davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
He Wanted Training.
Estelline Bell.

A hard-looking specimen of humanity
was leaning against freight-car in a
Dakota town when a citizen approached
him and said:
Looking for job?"
"Bet I am, Capt'n.'
"Think you could abuse MANI"
"Reckon I could eff he want too big
"Call him liar and fraud and a hyp-
ocrite and thief?''
"Can when thar haint no danger"
"Could you acuse him of being in jail
and say he was tarred and feathered and
was a fit subject for an imbecile asy-
lum?"
"Guess could"
''Any objection to reading piece five
or six times day in which it is claimed
that he poisoned his grandmother and
blew up his native village with dyna-
mite?''
Marry"
care you willing to throw bad eggs and
mushy turnips at him every time he be-
gins to speak,"
eff he won't get mad"
:'Would you mind kicking him down
stairs occasionally and then tramping on
him and shooting at him and whooping
when he tries to rum"
"No objecuns, pardner."
you're the man I'm looking for, then,
and I'll hire you for one month. I'm 60
ing to be a candidate for the Legisla-
ture next fall ard I want to train and get
in good condition before the campaign
opens"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
A Fleet Footed Hog.
n~oho De-


Lucky about queer wagers,n said 4
sporting man the other night, 81 shall
never forget the time I won $1,000 on a
fast hog. Have 1 ever told you the story ?n
His auditors shook their heads and ask
ed for the tale, which he told as follows:
cit was in the summer of 1873, if rec
ollect rightly. had been playing pref
ty steep game in Chicago that winter and
spring, and when June came my not over
strong system was pretty nearly broken
down. Acting on the advice of medical
friend, I took jaunt to little country
town in Iowa, hoping that months So
journ there might brace me up for the
fall and winter campaign. But 90 tell
you about the race. The town had q pref
ty good course, and some of the boys
there owned some really good flyers, of
which they were very proud. One of
them, whose name l needn't mention,
possessed mare upon whose feetness he
particularly prided himself. Talking
with him IN bantering way one day, l
offered TO produce hog which could
beat his animal in three hundred-yard
running race. He became angry when
insisted upon the matter. 4 tell you what
III do l said to him loosely. I'll bet
you any amount of money you name that
my pig can win the race. Do you take
me?' The boys standing by grew inter
ested, and commenced to press around.
The other man, whose face by this time
was llvld with rage, roared: I'll bet you
$1,000
This rather staggered me, but as had
the money, wasn't to be bluffed. ] put
1t up. The articles of agreement were
quickly drawn up and signed.
well, to cut long story short, I got
hold of one of those long, lank, hungry
scrub porkers and put him at once into
training. My method was to feed him a
half bushel of corn once a day. The pig
would be stationed at one end of straight
300-yard lane, and over the line at the
other end the corn would be dumped at a
given signal. The moment the corn was
dumped the pig was freed. and away he
would scoot for the other end. This kind
of practice was kept up for one month,
and at the end of this time the hungry
hog could make the distance in a way
that would put Maud S. to shame. The
day of the race came, and every man,
woman, and child for miles around was
on hand to witness it. The race was run
on the boys own ground, according to
agreement The pOrcine racer was more
than usually hungry that day. He had
become SO accustom to finding his half
bushel of corn at the other end of the
lane that when he was released, upon the
word Coz he shot off like flash. He
darted under the horses legs, and before
that animal and his rider could recover
themselves was at the other end. He
didn't get his corn, but did get the 81,
600. left town the next day."
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
AConraceons Oil Well shooter.

Dell Bankson an oil-well shooter, went
to the new Kane oil field to torpedo the
Craig 4 Cappean well, which had just
reached the sand, writes an Clean, n. Y,
correspondent of The New York Times.
He had lowered shell containing twenty
quarts of nitro-glycerine, to the depth of
about 100 feet in the well, when he dis
covered that the we'll was about to make
a flow. He knew that the force of the oil
would carry the torpedo out at the top,
and if it were thrown upward with the
flow it would be exploded In contact with
a derrick beam. If it escaped from the
volume of oil it would fall back to the
ground and explode. In either case
Blankson knew that certain destruction
awaited him and the property of his en-
ployers unless the torpedo could be Sc
cured. With remarkable presence of
mind he placed himself at the mouth of
the well, and as the shell shot up on the
stream of oil he threw his arms about it
and held it.
Even then undue haste and lack of
Judgment might have proved fatal, but
Blankson held the torpedo until the flow
of oil had ceased before he removed
it from the well, although he knew that
only few seconds would elapse be-
fore the oil would be followed by vol
ume of gas and mass of rocks from
the depths.
The instant the oil ceased he lifted the
shell from the well and walked carefully
and steadily away carrying the torpedo in
his arms. He had scarcely turned his
back when the gas and rocks came out Of
the well with a roar and rush. When all
was over Bankson replaced the torpedo
in the well, lowered it to the bottom, and
finished his work. When the owners of
the we'll heard of the wonderful nerve and
judgment displayed by Bankson, they at
once presented him with a check for 500.
Bankson's conduct in his perilous situa-
ton is said by old well shooters to be the
most cour ageous in the history of nitro
glycerine operations in the Oil regions
work that necessitates the exercise of
constant vigilance, cool judgment, and
steady nerves on the part of the opera
tor.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15

