davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-05
A Rat and Ferrets.

A somewhat remarkable incident oc-
CURED one day last week in a celebrated
local rat-pit. A we'll known citizen in
vited a few "sportive'' gentlemen to that
classic arena to witness the proves at
rat-killing of several ~fne-looking ferrets.
Accompanied by their entertainer, the
party proceeded down a dirty close lead
ing off to a not-too-pleasant street, and
arrived at what may be appropriately
designated a "Black Hole" which was
dimly illumined by a sickly, solitary gas
light. The fixtures consisted of a large
circular iron tank, about four feet in
diameter and three feet six inches in
height, placed in the center of the cellar,
while two or three chests, with strongly
fastened iron gratings for lids, formed
the other apparatus. Round this circular
tank the spectators speedily ranged
themselves. The attendant was a mid.
dle-aged woman of average height, who
inquired whether it were one or two that
were wanted. On receiving her order
she took a pair of long iron tongs, nearly
all handle, and opening the grating Of
one of the chests, brought out a rat
firmly caught in the tongs and threw it
into the pit. A ferret was then dropped
beside it, and a gentleman stood, chro-
nometer in hand, ready to note the time
taken in the contest. At first
both animals leisurely surveyed the
situation, and made several abortive at
tempts to scale the walls of their prison.
Finding escape in this name hopeless,
they began to creep cautiously around
the Enclosure, and at last came face to
face and steadily eyed each other.
Neither, however, seemed inclined to
begin the combat, and ultimately the
ferret fairly turned tail and retreated to
the farthest part of the circle. The sides
of the tank were now sharply ratified with
a stick, and again the natural enemies
came opposite each other. But the rat
was the first to begin the attack. Emit.
ting a sharp, Kissing sound, it made a
rush and caught the ferret by the back,
when both struggled together and rolled
over each other until the rat was shaken
of. One or two good bouts of a stand
up, g~ive.and-take character followed, to
the delight of the fancy, when the MIN.
BILE rodent again assumed the offensive
and chased his formidable enemy in
%gloriously all over the pit till it was res
cued. What is still more remarkable is
that four other ferrets in succession were
afterward defeated by the same rat. The
whole five ferrets were then put into the
pit together, but the invincible roden'
attacked them in turn and chased them
round the Enclosure. The rat was certain.
ly a splendid specimen of his kind, and
proved a veritable "Wallace Wight
among the tribe of troublesome pests
When taken from the pit he was little
the worse for the encounter, and wa
generously allowed to live-at least until
some other day. One of the defeated
ferrets had killed two rats in the same
pit a few minutes previously.-Glasgou
(Scotland) Herald.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-05
Choice Extracts.

We often excuse our own want Of
philanthropy by giving the name q
fanaticism to the more ardent zeal q
others.-Longteuow.
We do not reach attainment in any
thing by a leap, but by slow stepping
through days and years. If one refuses
to thus make the effort he will fail
United Presbyterian.
God never accepts a good inclina1
ton instead of a good action, whera
that action may be done; nay, so much
the contrary, that if a good inclination
be not seconded by a good action th1
want of that action is made so mucn
the criminal and inexcusable.
South.
There is no occasion for a man IL
mourn because he has not opportunity
enough for work, enjoyment OF love y
a world that has more work than work.
men, more influences catering to oa1
pleasure than we a improve, more
who want to love us than we will WEI
come.-Golden Rule.
Don't live your life alone, withoC9
forming friendships and love; mature
needs love, you were made for it, AMI
other natures need you. You are rov
blng yourself, you r robbing Others
it you live like a hermit. Ihere
fore 60 out into Gods world; and nS
your life for others.
No one who walks the streets WI.
his eyes open a fail to find some oh'
to whom a kind word, pleasant m1s
a small e%Xhortation, OF even a cords
grasp of the hand, would be a beneav
ton. 10 encourage such effort ~ \.
God of love has ordained that the sa',
faction of doing good is greater 1na,
that OF receiving a favor. In the law,
OF the kingdom of Christ, is it not VIII
ten that sit is more blessed to e."
than to receive?"-Zion'S Herald
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-05
Religious.
LIGHT IN SORROWS GLOOM.

