davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
A Story or Tom OehiItree.

Jem Mace, the celebrated prize-fghter
once spent winter in New Orleans He
used to amuse himself and his admirers
by betting the drinks with them that
they could not hit him--they to do their
best to hit him, and he simply to ward
off the blows. Tom 0chiltree, Of Texas.
who has gained considerable reputation
from his intimacy with General Grant,
and perhaps even more reputation from
the fast running horse which was named
after him, happened to be in New Or
( leans during the winter. Some of Ochil.
trees friends told him of Mace's favorite
bet. Ochilhee is short, thick-set, pow
erfully-built man. His hair is Just red
enough to indicate fiery temper. As
soon as he was told of Mace's bet he
fired up and said he would bet the crowd
a champagne supper that he could hit
Jem Mace. The bet, of course, was taken
at once, and the whole party started
out in search Of Mace. He was easily
found in O neighboring drinking saloon.
Mace was standing at the bar in the
act of taking drink Ochiltree stepped
quietly up beside him, and hit him sud-
denly singing blow on the cheek.
Mace quietly placed his glass on the bar,
andgscarcely moving his body, brought
his right hand up and struck Ochiltrea a
fearful blow just under one ear. His
friends rushed to him, gathered him up,
and carried him to the nearest hotel.
Doctors We're sent for in great hurry.
and after two or three hours Of hard
work they succeeded in bringing Oclil-
tree back to this earth. He was confined
to his room in the hotel for three weeks,
however. When he finally reappeared
he was forced TO furnish the champagne
supper. Some Of his friends said to him:
What In the world made you such a
blanked fool as to hit Jem Mace?"
Why" said Ochiltree, II thought
would just tap him without his knowl-
edge and would then explain to him.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
A Walking Autonaton.

After long and patient labor. very
ingenious alItomaton, says the Svdne,
(Australia) Herald, has been completed
by Mr.. Horaburg, Of Sydney. Its spe.
cialty is that it walks--walks in the same
style, md with much the same motion,
as human being does. The place oe-
cupied by lungs, heart, and other indis-
psnsable organs in the human frame
are represented in Frankenstein-Mr.
Hornburg's creation-by machinery
and the rafting and gasping sounds
winch emanate from him would be any
thing but reassuring if they followed the
exertion Of gentle walking when under
taken by an ordinary person. Franken-
stein IS about five feet six inches high
his motive power is steam, supplied to
him by means OF horizontal tube, on
which one hand rests. This tube is con-
nected at one end with tall upright ex-
haust pipe, into which the steam from a
little engine close by passes. As the
aatomaton man moves, an eccentric in
the hip revolves. and lever action bends
the knee, raises the toes from the ground
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
Planting Oak Trees.

The most common trees throughout
the Western States are oaks of different
varieties. They are found growing on
hlllsides, along the banks of streams, on
the prairies. The soil and climate are
favorable to their production. The oak
thrives here as the beech does In New
England, the chestnut in Maryland, the
pine IN Northern Michigan, the cotton
wood on the banks OF the Ohio and its
tributaries, and the magnolia in the Gulf
States. 1t does not suffer from root-rot.
sun-scald, or the attacks of insects. 1t
Is hardy and long-ived. 1t requires no
pruning, no protection, no transplant
ing. no manuring, no cultivation. 1t
furnishes most Of the wood EMPLOYED as
timber, o fair proportion of the posts
and rails used for fencing, and all the
tan-barks we produce The trees are
stately and highly ornamental. They
throw up no sprouts or suckers. They
afford admirable shade for all kinds of
stock, while their branches make excel
lent roosting places for fowls of all
kinds. They produce large crops of
acorns, that are readily eaten by swine
and sheep.
Still no one engaged in the culture of
trees for timber or fuel plants oak trees.
They generally experiment with trees
that are far brought and dearly
bought, and make complete or par
tial failure. Millions of dollars have
been spent for no purpose in buying
or setting out the European larch al d
other trees raised in nurseries, which
require protection from the sun and
cold, large amount of cultivation, and
considerable training. To raise good
crop of oak trees it is only necessary to
pillow the land or dig up portions Of L.
10 drop the acorns, and TO leave them to
terminate and grow. They will come
up without any pains being taken to
prepare the seed, and will require no
care. 1.-THE fittest survive" and be-
come objects of worth anu beauty. In
England a larger number of oaks are
planted than of all other kinds of forest
trees. An effort is now being made to
cover all the barren hills with them.
Land planted with oak trees is regarded
as very valuable on account of the crop
Of acorns annually produced, which are
deyoured by sheep, goats. and hogs.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
Wickedness OF Blondes.

