davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
Suggestions on Wall Paperins.

Papers with small-fgured designs are
the best for the novice to experiment
with. Thew are more easily matched
on the wall and slight misfits are not
so noticeable. A border. of course,
adds finish. and covers not a few short
comin-s. The coloFs in the border
should be somewhat in keeping with
the coIors IN the paper. A high-ceil-
in@ed room viii admit of broad Dor
ler a low-ceilinged room should have
a narrow border. 1t must he trimmed,
is most easily handled In short lengths,
and is pasted on after the main paper
ing is finished Sometimes Il paper
will have pattern that can be cut in
to narrow strips and used as a border.
On one occasion we used a diamond
patterned paper in this way by cutting
the pattern for the border bias way of
the length.
Tie first thing to be done is to cut
OF one of the white margins of the
wallpaper; which You cut off must de-
pend whether Won determine to work
to the right or TO the left. Ii you work
toward the right, you must cut OF the
left margin, and U5ce UerSa. You can
measure the hight of the room with a
strip of the margin you have cut off.
See that the end of your paper is per-
fectly straight; then cut off the length
required from the top to the wainScot
of the room. Measure subsequent
lengths by the first one, being careful
to match the pattern. The short
lengths can be used over doors, win
dows. and mantel-pieces. Spread pa
per. face downward, on a long, smooth
,able. # the table is not long enough
let the piece hang downward at the top
end; then, with large, clean white
wash brush, paste the wrong side of the
paper, working from the lower end up
ward. When about half of the length
has been pasted, lift up the end first
done and turn itup againstthe remain
der of the pasted part, thus making
more than three-fourths of yard dou-
BILE; then proceed to paste the remain
der.
Lift the top end of the paper careful
ly by each corner, mount the step-lad
der, hold the pasted side close to the
wall, but not touching it, and then
press it against the wall at the top, be-
ing careful to have it straight with the
ceiling, yet not overlapping it. Take
an ordinary, new, clean banister brush
and brush the paper right down the
center Gas far as the folded piece
against the wall. This done, brush the
sides to the wall, and then unloose the
folded part, with the thumb AMI FINGER
at each corner, and draw it gradually
down. Brush the center down to the
wainscot, as you did the top part; then
the sides, first cutting away any margin
at tie bottom Good Housekeeping.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
The Wood Buffalo.


There still remain some of the wood
buffalo. This is an animal larger than
the American bison of the plains. They
are larger, cOarser-haired, and straight
er-horned. ! mention this popularity
of difference in the horns because it is
believed that the shape and the broken
and crooked nature OF the horns of the
prairie buffalo has been caused by his
habit of digging into the gravel where
as in the morenorthern species they had
to contend with other conditions, where
straight horns would be gilmore use, as,
for instance. they use them there for
clearing aside from their pathway the
brush and laXurlaut underground.
These animals would weigh at least
$50 pounds more than the buffalo Of
the Saskatchewan plains. In the
northern regions the yetches and grasses
are SO high, and the snowfall not being
unduly heavy, they have not had to
paw and break the crusted snow, as
was the habit Of the buffalo, and that
may account for their superior size.
In the country where these are found
horses can not be used in pursuit, and
they are stalked in the same manner
that the moose and other animals are.
1t is difficult to form an accurate esti-
mate of the number of these animals
that may yet be left, but perhaps
investigation may show that 800 or 600
may yet remain in scattered bands.
Owing to the fact that the horse can
not be used in pursuit, it is more diff
| cult for the Indians to hunt them, and,
indeed, to find them, than it was in the
old days Of hunting upon the plains.
So rank is the underground of this rich
| country, and SO difficult is it for the In
dians to get at these animals, that per-
haps just now any attempt on the part
of the government to afford protection
to them would be useless. If,however,
some regulation would prevent white
| sportsmen from deliberately coming
into the country to hunt these animals
for mere pleasure it might result to
advantage. At present it would be
vexatious to the Indians, aud of no
| great use, as the animal has become in
| its habits so much like the moose that
he is able IN a great measure to pro-
tect himself. Montreal Gazette.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05

