davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01
A Cool Suicide.

| WHEN man has determined to COM
nit suicide he should make preparations
coolly, SO that nothing likely to contribute
to his comfort may be neglected. A per-
son has TO die but once; and when he has
the means. at command, and has made up
his mind to use them, it is best for him to
shuttle off this mortal coil gracefully and
easily. Mr.. Joseph Higgins, of San
francisco, thinking that he had outlived
his usefulness as benefactor to man
kind, went down to one Of the wharves of
that city and made ample preparations to
give up the ghost. Fastening to his BODY
miscellaneous assortment of old iron, to
insure speedy drowning, he was about to
plunge into the water, when a sudden
thought for time deferred the fatal act.
Anxious that his friends should not be
compelled to spend their money in adver-
Using for the missing man, or in giving
reward for the body, he fastened rope to
his person. one end of which he attached
to pier. Once more he prepared for the
fatal plunge, and once more happy idea
delayed the dreadful act The diving
words OF eminent men of all ages have
been chronicled, and why not his? The
last expression he left was the simple but
forcible word, "Pullr" This he in
scribed in conspicuous letters upon a
card, fastened the card to the snore-end of
the rope, and moment later the insect
laneous collection Of old iron and Mr..
Joseph Higgins were at the bottom of the
river. But his death was not SO easily
accomplished as he anticipated, as the
sequel will show.
Some hours later, as an inquisitive po-
liceman was prowling around that wharf,
he saw the card containing the last word
OF Mr.. Joseph Higgins. If it had been a
whisky bottle, perhaps the policeman
would have been as prompt to obey the
request However, he proceeded to "pull,,'
and soon after pulled Mr.. Joseph Higgins
to the wharf alive and kicking! The wa
ter was shallow where he had jumped in,
and the rope was too short and the old
iron too heavy to make further explora-
ton toward deep water easy or possible
Consequently his g last moments proved
too numerous and lengthy to man de-
termined to go off suddenly. While wait
ing for the tide to rise, he changed his
mind, and resolved to postpone his first
appearance in tragic part. But the iren
held him to his engagement and he could
not stir. Fortunately, the policeman
came in time to be of great assistance, and
Joseph Higgins, much wiser since the
Illustration of his attempt upon his life,
was hastily escorted to the lookup, where
he will be allowed ample time to note the
difference between prison cell and
watery grave.-N. 7, Weekly.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01
Toy Making in Paris.

In Paris there are about ), 900 Workmen
employed in the exclusive trade of toy man
ufacture. The chief essential in this art
is the procuring of the substances-the
raw material-to be used, for unless these
can be obtained for next to nothing, the fin
ished work would have to be sold too dear
to allow of its success. The barrels of
sham guns, so dear to the warlike male
offspring ofthe modern Gaul, are wrought
up out of old sardine boxes. Dolls boots
are made of the coverings of discarded
purses, and their dresses and trimmings
Of the old Worn-out stage costumes of
actresses, gathered from every theater,
great or small. As for the wheels which
support the thousands movable creations
in which the infantine heart delights, they
would. of course, even if constructed
even by toy wheelwrights, be an import!
ant item of expense in the profession. AS
it is, they are provided for by appropriate
ing to this purpose the round pieces cut
out from wood or metal when holes are
bored in it to allow the insertion OF some
other article. Such are the cruet-stands
IN use IN France, in which each glass bot
tie is encased in a layer of wood, while in
this country probably medicine boxes
would afford more common example of
the same thing. For the little pewter IN
struments used in dolls houses, such as
plates, knives, spoons, bottles and fire
irons, the toy-makers press into their serv-
ice the metal belonging to old water-pipes
ana spouts, WORKOUT roofing, and the fl
ings collected in workshops. But the
most striking and horrible revelation re-
mains yet unmade. Whence comes the
lead OF which those resolute German and
English soldiers are made who stand so
bravely on their thin ledge of ground to
be picked of by peas and marbles? Let
not any OF the boys with tender suscepti-
bilities or tendency to melancholy be
made aware of the answer. They are
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01
CENTENNIAL JOTTINGS.