lous expedients to which Mr.. Pitts gov
eminent resorted in order to carry the
union. This work was published nearly
80 years ago, and it was revived in The
Quarterly Review by Mr.. Hayward in 1859.
Lord CORVALLIS was lord lieutenant of
Ireland, and he was entirely behind the
scenes; but the two persons who managed
the legislation were Lord Castlereagh and
Lord Glare, both of whom reveled in the
lntlmation and corruption which were then
rife. When Lord Clare was dying, two
years afterward, he said to his wife: Il
nave one request to make to you: 1t Is
that you will at once burn all my papers;
let every scrap be destroyed by yourself.
should they be left when | am gone,
hundreds will be fatally compromised"
more remarkable union" story was
o1ten told by Lord Cardwell, who heard it
from the late Sir Robert Peel. and 1 have
never seen 1t In print, Lord Castlereagh
was In treaty with an influential member
OF the irish parliament for his vote. which
was to carry several others with it, and
terms had been settled, when the legisla
tor was seized with a dancerous illness,
and repentlng of his iniquities when he
thought himself on his death-bed. he re-
quested an interview with his lordship on
his recovery, when he announced that the
negotiations were at an end; that he bit
terly repented his part in them, and that
he would take an early opportunity of di-
vulging the whole story to the house. ''As
you please" calmly replied Lord Castle
reagh, "but if you do shall give you the
lie direct on the instant, and the next
morning shall shoot you" This is an
instructive little anecdote, and throws
flood of light on the public morality of
tory statesmen.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
FARM NOTES.

THK profit comes from the best COWS;
the loss from the inferior.
OVER 1877, 900 head of horses have been
imported into England in the past ten
years.
A FEW tubs of poor butter in an invoice
may bring the average price down below
the line of yrofit.
A MAN may have the best-known breed
Of fowls, and If they are not properly
cared for they will not give satisfaction
The best market for any man, provided
he has one, is the home market. He who
sis near" to his market is better than he
''who is far off,"
A COW calving in the fall, if properly
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
Summer Feeding Of Pigs.
Farm. Field and Stockman,

The feeder who allows his pigs a fair
amount of exercise, a variety of food IN
summer, including green food, pure water
to drink, and a dark, cool, dry place
where they may retire from the heat and
flies, usually escapes the various epidemic
diseases, the result of bad care and filth,
that go under the common name of hog
cholera. An excellent and careful feeder
gives the following directions which he
says has worked well with him:
''There should be skim milk for the
pigs at weaving time, and all summer for
that matter, when feasible. But most
pig raisers have not skim milk to feed,
and food adapted to growing the young
pigs should be provided. If one is for
tunate enough to be able to get new pro-
Gees linseed cake, he will have one most
excellent ingredient for a young pigs
ration. The ration may be made as fol-
lows: One pound linseed meal, three
pounds bran, one pound corn meal : or,
in quantity, in these proportions. This
ration will contain twice the proportion
of muscle and bone-grOwing food as corn
alone. If some skim milk can be added
TO the ration, then it is the best that can
be furnished to growing pigs, and is as
cheap as ration of all corn. If the pigs
can be allowed a good pasture with this
ration they will grow very rapidly, and
make very superior quality of meat. If
the pigs must be confined to pens or
yards they should have green food in the
form of grass, clover, green peas or
sweet corn delivered to them daily in such
quantities as tboy will eat"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
A Fine Old Indian Gentleman.
London Telegraph.

