davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-12-24
HARPER'S THEATRE.
C. Z. KNELL, Manager.
One Week and Saturday Matinee,
commencing
Monday, Dec. goth.
A. r. WILBER'S
LYCEUM THEATRE CO.

Under the management OF Mr.. ii. A. Wick ham.
Pronounced by the press Of the whole country to
be the strongest company on the road playing a
repertoire. Ninety weeks in the principal cities
of the United States and Canada, playing every
where to crowded houses. The following roper
tore will be presented during the week:
Monday ................. Woman Again st Woman
Tuesday Two Orphans
Wednesda, ......- Streets of New York
THURSDAY. ............-..... Our boaroing house
Friday .............-.....P Pearl of Savoy
Saturday .....................0 Our Boys
Saturday Matinee, 2 m...... $50. Hidden Hand
Admission, 10, 20 and 3oc
N. BON Saturday evening beautiful silver
pitcher, valued at $25, will be presented to the
person holding the lucky number. Numbers on
the pitcher will be given at the door each evening
during the week
Reserve seats on Friday morning at knelfs
furniture store. Secure your seats and avoid the
rush
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-12-24

TOR SALE-2l4 acres-fne fruit farm. a mon
I ey-making property.
MEDILL & WHITEHEAD.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-12-24

DOR TRADE-BriCk store and dwelling in Mo
I line-want farm in Rock Island or Henry Co.
MEDILL & WHITEHEAD.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-12-24

DOR TRADE-Good Hotel property in Cam
[ bridge. III. Want farm in Rock Island OIL
Henry county
MEDILL 4 WHITEHEAD.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-12-24

DOCK ISLAND City lots, cheap: small cash pay
n ment, balance on long time.
MEDILL & WHITEHEAD.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-12-24

DOE SALE 100 acres five miles south of Milan
I splendid Improvements.
MEDII.L & WHITEHEAD.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-12-24

T. 1R TRADE 100 acres Kansas land for stock
L buggies, horses or general merchandise.
MEDILL & WHITEHEAD.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-12-24

DOR SALE-S0 acres 3Lc miles south Of Milan
Z good orchard, living water, hoase, barns
sheds and cribs. $40 per acre.
MEDILL & WHITEHEAD.
Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-12-24

ITO LOAN-SOO to $1,000 to loan on farm prop
/ erty: privilege 10 make small payments. thus
decreasing principal; no delsy; loans closed at
once.
MEDILL & WHITEHEAD.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07

toms, but when they serve roast beef
with Yorkshire pudding to an English
man and macaroni to an Italian they
make a mistake. An American meal
should be served IN American style,
both as to dishes and ceremony. We
have food fit for the gods among our
native viands, and it needs only the
tact of a truly American housewife in
serving it to make it very enjoyable.
Just here we recall to mind a GER
monious dinner given by society
lady last season, where everything Was
English, you know, and the amount
of foreign stiffness and etiquette so
all-pervading that the very gravy
seemed to be chilled with cold cere-
mony, and the hearts of the guests
grew stony as the leaden hours drag
ged on and the awe-inspired footmen
showed no sign of relenting, but still
kept their victims pegging away at
their foreign dishes; and then we re-
naemb6r [. little supper given by a
charming hostess in one of the
suburbs, where we had broiled chicken,
American style, hot bread, ditto
steaming coffee, ditto raw fried pota
toes, ditto, etc, etc, and plenty of
lively conversation and a jolly good
time generally. Thinking of those
two feasts, looking upon this picture
and then upon that, we vote for
American customs forever.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07

wise legislation save our stock from
contagious diseases, our prosperity is
certain. But il pleuro pneumonia,
hog cholera, and bogus butter are to
be permitted to destroy the three great
industries of this State we Will soon
have to send beggars to Ireland to
solicit alms for our yearly sustenance
1t is, however, contended that one
third of our hogs can be destroyed an
nually by cholera, and yet hog rails
ing will be profitable business. The
trouble in this matter is the fact that
contagion never distributes its de-
mands pro rata to the number of hogs
owned by each individual. 1t
frequently takes all from persons least
able to bear the tax. But that hope
(which springs eternal from the hu-
human breast inspires the loser to
"try again" And in series of years
hog-raisilg always wins. We are
now convinced that the main part of
corn crop of Iowa and Nebraska will
be fed this year to hogs and cattle,
and that much less will re shipped out
Of the State. And the many empty
cribs the first week In December along
the lines of railroads convince us
that farmers are wiser and ADLER in
the use of this crop than formerly.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
FARM, HOME AND GARDEN.
REGARDING CIDER
WILL MEREDITH NICHOLSON.