THERE will be 10000 roses in bloom
during June in Horticultural Hall in the
Centennial Exposition.
THE water works by which the Exhibi
don grounds and buildings are supplied
will yield 1900, 900 gallons day.
AMONG the recent receipts at the Cen
tenniai is q large silver bar from the
Bonanza mine Of Flood S O'Brien, at
Virginia City. Us weight is III pounds
bullion, and It's value in gold is 81, 623 IS,
and IN silver, $2,091,19
a FINE exhibit in many respects is made
from the Free Industrial Schools of
Massachusetts,, the display including
many fire designs for carpets and dress
fabrics, which have been protitably ap-
piled to manufacture s, painting on china,
panel painting, and other forms OF useful
decorative art.
PHLADELrHIA has been putting up"
quite literally for municipal arrange.
ments during the Centennial. Five hun
dred extra policemen, at $3.50 per day,
are among the new furniture; and the
Mayor is to have $50, 900 for entertaining
and incidental expenses. Fourth of July
fireworks have been provided for in the
sum Of $40, 900.
AGRICULTURAL HALL is rapidly assum-
ing shape, and, in a few days, will be in
bull running order. The display in this
department will certainly prove as inter-
estlng a. any portion of the entire Expo
sition. The immense agricultural re-
sources, not only of the Unit ed States but
ct all the prominent foreign countries,
have full representation in this depart
ment. In the implements of agriculture,
Ohio IS found to be by far the largest ex-
nlbitor, New 0ork and Illinois being
second
The cottages erected by the various
States tor their Commissioners are most OF
tnern in moderately good taste; those built
by the Japanese and English colonial Gov
ernmentS are architecturally artistic. The
Catholic Temperance Societies have erected
awhile marble fountain in honor of their
cause; and the glass-blowers a wooden
structure in honor of theirs. From the
center OF an artificial lake hundred cir.
oularly arranged jets are squirting, wash
ing from tie sunlight u brilliant rainbow
And of all the buildings on the grounds
there is not one OF which what was sale
of the London Exhibition Building o
1862 can be said, that it is a monsuou
outrage upon national forbearance."
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01

Two more miles! My limbs are grow
ing numb, my brain begins to reel, and
my breath comes thick and fast as [ stag
ger on. while I bend still lower upon my
skates, until my face nearly touches the
ground. | cannot keep on much longer.
Hank! The rapid bounds of the foremost
wolf mingle with the ring of my steel. A
few more springs and he will have reached
me. Oh, the horror depicted in that one
moment! My strokes become slow and
tagging, my courage wanes, a dizziness
comes over me. My legs refuse to sus-
tain their burden longer, and with one
last feeble plunge forward, fall helpless
ly on the ice, with hands clasped to my
face as if to shut out the approaching
scene and feeling, so terrible to my imag-
NATIVE brain. A heavy body leaps sud-
denly upon me, two great paws are rest
ing on my shoulders, while can feel the
animals hot breath tanning my flushed
and throbbing temples. At last the crisis
had come, and closing my eyes | uttered
one last despairing cry. But it died out
upon my lips as cold muzzle was thrust
in my face, and looking timidly up I saw
Blinker standing over me. Good, kind.
faithful Blinker, who would have died
rather than harm hair of nv head, but
from whom | had been fleeing as if for
very lite for the past half-hour. -Yo,sng
Folks Monthly.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01
An Almost Incredible Story.

HE following heartrending particulars
Of the treatment received by two helpless
children at the hands of woman, the
wife of painter, in whose care the chill
dren had been placed, is presented by the
Lancaster (Pa.) InteIligencer. Persons
who were eye and ear witnesses, and who
lived upon the spot, received the informa-
ton from the lips of one of the children:
1.-THE children were confined for more
than a year, for the most part in cellar,
where hogs were kept, and employed there
in doing work for their master; their only
food was piece of bread a day, without
even water to drink, they supplying that
want from the hogs trough. They had
not lain in a bed during the whole time
Their mistress, who practiced nursing,
used frequently, without any cause, to tie
them up by the hands, stretched out, to
staple fixed in the ceiling, after stripping
them stark naked, and whip them till her
strength was exhausted, and they were
covered with wounds; after which she
fastened their bodices upon them, which,
cleaving to their lacerated flesh eat into
their bodies till the human tigress re-
newed her cruelties, which we may
naturally suppose were every time
more intolerable than the preceding. The
eldest, who is seventeen years of age, she
scourged no less than six times the Friday
before the discovery, whereby, and by
her former usage, she was one continued
sore, covered with gashes from head to
feet; her flesh seemed purified, and she
appeared rather as if cut with knifes than
whips; her head was swelled to an enor-
nous size, her eyes imperceptible and her
speech gone. An iron collar that was put
about her neck had torn that and her
shoulders in a terrible manner. The
youngest, who is thirteen years old, is
likewise miserable spectacle. She de-
clared to an acquaintance of the writer of
this that sometimes after they had been
whipped, the blood which slreamed from
their wounds formed puddles underneath
them where they sat in the cellar. The
man is said not to have whipped them,
but was only accessory as knowing and
permitting it. When the mistress went
away she caused them to be chained up in
that filthy place till her return, which
they dreaded more than death, which
would have put period to their sutferirgs.
The eldest son is said to have assisted the
mother IN whipping and insulting them"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01

