davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04
A BEAR STORY.
The Thrilling Adventure of Il Trapper With
a Maddened Beast.

MI. Puxton tells us that a trapper
named Glass and his companion were
n day setting their beaver traps in a
stream near the river Platte, when they
saw a large grizzly bear turning up the
turf close by, searching for roots. The
men crept to the thickct, fired at him,
and wounded him severely. The ami
NAL groaned, jumped up from the
ground, and snorting with pain and
fury charged towards the place from
whence came the smoke of the rifles.
The men rushed through the thicket,
but their speed was impcded by the
underwood, SO chat the Infatuated beast
soon came up with them; at that
moment Glass stumbled and fell. When
he rose, the bear stood before him on
its hind legs; he called instantly to his
companion to fire. he himself sending
the contents of his pistolinto the bears
body, which, with the blood streaming
from its nose and mouth, knocked the
pistol away with one paw, while it
stuck the claws of the other into
the flesh of his antagonist and
rolled with him on the ground.
Glass managed to reach his knife and
plunge it several times into the bear,
while the latter was tearing his flesh
with tooth and claw. At length, blind
ed with blood and exhaustion, the knife
fell from Glass hand. and he tainted.
His companion fled to the camp and
told his party of the sad fate Of their
companion. Assistance was instantly
sent. Glass still breathed, but the bear
lay dead across him. The trapper's
flesh was torn away in slips, and Jumps
of it lay beside him; his scalp hung
bleeding over his face, which was much
torn. The men, thinking he was
already dead, dragged the bear off his
body and took away his hunting-shirt,
moccasins and arms, and returned to
the camp, saying they had completed
his burial. Months elapsed, and some
of the party were on their way to a
trading post with skins, when they saw
a horseman approach them with a face
so Scared and disfigured that they
could not distinguish his features. The
stranger accosted one of the party, ex-
claiming in a hollow voice: ''Hurrah,
Bill, my boy, you thought 1 was killed,
did you? Just hand me over my horse
ard gun, lad. I'm not dead. vet, YOU
see!' Astonishment and horror seized
the party, some of whom believed him
both dead and buried. Glass told them
that he knew not how long he had lain
insensible, but when he revived he was
obliged to subsist on the bears flesh.
AS soon as he had strength to crawl,
he tore OFT rs much of it as he could
carry, and crept down to the river. He
had suffered fortunes from wounds,
cold and hunger before he reached tho
fortress, eighty miles distant, living
meantime chiefly OH roots and berries.
Tile MenM.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04
PARADISE MYTHS.
The Peculiar Ideas Entertained by variou,
Uncivilized People.

The Peculiar Ideas Entertained by Various
Uncivilized People.
Paradise traditions seem to owe much
of their local popularity to a peculiar
local fitness. In a swamp village of
the upper Congo the brothers Rago-
zinski last summer interviewed a woody
presbyter, who informed them that in
the far west, beyond the grave, there
was a valley of peace, where good
spirits fit about, engaged in catching
mosquitoes and protecting the sleep of
the just. The paradise Of the Boto-
GUIDES is a land of cool streams, shaded
by forests so free from underbrush that
the blest departed can ramble for miles
without scratching their sensitive
skins. All desert-dwellcrs believe in a
Observation-Disclosures. The Yakoots,
of Eastern Siberia, hope to find a
land of ready-lighted fires hung
around with bubbling kettles Of
tish-oil. The natives of the lower
Carolines dream of an isle of souls SO
large that a tipsy nan can stumble
about all night without fear of break
ing his neck in the shore-cliffs. Our
Saxon forefathers hoped to line their
TRANSPORTED selves with beer and pork
steaks, a diet which would make aTurk
prefer the other place. The spirits of
the Scandinavian braves slaughter each
other in the halls of Thor; and that the
Greeks were at heart less truculent is
proved by the sentimental pastimes of
theirelysium. Chinese paupers, pinched
by hunger and Buddhism, hope at least
for the advent of q golden age, when
every mans paunch SHALL be as convex
us u prize pumpkin. Few Moslems
would accept & pass to Il paradise with
out hourls, and Il poor E%squimau, whom
Rev. Claas Hansen hoped to charm
with the prospect of a heaven without
ice and sea monsters. declined the offer
on the ground that Grcenlanders can
not subsist without walrus blubber.-
Chicago Times.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04
a WOMAN.
Sketch of the Life of Laura EridSman'
the Wonderful Blind Dcaf-Mute.

