davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
Writing Compositions.

The use of too many words is one Of
the greatest faults in writing. We were
attracted the other day by an article in a
newspaper entitled "Gumption, and
hastily concluded that writer who could
use SO homely and strong word as the
title to his article must have something
good to say about it. And so he had ;
but he employed wide suparbundance
Of words to express his thoughts. For
example
"There are many persons, the major
ity of persons, III fact, who see, but do
not perceive"
This awkward sentence becomes a
good one by simply leaving out the re-
dundant words, thus: "The majority
of persons see, but dc not perceive" 1t
would still be better, perhaps, to avoid
the long word majority, and say: "Most
persons see, but do not perceive
Thus, by erasing nine words from a
sentence of sixteen, the thought is more
clearly expressed because it Is more
directly stated. The writer then remarks
that many persons have habit of "post-
poning and putting off, what ought to
be done at once" The words land"
and postponing" are useless. In ex-
planning the process" by which men
are to get gumption. he throws about
his words with lavish hand.
cit is neither" he says, "more nor
less than the doing and completing of
anything that needs to be done on the
instant, without delay or postponement,
and at the same time careful observa-
ton of what is going ON around one"
By the omission of more than half
the words of this bad sentence, it is
converted into a fairly tolerable one:
1t is the doing of what ne. DIS to be
done upon the instant, and carefully OBJ
serving what is going on around"
We advise our young readers, after
they have "done" there compositions. to
let them lie in their desks awhile. "to
get cool, as Washington Irving used to
say. Then go over them again, bearing
in mind Sydney Smiths recipe for good
writing, g leave ont every other word. ,
1t is often possible to obey this rule
almost literally, as we see in the SEN
fences quoted above.
Daniel Webster tells us that whateves
excellence he may have attained in the
art of composition, he owed to a dis.
covery which he made when he was
about nineteen years old. He learned
that call true power in writing is in the
idea, not the style" From that time he
pruned his sentences of redundant words.
and gave his ideas with directness anc
simplicity.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
what Constitutes a Congressman.

We hear it sometimes objected against
a memberOf Congress that he has 'orig-
mated no great measure" The ambl-
ton to originate "great measures has
destroyed the efulness Of many q
member Of Congress. OF these great
measures, niaeteen-twentieths never
emerge from the committees to which
they ere referred, and the greater part
Of the other twentieth is rejected. Yet
many members see no better way Of
keeping their names before the public
than by the introduction Of "great
measures which never pass beyond
the primal state or legislation. The
member of Congress who attends to his
business, watches the interests Of his
constituents and of the country, guards
the treasury, gives his support to the
purity of government and against its
corruption, who speaks when he has
something to say, and who speaks to the
body which he addresses, not to Bun
comic, is far more valuable than be
whose vision is so strained upon great
measures that have no prospect of be-
ing accomplished and little Of being
reached. that he oyerlOoks the practical,
the present and the feasible
Ii every member Of Congress we're to
" originate some great measure" during
his term, we should have an average Of
hundred and fifty "great measures in
the Honse, and a round dozen in the
Senate, annually. Think Of the ava
lanche Of debate that would follow.
Three hundred and sixty-fye days, of
tEeBty-four hours each, would not :
fee Tor the talk, or if the irrepress
orators SHOULD obtain leave to pm
the Congressional Record would swell
TO such proportions a. to affect the price
Ct paper Think Of four hundred men,
good and bad, wise and foolish, accom-
plisbed and ignorant, bursting ard over
flowing with the advocacy Of some
= great measure" to be launched
nppn suffering Congress, and an af-
hscted people The number Of meas
ures. great and small, introduced into
the Foity-second Congress was 10.69S,
Of which GA became laws, ard the other
l0,064 went 70 the general limbo Of most
great measures. The most rsefal
meInber Of ConereSs, those who best
serve their constituents and the country.
are lot the most frequent or the long, Il
spea ert, or the continual criginators d
great meak 7res. "-TrOUidence .J0ur-
mi
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
New Electrical MarYeis.

