davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17
Estimating Distances.
st. Louis Gl0be-Democrat.

It constantly happens that men de-
tached from the main body of aa
army are called upon to determine for
ject to be fired at. Experience has
proved that soldiers, by continued
practice, may learn to estimate dis
tances up to 600 or 800 yards with
considerable accuracy by simple rap
i'd observation. Every soldier is sup
posed to have good eyesight; he.
therefore, after little practice in
sight estimating, learns the follow
ing facts:
at thirty yards the white of mans
eye is plainly seen, and the eyes them
selves up to eighty yards.
At 100 yards all parts Of the body
are seen distinctly, slight movements
are perceptlble, and the minute de-
tails of the uniforms can be disting~
lished.
At $50 yards the brass buttons on
the blouse can still be separately dis
tinguished.
At 200 yards the outlines of the
face are confused, and the rows of
brass buttons look like yellow stripes.
At 800 yards the buttons are no
longer visible.
At 400 yards the face is a mere dot,
but movements of legs and arms are
distinct
At 800 yards details can no longer
be distinguished, though the files of a
squad, if the light be strong, can be
counted.
At SEQ yards the men in a squad
can not always be counted, nor their
individual movements distinguished.
At 1000 yards q line of men simply
resembles broad belt; the direction
Of their march can, however, readily
be determined.
At 1000 yards infantry can be dis
tinguished from cavalry.
At2,000 yards mounted man looks
like mere speck Or dot.
The estimating drills are first con-
Quoted on smooth, level country, and
afterward on rough, broken ground.
The above drills are supplemented
a little later in the season by skirmlsh
practice, when the soldiers are adj
vanced or retreated on the run, before
line Of targets the size of men lying
down, kneeling and standing, when
they load and fire at the sound of
bugle, depending entirely upon their
own judgement as 10 what distance
they happen to be from the object fir
ed at The estimating distance drills
are kept up for two months, when
the soldier is practiced indoors at
aiming, pointing and pulling the trig-
ger.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17
ANINVENTOR'S TRIALS.
A Story Of Suffering that Ended in
Success,
n. Y. Herald.


Judge Nixon, in the United States
court at Trenton, has delivered an in~
teresting decision IN the suit against
E. r. Crofut for alleged infringement
of patent granted to William Hugh
Pierson for an improved plastic
compound" made from vegetable
fbers. The defense was that Pierson
was not the original inventor, the
patent having been anticipated by
English letters granted to Alexander
Parker in 1856, and also that the in>
ventien was abandoned to the public.
In his opinion Judge Nixon says the
testimony is explicit that as early as
the year 1850 Pierson began to devote
his time to the production of the COM
pound. He was young physician,
practicing Ia Cincinnati, and IN 1856
moved to Orange n. J. His income
was very small, and at times he was
reduced to great straits. He lived in
one room, and greater portion of the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17
SAN UNKNOWN MAN, RESPECT
ABLY DRESSED

BY THE LATE HELEN HUNT JACKSON Oh. H.
n unknown man, respectfully dressed
That was all the record said;
Wondering pity might guess {;
One thing was sure, the MAJ IS dead.
And dead because he'd no heart to live;
His courage had faltered and failed the test;
How little the all we now can give,
A nameless SOD to cover his breast?
Respectfully dressed, the thoughtless road
The sentence over, and idly say,
what was it then, since it was not need
Which made him thus fling his life away
Respectfully dressed!n How little they know
Who never have been for money pressed,
What it costs respectable poor to go,
Day after day, respectfully dressed"
The beggars on sidewalks suffer less;
They herd all together, clan and clan;
Alike and equal in Indebtedness,
No room for pride between man and man.
Nothing to lose by rags or by dirt,
More often something is gained instead;
Nothing to fear but bodily hurt,
Nothing to hope for save daily bread.
But respectable poor have all to lose,
For the world to know, means loss and shame
They'd rather die, if they had to choose:
They cling as for life, to place and name.
Cling and pretend and conceal. and hide:
Never an hour but its terror bears;
Terror which sinks like guilt to one side,
And often guiltier countenance wears.
Respectfully dressed to the last, ay, last!
Last dollar, last crust last proud pulse beat;
Starved body, starved soul, hope dead and past
What wonder that any death looks sweet!
IAN unknown man, respectfully dressed
That was all that the record said,
When will the question let us rest,
Is it fault of ours, that the man was dead?
independent.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17
A Story Of Two Rats.

