davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17
A Funeral by Force.

A PoTTsvILLE (Pa.) paper gives an &C
count OF an extraordinary scene at a
funeral near that place. An old man
named Burke was killed at Scranton,
and his body was taken to fremont by
his two sons for interment, as Burke had
lot in cemetery there and a son
buried in it. The funeral cortege ar
rived, and found grave dug. The cof-
fin had been lowered into it, when the
Rev. Father Cox appeared on the scene
and ordered the body to be lifted out. A
certificate OF death by a reverend father
of Scranton was demanded before the
funeral could go on, and the reverend
gentleman asked to be shown the stakes
marking the lot. One of the sons of the
deceased suggested that the stakes had
probably been pulled up, and said: If
it isn't all right stake me out lot and
I'll pay you for it," The reply was: I
don't want any argument with puppy
like you" Then a tall, braWny fellow
broke in and said: "We've brought the
body 40 miles to bury it here, and here
we Will bury it." The reverend gentle
man asked the last speaker his name,
and at the same time struck him in the
face; then, stepping back, came near
falling into the open grave. The man
who was struck handled his pistol, and a
son of the deceased grabbed the holy
man by the throat, saying: " You're a
pretty big man, but not big enough to
lick me-"
The coats went off the Scranton funer-
al party, and all were ready for action.
The clergyman finally broke away from
young Burke, and, drawing pistol, said
he was prepared for such a party. All
the pistols in the crowd were now drawn
against him. He was outnumbered, and
the body of old Burke was buried under
the muzzles of a dozen pistols. All
which was very much out of order at a
Christian burial
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17
Mr. PeabOdy's COrn-CObs.

AN amusing story is told, of which it
is averred that no less an important per-
sonage than the late George Peabody,
the celebrated American banker, was
the hero. 1t appears that Mr.. Peabody
had invited three English gentlemen to
meet two American gentlemen at dinner,
and on this occasion, having received as
gift ten ears of green corn, determined
to renew the recollections of his youth,
astonish his English and please his
American guests, by having it served up
in the well known American style.
Accordingly, at proper time, plates
of butter and salt were placed before
each guest, and the banker, with some
thing of an air of mystery, announced
that he was now about to treat his guests
to well-known and delicious American
dish of food, cooked in the American
manner.
It would be no novelty to his Ameri
can guests, but the Englishmen must
watch how 1t was disposed of by them,
and follow their example and manner of
a stately butler, bearing large, covered
dish, which he deposited solemnly before
Mr.. Peabody; in a moment more, in
obedience to the bankers nod, he whisked
off the cover, and there. before the as
tonished guests, was displayed pile of
ten boiled corn-c0bs!
The banker gazed for an instant in
mute horror and dismay, and then found
voice to demand an explanation, which
was finally reached when the cook was
summoned-a fellow who had never be-
fore seen an ear of Indian corn in his
life-Who replied that he had followed
his masters directions to strip oil all
the outside before boiling" which ne
had done most faithfully-not only
husks, as was intended, but kernels also,
so that the banker had only what IS IN
America the mute evidence Of the feast
to indicate his good intentions to his
guests-Comnaercia Bulletin.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17
Harvesting Wheat in California.