A writer in the atlantic Monthly
says: / have found the worst femi-
nine qualities almost invariably allied
to the blonde style; not the green
or gray eyed blondes, with straight,
abundant hair and fresh coloring, but
the swallow or pallid being, with light
blue eyes and limp or waving hair-an
innocent-looking creature. with feline
manners, pate dc celours, and such
clawsl These are the women who delude
and destroy men; who never forgive an
injury or forget slight; who smile and
talk sweetly, and put on airs of meek
piety or high art and refinement, but
under all are scheming, unprincipled,
false to the core. Did not Lucretia Bor-
gia have golden bair? Was not Lady
Macbeth Scottish woman, presumably
with lint-wbite locks? Two of the worst
and most brilliant woman / ever knew
had this style of complexion, and the
lovely being whose picture was my child
ish alteration, who sat simpering over
the library shelf In dear old Uncle w. g
house, robed in satin and sables. her
gold hair curling like o child's, her sap
phlre eyes as inscrutable as deep
spring, her rosebud lips soft and fresh as
baby, and her taper white fingers
crossed in her lap, was virago, drunk
ard, woman without o symptom of
principle--the mystery and the curse OF
the old and honorable family she mar
ried into. Black-haired and dark-eyed
women are quick-tempered, electric,
generous, jealous probably, but full of
relenting, and capable of being coaxed
into or out of anything. Weak as to
their affections, snappy as to their tenn
per; warm Of heart and hot OF head, they
are never very bad or very good, and are
the delightful torment of every man who
loves them and whom they do not love
too much; but love makes slaves and
fools of them, end they are ridiculously
constant.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
Indian Peculiarif;es.

Marrying into an Indian tribe assures
the white man an immunity from danger
he could not otherwise secure. Though
he is not considered one of the band. he
Is, III q measure, attached to it. His re-
lationship is that of mortgage to a
house, whose owner can't discharge It.
In the event of difficulty between
his people and his tribe. he re-
mains perfectly neutral, taking care
to keep out from between them. As n
renegade, the Indian would not tolerate
INN. AS an en- enemy, he would be
hunted into the ground. When trouble
looms up he packs his traps and moves
until 1t Is over, and then returns with a
Kip Van Wmkle-like yawn, wondering
what has happened in his absence. It
IS this position that has made him an OBJ
lect OF some suspicion among whites and
Indians where neutrality is an unknown
force. he is on neither side in a fracas
SITUATION more unfortunate than to be
with the defeated, among people who
take a hand In everything. He may be
brave, but he is circumscribed, bound
down by his domestic relations, but
powerless for action.
~t4AsAhS W HIVE IL is ulS+
reputable in white man to abandon his
dusky wife until she bas grown too old
to work for him. Then he NAV send
her back to her tribe if he so elect. The
obligation upon the wife is different
she may not desert the husban for an
other white man, but she NAV leave him
Tor an Indian who wants to marry her
provided she have no children. If a
squaw desires to abandon her husband
the Indian of her choice must put back
the price originally paid to her mother
lie may abate no jot or title. and il is
~ such payment that the divorce Is per-
tectai. She then becomes a single
woman, free to marry, but she can not
live IN the vicinity inhabited bv II
former husband She must move away
with ner new venture. Such divorces
are not infrequent. tt difficult tbing
Tor the squaw to perfectly adapt herself
to her white husband. He NAV he 81
the iilndliest disposition. but his WAYS
are not as her ways, and though sRe
Struggle with all her strength to draw
closer to her existence q part Of his She
can not make him one Of her kind and
she drifts away f,om him. The birth os
children directs her thoughts into a new
channel, and lessons the chasm hetwea,,
them, but without them he has Int
little hope OF keeping her to himself
sooner or later she will find her affinity
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
--'- $500
Childreu,s Ideas.