a yCnng lady and little girl stood
on the City Hall side of Broadway at
Chambers street. New York. Il few DAYS
ago, alxiously contemplating the rush
ing tide of vehicles that flowed between
them and the opposite sidewalk. They
were evidently unaccGStomed to the
sight, and feared being ran over while
crossing. The Young lady, who carried
a sealed letter in her pretty hand, was
tall, good looking, aad richly dressed.
The little girl. who was handicapped
with basket, about which her com
panlon and herself seemed to be very
sohcltous. was as pretty and as richly
dressed as hercompanion. They looked
like sisters.
AT last the older girl took heart. and,
sautomng her companion to keep the
cover OF the basket on, she seized her
manu. ana started on the passage across
the great thoroughfare. After being
rudely shouted at by two drivers.
nearly crushed between a street car
and an express wagon, sp!ashed BIZ
muddy horses, and frightened half ont
Of their wits by the noise. they stood
safe and thankful. on the west side of
Broadway. Then the lid of the
basket that the little girl was carving
burst open, and handsomely striped
cat frightened into lit by the noise
around it, sprang into the middle of
the street.
The tall girl did not hesitate for
second She had feared for her own
life and possibly for that of her sister;
but with the eat in peril. all selfish
terror vanished. Hastily thrusting the
letter into her companions hand. she
was on her pets track in the twinklinG
of an eve. 1t was really dangerous
thing to do. as she did it. Under the
necks of startled horses, almost be-
meath the wheels of carriages, between
wagons close to each other, she
went with reckless disregard for conse-
Guences. The little girl on the sidewalk.
losing sight of her, and perhaps sup
posing that her fate had come and
rolled above her in the shape of
brewers cart, dropped the letter and
began to cry. But the big girl was not
gone vet In little while she came
from behind wagon and flung herself
on her hands and knees, and, reaching
ont her hand, dragged the cat from
GuUc- Il ptUUIST CstIl, Whuc Jie
driver of Il street car pressed the brakes
down hard to avoid running over her.
When she. regained the sidewalk il
would have been difficult to determine
whether she or her pet were the most
bedra@gled. Her handsome dress was
. dolefully spattered with mud, and her
face was in need of soap and water.
But the eat was in the basket.
The letter had been kicked and
trampled out of sight by the crowd.
at came to our house in Brooklyn
said the tall girl ruefully, to n San re-
porter, ''but it was for friend of mine
in New Jersey who is expecting $50
from her uncle. have no doubt the
money was in the envelope that was
bringing to her The cat was hers too.
| don't know which she would rather
loose. The cat really belonged to both
of us; it was Il joint pet between
families, and it's darling fellow when
it isn't scared by such adventures"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05

Speaking of the young man who has
Jagged himself into not0riety and put
money into his purse bv cribbing 4
play from her book, Mrs. Frances
Hodgson Burnett says: II have seen
Mr.. Seebohm. and have read his play.
/ met him in the station at Turin. 1t
was not an unentertaining situation. l
was just on the point of getting into
the train when | found myself sud
denly confronted by tall young man,
who took off his hat and said: Am /
addressing Mrs. Hodges Burnett?' 1
looked up at nina distance OF several
feet-and replied i am Mrs. Hodgson
Burnett Whereupon he returned: i
am Mr.. SeoJohm' OF course I ought
to have responded. What the author
of Little Lord Faant!eroy?" How
glad [ am to meet youi You don't
know how / admire your work. and
how many happy hours | have to thank
you fort But | forgot / often for
get little things like that. | simply
allowed weak feminine curiosity to get
the better of me, and said, Would you
be kind enough to tell me how you
recognized mes? And he told me /
had been described to- him. We
travelled from Turin to Chambery to-
gether, and no scenes of violence OF
bloodshed ensued. remember that l
had been told in early youth always to
be polite. He gave me his play to read
and / read it. After [ had finished /
said, DO you wish me to tell you what
| think of it?' And he answered,
Yes Then I said i dislike the
situation you use extremely. 1t cheap
ems the mother, and alters entirely the
character of the child. And think all
the dialogue ought to be rewritten 1t
seemed to me at that time that the
statement, though mild, was clear; but
apparently it was not, for the author
OF Little Lord Fauntleroy' returned
rapidly to England and made an
affidavit to the effec hat | was much
pleased with his conduct, and found
few faults in his play. / did not think
his comedy showed imagination, but
his affidavit was glowing with it. |
ought not to repine, however. 1t is
not an ignoble role to play-this of
supplying unknown young men with
ideas and regulations. | ought to be
much pleased that Mr.. Seebohm has
become celebrated because ! wrote
book. That should be reward enough
in itself. 1t is sometimes, but not al
ways"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
A Smart Dog.