A correspondent of Land and Wat
er tells a story of two white rats
which he had adopted as pets The
male was qaiet, commonplace sort
Of rat, acquaintance with whom af>
forded few Incidents of particular in
terest. The female was great coquet-
tie, and regular domestic tyrant, ex-
ercising absolute control of her spouse
and household. Always pleased with
the gift of some dainty, she was traps
turously delighted" if allowed to think
she had stolen it. If the master would
have a piece Of sugar on the table,
she would creep up and take it, re-
treating behind a book to devour it,
as she hoped, unobserved. She was q
relentless enemy to mice; and when
one of these animals was put into her
cage, ''she flew at it and slew it at
q single bite, leaving it instantly, as a
well trained terrier does the rat it has
killed. The first occasion Of Anna
Maria having little ones was quite an
event. when I went to the
box, as usual, to give my little rodents
D scrap Of whatever [ could find Au-
gustus Che male) was sitting out in
the cold and looking terribly sheep,
jsh. On opening the sleeping COM
parEment there was Anna Maria, with
something like smile upon her
shrewlsh little countenanee, keeping
watch and ward over nine ridiculous
ly naked little offspring. On these &C.
caslons Augustus was completely eff
faced. He shirked the slightest res
possibility; and [ always had to make
him up separate bed, for sleep with
his children he would not If by
chance he was forced to walk among
them, he did so with an anxiety that
would have done credit to an elephant
stepping between eggs. AS they grew
UP, assumed hair, and began to run
about, he would allow them to take
liberties with him, and even rob him
of tidbits" The master thought
the hay the naked little fello WIS were
lying upon to rough for the ir tender
skins and put wadding in its place.
but, With a sheer of con tempt for
the stupidity of men In such matters,
Anna Maria promptly cast out the
wadding and dumped her progeny up
on the hay again. In washing them,
''she would roll them over and over
with her paws, and lick them till the
sparks flew, and they would utter
plaintive little squeaks" But they
throve splendidly. Every night
this graceful couple gamboled about
my table while I read or wrote. It
was a delight to me to watch them
at their toilet or eating the food which
they hell in their delicate little paws
When tired of play, they would
Chamber up to my shoulder and slumb-
er, huddled togetGer like two love
Birds" Anna Maria at last died of a
cold, and her place was supplied by a
new female, whose chief peculiarly
was that as soon as she d a family
she would bite off her babies heads. +"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17
Being Neighborly at The Table

The dinner has always been the
chef meal OF the day-most elaborate
most subs tantial, most ceremonious
The one best excuse for tne late hours
OF fashion is that, business being over.
and the days perplexities and labors
shut away behind in the grim down
town office, the husband and brothers
OF the family can deliver themselves
freely to the comforts and pleasures of
the household festival, making it
social reunion of no little impo.tance.
Where this is really done it is warrant
enough, III cities at least, with all the
complicated claims of modern life. for
the dlnner hour is apt to be the onlv
time at which the whole family as.
semoles. and, but for that. its mems
oers might grow up as distant ac.
qu%lntances. Any concession of nat
ural order is better than that, and the
one thing that should be invariably
insisted upon is absolute promptness
ana regularity at this meal In truth.
IL is a great mistake not to have this
discipline at all meals; and children
should be taught that they can show
30 greater and no more selfish dis
courtesy than In either keeping others
waiting to sit down, or if this cere-
monlousness is excluded, in breaking
the harmony and propriety that good
manners demand, by being late at
table. Respectful, considerable mans
ners are almost out of vogue, and the
children of to-day ride rough-s hod
over the properties in a manner to
make their great grandparents believe
that there Is no saving grace left i'm
the world, If their Mortified shades
ever revisit their accustomed earthly
walks, The old-time stiffness and
formality of manner may have had it's
absurdlties, but there is no sweeter
charm IN life than the habit of consids
crate regard for the common comfort
and regularity of home-the thought
full Difference to others, the affections
ate dependence upon one another. If
this spirit is cultivated, the family
unity, with all It's tender and helpful
relations, is assured, and the home
becomes the real center and influence
OF the life. There is no better or surer
test of this than the manners at the
table. And, therefore, it is a great
loss to the best training and camera
derie when its arrangements are so
formed as to leave altogether to the
waitress the duty of attending to the
wants of the company. To keep a
watchful eye upon the needs of others,
to invite them with gentle courtesy to
partake of what they may lack in their
supply of the different dishes, will
add a gracious spirit of unselfishness
and harmony for which nothing else
gives opportunity. No collection of
dainty dishes, no extent of formal
elegance of arrangement, will give the
heart warmth and delight of simple.
unobtrusive, kindly attention from
ones neighbors at the table.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17

