davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
A Ring for a Purse.

A LADY travelling in an omnibus to
London, one day recently, had wealth
thrust upon her in a singularly agreea-
BILE manner. During the journey
fiashily-dressed young man of dubious
appearance sat by her side, but got out
before it came to her turn for alighting.
When she did alight what was her horror
to find that her purse, containing luckily
only twelve shillings, was gone. In vain
search was made by the conductor in the
straw; the missing article could not be
found. Without any doubt the tlashily-
dressed young man had picked her peck
ct IN trG11s6tu and made off with the pro-
ceeds So said the conductor, ard the
majority of the passengers agreed with
him in his opinion. But the lady, think
ing she might have been mistaken, again
searched her pocket. The purse did not
meet her fingers, but something else did.
Withdrawing her hand she produced a
massive ring, set with what appeared to
be a white crystal. After this proof
there could be little doubt that her flashy
fellow traveller had stolen the purse; so
the lady had nothing TO do but to ask q
friend who had accompanied her to pay
both their fares, and to resign herself to
the loss. When recounting the affair to
her husband that night she produced the
ring, which was probably considered q
worthless bit of Birmingham ware, since
thieves generally do not sport much jew
elry. Yet the stone was wonderfully
brilliant and the cutting very perfect,
while the setting appeared somewhat
heavy for brass. Altogether they were
so struck by it's appearance that they
next day took the gewgaw to a leading
ieweler. What would he give for it?
After some inspection he offered ESQ, the
stone being remarkably fine brilliant and
the setting pure gold. The above story
is literally and absolutely true, the ring
being still in the ladys pOssessiOn.-N.
Y HTHDhIc
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11

may be found the Sheriff receiving such affidavit
shall serve the same upon the person or corpora
ton therein named by giving to such person or
corporation copy thereof with written notice
TO appear before Circuit Judge, County Judge or
Court Commissioner at some time and place to
be therein named within the county where the
service is made, not less than six nor more than
twenty days from the time of such service, 10 an
swer under oath all such questions shall be put
to him or her touching his her liability or the
liability Of the corporation of which he is an Off
Ger as garnishee of the defendant or defendants.
And the person or corporation so notified shall
from the time of such service stand liable to the
plaintiff in the action to the amount of the prop
erty, money, credits effects in his or its hands
and TO the amount Ofdebts due or to become due
from him or from such corporation TO the defend
ant or defendants, either of them or to such an
amount thereof will satisfy the plaintiffs de-
mand, with the cost Of the action, together with
the costs in the proceeding against the garnishee.
The officer making such service shall also serve
a copy of the notice and affidavit upon the de-
PENDANT in the action within the time such service
is required to be made upon the garnishee. If
such defendant can be found in his county, and
if such defendant cannot be found within such
county, but shall to the knowledge of such
officer have an agent attorney residing therein,
then such copy Of affidavit and notice may be
served upon such agent or attorney.
SEC. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force
from and after its passage AMI publication.
Approved Feb "a, 1875. t8@COPY.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
"ACTs OF GENERAL INTEREST"
Published Feb. y, 1875.
CHAPTER 39.


AN ACT to amend Chap. 3d. OF the laws OF 1874
entitled AN act relating to railroads, express
and telegraph companies III the State OF Wis
The people of the State of Wisconsin, repre-
sented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as fol-
lows:
of 1914. entitled = An act relating to rail-
roads, express and telegraph companies in the
state Of Wisconsin, is hereby amended by strik-
ing from the seventh line Of said section the
words : first day Of May and inserting in lieu
thereof the words :. on or before the second Mon
day Of February" and further by striking out of
the ninth and tenth lines thereof the words
next converting after said appointment and
writing IN place thereof the words lin
session at the time Of such appoint
ment,' that said section when amended
shall read as follows: Sec. 8. The Governor
shall on or before the 1st day of May, 1874. by and
Railroad Commissioners, one Tor term of one
year, one for term Of two years and one for a
term OF three years, whose term Of Office shall
commence on the 1st day Of May and shall each
year thereafter on or before the second Monday
in February, appoint one Railroad Commissioner
for the term of three years said Railroad Com
missi0ners to be confirmed by the Senate, but no
person owning any bonds, stock property in
any railroad, or IN the employment of any rail-
road company, or IN any way or manner interest
ed in railroads, shall be so appointed.
SEC. :. This act shall take effect and be in force
from and after its passage.
Approved Feb. 20 1875 sHCOP1.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
Who Is Most to Blame?

