davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
GETTING RID OF
RATS AND MICE
Modern Housekeeper Tries
Plan of determination.

prepared by the United States Department
of Agricultural
The modern housekeeper, of course,
no longer climbs shrieking on the
nearest chair if she happens to see
mouse running across the floor; much
less does she indulge in a fainting
spell. Instead, three questions are
likely to pop into her head almost ST.
multaneously: ''Now, how did that
creature get in here?" what have l
left around to attract a mousse? and
"How shall l get rid of him and all
his tribe?'
She begins by hunting for any pos
sible openings in the walls, around
baseboards, near water or heating
pipes, or in closets. She also casts her
eve about for traces of careless house
keeping-either her own or that of a
maid-crumbs scattered, food left I'M
covered, or in paper packages, starch
or waxed paper exposed where mice
can gnaw it, or any other tfdbits like
ly to appeal to their wide range of
tastes. She may be Mortified to find
mice tracks on the pantry shelves, in
the drawers where she keeps her tea
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

people realize that rats alone cause
over S200,0000OO worth Of damage a
year, and that this is totally unneces-
sary waste, they are more willing to
take measures to get rid of this ex-
penstve pest.
The individual housekeeper can at
least make a beginning by closing up
all openings through which rats and
mice are likely to get into the house.
Use a mixture of cement, sand, and
broken glass or crockery in such
holes, If you find any, or cover them
with a sheet of metal. If your house
has open studding in the walls from
cellar to attic, they will be used for
runways and passages to their nests
by these pests. The studding should
be closed. Buildings are frequently
made entirely rat-prOOf now, when
first constructed by the use of deep
cement foundations, but older build
ings must be protected as far as pos
sible by closing holes and runways.
!. If the traps do not eliminate the
pests, try poisoning with barium car
Donate, if poison can be used with
safety. where it will not be touched
by children, poultry, or pets. This
substance is an inexpensive white
powder, both odorless and tastelesS,
and bats containing it are readily
taken. The best way TO spread poi
son is to mix it with variety of foods
pIo oh
on successive nights. Mix some with
such foods as hamburg steak, sausage,
fish, liver, bacon or cheese. Spread
some on slices of vegetables and
fruits, such as tomatoes, cucumbers,
muskmelons, apples; or mix it with
canned corn or squash, or pumpkin
seeds, mashed banana, boiled carrot,
or baked sweet potato. Mix another
lot with rolled oats, bread, cornmeal,
flour or cake, and with various table
scraps. Add water to the barium
carbonate when necessary to make the
bait soft, or sprinkle the powder over
the sliced bats, rubbing it into them
with knife Use about one part poi
son to four parts food.
One way to expose the bait is to put
about a teaspoOnful of each of several
kinds sinto different paper bags, twist
the tops, and drop them in places fire.
quented by rats or mice. Another
way is to put the bait on small pieces
of cardboard. Do not use stale or
spoiled food as bait. Uneaten bats
should be picked up the next day
and destroyed. Do not use bats over
again If not taken. Continue TO dis
tribute bats until the rats and mice
seem to have disappeared. The bats
are usually carried into burrows or
| behind protecting boxes or furniture
and eaten comfortably. The effect Of
| the poison is gradual and the rats
generally have time to return TO their
burrows before they succumb.
Farmers Bulletin 1902 gives other
suggestions for rat control and for
community cooperation in achieving
it. The United States Department
of Agriculture will be glad to send
| you a copy.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