Senator Kenna and Senator Black
burn are great sportsmen, as every one
knows. Each is the owner Of point
eT, the relative merits of which they
are frequently engaged in discussing in
the cloak-rooms of the senate, much
to the annoyance of their more staid
colleagues. The other day Kenna said
to Blackburn, lighting fresh cigar:
Joe, you may talk as much as you
like about Your dog, but mine won't 90
out with me when the cartridges don't
fit my gun"
An audible smile went around the
room, and everybody thought: well,
for once, Joe Blackburn has been beat
en- at his own game. The junior sena-
tor from Kentucky, however, was equal
to the occasion. He looked at kenna
for moment and then quietly remark
ed:
well, Kenna, admit that your dog
exhibits an intelligence almost akin to
reason, but ! don't mind backing mine
against him. | was in the fields one
day with that dog, and man l WASH t
acquainted with came along near US.
My dog pointed at him. / called to the
dog, but nothing would induce him to
move. So | went up to the stranger.
Sir | said, would you obiige me
with your namey
" Certainly replied the stranger;
my name is Partridge"
Without another word Kenna took
Blackburn's arm and both disappeared
in the direction Of the senate restaur-
ant followed by the shouts of their
friends.-NezC T0E4 Tribune.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
HOW the Egyptians Cool Water.

| need state only three facts to show
the rapidity of evaporation in Upper
Egypt Water too warm to drink is
put into a porous jar and placed in the
wind, though in the sun; in half hour
it is as cool rs good spring water. At
night, exposed to a breeze, even when
the breeze is rather warm, before morn
ing it becomes almost ice-cold. The
night of my arrival here | took pour
ing bath on a balcony. The wind was
balmv, but fresh. The rapid evapor-
ating so chilled me that | could not
stay ont long enough for my bath. At
the foot Of the cataract we took a swim
in the Nile. We wore our underclothes
for bathing suits. We hung them up
before our state rooms to dry. In ten
minutes they were dry enough to wear.
We have all heard of the universal
habit OF all Africans to anoint them
selves with oil, and travellers speak of
it as nasty habit. It is, however. ne
| cessary in very hot and very dry eli
mates to prevent the cracking of the
skin. Al English officer told me that
during the hot winds on the Upper
| Nile his hands aud face chapped worse
than they ever did in cold climate
chapped even to bleeding badly. Ihave
found fresh. white butter quite as
| pleasant on my hands as on my toast.
| The boys have felt no Inconvenience
from the winds. Ny hands are very
sensitive to the effect Of dry. dusty
atmosphere. At AsSouan we were in
the sun during two days. We did not
use our umbrellas, our pith hats being
| quite comfortable, and yet we were
Just on the edge Of the tropics. From
| Carter Barrts3a'S Lltror Letter.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
California RaiSins

I'VE handle exclusively American
fruit, :" recently said Il large dealer to a
reporter.
raisins are a product of native indus
try?n
Yes. sir, do. They come from the
west The California raisin industry
Is growing into greater prominence ev-
cry year. The Muscat grape is gener-
ally used for making raisins. When
the grapes are sufficiently ripened
Cinnamon 90 into the vineyards with
wooden trays five feet square and three
inches deep, cut off the branches, and
lay them in the trays, being careful
that the grapes do not lie upon each
other. The trays are then laid in the
sun and left there. Ten DAYS later the
Cinnamon go into the vineyard again.
each one with an empty tray. They
find the exposed side of the grapes
cured and of a rich purplish color.
The empty trays are now laid bottom
up on the filled ones and they are turn
ed over together, so that the unc,lrea
side Is exposed III the new travs. They
are left thus in the sun for another ten
days, and are then taken to the COOLING
house. where they are kept for about
two weeks. They are then packed in
boxes for the market in what is known
as the London layer style. There are
no better raisins in the world; indeed,
there are few that equal them. The
production last year was 500 600 box
es. In 1873 it was only 5000. This
year it is expected tie figures viii
reach nearly 1000, 000. "-Aes0 York
Mail
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
Gaze $4,000 to the Bible Society.

