davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10
How Woman Loves and Suffers.


AS reporter was walking through
one Of the streets on the south side last
night he saw a woman sitting on horse
block in front of a saloon, weeping bit
terly. The reporter stopped and asked
her if he could aid her in any way, for
she was neat, tidy little woman, with
a pleasing and honest face. After sew
eral questions the story came out. Her
husband, who is a workman, had been
paid some money that morning and had
gone to this saloon and was carousing
inside with one of his companions. Her
little girl was sick at home, and several
things were needed for her. which the
father had promised to buy, but she
was sorely afraid that the money would
all be gone before morning. AS the
woman told her sad story, with an air
of patient resignation, her hands lay
folded in her lap, and on the upper one
was long ugly scratch. Does your
husband ever ill-treat your" asked the
reporter She drew the wounded hand
quickly under her shawl, and answered
promptly, ooh, no, sir; he is a good
man, only when he's drinking he is
sometimes little quick with the child
rem"
"Why don't you ask some of your
friends to aid you in trying to stop his
drinking, or else get q magistrate to in
terfere p
She sprang up from the stone, and
drawing herself up, said in a trembling,
indignant voice: He is my husband,
sir; do you think would go to a magis-
trate about my husband, sir! my Har-
ry? Oh, no, sir; [ never could do that,
no matter what he did"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10
just the Same.

He was wiping his eyes on piece Of
old cotton cloth, and explaining the
reason why to the three solemn-looking
boys gathered at the south door of the
post-office. Says he:
"The first night [ went home with
this badge on the folks was kinder awed
The old man brought in the night wood
the old lady she gin me the biggest piece
O pie, and sister Lucy she let me spit
on the Brussels carpet, and never made
a mite o fuss. The next night they got
a little more familiar with me, and on
the third night the governor blowed me
up for smoking a pipe"
''And how was 1t last night?" breath
lessly inquired one Of the boys.
q got regular old-fashioned lickin'
same as before these badges were
thought of, was the choking answer.
The four went into executive session
around an ash-barrel, and
ResoIued, That newsboys badge Is
81 mere ornament with some figgers on
it, and that we kin be assaulted and bat
tered same as any one else"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10
Anecdotes of DIR. Par.

DR.. Samuel Parr was frank, eccen-
trio Englishman, noted for his great
learning. Some one ask4d him whom
he considered the first Greek scholar III
Europe. "The first Grecian scholar
living" answered DIR. Parr, " is Person;
the third is DR.. Burney; leave you to
guess who is the second"
During Ii trial of Warren Hastings,
impeached or crimes committed while
governor o India. DR.. Parr was once
in company with Burke, Fox and
Sheridan, the three managers of the
impeachment The three memorable
speeches-every schoolboy has de-
claimed parts of them-had just been
delivered by these great orators in sup
port of the charges. Or. Parr gave his
opinion of the speeches of Fox and
Sheridan, mixing censure with praise,
but said nothing of Burke's speech.
Burke paced the room for some time,
in evident expectation of hearing from
his learned friend; but DR.. Parr re-
manned silent. At last Burke, who was
somewhat vain said:
"You have made an able comment
on the speeches Of my two friends, with
acute iudicious and eloquent impartial
ity; but as you say nothing upon my
speech on the subject, [ conclude you
are too delicate to meet with mere
praise, and you could not discover any
faults in it."
"Not SO, Edmund" replied the doc
tor. Your speech was oppressed by
epithet, dislocated by parenthesis, and
debilitated by amplifcation."
The criticism, though expressed IN
the peculiar style of the day, known as
Johnsonese, was correct, and set forth
the faults of Burke's great speech.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10
A Tale of Two Cite:
THE RELATIVE MUNICIPAL EXPENSES .
NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA.
Philadelphia North American.

NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA.
Philadelphia North American.
New York has made up her annual
budget for 1873. There is some COM
fort for Philadelphia in comparing the
appropriations for the two cities. Our
tax-rate is $2.15; in New York it is
$3.50, with an assessment nearly as
high as ours in proportion to the in
come property earns i'll the two cities.
The total appropriations in New York
are $50, 079, OF, less s., 100000 estimated
receipts from departments. In Phlla-
delphia they are So, 100000, less s., 400,-
900 estimated receipts from depart
ments. In New York the State tax is
reduced from 1877 by 1921 ,557, and the
interest on city debt by over $4,000.
The New York interest and sinking
fund account is put at $10,319, $50; in
Philadelphia they are $4,625,695.
The assessed valuation of New York
for 1878 is over 81, 100000, In Phil
adelphia it is 1886, 9SS,097. In New
York the expenses of the departments
are reckoned at 81, 231 COG, as against
less than 100000 in Philadelphia. The
chief point of interest, however, is that
New York undertakes to rate $2S,000,-
900 on 81, 100000, and Philadelphia
100000 on $596,0O0.0O0, a ratio of
over 40 cents on the hundred greater
than ours. Also, the department re-
ceipts in New York last year were over
81, 0O0 900, but are estimated for 1878 at
only $2,5O0,000. Philadelphia's estima-
ted receipts from departments are ST.
100000, and not less than in 1877. But
New York will pay her expenses next
year on this basis. Whether Philadel-
phia will escape adding anything to her
floating debt depends on the vigorous
maintenance Of the retrenchment bust
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10

FIDo is just as bad in the city as in
the country. In the country he sneaks
away at night TO murder his betters,
the sheep; in the suburbs of Louisville
he sneaks away at night to murder his
betters, the goats. During the moist
weather Of the last few weeks he has
been very busy down town, and num-
Der of Door families have lost their nanny
goat. Several dogs attack one goat
Sometimes the goat makes a stout
defense, but, harassed on all sides, finally
yields. The piteous bleatings Of the
poor CT eatures would stir even the stony
hearts of the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty, etc., to whom Fido is indebt-
ed for much of the freedom he enjoys
in this country.-LouisuiUe C0urer-Jour
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10

heads the list with 1905 distilleries,
while New York has only Ill distiller-
les. In addition to these, however,
there are $40 beer breweries i'll the
state. On an average there is in the
Union one drinking saloon for every
$50 inhabitants. Considering the pro
portion of the population, most of the
whisky is consumed by our brethren
in the south, while nearly all the beer
Is drank by the people III the west
and north.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10
Where the Most Drinking is Done.
New York Times.

From trustworthy figures just COM
piled regarding the liquor traffic, it APP
pears that there are nearly twice as
many drinking saloons in New York as
in any other state. The exact number
is %, S54. Illinois follows with 16, 54s,
Pennsylvania with 16,105, Ohio with
Il, 24S and California with S,40S. In
Massachusetts, there are only $3.50 sa-
looms, while in the comparatively in
significant District of Columbia, the
seat of national government, there are
no less than 1,105. North Carolina
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10

A COUPLE of romantic California
misses out sketching wild scenery in
the neighborhood of Shasta, lately,
stumbled accidentally upon rich
ledge of gold quartz. The art in
stinct in them instantly gave place to
the practical, ana they hurried away
to file their claim to what may prove
fortune.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10

MY LUCK, exclaimed a Bohemian
q is so atrociously bad that believe If,
were to invest in soap, washing would
go out of fashion tomorrow"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10

THIS is the only enlightened country
on earth where able-bodied tramps are
permitted to straggle over the land to
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10
Mysteries Of the Dead-Letter Office.