In person and character the late Prince
Tukaji Rao well represented the sturdy
race of Mahratias from which he sprang
They are not fine gentlemen, like the
Kaipoots, nor have they the pride and
punctiliousness of the best Hindoo tribes
of the northwest. The Deccanee, even in
the days of his greatest military success
es, always carried with him the rude and
simple manners of his early rural life;
but he has always possessed excellent
qualities, among which industry, patience
and frugality are prominent. Tukaji
Rao, amid all the splendor of the middle
and later years of his reign, remained a
thorough Mahratta, blunt of speech,
crafty, self-willed, and independent, but
but generous and princely on proper &C.
casions. Perhaps two more different men
never met than Lord Dufferin and the
Maharajah during the viceroy's tour in
India last Autumn. More than one char
acteristic story is current of the some
what amusing collision between the per-
feet and good breeding and easy dignity
of the viceroy, and the plain, old-fashion-
ed Deccanee simplicity and almost boor-
ish directness of the Maharaiah of In
dore.
II suppose" said his highness on one
occasion TO 5ne governor general, 'tnat
you mean to annex Burmah."
This was at a moment when the plans
of the government at home and at Cal
cutta were by no means settled, and the
question was embrassing as well as
brusque; but Lord Dufferin smilingly re-
piled:
"There is nothing am so anxious at
this present time to annex as the good
will and friendship of your highness."
At a subsequent interview, when the
viceroy and his outspoken host were sit
ting together in the guest chamber at In
dore, the latter turned roudd to ask Mr..
Mackenzie Wallace for a photograph
which he wished to show the prince.
SIS that your photograph" asked Tu-
kali Rao, pointing discourteously to the
secretary.
It was necessary to reprove such want
of respect for high and accomplished
officer of government, but yet not desir-
able to vex the ruler of Indore, and the
viceroy's reply reconciled these condi-
tions very admirably.
ooh, no, highness," he said, 'this gen
tleman is the keeper of my conscience.
My raph-in-ordinary is Lady Duff
ferin."
Her excellency being, indeed, vey skill
full with the camera.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
Castlereagh'S Way.

If any one of my readers would obtain
some idea of the thoroughly fagitious
manner in which the ratification of the I'M
ion between England and Ireland was ex-
torted from the Irish parliament, would
advise such persons, writes Labouchere,
to procure the 'Cornwallis Correspon
dence,n which contains the most ample
proofs of the high-handed and unscrupu-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
WINGED SEEDS.
LAo1E NJ EDDY IN THE BALTIMORE TELEGRAM

Oh, gold green wings and bronze green wings,
And rose tinged wings that down the breeze
Come sailing from the maple trees!
You showering things you shimmering things,
That June time always brings
Oh are you seeds that seed the earth,
The shade of lovely trees to spread?
Or shining angels, that had birth
When kindly words were saidf
Oh, downy dandelion wings,
Wild floating wings, like silver spun,
That dance and glisten in the sun!
You airy things, you elfin thing,
That June time always brings!
Oh. are you seeds that seek the earth
The light of laughing flowers TO spread?
Or fitting fairies that had birth
When merry words were said?
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
Always Takes it.
New York Times.

'Yes," boosted 4 man in bar room,
''whiskey gets the best of some people,
but can take it or [ can leaYe it alone"
won't you have something with me?"
asked a listener.
Il don't mind. Make it the same as
the last, Jimmy"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
Preparation of Large Trees for Moving.
Gardeners Chronicle.


The span of human life in the present
era of the worlds existence, even in the
case of those who live to be old, it is of
short duration compared with that of
trees, the progress of which to state of
maturity is proportionally so much slow
er than that of man, that those who
plant small trees do not live long enough
TO eat much of the effect they produce.
In the case of that favorite fruit the pear,
it used to be said that those who plant
them plant for their heirs, and with the
ordinary kind of tree planted to give eff
feet or shelter there is still longer to wait.
To shorten time in waiting is the mani
fest object of those who go to the trouble
of planting large trees instead of little
ones in the grounds about their dwellings
or other conspicuous places, where the
presence of such are required. Where
work of this kind has to be done, it often
happens that not enough fore thought is
brought to bear on the proceedings. In
place of taking precaution to previously
prepare the trees by trenching around
them, and severing the roots to within a
movable compass, so as to admit of a
seasons growth before they are taken up
they are at once transferred from where
they have been growing for perhaps a
a score of years or more with their roots
unchecked in any way; the result of which
is that the progress made for year or
two afterward is not near so much as 1t
would be if the roots had previously been
shortened back in the way named. The
mission of this timely preparation of
trees that are to be, planted when
much above the ordinary planting size,
is the less excusable when it is remember
ed how little labor cutting into roots as
described, To the too frequent absence
of Judgment and reasonable care in NOV
ing trees that have attained considerable
size is attributable the failures that oc-
cur, and that have led many to the con-
clusion that it is better to plant small
trees and wait for them to grow up, even
in positions where it is desirable to have
such that would give effect at once. In
the case of decidious kinds of size such
as are under notice, and that are intend
ed for removal next autumn or winter,
the sooner the root-shortening prepar-
ton is completed the better, before there
is any appreciate movement in buds.
With evergreens it is better to defer this
work until the drying March winds are
over, especially in cases where trees are
large and in vigorous condition, as with
such the root severance necessary is pro-
portionally more felt than with smaller
examples.
~ d. T., e. a.. T.,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15

A Fort Gaines, Ga, farmer says that
buzzards attacted litter of ten little
pigs and bit their ears and tails, making
the eswallow fork and under bit in each
ear, which was their farmers private mark
for his hogs. Georgia buzzards are de
veloping.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
THE HOUSEHOLD.
PARSNIPS AND CHICKENS.