time ON bread and water. Durlnp alt
this time he constantly devoted ali the
money he could spare from his act,1aI
hvi0g necessities to the purchase OF
materials for carrying on his exseri-
ments, which were conducted in q
corn CRIB In Orange. His work at the
Invention and practice of medicine
was too much for his strength. and
ne suffered greatly from the severe
strain. The application for letters
patent as made IN 1850, but was re-
fused. knfeebled by overwork ne
was Frustrated by his disappointment.
and his mind became npbalonood'
In rep. 1861, he was sent 10 an insane
asylum, where he remained until the
following September. In the meane
tlme the patent was granted. In CON
cluslon Judge Nixon saws.
mo question has been raised nv tho
defendants ia reference to the trntb Of
the patentees testimony. and it clear
II reveals the fact that this invention
was practically complete some wears
oefere the date of the selling of the
English patent 10 Parkes. I am fur.
tner Oh the opinion that the defen~
oants nave not succeeded in showing
any acts Or conduct on the part of the
patentee which would Justify the
court la holding that the invention
was abandoned. Continued poverty.
sickness, and mental alienation are
always regarded as sufficient excuse
Tor delay, and not fact or circum-
stance has been brought into the ease
saowing any intention of abandon
ment. A DEGREES must be entered Tor
the complaint, with COSTS"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17

According to correspondent of
The Baltimore Sun, an old hotel pro-
proprietor says no greater humbug ex-
lists in hotel keeping than the "bridal
chamber" business, and so far as he is
concerned he proposes to abolish all
such arrangements for the future. He
says bridal couples will take just
what you give them, and will submit
to almost anything without mur.
mur. They are TOO much occupied
with themselves To take any note
of their surroundings. It is the peo-
pie, he says, who have been married
long enough to get over the honey
moon, and ia the intervals of fussing
with themselves fuss with everyone
around, who give the hotel-keepers
trouble,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17
Making Ii Cooler.
Merchant Traveller,

On one of the days of the late hot
spell Johnson's wife saw him out in
the stable lot with shotgun blazing
away at his thermometer, which he
had hung up on the limb of peach
tree
"Good gracious ne," she screamed,
what are you doing out there, Mr..
Johnson?"
go back in the shade" he shout
ed ia reply. Its none of your busi>
ness. I'm trying to bring the blamed
Thermometer down"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17

4 man went into the country last
Sunday for a walk. He carried his
overcoat on his arna, but, finding IT
burdensome, hung it on the fence.
Taxing q card from his pocket he
wrote: DO not touch this coat; in
fected with smallpox" He came
back two hours later and found the
card, upon which was written, under
meath the warning: Thanks for the
coat; I've had the smallpox"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-17

Elizabeth Hickman, of Xenia, ILL.,,
has a son seventy-four years old, who
is great-grandfather.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19

The great occupation of the people
is catching fowl From March to Nov
ember the island is covered with sea
fowl, and catching these birds is the
simple Industry. Multitudes OF solan
geese cover the rocks; there are my
rlads of gulls, Northern divers, stormy
petrels, black solemn cormorants and
simple guile In OTIS, and indeed almost
every kinds of sea bird. The difficult
work of climbing about the rocks
catching the birds is engaged in by
both men and women. Enormus
numbers of fowls are sent off every
year. There is a great deal made out
of feathers.
Referring to this subject, DR.. Mac
Culloch, in his account of the island,
says: "The air is fun of the feathers
ed animals, the sea is covered with
them, and The inhabitants lcok as if
they had been tarred and feathered,
for their hair is full of feathers, and
their clothes are covered with feath-
ers. The women look like feathered
Murcarles, for their shoes are made of
gannets skin. Everything smells of
feathers
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19
A DFuegtst,s story.

