davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
A New Food Plant.

Of recent additions to the food
plants of this country says the Garden
and Forest, perhaps none deserves as
much notice as the sweet cassava
(manihOt aipi). 1t seems to have been
proved beyond question that on the
southern border of the United States
there are considerable areas admirably
adapted to growing this remarkable
plant as staple article of home con-
sumption, while in Florida, at least,
its manufacture into starch, tapioca,
and glucose ought to become leading
industry.
The cassava plant is closely related
to the ricinus or castor bean, which 1t
resembles in general appearance. 1t
is handsomer plant, not having the
coarse. rank aspect OF ricinus. 1t does
not bear much seed, and it is not pro-
pagated from seed, but from cuttings
of the larger stems.
As to the quantity of cassava-root
that may be obtained from an acre of
ground, no satisfactory estimates have
as yet been made. 1t must vary great
ly under various conditions. A single
plant grown in Polk county produced
fifty pounds of roots, the top measur-
ing feet in height and 10 feet in
breadth. 1t had been highly MANFRED.
A person who has given special atten-
sion to the cassava thinks that from
ten to fifty tons of roots of one years
growth ought to be obtained from an
acre of land, according to its quality.
This is little better than conjecture,
but certainly the plant yields enor-
mously under certain conditions.
The uses to which cassava may be
put are almost too numerous to men
ton. By manufacture it may be con-
verified, with scarcely any waste, into
starch. tapioea. and glucose. In the
tropics cassava flour is used exclusive
ly for making a large wafer or crack
er. which is quite palatable and keeps
without injury for months. Florida
housewives have used it for making
bread, buildings, custards, fritters,
iellies. ETC.; also, as vegetable it is
who offer lessons in Waiting at very
low prices, and specify that female
partners are provided. The pupils are
fellows intent on getting their moneys
worth. They demand constant ac-
tivity during the hours for which they
pay, and the tuition consists largely of
setting them to dancing with expert
enced girls for that duty. The one
you are now contemplating is engaged
with three of these academies. and
their combined requirements keep her
Waiting pretty constantly six or eight
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23

alarmed and wrote to my friend Ask.
ing him to write another installment
of the story, which he gladly did, the
concluding sentences of the last chap
ter being as follows:
1.-THE long night passed slowly awav
with leaden tread. The eastern sky
began to flush with the first beams Of
morning light.
q Are you awake, dearestP" whis-
pered Algernon in Angelina's she'll
like ear.
The white curtains over the beau
tiful eyes slowly lifted, and the musi-
cal voice replied in faint whisper:
q. Eyes, darling, but I'm very hum
cry"
by the gods" replied Algernon,
springing excitedly to his feet, You
shall have foodi For see, dearest, the
balloon approaches"
8 1t was indeed as Algernon had
said. Outlined against the feecy
clouds, by straining those ewes of
heavenly blue Angelina could see a
faint speck about the size of a door
knob. The speck gradually grew larg-
er as the two lovers gazed hungriIy
upon it, now taking upon it the d.
mensions of an orange, then swelling
out as large as cocoanut, until it
drew within their sight and assured
them that they could not be mistaken;
it was indeed their long-lost balloon.
Then their fears were excited anew by
seeing the balloon sway as it was
struck by a current of air. Clasping
her hands around Algernon's neck,
Angelina exclaimed in agony:
IS "Oh, darling. the balloon is go
ing awayT'
8. Wait, love-" said Algernon,
soothingly; another blast may strike
it. -
alt was indeed so, as Algernon had
said. A favoring gale from heaven, it
seemed, directed the balloon toward
the cliff again, and in a miraculous
manner it was waited against the face
of the cliff. As it came near and nearer
to their resting place Algernon said, in
a husky whisper:
"'''Now. Lena, my hearts love,
jump when | jump"
They jumped and chung like
spiders to the netting until Algernon
had descended to the car. Then, like
the hero he was, Algernon rescued his
darling one from her perilous position
and laid her upon the floor of the car.
She was resuscitated by drink of life
giving brandy, which Algernon found
in a hamper, and an hour later was
pleasantly engaged in viewing the di-
versified landscape, over which the
balloon sailed like a swallow in its
flight.
Higher and higher the balloon rose
until a band of Indians who were
watching it, saw it gradually fade
away against the empyrean blue of
the sky until it dwindled down to the
size of ar apple, then faded away until
only a speck like the head of pin re-
manned, and then was lost in the
shadowy realms of space,
'''THE END
''Well, what did the publishers say
this time?"
oh" replied Bryan with a smile,
''they simply discharged my friend,
that's ALL
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
Sam Bryant's Big Mistake.

