davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
Origin of the Word Texas.

In recent article published in the
North american ReUieW, Governor Ire
land, of Texas, asserts that the word
Texas means welcome" and that on
the landing of the first white men on
the coast of Texas, the Indians greeted
them with the exclamation of Texas"
or ''welcomew
This theory, according to a CORE
spondent in the Texas VOra0aerts, is
not correct. In the ancient Spanish
archives, stored away in the Land
Office at Austin, it appears that GER
tain lands were situated Sen ell pals de
los TEXAS" or in the country Of the
Texas, or TEXAS indians, and j being
pronounced alike.
1t is well known that the Texas or
TEXAS Indians were tribe of Indians
living IN the valley of the Rio Grande,
who were exterminated or driven off
by more savage tribe. The word
Texas or TEXAS is the root of the names
of all the Indian tribes in Texas and
Mexico. The prefix indicated the To-
cality of the tribe.
The As-Tejas, or Aztecs, dwelt on
the high lands of Anahuac. The Toll
TEXAS, or TOItecs. lived as far south as
Yucatan. The Huas-Tejas lived or
the gulf coast, between Matamoras
and Vera, and the Tol-Tejas were To-
Gated in the State of Coahuaila.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
Lucky Private Secretaries.

PRIVATE secretaries are reaplng large
benefits on account of forming bust
ness relations with some of the very
wealthy gentlemen who have been sent
to Washington in the capacity of
United States Senators.
Mr. Stanford of California IS by long
odds the wealthicst of all the Senators,
and. of course, his annual salary of
s.. 900 and mileage for representing
California in the upper branch of con-
gress is mere bagatelle. He keeps,
it is said, from three to four private
secretaries, one of whom receives al
most the entire senatorial salary.
Mr.. Stockbridge of Michigan, WHO
succeeded Mr.. Conger, is Il wealthy
retired lumberman, as his business
has been turned over to his sons. Mr..
Stock bridges wealth is rated up into
the millions. 1t is said that he gives
his entire salary to his private secre-
tary. The latter is man whom lie
knows well and to WON he can in
trust his most important private and
public affairs.
Senator Hearst of California, who is
by the way. native of Missouri, seat
tiers his senatorial salary around among
his secretaries. He owns and con-
trolls the San Francisco Examiner, and
has brought on from that city one of
his brightest young men, who looks
after Pacific slope matters for the pa
per and does good deal of work for
the Senator besides. Another we'll
known journalist of this city. who has
represented the Examiner here for
some time and who has other newspa
per connections, has got very fat
thing by coming in as one of the Sena-
tors secretaries.
When Gen. Ben Butler of Massachu-
sets used to be a member of congress
persons often wondered how "0ld
Cock-Eyed Ben" managed to keep so
well posted on every public question
when came before tie house that he
took a notion to discuss. The secret
Of it was that Gen. Butler kept from
two to three quick, shrewd men as
secretaries, who were instructed to
keep track of all important measures,
and to have the information in such
shape that the general could 90 over
in an instant and CLEAN what facts he
needed to fortify himself in the dis
cussiOn. Gen. Butler is several times
millionaire, and, of course, could af-
ford it. There are any number of
wealthy Senators and Representatives
no can afford to and who do keep
competent secretaries to do their work.
The proportion. though, is small, and
the average member of congress has a
pretty tough time to get through on
the small amount of money which
Uncle Sam allows. There is one old
millionaire in the house, though, who
is too close to even have an ordinary
clerk. 1t is very laborious for him TO
write, but rather than pay 800 month
he sits at his desk and scratches away
hour after hour answering letters,
w en- he should be listening to what
was going on in that body.-MiSsoWri
| Republican.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
Bridal Procession in Morocco.

