davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12
Women i'm Africa.

The explorer, Won Francois, was en-
gagged a while ago sketching an African
village. which was n little out of the
common because all the houses were
built on platforms, which kept them
out OF reach or high water when the
river overfowed its banks. While en-
gagged with his sketch. he says, his at
tention was suddenly rivited by "a black
beauty"
Many Caucasian ladies, he thinks,
could well envy this primitive maiden
for her skill in the arts of coquetry as
she poised her head now on this side,
now on that, and paced daintily to and
fro along the shore, using her big black
eyes all the while TO the best advantage.
One would hardly notice the fact, he
says that she was very scantily attired,
SO well was the lack OF clothing sup
piled by elaborate and beautiful tattoo
ing and long strings of cowrie shells,
which she wore around her neck and
body, while girdle encircled her
waist. Altogether, he thought she was
one of the picturesque and attractive
ODleCl9 ne ndu seen III AlIlCi.
Several recent travellers have spoken in
quite complimentary and appreciative
language of some of the ladies they
have met in Africa. Becker had not
gone inland one hundred miles from
Zanzibar before he was expressing his
admiration for the young and real
pretty negresses and their attractive
forms" OF course, he had plenty OPP
portunity to observe that their shout
ders are round and elegant, their arms
are exquisitely nodded and their forms
are quite perfect. Our brown beauties, J"
he adds, ''were not particularly shy,
but at the same time they were quit
reserved. They would ask us timidly
for permission 10 pass their hands over
our SKIN, whose Wilderness astonishes
them, but they retired in good order
whenever we offered reciprocally to pat
their shouldess or cheeks"
Another traveller, who has just writ
ten n description OF several African
tribes, thinks that the poorest taste in
the way Of ornaments he has seen Is
among the Bayansi women, who wear
brass rings around their necks weigh
ing twenty-five TO thirty pounds. The
flesh under these rings, he says, Is in
many cases chafed and raw, and for
hours at n time the women support
their rings in their hands in order TO
relieve the pressure upon their necks.
And yet no we'll. TODD married woman
would think that she could exist with
out her neck ring; and when they are
asked if this ornament Is not a very
uncomfortable thing To wear, they al
ways pretend that they do not under
stand. Brass is money among the
Bayansi, and the men, in having il
forged in big Jumps around the necks
of their wives, have found safe but
rather cruel method of money-keep-
ing.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12
BORROWING TrnnhIn

1t Is uncomfortaDiy true Tia Z there is al.
most as much distress Of mind experienced
in the anticpat on as in the realization
About half OF our unhappy days are occa-
stoned by our looking forward 10 the up-
happiness OF the other half
In borrowing trouble natural laws are
reversed; mere mokc hills of annoyance be
come mountains when viewed at "A distance
ahead. Some persons never take actual
comfort. In tranquil times the dread of "a
coming change Is Away in the way of their
en- oyment.
] know Of a family who was forever ex-
pecting 10 move, conse luently neglecting
10 make the garden. repair the house, or
permanently arrange the furniture. At
the latest advices this family had lived in
the same house eleven years.
II we take things as they come we shall
usually find out that they come much better
than we have any right to expect
Our anticipatOry flags of distress may
nave been inviting compassion aud iinging
patches or darkness over many a bright
scene FOR months, only for rs 10 find at
last that We nave been guilty of need less sly,
we might say criminal v. robbiny ourselves
and others OF the happiness r.ghtfully be
longing 10 us and to them.
borrowing trouble is sometimes only
another name for SO. fishncss for the one
borrowing trouble is seldom satisfied unless
ali within his or her influence are inveigh-
cd into the tolls. 10 is holding dangerous
serpent in our hearts that grows with
what 1t feeds upon. II is SINFUL, for II Is al
abiding distrust Of God 8 goodness.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12
A Featherpd Surgeon.

