davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
The Future Of Spain.
Pail Mall Gazette.

What is to be the future of Spain is a
very difficult question. On the side of the
monarchy is, first Of all, strange as itmay
seem, its weakness. The queen, 81 years
old, d foreigner, a widow, with two little
girls, of whom the eldest is 5 years old,
presents such a picture of helpless weak
ness as almost makes her strong. She is
so manlfestly helpless as to be scarcely
worth the trouble of upsetting. Her stu
alton enlists sympathy. If she plays her
cards well some people think that her rule
may be accepted as that which divides
Spain the least. Personally, too, she seems
to have shown common sense and a brave
spirit IN the recent emergencies. She is
not afraid of work. She insists on seeing
everything that is written about her, even
the atrOciOus accusations which some
papers have not scrupled to publish. When
there is question of foreign or colonial
affairs she must always have a map of the
countries concerned wherewith to elucidate
the papers. In short, she is a woman of
considerable aptitude for business, public
or private, and the line which she struck
out In the few words which she addressed
to the ministers after the kings death was
mastery. She told them that she was a
stranger and a wido with no intreste of
her own to serve in Spain, but determined
to devote herself solely to the education of
a monarch, who, when of age, should rule
the country. She herself would then gladly
retire. So far all has gone well for her.
The minority will, however, at the best, be
a long one. If son is born it will be five
years longer than as things stand at pres
ent. can not help thinking that the odds
are heavily against the monarchy, and that
within a very few years the example of
France, always powerful in the peninsula,
will be followed in the establishment of a
conservative republic. For the moment
the active republicans are afraid to move
for fear that if they did so the Carlists
might slip into power in the confusion
that would surely ensue; the Carlists again
dare not stir for fear that if they attacked
the regency the republicans might carry
off the spoils. But the Carlists are much
weaker than they were. The response
made to their agents in the north by the
population on which they used to rely has
been far from satisfactory. The present
pope is more tolerant than his predecessor,
and his counsel to the priests is against
war; on the other hand, the republicans all
over Europe are stronger than they have
ever been, The absence of any dangerous
socialism in Spain is in favor of moderate
republicanism. The only Spaniard with a
Eu ropean reputatiOne, Castelar,, repub-
lican, and chivarlry counts for little in
DOlificS
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13

from it's noxious odors. The grease
from dishwater often clogs the pipe. Am
monia, used instead of soap for dish
washing, would soon clear away the OBJ
struction, as it works chemically upon
grease and "kills" it. A solution of lye
would have the same effect.
On examining the accumulations of su-
perfuous furniture or cast-off clothing in
the attic, sort out, with free hand. what
may be spared for the needs of others.
Winter clothing must be cared for before
the insidiOus moth-miller claims it for his
home, and matches those destructive little
worms that live but to destroy. Hang
the garments on the line outdoors and
beat them well with whisk. Then envelop
them in brown paper and mark the name
of garment and its owner with ink on
each package.
Carpets infested by buffalo bugs should
be steamed with a damp cloth and hot
fat-iron, which will kill the eggs, and the
adult miscreant that shows himself will,
no doubt, meet the fate he deserves on
the spot. The steaming operation should
be repeated frequently. Bedsteads washed
occasionally with kerosene will never be
troubled with vermin. Dalmatian powder
sprinkled in the way of ants, when their
visits begin, will cause them to disappear.
Powdered borax also is said to be good.
When a room is to have new paper, the
old ought to be removed first. A boiler
of hot water set in the room, and the
doors closed for a while, will cause the
paper to loosen so that it may be taken
off without difficulty. The woodwork may
then be cleaned easily while the dirt is
sOftened by the steam. Weak I've is in
valuable for cleaning painted woodwork.
and saleratus water is good, but both must
be thoroughly rinsed off before the final
wiping. Whiting or finely powdered
quartz is serviceable for the most soiled
spots. Ammonia, used in the proportion
of tablespoonful Cor less if very strong)
to quart of hot water, is an excellent
cleanser. Afterward. use it still more di-
luted for the plants.
Rub the nickel-stove trimmings and the
plated handles and hinges of doors with
kerosene and whiting, and polish with a
dry cloth. Ten cents worth of oxalic acid
dissolved in pint of hot water will re-
move paint-spOts from the windows. Pour
q little into cup and apply to the spots
with a swab, but be sure not to allow the
acid to touch the hands. Glasses may be
quickly cleaned with it. Great care must
be exercised in labelling the bottle and
putting it out of the reach of children, as
it is deadly poison. Spots in vanished
furniture are removed by rubbing them
with essence of peppermint or spirits of
camphOr, and afterward using furniture
polish or cold linseed oil.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
A Fleet StenOgrapher.
Richmond State.