When you come to cider I would wish to rise and
speak,
For amt a modest Teller. and never was called
meek,
1t was just two years ago come fall, says to
Bill, says I,
''Let us make a little CIDER" and ''kerrectn was
his reply.
And though Lizzie has her notions, and is set on
temperance
(ARd is powerful down on fiddlin', and thinks it's
sin to dance,
set down on her objections, and went off and
bought a press.
And went to smashin' apples for month or more
or less,
would work and lug the apples all the livelong
day, and then
In my dreams at night I'd hear the cider drippin'
out again!
But tell you was happy when the whole blam-
ed thing was through,
And Bill and went visItin' with nothin' else to
do.
And the way we used that cider was astonishin
to see.
For my Lizzie wouldn't touch it, Ieavin' all to Bill
and me.
But there was one bar1 that stood there that we
never touched at ALL
And it got so strong that one day it strolled up to
make a call.
And mornin in pertickler that old cider got SO
strong
That it watzed oct of the cellar hummin' of a
little song,
And it sauntered down the medder and has never
been back SINCE
Do you think / was a dreamin'? Well it might
have been that mincel
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07

The question is sometimes asked
how much richer in crsam is the AL
derney Guernsey and Jersey milk
than that of common cows. After
long observation of upward of fifty
herds of both descriptions, can say
that the comparative richness is about
four to three in favor of the Guern-
sey and Jersey COW. consider this
safe claim; the difference Gay be
even greater So rich an article
should undoubtedly command a
greater price than the product of COM
mon COWS.
How to obtain a good milk supply
Is subject that deeply interests al
consumers of that largely used com,
modify. Purchasers have to consid-
cradle extent come to regard milk as
milk, failing properly to disting uish
between the articles sold by different
vendors, and have too much fallen
into the easy-going practice of con
demning the entire milk furnishing
fraternity, and of invoking legislation
to do for them that which they could
do for themselves by little patient
investigation and by exercising a pre-
per discrimination in the selection of
milkmen. Had a strenuous effort
and as much expenditure been made
to educate the masses into an ability
to judge of milk by simple tests aud
Intelligent observation, and had the
results of frequent and general inspec-
ton and analysis been spread before
the public in the newspapers and per-
iodicals, it is reasonable to believe a
better appreciation of improved milk
would have ensued.
Buyers have principally themselves
to blame for the inferiority of the
milk supply, for they do not exercise
the same care and discrimination in
purchasing milk that they do in the
selection of other commodities. Elk
perience and some observation have
convinced me that an advanced price
for an improved article can be gener-
ally obtained, and [ believe that with
increased knowledge on the part of
the public of the varied and relative
value of nilk it will become easier 20
obtain price proportionate to the in
trinsic value.
Mr.. Abbott then spoke of the fire.
quent use of the name Attorney by
dealers in ordering milk, which has
bad effect, as IN many instances the
buyer would not know he had been
deceived
He said, IN conclusion: Educate
purchasers TO appreciate the value o
Guernsey milk, and they will respond
by paying for it a price in keeping
with it's superiority"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
Relative Value of Milk from Various
Breeds Of Cows.

At the recent meeting of the Guern-
sey Breeders Association George
Abbott, Jr., read the following:
Milk for table use is popularity es-
teemed according to its cream-yield-
ing capacity, consequently those
breeds of COWS that produce mil K
most rich in cream and fat are of the
greatest value. The members of this
club are well aware that for milk
Astounding in cream and fat the pre-
duct of the Channel Island cattle is
without al equal. It may however,
be remarked that the patrons Of De-
Won cattle claim for their favorite
bre ed superiority in the production
of milk sho wing large per cent of
solids not fat. Competition for the
greatest excellence in the production
of milk for the table is at once mar
rowed down to the two popular
strains of Channel Island cattle, the
Guernsey and Jersey.
Having sold for family use the
milk product of these breeds for years
I shall be expected to have judge
rent as to their relative value for
this purpose, and I ana free to say
that either is good enough. The
Guernsey is the highest colored; even
the high color of Guernsey skim
milk is very marked, and the eye OF
the purchasing public is more taken
with the color than with any other
attribute. I consider that the Guern-
sey milk has somewhat the advantage
of the Jersey when put upon sale.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
His Definition of Life.
Newman Independent.

