Hey, Diogenes!

1919

The Honest Man Is Found Among Alabama Moonshiners

ANNISTON, Ala. — The rugged honesty of the mountain folk who make "moonshine" and are caught at it by revenue men was shown when twelve of thirteen Federal prisoners began serving terms in the jail here. The thirteenth man sent word that he would be in as soon as he had finished killing some hogs and his cell has been made ready for him.

The men had all been convicted at the last term of Federal Court, and had been sentenced to thirty and sixty day terms in jail by Judge Walter I. Grubb. All of them are farmers and Judge Grubb allowed them to go to their homes and gather their crops before beginning their terms, each man giving his word that he would be on hand at the promised time.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 5.

Man Attacked By Big Snake, Attacks Back

Lamoni, Iowa

Mr. C. F. Smith had an exciting experience with a snake Saturday. Driving through his feed lot he suddenly discovered a large snake chasing him with head erect, evidently greatly angered and bent on mischief. Mr. Smith continued to drive for about 200 yards while he plied the buggy whip vigorously on his snakeship. By that time the reptile was somewhat stunned and Mr. Smith alighted from his buggy thinking to complete killing it.

But in quieting his horses the lines broke and these had to first be repaired temporarily. Then he completed the killing of the snake which is thought by some to be a bull snake but is more likely a blowing viper and which measures 5 feet 8½ inches in length and 5-5/8 in circumference at the largest part of the body. Mr. Smith brought it to town and David Thomas has it bottled in alcohol. We are inclined to believe that the buggy must have disturbed his snakeship in some way which caused the manifestation of anger and the disposition to fight.

At any rate the experience is remarkable for this section and shows the presence of larger snakes than we supposed were lurking around here. — Lamoni Patriot.

This article is from an old scrapbook from the Leon, Iowa area. The entire scrapbook is online at this link, and this article is on page 57.

Farmer Charges Cat Sucked Breath From Children

1908

Gladstone, Michigan — Two children of Clarence Stearns, a farmer living near this village, are dying and three others are seriously ill, due to a cat having "sucked their breath" when they lay asleep in bed.

The father, in the dim light, saw the family cat sitting on the child's breast, its nose close to the babe's lips. The cat's claws scratched the child's breast as the father drew it away.

Going to the bed of the other children he found, he says, that the cat had sucked the breath of all and that two were so ill it was necessary for him to hitch up his horses and drive to the village for a doctor.


Goat and Man in Duel

Kansas City, Missouri — Bruised and battered on all four sides and with all of his corners knocked off, Frank Schleich lies on a cot in the emergency hospital as the result of a battle in the dark between him and a goat. The goat invaded Schleich's room in the barn and, as the man was unarmed, the goat might have killed him had it not been for the arrival of another barn man, who subdued the horned and whiskered beast by throwing a horse blanket over its head.


Baby Born with Brand

Peoria, Illinois — A letter "H" as distinct as though branded with an iron shows on the forehead of the two-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hartman of Alton.

Neighbors gather daily at the Hartman home to view the unusual birthmark, which is exactly in the middle of the forehead and which has become more plainly visible within the last few weeks.

Physicians say the birthmark will disappear within two or three years.

A Puppy Adopts a Brood of Chickens

1896

Rather a pathetic story comes from a small town on the outskirts of Philadelphia, the truthfulness of which is vouched for by a prominent citizen of the place.

This P. C. is an extensive chicken raiser, and some time since set a favorite hen upon a nest of eggs, expecting them to hatch in the usual period of three weeks. Three, four and five weeks passed and no chickens, and it was not until the end of the sixth week that the new poultry appeared, but with them came the demise of the old hen, presumably as a result of her unusually long continued sedentary occupation.

The chicks, not knowing, of course, that their mother was dead, attempted to crawl under her wings and keep warm. Their owner, seeing the trouble they were in, pressed a small Newfoundland pup into service, and, placing it in a closed coop, put the chicks in after. The soft fur of the pup made a pleasant retreat for the little ones, and now pup and poultry are inseparable. — Philadelphia Call.

