davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Age of the Sun

The age of the sun has been fixed al
something between two billion and
three. billion years by Prof. Walter
Nernst, after researches announced at
meeting in Berlin of the Society for
Industrial Progress. The estimates
are based in part on the rate of de.
composition of radioactive elements
and in part on deductions from Elm.
STEMS theory of relatively concerning
the relation between mass and energy
Early estimates set the age of the sun
as low as ten million years, but geolo
gists showed this was too short to al.
low for the erosion and other changes
observed in the crust of the earth
since it became solid. The radioactive
decomposition of uranium to lead is a
more accurate opsmic clock, and this
indicates that the solid crust of the
earth has existed for at least one and
one-half billion years. According tc
Nernst. the sun. while getting past
middle age, is still good for 400,00000C
years, after which a crust will foria on
fits surface and life such-as we know II
will cease upon the earth.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Old Documents Indicate
:. Chinese Found America

In 1761 the distinguished sinologist,
De Guiges, published q paper which
he had found in the works of early
Chinese historians, In which appeared
the statement that in the Fifth cen
fury certain travellers of their race
had discovered country which they
called "Fu-sang." which from the dis
lance and direction described by them
appears to have been northwest Amer
lea. The original document, according
to the author of "Fu-sang, or the Dis
eovery of America by Chinese Priests
in the Fifth Century" was the report
Of the priest-missionary, Hosli-ShiD,
IN the year 400 A. D., who returned
from long journey to the East. Tile
report was entered in the year book
Of the Chinese empire. and while the
evidence offered is limited, 1t has
every appearance of being a serious
state document.
Archie Bell, in his Sunset Canada !:
British Columbia and Beyond" says
there is history of Vancouver island
that is elouded in the vapor and in
eense of China. The stranger or the
native" of Vancouver island quickly
and constantly observes the resem-
blance of the Indians TO the Chinese
and japanese. Merely circImstantial
evidence would point to very early
visits of Chinese voyagers to this coast
whether intent on voyages of discov
cry, or in ships driven across the Pa
cific by storms is matter of specu-
lation. Chinese junks and vessels were
blown across the Pacific as late az
the last century, and the sailors cap
tured and enslaved by the Indians
Detroit News
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
.ssge instructor Finds
Mixer Earns More Money

Who has the greater income after
college years-the scholar or the mix.
er? How rates the student of chemis.
try? One answer is given by an In
structor in the University of Michigan
He has prepared a sort of alumni
Who's who and for how much.
The scope of his inquiry is not
known, but his compilation points to
the conclusion that in the ten-year
period since graduation, high scholar
ship men have reached an average
annual income of $1,000, with men
prominent in extra-curriculum activ.
tiles placed at an average of $4,000
a year. A word of explanation goes
along with the figures Says the in
structor:
The statistics do not prove that the
men of the highest grade are incapa
BILE of earning big money-they mere
iy show these men do not prefer lines
Of work which are most lucrative.
SO we conclude that those who
wooed the lamp in college are reward
ed in the measure set by their choice
of career, and that those who wooed
other flames have come to more
golden fortune. Scholars or mixers
young men in college all have their
oil cans. Some there be who burn
their oil, and some there be who mere
ly spread 1t, but oils well that ends
well.-Nation's Business.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Lord Didn't See Much to
Admire in Wordsworth

Wordsworth is held up for the de-
risive gaze of future generations In the
Journal of the fourth Lord Holland,
published in London.
His lordship was q languid young
man of fashion, who employed part Of
his leisure in the early days of the
Nineteenth century in keeping rather
dull journal into ,ehieh the unlordly
public is at length permitted to gaze,
says the Living Age.
One paragraph, scrawled on the eve
ming of March IS, 1902, suffices, how
ever, to redeem the journal, for, the
more important topic of food being
safely disposed of. Lord Holland be-
slows three aristocratic sentences on
Wordsworth:
"Dined at the BIS. A very dull af-
fair. We had. however, asperges, a
rarity at this season. Lady B. in
formed me that these, as well as the
pommes de terre, were sent direct from
the estate. Over the wine talked with
young Mr. WORDSWORTH pompous,
conceited kind of young nan, and q
poet. He belongs to the new school of
ranttng, canting, Commanding yapor-
lists. One has to meet very odd people
sometimes"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Giant Thistle, Grol0n
on Cost, in Demand