VI Is3ae C. C 1apmap, Druggist, New bucg. \
". writes ~: II have for the past ten ye-r
id several gross OF DR.. WILLIAM uALl.' :
ga SAd FSR THE LUNGS. l can say Of
49, cannot say of any other medicine Ihave
eeVvr beard customer speak OF 1t but to praise
- virtues IN the highest manner, have recon-
ia 'tded 1t in a great many cases of Whoopiug
Coash, with the happiest egects / have used 1t
Ia nv oWo family for many years; 10 fact, al
ways have bottle in the medicine closet ready
Tor use 4"
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19

When you visit or leave New York City, save
Baggage ExpreSsage and $500 Carriage hire, and
stop at the Grand Union Hotel opposite
Grand Central Depot
w Elegant rooms, fitted up at a Cost OF one
million dollars, 81 90 and upwards per day. Euro
pean Plan. Elevators Restaurant supplied with
the best Horse cars stages and elevated railroad
70 all depots Families can live better for less
money at the Grand Union Hotel than at any other
tirst-class hotel in the city.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19

An anxious pair of clippers, in their
search for parson to complete their
union, went to a cemetery where a
funeral was In progress, seized the
minister the moment the services were
concluded, and, leading him away a
short distance, were married on the
spot.
Mr.. Uline. manager of the Telephone
Exchange in Albany, N. Y, made
very successful tests with a long>dis-
tance tran Imitter on Sunday. He
talked to Buffalo by way OF Newburg,
about 450. He thinks he could be
heard in Chicago if ne could get free
wire.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19
They dig potatoes by steam now
tossing out 500 barrels day.

\ have been a sufferer two years from catarrh
or cold in the head, having distressing pain over
my eyes. Gradually the disease worked down
upon my lungs my left ear was almost deaf, my
voice was failing me. l procured one bottle OF
Ely's Cream Balm and within five days my hear
ing was restored, the pain ceased over my eyes
mended It 10 sorue of my friends One of them
sent for bottle He told me that half of IL cured
him. My advice is to those suffering with catarrh
or cold in the head not TO delay but try Ely IS
Cream Balm, as il is a positive cure john H.
VansaNt Sandy Hook, Elicit Co, Ky.
An English silver penny OF modern
date is worth 80 cents.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19
Ii Isa Raef

we'll established that consumption n attended 10
in its first stages can be cured. There X, how
ever, no true and rational way 10 cure this dis
ease, which Is really scrofulous liberation Of the
lungs, except through purifying the blood. Keep
the liver In perfect order and pure blood Will be
the result. DR.. Pierce's Golden Medical Dis
covery,m purely vegetable compound does all
this and more: while II purihes the blood 1t also
builds up the system, strengthening II against fu
ture attacks IF disease Ask for Dir. Pierce's
Golden Medical Discovery" Take no other.
OF druggists.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19

FoR DYSPEPSIA, INDIGESTION, depression OF
spirits and general debility In their various forms
also, as a preventive against fever and ague, and
other intermittent fevers, the "Ferro-P hosphora.
ted Elixir OF Calisaya," made by Caswell, Haz-
ard & Co. of New York, and sold by all druggists
is the best tonic and for patients recovering from
fever or other sickness ID has no equal,
months treatment for SOC. Piso's Remedy
for Catarrh Sold nv druggists
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19

have much difficulty liz swallowing the huge, old.
fashioned pill, but anyone can take DR.. Pierce s
Pleasant Purgative Pellets" which are compos-
ed of highly concentrated vegetable extracts
For diseases of the liver and stomach sick and
bilious headache, etc they have no equal. Their
operation is attended with no discomfort what.
ever. They are sugar coated and put up in glass
viqiq
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19
True and False MOdesty.
St Paul Globe.