Mrs. Smith =" What are you read
ing, John?"
Mr.. Smith ct am reading Her
bert Spencer's Principles of Biolo-
gy.'"
Mrs. S.-"Why-what-what's that
John?'
Mr.. S. -" Herbert Spencer's Biolo-
gy. Let me read you an extract-his
definition of life. Listen! Tt con
sists Of the definite combination OF
heterogeneous changes, both stimuli
taneous and successive, in combina
ton with external coexistences and
sequences. ,"
''Why, John. what is the fool talk.
ing about?'
''I'm astonished at you, Jane! Why
this is the work of the great English
scientist"
Yes, I know; but what is he writing
about2"
He is defining life, I told you
What did you suppose he was writ
ing about?'
Land sakesl l thought he iva:
trying to get patent on clothes
horse"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
ORIENTAL CARPETS.
HOW and where They are Made and
How o test TIN EN-.
Philadelphia Carpet Trade.

IuuduSlpuId SdIpSb IEduS
The Turkish and persion carpets
have become tho especial objects of
important transactions, and repres-
entatives of foreign commerce not
only buy great quantities of them at
Bakou and at 1'ifis, but they visit al
so the principal centers of production
to watch the divers processes of manu-
facture. The carpets of Daghestan,
which are made for the most part st
DerbeRt and atSchouseha, are now
much sought after, but the most rare
and most appreciated are the carpets
which the Pensions use in their
prayers, and which are distinguished
by an original design, the harmonious
disposition of the colors and the fine
ness of the wool employed.
The principal centers of production
of these carpets are in the province of
Kermana, or of Trek-Adjemi, where
numerous workmen are employed in
their manufacture. The choicest are
made ia Kermana and Paraghault,
woven exclusively with goats hair or
Kermana, KhOrassan and KaurdStan,
the fneness and brightness of which
is attributed to the particular mode of
raising the focBs,. The fleece of these
goats are of varied tints, which per-
mits great varieties of designs 10 be
made from them.
For dyeing them they employ the
Indian and Persian colors, obtained
from certain plants, roots and leaves
submitted to fermentation.
The colors the most extensively used
are blue, orange, yellow, grenat and
green.
To test the quality of carpet the
Easterne touch it with burning coal
If the burn leaves no trace the carpet
is good, but If it retains any mark at
all it losses three-quarters of It's value.
They employ no machinery whatever
nor any kind of loom; they are en-
tirely made by the hand, and the
work requires great patience and
care.
The processes of manufacture en-
ployed in Persia have been introduced
into India with success, where the
production has rapidly developed,
especially at Cahors and Mizapore.
AS to the products of Asia M nor,
known under the name of Turkish car
pets, they are much less appreciated
and less expensive. The alnest are
made in the province of Alden and In
the neighborhood of Smyrna, from
whence they are sent in considerable
quantities to all the European m arkets.
They are preferred, however, to these
of Morocco, made in the neighbor-
hood of Tangiers; but after the Per-
sion carpets, which are always pre-
ferred by connosseurs, the carpets
of turcoman and those of Daghestan
take the second rank, and are most
appreciated in the Oriental markets.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
An African NeW-Year's Card i.

