davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-26
English Customs in the Middle Ages

It was also possible for woman to
purchase a royal license to marry
whom she would" always granted
with the proviso that it was not to be
one of the kings enemies. Widows
very often had recourse TO this meas
ure; maidens more rarely. With the
former it might denote either an at
tachment to some particular person, or
q mere desire not to be forced into re-
marriage; but q spinster who was not
nun was never heard Of in the middle
ages. There were q very few old
bachelors-rare phenomena, but an old
maid was never seen outside the clois-
ter. The nearest approach to it was in
the case of few ladies difficult to
please, who delayed marriage until
middle age was reached. 1t was rare
ly that this could be the case, since
they were seldom allowed to please
themselves. The color which was
pretty certain not to be worn at a we'd
ding was white, for white was the
deepest possible mourning, and was
worn by widows Immediately after
bereavement. Medieval education was
very different thing to that of the
present day. Among the higher class
es both sons and daughters were sent
into the service of q gentleman or lady
and educated in the necessary duties of
gentle people. Why they were not
taught at home is not quite clear; prob
ably q better discipline was secured
under stranger guardianship. A girl
was thoroughly trained in housewifery,
medicine, and some slight surgery, if
fortunately placed, needIe-work, etc,
sometimes to read and to write also
The boys were trained in warlike arts,
to ride, to shoot, and so forth; most
frequently the reading and writing
were omitted in their case. Royal
personages were obliged to study both
reading and writing, and the royal sig
natures are interesting and often char
acteristic. Henry Viii s hand is very
characteristic; doubtless, as Isaac Dis
raeli has said of him, ''he split many a
good pen." Mary wrote pretty
Italian hand, but rather sprawling and
irregular. Never could any lady
write more beautiful hand than the
early Italian one Of Elizabeth; and /
hope no lady ever wrote any uglier
than the horrible scrawl of her queenly
years" The food, cookery, and medi-
cine of the middle ages were alike in
respect that they were most elaborate
and astounding connections, often re-
pulsive to the last degree. Only iron
constitutions, it would seem, could
sustain such fearful admixtures of in
digestible and unlikely food, yet our
forefathers and mothers throve and
grew hearty upon them.-"Ye Olde7l
Times" by Emil S. Holt.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-26
He Was Engaged.

80 you want a situation rs conduc-
tor, do you?" said the president of the
road. ''Yes, SIR" the applicant re-
piled. "Have you the necessary quail
ifications for such responsible posi-
tion?' 81 am sure have, sir. o." We'll,
suppose your train should meet with a
serious disaster, in which n number of
passengers should be killed and q large
amount Of property destroyed, what
action would you take in such case?"
Il would telegraph the newspapers
that the accident was of little import
ance. and then send word to the presi-
dent Of the road to sell the stock
short. " Him." replied the president,
Pm afraid those are not the proper
qualifications for " good conductor,
but you are man of ability, [ see
We want q tirst-class superintendent
You can consider yourself engaged rs
superintendent of the road at Il salary
of $4,000 a year.-EleU0ted Rajla0ay
Journal
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-26
No Chance for Him.

They got hold of stranger in Wyom-
ing the other day who had seven mules
in his possession belonging to as many
different men. When he failed to pro-
duce bills of sale he was asked to take
q little dance at the end Of rope. He
didn't urge any particular objections,
but before being drawn up he explain
ed:
Gentlemen, I've been cleaned out
on Wall street, busted in Chicago,
drowned out of business in Cincinnati,
and run out of Omaha on general prin-
ciples. I've come here to make a new
start in life, but two hours after steal
ing that last mule I'm oYerhauled and
find a moose around my neck.
They felt sorry for him, but, fearing
that if he was turned loose he would
turn up bankrupt in San Francisco, he
was suspended to the limb in first-class
business STYLE.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-26

