davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
4 Rain of Insects.
Wa Shinotop Critic

Washington was the scene of a novel
April shower the other evening. The
shower, which was a warm, light rain
lasting about ten minutes, brought with
1t thousands Of insects of a very peculiar
appearance, and no one was to be found
who could give information relative to the
species of the visiting stranger. His
general appearance was that of huge
locust, but his color was of a light green
He seemed stupid and disinclined to move
except when poked up with cane or UNI
brella.
The general expression of those who
witnessed the phenomenon was that it
was raining soft shelled crabs, because of
the resemblance of the under portion of
the insect to the color and appearance of
the crab. Hundreds of the insects gath
cred in the vicinity of the electric lights
where ehey futtesed about on the pave
ment for few minutes and then seemed
to go into stupor. A specimen was snb-
m1tted by the Critic reporter TO Prof
Smith, who gave the following description
of the new conner:
1.-The insect is the Belostorna Ameri-
canum, our largest water bug. It belongs
to the order Hemiptera, and spends most
of its life in ponds or sluggish streams
feeding mostly on animal matter. The
insects come to maturity in the fall of
the year and hibernate. When the warm
weather comes they leave the ponds, fly
about ann mate, and then return to the
ponds to deposit their eggs. The light
exercises a great attraction to these in
sects, and hundreds-yes thousands are
attracted to the electric light about this
season.
Prof. Goode stated that he had already
received quantity of these insects from
North Carolina, from persons anxious to
whence they came and what was their mis-
sion.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29

strong even if has never been tasked with
physical labor the mans hand that is not
effeminate, the girls hand that is not a
pretty waxwork, but part of a helpful
someone, who would be sweetly willing to
do something for somebody else. IN
less it be the weak hand of sickness, which
is most piteous sight, the hand of the
weak character is not what anyone cares
to clasp. More and more in this world
we want the hands that can do some
thing. A Carlyle says, the first doing
would be for many a revelation.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
Ones Own Barber.
New Y ork Times.

The custom of having barber call at
ones house has become quite fashion in
the last few years. It is rather expensive,
but the rich men can stand it. About so
cents is the average fee demanded. Some
rich men have fitted up special BARRIERS
rooms at their homes others have easy
chairs just for the accommodation of their
BARRIERS at their down town places of bus
mess. It used to be Ferdinand Wards
regular afternoon custom to summon his
barber as soon as business was over; he
was sort of pioneer in this line down in
Wall street. Now there are dozens of
spectators and clerks who follow out
his aristocratic example.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
MY CHARMING LITTLE HOUSEKEEPER,
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

She dusts the Sey and bric-a-brac,
With just the dai est little knack,
And always puts my papers back,
My charming |, 10 housekeeper
Rare jelies makeS-meringueS and creams
More fair than ever poets dreams
Like drifted snow your froStiDg CLEANS,
Ny charming little hodsekeeper.
Nor doth the prose Of cooking slight
Her bread is sUeet-aud white ana light,
ar biscuits are goody sight
(Ah, charming little hJuse6eeper).
She reads with me the magazines
Although to one she always leans
She makes the most artistic screens
My charming little housekeeper.
She sings TO me with dulcet voice,
(Fair PATHS notes are not so choice,
She doth my classi soul rejoice,
Ny charming little housekeeBer
What wonder that love her-then-
AS much-and even more-than when
Last hay, the church beside the glen
Oh charming little housekeeper,
Received bright and joyous threng-
hich voices swelIed a marriage song
To me you promised 10 belong,
My darling little houseRreser.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
Raising SquasheS Among Potatoes.
Farm Field and SfOnkman

1 tried the plan Of raisin Hubbard
squashes among my potatoes. I got two
wagon-loads of squashes in connection
with small patch of potatoes, and think
the squash vines were a benefit to the po-
tatOes, as they helped to shade the ground
and keep it moist during the dry spell of
July and August. Am going to plant
squashes among all my potatoes, as I
think they are a benefit to the potato
crop, although squashes are not worth
much here in market. l sold few nice
Hubbards as / ever saw at so cents a doz-
en-, but then they are excellent for stock.
1 saw the PLAY recommended in the Farm,
Field and Stockman last spring, tried it,
and sold enough squashes to pay several
times the cost of the paper.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
The Woman of it.

