davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
Four Hours of Sleep a Week.
Orangeville REGISTER


Henry johnson is q stout. robust
Young fellow Of 20 or 81, and except
being OF restless or nervous dispo-
sition there is nothing unusal about
him. Some four years ago the
young man found that he was able TO
do with much less sleep than other
young men of his acquaintance. He
could stay up all night at 8 dance and
not feel the loss of sleep the next day,
or he could read till late hour and
not feel sleepy the next morning.
His need for sleep decreased so much
that he began to number his hours OF
actual wakefullness during each week.
For the last three months of 1883 he
was awake nineteen hours a day,
While by April, 1884, he was sleeping
less than four hours each night. His
health was good, and SO he thought
little about not sleeping as much as
formerly. During the summer and
fall lof that year he slept less than
three hours each night, out GRE day
his attention was caught by an ar
ticle In the Sacramento Bee, where it
stated that loss of sleep would cause
insanity. He then began TO eat
heartily, and would drink half a
glass of porter before going to bed.
This made no difference about his
sleeping, so ne concluded that he was
an exception to the rule, and paid no
further attantion to his wakefullness
until the summer of the present year,
when he found that he was only Sleep
ing four or FIVE hours ia the whole
week.
He came TO Granville one day and
had 4 talk with DR.. T. w. Service
about himself. The Doctor saw that
he was in good health, and deemed
that it would be inadylsible to induce
sleep by the use of narcotics.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
How People Live In Washington.
Washington Capital

Life is comparatively easy in Wash
ington. People do not work so late
at night, nor do they get up so early
in the morning as in other cities.
There are no all-night cars on our
street railways, and the other day
begins on the car lines at 40 in the
morning, an hour when New York
seems to be all alive in summer. There
are 90, 900 breakfast tables in Wash
milton, and at 10000 of them the bell
rings TO sit down at s o'clock. In
cities like New York, Philadelphia,
Boston and Chicago the day work
begins for the the vast majority from
one to three hours earlier. Our PEG
pie 60 to bed early, too, and thus cut
the day off at both ends. 1t is safe to
say that Washington people gets $50
hours more sleep every year than do
those of her sister cities. No wonder,
then, that travellers remark upon the
sickness of Washington naen and the
plumpnesS of the women.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
The New Member of Congress.
Pittsburg Dispatch

To be one of 400; to be ignored by
the multitude, snubbea by hotel clerks,
and iHsulted by cab drivers; to be set
down like convict as mo 1885," or
mo SIC" TO be unknown TO the very
servants who wait, and found only by
reference to the house diagram; these
are the congressional honors that fall
to many persons who have suffered
mentally, physically, and pecuniarily
to get seat in the capitol, They fall
inevitably to a large number of very
good and very able men. By the
very nature of the case the majority
of the members of the house of repre-
sentatives must be known only by the
number of their seats, and heard only
by their "yea, yea," and may, nay"
For men of ambition and sensitive
natures this must be humiIitating and
aggravating. [ have seen men chafe
and fret under the restraint of circum-
stances a good many times. The mere
demagogue can find various ways of
satisfying his constituency of his per-
sonal Importance and legislative eff
cheney here; but the honest legislator
often finds 1t difficult to satisfy his
own conscience. The majority of
members of the house of represents
tives serve too short term to be Of
service to themselves or their consti-
tuents. The men who Rave made
their mark ia the legislation of the
country and left the impress of their
personality upon the laws of the land
have been men who have been develop
ed by long service, AID who have
built reputation and influence upon
the foundation Of experience. Pick
out The leaders of any congress and
you will find them men of long SER
vice. If you want to learn the sec
tons of country that have most profit
ed by national legislation and become
most powerful in national affairs, pick
out the states and sections that have
had the ablest and most exr 9rienced
representatives at the national capital.
When Indiana was represented IN the
senate By Senators Oliver P. Morton
and Thomas A. Hendricks she was re-
spected among states and statesmen
accordingly. Charles Summer and
many an eminent statesman before
him made the state of Massachusetts, q
power IN the national councils. Ros-
zoe Conkling was a fitting representa-
tive of the great state of New York.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
(TO be Colat511ued.)
Umbrellas on Starry Nights.

