davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Famous Egyptian Statue
Was Originally Monolith

The statue of Memnon is situated
near Thebes in Egypt. 1t is sixty feet
in height and commonly known as the
Vocal Memnon." 1t stands on the
left bank of the Nile, and with its
companion was erected in honor of
Amenoph III of the Eighteenth dy-
nasty, in front of his now vanished
temple. 1t was originally monolith,
but. having been overthrown either by
Cambyses or by the earthquake of %
B. c., the upper part was restored by
means of sandstone blocks. Accord
ing to ancient tradition, this statue
when first touched by the rays of the
rising sun, emitted a musical tone, like
the swapping of harp-string, which
the imaginative Greeks concluded was
the voice of Memnon greeting his
mother Eas tthe DAWN. Strabo. who
visited this statue about 18 B. c., was
the first to mention it.
'sThese sounds were said
to be produced either by priest hid
den in the Colossus or by the expan-
sion of fissured portions under the in
fiuence of the suns rays. Though
many celebrated persons of antiquity
such as Strabo, Aelius, Callus and
Hadrian-testifed as to hearing this
peculiar music, its particular charac-
ter and cause have never been salts
sactorily explained. "Ac-
tual Africa"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Says Coffee Fruit Is
Similar to q Cherry

''It Is doubtful If in all nature there
is more cunningly devised food
package than the fruit of the coffee
tree" says William II. Ukers in "All
About Coffee" 1.-THE Tea and Coffee
Journal company, New York;. He
describes it infinitely as follows:
"The coffee fruit is very like
cherry, though somewhat elongated
and having in its upper end small
umbilicus. But mark with what IN
genuity the package has been con-
structed. The outer wrapping is a
thin, gossamerlike skin which incloses
a soft pulp, sweetish to the taste, but
of muciiaginous consistency. This
pulp in turn is wrapped about the
inner seal, called the parchment be-
cause of its tough texture.
The parchment incloses the magic
bean in its last wrapping, delicate
silver-colored skin, not unlike fine
spun silk or the sheerest of tissue
paper. And this last wrapping is 50
tenacious, so true to its guardianship
function, that no amount of rough
treatment can dislodge it altogether;
for parts of it cling to the bean even
In the roasting and grinding pro-
cesseS."
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Ansuities Were Issued in
Eoyly Bobvlcrs.an Times

Historically annuities antedate life
insurance by far. 1t is thought that
the great development of banking IA
cilities In Assyria and Babylonia must
have provided annuities. The FIRST
definite mention Of them, however,
was 40 B. G. In Rome, and is Of sssch
Z character as to justify belief that
they had been long in use.
In the Middle ages, kingdoms, mu-
inequalities and bankers obtained
money by selling annuities for life or
terms Of years. 1t Is said that Erg-
lands national existence during the
wars Of William Of Orange was large
" maintained through the money OBJ
tanned by selling annuities. At first
the values Of such contracts were de.
termined without scientific calcula-
ten; after a while the Northampton
mortality table vas compiled and used
as a basis, and later the Carlisle
table, but both these bases were faI
too favorable to the annuities.
Several British companies took ad
vantage Of the very low price at which
their government granted annuities
and purchased many on the lives Of
sturdy farmers. but payable to theil
corporate selves, and thus made large
profits In 1919 an English actuary
warned the government tnat 1t wal
losing $4,000 a month, but he was mo-
needed until 1927, when another &C
tuary announced that the government
was losing $4,000 a week, and ther
the sale Of annuities was stopped af
ter an estimated total loss Of EDS. coo,
oO0.-World's Work.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
ANESTHETIc USED IN 22o A. d.
chinese Remedy Known as Ma Vac
Was Extracted From india Hemp
Centuries Ago.