A Fatal Objectionable friend of her
bosom-What refused Charlie Crichton !
Why, you silly girl, he's the catch of the
season good looks, good form good blood,
and as rich as he's nice. What possible
objection could you have to him? The
belle of every ball she goes Towel, you
see, dear, if Charlie and were married we
couldn't dance together, and l didn't feel
equal to the sacrifice. ~
The most courteous hostess ever MOTTO
ed was the lady who soothed the feelings
of guest who had broken a rare egg
shhl cup by taking up another and,
calmly chipping it against the table, with
an arch smile, said: "These things are
so foolishly brittle that they deserve to be
broken"
Women are continually striking out in
new industrial paths. A young girl in
New York is a skillful and successful lock
smith. She used to help her father in
his shop, and finally concluded to start
out on her own account. She gives salts
faction and is making money.
The goblet out of which the duke of
Marlborough drank the night before the
battle of Malplaquet was preserved and
has just been sold in Paris. Evidently
hired girl.
At the woman suffrage convention in
New York, when the hat was to be passed
around it was discovered that there was
not such an article of head-gear, and a
reporter was borrowed.
Prof. Maria Mitchell, of Vassar college,
recommends land surveying as business
for women, Professor, what would a
woman do if she saw field mouse and
there was no stump handy?
The young woman who can broil steak
in five minutes is more useful than the
young woman who can successfully speak
five languages.
Three dudish young men of Meriden,
Conn, decided to call on three young
women who were not at all anxious to see
them. They did call, rugged out in their
best clothes, were ushered into the parlor,
and there found, picuously displayed
quart of salt and a spoon. After gaz-
ing at these for some time and waiting in
vain for the young women, the callers
came to the conclusion that they were in
deed too fresh, and went home.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
A Texas Freak.

The students at the University of Texas
are not much addicted to paying their
depts. Tom Anjerry aud Bill Yard meet
Where are you going, Bill?"
owe little bill down at restaurant
on the avenue, and Tam going down to
pay it,
Well, that beats me; but you always
were eccentric. You are an original sure
If you amt careful you will find your
self in dime museum on exhibition as
Texas freak"
Some people can ask awfully silly
questions. We are asked if a dogs tail
dragging through the snow makes a wag-
in track
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29

The origin of the famous melody,
"John Browns Body" is given as follows
by a writer in a Philadelphia paper. 1t
knocks the romance out of the Harper's
Ferry end of the story. 1t was adapted
from camp-meeting tune, Say, broth
ers will you meet us?" This in turn was
modelled from song written for fire
company, "Say, bummers will you meet
u.s." The words originated with memb-
ers of the Tiger Battalion" Massachus-
etts Volunteer Militia. It first appeared
in April 1861, in quartet of the Gig
ers'-Je Jenkins, Edgerly, Purnette and
John RrOwn-aud was simply sort of
joke on the name of the last mentioned.
He was Scotchman and failed to see the
point in the witticism, which, of course,
only made it only more lasting. The
Twelfth Massachusetts, sahg it in Boston
harbor, at Fort Warren; they were the
first to sing it in New York City, July,
1861, where it made sensation, and con-
tinued chanting it until it had become so
comma Improperly as to have lost all nov
eltyn Two of the quartet are now living
in Boston, Mass. John Brown was drown
ed in Virginia, June, 1862, and Jenkins
whereabouts are unknown. All were ser
geants in the Twelfth Massachusetts Vol
unteers.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
Heading Him Off.
New York Tribune.