We saw a Moorish bridal procession
one evening, which CHANGED to pass
our hotel. First came a mule upon
which was a box-hke affair, closely
covered with tinsel trappings, in which
was the bride, like bird in a cage,
and of course invisible. Attendants
upon each side held on to the box 20
prevent it from falling, while in
the rear followed a large company of
near friends in white burnooses bear
ing lanterns, and behind a small band
of musicians, who played upon some
reed instruments, which produced
quite pleasant flute-like sounds; while
the beatings upon a drum and clash
ing of pair of cymbals gave quite an
emphatic character to the music. As
the procession wound its way along.
with its glittering bridal equipage, the
dark faces of the participants in strong
contrast with their white turbans and
burnooses, the cleaning of the lam
terms and the strains of wild, rude
music, it made altogether a strange
and weird scene.-B0stoaa Transcript
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
A Story of Sunset Cox.

Although nearly 60 years OF age
Sunset Cox is still nearly as jolly as
he used to be- He has been n quarter
of century in tie lower house OF
Congress. and in his time has been Il
little wild. ard needed more fun and
excitement than his own witticisms
and debates in the House afforded him.
But he has changed his habits in this
respect, and is taking much better
care of his health than he used to do.
Cox married comely woman with 4
handsome fortune. and never likes to
do anything to displease her. He has
no children and is wrapped up in those
domestic relations which his wife alone
affords him. But he used to want to
have good time, away from the re-
straining influences of domestic
matters, about once week.
Cox used to get out of the house at
night by novel and characteristic
| excuse" said one of his old chums to-
day. when he intended to make a
night of it he would invariably 90
home at an early hour, dress himself
in his slippers and smoking coat.
crawl well down into a comfortable
chair, draw himself up in front of the
CRATE, read to his wife and congratu-
late himself in audible tones on his
ability to get away from the cares of
public life. He generally expressed
himself as not feeling first-rate and
crawied into bed before IL O'Clock.
About midnight the crowd down at the
club, who we're to enjoy the society of
| the funny statesman, as per agreement,
would send a delegate to CoXs resi-
| dence. He would rap gently on the
| door, and the statesman would COM
plain bitterly at being disturbed, al
though he had been resting with one
eye open and his mind bent on the
good time in waiting. He generally
! felt too badly to 90 TO the door, and
Mrs. Cox would kindly consent to go
herself. THe delegate from the crowd
always wore a yery.seriOus look, and
| spoke in a tone of great Importance
and apprehension. He would tell Mrs.
Cox that there was caucus on hand
at which her husband was to preside.
He always deprecated the fact that
| the business of the caucus could not
proceed unless her husband was there.
as no one could conduct the proceed
ing without the information he carried
in his head. Cox would first hear the
statement then would groan like a boy
who has gorged himself with June
apples. When Mrs. Cox returned to
the bed and informed HIM what was
wanted he appeared to be in the great
est agony. and would threaten to re-
sign his place III Congress if this thing
kept up. Then he would go to tie
door with Mrs. Cox and beg like a
good fellow to get off. But the
messenger would be immovable, and
declare that his absence from the eau
Gus would entail untold Inconvenience.
Then Cox would dress himself, and
going out of the house would express
considerable discontinue in suppress
ing his laughter over the accomplished
manner in which the scheme was
worked. When he returned to the
house in time for breakfast next day,
it would always be on account of the
lateness of the hour at which the eau
Gus adjourned and his dislike to a.
waken the good house wife. "-Atia1ata
| Constitution.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
Points on Leap-Year Proposals.

