
are offered at the ,Three-foot Shelf
and the, ,Two-foot- shelf .~,:ss.;-E !
The Three-foot Shelf is composed
of we'll illustrated editionss which are
recommended for their attractive ap-
'pearance and good wearing qualities.
Since The purpose of a school library
is to arouse a lasting enthusiasm for
books, these !well-made volumes with
decorated covers, good paper and
clear type, will be we'll worth their
cost.
The Two-foot Shelf has been sell:
ected for schools unable to purchase
the higher priced set and supplies the
same list of books in less attractive
or abridged editions:
Miss Helen Farr of the State
Teachers college or Miss Ethelyn
Hall, >newly-elected County Super
-intendent Of Schools, will gladly fur
nish publishers names and prices to
anyone interested in purchasing these
books.
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
PRICES GOING UP

Prices are going up. In every section of
the country prices are advancing. This is
certainly delightful news. ! j
Upon Investigation We find that ad-
vances are being made on such items as
are covered by the tariff. Many of our
merchants have been advised of ten per
cent increase and in some instances more.
Ihere seems tosbe no excuse for i, ether
.thansthespr ection q: the big
business is increasing prices just TO see
how much the people will stand for it
of the pc optesSWil :|s
"''S Our local retail stores are not to blame
Not in the least. They have no choice in
the matter of fixing prices: When the
manufacturer sees chance, and the tar
iff has apparently given him his chance, he
merely adds ten per cent or so to see
what effect it will have on the sale. If the
product continues to sell the same as be-
fore, why not >annuonce another increase
and keep on doing this until the world be-
gins to squrm and squeal.
What's the difference? The laws of our
nation permit it and big business needs
the money. ~.:.
It isn't any wonder the people have vot-
ed for change last election day. They
want change in order to have a chance
and when any fair minded individual calls
attention to the nations operations he is
classed as radical and worse.
By keeping up the great procession of
price raising just because they have right
to do so, is going to raise he'll with the par
ty under which this right was granted.
In our opinion the popular party is yet
to be named. It., will be new party and
the drastic procedure Of the Republican
party now in control will have much to DO
with the following, of the new party.
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
CONSOLIDATION OF NV.
/. RAILROADS DISCUSSED
E(Continued from PAGE ~


to consolidate with the Burlington.
Such consolidation would realize the
dream Of the late James J. .'Hill, faith
er of the first two.e named roads
and railroad wizard Of the /; north
west. IN , - 81 i's $.2fs$ Z 't.
Officials were, however, doubtful
that this plan would sbe allowed. So
TheStransportation act prescribed
that the consolidation proposed BY
the s0ipnis ssion must preserve conl-
|petition; In the region where they are
effective. In : drafting systems "a
and Is, the commission endeavored
to 8achieve two great parallel COM
peting lines to serve the northern
states of the west, 1t was pointed
out that groups such as those report
ed the roads desired, wouldseneompas
|ivirtually the entire transportation
facilities of that section of the coun-
try and eliminate competition.
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
A HOUSE ORGAN FOR EDITORS

Minnesota's editors are to have a house
organ. The office of Publications. Univer-
sity Department Of Agriculture, has long
had in mind the plan. of publishing paper
for the exchange of ideas and news among
the editors of this state. That; plan will
take concrete form ON December !, 1922.
Following a suggestion in line with it's
plan-a suggestion from H. c.: Hotaling,
field secretary of the National Editorial
Association, seconded by other represen-
tatlve editors Of the state-the project was
submitted to F. w. Peck, direcor Of ex-
tension of the University of Minnesota De-
parment Of Agriculture. Mr.. Peck approx
de the plan; and the publication will be is
sued as part Of the extension service un-
der Mr.. Peck's direction. <.: .y.,.
The name of the new publication will
be 'tAMONG OURSELVES"
1t will be publ ished monthly, and at
first will be a four page miniature news
paper in form, pages 8 IL in.x11 in with
three 13-em columns to the page. 1t will
be issued without charge or subscription
price. .,.-
Every Minnesota editors name will be
placed on the mailing list and kept there
unless the Office of Publications, Univer-
sity Farm, St. Paul. is advised to the con-
trary in any. case r.
The aim of "AMONG OURSELVES' will
be to promote the welfare of Minnesotas
newspapers by every legitimate means,
through the publication of news about the
newspapers of the state, and through the
exchange of ideas which may be consider
ed of value to the newspaper editors and
publishers. Mr.. Peck as director of exten
sion of the University Department Of Ag-
riculture, believes that his division may
ic
a.tmeans of furthering the sound rural de-
velopment of the state, confident that any
assistance given the press in the develop
ment of the service Of the press as great
educative force will be for, the good of all
rural communities and of agriculture as
the states fundamental industry.
Cooperation on the part of editors and
publishers will be; necessary in order that
"AMONG OURSELVES may get the
news and, ideas with which to make the
paper of value. -
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
NORTHWEST RAILROADS :.
/: APPLYING FOR MERGER
: (By United PreSS)

