davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
SAFFRON CAKE.
FARM NOTES.

Even in the garden it does not pay to
crowd. Give the P ants plenty of room.
O d stumps, if allowed to season can be
utilized for back logs in the fire places
Or may be chopped for the stove as they
should be converted into ashes for spring
use.
Very cold weather does not injure
stock as much as dampness. A moder-
ateIy cold day with q driving rainstorm
causes more illness to stock than severe
cold on dry, clear day.
The flower bed for next year may be
made very rich by scattering the sweep
ings Of the poultry house over it. Soap
suds may also be well utilized by throw
ing them on the flower beds.
The young trees that have been kept
clean In cultivation should have the
ground well frmed around them if the
frost leaves the ground at any time,
or they will be thrown over Ey nigh
wiEds.
Every new fact about the diseases of
farm animals, emphasizes that these dis
eases are owing to impure drink from
ponds and sluggish CT eeks more than all
other causes combined.
The rapid growth and dense shade that
buckwheat makes give It considerable
value in destroying weeds. Very few
weeds will grow under it if once start is
secured It is also valuable as fertilizer
to enrich the soil.
It will pay TO gather up the old bones
and old boots and shoes and bury them
near the grapevines. While they may
dissolve but slowly they will furnish a CON-
siderable amount of plant food eli the
time while they last.
A good layer of wood ashes around the
stem of the apple trees, recommended to
be applied during the latter part of May,
is said TO be a good preventive for the
borer. They are worth to the tree as
fertilizer alone enough to pay for the ap
plication.
1t has been found in California that
cold air blast dries the fruit III the most
satisfactory manner. Sam pies of fruit
dried in this way-prunes, apricots and
appIes-two years ago, are still IN a per
feet state of preservation.
The farm journals are full of all sorts
of devices for kicking COWS. The best
method is simply to draw the cows head
up high so as to cause down arching of
the spine at the Ioins. Several who have
tried it report favorably upon it.
The most disagreeable thing on the
farm in winter is mud, and, although it
cannot be entirely avoided, yet some of
its disadvantages may be overcome by
carefully draining every location that
allows an excess of water to accumulate.
When the cattle are compelled to stand
knee deep in mud there is a loss of ami
nal heat, and greater portion Of food
will be required to keep them IN con-
ditlon.
Cunning cream when slightly sour as
is the custom of the Holstein dairies,
yields butter of peculiar and fine aroma
Butter made from very sour cream is
destitute of this aroma, and has the taste
which the Holstein butter acquires after
keeping some time. Stirring of cream
does not promote souring, but rather
binders it by increasing access of air,
1t may be advantageous in making the
souring uniform.
The hen is literally an egg machine,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
BUSY INVENTOR EDISON.

Has Folding Bed in His Shop and Dreams
Out Plans in His Sleep.
In the laboratory office of Thomas A.
Edison's photographic factory in West
Orange is very unbusinesslike piece of
furniture. Casually looked at one thinks
1t a cabinet Closely examined it proves
TO be folding bed. Its presence there
is the only indication to the stranger who
meets the wizard for the first time that
he is not personally the easy-going fell
low he appears in conversation.
Mr.. Edison's iudefatigability is no less
q source of establishment to the workers
of his factory than his wonderful inven-
tions are TO the public at large. He is
always at hand early in the day. He
works harder, says the New York Sun,
than any man around him, and is capable
of working up to 2 and O'Clock the next
morning. Then he often prefers to IN
wind the folding bed in his Office and
take few hours sleep there than add to
his WEAKNESS by climbing the quarter
mile hill to his house IN LlewelIen
park.
His comprehension is never dulleo by
fatigue, IN fact, his friends say that his
mind never feels WEAKNESS and that he
sleeps only when worn out body com
pells him. The last thing he does at
night is quickly to run over every one OF
the numerous designs in the hands of his
twenty five designers and take in the
progress and capabilities of each at Z
glance. The first thing in the morning
he goes the same rounds again, discusses
each of the designs with the worker, sug-
costing here, adding there, changing in
the details, in a way that shows shat he
has given each design mature thought
since the examination of the night be-
fore. When did he get time for the CON
sideratiOn, people ask. On, he must have
thought them over in bed, answer his
employees. Indeed, the statement that
he dreams most of his IDEAS is one that
msets credence with some of the super
stitiods in his EN- ploy.
"1alk about your monograph" said
an emplOye, Kit cannot be compared as
an object of wonder to the man who in
vented it. But you have to work along
side of him IN the same class of work to
fully realize that"
A visitor found the wizard on Sunday
with one of his photographic dolls in
pieces before him, and a piece of paper
with rough pecilings.
can idea suddenly hit me at breakfast
this morning." said he, ''tor cheapening
the doll, and [ couldn't rest until tomor-
row to put It on paper. I can make the
framework that holds this tiny phono-
graph cheaper by changing its shape, and
thus saving material. The change in
shape will permit me to substitute a
small brass screw for this large one, and
save several cents that way, too"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
SHOT FOR A WITCH.
Singular Instance of Superstition Among
Negroes Near Baltimore.