A young lady comes to us with a
very curious request. Il want you,
she writes, ''to tell me how to proceed
to make a leap-year proposal. l do
not mean anything farcical, but a real
matrimonial proposition, and | desire
to do it in such a way the effort will
not be failure. Please give me few
practical directions"
OF course we will, dear Miss Gym
thia," of course we will. Evidently
You have never made Ieap-year pro-
posal and you naturally feel nervous;
but, never fear, it's nothing when you
get used to it. In the first place, you
must catch your man. From the tone
of your letter We infer that YOU have
got b i'm. Well, the next thing is to
surround the man with favorable con-
ditions. Never propose in the morn
ing. 1t is worse than useless. To
nine people out of ten there is no more
romance in the early part of the day
than there is sunshine at midnight.
The evening is a good time. When
the young man is alone with you and
his face assumes q sentimental look
pop the question. Force an answer
at once. The average man needs time
to frame excuses and equivocations.
The best plan is to make him commit
himself, and after he does this get him
To write few sickly love-letters. The
sicklier the better.
Then, Miss Cynthia, you must make
a few presents to the young man. A
cluster diamond ring is quite accepta-
| BILE; cold watch and chain would not
be amiss, and most anything that
costs from $500 to So would not be
likely to freeze his love. You must
also pay for tickets to the drama and
the opera Booth tickets at S. for the
two for six nights in one week would
be slightly expensive, but you must
remember, Miss Cynthia, that court
ships are very expensive, especially
leap-year courtships.
And, after all, if his love should
wander away from you and he should
try to defeat matrimony by innumera-
BILE postponements, your course would
be entirely clear. You would merely
have to get those sickly loveletters be-
fore jury and the verdict would fol-
low. Forty-fve thousand dollars is
the fashionable figure, but as Balti-
more is more sympathetic than New
York there is no reason why you
shouldn't get $4,000, and any young
lady who has $4,000 in her own name
need not remain unmarried long
| Baltimore american.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
A Complicated Case.

The following are the facts in a case
which came no for trial some time
since. A gentleman, who for conven-
fence we will call A. made a note pay
able to g., by whom it was indorsed to
G. The latter wrote upon the back of
the note: For value received, | hereby
guarantee the payment of the within
note" and endorsed it to ID. The in
dOrsements were all made before the
note fell due, and at the date of its
maturity the maker was solvent. The
note was never paid, and G. heard
nothing of it until he was sued by ID.
1t appeared from the evidence that at
the time the suit was brought A., the
maker, was insolvent. The court de-
cided that B. was released from his
obligations because the note had not
been presented for payment at the
proper time. The single question for
consideration was, therefore, could c..
escape by showing that ID. had been
negligent and that A. and B., both of
whom we're primarily responsible, had
been discharged by reason of such.
negligence.
A divided court, held, however, that
G. must pay the note. By his contract
of guaranty he became absolutely liable
to pay in case the other parties, prior
in point of time, failed to do so. A
guarantor is usually favorite in the
courts, and this case was a surprise to
many who thought G. should have
been released.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29

''Well, I'd have you loaf as much
as you can on general principles, but
| work about sixteen hours a dav. and
think myself lucky when l get off with
twelve hours"
Il work eight hours day." said
Senator Spooner, who sat next, land
l think that is enough"
Il find by experience said the au-
thor of ''Rudder Grange" THAT two
hours day is about as much rs | can
work effectively. And even then | do
not do physical work. l dictate either
to my wife, who is a careful writer, or
to a secretary, and then | sometimes
run over it with pen and smooth it
up. In these two hours | produce
about 1000 words-say Il page of the
Century. 1t is enough, for it results
in two large books Il year"
l asked Mr.. Stockton how many
Americans he knew of who were earn
ing their living entirely by pure lit
erature-that is, by the creation of
works of the imagination.
There isn't anybody" he said, sex
cepting. perhaps. myself. And. I'M
less we have an international copy
right, the number does not bid fair to
increase. However, there is Z. p.
Roe" he added dreamily.
Yes" | asSented; q have seen the
statistics of the book stores of Mllwau-
kee, which reported having sold in one
year of E. P. Roe's books 1000 copies.
of Ann S. Stephens go copies, How
ellis, Aldrich, and Stockston fourteen
copies each"
He laughed and said he thought
very likely it was true.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29