Among the profitable crops grown
by Californians in the region Of San
Francisco is a giant Mediterranean
species of thistle. Soil and climate
there seem to be exactly suited to its
needs, says the Pathfinder Magazine.
Attempts to grow il elsewhere have
invariably resulted in failure. Like
tile thistles with which all are IA
miIiar, it has formidable spines, only
they are longer and more cruel than
the average. 1t has large purple
flower, so sweet scented that bees find
1t irresistible. Rarely. however, are
the buds allowed to develop into flow
ers, for the buds are esteemed as a
table delicacy, being harvested and
sold as s'artichokes."
A quarter apiece for the buds is
not an unusual price in San Francisco
and at that they take precedence over
the finest oranges. raisins apricots,
ETC., for the growers craftily time their
development so that they may be mar
kefed just at the psychological mo-
ment, so to speak-that is, in midwin-
ter, when there is little else OF the
same nature to compete with them.
This is done by cutting back the
plants in June, pruning them down ito
the ground. Within a short time new
shoots appear. Then If plant 1000
and water are supplied in sufficient
abundance the long sunshiny days
bring about ideal development.
The bud harvest begins in October
and reaches its peak about the first
Of April.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24

There is NO game today, with
longer history and one so consistently
romantic as that of polo. Over 100
years ago polo was first observed in
Persia by early European travellers,
like Sir William Ouseley and Sir An
thony Shirley. The latter quoted his
forerunner, the Italian Pietro della
Vale who in 1913, had found polo
under the patronage of Shah Abbas.
and remarked that 1T was fayorite
recreation of kings and chiefs, and
originally. l believe, considered as al
most peculiar TO illustrious person
ages The French traveller Chardin
says the Persians played with 80 or
40 on side, though the Persian min
iatures remind US that even then three
or four-sided teams were common. An
other traveller calls it 1.-THE game of
Canes"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Can't Classify Bacteria

Scientists are still trying to deter
mine whether bacteria are animals or
plants. When these ubiquitous organ.
isms were first discovered they were
described as animalcules. The layman
still insists on calling them bugs
Haeckel once proposed placing them
along with lower plants and animals
difficult to classify In a new classified
ton, "protista." The new tendency is
to assign these heterogeneous to the
plant world. They resemble some of
the algae in form, mode of reproduc-
ton and absence Of definite nucleus;
yet those which possess fiagella show
points of resemblance with some Of
the protocol. Bacteria closely resem.
bic plants from the chemical stand.
point in possessing marked chemo-syn.
thetic power in nitrogen metabolism,
leading to the production of such com.
plex compounds as amino-acids and
pufins from no other source of nitro
gen than ammonia.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Eorfhwornas Valuable

Earthworms play very important
part in the formation of soil Indeed
Charles Darwin demonstrated that
they are of incalculable. value to az
riculture. Angleworms feed on vege-
fable matter exclusively and in bur-
rowing they take more or less earth
into the alimentary canal where it
is mixed with the vegetable food of
the worm. Nearly all of this passes
out with the castings which are al
ways voided on the surface. Thus the
worms are continually engaged in
spreading a natural compost" over
the land. The process is called the
formation of vegetable mold which is
fertile both because Of its compo-
sition and because the worms keep
it stirred up and well aerated. OF
course many other creatures are ben
efciai in the formation of soil. but the
earthworms are the most Important
Pathfinder Magazine.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Hard-Working Burglar
Forced to DratD Line

