davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
Negroes and Negro Minstr.Is.

The London SATURDAY ReUieD. quot
inc the language Of Bully Bottom. who
calls Justify for 1.-The tongs and the
bones" proceeds to say that the love
of negro minstrelsy is confined to the
Notwithstanding tribes and nations
to Great Britain and the United States.
In France and Germany, it seems. the
people have the good sense and the
good taste to refuse to enjoy such en-
tertainments as the so-calIed "neoro
minstrels' are in the habit of putting
on the stage. In Germany they toler-
ate in this line nothing less than, the
real negro, and even he, to win an
proval, must prove that he has been an
apprentice to the experience of planta-
ton life. In this matter the Germans
are wise. They have tact and instinct
on their side. We are compelled to
admit that the United States are the
Headquarters for negro minstrelsy.
Here the great fraud was invented. and
here the people bow down in ecstatic
alteration before it. The mystery of
the whole business is chat it is as popu-
lar in the Soulh, where its true char
acter is known, as it is in the North,
where much has to be taken for granted.
Whoever heard of band of genuine
plantation negroes playing on the
bones, the tamborine, and the banjo,
or singing such songs as Killarney"
and ''Baby's Sleeping Now" or repeat
ing stale jokes and conundrums out of
the medical almanacs? Perhaps it is
the heartrending absurdity of the whole
business that UiyeS If ZpSt Who can
say? Perhaps it is best to coIlate the
mystery into conundrum and ex-
press it thus: ''Oh, Mr.. Hawkins! Can
you-can you tell us-can you tell us
why the niggero minstrel shows-why
the niggero minstrel shows are so pop
ular in this our native 1and?" We
await Mr.. Hawkins reply.-AtIa'ata
Constitution.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
a Fish Story.

Squire Borge, of Bangor, is wealthy
and wishes his friends to understand
that he is wonderful sportsman. Last
winter he started up country on fish
ing trip, where he met with poor
success. The first thing he did on re-
turning to the city was to 90 to a
market and buy fifteen trout. They
were beauties, and he told the sales
man what he was going to do and ask
him where he should say they were
caught
''Oh, tell them they were taken from
Linus Pond"
On his way home the squire called
and had the largest one photographed.
Underneath the picture he wrote:
zone of the fifteen taken from Linus
Pond, Jan. s, 1884, by Timothy Borge,
ESQ.,"
In two days he came back to the
marketman and said:
''Lookee here, where is the Linus
Pond, anyhow? They asked me where
it was and told them it was up in the
north part of Hancock County. Then
they got map and wanted me to show
it to them, and for the life of me |
couldn't find it. Just tell me where it
is and I'll go home and fix them. Con-
found their hearts, I'll tell 'em where
Linus Pond is, and give them enough
of it,
Then the marketman led him gently
outside the shop and pointed to his
sign. 1t read: Linus Pond Fish,
oysters and game. "-BoSto2 Globe
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
Things Worth Knowing.

1. That fish may be sealed much
easier by dipping into boiling water
about 2 minute.
2. That fish may rs well be scaled. if
desired, before packing down in salt,
though in that case do not scald them.
5. Salt fish is quickest and best fresh
ened by soaking in sour milk.
4. That milk which is turned or
changed, may be sweetened, and rend-
cred fit for use again by stirring in a
little soda.
5. That salt will curdle new milk;
hence. in preparing milk porridge,
gravies, etc., the salt should not be
added until the dish is prepared.
6. That fresh meat, after beginning
to sour, will sweeten if placed out doors
in the cool over night.
Z. That clear boiling water will re-
move tea stains. Pour the water
through the stain, aud thus prevent its
spreading over the fabric.
S. That ripe tomatoes will remove
ink and other stains from white cloth,
also from the hands.
9. That Il tablespoonful of turpentine
boiled with your white clothes viii aid
the whitening process.
10. That boiled starch is much i'm
proved by the addition of little sperm
or little salt, or both, OF little
gum arabic dissolved.
II. That beeswax and salt will make
your rusty fatirons as clean and smooth
as glass. Tie lump of wax in rag
and keep it for that purpose. When
the irons are hot rub them first with
a wax rag, then scour with paper
or cloth sprinkled with salt.
y. That blue ointment and kerosene,
mixed in equal proportions, and APP
piled to besteads, is an unfailing bed
bugs remedy, and that coat of white
wash is ditto for walls of log house.
Is. That kerosene Will soften boots
or shoes which have been hardened by
water, and render them as pliable as
new.
IA. That kerosene will make the tea
kettles as bright as new. Saturate q
wooden rag and rub with it. 1t will
also remove stains from clean vanished
furniture.
Is. That cool rain water and soda
will remove machine grease from wash
able fabrics. Every one of The above
recipes is unfailing.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
Educational COurtShip.