SEVERAL weeks ago one of our city
journals caused something of a sensation
by the account Of a long and numerous
criminal progeny in one Of our interior
towns. This progeny had all sprung
from a young woman of notorious evil
practices who had settled there fifty
years previously. This woman had
brought into the world many children
and these offspring and their descend
ants had expanded and developed into
an incorrigible criminal colony. The
vice of the progenitor reappeared with
inevitable certainty in her descendants,
and the number of the miscreants had so
multiplied that the town was greatly agi-
tated as to the means of Kidding itself Ct
the pestlent breed. 1t occurred to US at
the time that an impartial investigation
into all the facts might show that the
condition of things complained of was in
some measure due TO the virtuOus people
Of the place What had been doue to
rescue these wretches from their lives Of
crime? How far had the tOwnspeOple
themselves contributed to the result
they deplored? If it is true that the de-
scendants of one bad woman must in
herit through successive ages all her bad
qualities despite the influence of educa-
ton or the amelioration of social inf1u-
ences, then, indeed, the race is in a bad
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
Action of lightning on Trees.

IN a tree which has been destroyed by
lightning the layers are not only shat
tered and separated into strips, but the
wood also appears dry, hard and brittle,
as though it had been through the proc
ess of curing in a kiln. This is attrib-
uted to the instantaneous reduction OF
sap into steam. When the sap is album
dant, as in May or early in June, the
amount and force of the steam not only
bursts and separates the layers and
flbers, but rends the trunk in pieces or
throws off portion of it. When the
amount of steam thus suddenly gener-
ated is small, owing to dry condition
of the steam from continual evapora-
ton and leaf -exhalation, there may be
no external trace of the lightning-stroke;
yet the leaves will wither in few days,
showing that the steam has been rem
dered incapable Of conveying supplies,
and the tree will either partially or en-
tirely die. Still, lighter discharges may
be conducted down the moist stem with
out any injury.-Buildi1lg Nelos.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
An Ingenious SWindie.

a MOST unique swindle is reported in
the EUenenaenat as perpetrated by Par
isian. About month since the Havre
correspondent of large clearinghouse
in Paris received the following letter
from the head of his firm:
PARIS, Jan. :, 1S75-DEAR SIR: l write to
warn you that the son of our principal cashier
has disappeared with some 100000 francs in
bills drawn upon you by US. He will prob
ably present them in Havre shortly after the
receipt of this advice by you. OF course you
will refuse payment. As his father is very
old and valued servant, we have concluded
not to cause him the disgrace and mOrtifca
ton of knowing that his son is a felon. You
will therefore allow the scoundrel to 90 free
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
A Great Relief.

I AM Informed by an English paper,
which is very eXultant over the fact, that
an antiquary, after long and painful
examination of old documents, has dis
covered that the name of ChauCer's
mother was Agnes" Il is probable that
no tongue will ever be able to tell what
load this takes off my mind. For years
have been haunted by dark and dis
NAL dread that it would turn out that
Chaucer's mothers name was Mary Jane.
1t broOded over me like a nightmare; it
haunted me like goblin. [ would wake
up at night and feel the cold chills run
down my back as I meditated upon the
unutterable horror which attended the
possibility of the discovery that that
woman's name was Mary Jane. [ felt
that if it should be found that she had
that name all the happiness would be
blotted from my life, existence would be-
come a burden, humiliation would be
bliss and groceries and marketing useless
baubles. But her name was Agnes, and
things are serene again. That is, they
are partially serene. / cannot be entire
ly happy until some other antiquary as
certains if Chaucer's maiden aunt had
wart on her nose. Clear this up and the
world will no longer be gloomy prison
for me.-MNT Ad6Zer, IN Ddn6u1y Ne9oa.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
French Manners.

A WRITER says: "The French are
said to be the politest people in the
world, and in some respects they are so.
Their poiteness may be only skin deep;
1t may be only a stilted etiquette, with
out heartfelt emotion. But, on the
whole, it is better than studied indiffer-
ence and rough incivility. If not abso-
lutely sincere, it has the external APP
pearance Of being so, and saves the feel
lngs from a sense of outrage. A French
man always takes off his hat on entering
shop or an omnibus or any other pub
nc conveyance. He is expected always
to bow first to a lady of his acquaint-
ance; 1t would be thought quite out of
pace for the lady to take the initiative.
On entering drawing-room French peo-
pie bow to every one who may be in the
room, whether they are acquainted with
them or not. The omission of these
trlt1ing civilities by the English causes
them to be considered rude and boorish.
The line Of demarcation between differ
ent classes of society is less strongly de-
fined in FRANCE than in England Serv
ants consider themselves pretty nearly
upon an equality with their masters and
mistresSeS and their manners are marked
by freeand-easy GOODNESS which would
be considered the height of impertinence
in England. They wish you good morn
ing and good night, as friend might
do, and expect to be thanked whenever
they open the door for you; French!
man of every class touches his hat to the
servant who opens the door for him. The
lower classes in France live much more
frugally and inexpensively than people
of the same rank in England. Soup and
b0u5L5 form the usual dinner and supper
Of the upper class of farmers, workmen
and servants in French families The
richer farmers have the pot au fen every
day, others only once or twice q week,
and live on bread and s0upe 0or cb0ur on
the other days, with a relish of cheese,
salt fish and sometimes butter"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11

