davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01
Sold on its Merits.

Who has not learned to dread the
travelling agent? The oily fellow who is
canYassing for book or a map or some
thing else that you do not want and who
never takes no for an answer Who
comes when you are busy and talks till
you are tired of him, and when patience
is all gone begins again in the same
smooth way, smiling a sickly smile that
makes you ache to kick him and see if
that would make any difference. Such a
one recently entered an Office in this city
where several persons were present, and
in his sweetest tone inquired for one of
the lawyers whose name was on the door.
That gentleman responded and thereup-
on the book man commenced TO say his
lesson in the usual way.
Il have called in for the purpose of ask
ing your attention for a few moments, if
you have the leisure, to very interesting
and valuable work that am now engaged
in introducing among the citizens of this
city and vicinity 1t is issued in the
most beautiful and attractive style of the
day as you will see by examining this
binding and glancing at these elegant
illustrations. 1t also comprises, among
other things, full and complete" ETC.,
etc, etc., all in the regular and customary
fashion. When the first victim refused,
the canyasser proceeded to attack in turn
each of the other gentlemen, repeating
the same story again and again with easy
voiuolllty. One of them finally managed
to slip IN word of objection.
"4 our mode Of business is not far. ]
like to see thing sell on its own merits
If your book is good for anything, put it
on the market, and those who want 1t will
buy 1t. Your plan of showing a man a
piece OF book that you are going to
make, and then getting his name to con
tract,is a dead sure tn ing for you; but
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01
In Onion is Strength.

AM quite ashamed to take peopIe
into my garden and have them notice the
absence Of onions. 1t is yerv marked.
In ONION Is strength: and a garden with
out 1t lacks flavor. The onion in its satin
WrapplngS is among the most beautiful of
vegetables, and 1t is the only one that rep
resentS the essence of things. 1t can al
most De said to have a soul. You take
Oh coat after coat, and the onion is still
tnere; and, when the last one is removed,
VINO dare say that the onion itself is de-
suoyed, though you can weep over its de-
parted spirit? | know that there is sup
posed to be prejudice against the onion,
but think there is rather cowardice in
regard to it.
| doubt not that all men and women
love the onion; but few confess their love.
Affection for it is concealed. Good New
Englanders are as shy of owning it as
they are OF talking about religion. Some
people have days on which they eat onion
what you might call retreats" or their
thursdays" The act is in the nature of
a religious ceremony, and Eleusinian
mystery; not breath of it must get
abroad. On that day they see no COM
pany; they deny the kiss of greeting to
the dearest friend; they retire within
1LAOAiAoSlfSo d1ld AOlu communion WITH
one of the most pungent and penetrating
manifestations of the moral vegetable
world. Happy is said to Doe the family
which can eat onions together. They are
for the time being separate from the
world, and have a harmony of aspiration.
There is a hint here for reformers. Let
them become apostles of the onion; let
them eat and preach it to their fellows,
and circulate tracts of it in the form of
seeds.
In the onion is the hope of universal
brotherhood If all men will eat onions
at all times they will come into univer-
sal sympathy. Look at Italy. I hope l
am not mistaken as to the cause of her
unity. 1t was the Reds who preached the
gospel which made it possible. All the
Reds of Europe, all the sworn devotees of
the mystic Mary Ann eat of the common
vegetable. Their Oaths are strong with it.
1t is the food also of the common people
of Italy. All the social atmosphere of
that delicious land is laden with it. Its
odor is a practical democracy. In the
churches all are alike; there is one faith,
one smell. The entrance of Victor Eman-
uel into Rome is only the pOmpOus pro-
clamatiOn of a unity which garlic had al
ready accomplished; and yet we, who
boast Of our democracy, eat onions in
secret.-Charles Datd5ey Warner.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01
the man that pays his money takes all the