She was Boston maiden, and she'd scarcely
passed eighteen,
And as lovely as an houri, but of grave and
sober mien;
A sweet CT cyclopedia of every kind of lore,
Though love looked coyly behind the glasses
that she wore
She sat hcs:de her lover, with her elbow on
his knee,
And drcann she gazed upon the slumb'ring
summer sea,
Unit. he broke the silence, saying: Pray,
Minerva, dear,
Inform me OF the meaning of the Thingness
of tho Here.
81 know you're just from Concord, where the
lights Of wisdom be,
Your head crammed full of bursting, love-
with Ecir philosophy
Those Eoary-hcaGcd sages and maids or no
Then solve me the conundrum, that 1 have
Tut you"
She smiled dreamy smile, and said: "The
ThingncSs IF the Here
is that which is not past and hasn't yet ar
rived, my dear;
Indeed the maid continued, with calm, un-
ruff ii brow,
1.-THE 1hinnuess of the Here is just Thisness
OF the Now"
A smile illumined the lovers face, then with
cut any haste
He sid a manly arm around the maiden's
waist,
And on her cherry lips impressed warm and
loving kiss,
And said: Love, this IS what call the Now
ness OF the This
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
How Lady Should Mount.

The most graceful way for lady to
reach the saddle, and the one that is
taught in the best riding schools, says
the american HorseaOonaa11, is by the
assistance of gentleman. The riders
education will not be complete until
she has learned this method of mount
ing. which. when accomplished easily
and gracefully. is delightful to witness.
In it the rider will have three distinct
points of support, namely, the shout
der OF the gentleman. the united palms
OF his hands, and her hold upon the
pommeI. The stirrup having been
placed across the shield of the saddle
IN front of the pommels, the lady,
holulng the relns and the whip, with its
point down, IN her right hand, (which
must rest upon the second pommel,-
should stand with her RIGHT side toward
the horses left, about four or five inch
es from it, her left shoulder beino
turned slightly back. Then, taking y
firm hold upon the second pommeI
with her right hand, she should with
the left hand lift her ridinp-skirt
enough to enable her to place her left
foot fairly and squarely into the gentle
man S palms, which should be clasped
firmly together. This done, she should
drop the skirt, place her left hand upon
his right shoulder, bend her knee. and
give the word ready or signal, and
at once spring from her right foot up
and q little toward the horse. The
gentleman at the same moment, must
raise his hands and move them toward
the horse. The lady must, when ris-
ing. press or bear lightly on his Shout
der, and also keep firm hold on the
second pommel, which she must not
relinquish until she is seated. The
gentleman should then remove the stir.
rup from the front part of the saddle,
while the lady transfers the reins to
her left hand, passes her right knee
over the second pommel, and her left
over the third. She will then be ready
to have her foot placed on the stirrup.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
LOckwOod'S last Letter.