Down in the San Joaquin there is q
morning with their ang-plows, travel
on until noon, take dinner at a midway
station, then drive on until the going
down of the sun, and return the day fol
lowing. So immensely is one mans
profitable ownership broadened by ma
chimes. True, the blowing is only skin
deep, and the average yield per acre has
already fallen off over five bushels in
the State: but who takes thought for the
morrow? Then in harvest the field act
ually swarms with machinery. As the
cumbrous header moves on, with its long
guillotine reaching far out into the wheat
to be decapitated, wagon is driven deX-
terously alongside to receive the heads.
Every header thus employs five men,
three wagons and twelve horses. Some
times three or four headers are going at
once, each with it's little army, and
simultaneously in the middle of the
field steam thresher, with its greater
army of men, dark as mulattoes with
tan and dust, working with an amazing
energy, even running at their sew
eral tasks, while the header wagons
come and return on a trot- Perhaps
spark from the thresher ignites the
standing grain; the farmer leaps on q
reaper and whips his horses to a gallOp
to cut swath around and arrest the
progress of the confagration. The wind
sweeps the billowy flames upon him; he
dismounts, slashes off the traces, be-
strides horse and gallops for life, leaV-
ing the reaper to its fate. 1t might az
well be burned as to lie outdoors ali
winter. 1t makes ones head dizzy to
see how they do things in California in
harvest.
The more careful farmer haryests his
grain with a reaper, and binds it into
sheaves. In the hot and dry interior the
straw is too brittle to be bound by day,
so you shall sometimes see John China
man binding wheat all night long by
the light of the moon and the stars, and
sleeping by day in dirty tent or under
meath spreading OAK, perfectly secure
from rain The ranchman's house is
generally too small for this sudden host
of laborers, quite small enough for him
self and his family, and the workmen
sleep outdoors, like Boaz, at the end of
the heap of corn, wrapped in their gray
California blankets. ta-E
Usually the grain is sacked and left in
the open field for months together with
out fear of rain or thieves. By and by
it accumulates around the little country
depots, corded up in quarter acres and
half-acres. For month after month i'm
mense trains of platform cars are rolling
down to the bay with this gorge and
plethora of wheat, and frequently the i
rainy season begins before it is all re
moved.-Stephen Powers, an atlantic
Monthly.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17
Effects OF Paris-Green on Vegetables.

WHETHER Paris green, used in the de-
struction of potato-bugs and other in
sects, is poisonous to vegetable life is
question of much interest to all. DR..
William McMurtie, of the Agricultural
Department at Washington, has devoted
considerable time and experiment to the
elucidation of this question. Among
other experiments, he planted peas in
boxes Of soil impregnated with a solu-
ton of arsenic of different strengths, the
object being to ascertain if arsenic could
be absorbed in sufficient quantity by
plants to become injurious to the health
of the consumer, and if not taken up by
the plants during growth whether it ex-
erted a poisonous influence upon the
plants themselves. The plants were found
to be affected in proportion to the amount
OF the arsenical compound used, the
size of the growing plants decreasing
regularly as the amount of the poison
was increasing. A chemical test of these
plants after being so affected by this
poison revealed no trace of arsenic, and
the conclusion arrived at was that
arsenic cannot be absorbed and assiml-
lated by plants in the process of growth,
though plants may be injured by the
presence in the soil of about 900 pounds
of Paris-green. With the quantity of
Paris-green actually used, perhaps five
or ten pounds to the acre, no effect upon
plants or their consumers is possible.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17
A Blanket Romance.

AN estimable lady living in the near
edge of Pueblo County, Col, had occa-
sion to visit the States few months
since, and found it convenient to borrow
a handsome red blanket of Mr.. Ed. Red
mond, highly-respected and jolly stock
man of our county. At Denver, where
the lady stopped one night, the hotel
was crowded, and two other ladies occu-
pied the same room. The night being
cold the possessor of the blanket gener-
Ously offered her roOm-mates the valuable
article for their comfort during the night,
take good care of it as it was borrowed
one. The ladies gratefully accepted the
kind offer, and with curiosity peculiar
to their sex asked who might be the
happy owner of the handsome article,
and were told that it was Mr.. Redmond,
bachelor fliend living in Southern Col
oradc. In the morning one of the ladies,
young widow, clipped small piece
off one corner of the blanket and put it
in her pocket, and, returning the blanket
with her card, said:
Tell Mr.. Redmond if he wants the
rest of his blanket to come and get it."
In due time the lady returned from her
Eastern visit and delivered to the owner
his property, the card and message. Mr..
Redmond, not to be Outdone by banter
from lady, wrote her note. Other
notes followed each way. Their intima-
cy, SO dramatically begun, ripened into
love and marriage, although they had not
seen each other till the time the nuptials
were celebrated.
| After Mr.. Redmond had started on his
| trip to claim his " loving bride, he was
met at the depot at Colorado Springs by
our efficient Clerk of the District Court,
| George A. Butte, and told that he would
have to be retained as a witness in an
important case that would soon come up
in the court. Mr.. Redmond pleaded i'm
! portant business IN Denver-business
that could not be attended to without
his presence-but found Mr.. Butte mex
orable until he told him the nature o. the
| business, when Mr.. Butte, recollecting
that he himself was bachelor, thought
it right to obey the Scripture command;
" Do unto others as you would have them
do unto you!" Without further deten'
ton Mr.. Redmond arrived safely in Den.
yer, claimed successfully his bride, and
on leaving to return with her to his
home, he was told by some young ladies
present that if there were any other
bachelors in Southern Colorado having
red blankets, tell them to send them up
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17
Educating Horses.

