davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01
The Beautiful and Gifted.

Miss Amelie Rives (Mrs. Chanler),
said in regard to her literary work: 81
think out my own plots, but l don't
know what the characters will say un-
til / take up the pen. 'Herod and
Marianne was written year ago last
winter. It was a months task. / had
had the plot in my mind two years be-
fore, but had not put it to paper"
"Will it be put on the stage?"
81 don't know. A manager wanted
me to go on the platform and read,
but that was out of the question. He
has made proposition to 'dramatize'
.Herod and Mariamme.' That is what
he wrote. Perhaps he meant to re-
duce it to stage proportions, but his
offer was vague"
What will come next-a play or
novel;"
The next will be a play. It's title
is 'Ethelwold." It is based on incidents
in English history just prior to the
reign of Henry II. The Harpers have
secured it, and it will be issued about
the first of the year. After that L
have no fixed plans. but will, naturally,
continue to write.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01
An Amusing Experiment.

An amusing test of the difference in
disposition in barnyard fowls may be
made by placing piece of lookig glass
against the trunk of large tree, and
laying a train of corn III front of it.
Some hens will discover what they
will take for new arrival with mild
curiosity, and merely look at it intent
ly, perhaps peering around behind the
tree, and then walk quietly away.
Others peck the glass angrily and in
sist upon fighting, while few nervous
females show much the same noisy eX-
element that seizes upon most hens
when they spy snake. A correspond
ent of the Popular Science Monthly
tried the valiant old autocrat of the
farmyard with this trick, and he was
at once aroused to fury. Dropping his
head when some ten feetin front of the
glass, he began the cautious advance
by parallels, which every one familiar
with poultry has seen before fight.
But of course he soon lost his enemy
by moving too far to one side. After
Growing fiercely and looking around
uneaSily for a few moments, he re-
turned to the train of corn, and almost
instantly saw the strange cock nearer
than before More stealthy approach,
another failure to keep sight of the foe
and greater excitement, and third
time be began to eat, only to be startled
by the hostile presence nearer than
ever. ct last he worked right up to
the glass and braced himself for the
shock of combat, the counterfeit, of
course, following his every movement
with ominous celebrity. There was
one fierce peck at the angry head in
the glass, and then a crash as our in
furiated champion hurled d himself
against his likeness, breaking the glass
into a hundred fragments. The
mingling of establishment, rage and
triumph in this birds appearance as
he whirled about startled at the crack
ing noise and bewildered by the total
disappearance of his enemy, was
comical to behold. Then he rushed
around behind the big pear tree
evidently thinking that the cowardly
stranger might be hidden there. Not
finding him, the victor strutted about,
too excited to eat, and crowed long and
loud over his unprecedented triumph.
The other cock was entirely wiped out
of existence, and our old fighter, who
would crow defantly IN our arms
whenever he found himself being
carried off the premises, knowing from.
experience that a set-to was coming,
could scarcely credit his senses.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

1t is worth a little delay here to
study W hat is fast becoming what will
in the near future be the chief industry
of the colony, says writer in the
american Magazine. Wiser than our
Barbadian friends, and more fortunate
IN territory, estate owners of Trinidad
are turning their attention from cult
walton of sugar, which is growing less
profitable, to that of cacao, whose fu-
ture is certainty.
Like coffee, the cacao must be shaded
from the sun; like it, it is guarded
by another tree that is called the
''bois immortelle.m As we see it in
Maraval valley, and as it is every
where, the cacao is tree of from ten
to twenty feet high, with rough. vel
Iowish brown bark. large Ian ceoiate
leaves, and a dozen nuts the size and
shape OF young muSkmelons growing
directly from the trunk or larger
limbs, to which they are attached by
a short pedicle. In color green while
immature, they change to a chrome
yellow or magenta red when ripe or to
a mixture of both that is artistic.
When picking time comes they are
cut from the tree, gathered into heaps
and split open, the latter operation re-
vealing the seeds of cacao arranged in
layers of disks like copper pennies
from end to end, and covered with a
white gelatinous substance. This is
gotten rid of by fermentation-by rot
ting it off in closed boxes, a process
that needs constant caution, as it will
destroy the kernels if carried too far
The latter are dried in the sun, as
sorted, and packed, when they are
ready for market. Cacao trees begin
to bear at about six years of age, and
continue for fifty, during all of which
time they need but the simplest care,
and yield constantly. Therefore, a
cacao estate is an excellent thing to
have in the family. But the valleys
beneath whose shade and in whose
well-matured soil the tree fiourishes
best are limited in extent and there is
but comparatively small amount of
government land left upon which to
found new plantations. About the
only way to acquire one now is to
watch chances carefully and pur-
chase either large one that some
vicissitude of fortune has thrown into
the auction market, or pick up num-
Der of small ones lying contiguous and
join them into one. Ten years ago
estates could occasionally be purchased
at a bargain, and the regular price
was 81 a tree. Now it is only by chance
that decent one is offered, and the
price is from So to So tree. Even at
this last figure cacao estate is no
mean investment, as it requires no fer
tllization and is expected to yield 81
tree per annum.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