How to Secure a Good Country School-House

1879

Agriculture advances with the improved conditions of the common schools

There is more at stake in a little country school than some of us are aware of. The surroundings of a child exert a wonderful influence for good or ill. It is good economy to see that the school-house and its surroundings are convenient and pleasant. For beautifying the ground employ a landscape gardener or the man or men of your own neighborhood, who have displayed the best taste in beautifying their own homes. Before constructing a school, do not be afraid to pay a small fee for plans to be examined. Then, on these plans get the advice of a committee of teachers. Every man is not a landscape gardener or an architect, any more than he is a blacksmith or a doctor. By employing the best men for each place or business, time and money are saved and everything goes off better. There are numerous approved patterns of stoves and furnaces which are made for bringing into the room, in a partially heated condition, an abundance of fresh air, and for expelling the impure air. To do this may take a trifle more fuel but it will prevent cold draughts, drowsiness, pale faces, and poor health. Good health is a priceless treasure, often too little prized till it is taken from us. To regain it we are willing to spend fortunes; to preserve it in our children we should take all reasonable precautions.

A school-room, even the poorest, need not be destitute of ornaments. A little effort on the part of a teacher or of the school board, will secure some pictures, brackets and vases for flowers. Once in a while some evergreens may be tastily arranged and suitable mottoes placed about the room.

And now, after making all needful preparations in the house and its surroundings, do not neglect the most important part of placing a first-class teacher in charge. The people may be poor, the number of children small, the times hard, and the most rigid economy seem necessary; but here is one of the last places wherein to cut off expenses. The enterprising farmer does not try to hire poor, cheap hands to do his work, because produce is cheap or because he is in debt. He knows the best are the cheapest at any reasonable price. He hires men to drive his team, to feed his animals, milk his cows, plant, cultivate, and harvest his crops. He does not expect that even his best men will perform these duties with profit to himself without some of his personal oversight. To perform this work, he often pays a man more wages than is paid the teacher of the summer district school. He is willing to leave this cheap teacher with entire control of his children all summer for the best hours of the day, but he would not think of trusting the entire care of his swine to the best man he could hire. He could not afford it. He would lose money. Swine may live a year or two and that is the last of them. The children will probably live forty to sixty years, and mold the character of those who follow them, and, to some extent, of all those with whom they associate. There is no reason in thus discriminating between the care of our domestic animals and of our children. Is it not a wonder that the district schools are as good as they are, considering their management?

Every farmer does not know how to superintend a school. But few of them know how, and they are aware of it, hence they do not visit the schools or attempt to interfere with their management. In some States the people employ skilled or professional persons to superintend their schools, but in many places there is almost no supervision. The school runs itself, if the teacher and scholars can get along together. Every man ought to be expert at his own business, and has no reason to expect he can do everything and do it well.

To all I say, employ only good teachers. How can this be done? Certainly not without taking some pains to find out that they are good. The candidates should be thoroughly examined in various studies, by competent persons, who make this their entire business, or an important part of their business. This is not all. Good testimonials must be produced, vouching for moral character, correct habits, etc. If the person has ever taught school before, great care should be taken to learn that he has liked the business, kept good order, and succeeded in interesting his pupils. With thorough examinations and a searching inquiry of reliable persons as to character and former success, competent teachers can be selected.

There is no objection to hiring such persons at the lowest possible rates that will employ them, but hire them at any price, and do not take up, even for one term, with a person who does not bear the severest test. In hiring for low wages, this must be taken into consideration: the teacher will not be contented with his place or business. He may think it important to give part of his time to something else, to eke out his small salary. If he is possessed of good calibre, he will soon engage in some other business, where his energy will bring larger returns. This will make it necessary to employ new and untried teachers. Frequent changes of teachers are much to be avoided. — Prof. Beal.