HORSES can be educated to the extent
of their understanding as we'll as chill
dren, and can be as easily damaged or
ruined by bad management. We believe
that the great difference found IN horses
as TO vicious habits or reliability comes
much more from the different manage
ment Of men than from variance of nat
nral dispositions in the animals. Horses
with high mettle are more easily ed
ucated than those of less or dull spirits,
and are more susceptible to i'll training.
and consequently may be made good or
bad according to the education they re
ceive
Horses with dull spirits are not by any
means proof against bad management,
for in them may often be found the most
provoking obstinacy; vicious habits of
different characters that render them al
most entirely worthless. Could the COM
ing generations of horses in this country
be kept from their days of colthood to
the age of five years in the hands of
good, careful managers, there would be
seen a vast difference in the general
characters of the noble animals.
If q colt is never allowed to get an ad-
vantage 1t will never know that 1t pos
sesses a power that man cannot control,
and if made familiar with strange objects
it will not be skittish and nervous. If
horse is made accustomed from his
early days to have objects hit him on
the heels, back and hips he will pay no
attention to the giving out Of a harness
or of a wagon running against him at an
unexpected moment.
We once saw an aged lady drive high
spirited horse, attached to a carriage,
down steep hill and with no hold-back
straps upon the harness, and she assured
us that there was no danger, for her son
accustomed his horses to all kinds of
usages and sights that commonly drive
the animal into frenzy of fear and ex-
citement.
A gun can be fired from the back of
horse, an umbrella held over his head, a
buffalo robe thrown upon his neck,
railroad engine pass close by, his heels
bumped with sticks and the animal take
it all as of natural condition of things,
if only taught by careful management
that he will not be injured thereby.
There is great need of improvement in
the management of this noble animal;
less beating wanted and more of educa-
tion.--Ln-D0oG and Out.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17
The COddling Moth.

SOME observations have been made on
the coddling-moth, or apple-worm. We
catch them by means of thick cloth or
paper bands, about four to six inches
wide, put about the trunk OF the tree and
held fast by carpet tack. We have one
season used good straw wrapping-paper,
folded into three thicknesses. About
three-ffths of the moths hide in the
folds of the bands, two-ifths between the
band and the tree. / prefer. band Of
one thickness of wooden cloth. Last
season we used one thickness of carpet
paper, but the birds pecked it off good
deal in hunting out the worms. We have
learned that the bands must be removed
and worms killed every eight or ten days,
or some are liable to escape. At one
time we lost quite anumber of worms by
leaving the bands on twelve days at
time.
The hog remedy is only partial one.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17
Health Proverbs.