BQokmaker BILLY" Boardman tells
a good story of Sam Bryant, the proud
owner of Proctor Knott, says the New
York Herald. Someone he said: DRY
ant says Come-to-Taw will win the
Kentucky Derby, and he ought to
know" answered Boardman. Gown
ers are just as apt to be mistaken as
anyone else. The night before the
Kimball stake was run at LatOnia last
fall | was at hotel with Bryant,
Tucker and one or two others. Tucker
bets his money pretty freely, you
know, and, of course, he wanted to
play the race. The next day he called
Bryant aside and asked if COme-tO-T
had any chance to win. Bryant ans
wered in his usual bluff style: Not a
bit; his chances ant worth 10 cents. |
wouldn't bet dollar on him. The
two talked over the matter pretty fully.
and arrived at the conclusion that
Hindoocraft was a sure winner. Barnes
had been in the habit of riding Bry-
ants horses, but in order to make as
surance doubly sure they decided to
put the cOlOred bOyon HindoOcraft and
let Finnegan ride Come-to-Taw.
In the betting next day Hindoocraft
was a strong favorite at to 5 and
Come-to-Taw was a 80 to l shot.
Tucker and Bryant were on hand early,
and bet $4,000 in the books on the
favorite. The distance was three
quarters of a mile, and when the start
was made they all got off well in a
bunch. After the first quarter was
passed Come-to-Taw took the lead and
was never headed, although Barnes
almost whipped the life out of Hindoo-
craft. | never saw two more detected
looking individuals in my life than
Tucker and Bryant. AS it was they
lost $4,000, while if they had bet that
much money on Come-to-Taw at the
odds they would have won 100000.
was laughing at Bryant after the
race and he was swearing a blue
streak. Darn that colt!' he observed.
''For a week past he has been so sulky
that we couldn't do a thing with him.
just as soon as he came out on the
track to-day / saw by the way he was
capering around that he was feeling
good, and | thought then my money
was gone. was over in the paddock.
and they had the gate locked so l
couldn't get back to the betting stand
to hedge, asd had to stand there and
see my own colt run away with my
money!"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23

upon 1t, IN wnlcn he arrives at the
same conclusions that Mr.. Darwin did.
Mr.. Huth thinks that consanguinitv of
itself plays no particular role in the
union of individuals of the same stock.
In the descendants it increases the
tendencies common to the two prooen-
itors. By reason of their relationship,
the closer this is and the closer the re-
lationship of the ancestors, the greater
is the tendency of the descendants to
exhibit the same dispositions. If these
are good, consanguineous unions will
be advantageous in that they will for
tify and intensity them. If, on the
contrary, they are bad such unions
should be avoided in order to prevent
a Reinforcement of unfavorable tend
encies, which should be suppressed.
But the case is identical where it is a
question Of unrelated persons. No
reasonable person would urge two
neuropatic individuals of different
family to unite, because he knows that
the neurOsis has every chance to be-
come intense in the descendants. On
the contrary, union between con-
sanguineous individuals, equally
healthy and well favored, ought to be
encouraged.
What may be urged against mar
riages of near kin is the facility with
which unfavorable tendencies are
transmitted and the relative rarity of
,he circumstances in which such mar
riages can really be advised. But,
this admitted and explained, consan-
guinity of itself presents no inconveni-
ence, especially if we consider how re-
mote, by reason of the existing laws
upon marriage, is the degree of con-
sanguinity between individuals capable
Of uniting legitimately.
Upon the whole, consanguinity ac-
cumulates and intensifes tendencies.
If these are bad, the marriage of near
kin should be avoided; if good, it may
be favored. But as, unfortunately,
the unfavorable tendencies are more
easily and frequently transmitted, be-
cause they are the ones that are estab-
lished with the most facility, there is
oftener more reason for avoiding than
seeking such unions. Upon the whole,
Mr.. Huth concludes that the accusa-
tons directed against marriages of
near kin are not justified ill the pres
ent state of science.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
Wienerwurst.