/ the man that pays his money takes all the
( risk"
"But, my dear sir, consider for a mo-
ment the immense expense attending the
preparation and introduction of a costly
and elaborate work like this. Why, sir,
the engravings alone of the magnificent
plates and Illustrations with which this
work will be crowded will cost over ff.
teen thousand dollars, and, of course, no
publisher can afford to take such a risk
as that without first obtaining a few sub
scribers''
why shouldn't he? It would be far
better than to 90 round with few sample
pages, inducing people to buy work
that never would sell on its merits. Make
your goods before you try to sell them.
and when finished, if | want one, and /
think it worth the price, l will buy it."
This was quite enough to give the IN
firing canvasser a fresh start, and he
warmed to his subject and talked on in a
ceaseless stream about his book, until he
had finished his whole rlgmarole. Just
as he was taking breath to begin again.
one of his victims turned upon him, saw
ing in a very cold and matter-of-fact-way
'Well, sir, we have now listened with
patience to what you have had to say. We
nave AOOhCu olt yOO1 bOOA civ uCdIU dlI
the good things you can advance in favor
of it. Now, ifyou have moments leis-
ure, l should be glad to show you a little
article that | am agent for, and which I
am now engaged in selling to the people
of this city and vicinity. 1t is small, and
not expensive, and yet it is found indis
pensable in every household. Children
cry for it, mothers must have it, no gentle
mans library is complete without it. l
take no subscribers, but sell and deliver
as [ go. Understand me clearly: I sell
my goods entirely on their merits, and if
what I have is not worth the money I ask
for it, no gentleman need purchase. Here,
sir, is my card; please look it over"
And with this he handed to the aston
ished agent a card, to which a small cork
was attached by few inches of string.
On the face of the card were these words
in bold letters:
The most horrible death is to be
talked to death. To prevent the
above terrible fate use the Patent
Life Preserver attached to this
card. Directions PUT THE CORK
IN YOUR EAR.
The book agent bounced out of his
chair, hot with rage, and his bland tones
trembled with wrath as he said:
''Have I insulted any gentleman present
by any of my remarksY'
90, no, returned the other with perfect
GOODNESS. "Not at all, sir; not at all. 1t
is all right. You follow your business
and follow mine. Good morning, sir''
Springfield (IU) Journal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01
The sum of each row is 26O.

The reader may try his ingenuity in
constructing as many tables as he pleases.
Ascertain beforehand what each column
should sum up, by the usual method OF
arithmetical progression. Thus: the sum
of the series 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ETC., to GA, is
2-SoSe Dividing by s, the number of
vertical or horizontal columns, we get 260
for the sum of each. For the series 1, 2,
B, on to IA, briefly, each vertical column
145x1A
2xf2 145x6-S7o.
| found a square of six numbers to a
side rather harder, and one of five to a
side quite troublesome. The reason was
that the above method is not applicable.
by approXimating it, however, as nearly
as practicable, and then using tentative
means toward the close, | succeeded in
both cases.
These tables are not useful in the ordi-
nary sense of that term; they do not teach
us how to measure corn cribs or survey
farms; but they may interest pupils in
| arithmetic, and may cultivate the neces.
sary but irksome art of adding up col
| umns of figures. Let the teacher take an
ordinary checker board some winter even
ing, cut out Of card or leather sixty four
| men, namely, round pieces of the size OF
a nickel; number them from l to ga, and
set the boys and girls to work to con
struct a magic square. My word for il
! they will go at it with an interest such as
| the rule of three has failed to awaken
| Home and School.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01
DelusiYe Golden Sirup.

