davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
Almost Il E'iaSCO.

Odd things will sometimes happen
on the first night of 4 new play. As q
matter of fact they generally do hap
pen, and occasionally an unforeseen
accident of trivial Importance under
other circumstances, will kill theatri-
cal production outright. Belasco, the
dramatlst, had 4 narrow escape with
the first performance of his LA Belle
Russo" in California. In the most
thrilling scene of the play, where the
Villainess and the hero have their
strongest scene together, Miss Jeffreys-
Lewis and Mr.. Osmond Tearle were
alone upon the stage. Mr.. Tearle was
sitting down with folded arms, and
Miss Lewis was standing, just on the
point of delivering her longest and
heaviest speech. At the very instant
of beginning she felt something give
way about her waist, and garment
which the editor would not allow me to
mention, slid slowly down towards the
floor. Miss Lewis had sufficient pres
ence of mind to disentangle herself,
and she succeeded, without discovery,
in pushing the garment back to the
end of the sofa, where it could not be
seen by the audience. Then she went
on with her speech. Just after this
point in the play Mr.. Tearle had to
draw his handkerchief from the breast
pocket of his coat. 1t so happened
that his handkerchief on this particu-
lar night was in his hip pocket, and in
transferring it to his coat the article
slipped from his hand. Reaching
down without looking, he caught hold
of the abandoned portion of Miss
Lewis wardrobe. and that lady was
Mortified to see him raise it slowly to-
wards his breast. He had it nearly up
when his eye fell upon the frill which
adorned it, and he let 90 with great
precipitation. Mr.. Tearle played the
scene through without any handker-
chief, and luckily no one in the audi
ence had observed his attempt to pick
it up. LA Belle Russo" had very
close shave that night.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
Burmese Tobacco.

A vigorous effort is being made, I'M
der auspices of the British government,
to develop the Burmese tobacco indus
try At one time it was prosperous,
and Burmese cheroots found . ready
sale all over India. But the natives
grew careless, and the quality fell off
so greatly that nearly all the tobacco
now used in the manufacture of Bur-
mese cheroots is imported from Mad
ras and Bengal The Calcutta Eng
lishman shows that the keen trad
ing instinct of the Burmese is sensible
of the loss consequent upon this state
of things. A short time ago an expert
mental tobacco farm was established
as school where the natives might
learn how to produce the best quail
ties, and so readily did they turn the
opportunity to account that some 900
landholders have already embarked in
the business. They were greatly en-
couraged to do so by making the dis
covery that land which gives only very
poor crops of rice is the very best for
tobacco. Another experimental farm
is now established on Maubin Island,
and there, too, the native farmers are
proving themselves apt students, while
at Paletwa, in ArakaE, an Englishman
from Coconada has established a most
promising plantation. Samples of the
produce of the various localities have
been forwarded to both London and
Paris. for the judgments of experts,
and, should the opinion be favorable,
tobacco cultivation will probably again
become a leading Burmese industry
The people themselves consume an
immense quantity, being inyeterate
smokers, and thus demand and supply
would be on the spot together.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
Teaching Animals to Converse.

H. Stuart Wortley writes rs follows
to Nature: A dog of mine knows in
stantly whether he may go out with my
hOusekeeper or not, according to
whether she wears her hat or her bon
net. In the first instance he knows
she is going where he may 90, and he
is on his feet barking with iov as soon
as she appears. II she has the bonnet
on, he knows it to be church, or visit
to friends in the country, where he can
not 90, and, like the ''eIdest OYSTER q
quote from memory, he ''winks his
eye, and shakes his hoary head" II
drawings of hat and bonnet We're made,
he would know them at once.
Some years since | had q remark
ably clever Sykc terrier, whose wisdom
was at the time shown in q letter to the
Times. This dog | taught as follows:
When | went out it was quite sufficient
to say Eyes" or No" in IN ordinary
tone; but wanting to take him beyond
that, | taught him very quickly to
know the two words when printed on
cards, YES or NO, and after q few
weeks teaching he never mistook
them. have no time now for much
teaching; if I had, | am sure it could
be done with the dog now have.
The intelligence of cats is greatly
moderated. My wife's favorite cat
follows her everywhere. and comes
when called wherever she may be.
Cats, too, are very grateful for kind
ness. When l went into the Malakhoff.
| found cat on whose paw bayonet
had fallen and pinned it to the ground.
/ released it and took it home, and it
| always followed me all over camp till
the end of the war. And this cat did
as follows: / took her to doctor of
the nearest regiment for two mornings
to have her foot dressed The third
morning I was away on duty before
daylight, and the cat went herself to
the doctors tent, scratching the can
vas to be let in, and then held I'D her
paw to be doctored. The INTELLIGENCE
that can be developed in almost any
animal depends on our treatment of if.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
Arthur'S Two Hundred Wives.