English dinner may contain any mild
punch or soft drink that the hostess
likes. 1t is passed around to carry out
the old custom and to wish cheer
with the brimming cup"
After dinner the guests repair to the
drawing room, which is illumined SOLE
ly by candles and is decorated with
mistletoe suspended from unexpected
places. Here the famous old English
games are played, old Christmas
carols sung, and old Christmas stories
related. If possible there should be
glowing yule log in the fireplace.
Perhaps you would prefer German
Use for a centerpiece miniature rep
resentation of the Nativity, and have
tiny Kris Kringle or small, deco
rated Christmas tree at each place.
Have gifts packed and marked with
the names of the persons for whom
each is intended, and then hide them
throughout the house. After dinner
start your guests off on a search for
these treasures, which they exchange
among themselves as the packages are
found until each guest has his own.
This Is an old German custom, and Is
always good fun, especially If the
guests are young people.
Another variety of Christmas dinner
carries out all the traditions of the
Druids. There should be a cracking
fire in the fireplace. Sprigs Of mistle-
toe should be distributed generously.
For dinner provide a jolly feast, nuts
and apples and all good things to eat.
And after this repast there should be
dancing, music and entertainment.
The Scandinavian Christmas dinner
could be made most delightful. The
! menu may be the same as for any
ordinary Christmas dinner-turkey.
roast meats, mince pie, apple fritters.
nuts, raisins, whatever one
likes. In addition there should be a
huge Christmas tree in the drawing
room hung with colored balls Of glass
and made beautiful with tiny lighted
candles-or, to be up-to-date-with
| electric lights. There would be gifts
on the tree for each guest, and in each
package a card bearing some delight
full bit of wisdom or cheer from the
old Scandinavian writings. And Of
course, there would be the yule log,
great roaring fire, and perhaps the
host, in the part of Thor, would quote
interesting bits Of Scandinavian myth
ology.
Whatever form the Christmas enter.
tainment takes, it must be free of for
mality. There must be plenty of good
cheer and fun; the day is given over
! to rejoicing. For generations it has
been customary to play favorite old
games on this day and to make merry
with ones family and friends.
AS Dickens has Mr.. Wardle say to
Mr.. Pickwick: Everybody sits down
with US on Christmas eve, as you see
them now-servants and all and here
we wait until the clock strikes twelve,
to usher Christmas In, and while the
time away with forfeits and old sto-
ries. Trundle, my boy, rake up the
fire ~
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

towels. upstairs in closets, in rugs
stored in the attic, although she has
up to this time never even suspected
there was a mouse in the entire house.
Rats, of course, leave similar indi-
cations of their presence in gnawed
clothing, paper, food supplies. They
are to be feared not only because of
the damage they do, and the rapidity
with which their numbers increase,
but because they often carry and con-
vey diseases, kill poultry, and other
animals, and sometimes bite viciously
when cornered or attack babies or
children while sleeping. Similar
methods Of control are used against
both rats and mice. The elimina-
ton of either pest from whole COM
munity is the end to be desired, but
this can only be accomplished by the
organized effort of all citizens. When
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

dies are used for illumination at the
Christmas dinner, whether 1t be for
NAL or informal, because they serve to
carry out the Christmas tradition.
Many cid superstitions still cling to
the popular Christmas foods. To re-
fuse piece of mince pie at Christ
mas dinner, for instance, means Ill
luck for the year. To eat apples at
midnight on Christmas eve, however,
is to enjoy great health during the
year. If loaf Of bread is allowed to
remain on the table after the Christ
mas eve celebration, there will be no
lack Of bread in the house for the
next twelve months. According to the
old tradition, "by all means you must
have plum pudding-a plum pudding
grown rich and black and solid"
Otherwise, it seems, you will lose a
friend between this Christmas and
next
II you wish, you may have an Eng
lish Christmas party, observing all the
many English customs which have con-
tributed to our own Christmas OBJ
servances. The invitations are print
ed In Old English text. The house Is
decorated with mistletoe, holly, ivy
Wax tapers, In brass, iron, or pewter
candlesticks add the proper touch in
illumination. For the centerpiece a
boar's head, made of dough, should
be. used. II 1t be made large enough
it can be used to cover the little roast
pig with the traditional apple In its
mouth which constitutes the main
course Of the dinner.
| At such a party the wassail cur
must be passed around. Drinking the
wassail Is an old English custom
Dickens says:
"They sat down by the huge fire OF
blazing logs to a substantial supper
and a mighty bowl of wassail, some
thing smaller than the ordinary wash
house copper, In which the hot apples
| were kissing and bubbling with rich
look, and jolly sound that were per
fectly irresistible"
Instead Of containing the brew, ale
or steaming punch Of the old-timt
wassail bowl, the cup at our modern
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