If you can manage to get rid of him by send
ing him TO America, advance him two or
three hundred louis ana let him 90 and HANG
himself Confdentially,
The day after the receipt of this letter
by the Havre house a young man of fine
address presented himself and ATTEMPTED
to negotiate the stolen bills The letter
was shown him, and he fell on his knees
in a food of repentant tears. He ex.
pressed a willingness to come to America.
and $50 louis Isl, 25O were given him,
with many cautions to reform.
The young man sailed for New York
next day, and the day after the Havre
house received an answer to its letter of
advice detailing the facts No bills had
been stolen from the Paris house, the
letter originally sent was forgery, and
the principal cashier has no son. The
police of New York were notified to look
for this remarkable swindler, but no light
has yet been thrown on his movements in
this country.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
Published March I, 1875.

AN ACT to amend Sec. OF Chap. 20 81 the Gen
eral Laws Of 1864, entitled act to authorize
garnishee actions in the Circuit Courts.
The people Of the State of Wisconsin, repre-
scented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as
follows:
SECTION i. Section number one OF Chap. 200 Of
the General Laws of this State passed in the year
1864 entitled = An act authorizing garnishee
actions in the Circuit Court is hereby amended
so that said section shall read follows: Sec. l.
In any action founded upon contract in any
court Of record, if the plaintiff or some one in
his behalf shall at the time of Issuing the sum-
mons or at any time thereafter before
Judgment make an affidavit stating that
he verify believes that any person or per
sons, corporation corporations, has property,
credits or eff cts in his its hands or possession
belonging TO the defendant, or is indebted to the
defendant, or that such person or corporation has
property credits or effects IN his or Its hands be
LONGING to either or any of the defendants or that
such person or corporation is indebted to either
or any of the defendants in cases where there Is
more than one defendant, and also stating that
the affiant has good reason TO believe ana does
believe that the party defendant has not property
liable to execution sufficient to satisfy the paint
IFS demand, and shall deliver such affidavit to
the Sheriff of the county in which the action is
brought or to the Sheriff of the county where the
person to be summoned as garnlshee resides OF
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
Published March i, 1875.


AN ACT to authorize the Regents of the Univer-
sity Of Wisconsin to build an additional edi-
flee for scientific purposes and to appropriate
money therefor.
The people of the State of Wisconsin, repre-
scented IN Senate and Assembly, do enact
follows:
SECTION l. To enable the Regents of the Uni
versity of Wisconsin to build an additional edi-
flee for scientific purposes upon the University
grounds, there is hereby appropriated to said Re
gents out of any money in the State Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, the sum Of $4,000:
Provided, That not to exceed the sum Of $4,000
shall be drawn from the State Treasury or levied
and collected as part of the State during the
year 1875
SEC. 2 The Regents of the University of Wis
C0nsin are authorized to erect such additional
edifiCe at such time and after such plan as they
may deem eXpedent; and the Treasurer of such
Board is authorized to pay out the money as ap-
prOpriated by Sec. l OF this act as the same may
be required for such purpose. upon such vouchers
the Board Of Regents may direct. This act
shall be so construed as TO limit the liability of
the State on account o. the erection of such
edifCe to the amount herein appropriated.
SEC 3. This act shall take effect and be in force
from and after it's passage.
Approved Feb. rs, 1875 s1-COPY.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
/ Published Feb. q. 1873. /
EH A pTE r 17
g-COPY.