We most always have some Indians
here, says a Washington letter. writer.
They want to see the president once in
while, and the president and secre-
tary OF the interior want to see them.
The Indians always have a good time.
They are brought here in good style,
carefully shown all the attractions of
the town, and lionized by the people in
a certain sort of society. They don't
usually get the thing they come for;
but they always get something, and
sometimes it seems. better than the
thing asked for. Some New Mexico
Indians, recently at the capital, car
ried back with them ideas somewhat
more extravagant than usual. They
began the story with the remark that
President Arthur was the wealthiest
man in the world; that in his great
treasury gold and silver were as plen-
tiful as the sands on the plains of New
Mexico, and that in this great store
house the president has 200 wives, who
have nothing else to do but count out
paper money for him all day long.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
Limo Kiln Club Domestic Economy

The following resolution. forwarded
by brother Blackberry Davis, of Mobile
Ala, was then introduced:
Resolved. Dat it am de dooty of de Lime
Kiln Club TO encourage de organizashuu of n
culped society for de discussion an dispensa-
shun of domestic economy.
The resolution being open to debate.
Bullrush Jinks took the floor, and
hoped it would prevail. Shiftlessness
in domestic matters was the bane of
the colored race. He had known a
family to heave bushel of frozen po-
tatoes into the alley, when the same
would have made score of rich pud-
dings, or could have been saved to
lend to neighbors in the place of sound
ones.
Uncle Luther Perkins hoped to see
such society formed without delay.
Domestic economy was the last thing
thought of in the average colored
household. He knew plenty offamilies
which lived on fried oysters one day
and bean soup the next.
Several other members spoke in the
same vein, and the resolution was put
to vote and adopted Brother Gard
ner then appointed Nelson Slabs. Gar
~AANSAcO4 stlANI L stAS EltIGub pIulGl dis II
committee to organize such a society,
and suggested the following points to
be considered, in estigated and pro-
mulgated:
l. Is it better to go without table
butter than TO be without two bic val
Ter dogs?
2. Isn't it possible to invent mince
pie with cabbage and carrots for 4
foundation?
3. Can't potato skins and apple par
ings be worked over into pudding for
the children?
4. Do we eat more than is really
necessary? Isn't the variety greater
than the health demands? Don't the
man who fills up on pudding and milk
feel just as good half an hour after
eating IS the man who has Toasted at a
iirst-class hOtel?-De5roit Free Press.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
a Cool Client.

An acquaintance of mine-a young
lawyer, tired of being brietiess and
feeless here in San Francisco-deter-
mined q year ago to establish himself in
some interior county seat. A few
months after he wrote me that he had
won it. 1t was q hard case, he wrote,
one that required much study and in
genuity, but he had won it, and assur-
ed me that he considered his fee-fifty
dollars, | belieYe-as we'll earned. His
client was an old countryman, simple
and unsophisticated, and he had en-
deavored to post him on the ways and
doings of courts, SO that he should at
tend the trial without embarrassment
or trepidation. By his GOODNESS in
court the client did honor to his lawyer.
My friend came down here to spend
the holidays, and we met. asked
him, laughingly, whether he had
had another case since his first. He
looked at me curiously, and told me
that something incredible had happen
ed in regard to that affair. That same
morning he met his former client and
over an appetizer they had discussed
the matter.
That only cost me a hundred doll
ars, said the client.
"a hundred?" asked the lawyer.
''Yes-I took the Judge out for q
drink, and gave him fifty dollars.
That's why l was SO cool in court"
The feelings OF my young lawyer
friend can be better imagined than de-
scribed. Still he looked upon it as a
good joke. rather spoiled his amuse-
ment by asking him whether he had re-
turned to his client his ''well-earned
fee. San Francisco Ne1US-Letter.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
A Dogs Intelligence.