Singular Instance of Superstition Among
Negroes Near Baltimore.
Detective Droste was down on the
eastern shore on Sunday, and that night
helped unearth queer story, says the
Baltimore Sun. 4 farmer named Bed
den6eld Spencer and his wife, living near
Centerville, started out Sunday night to
secure hands for the next days work.
They drove TO Brownsville, a settlement
of colored people in the midst of large
forest, and as the road was rough Mr.
Spencer got out of the carriage to walk.
Approaching the house of negro named
John Bryan, the latter came out and shot
Mr.. Spencer, infictipg painful but not
dangerous wounds in the face. Mr..
Spencer called the negro. who came to
the fence and said: "Deed. Mr.. Spencer,
1 didn't know it was you; but I have
been bedeviled to death for the past three
months, and somebody has njured my
wife" Mr.. Spencer did not regard this
as sufficient excuse, however, and had
Bryan arrested.
Detective Droste, who was in Center
vile, went with the officer, and to him the
old negro and his wife related their
troubles. Their lives had been made
miserable since April, they said, by
strange and mysterious persons and
things. On one occasion when the dogs
barked great deal, Bryan went out into
the darkness aid upon accosting bis un-
known visitor, was fred upon. Strange
footprints were often seen around the
house OF man wearing one rubber
boot.
"Please Gcd, sir" said the old man,
my life is 'tarnally worried out by these
blasted things. | saw something black
a-movin' and blazed away"
The wife states that the whole place
was haunted and conjured. 81 an shuk
up in bed, somebody picks at my face
and rolls me out of bed; some kind of
thing is Tarnaily after me. Three mig
gers has haunted this place. l know
witches is always around bothering me-"
Both the negroes believed the place be-
witched, and half the population of
Brownsville regard it with superstitious
fear. Bryan sometimes went out and
shot ct trees under the i'm preston that
witches were behind them. He is not re-
garded as crazy.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
The Weakening of the Moral Idea.

Mr.. Herbert Spencer's ultimate test OF
right and wrong is agreeable feeling
For him, virtues are founded upon ex-
pediehcy; not indeed upon a direct cal
culation of what is expedient, but upon
the registration OF it in the human Or
ganism. Bat if morality is not formal
law, absolute as are the laws of mathe-
MATES, transcending all persons and all
conditions, and sovereignty obligatory
upon all, without regard to it's conse-
quences and without reference to any
personal end-if, / say, it is not all this,
il is nothing. And as I look around the
world l find only too abundant evidence
how fast it is becoming nothing in some
of the most important provinces of mans
activity, through the debased conception
of it which the new philosophy hes diff
fused. The philosophy Of relatively
en- pties truth of It's old meaning. And
10 every departm ent of human activity
note the invaiidation of the moral idea
as the philosophy wins its way into popu-
lar acceptation. Everywhere discern
tokens of the lowering Of the ethical
standard [ find them in art. l find
them in jourr alism. l find them IN poll
tics. / find them in the view commonly
taken of that penal law which is, in a
true sense, the bond OF civil society. /
propose to consider these several sub jects
i'll future numbers of this review.-W. \.
Lilly in the February Forum.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14

her chief purpose being the production
of eggs. Like any other kind of machine
she must have the raw material with
which to manufacture her products. Her
instinct teaches her how to select; all
that is necessary is to place within her
reach that which she requires and every
thing will be well and complete.
The white guinea fowl is more domes-
tic in its habits than the pearl guinea,
and if Matched out by a common hen will
give little more trouble than an ordinary
fowl. The young are tender at first but
if properly fed and not allowed to run
too much they soon become hardy. The
red head, white plHmsge and yellow legs
make combination quite attractive in
the poultry yard.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
THE PAMPERED POODLE
JOEL STACY.