The natural philosophy of children is
very interesting; they invent just such
theories of the universe as the wild ma
tons have, with sweet Inconsistencies
that they are originally myths. During
tremendous thunder storm little fell
low OF four year old was overheard ex-
planning 10 another child that lightning
was just ''red water that runs out of the
clouds, and the thunder ''the noise it
makes when it goes into the ground. !"
He lost his courage concerning thunder
in one of the showers, and afterward had
to be comforted little when one oc-
Cured One evening, to calm his APP
preLensions, his father assured him that
the Tightening he saw was a great way
off, and told him that if it were near, he
could hear the thunder at once after the
flash, but this time he could notice that
there was quite while between the two.
The boy unused over this a little, and
then queried:
Papa, what makes the thunder speak
SO long after it's got through"
A question which might be asked Of
many public speaker.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
FARM NOTES.

CuTHBERT. --"This variety of raspberry
has done SO well with me that / think it
worthy of general cultivation. 1t is the
most vigorous plant of any red raspberry
/ have ever cultivated. IN Palmer,
Ohio.
RAISING ONION SEED. ITO raise seed
/ select some of the smallest bulbs Of the
spring crop and set them out either IN
October or January in rich, mellow soil
In the spring / keep them free from
weeds and draw the earth up abont them
to keep them erect In April they begin
to throw up their seed stalks. The seed
ripens in July. &C j. Rogers, Terrell,
Ieads.
PEABoDYI3RANCHIsaC Corn. 81 planted
a little Of this variety May II, one grain
in a hill, two feet apart in row on new
ground, rich, sandy loan. Greatest
number OF ears produced from one grain,
IL: greatest number OF grains produced
from one grain, 1878; average number
of ears per stalk, 49, Quality OF corn
not above medium. Ears usually ten
rowed and, aside from culls, average
abont $50 grains each. "--Asa PIN,
R0chester. o.
EARS OF WHEAT ON AN ACRE - In
answer to question the agricultural
editor of the New York Times says that
| the usual number OF ears of wheat grown
upon an acre of ground is about | ,250t-
! 600, and this number varies but little,
whatever quantity of seed is sown. Maj.
Halles, an English seed-grower, who has
produced some excellent varieties OF
wheat, gives the following statement On
this point.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20

able aversion to regular exercise, and
the result of yielding to theindisposition
is that the mental powers, kept at
sudden tension for years, will some
day suddenly relax and leave their
abuser either hfeless or helpless para
lytic. To literary and professional men
is vigorous and regular exercise es-
pecially needful, and the example of its
effects in hale old age will suggest
: emselves to every one. The exercise
ne ded to keep the mind in tone and
the physical force unabated, up to the
tour score years ana ten, IS not a daily
spin behind fast-stepping horse, but
the long, swinging gait which puts the
walker over country road at the rate Of
four or five miles an hour, and sends the
blood pulsing with invigorating life to
every portion of the system. Two hours
such exercise a day, so far from being a
wasteUf time, is a positive economy, sup
plving the nervous force for more and
better work in ten hours than the man
Of street cars and carriages can get out
of twelve.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
THINGS WORTH KNOWING.

STRAIN meat fryings through a thin
cloth; keep N cool place, and you
have cheap shortening for "every-
day pastry.
KEEP blank book with thick cover
in the kitchen, and copy any bits OF in
formation that may likely be of use at
some time. Be sure and write large,
clear hand.
DIPPER-GoURDs make excellent things
to keep salt in for kitchen use. Cut
hole in the side large enough to admit
the hand and to remove the seed; also
cut small hole in the handle to hang
up by.
HoUsEKEEPERs are often greatly
troubled and perplexed by mildew from
damp closets and from rust. BY put
ting an earthen bowl or deep plate full
of quick-l lime into the closet, the lime
win absorb the dampness and also sweet
en- and disinfect The place. Rats. mice
and many bugs that are apt to congre-
gate In damp places have dislike to
lime. AS often as the lime becomes
Stacked throw it on the compost heap if
in the country, or into the ash-barrel If
in the city.
| An exchange gives the following re-
ceipt to remove wrinkles To one fluid
ounce of tineture of gum benzoin add
seven fluid ounces distilled rosewater and
one-half ounce glycerine. Battle face.
neck and hands with it at night, letting
it dry on. Wash off in the morning
with very little pure white CASTLE soap
and soft water. If the water is hard.
add little dissolved borax. This is q
| famous cosmetic, and has been sold
under various names. 1t Is an excel
lent remedy for tan, sunburn and
| freckles also. The latter, it is said. NAV
be removed by using the following de-
| coction : Put quantity of elder flow
them, let the mixture stand twenty-fo,ir
hours, and strain through muslin. Wash
the face every morning with the decoc-
ton. 1t is good also for sunburn and
to beautify the skin. waW
THE following is an excellent method
of preparing boots to stand the snow
and water: Put half pound of resin
md pound of tallow in an earthen
sot, and melt and mix them well to-
gether over a slow fire. Warm the
/ boots well for some time beforehand. so
that they will be thoroughly dry,
and. while as warm as may be found
convenient for handling. apply the hot
mixture with a brush until neither the
sole nor the leather will absorb any
more. By using care the leather may
be made very hot without burning ii,
and it should be warmed through that
the preparation may fill all the pores.
The resin gives the mixture nm antiseptic
quality, preserves the leather, an / pre-
/ vents the tallow from rotting the stitch
ing. For a polish, dissolve an ounce of
wav and teaspoonful Of lampblack in
little turpentine. A day or two after
the boots have been treated to the tallow
and resin apply the polish, but not be-
fore the fire. This gives the exterior
coat Of wax that will shine like mir
| rOr
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20