The following is the last letter writ
ten by Lieutenant Lockwood before the
return of the ship which landed him at
Lady Franklin bay. 1t is to an army
friend at Fort Leavenworth where he
was once stationed:
LADY FRANKLIN BAY, Grinnell Land,
Aug. IL, 18S1.-MY DEAR Boy: / wrote
you before leaving on the present ex-
petition. Now that we have arrived
at our destination. suppose that a few
lines regarding this distant abode will
be acceptable. No doubt Lieutenant
Greely's account or some newspaper
report of our trip will reach you. We
have had wonderful run north. Now
that we are here and see the ice, we
discuss good deal as to whether the
hing can be repeated, and even if the
ship can return without spending d
winter in the ice. [ saw good deal
of Greenland, the Esquimaux and the
few Danes in the country. The man.
ners and customs of the natives are
very interesting and show how people,
as we'll as the animal world, suit them
selves to every condition of climate.
The mountain glaciers, icebergs, and
all the wonderful characteristics of the
Arctic regions you have read about, OF
course. Coming up the straits we
killed some seal and q polar bear. /
had a hand in the latter, and killed one
Of the former, and on our arrival here,
on the 18th, Mr.. Clay, one Of the men.
and myself, killed a whole herd of musk
oxen-thirteen in all. We have been
h1,cr oy,Ivyo1 ora+tin1
the ship uniOaded, working night and
day for this purpose. The young ice
forms every night now and gets thicker
and thicker. Yesterday we had little
snow The shore is lined with barrels,
kegs, boxes, bales, and packages innu-
merable, and our house is progressing
rapidly. We have got about one hun
bred tons of coal on shore, by dint of
hard work in boating it ashore and af-
forwards wheeling it up the bank in
barrows. We expect to land about for
ty more. We should be entirely indie
pendent of coal had we reached Cape
Murchison. We were prevented from
doing so by the ice. | have been over
there, about six miles from here, and
found the excellent coal mine spoken
of by the last British expedition. Our
location is very good indeed. 1t is well
sheltered, and the surrounding country
is quite prepossessing for the Arctic re-
gions | expect we shall be quite COM
Portable, and if we stand the $50 days
of darkness we will come out of it very
well. / look forward with more con-
Germ than anything else to those ex-
ploring expeditions, as that is q mode
of life have not had the slightest ex-
perience in A letter in these regions
is the most acceptable thing one can
get Sincerely your friend,
j. B. LOCKWOOD.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
A Word Spoken in Season.

A word spoken in due season often
has its ready reward. Walking into a
saloon where a man was just about
tossing off q schooner of lager, q friend
of temperance stepped up to the bar
and laying his hand on the mans arm,
said: '.My friend, do you know that
you are putting an enemy into your
mouth to steal away your brains?" The
beer bibber looked at the friend of
temperance in stupid wonder Us he ex-
claimed: What s-yergivn So" Not
only is beer an intoxicant," continued
the f. of t., ''but it contains adulterants
hurtful to health. 1t is fruitful cause
of sickness and DEATH The beer
bibber deigned not word in reply to
this, but with q scornful gesture raised
the glass to his lips. In another in
stance it would have >been drained to
the bottom. The f. of t. made one
more appeal. know you not" he
said. that the beer is 50 per cent. wa
ter?" The glass came down with q
crash on the marble bar, and was shiv-
cred to atoms, the beer which it had
contained flowing in an unnoticed
stream upon the floor. ''Great Cesarn
cried the beer-bibber, ''why didn't you
say that the first thing?" And he
wiped the beady perspiration from his
brow as he added: Stranger, but
that was q mighty narrer escape.
Ninety-fye per cent. water-ughn'-
Boston transcript
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
Business Gambling.

It is the fascination of business gam
bling that, apparently, it offers greater
scope to brains than do the ordinary
games of chance. Operations on
Change require, for any degree of sue
cess beyond occasional luck, knowledge
of corporate transactions, the accumu-
lation and coordination of other trust
| worthy information, and a nicely of
Judgment beyond the reach of any but
the keenest business intellects. And
here again. as in following the gam
bling systems at Monaco confidence
and knowledge may be dangerous
things. Nothing but u1afair advantage
wins steadily in selling ''long" or sell
ing ''short" or dealing in cultures. !"
OF course, stock exchanges and produce
exchanges are useful adjuncts of honest
commerce, and bankers and brokers
are necessary to the operations of ex-
change. But, one year taken with an
other, the true interests of exchanges
Qnd bankers and brokers, like the in
lerests of society in general. will be
found to lie in the way of real trading.
Fictitious trading demoralizes COM
merce with fictitious prices, and is the
low business morality. When the gam
bling transactions exceed the honest
investments more than twenty fold, as
some have estimated, it is impossible
to have sound condition of business.
And when stocks suffer, as recently. q
depreciation of two thousand millions
of dollars mainly because of gambling
influences, stocks which are real prop
erty dissipate only less rapidly than
those which were merely water" and
therefore disappeared like vapor.
Probably the most culpable, because
the most responsible, of the men who
have stimulated the gambling mania
are the bankers who supply the capital
without which these transactions could
not be carried through the exchange
under guiSe of transfers of stock. These
men know very we'll that the business
would be regarded by them as immora
snd unsound if the profits we're not so
captivating. Said one of them to
new firm of brokers, whose account he
was taking: "Whatever you do, don't
lay down on your bank''-in other
words: when the day of disaster over
takes you. protect your financial part
ner by laying down on somebody
else' OF greater significance is the
fact that conservative" bankers and
brokers, who are eager to help others
into the mazes of Wall street prefer to
have their customers think it is rule
of the firm never to gamble on its own
account" Topics Of the Time" in the
august Century.
Olnner dishes decorated with versus
u poetry, maxims, conundrums, ETC..
are very interesting, and furnish the
guests something to talk about.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
a Fish Acrobat.