There was once little poodle, who lost his self
respect.
That his honest tail refused to do his wagging-
For il truth, the tail explanifed, Il cannot but
object
To the petting he submits to. and the nagging.
~ scorn to wag for any dog who cannot gnaw a
bone
Without whining for nurse to come and chop
it.
And who sits all day beribboned, like puppet on
throne;
And I'll never wag again if he don't stop it.
"What with bibs and bows and baskets, and
mummery forlorn,
And Iaziness and nonsense, he's Ia noodle!
And, you know my reasons, can you wonder that
scorn
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
WONDERS OR THEDEAD SEA.
A Desolate Spot Is the God Smitten Valley I
hi nn

A DesOlate Spot Is the God Smitten Valley OF
! the East.
I One of the most interesting lakes or
| inland seas in the world says the Mission
Herald, is the Dead Sea, which has DO
visible outlet. 1t is not mere fancy that
has clothed the Dead Sea in gloom. The
desolate shore with scarcely green thing
in sight, and scattered over with black
stones and ragged drift wood, forms q
fitting frame for the dark sluggish water,
covered with perpetual mist and break
| ing in slow, heavy, sepulchural toned
waves upon the beach. 1t seems that the
smoke of the wicked cities was yet as
| cending up to heaven, and as If the moan
of their fearful sorrow would never leave
that God-smilten valley.
It is strange thing to see those waves,
not dancing along and sparkling in the
sunshine, as other waves do, but moving
with measured melancholy and sending
| to the ear as they break languidly upon
the rock, only doleful sounds. This is,
no doubt, owing to the great heaviness
of the water, fact well known and am
| ply verified in the usual way, for attem pit
ing to swim we went floating about like
empty casks. This experiment was more
satisfactory in its progress than in its
and a most pestiferous singing of every
nerve, as if we had been beaten with
nettles. For was the water we took into
our mouth whit less vile than the most
nauseous drugs of apothecary.
That fish cannot live in this strong
solution of bitUmen and salt is too OBJ
vious to need proof, but to say that the
birds cannot Fl over il and live Is one of
the exaggerations Of travellers, who per-
haps, were not like ourselves so fortunate
as TO see flock of ducks reposing on the
water In apparently good health. And
yet this was all the life We did see.
The whole valley was one seething cal
dron, under more than 6. tropical SUP.
God -forsaken and man-forsaken, no
green thing grows within it, and 1t re-
mains to this day as striking monu-
lneDt of Gods fearful judgments as when
the fire from heaven devoared the once
mighty cities of the plain.
AT meeting of the convention of
America Shipping and Industrial league
officers were elected for the ensuing year.
Resolutions were adopted favoriug a sys
tenn of coast detences and the rebuilding
and equipment of strong and efficient
navy. also the improvement of harbors
and rivers of the whole country, and the
passage of the navy reserve bill.
Do not sell off your surplus hay or
straw yet, or you may find yourself short
of a supply before the winter IS over
The amount to be retained depends on
the condition of the stock and the
severity of weather between now and
spring.
i blanket mill III Cleveland Ohio. was
burned at e loss OF 100000. Insurance
$4,000.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
FRENCH TOAST.


