davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
ORIGINAL ENGLISH Sheen

What we may call the original breed
of sheep in England were short wooded.
This was the kind kept to so large an ex-
tent N the neighborhood of Winchester;
and the Romans established wool fac
tory there. It is singular that now, as
then, that part ef the country is cele-
brated for short weolsd sheep. Probably
these wers the progenitors of the modern
South Down. st any rate, the breeding of
these sheep and the manufacture of tie
heeces into cloth constituted the chief
employment and wealth of the country.
We can imagine the South Downs, small
as they are now, being much smaller
then, and having az q covering q mixture
OF wool and hair, the wool being short
and fine and forming an external cover
ing. Careful feeding and skill in breed
ing have transformed the original sheep
from whsg ths Romans found it into one
of the prettiest moulds which nature and
art could produce, orSthe most fastidious
could desire. It is considered probable
that 1t was not until many centuries after
the Romans commenced the manufacture
of wool that the long wooded sheep were
introduced into this country. These had
their ups and downs, and Il appears that
only at time when wool Is of high value
are they the favcrises. The sheep which
IN the long run best maintain their ground
under all circumstances Of climate, soil
aud commercial vicissitudes are the,
short wooded breeds of various discTip
lions.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06

was immensely pleased with the re-
porter's perplexity. my dear fellow,
don't you see the silver dollar contains
photograph of the sweetest, most in
tellectua face you ever saw?"
The reporter began minute investi-
cation of the coin, but so perfect was
the workmanship that he could not
detect any opening into the in.
terror.
The gentleman took the coin, and by
giving quick touch upon an invisible
spring the case flew back and the
laughing features of a lady were dis
closed.
81 never saw one like it before. i
think the lady conceived the idea. It's
just the eutest and handiest thing
going. Don't you think so? You see
you can take it about with you all the
time, and whenever you get hungry
for sight
Of maiden fair with golden hair.
And with eyes of blue and heart all true.
why, you just yanl it out and take a
look at it. 1t keeps fellows heart
beating in the right place, don't you
know, to have his best girl in his peck
eft all the time"
10 You tnlnk 1t Will become fash
ionable?" said the reporter.
81 can't say, I'm sure. It's very
simple, very pretty, and just too handy
for anything"
But aren't you afraid you'll spend
it some time without knowing what
you are planking down?n
''Oh, but keep it in my left-hand
vest pocket, don't you know. A fell
low never goes in that direction for the
coin wherewith to set 'em up. And
every time touch that particular coin
there is thrill goes all through me,
so that / know in a second that / have
hold of it. That alone will prevent me
from spending it by mistake. "-Neto
York EUenipq San.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
a Superstitious Negro.

Jim Webster, a colored citizen of
Austin, Texas, was recently tried for
stealing chickens from Col. Percy Yer
ger. Webster was convicted and sem
fenced to short term of imprison-
ment. Before the culprit was removed
Col. Yerger, by courtesy of the depu-
ty-sheriff, was permitted to converse
with him.
''See here, Jim, would like to know
how many of my chickens you have
stolen at one time and another said
Hit seems to me Au has got a heap
of curiosity. l amt gwine ter tell yer
muffin, replied Jim, sulkily.
''Jim, here's a half dollar for you if
you will tell me how many you stole
on your last raid
mo, sab; I amt gwine ter tell yer
muffin fer half a dollar. | knows de
number perzackly, but amt gwine to
tell fer no half dollar"
''Td ike to know the exact truth
about it.''
eyer wants to know der whole
troof?"
Yes
amt $5Wlne ter tell yer Gle whole
troof fer no half dollar. [ amt no so
cents on de dollar niggah."
at seems to me that if you are will
ing to tell the whole truth for a dollar
you can afford to tell half the truth for
half dollar"
''What you mean by dat ar?'' ~
81 will give you half a dollar and
you tell me half the number of chick
ems you stole. Tell me half the num-
Der of roosters you stole"
ELemme see. Half de roosters am
FIVE. n-Ier0s SifLiRqs.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
The Whistling American Woman.