Of course all boys and girls know
what the cactus is--a green, grotesque
looking plant, almost covered with
sharp spines, and bearing a most COR
geous flower; but [ am sure they do
not know all the uses to which a cac-
tus can be put, nor do I believe that
the most ingenious guesses could come
near the truth.
1t is native of America, but it has
been taken to Europe and africa, and
now grows in that latter country III
great profusion.
But, after all, the oldest use of the
cactus prevails in Cape Town, South
Africa, where its leaves are made to
serve the purpose of visiting cards.
Fancy carrying about in your coat
pocket lot of thick leaves covered
with spines as sharp as needles But,
wait moment. The leaves of the
particular kind of cactus used are not
very prickly, and moreover, they are
not carried about, but are left grow
ing on the plant, which stands at the
foot of the front steps.
When lad y calls she has only to
draw out one of these ever ready hat
pins, and with the sharp point scratch
her name on the glossy, green surface
of the leaf. A gentleman generally
uses the point of his pen knife. The
lines turn silvery white and remain
on the leaf, clear and distinct, for
years and years. On New Years Day
these vegetable cards are especially
convenient, and ladies who wish to
keep the calls of that day apart from
those of other days appropriate a
branch of the cactus for that purpose.
One gentleman in Cape Town has
cactus plant which is nearly fifteen
feet high. It's great thick leaves are
almost all In use as visiting cards, so
that he has complete and lasting rec
ord of his visitors. 1t cannot be said
that this practice adds TO the beauty
of the plant, but then it is Oddly and
not beauty that is desired In such
cases.
There is one cactus, not so plentiful
as that Just described. which is of a
very accommodating character. 1t
not only has smooth leaves, but the
spines it has are SO large and stiff that
they can be used as pens for writing
on the leaves.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
Sheen Raising.

Persons who are raising sheep in
large numbers are experiencing con-
siderable difficulty in disposing of
them, either alive or dressed To
render the raising of sheep profitable,
both their flesh and wool must be sold
at fair prices. Wool is now very low,
and ord lnary mutton brings the small
est price to the producer of any meat
sell at good figures during the sum-
mer and early fall, as their flesh
ranks among the luxuries of the
table. Extra fine mutton, such as is
afforded by the very large breeds of
sheep, also commands good prices.
These sheep, if young and well fatten-
ed, are in demand in all the Eastern
markets, where they are wanted for
home consumption or for shipment to
England.
1t seems strange that mutton is not
corned, sailed and smoked as beef is
in all the towns in which the slaugh-
terIng of hogs and cattle is extensive
ly carried. The smoked hams of
sheep deserve to rank with delicacies.
Corned mutton is equal to corned beef
in every respect. For cooking with
vegetables it is superior TO it. With
little doubt a good trade could be
built up in corned mutton. Many
families would buy it if it were put up
in half bris. Corned mutton could be
retailed in all the places where cOrned
beef and salt pork are sold. 1t is a
singular fact that large proportion
of our people are almost entirely I'M
acquainted with mutton as an article
of food. Ia the Southern States very
few of the people, either white
or black, ever eat mutton. For
some reason they are prejudiced
against it. The use of mutton is not
common among sailors, miners or
lumbermen. II has never been intro
duced as a ration in our army and
navy. A large proportion of house
wives do not know how to cook NUT
ton properly. The keepers of sheep
should interest themselves in securing
cheaper transportation for live sheep,
in shipping frozen mutton during the
winter season, IN corning and pack
ing mutton as beef and pork are, and
in finding new markets for it.
In England and Canada mutton
commands as good prices as beef
does. Many prefer mutton chops to
beefsteak and roast mutton to roast
beef. For families, fresh mutton is
vastly superior to fresh beef, while
mutton stews are very delicious as
well as very nutritious. We have
much to learn IN this country about
cooking mutton. Americans who
spend some time abroad praise the
mutton they eat, and often wish they
could obtain the like of it in this coun-
try. In many cases they ate Ameri-
can mutton, bdt the superior cooking
gave a flavor to it that was new to
them. It is common to find we'll
cooked mutton in city restaurants,
but very rare to find it in private
houses. 1t is especially hard to find
it in houses Ia the country. The cook
may be skillful in preparing other
meats for the table, but very lacking
in skill ia the preparation of mutton.
Mutton can be cooked in more ways
than any meat ordinarily served on
tables, but in many houses there is no
one who can cook it properly IN even
one way.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
FARM NOTES.