A child, grown restless as the night came
on,
Tired of Notwithstanding where the day
had gone
Stood Watching at the window.with a weary
sigh,
Till heaven should hang its starlamps in the
sky.
"Mamma, why don't they come" she ques-
tioning said;
Then looking up. "Come pretty stars" she
sweetly plead;
Deeper the shadows of the night around her
grew,
While patiently she peered the darkness
through.
At last, with shout of joy a star she spied;
~ see one now, mamma! why not before7"
she cried;
The mother kissed her little eager lips, and
smiled,
"Because it's just grown dark enough, my
So shine the eternal stars'' in sorrows night,
The deepest gloom but serves to bring their
blessed light;
q courage, then-lOok up-Oh heart that
most has bled,
Gods stars of hope are shining overhead.
Miss Anf1 Gordon, in Uni0n Signal.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-05
What Island?

The smallestState in the Union has the
most trouble with its name. 1t has new
er been ascertained where, when, or how
Rhode Island received its name. Some
people think it was given to indicate a
resemblance between the island in Mar
ragansett Bay on which Newport is sit
uated and the Island of Rhodes in the
Mediterranean Sea. Others are sure that
the name must have first been applied by
Dutch traders to an island in the bay as
"Roode Eylandt" (Red Island), so called
from the color of its soil.
But whatever may have been its origin,
we know for a certainty-and that is all
we do know-that in 1914 the General
Court of the Colony ordered the name
Rhode Island to be substituted for the
Indian name of Aquidneck. Since that
time "Little Rhody" has heard the ques-
ton asked a good many times, "What
island?"
Its name has given foreigners strange
ideas about "the smallest State in the
Union" Even in Canada, which is not
far off, Rhode Island is but little known.
A young man, who lives in Providence,
r. l., wa once mortified while travelling
neal Toronto at the ignorance shown Of
his native State. A Scotch lady, to
whom he had mentioned his home,
startled him by exclaiming:
"Eh, lad, an island is't? Ye donna
look like an islander!"
Another lady, eager to learn all she
could about it, asked:
can how far from the main land, is it,
Think"
cit is not an island" was the youths
reply. at is the main land itself. 1t is
a State"
"Young man," said the woman, stern
", "you said Rhode Island, didn't you?
Well, if it is an island, it is an island
an if it isn't an island, it isn't; an
that's all there is about It'll Call a spade
a spade young man, an don't stoop to
| falsehoods."
The young man, somewhat discomft-
ed, fastened to explain to his severe
critic. After a while he succeeded in
convincing her of his truthfulness, but
not until he had called to his aid several
persons acquainted with the geography of
"the States"
On another occasion, a gentleman
asked:
"What is the chief employment there,
fshingw
Rhode Island, SIR" was the polite re.
ply, 'is n of the New England States
"Ah, indeed! near Boston, then, is il
not"
eyes, sir: only forty miles distant"
And this served to identify the little
State. Some people go so far as to call
Rhode Island "a suburb of Boston," and
yet Providence alone has a population OF
one hundred and sixteen thousand inhab.
itants.-YouH's Companion.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-05

Some time ago Percy Howard, a
bright little boy, was charged with steal
ing a diamond pin from a lady in Wash
ington, in whose house he was employed.
He has parents in England, and Judge
Smell agreed not to imprison him if he
was sent to them. This was done, and
the boy left with a cloud upon his good
name. A few days ago, says the Wash
ington Post, the lady who charged him
with being a thief found the pin wrapped
up in a piece Of paper and laid in a
casket where was kept the family silver.
The discovery vindicates the boy, but it
comes too late to make amends for tho
wrong which was done him.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-05

$40, sir" she said, with emphasis Oh
the sir, "my husband won't be a candi.
date for the Legislature next year. H,
has learned more deviltry during the few
weeks he has been in Boston than eve,
before in all his bonn days.-Fosk
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-05
MOTHER N CHILD

