davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
Couldn't Work for a Chinaman.
Portland Oregonian

A day or two since an advertisement
appeared in a city paper for a girl to
do homework in a small family. A
girl applied for the situation, and after
being informed as to the number of
persons in the family, the work she
would be expected to do, etc, express
ed herself as satisfied with the situa-
ton and willing to go to work.
'Perhaps," said the lady of the
house, "you may not be satisfied with
my husband.
'Why, what is the matter with
him?' asked the girl.
HE is a Chinaman," was the re-
ply.
The girl did not stop to think twice
over the matter, but left at once. She
could not work for Chinaman, even
if he had white wife and the place
was an easy one. She would have
been disgraced with her associates.
This seems hard on the servant girl
when lawyers and doctors work fo1
Cinnamon, and when any kind OF
business people are ready to serve
Cinnamon ia their line with the
same alacrlty they do white people.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
A Town of Mrs.

A stranger came into the little town
of Bartlett not long since. Standing
on the platform he began to look
around and inquire ABOUT the place,
who lived in it, etc. First pointing
over TO cottage in a grove opposite
the depot, he said:
''Who lives there2"
Answer: 'Mrs. Brooks"
"And," said he, who lives in that
house down the railroad?'
Answer: Mrs. Wright"
"And who lives in that house be~
yond this church,"
Answer: s'Mrs. Cochran"
And who in the large house upon
the hill?'
Mrs. Miller"
''And in this house up this ways"
Mrs Barteau."
And now will you tell me who
lives up this street still further over
the hill?"
Answer: Mrs. Crenshaw, Mrs.
Means and others"
Great heavensW he exclaimed,
chow many widowsr' This must be
a good place to stop"
mo, ao;" replied this respondent,
"those women all have husbands"
The stranger walked off . little
with puzzled air, then he turned and
said:
''Ah. ha, I see. But can you tell
me what names these poor husbands
ali had before they were married to
those Iadies?'
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
KinfOlks.
Merchant Traveller.

A very hard looking specimen of
seedy gentility was standing at a
pawnbroker's counter when al swell
young clerk came IN and laid a watch
down. remarking:
"Uncle, I'd like to have ten on that
till next week."
The seedy man looked closely at the
swell, and going up to him stuck out
his hand and said in gushing tone:
my dear cousin, how do you do3"
"Get out" was the energetic reply,
Tim no cousin of yours"
Amt you? Well, why not young
Teller? Didn't you call the proprietor
uncle and amt he your uncle2 OF
course he is, and he's mine, too, and
has been for long time. If he's your
uncle and mine, I'd like to know why
we amt cousins?"
The swell broke away from his kins-
man and came back in the afternoon
for his advance.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
WASHINGTON.

THE superintendent Of the office Of
foreign mails has been informed by the
Mexican postal authorities that recip-
rocal exchange Of closed mails, via New
York, will shortly be put in operation
between Paso del Norte upon the forth
ern border of Mexico and Spain.
A VACANCY will occur in the Tnspec
tor General Department of the army On
Sept, 90, through the retirement OF
General Nelson FL. Davis, the Senior
is the Senior Colonel and will probably
succeed to the head of the corps.
THE attorney general has decided that
psnsion agents are not entitled to a fee
for paying pension attorneys their dues
The law passed last winter fixing the
compensation of pension agents repeats
the laws previously in force which al
lowed them fee of 80 cents il each
case.
ACTING COMMISSIONER UPSHAW of the
Indian Bureau has awarded the con-
| tract for furnishing 225,000 pounds of
beef and 100 pounds of flour to the
Northern Cheyenne Indians to Thomas
G. Powell, Of Chicago, the former at
At and the latter at $2.70 per hundred
pounds.
The Central Iowa Railway Company
! has filed suit in the Court of Claims
against the United States for damages
to the sum of s., 065, for balance alleged
| to be due under contract..fo carrying
| the mails from Abba to- Northwood,
Iowa, for period Of four years beg in
ming July 1, 1875.
AN evening paper says that over 900
replies have been received at the Treas
ury Department to the circular letter
calling for expressions Of opinion from
manufacturers and importers on the
subject of tariff revision As rule
the contributions have contained more
complaint Of the ad vaIorem system
than suggestions for its improvement.
| SECRETARY BAYARD has directed
United States Minister Boyd Winchester
| to attend the International Copyright
| Conference in Berne, Switzerland, to be
held September Z, it being understood
| that his presence does not bind the
government. The stipulation is made
| because the matter Of international
copyright is now pending before Con-
gross.
The secretary of the interior has au-
| tnorized the Indian Office to pay out
SIS, 900, the proceeds Of the sale of GER
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
GABLEGRAMS S.