An anesthetic the effects Of which
We're Ike those OF ether or chlorofornl,
was used In China in go A. D., BY the
surgeon Hsoua-t'ouo. This Is estab-
lished beyond doubt by the text OF
hou kin vi tong, which was brought
20 the attention Of the Academy Of
sciences in 1s49: by Stanislas Julien.
The Chinese anesthetic. known as
ma yao-that IL to say, "the remedy
which takes away feeling''-was ex-
tracted from INDIAN hemp, which also
yields hasheesh.
The old Chinese rext tells Us !.
"Haoua-t'cuo gave dose Of ma yao
70 the patient. who asfew minutes lat
er became unconscious Is, as
ulough he were deprived Of life. As
the case demanded. Hscua-t'ouo would
operate upon the person or amputate
and remove the cause Of sickness
Then he would draw. the Tissues to
getner at the pafnt Of incision ana
apply ligatursk.
After a few days the siok man
was on his feet again without havits
Ieif the llesf tteIh lasx5hs the cpsS1-
ton ~ zpkS l6InsI As1ia
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Obtain Paint Remover
by Processing Corncobs

Furfural Is the aldehyde OF furfuran
and Is obtained from the processing
OF corncobs. The corncobs and water
are placed in an autoclaye and steam
at about $50 pounds pressure is admit
ted and the mixture is permitted to
digest for about two hours, after
which the furfural Is blown OF by
steam, condensed and collected. The
furfural Is then separated from the
water by distillation. The yield is
about 120 pounds Of furfural from one
ton Of corncobs, or approximately g
per cent.
Furfural has an agreeable odor and
Dolls at q temperature above 100 de-
grees @. Its boiling point IL the
same az that of turpentine. This
makes furfural much less danger
Gus substance than some of the SOL
vents that are used in paint and var.
nish removers. 1t also obyiates the
necessity Of weighing the solvent with
wax. as 1t svaporates slowly enough to
DO Its work thoroughly. Furthermore.
II does not injure the surface under.
meath. When smeared over a surface
II evaporates after a while, but II
shows a tendency to form drops. This
disadvantage may be removed by the
addition Of 20 per cent Of solvent
naphtha. BY the addition of wood
OIL the viscosity Of the furfural is in
creased.-Scientifc American
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Always a Gamble

The uncertainty of the cotton market
Is Illustrated by the following CONVEX
sation overheard between two negroes
in Texas town:
George displaying roll of bills)-
See here, Sam, Abs been on de boahd
dis mornin'.
Sam-Ah sees. But you won't have
1t tomorrah You can't never tell about
dis cotton market. It's liable to go up,
or its liable TO do down, or it's liable
to duct Jate Outlook Magazine.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
First Europeans in Panama

The first Europeans to visit the
Isthmus of Panama were those who,
under the leadership of Rodrigo de
Bastides, sailed from Cadiz in October,
1900. yasco Nunez de Balboa was
among them. The records of this ex-
petition are meager, but ii is known
that they picked up the mainland of
South America near Trinidad and
ccasted westward past the Gulf of Da-
rien and along the Isthmus as far as
NoHahre de Dios.
The letters of "Lettera Rarissima dl
Cristoforo Colombo" an Italian YER
sion of dispatch from the great dis
coverer to Ferdinand and Isabella con
tains the earliest account of the 18TH
mus in existence. He wrote this let
ter while shipwrecked on the coast of
Jamaica at the end of his fourth and
last voyage to the Indies.-Detroit
News.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
The Old Almanac

Advertisement was not always the
chief function of almanacs. They
were first of all, calendars of the days
and months. the changes of the moon.
and Of other astronomical happenings.
-les led a widespread demand
for w Ter lore, Its truth or untrutb
being of l. nor consideration. To that
were added literary and informative
features. "Poor Richard enjoyed
wide popularity and was famous by
reason Of his homely wisdom. Last,
but not least, 1t held high place as the
family joke book, the excellence of its
witticisms being often proved by their
longevity. In many backwoods pi-
oneer home the annual almanac was
the sole literary refuge, taking the
place of all other books, and never
perhaps, was any other book or perl
ea' SO read. re-read and digested.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Gold in Mission Altar
Proves Old Mines Existed

Perhaps the most concrete cyl
dence today, pointing to the reality of
the legends Of early civilization In the
Southwest is the altar OF San Xavier
mission, conducted at the present time
by Catholic sisters for the relief Of
the sick and needy among the Indians
For several hundred years the mission
was a cathedral and 1t Is situated q
few miles outside of the city of Tue
son, Ariz. The altar is inlaid with
virgin gold, and pure gold was beaten
Into the masonry and decorations Of
the chancel when it was constructed
early in the Seventeenth century.
The records Of the mission, which
have been carefully kept for genera
dons, show that the gold was brought
by Indians from the Canada del Ofo,
where 1t was mined under the direc-
ton of Spanish priests. In fact, the
old trail by which the precious metal
was transported on mules backs still
exists and leads directly from the
cathedral into Canada del Orc and
then loses itself in desert wastes.
The Apaches attacked the mission
about one hundred years ago and drove
away the priests For several years
the Indian tribes used the building as
a stable, but they did not touch the
altar Of gold. It Is believed that thsy
had no interest In gold intrinsically,
for their medicine men are thought to
have had, even at that late date, COM
plete information about rich deposits
OF desert gold.-New York Tribune.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
'Iaue to Let Himself In