prepared by the United States Department
of Agricultural
Here are bedroom curtains that COM
bine daintiness and attractive color
with the essential utility features.
Sometimes in the desire to gain an
artistic effect the usefulness of cur
tains is overlooked. All points can be
combined in attractive, durable cur
tains, say the specialists of the bureau
of home economics of the United
States Department of Agriculture.
Like everything else, it's all in the
knowing how.
Admit Light and Air.
The curtains in this picture, for in
stance, let in plenty of light and air.
The section Shirred on rods and at
tached to the lower sash gives privacy
when needed and goes up with the
sash when it is raised at night. The
straight gathered valance and the
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

straight side draperies are easy tn
make and hang, and the fabric is a
good quality washable marquisette.
Even though SCOT and dust settle.
their traces can be quickly washed
out and the curtains put up looking
as fresh as new.
Notice that the side draperies come
to the bottom of the apron" or board
that finishes the window casing at the
bottom. Also the valance is about one
sixth as long as the draperies.
Harmonic With Furnishings.
These curtains are also in harmony
with the other furnishings of the room.
Their lines reflect those of the simple
painted bOOkshelves topped with a pair
Of plain brass candlesticks. The can
dies are soft yellow,to match the dots
in the curtain fabric, and in other &C
cessOries of the room.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

1 have lived by this ancient forest
for nearly thirty years and only to-
day have found dead bird. 1t lay
in the lane without a fiuttered feath-
err. It's blood was unshed. 1t had
flown away with the year. ! am In
wonder concerning birds that die. So
rare must death be in the forest that
1t were a pleasing fancy to think these
songsters immortal. 1t did not appear
that hawk had struck the little crea-
ture, nor that any animal had bounced
upon it. 1t had dropped in flight. l
found that the sun and a tree had
conspired together to shadow the little
couch Of grass so that the flies had not
found its hiding.
could not help musing as | buried
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
Well Worthy Reward

The Cross of the Legion of Honor is
being sought for clerk in the Paris
markets, Raymond Briez, Twenty-Five
years old, who recently underwent his
one hundred and first operation for
Paris regard the young Frenchman as
q unique specimen of manhood and
several surgeons call upon him regu-
larly for blood. NJ. Briez demands no
compensation and asks no questions.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
Many Phone Messages

Twenty-Five billion telephone CONVEX
sations in a year, as compared with
15,O00,000,O00 letters and 20O,0OO,O00
kilograms shows how the American
people keep in touch with each other,
remarks the Pennsylvania public serv-
ice committee.
Even these comparisons understate
the use Of the telephone as each tele-
phone conversation Is two-way COM
munication and therefore equal to two
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
Leftover Hon1iny Grits

Leftover hominy grits may be cut
into slices and Drowned in butter or
other fat to make most appetizing
dish good to serve at any meal. The
slices should be at least a half inch
thick. dipped in flour, and fried a deli
cate brown on both sides. Have the
fat hot enough to form a brown crust
quickly on the grits before the inside
soaks up the fat. Also time the cook
ing so that the fried grits can be
served as soon as they are Drowned.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
HOUSEHOLD HINTS

Because apples are cheap is good
reason why lots of them should be
used.
Give the oil stove coat of unsalted
fat before you put it away for win
ter, and it will not rust.
A kitchen sink that is big enough
to hold washing and rinsing pans or
other large containers is convenience
that is worth while for any home.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