A farmer recently discovered in his
barn birds nest containing pair of
young swallows. On taking one young
bird up in his hand, he was astonished
to see its leg very thoroughly bandaged
with horsehair. Having carefully re-
moved the hairs one by one, he was
still more astouished to find the poor
nestlino's leg was broken. Returning
TO look at the patient again next day,
the leg was found bandaged as before.
The nest was not again interered with
for n fortnight, when it was found that
the hairs were being cautiously re-
moved, n few each day, and when all
were of the callous was distinctly felt
and the union of the bone evidently
perfect. and the bird evidently able TO
fly W it'll the others.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12

club at the university last evening Mr.. y.
W. Rhines OF ST. Paul showed and explain
ed the workings OF his machine, the lShiaes
vote recorder and counter. The inventor
explained everything very cleariy; severai
test were made successfully, and tho m'ni-
bers of the club were very cnthusiastG
over this contrivance, which, II ID hoped,
will be the means Of at least giving purity
10 elections.
This method of voting seems to possess
all the virtues OF the Austr iiian system
none of its evils, and great many advant-
ages that the other does not have.
The Detroit Evening News, Detroit
Evening journal, Detroit Advance, Detroit
Free Press, Detroit Morning Tribune,
number of the Grand Rapids jOurnas and
many others OF the papers OF the state have
spoken apprcclatingly aud many warmly IN
support Of the new-the only American
81 stem of voting.
The people are thoroughly alive and In
earnest ia their demands for this reform
Our legislature is being inundated with
petitions pray ng for new system OF bal
loting, and particularly OF counting The bnt-
lots, and earnestly asking for careiui IN
Vestigation OF this promising sys EN- ana
vote recorder. Thor petition viii not he
ignored nor their wishes sighted.
A measure introduced for the adoption OF
this system has met with consideration al
the hands of our intelligent legislators at
Lansing, which il hattcring in the extreme,
and we do not hesitate here 10 ha ard the
predct that before the close OF the pres
cnt session the bill. subst antially aS intro
duccd. will be enacted into law; and that
thus our Mich gan,a she has done IN many
other worthy enterpr ses, will ENJOY the
distinction OF taking the leading role Ala
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12

election. If he is candidate for n city
ward, township or village Office, he ser DIS
his name 10 the city, township or village
clerk, at least eight days before election,
the city office requiring fee OF $50, the
ward and township Offices $40, and the vii
lage Office 50.
The secretary of the state and tho var
ious clerks are TO see TO IL, under heavy
penalties, that the names of the various
candidates are properly distributed and
placed in the machines
On election day the voter goes TO the
polling place, VIII ch must consist of "A
room properly lighted, and separated into
two parts by a railing not more than four
feet high. One side of this railing must
aga be divd into compartments for the
voting machines; one for st ties Offices, one
for county offices, one for municipal Offices,
and, If presidential electors are to be voted
for, then one for presidential electors. In
front OF each compartment is a screen suh-
GENTLY high 10 hide the keys of the machine
bat not so high hut that the cover of the
machine can be seen when raised In each
compartment Is a sign in large. plain type:
"Raise the cover and vote; having voted,
close it. DO not open or close the cover
more than once"
After the elector has been found entitled
TO vote he is allowed TO 20 into the com
partment in which the voting machine
is standing. He sees before him box with
"A cover Raising the cover, which sounds
bell, number OF rows Of keys or buttons
are disclosed Each row represents some
one party, and each row is of different
color. On the face Of each key is the name
of the candidate, while by the side Of the
keys is the name OF the office.
The voter presses a button, and IL re-
mains down. IL has pressed against roll
OF paper underneath making a clear mark
OF hgure; which figure is the total num-
Der OF votes that particular candidate up 10
that time has received. He does this with
as many candidates as he wishes to vote
for, each vote being recorded in the same
manner. When he has voted he shuts
down the lid OF the machine. the keys are
released and the box is ready for the next
voter. When the last vote is polled, the
machine has faithfully recorded and count
ed every vote, and il only remains for the
inspectors 10 announce the result
Thus there is perfect secrecy while the
elector is voting He goes from one com
partment 10 another, aud is given suft-
cient length of time in each compartm >nt TO
vote. Then he goes out.
The bill guards every avenue to fraud
by proper safeguards aud penal les. Each
party represented on the machine Is en-
titled TO scrutiniZer TO keep watch during
the time the machine is in use and see that
tho interests of each ndidate is protected
against fraud of every kind They shall
also examine the machine before the voting
begins, TO see that everything is In order.
Two points against the machine arc
raised. Cd Ia IL CONSTITUTIONAL (2) Is
1T mechanically practicaii
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12
ALON e.
AY RoBKRT ]. BuRnRITn.