FRENCH TOAST.
Make batter of one pint of milk, two
tablespoons of -four and two eggs. Cut
slices of bread an inch thick and diamond
shape. Soak in batter nearly fifteen
minutes, then fry nice light brown in
hot butter.
SNOW PANCAKES.
Stir together milk and -four to form
rather thick batter, with a little salt,
add new-fallen snow in the proportion of
teacupful to pint of milk. Have the
fat hot at the time you stir ID the snow,
and drop the batter into it with spoon.
SILVER CAKE.
Two teacupfuls of powdered white
sugar, one cup of white butter, whites of
six eggs beaten TO a stiff froth, sufficient
-four TO make a cake batter; add good
baking powder TO the -four if desired
flavor with essence of vanilla. First rub
the butter and sugar to a cream, then
add the other ingredients. Bake in a
quick oven.
HERRING SALAD.
Soak for six hours three Holland
herring; cut in small pieces; cook and
small cooked beets, two onions, one sour
apple and four hard-boiled eggs. Mix
with sauce of sweet oil, vinegar, pepper
and mustard to taste. Add a tablespoon
full of sour cream; let stand over night.
PUMPKIN PIES.
Five pounds of slowed and strained
pumpkin, two quarts of boiling milk, one
and half nutmegs, four teaspoonfuls of
salt, fve cupfuis sugar, niue eggs, four
tablespoons of Sicily MADEIRA and two
of'rose water. Gradually pour in the boil
ing milk on the pumpkin and stir con-
tinualiy. Add the nutmeg, rose water
aud sugar. When cold add the eggs,
we'll beaten; and just before the mixture
is put in the plates, add the Madeira.
Butler deep plates and line with plain
paste. Fill with the mixture and bake in
d moderate oven for forty minutes.
SAFFRON CAKE.
Boil 6 ounces OF fresh butter in half
pint milk, then skim off butter and mix
it with about Il pounds of -four, moist
ening it with little of the milk. Stir
rather less than half a spoonful of yeast
into the rest of the milk, strain and mix
with the -four and butter, then mix in the
yolks of two and the white of one egg,
L ounce carraway seeds, q very little
mace cinnamon, half pound Of sifted
sugar, teaspoonful tincture of saffron,
and little rose water. Beat it ali we'll
together (the more it is beaten the
better) then pour it into buttered cake
tin and bake in a quick oven.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
Murder and Suicide

CHICAGO, Feb. 4.-John Dempsey, an
en- ploye in a hardware firm, tonight shot
and killed his sweetheart, named Nc
Clellan, on Jackson Boulevard, near
Peorio street, and then killed himself.
The cause Of the shooting is unknown.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
New Source of Power

AT Point Labos, near San Francisco,
there is suspended Out in the waters of
the Pacific ocean a big WOODEN pendulum
SO arranged that a surface six feet by
twelve is exposed to the weyss. The
action of the waves causes the pend .lum
to swing, and the swinging of it works a
huge pump, which raises the sea water to
a height of $50 feet. It is proposed to
conduct this water to San Francisco anG
use it for running turbine wheels and
other motors, driving cable cars, supply
ing salt water baths, sprinkling the
streets and flushing the sewers.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14

The heavy fall of snow at Toronto has
delayed all railway traffic. The mercury
has dropped 20 degrees below zero.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14

Make batter of one pint of milk, two
tablespoons of -four and two eggs. Cut
slices of bread an inch thick and diamond
shape. Soak in batter nearly fifteen
minutes, then fry nice light brown in
hot butter
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14

Do not sell off your surplus hay or
straw yet, or you may find yourself short
of a supply before the winter is over.
The amount to be retained depends on
the condition of the stock and the
severity of weather between now and
spting.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
THE HOUSEHOLD.
BUTTERMInK GRIDDLEs.

Make thin batter of pint and half
Of the milk, using -four and one spoon
full Of Indian meal; add te8spoonful of
soda, one egg and teaspoonful of salt if
the buttermllk Is fresh.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14

A large decrease of Chinese immigra--
ton into British Columbia is reported.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14

i blanket mill IN Cleveland Ohio. WAS
burned at loss OF 100000. Insurance
$4,000.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
SNOW PANCAKES.

Stir together milk and -four to form
rather thick batter, with little salt,
add new-fallen Snow in the proportion of
a teacupful to pint of milk. Have the
fat hot at the time you stir Ia the snow,
and drop the batter into it with spoon.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-23
ONE ON THE SHERIFF.
An Aged Granger Mistakes Sher1n
 Gates for q Murderer.