RICHARD LAWYER, member of Pdrlia-
ment for Queens country, Ireland, IS
about to retire from public life on ac-
count of ill-heath. He is a Nationalist.
THE Indian government has decided
to permanently increase the number of
British and Indian troops on the Afghan
a telegraph line to Cabul.
U. S. MINISTER S. S. Cox, has con-
vened a meeting of American residents
of Constantinople to express coincidence
with Mrs. Grant over the death of her
husband.
have cen arrested with Editor D rides
of the Moniteur de Rome for selling to
foreign powers plans Of Italian mara
time defenses.
A DISPATCH from Cairo sta tes that the
Egyptian m mister is compiling proc
lamatien TO the Arabs urging the neces-
sity of conquest of the soudan of
Egypt.
GEKMANY's supremacy in the posses
sions claimed by its subjects in Zanzi-
bar has been conceded by the sultan,
under the potent influence of formid-
able squadron which had taken posi-
ton IN front of his najesty's palace.
The Conservative and Established
Church press are reported as decrying
the agitation started by the expose of
London vice, while the Radicals and
Wesleyan and associated religious bod
les sire pushing it and endeavoIing to
enlist popular sympathy by means of
great public demonstrations.
NJ. OLIVER PAIN, whose supposed
murder III the Soudan M. Rochefort de-
mands shall be revenged upon Lord
Lyons, British ambassador at Paris, If
the British government refuses salts
faction, is now reported to be under ar
rest at Bombay, India, on suspicion of
being q Russian spy.
The Italian government desires to
send troops into the Soudan to take
possession Of the Red sea coast from
Suakin to Assab bay, and an interview
on the subject will shortly take place at
ContrexvilIe, in Vosges, between Prem
iers Salisbury and Depretis. 1t is be-
lieved that if Sir Henry Drummond
VOLTS mission to C0nstantinople
proves unsuccessful, England will con
sent to an Italian occupation of the
eastern Soudan,
THE cholera epidemic in Spain is con-
fined mainly to the poor classes, the
only wealthy persons attacked being
public officials who have exposed them
selves in the infected districts. Many
who fed from Madrid are retaining, as
they consider the city safer than the
provinces. It is alleged that the num-
| Der of deaths as Marseilles has been al
most doubts that officially announced.
The sanitary condition Of the city is
alarming, and the epidemic is spreading
northward.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
CRIME,

WILL CLARK stabbed and killed ia
cob B. Varis early Tuesday morning at
Vincennes, Ind, III a quarrel about a
woman.
Mrs. ANNA HALL seriously shot her
husband, Robert Hall, at Carmi, H.,
Wednesday. 1t is said both had been
drinking.
AT Dover Plains, n. Y, Deputy
Sheriff Theo. Il. Boyce shot and killed
VIVA. DegarmO, a carpenter. The men
had quarreled about boundary line
between their property.
THOMAS BARTIGAN, of Aurora, Ill.
shot aud killed his wife and then HIM
self. Quarreling, growing out of her
extravagant habits, was the cause OF
the tragedy.
IN the Chickasaw Nation, I. T., We'd
nesday, David Hunter shot and killed
Samuel Smiley in quarrel about some
horses. Hunter fed, but was pursued
BY Sailey's friends and slain.
FRITZ FEN and julius Wolff, sailors
from Hamburg, fought with knives
aboard their ship at New York. FIen be.
ing instantly killed and Wolff mortal
~ wounded.
I. B. LUDDING, brakeman on the
Louisville and Nashville railroad, was
shot and killed at Edgefeld Junction
by negro hoodlum who had been steal
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
A Useful Dog.
Chicago Herald.