Sketch of the Life of Laura ridSma
the Wonderful Blind Dcaf-Mutc.
Laura Bridgman was born in Han
over, N. H., December q, 1929. She
was a bright infant, but in her second
wear had a violent illness, which wholly
destroyed the senses of sight, hearing
and smell, and greatly impaired that OF
taste. Though her general health was
so shattered by this sickness that she
was almost helpless for several years,
she subsequentlyrccove herstrength
and had apparently so much intelli-
| gence, though shut in a realm of dark
! ness and silence, that she was in her
tenth year, put under the care of DR..
Howe, who then had charge of the
deaf-and-dumb school at Boston.
There she was taught to read by touch
ing raised letters; then these letters,
framed into words, were attached to
objects, and she thus learned to know
objects by their names. Thus far,
however, the work was only an exer-
else of imitation and memory, and vas
like teaching a clever dog a variety Of
tricks. But all at once the truth seemed
to flash OF her that by this mean she
could make known to others what was
in her mind, and this knowledge
seemed to change her whole being.
Her sympathetic teachers procured for
her a set of metaltypes, with the letters
cast at the ends, and a board with
square holes for their insertion, so as
to be read by the fingers when placed.
In a few months she could spell the
names of the most mmon objects,
and in a year had made great mental
Improvement. She would amuse her.
self for hours with these letters, SPELL
ing old and new words. and framing
imaginary dialogues, and became much
happier and full of enjoyment in her
play. Her hand grew in accuracy as
her knowledge increased so that she
could recognize persons, fabrics, col
ors, etc., by the touch alone. In a few
years she was able to receive lessons in
geography, algebra and history, and
learned to write a fair, legible hand.
She carried on animated conversations
! with her teachers and friends by means
of the finger alphabet. the move
ments being made by the hands of
others placed upon her own, as
she could not see them. She be-
| came a most skillful teacher of the
blind, and vas for many years an, in
structress in the Perkins Institution
for the Blind, in Boston. She still
spends much of her time in that insti-
tuition. She is a very skillful per-
former on the piano, is quite dextrous
in many kinds of household work, and
is an adept in plain and fancy needle
work, and can run a sewing machine
as well as any one. In spite Of hcrgreat
atfliction Miss Bridgman always seems
happy and contented. Her case af-
fords one of the most remarkable illus
trations of what can be accomplished
by modern philanthropic systems of
education.-M Chicago hoter Ocean.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04

around and my head tlt light and gid.
dy and queer. My hArt was beating
wildly, yet l wanted Y laugh, and all
the while l was suffering cruel agonies
of apprehension. o, Nhow hungry ]
was!
''When the clerk came back and told
me to call again the next morning at
ten, 1 smiled and winked at him famil-
iarly, and staggered out pf the door.
My heart felt as if it would burst. /
made one final effort to find work on
q ship. In vain. Then I wandered
through the streets and Looked at the
good things to cat in the Nbake-shop
windows. 1 thought of \my dear
mother and prayed through\ binding
tears that | might see her just\once be-
fore died. 1t was not death ! feared,
but to die so far away.
"When nightfall came I creAt back
to the lodging house. / smilel once
to think of the chance which gave me
shelter for one more night. When the
man came around to take the tickets l.
handed him mine. 1t was a blue one.
He handed it back to me.
"'That's the wrong color for to-
uight,' he said. PAY or git7
$50 l spent the night in the streets
the longest, darkest, most awful
night of my life.
'Wcll, that ends the story of the
Prodigal Son." said Earnest, Drawing
a long sigh. "When l reached the
bank the next morning at ten, the, first
face l saw was the big, good-natureA
face of Captain Coffin, the master Of
the packet Liberty 1t was the first
familiar face l had seer in two years.
1t looked to me like the face of an
angel.
"'Captain CohinH 1 shouted. %
God, | thank thee!!"
"'Yes, that are the lad said the
hearty old sailor man. Ben on a lee
shore, hain't We, boy?
"And then [ learned how 1 had been
cabled about and advertised for until
the bank was overrun with pretended
Ernest Traverses."-H. w. Raymond,
Ia Christian Union.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04