Ii had me a muse that was thoroughly
In the art that is born, and not made, as
Iwouid. avow, spend full many day
In singing the praises of dear Wienerwurst;
I'd sing them in the words that were never
yet sung,
And ring in some changes that never were
rung,
Because it's the best and most edible thing
That ever was made by the deft hand of
In my mind, am sure. there is nothing
that
Such genuine pleasure as wienerwurst bring:
have eaten thereof till 1 thought should
burst,
Delectabie, sheep cased, adored Wiener
wurstl
Do you know how they make it? Well, listen,
They chop up the flesh of the shoat and the
Or perchance of the bullock and motherly
SOW,
And mix up the mass and season it well
with numerous spices all certain to keep;
Then stuff it and smoke it in cases of sheep
les, stnff it and smoke it, AMI when its half
dry
Put it into a steamer and heat it quite hot
And there's nothing in all the wide world
that / wOt,
With its favor or perfumes can possibly vie,
How the scents from that steamer like
melodies burst,
Rolling out from that mess of sheep-cased
Wienerwurst.
And oh, were there men, just like Wiener
wurst,
Choke full of all good things from shoe sole
to hat,
And thoroughly spiced with good sense and
all thatl
We see such but rarely. though often re-
hearsed,
And ] know of such men who can fill such a
place,
And fill it with nothing, except the sheep
case.
Will A. Davis.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
Flights of Fancy in Maine.

Zone winter" said aman from Way
back, 81 was numbering in the north
ern part of Maine and was at work on
the side of a high mountain, around
which we hauled and lunched at noon
on the opposite side from where we
cut the logs. One day, at dinner time,
I thought it would be too much work
to walk all the way around the noun
tain. so climbed to the top and, sit
ting on my broad double-bitted ak,
slid down to the bottom. The noun
tain was very steep and the ak grew so
hot on the way down that when l
reached the bottom put my dinner
pail on the ak and stepped my tea
"At another time" said he, Il was
crossing Moosehead lake on a cunning
trip with an Indian, when Iaccidentsl-
" dropped my powdertiask overheard.
The Indian volunteered to dive for it
and et-him, but he was gone SO long
that 1 grew alarmed and thought for
sure he had drowned. l padded my
canoe as nearly as possible over the
spot where he went down, and, gazing
into the water, | saw the Indian stand
ing on the bottom stealing some of the
powder by pouring out of my flask in
to his. Journal
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
WaItzes for a Living.

1t was particularly fne-looking
girl, with trim, graceful figure and
piquant face, whose fatigue came so
near to prostration that one couldn't
help inquiring about her. 1t was i'm
agined from the neat tastefulness of
her garb and the dainty politeness of
her department, that she was daugh-
ter of wealth who had overworked
voluntarily during the season of social
gayety.
'You are not quite right in your
conjecture" was the reply to my query.
''That girl is hired Walter in several
dancing academies. Look in the adj
vertising columns of the newspapers,
and you will find the announcements
of twenty or thirty dancing-masters.
''Then why do you keep at itP"
"Well, l don't mind telling you.
Among the many pupils who learn to
waltz with me shouldn't there some
day be highly desirable man who
will fall in love with me? So 1, am
getting a good living for the present,
and possibly good husband for the
future. "--New York Sun.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
One Way to Stop Donkey's Bray.