A recent number of the Hearth and
Home contains an article on Golden
Drip Sirup," a commodity that is much
used in Detroit; and as the author seems
to have given the subject careful inves-
tlgatlon we give his con illusions for the
benefit of those who love this kind of
sweetening. He says that it has long
been known to chemists that variety Of
sugar could be made from common starch,
saw dust and cotton, or woody fiber of
any kind, by treating it with sulphuric
acid. The sugar thus produced is called
grade sugar, and two and a half pounds
are requested to equal cane sugar in sweet
ness.
For some years this kind of sugar has
been used in the manufacture of CANDY
and of alcoholic liquors, and number
of manufactures have been established
in this country. He says the greatest
fraud seems to be in the article known as
| the golden drip strip. The strip is
very superior in appearance, but often
contains not the slightest trace of cane
| sugar, being made entirely from sawdust.
| paper, rags, starch, and other similar
| trash, treated with sulphuric acid This
| sirup can always be distinguished from
| the genuine by its reaction with an infu-
| sion of tannin. As tea leaves contain
large amount Of tannin, a convenient test
is TO put a small quantity of the strip
into a strong tea and if the strip is not
pure the liquid will become black upon
being stirred.
Tests of this kind have frequently been
made, and the mixture invariably became
as black as ink, thus revealing the spuri-
Gus character of the strip. Some of it
was also made int molasses candy, which
upon being eaten turned the teeth and
tongue of the eaters very black. To
place the matter beyond doubt, a speci-
men was sent to DIR. Rose, professor of
the laboratory department of the Michigan
University at Ann Arbor, who, after a
careful chemical analysis of the sirup,
reported that the sugar it contained was
not cane but grape sugar He stated also
that beside grape sugar the strip con-
tanned large proportion of sulphuric
acid, together with some iron and a little
tannln, and must have been made either
from old rags, boiled with sulphuric acid
IN IRON vessels, or from sawdust treated
IN the same way.-Detroit Tribune.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01

talk with Jane, for she was little dis
pleased at her neglect.
The next morning Ned remembered his
dream as soon as he awoke, and resolved
that the new year should write better
record of him than the old. Susy was a
little surprised at his being so ''velly
kind that day, and sympathizing so
with Sally Ann, who had sustained Sc
rlous injuries from her fall the night be-
fore. And Jake Miller, the boy whom he
had ridiculed for not wearing good
clothes, was made happy by the present
OF dollar, Ned's own money, and was
Always atterward treated by Ned with
great deal of politeReSS and considera-
tion.-Chigdrea'S Hour.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01

The second position is obtained from
the first by inverting the two middle YER
teal columns, and the third from the
second by inverting the two middle hOri-
zontal columns. It will be observed that,
In the third position, each vertical col
umn, each, horizontal column, and each
diagonal column sums up "a.
In square of eight figures to side,
invert the four middle vertical columns,
and then the four middle horizontal col
umns.
In general, invert the middle half of
the vertical and horizontal columns.
After discovering this rule, l applied
1t to square of twelve figures to a side
and so simple is the process that l wrote
down not the first position or the second,
but the third, at the very first dash, and
without mistake. I subjoin one with
eight figures to a side, so that the ap.
plication of this principle may be seen:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01
Trained Ants.

THE New Haven Press holds itself re-
sponsible for the truth of the following:
'SMr. Mendell, of ST. Louis, Mo-, who
has been for the last few DAYS STAYING
with some friends in this city, has most
singular love for insect life, and an init
mate knowledge of the character and
temper Of several members of the insect
family, which he carries about with him
for the purpose of diversion aud study.
In one of his pockets Mr.. Mendell has
dOmesticated colony of small brown
ants, trained in their intelligence to do
some surprising things. He will place a
piece of sugar upon table and retire a
few PAGES from it, when by some manipu-
lation which his industrious pets under
stand the meaning of, he persuades them
to come out and march in Indian file
down the leg of his pantaloons, across
the floor, up the leg of the table, until
they reach the sugar. The ants will, after
each one has supplied itself with tiny
grain of the sweet commodity, take up
the line of march on a return trip to Mr.
Mendell's pocket, into which they will
enter, each one with its loads of sweets.
The same gentleman has also in his col
lection of insect pets dozen or more of
green bugs. with black stripes running
around their bodies, and which, he saws,
are peculiar inhabitants of a species of
acacia tree. These bugs will, at motion
of their masters finger, go through some
remarkable acrobatic performances, walk
ing first on their hind legs and afterward
on their forelegs, the hinder part of their
bodies being elevated, their only word OF
command, so to speak, being given ly the
motion of their trainers finger. Mr.
MendelI has for some years found great
pleasure in devoting his leisure hours to
pursuits of the kind above mentioned
and ought certainly to write book.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01

