davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
NedtncSS.

The frog has the reputation Of being
q dlSsolutG character, but the great
care which he exercises in a sanitary
way and his genial habits of cleanli-
ness must win for him many admirers
among the neat people of the country.
The bullfrog unlike old Sam johnson,
never wears soiled linen. His shirt
bosom is immaculate creamy in the
richness of its purity. The buIlfrog
does not slObber on his shirt bosom.
No matter how convivial he may be
no matter how late he may be out at
night, his shirt bosom, the next morn
inc, looks Us though it were newly
laundried. The principle OF ncatness
is innate. There are ALWAYS streaks
of slOyenliness athWart the eScutcheOn
of cultivated neatncss. Mr.. Bobsail,
for instance, is always neat. His shirt
is always clean and about him there. is
an air of gentility. He seems to make
no special effort in this direction. The
truth Is. his principle of neatness is in
born. Now, there is Mr. Brittlerash
He puts on u clean shirt every morn
inc, yet he is never neat. All sorts of
stains will 90 out Of their way to settle
on his shirt bosom. He cannot be neat
The most elaborate profession in the
school of neatnesS could not teach him
the art. He was born to be sloVenly
III appearance.
The bullfrog is much neater than the
catfish. The catfish wears an ulster
with n yellow frontage, and he may
make an occasional attempt to be
cleanly in appearance, but he has
never succeeded. There is one thing
which stands in his way: He is not
careful OF his diet lie bites off more
than he can chew and slobbers on him
self. The frog looks with something
like disdain on the catfish, and it serves
him good purpose to keep out of the
broad-mouthed gentleman's way. The
catfish would not hesitate to lacerate
the pure bosom of the frog. The cat
fish is Il canniOal. He would eat
piece of his OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Traveller.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
How to Clean Marble.

HouSekeeperS who have tried III vain
to remove stains from marble will read
with interest the following advice from
an exchange: Brush the dust off with
q piece of channels, then apply with q
brush good coat of gum arabic about
the consistency of thick mucilage, ex-
pose it to the sun or wind to dry. In n
snort time it will peel off. If all the
gum should not peel off, wash it with
clean water and clean cloth. Ii the
first application does not have the de-
sired effect, it should be tried again.
Another method is TO rub marble with
the following solution: One-quarser OF
n pound OF soft soap. one-quarter Of =
pound of whiting. and one ounce of
soda and Il piece of stone blue the size
of walnut; rub it over the marble
with piece of flannel, and leave il on
for twenty-four hours. then wash It
off with clean water, and polish the
marble with 4 piece of flannel or IN
old piece of felt; or take two parts of
common soda, one part of pumice stone
and one part of tinely-powdered chalk,
sift it through fine sieve, and mix it
with water, then rub it well over the
marble, then wash the marble over
with soap and water. To take the
stains out of white marble, take one
ounce of oxgall, one gill Of I've. one and
one-half tablespoonfuls of turpentine;
mix and make into paste with pipe
clcy; put on the paste over the stain,
and let it remain for several days. To
remove oil stains, apply common clay
saturated with benzlne. If the grease
has remained in long, the polish will
be injured: but the stain will be re-
moved. Ironmold or inkspots may be
taken odt in the following manner:
Take half an ounce of butter of anti
mony and one ounce of oxalic acid, and
dissolve them in one pint of rain water;
add enough flour to bring the mixture
to proper consistency. Lay it evenly
on the stained part with I brush, and,
after it has remained for few days.
wash it off, and repeat the process if
She stain be not wholly removed.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
Balky Cook Stoves.

''Julia" writes, saying she has new
tange in the kitchen that vexes her
badly, because it won't draw, and asks
what she can do with it. We wrote
back and told her that Judging from
the fact that it was in the kitchen we
inferred that it was short range, and
advised her to either 60 out of the bus
mess altogether or else put up Creed
moor range of 1000 or l, 500 yards. If
she erected q range of this kind we
told her, and then advertised literally
and offered q lot of 800 medals, cost
ing 70 cents q dozen, rs prizes, and
hired IN assortment of ancient colonies
and acknowledgements to loaf around
the premises in full uniform, we thought
1t would be apt to draw and pay her
for the outlay, provided she run it in
connection with a tirst-class bar-room.
Then she wrote back and told us that
her range had no target and that her
husband was q policeman who was all
the officer she needed, and informed
US she referred to new $50 cook-stove
which she had just purchased, and
which she could not induce to draw by
any means. We board in q bean res
1hNl au1 dG lno OOuGu emu ourselves,
and are not troubled with balky cook
stoves. Before coming TO Boston we
drove mnle team, and whenever they
threw up their heads and refused to
draw we got some shavings and kind
llng-wood and built fire under them.
1t worked to perfection every time. 1t
is understood that cook-stoves have
been made to draw by the same method.
1t would be a good plan to try this
scheme before swapping the stove away
with the junk man for two tin dippers
and corn pepper. -BoSton Globe.
The Gar of Russia smokes four
packages of cigarettes day, and the
Nlhilists have concluded that nv
eating few weeks they can save
their powder.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
The Bird Matin ee.

Let ME tell you of series of matt
nees | attended this summer, which
were given at three O clock in the morn
ING.
The windows of my bedroom opened
toward the south on beautiful lawn,
bordered with elms. Year after year
comes the golden, or Baltimore, oriole,
most delightful of singers. He loves
best the swaying branches Of the loft
lest elm for his home, that old Dame
Nature may rock the little ones to sleep
with every breeze. Robin Red breast
and Jenny Wren build lowlier homes
in more accessible places. Then there
is the linnet, who years ago fOrsooI us
for southern cline, but, perhaps
alarmed by the noise of war, returned
to her northern home. These were
some of the singers who gave the
three o'clock matinees. They contin-
ued for two or three months, from May
nearly through July. and the pro-
gramme each day, for the first month,
seemed precisely the same.
First came 4 loud, shrill, prolonged
call, always repeated three times,
which reminded me of a gong at a ho-
tel. It was evidently intended for the
rising-bell and for call to order. At
ter the last call came 4 feeble peep, as
if one little fellow had managed 10
arouse himself just enough to answer.
Then another replied little louder,
and another. until, in rapid succession,
all the jewellers in the grove announced
their presence, and answered to their
names. Then followed minute or two
of entire silence; after which the prima
donna, as it seemed to me, opened the
concert. 1t was loud, clear sweet
strain, SO unlike any heard in the day,
that | can not tell what bird it was; |
think only the oriole could pour forth
that delightful music. 1t sang alone
in 4 clear. ecstatic strain. At certain
part of the solo two other voices broke
in as a trio, and at the end of the stanza
ali the voices joined in full jubilee
chorus. This was repeated six times,
so that | came to call it their hymn of
praise IN six stanzas. 1t was rendered
every morning in exactly the same
way. After it there was singing by the
full choir, and it grew louder and more
imprisoned, as if each minstrel was
inspired by the rest, like the singing of
4 vast concourSe.
After this grand climax, the voices
would die away, one after the other,
and the principal concert was over.
The parent birds went on their morn
ing flight, and their brides swung in
their wind-rocked hammocks for an
other half-hour. At the expiration of
this time came call similar to the
first, although by q different Bird
often whippoorwill. The summons
was repeated thrice, then came fee
bic little '.peep. peep, twitter, twitter,"
and the Juveniles joined to the best of
their ability. This concert was much
shorter than that of their parents, as
befitted their tender age, and Their hum
ger on first awaking.-W c. E., IN 81.
Nicholas for September.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
Lacked Patriotism.

"Hurrah. Hurrahn' shouted Mr..
Blinks rushing into the house.
What the matter?' inquired his
better lalf quietly.
.Whv, haven't you heard the news,
the glorious news? Hurrah!"
Mo. What is it?''
oh! the grandest news. We're
cad of the world. Why don't you
shout? Hurrah!
'Well, possibly l may, if You will
stop making an idiot of yourself long
enough to tell me what it is all about :"
why, you know that Greely's party
has been found?"
Yes
well, Greedy reports that he plant
ed our flag further north than that of
any other nation had ever reached"
.Well?"
"Why, whoop! just think of it. Two
miles further north. Hurrahi'
well, what of it?'
"Why, don't you see? The nation is
ahead. 1t beats the world
III M! [ can t see that it makes any
particular difference. If you will just
skip out into the yard and fix up that
clothes line that you have been prom
Using TO for a week, this particular part
Of the nation will get close to pole
that will be of some benefit; and if you
waste much time about it, it will be
such cold day around these premises
that you will require arelief expedition
within the arctic circle of your home to
save you from starvation. Do YOU hear
me. Jeremiah?'
And Jeremiah heard, and needed
also. but as he retired from the high
latitude he remarked:
''it's always the way with women.
They never have any patriotism. -
Teas SJtjngs.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
IZaak Walton.

We can never wonder at Izaak Wal
tons perennial popularity. The es-
sential freshness of the topic is enough
10 assure Immortality to any book. In
his quaint and godly talk he gives ex-
preston 10 the sinple poetry that in
spires the feelings of MANY in unlet-
tered brother of the craft. Even when
ne wrote in prose he was really rs
much Of q poet as many OF the melodi-
Gus masters of the Tyre he quotes with
honest admiration. And his own
simple verses, coming straight from
the heart, are often singularly touch
ing. Take for instance, and almost at
haphazard. his profession OF his ang-
ling faith:
Il care not, ], TO fish in seas.
Fresh rivers est my mind 90 please,
Whose sweet, calm course ] contemplate,
And seek in life to initiate
His mind reflected with Il sober
Quaker line colorinm all the pictures of
rural beauty and felicity about him.
We have had many books since then
by such devoted lovers Of English
scenery Us Gilpin and Hewitt, and Bor-
row and Jennings. But we know none
that breathes so entirely the essence of
tranquil enjoyment, or so ardently ex-
presses the happy faculty of finding
recreation in trifies. Unreal it may be
in its idealization of manners in the
immediate neighborhood of the court
and capital; for the golden age had
gone over before the days of Walton,
and we imagine that maudlin. the pref
ty milk-maid and her mother that
have been scarcely so unsophisticated
rs they appeared. But the worthy old
angler saw everything as he wished to
see it; and certainly life then went
comparatively placidly. even within
hearing of the bells of Bow CoymhiE
Magazine
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
Old Puts Wolf Den.

The famous wolf den at Pomfret, in
TO which General Israel Putnam crawl
ed, and from which, after he had killed
the old she wolf that had DESTROYED his
sheep, he was drawn out by his neigh
aprs by means of rope attached to his
body, himself pulling the dead animal
after him, is gradually filling up with
the accommodations of gravel and rocks
that fall from the roof and sides. 1t
was visited by Il merry picnicing party
of ladies and gentlemen from Old
MaShentuck, East Killington, the other
day. They spread a dinner in the lone
" brush pasture near the cave, had
dinner, made speeches about Old Put,
the Revolution, the wolf hunt, and so
on. One OF the party, Rev. G. IL.
Childs, was appointed TO explore the
cavern. The opening, which is about
two feet square, is near the top of q
high ridge that is strewn with cvclo-
pean boulders, about half q mile from
the country road. A few stunted for
est trees grow aslanJ from rocky foot
holds along the hillside. The surround
ings are wild and rugged. There is no
dwelling house within many miles.
ture, and, with his lantern on his arm,
crawled along the passage downward
for seventeen feet. There he reached
the open chamber of the cave, in which
he could stand nearly upright. 1t was
impossible to penetrate further, the
passage being almost closed with small
stones. 1t was at this point that Pu5-
nam saw the old wolf ten or fifteen feet
beyond him squeezed into the extreme
end OF the cave. growing and gnash-
ing her teeth" Half rising, with his
knee for rest. and holding his lantern
high in his lantern high in his left
hand above his head so rs to illumi3a ate
the further darkness, Putnam coolly
sent bullet into the animals brain.
Mr.. Childs found that the sides of the
cave are very rough and uneven. The
roof is as smooth and regular as though
it had been carved by the hand of man.
The wolf den is five or six miles from
the railroad, and few persons visit it on
account of the difficulty in getting
there The nearest settlement is Pom
fret Street, Il beautiful, seQuestered
country village, itself several miles
from railroads, to which wealthy city
people whose youth was spent among
the hills of old Wyndham county re-
sort to live over again the old-fashioned
days. Lofty elms and spreading ma
pies shadow the village, and all day
hardly 4 sound is heard in It's straight,
grassy street. The houses are old and
primitive in style, but very neat and
trim, with fresh gardens on either side.
-NorWic.$ Cor N T. San
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02

A Yankee performing q journey
through the back countries on foot saw
two horses in field as he passed
along, one of which he determined to
borrow for n few miles, rs he was feel
ing very weary. Accordingly. writing
IN pencil on 81 slip OF paper that he
would leave the beast at the next town
on the road. he tied the note to one
horses fetlocks, and mounting the
other with merely p halter for bride,
rode off with him. This transaction
happened to be observed, an alarm was
given to the owner of the animals.
who, saddling the remaining one.
without paying any attention to the
note attached to its leg, rode away
after the unknown borrower, or, as he
considered him, perhaps, thief I'm
luckily for the Yankee, he was mount
ed on a slow traveller compared with
the steed he had left behind, and he
soon deserted with some CONSERVATION
rider behind urging q powerful beast
along the road 1T full speed, evidently
in pursuit of him. Having neither
whip nor spur he found it difficult
matter to impel the horse he rode be-
yond its usual pace, and his pursuer,
therefore, had every chance of coming
up with him directly. At this moment
he perceived q cottage by the roadside
at no great distance toward which, by
blows and kicks, he urged his steed
somewhat faster, the farmer gaining
on him nevertheless at every step.
Reaching the door he dismounted and
went in. The farmer riding up imme-
diately after in tremendous passion
threw himself off his horse, leaving it
by the side of its fellow, and ran into
the cottage to seize and secure the
thief. The Yankee however, was pre-
pared for him. Having slipped up
stairs, he opened the front window
(which looked out upon the road, and
as the farmer ran into the house he let
himself down outside, mounted the
saddled horse, seized the other by the
halter and rode off securely with both.
The hero of the second story was at
least Is ingenious. A new liquor ware
house opening at Boston on a ready
money and low-pricc system, Jonathan
walked in ole day with q two-gallon
keG on his shoulder, and asked for q
gallon of the best brandy. Tie
liquor having been poured through D
funnel into his key tie money was de-
manded. Pretending ignorance of
their mode of doing business, the
Yankee said he would pay the next
time he came into town. The shop
man demurred, saying that he did not
intend to give any credit But"
asked the Yankee in mock surprise,
''do you intend to take back the
brandy?"
10 be sure" replied the other, "if
you don't pay for it. =
Then" said he, you must bring
your measure, for [ had some liquor of
my own in the key"
This was done, a gallon Of the con-
tents measured back, and the fellow
marched off with another gallon of fine
grog, having half filled his key before
hand with a0ater!-'' RetrOSpectj0ns Of
the american Stage' az the NaahattaW
for iSeptC2nbcr
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
Advice to Young Voters.

Young imam, you will vote for the
first time next Novemb Der. / don want
to influence you. but candor cOmpels
me to say that if you do not heed my
words, and you contribute to the cleo
ton of any candidate but the one |
vote for, you may take my word the
country is ruined. | don't care what
you call yourself so long Us you vote
my ticket. There are good men in
every party, but more in my party
than in any other, and you should
choose impartially. Only | don't want
to see you walk up to the polls and
cast your first vote with the parity
That threw banana peels on the side
walk;
That composed 'Sweet Violets";
That struck William Patterson and
then hid itself from just vengeance in
4 cloud of anonymity;
That wrote Beautiful Snow"
That is the party of Sergt. Bates and
the Sweet Singer of Michigan;
That invented walking matches;
That slandered George Washington
by naming the pie after him;
That learns 10 play the violin with
the windows open;
That impaired the secret of selling
mugfuI of froth for a mugful of beer;
and
That told the policeman that some
body was being murdered in your house
when your sister-in-law was singing.
Just choose for yourself; but keep
away from the party that indorses the
above platform. Boston Transcript
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02

The street cars in the City of Mexico
are managed or novel system. A
letter in the San Francisco Bulletin
says: The entire system of street
cars throughout the Republic of Next
co is owned by one man, and he seems
to run them to suit his own fancy rath-
er than the convenience of the travel
ing public. Instead of one car at q
time leaving the terminus and allow
ing an interval between the next one,
three or four of the same route start off
at once, and there will be no more for
q half an hour. This allows time for
the track to be utilized between the
switches, and it is used for moving
furniture, hauling dirt, transporting
merchandise and conveying the dead
to the cemeteries. The latter is GER
tainly great convenience, and does
away entirely with the necessity for
hearses and their accompanying hacks.
The funeral car is appropriately fitted
up to receive the coffin, and the mourn
ers follow in passenger cars draped in
black"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
Finger-NaiIs and Characters.

Since the new science of reading
character by the handwriting has come
it is even said that the care taken of
the nails sffect the handwriting. The
long, alnond-shaped nail is a great
support to the middle finger, which
guides the pen. One can hardly mag
inc 4 pe'son with short stubby finger
nails, which are covered with skin,
writing tle long. graceful English hand
which sodeiights the recipient of the
note from u grand dame. 1t is said
that poets and people with imagiuatica
are apt to have long taper fingers amt
beautiful fnger-nails. They have It
handwriting in which the long up
strokes and dOwn-strokes cut into the
lines above and beneath them. The
heads of their capital letters are large.
The handwriting shows ardor and i'm
pulse. When it has markedly down
ward movement this handwriting
shows tendency to melancholy. An
aptitude for criticism is shown among
people who bite their nails. They are
cynical and severe, uncharitablc and
bitter. They write small, crampod
ands illcgibIe hand. However, there
may be good-natured critics, men with
versatility Of comprehension. They
would have small but well-shaped
nails, and their handwriting would be
somewhat angular, showing penetra-
ton and tinesse. The nails of
musician are, of course, to be observed,
although the piano sometimes Injuries
them. The great musicians have Il
sloping handwriting. There is, how
ever, an eccentricity peculiar to the
handwriting of executive musicians, rs
witnessed in that of Beethoven. The
tnger-nails of mathematicians are apt
to be square, not beautiful. The
handwriting of such persons shows a
quiet movement of the pen. The lines
are straight with the paper, the up
strokes and the down-strokes are short,
while the capitals are small and an
gular. Diplomacy has u long, supple
hand. and q long, beautifully kept,
slender fnger-nail. But the hand
writing of diplomatist is not apt
to be clear; it always look like q
snake gliding away. There are no
clear, gigantic capitals, like John
Hancock's, none of the fine curves
suggestive of generosity and expansion;
all IS compressed and impenetrable.
Certain .ntlexiDle natures express them
selves both by fnger-nails and by the
handwriting -both are blunt and de-
termined. The Chinese have such
long tinger-nails that one might almost
write with the ends of them. The
tenacity of the Chinese nail, which
does not break, shows that they have
more lime in their bones than we of a
different race. At one time, when
good Queen Anne bit her inger-nails,
it was the fashion for all the English
aristocracy to bite theirs; and in those
days the English finger-nail was not
what it is now. Fashion exerts n
powerful influence on man, savage or
civilized. The Botecudes Of Brazil and
the Hydalls of Queen Charlotte Is
land insert 4 wooden or ivory plug
under the lip of their women, causing
hideors deformity that resembles .
shelf oVerhanging the chin. The
fashionable women of to-day wear
hustle, which is almost rs deforming.-
Harper Bazar.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02
Courage.

Charles A. Dana married when he
was receiving s. per week for literary
work, said Capt. Gray, putting aside
a newspaper which contained picture
and biographical sketch of the great
journalist. by George. he must have
mad courage?"
"Not necessarily, " replied Mr. Bal
kins. Il was never regarded as imam
of extraordinary courage. yet | married
when | only had Sc in money and no
income at ALL"
Il should regard that very coura-
geous act"
NO, replied Mr.. Balkins, 'for you
see the girl | married was worth $780,
000 -14rkansaW IrdCe'er.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-10-02

Those who are furnishing their wea-
nons Tor prairie chickens will notice
that the avs regulating the killing OF
these birds in the several states are rs
follows: Open season in Oregon, June
10; wyoming. July Is; Idaho. Wash
ingion and Texas, August 1; Montana,
August 10; Minnesota, Missouri, Wis
consln. Illinois. Nebraska. Dakota and
Utah, August 10; Iowa, Indiana, Kan
sas and Nevada, September 1; Michi-
gan. October l. In Ontario and Mani
1oba the season opens September /.