By the kindness of Il Parsec gentle
man was enabled to visit the Towers
of Silence. There is 4 strange, almost
mystical, solemnity about this garden,
| in which, at sunrise, | stood for q time
alone, gazing ut the towers from the
! distance of thirty yards, beyond which
none must pass who would return to
the abodes of men. (Th;s rule is SO
vigorously observed that ugly stories
are naturally rife of persons coming to
life on the tower, only to be slain by
the carriers of bodies, themselves for
ever separated from the outside WORLDLY
As soon rs body is dead it becomes
the possession of Ahriman. a demon
tenant of his occupies it. The dying
are deserted by the holders of this I'M
canny creed in q heartless way. A
chant reached my ear and presently
group of men in snow-white garments
and turbans entered the gateway, bear
ing their shrouded burden. They
passed silently and very quickly up
wards towards the towers. Presently
there appeared, twenty yards behind
them, another group in snow-pure
robes chanting as they rapidly moved,
their chant being very different from
any / had heard about Hindu temples.
1t was entirely from minor or whining
notes.
Everything about this funeral was
light, quick and cheerful, insomuch
that remembered a picture of Egyptian
festivities on the entrance of q soul in
TO paradise never doubted. 1t is still
forbidden every Parsee to weep for one
dead. The singers speedily returned
to the garden, where they formed a
regular group and intoned their COZ
versation, occasionally breaking into q
chant. was informed that they spoke
of the virtues of the deceased and
chanted hymns of the Ayesta. 1 lis
tened, gazing at the top of the tower,
whereon the body had been deposited
and its limbs fastened, face upward to
the sun. Already at it's coming a cir
Gle of vultures had descended to perch
around its parapet, where they sat per-
fectly still during the presence of the
corpse carriers. The large, lazy aerial
scaVengers bore quaint resemblance to
gowned and supplied figures that had
once been human. The moment when
the body was abandoned by its bearers
was reported by the slow and dignified
disappearance of these birds, which
presently rose into the air, each bear
ing some last contribution of a mortal
to the immortal Cosmos. Somehow
this scene impressed me more than the
burning pyres of the Gauges. There
l felt how much pleasanter to the i'm
agination it would be to contemplate
in ones last moments ascending in that
fiery chariot of cloud and ether; here
I felt that the parsee had a more poetic
prospect of mingling in the currents
of organic life, smiling in flowers, sing
ing in the throats of birds, smiling
again in human liness.-Mo,acatre ID.
ConaOay IN San Francisco Chronicle.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-26
Interesting Discoveries.

A number of most interesting archie
illogical discoveries have been made in
this neighborhOOd lately, says q Chilli
Gothic CO., correspondent of the CleVe-
land Herald. A Washout on the farm
of William Vincent about two miles
east of this city, exposed q large num-
Der Of skeletons, and subsequent eXca-
vations have materially added to the
number. The persons who once
clothed these bones with flesh appear
to have been thrust into the ground
without much regard for ceremony, as
they were found mingled up together,
and, in some instances, frames were
found lying on top Of others. In COM
pany with DR.. w. E. Moore, o Herald
correspondent recently drove out to in
| spect this find, and the conclusion ar
rived at was that this wholesale burial
was the result of an Indian massacre.
Every skull examined by the doctor
was found to be fractured. In one in
stance there was evidence of an old
fracture, in which the separated bones
had reknit. This gentleman had re-
ceived q thwack over the right temple
that finished him. The discovery is
exciting considerable attention here.
During the recent floods there was
another Washout on the farm of Smiley
Caldwell, about nine miles south of this
| city, and large number of curious
and interesting objects were taken
| from it-stOne bowls and hammers il
! profusion, stone axes, one of them
weighing nearly ten pounds, pipes, ar
r0w-heads, etc. There were also sew
eral NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. copper plates,
each having two holes punched in it
near the top. It was not determined
! by the scientific gentlemen to whom
! these were submitted whether they
were intended for ornamental purposes
or for buckler and shield in time of
! trouble
Thirty years ago E. G. Squier, the
distinguished Peruvian and Central
American explorer and antiquarian,
was editor of the SciOtO Gazette in this
city. The country about here is dotted
with mounds and many other relics of
the mound-builders. He and DR.. Davis
pO&ed diligently into all these, and as
n result enough curios of the above
mentioned character were unearthed to
stock dozen collections. The result
cent work, Monuments of the Ohio
Valley" the success of which induced
| SQuier to continue in Central America
the work commenced in Ohio. He was
] firmly convinced that the mound-build-
ers of Ohio were identical with the
Aztecs of Mexico, and were driven
! southwark by the constant incursions
and forays of fiercer barbarians.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-26