Many people, says the London
Review, have been asked out to hear her,
regarding the whole thing as a joke, and
have come away in sim pie wonder at the
unlocked for splay of her powers.
They have found her sound musician
and subtle mistress of her peculiar art
They have found that, through her special
mediUm, she could fill Convent Garden
with ecstatic thrills Or sink into the soft
est whispered aotes the execution of
which oaiy years of rehearsal could
achieve. It may be difficult to conceive
a whistling pr ma donna; but the fact is
that wbistlipg is q fine art and is worthy of
attentive study. Those who have once
heard Mrs. Alice Shaw, cannot fail to real-
ize that, if whistling were cultivated as a
fine art, by those who, in addition to musl
cal endowment, have strength of vocal
chord, a high-roofed palate, and flexible
buccal aperture, they might be trained to
take part in cOncers, as of many clar-
ionets, with an effect more thrilling than
the most exquisite instrumental music
has ever coniured up, and which, from
its novelty alone, would be more surpris
ing than any concert hithertofore heard,
vhsther instrumental or vocal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
Dust-Sifters of Picking.

Gold, silver, and other metals, ETC.,
are often found in the most unlikely
places. Last year / noticed persons
digging in the stream that flows in the
moat close to the Chen Men, in search
of gold. The situation was explained
by the continguity of the gold-shops,
as the sweepings of such places are
thrown into the moat. There are in
Peking a band of some three hundred
men who follow, during the four win
ter months, business which consists
in brushing up the dry dust of our
streets, sewing or tanning it, and make
decent living of 20 cents a day on an
average. By far the largest quantity
of metal found is, of course, iron, in
the form of dust. pellets, nails, etc.,
which is sold at large Peking cash
per catty.
Next to iron they find copper, silver,
gold, and precious stones. The latter
are almost yalueless, being crushed by
the carts. After scraping together and
winnowing three or four small basket
shovels (po-chi) they will secure about
q handful of iron debris. This they
deposit in a bag which they carry
around Cnelf Waists, anu on returning
home they use a loadstone to extract
all the iron, and afterward submit the
remainder to a washing process, when
the silver. the main article sought, is
at once seen. On the above calcula-
tons there is, therefore, an army of
these metal-gatherers making $50 daily,
and this, multiplied by four months,
gives over $1,000. Here is an almost
unknown trade proving sufficiently lu-
crative. The men are scattered over
all the city-on the cart as we'll as on
the foot-passage thoroughfares.-North
China DdiLu NelCs.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
Esthetic Chicago.

Chicago, Notwithstanding its pork,is
a city of considerable culture. Its pa
pers laugh at the idea of esthetic Chi
cago, and when anything is said about
the culture of the city the contrast is
always drawn between hogs and art.
1t has, however, 200 resident artists,
and its Academy of Fine Arts is self
supporting and is attended yearly by
between 400 and 500 pupils. 1t gives
art exhibitions each fall, and at the
loan exhibitions a number of fine pic
lures of the city are brought forth. 1t
is no wonder, however, that Chicago
has many fine pictures. 1T is full of
millionaires, and the millionaire of to-
day, whether he makes his money out
of pork or politics, or gets it by inheri-
lance, straightway starts off to Europe
and buys the prettiest things he can
find. The Americans are the best buy
ers Of the world to-day, and they pay
higher prices, and, as rule, demand
good work. They want the finest of
houses, and some of these Chicago mil
lionaires' palaces would open the eyes
of the Princes across the water. FrG7ak
CaTDe71teT'S ChicQQO Letter.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
They Made Him Tired.