DR.. Siemens, Of Edinbureh, has been
making experiments with electricity
upon growing crops, and has reached
some astonishing conclusions. which
seem to be justified by the tests be Ina;
ben applying. He fines that l'ants
will grow continuously, winter as well
as summer, if subjected TO the electric
light inelosed in glass. 1t has long been
know that light as we'll as heat was one
of the factors in the growth Of plants.
1t has also been under TODD that some
plants womb ~row continuously without
any per. d Of rest. and il now Sc ms that.
by using the electric light, plant can
make Is much progress at night as by
day, and III winter a. well as summer.
II this is true, a new agricultural era
has dawned upon the world The
grains will have their seasons shortened.
and be nueh sooner brought to market
if the electric light IS used. while the
ability to produce vegetables of I'll
kinds would be trebled Are we not
justified in thinking that science will
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
Impertinent Children.

One OF the most disagreeahle of Amer
lean characteristics is the impertinenca
ano NOISY uotrusiyencSS of children. In
no other civilized country do children
behave half SO badly. In other lands
children are restrained, suppressed, and
taught that Their camor is not aereea-
bic, and that respect for elders requires
them 10 .,aep their silence until they are
asked to speak. In no other land do
children ever think of joining in CON
versstlon unb;dden. or Of expressing
opinions and Intentions in a confident
tone aud manner, as is common among
Us Aud IN no ether laud are all iufants
aud growing children regarded rs pnJdi-
eies to i've exhibited like educated par
rois aud rare Madagascar poodles. 1t is
tHS habit Of exhibiting children as pre-
c"cl'uS that does more to spoil them
and make them lntolerable than any
native faults of their own for a child Of
seven Wears naturally finds iificultv in
Understanding why the nlpertiuences
amt personalities which were considered
So cunning Il tour years have become
improper and nuisance in very short
time. Mothers VIII lind that. If thew
constantly display their infants as prodi.
gles of sweetness snd smartness. those
Infants, grown to seven or twelve wears
VII be ant TO be an affection to ali with
NAom they come in contact. The modest
4.H'' and deierential manner Of chill.
uFen III England or France never fails to
.'-'s'' an American traveller very graf. full
~ very thoughtful indeed. For the
- "n>n, IS and audacity of the Young
III, ,iilS and affect not only society and
s. .,,-l'a' comfort, but have an important
v.it,,e On the future of this country .
~ - s, As's Prevalent loudness sbonld
onca ,'''Inled straightforward sthst at
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29

husband. They carried her into the
par!or, and she was at once surrounded
by frightened domestios. In the confu-
sion that followed Winifred Molineux
arrived There was no time for intro
ductions, and indeed none were needed.
for Dir. Ward to his utter dismay recog-
nlzed his companion of the train, the
supposed mother of the baby.
Il was bringing Dimple home from
visit to her grandmother, she explained
and added: SIS it possible that you
are Mr.. j. Templeton Ward? Then the
baby is safe."
Mrs. Molineux opened her eyes, and
suddenly, sitting bolt-upright, assumed
tragic attitude. Winifred." she
demanded, 'why did you abandon my
precious Dimple?"
81 left her to get some milk" Wini-
fred replied, good-hur oredly, s'and as
was coming out of tie dairy horrid
goat barred my passage. The woman
drove him away, but he stopped me
again at the pasture bars, and did not
reach the station until the train had
left"
Mrs. Molineux laughed hysterically
Jonathan Templeton Ward" she ex-
claimed, "what have you done with
your sisters child?"
"How was l to know it was yours ?"
he asked, deprecatingly. 81 had for
gotten that Miss Winifred would be in
mourning for her uncle, and 1 thought
she was widow"
You thought !" interrupted his sis
ter. "The least said about that the
better. He sent his niece to the found
ling hospital he insulted Winifred and
all OF us IN manner not to be repeated
Oh, my precious Dimple, my lovely pet
He told the policeman to drop her into
the East river. Henry, he said you were
prize fighter. Winifred, he is not
worthy of your slightest thought. Why
do You stand there staring at me in that
idiotic manner, Jonathan [ disown
you; you are not worthy to be uncle of
that cherub darling"
Mr.. Templeton Ward did not wait to
hear all. He darted out of the door.
murmuring to himself, I" A crisis comes
once 10 the affairs of every man :" and,
seeking the policeman with frantic
haste, Miss Dimple was in few houls
returned to the bosom OF her family.
His sister, however. refused to see him,
and it was not until the marriage OF
Miss Winifred Molineux 20 an officer in
the United States navy that Mr.. j. Tenn
pleton Ward finally made his peace with
his outraged relatives. -Harper's Mag
,-fs
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
HOUSEHOLD HELPS.
FFron me Auetlean cai.ira,er.I