been six inches from the very edge, and
drove away safe" The gentleman turned
to the only man who had not yet spoken,
a small, mild-looking person, whom the
Others thought would never be in their
way. TO him he said, II suppose you
can 90 no nearer than that y mo, SIR Il
he replied, with determination, ''it is
my rule to keep as far from danger as
possible. "You are the man for me, I"
said the gentleman; 81 do not wish to
hire any one to see how near he can
drive nv family to destruction"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
A Pertinacious Landlord.


Isn't there such crime as conduct
calculated to provoke breach Of the
peaceP" asked demonstrating man of
Brooklyn Police Justice.
"Of course there is" responded the
Justice.
Then gimme warrant for my land
lord" demanded the nervous man.
"What has he done ?" asked the JUS
tdce, eying the suitor suspiciously.
He comes to my house when I've
got company, and says he wants the
Mlr-months' rent / owe him, and sits
out on the front steps and bowls for his
money. If I should kick the whole
spine out of him, I'd be arrested,
wouldn't ~"
"Yes, think you would. Why don't
| you pay him ?"
That isn't the question. He comes
to my house at o'clock in the morn
ing and yells through the key-hole, and
then he goes up through the vacant
house next door, and gets on my roof
| and shouts down the chimney. Saws he
will have that money. If 1 should drop
a flat-iron on him, or blow him up with
powder, it would go hard with me,
wouldn't it?"
Pretty apt to. Can't you come to
no understanding with him ?"
st seems not. Say, has he got a
right to climb over my fence and have
fits in my back yard, just because 1 owe
him little money2"
"Does he do thatp"
"Of course he does, and when we
haul him in the house he wells murder
and draws crowd. Have T got right
to maui the life out of him with a club
for that2"
~ think not" responded the Judge.
"Why don't you move?
That's got nothing to do with it. I
want to know if he is entitled to slip up
on the ice and fall through my basement
window, and do ten dollars worth Of
damage to the glass. Couldn't / mash
the stuffing out of him for that?"
Certainly not.
''But, when he lays down on the side
walk and bowls that his mother is dead,
and he can't bury her because / won't
pay what | owe, haven't / got any rem
edy q"
II don't know Of any. think you'd
better pay him"
''But isn't it conduct calculated to
provoke breach of the peace, when he
comes around with quart of laudanum
and horse pistol, and threatens to take
'em both right on the premises, if I don't
put up? Amt it crime to hang him
self to tree in front Of my house, with
q paper pinned on him that drove him
30 suicide2 Has he got a right to make
faces at my children in Sunday-school
Won't the law touch him for coming to
my door at daylight as drunk as iortft,
and claiming he's me, and yelling that I
want to get in and lick my wife p II
II don't think You can do anything
but pay him or move. The man hrs .
right to his money"
s'Thats all want TO know" replied
the nervous man, appearing relieved
I'm the landlord, and my tenant SAYS
he'll have me arrested for doing these
things. Now You bet he'll put up that
wealth, or I'll fall off the top Of the
house and have the inquest in the par
Tor. A man can't live four months ia
my house for nothing, without going to
some trouble, now You hear me !" and
the nervous man pranced off, glowing
all over with grim determination
Brooklyn Eagle.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
Habits Of the Beaver