evil you let me look at some OF
those dudes glasses?" asked a re
porter.
The obliging attendant drew out a
tray which had on it a number Of diff
ferent colored glasses and placed them
before the scribe. "What color do you
wish?" he asked, "brown? or here is a
very nice light blue that is very ,opu-
lar"
"Do people use colored eye-glasses?"
60, yes; they are very popular just
now"
"Why?"
because a certain English society
man who has been in this city has been
wearing them, and now there is a good
demand for them"
sis there any pretense to having
them adjusted to the sight?"
"Hardly any. 1t seems to be Simply
a question of taste or preference"
"Butcalling them dudes glasses-'
"Now, you may think some persons
would be offended at the wording Of
that sign, but they never appear to be.
They come in boldly and ask for dudes
glasses without a falter. Thatlis why
l hung that placard up. But dudes are
not my only customers. Agret many
persons who would be very much
offended were the word dude applied
to them r beginning to use these
glasses under the impression that il
gives them a much more distinguished
appearance"
ado ladies ever wear them?"
90 dear, yes. l have just sent some
to three young ladies living on Fifth
avenue. l don't know whether they
will wear them in public or not; but
you may often see the glass dangling
over the corsage of very many fashion
able women"
"Does the glass ipjure the eye?"
'It certainly does. In some cases, ]
have noticed, by, producing an in
equality of vision"
"When will the rage stop?"
.'When the dude goes out O fashion.'
N. Y. Mail and Express.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04
TELEGRAPH OPERATORS.
An Occupation Which Proves Extremel
COngenial to Women.

There evidently is one kind of bust
ness for which women seem to be well
fitted, judging from the number en-
gagged in it, and that is telegraphy.
strolling about the city and dropping
into almost any telegraph Office from
Harlem to the Battery there may be
seen the female operator and, as a gen
eral thing, she will be seen to be young
and pretty and wide awake to her
business. She will sometimes have
about her a number of subordinates Of
the opposite sex in the form of callow
youths and messenger boys, over whom
she queens it with a right royal will
II an air of authority that is charming
to behold. Generally these young
women are very pleasant and oblig,ng;
only occasionally will one come across
terror. whose very look will freeze
nm to the marrow. However, they
all seem to give satisfaction to their
employers and to attend we'll to their
work and appear to be rapidly monop,
ol'zing the %telegraphic business. Ear
out on the Western plains, wherever
there is a road station, almost invarla.
ably the traveller sees u pretty lace or
muslin curtain at the window, 4 bird
cage hanging up aloft and some flower.
ING plants on the narrow sill, or a vine
trained up owe the red door (these
stations all along the line of the roau
are painted a dull. dark red). and othci
signs of the feminine presence, and !. II
ne looks out as the train stops he VII.
DC nearly sure to see 4 bright. nea1l.
dressed, white-aproned young woman
come to the door and stand gazing on"
at the train and watching the pasSen,
gers with Il half-pleased, half-sorry a..
ms is the local telegraph operaI VIZ
who has taken up her lonely life ou'
here on the alkali dcscrta amid the sa%gv
brush, and whose only glimpse OF . l,s
world She has left behind her Is t ;as
brief acquaintance with the tra.as
which pass and repass two or Tune 1--WE
Times during the day. These are , "r
types, all OF them, OF our brave An n,
lean girl. whose courage is equal TO-"
emergency.-.M. Y. lYorla
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04
FASHION NOTES.
Odds and Ends Carefully Selected for tho
Benefit OF Lady Readers.