It's getting hard for plain man of
ordinary, everyday, practical tastes to
get on in the world now. When he
comes to the city and expects to see the
sights he is taken to picture galleries
and theatres with strong French plays in
progress and to bric-a-brac exhibitions.
A simple honest countryman was
taken to picture gallery and violent
and persistent effort made to entertain
him with a subject he did not care
about. They showed him around the
gallery. they expatiated on the great
pictures, the superb art, and all that
sort of thing. He said nothing until
he reached window which looked out
on the street. Then as a horse-car
went rafting by, he turned YEARLY to
his artistic friend and said: What
kind of axle-grease do they use in this
town?"-!Sa75 francisco Chronicle
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
QUACk GRASS.
A Nuisance Having About rs Many Names as


A Nuisance Having About as Many Names as
Roots.
This is grass having about as many
names as it has roots. It is known as
quack, qujtch, quick, witch, crutch, dog,
Scotch, rye, Durfee, Chandler, witch,
quake, squitch- Fins grass, creeping
wheat, etc. Botanists call it agropyrum
repens. By some one or more of these
names every farmer will recognize an
acquaintance and one generally consider
ed an enemy, very tenacious Of life. It
is described by Beal as:
A variable perennial with long, creep
ing root stocks. Culms IA feet. smooth.
glaborous. Leaves fat, shegthes terete.
ligule short, spike 210 inches, straight or
curved, spikelets As i'd, al inch long.
Empty glumes 81 neryed, rigid, cuspi-
OATS acute or awned; floral glumes mich
the same, with an avn nearly its length
or sometimes awnless.
The leaves near the ground look like
those of timoty. The stems are one to
three feet high terminating with slen-
der spike. It is grass not without merit
for pasture, and Gu some soils when cut
at proper times makes a hay equal to
timothy. But it is g nuisance on any
farm where the soil it infecs is plowed
for crops, and is especially troublesome
in gardens and in corn and potato fields.
The roots when turned up and broken
will grow upon the least proyocation of
moisture, the little reotlets at the. Joints
taking hold With wonderful alacrity
The usual way of combating quack grass
is to plow in the fall harrow in the spring
cultivate often until pl- nting time, then
hu
The secret of this method lies in keeping
the leaves from nourishing the plant.
A writer in recent British exchange,
the Agricultural Gazette, Ays that on
Aug. 80, 1887, after harvesting a crop OF
oats from ground infested with quack
grass, he grabbed" the land three inch
es deep, getting below most of the roots.
He then ploughed II inches deep, turn
ing the grass under in green state.
The result has been in every way salts
factory, the field being perfect wonder
OF cleanliness" The only places where
the pest does not seem TO be perfectly
eradicated are upon heavy clay where
the plough was unable to exclude the air.
The field contains many kinds of soil,
and the killing was coma plete, except as
mentioned.
We have known men to spend a great
deal of time ploughing quack grass
ground at different periods in summer,
raking out and burning the roots after
each ploughing. But this is tedious
and costly process, and in wet seasons
s often unsatisfactory, though, of coarse,
Il will succeed if the ploughings are fire.
queng enough to smother the plant by
keeping down every vestige of green.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
HaiEGr1wR TURKEYS.

Among farmers the care of the turkeys
generally fall 80 the busy housewife or
the eldest daughter. After patiently
feeding and watching the young turks till
they are about half grown, the paInstak-
ing woman too often leave them to shift
for themselves. Thinking that in thei-
rambles they can fad enough to eat, they
are given nothing upon their return home
at night. With this treatment it is not
long before the mother hen begins to
feel she has the whole care OF the flock
upon her own shoulders, and doas nos
come home when night approaches. She
finds q roost tor her dock IN tree in a
distant field, stops at q neighbours or any
where where fancy dictates or night over
takes. If they are not gone after and
driven home, it will, very likely not be
long before ''bad luck" will oyertake
them, st least that is what you will call
your success in turkey raising.
We know a woman who never law her
turkeys during the day after they were
about the size of Leghorn hens. But
just before their bed time a merry
whir-r-r would be heard at the back
door, and there the whole flock OF young
turks and heir mothers would be-with
their crops full Of grass -hoppers-asking
for their ration of bread crumbs and
table scraps; they would call till their
mistress came with their dessert, that
satisfied them and they would go awsy
contented. 1t was pleasant sight, and
there we're no wild turkeys about that
farnl. This was brought about by giving
them something TO sat whenever they
came and asked for is. Soon after they
began 20 forage, they were given place
TO roost and then they were happy.
Turkeys have many enemies. and want
watching ali the while till fuu grown, and
II Is TOO bed, after the work OF caring for
them while small. to lose fhem when half
grown, or even larger, sim ply because We
let them wander away. If you ever go
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
What is There in This .