Bitter blasts and vapor dim ~
What had they to do with him?
,,ASpring, though she was far away,
sTook dominion for a day,
Filled the air with breathings soft,
Babe a skylark sing aloft,
When we laid him in his bed.
Uoudless blue above his head.
It was not for him to reach .-x-
Manly height, and thought, and Speech
: Not to climb untrodden sleeps,
.. Not to search out unknown deeps,
Not through warning 10y and pain
9Kingliness Of soul to gain.
He had only baby words,
Little music, like birds,
Sweetly inarticulate,
j, Nothing wise, nor high, mol great
Sunny smiles and kisses sweet
White and softly childish feet
Curls that f1oated on the breeze
We remember him for these.
They are weary who are wise.
he looked up with happy eyes,
Little knowing, little seeing,
Only praising God by being.
Oh. the life we could not saves
Do not say, above his grave,
That the fair and darling a
Was but lent q little space.
TIL the Father called him back,
BY an unknown homeward track.
No, though Death came darkly chill =.
Babe the beating heart be still. =
Touching him with fingers cold
What was given still we hold;
Though he died, as die the flowers,
He for evermOre is ours.
Ours, though we must travel soon
Onward throug Life's afternoon;
Shadows. falling long and gray,
Gather round the western day,
And our twilight visions show
How the years shall come and go.
little maids, with tangled curls,
Change to slender, dreamy girls;
Chubby rogues grow tall, and then
60 their way as bearded men.
And the mother stands aside,
With an ache beneath her PRIDE
And q sorrow mid her joys
For the vanished babes and boys;
So the earlier %gladnees wanes-
But the little one remains.
For q house that once has known
Tiny feet on stair and stone
Steps that never more shall sound,
Feet at rest beneath the ground
Keeps remembrance Of the dead,
And the music of their tread.
Not at MONDAY, busy, bright,
Only in the quiet night.
With a thrill of sweetest pain, .
Comes that music one again,
Heard in stiffness and apart
Echoed from his mothers heart.
Margaret Veley, IN Century Magazine
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-05

"A United States Commissioner In
n Of the upper counties of South Caro-
lima has held his office for sixteen yearz,
and has never had a case.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

gested that the vote BIO postponed until
they could be present.
Mr.. Morrill, said he had no objection to
letting the vote go over until to-mor-
row.
Mr.. Sherman offered an amendment, OF
which he gave notice in committee of the
whole, laying an additional duty of 10 pei
cent ad valorem on sugar, ETC., on which
an export duty is levied, by counting Their
production.
Mr.. Van Wyck believed that Mr.. Jonas
charge of bad faith on the part of the com
mittee of finance was we'll founded. The
senator had said that a member of that
committee had come to him to negotiate
about the duty on sugar. Negotiate" was
the proper term to use, because the whole
of this tariff legislation on which the senate
had been engaged for month past was
conducted on commercial principles. The
senator from Louisiana (Jonas) had the
right to complain of the treatment he
had received, for he had probably relied
among thieves" Mr.. Van Wyck said he
used the word thieves" in a Pickwickian
sense. Laughter. The senator from
Louisiana might have well been suspicious
of the high-prote ctionists of the East, but
he might depend upon the high-protec
tionists of the Northwest They would re-
member his vote to keep
the duty on lumber, and
would come up 'like little men" and vote
for his sugar tax. The senators might
amuse themselves by this pretense of leg.
islating for the public when they were
really negotiating with each other fer the
benefit of highly protected interests, but
people would not be deceived.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Van Wyck's
speech Mr.. Brown remarked thai
the senate had been in contin
uous session for eleven hours, and as
the senator in charge OF the tariff bill
seemed to be in very good humor, he
would ask him to consent to adjourn.
Mr.. Morrill,, abiding to Mr.. Van Wick
remarks, which had been delivered with
great animation of voice and gesture, said
Il am always in good humor when l have
opportunity of attending opera bouffe.'
Laughter. The senate then adjourned
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13
Fire Commissioners.

The fire commissioners held a meeting
last evening.
The chief engineer of the fire depart
ment was instructed to order two fire
alarm boxes with all the modern improve
ments.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick is to prepare plans an6
specifications for repairing the roof OF
hook and ladder building No. l.
The foreman of engine house No. 1, re-
ported that the water pipes had frozen and
burst. The chief engineer was directed tc
have the pipes repaired.
Leave of absence for three weeks was
granted to A. Frances of No. l.
A communication was received from the
Silsby Manufacturing company informing
the board that the Silsby heater for steam.
or No. was ready.
Some time ago the chief engineer or.
dered from the La France manufactory
two Babcock extinguishers for the new
Hays truck. Instead of sending what was
ordered the La France people sent the Hol.
loway extinguishers, and wrote on to have
the board accept them in place of the Bah
cock. This did not suit the board, and the
chief was directed to notify the La France
people to that end.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13
A HEAVY FAILURE.