An Aged Granger Mistakes Sheriff
 Gates for q Murderer.
 An aged farmer from back in the country came to town this morning to pay a sewer assessment levied upon his property on River street and incidentally to see .'them air prisoners from New Haven." He was an old time Yankee and democrat and of course was full of anecdotes. To a policeman and a re- porter he unbosomed himself on politics, farming and law breakers.
 II tell ye,' he said, "that air republi- can guv'ner is grandee. The way he talked to them legislatur chaps about hangin' that air wife killer made me feel sorry didn't vote for him."
 "I'm afraid you would make stern iudge,' ventured the policeman.
 The old mans eyes flashed and he tugged viciously at his patriarchal beard as he exclaimed:
 "Starn No. But I'd make them tarnal critters of bugglers and murderers pay the penalty. Why, l hada chap named Dalton, from Waterbury, work for me and every night he'd bring home stolen goods.s tile was a tarnal mean critterr, but fixed him. He stole my gran'so s gun and is now in Litchfeld jail" Say said the old man, changing the conversation, s'where kin 1 find a good honest man to work on my farm. l want one that's good for fourteen hours day. My grandson he married an Irish girl and left me all alone. But I'll fix him. All my property will go to my darter, whose husband keeps store over there in the market place" "Oh, you'll think better of it and take the boy back said the scribe.
 "Never, by jiminy, never. I'll not support Ireland. The young rascal squandered 1000 on me and then mar ried that Irish girl. He's disinherited I tell ye.'
 Just then the bound-over prisoners who came up for trial from New Haven came along in charge of officers, chained together, and the old mans eyes fairly danced.
 "There's the Union City murderer. could pick him out of the hull grist, said the old man. Look at that viii lainous eye. Are you sure they'll hang him?'
 The reporter explained that the man with the 'villainous' eye was Sheriff Gates, who had never killed a man eN- cept in the discharge of his duty.
 "And that other fellow with the mixed prison suit, he must be horse thief" continued the old man.
 "Why, mo-" chimed in the policeman 'that man is simply Sheriff Sweeney o1 Naugatuck. a terror to law breakers
 The old man felt put out to think he had made such a mistake and begged the scribe and policeman not to say any thing about the matter. ''Come ou and see nae when the cider is running, he said as he tottered towards the court house to see the judge.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-23
GOING TO PROVIDENCE.

The Excursion of the Second Regi-
 ment in June.
 A special meeting of the field and staff officers of the Second regiment was held last evening in the officers room at the armory, in New Haven All of the officers were present. The only question before the meeting was the selection of a route for the summer excursion. The general have been proposed were too long and too expensive. There was very little discussion, and it was voted to visit Providence on or about the 17th of June. The time consumed is not to exceed AS hours.
 The committee having the matter in charge were instructed to make immedi- ate arrangements for the trip, and Cap tain Embler, chairman of the commit tee, will begin his duties at once. The two days excursion now settled upon is a great come down from the six days trips which have been talked of, but the officers all expressed themselves as pleased that the matter has been settled. The privates are also well satisfied with the decision of the officers. One of them said yesterday that at least % per cent more of the men would go than if a longer trip had been taken. One of the days of the trip will be the annual field day and will lessen the individual ex- pense somewhat.
 Captain G. G. LaBarnes of Company K and Lieutenant R. M. Walker of Com pany B are out with challenge to any two men in the National Guard to shoot seven shots at 200, 300, 400, 5O0 and 600 yards. They are also willing to shoot at any distance. These two gentlemen have very high rank as marksmen and are anxious to show their superiority. Private Roth of the Sarsfield Guard, New Haven, appeared before the court martial committee of the regiment yes | terday afternoon to answer to the charge of writing insulting letters to his cap tain. When the Sarsfields were pre- pairing to go to New York and the ques- tion Of giving their silent drill was brought up MT Roth directed several anonymous letters to Captain Callahan ill reference to the excursion. Lieuten- ant Colonel Doherty said yesterday that the decision would have to go to the ad- jutant-general before it could be made public. This will take about 10 days.