Odds and Ends Carefully Selected for the
Benefit of Lady Readers.
Many bonnets are s%tringless.
Silk gloves are never full dress.
The reign of the jersey grows
stronger.
Etamine ribbons are a popular nov
city.
Black and yellow is a favorite COM
bination.
The color of Tuscan straw is very
popular this season.
Spotted null handkerchiefs are
among the novelties.
Garnet and jet dog collars are fam
lcics of the moment.
Short strings and big throat bows
are the rule on bonnets.
Black Spanish lace scarfs are much
worn around the neck.
Striped beaded stuffs are much used
Tor short dressy wraps.
Dongola crepe cloth forms many
| pretty demi-toilet mantles.
IEtamine ribbons come in color COM
| Dlnations to match fancy straws.
1 !, ! DllCSlO1lS 4SNClo IN - ~
Iappear on many dress bodices.
! Very high collars are a feature on
short mantles us well as on jackets.
Mousquetaire suede gloves remain
the favorites for dressy street wear.
Great discretion is necessary in
choosing a fancy straw hat OF bonnet.
The riding habit of the period is I'M
comfortably short and very ungrace-
Little children's hats are most &C.
ce,tric in form of both crown and
brih.
FNwers and aigrettes are worn on
the toa of the high couture for evening
dress.
The vsriety in fancy straw braids this
spring DEFY description or even emu
Chemisete plastrons, resembling q
gentleman's, tucked bosom, are the
fancy in new lingerie.
Among fansies for summer are gauze
fans, on which are painted designs of
flowers, birds and butterflies.
Red and blue oil calicoes are made
into charming Gretchen and guimp
dresses for little girls under seven.
The white embroidered muslin bon
net, with a very high crown, is the
preferred headgear for little girls under
six.
Epaulettes are worn on frocks and
wraps, but they are generally in the
form Of 4 pointed cap reaching nearly
to the elbow.
Silk tricotinc, the new improved silk
Jersey webbing, forms many pretty
waists intended for wear with a variety
of skirts.
Among wool novelties are those in
which the weave initiate Russia leather,
crinlled morocco, alligator and rattle
snake skins.
New London parasols have handles
of wood covered part of their length
by the surah, pongee or silk that is used
for the canopy.
Black tulle, embroidered with cut
glass beads in all colors and colorless,
forms the skirts and draperies of many
summer festival dresses.
Quaint and cunning little old-fash-
ioned overdresses, with short waists
and long skirts are by some little
girls whose mothers have taste.
High coiffures still prevail for morn
ing toilet, but for low-necked evening
dress the hair. after being drawn high
on the top of the head, is made becom-
ing by the addition of long, large curls
falling from the chignon to the nape of
the neck.-N. Y. San.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04
THE THRUSH.

Thethrush sings high on the topmost Dough
Low. louder, low again; and now
&Ie has changed his tree you now not how
For you saw nj Hitting wing.
An the notes of the forest-throng.
Flute. reed and string, are in his song;
Never a fear knows he, nor wrong.
Nor a doubt of any thing.
Small room for caro- in that soft breast;
All weather that comes is to him the best,
While he secs his mate close on her nest,
And the woods are full of spring.
He has lost his last years love. know
He, ~ it's little he keeps of woe;
dor a bird forgcts in st year. and SO
Nc wonder the thrush can sing.
Atlantic Monthly.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04
TRAINING FLEAS.
A Circus Composed of Two hundred In.
telligent Little Insects.