A reporter was standing the other
evening on Twenty third street op-
posite Madison square. 1t was a
beautiful evening and the stars were
out in all their fullness. Half dozen
ladies came across Broadway, and as
they reached the East Twentythird
street sidewalk they raised umbrellas
or parasols. The reporter saw over
score of ladies come along with UNI
brellas or parasoIs raised. Then a
few elderly gentlemen followed suit.
The reporters curiosity had by this
time reached limit, and he deter
mined to solve the enigma. Standing
la the doorway of a prominent res
taurant was man WHO was evidently
connected with the establishment.
Him the newspaper man approached,
and asked whether he could relieve
his anxiety.
every easily" he replied. cit
mystifed me for some time. The cause
is simply this: There are a great
many people whose eyes are so sensi-
tive that they can not stand the steady
glare of a strong light, which causes
4hem pain. Now, just opposite here
you see, are the six big electric lights
on the park pole, while here before
our house is another strong electric
light. It is to avoid the full olaze of
these that people raise parasels and
umbrellas. You Will notice that the
umbrellas are put down after the
electric light near the corner of Fourth
avenue is passed. Such people never
go out in the evening without an UNI
brella. They raise it whenever they
approach an electric light anywhere.
There are more umbrellas raised along
here, however, because the Madigon
square lights are unusually penetrat-
ing.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
Telephones.

The postmaster general of the Ger
nam empire in his yearly report, en-
tiers with considerable enthusiasm in
to the details of the telephone system
in Germany. AS to the question of
immediate verbal intercourse at great
distances, he says: "a large number
of our neighboring cities are placed
in communication with eacn other
by special wires, such connections
now numbering As, and the number
of miles aggregate g 1, 400. The long
est connection is between the boards
of trade of Berlin and Magddeprg, the
distance being 80 miles; that between
Frankfort and Mannheim, so miles
between Bremen and Bremeuhaven,
40 miles; between Hamburg and Lu
back; SO miles; between Nayence and
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
A Kind Act.

Another story about Charlie Ran
some, the recently deceased New York
gam bier: about twelve years ago
young fellow came down from Litch-
field, Conn, with so, 600 in his peck
ct. 1t was his entire fortune. and
with it he was going to buy a dairy
farm out in Orange county and then
get married to a girl ne left behind
him in Litchfeld. The first night he
was IL the city he happened to stun
BILE into Charles house. The next
morning he came out with just enough
to buy his ticket back to Litchfield
He bought it, went back, saw his
girl, told her the story, and then babe
her g@od-by. He was going he said,
and would never return until he had
got together again the $4,000. The
girl was one of those women who will
do anything for the man they love.
She told him TO wait there in Litch-
field for two days before starting for
California. Then she put on her
cloak and went alone to New York
and straight to Ransom. In a few
short words she told him the story.
Charlie shook her hand, said ne
wouldn't part her from her lover for
the world, asked how much had been
lost, took $4,000 out of the safe and
gave it to her, together with valu
able diamond pin to fasten the baby's
bonnet strings together. She blushed
and went home. They got married,
bought a farm, and haven't been ia
the city since; but the happy husband
always sent big brace of turkeys to
Charlie every Christmas and Thanks
irving
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
The Man Whe Looks Like the Presi
dent.
Albany Argus.