Wyoming has horse ranch con
sisting Of Ia, 900 acres of land, "A, 600
of which is fenced with 80 miles of
barbed wire. There are 5000 horses
on the ranch.
Turnips are easily grown, and re-
quire less labor than any other root
crop. They also grow on all classes
Of soil and serve as valuable dietary
ration.
A writer in the Beekeepers' Journal
says that, as an offset to the records
of horses and cows, he had a colony
of bees that produced over fifty five
pounds of honey in three and a half
days.
Use plenty of plaster in the fowl
houses and in the stables. It is an
excellent deodorizer, and absorbs
gases and moisture. It is also very
cheap, and can not be used too free
~.
In selecting young Brahmas an in
dication Of what the pIumage will be
is given by the bills. When the bill
has dark strip down the upper nand-
able the hackle and the tail will be
dark.
It is better to sell off the surplus
stock than to attempt to winter large
number on short allowance of hay.
A few thrifty animals will prove more
profitable than a larger number i'm
properly cared for
Gas-lime is supposed by some to
render light soils heavier. 1t is COM
posed principally of sulphite and sui
phide of lime. It is useless as fer
tiIizer until it has been exposed to the
air for long time.
Diarrhea in calves is successfully
treated by giving the whites of eggs
beaten up with water into an emul-
sion, eight eggs being used to pint of
water, and half teaspoonful being
given at a dose, and repeated every
two hours.
A good winter food for promoting
egg production is sheep, hog Or beef
liver cooked and chopped fine, with
milk, and liberal supply of oats. In
addition, plenty of gravel. ground
oyster she'll, ground bone and fresh
water should be furnished.
It is said that late grapes, which
have the punches carefully clipped
off from the vines, and are handled
without being bruised and packed in
THEN own leaves, where they will
neither freeze nor keep too warm, will
keep for quite a length of time.
The cuttings for basket willow
should be about nine inches long.
They should be stuck down IL soft
earth in a sIanting position, leaving
about two inches above the ground.
They will grow on nearly all sorts of
land, but do best in damp places.
Keeping the animals quiet promotes
the storage of fat, but health and
quality of the meat is best obtained
when they are allowed to take exer-
else daily. If they cannot have the
privilege of exercising they should at
least be allowed in the open air daily.
When pigs are allowed to sleep in
damp places the result will often be
stiffness of the joints, rheumatism
and diseases of the spine, due to TAX
ing cold. Dryness aud warmeth are
essential to the thrift of young pigs,
especially on the approach of cold
weather.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
MIDWINTER FASAIONS.

Violets are the fashionable flo we
of the winter.
There is great deal Of dyed beaver
fur doing duty as sealskin this winter
Heliotrope and violet shades art
chosen for dresses for evening wear
and full-dress occasions.
Some of the newest imported dinner
| china is plain white with simply {
single flower painted on some part OF
the plate or dish.
High black satin screens on which
are beautifully painted or embroider
ed scenes from celebrated plays
poems or books, are in luxurious
homes.
Cape overcoats are only suitable fol
young men, and 90 best with Derby
hat and white muff1er. They are the
thing with juvenile London swells.
Bamboo plays an important part in
modern household decoration. 1t is
seen IN screens, rocking chairs, foot.
stools and even picture frames, the
latter very odd and said to be the
style in India.
Nearly all of the best dresses have
fron one TO three rows of very narrow
side plating at the bottom of the
skirt. No trimming is provided for
the waist or sleeves in the moss ex-
pensive goods.
New muffs are made larger than
those used last year.
Jaunty black Astrathan jackets are
popular this season.
Dress bodices are long wasted, With
high standing English collars.
Porcupine Or wild bear cloth is des-
tined to popular favor this month.
.Tlnsel-decorated and silver and
steel beaded slippers are all the rage
in the east.
Fur-trimmed costumes of Jersey
cloth are among the latest importa-
tons.
Tailor-made new markets are
among the sensible wraps for cold
weather.
Ribbed diagonal Melton cloths are
talked of for early spring newmark-
cts.
1t is sad, but It's TACT, that there
are no bonnets for elderly women this
winter.
Handsome house dresses are bright
ened by jeweled belts, girdles Or
clasps.
Pretty chatelaine bags are made Of
pearl Or tan colored kid daintily
painted.
For evening wear the high novelty
is to wear garland of flowers round
| the waist.
The newest thing in table decoration
is to mingle fruits and flowers in one
composition.
Plush grows in popularity for hats,
and wraps, and is worn by young and
old alike.
Pretty house slippers are of tan
| colored undressed kid. They are bead
ed with steel or gilt beads.
No matter what the age, beauty or
homeliness, grace Or uncouthness of
woman, the hair is at present, worn
off the neck and high on the head.
The effect is sometimes beautiful, but
more frequently frightful.