James A. Atkinson, proprietor of the
Sherman House, Cleveland, Ohio, num-
bers among his possessions valuable
dog and cow. The other evening the
dog was noticed running and jumping
against the laundry door as if anxious
to attract attention. Kate O'DonneIl,
q laundry girl, went out to see what
was the matter, when the animal, look
ing up into her face, wagged his tail
and darted toward the stable. AS she
stood there he moved backward and
forward as if anxious for her to follow.
She finally went to the stable where
she found the COW choking to death.
Mr.. Atkinson arrived in time to re-
move 4 large carrot which was lodged
sideways in the animals throat, and
but for the intelligence OF the dog,
would have cost the COW its life.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08

city within and without its buildings,
furnish power for all purposes, work
telephones and burgular alarms, de-
liver the opera, convey parcels, detect
and signal fires, operate fire engines,
and possibly displace animal locomo-
ton for vehicles.
Edward King tells one of the most
delightful anecdotes of Carlyle yet put
forth. That portentouS pseudo-philos-
opher, Mallock, called on the old
Scotchman and let himself loose, talk
ing Carlyle almost to death. Carlyle
listened imperturably. invited him to
tea, and had him to smoke in the IL
brary afterward. When at last the
youthful sage thought proper to take
his leave, Carlyle accompanied him to
the door and said: well, good by.
I've received ye kindly, because L
knew your mother; but l never want
to set eyes on ye again.
The City of Mexico correspondent of
the San Francisco Atta says: The
wife of President Gonzales, and mother
of his ten children, affirms that he has
neglected her, in these days of his
prosperity. In her pique and jealousy
at her fancied and actual wrongs, she
iniudiciously abandoned her husband
and children, rented shop upon the
most fashionable promenade of the
capital, not three blocks from the pal
ace, and there scandalized the entire
country by opening milliner's shop.
The sign was large and striking, in
forming the public that The wife of
NJ = L.. 4 L.
was ready to serve her patrons with
latest Partisan importations, etc.
She continued in business for several
months, and criticism ran high, but at
last a cessation OF hotilities occurred,
and she crossed the border into the
United States.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
Uncle Tom and "NIammy" as Slaves

A striking article in the April Cen
tury, by Walter B. Hill, on Uncle
Tom without q Cabin opens with the
following "reminiscences of slavery
days: ''In the last year of his life
General Light Horse Harry Lee made
a visit to Dungeness, the residence of
General Nathaniel Greene. on Cumber-
land Island, Georgia. While there he
was attacked with sickness which in
the end proved fatal. His nurse was
an old negro woman, the 'mOmma' of
the household. One day, in parox-
ysm of nervous pain, he became en-
ragged st her officious benevOlence and
threw n slipper ut the old wonlan's
head. There was Il skillful dodge of
the red bandanna, and then she DELHI
erately picked up the slipper and
hurled it back at him, with the words,
Dab, now! | amt gwine TO let no white
chile sass me; Amt.
This incident, which is historic, il
Illustrates the position of the 'mOmma'
or NANNY in a Southern family in
the olden time. She had rocked the
cradle of her young master and crooned
him to sleep with those weird melodies
Goose lore of any land. AS he grew
to manhood he was still her chile
and she became, in turn, grand
mother in affection to the children of his
household. In family affairs, in deter
mining the cOmpOnents of a cake, the
pattern of 4 garment, or some nice
question of neighbours social status,
she welded that potent wand, the wis
dom OF ancestors and quoted ole
marster' and ole missus' with oracular
confidence, inspired by the impossible
ty of contradiction. Jealous was she
for the honor of 'our family The
authority thus assumed was always
good-naturedly acquiesced in; and,
when ignored, was OVerruled Indirect
ly, so as not to shake the old soul s
self-confidence in her infallibility or
the children's veneration for her wis
dom. The latter was conservative
influence too valuable to be sacrificed.
Very similar was the position of
the odd uncle Even the harsh over
seer, dressed in q little brief authority,
took counsel OF his weather wisdom
and his 'sperence' in planting to suit
the moon. Over the jewellers in the
quarters he was wont to take patri-
archal jurisdiction. The children, white
and black, revered him not only for the
stories of Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit,
which later Uncle Remus has told to
all the world, but for the unexhausted
stores of similar lore which remained
locked in his venerable bosom. He al
ways impressed the pickaninnies with
the fact that he only told half he knew.
No grandsire ever had more eager
audience for his garrulity.
''What element in Cicero's charming
picture de Senectute' was lacking to
make such an old age happy? Against
all care and want these old attaches of
the family were insured in the love of
their owners, and, if that was not
sufficient, in legal obligation for their
support. Who have had, more than
they,
"'That which should accompany old age,
AS, honor, love, obedience, troops OF
triendS?' "
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
Reports to the Iime-KiIn Club.