connection with the nation beyond a
year, would entitle Mrs. Sheridan to
one eighteen thousandth undivided
share in 100000 acres of land, and a
like share in S3,000,000 of funds held
in trust by the United States. on which
an annual interest of $4,000 is paid
to the Cherokees.
A farmer near Orlando, Fla. saw in
the sand the trail of what he thought
was very big snake. He followed it,
and after ten minutes trailing, came
upon the largest serpent he had ever
seen. 1t was engaged in swallowing a
rabbit, and the farmer waited and
watched the operation. After the rab-
bit had disappeared he walked forward
to get a good shot at the monster,
which. according to his story, at once
reared up its head as high as a good
sized man and began racing back and
forth before him, drawing nearer each
time. kissing and darling out its
tongue" The farmer shot and broke
the snakes back, and another shot
killed it. It was a ''coach-whip" snake,
of the boa constructor family, and
measured sixteen feet and two inches
in length and was four inches wide
across the head.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01
VOICED AND Welded BY SIGNS.
Pathetic COurtship and Marriage of Deaf and
Dumb Couple.

Chicago Times.
There was silent wedding recently in
the ladies' parlor at She Grand Pacific.
Champion Buchan, who is employed at
the post Office, and Eleanor Patten, tall
and beautiful young woman stood before
DR.. Gillette, the superintendent of the
Deaf ard Dumb asylum at Jacksonville.
There were six bridesmaids, one Of whom
was SO lovely that she riveted atetntis...
and the bridegroom was attended by six
youpg men in immaculate frock coats and
carnations at their button hole. The
parlor was filed with relatives and guests.
Nobody spoke a word. All were deaf
and dumb.
"Wheresoever thou goest 1 will co.
said DR.. Gillette, adding the words o
Ruth to the marriage service.
And the bride with pretty fond ges-
signified that she would follow hec nus
band.
"Wheresoever thou abidest / will abide y
continued the doctor.
And the bridegroom taking the brides
hand in his, promised with sign that he
would cleave to her.
"The Lord do SO to me and more" said
DR.. Gillette, "if aught but death part
thee and me-"
The VOW was made with quick, loving
movements of hands and eyes; the bride
groom slipped the ring upon the brides
finger, and so, without uttering q word,
they were man and wife.
And then the congratulations began.
The silent guests made a rush for the
bride. They kissed her; they Rugged
her; they cried over her. Their hands
kept futtering around the region of their
heart as though saying that, on this occa-
sion, their hearts alone could speak. A
pretty dumb boy of four was brought by
his mother to the bride. He clenched
his chubby fists and stamped his little
feet and went through pantomine ex-
pressive of unbounded love and good
viii. The bride did not answer him with
signs. She stopped and kissed him and g
tear fell upon his curls.
cit is one of the rare romances which
have touched our life," said DR.. Gillette
''These young folks met at the institu-
ton, they wooed in signs, and Mr.. Blu
chan only lett Us to make home for the
beautiful girl who is now his wife"
at which the bride, following the
movement of has lips, kissed his hand,
and with graceful gesture waved fare
well to the company, who were indulg-
ing in an abundance of silent gossip, and
threw kind look at the old colored at
tendant, who was crying at the door.
''It's the prettiest thing I ever saw"
said he.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

the bullets come zip! zip! roun' my ears.
The Injuns was in the open, beyon' lot
er jagged rocks in the creek bottom, an
the way lit often my boss an scurried
down 'mong the rocks was er caution ter
snakes-fur I know'd afore could git
outer the bottom a hoss-back, I'd most
likely git filled plumb full er holes. My
mad wuz up, an ez hope fer salvation, I
jest fit 'em thar fur bout half an hour,
crawlin' from rock ter rock, an cuttin'
loose whenever I ketched sight er one. I
made one or two on 'em sick, I'm tol'able
sartin; but the n1ghes' they came ter do
in me was when one Nv their bullets
glanced from rock an jest gfazed my
cap. Finly, they quit shootin', an fear
in ez how they might be go'g' ter put up
some game on me, I moved ter whar I'd
left my boss, near the edge er the creek.
He warn't thar, but it was starlight, nigh
dawn, an he'd no trouble in follerin' the
track ev his lariat. I know'd he wouldn't
go far with that draggin', and came up
ter him jest ez it was CROWN light. He'd
make a Decline fur the mountains, an
was all right feedin' ez quiet ez a sheep.
I got on him, gave him CAD an spur an
rid inter the fort like forty devils Ter In
juns) was arteI me, jest arter daylight. I
he'd er big escort back ter Fort Casper,
but it warn't none too big ter suit me; I'd
he'd all the Iniuns I wanted fer one
while -
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