In Fcnd du Lac County, Wis, there
seems to be no announcement held out to
husbands to see that their wives do not
lose their appetites, and if woman don't
want to eat, it appears to be dangerous for
the husband to try to keep her from starV-
ing. Only few days since, Mrs. Stuart,
OF that region, lost her appetite and re-
fused to eat, whereupon Mr.. Stuart, TO
prevent her suffering from an empty stom-
ach, sought to crowd turnip down her
throat; and his philanthropic motives
were misunderstood, and now he anguish
es in Jail, and there is no one to keep
Mrs S. from starving herself to death II
she chooses.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01

A Boston drummer, who sent a badly
spelled note to one of the waiter girls at
the Weldon house, St. Adams, soliciting
an interview, was granted one, and net
half a dozen of the girls, who plastGed
him from head to foot with flour.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01

A VERY gauzy story is told of a woman
IN the town of Denmark, Iowa, who was
possessed of the idea that she had COM
mltted the objectionable sin, and that
=" the words of her mouth were not accept
Idle IN His sight" She made a vow
never to utter another syllable-that was
hve years ago, and to this day she has not
broken 1t. Her two younger children
have never heard their mothers voice.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01
DEERE MOTHER.
Magic Squares.
BY J.. G. RARROITR.

[ WILL give three positions of q square
Of four figures to a side:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01

HENDERSON, n. c., has had Sow
storm.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01

QUEBEC has put on ten feet of snow.
New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-08


GCPERIOR DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH
~ of Orleans No. 2563.-By virtue of writ of
seizure and sale to me directed by the honorable the
in the above entitled cause win proceed 10 Sc 4
at public auction, at the Merchants and Auction
eers Hhhehange Royal street, between lanai and
tustomhonse streets, in the Second District OF this
city, on WEDNESDAY, April g. 1874, at twelve
O'Clock NJ, tine following described properly, to
TWO CERTAIN LOTS OF GROUND, together
Win the buildings and improvements and appur-
tenaAces' situated in the Fourth District OF Ills
CITY ana designated BY the numbers one and two
IN TIE square bounded by Annunciation, Laurel
second and Third streets, on sketch annexed to
an act executed III the office of Abel pre ytous a
notary public in this city, Oh the eighth day of
April, WI being sale from John NJ Wyman to
C saa W. Grandean according to which sRetch
number one has thirty-eight feet seveA inches Two
lines front ON AnnunciatiOn street, by ore hmm
and let number two has thirty.two feet front on
AnnunciatiOn street by hundred and twepty-
nine NJ feet eight inches in depth, bounded the
sGe next Third street by lot number one OF the
side next Second street, by lot number three on
said sketch; sold by Wyman to. Charles ". Grand
jean.
2. TWO CERTAIN LOTS OF GROUND. situated
in the faubOurg Irene Second District OF this civ
designated by The numbers nine and ten, in square
number seventy -one comprised within Dumaine
Robertson, Claiborne aud St Philip ts as per
pan made by voilguin, architect, dated December
y 1853 deposited in the Office of Hughes Pedes-
claux, then notary public in this CITY; said lots
measure each thirty feet front on DumaiLe street
uet"een ROBERTSON and Claiborne streets. by
ninety feet in depth; together with all the bliid-
lngs and improvements thereon and appurte-
nances thereof.
The property herein firstly describe was &C.
4uiTed by the defendant herein from John Moutz
Wyman, by act passed before A. Dreyfous notary
pubic in this city, on the twenty.ffth OF April,
1871; and the property herein secondly DO. cIibed
was acquired by the said defendant from Mrs.
kgIe Aubry. by act passed before o. DroEe. rotary
pubhc IN this city, on the twenty.iourth day OF
May, 1871.
Seized in the above suit.
Terms Cash on the spot.
w. p HARPER,
Y ariSh - ,.lan
New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-08
- - W. r. HARPFR,
apS IA 10 Sheriff of the Parish of Orleaus
Charles Il. Alter VS.. John I'm Warren
and the executors Of Thomas W. Crawford.