Dull, heavy headache, obstruction OF the
nasal passages, discharge falling into the
throat, sometimes profuse, watery, acrid,
thick and tenacious mucous, purulent, mu-
co-purulent, bloody, putrid, offensive, etc.
In others, dryness, dry, watery, weak, or
infiamed eyes, ringing. in ears, deafness,
hawking and coughing to clear the throat,
alterations, scabs from ulcers, voice altered
nasal twang, offensive breath, impaired smell
and taste, dizziness, mental depression,
tickling cough, etc. Only few of the above
symptoms are likely to be present in any
case at one time.
When applied with DR.. Pierce's Nasal
Douche, and accompanied with Dr. Pierces
Golden Medical Discovery as constitutional
treatment, DR.. Sage's Catarrh Remedy pro-
duces perfect cures of the worst cases of
Catarrh and Ozena of many years standing.
This thorough course of medication consti-
tutes the only scientific, rational, safe, and
successful manner of treating this odious
disease that has ever been offered to the al
ficted
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01
Proposed Connection OF the Caspian
and Black Seas.

AN American engineer of eminence, Mr.
Spalding, has submitted to the Geograph-
ical Commission Of Russia remarkable
report upon the Caspian and Black Seas
Mr.. Spalding maintains that the Caspian
is drying mp, and will slowly become a
desert, while the diminution of rainfall
will destroy the surrounding territories.
This, he says, has already occurred in
historic times, whole countries having
been desolated by the shrinkage of the
Caspian. He recommends that deep
and broad cutting should be made from
the Caspian westward, to point where it
would be five meters below the level of
Black Sea, and q smaller cutting from
that point to The Black Sea- The water
Of the latter, which is fifteen meters high
er than that of the Caspian, would then
cut deep and broad channel for itself,
and refill the Caspian to its old level, Civ
ing, in fifty years, straight ocean commu-
nication between the Mediterranean and
Persia. The distance between the Black
Sea and the Caspian is 100 miles, The
period required for ref1lling might be re-
duced one-halfby cut connecting the Don
and the Volga, SO that the waters Of both
rivers, instead of those of the Volga only,
might fall into the Caspian. Mr.. Spald-
ing calculates that the two cuttings might
be finished III six years, but says nothing
OF the expense, which might, however, be
reduced by the employment of convicts
and the penal regiments in the army
London SATURDAY. Repieec
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01

The denizen of Philadelphia is proud
and happy. He reflects that Centennial
is not likely-under ordinary circum-
stances-to come oftener than once In
hundred years, and he does not expect to
see another. He is bound to make the
most of this one, and therefore his flag
may blow into tatters, but it shall hang,
and wave, and 1utter, till only a few
shreds are left, and those shreds are gone
He is exalted and full of songs of JOY, and
if he had wings, he would fly around the
Centennial grounds, and possibly light
down inside, so as to cheat the gatekeeper
out of the fifty cents which should be paid
for admission. Most of the PHILADELPHIA
ans are so full of enthusiasm over the re-
cent events that they feel almost too good
for this earth. When Fourth of July
comes, fear it will be necessary to hang
clock weights to their coat-tails and put
bricks in their hats in order to keep them
down.-Cor. Chicago Tribune.
THE provision made for the accommo-
dation and qualification of visitors to the
International Exhibition is sufficiently
ample. A narrow guage deuble-t track
steam railway, the grading for which cost
$4,000 per mile, so winds about the Dor
ders Of the grounds as to take its passen-
gers to every one of the principal build
lngs. 1t is three miles in length; the
rails are only three feet apart, and the
charge for conveyance is five cents. No
carriages are necessary; the entire EXhi-
bltlon can be seen from and by the cars
There are also comfortably constructed
persons OF either sex and every age may
Toll in the most nonchalant manner and
be wheeled along at a cost of thirty cents
an hour and at a speed not exceeding a
slow walk. The Department of Public
Comfort" occupies house, near the Main
Hall, provided with parlors for ladies and
gentlemen, retiring rooms and coat and
baggage rooms. Checks are given in ex-
change for packages of all sorts. For the
telegraph service there are central office
and many SUBJ ffices.-N. 7. Euening
Post.
The Centennial Commission doubtless
does not greatly crave suggestions. 1t is,
perhaps, even as ayerse to receiving them
as one Of Samuel Lovers heroes was to re-
ce1ving hints upon maritime matters
. What the dickens do you know about
sayfarin', farther nor fishln' for sprats in
a bowl wild your grandmother ~ 1t
might indeed feel toward IFS advisory
friends as Sydney Smith felt toward
Mrs. Darlington, who was ''excel-
lent at slop or puddle, but should not
have meddled with the tempest" And
yet it has shown a Willingness to modify
its plans in accordance with the changing
requirements of the place. IF | could
button-hole its President, would suggest
to him that the present catalogues, Wiley
as they have been received, are worthy of
their reception; that the restaurant prices
are really too often exorbitant; that the
means of egress from the Main Hall are
obscure and hard TO find; and that as tie
London Commissioners issued shilling
tickets on certain days for the laboring
classes, the American Commissioners
might issue twenty-five cent tickets also.
Cor. ". 7. Eyenang Post
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01
Shattered Constitutions Rebuilt.