miss you, my darling, my darling,
The embers burn low on the hearth;
And still is the stir Of the household,
And hushed is the vo &c of its mirth;
The rain FLASHES fast on the terrace,
The wind past the lattices means,
The midnight chimes out from tho minister,
And am alone.
j want you, my darling, my darling;
I'm tired with care and with fret;
! would nestle in silence beside you,
And all but your presence forget,
In the hush OF the happiness given
To those who through trusting have grown
To the fullness OF love in contentment;
But am alone.
i call you, my darling, my darlingl
My voice echoes back on the heart;
stretch my arms 10 you in longing,
And To- they fall empty apart;
j whisper the sweet words You taught me,
The words that we only have known,
Till the blank Of the dumb air is bitter,
For 1 am alone.
need you, my darling, my darlingl
With its warnings my very heart aches (;
The load that divides US weighs harder;
/ shrink from the jar that IL makes,
Old sorrows rise ND to beset me,
Old doubts make my spirit their own,
Oh, come through the darkness md save me,
For | am alone.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12
much plausability, that the Rhines ballot

much plausabilty, that the Rhincs ballot
system and voting machine in connection
with the bill now before the legislature,
overcomes every defect in the present cleo
ton system, and meets every difficulty of
the Australian system IL provides per
fectly secret ballot and perfect record OF
the vote. Not only this, but the moment
the last vote is recorded the total vote cast
for each candidate is also recorded, leaving
10 the inspectors only the clerical duty of
tranferring the figures from the vote re
cording machine 10 the blanks now proyid
ed for that purpose.
No sitting up until after midnight To
count the votes. The machine does this
every time person votes. No laundering
over the returns. The machine makes no
plumbers. Every action is positive, and all
who vote are absolutely sure that the re
turns Indicate their choice.
The bill calling for the adoption OF the
Rhines Vote Recorder and Counter was in
troduced in the legislature at Lansing by
Representative Wells OF Wayne county. II
is known as File 1861 or House Bin No. So.
IL has been printed, and anyone wanting a
copy can get one by writing 10 any member
OF the house or senate
The bill covers the following points and
provides the following simple and Just
methods TO purify elections, aud TO decrease
the costs 10 both the state and the individu-
al candidate
Any candidate for any Office can get his
name on the machine If he is candidate
for state Office, he sends his name 10 the
secretary OF state, with fee of $50, al
least 80 days before the day OF election. II
he is candidate for county Office, he
sends his name 70 the county clerk, with Il
tee ofs3O, AT least 20 days before the day Of
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12
VOTING BY MACHINERY.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RHINES VOTE
RECORDER AND COUNTER.
TESTIMONIALS AS TO THE VAL
UE OF THE INVENTION
To secur. a Fair Count and Proven; Fraud


Voting by machinery
What a strange sound that has TO the
average citiZ n.
GLOW funnyp exclaimed one. "How
ridiculous ~ says another. But the OBJ
serving and intelligent citizen, noting the
progress in mechanics, and contemplating
the necessity for thorough overhauling Of
the electoral system Of the state, remarks:
"Why notP'
There is before the Michigan legislature
a bill 10 hereafter use the Rhnes vote re
corder and counter in all state, county and
municipal elections. IL is AN attempt TO APP
ply 10 the electoral franchise perfection
and infalibilty attained by machinery
in other directions. But the uni
versal opinion of those who have studied the
Rhines vote recorder and counter il tnat
machine has at last been Invented that will
accomplish more toward purifying cleo
tons and preventing the blunders or IN
spectors than any other one thing
In his message 10 the legislature. deliver
ed Jan. 4, of the present year, Governor
Luce among other excellent and earnest
words spoke the following, which should
burn into every loyal heart of Michigan
ITO guard and protect the purity OF the
ballot box is the first and one of the most
important duties of the law maker. CUES
tions pertaining to elections Will claim
your careful attention Amendments TO
the election laws and a change in the sys.
tenn of voting and canvass of votes Will
doubtless be considered by YOU at this SEES
sion. And if il is possible 10 more sacred
ly guard this foundation of American lib
erty by providing new or different
method, YOU are most earnestly recon
mended to consider its adoption. The pur-
ity of the ballot box must be preserved IN
such a manner as TO protect the rights of
the voter and command the conhdepce OF
our people One of the most dangerous
crimes that can be committed is 10 corrupt
the ballot Our laws against the use OF inn
proper means TO influence voters are strin-
gent and seem 10 be ample Bribery by
the use of money or other valuables is
severely punished by our laws. And still
rumors are current that these wholesome
laws are violated with impunity Whether
this is well founded or not, ii is weakening
conf deGce in our system And to avoid
the injurious effects of this IL is hoped that
the election laws may be amended in such
way as To render bribery more dilcult
md detection more certain"
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12