Princess Dr0guca. He was shown into
q small drawing-room.
Two minutes later the little lady
came in and looked at him with some
surprise. You have asked for me?"
she said; you know my name"
The awful truth flashed upon him.
For one mild moment he thought of
sinking his identity and escaping with
out telling her who he was. But he
had no time to think it out-he was
confused, stammered something's
then, IN despair, handed her his moth
er's note. She opened it deliberately;
read it at q glance, and threw it care
lessly on the table. He fancied his
doom was sealed; took UP his hat and
prepared to 90. But he felt he owed it
to himself to apologize; he did so pro-
fusely.
She interrupted him with her slight,
shriu voice, locking straight at him
with those plaintive blue eyes, which
were so full of candid hunger OF admit
ration.
What are you aDologizing so much
for?" she said. at is the first compli-
ment your family has ever paid me!
Come into the other room; must have
some tea"
She put her hand on his arm and led
him away. For the first time in his
life Herbert was at q loss what TO say
or what to do. But at last he succeed
ed in taking her cue; it seemed funny
to nirt with ones aunt, but he did it.
And she paid his debts. Probably
she will leave him her money.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-26

When a certain San Francisco lady,
who had made wide eastern reputa-
ton as writer, visited Japan some
years ago, she was entertained by one
of the leading Americans of Toxic
Everything in the house was artistic,
and the rarest curios, the most elabor-
ate porcelain ware, the finest Japanese
art productions covered the tables and
filed the rooms. The Francisco visitor
was much interested in all this, and
was particularly admiring the dinner
service, which was of very unique
pattern. After dinner the host took
her aside: Don't tell my wife, but I'd
give 81 to eat off a white plate. "-Sara
francisco Chronicle.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-26

President Porter, of Yale, says the
whole duty of the college in regard
to the education of women is begun
and ended when it does it duty by
young men.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-26

''Never look at your boy when ne IS
speaking" writes father 1t empaf-
rasses him when he is explaining now
he happened to be in school ana OUT
playing ball at the same time.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-26

They are building an evangelical
church at Devils Lake City, MINI.
That is carrying the war into Africa
and no mistake.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

In consequence Of the expense at
tending the hiring Of carriages for
funeral purposes III Philadelphia, the
railway trains are to lie brought
into reqHisition. at funeral III
that city a few days ago, there were
enough persons present to bill seven.
passenger coaches. 1t would have
taken nearly 100 carriages, TO
convey tllem to the cemetery, thereby
entaiiing All expense OF sooo.
TO 90 to the Cemetery by rail costs
only twenty-five cent per passenger
the corpse also counting as one
passenger. This represents d lag
saving in cases Of large funerals.
The most aristocratIc cemetery ii.
New York. Woodlawn, where jay
Gould has SAG 600 invested in Il lot.
is situated eleven miles outside o.
New York. All the lanerals 90
there by rail, there teiHg q sqecial
mourning car provided Tor the priacI-
pal mourners.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

A SPECIAL telegram from Boston
to the New York Evening Post says {:
The latest report here concerning
the Butler campaign is that he is
considering the advisability Of
outopenly just before the cleo.
ton and telling his friends that it
would be best to have them vote
directly for Blaine. A leading
Democrat here says to-day that a
member Of the Peoples party told
him that such a step was in contem-
plation. The growth of the Butler
party here does not seem to keep
pace with the progress Of the cam
paign. At the Democratic head
quarters they do not allow him in
their figuring above 10000 votes,
and they gay that the old mans "
followers are daily becoming fewer.
For instance, a Democrat from a
Hampden country town was at the
headquarters this afternoon, and said
that Butler eonld not get a vote in
his town. Similar information IL
being constantly received.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25
RATION