Rec MUFFISs-R:ce mullins baked
in gem pans are very nice, aud are very
easy to make. A pint of sweet milk and
hree eygs, thickened with tablespoon.
nj Of -four. aud cup OF riea. steamed
until it is tender, are needed TO make
them
CHOCOLATE CARANELs.- cup OF
sweet milk, one cup Of molasses. half =
cup of grated chocolate, piece Of but
ter the SIZE OF walnut; stir constantly
and lie. it toll until it is thick. then turn
ii out 90 butterei plates: when 1t be-
gins to stifen mark it in squares, so that
it wll break readily when cold.
Spanish FRrrTERs Out some slices
of bread into any shape Won like; pom
very little brandy on each piece. Nj,
two eggs with two sooonfuls Of -four and
little milk cover the pieces of bread
with this batter let them rest for half
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
Down i'm the World.

1t may almost be said that New York
swarmS with men, who, once well up the
social ladder, if not actually at the top
tumbled clean into the mud at the bot.
tom, and are still lying there with nc
prospects of ever again getting up. Such
men are to be seen in the streets every
day, aud any one making a tour of the
cheap lodging houses in Chatham street
and the Bowery would probably find
good many of them. In some cases the
fall is the result Of misfortune, but in
most it is caused by-fault. A special
case came to my attention some DAYS
ago. A shabhily-dressed man, with the
general look Of a tramp, passed me in
the street. In glancing at his face
thought it was familiar. As he slouched
along the sidewalk | noticed that he
looked into the cutters and bent his head
over ash barrels and boxes, A tramp.
beyond doubt. A full look at him took
me back twenty-five years. Long before
the war, the same figure was familiar
one ON Broadway. He was one Of the
dandies then, and his natty dress and
curling hair, that hung thick t1 his
shoulders. made him an object of attrac-
ton on the promenade. He followed no
business, but his ADMINISTRATIVE and
operate people-were pretty well off.
and he had all the spending money he
wanted. And now-well, he is tramp.
picking crusts of bread out the ash.
boxes, sleeping in the station-houses,
perhaps, or possibly in the parks, and as
miserable creature, this one.time
dandy of Broadway, as it is possible for
man to be. Aud there are scores, if not
hundreds, Of just such examples in the
streets every day. Other places have a
fair share Of the same class, no doubt.
but New York has the largest variety
Hartford Times.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
Holding the Fort.

A wealthy lady, who had passed the
middle age without marrying, one da.
took upon herself a husband, 10 the
great surprise Of her friends. When tine
excitement occasioned by tnc event had
partially subsidized, a neiglbor ventured
to ask an explanation OF tie IN expected
freak, and received the following reply !:
You see, l keep large house, ard
employ five servant Qirs | conlended
against them single-land 4 for q long
time, hut finally realized that If wished
to retain possession Of my home would
have to cal ia achievements. ,Johu
had served in the 1rmy, understood tar
ties ard was cool and brave. ard 70
married him. Two Of the girls were
discharged, and ngw the thing 5 evene-
than il nsed TO be. We mean 10 holI
the fort or die /"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29

came into that household of the kind
which the angels are said to bring. and
the little heroine of this narrative was
taken to its mothers chamber to see TIE
new arrival. Barely had she caught
glimpse of the little stranger, ensconsod
in its first fluffy, downy suit, than it
asserted It's infantile preroeative and ut
tered shrill "Squeak." Hastily jump
ing from her fathers arms the preco-
cious connoisseur in dolls rushed from
the room in disgust, roaming NJ the
top of her voice "Anolder nassy,
kweaky dolly; anodder Massey, kweaky
dolly, and would not for long time be
reconciled. -NetC York Mercury.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
POPULAR SCIENCE.