Thomas ]. Cumm1ns in build IS
nearly as heavy as Mr.. Cleveland
or used to be before the President
went to Washington. Short sighted
people and strangers very often mis-
day Mr.. Cummins sauntered into the
chamber of news. This was after the
Governors election to the presidency,
and crowds were great. The COVER
Bor was in his private office. Mr..
Cummins said he would wait. Sonae
Schoharia Democrats came in, and Il
the party were some ladies. There's
the President" said one good natured
ruralist, pointing to Mr.. Cummink
Up he went, and, grasping Mr.. Cum
MINIS by the hand, quickly said, 'Glad
to see you, Mr.. President. Allow me
to introduce you to -" and the
whole party shook hands before Mr.
Cummins could get IN word that he
was not the president.
Then one of the party ratified OH
''the hope that he would make goo
President" she had voted for him,
and that ''he would annihliate the
Indians. Again Mr.. Cummins at
tempted to explain that he was SOM
other fellow, but one Schoharia Dem
oc-at capped the climax by asking
plumply for Post Office. This stag
gered the genial Cummins. and h
broke in with: "I'll talk to you abou
Governmental policies, but for glvlns=
out Offices, allow me to introduce yo
to President elect Cleveland, VIII
just then entered the room: This We
the time the whole party of Schoharl
people staggered-so much SO that TT
man who wanted the Post Office TO
got all about it, and the party left tf
70 ON as quickly as possible. Mr.. Gun
MINIS told the incident TO Mr.. Cley
land. For a moment he.was sllen
Then he leaned over, and said sml
ingly: How would il do for you
stay here daily as my proxy.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
The Modern Matchmaker.
San Francisco Chronicle.

The only thing that doesn't care
about time is watch. Ii the life Of
man were not limited to three score
and ten, with all allowance for those
fellows who drink hard. smoke, and
chew tobacco, it would not matter,
but as long as the present arrange
ments exist a timekeeper is an abso-
lutte necessity. The modern watch
maker is an offshoot of the watchman-
ufacturer, and holds the same relation
to him that an undertaken does to 8
doctor. The only lucky people with
watches are the poor devils who have
to pawn them and are never In a posi-
ton to redeem them. It's unsafe
enough to buy a new watch. It is alb
lutely fatal to have 1t cleaned and re-
paired. Look here; you can buy a
brand new ticker for So. 1t will not
keep time. Those watches have q
deadly hatred of the railroad monopo-
lies, and now that the time has fallen
entirely under their control the wathes
resent it and refuse to be guided by
them. [ say this s. watch will not
keep time, but it requires just as much
ell as a $500 watch. Well, you've
bought So watch we'll say. 1t stops.
You go into a watchmaker's. He
opens it, sticks magnfying glass
in his eye and diagnoses its COM
plant.
'It is dirty, that's ali. 1t wants a
little cleaning"
"How much?"
-Four dollars"
The man who makes the watch lives
in castle built out of the profits Of
So watches. Where the watch cleaner
lives I dont know, but ne must hold
the national debt as an investment.
II he cleans it, I suppose he pays a
commission to the watch manufactur-
er, for the watch never pretends TO go
after that.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14


should you trouble yourself for me, and
risk"
"Trouble-risk," he repeated, passion
ately, and locking her hands in his own;
sit were happiness to die for you, Leo
nora. I loved you the first moment I
saw you; when, in that terrible fire.
you chung to me, trusted me, did not
all my heart beat for you? If now you
tell me for whose love I may save you
from this man, Heaven knows! [ will
gladly give you to the man you love.
though my own heart should break
what matters if you were happy"
Madonna mia!" said the girl, looking
upward, with almost awe; 'this is love
indeed. beyond any that dreamed of.
or deserved. Take then, noble heart,
the life you saved-for you are" she
faltered now, the fair head dropped,
'the man / love-"
"My darling, my life!" ST. Maur
locked the Venetian 20 his breast, and.
STOPPING, pressed his lips to hers. mine
only, then-my wife, is it not?"
eff you wiz, Guido mio!" she whis-
pered, hiding the crimson happy face
against him, 'but-oh, how can l
escape?"
Listen to me, sweetheart" said her
daring, reckless lover; my yacht, the
Sea Queen lies just out there, and
once aboard her, the arch fiend himself
could not catch her when she trips off
to sea; we can run into Naples, be we'd
ded by the chaplain at the English Con-
sulate, and then away to England and
home. VIII you trust your Guido, dar-
lingo"
"TruSt-do not I love your" she asked
simply; but how can I reach your
yacht-Annetta and II"
Easily, Leonora, for one so brave as
you are. You know the old church of
San Carlo, and the courtyard by the
cloisters, that is close to the canal, near
the lagoon end of it?"
Eyes" she looked up, Wonderingly,
"they say it is haunted by the ghost Of
the Countess Deltafrore; but am not
afraid of that"
II trow not, my brave heart" said
her lover, smiling; well then, to-mor-
row night, at midnight, I will be there
with my boat and its crew close by.
You and Annetta come there, and we
shall soon be away from your enemies,
my dear sweet one. Dress in white, be-
meath your mantle, and, if by chance
any one sees you, drop that, and you
will pass for the ghost of the ConteSsa.
She stood for minutes looking down,
twisting diamond ring on his finger
round in anervous manner; then looked
up full into his handsome face, every
kiss of her own settling into even more
marked decision than words.
"I will meet YOU" she said, firmly,
"the Marchesa is my friend, Twill come
to spend the evening with her, attended
by my nurse, and we can escape then
with Marchesa's aid, can also leave
with her many little things prize, and
she will send them to me-"
"TWelve, then, tomorrow night" he
said; 'now we will rejoin the dancers"
But those jealous cleaning eyes of
Flayio Gerald saw the pair come in,
and he sWore fiercely in his evil soul
that the Englishman's life was a
doomed one. Hours later, he held a
conference with a certain Well-knoWn
desperate.
But "L'hOn1111e propose, 17aais Dieu dis-
p0Se."
ITO be COntinGLed.)
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14