In the use of a wholesome inyigorant lies
the only hope Of rebuilding a shattered con-
stitutiOn. Hostetter's Stomach Bitters are
not only an eminently wholesome tonic, but
they Tectify with most satisfactory prompti-
tude arrangements Of the stomach, liver and
bowels which are Incompatible with a return
of health and strength. When the system is
enfeeblcd by disease, by the wear and tear
of business life, by continuous mental
anxiety, by the exhaustion consequent upon
late hours and fast living, by over-work and
by sedentary habits, the Bitters are the most
reliable medicinal agent for imparting per-
manent vigor to the deblitated frame. The
new stock of vitality mich they infuse into
broken down physique, and the orderly ac-
ton which they establish among the organs
of digestion, secretion and evacuation,
moreover, constitute its best safeguard
against malarial disease.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01
INDUSTRIAL. STATISTICAL AND
TECHNICAL.

PHILADELPHIA has had a special cen
tennial census taken at her own expense,
and is rewarded by finding that her pop
ulation now numbers 317, 448 souls-an
increase Of 1A3, 426 since 1870. There are
21,312 more females than males in the
city, and there are 146, 900 houses.
THE statement is made by the President
of life Insurance company that it is
fact that women live longer in this country
chan in any other. They are less robust
and muscular than the women of other
nations, but their tenacity Of life is strong,
and their constitutions are sufficiently en-
during to keep them alive considerably
longer than their appearance, as general
thing, would warrant
THE broken arm bone of patient in
hospital at Troy would not heal, al
though all the usual modes of cure
were tried. Then he was put under the
influence of ether, an incision four inches
long was made parallel to the bone, and
the broken part exposed. The ends were
fitted together after being sawed on the
surface, holes were drilled and silver wire
put through. The healing was thereafter
rapid
ITEM for small boys: The sweetness Of
licorice-root IS not due, as you have mis-
takenly supposed, to glycyrrhizin, but to
the presence of glycyrrhirate of ammo
MIA. Glycyrrhizin itself is nearly insolu-
BILE in water, and therefore tasteless, but
when ammonia has been added it becomes
yellow, acquires the licorice taste in a
concentrated degree, and all the favoring
matter Of a handful of lcorice sticks
might be piled Up on a two-cent piece.
AT recent sitting Of the French Acad-
envy Of Sciences d communication was
received from NJ Filche on the fauna and
fora OF the peat beds of Champagne.
Among the animals the remains of which
have been found in these beds are the
badger, otter, beaver, pig, stag, swan,
etc. Insects are represented by various
beetles, and molluscs by the helje, 220nor-
b9s, Ly1anoa, etc. The vegetable king
dom is represented by the elm, walnut
tree, oak, willow, box, juniper, fir and
pine, fern and various kinds OF huD7aatns
(mossl The traces left by man are nu-
merous ashes, cinders, half burned logs,
pottery, carved bone, flint implements aad
bits OF bronze and iron.
THE Paris correspondent of the New
York jntes writes an interesting letter
from that city in which he attempts to
show where the French peoples money
goes 1t will be matter of very general
surprise in this country that the most of
the money goes for the support OF the
army in time of peace. The total estimate
for 1877 is 1861, 00O, 900 francs. Of this
sum the war Minister asks for his depart
ment alone go GOO 900 francs, and the
Marine 1856 900 200 more, in all 722, 0OO,-
coo francs, while all the other departments
together have but 473, 00O, 900, the balance
being absorbed by the public debt, in
terest, dotations and internal revenue
service. As a matter of interest we give
tie var budget for some years past:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01
How a Little Boy Drowned His Big
Brother.