Nothing so becomes man or woman
as modesLy. But there is sometimes
a mock or false modesty which is as
bad in its effects as the lack of modes
ty. When it comes to practical
question concerning so important a
matter as the health of our children,
there is no sort of excuse for permit
ting ourselves TO be betrayed by a
false sentiment into an exclusion OF
knowledge from our own minds, or
from the public, which will lead to
better results. In the first place, repu-
table newspapers can always be re-
lied on to discriminate wisely in re-
gard TO the kind of matter which is to
be published in their papers. They
know the tastes and sensibilities OF
their patrons and know how to re-
spect them. In the next place, there
is a false sentiment which too FREE
quently governs parents in the mat
ter of rearing and educating their
children. The physical training of
the child is of just as vital importance
as IT'D mental education, In fact the
two should go hand in hand. There
are rlany things which the child
ought 10 know about itself. and which
tke parent fails to communicate, be-
cause of the false idea that II is wrong
to talk to child about such things.
How often il is that children are per-
mitted to remain in absolute ignor
ance of their physical organism until
that very ignorance IS the cause of the
child exposing itself to dangers which
result in premature death, and which
could have been avoided if the parent
had taken the pains to explain to the
little one the mysteries of its being.
How often does it occur that when
questioned by their children respect,
ing matters which so shock this false
modesty of parents that they altogeth-
evaae their queries or give them a
direct falsehood for an answer, and
leave the innocent little things TO go
out into the streets where from the
arabs and the slums, they learn Sc.
crets which ought to have been learn.
ed at the parents knee. We cannot
be too careful in instilling virtue and
right action into the hearts and souls
of our children, nor can we be too
vigilant in impressing upon their
young minds lessons of chastity. But
in this endeavor we should not be be-
trayed into concealing from them
facts which are absolutely essential TO
a healthy development of their
physical natures. There is nothing
immodest in making public unerring
truths which bear directly upon the
training and education of the little
ones who are given to us "a heritage
from the Lord, ard who are the olive
branches around about our tables"
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19
Very Poor RconamY.

Some people make business Of cheating
themselves. either by eating very mean aud
cheap TODD, or else by eating too Smau guam
tity OF foo1 food. Ehherway IS as bad policy as
il Won Il be 10 buy comm Ia toad OF a SUIT OF
good otheS, just because The coffin would cost
,ess. Poor diet means impoverished blood. a. d
that means misery. Browns Iron Bitters enriches
the blood, gives II the iron 1t needs and tones up
the whole system. Cures dyspepsia, indigest on,
eakness malaria, etc
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-11-19


SOME experiments lately made in an
English coal mine, relating to temper
allure and moisture at different sea-
sons, show some interesting facts.
The hydrometer was placed as nearly
as possible eeuidistant from roof,
sides and floor, and the highest and
lowest temperatures observed were.
in summer, So and in winter, 64
60. The greatest and smallest amount
of moisture in cubic foot of air from
the first working place to the return
air was, in summer, Ill grams 3f
and in winter. 8 So grains 49, The
observations showed now quickly and
readily the air assumed the tempera>
ture of the surrounding strata, which
was of course, independent of surface
temperature, and that the difference
between the quality of vapor in s
cubic foot Of air on the surface and
ia the return air was greater the lower
the temperature was on the surface.
The colder the air the less moisture it
contained, and its absorbing power for
moisture, and consequently its drying
power, increased the hotter it became.
A San Francisco man has favorite
cat which sits at the dinner table and
eats fish from a plate, using its paws
in lieu Of fork or knife. Sometimes
the man gives the cat a piece of fish
from his own plate. One day recently
the cat was absent when the dinner
bell RAM, but he soon came bounding
in and sprang upon mis- chair with
two mice in his mouth, one of which
ne dropped into his own plate and the
other into that of his master, thus di
viding his dinner as had been done
with him.