A Circus Composed of Two Hundred In.
telligent Little Insects.
A flea circus, composed of about two
hundred of the most distinguished and
intelligent heas in the entire family,
was exhibited a few years ago.
Who first discovered that the flea was
susceptible to education and kind treat
ment is unknown; but the fact remains
that on their small heads there is a
thinking-cap capable of accomplishing
great results. In the selection of feas
for training. however, the same care
must be taken as with human beings.
as the greatest difference is found in
them. Some are exceedingly apt
scholars. while others a never learn,
so it is that great numbers of tieas are
experimental with before a troupe is
accepted.
One of the first lessons taught the
flea is to control it's jumping powers,
for if its great leaps should be taken in
the middle of a performance, there
would be a sudden ending to the cir
Gus. 10 insure against such a misfor-
tune, the student flea is first placed in
a glass phial, and encouraged to jump
as much as possible. Every leap here
made brings the polished head of the
flea against the glass, hurting the in
sect buck, and throwing it this way
and that, until, after a long and sorry
experience, and perhaps many head
aches, it makes up it's mind never to
unfold it's legs suddenly again. When
it has proved this by refusing to jump
in the open air, the first and most i'm
portant lesson is complete, and it
joins the troupe, and is daily harnessed
and trained, until, finally, it is pro-
nounced ready to go on the stage or in
the ring.-C. r. Holder, IN 81. Nicholas.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04
FOR D

A New York Optician Who Keeps Eye.
Glasses for These individuals.
In a leading up town opticians store
a sign is hung which attracts a great
deal of attention and excites not a little
curiosity. 1t is neatly painted on a
piece of white cardboard, and reads:
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04

....
DUDES GLASSES.
Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-04

"A garment, half ulster and half
newmarket. with hood, is introduced
as a spring wrap. 1t in plaids
of the kind to be seen twenty blocks
aWay.-N. ]. Mail.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-09-06
THE EARTHQUAKE DISASTER.
Charleston, y. C., Terribly Wrecked
Many Killed and Injured.

CHARLESTON, S. G., Sept. Ten
earthquake shocks occurred here BY
a. M, to-day, and the city is a COM
plete wreck The streets are blocked
with fallen buildings, telegraph poles
and tangled wires. After the earth
quake, fires broke out in different parts
of the city, but did not spread to any
extent. From 125 to 120 residences and
stores were consumed. The loss by fire
and earthquake cannot be accurately
estimated, but can be safely placed at
100000. As far as could be ascer-
tanned during the night, from fifteen to
twenty persons were killed and a much
greater number wounded in all sorts of
ways. Hundreds of families are rem
dered homeless, and there is no way of
leaving the city.
Fully two-thirds of the residences in
the city are uninhabitabe, being
wrecked either totally or partially 1t
is impossible at this time to give cor
rect estimate of the casualties. 1t is
expected that between fifty and one
hundred persons have been killed and
several hundred wounded, the majority
of the victims being colored people
About twenty houses were destroyed
by fire. Scarcely one hundred houses
in the city are occupied at this time.
The people are all encamped in the
open places. All the stores are closed
and Il scarcity Of provisions is feared,
not from want of provisions but be-
cause no one can be got to reach the
stores to sell Them. The city is wrapped
in gloom and business is entirely sus-
pended. The people generally remain
in the streets. in open lots and under
improvised shelters and will camp out
tonight, fearing another shock.
The gas works are injured and prob
ably the city will be without light to-
night. Broad Street presented spect-
acle of the utmost horror. Even women
fought valiantly with hatchets to rescue
the imprisoned unfortunates. Meeting
Street, from Broad to Hazel Street, is
a wreck. and is lined with unfortunates.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-09-06
Odd Fellows Excursion 20 Boston.

The meeting of the Sovereign Grand
Lodge of Odd Fellows, which will hold
its next session in the city of Boston,
commencing Monday, September 20,
presents an extraordinary opportunity
for all Odd Fellows aud their families
to make a trip to Boston and return at
an extremely low rate. All lines lead
ing from Chicago to Boston will sell
tickets at rate of S13 for the round
trip, and agents of the Chicago & North
western Railroad will sell tickets
through to Boston and return at a rate
of one fare for the round-trip to Chicago
and return added to the $l3 rate,
Chicago to Boston and return.
Full information relative to the trip
can be obtained by addressing any
agent of the Chicago & Northwestern
Railroad, or r. S. HAIR.
Gen'l Passenger Agent, Chicago.