One of the most rapid shorthand or
stenographic reporters in Richmond is
George Lafferty, son of DR.. J. J. Lafferty,
editor of the Richmond Christian Advo-
cate. Young Lafferty is private secretary
of Gov. Lee, but he had higher aspira-
tions, and he made fight for the position
of official stenographer in the United
States congress.
The shorthand reporters of the capitol
constitute close corporation. They
would have no stranger enter the charmed
circle, and least of all from the south
They are paid $4,000 each and their places
are worth the having. But a new reporter
was wanted, and the civil-service commits
sloners interpOsed, and that 10 improper
adventurer might secure the rotund sti-
pend the stenOgraphers themselves were
authorized to apply the curcial test, and
George Laferty (private secretary to Gov
Fltz Hugh Lee came up from Richmond
There was a yiyaciOus Swede undergoing
examination as a witness before the con-
gressional committee, and Lafferty was
sent to report the Swede, who uttered POS
words each minute. For five hours cues
tioning lawyers and the more voluble
Swede ratified away, as did. the reporter.
Next morning Lafferty read the 10000
words of his report to the lawyers and
the Swede. 1t was pronounced perfect.
and Lafferty won the place he sought.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
Cultivation of Lettuce.
Our Country Home.

The secrets of successful lettuce culture,
are early sewing, rich, well-prepared soil,
and giving the plants plenty of room.
The seed should be sOwn early, because
being small, it must be planted shallow,
and hence can not endure much drouh,
and also because lettuce is a cool weather
plant, and so thrives better in the moist
and mild weather of spring, than the dry
and hot weather of summer. The soil
should be rich to promote rapid growth,
and well prepared to facilitate the germi-
nation of the seed. AS the plants of most
varieties, when fully developed, are foot
or more in diameter, it is obvious that the
rows should be rather more than a foot
apart; Is to 20 inches is a good distance,
Sow the seeds rather thinly in drills, and
as soon as the plants are sufficiently large
for use commence thinning out the rows !;
at first to about two inches apart. When
the bed is passed over in this way, go
over it again, thinning this time to four
or more inches apart. By following this
method, removing each time every alter
nate plant, the remaining ones rapidly de-
veIop, and the later ones will grow to an
immense size, often foot or more in
diameter.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
For the Household.
Chambers Journal.
THE KITCHEN AND THE PARLOR.


In large cities and in the houses of the
rich, the upper men-servants are practi-
cally their own masters. They make
their own stipulations as to hours, food,
allowances, liberties: and compound for
the nervous exhaustion of perpetual
worry, which does not include hard work.
by a scale of feeding which is more savage
than civilized in the quantity of flesh
meat included. They can make the house
pleasant or intOlerable to guests, and in a
thousand sly, mysterious ways they cause
the mistress annOyances which cannot be
brought home to them, and of which they
enjoy the effect produced
In the kitchen, the cook is absolute
mistress, and holds her lady as merely
the superscriber of her own menu for the
day, as well as the bank whence is drawn
the money for the which she pays.
And in the payment of those bills, as well
as in dealing with remnants of which
woe betide the mistress who should rec
Ommend the home consumptiOn!--the cook
doubles and trebles her wages, and feath-
ers her own nest with the down plucked
from her employers.
Can we wonder at this? We put half
educated person inrO place of trust and
temptation; we neither check nor overlook
her; we trust all to her abstract honesty
and sense of justice; there is no danger
of discovery, still less of punishment; she
has before her the additional temptation
Of pleasing her fellow servants, with whom
she lives in hourly contact, rather than of
saving the pockets of her rich employers,
whom she scarcely Knows and rarely sees;
and then we lift up-o our hands at the de-
pravity of human nature, when we find
that the tradesmen give back a percent
age of their bills, and that whole pounds
of wax candles swell the perquisites of
the grease spots handsomely. But next
door the rich merchant is a fraudulent
bankrupt; the respectable family lawyer
over the way abscOnds after having dealt
with his clients securities; masters
friend, the banker, puts up his shutters to
the ruin of thousands on thousands, while
his wife has a secured jointure which en-
ables them to live in princely style; and
the stakeholder, who dimes with US on
Sundays, makes use of private informa-
ton to sell to his best friend shares which,
up to their highest point to-day, he knows
will cOllaspe like burst balloon to-mOr-
row. Are we not a little hard on the
kitchen, seeing what is done in the par
lOr?
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
HINTS TO HOUSEWIVES.
degrees