Notice IL hereby given, W. !.
compl'anca Of he provisions Y y
No. 1873 Of the General hssfa IN !
the State, approved AIrIl ltls \,
I shall keen my Office oIea a,s'|
SUNDAYS ard legal ilolilsys e'sels|
from 7 o'clock 4. NJ. 70 e'ea \
y and from . o'clock +. 4, a'a
o'clock p. N for the regis''''' !
eonrt house in the iovnof ab't.,
On s~epiember 4lh 1854, y; y \
,i,sn It viII lie established ~
dav at each Of Tie here'1s''ef I
inr and other daslgna'fa ~
cad, ward as follows. % VII -,
2nd ward, G. ffeaefassa 90
4th ward, Mrs Ilazare O'''
Sept II. ssd
9Th 9Th ward, Robi Green
9Th ward, Desire Viaeea b
9Th ward, Agricole baae' n
7th ward, Perry bf'oss
at Nngicr'- store. sev
7tb ward, g.Iesil. store ps 80
7th ward, Alioius a's''
October 9th. .,,h.viIIe \
and will re open at aO M in
Saturday October ll1a .- nj 1
OMEN until saturday NOVEL;
1,sa DAVID N. LYo nss,.]
1901 Assessor thsss''''
Anp 30.'84. |
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25
CITIES IN THE MOON.
The Very Entertaining Story OF
DIR. BlOndmann's Alleged
Wonderful Dis
%cOyeries.
New York Sun.

A. letter from Berlin to a promi-
nent gentleman of this city contains
a very interesting communication
concerning the alleged discoveries
by DR.. Blendmann, a professor in
the Royal Academy Of Berlin, of evil
depces that the moon is inhabited.
Dr.. Blendmann processes to have
discovered that the telescope OBJ,
s~ervatiops made up to the present
time has given a negative result on
account Of the excessive light that
irradiates from the lunar disk, which
prevents an exact examination Of
the surface. DR.. Blendmann soften
ed the light by using the condensed
smoke Of camphor. He had to make
hundreds Of trials before finding the
measure Of softening required to OBJ
tain a perfect image Of the moon.
He then took with q rehecting teles-
cope a very detailed and correct
Photographic view Of the disk Of the
moon. which he afterwards exposed
under a powerful solar microscope.
The circle obtained in the photo
graph had in the microscope an ap-
parent diameter Of over thirty-three
feet. In this way, the story is, he
was able to perceive that what have
been believed to be seas are really
regions covered with rich vegeta'
ton, and what have always been
taken for mountain regions are
deserts and seas. One can see, the
letter says, with striking distinctness
cities, towns and Villages, and there
are strong indications Of industry
and commerce. With a full moon
Dr.. Blendmann has obtained photo.
graphic views so distinct that they
indicate hat if larger telescopes
could be used the discovery would
be still more completely confirmed.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

THE Thibodaux Sentinel says
"the enthusiasm for e. J. Gay. our
candidate for Congress burns brighter
and brighter. The colored voters
are coming over to his side by clubs
and by individuals. Kellogg is
doomed to an ignominious defeat.
The voters of this Congressional
District are wearied with such a
representative, and are determined
to send one to the next Congress
who will be an honor, not a reproach
to his constituents.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25


he Police Jury 81 IN" ratish oil
VcfnI:iaa It It G1"rt ]ii"nSe, IL
s@''f1't' i"t' u'as IN !t.S -I'' d'y OF
Oc!nDcr 1874 afrrn eaii i jh" t'fes'.
dfnt {hy r"Ht'oh ri fttl2"itS accord
h@ - law -" ~" ''raese Il ap.
pointing eefks O, e3ft~fon, TO act
at the e,eetion to ne bel NoFch9her
4th 1881.
Members f'r'fent Ill a"3p'HiF,
president , Z nn-~arH, Ai''''of'
Greer, @9f&A2. lI"HsF !Hf'' ~;
ai'seu; j { he}e.a'.r a'"i j tjy
Pntnam
On ma.;7n, - foHow;s- 'cfeo'7
were a"To}h'c' o. ~ - ;:i@|@ 81
Election. 81 'hA d.sic,en' polling
places 10 vii
lSt ward, Al the hoHse OF i t
Leh'anr. CLERK Phi'ipn Kills.
Dad ~art. at the house Of Chas
Frederick, clHk JEFF M"ean.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