IT is no uncommon thing for the rela-
tives and friends of an insane person to
delay commitment to an asylum until
such delay has resulted in a shocking
tragedy. There is widespread but IN
justifable prejudice against combining g
person who has shown symptoms of in
sanity before some manifestation of VIC
Ience. Unfortunately the first NANTES
tation of violent mania may result in the
death of q human being, and confinement
after that smacks good deal of locking
the stable after the horse has been stolen.
The case of Thomas Barnes, of Philadel-
phia, who killed his grandchild by throw
ing it out of the second story window,
appears to have been one of this sort.
Barnes has been suffering with dementia
for nearly year, it appears his mental
depression having already resulted in not
less than three attempts on his own life.
1t is very evident that he should have been
under restraint long ago. The victims of
insanity are doubtless entitled to all the
sympathy that can be accorded them, but
the safety of the sane requires that they
be deprived of the power of inficting in
jury on either themselves or others. II
often seems very hard to commit friend
or relative to the confinement of an
asylum, but it is better that the insane
should be thus restrained than that the
lives of the sane be kept in continue
Jeopardy.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

The Orient is slow to be moved by the
spirit of progress, but it has been unable
to resist the wonderful advance in the de-
Velopment of electricity. In Japan q
society with a membership of 800 has
been formed, having for its object the
furtherance of electrical research. 1t is
stated that the admission to the society
is based on the most liberal rules and
regulations, that would put to shame
some of our own institutions, whose mar
row. mindedness is reflected in the cast
iron rules which preclude the possibility
of only favored few being admitted
AT the present time the ranks of oul
American engineers are largely and valu
ably re- enforced from England, France
and Germany.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01
HOW BILLY THE KID" WAS TAKEN.

The Terror OF Kansas Cattlemen Outwitted by
q Lone CaptOr and Imprisoned.
Chilly the Kid" who was captured re-
Gently has been taken to Trinidad. The
notorious dare devil was the terror of
the cattlemeu Of Western Kansas. He
was captured six miles from Boston and
taken to Granada, where he and the Off
GERS took tie train for Trinidad. He had
produced more excitement in the South.
west country during the past month than
any other man had for years. He seemed
to have held grudge against Boston, the
town of which he was marshal about nine
months. He was chased by thirty-two
men from Bos ton and Stopington for
about one week. This party was well
armed, and went to the house of Billy's
uncle, who lives near Springfield. One
night recently eight miles from Spring
field, they came upon him. There was a
light moon, and Billy could be plainly
seen and recognized. The party opened
fire, but Billy leaned over in his saddle
and put spurs to his horse. He soon out
distanced the party, though they fired
fully 200 shots at him. He had a pair
of good ponies which he was leading, and
these he let go as soon as the firing began.
They were captured and proved to be a
pair which he had stolen il the neighbor-
hood. He was captured at night by a
farmer, who, passing a claim house that
he knew to be vacant and seeing a light,
looked into the building and recognized
"Billy the Kid" He covered him with q
double barreled shotgun and called to
him to throw up his hands. This Billy
lost no time in doing. The farmer intend
ed to take MIN to Boston but ''The Kid"
begged so hard that he took him to
Granada and gave him to the officers.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01
ABOLISH THE FRAMING PRIVILEGE.


The debate in the house of representa-
tives over the franking privilege and its
abuses, revealed one thing very clearly,
that the custom is responsible for more
abuses than benefits. In addition to the
stretching that politicians Of both par
ties apply to the fTanking privilege,
making it cover about everything they
may want to send through the mails,
from a congressional speech to package
of unlaundried linen, the frank of any
member or senator is easily counter
feited, and can thus be made the instru
ment of unlimited frauds against the
postoffice department. To offset the
abuses thus shown to be inseparahle from
this privilege, it would be hard TO show a
single benefit that would arise from its
of senators and representatives upon the
subjects under consideration before con-
gress can be sent out for the information
of the public free of charge. This might
be of some use in furnishing political en-
ightenment to the people if the people
were in the habit of reading the Con-
gressional Record or any part of it when
mailed to them. The speeches that are
worth reading, however, are published in
the newspapers and the reading public
Peruse them long before the franked cop
IS he
In view, therefore, of the little good the
franking privilege furnishes the public
and the great abuses to which it is liable,
it would be better to abolish it altog
If this were done, Representative Cox
would have no further occasion to Com
plain that his frank had been counter
feited and Chairman Quay or chairman
anybody else would not be running the
literary department of q political cam
psign entirely at the public expense.
There is no good reason why partisan
committees should not pay their postage
as well as their other campaign expenses,
and the way to compel them to do so is to
abolish the frankiug privilege. It is true
that both political parties profit by the
abuse, and that the Democratic pot is
just as black as the Republican kettle in
this respect. This. however, only makes
the argument for its abolition all the
stronger. The more general and univer-
sal bad practice becomes the greater
the necessity for sweeping reform.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