These are not commonly served, but
to make an appetizing variety. Wash,
scrape and parboil the parsnips. Then
while they are cooking split young
chicken down the back and put it into a
dripping pan, with the bony side down;
place the parsnips around the chicken;
after cutting them in two parts sprinkle
salt and pepper over them, and put little
Jumps of butter around, until you have
used piece the size of an egg; put a
little water into the pan, and then bake
until chicken and parsnips are tender,
and are brown also. If you choose you
can add one or more slices of salt pork,
and it will help to make the gravy rich.
The parsnips may be served on the plat
ter with the chicken or in a separate dish;
if the latter way is chosen, make enough
gravy SO that any part of it may be pour
ed over the parsnips. Vegetable oysters
or satisfy may be used in place of par
ships, and, unless uncommonly large, need
not be cut.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
Where He Was.

Hostess-What has become of Sandy
Smith, who stood so high in your
class?
Alumnus he has taken orders some
time.
Hostess-He is in the ministry then!
Alumnus-No: in a restaurant
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
Too Much Prosperity
New York Times.

Old gentleman Ito tramp)-Now if 1
should give you nickel my friend, would
you spend that money as it ought to be
spent, or would you squander 1t for in
toxicating drink?
Tramp-How much did you say?
Old gentleman-A nickel.
Tramp (sadly)-Well, I dunno. I
dunno. I wouldn't like to make any
rash promises. Inever yet have been
able to stand prosperity.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15

A blind man attracted considerable at
tention playing whist on New England
railroad train the other day. Cards with
raised spots were used, the three players
who had their eyesight naming their
cards as they played them. The blind
man and his partner easily beat the
other two.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
Can Italian Bees Be Kept In Cities Or In
Towns?
oultry Journa

have often been asked the above
question. In reply, 1 can in all confidence
answer in the affirmative and say that
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
SCRAPPEL.

This is a most palatab1e dish. Take
the head, heart, and any scraps of lean
pork, and boil until the flesh slips easily
from the bones. Remove the fat, gristle
and bones. then chop fine. Set heliquor
in which it was boiled aside until cold,
take the cake of fat from the surface and
return to the fire. When it boils put in
the chopped meat, and season well with
pepper and salt. Let it boil again, then
thicken with corn meal as you would in
making ordinary corn meal mush, by let
ting it sift through the fingers slowly to
prevent Jumps. Cook an hour, stirring
constantly at first, afterward putting back
on the range in a position to boil gently.
When done pour into a long square pan
not too deep, and mould. In cold wealth
er this can be kept several weeks. Cut
into slices when cold and fried brown, as
you do mush; it is cheap and delicious
breakfast dish.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
PEACHES AND TAPIOCA.

A nice dish for desert is made by soak
ing half a pint of tapioca in cold water
for two hours, then let it boil gently until
it softens, slice canned peaches and put
over them. Bake until the tapioca is per-
fectly tender. Serve with sugar and
cream. Dried or evaporated peaches may
be used for this dish, and if they are
properly cooked and softened it is almost
as good as when the canned fruit is used.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
Ewes PUDDING.

Six eggs, six large, fne-favored apples,
pared and chopped very fine, six ounces
of currants, washed and dried, six ounces
of sugar, one teaspoonful of salt and half
nutmeg; one full pint of stale bread
crumbs. After beating up the eggs sep
arately until very light, add them to the
other ingredients, saving the flour to the
last, which must be stirred in until the
pudding batter is just thick enough to
hold together. Have ready a pudding
cloth dipped in hot water and Toured.
Tie up tightly, after leaving room for the
pudding to swell. Boil steadily for three
hours, and serve with snowflake or wine
and butter sauce.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-07-15
JAW.

Let any one who has an attack of lock-
jaw, says an exchange, take a small guam
tity of turpentine, warm it and pour it on
the wound, no matter where the wound is,
and relief will follow in less than min
ute. Nothing better can be applied to a
sever cut or bruise than cold turpentine;
it will give certain relief almost instantly.
Turpentine is almost certain remedy
for Group. Saturate piece of flannel
with it and put it on the chest, and in a
very severe case three or four drops on a
lump of sugar may be taken inwardly.
Every family should have bottle on
hand.