'Mr. Featherly," said Bobby at the din
ner table, whats an average?"
eyes. Pa says you come to see sister
twice week on an average"
Featherly was very much amused. AT
ter explaining to Bobby the meaning OF
the word, he said:
Il suppose you thought it was some
kind of a carriage, Bobby?"
Il thought it might be bicycle, but
knew it couldn't be carriage, because
ma says you're too mean to hire"
Bobby" interrupted his mother
twill you have another piece of pie?''
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29

In China and Japan girls are named
after some beautiful natural object, and
such names are common as Cherry flower,
Peach blossom, Plum-blossom, Bamboo
leaf, PineWoods, etc.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
Pit the Agreement in Writing.

How many misunderstanding arise
from the loose way in which business
matters are talked over, and then when
each party puts his own construction on
the conversation, the matter is dismissed
by each with the words, 'all right, all
right" Frequently it turns out all wrong
and becomes question for lawyers and
the courts. More than three-fourths of
the litigation of the country would be
country would be saved, if the people
would put down their agreements in writ
ing, and sign their names to it. Each
word in our language has its own partic-
ular meaning, and memory may by the
change of its position in a sentence con-
vey an entirely different idea from that
intended. When once reduced to writing,
ideas are fixed, and expensive lawsuits
avoided
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
He Was a Barber.
New York Sun

Stranger Ito fellow passenger Excuse
me, but am I not right in taking you for
a professional man?
Fellow passenger sir.
Stranger Thanks. It's not often that
I make mistake in judging my fellow
men. Your work is headwork altogether,
of course?
Fellow passeuger-Oh, yes, sir, entirely
so.
Stranger-Er lawyer?
Fellow passenger sir; barber.
Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-20
NEW HAVEN. CONN. FRIDAY MoRNING. AUGUST 2o 1886

l Michigan, and the loophole of the smuoolers
 has just been found out. They would load g 1 wagon with barbed wire carefully tucked 1 city limits and down into the river as if to 1 Ill the barrels with water for the neighbor- ing garden patches But the barrels were quietly sunk out of sight in the river. When night came two schooners would sail ont from the Canadian shore and beat down bv
 where the barrels were sunk They were
 then loaded on board and the boats would
 then put back to some neglected spot on the
 Dominion shore to unload. Team after team
 loaded with the wire in barrels had been daily
 driven down to the shore in this way; and
 the wire afterwards ished up and taken to
 the other shore under the noses of the GUS.
 toms officers.
 The city of Paris has lately become the possessor of remarkable collection of docu- ments, which will have great interest in years to come for historical investigators This is the series of death warrants, extending from April 2, 1908, to December 8, 1S32 belong Ing to Samson, the notorious headsman of the revolution. The collection was bound up in nineteen volumes, and Samson had prefixed to each volume summary of the contents. It appears that during twenty-five years he executed 7,143 capital sentences, being an average of 217 executions each year-rather ] busy life. During the twenty-five years he l only twice ascended the scaffold without A | fatal result-once in 1915, when General | Count Lavalette was to have been executed | Tor complicity in the return of Napoleon but escaped the night before through the | heroism of his wife. The second time was | 1877, when Philippe Jean Antoine, noted | coiner, was respited at the last moment by | Louis XVIII.
Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-20
CAREF UL.

