davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28

in it. Turpin at first made light Of it as
much as anybody, and even offered 10 bet
that he would die the simple widoYer of
Mrs Turpin. In spirit of braggadocio
he went SO far as to call on the widow to
show the superstitious that he was not
afraid of an old woman who had out
witted seven good men. What occurred
at the widows house while he was there
is not known, but he came away as
smiling as ever. He was at the village
store the same evening, but said little
about his visit except that the widow
was cheerful and IN good health, and
| likely to last for many years to come.
He left the store about 10 o'clock, and
was seen walking over Farmer Togewell's
stubble field in the direction of his home,
which stands ON the opposite side of the
village, in grove of chestnut trees, near
| the cranberry bog, generally known as
| the "Widow Peterson's half acre" He
| has not been seen since. His disappear
ance was noted after day Or so, but it
was supposed That he was kept home by
sickness. On last Friday one of the
| neighbors went to the house to inquire
about his health. He found the house
| keeper, an old woman who hsd lived on
| the premises for many years. She at
| first said that Turpin was sick in bed
| but afterwards said he was not at home.
| Finally she took the visitor into the par
| lor, and showed him letter, which, she
said, she had received from town in
Ohio. The letter was signed by Turpin.
1t explained his disappearance. The
| housekeeper said that Turpin was not at
home on the night on which he was last
seen at the store, nor had she ever seen
| him afterwards, or known that ne in
tended going away, or where he was, until
she got the letter. The following is a
copy of the letter:
MANSFIELD, Ohio, Feb. %, 1886.-DEAR
| Miss MARTIN: [ have gone away and [
will not come back; maybe not at at all.
[ have sold all my property to Josiah
Black. The reason [ have gone is [ do
not intend to marry the widow. [ was
afraid I might have had to some way, if
Istayed,
JAMES TURPIN.
The news of Turpins disappearance
and the reasons assigned therefor threw
the village into great excitement, and
many who had been friends to the widow
announced themselves against her.
But the strongest thing of all was to
| come. The widow was up and about as
| usual on Sunday morning, and in the
afternoon she went upstairs and lay
down on the bed in the room in which
| her husband died of a broken heart.
There she was found, about o'clock in
| the evening.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28

will not talk about the matter for publ
cation, but they have conversed with and
shown letter from counsel to several
persons from whom your correspondent
has derived his knowledge OF its contents.
To the above The World adds; Mr..
Andrew H. Green, the only one of the
Tilden trustees in town yesterday was
asked for his opinion concerning the
points alleged for contesting the will,
but declined to speak at all touching the
matter. 1t will be remembered that the
Will provided that any of the legatees
who my contest the will shall be deprived
OF all benefits under it. The nephews
were each left the income of $4,000 be-
sides being held quit of large advances
made them by Mr.. Tildcn during his
lifetime
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
The Greatest of Grear Walls.


says correspondent who has recently
been travelling IN China: OF course we
had TO go TO the great walls of China.
Inns country abounds in great walls.
Her mural defences were most extensive
walled country, walled cities, walled VIII
lagos, walled palaces and temples-wau
after wall and wall within wall. But the
greatest of all is the great wall of China.
which crests the mountain range and
crosses the gorge from here some forty
miles away. Squeezing through lie
last deep gorge and the deep rift in me
solid rock cut out by ages of rolling
wheels and tramping feet, we reach the
great frowning, double-bastioned gateSof
stone and hard-burned briek-one arch
way tumbled in. This was the object of
our mission, the great wall of China, built
two hundred and thirteen years before
our era; built of great slabs of well-hewn
stone, laid in regular courses some twenty
feet high and then topped out with large.
hard-burned brick, filed in with earth
and closely paved ON the top with more.
dark tawny brick-the ramparts high and
thick and castelled for the use of arms.
Right and left the great wall sprung far
up the mountain sjde-now straight now
curved to meet the mountain ridge, tur-
F0beu SdCu bHE66 uuuur6Q t6Gt-a frOTn-
ing mass of masonry. No need to tell
you of the wall; the book will tell YOU how
it was built to keep the warlike Tartars
out-twenty five feet high by forty thick.
twelve hundred miles long, with room on
top for six horses to be driven abreast.
Nor need tell you that for fourteen hun
dred years it kept those hordes at bay.
nor that, in the main, the material used
upon it is just as good ana firm and
strong as when put in place. Twelve hun
dred miles of this gigantic work built on
the rugged, craggy mountain tops, vault
ing over gosges, spanning wide streams,
netting the ever archways with huge hard
bars of copper, with double gates, with
swinging doors and bars set thick with
iron armor-a wonder in the world before
which the old-time classic seven wonders,
all gone now save the great pyramid.
were toys. The great pyramid has S.
100000 cubic feet, the great wall $780,
100000 cubic feet. An engineer in Sew
ards party here some years ago gave it
as his opinion that the cost of this wall,
| figuring labor at the same rate, would
| more than equal that of all the 100000
miles of railroad in the United States.
The material it contains would build a
wall six feet high and two feet thick right
straight around the globe. Yet this was
done in only twenty years without trace
of debt or bond. 1t is the greatest indi-
vidual labor the world has ever known
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
A Natural Tunnel in Virginia.