Mortar and paint may be removed from
wlndow-glass with not, sharp vinegar.
Grained woods should be washed with
cold tea, and then, after being wiped dry,
rub with linceed oil.
Remove flower-pot stains from window
sills by rubbing with fine wood ashes and
rinse with clean water.
Strong brine may be used to good advan-
tage in washing bedsteds. Hot alum
water is also good sor this purpose.
Drain-pipes and all places that are sour
or impure may be cleansed with lime-water
or carbOic acid or chloride of lime.
Cayenne pepper blow into the cracks
where ants cOngregate will drive them
away. The same remedy is also good for
mice.
Hellebore sprinkled on the floor at night
destroys cOckroaches. They eat it and
are poisoned. 1t should be swept up
each morning.
Plush goods and all articles dyed with
aniline colors, faded from exposure to
light, will look as bright as ever after
spOnging with chloroform.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
FARM NOTES.

A handful of linseed meal fed to each
COW Or horse at least three times week
will not only regulate the bowels and pro-
mote health, but also loosen the skin and
prevent hide bound.
Winter wheat does better on a strong,
freshly plowed sod. The soil does not
pack so hard, and the sod allows more
drainage, so that the water cannot rot and
destroy the roots of the wheat.
The Southdown sheep are somewhat
small, but have great proportion of
meat to offal. They are brown and gray
faced, no horns, thick, close wool between
the ears, with fine form, and very hardy.
Cream rises almost wholly when the
milk is cooling, says the Dairy Farmer,
and if the milk is warmed up to 100 de-
grees, the cream will nearly all rise while
the milk is gradually cooling down to so
degrees.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13

ness to stop the first man he meets, with
smile clear back to his ears, and shout
out:
"Why. old fel, how solemn you do look!
Brace up, man--life is worth the living ten
times Overt"
[ used to reverence Green, He had a
grip of the hand like carpenters wise
he had voice as bland as June-he'd
make consumptive believe that nothing
more than sore heel was the matter. l
used to lie in ambush for him just to hear
his hearty voice and see his serene coun-
tenance, and I'd 60 about my days work
wondering what sort Of a guardian angel
he had. [ found out one day when a
policeman had to go in and stop him from
beating his wife.
When you find man who can grin over
the servant girls jumping out at an hours
notice, with wife fiat in bed and the child
rem having a scarlet fever look around
the eyes, don't you go off on fishing
trip with him. When a man can soar
among the angels with bill collectors ring
ing his dOorbeL-last weeks grocery bill
unpald-the children wanting shoes-the
rent running behind and his wife cough
ing all night long, he's an internal old
fraud and ought to be kicked. When a
chap who has frozen the children, iawed
the cook and blasted his wife as a sort of
morning tonic before leaving the house
meets you about block from the gate
and is troubled because you haven't got
your angels harp on your shoulder, keep
your hand on any stray half-dollar you
happen to have about you. He's mean
enough to steal chicken broth from boy
with broken back
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
The Spring Cleaning.
Coed Houses eeper.