It is not known to many persons thai
the common elder bush of our country is
a great safeguard against the devastation
of insects. If anyonc will notice it will
be found thas worms and insects never
touch the elder. Last year we scattered
the leaves of the elder over the cabbage,
cUcumbe-s. squashes and other plants IL
the kitchen garden that were suhiect so
the revages OF insects, AID it worked
efacsuslly. One OF our neighbor women
told me that she tried pussIug branches
Of the elder through the plum trees and
that they had an abundant crop Of fruit.
Try this and find out for yourself, how
good il l..
The Grand Trunk Railway com pany
will extend It's Michigan air line to chi
csgo and make connection with the ST.
Louis ans Kansas Cisy road to reach St.
Louis and the sonthves..
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
WHAT WILL YOU BELIEVE?
RYHAYTIE BELLE WHEELER.

Do you believe that all the bloom
And beauty of this place called earth
IJnbidden spring, from source unknown,
With no command as to its birth?
Did mountains that SO proudly stand,
Or ocean waters vide, and deep,
The trees that upward grow in strength,
The tender vines that cling and creep,
Assume their WondrouS form and shape
Alone? And was there ne 'er mind,
That planted the many forms of life
That in this beauteous world we find?
Did all the beasts that work the earth,
The fish that swim the birds that fly,
Appoint the time that they should live,
Or set the time that they should die2
You can not think thus if you cease
The work OF life and gaze around,
And why not pause q little while
And think OF objects that surround?
For earth is full of wondrnus things,
And the sky, the sea, and the land,
Declare there was a Master mind
Guiding the work of Master hand.
Did no design attend the work;
Or to some purpose should Te live?
Should all our thoughts be bent on gain,
OF pleasures that this world can give!
On! friend, It's not thy soul that prompts
The words thy lips now say: I'VE know
Right here on earth all that we e'er
Shall know. and when at last we go
To sleepit is the cad ofall.'
Ne ier Sprang those words from Utmost SOUL
Which tells thee that life has an aim,
And that hey ond there is goal
And, is it right that we should use
This word as does child toy;
And claim good things as'Our just due,
Quick spufning all that can annoyY
For what are we that we should know
No shade of pain; that all our hours
Must be Serene and calm and bright.
And all our pathway strewn with flowers!
Shall we enjoy the life and light,
With ne'er thought from whence they came
Oh stop and think; perhaps there's One
Who well our gratitude might claim.
All! grand and noble is the life
OF one who with q cheerful heart
Doth go about his daily task,
And who with patience bears his part
OF this LIES burdens, toll, and care;
Who not into himself doth live,
But TO a brothers best welfare
Can thought and kind attention give;
"WhO scorns q pleasure which he knows
VIII give iato another pain;"
Who does a good deed with no hope
That it will bring to him some gain.
How grand we hope; what greater goal;
To live So that when life Is past,
When days and nights have sped away,
And LIES sure sunset comes at last,
If down we lie, with a belief
That sometime we again shall live,
And rise from death with a command,
A record Of this life TO give:
We then can say: As have lived,
And Judgment giy'n and mercy shown.
Such Judgment may now receive
Before the supreme judges throne.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06

sit isn't that was caught, but that I
was outwittsd and bamboozled. Why mar,
1 bad that whole plan IN nay head for
months, and I'd have bet a hundred to
one that I'd get cafe off. Just think what
fool I was to take up quarters in a
haunted house, and then lei soma one
play ghost On mel'
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
A Pretty Conceit.