i st. Paul, Nov. f7-Railroad ex-
iecutives, today made application to
the Interstate Commerce Commission
at Washington for permission to con-
selidate, the Northern Pacific, Great
Northern - and Burlington route.
Merger of the Chicago, milwaukee
g. St. Paul road with the group is
also contemplated. ~ ~: " .''''
Plans for the merger of the North
.ern Pacific and Burlington, and the
Great Northern were talked before
the war. Then came period of
federal control and not until recent
ly were merger plans again brought
up. =. ..:...'. .,,.. ..,..x
The, proposed mergers, affecting
the entire, northwest, today held the
interest Of shippers from Chicago to
the Pacific coast.
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
MUCH ECONOMY IN BALED HAY
Convenient to Handle and Advantage
Gus in neutrality-suspicious.
Worth Extending.

A recent Investigation shows that
in some states as MANY as 10 per cent.
or more, of the farms are equipped
with l1ay-balers and in many cases the
ltay that is stored and used ON the
farm is baIed because Of the increased
economy in storage and the convent
ence in handling
While the advantages in marketing
Of hay and straw are the greatest ad.
rantages obtained thus far from ball
ing. the advantages of haling the ma
terials which are used on the place
warrant considering and the practice
is worth extending.
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17

went to Pine River Saturday return
ing to their homes Monday.
Mr.. A. S. Grover left Sunday for
near Wilton where he will be en-
ployed on the new state road which
is being built to Red Lake.
Mrs E. P. Crone miller was a guest
of her MOTHER: Mrs. G. W. Day, on
Tuesday Of this week.
Basketball, which will be one of
the chief amusements the coming
winter for the Northern school child
rem has been organized, two games
a week will be enjoyed by the play
ers. :: go
Mr.. Ross Anderson arrived Sum-
day morning from Wales, N. D.
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
MRS. E. Y, WILSON'S FATHER
PASSES AT MINNEAPOLIS

! Word has been received here OF
the death Of J. C. johnson of Mimi
eapolis; father Of Mrs. E. Y. Wilson
Of this. city. Mrs. Wilson left for
Minneapolis Wednesday night, but
her father died before she reached
there Mr.. Wilson leaves tonight
to attend the funeral. Death was
caused by paralysis.
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17

We can help start the new year
right by giving Christmas gifts Of little
pin trees to our women and girl
friends. Two corks and a florists pin,
sharpened at both ends, make the
foundation for the pin tree Illustrated
The large cork-of wood-is painted
green and the smaller cork is gilded:
They are Joined by the long pin, and
into the gilded cork many pins, with
colored heads, are thrust, to form a
tree. A. band of baby ribbon, tied
about the larger cork, holds small
safety pins.
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
THE SHIP SUBSIDY

With practically every foreign nation
subsidizing it's shipping in some way, the
great protectionist nation--the United
States-lets it's shipowners fight their own
international battle unaided, while their
competitors enter the fray armed with
lower wage costs, lower insurance rates,
lower carrying charges Of all kinds: The
Shipping Bill pending in Congress sets out
to correct this and to put the American
shipowner more nearly on parity with
his opponent. Does it?
S--s .~
NJ Clemenceau is coming to the United
States, he says, accompanied by his cane
and hat. It isn't every public man who is
that fortunate in picking his own company.
kansas City Star. =, +r.*' 80:
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
the Earl Huggett home.