A writer in a seasonable article says:
The cellar is good place in which to
begin hostilities. The ash-bin should be
emptied; the furnace cleared, and every
bit of useless rubbish disposed Of. A faith
full search for overlooked and decaying
vegetables is necessary, for they are pro
life cause of disease. If needful. the air
OF the cellar may be purified and paras-
itical growth destroyed by burning brim-
stone in un old pan, closing doors and
windows closely, meanwhile for few
hours. After the floor has been sprinkled
and swept a coating Of whitewash should
be applied to the walls and woodwork.
Add to the wash copperas, which is a
cheap article, in the proportion of or
s pounds to half a bushel of quicklime
This has a cleansing and disinfecting
properties, and is sovereign prophylac-
tic against the ravages of rats and mice
Once a year is none too often for this to
be be done.
The drain of the kitchen sink must
never be neglected. Dissolve few cents
worth Of copperas in a pailful of hot
water, and pour little of this liquid in
to the dragpipe daily, and it will be freed
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
A Family Of ImbecileS.
PhiladeIDhia Reoord


The most pitiable case that has yet
come under the notice of the lunacy COM
mittee was discovered last week in FOun-
ta1ndale, Adams county, where Jacob
Miller, wealthy farmer, was found liv-
ing with his eight imbecile children The
mother of this miserable family had died
several years ago insane, her reason hav-
ing given way under the terrible str ain to
which she had been subjected. The poor
woman had given birth to eleven child
rem between 1860 and 1874, and not one
of her numerous offspring was possessed
of a sound mind. Nine children are still
living, one daughter possessed of limit
ed amount of intelligence having been
married. The remaining eight are cared
for by their father in his home, which was
in most deplorable condition when Sec
rotary CURT visited the place. Five of the
children are driyeling idiots, past all
hope of improvement, while the other
three are somewhat brighter. The oldest
child Is the worst of all, scarcely poss-
ess1ng the instincts of an animal He sits
at window all day long, and from the
constant swaying of his body has worn a
hole IN the window sill where his head
touches the woodwork. Mr.. Miller ex-
pressed deep affection for his unto. tun-
ate children. He said they were fed well
and seemed happy, though he was not
able to keep them well clothed on account
of their filthy habits. It was learned
that Mr.. and Mrs, Miller were blood cou-
sins of the first degree, and to this fact
alone the members of the committee at
tributed the imbecility of their offspring
The father however had no explanation
for the matter, and he looked upon the
atf1lctlOn as stroke of providence.
A singular phase of the affair is that
the committee can find no legal way of
reaching the case. Two daughteas, y
and IA years of age respectively, and one
OF the sons are capable of i'm prove
ment If placed in proper institution,
as the Media training school, but as Mr..
Miller IS well to do, owning two hundred
acres Of land, and the children not in
sane, the committee can not invoke the
insanity laws nor make the children
state charge. The matter was laid be-
fore the society to protect children from
cruelty. bat after consultation of the
officers with their solicitor it was found
that the society could not interfere, and
there is no provision in the law by which
1t can take charge of such children.
DR.. CURT said yesterday. "This is the
most deplorable case that has ever come
under my notice. The father does not
seem to comprehend the responsibility.
Three of the boys are able to work on the
farm, and as long as the physical wants of
the children are satisfied Mr.. Miller is con-
tented. l tremble for the consequences
when the other two daughters grow up.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
Sowing Grass Seed.
AgriculturiSt,

When grass seed is sown by itself in
the spring it often does better and makes
q better and evener stand than when sown
in any other way. The conditions are
simple, but must be absolutely carried out
or there will be poor success. As soon as
the ground can be worked in the spring it
should be enriched and plowed- or better,
perhaps, especially in heavy soil-plowed
and enriched. The manure should be fine
compost or fertilizer, most thoroughly
narrowed in. The seed bed must be even
and fine, and to this end it is best to har-
row it enough for any crop and then re-
peat. If good the yard manure can be
plOwed in, a top dressing of superphos-
phate narrowed in, and then a good dust
ing of wood ashes over all, to be brushed
in with the grass seed, April and May
rains will bring forward the grass SO that
there will almost be sod by the middle
Of June. For lawns and door yards this
is the quickest way of getting grass, and,
when thus treated, it makes an evener and
better sward than if one goes to the ex-
pense of sOdding. AS soon as the grass
shows green over the whole ground, 80 to
200 pounds of nitrate of soda to the acre
may be applied. This must be done in
rainy weather, after the ground is thor
Oughly wet and before the rain is quite
over. This application appears to take
the place of sunshine and warmth in slim
ulating the grass to a healthy, vigorous
growth.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
Strikes for a Smile.
Detroit Free Press.