Bridget and Michael had been mar
.ied barely three months. and already
Niche ell had on two occasions arrived
home in the early hours of the morn
ing. This did not suit Bridget, as on
each occasion she had to come down
to admit him.
Michael was looking forward to
spending the evening of this particular
day In having a flew sociable ones
with the boys" and this Bridget knew.
"Now, look here she said to her
husband at the breakfast table, "it
was two O'Clock the following morning
when We came home the other night
bit since. 1t was two o'clock the
following morning when We came home
last night. But I want to be telling
We that If it's two o'clock In the MORN
ing when We come home tonight-or
any other night In the morning-you'll
have to get up and let yourself ini"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Why Blinks Had to Reach
Home on Schedule Time

Promptly as the Office clock struck
five Blinks with unusual rapidity pre-
pared to start for home.
As he hustled into his overcoat and
made for the door his desk mate
raised surprised head. what" he
said, In hurry again tonight? It's
six nights now you've rushed home
- lhx and haven't waited for soda
re old stand. I'm beginning to
I've offended you, or something
ike tAat."
Ne Bll1ks laughed. you haven't
3ar5 ms. sensitive soul, but the fact is
lills. Ne'ge cot j cook up at the house
aosy, Sid while the missus didn't mind
ng rolling in late the cook won't stay
3ialess ] arrive every evening on time"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
A Faulty Recovery

Norman has made his last appear
ance in the social whirl for this sea.
son. or at least until certain matron
by the name of Curtis has had time
to cool off and let her better, forgfving
nature assert itself
1t happened at a dance at the club,
Norman found that he had a certain
dance with Mrs. Curtis. Mrs. Curtis
Is considerably above the average In
weight. Then, on top of this fact, she
did not dance well. Now, Norman dis
likes fat women and detests to dance
with poor dancers. So he proposed to.
Mrs. Curtis that they sit out the dance.
They were watching the other dane
ers, when Norman rather absently, as
much to make some effort at CONVEX
sation as anything, observed:
Isn't Miss Rodgers pEettyf So
tall, and slender, and gracefulps
"oh, suppose So" Mrs. Curtis
agreed, rather grudgingly.
Then Norman realized the Implied
comparison and blurted out:
'sOh, but like fat women, tool"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
She Distrusted Real
Mofiue of Bows Visit

In the family that had moved next
door to the Smiths was a boy about
seven years old. The Smiths had a
little girl, Virginia, just the same age.
Everyone expected the two children to
become playmates at once, but almost
week passed before they noticed
each other. Then the boy came over
to play with Virginia. Virginia, how
ever, Immediately went into the house.
why, what's the matter, Virginia p
her mother asked. Il thought you had
been wanting to play with the new
boy"
well, I did at first" Virginia adj
mitted, but don't care so much about
1t now. at least, not today"
"Why don't you want to play with
him?' mother asked.
'Oh, mammal" Virginia exclaimed.
Hes had whole week to come over
here and hasn't done 1t. Now I've got
a nickel TO spend for candy and l
don't care whether he comes or not p
Exchange.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
JOB PRINTING
Executed Promptly AT The
HERALD OFFICE.
Killing Courtesy

The following is story told BY 81.
]. Byron and retold by Harry Furniss,
Of costermonger who thought he
would enjoy his holiday taking a walk
through the West End. Yes, Mr..
Byron, / dress myself up stiff, and
goes up Regency street. was a.
lookin' at some photographs in shop
winder when a swell bloke wild lydy
on his arm gives me a shove and sends
my cad clean through that ERE winder.
Did cuss and swear7 Did I use bad
langvidge? No. remembered were
was, so with the blood all a-stream-
In down my face, rose my at grace
ful an says, I beg your parding.'
That's all says. beg your parding.'
crushed Inn with breedin' !"--Ar.
gonaut
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
China Wood Oil From Nut.