The man is still living who, seven
teen years ago, walked into the rooms
of the Bible Society in Boston and cleo
trified the persons whom he found
there, first by his appearance, and, sec
ondly, by the communication which he
had TO make. His appearance betoken-
ed more than poverty, for his shabby
clothes were tied together with strings
What in the world had brought such a
man there was the question which ey-
cry one asked himself and the wonder
can be better imagined than described
when the stranger remarked that he
had property to the amount of SIS, 900
which he would like to turn over to the
society, if he could be guaranteed ten
per cent annually upon it for the re-
mainder of his life, his age then being
70.
The officers suppressed their amaze
ment as we'll as they could, took his
name, verified his schedule of his pos
sessions, and submitted his case to the
directors. They looked the matter over
in the light of actuaries' tables, etc.,
and finally, after much deliberation,
decided that the risk was too great,
and so notified the would-be donor.
Not long after he came back and re-
newed his proposition to turn the mon
ey over to the society and said that he
would be content with per cent an
nually. That proposition was accept
ed, and for some years he appeared
regularly at the expiration of the year
and drew his interest, taking 5000 cash
and the company's note for the bal
ance. After doing this for seven years
OF so he turned those notes back to the
company, saying that he had no use for
them. He is now, at the age of Sc.
blind, deaf, and crippled by fall so
that he cannot walk, and the Bible So
ciety pays the bills for his support
Springfield Union.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
Invitation TO Summer Boarders.

~'Will you walk into my parlor!' says the land
lord with smile.
Were fixed for summer boarders in the very
latest style:
We've q secondhand piano and some gor-
geous chromos gay,
a hammock and a tennis-court-not big
enough for play
"Our lfttle sweat-hnx bedrooms. with stained
waiting o. tbe floors.
Are tiua up wien oxtra nails for clothing on
The wai.- are newly papered-for the seventh
time at least
And bugs in beds Of cobbie-stones are eager
for i feast.
"our roachy Gy-spccked dining-room has
bran,i-ntw bills Of fare.
And bc;tl i,!s WI lie highly pleasel-if they
Our walters s-.Huat be exceile'!-for making
Ana tIpp!iig G1sncs Oh 'em if their own tips
arcn : straight.
1--WE feed You farmers veg tables-that were
last summer canned.
And trcsE egCs-fTCn the city, and spring
chicL Ci,e-Norh : brand;
We furnish lnill-hhc water, and the sweet
ct buttcriHe;
Our yiew-of barns and shaatics-is the finest
ever seen.
We've still and ocean bath;ng-in pitcher
The fishing here is splendid you havea ten
mite pole:
The hunting is magniicent-for anything but
No 'skecters or nalaria-in w:nter-here we
claim.
Our prices are so little for the luxuzies we
give
That we have TO crowd you in to make enough
to 1--we;
But fifty dollars weekly and big extras-Phew.
It's hot!
Just walk into my parlor and Wen put you on
cot"
H. c. Dodge
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
Funerals in tic Alps.