/ am well acquainted with the habits
of the Northern beaver. Several wears
ago bought up several hundred acres
of mining lands near the south shore of
Lake Superior, in Ontonagon county.
Mich. On Carp river, small stream
that crossed a part of my lands. the
beavers had built several dams, and
formed extensive ponds, in which they
built their houses or lodges, as the In
dams call them. These lodges are built
in water several feet in depth, and the
entrance is several feet under water. but
the floor of the lodge is built at least two
feet above high-water mark. The floor
is built solid fiom the bottom of the
pond except the entrance.
Although the beaver is warmly clad
with long, fine fur, he is very sensitive
to the cold, and rarely, if ever, leaves
the pond or lodge during the cold
weather. He lays in his winter supply
of food, which mainly consists of the
bark of a certain species of poplar. He
cuts down small trees and cuts them in
to short pieces of one foot or little over
in length, and takes them into the pond.
These pieces of wood are dragged mp in
to the lodge as often as food is needed,
and the bark is gnawed of, andafter be-
ing denuded of the bark they are by no
means thrown away as useless, but are
taken under the ice and carefully placed
in the dam, to strengthen it.
They built one dam little below the
foot Of Carp lake, which raised the lake
thirty inches. The lake is small one
about one mile long and a fourth of a
mile wide. measured the stump Of a
maple tree that they had cut down, and
IL measure. aourteen inches in diameter.
There were no less than eleven dams on
the stream, all In sight OF car buildings,
where We were mining for copper.
The beaver possesses great engineer
ing skill, always building his dams in
form of an arch, giving it strength to
resist the pressure of the water. The
Indians used to tell the many singular
traits of character that this animal pos
sesses. - Forest and Stream.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
Close DRIVING.

A gentleman wanted to hire COACH
man, skillful driver, who could mar !
age pair Of spirited horses. At the
hour he appointed four men came to APP
ply for the place. Turning to the first
one, he said, "How near can you drive
to precipice and not go over?" 'sOh r
answered Sbo man, II can go within
three feet II it." The second man said,
"Sure, and can go within two feet Of
the bark." But whilst he was speaking
a strong man, with brawny arm, lifted
his head, and said: Indeed, I have
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
Sedentary Habits

The alarming increase of late wears
says an exchange, in the proportion Of
sudden deaths is beginning to attract
the attention of statisticians. II i laroal,
due, no doubt, to more general mental
activity without proportionate increase
IN bodily exercise. The busy life 81 the
age demands constant hurry and ex-
citement, and taxes the physical powers
to the utmost to keep up in the race for
money-gettlng. One of the disadyant-
ages OF introducing facilities Of trans
portation i the temptation to cut short
time and distance by the habitual use -
ssteana. cars and horse ears even I,
IN the daily transit from az
dwelling to the Office. A sedenta-v v
occupation begets an almost unconan ma
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
The Soie.tioc American urres tba

HE Scientific american urges the
adoption OF the telephone on the battle
field as means of conveying informa-
ton and transmitting orders rapidly and
accurately, without exposing the Cen
eral IN command to the fire of the
enemy and thus imperiling not only his
own life but possibly the ultimate re-
suit of the campaign. OF course, spe-
cial notifications are necessary to rem
der the telephone available for such use,
but these are quite within the power Of
the inventor and mechanician.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-20
Largest Custom House in the World.

The New Orleans Custom House. the
largest IN the world, was begun in 1913.
has cost 81, $50, 900, and is not done vet
The massive walls are of Quincy granite.
and the interior is finished in marble.
1t has 100 rooms, with nearly fifty miles
OF pipes of all kinds, and is supplied
with water from four tanks in the attic
each holding 80, 600 gallons. The height
OF the structure from pavement to corn
Ice, Is eighty feet, but the plan for its
completion contemplatesa Mansard root.
which will with the added story. make
the general elevation ninety-seven feet
The proposed dome, which is to he
square in form, will be fifty-nine by
iorty-nine feet ON the sides, with 4
height Of forty-one feet, SO that the total
outside elevation to the top cf the Ian
tern on the dome wiz be IS5 iest,