AN ACT providing for the correction Of errors in
assessment and tax rolls in certain cases.
The people of the State of Wisconsin, represent
ed In Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows
SECTION /. Whenever it shall be discovered by
any town. village or city clerk or treasurer that
on the taX-rol. or that two more parcels OfIand
belonging TO different Individuals or corporations
have been assessed together as the property of
one individual or corporation the taX-rOll Of
the town, city village Of which he is clerk or
treasurer, ne shall notify the assessor and all
parties interested, if residents of the county,
by notice in writing, 10 appear at the
clerks office, at some time not less than five
days thereafter, and correct the assess
mcnt-rOl by correctly describing any par
eel Of land enormously described, and by CIV
ing each parcel Of land separately owned its
proper valuation; but the valuation gwen to sepa
rate tracts. under this act, shall not exceed nor
property when the several parcels were assessed
together.
SEC 2. When the assessment-rOll shall have
been corrected, the clerk shall enter mar
ginal note on the roll, stating when the COrrec-
ton was made by the assessor. and if the taxes
shall have been extended against the property
previously to the making Of the correction by the
assessor il shall be the duty Of the clerk to
rect the taX-roll i'll the same manner that the as
scsBmCnt-rOll was corrected, and extend against
each tract the proper amount Of tax TO be col
ieCtcd-
SEC. B. From the determination of the asses
sOr IN giving separate parcels of land their prop
er valuation, under the provision of this act,
there shall be no appeal, but such valuation shall
shall be final.
SEC i. This act shall take effect and be in
force from and after its passage and publication.
Approved Feb 20, 1873. s5@COPY.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
Restoring Charred Currency.

The process of the restoration of
charred currency and other valuables
constitutes one Of the most interesting
features of the service in the Treasury
Department at Washington. 4 CORE
spOndent describes the work as it is car
ried on in one of the sunny rooms of the
Treasury building, where four ladies are
constantly employed. 1t Will be remem-
bered that an express car was recently
burned near Washington. The Govern
ment had So, 100000 in it, and the private
property, consisting of watches, dia-
monds, etc. amounted to half as much
more. The jewels and watches only
were returned to the express company.
The money in the Government safe was
so Charred that at a breath it crumbled,
and yet fOur-ifths of it will be de
ciphered. Each little shriveled piece is de
taChed with a thin knife and laid on blot
ting paper. There the ladies examine it
with magnifying glasses, and after de
ciphering it as much as possible thew
paste it on u strip of thin paper; and so,
bit by bit a whole note is pieced out.
After her great fire Chicago sent 200
cases Of money, all in cinders, aggre-
eating, at owners valuation, $1G4 ,997 .9S;
and out of that sum $126, Sal SO was re
DENIED and returned to the owners. Bos-
ton profted by Chicago's experience, and
packed her burnt money so carefully
that Of the eighty-three cases, contain
ing $88, $3.50, $88, 290.80 were returned
to her, besides other valuable papers. The
most skillful of these ladies once de-
ciphered $185,OO0 out of 100000 that
had been in the hold of burned ship for
three years, and the Adams Express
Company, which was responsible for the
amount, gave her $500. Another time
she and her associates worked faithfully
and long over some bonds a crazy cashier
threw into the fire. The bank asked for
only 100000, but the ladies picked out
S145,O00, whereupOn the Directors, with
reckless extravaganza, presented them
with four dollars apiecel
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-03-11
Published March 1, 1875. |
CHAPTER *

AN ACT to amend Sec. seven CO of Chap sixty
seven (6O of Revised Statutes, entitled Or
cemetery associations and town cemeteries
The people of the State ofWisCOnsin, represented
in Senate and Assembly. do enact as follows
SECTION /. Sec. seven % of Chap. siXtY-seven
t67) of the Revised Statutes, entitled ''Of Ceme-
terry associations and town cemeteries" is here
10y amended by adding thereto follows: Pro
CiGed, That such associations may also be
formed in like manner, and may take, hold and
occupy any tract parcel of ground heretofore
set apart or dedicated, or used or heretofore
occupied, as public burial ground, for the pur-
pose q preserving and caring for the same. and
such associations shall not be required in plating
such ground TO designate more than the bound
aries thereof; but such associations for the
purpose in this prOVisO stated shall he formed
unless in addition to the requirements prescribed
by law, each person taking part in pGrlectng
proposed to be taken by such association. by
having deceased relatives buried therein; but
nothing contained in this act shall be construed
az comforting any rights OF burial of the dead
where the same are now prohibited by law. or
the ordinance of any incorporated CITY or village
SEC. 2 10 such association for the purpose
herciubcfore stated shall be formed unless in ad-
ditiou to the requirements now prescribed by
law. Each person taking part III perfeCting such
organization shall be interested in the ground
proposed to he So taken by such association bv
having deceased relatives buried therein.
Sec g. Nufaing contained in this act shall be
so construed : comforting any rights of burial of
the dead wher the same are now prohibited by
law, or the ord uances of any Incorporated city or
village.
SEC. 4 This act shall be in force from anssfter
its passage and publication.
Approved Eco. a, 1878. COW.