In some Alpine districts ii may al
most be said the funeral begins before
the death. As soon as "A man or woman
is supposed to be in the last agony. not
onlyall nciGhbors and friends, but per-
feet strangers. are informed Of the fact
and expected to pay q ceremonial visit.
The guests simply enter the sich-room,
take a long look ut the dying man, and
90 their ways. No prayer is said, hard
~ word spoken; vet even the chance
wayfarer who declines to enter the
house Of death on such occasions is
considered strangely heartless. After
death the stream 0t visitors ceases,
bat only for a short time. As soon as
the body has been prepared for burial,
q long table is spread in the room
where it lies, and covered with wine,
spirit. and cold viands Of every descrip-
ton, and here open house is held day
and night till the funeral starts for the
church-yarG. Whoever comes, known
or unknown, rich or poor, is not only
allowed. but urged, to eat and drink
as much as he can. Beside the coffin
al least two huge wax candles, which
have been fetched from the church,
OuIH blIIi diid liCdl tEtii INO OilA
women sit Or kneel. They are paid for
their services and are supposed to pass
their time in prayer. From time to time
they are relieved by others, and they
then usually make a somewhat length
enel pause ut the table before going
home. After the return of the funeral
the chief mourner invites every one
who has attended it 10 hot meal.
which is as sumptuous us he can afford
and which usually ends in hard drink
ing.
Customs of this kind are not preva-
lentin Carinthia or Upper Carniola; fu-
nerals are there conducted with perfect
quiet and decency. Yet in some OBJ
seryances one may find either the germ
or the relic Of much that shocks US in
other districts. On the whole, the ar
ran9ements seem to be adjusted to the
present religious beliefs and require
| ments of the community. and it is easy
to see how they might degenerate into
such excuses as have been mentioned.
a simple account Of a funeral in Car
inthia viii show this better than any
| amount of abstract argument.
As soon as the body has been placed
| in the coffin and the room put in order
the latter is thrown open to all visit
orS. In Roman Catholic country ii
is natural that rich and poor alike
should wish to say few prayers for
the soul of one who has been their
| friend, their companion, or their bene-
factor. Among the educated classes
certain hours are appointed for the
purpose; among the poor it is usual to
keep the house open day and night.
During the greater part Of the time the
mourners pray silently, but at certain
hours one OF them repeats aloud the
prayers, in which the others Join. On
| leaving the room, each Of the visitors
| IS offered a piece of bread and a glass
OF wine or spirits, and the poor are apt
to be offended if the offer is refused.
Among the hospitable population this
custom cannot be considered strange,
but it must be confessed that, though
the refreshments are usually consumed
IL perfect silence, it is open to abuse.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
Indian Wives of White Men.

A lady who some time ago became
much interested in the statement, con-
tradicted at the time, that Gen. Sibley's
first wife was a woman OF the Chip
pewa Nation, speaks in the pleasantest
terms of her recollections Of the early
DAYS when many men who have since
become prominent in the States history
had homes presided over by wives In
whose veins the Indian blood was un-
crossed.
''They were pleasant and Hospital
BILE class of women she says, rather
taciturn sometimes, but women never
theless, and good ones, too. Living
always in the drudgery from which 10
Indian female ever escapes in the
society of the savage bucks, no Won
der that squaws were only squaEs 1t
any period of development, but when
placed among the more refining in
fiaences of waite homes and white
husbands these Indian women made
wonderful progress, and made loving
wives ard mothers and kind neigh6ors.
You Bslst remember, too, tliat the men
who married Indian women ia those
davs I'D here we're men Ia every sense
OF the xcrl. not brutes and renegades
ike TIE .-squaw men OF whom YOU
read IN the West to-day. --lia5iianeagolis
Il Is always pleasant to record the
performance OF "a good deed in
naughty world" George r. Huide, of
P.a5e.lc.a. Cal. recently burned his
apiary. bees, wax. honey and all, be
cause he tnou.rae the bees were annoy
inc his nt-is5a.is,rS
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-05
The Flight OF a Cannon Ball.

To untutOred hearers 4 formula set
down in algebra would convey less idea
of Il hindered though not vanquished
cannon ball than would the simple
speech of a savage who after tracing
its course Gas only savages can), has
called it "a demon let loose For not
only does it seem to be aimed with .
mighty will, but somehow to govern its
action with ever-ready intelligence,
and even to have policy" The
demon is cruel and firm; not blindly,
not stupidity, obstinate. Against
things that are hard and directly con-
fronting him he indeed frankly tries
his strength, and does his utmost to
shatter them and send them in splint-
erS and fragments to widen the havoc
he brings; but with objects that are
smooth and face him obliquely he al
ways compounds, being ready on even
slight challenge to come, as men say,
to ''fair terms" by varying his line OF
advance, and even, if need be, resort
ING to crooked, to sinuous, paths. By
dint of simple friction with metal, with
earth, with even the soft, yielding air,
he adds varied rOtatOry movements to
those first enjoined by his mission; he
improves his felt skillas he goes; he ac-
quires strange nimbIeness; can do
more than simply strike-can wrench,
can lift, can toss, can almost grasp; can
gather from each conquered h1ndrance
new and handful power; can be rush
ing, for instance, straight on in hor-
zontal direction, and then, because of
some contact, spring up all at once
like tiger intent Oh the throat Of a
camel.-Kingiako'S .CTu5seG."