The librarian reported the receipt of
several valuable books during the past
week, one of them being volume con-
ton of thirty different murderers. He
announced that the roof leaked in sew
en- different places, and that much of
the literature had to be placed in the
oven and dried previous to being lent
out to members. He asked for an APP
preparation of $125 to stop the leaks.
Oats zactly de way wild some
folks replied the president. ''Dey
buy $500 kerridge to be pulled by 4
$50 boss When we expend 1925 to
preserve $50 worth of books we shall
have inaugurated financial policy dat
will soon obleege us to rent post-office
bo,aos to receive our dunnin' letters. :"
The treasurer said he had discovered
an attempt to tamper with the club
safe. Some one had evidently tried to
unlock the door with a boot-iack, as
the key-hole had been found filled with
scrap-iron. He would announce for
the benefit of crooks that the safe never
contained above 80 cents in cash, and
that any attempt to blow it open
would surely result in bringing down
the entire roof of the hall.
The janitor reported that the north
west corner of the hall had lately sunk
eight inches, but he had no recon-
mends to make. If the rest of the
building didn't. sink to the same level
members would soon get accustomed
to walking on slant end and no ex-
1Npr,So would no pn+ai1ad
As most of the lamps had gone out
or want of fodder, the meeting then
'jOurned. Detroit Free Press.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08

Whales were eaten by persons of
the upper classes in Europe as late, at
least. as the latter part Of the thir-
teenth century. The tail and tongue,
dressed with peas or roasted, were
priced as choice delicacies. The Prin-
cess Eleanor de Montfort paid. in 1866,
the sum of "a shiIlings for 100 pieces
of whale" to be used as food in her
household.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08

William n. Clark. . leading grocery
man of Rochester, has suddenly be-
come violently insane. He declares
that heis the original Rip Van Wrinkle,
addresses his wife as Gretchen, and
imagines that he has been asleep 100
years.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-29
PERSONAL