CHARLES W. WoLFERTz,
of the firm of Wolfertz Sons
Besides the above the ma
chine was especially commended
by VIM. NJ. Bushnell department superin-
tendent of the Minnesota state agriculture
fair for 1888, and at which fair the machine
was awarded a diploma.
The blessings to be derived from iha
Rhnes Vote Recorder and Counter are
various and many:
|. II will prevent bribery.
>. 1t viii put stop TO intimidation
3. IL will provide "A secret ballot.
4. II will legislate out Of existence the
striker" ''hceler,' election day work
err ticket and slip peddler, and would be
briber.
). 1t will reduce legitimate election ex
penses.
6. 1t will give Intelligence an opportun-
ity TO make itself felt.
Z. IL Will make the surroundings OF the
polls quiet and orderly.
:. 1t will restore confidence in q demo
cratic form Of government.
.. 1t will give the independent citizen az
opportunity to show his disapproval Of cor
rupt caucus nominees.
IL is 'habit' OF some inspectors TO hold
back the count until other precincts are
heard from, and then to manipulate the
ballot box to elect their candidates. With
the Rhines Vote Recorder and Counter this
when the last vote is polled, apd with every
party with authorized scrutinizers to watch
the polls, fraud is impossible.
Communications to the value OF the
machine are innumerable. They are from
the highest authority aud from representa-
tive men. A few are appended.
Following ia an extract from the leading
newspaper Of the northwest, viz: the St
Paul Pioneer Press OF date March % of the
present year:
"a bill has been introduced which pro
vides for the adoption of the Rhines vote
, recording machine, in connection with such
portions of the Australian system as will
work in harmony with il. This machine
was invented by gentleman connected
with the manufacturing department of the
Pioneer Press, and is "a wonder in its way.
The voter simply touches a button marked
with the name of tho cand date, and his
vote is ipfallibly designated by its right
number. and he cannot make It record
more than ono vote for the same candidate
ANY attempt at fraud Is iufall. by revealed
by the record made by the machine. When
the poll is closed the number of votes cast
for each cand date il found infallibly re
corded. There Is no question that this ma
chine will do all that is claimed for it, ~
would cost much less than the Australian
system"
The Minneapolis Tribune OF March Is of
the present year published the following:
At the meeting Of the political science
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12

Technically described, the
Rhines Vote Recorder is
box with two covers. On the lid
Of this box are arranged but
tons or keys. On the face Of
each key is the name of the
candidate 20 be voted for.
Each row reading up and
down represents a party.
Each row reading across rep
resents an Office.
Thus on a machine TO re
cord the vote for state officers
the first row across contains
the names of candidates for
governor, the second for lieu
tenant governor, and so on
through the list. As each key
is perfectly independent Of
every other the elector merely
presses the one Of his choice
for any office and his vote is
recorded and tabulated with
out confusion in the returns.
The keys as voted are auto
matically locked down as soon
as pressed, and the voter can
make no mistake as 10 which
ones he has voted. No subse-
quent pressure OF these but
tons will accomplish more
than this one vote, as that is
not recorded, nor are the keys
released until the cover has
been lowered and raised again.
The act OF raising the cover,
even in the slightest degree,
rings the gong.
Underneath the lid of the
box are rs many rolls of paper
as there are offices 10 be voted
for. On each of the rolls is
the name Of the candidate
corresponding 10 the name on
the key or button directly
overhead. So when a voter
presses key he makes a mum
Der on the paper under the
name OF his candidate CORES
ponding TO the whole number
of votes that candidate up TO
that time has received. Thus
each key is simply n number
ing machine which does it's
work automatically correct.
There is also on the hid
OF the oox a numbering device
showing the whole number OF
votes polled.
The whole is compact. sim
pie, positive in its motions,
and perfect in it's adaptability
TO the needs Of u secret ballot.
and a,corTect count.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12