THE garter or ribbon snake changes
its skin, not once year only, but three,
five, or even more times in a season.
A SUPPOSED venomous plant, the
fools parsley" has been proved by
DIR. Harley to be perfectly harmless.
One of the most interesting of modern
inventions is machine for purifying
the middlings of wheat -four by eiec-
tricity.
THE force which is mutually exerted
between the moon and earth amounts to
more than 200, 900, 900, 900 of millions of
tons.
AT THE summer meeting of the Botan-
ical Society of France it was stated that
number of species of flora had disap-
peared, by reason of the recent cold win
tiers.
THERE are about $780, 900 recognized
species of plants on the globe, and it is
probable that with the undiscovered
species the number will amount to $50,
600
EXPLORATIONS at Ancon, especially of
the ancient burial ground, are throwing
light on the high civilization of race
conquered by the Incas a century before
the discovery of America
EVEN minute quantities of alcohol
have retarding effect on vegetable cell
development, one part in 400 often pre-
venting growth entirely, while marked
effect is produced by one in 5000
FINE dust Of the composition of me-
teorites sometimes falls to the earth.
Some from Sicily contains metallic iron,
nickel and various silicates and phos-
pilates, such as are found in neteors.
A SINGULAR rodent was discovered in
the Algerian Sahara, some months since.
1t is sort of field mouse, the most
striking feature being the tail, which is
short, greatly swollen and apparently
naked.
To eEoLoe lists, the gorge below Mag
ara Falls hes been the most convincing
evidence of TIE great antiquity of the
glacial age, it being assumed that at
least 30, 900 years were necessary for its
formation.
ExNER states that the thermo-electri
action between anthony a. bismuth
is due to the action of the xygen of the
air on the metals, so tb'.r thermo- pile
of these metals, immersed in pure nitro
gen, becomes imperative.
In 1874, the Eastern clam was found
in San Francisco Bay, and since then an
unanswered question has been, Was it
introduced from the waters of the North
Pacific, Ochotsk Sea and Northern ia
pan, or from the North Atlantic?
THE ratio of oxygen to nitrogen in the
atmosphere varies at different times, and
it is found that the amount of oxygen is
closely connected with variations in at
mospheric temperature and pressure,
falling 1t the descent of a column of cool
air.
THE Fugitive spectral" just outside
the suns disk, consisting of bright lines,
lasting for a second only, have been ac-
counted for by scientists by the theory
that birds or insects move between the
observer and the sun, their images fall
ing on the sDcrtgoscGpe.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
Why a Publisher Failed.

Says the editor of the Denison TEX. !
Democrat :. "There is man at present
living in Denison, who thought he could
run newspaper. HIS idea was to adopt
the sensational style, so he let ont, and
in week his partner dissolved with
him, but still he kept on, and in two
weeks ne had been whipped twice, had
locked himself up in his room once, had
been put in the calaboose three times.
and paid over 800 in fines. He saw
this would not pay, and so he dropped
down to the conservative whine, and all
his old customers quit reading the pa
per. Then he published an anti-pro
hibition article, and the churches and
temperance people sat down on him.
Then he let temperance article go into
his paper, and the whisky men at once
refused him credit for drinks. Then he
tried blank verse, and his exchanges all
published him as fool Then he wrote
a poem, and his wife threatened to leave
him. He then went III ON obituaries and
the relatives Of the party deceased moo
bed him. Then he did nothing for two
weeks, and his advertisers all withdrew
their cards. That man was ourself
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29

WHEN Artemus Ward Charles Browne)
frst lectured in London his jokes fell
fat, and seeing how it was, he concluded
his discourse to the effect that the au-
dience on going ont would be handed
tickets to Constantinople and return.
I'm that city, went on Artemus, q l
propose to repeat my lectme this day
two weeks. To each ticket is attached a
coupon that viii admit the bearer to the
hall / desire your attendance, that |
may shed light upon such OF my remarks
as have evidently given yJu pain, which
/ thank you for having borne in silence. :"
"What does the man meang asked
John Bull Gn to Constantinope to
hear him draw through this mass Of stuff
again We don't do it. When they
reached the door, and no one was there
with the tickets, it slowly dawned upon
them that Ward Was laughing at them
Washington Capital
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
The Jurisdiction of Mental discipline.