An Austin man named his bootiack Care. because it killed Cat Taras Siftines.
 Naturalization to travel with a cold wave; salary not so much an object as steady employment. Address at once, Melted, this of6ce.-Pittsburg Herald.
 Tidbits tells the story of conductor on a slow railroad who told one passenger that he had been on the. road for nine years. "Then, " said the passenger, "this must be your sec- ond trip"
 "The Kickapoo river has run dry" says a TeseEp ga ra Ms sR a k How ean dry is past our comprehension.-Bosto Transcript.
 "Was the man intoxicated who fell in the circus tent last even1ng?" asked Mrs. De Groof nf her husband. ifNo, the man was all right" was the reply. 'tHe was walking tight rope. e."-Life.
 Harry (who has the idea, but forgets the precise words)-Oh, sister, Mrs. B. told me to tell you how awfully kind of you to sing, as it's so hard to get anyone to do it nowa- days unless they sing well.-Exchange. A Frenchman thinks the English language is very tough. "Dare is look out,'" he says, (which is to put out your head and see; and Took out, which is to haul in your head and not for to see-just contrare. .''- Comic Weekly.
 ''What kind of water is this?' asked Binks, as he drained off glass of Irish whis- ky in the presence of his wife. ''Celt, sir,'' answered his accommodating friend. And Mrs. Binks was satisfied that her husband never drank ntoxicants.-The Rambler They tell story of boy who was once sent on an errand to distinguished lawyer of Essex county. When he returned home he said to his mother: ''Old Squire - don't know much" ''Why, what do you talk so for?" was his mothers response "Coz he asked me, Where's your hat, boy?' when it was on my head ali the time."- Lynn Item.
 Colonel Bowser met Jenks the other day and asked him what he doing for liv ing. ''Selling deodorizing powder" Hast time I saw you you were selling an insect powder to be sprinkled on the floor.' ''I know; now I'm going around to the same houses selling this disinfectant to get the smell of the insect powder out of the house. Next week I'll loom up with a mixture to drive away the smell of the disinfectant. "- St. Louis Whip
 Country editor-"We give you nickel watch and the weekly Clarion for one year 'EHow much for the watch without the Clar- ions" Country editor-'The retail price of the watch alone is $4." MT. Smith-'sWell, try editor-"But it will cost you a dollar H- 1s.sre e, than if you included the paper" MT. Smlth-ffVes, know: but I don't mind the extra expense.>- New York Times.
 "Wherefore, Johnny, dosu .,ou howl And thy abdomen grapple:" Twist not, mother dear, unless
 It was that unripe apple"
Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-20

Harness and Summer Lap Robes. Look at my full Rubber and Nickel Trimmed Harness at S15 SIS nd S30; all hand stitched Momie Cloth Carriage Robes, elaborately em- broidered, at S1 .25: worth double the money dalt- 25c, Tie Reins 25c and 35c.
 F.H. CUMMINS, Agt.' jel4 o2 Orange St., corner Center.
Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-20
Friday, August 20, 1886.

SENATOR VAN WYCK,S SCHEME The constitution of Nebraska provides that at the general election immediately pre- cedlng the expiration of the term of United States senators the electors shall express their preference for some person for the office of United States senator. There has never been any such expression of popular opinion. Of course such vote of the people directly would have no other effect than that of moral and political direction to the legisla- ture. Senator Van Wyck now proposes to take advantage of this provision and appeal to the people of Nebraska for an expression of their preference, upon the supposition, of course, that the legislature which elects the senator will consider such vote as a com mand.
 At a first glance this might not seem to be a very important matter, but it is. Congress has, as permitted by the constitution, de o1Aioo n0" +--~ shall be elected. It is by the legislature of the State. This was done on the theory that the legislature would be more careful and more wise than the peo- pie in their primary capacity But, as the Providence Journal points out, it is proof either that in certain States this tn cory has not been found to be correct in it's applica- tion, or the constitution is found to be irk- some, that such an appeal as is to be made by Senator Van Wyck can be made with any prospect of success. Nebraska IS an excep- ton to the doctrine of the fathers, or she is supposed to be ready to repudiate their doc Urine. It is not question of what is best, but one of what is lawful. Nor is anything gained in honor or in statesmanship by a course which, not needing the letter of the law, is utterly opposed to and in violation of it's spirit
 It will be interesting to see how Senator Van Wyck's scheme works. Perhaps it will not hurt the constitution of the United States much
Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-20
54lediIal