All the measures proposed to our legisla-
are can be classed under three he .ds
|. To amend the present law by increas-
ing the restrictions and adding greater
penalties for bribery and intimidation.
q To adopt the Australian method,
which is a sure remedy for some of the
evils surrounding the ballot box.
g. To adopt the Rhine's ballot system and
vote recording machine. together with
those portions Of the Australian system
that have been found 10 work satisfac torily
In all countries and under all conditions.
The first scheme is simply for temporary
makeshift IL will satisfy no one honestly
desiring ballot reform. IL will not accom-
plish any appreciable good The present
system ia fundamentally wrong aud patch
Ing IL up cannot reach the cause of the
trouble.
The Australian system has many good
points, but it has one chief defect: The
multiplicity of candidates i'm the United
States makes the counting of the votes an ar
duous undertaking, in which the liability
10 errors are great The system Of booths
is good; having the names Of all the candi
dates on one ticket is an excellent idea; but
the Australian system Is defective "a are
all the present methods, whom it comes TO
counting the votes.
The claim is made, and certainly with
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12
Tns nrst question, as to It's constitutlon.

Tne nrst question as to its constitution.
aliti as answered in the affirm tive by
Mr. fred A. Ia err one OF the best copstitn'
tiona. lawyers IN Michigan, as follows
DETROIT, MI1H., NJ lrch 10, 1889.
To the Rhne's Ballot System Co.:
Gentlemen section of article 7 OF the
constitution Of this state is as follows
"All votes shall be given by ballot,
except for such township officers as
shall be authorized by law 10 be Otherwise
chosen.n What arc the essent ais
of the ballotl II is quite plain that the
main and primary purpose of ballot is to
obtain secrecy. The Rhines
voting machine permits each person 10
print his own ballot, and at the same time
secure the secrecy required by the consti-
tuition. / sec no constitutional
OBJ ection TO the Rims machine or system
or to any other system of taking and re
cording the votes where secrecy and ac-
Curacy are attained.
Your obedient servant,
FRED A. BAKER.
AS to the correctness Of It's mechanical
construction and work the following rs
conclusive:
ONCE Of Robert Wolfertz' Sons, Manufac.
turers and dealers in presses, shafting,
pulleys, etc, ~ Woodward Ave.
DErGOIT, MCH., March -, 1889.
Mr. II. 5. BURTON:
Dear Sir--I have carefully examined the
working model of the In mes Vote Recorder
which has been oa exhibition at your Office
~ Lafayette avenue. this city. for the past
few weeks, aud most chcerlully give my
testimony as 10 its merits as a machine. !
can discover no difficulty whatever in the
way of the machine doing perfect work,
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12
Like Captain Mud.

"Who was the first man, Tommie?"
asked the Sunday-School teacher, after
explaining that our first parents were
made from the dust of the earth
Henry Clay. ma'am."
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12

liked Cora before I married her. And
l loved her from the start, and unless
you order me ashore
shut upm roared Captain Mar
vim. Steward, bring on the wine
while / drink the health OF my future
son-in-law. But | was very near fog
ging you. my boy very near it. F"
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12

this the noblest rs well as the most neces-
slry OF al z hume reforms Of our system
o 1 methods Of election.
In the city OF Detroit last fall so fragrant
were the abuses attending the election that
"a cry arose from all good mon OF all parties
for some pos tive step 20 effect IA reform.
Accordingly at a pablo meeting commit
tee Of 100 representative and loading citi.
zens Of all shades OF political belief was
provided for with that sterling gentleman,
he venerable ex Mayor Alexander Lewis.
"a its chairman. Mr. Lewis has since that
time carefully Investigated the Rhines
ballot system and vote recorder, and voluD-
tirily furnished the following testimonial
of it's value:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12

To Frank =. Burton, So:
The Rhines vote recorder and ballot ma
chine is the most ingenius and perfect piece
of mechanism | have ever seen: one has
only to examine il to be convinced Of its
entire pract cability. And | feel confident
that it is only question Of short time be
fore it will supercede the present paper bal
lot. | hope every city will give it a trial
as it will go long way toward putting an
end to bribery and corruptious az cleo
lions. Truly yours, etc,
ALEX. LEWIS.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-12

and doing all that your com )any claim for
it as voting machine and vote recorder.