W ashlHSIOI ChAoL.
1t will be perhaps recollected that
two years or more ago an account was
published in the New York Graphic Of a
large number of letters, each contain
ing S., addressed to Maria H. Russell.
sent to the dead-letter office unclaimed
from New York These letters were
never applied for by the person ad-
dressed, but the publication of the facts
led to several applications from persons
who were unable to identify them, and
to whom, of course, they were not de-
livered. Their contents were finally
under the law, deposited in the United
States treasury to the credit Of the post
Office department, and the letters placed
on file in the dead-letter office. Upon
the facts being made known to the pub
lie that these letters were unclaimed,
the writer discontinued mailing them.
but has never asked for their return.
A similar case, which has not yet
reached determination, has just been
developed in the dead-letter office.
Since 1874 letters mailed in Boston
from time to time have been addressed
to Catherine Maxwell, Of that city, each
containing a S. bank note. The person
addressed not being found, they have
from time to time been forwarded to
the dead-letter Office. A request has
very recently been received at the
dead-letter office from the postmaster at
Boston for the return Of these letters
for the purpose of indentifying claim
ant who has finally appeared. They
have been accordingly returned, in the
hope the claimant may be able to es-
tablish title to them. The person
claiming is an old lady who has no idea
from whom the letters came, beyond a
supposition that it is case of restitu-
ton from man who robbed her son
some years ago, and is taking this
means of paying back to the mother,
the son having since died.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10
HOW THEY WERE DRESSED.
The Gowns and Trimmings at the
HAYES Silver Wedding.

Mrs. Hayes wore rich white silk of
an ivory tinge, with draperles of da-
masse of the same shade. The waist
was cut Y shape in front and high in
the back. The front was filled in with
tulle. The sleeves were long. The
trained skirt was pleated across the bot
tom Of the front breadth, and above the
drapery was finished with fringe. Her
hair was plainly dressed: as usual, and
with an ivory comb at the back and a
few white flowers on the side.
Mrs. Mitchell, the presidents eldest
niece, is a regal looking lady, and was
richly dressed in black silk, relieved
with leaves of embroidery in colors.
Her daughter was also present Miss
Platt, the sister of Mrs. Mitchell, wore
very becoming toilet of pale blue
silk The waist was high and the train
long and graceful. Miss Foote was
dressed in pale pink silk of becom-
ing shade, with high waist and train
Mrs. Davis, the most intimate friend
of Mrs. Hayes, who has known her since
her school days, wore heavy silk of the
shade known as London smoke, with a
petticoat of plated silk of pale gray
tinge.
Mrs. Stanley Matthews wore an ele-
CANT black silk, combined with black
velvet.
Mrs. Sherman (wife of the secretary
wore pale pearlcolored silk, with
deliberately trimmed skirts, with draper
les of the material, edged with hand
some fringe and puffings.
The wife of Postmaster-Ge Key
wore a very handsome toilet of a dark
shade of blue silk combined with light
blue Washington Correspondence BaHi-
more SIM
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10
ESTABLISHED 1861.
ELECTRO MEDICAL INSTITUTE.

powers their full ygor and the mind TO Its origi-
nal cheerfulness and strength. The Doctors skill
with the Turkish and Sulphur Baths cannot be
excelled in the healing art. 1oja7-1y
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10

EREE-Eureka Dress OF Shirt Chart. Send be.
to prepay charges. A. j. MORROW, Indianapolis
13ja7 Esa -. Xxx.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-01-10

YOUNG M hsa5a and ds sa1n rom sas ss
20 500 month. salary while learning Situations
nished. Address, with stamp, L. VALENTINE. MasAsERr
GAINESVILLE, Wis. IL ja7-eos1y
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-13
Sale of MerinO Sheep,

Messrs. Benjamin and Franklin Hilton,
of the Merino sheep breeding firm of Hill
ton Bros. & Co., of Arson, Somerset co.
Me-, have recently purchased thirty-nine
head, thirty.three ewes and six rams, a:
an addition to their flock, which already
numbers over four hundred. These sheer
were purchased after thorough examina'
ton and selected for stock-raising and
were taken from the nocks of a. Z. Per.
kins and A. +. Fuller of Pomfret, an(
Henry E. and Geo. II. Vaughan and 9TH
ers, of Woodstock.
Since the exhibit of Vermont Merinos al
the Centennial Exposition, their superiority
is more generally recognized, and some arr
ranking higher than those of Windsor
County.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-13