PERHAPS few simple hints may serve
to aid those who are in search of that in
estimable boon, health.
Those who would have perfect diges-
ton should not drink anything at meals
Drinking should always be done before,
after, or between meals.
Milk is especially pernicious in all of
those complicated and obscure cases of
indigestion to which the phrase "nerv-
Gus debility" is usually applied. '
One of the great and increasing evils
of imperfect mastication is decaying
teeth. 1t is law of vital organisms that
every structure or post must do its own
work or die.
Corsets are the degenerators of one
sex as much as tobacco and liquor are the
enemies of the other.
Ladies suffering from nervous debility
in summer should beware of over-exer-
cising. The fault with too many inva-
lids is that they overdo when trying to
recruit, and thus seriously retard their
Improvement.
Women BEAUTIFULLY and happily en-
ployed are not usually in i'll health.
Hannah More wrote eleven books after
the age of sixty. Sarah J. Hale is now
eighty-six and still editing.
The influence Of Imagination on the
vital functions has always been recog-
nized, and it was this recognition that
enabled the ancient physicians to be so
successful with charms, amulets and in
carnations.
Parasols, except in the middle of the
day during the cheated term," are per-
nicious things, as are the wells with
which so many fashionable ladies shade
their faces.
The most prevalent error in private
houses is insufficient ventilation of bed
rooms. Young children and infants
though born with fair organizations, are
often rendered puny and scrofulous by
sleeping in unventilated rooms.
The error of regarding dyspepsia as a
local disease instead Of constitutional
infirmity leads to the mischievous prac-
tice of local medication. Dyspepsia is
but name for universal physical dete-
riOratiOn.
Water-dcinking between meals SHOULD
be according to thirst. 1t is mistake
to load weak stomach with cold water
on the theory that it is tonic. AS a
habit it is well to take tumbler, or part
of one, of pure soft water after dressing
in the morning.
The temperature of baths should al
ways be regulated by the temperature of
| the patient.
It is said, by those who have taken
pains to inform themselves on the sub
ject, that there is no country, civilized OF
savage, where bad teeth are so generally
| the rule, and good ones so rare an eXcep
ton, as the United States
| If seats were properly constructed
persons would sit upright, for the reason
| that it would be the most comfortable
position. It would be painful to sit
otherwise. The chairs, benches, sofas,
pews, or other seats should fit the small
of the back, the curves of the hips and
the whole length of the thighs as accu,
rately as a well-made shoe is shaped tc
the foot, or harness to the body of d
horse. Western Rural.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17
A SAD AFFAIR

SHE sat alone with folded hands.
And neither turned to right nor left.
So mute and sad she looked like one
Ofhope and home and friends bereft.
Poor thing, thought, and dropped tear
Thy loved ones all have gone before.
Have sailed away DER Deaths dark stream,
And left thee pining on the shore.
| gladly would have cheered her, but
A stern, cold voice held me in check
"There's nuthin' ails her much" it said,
She's got boil upon her neck"
A THoUGHTLEss young man from Mas
sachusetts went out into Pottawattamie
County not long ago to start paper, and
in order to tickle the fancy of the inhab-
itants, of whose temper he was ignorant,
he published the following in his first
issue: 1.-THE fighting editor is at home
at all hours of the day and night, ready,
willing and anxious to receive all visit
Ors who have grievances. He carries
two reVolvers, slung-shot, pair of
brass knuckles, bowie-knife as long as
a cross-cut saw, a razor in each boot, an
eel-skin, bludgeon and bottle of
poison" Every man in Pottawattamie
thought it was challenge, and all day
long they dropped in, singly and in pairs,
by threes, and in squads and platoons
Every soul OF them whipped the editor,
and the last man, who came in about
seven p. m, had to sweep him up in the
middle of the floor and paste him togeth-
er with putty in order to get kick at
him. The paper only issued the initial
number.-Burtangton (Iowa) HaDk-Eye.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17

Late in July s5O apparently wormy ap.
pies were picked up from the ground and
cut open; not ore contained a worm. At
the same time $50 such apples were
picked from trees; about % per cent.
only contained Larvae. The rest had
crawled out and were likely under folds
of bark, out of hogs way. On July7
1o1 apparently wormy apples were taken
from WAGNER tree; fifty contained the
worm, ffty-one had lost the worm. On
July 90 200 red Astrachans, apparently
wormy, were examined. Ninety-nine
were found to contain worms; 101 con-
tanned no worms.-Pr0f. ". j. BeaI
Michigan agricultural College.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-06-17