William D. Jones, of Philadelphia, who
has been the proud owner of probably
the only natural tunnel in this country,
gave it away the other day to a railroad
company. The tunnel is in Scott county,
Va, and Mr.. Jones gave it away because
the railroads company, which IS an ex-
tension of the Norfolk and Western known
as the South Atlantic ard Ohio Railroad,
proposes to build track through it and
open up to civilization and commerce
rich region lying in Virginia, Kentucky
and Tennessee, where Mr.. Jones owns
over 81, 900 acres. Mr.. Jones, who is
capitalist, living at 818 North Sixteenth
street, Philadelphia, inherited the tunnel
and many thousands of acres of land
from his uncle. The civil war delayed
The development of that section of the
country, which is very mountainous and
sparsely settled, and it is only recently
that enterprising Bostonians have fur
nished the money to bring to light its
wealth of coal, iron ore, lumber, building
stone and marble. Mr.. Jones' tunnel,
which penetrated a rocky range that
otherwise furnished an impenetrable
barrier to the progress of the region, was
the key to the situation, and with it he
unlocked the material treasures of the
New South. The tunnel which has been
formed by the action of Stock Creek, the
larg est fork of the Clinch river, extends
in slight curve 933 feet through the
solid rock of hill with perpendicular
sides and $50 feet high at one entrance
and SOP at the other. The spring of its
spacious arch is from 100 to 10 feet
above the floor and the width is about
ITO feet. Through this broad and roomy
passage the waters of Stock Greek flow
in a gentle incline, occupying but por-
ton of the space, and so slight is the
grade that the track of the new road can
be laid upon the rock floor with but little
labor. The rock is a hard limestone, and
countless ages must have passed before
the waters OF the creek burst through the.
adamantine barrier and cut out a noble
arch. The remoteness of the tunnel from
civilization is given as the reason why it
is so little known. The new road will
run from Bristol Tenn, to Big Stone
Gap, Va, on the Kentucky State line,
distance of eighty miles. About forty
miles of it have been graded, and it Is
under contract to be finished in two
years. Had it been necessary to tunnel
through the mountain the company must
have spent at least 100000. The coal
found in the country is camel, bltumin-
Gus and splint, and will be carried to the
seaboard by the Norfolk and Western
Railroad for shipment.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
Stories Of the Men that Made Us.
St Nicholas

A visitor to the Continental camp at
Cambridge relates a dialogue which he
heard between a captain and one of the
privates under him.
"Bill," said the captain, ego and bring
a pail Of water for the men,"
Il shan't," said Bill. Its your turn
now, captain; got 1t last time"
A story is told of a company Of rife
men rails ed in one of the frontier coun-
ties of Pennsylvania. So many volun-
teers applied as to embarrass the leader
who was enlisting the company, and he
drew on a board with chalk the figures of
a nose of the common size, placed the
board at the distance of $50 yards, and
then declared he would take only those
who could b the mark. Over sixty sue
ceeded.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
AUTUMN EVENING. w,
LUTHER G.. RIGGS.