large placid eye, showing quiet, gentle
disposition, which has so important an in
luence in making a good mixer. There
are other COWS well worth notice if oul
space permitted, and we can only say, &C
and see them when you have opportunity
Mr.. Billings is also solving the problem
whether the jerseys will furnish oxen
rs he has u pair of two-years-old steers
thoroughbreds, which are good size ant
are partially broken, and Mr. Weston
(Mr. Billings farmer), says he expects {
staving good pair OF oxen from them, from
present appearances. We also saw some
good Berkshire swine. and his flock O.
Southdown sheep, probably the best in thu
state.
Mr.. Billings is doing the farmers of hi:
vicinity Il great service in bringing such
trst-class animals within their reach, an(
the effect must be a beneficial one. We
are indebted TO Mr. Weston for his cour.
tcsy in showing us about and answering
our many questions.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-13
Vermont Dairymen's Association.
SPECIAL MEETING

SPECIAL MEETING.
At a meeting of the Executive Commit
tee of the Vermont Dlirymen's Associ a.
ton, called to consider the general invita-
tons and proposals for special meetings in
various parts of the state, | was instructed
to give public notice that the association
will hold two days meeting at some
proper time in the months of February or
March, at any and all such points rs may be
able to pledge us twenty new life men,
bers; the members to be furnished all the
past and future reports except No 2, which
is out of print; and to hold an afternoon
and evening meeting at any place offering
ten new life memberships. The associa-
ton will furnish, in the former case, not
less than five lectures or essays from COM
potent men, in the latter case three or
more such; the remainder of the session
to be devoted to discussions and the read
ing of papers furnished by local writer's.
The reports are worth more to any enter
prising dairyman than the entire cost of
membership. The volume for this and
the next year, and perhaps longer, will
also include the reports of the State Board
of Agriculture.
Our friends who have so earnestly i'm
portuned us to meet with them are remind :
ed that the association has no funds, cx-
cept those derived from membership,
and that we have made the termsa rs favor
able to them as possible.
The association is in no haste to part
with it, reports. The editions are not
large, and are becoming rapidly exhaust
ed, while their value is year by year APP
preciating. One of the most reputable of
auth critics says of the report just publish
ed; "These are always among the most
valuable reports of dairy conventions pub
lished. We find the present number which
contains one hundred and eighty-four
octave pages fully up TO the former stand
ard. 1t contains an essay, IN address OF
an article on almost every sub ect pertain
ing to the dairy, and it presents an array
Of names rs speakers and writers, which
give at once guaranty of the matter pub
lished."
Those of our friends who propose to act
in this matter are reminded of the neces-
sity for very prompt action.
viii state papers please notice.
0. S. BLISS, Secretary.
Georgia, Feb. 5th 1878.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-13

Mr.. RoOT'S BONE MILL.-From nv ex
perIence with superphosphates, have al.
ways looked longingly, towards the accu.
mulated piles of bones at our slaughter.
houses. For two years lpractced crushing
these coarsely under weight suspended
from two spring poles, and then mixing
them with the fresh stable manure n,
drawn from town and piled during fall
and winter. BY spring, the continued
heat OF the manure had caused most OF
them to crumble and doubtless my lane
received the whole value of the Zones, but
perhaps OF not rs much immediate eiicien
cy as though subjected to the action of sui.
phuric acid. But with me one of tine most
serviceable uses of superphosphate has
been top dressing in particular places
and on particular crops which showed need
OF it during their early stages of growth.
Mixed with manure of course it was not
available for this purpose.
After trying the many methods being
constantly suggested in the press, sue
decided best in reducing those crushed
bones by putting them in thin layers, al.
ternating with uneached wood ashes in
layers three times as thick. and then keep
ing the whole moderately moist, if with
soap suds and chamber lye so much the
better. Put away in boxes thus and once
made thoroughly moist and kept SO, they
were soft and powdery by spring, and
when well shovelled over were in shape
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-13
g0EtrV.
"a -
THE OLD SCHOOL ROOM.