Bert met his old friend Bill the Bur-
glar and the two got chatting about
things in general.
Il hear you've left your WIFE" re-
marked Bert presently. "Why did you
do thatT'
Because she was always wantin'
me-to do somethin'," snarled the bur-
glar moodily.
What do you mean?" asked his
friend
mo matter how busy or tired / was,
she was always naggin' me to do some.
thin for her. AT last, one night, II
was too much
aHow was that?p said the other. in
terested.
well, came in about three O'Clock
in the morning." explained Bill, "all
worn out from doing too much work.
had opened two strong boxes and
finished up by fcrcing a couple, of
safes. TO say nothing of vault l
ratled earlier in the evening. An
l.sttl when got in, what do you sup
pose hat woman wanted me to do?"
WHAT"
"As l stand here, it's truel" growled
Bill the Burglar 'She wanted me to
open a box of sardines for her."-Lon-
don Answers.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Boy Was Right There
After Job He Wanted

He was clean-cut, wide-awake
young chap and he wanted a job.
i have nothing at present" said the
corporation manager, but leave your
name and il anything turns up you
win be notified
May l ask if you have made the
same promise TO many Others" said
the applicant.
Yes, quite a few" was the repis
The boy grinned and remarking that
1t was no monopoly he went out.
A few days later young man was
needed in hurry ana seven tele-
grams were dispatched to seven wait
ing applicants. Hardly had these left
the secretary's office when in walked
Johnny ON the Spot. holding his tele-
gram.
How in the world did you get it?"
gasped the executive.
well, SIR he answered, "the other
day as | was going out stopped and
got job as errand boy. / thought i
would be a good plan to be where
could get the news quicker than the
others"
You'll dor said the manager
Boston Transcript.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Locate Leaks

An automatic leak Indicator for
ships consists of a number of small
cast-iron boxes screwed to the bulk
head Of each compartment and set at
predetermined distances, enc above an.
other. In each box there Is an cleo
trieal contrivance connected with an
indicator board, either on the bridge
or ia some other convenient place.
The board is fitted with q number of
small glow lamps of different colors,
and Is connected with an alarm bell.
When water rises to the level Of the
lowest box 1t makes an electrical con-
tact, by which the lamp correspond.
ing to the height Of the bulkhead that
the box indicates is lighted and so
remains until the next box is reached
BY the water, when the second lamp
Is lighted. Meanwhile the bell rings
continuously until shut OF.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Obseruont japanese Lady

A japanese woman has given to a
newspaper her reasons for always ap-
plying the feminine gender to ships,
motors, trains, ETC.: "Yes, they call
she for many becauses: They wear
jackets with yokes, pins, hangers,
straps, shields, stays. They have
apron. also cap. They have not only
shoes but have pumps. Also hose and
drag train behind behind time all
time. They attract men with puffs
and mufflers. Some time they foam
refuse to work when at such time they
should be switched. They need guild
ing-it always require man manager
They require man to feed them. When
abuse are given they quickly make
scrap. They are steadier when coupled
up but my cousin say they h-ll of ex-
pense."
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
WELSH ARE PEOPLE APART
Have Less Connection With England
Than Those of Scotland and
ireland.

Wales is the territory in the west Of
the Island of Great Britain lying be-
tween the mouth of the Dee and the
Bristol channel. It Is inhabited by a
distinct race, the descendants of the
ancient Britons who took refuge In the
mountains and dales of Western Great
Britain at the time of the Anglo-Saxon
invasion.
These "Welshmen" tforeignersl. a.
the English call them, or Cymru as
they call themselves are not only diff
ferent from the English in language.
customs, religious life, culture, In fact,
In all that goes to make up national
personality, but are actually more
widely sundered from their. English
neighbors than are either the Scots to
the north Of them or the Irish to the
farther west-Alfred q. zimmesn IN
me Century Magazine.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Builds Miniature Rail
Line on Country Estate

W. Cecil Gage, retired broker, Of
Tshkill. N. T.. has just completed =
two-mile miniature railway system,
which he has constructed with his
own hands entirely from odds and
ends found lying about his estate.
The tracks and switches were
made from the floor beams and the
cars and locomotive from the parti-
lions of dismantled farm buildings
Ashes from the family furnace served
Hs ballast for the tracks. A gasoline
motor to run the locomotive and
wheels for locomotive and cars are
the only parts Of the system that are
not homemade.
Mr.. Gage began constructing his lit
lie road five years ago In order to
supply himself with an easy way
of dIsposIng of ashes. He has heen
steadily adding to 1t since then until
now he has two miles of track, five
passenger cars, two fiat cars, freight
car, eight switches. four crossings
equipped with warning signs, turn
table, a snowplow and half dozen
stations. At night and during severe
weather a long chicken house serves
as a "roundhouse" for the protection
Of the rolling stock.
The road is used to carry farm
products, firewood and similar mate
rails about the estate as well as to
take the children of Ffshkill and the
surrounding towns for joyriding. Mr..
Gage estimates his yearly mileage as
something above 10000. The tiny
cars attain a speed of 20 miles an hour
or more on straight runs, and, al.
though several thousand persons
have been carried as passengers
there never has been an accident
Popular Science.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Paper Razor Strop

