davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18
A Murderer's Confession.

BosToN, May s.
None OF the mysterious and awful muir
ders which have brought our city into no.
tlce II late years has created such an ex-
element as was produced by the confes-
sion OF Thomas w Piper, made public
to-day. Enforced abstinence from rum
and opium has been breaking him down
so that the jailers are already beginning
to tear that he will never live to mount the
gallows.
His failing health was shown first BY
his acknowledgment that he knew of
MabePs death, but that it was the result
of accident; later by the writing of long
letter to his mother, and, Yesterday, by
his confession of the crime for which he
is to die, together with two others which
have battted the best efforts Of the police.
Piper confessed in the first place to the
murder Of Mabel Young, of which he
stood convicted, saying that he had felt a
desire all day to kill somebody, and had
taken bat up into the belfry with which
to do it. He laid in wait for a girl about
twelve years old, but Mabel fell in his
way, and, at her request, he went up with
her. He killed her by striking her two
blows upon her head with the bat
He also confessed that lie was the MUIR
derer of Bridget Landregan, which crime
was committed in the year 1878, and for
which he was once arrested and dis
charged. The evening on which he MUIR
dered her he was possessed with the same
desire to kill, and he nerved himself bv
drinking a compound Of opium and
whisky, and selected for his instrument
of death a piece of wagon shaft, which
he sawed at the proper length and secreted.
He then went out to watch for his victim.
The unfortunate one he selected he saw
get out of horse-car. He did not know
her, but he got his club and followed her
to secluded spot, when he crept up behind
her and struck her two terrible blows
upon the head. He then ran home, from
which he had not been absent more than
fifteen minutes, and went to bed.
He also confessed to the assault on Mary
Tyner in July, 1874, for which he has
never been suspected. He was in her
room at night, and, seeing that she was
sleeping, was seized with the desire to kin
her, and he accordingly beat her upon the
head, and left her for dead, escaping
through an open window.
The date Of Piper's execution is fixed
for May 26. There is little doubt about
the truth Of his statements concerning the
two murders, bat some discredit is thrown
upon the other matter by the detectives,
who think his, object may be to create
belief that he is insane and irresponsible.
The public, however, demands his execu-
ton, and there. IS no hope for Executive
Clemency
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18
From the Toledo Blade.t
SpeciaIticz in WeGfcfDe.

We publish on aur eighth page lengthy
article describing the system of the noted
specialist, DR.. r, V. Pierce, of Buffalo, N.
l., in which he sets forth with considerable
force and clearaess his reasons for deYOting
his whole time and attention TO d single de-
partment of Inedicine-the treatment of lin
gering chronic diseases. The same article
also takes up the subjects OF diagnosis,
methods of consultation and treatment,
etc, and viii be found to contain many wall
liable hints to the invalid. DIR. Pierce is. the
author of work which has already attained
a large circulation-''T The Peoples Common
Sense Medical Adviser''-contalning sozne
nine hundred numerously-illus trated pages,
and devoted to medicine in all its branches,
a work well calculated for the guidance and
instruction of the people at large, and
which may be had for $50 (pnst-pai6D by
addressing the author. Dr. Pierce has now
been before the general pablic long enough
to enable the formation Of careful esti-
mate of the efficiency of his treatment and
his medicines, and the verdict, we are glad
to know. has been universally favorable to
both,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18

Here is another venerable belief
turbled into tAe dust by modern science
That. children become bOw-legged or
knock kneedi by trying to walk before
their limbs are strong enough, has been
recognized tEuBh since Adam. Now
cones in some pOke-nose Of an anatomist
and wants us 30 know that the rainbow
shape of baby legs is got from habit the
little roguess have Of rubbing the soles of
their feet together to enjoy the tickling
sensation. Therefore, bow-legs may be
prevented by keeping socks on babies.
AS for knock-knees, they came from the
child's sleeping on one side with the up
per knee cuddled into the hollow behind
the knee resting on the body, III which
case. the upper leg does not grow as fast
and strong as the other. Now, probably,
we had better adopt the Indian fas ZION Of
strapping babies on a board, whereby
they may grow to walk uprightly, and
never interfere" at tie ankles.-ET-
chan %.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18