On the old school book, in its rusty nook,
With a fearful eye gaze
Come down, old friend, for an hour we'll spend
In talking Of bygone days,
gaze once more as in the days of yore,
On the task that vexed the brain;
The lesson done, and victory won,
And feel Pm child again.
And seem TO stand with the youthful band
In the old house on the green;
hear the fun ere the school begun,
And join in the gladstone sccne
And take my place with a sober face,
O'er the well carved desk bend,
And hourly pore DER the antique lore
OF thy wonderful page, old friend.
Then our cares were few, and our friends wcr
true,
And our griels were rare and light;
The world was naught $50 we londy thOught)
But region of pure delight.
But time has sped, and our youth has led
Through a dark aud fearful scene;
And passed away are the good and gay,
Like the old house on the green.
But We'll sing no more OF the days of yorc,
For the tear drop dims the eye
Sleep on, old book, in the dusty nook,
As in the years that have glided by,
No guilt we trace on thy honest face,
But mine Of gold within
Enriched the youth as they sought for truth,
In the old house on the green
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-13
THREE LITTLE KITTENS.

Three little kittens, so downy and soft
Were cuddled up by the fire,
And two little children were sleeping aoGt,
AS cozy as heart could desire;
Dreaming of something ever so nice,
Dolls and sugar-pums rats and mice
The night wore on and the mistsess said,
&c Pm sleepy, must confess,
And as kites and babies are safe in bed,
III go to bed, too, guess"
So she went up stairs just story higher,
While the kittens slept by the kitchen fire.
{" What noise can that be ?" the mistress said
Meow meow" Pm afraid
poor kltty-cats fallen out of bed
The nice little nest madel"
Meow me-ow!" Dear me dear me-
| wonder what can the matter lie"
The mi; tress paused on an upper stair,
For what did she see below,
But three little kittens, with enlightened air,
Standing up in row
With six little paws on the step above,
And no mother cat to carcss Or lovel
Through the kitchen door came a cloud OF smoke
The mistress, in great alarm,
To a sense of danger straighlway awoke;
Her babies might come to harm
On the kitchen hearth, to her great amaze,
Was basket Of shay!ngs beginning to blazei
The three little kittens were Rugged and kissed,
And promised many mouse;
While their names were put upon honor's list,
For hadn't they saved house?
And two little children were gathered tight
To their mothers heart ere she slept that night
Josephine Pollard in The Compa Mon.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-13

Prompted by u curiosity to see the late
importations secured by Mr.. Billings of
Woodstock, we visited his burns and look
ed over his stock. He has lately added to
his choice herd the fine bull " Bertram, -
bred by Mr., Sam. Sharpess of Phlladel-
phia; BUou," five years Old, imported,
and "Julia," two years old, imported,
Bertram is II fine animal of solid dark
fawn, shading off into brown on his hanks
and shoulders, neck, head and throat
brownish gray. lie has fine heal, and
the horn rather long though small, and
the general appearance of his head is deli
cate and heifer-like; his skin is romarka.
bly, fine, soft and mellow. Altogether we
consider him most promising stock ami
NAL. The cow Bijou is five years OLD, is
darkish fawn, has an especially fine head,
small horns, clear and waxy, and the same
soft, silky skin so noticeable in Bertram.
She was imported about the first of Jan
uary, and has a bull calf about three weeks
old. BGou cost Mr.. Billings about 5000
in New York, and brought the highest
price of any animal in the lot.
Julia, two-years-old better, is also a
fawn, though she would be called yellow
if she were some scrub COW, but the signs
of thorough breeding are very marked
and the indications of good mixer are
prominent. She was imported in the same
invoice as Bijou, and has also bull calf
about week old.
Mr.. Billings has in his stable thirty head
Of COWS and young cattle, all thoroughbred,
many imported, and some, of course, bet.
ter than others. One COW, Eudora, twelve
years old, was an exceptionally good one
color, dun-and-white, small crumpled horns