Elder Joseph Harvey, of Pittsfeld,
n. H., who recently preached asermon
on the fiftieth anniversary of his ordi-
nation as preacher, has been longer
in the pulpit than any other clergy
man in the state, if not in New Eng
land; and the record of his work is re-
markable. He has averaged four SER
mons week during those fifty years,
and the total is 10,400 discourses. He
has conducted 1000 funerals. and so
many weddings that he has lost track
of the number, and he has preached in
every town in the state-in nineteen
states and territories and in three of
the British territories.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

As far as chemical composition is
concerned, marble and whiting are
analogous = both are carbonates of
lime, and when equally pure both con-
tain the same amount of carbonic acid.
Whiting, however, is rarely, if ever, as
pure as marble. 1t consists chiefly of
the remains of extremely small ami
malcules.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

THERE will be a Welsh party in Parlia-
ent next session to demand attention to
Welsh affairs. The revolt against tlthes
has been very lively in Wales, and discs
Establishments will be one of the cries OF
the new faction.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

Rhoda J. Daniels has obtained in a
San Francisco court divorce from her
husband on the ground that he has six
other wives living. The parties were
married in Rock Island and Mrs. Dan
iels was the widow of soldier named
Spalding.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

Mr.. PowDERLY of the Knights of Labor
recommends an "eternal boycott" on
Hutchinson and the other wheat gamblers.
That is very easily said.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01
Retreat of Niagara Falls.
Scribner's Magazine


Although the retreat of the fall is slow
it will in very brief time, in the geo
logical sense of that word, lead to certain
momentous consequences. When the
hard layer of Niagara limestone passes
below the bed of the river, the stream will
then cut upon rocks Of another constitu-
ton, making for time certain small
falls at higher geological level; but in
the course of ages, much less long than
those which have elapsed since the birth
of this waterfall, the gorge of the river
will extend up into the basin of Lake
Erie, draining away considerable por-
ton of that fresh water sea.
We shall then, if the continent retains
Its present height above the level OF the
sea, have another system of cataracts in
the passage between Lake Erie and Lake
Huron, which will also in time be worn
away. Other catar8ots will then form at
the exit Of Lake Michigan; and thus the
lower lakes Of our great American sys-
! tenn would be diminished in area, or per-
haps even disappear. At yet later
, stage, We may look for diminution in the
size OF Lake Superior, though that basin,
owing to the strong wall which eparates
it from the lower lakes, Is destined TO en-
dure long after the last named basins
have been diminished or entirely drain ed
away.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

The population of St. Petersburg
has diminished by $1,000 in the last
seven years.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

!hiTty million trees have been plant
ed In Kansas this wear.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

Ole G. LomsdaIen, a well known farmer
of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, has absconded
leaving liabilities to the extent Of $780,
600.
The action for libel brought by Par
nell in the Scotch courts against the
London Tines, was opened at Edinsburg
Tuesday.
The official report report of the rail
way disaster hear Potepza, Italy, lir,its
the number of persons killed to nineteen
and the injured to fifty-five.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

TIE Refusal to admit the Chinese
Iaborers who reach California, having
left Hong Kong before the President
signed the Exclusion act, will not disturb
our relations with China. China does not
care. It will embarrass the English ship
ping agents in Hong Kong who have
been sending laborers here in spite of
Jaw and treaties, just as their predecessors
shipped negroes until the slave trade was
suppressed. None of these proposed
immigrants come from China, but from
the English port of Hong Kong, and on
Iy English spectators will suffer.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

THE Franco-Italian league, which is
trying to promote the union of the Latin
races. held its annual celebration of
italian unity at Paris the other day-and
the meeting came near ending in tight,
owing tc an Italians ardent eulogy Of
Sig1or Crispi.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

ExPER1ENoE has taught the cattle men
in Colorado that it is useless to attempt
to make money By turning cattle out
upon the bleak plains in the hope that in
some way OF other they will go through
the winter all right. Stalled beeVes
bring so much higher prices that the
business OF running cattle on the range
must eventually come to an end.