back, 0, no, women are not financiers,
o. no!-BurIington Free Press.
Remember, my boy" said Uncle
James, as he gave Bobby coin, ''that
if you take care of pennies the dollars
will take care of themselves" Bobby
looked a trifle dubious. Il do take
care of the pennies" he replied, but
as soon as they grow to be dollars pa
takes care of EN- "-DetrOit Free Press.
Didn't you meet father in the hall
last as you went out?' she asked in
cold, sarcastic tones. No" he re-
piled sadly, I didn't meet him. We
were going the same way, and | was
only a short distance IN front of him. y
80" she said with cruel, significant
smile, and sailed away.-W0Shtngton
Critic.
Il should like to have a coin that
bears the date OF my BIRTH" said a
maiden lady of uncertain age to
male acquaintance; "do you think
YOU could get me one?" Il am afraid
not, he replied, doubtfully. These
old coins are rare and only to be
found in valuable collections" And
vet he cannot see why, when he met
the lady the next day, she refused to
recognize him.-Ieras jSittingS.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
Boots Coming in Again.

1t is tradition of Beau Brummel
that after his falling out with the
Prince of Wales (afterward George
w he Dragged among his acquaint-
ances that he would ''bring the old
king into fashion," The old king was
half insane and the last object in Lon
don to become fashionable. But Beau
Brummel was king sitting upon Il
more autocratic throne than that of
George III. and his heir. Whether
Beau Brummel ever carried out his
threat to make the crazy king crowd
out his son as ''the fashion, is not u
matter of history.
But the story serves to Illustrate tie
return of a fashion. Years ago men
wore boots. Recently they have worn
shoes of various heights up the ankle,
as to style. In the old time boots
were worn outside of the trowser-leg
in bad weather and inside in fair
weather. At the present time the
trowser-legs come down and cover the
top of the shoe, and, as to the mud, it
is with the trousers a matter of .'catch
as catch can"
Good authority says that boots are
again TO be the fashion, at least for
winter use. This change is in the in
terest of good health. The rule of
hygiene is to keep the head cool and
the feet warm. Boots cover not only
the feet but the ankles and the lower
leg, and hence fight off rheumatism
that delights in attacking those parts.
Wooden stockings are possibly too heat
ing and make the feet perspire. With
pair of good boots cashmere socks
are better. The sole of a winter boot
should be thick, but, being thick, it
isn't necessary that it should be heavy.
Cork soles are excellent, and they
make light-weighted boot, while pro-
tecting the foot from the wet. A pair
of morocco boot-tops will last many
years, and can be repeatedly re-
footed. By such economies as these
boots eventually cost as little as shoes.
There is also the question of art and
grace in leg-wear. Boot legs fill out
the calf. They should be as snug as
possible, giving the feet room to enter.
The trowser-legs then fit better, and
the wearer does not 60 around with
the extremities of his cloth Tapping
against his ankles.
Good boots, with thick soles (includ-
ing India rubber taps, obyiate
the necessity for ''galoches." They
are, if well made and if they fiji well,
neat, artistic in appearance, and con-
duce to health and comfort. Chicago
Journal
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
Better Than DelmOnico's.

A very pretty story which we be.
lieve has never yet appeared in print.
is told of young lady of Coldwater,
Mich. She was visiting her well-to-dO
cousin in New York City, who took
pleasure in showing her the sights OF
Gotham. After theater one evening
he thought to show his Western "coz'
how they dine in New York ''after the
opera is over" and took her to Del.
monico's, where he ordered a neat lit
tie supper for two.
The viands were dispatched, and the
waiter brought the check, with which
was returned to the cashier a $50 bill.
The young lady ''from out of the West
was watching operations, and observed
that the waiter brought back but So. sc
in change, of which he was given the
half dollar. Afterward seated in the
carriage en- route homeward, the
Western belle timidly ventured to ask
her cousin:
Excuse me, cousin, don't want tC
appear inquisitive, but you know we
Western folks want to learn-was
that a $50 bill you sent with that
check?"
Yes" was the reply.
"And you only got back three dol
lars and fifty centS?"
Yes"
"Well, 1 declare! it may be all
right, but at the Southern Michigan
Hotel in Coldwater | can get just as
rood dinner as that for 80 cents
with two kinds of pie. "-HoteL World.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
The Emperor William.