the Earl Huggett home.
A community sing was held at the
hall Tuesday evening. A short pro-
gram was enjoyed after which games
were played and refreshments were
served. The crowd was not as large
as usual on account of the bad wealth.
er, but all who were in attendance
reported fine time.
Mrs. John Knoll was a guest of
Mrs. f. R. Moulton, Monday.
Messrs. G. w. Day and Len Gould
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
AA.Sssr . So = y.
! NORTHERN

Mr.. H. S. Hackett of Window,
Mimi, arrived last Wednesday and
is the guest of his brother-in-law, b.
X. -Moulton.3 ,.i.& 5t%
Mrs. Frank Deming is spending
several days at the home of her
brother, Frank Anderson of Bagley:
Mrs. Ora Whiting and baby and
Miss Agnes were Monday guests at
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
HUEsGEN JEWELRY STORE
MOVES. TO- MINNESOTA AVE

W. H.. Huesgen, who has conduct
ed jewelry store il the Markham
hotel building for the. past several
weeks, has leased the, building at 31S
Minnesota avenue, formerly occupied
by the Ganter Bakery, and has NOV
ed his stock to the new location. The
building has. been redecorated and re
modelled and the store will have very
attractive quarters in the new loca-
ton. III.
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
DEAN WALKER GIVES FINE
TALK AT EPISCOPAL CHURCH

"A very interesting: address was
given last evening by Dean. Walker
Of the Cathedral of Duluth at the
Episcopal church. The church is
putting on a programme raise a fund
Of So ], 600, 900 in Che snexta three years
for missionary work;JiTf$7 100000 to
be raised each year! aSFhose who at
tended last evening freport having
heard very mastery address.
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
. A Literary Accident.

Some members of a club. were talk
ing Of fellow member noted for his
precision of speech and writing.
But" said one, ""he met with an
accident the other day. r..
: "An accident! Why, what do you
mean?" ~
"The poor chap, dropped into the
vernacular, bumped against a hard
one and split an infinltive"
The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-11-17
Holiday Closing Schedule

Agreed upon by the Merchants Trade Com
mittee of the Civic & Commerce Association
Bemidji.
THANKSGIVING
CHRISTMAS
NEW YEARS
Closed all day.
MEMORIAL DAY-Close at 10 a. m. for the
balance of the day.
day. =, go
of the day.
ARMISTICE DAY-Cose at IL a. m. for the
balance of the day..
Stores will be kept open the night before each
holiday to accommodate the public.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-26
ENJOIN LEADERS
OF STATE PARTY

BEDFORD. Ind. July 25-(By L
p. )-Democratic leaders Of the state
and OF the third congressional dis
trict were temporarily enjO!ned N
circuit court here today from se-
lecting a successor 70 John ".
Ewing who died while the partys
nom.ne for congress.
The injunction was granted 10
Robert c. Brown. defeated by
Ewing In the primary. who sought
the nomination az Ewings death
Democratic state chairman. district
chairman and chsirmen OF every
county in the district were named
defendant and the injunction was
made returnable in the Septem Der
term OF court.
South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-26

Charlottesville adopts
C1y-PIdnning Policy

WHO RDSVILLE Ind. July
l5.-CraWf0rdsville the home Of
Gen Lew Wallace. author OF Ben
HuT" and Of Wabash college. bear
ing a wide reputation as a small
vity Of culture. refinement and beau
". may become an deal city OF
TX De streets. boulevards. beautiful
ttees. carefully planned additions
and restricted business and manu-
featuring districts II plans outlined
by- the neTly-created city plan com
n .er-on naterfshze. The new com
mission az is first meeting since the
adoption ~ an ordinance by the
city council authorized Mayor Earl
Berry 20 appoint such body.
The members or the commission
as named by the mayor are all
men wh0 have been actively ldentl-
fed WITH the best interests OF tho
city for many years and who have
been instrumental in the initiation
OF Charlottesville people 10 the
idea Of city planning. They are
Frank c. Evans: G. b Luckett.
Prof J. A. Cragwau. city engineer
and for Is years head Of the depart
ment OF mathematics Of Wabash COL
.ege; Ralph Clements city council
man, l. @ Fisher; Walter O'Neall.
and " c. Murphy
Complete development plans for
Crawfordsville as drawn last winter
for the Charlottesville park board
by O. + Isley and =. IT Sanders Of
the city planning department Of
Purdue university. have been sub
mitted 20 the commissioners FOR
their approval