Ordinary newspapers folded togeth-
.er in a thick strip and held between
wire clips make satisfactory substi-
tute for a regular leather razor strop.
according to European inventor,
Popular Mechanics Magazine reports.
The ink on the paper is said to assist
in giving keen, non-pulling edge and
consequently smooth shave. A fresh
strop can be prepared in few mo-
ments and it is especially convenient
for the traveller and camper.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Horey Once Main SsDeet

II is only within the last few cen
turtles that sugar has become known,
and within the last generation or so
that refined sugars have become so
low IN price that they may be com
monty used In the poorest families.
Formerly honey was the principal
sweet, and 1t was one of the items
sent as a propitiatory offering by ia
cob to his unrecognized son. the chief
ruler OF Egypt 1900 years before the
drst sugar refinery was built
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Franklin Set STYLE

When .Eighteenth-century Paris was
still wearing the picturesque three
cornered hat Benjamin Franklin came
to represent the new republic of the
United States, wearing on his head a
queer thing derived from the steeple
crowns of the Puritan Pilgrim fathers.
Paris copied it and turned it into the
cylinder which Christendom has worn
ever since, says the Detroit News.
In the Eighteenth century when par
tisans of France and of Russia were
fighting it out in Sweden the French
faction wore hats, the Russians caps
The Middle ages, as a familiar ballad
reminds US, knew a Pilgrim by his
cookie hat"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Drinking Toast Dates
Back to Pagan Times

Just as nutmeg, spices and so on are
sometimes-pu into such drink
as punch" SO in the olden days
common custom was to slip mite Of
toasted bread into glass of ale with
the idea that the taste was thereby
improved And so it came about that
a drink was called a toast.
The custom of drinking to someone
really dates from the old pagan days
when sacrifices used to be made to
the gods. Later on an offering Of wine
was made instead, its red color typi-
flying the actual blood of the real
sacrifice. Later still men made theii
offerings not to the gods but In honor
of a friend. So our ancestors wetila
drink a glass or toast In honor a.
someone, and the person honored was
as often as not called toast for short
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Killing croeodils.

A double-bladed dagger Is used By
African natives In the marshes OF the
zambesi and other localities In killing
crocodiles. The native approaches the
animal. and when the latter opens his
Jaws to seize him. he springs forward,
thrusts his arm and the knife far into
the yawning mouth. holding 1t there a
moment. one end pointing up to tho
brain, the other to the tongue be
meath, says Adventure Magazine.
As the jaws close he il able to pun
back his arm, the mouth being pried
open. and throw himself to one side.
At each effort to close its Jaws Ii
drivss the sharp point Of the upper
knife further into the brair, onHl \
dias n IT. struggles
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Out of Proportion

A spider enlarged to the size Of car
would be helpless, even If the relative
proportions of all its parts were re
tanned. Its legs would bend and break
under the weight of Its body because
the muscular strength would have In
creased only as the square of the mus
cles' dimensions. while the body's
weight would have Increased as the.
cube Of Its parts The fly with Its rel
atively powerful legs easily walks up
ward over a vertical wall Make It 100,
or even 80 times as large, and its mus
cles could not begin to hold It In this
way against the force Of gravity.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Works of Art in Copper

Copper ornaments that were made
between $500 and 5000 years ago are
dug up near Ur. city of ancient Baby
lonia. Made thousands of years be-
fore King Tut was born, these copper
ornaments are among the earliest
works Of art. They express the in
fancy of the creative spirit. The Baby
lonian copper objects represent men
and oxen. In addition to being art,
they were intended as history of ac-
complishmenl rain motive Of which
Is vanity. Farm and Fireside.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Courtesy