One warm afternoon q StrOllt COM
ing to the borders OF q small pond,
threw himself down beside little tree
that leaned over the water, so that it's
lowest branches were but few feet
above the surface. While reclining in
the shade, and idly watching the leaves
that fell upon the water and sailed
away, the stroller suddenly heard q
chirping overhead, and looking up saw
on a long limb two small sparrows.
Near them, futtering in the air, rising,
falling, and now alighting beside them,
was the mother-bird. She was evident
ly engaged in giving the tledgeiings
their first lesson in flying. But the
young birds could not be induced to
leave their support; they merely raised
their little wings and followed their
mother out from the tree by edoinp
along side by side on the limb. AS she
renewed her efforts, the faster they
went. until finally they were out on the
very tip OF the branch overhanging the
water which reflected their every move
ment.
For some time these motions of the
mother and young were kept up, and
perhaps our observer sank into q doze,
for he suddenly became aware that one
of the birds had disappeared, that a
great splash had occurred under the
limb, and that the motherhood had
changed her cries to those of alarm.
But it was evident from the mother
birds actions that the little bird had
not flown away. The stroller con-
cluded that it had fallen into the water.
and he rose to see if he could recover
it, when there shot up from the water
a long, slender fish, that quickly
darted through the air and snatched
the remaining bird from the limb, fall
ing back into the pond with a splash
and whisk of its tail. This startling
leap astonished the observer, but it also
fully explained to him the disappear
ance of the other young bird.
The pike was evidently out huntino.
and spying the birds upon the limb. it
had carefully measured the distance,
and by two vigorous jumps had cap-
tured them both. The motherhood
was both grieyed and dazed by the sud-
den calamity that had befallen the
t1edgelings, and perhaps fearing a SIM
liar fate for herself, she soon flew away,
&c. T. Holder. IN st. Nicholas for Au-
gust.
Colonel HOLSTERS fruit ranch, at
Glen Annie, near Santa Barbara, is as
Stunning large proportions. The Colo
mel cultivated fruit trees without irrioa-
ton, and, according to the Indspende7st.
has 1000 olive trees. l, 200 orange, 500
lemon, 500 lime, 10000 almond, 1000
Inn : L.
pear, cherry, nectarine and plum, with
200 japanese persimmon, besides figs.
loquats and plums, making over 10000
trees. That is a very good start in
fruit growing, and our Los Angeles
orchardists will have to be up and do
ing to get ahead of our Santa Barbara
an. In vineyards we are 4 hundred
fold ahead. but there are few orchard
lists equal TO him in Los Angeles. Los
An3eles (Cal) Herald.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04

oepaIIuIc.
..The game is in my own hands now, :"
she thought, land | shall win the
prize
The sound OF horses hoofs under
the window startled her. She sprang
to ascertain the cause, and fell back as
if she had received blow. George
Wilbraham was riding away TO the
station at full speed.
He suspects me-he will find her
and learn all, !" she thought, and sat
down conquered and despairing.
The game was lost indeed. A letter
from her cousin appraised her that he
had found Lily in London. and there
married her. He requested Mrs. Vane
to leave his house before he brought
his young bride home.
She obeyed, too humbIcd and defeat
ed to utter a complaint, and Lily came
back TO be mistress and queen of the
home where she had once been ''only
q governess."
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04

He had just graduated, and they
were strolling about the campus while
he explained to her the exercises and
related the various exploits i'll which
he had been engaged during his course.
A bright idea seemed suddenly to strike
him as he turned, and with 81 happy
light dancing in his eyes, asked: why
do they call it commencement, do you
suppose, when it comes at the end in
stead of the beginning of the course?"
Il don't know" she answered thought
fully, ''unless it is because you'll have
to commence at that time to learn
something or get left" And as she
looked up the happy light had vanished
from his eycs.-B0St0n Post.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04

The reporter of the Times yesterday
inspected what is probably the largest
strawberry ever raised in California.
1t was grown on the place of NJ. Welch.
superintendent of the Southern Califor-
MIA Packing company, and measures
y inches in circumference. The plant
on which this extraordinary berry grew
was planted last February and is of
the Sharpless variety. Besides this re-
markable specimen alluded TO, there
are seycniy-three more berries on the
plant. and At least twenty blossoms
Los AI2gcicS Times.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04

The brewery of Bass, who has just
died in his eighty-ifth year, covers zoe
acres of ground, and 5000 people are
employed in it. He was the grandson
of the founder of the brewery, and was
a local benefactor, having built church
es, constructed baths and endowed a
free library. The Bases have always
been Liberals, while the other brewers,
the Allsops, have been Tories.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04

The Irish peasantry are noted for
their beautiful hands. Whether pota-
toes, poor living, bog trotting and damp
climate improve the hand we knew
not, but the Irish lass has well-form-
ed and a pretty hand. They are
small handed people, no matter how
much they wash, iron, cook, or dlg;
the English on the contrary are peo-
pie of big knuckles; so are the Scotch.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04

western farmer. being left in charge
of his baby, nailed box TO the pillow
beam, and in this the little fellow was
carried during the days blowing. and
seemed well contented.
The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-08-09
HAnpMARE AND METALS.

AxEs-Collins, 4 dozen, 900; Gold Dollar,
4 dozen, 500; Diamond Edge, (, dozen, 1909;
Double Fit, 400.
sKIiIETs AID Lrps-f5c q III; sugar kct-
ties, 80 p n.
Tin PLATE-I. @. lOxl4, 4 box, 500; |. G.
lix2O q box, 800; Ternc, llxN, Z. box, 75O;
rerne, 20I2S, q box, ll.jO
TINwARE-Pieccd, discount 50 u cent;
stamped, discount 80 q cent.
SoLDEn-No. |, lie; No : and - lSc a H.
DUCK HORSE COLLARs--No, Las n dozen.
HAMEs-Two loop, 400 & dozen; three loop,
TAoKs-ln boxes, 100 papers, go n box.
GRuB llogs-R dozen, 80; railroad picks,
b dozen, $50.
MATrocHs-p dozen, On
RuBBER BELrING-Discount 20 . cent and
10 q cent.
NAILs-3,25, rate.
SnOYELS ASD SPApEs-Rowlnnd's, dis
count 10 & cent; Amcs' list, steel goods, dis
count 40 and 10 n cent.
HEAVY lIARDwARE-Shafts, finished, 800
poles, 1880; singletrces, wagons, select LIS;
buggy, 225; express, 80; wagon Tongues,
1900; hickory aNlcs 1000; holsters, i.75; coup
ling poles, 40; spokes, KIN, select, 30;
NIX, 40; sawed fellOcs. ~, LIS; 2, 9O0;
Bowden shoes, go; northwestern horse nails,
No. O, 600: Z, 6.25 4, 800: bar iron, ic rate ;
pillow steel, 7c; spring steel, So cast steel, lSc.
BuGGtEs--tifBdc u. and spring top, 90ONb
10000: do. open, 1OO0dS0.Ol, do. side sprng
top, lOOOWGlI.OO; do. side hur, lOOONGl,NOO.
do. phelons, l2itut lJO.0o; gr.do A. side
spring, li0.OKd9OO0; u,. UtpfOns, lj0.O0G
U1W; bump seat hul ID. b, .Osd2i00O; plat
torm springs, llOWglJl 81. ,ile" spring wag-
ons, NO0Ndll500.
wRE-Smooth wire M. g, bc, Ncs. 10 and
&c. 'npAnnod, blrhrd wire, &c; - Ivan
EOi harbpd 70