Insures Prize Hen for $5,000 Policy

1919

Washington Chicken Holds World Record for Egg Production.

PORTLAND, Oregon. — It isn't every hen that can carry around a $5,000 life insurance policy, but that is the amount of insurance placed on one of the hens at the poultry show here.

This hen is a White Leghorn, owned by Dr. Tancred of Kent, Washington. She set a world's record for production by laying 300 eggs in 365 days, ended Sept. 16. This is about four times the production of the average hen, so her value in the poultry world can easily be seen.

Her owner consented to allow her to be placed on exhibition by one of the poultry feed companies, but stipulated that she must be insured for $5,000.

False Teeth Missed After "Tonic" Spree

Feb. 1920

"Must Have Swallowed 'Em," Loser Tells Jailer

EAST POINT, Georgia — Tom Williams, a pencil peddler, who imbibed too freely of hair tonic and landed in the police barracks, reports to the turnkey that he is short a set of false teeth and that during his uncertain wanderings he must have swallowed them.

A diligent search of the station house and surrounding territory failed to reveal the missing molars, and it was finally decided to take Tom over to the Grady Hospital, where an X-ray picture might be taken, to find out whether the liquor he drank was strong enough to pull the teeth on down with it.

Tom was somewhat skeptical about the X-ray, but anxiety as to the whereabouts of the teeth finally led him to consent to the experiment, which will be made when his nerves have become more settled.


Dime Chick Gets Prize

CROOKSTON, Minnesota — Several weeks ago Arthur Kirsch of Crookston bought a tiny chicken at a local five and ten cent store for a dime. Recently he entered the chicken at the Pennington County poultry show. It was adjudged to be a full-blooded white Leghorn and carried off a blue ribbon with a score of 92 points.

Body of Recluse Found, Dead for Days

1922

BODY OF RECLUSE FOUND BERT CHASE OF GILBERTSVILLE HAD BEEN DEAD FOR DAYS.

Lived Alone In Small Home on Otego Road for Years — Body Found by Neighbor Who Having Seen Nothing of Chase for Days Makes an Investigation — Deceased Had No Near Relatives

Gilbertsville, April 3. — This morning while passing the small one-room house of Bert Chase on the Otego road, about three miles from this village, Lewis Coon, a neighbor, who had seen nothing of Chase for several days stopped to investigate, and on glancing inside through a window, saw the body of Chase lying on the floor, face downward. Forcing an entrance, Coon discovered that the man was dead and Dr. C. P. Fox of this village who was called said the man had probably been dead since Tuesday or Wednesday when he was last seen. There is no suspicion of anything other than a natural death.

Chase was a bachelor and had lived alone for years. Coroner Getman is expected to visit the home Tuesday morning to investigate and sign the death certificate.

There were no tracks in the snow around the house since the last fall, and while his poultry were found to be in good condition, they ate eagerly when fed, as soon as the conditions were ascertained. It wasn't known that Chase had been ailing and Mr. Coon had thought him usually well when last seen.

Chase had lived on the small place for years and was devoted to the raising of berries and other small fruits, which he cultivated successfully. He was severely burned about five years ago when a small house on the place burned during the nighttime. He managed to escape from the house and reached a neighbor's partially clad and in his bare feet. Dr. Fox attended him at the time and brought him through successfully.

He built a small house about 8 by 10 feet upon the ruins of the former home and lived there alone. Little is known of his early life. His nearest surviving relatives are a niece, Mrs. Lottie Rowe of Maple Grove and a nephew, Burdette Barber of Butternuts, who will arrange for the funeral and interment.

—Oneonta Daily Star, Oneonta, New York, April 4, 1922, page 6.

A Case Where Honesty Was Not the Best Policy

1920—

Wanted To Buy Some Poison

A Case Where Honesty Was Not the Best Policy

A Blade reader in Ruatan, Honduras, Central America, sends in this good one:

Recently a small farmer in Honduras called at a city drug store and asked for some poison with which to kill wild animals that were destroying his poultry. On being informed that no poison could be sold without a personal recommendation from the mayor of the town, he went in search of that functionary and soon returned with the following note:

"Please give Mr. W---- a little poison, as he is an honest man."

The note was signed by the mayor.


Gets a Lesson in "Honesty"

At Same Time Learns a Trick in Apple Packing

Two piles of apples lay on the ground. One contained a large-size and rosy selection; the fruit of the other was green and small.

"Large on the top and small at the bottom," inquired the new assistant of his master, as he prepared to fill a barrel.

"Certainly not!" replied the farmer, virtuously. "Honesty is the best policy, my boy. Put the little apples at the top and the large ones at the bottom."

The assistant complied. His master was evidently as green as his greenest fruit.

"Is the barrel full, my lad?" asked the farmer.

"Yes," answered the assistant.

"Good!" said the farmer. "Now turn it upside down and label it."

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, May 22, 1920, page 9.