The sun sinks slowly in the west.
The wind signs through tie vale,
Twilight steals DER the lakes broad breast,
And leaves float on the gale.
The year seems lovlier in decay,
The woods of various hue
Reflect the tinfs of dying day,
Seen through heavens field Of blue.
The lone crags CLEAN with tender light,
BY suns ct glorieS kist
Ere yet the cool, voluptuous night,
Wells them in tawny mist;
The cony hides gray rocks beneath,
The squirrel seeks his nest
Nor list they hounds on distant heath,
But seek perfect rest.
l love the hue that autumn gives
Her dying plants and leaves,
And cherish ling the plaintive song
The forest spirit breathes.
They tell Of hopes that childhood knows
OF dreams that long since fed
They tell of love that faceless grew
Around the sanity dead.
They breathe song Of other days
A low and plaintive air
Till thronging comes familiar lays.
And echo softly where
Within the chambers of the heart
They once so fondly stole;
Like guests meier reaOy 10 depart,
They linger on the soul.
How lovely is the tenderness
The autumn throws around
The saddest heart, in gentlenesS,
AS leaves fall to the ground.
Trobs there heart that would not melt
AS oden memories creep,
All laden with righteousness,
Ger which we love to weep?
AS DER the weird Holian Tyre
The passing zephyrs brush,
And from its fine and trembling wire
Their latest cadence guSh.
So DER my spirits siumbering chords
If memory chance 10 roll,
There comes in dreamy, low loVe-words,
Soft echoes to my soul.
And now she brings me dreams Of one
My early boyhood knew
One DER whose newly moulded grave
But last years violets grew.
oh, how we love to Irvine our hopes
And dwell on perfect bliss
Then weep TO think that from Times shore
Has fed all happiness.
Now on my hearts unbroken shrine
Her changeIesS love is thrown;
While the bright fTOSt-wOrk gathers there
Like moss around a stone.
I would not Danish memory out
My heart was parched too,
As flowers upon some desert spot
Would die without the devil
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
The Ability Required.
"NIU II
Familiar

''Well, Coupon, [ understand you are
getting up burlesque show to take out
on the road?"
eyes, am. It'll be great company,
too"
"Must take considerable mathematical
ability to run burlesque show, doesn't
it?"
'Why, no; none in particular. What
made you think it did,"
ooh, thought it was all matter OF
figures. YOU know"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
Sweetness Wasted ON Desert Air.
Texas Siftings

Two colored women were conversing
about neighbor.
Else gwinter hab de law on dat mig
gah."
'Dat will only make hit wuss. Why
don't you go ober dar and cuss her for all
she am wuff? ?"
else bound ter hab de law on her.
bekase dar's no satisfacshun in cussing
her."
'Why amt dar no satisfacshun in cuss-
in herr"
'Bekase she has done los her
hearin'. I has been cussin' her steady for
last six munfs, and I didn't find out till
yesterday dat she has los her hearin' be-
fore she was horned. Use boun' ter hab
de law on her Or scald her, which cher am
de Wussesto
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
Government.Taxes.

Illinois paid S25,0oO,co0 Of internal
revenue taxes last year, the greatest
amount of any state in the Union. Ken
lucky comes next, with S16,O0O,O00; New
York, $4,000, 900; Ohio, $13,OOo,ooo, and
Pennsylvania, 100000. The smallest
contribution of any state or Territory
was from Vermont, $4,000.
New silk underwear comes IN ribbed
weaves and in all bright red, blue, and
evening colors, cream and white, but the
Iaces. which trim the vests are de rigueur
white.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28

more interested in peeping through an
iron barred door close by the Lafayette
slabs, where, in a small Enclosure, the
green grass is growing over the headless
trunks of some 1900 illustrious victims,
guillotined at the Barrier du Trone dur
ing the reign of terror and thrown to-
gether in this common grave, called the
Gem etiere 0ns GuiIlOtineS
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
Wanted Quinine.