Expect they had some fine pups up
at the Chicago dog show" remarked
a passenger from Ohio, shut I have q
dog at home [ wouldn't trade for the
best Of 'em."
"What breed is he?''
Don't know, exactly, but call him
coaly."
''Collie, you mean"
"No, mean just what I say-coaly.
Money wouldn't buy that dog. He's
a cur, but we couldn't keep house
without him. You see, several years
ago [ trained aim to bark at the rail
way trains as they passed our house.
That's his sole misunderstanding at
trains. He does just whoop her up,
especially at coal trains. Well, he
annoys the railroad men SO that every
fireman and brakeman on the road
has sworn to kill him. On, he is q
valuable dog"
''I can't see where the value comes
in"
''You can't? Well, you could il
you was in my place and had all the
coal you could burn, and some to sell,
thrown right off at your back door
free of cost"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
FIRES AND CASUALTIES

BURTON BINFORD, II years of age, was
drowned in the Cumberland at Nash
vile, Sunday, while bathing.
3THE Roman Catholic Church at
Unionville, CT, was destroyed by fire
Monday. Loss, $50, 900; insurance, $751;
000
A FIRE st Montreal damaged the Bell
Telephone works and the premises of
the Bank Note company to the extent
of $4,000.
FIRE in the hold of the steamer Sat-
urnia, at New York, damaged her cargo
of cotton, consigned to Liverpool, to the
extent of $4,000.
RICHAAD WILLIAMS C Co.'s worsted
mills, at Camden, N. j., were partially
destroyed by fire early Thursday morn
ing, at an estimated loss of between
$75, 900 and 800, 900.
The British vessel Haddingtonshire,
bound for Liverpool with a cargo of
flour, has been wrecked on the Pacific
coast, forty miles from San Francisco,
all on board except one sailor and a
cabin-boy being drowned. The ship and
cargo are total loss.
JOHN GATE, an aged farmer, living
near Missouri City, Missouri, was found
dead in bed, with his hands and feet
bound, and several wounds on his head.
There is no clue to the naurdererS or
their motives
EIGHT men were out fishing in the
Illinois River about three miles above
Peoria Tuesday morning, when light
ming struck the boat. ms family killing
three of the party, the names of two Of
whom are Schofeld and Murphy.
The wife and three children of Emile
Lirett, of Terre Bonnie parish, louisiana
were killed, and himself and two other
children badly wounded, by an explo-
sion of gunpowder in the house.
O'CoNNoR's warehouse, at the corner
of North Water and Rush streets, Chi
cage, was completely destroyed We'd
nesday afternoon, and the stock in
Dickson's marble works which is ada
cent to the warehouse on the east, was
also badly damaged. The total loss is
estimated at SIS, 900.
AT Lumberton, Newaygo County,
Mich, a fire that started IN a store oc-
cupied by Ganson & Campbell, spread
until six buildings, including the Yves
Michigan Railroad depot and so, coo feet
of lumber owned by George Daley,
were destroyed.
SIXTEEN persons were injured at
Philadelphia, Monday, by an explosi.n
of dynamite in the steamer, S. NJ. Eel
ton, which had just left her dock with
over 200 passengers on board. A fright
fui panic followed the report, which was
with difficulty allayed. It is believed
that the explosive was placed under the
head Of the boiler maliciously.
A THUNDERSTORM broke over Erie, Pa,
Tuesday night, and bolt struck the
electric light plant, demolishing the dy-
namo and plunging the business part Of
the city into darkness. A dwelling
house was wrecked, ond it's occupants
found unconscious in the debris. Barns,
with crops and horses, were burned,
and orchards and vineyards were de-
stroyed.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
Dignity Upset