history. She was found, in the summer
of 1860, on the doorstep of Farmer Cook
tons house, in basket. Accompanying
The infant was note to the effect that the
mother Of the child was a gypsy who had
been converted to Christ and cannot
bear the thought of this innocent creature
growing in ignorance and vice. Is there
room for it here? It's little wings are
weary, and, like the dear Jesus, it has no
place to lay It's head. Turn it not away,
bat keep it, for the love of Christ"
The child was a bright little thing, and
as the farmer had no children he and his
wife concluded to adopt it as their own.
1t came to be such asunshine in the house
that they gave it the name of {" Blessing"
which was subsequently turned into 'Bles-
sic. "-Ezdred (Pa.) Cor. ". Y. Herald.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18
The " Said Boy"

"THIs said boy" began Bijah, as he
led out youth of thirteen, g did, to-wit,
viz: Throw a stone and smash pane Of
glass on Howard street, all Of which he
says he will never do again.
ID" Smashing glass, eh?' queried the
court. "Well, the law will have to
smash him, I'm afraid
& haven't got any dadP' whispered
the prisoner, while his chin quivered and
his teeth knocked together.
"That's nothing to do with breaking
glass, my son. You have no more right
to throw stones and smash glass than q
boy with three or four fathers and q
school-house full of aunts and uncles."
"She slippedm continued the lad,
while big tear gathered in his left eye.
Why do you and other boys prowl
around the world throwing stones?' de-
manded his Honor. "Why is it that a
boy can heave club or throw a stone
when he's so mortal tired that he can't
walk half a block to do an errand?'
81 was only throwing at yaller
Bird" protested the prisoner, his right
eye also filing up.
"That makes the offense ten times
worse" shouted the court "What do
you want to hurt yaller-bird, or red
bird, or any other kind of bird for? You
ought to be tied up in a square package,
labeled A bad boy, and placed on shelf
in the work house for six months"
81 can't go there--I have to take care
of horse?' was the boys very solemn an
swer.
Looking over the warrant again, His
Honor continued:
boy, be careful! If you smash any
more glass in this town you'll miss half a
dozen circuses and all 5h e ferry boat ex-
cursions. You'll sigh for home when the
sun rises, and you'll weepand lament when
the sun goes down. Go home to your
mother, and go and feed that horse, and
for the next year you want to walk around
Detroit as if there were eggs under your
feet"
Bijah let the lad out by the private door,
gave him lot of orange psel to stay his
stomach until he could get home to break
fast, and patting him on the head, re-
marked:
Don't heave any more stuns at the
gentle yaller birds, Birds has rights, or
5he Lord would havemade geese of them"
Detroit Tree Press
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18
Tutelage of the Young Emperor of
China.