'Give me about dollar'n-a-half's worth
of quinine, said q sad-Iooking young man
to the druggist.
why, what do you want SO much for ~
swell, you see I've been around to see
my girl, and I've just got the worst case
of shake | ever heard of. Make that an
even 81 worth, will your"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28

The amount of the losses in Charles
ton. S. c., by the earthquake is now esti-
at S5,O00,O00 The News and Courier
calls for an extra session of the legisla-
ture to devise meane for the relief of the
sufferers.
A eucalyptus tree, fifty feet from well
in Alemeda county, Cal, sent two roots
through a brick wall of the well fifteen
feet below the surface. and completely
covered the bottom with mat of fbres.
The Rural New Yorker says weeds are q
curse. They are the worst of all enemies
of legitimate plant life, for they add rob-
berry to murder. Weed seeds lie dormant
for years, to terminate at last when least
expected. The RGral says we ought to
have 'sWeed Days" as well as "Arbor
Days. the former devoted to destruction.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
RIind Ppnnln

The worlds blind are computed to mum
Der about 100000, or about 1 slightless
person to every 1,400 inhabitants. In
Austria, 1 person in every 1,785 is blind;
in Sweden, L in every 1,418; in France
1 in every 1,191; in Prussia, 1 in every
LII; III England, in every 1,O37. The
proportion is greatest In Egypt, where,
in Cairo, there is L blind person to every
20 inhabitants; while in New Zealand 1t
falls to one in every $3.50 inhabitants
Germany has the greatest number of In
st1tutes for the blind, So; England has Is;
France, 13; Austria Hungary, 10; Italy 9:
Belgium 6; Australia, q while America,
Asia and Africa together are said to
possess only 6.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28
Daring Deeds of Delicate Women.
Baltimore American

A Michigan woman broke into gamb-
ling house, fired her revolver among the
inmates, scared them off, grabbed the
stakes and escorted her husband home.
A Manitoba young girl wanted to marry
a Dakota young man. The family object
ed. She stood on the Manitoba side, her
lover in Dakota, and preacher with one
foot on British soil and on the United
States, married them. A st. Louis girl
found a strange man in the house. She
compelled hin to sit down and wait until
she called an officer TO take him to the
police station. And yet men talk about
the infirmity of women
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-28

It is said the government has more
standard and historical books, not gov
eminent publications, at Washington,
than could be hauled on six freight
trains.1 There is a..train 'oad at the CAPT
toll alone.
Connecticut western news., 1886-12-29
COi.EBlsOOK.

Christmas week Was very pleasant taken together but the mild weather was too much for the sleighing.
 The Christmas tree and oyster supper drew together an unusually large num- Der of people last Friday evening, all of whom seemed to enjoy the occasion very much.
 NIT John Butler and wife of Westfield were in town Christmas day and over Sunday.
 Mir Ernest Hamilton is home from Hartford and will stay through the hol- i1ays.
 The vacation of the Center school will last till Tuesday January 4th.
 The annual fair of the Ladies indus trial society will be held at the basement of the Congregational church on Friday evening of this week December 31.
Connecticut western news., 1886-12-29
CORNWALL. KRlDEE.

Christmas was duly observed by mem b ITS of the I. O. G. T. giving an enter la nme1t to select company at their To ige room Refreshments were served Q Ter the meeting. O. Christmas day ! Urge number of Sunday school scholars ,thered at the same place and were gen .rously remembered by Santa Claus.
 The c. l.. S. c. society will meet on Nv Years day at the parsonage
 Mrs William Sawyer is seriously i'll, with small chances of recovery.
 Morton Wadhams and family of T lomaston, Conn.,, are in this place.
 The remains of Mrs Harmon Skiff ar r-ved here on Monday. Interment in E lsworth, where he formerly resided.
 Edward Sweeney of Woodbury spent Christmas with frien Is here.
 Richard Harrison of San Francisco, Cal, Is attending college in Massachu- sets and spent Christmas here, the gu st of Beers Brothers.
 Miss Maggie of Falls Village visited her parents over Christmas
 Miss Edle Benedict is visiting friends in Waterbury.
 Misses Sarah and Hattie Manvel ar, visiting friends in New Britain, Conn.
 School closed Friday last for two weeks vacation.
 The snow has covered the ice jus enough to have 1t terribly slippery an' saint and sinner stand about an ever chance in getting tumbles.
Connecticut western news., 1886-12-29

morning the Congregational children held the fort, being arranged in their classes and occupying the body of the church. Rev J. c. Goddard conducted the exercises, consisting of singing and responsive reading; then followed a short sermon.
 We notice the following persons are home, making Christmas cheer in their respective family circles: Misses Bessie Coffing, Hattie l.. Moore. Emma Mel win, Jenny Clark. Grace Warner. Cora E. Gibbs; Mir Malcolm c. Warner. Geo. Melvin Jr., William Bushnell ! Mir Chas. L Harris of New York spent ! Christmas with his family at Maple Shade hotel
 The schools are all taking their an nual weekly vacation and the boys give
 their undivided attention to skates ant sle1s
Connecticut western news., 1886-12-29
TIE JUDGES CASH PUZZLE
 In Behalf of the Grant Monum n1 FuId. Use Your Brains and Make Money. Men Women, Children, Every body.