Too much dignity, like too much
pride, is oftimes doomed to fall, and
instead of being commended, becomes
the butt of ridicule. Foote, the En-
glish comic actor, once made d wager
that he would upset the dignity of a
certain head waiter at the prip cipal
hotel IN Bath, who had the name of
being the most dignifed man In Bril-
ain. His experiment and its success
are noted below:
Foote went to the hotel with three
friends-an engineer who had lost an
eye, a cavalry officer who had lost an
arm, and an old sea captain who had
lost leg. The quartette esconced
themselves in the four corners of the
room and bawled for the waiter, who
came in with more than ordinary as
sumption of dignity as a tacit protest
against their unceremonious treat
ment of him.
"Waiterl'' cried the one-eyed engi~
neer, ''come and take off my eye
glass;" adding, as the waiter swelled
with Indignation, "and while you're
about it. just take out my eye"
Your eye, sirs" echoed the startled
dignitary.
Yes, my eye; don't you understand
English2 Look sharpW
E glass and glass>eye came away
together, and the waiter accommodated
them doubtfully as they lay in the
palm OF his hand, like man cycling
a watch that has suddenly stopped.
Just then the long-armed dragon
shouted in his turn: waiter, take off
my glove; and, now that [ think of it,
take off my arm!"
Glove and hand gave way at the
first effort and the waiter, appalled, to
see his customers all tumbling to
pieces like a mosaic puzzle, was turn
ing hastily away, when the one-leg-
ged sailor roared:
"Waiter, pull off my starboard
boot, and you may as well pull Off
my leg, too"
The poor water shudderingly COM
piled, mental repeating every prayer
he could think OF. Instantly the pre-
viousIy loosened straps of the cork
leg gave way and down went the man
of dignity on hit august back, with
the artificial limb quivering in his
clutches.
It was enough. Forgetting every
thing in his agonized longing to es-
cape from this chamber of horrors,
the ill-starred water, casting terrid-
ed glance at the fragments which
strewed the carpet, sprang toward the
doors
But before he could reach It, Foote
himself-the length and hexiblllty OF
whose neck might have aroused the
envy of an ostrlch-called out:
waiter, come and take off my hat,
and while you're at it, take off my
headr
Human nature could bear no more.
The martyred waiter gave one yell
and made but single bound from the
top of the stairs to the bottom, upset
ting not only his dignity, but himself,
SO thoroughly that to the day of his
death he was never quite his own self
again"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27

tain lands in Kansas, for the redemp-
ton. of the Kaw Indian scrip. The
amount OF scrip outstanding is $780,
600, of whGh $4,000 has been present.
cd. The available funds will not be
quite sufficient to pay principal and
interest OF the scrip presented, and
they will be devided pro rata among the
scrip holders.
THE United States Treasury Depart
ment has authorized the American Elk
press Company to receive the baggage
of passengers from Europe upon arrival
In New York, TO be forwarded immedi-
ately in bond without examination, TO
the principal ports in the United States
and Canada, where the duties, If any,
will be assessed. This will relieve trav-
elers from the delay and annoyance at
tending the present system of examina-
ton at the port Of New York. The
express company gives a bond of ST.
100000
The Washington Post Office is going
to have postal messengers who own
bicycles. This will expedite the SER
vice, require fewer boys to loaf around
and make a nuisance of themselves and
enable each to earn more money than
otherwise. Washington's concrete
pavements are spread all over the city,
and the boys can get around as
fast as if they were riding on glass
floor of a skating rink four miles square
The idea that the messengers must go
through q civil-service examination is
laughed at by department officials
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
The Washburn Family Cradle.
Lewiston (Me.) Journal.

One of the relics IN the Norlands
library al which [ looked with unus-
ual interest was the Washburn cradle
the cradle in which all of the seven
Washburn brothers were rocked. It
looks like a picture I had seen of
cradle imported in the Mayfower. It
is homemade piece of furniture con
structed of pine boards an inch thick,
rudely dovetailed together. It has
buggy top and solid pine rockers,
shaped like half-naoons, with no twists
or scrolls to decorate them, but nu-
merous scars where chips apparently
had been knocked out of them by the
paternal cowhide boot. A crack had
necessitated the mailing of a large
cleat on the inside. The outside is
painted dark green tint. The inside
never was painted; but is well brown
ed by age It's associations make this
one of the most remarkable cradles la
existence. Four congressman have
rocked In it. Two ministers pienipo~
Tertiary to foreign countries have
been lnlled to sleep within its pine
boards. Its soporifc influence has
been grateful to two governors. It
has held a secretary of state, whom I
saw looking at it with smile, the
other day.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
WHEN LEE RETURNED
Major Quincy Describes How the Gem
eral Announced the Surrender.