So LONG as there must be hereditary
rulers the education of very young
Princes, who are to be called one day to
govern large countries, is a matter of no
trlt1lng Importance, not only to those
countries, but to the world in general.
So, evidently, think those almond-eyed
DANES OF Picking, the two Expresses, who
are the regents of China. 1t seems that
the embryo Emperor, who has arrived at
his nth or sixth year, hiss just been placed
under the tutelage of two grave and rev.
erend seigneurs of the imperial court. So
mOmentous an event was considered de-
serving of an edict full Of the most flow
cry language addressed to the Chinese,
millions, who were summoned to be ham
Ply and grateful because the youthful
brother Of the sun and moon was about to
begin his A 3 C'S. 1t must be confessed
that to enter upon the attempt to learn
even so much as the Chinese alphabet is
an undertaking worthy of celebration,
since he who should achieve this would
be greater than he who taketh a city.
However, all China thrilled with iov to,
learn that the " Imperial Court of Astron-
OmerS" had selected an suspicious dav
for the beginning of the Emperor's stud
les, that the great Prince Chun had taken
the august pupil in charge, and that that
illusrious infant had really begun to bah
bic the weird hieroglyphics of his native
tongue. Two other tutors, also of prince
ly rank, have assumed the care of the
boys morals and manners; and every
morning and evening they are enioined to
impress upon him sage and salutary coun-
sells respecting his conduct in life.
But will shese tutors dare to chastise the
sacred person of the relative of the lumi-
naries and near friends of the gods? Or
will they spare the rod, thus spelling the
child? Happily, the resources of Chi
nese inventiHeness are quite equal to this
dilemma. The person of the Emperor
must not, indeed, be violated by the ped
agogic bamboo; nor yet must his faults,
his neglect Of lessons, and fits ofrebellious
irritation, go. unpublished. 4 plan some
what similar to that adopted By Lord
DondreGry, who, it will be remembered,
visits the penalty of his jokes upon the
burly person Of the butler B5nng, has
been decided upon The office of ''whip-
has been established; an I'M
fortunate little Chihaman, about the age
of the imperial pupil, has been appointed,
in more than, one sense, to the post-and
It is he who will vicariously receive chas-
tisement when the little Emperor is
Certainly the state of uncer-
tsinty in which this small but important
court official will be always living is not
to be envied, and it is to be hoped that he
is we'll paid, and that the quality of the
little Emperor's mercy Will not be strained
when he thinks Of his luckless substitute
Those who are tempted to laugh at this
device may, upon reflection, conclude
that, after all, schemes not dissimilar are
sometimes used among more civilized
people to transfer their burdens and pen
alties to the shoulders of their neighbors.
-4ppIetOnS' J02SrH01.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18
Gen. Stark.

TIE oldest of our, citizens, natives of
Manchester, n. H., have very distinct
recollections of the. last years Of Gen.
John Stark's life, and relate many anec-
dotes and incidents concerning him. He
seems from his boyhood to have been a
noted and marked character, both in
his own town and neighboring settle
ments.
He has left no legacy of feuds to tell Of
bitterness in neighborly intercourse, but
the uniform testimony of his old towns
men is to the effect that his house was
often open for social parties and festive
gatherings. On these occasions Gen.
Stark was never hilarious, though his
hospitality was sincere, and he enjoyed
his guests.
It is related of him that he was never
known to show his emotions in word
or expression of face, On old resident
averring that he was never seen 10 laugh
or shed tear. On one occasion, to test
his strength of nerve, g toWnsman offered
to fire a pistol close behind his back
while the General was busy cOnversing
A party in the experiment agreed to watch
tie Generals face in front and report the
result, and see if he We're startled or not
There was no visible alteration in his
expression or manner, but he turned very
quietly to see the cause OF the explosion.
He was quite as much noted for vigor
IN the management of his farm as in the
management Of troops, and could never
endure Incidence in any one who had the
strength and capacity 10 labor.
At the time of the arrival of tne
courier bringing news of the battle of
Lexington, Stark was hard at work in his
saw-mill, taking advantage of the spring
floods to finish the saving of logs drawn
in the winter then just past. This mill
was on Ray Brook, and the remains Of it
are still discefnible when the low water
will admit. Old settlers assert that the
log left half-sawed by Stark, as he mount
ed his horse to beat up recruits, was never
disturbed afterward; it decayed with the
mill in the eight long years Of fighting
that ended with the surrender OF Corn
wallis.
Stark's int gritty and economy in Gov
eminent contracts and the disbursements
connected with army supplies was never
questioned by Patriot or Tory. He sac
rifced his private interests and the en-
joyment of domestic life through the rev
olution without any hesitation, and en-
couraged the same spirit in MS sons. He
was incapable of discrimination, and even
when blunt, rough and eccentric, meant
kindness where his manner might belle
his heart.-C0r. Manchester IN. h Mr.
r0r.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18
INDUSTRIAL. STATISTICAL AND
TECHNICAL.