Frankfort, 16 miles, and between
Berlin and Potsdam. Upon the 4S
connections 2, 147, 900 communications
were sent froa October, 1854, to the
same date 1885, or "a, 900 messages
day. Large systems are under way
between Berlin and Breslau, Berlin
and Hanover, the length of the wire
measuring about IT'S miles. The ex-
pense for this postal-telephone system
was all met by the current re-
ceipts at the department, no loans for
this purpose being necessary"
For individual use I, 800 special tele-
phone stations were established, with
$3.50 telephones and over 3, 200 miles
of lines Of communication.
The telephone has become an hides
peneable means of communication be-
tween the civilized countries of the
old and new world and to show the
use each country is making Of the
invention the following table is given
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
Fire at Oberlin College
LADIES HALL IS A WRECK,

CLEVELAND, O., Jan. AT 1890
this morning fire was discovered in
the third story of ladies' hall, connect
ed with the college at Oberlin. The
building is brick structure stories
high and is owned by the college, It
accommodates $50 female and 100
male students. The inmates escaped
in their night garments. The hall is
a wreck. The loss will probably ap-
proximate $50.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
SeIf-Made Men.

There IS a great practical truth en-
bodied in the following: Life is a
school, and it is only through its
Struggles its mlshaps and disappoint-
ments, that we learn human nature,
ourselves and our fellowmen. 1t is
only through repeated falls that the
child learns to stand alone and walk.
He who is the architect of his own
good fortune, character and destiny,
IS always a great man, and if we ex-
anime we shall find that ninety nine
out of every hundred of such men
have begun life without any other aid
than sound physical, moral and IN
tellectual constitution, and have also
been successfully through all the
phases of life. relegated to obscurlty
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
The Waistband and the Shower of
Gems.
Pail Mall Gazette

S0NSISS'
Mr.. Streeter, the jeweler, told our
representative this story: Just after
the fall of Pekin a suspicious-looking
fellow called upon me and taking me
aside said he had just returned and
had something to show me. Where
is it?' I said. Down at Gravesend,
was the reply, and day or two after
ward, having got the rendezvous, a
friend and myself set out down the
river, each with his revolve. We got
down, went to house in low quar-
ter, and were passed into the mans
bedroom, where he was living. Now,
here and 4 will show you, he said,
motioning me to go behind the BED:
I didn't quite like it, but he reassured
me: and when he had me face to face,
keeping my eyes on him and my hand
on my pistol. he let down histrousers
and babe me put my hand on belt
which was strapped around his waist.
I want 100000 for that, he said,
softly; will you givei t2' After some
persuasion, he opened the oelt and
poured out a shower Of diamonds,
which lighted up the shabby room.
Where did you get them from2' I
asked. He refused to say, and after
some bargaining we came to terms.
He handed me the diamonds, and then
I turned round and said: Now, my
man, if you will call at =, my bank
er's you will find a check ready for
you at 10 tomorrow morning. But
before that must have references and
an account He gave them to me
without murmur, and | found them
all right
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
Business Failures.