The Judge proposes to assist the Grant Non- nment fund by organizIna grand competi- tlpn on wort building ma ing the largest number of English words from a gwen sen- tence b> t. ausp 'sInS and using letters to shit the purposeJ using for the theme the sentence "Nh will our next Pres den,?- and offer- ing cash prlzes to successful competitors each ot whom will have t. pay ty 50) cents on presentation of his competitive paper The money received wi be applIed as follows: rm twenty-five cents is at once credited to the Grant Fund
 The remaining twenty-five cents, atter de ducring he legiti'.,ate expenses of advertising nrmes witt their respec. i've Answ erS, etc. ,etc . will ie D a'e-. in a common fund to be equally divided among the six successful compe itms i e.. the six per sons sending in the largest lIsrs of English words tlroper .uns inc Il iedl made om the sentence "Mh will be our next Presil, nt?'
 Th-. mig itut;e of tn prizes will depend on the amount of money rec ived in ether words on the number Of competitors Con- muuc ,tinus open until February Is, 1877. 12 o'clock.
 This is not new thing Tn England large sums of none, have b. en raised for charity bv this m, thod, nd tn who hay" partiri- pated and incidentally helped or hy obje t have won prize as high IS Sl0,O0O as re- for meutal actl' ltv
 The nam, of conpetito will be published from week to weeS in he Judge as they may come in This wil not only rye as an &C., knowle lgment of the receipt of the money, etc but will also serve to show the weekly progress of the fund. Governing rules in this weeks Judge Address
 's''RANT FUND,
 THE JUICE PU LI-HING CO,
 Potter Building, New York City.
Connecticut western news., 1886-12-29
Rg3R N.

Christmas festivities for the children began Friday, Dec. 24. The Congrpga- tional Sabbath school assembled in town hall at 1 p. m., where they hai a fine time till dusky eve, singing. din ner, speaking of pieces, etc. About 3 o'clock, T. l.. Norton appeared as Santa Claus and the fruit of the two Christ mas trees was picked, and distributed 3. the parcels and packages were designat- ed, making many gleeful hearts. At : D. m. St. John's Sabbath school con- vened. The exercises were for the children. Rev J. II. George spoke about Jacobs ladder, and in keeping with the occasion q ladder was the Christmas tree, standing in chancel and against the arching above, beautifully trimmed with evergreens and the pre- sents depended therefrom. The church was elaborately and tastefully trimmed. indeed. Some say 1t never looked sn vell before The children were very happy with their gifts. On Sabbath
Connecticut western news., 1886-12-29
WEST CORNWALL.
Happy New Year.

Happy New Year.
 J. Douglas Gold Is home from Yale for two weeks vacation
 William G Wood of New York spent Christmas at home.
 Miss Bessie Ocain from Amenia Insti- tute and her brother Charles of Bridge port are home through the holidays.
 Oar genial railroad agent who smokes his meerschanm "gobbled' turkey in Lee this vear. Rev c. D. Greeley of New Haven, a n 'phew of Horace Greeley, supplied the pulpit last Sabbath. Miss Nellie Gregory of Bridgeport is stopping with friends in this village through the holidays. Mrs Houstan Cockrane Is visiting friends in Danbury the present week. Our village school ovens on Monday next with Miss Ella Mack, instructress.
 Mrs William Morgan sends in a bo- tuet of trailing arhutus as fragrant and ,velv as in Springtime.
 Just notice the bargains in mil linery. All the felts left, with trimmings in astrachan's, striped velvets etc going less than cost Don't fail to secure some of these unheard-of bargains while they last.
 A social party was held on Monday evening at the resi- fence of Houstan Cochrane. which the young people en- ioyed immensely.
 James H Cochrane of Bridgeport is ut home during the present week for holiday vacation.
 Charles Barton and Will Owen have gone to their respective homes through the holidays.
 The new double ripper is perfect and gides along at lightning speed with it's