NEvEE dilute varnish with turpentine,
as it kills the gloss. If too thick, warm 1t
by the stove, or place the cup on warm
5rou
THE last car load of copper for this sea-
son left here on Wednesday last. About
700 tons of copper have been brought to
this place on sleighs during the past win
Ter, and transported by rail to Eastern
markets The value of the same at pres
eenf prices is about $6O5, 000-L'Anse
Nea5s.
4 GOOD bronze paint for iron is made of
ivory black, one ounce; chrome yellow,
one ounce; chrome green, two pounds.
Nix with raw linseed oil, adding little
Japan 10 dry it. This gives a fine bronze
green If desired, gold bronze may be
put on The prominent parts of the object
when the paint is not quite dry, the pow
der being rubbed in with piece of
plush
a BEAUTIFUL and easily produced exhi-
bition Of crystal formation may be seen
under the microscope, as follows: Upon
q slip of glass place a drop Of liquid
chloride OF gold or nitrate of silver, with a
particle Of zinc in the gold and copper in
the silver. 4 growth of exquisite gold or
silver ferns will spring up under the de
lighted eye.
4 NEW and simple blowpipe consists of
TWO large jars connected near the bottom
by piece Of rubber tubing. One is filled
with water and put on a shelf above the
sable on which the other stands. The
water passes into the latter, and, in doing
50, forces the air out through a stopper
and piece Of tubing into the blowpipe,
(which is supported separately. With jars
Of one gallon capacity and a blowpipe
with an oriffce of 0.016 inch, a steady air
current OF ten minutes duration is OBJ
tanned; and to keep it up, one has merely
to transposc the jars.-,Scj611tjttc A01erlcan.
FOREIGN TRADE.-The foreign trade of
The country has been made up for the nine
months ending March 81, and shows a
continued diminution, and the balance
SILL tipping more heavily in our favor.
Total imports Tor that time, $500, 800, 900,
As against SAB, 8OO,0 last year. and
S498, 90, 900 in 1912 3. In three years,
IN Other words, imports have fallen off
over tHenty-six per cent. Total exports
for the same nine months, god value,
$443 600, 900, against $455, 900, last
year The excess Of exports, this year, is
rhoeSoye S62, 10000, against $42, 100000
IaSG wear
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18
The Buddha's Answer,

THERE came to the Buddha, one dav. q
woman who had lost ner only child. She
was wild with grief, ard with disconso.
late sObs and cries called frantically upon
the prophet to give back her little one to
life. The Buddha gazed on her long,
and, with that tender sympathy which
drew all hearts to him, replied, eco, my
daughter, bring me a mustard seed from
house into which death has never en-
tered, and | will do as thou hast hidden. y
The woman took up the dead child and
began her search. She went from house
to house, saying; "Give me a mustard
seed, kind folks, a mustard seed for the
prophet to revive my child" And they
gave her what she desired And when
she had taken it she inquired: They
are all gathered around the hearth here,
father, mother, and the children; is it not
so? They are sound, in health's bloom 90
But the people would shake their heads
mournfully. And, far as she wandered
through town and village, in the crowded
thorOughtare and by the lonely roadside,
she met the same experience still. There
was ever a vacant seat by the hearth,
which remained untitled though all were
gathered. Then gradually, as she went
on, the outbursts Of her grief abated, and
the meaning Of the Buddha's words
dawned upon her mind. Gradually, as
she learned to know the great sorrow of
the race everywhere around her. her
heart, ceasing to dwell on it's own selfish
pang, went out in strong yearning to
the companions of her suffering. The
tears Of her pity fell free and fast, passion
sIoa0ly melted aa0Gy IN c0mpasS60n From
passive suffering she turned to active
helping, sought redemption by redeem
ing. She had learned the highest virtue
which the Buddha taught, aU5tri, the
consciousness of wide fellowship, the love
OF mankind, the perfect remuneration Of
self in behalf of the eternal interests.
Calm, answering seIf-connol to avoid
pain, acts of sympathy to Tighten pain {;
such was the Buddha's answer to the
great question Of the origin and destruc-
ton of suffering. These were the two
solid pillars of his church. If he had
paused there he could have exhibited to
the world an example of combined sober
ness and enthusiastic idealism nowhere
transcribed in human history But his
faith in the doctrine of the transmigr
compelled him to pass the limits which
his strong ethical sentiment seemed to
prescribe, into a nebulous beyond. This
present life of ours is but link in the
great chain of existence. Of what advan-
tage is it, therefore, to destroy the suffer
ing of to-day, if, in the ceaseless cycle of
new births, that suffering is destined end
lessly to recur? To be true delivererr
the prophet said, must free men from
the fear Of resurrection, teach them to
battle fate. With the end of existence
alone Can come the end Of pain. Hence
arose the mystic doctrine of Nirvana- the
third OF the great principles on which the
Buddhist system rests.-F'rom d PROPHET
Of the People, By Prof. Adyor, IN atlantic
for JaI736.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18
A Hra7n-SootFaing Remedy.