the opinion that if our Common Council
were in power in England the people
would complain. He says there are few
men having control in the educational
interests in England who cannot read or
write.
He has taken down a good many notes
of the water-works investigation now
going on, taking especial interest in it
since being informed by the guide that
if any of those fellows are found guilty
of having taken a single cent of the
city's money they will be burned at the
stake, for such is the stern virtue in this
Republic that if man attempts to haul
in any of the public cash he is cremated
on the spot.-CincSnaaat Conaanerciag
The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-18

cation, and that the permanent government
began after the election of the Mayer and Ad-
ministrators on the first Monday of Novem-
Der, 1870; also, that the language fixing the
terms of the various offices was used with
reference to the permanent organization of
the city government.
The term of Office of the Mayor and Admin
istrators began on the first Monday of Novem-
Der, and continued for two years. That Of
the City Attorney, the Surveyor, and the r.
corders, began on the third Monday of No
vember, being at the first regular meeting
of the Council after its induction into Office,
at which time the law required. these offices to
be filled by an election for two years. Under
this construction, full effect can be given to
that provision of the charter, making it the
duty of the Council to elect a City Attorney
at the first regular meeting after its induction
into office.
This could no. be done if the term Of Office
began with the temporary organization in
April, 1870, and continued for two years.
Where the law makes it the duty of the Coun-
Gil to perform an act at a certain regular
meeting occurring on the third Monday OF
November biennially, the presumption is,
there was contemplated q circumstance which
shall render the act necessary, and in this
case that circumstance was the contemplated
vacancy occurring in the office of City Attor-
ney, by reason of the expiration of the term
thereof The law clearly contemplated
vacancy and the beginning of new term, at
the time it required the Council to elect
City Attorney for a term of two years.
1t would be absurd to say that the law in
tended the Council to perform duty at a
particular time bicnnially, and at the same
time meant that the duty could not then be
performed. The Council could not elect a
City Attorney at the first regular meeting after
its induction into Office, so that he could hold
his Office for two years, unless it was the be-
ginning of a term. And as before remarked.
It could not elect at all, if the theory of
plaintiffs be correct, that the term of said
office expires biennially in April, because
there would never be vacancy the Council
could fill at the first regular meeting after it
was elected and indicted into Office.
Judgment affirmed.
A true copy.
NJ. p. JULIAN, Deputy Clerk
The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-18

Total visible supply, bales ss56, 2s3 1896 9oa
These figures indicate decrease in the cot
ton in sight tonight, Of 140, 619 bales as COM
pared with the same date Of 1874, and an in
crease of 342, 1853 bales as compared with the
corresponding date of 1871 r. Financial
Chronicle, 18Th inst
The Liverpool Cotton Market.
We take the following from the Weekly Cot
ton Circular, dated Liverpool, January Goth:
>Yhe Position, etc-The downward turn in
prices this week has not surprised US. We
anticipated as much, or more, when writing
our report under date OF 18th instant. But
why have prices declined? Several causes
have conduced to this result.
The receipts at the American ports now
promise to be about 20, COO bales larger this
than last week, whereas in the corresponding
week of last year there was an increase on
the preceding week of only 5000 bales. This
taken in connection with the fact that the re-
ceipts at the seven interior American towns
were last week $4,000, against Is, 900 the week
before, has strengthened the impression to
which we referred last week, that the very
light receipts for the past four weeks have
been due to exceptional causes, such as heavy
rains, impossible roads, low prices, etc. Those
Who take this view Of the case seem to think
the receipts at the ports will, for some weeks
The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-02-18

Visible Supply of Cotton rs made up by Ca
bic and Telegraph.
Below we give our table of visible supply,
as made up by cable and telegraph tonight.
The Continental stocks are the figures Of last
Saturday, but the totals tor Great Britain and
the afoat for the Continent are this weeks
returns, and consequently brought down to
Thursday evening; hence, to make the totals
the complete figures for tonight (Feb. 12),
we add the item of exports FROM the United
States, including in it the exports Of Friday
only.