NEW YORK, Jan. S,-The business
failures occurring throughout the
country the past week number for the
Z. 5. 316, and for Canada 90, total
$50, being the largest aggregate of
any week since Jan. 1885.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
England.
England.
THE QUEEN WILL OPEN PARLIAMENT IN
PERSON
PERSON,

LONDON, Jan. 9.-The private secre-
tary to the queen, telegraphed to Lon
don this afternoon, that her majesty
would open the forthcoming session
of parliament IN person.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14

By way of comparison 1t may be of
interest to add that the number of
telephones now IN use in the United
States is estimated at 250,00O.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14
A Narrow Escape.

One day recently Utah and North
ern train was nearing Silver Bow,
Montana territory, and as the loco
motive passed some cliffs the engineer
saw dark object spring Oh the cow
catcher. Nothing further being motto
ed he thought that possibly it was a
lump of dirt, which had rolled off
again. The fireman went to oil the
engine shortly after and discovered a
large animal crouched on the cow
catcher. Upon seeing the fireman the
beast started toward him along the
foot board, the man getting back into
the cab barely in time to save himself;
The engineer recognized IN the animal
a huge mountain lion, and opened the
steam whistle, the sound of which
frighteded the strange visitor SO that
it Jumped off. A subsequent search
was made near the spot and the body
of the lion was found, its neck hav-
ing been broken by the fall. The
carcass weighed 300 pounds.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-14

A liquor seller presented bis bill to
the executor of a deceased customers
estate, asking. do you wish my bill
sworn toy NO" said the executor;
s'the death of the deceased is sufficient
evidence that he had the liquor"
The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-18
ON CHANGE.

CLOSING prices of the May options
at Chicago yesterday; Pork, 50 20,
lard, &c; clear rib sides, 5.20c; corn,
3sBc; wheat, S4l oats, size.
VISITORS on Change yesterday: w.
T. Chapman OF Randolph, VIM. O..
Harris of San Bernardino, w. NJ. Al
sup of Attention, Tenn, VIM. Bardel
of New York, j. j. Worrell of Jack
son, Capt. +. +. Norton of Tupelo,
Miss, w. II. Colvin, G. w. Merriam,
John Roper and Samuel Baker of Chi
cago, G. d. Green, j. r. Calhoun, Miss
Nj. G. Green, Miss NJ. f. Gibbs of
Covington, j. N. Brown of Olive
Branch, Miss, NJ Barker of Arkansas,
w. Rudolph of st. Louis, G. f. Robe
son of Mississippi, S. L. Bynum of
of Mississippi, W. c. Roper Of Missis-
sippi, Jos. Waldauer of Greenville,
Miss, S. p. Turner of Ash Flat, Ark,
G. b. Wilson of GAINESVILLE, Tenn,
James J. Quinn of Little Rock, Ark
The following spicy letter is worthy
of republication here:
To the Editor of the Commercial Bulletin:
NEw YuRE, March Is, 1886.
am not cotton Spectator, but
know enough about the habits of
spectators to know that the bears are
generally most numerous at the bot
tom of the market, and that business
is always bad in Manchester until the
spinners are well stocked with cotton.
In looking into the Chronicle of last
Saturday, find a TACT which seems to
me to be important. Here it is; "In
the Manchester market report, mid
ding cotton is quoted, 4 l3-l6d, and
Sl-lb shifting, IS I'd TO Is I'd. Last
wear middling cotton, S l5-l6d; St-lb
shifting. IS Oh to is Sd. Now, being
an outsider will not attempt to eX-
plain this in accordance with the bad
trade theory. Perhaps some of the
Cotton Exchange experts can do so.
1t seems from the quotations that the
Manchester manufacturers get rather
more for their cloth than last year,
and pay II penny that is 2t cents
less for their cotton! l didhave some
idea of raising subscription for the
relief of Manchester, but ! have re-
considered it, and willwait for further
information. SPECTATOR