A Large Boston Manufacturing Company
Makes an Liabilities About
Half a MIIliOn-An Offer of Compromise
at Fifteen Cents on the Dollar.
Boston, Feb. 1.-THE suspension of the
Bay State Iron company was announced
to-day. The cause of the trouble is de-
preston of the iron trade, and limited cap
ital since previous embarrassment five
years ago. The company then tided over
a difficulty with outside assistance. The
company has liens on property for $780,
900, and owns besides, 100000. A state
ment of the exact condition of affairs will
be submitted to the creditors to morrow
The company has on hand a large stock
and is running factories in South Boston
and Port Henry, New York, employing be-
tween 400 and 500 men. Neither factory
is expected to be shut down until the stock
is all worked off and perhaps not at all.
The firm have been borrowing money on
Western railroad bonds, and recent, de-
cision of Western court gives preference
to liens to bonds held by states over those
held by persons or corporations. In view
of this the banks here which have been
leaning on these bonds decline
to continue to do So
The company's officers then called upon
stockholders 10 help them out, but they re-
fused any money, thinking it better close
up and sell out, especially as 1t is under
stood very large concern is ready to buy
or arrange for the use of the works. The
liabilities are $4,000. The last official
statement showed liabilities of S65OOOO,
while the quick assets are $450,OOO. The
plant, however, is worth $1,Oo0,OOG.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13
MULDOON,S PICNIC.
And Merry One it Was at the Opera
House Last Evening.

And Merry One it Was at the Opera
House Last Evening.
For downright, unmitigated, sublimated,
clean cut and smoothly drawn hilarity and
fun ''Irish Aristocracy at Muldoon's Pic
MIC" as presented by the Barry 81 Fay
Comedy company at the Opera house last
night, is entitled to waltz right off with the
confectionery.
1t is rare sight on any occasion to see
the Opera house packed the way it was. last
night, and it is rarer spectacle to see so
large an audience entirely succumb to the
all-pervading spirit of humor.OThe scene
was properly laid at picnic, for bigger
circus or picnic than this of Muldoon's
was never heard of or witnessed.
From the rise of the curtain and the ad-
vent on the boards of Mrs. Muldoon, her
Michael Muldoon and Michael Mulcahey,
it is one continued round of applause.
The audience commence laughing at the
start and constant cackel is sustained
throughout the evening, excepting indeed,
when it stops to take breath, and then the
music starts up again.
CdpGCieJ 4OA SOoo huIAAOA VI OIL ou-
dience is sounded from the top of the
gamut to the lowest note in the register,
and some of the situations would galvan-
ize into life the tympanum of q cast iron
monkey. The man or woman who can sit
through the racket and not crack smile,
must be crank and as such need watching.
The facial contortions, mimicrY, dumb
show and quaint dialect and gesture of
Hugh Fay, as "Muldoon," and Billy Barry
pregnant with humor. Mr.. Sullivan's
"ORoger," as depicting the un-
cooked Hibernian, is also immense.
The nakeups are excruciating and the
situations ludicIous and lively, the enter
tainment throughout being roaring sue
cess. The caste is clever, and Messrs.
Brenan. Seabrooke, Ranton, Mrs. Fisher,
Miss Leece, Miss Goodwin and little Jessie
Stanley all contribute their share to the
enjoyment. The 'EPicnic" win re on
deck again tonight.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

The Chicago bucket shops reap, if not a
golden, silver harvest, from the country
gudgeons, who want to turn an honest( y
penny without money and without price.
One of our exchanges, the Rsvenna (Ohio)
Democratic Press, rela ties that the citizens
of its vicinity have sunk twenty five to
thirty thousand dollars in the recent Chi
cago grain corners. All classes of citizens,
mechanics, tradesmen, bankers, clergymen,
were bitten with the getting-money-with-
reconsideration mania, and now they
mourn their lost dollars. He who is con-
tent with honest gains is moral hero.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

Tom OCHILTREE was a United States
marshal in Texas under Grant. Naturally
Tom owes the United States $4,000. He
has been elected to the next congress as a
Republican. Some people, who have an
itching TO NEEDLE with that which is none
of their business, have proposed to attach
the new congressman'S salary-whereupon
the generous Tom has proposed to settle
the ten-thousand- dollar claim by paying
over to the United States $780, Tom has
no business il congress. He ought to go a
cunning for bears.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