The acceptance Of the Green,
hackers and Anti Monop2liats Of
Buffers fusion-scheme az regards
presidential electors is causing q
great deal Of nervousness among
Western Republican leaders. The
fusion will operate against the Demo
Gratis only in Missouri and West
Virginia. in which Democratic sac-
cess is regarded az certain under
anq circumstances. Some OF the
w stern Republican party are
fearful that the combination may
throw the election into lhe House,
in which event Cleveland would
get the votes of tweatg 40 States,
Blaine fifteen with florida tied -
Times-Democrat.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

4 mammoth beehive has been dis-
covered in the bosom of the noted
peak commonly called "Old Baldy,"
situated in san Bernardinn COUNTY,
Cal. The bees at work in this wild
mountain hive are almost inDumer-
able, aud they have in store a gigan-
tic mountain Of pure honey. which is
estimated SO be $50 feet deer and 300
feet wide, and contain more than 500
barrels Of the genuine article.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

Henry Clay. the great Harry's
grandson, just died 10 Louisville, was
born on the United States man ofwar
independence at Lisbon. The
father was then Minister to Portu-
gal. The boy was christened under
the man.of-war's flag and was named
Henry independence Clay"
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

AUDITOR STEELE sent ont THE fo'.
lowing circular on the 18th inst to
the tax collectors of the State On
or before the 18th Of November
next you will please render a state.
ment to this Office of all collections
made on movable property, and pay
the same into the State Treasury,
as this MONEY Is needed to take up
outstanding constitutional warrants
and warrants issued to the public
and charitable institutions. Also
forward to This Office a copy Of the
newspaper containing the advertise
ment of sales Of movable property,
under section A, act SO Of 1884,"
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25
zc3l1I Lands d Lease.

NJ rirtne If =. resolution OF the
y Beard of school Directors Of
Vermllion Parish, the undersigned
will offer for RENT fer A ncriod Of
four years tfain III, lat aag Of jam
arv 1885 n" y taas neriod at the Or
ton OF the l;l1et' 10 the highest
and hes bidder, at Inc Court House
door in the Town 0f Abhevilie on
Saturday the Is, day Of November
1884.
between the hours of 9 A. NJ, and 4
P II, Of said day the following school
lands Of the Stale Of Louisiana to-
wit:
II Towu-hip IL. sR4E, SW !.
of NV !, Sec I6, $3.50 Acres.
n Tosn~hlp Is. SR ! SC 16,
1886 acres.
III Township "A, sR 4 Z, Sec l6.
$40 acres.
In Township II, SIR e, Sec Is.
$40 acres.
Tn Township ,3 SIR 3 east, Sec
le, 1853 acres.
In Township ID. SR q, Sec l6.
$40 arrns.
10 Ioun.li, lG. SR east Sec
MS. Gtn acres.
In T1vn~hin II. sR z, Sec i6
Gao acres.
II TuwnsIiylI, S2 9 east Sec
.ib, 640 acres.
In Township lo, SR 2E Sec IS,
GAO acres.
In Township Il, 81, = cast. = :
Sec IS. 100 acres.
In Towa~h;r "a II am! is ~ .
T. Sec IA $40 aofcs eacE
In Town.hini II ~ r SO ~
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

NJ MORE bay-windows projecting
into Philadelphia streets. The courts
there Lave decided that people must
keep structures of the kind within
their own tipes.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

NO." SAID the Chicago editor
Of his tival, II don't think he was
drunk when he wrote that editorial :
when a mans drunk he speaks the
truth"
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

Il haven't had a Bile for two
days" pleaded a tramp. us it
possible" answered the woman with
sympathy. "I1l see what / can do
for you in the way Of a bite. Here
Tige-Tige-" The tramp broke
a So gate getting away-New York
Sun.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

AND now comes a chemist and ex-
plodes the theory hal unbolted
-four is the most nutritious, by
stating that experiments show that
it is harder to digest. The mos
sensible plan to follow is TO cat
what experience has proved agrees
with you.
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

A BALTIMORE man killed himself
because his wife would not support
him. 1t beats thunder how lazy
some women are getting to be
nowadays. =
The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1884-10-25

Hon. Benajah Gibson, a member
Of the Legislature and a prominent
sugar planter Of Ascension parish
died Wednesday week.