ST never shall forget the scene [
witnessed after Lee surrendered to
Grant at Appomattox, said Major
quincy, the Confederate. That
morning Lee sent word that we were
TO retire from the road to the Apo
mattox Court House and leave it clear.
None of us knew what the order
meant, but even L we had known. it
would have been cheerfully obeved.
Ihe troops withdrew among the TIM
Der to the right and left of the highs
way, where our c0Inmissary stores
had packed on the previous night. In
a little while Lee rode by to the rear
accompanied alone by Col. Marshall.
his aide. 1t was with the greatest
difficulty that the men were kept
from rushing out and surrounding
the General, so much was he loved.
Later on we heard the sound of return
ing hoofs. We crept forward to the
edge OF the road and saw Lee return
ing. HIS face was very sad. When
he was opposite to us the soldiers
could no longer restrain themselves
and they rushed out ia a wild mob
around his old iron gray horse. shout
ing, ''Leel Lee! Leew All discipline
was thrown 10 the winds. and the men
seemed to feel that the end was near.
for | never saw such a loyal and vet
disorderly rush. Lee was calm and
seemed profoundly moved. When he
dismounted he made motion for si>
lence, and ring was formed around
him. Then he stretched out his hand
to us, and said:
Gentlemen, | have done the best
| could for you. Today | have sur
rendered the Army of Northern Vir~
ginia. Boys, go home. God bless
your
II saw strong men throw themselves
upon the ground at his feet and weep
like women. The shouts and cries of
my comrades was heart stirring. Lee
looked upon the scene for moment.
sighed, and turned away. 1t was ali
over"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
The Conversation Stopped There.
Cincinnati Enquirer

A couple of gentlemen stood on
Vine street talking about one thing or
another when a beggar made plea
for aims, showing that his right hand
Was gone as an inducement to contri
butte. One of the gentlemen gave the
fellow dime, but the other refused to
ante up.
''How did you lose your handm he
was asked.
IT was coupling cars, and got my
hand SO badly mashed that I had to
have it cut off,"
ooh, no, you didn't do anything of
the kind" said the gentleman who
had declined to give the beggar any
money.
"How do you know, was you thereG"
retorted the tramp.
Eyes, was there" replied the gen
tleman. Your hand was blown off
while you were trying to steal watch
from my pocket, and | am the very
one that did it. The only mistake I
made was in shooting at your hand
instead Of your heart"
The beggar did not stop to parley,
but sneaked off with celebrity.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27
A Singular Case.
Maxwell, the Trunk Murderer,
Asserts His Name is
Brooks.
Contradictory Statements.

ST. LOUIS, Mo, Aug. 1S.-A letter
is published here to-day, dated sunny
Bank, Hyde, Cheshire, Eng, July Is,
and signed Samuel n. Brooks, which
speaks of his son, Fl. III. Brooks, hav-
ing left home last January on a bust
ness trip to Ireland, and that no word
had been received from him since. 1t
had been learned, however, that he
had the curate of the adjoining par
ISL for companion, and thai they
had INDUCED IN various extravagances
and that Brooks name had got mixed
up with the est. Louis trunk tragedy
and also got mixed up with DR.. Max
well. The letter shows great distress
on the part of the writer, and makes
an argent appeal for information in
regard to the person concerned in the
murder. A part of this letter was
shown TO Maxwell, and he recognized
the signature as that of his father, and
desired the possessor of the letter to
write to his father and tell him that
he (Max"elD was innocent of the
murder of Preller, and that he had a
perfectly good defense. In the course
OF a conversation Maxwell-or, as he
is now pretty definitely identified,
Brooks-said that Preller was troubled
with insomnia, and that he had pre-
scri5ed chloroform for him on several
occasions and with benefit, Preller,
however, had heart disease, he said,
and intimated that he had either taken
or had administered to him, on this
occasion an overdose with fatal res
suits. This will be Brooks defense
when he comes to trial.
A CARD.
Maxwell publishes card this after
noon, denying IN toto that he has
given any reporter any outline or
idea of his defence as published here
this morning and referred to in a pri~
vate dispatch. He furthermore denies
having acknowledged that his name is
Brooks, and says no matter what is
published he will not talk about his
case or give any one any idea what
his defense will be. The letter previ-
ously referred to signed Samuel n.
Brooks is genuine. however 1t was
received here by John D. wheel a
high officer in the Masonic order
Mr.. wheel has replied to it and is
daily expecting another letter from
the same person. Maxwell was placed
in the sheriff's custody today and put
IN jail.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27

THE Iowa board of railway commits
sioners has made the very sensible
decision that mechanic is entitled to
have his tools carried as baggage pro
vided they do not exceed in weight
the amount generally allowed passen-
oers az baopaoa
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27

THE grave of Matthew Thornton,
one of New Hampshire's sigrers
of the Declaration of independence,
in Merrimac, will soon be marked by
a monument, a joint resolution ap-
propriating 81, 900 for that purpose
having passed the house unanimous
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-27

A DAsTARDLY attempt was made to
blow up steamboat at Philadelphia
on Monday. The boat at the time of
the explosion had about $50 women
and children on board, and rivalry
between Gnesis supposed to have been
the cause.