The wondrous organ that crowns the edj-
fee Of man is not only the seat Of reflection
and, The home of Ideally, but it is the gov
erning center of the nervous system. When
1t is overweight, unduly excited, or af-
fected by irregularities Of those bodily or
gans with which it most closely sympathizes,
all The nerves suffer, and the general health
is impaired. The reason why Hostetter's
Stomach Bitters exercise such a soothing in
fuence upon the brain is, that they remove
those digestive and bilious arrangements
relieving irritation or weakness of the great
sympathetic nerve which connects the stom-
ach and tie brain, they benefcially affect Ghe
latter organ as well as the former Sound
sleep, clearness of mind, easy digestion and
freedom from biliopsnes are insured by this.
prime regulative tonic and uervine.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18

tory in the future would be studied as il
always had been, and he wrote note TO
the Educational Monthly to say that in his
opinion the man who suggested the new
system ought to be led out and shot. The
boys do not now take as much interest in
Roman history as they did on that day.
Philadelphia Bulletin.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18

The honest agriculturists are crum-
bling bits of clod in their horny fingers,
wondering if they contain anything over
5000 grasshoppers' eggs to the peck. No
alarming discoveries have been made in
Iowa, but in Kansas they are tossing
nickels, where they have nickels, to see
whether they will flee from the 'hoppers
to come, or stick by their farms and trust
to Providence aud the relief societies.
Burlington Ha0k-Eye.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18

cussed afterward in Tuttletown, and the
explanation given that Mark was fright
ened by the explosion Of a belated hun
ter's gun.-S0n0rG (C0I.) Democrat.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18

"A Worcester man was wandering
from paint-shop to paint-shop the other
day, asking for "striped paint" with
which to paint harber-pole.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-18

his hand. 1t read as follows:
DEAR FRANK: So greatly do I love Mr.. Bell
that l have given up all for him. [ hope you will
be brave enough to bear up, ard think Of me as
the most cruel creature in the world. Tell AIva
l have not the courage TO write to him nor to
father and mother We are going to be married
and intend to return to Eldred when the gOssips
are through with Us. Farewell, Frank. Bid
Alva farewell for me- / hope he had learned to
hate me before this. 3. G.
Evans coolly handed the note back to
Miss Peters, and remarked quietly:
am glad to have found the young
lady out before it was too late"
The same evening he was driven 10 the
railroad and returned to Canada. The
farmers family took the matter very
calmly. Miss Peters, however, was found
lying in her bed, about seven O'Clock the
same evening, covered with blood. With
a small penknife she had severed the
large arteries CT both arms, and was near
ly unconscious from loss of blood. But
for the timely discovery of her situation
she would soon have been past all aid.
Her wounds were bound up, and doctor
summoned, who now has her in charge
Her parents were sent for and arrived
here this morning. They will remove
their unfortunate daughter to her home as
| soon as they can with safety.
Blessie" Cookton has remarkable