Tung or China wood oil is an i'm
portant raw material In the manufae-
ture of varnishes, wall paints and
enamels, and is largely used by the
linoleum and printing ink Industries.
1t is nearly colorless, quick drying
elastic, and very tough. The oil is
pressed from a nut that grows on
tung trees of two species which are
hardy, deciduous, and about 20 feet
high.
In China 1t is used chiefly to pre-
serve the thousands Of boats that ply
the waterways of that country.
For transport, the oil is put In bas-
kets lined with 10 thicknesses of var
nished paper, each holding about 100
pounds of oil. These baskets are
brought to small city or market place
in the interior. where they are pur-
chased by representatives of export
ers.-Detroit News.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Plains of Abraham,

The heights near Quebec overlook
ing the ST. Lawrence river took their
name from Abraham Martin, Cana
dian pioneer Of Scotch descent who
was a pilot on the St. Lawrence In
the time of Samuel Champlain, foun-
der of the city. By a deed author
lied by Champlain himself Abraham
Martin, who was affectionately known
as .'Maitre Abraham obtained a
homestead ON the heights of Quebec.
His herds of sheep and cattle grazed
On the tableland along the st. Law
renee which became known among the
Inhabitants of the town as the Plains
of Abraham. In 1908 part of the
Heights of Abraham were converted
into a Canadian national park.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20

n early days the wooden saflins
ships gagged In the whaling industry
y southern seas pursued only right
whales and sperm whales, or cacha-
lots The so-called ..inners," such as
the blue whale. the largest animal In
the world; the finner whale, the small
Msh whale, and the humpback, were
I'll too active and sank too quickly
when killed. But their turn has now
come, for the whale gun ia q finely
fashioned cannon, the harpoon carries
2 shell, and the body Of the whale Is
kept aAoat by Initiating 1T with air
through pipes from the engine room
q me whaler. The rendering ID now
done b . factory on shore, or In !
special large vessel moored In the har.
Dor. Besides the whalebone, which no
longer pays well or at all, and the OH.
which Ia graded into qualities AZ II
comea from the blubber, the fat Of the
fonsus and kidneys. the flesh and
bones and the refuse, there remain
tbs dried lesh and bones, which are
now also put to commercial use. The
fresh nesh = used to make whals mat
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Plant 5000, 900 Years Old

The horsetail rush or its ancestors
dates back some 100000 years, to
the day when the world was uninhab-
tied by human life. 1t is one of the
ten species of the sole genus Of plants
that has survived from the carbon
ferrous era, when its forbears reared
their majestic heads to a height OF
ninety feet and more en- stumps six
feet thick. The plants OF this era
ceased growing many millions OF
years ago, when the world was swept
by oceans which buried forests. but
for more than half a century they
have provided the. greatest agent OF
modern industrial development ana
have been the bone of contention. I'M
der the alias of coal, in many fed
eral investigation. 1t has the oldest
genealogy Of any living thing.-De-
troit News.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Finds Song of English
Cicoda Very Pleasing

If the insects named as our hest
are rare and local, or at all events
not common, what shall we say of
our cicada? Can we call him a singer
at ALI or if he be not silent, as some
think, will he ever be more to us than
figure and descriptive passage In a
Dook-a mere cicada of the mind? He
IS the most local, or has the most
ihited range, of all, being seldom
found out of the New Forest district
de was discovered there about seven
ty years ago, and Curtis. who gave
MIN the proud name of Cicada angelica.
expressed the opinion that he had no
song.
Al all events, I can say that I'M
less we have some orthopterous in
Sect OF a species unknown to me,
which sings in trees. then our cicada
does sing, and have heard ii. The
sound which / heard, and which was
new to me, came from the upper foil
age OF a large thorn tree In the New
Forest, but unfortunately 1t ceased ON
1bpioacn' ana l Ialled to ind the
singer.
Had we. in England, possessed a
striauiating mantis, which is capable
Oh slower. softer sound than any
srasshopper, l should have concluded
that | was listening to one; but there
was not, in this New Forest music.
the slightest resemblance to the ci-
cada sounds had heard In former
years. The cicadas may be s.merry
people, and they certainly had the
prettiest things said Of them by the
poets Of Greece. but | do NOT like
their brain-piercing, everlasting wbirr.
ins SOUND OF the English cicada, as
Stunning that l heard that insect was
distinctly pleasing -W. II. Hudson. In
Hampshire Days"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Insecfs Walk on Water