THE statement ma lie by Col. Tom Ochil-
tree that the accounts of none of the thou
sands of men who have acted as marshals
of the United States have been settled.
and that they all owe the government
something, the whole aggregating hundreds
of thousands of dollars, is startling if
true. The probability is that Tom speaks
by the card. The matter is of sufficient
importance, at any rate, to warrant a
thorough investigation by a committee of
congress. If the accounts are not settled
the people should know why. and the de-
hnquent officials should be called upon to
make good the delinquencies without IN
necessary delay.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

The sword blades used by the Dublin as
sassins in the attack upon Field some
months ago have been recovered in the
basin of the gas works, where the inform
er Kavanagh stated he had thrown them.
This circumstance is important as corrob-
orative of the entire story of the informer.
The assassins are fast becoming
hOpelessly enmeshed in the tolls,
and it looks as if they were
doomed to suffer the penalty of their out
rageous crimes, and that right speedily.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

The Chicago Tribune predicts that Sam.
Randall will be the speaker of the next
House of Representatives Isn't there any
other man than the everlasting Sam? So
far as we are concerned, if the speaker
must be Pennsylvania protectionist, we
prefer Pig Iron Kelley, because We always
know where to find him. SAM, like Joe
Bagstock, is sly, deyihsh sly, but he is an
ultra protectionist, for all that. The coun-
try will get on very we'll if Sam. is not
made speaker,
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

1t is reported that solemn times have
overtaken society circles at Washington,
D. c. There is suspension of dinners,
parties, receptions, balls and breakfasts.
The president has hung up his swallow-tail
coat, and his pantaloons look baggy at the
knees, so elaborate are his devotions. But
in forty days the rout of pleasure may be
resumed, ana who doubts but that it
will be.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

THIS is bad month for ex-governors.
Jewell, of Connecticut, and Davis, of
Texas, have already died, and two others,
Morgan, of New York, and Smith, of Wis
consin, are hopelessly i'll. The prevailing
complaint is pneumonia, which has been
unusually prevalent and fatal this year, a
fact that is due to the extraordinary SO
verify and frequent changes in the
Weather
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13
Obituarr.

NEWPORT, R. l., Feb. 12.-Commander
Francis Morris, United States navy, died
this morning.
SCARBOROUGH, N. Y, Feb. 12.-Maior
Gen. Geo. Webb Morrill, died yesterday
New York, Feb. 1.-THE funeral Of the
late VIM. E. Dodge took place this morn
ing from the Church of the Covenant, at
tended by the most prominent men and
citizens of this city.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

CONGRESSMAN BELFoRD broadly intimates
that no man can be elected Senator from
his state, Colorado unless he is worth a
dozen millions. Bedford is too poor to
aspire. He is worth only the small sum of
e. OOOOOO.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

CINCINNATI is an afflicted city. Ithas its
own Southern Railroad, which has brought
on to the city debt of twenty million dol
lars, and now the winter floods have swal-
lowed up several millions more. The Ohio
river never got so ''high" before. AS the
times go, it is dangerous thing to be an
Ohio man as it were
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13
The Chicago Times of Sunday said:

Window has shaken the snow of Minnesota
from his feet, and it is extremely doubtful if he
ever returns to that state. His absence, hOwev-
er, is not likely to be deplored. The st. Paul
GLOBE says that his hasty departure has lost
him what few friends he had, and that, instead
of being Minnesotian, he had merely used the
state as base of operations for otfice-getting.
This is the way they look at our beloved
William. 1t isvery sad!
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13

The outlook of the crops throughout
Europe Is gloomy in the extreme. No part
of the continent has escaped the rains and
foundations. There has been great dam
age to property, but it is insignificant as
compared with the damaged prospects of
the year.
Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-13
WASHINGTON.
OBJECTIONS TO THE CONFTRMATION
OF THE TREATY WITH MEXICO.

The Civil Service Commission Not Yet APP
pointed-The Vacancy in the Next Con-
gress from LOuisiana-Testimony of Mac
Veagh and James in the Star Route Trial
-ConfirmatiOns-Depa Notes.