A newspaper mans "reminiscences of
majesty have been given to the world
under the title. ''Monarchs 1 Have
Met" by w. Beatty-Kingston. Here
is bit about the Emperor William
from the book:
He really loves soldering. Most
men become ardently attached to any
science with which they are profound
ly acquainted, and the king has studied
matters military until, in that branch
of knowledge, there remains nothing
for him to learn. He is so thoroughly
im0ued with the feeling that he is,
dUGnt t0ut, soldier, that of a morn
ing, when he is sitting in his pleasant
corner room under the lindens, with
his uniform coat thrown open, read
ing, or talking to one of his ministers,
he will. hearing the band of one of the
guards regiments playing as the sol
diers are marching by his place, al
ways turn hastily to the window to
look at the men; never forgetting how
ever, to button his tunic up to the
throat and pull out the cross of the
'Ordre pour lie Merite, always hang
ing round his neck, so that his troops
may see him pGgJditenaent de rigueur.
''Some years ago one of his favorite
generals was conversing with his mai
esty when the sounds of drums and
flies affair off signaled the approach of
grand guards, whereupon the king
rose hastily from his chair, went
through the rapid act above alluded
to, and walked to his study window.
Gen Won L plucked up his cour-
age, and asked his majesty why he was
so particular about this matter, add
ing: The guards, sire, see you every
day. and l should hardly have thought
that your majesty would have
deemed it necessary to stand upon GER
emory with them That is not it,
replied William |. As the head of
the army | am bound to show my SOL
diers an irreproachable emample in
the terrie. They have never seen me
with my coat unbuttoned, and do not
intend that they ever shall. For let
me tell you that it is the one button
left un buttoned that is the ruin of the
army"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
Made a Narrow Escape.

A physician who had attended man
during several weeks of illness called
one day and presented his bill.
81 can't pay this" said the patient
"Why? It's correct"
Il don't doubt that, but / haven't
any money. Had to pay life-insur-
ance assessment this morning and it
took every cent | had.
What, is your life insured?"
Eyes, and at one time when did not
expect to live but few hours longer
l told my wife to see that you were
paid just as soon as the company paid
the amount of the insurance"
My dear man." the doctor sugges-
lively replied, Il wish / had known
that, think | would have gotten my
money. "-Arkdnsaa Traveller.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
How a Chinaman Swears.

The latest oath formulated for Chi
nese witnesses in American courts is
as follows, says the Nevada Enterprise:
81 swear by the Chinese gods, the
foreigners god, and the God of heaven
and earth, that if am a liar in this
case my head will be cut off the same
as this chickens head is cut off, and
that ! will be drowned in the ocean
and never get back to China" While
repeating this oath the Chinaman
holds a cleaver in his hand, with
which he sewers chickens head from
the body when he has finished the
words.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
How Frank Stockton Works.

At diGner the other evening. says
a Washington correspondent of the St.
Louis GEobe-Den1ocrGt. l sat across the
table from Frank Stockton, the de-
icious story writer rather than novel
ist. At his left elbow sat Senator In
gals, a great reader and student. and
one of the most scholarly members of
the Senate.
What are your habits of work?'
asked the President of the Senate;
chow many hours day, for instance?'
1.-TWO" sad Stockton.
.Two?"
Two"
Two hours?"
1.-TWO hours"
You COMPOUNDED sybarite!"
why SOP" said Stockton. s'How
many hours would you have me
work."
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29

Ex-senator Fair recently offered
$4,000 for San Francisco theater for
one evening in order that he might
have an exclusive theater-party. Mr..
Fair once gave a rosebud party" to
twenty young ladies of Washington at
a cost of $1,000 The next morning
he quarreled with hackman who
charged him 30 cents for a ride to the
Capitol.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29

and to me the coolest in the history of
Minnesota.