Mr.. ALEXANDER HEADLY. a young man
about twenty-five years of age, who was
studying for the ministry, and was lately
married, and his brother, about twelve or
fourteen years old, were drowned last Thurs
day, while crossing Sac River in a bark
skitf. They had stretched a rope across
the creek by which to cross, and crossed
in safety several times. Alexander was
taking his brother across to herd some
cattle on the range on the opposite side
of the creek from their farm, and in start
ing it seems limb caught the little fell
low and threw him out, and in trying to
climb back into the skiff he upset it and
threw his brother out. The elder brother
got the younger one on his back and told
him to sit quiet and he would swim safe
to shore with him, but the little fellow
was so excited that he climbed upon his
brothers. head and sunk him, both going
out Of sight-G, een1ieId (Ho.J Vendette
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01

In 1880 the budget was but 234, 900, 900,
and yet the French people are SO fond of
glory Chat they make no objections to the
onerous taxes levied upon them for mill
tary purposes.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01

forged out of the metal cut from ancient
collins dug out of the old cemeteries at
Nuremburg.-Boston Journal Of Chemis-
try.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01

The national conference Of the Unita-
rian churches will hold its biennial ses-
sion at Saratoga, beginning Sept. II, and
continuing three days. Rev. E. E. Hale
will preach the opening sermon.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01

There are in connection with the
Methodist Episcopal church 176, 900 col
ored members, and 5000 colored preach
ers. There are three annual conferences
composed exclusively Of colortd men.
New-York tribune., 1876-10-16
United STATES sUPEEMF COrKr

WAslE rJN, ID. C., Oct l4.-.he following cases
were arsIn. m o., Li'i rte. ~.p'rir con f}tf riay.
so. So rt.TT art Bank u. commerce. 80 same
agt HcTc.4s lIaut.r, i4aA aud Roberts riIrF
tc Crcit C.o.siil, ioi i0 ..tuNrr
from OF bsir amount is,y b
hands uf u,r ra.nl .i"i, ai. r .uy qu.oi fts ru"d
Lrtirl 10
ItlI.,O o. t,pt te .,a.gsiDt made aJ tho taaa .e
others bad rtaJ deprived ~ tar
pru rata. with -u.h or., prute Sar 1l
ass.t- Ihr below hri tat hi, ru-sl o. .tc,pt
a. trumyrt bar iu iif GcI' o. share 10
tended tist b. tuH moss ureii} i had
brgr.t acnn a-aDst ihc luk and s,ma 0 s directors,
seen fag sIIi. action II u ls claims Nu u PIE
h-'ts Air question. 8fd ,'tH ,i.'ta aiC LrtI one.
ttf stone .tr diff 81. t. to.clnsI Tor .ppcllccs
New-York tribune., 1876-10-16
TIE SEwYoRk BmLE socmrYs wonK.

The New-l ork Bible Society held is fifty
second annual meeting un ILarsdly. THa auIa,i r,-
po.1, which included period OF eighteen months,
showed % iftrisuuon -, Ie2.jJJ yOIuAias among tue
poor, sailors. mission schools, Nc. 10 80 t,a tE
while tic ,Ines prevent many from buyIi{ the E,Ja
yet ihe enforced deuo.s naaos them more Wiling 10
read it. Il- follow ug Hrrrecrt, ,c,rt for abe vdg
President. Joau =. nG-,lng; Nc,-l. -itcnf. Ihpuu.e
Gilman, -. Est-sDu, Charles 81. Earle. T. ,.u Mead,
ir. Morris ti. Bu.ors =. e. ~ ufuut a. d. tJJfs-p.uH
.uc secretary, H. d. NcJl, h D.; R.r3rl.- Secretary
". v. N M.L-.LM-i I.N..urLl. h. L I.L-LL.--l.