Your habitually cheerful man is an old
fraud and liar. He is well-dressed, while
his children are the rag-bags of the neigh
borhood. He has dollar for cigars when
his wife wears bonnet six years old. He
passes for whole-sOuled fellow with the
public, but is a Pathfinder at home.
You'll see him taking the cool breezes on
the river, while his family are weltering
IN stufy house on some back street
want to see man grin when there's
anything to grin at, but when Green gets
up IN the morning and declares he hasn't
had meal fit to eat for the last three
months, and that he can't see why his
wife IS always grooming around and his
children always whining, he has no bust
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13
\ Clean Hog.
Live Stock journal.

The hog can probably endure as much
hardship as any other dOmesticated ami
mails, but is this any reason why it should
receive abuse, or be subjected to hard
ship in any form? We think not. No
one of our animals more promptly re-
spends to kind treatment and clean sur
roundings than the. 1t is popularity con-
sldered filthy. This arises from the fact
that the hog is usually confined to filthy
quarters. Is this the fault of the hog or
of its owner? Why are its quarters filthy?
They were clean when the hog was first
put into them. Was it the natural filth
ness of the hog above other animals that
made its quarters filthy. or was it owing
to the narrow limits in which it was CON
fined? What could it do in such quarters
but make them filthy? True, the hog
likes to roll in the mire in hot weather. SO
does the COW like TO stand in the running
stream, pond or mire in hot weather. The
hog will take to the clean water if he can
get 1t. Both do this for the same reason
because Of the grateful coolnes of
moisture, and the fact that the portions
of the animal organism under water are
free from the annoyance of flies. The
hog like the bovine, also likes 10 lie in
the cool shade. Give both a fair chance
to Keep clean and they will do so. Con-
fine them In too narrow limits, and they
will get filthy. Given equal chances. and
there is not much difference between the
two. But the custom is to crowd the hoo
into narrow quarters, and compel it to
remain there. Lacking human reason. If
may not do the best thing possible to
heep clean in its confined home: but in
this respect it will not display much more
lack of reason and hog sense than its
owner in not proving more ample room
and better natural facilities for keeping
clean. Give the hog g clean bed, with
free locomotion, and it will keep it clean.
Give it wide field of clover to roam and
root in, and it will keep itself clean,
thy and thrifty. Both the hog and the
owner will be benefited by the compare
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-13

Spring!
To be sure-so it Island I'm going to sing.
Not the tunes that the regular poets rehearse
In ridiculous verse.
I've nothing of winds aromatic to say.
Nor pansies, nor tulips, nor hyacinths gay
live in the city,
And discover pretty
Green leaflet or bud
Sticking out or the mud;
Nor do hear the MARBLE OF black bird or blue;
Yet know it is Spring just well as pou do.
Az / know il too we'll for its all spring for me;
From long before breakfast till long after tea,
/ spring with the mats and the rugs out of doors:
1 spring to the carpets-drag them from the
floors;
1 spring up step ladders and wash down the
walls;
spring to the windows, spring to the halls;
spring to each corner each closet each mock;
I spring at each dust-laden picture and book;
| spring to the garnet were cobwebs abound;
spring Gf may be allowed the expression) to
cellar, railway underground;
I sprng-but good gracious to tell everything
| spring at what would take me the whole of the
Spring.
And when spring is over I feel, I declare,
As though my springs were broken beyond all
repair.
Spring!
To be sura-sO it is--bUt let nobody bring
Any poems to me about beautiful flowers,
Or life giving SnO werS
Or vinecovered bowers
Or sun shiny hours,
For really such things seem extremely unmean-
ing
To one on whom Spring springs lot of Spring
cleaning.