The real and designed purpose of our
schools Is to prepare the student for the
practical duties Of life Discipline of the
mind, then, lies at the base of our scheme
of education and the question TO be an
swered by the professional teacher Is
How may the greatest degree Of men,
tai discipline be attained2'
Whoever takes the pains to glance at
the course of study that has been
adopted by the school authorities
throughout the country, and considers
the time devoted to it, will discover that
about all student can do is to memorize
the textbooks, with no time left to as
simulate what he has learned To prove
that the real purpose has not been ac-
complished, ask recent graduate Of the
high school to work out a problem in
partial payments. He was an adept Mt
it in fhe grammar school, but that was
four years ago. he did not make the
law his own, and has TO goto his book to
find out what it is, aud the chances are
that even then he will appeal to some
one to explain it for him. His mind has
not been disciplined TO the ability of in
dependent thought.
our schools, but the manner in which
student is put through it, or rather in
which it is put into student. 1t be-
comes nauseating mass that leads to
disease Of mind and body.
The processes of mental discipline,
when properly pursued, are delight
even TO childhood, and the happiest
hours of the child's life are passed while
under the kindly pressure Of an intelli-
gent and conscientious teacher, who
really teaches young ideas how to shoot.
These processes, however, become irk-
some and mere drudgery when pursued
through false and unnatural methods.
The remedy or relief that the untutored
boy resorts to is truancy, and fear Of
consequent punishment is all that pre-
vents the remedy from becoming almost
universal.
The true remedy lies in the reversal
Of methods making the acquisition Of
knowledge an incident Of disciplinary
oourse-the means to an end, and that
end the power Of independent thought.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
Making Old Age Lovely.

Yes, if women could only believe it,
there is a wonderful beauty even in
growing old. The charm If expression
arising from softened temper or ripened
Intellect. often amply atones for the loss
of form and coloring and consequently,
to those who never could boast either Of
these latter, years give much more than
they take away. A S nsitivs person often
requires half a lifetime to yet thoroughly
used II this corporal machine, to attain
a Wholesome indifference both to its
defects and projections, and to learn at
last, what nobody would acquire from
any teacher but experience, that il
is the mind alone which is Of any con-
sequence; that Nth good temper SINGER
itv, and q moderate stock Of bTains-or
even the two former Cniy-any sort Of
body can in time be made useful, re-
spectacle, and agreeable, rs a travelling
dress for the soul Many q o1e, who
was absolutely plain in youth thus grows
pleasant and weli-looking IN dec siGing
wears. You vi hardly ever find any
body, not ugly il mind, who Is repul-
siyely ugly in person after naiadie hfe.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
4 Little IHo- fear.Gld's Idea Of
Rabv.

A liz le 2-year-oli tot. the daughter
Of well knosn resident Of this city, re
ceivd among her birthday presents a
little .uttap rciia dol Of tie kird that
squoaks'wlsen compressed Agmnstthis
dol the litsge enc Mantle ted tie strong
est repugnance, calling it "kwtaky
dolly" and could never lie induced .
recognize it as legitimate member Of
her doll family. Last week another doll
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
Why lie FeIf Mean.

First workingnl N bursting into tears)
- L. mme lone, tell You want to die
and d. buried: I'm only a mem, mlser-
al e liouad. ard no good any way.
Sscsn woIkingman-" But what
niaAos sou keep on hlathering like that,
aud weeping 70 Do be man.
FIRST workiRgmau" I'm mean,
miserable hound / tried to hex my
VIE, aad I'm TO good anyway, because
she tic Ell me
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29

soon make this world very different
one to live in. and much better than it
has been in the past. = Dep.orests
MoQthiy.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29
ADVERTISING RAfBS.
ss1cI 4 VI. q VA 3 Wa 2 VIZ. IsnO. ono.I 1 Ir.

Annual advertisements payable quarterly: ssnis
reset quarterly without exsra cas-ge
Advertisements Get 10 double column, Is per cent
extra
business cards, lines less, 81 per snnum each
extra line 81.
Estrsy fots>s, II one animal Be described, 30
for four weeks each additional animal described IN
same notiee, 81 cents.
Special notices and business notices tn news type,
10 cents par line nrss insertion cents per Eas
each subsequent insertion
Advance pay required for transient sdvar-
tsements, ComlsStoAers' SoEceR, Attachment No
tees and Est<sy Notices tof srinlsls taken up).
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-29

To spend too much time in study is
sloth; to uSe it 100 much In orna-
Iaentation ii aiectatIon.