Tho late Edward j. Holmes. second son Of Dr. osvs
wendell Holmes was reputed be OF the best con
uoisseurs OF antique bronzss in the country.
The ARM anil Ypry JoWua suggests hat tho ssct.
tary of he Navy has an excellent opportunity Tor hTls
Commander schley, Of tho Greedy Relief Expedition
substantial testimonial OF esteem and gratitude by lie
appoiptmeat to the vacancy which vii occur IN he
Bureau OF Equipment and Recruiting upon The deparu,
of Commodore English for tho command o The Eropsn
euusdrOn. "Of the entire c1msei'hty or ionmahsS
Blp7 10 nm this post me Journal There cas n
no runner Of doubt and no more graceful cp.nphnss
could hc ppii 20 hun greater incentive cold be nf1
to the young blood n tho Navy AN I'D 're nen aa
N1rts akin and pluck ackuowe lodged in Fnrh mAnnT'
Dr. Koch ha, received grant VI 100000 iol bslslsr
IN the cholsra-intsstsl districts
Much comment was latoly excited ~ u. FfanciTs
P,rcoy guing to a monastery hospital Tor surgical fts
rrnt aftor making himself notorious by ha ln'poauh
ward Tho Chicn aud ell ita nailuten', llo 'f"el he
ntat arior H. wrplo ON rclumng wlfk 10 an otlnaei
of his cunr.o. "Yrl" hr says, 90 dld Rpio no ie~
trry ~ les Frrca Dc Dinu. went thrrn without belhf
compelled because IL pleased M broiulr thought nsA
To 10 : ANA nov believe that lid right lw cay mois
len the monks penetrated with gratitude Tor ne good
grace and GOOD numor OF tlsr doyotrdnr.t They are
model nurse ANA one ~ them, Frere Francois, moro
than nurse; he h an Intelligent, learned, dnd amlafs
man II were I'D be pressed Woud even 'df lLal net
anne rrd me a. be dsintcrestet Every lhat
asked beyond the ordinary rules whrihrt IN lVOl OF
gtteguOU Obtained without eNtrA charge, IN Lac, my
only feeling IA one Of gratitude toward those e1felebl
bYothers" suspicion Is now abroad that tue bbhaas
critic Is ON the road 10 DAMASCUS
The Hon. Jacob Tome, rich Port DEPOSIT banker
gives Dickinson College $4,000 to erect new scenuH
hall to be allied by his name.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-29
ruw.yopK DAILY TRIBUNE TUESDAY, JULY 90, 1874

orr city wnifs Ia their rural homes """
keen Them long enough 10 vitAlIo thtif poor
little stmied ems. I'm this way too many
SUBTLE sub-currcnts of genahtY and tenderness
or,sct lowing, and bonds Of friendship ana
and affection are created which are
sure TO do more good hereafter, pom
10 the eivers and 10 the receivers. 1housai az
of neglected children have thronsh inc
Fresh Air excursions received their hrSt rove
Iaiion Of a higher better, swecter life IMAM 'hey
bad known before. Il is not only the pure IN
yigorAing ar of the country, The rural SISht7'
the wholesome air, the cleanliness, the qale',
that help them. They must often also en-
counter the tender ministrationS OF Good anu
gentle women, full OF motheriy yearnin%S ana
infinite pity for their misery, and eager 10 ii,'
them ont of the slough OF dcstituton in which
they have been langui.hiug. And not only tni''
bnt the poor mothers OF the children themselves
are stimulated and encouraged. The necessity
If making their little ones decent for the cNcur-
sims deyclops their latent pride and seli-re-
spcct, urgeS:them to perhaps unaccustomeu cN-
ertions and sirs MP maternal sentiments "hlcl
perhaps the struggle for existence may nave TOT
a time deadcued or Obscurcd.
AS TO the children Themselves they derive
manifold benefits from these excursions. lhey
are improved morally as well as physically.
Their intellectual faculties are put under ten
sion. Their imagmatiOns are excited ana
strengthened. And all their healthy Ju-
ycpilc instincts are set at work, often
for the first time, under unusual conditions. 1t
is a real boon to hundreds Of these little Great
ures, ignorant as they are of Mature, to put
them down even for few days amid green
fields and flowers and trees and COWS and
sheen and streams and fresh air. They VIII
never forget the novel and delightful expert
encr. nor probably will they ever cease 90 feel
The influence of it on their lives. 1t is dis
tlnrty nm educational process for them, and Of
h." hes kind
Here chen is a charity possessing ideal merits.
# j. one which neither degradcS, humiiinte1
nor IL any way weahcns the bcneiiciaries but
ON the contrary clcyates and strengthens them
i'm ever, way. II brings into useful action be
ucyolcnt impulses rhich but Cor it would have
remained dormant and have been wasted IN
mere mental regrets. Il - 4 means Of demon
~.n'ing the prevalence OF the most practical
Kindness and sympathy II brings into strong
rrliafthc best side of human nature, and rctute-
i'm thc most conclusive manner the mean con
illusions of the cync and the pessimi1t. Such q
charity. however. cannot bc 0yeIdOuc, and here
fore those who are satisfied with It's result thus
far may without hesitation do all that lies m
their power to extend the sphere of its opera-
lions. and tlu4 to secure Che greatest happiness
of the greatest number of children.