is en- the fire!
That Christmas Is time OF gayety
and feasting is traditional. This ac-
count by some forgotten writer OF long
ago brings to mind the Christmas OF
yesterday and how it was celebrated:
Now capons and hens, besides tur-
keys, geese and ducks, with beef and
mutton-must all die; for In twelve
days a multitude of people will not
be fed with little. Now plums and
spice, sugar and honey, square 1t
among pies and broth. Now or never
must music be In tune, for the young
must dance and sing to get them a
heat, while the aged sit by the fire."
The Christmas cookies, the Iced
cakes and gingerbread figures which
are part Of our Christmas goodies are
survivals of the confectionery gifts
presented to the senators of Rome in
the early times. The cakes were In
the forms Of animals and humans.
Later the cakes became more elabo-
rate, and were adopted as Christmas
cakes. In early England these cakes
were very popular. They were given
to the poor women who sang carols in
the street, or who went from house to
house with images Of the Virgin and
OF Christ.
To put the "merry" in Merry
Christmas" today, the hostess must
borrow a bit Of old-fashioned revelry,
add to 1t the flavor of steaming plum
pudding and popcorn, sprinkle it well
with a measure of good cheer, and
serve with sprig of mistletoe
Not so long ago it was customary to
have huge wreaths and laurel ropes
dropping from every corner. Now a
spring Of mistletoe and a bit of holly
with its berries like Redeemed pearls
are used for Christmas decoration. A
custom delightfully."- old-fashioned is to
have an untrimmed evergreen thanking
the side Of the front door outside the
house.
Another old-fashioned custom, which
is said to have been originated in Co
lonial days, is to include tiny bit OF
mistletoe with the invitation. 1t Is
slipped into the envelope with the
card Ito carry the seasons good It'd
ings." 1t is really meant as wisf
or omen for happiness and prosperity
throughout the coming year.
Decorations for the Christmas table
are not difficult to arrange. One may
have fiat bowl of colored glass piled
high with fruit. Or one may have {
slender silver vase with a cluster Of
holly In it, or perhaps lower vase
with cut winter flowers. An old Gus
tom Is to have miniature tree in the
center of the table bearing gifts or ia
vors for the guests. OF course, can
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

Small-patterned dress materials are
much easier to cut than large-figured
material that has to be matched.
Old cheese is better than fresh
cheese for welsh rabbit; the flavor is
better and it is less likely to make a
stringy product.
School health examinations are for
more than statistics. Be on hard
when the doctor looks over your child,
and take his recommendation to
heart
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
Nietzsche's Gifted Sister

Tea, intellectual discussions, manu-
scripts, friends and memories are the
pleasures Of Frau Elizabeth Forester
Nietzsche, the sister of the Philos-
opher, who recently celebrated her
eightieth birthday. This kindly faced
and gentle-mannered lady, though she
admittedly never understood Metz
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
Death in Woodland Seems Solemn Thing

1t in coffin Of leaves. So once, they
say, Jesus unused, probably felt as I
felt, thought as I thought, but dared
to say what cannot say. Does any
god see such an end to such little
day? seldom have seen death in the
forest. hut know that it is here
From 'The Book Without a Name"
ANONYMOUS.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
Mother Was Inquisitiiue

A Chicago boys teacher asked him
why he was so late. "'Cause there
was man arrested for stealing hens"
he said, "and setting house on fire
and knocking down five policemen;
and mother sent me to see If 1t was
pa."-Western Druggist.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

sche's lofty flights of Imagination,
nevertheless showed remarkable adapt
ability in helping to immortalize her
great brothers name, even studying
philosophy after his death so as to be
better qualified to popularize his
works
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

The next time you have an umbrella
that is beyond repair, put it aside for
the spare parts it contains. A whole
rib from it may be substituted easily
for broken rib In any similar UNI
brella.-Popular Science Monthly.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
Where Birds Gather

Bird lovers declare that there is no
place in the United States where a
close observer can see more varieties
of birds in the course of year than
in and around Cape May on the Jersey
coast.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

letters, postcards or kilograms. No
other nation has anything like as
many telephones as the United States
has, either in actual numbers or In
proportion to population.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
Jud Tunksas

Jud Tunkins says wise bird knows
the value of silence. Only foolish
quail whistles to let the hunter know
his Observation-Disclosures Star.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
Alluays Listeners

Another strange thing is that every
fellow who comes along and predicts
the end Of the world can get hear
ing from some persons.-Milwauk
Journal.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
THE GIFT OF GOD

NH r L STMAS would be
W strange to most of us If
there were no gifts. 1t was
the infinite gift of God to us In the
person Of His only Son that
made the first Christmas for our
world. If we have not accepted
this gift we have not yet learned
the meaning Of Christmas.-Her-
aid and Presbyter.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
We Are