222 FIFTH AVENUE, New York Kaskine Co.-Dear Sirs-Although always op- my reluctance in this case. No can see the vast good done to the suff ring that have seen ac compiished by your wonderful medicine and main silent.
 deem it my pleasant duty my dear sirs, to ex- press my cordial thanks for the great cure it has accomplished in my family well as for the many cures it has effected among the suffering poor to whom have taken it. My was the greatest sufferer for years from what first termed by our physician 10 be dyspepsia ard general debility, which was followed by the SevereSt forms of chilS most eminent physicians to be malaria with all it's different forms of suffering and organic diseases, including liver and kidney troubles and nervous prostration. You will see that I especial debt of gratitude to you, for my sons health seemed hopelesSly lost, as he derived benefit from medi- cal treatment although receiving the best that the highest medical talent in Ameri could afford, combined at times with the benefit of travel. His constitution also had been almost undermined and his hearing impaired by the of quinine We were influenced to try Kaskne by hearing of it's great success from reliable sources, and my son has been completely restored to health by its If my testimony of these facts will help to human life and restore the suffering to health should be guilty indeed to remain silent. I am, my dea~ sirs. yours most gratefully.
 June 11th. MRS, J. DEWITT BURNS. In Bellevue Hospital, N. Y., Universally suc- cessful.'
 In St Francis Hospital, N Y, Every patient treated with Kaskine has been discharged cured.'' Rev. Joseph DeSribeS. Chaplain of Charity Hos pital, writes- II will be surely, every occasion, through conviction most devoted promoter of Kaskine.''
 cred indispensable. It acts perfectly"
 Send for the great list ot testimonials unparall- eled in the history of medicine
 o. Price S1 per ger bottle: Sold by z: $: Leete receipt of price. -
Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-20
Gledica1.

Many years ago, while engaged in the general practice of medicine saw the dark and apparently hopeless condition of nearly every sufferer from CHRONIC DISEASES, well as the utter futility of the methods of relief (relief simply and not cure) employed by the best in the medical frater nity, and speedily determined my course of ac- tion and welded my professional life to the most careful analysis and intimate knowledge of the pe- cuarities of this class of ailments, bending also my energies to find some
Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-20

DELIVERED BY CARRIERS IN THE Cry. 15 CENTS WEEK, 50 CENTS MONTH, $500 FOR SIX MONTHS, $500 YEAR. THE SAME TERMS By MAIT
Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-20

Where all the pins go to will remain @ gone has been discovered in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. c. A. Eisenhart of that place made bargain with his boys, agreeing to give them one cent for every dozen of nails or pieces of nails they could pick up on Clark avenue, from Penn to Newberry streets. Ben Kendig made similar offer to Oliver Deardorff's son. The little boys went to work with will, and, after picking up all the nails they could find, made a report. The doctor found that he owed his boys $1. .0S, they having picked up 108 dozen of nails. Mr. Kendig was also surprised, for his boy had succeeded in finding 150 dozen, which were worth $50.
 The Knights of Labor of New Hampshire seem to know what they want. They are for the adoption of ten-hour law; second, the adoption of law to compel corporations to pay their employees weekly in lawful money for the labor of the preceding week and giv- ing mechanics and laborers a first lien upon the product of their labor to the extent of their full wages; third, the adoption of laws for arbitration between employers and en- ployes, and to enforce the decisions ot ar bitrators; fourth, the adoption of law pro- hibiting the employment of children under fifteen years of age in workshops and facto- ries, and the adoption and enforcement of a stringent school law; fifth, the adoption of a law prohibiting the hiring out of convict la bor in all reformatory institutions in compe- | tition with free labor, and forever prohibit | ing the importing of contract labor.
 Barbed wire for fences has for some time \ been smuggled into Canada from Detroit,
Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-20
Method of Treatment

and myself.
 Not the work of day or month, year, but after MANY years of persistent application, have by actual proof and test fixed and determined line of treatment which for positive certainty of results borders the marvellous and has aptly been termed
Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-20

Some of the Mississippi prohlbitionists are pretty vigorous fellows. The Wick sburg Herald attacked two prohibition editors of Jackson the other day, whereupon the two apostles of temperance appeared in vicks- burg and had placards posted about the city giving their opinion of the editor of the Herald. "When he disappears" they say,
 ''beneath the vile green scum where he be- longs, and his warty, diseased soul goes to it's black home, all Sheol will shudder with horror at the intrusion, and the demons will draw aside their reeking garments lest they be polluted by his infectious touch. The words Fscoundrel,' liar 'blackguard,
 Coward and tcur, which have so often been applied to him, are the most fulsome flat tery D