Courtesy is the one medium Of ex-
change that is always accepted at par
by the people of every country on the
globe. Courtesy radiates a spirit Of
good feeling and suggests that we are
not working entirely for the material
returns of work, but for the pleasure
of friendly human association as WELL
Life is not too short and we are never
too busy to be courteous. Courtesy
Is the outward expression of an In
ward consideration for others, and Is
always an effective lubricant that
smooths business and social relation
ships. eliminating ctior.-Trolley
Items.
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24

"What are you studying nowr
asked Mrs. johnson.
I'VE have taken up the subject Of
MOLECULES" answered the son.
II hope you will be very attentive
and practice constantly" said the
mother. II tried to get your father
to wear one. but he could not keep It
In his eye"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Wants 'Em Eliminated

"Of course. If you don't care for
those towers" explained the archi-
'ect, 1--WE can easily have them elm
mated" 49,.
Mr.. Bullion-Bagge furrowed his
brows and pulled out his cheeks. Then
he looked up from the plans.
Him. he grunted. 'sThey look
real handsome as they are, but If you
think 'liminatin' 'em will make 'em
any 'andsomer, then, SEE, let's ave
en- Eliminated"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Full Explcnnfion

$50 you were caught red handed
counterfeiting ten-doIlar bills?" said
the police magistrate What have
you to say for yourself?"
Il am not malicious counterfeiter,
and | should never have been arrest
ed, replied the suspect Il am
chemist whose interest Is entirely sci
entific. I have been trying to make
gold from less precious elements and
have only got as far as ten-dollar
bills"
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
In1uisifipe

Rastus," began Sambo as the two
were swapping war incidents. "wuz
you ever sick when you wuz In
FranceT
'Oh. mani" responded Rastus, II
had the flu so bad that All used to-
look In the casualty list for nah own
name.r
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24

@Willie." asked the teacher Of the
aew pupil. do you know your alpha
oet9'
Yes, miss, answered Willie.
well, then" continued the teacher.
what letter comes after Al"
-A1l the rest OF fhem.s was tn -
e9pheat nenlx. -
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Light IN Darkness

Paw, what is a dark recess7"
"Christmas vacation In an Eskimo
college. my SON."
do they celebrate By giving snow
ball, paw7"
bedtime son."-Wisconsin Octo-
pua
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
BOOB the eookman.

In'f Boob got a Job as porter n Q
boor store and, during the absence Of
the proprietor and clerks. undertook
TO wait on a customer. This here lie
a funny place." he said afterwart
and maybe there amt some dumb.
Ia foatin' In and out Of this store
4 man that looked as If be had some
sense came In this morning and
walks right up to him as pleasant as
I could. Let me see .sIzlsse SSse,eaae:ss.s
he said, and I had a notion to say
somethin' sarcastie-Iike, but didn't.
/ says nicely. Gents furnishing goods
next door, and he busted right out
laffin' in my face. The Idea Of lsskina
for 'spenders In book shop.s
Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-24
Young Farmer Surely
Played in Hard Luck

"A young farmer had been somewhat
too much of q general lover before he
settled upon one sweetheart in particu-
lar, but this time he was truly at
tached to his Emily. 1t was about a
month before the wedding, on a NOON
less night; and as he led a white heifer
past the public house the door sudden
ly opened and a man stumbled out into
the road, little confused in his brain
by too much beer. Now, this reveler,
on returning home, endeavored, like
many another husband, to placate his
wife by offering her a scrap of gossip
he had just seen that young So-and-
So walking out with somebody in
white, and it wasn't the right girl, be-
cause she was at Doncaster.
Next morning the wife, of course,
told a neighbor, and the neighbor
passed it on to the mother of the pros
pective bride, and, though the fance
was able to explain everything, the
girl thought, on the whole, she would
prefer to have young man who could
lead anything home at night-plain or
colored-without giving rise to talk"
From what l Have Gathered" by
]. E. Buckrose.