By virtue of their lightness, com.
bined with peculiar construction of
the feet which keeps them from becom.
ing wet, water spiders and a number
of other insects are able to walk read
iig ever sheets of water, supported by
the surface tension Of the latter. This
tension acts practically the same as a
stretched elastic membrane. 1t is suf-
iciently strong for these creatures, but
II is practically negligible so far as
asavier ones are concerned So long
as the feet and other portions of the
bodies Of water insects remain perfect
ly dry they are as safe on the surface
OF water as they would be on terra
firma, but let them once get wet and
this same membrane will quickly
prove their undoing.-The Pathfinder.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20

NO duck In America SURPRISES the
WOOD duck for beauty and variety of
color. 1t loves warm weather and pre-
cedes even the teal in its migration to
the southland. The female will occupy
the discarded nest Of any bird In a hol.
low tree or make a new one In any
suitable place near the water. She
often returns to the same nest wear
after year.
The hole which admits her to the
nest appears many times too small for
a bird of half her diameter, but she
enters with ease. When the ducklings
are ready TO swim they jump instinc-
lively into the water, II the nest be
above it, but if y be some distance
from the water, she carries them to
1t in her bill.-Detroit News.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20

One OF the serious objections many
persons have to owning a white-haired
dog Is the trouble of keeping him
clean, but the truth Is that a white
dog Is just as easy to keep clean as a
dog OF any other color. but not by con-
slant washing. The whole secret of
keeping white dog clean Is to groom
him thoroughly every day. Continu-
Gus washings ruin the texture of the
dogs hair. To make white dog look
really smart, give him a dry shampoo.
Rub him all over with a lump of or
dinary whiting or chalk. When he is
caked with the powder and looks
as If he had Deem dipped In bag of
-four, brush him vigorously so that all
the loose powder win be shaken out
and you VIII find that he Win look
cleaner than he would II you had
given him a wet bath.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20

A couple of clubmen were speaking
of a fellow member when one re-
marked:
Il dislike to say 1t. but really Regi-
maid Is the most egotisticaI young man
I have ever met"
What leads YOU to say thatY
''Why, last week on the occasion Of
his birthday he sent collect message
congratulating bis mother"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Some Arizona Flouers

Arizona deserts have their own flow
ers In places the supply is abundant,
the growth large, the flowers when in
bloom of marked beauty, the big yuc-
ca and the sotol, both members of
the lily family, showing beautiful
bloom on tall and stately stalks.
One of the interesting desert
growths is the water cactus, so named
because Of Its great stalk, from to 10
feet high and as large in circumfer-
ence as barrel 1t has heavy pulpy
covering from which 1t is possible to
squeeze goodly amounts of water. In
dams and travellers are quick to turn
to the cactus when water supplies are
short.-Columbus Dispatch.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20

During worth OF
grains dairy poultry products fruits vegetables from
than
the he arm products n
s3460o0000 With the of the
value In 1917 the total value of products 100000 in
o
OF than worth marketed by
handling
organizations
Of selling
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
Native African language

The natives Of Africa speak three
ianguages-Negroid. Hottentot-B Bush
man and Hamitic. The Hamitic lam
guage, to which ancient Egyptian be-
longed, is spoken in northern Africa.
The Observation-Disclosures is spoken by
the dwarf and pigmy tribes in the CEN
trail part Of the continent. The remain
der Of the natives speak what is known
as the Negroid tongue. All these over
lap one another and 1t cannot be said
that all the tribes OF central Africa
speak any one language. These three
languages represent many dialects and
seem to be distinct from all other sys-
TENS Of speech. At least no close re-
lation can be discovered between them
and other languages.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-06-20
TO 0Uk SUBSCRIBERS

The Post OfficeIis again makingde
mands ON publishers of newspapers te
revise their mailing lists. Under the
ruling OF the Department the publisher
will not be allowed TO mail papers as
second-class matter to subscribers who
owe for more than one year, unless
the subscriber has given instructions
to continue sending it for a definite
time and bona fide promise to paw
Because OF this law, we are compelled
to communicate with all onr subscrib.
ers and ask them TO cooperate with us
that we may put our mailing list in The
shape required.