'.Have you seen the latest fad in pho
tograph-cases?" said society gentle.
man to an Evenaing Sun reporter quite
recently.
mo. What's it like?n
Il viii show you"
The gentleman ran his hand into his
vest pocket and produced a silver dol
lar with a monogram on one side only.
He handed it to the reporter, who
turned it over and over and examined
it from many sides of observation. but
failed to catch on to the secret.
.'Well, what's this got to do with 3
photographers? asked the reporter.
The gentleman laughed mildly. He
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06

Sharpe wonder how Jack is get
ting along nowadays. All smooth at
home? Keene-O, yes; he and his
wife are as affectionate and nice to
each other as can be- By the way!
They haven't named their baby yet
Sharpe-Ah, see, That accounts for
it--LoUeu Citizen.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06

after them whsn they fail to como home
at sundown give them good supper, in
order that they may understand that
that is what awaited them when they get
home at night.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-06
EyAMINATIoNs IND PRoMoTIoNs.

At the recent meeting of Ohio Edu-
Gators at Sandusky, Ohio, Supt. F.
Treudley of Youngstown discuss ed
this question in all its bearings.
He assumed the case of ward school,
as presenting all the conditions and
difficulties of graded school work. He
assumed that the principal of ward
school, like the superintendent of
small system of schools. has opportun-
ity for supervision, and is therefore in
possession of the substantial facts of
the school. Under this condition he
contended that the combined judg-
ment of teacher and principal ought to
be ground Of promotion. This is to be
shared in by the superintendent as far
as be is able to judge from limited
knowledge. He thought it irrational
to fix certain standards to which all
should come.
The whole question is one of judg-
ment only. and the attitude of teacher
The Chickasaw messenger., 1888-03-15
From our regular correspondent.
wAsHINeroN. Mar. 5th. lsss.

" AhhAhuInNi 1Aais othj 1000
After many months of hard la
Dor, Mr.. Mills and his Democratic
colleagues Of the House Commit
tee on Ways and Means have per-
fected a tariff bill, which is now
before the whole committee. 1t
will be reported to the House at
the earliest practical moment,
which means when the republican
members of the committee have
exhausted all the methods Of delay
to which parliamentary usage en-
titles them.
The bill does not entirely satis-
fy every Democrat-no bill would.
It is not an ideal revenue reform
bill, nor such a measure as the
gentlemen who framed it would
have presented had they been cloth
ed with pIenary legislative author
ity. Practical statesmanship re-
copnizes the limitations imposed
bv conflicting views and opposing
interests. Still 1t is bill that is
likely to be supported by every
member Of the party, as the most
expedient that can be had at pres
ent. It puts wool, lumber and
salt on the free list and materially
reduces the duty on sugar, and it
is estimated that it will reduce the
revenue of the Government to the
extent Of s5O,OoO,OOO.
Candor compels me to say that
At this time there is much doubt
as to whether the bill will pass the
House. owing to the willingness of
certain members TO sacrifice thu
interests Of the country at large as
we'll as the Democratic party, be
cause the bin would, if it became a
law, iniure some petty industry in
their own district.
Shouldn't there be some way OF
whipping these men into the par
ty traces or else out of the party
altogether The Democratic par
ty is pledged to Revenue reform,
on that issue it won the last Presi-
dental election and hopes to win
the next; though how it will do IT
if the House OF Representatives,
with a Democratic majority, shall
refuse to pass tariff bill looking
towards reform, is more than the
most olearheaded politician can
see just now. However, there is
time enough tor the people to be
heard from on this subject, and
what is demanded by the people is
seldom refused by Congress. jet
the Democratic press bring the
greatest power Of modern times
public opinioH-to bear on this
question.
The new tariff bill is approved
BY the President and the Secretary
Of the Treasury-and might als'
add By Q majority Of Democrats.
From ibis time on the HOus'
will bold evening sessions on Fri