If life is what we make 1t, some of
us ought to be ashamed of our handi-
work.-Boston Transcript.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

He has saved the lives of a President
Of South American republic, prince
Of a European state and numerous
poor WOrkmen
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

The hemlock poison that killed So
crates was not from the hemlock tres
but from relative Of the parsnip
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
"He That Doefh-"

Do the truth you know, and you
shall learn the truth you need to
know.--0eorge Macdonald.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

Locks should be oiled frequently.
Oil the key and turn it several times
in the lock.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
Canada's Financial Center

st. James street In Montreal has
been called the "Wall Street of Can
ada"
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17

HE atmosphere in the kitch-
en- is close and warm and
fragrant. Dishes, pans and
utensils are scattered all
over the place. Flour dust
is in the air. And so Is the
Christmas spirit! The most
glorious dinner Of the year
4. AZ tho Grof
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1926-12-17
ANSWERING
HER LOVE
LETTERS
Copyright by w. @. chapman)
By ALBERT REEVES

(~ o YOU know why like
you, Miss Gray?" inquired
Doris Dinsmere, seating
harSalf IN har friaOd'S conn
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-06-30
FIRES IN OREGON.

KLAMATH FALI4S. Oregon, June 90.
With a brisk wind blowing and the
humidity here down to 1s. the klamath
forest fire situation todayftook a more
serious aspect.
A fire near the Crater national for
est boundary was again sweeping wide
ly through valuable timbed owned by
the Weyerhaeuser. and Long Bell in
terests, said reports here to-day. All
available men were being rushed to
the scene of the, fire, but under the ex-
tremely dangerous fire conditions pre-
vailing today, human effort was said
to be of little avail. Unless the wind
dies down Immediately and the humidi-
ty rises timber valued at hundreds of
thousands of dollars may be swept by
the flames.
A new fire was reported today in
the Pokegama section, 20 miles south
west of klamath Falls. This fire was
running over brush land, but was
dangerously near valuable standing
timber.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-06-30

tional park Another menaced the
logging camp of the MADEIRA Sugar
Pine company in the Sierra nation
al forest These fires have wiped
out a number of ranch homes. Hun
dreds of men are fighting them.
Reports received here tonight from
the Hot Springs headquarters of For
est Supervisor Frank Cunningham said
that about 60 fires are burning
throughout the Sequoia national forest.
They were started by lightning during
electrical storms the last few days.
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-06-30
FIRES
IN CALIFORNIA
(By Dispatch A. P. Wire)

SAN FRANCISCO, Cali, June 20
Brush and forest fires burned in
several parts of the state tonight,
one of the conflagrations having
claimed one life, that of an unidenti-
fled fire fighter near Yreka.
This fatality occurred in a fire
on Moffett creek, on the outskirts
of the klamath national forest. In
Mariposa county a brush fire swept
toward Briceburg and threatened to
devastate fine timber in the Sierras.
Two hundred men recruited by
the Yosemite valley railroad and
the United States forest service
fought this fire.
From 60 to 70 fires, set by light
ming, burned in the sierras foot
hills east of Fresno. One threat
ened to sweep the brush in the
Garfield grove of the Sequoia ma
Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-06-30
$l,6O7 RAISED
FOR BIG JULY 4
GATHERING HERE

A total of $1,6O7.5O has peen receiv
ed by the Douglas Fourth of July
committee from paid-up subscribers
toward the staging of the big celebra-
tion here this coming weekend, it is
announced
This figure, although very encour-
ing in many ways, falls about $4OO
short of what has been estimated to
date as necessary to put the exercises
over here in proper style. For this
reason, Rex Rice, chairman of the
committee supervising the celebration,
is anxious that those VINO nave pledg-
ed to the fund and have not paid in
their subscriptions, do so at once.
There are many firms which have
not yet even made pledge toward
the expenses and a committee of
Fourth of July boosters under Rice's
direction will probably pass through
the business section within the next
few days to procure more funds.
The complete list of paid-up sub
scribers to the Fourth of July cele-
bration to date is as follows: