davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
4 Erenchman's Peculiar Will.
New Orleans Picayune.

Courts are now and then called on
to decide upon the validity Of some
strange wills and testaments, but the
one Of a cotton spinner who has Just
died al Nalreas, IN the south of France,
is certainly entitled to rank with the
most original of such documents on
record in this or any other country.
The first clause of NJ. Henri Meynard's
will reads: 81 bequeath my estate,
at Valreas. to my mortal remains, "
and then he goes on 10 direct that the
coffin containing his body must be de
posted Ia tomb cut in a solid block
Of stone; cement is to be run into
the interstices and over the top, so
that the whole SHALL form one solid
mass A stonei is then to be cemented
on the top, after which this novel
funeral monument is TO be SET up in
the cupola of tEe house. The property
thus devised is, apart from the art
collections that il contains, worth
$40, 600, and it is thereafter to remain
untouched excepting for repairs, and
TO have as sole inhabitants, during
their life, the dogs, chickens, pigeons
and other pets OF which the testator
had 8 large assortment Of course
the heirs Of Maynard intend contest
ing the will, and they will probably
succeed In satisfying the court that It's
author was a mailman, notwithstaud.
nag the fact that he had wit enough
to amass handsome fol tune, carry on
successfully an extensive manufacture
ing esta blishment and serve credita,
bly, as q mem Der of the counsel genere]
Of his department.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27

Hungary has an insurance company
which pays married men from 100 to
500 forms in the event of the elope-
ment of their spouses.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
A TANNERS BOY

who came to LaAesborough to study
law-the germ Of great life. He as
sisted the lad IN obtaining a library
and thus inaug urated a friendship that
death could only sever. After twelve
years of practice, il the fall of 1880,
the young lawyer was elected to Con-
gress from the Eleventh COMPRESSION
al District Of Massachusetts,. When
George II. Briggs took his seat in
December, 1881, he was determined to
work, and he carried out his determin-
alton so well that his constituents
kept nina IN Congress twelve years.
During that time he did long and la
borlous service as the Chairman Of the
Committee Of the PostOfice and Post>
roads, and was both IN the committee
and n Mr.. Niles Office the advance Of
the reforms above alluded TO. In the
Twenty seventh Congress he crowned
his series Of reforms by inaugurating
a movement for reducing the rate of
postage to ten and five cents. The
House passed the bill, but the Senate
did not reach it, and it failed Of be-
coming a law until the following
year. Mr.. Briggs had passed mean-
while from Washington to Boston,
and Mr.. Shaw was full of admiration
for his friend, whose seven years as
Governor of Massachusetts, were
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
GOOD NEWS FOR THE BAY STATE

NH OCbuSOh CdHlS luhO HIS OIlcS.
accompanied by the printer of the
new stamps, q few minutes after Mr..
Shaw had arrived, on that August
morning. Sheets of the stamps were
laid before the Postmaster General,
who, after receipting for them, hand
ed them to his visitor to inspect. Mr.
Shaw returned them after hasty
glance; and then drawing out his wal
let he counted fifteen cents, with
which he purchased two of the stamps
the first two ever issued. The five.
cent stamp he kept as curiosity, and
the ten cent stamp he presented to
Governor Briggs as an appropriate
gift,
These two denomination Of stamps
remained IN use four years. In July,
1851, appeared a new series of 1 ana
3 cents, and soon after a subsequent
issue Of the additional denominations
of 5, 10, Is, "a, 30and 90cents. In
1861 this series was called IN By
Montgomery Blair, Lincoln's Post
master General, and q new series IS
sued. July 1, 1888 the first two cent
stamp appeared, and was 70 accom-
AOaaCe local postage Apfu L, 1000,
newspaper stamps of 5, 10, and 25
cents were issued, but fell into early
dlsuse. II March, 1859, J. 4 j.
Creswell, Grants Postmaster General
brought out q new series, but they
did not come into favor, and after two
months were superseded by q series
OF the denominations Of 1, 2, 3. 5, g.,
10, II, 80, and so cents. In 1873 the
repeal Of the Tracking privilege made
necessary the departmental stamps of
special design. They are as follows:
Executive, L, 2, 3, 6, and 10 cents;
State. i, 3 6, z, 10, IL, Is, "a. 80,
aud 80 cents, and 2, ), 10, and 90 dol
lars; Treasury. War, and Navy, each
1, 2, 8, 6, 8, 10, II, Is, "a, 80, and sc
cents; and
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
THE FIRST POSTAGE STAMPS.
The Thirty-eighth Anniversary of
Their Use-A History of the Fnven-
tion.

ddflIOIu 1liueS-
Thirty eight years ago the first post
age stamps were used III the United
States. For rs years postage had
besn collected entirely IN money, and
N all cases prepayment was optional
Good old john Hay wood, who In 1850
became the worthy master of posls''
at Boston, and the first postmaster in
America, employed chance convey
ance instead of postage, with "by the
kindness OF" some traveller as his
postal service; and nothing was
thought Of stamping until 1871,
though such men as Franklin, Bacne,
Pickering, and Kendall had been at
the head of the postoffice department.
and though the number of officers had
come TO be nearly $4,000. On the
25th Of March, 1910, John NJ Niles, OF
Hartford, became postmaster general,
and signalized his administration by
many reforms. He turned the wrong
side out Of his predecessors work, and
convinced his party and the president
that Amos Kendall was not such 8
great man as had been imagined. 1t
was necessary to cap all by a genuine
innovation, and he performed this by
suggesting the postage stamp. The
suggestion was received with ridicule,
and Mr.. Niles soon afterward retired.
His successor, Charles 4. Wickliffe,
put the department into the ancient
rats again, and when Cave Johnson
assumed the portfolio on the 5th OF
March, 1916, he found it
AN HERCULEAN TASK
to reinstate the reform measures OF
Mr.. Niles. During Wickliffe's ad-
ministration the number of postofices
had increased by only sos, but John
son saw in his term of office 4 237
offices added to the rolls, and witness.
ed other tokens Of prosperity. Among
the measures Of Mr. Niles that he
adopted was the postage stamp idea.
The president had converted his cost
master general from opposing tay re
IductiOn OF postage to a championship
Of the lowest paying rates, and John
son garnished his conversion with
fathering the suggestion originated
SIX years before. The matter took
form as a bill before congress,
agd though it Was quite the fashion tc
oppose any cabiaeC suggestions, the
act authorizing the issue Of stamps o.
and 10 cent denominations was pass
ed and approved March 8. 1847. The
date Of the issue was appointed as
July 1, but there was q delay In the
contractors work, and the time ran
over a month.
On the 9th day Of August, soon after
toe opening Of the postmaster general:
office for the day, an old gentleman
called to see Mr.. Johnson on business
The gentleman was the Hon. Henry
Shaw, q New Yorker, who was not 8
stranger IN Washington in those
days, and whose home was in Lar IS
borough. Mass. He was a Berkshir,
county magnate, 81 politician of rs
mean qualifications, and the father o
the well-known Henry Shaw, Jr
Jos Billings. Twenty three year
before Mr.. Shaw had recognized in ;
youth Of II
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27

The Marquis of Lorne, known to al
most every body, of course, as one of
the sons>ln law of the British Queen,
dips his private pen into an INK bot
tie made out of the hoof of Lord
Gives Crimean charger.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27

Social Philosopher David Ewing
has finally solved the mystery of the
crazy quilt Gas the final attempt of the
feminine heart to express its love of
variety"
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
Abduction of Two Boys.

SYRACUSE, N V, May 23 Rev Thomas
O'Flaherty, a Catholic Clergyman living
near here and well known throughout
central New York, reported TO the police
Thur. day that bis two nephewS,
Vincent and Fred 0'Flaherty,
aged 16 and T. had mysteriously
disappeared. They left note in their room
saying that they had gone away and and
would receive good care. Mr.. OFlaherty
thinks the note is a forgery. He
claims to have been subjected for some
years to petty prosecutions by his Protestant
neighbors and he believes that his nephews
have been abducted by his enemies The
matter arouses good deal of interest
1t is said that the two boys were seen to
leave train here at 10 a. m, on Tuesday,
with a stranger Father OFlaherty is al
most frantic, and is under the impression
that both have been murdered. The police
are working on the ca.e Father OFlaherty
offers q reward of S5J0 for any informa
tion leading to the discovery of the boys.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
Cancer Cured |

Mrs. Olive Hartman, an old resident of Walton
county, and lady of culture and prominence, has
this to say of the treatment of cancer with swifs
SPECIFIC:
Over fifteen years ago a cancer made its appear
ance on my face. II was treated with pasters.
and the core come out. The place healed up after
some time, and seemingly my face was well.
However in few years il returned again with more
violence than ever. 1t gave me great deal Of
pain. The former remedy seemed TO do it no
good. knowing the disease 10 run in the family,
having had one sister die with cancer | became
seriously apprehensive of my condition. Ii con-
tinued to increase in size and yirulence. almost
gave up all hope of ever been cured The ply
sicians advised the use of the knife and caustc.
This was more than could hear, and refused 10
have 1t operated upon in that way. All other
remedies were used, but the cancer continued 10
grow worse. The pain was excruciatng, and my
life was burden. In this extremity, my son, DR.,
Hardman. recommended me TO try Swft's Spe.
cic. Ii was the last resort, but was so pTeju-
diced against the use of patent medicines, and
especially this one, that ! hesitated some time.
AT last gave my consent, not believing there was
any virtue in il. The first bottle only increased
the size of the sore and the discharge from it,
and hence did not inspire me with any hope On
taking the second bottle there were signs of i'm
provement, and my faith strengthened just IN
proportion. | used the Specific as wash in the
treatment of my cancer with remarkable success.
spunged the sore with the medicine diluted with
little water. Ii softened the scab, cooled the
face and relieved the itching sensation. The spot
on my face began TO decrease, as well as the dis
charge, and hope sprang up in my heart Could
it be, asked myself, that was at last TO be re-
lieved of this diseased 1t has given me many
dark hours in the past that the idea of being well
again almost overpowered me. There was con-
test between hope and fear for long time. Ii
was long night of weeping, but joy came with
the morning. There is nothing left TO mark the
place but small scar, and feel that il is impos-
sbe for me 10 express my gratitude for this great
deliverance. 1t is wonderful medicine.
Mrs OLIVE HARDMAN, Monroe, Ga.
Jan. 9, 1885.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
Presbyterian General Assembly.

CINCINNATI, May % AT the morning
session of the Presbyterian assembly, the
standing committees were announced. Rev.
II. E. Niles. of New York, presented a
report ON ministerial support, which was
laid over for discussion. Dr. Butler, of
Brooklyn, presented special report of the
committee on,perioiicals Considerable sem
sation was produced by the offering of a
resolution by Judge Drake, of Philadelphia,
declaring the Roman Catholic church apes
talized, its priesthood usurpers, and its bap-
tism invalid. He spoke in favor of his
resolution. Replies were made by Drs.
Wells and Butler, of Brooklyn, opposing the
spirit of the resolution, and Directing to its
consideration now when a judicial case is
pending involving the same matter. The
resolution was laid on the table for the
time
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
THAT SALUTE FOR LOGAN.
Cannon Firing at the Capital That II
Causing Much Trouble.

Cannon Firing at the Capital That II
Causing Much Trouble.
WASHINGTON Cry, May 90 Lieut. Guy,
who has been investigating the firing of the
Logan salute, which occurred in the White
House grounds on Wednesday morning be
tween and O'clock has sworn out war
rants for the arrest of Alfred p. Cunning
ham and William Lee. An officer was sent
to serve the warrants, but was unable tc
find Mr.. Cunningham
The Post says: Cunningham has beer
heard to say, since the cannonading. that he
fired the salute close to the White House OF
purpose to arouse the president and let hin
know that Logan.s election meant Repub
lican success in 1855"
The policeman on the beat says that he wen
up to the group around the cannon and
asked the reason for the firing "We art
doing this under orders, was Cunningham!
reply, and Lieut. Guy says that the Officer
did not ask for the exhibition of any permit
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23

New York. May % Hungry Joe, the
notorious bunko man. was arrested late
Thursday night, charged with having
snatched 50 pounds sterling in Bank of Eng.
land notes from Joseph Ramsden, wealthy
Manchester tourist, on Moniay, while en-
gagged in a game of cards. 1t is
thought by the police that joss mistake, in
committing a common robbery instead of
sticking to his profitable trade OF
confidence man will land him in Sing
Sing. Though frequently arrested before,
it has always been found impossible to sub
ject him to any punishment more severe
than q moderate fine
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
Races at Louisville.

LOUISVILLE, KY, May % The race=
Friday resulted as follows: First race, ~
miles, Taxgatherer first Ultimatum second,
Leman third; time, 200 Second
race, l-l6 miles; Whizig first, Vo-
lanthe second, Hszaras third; time; 1:531S
Third race, Charley Lucas and Harrigan
dead heat for the first. place. Father John
third; time, 80. Fourth race, p Line
first, Judge Jackson second, Aurelian third
TINA k.o1
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
Jnstns sohwah,s JnrY.

New YORK, May % The jury in the case
of Justus Schwab, indicted for riot, failed
to agree. The prisoner was released on bail
and Thursday night his socialistic compan-
ions gave him reception in his little beer
saloon. 1t is said there were eleven obsti.
nate men on the jury who wanted to convict
the notorious Anarchist
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
League Base BAN Games,

CHICAGO, May 23-League base ball
games were played as follows Friday: At
Philadelphia Philadelphia IL, st Louis L;
at New York-New York 9, Buffalo A. at
Providence--P Providence 0, Chicago 2; at
Boston Boston II, Detroit l.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
The Soldiers and the Administration.

WASHINGTON CITY. May 2S "A delega-
ton of soldiers called uIon the president
and Secretary Manning and asked that
Union soldiers be given the preference
in all places where they were
competent The president and Man
ming both assented to the principle, but the
latter remarked that there were many sol
diers who had not been recognized although
| they bore wounds received in the country'S
| a
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23

New YORK, May 23.-Louis Francois,
the Frenchman accused Of strangling his
wife Tuesday night, was formally arraigned
at Jefferson Market police station Friday
He pleaded not guilty to the charge Of muir
der, and the magistrate committed him for
trial. bail being refused. He sticks to his
assertion that the woman committed sui
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
Masters Sale.
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Rock Island County. pc.


lnthe Circuit Court-In Charcery.
W. H, Webb and Charles 7. Webb VS.. W. Fred
Zimmerman orclosure-Generai No. 1854.
Notice is hereby given that by virtue Of decree
Of said court, entered in the above entitled cause.
on the 18th day Of February, A. d., 1885 l shall,
on Saturday, the 30th day of May, A. ID. 1885. at
the hour Of one O'Clock in the afternoon. at the
north door Of the court house, in said county of
Rock Island, to satisfy said Decree sell at public
vendue to the highest and best bidder for cash
in hand those certain parcels OF land situated in
the county of Rock Island and state of Illinois,
known and described as follows, to-wit.
Lots thirty-one t31) and thirty-two (32) in
Webb's subdivision Of out-lot twelve (12) in the
east half (eH) of the southeast quarter (seL) of
section three (3) in twp. II, range2, west Of the
4th P. NJ.
Dated at Rock Island, Illinois, this 24th day Of
April, A. d. 1855.
HENRY CURTIS,
Master in Chancery, Rock Island county, Ill
PARKS PLEAsAsTs, Complt's Sol'r..
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23

know there was ivory in the interior until
he met Stanley's men, and now has raised
large army and proceeded to
the ivory country. His men are
well armed with modern weapons. Arawina
station has Deem sacked and destroyed The
negroes who inhabited it fed in panic before
the attack Tipu Tab has proclaimed the
Congo as territory belonging to the sultan
of Zanzibar, and he has announced
his intention to suppress all opposl-
ton TO this claim. The country
around Lake Tanganyika is at present the
center of the movement started by Iipu
Tab, but it is thought that all the Moham-
medan race living in the belt of territory
running thence in both directions across
the continent will be seizsd with the fanati'
cism which promises such wealth ana power
for them.
italian Troops Cooped Up In Massowah.
ROME, May 3-The ministry has received
news that Abyssinian forces have surrounded
the Italian garrison on all the land sides OF
Massowah. The government has decided to
disnatch re -anforcamantS Mt s,nce
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23

Swift's Specific is entirely vegetable, and seems
to cure cancers by forcing out the impurities from
the blood.
Treatise on Blood and Skin Diseases mailed free
THE SWIFT SPECIFIC Co,
Drawer g. Atlanta, Ga.
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
pOUNDMAKER WEAkENS.
The Indian Chief "AII Broke Up Owe,
Rieis Canture,

The Indian Chief "AH Broke Up Over
Riel's Capture.
BATTLEFoRD, May % -Poundmaker sent
in flag of truce Thursday night along with
the captured teamsters two women AMI a
priest to ask upon what terms he would be
allowed to surrender. Baptiste Fontaine,
the scout, supposed to have been killed a
fortnight ago, while on scouting expedition
under Constable Ross, came in with the re-
leased prisoners, He says Poundmaker was
badly broken up Thursday on hearing Of
Riels surrender. The Indians were terribly
frightened and piled their rifles in tepee
and hoisted an Old British flag which they
had captured somewhere. They then held a
big council and decided upon sending in the
letter asking for terms of surrender There
is great rejoicing here over Poundmaker'S
collapse
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23

WASHINGTON CITY, May 2&-Postmaster
General Villas has directed that, whenever
any postmaster of the fourth class shall
have remained in Office for five years from
the date of the taking effsct of his last Off
cial bond, he shall execute a new bond, in
the manner and with sureties as required by
law, upon notice from the department
A. G. Sharp, chief postoffice inspector, has
directed his assistants that, in the future,
| where it is discovered by an inspector that
| any postmaster or other employee of the
postal department has violated the
| law the facts must at once be trans
mitted to the United States dis.
trict attorney for the district in
which the offense may be committed, with
a view to the immediate prosecution of the
offender, and in all cases the inspector
| shall be guided by the advice Of
| the district attorney. The chief inspector,
in a circular letter, on the subject
added: "PoStmasters and others entrusted
with the moneys of the department. know
| Tor if they do not they are unfit to hold any
positionl that to use the department funds
for private purposes, is, under any circum-
| stances, q criminal otfense."
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
The Locust Plague at Hand.

MARSHALL, Ills, May e8--Tho locust
plague will probably visit this section. In
blowing several gardens the little ravagers
were turned out Of the ground by countless
thousands and In an almost FEATURED state
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-23
WAR-CLoUDS LOWERING AGAIN.
Russia and England Fail to Harmonize-
The Pepideh Incident Redfyiyus

Russia and England Fail to Harmonize-
The Penjdeh Incident Redivivus.
LONDON, May 23-Preparations for war
are being hurried forward with renewed
energy in England, Russia, India, and At
ghanistan. There appear to lie a fatal
hitch in the negotiations; and tbs opinion is
again gaining ground that the eastern ques
ton can be settled only by the word. at
is impossible to deny" says The
Times shat the prevalent feel
ing of anxiety and uncertainty is still grow
ing From the scanty information given by
the ministers. it is evident that we are nc
nearer to a satisfactory settlement than we
were at the beginning Of the month There
are no signs of an advance in the negotia
tions, but, on the contrary, there are omi
nous evidences Of standstill"
The correspondence which took place be-
tween Col. Zakrejewski, of Gen. Komaroff':
staff, and Capt Yates Of Gen Sir
Peter Lumsden's staff, respecting the
Afghan situation at the time
of the Penjdeh incident, is nov
made public. 1t shows among other things
that on the same day that Col Zakrejewsk
accepted Capt. Yates invitation to cola
ton, at which the situation Of the opposiue
outposts was to be discussed, Gen Komarofi
sent an ultimatum to Naib Salar, the com.
mander of the Afghan forces. This ordered
Naib Salar to withdraw all his troop.
TO the right bank of the Kushk river The
ultimatum concluded with these words.
"There will be neither negotiations nor ex.
plantations on the subject. You are too in,
telligent and sharp-sighted to compel me to
see to the fulfillment of this demand" Nait
Salar replied that he had consulted with
Capt Yate and was bound to obey
the amer Gen. Komarof rejoined, in
sisting that complaisan with the terms OF
bis ultimatum was necessary to preserve
peace. He warned Naib Salar against
needing the empty counsels of others
and concluded thus: "The choice be
tween friendship and enmity rest with you
After the battle of Penjdeh, which fol
lowed this intercourse between Gen
Komaraff and Naib Sala, Capt Yate wrott
to Col Zakrejewski soliciting protection and
offering the services of an English doctor
War in the Congo Country.
PARIS, May 24--The French Society &c
ographic has received news from the Upper
Congo that the large Mahommedan popula
ton inhabiting that region, excited proba
bly, by storie, of Ell Mahdi's success, have
resolved to assert their claims to the center
of Africa The immediate occasion Of this
extraordinary movement is said to have
been the conduct of one of Henry NJ Stan
''-'~ '''e-v expeditions Tipu Taib did MOI