0uU tHc cAecutOTb OF lnOmd6 w, Crawford
Er1FTH DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH
Il of Orleans. No. 56I0.-By virtue OF a writ or
seizure and sale to me directed bv the honorable
the fifth District Court for the parish of orleans
~ nm1 aoose entited cause, win proceed 10 sell
GERS Exchange. Roy street, between Canal and
streets in the Second District of this
eI'y, On MONDAf, May H. 1874, at twelve o'clock
a., me nin1nowlng described property 70 wit
CERTAIN LOT OF GROUND, together with the
oulidlhgs and improvements thereon and appur-
.6 re-, tnereof situated in the FIRST District of
Is cry, IN the square bounded by Carondelet,
Lnien, 6aronne and Gravier streets esigna.e9 az
~. nunip per SIX on plan drawn by Louis Bripgier,
nuryegor General dated twenty fourth OF De-
lo4o, deposited in the Office of II. 3. Cenas,
. .ate notary public in this city, and measures
.NeehIy,hve feet front on Carondelet street TWEEN
syd ieet IN width On an alley common 10 said lot
1hu sJolhng lots by depth of eight. three feet
tnlee inches seven lines on the line dividing il
from iot number five, and lightweight feet nine
n unts one line on the line dividing It from lot
iMpcI seven, al American measure. The whole
" w "nIch property was acquired by John Ira War
zen; and the late Thomas W. Crawford together
Win Win James David Gilmore, by purchase from the
Hers OF Luclus C. Duncan, per act passed before P.
Charies Cuvellier. notary pnblic in this civ on
Inc twenty-ninth OF June 1859. and they the SAID
Warren and Crawford purchased fhe sad GIL
mores right, title and interest in and to said prop
erty at sale made by the sheriff Of this PARISH by
t sItue OF an erder OF sale rendered the the
the Second District Court of New Orleans to
Charles Bienvenu late sheriff and by MIN trans
!erred to Harry T. Hays, sheriff. in the matter of
ceased No. II $3.50 of the docket of said caurt for
winch sale said sheriff granted unto them a deed
osted the ninth of June, 1866 duly recorded in the
nree and registered in the conveyance Office In
four. " ~
Seized in the above suit
Terms-Cash on the spot.
aps nyle Sheriff Of the Parish Of Orleans.
New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-08
W. T. HARPER,
apo 70 my9 Sheriff of the Parish of Orleans.
Mrs. NOem Pension VS.. Mrs. Bridget
Keenan,, wife OF Thomas Farrell and her nus

Keenan,, wife OF Thomas Farrell; and her nus
band, Charles j. Day, same
G1XTH DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF
~ Orleans, Noe. 1892 and 5993.-By virtue OF two
wrlts of seizure and sale to me- directed by the
honorable the Sixth District Court for the parish
OF Orleans in the above entitled causes will pro.
ceed to sell at public auction, at the Merchants
and AuctiOneers Exchange Royal street between
Canal aud CustOmhOuse Streets in the Second Dis.
trtct of this city, on MONDAY, May H. 1874 at
twelve o'clock NJ, the following described prop
erry, to wit
a CERTAIN LOT OF GROUND, situated, living
and being in the Fourth District of this city in the
Iaubourg Livaudas, in the square bounded BY
streets; said lot of ground being designated by the
number thirteen, on plan drawn by Hugh Grant
city surveyor, dated the first of February, le43
and being portion of the square number eleven
on the original plan of said faubourg, drawn by e.
BussOn. surveyor, on the fifth day of March 1892,
which said lot OF ground measures, in Anne rican
measure, thirty one feet nine inches front on said
Rousseau street between Third aud Fourth streets
by a depth of one hundred and three feet five
inches five lines, between parallel lines, and is
bounded on the siGe toward Third street by OF
number twelve Of said plan, and on the opposite
side line by other property; together with all the
buildings and improvements thereon, rights, WAYS
and advantages thereuntO belonging or in any
CURED by the defendant herein Bridget Farrell,
by purchase from Michael Clark per act assed
before W. J. Caste notary public il this city, On
the seventh day of May 1872.
Seized N the above suits.
Terms-Cash on the spot.
". p HARPER
ap8 10 myl0 Sheriff of the Parish of Orleans.