Ihave no doubt that the donkey be-
lieves himself when braying to be ex-
ecuting a vocal solo of the highest ex-
cellence. AS some of my readers may
be incapable of approaching the song.
will mention a device whereby the
Turks induce the too-vocal donkey to
be silent against his will. just as be-
fore a cock crows he finds it necessary
to stretch out his neck to the utmost,
so the donkey feels himself compelled
to begin his performance by holding
his nose in the air and his tail parallel
with his spine. When, therefore,
Turk wishes to silence his donkey he
tries tolerably heavy stone to the end
of the animals tail and departs with
an easy mind. When the donkey feels
inclined to bray and begins the usual
preliminaries he finds himself debarred
from placing his tail at the requisite
angle, and in consequence is unable to
do Justice to the bravura with which
hewas proposing to favor the world
-ChuIltduQUG7l.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
He CONCLUDED HIS STORY.
But His Publishers Did Not Exactly Relish
Its Abrupt Termination.

Speaking of flash literature reminds
me of an incident which occurred some
time since in connection with de-
ceased friend of mine," said Bryan
McSwyny yesterday. 1.-THE person al
luded to was man of genius. will
not mention his name, because of his
family connections. He was engaged
in writing a serial story for we'll
known weekly paper of the Snake
Eyed Bob the Bully of the woods or
der. The story had run so long that
the publishers were getting tired of it,
and they wrote to my friead telling
him to bring his story to an end in the
next installment. He did so in the
following unique manner:
"'The balloon rose slowly from the
foot of the cliff, humping along the
face of the rock as it did so. Angelina,
frightened at the prospect of the peril
Gus journey ahead when the balloon
was 1000 feet from the ground. jump
ed recklessly out upon shelf of rock
which projected from the face of the
cliff. Frenzied with fear Algernon
followed his love at the risk of break
ing his neck, and the balloon sailed
away 1OAO bhOlu
situation. There the lovers were,
1000 feet from the top of the cliff and
an equal distance from the bottom.
Algernon seated himself beside the
lovely maiden and clasped her to his
heaving bosom in passionate en-
brace. Slowly the sun sank behind
the western hills. Its expiring rays
lit up the forms of the lovers, oblivious
of their awful position. The shadows
deepened and night fell like black
pail upon the scene.
'Will you always love me, AL
gernon?' said Angelina.
So Till death, darling" was the
reply.
"'THE END
"Well," continued Bryan, '1etters
began to arrive at the office of publi-
cation asking such fateful questions as
these: What became of the loversP
Did they dry up and blow away? Did
the buzzards feed upon the form of the
lovely Angelina? Did they fall off the
cliff and smash into pieces at the footP
Did bowlder roll over the edge of
the cliff and crush themP Did the
birds of the air bring food to the low
ers? Did some one let rope down
from the top of the cliff and pull 'em
up? For heavens sake what became
of them?n
"These letters accumulated so fast
in the office that the publishers became
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
Marrying Ones Relation. .

There is widespread idea that con-
sanguineous unions produce either de-
fective offspring or none at all. When
a marriage between cousins is spoken
of, sterility or a deaf mute, idiotic or
deformed progeny is predicted. and ex-
amples are always at hand to cite in
support of the prophecy. Does this
opinion rest upon positive and we'll
authenticated facts, or is it erroneous?
asks the Scientific american This is a
question that was examined a few
years ago by G. II. Darwin, who, after
a profound study of the subject, came
to the conclusion that in the present
state of science there is nothing to
justify the common prejudice that ex-
lists against the marriage of near kin.
More recently the subject has been
further examined by a. H HUH. who
has just published an exhaustive work
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
A Cool Little Head.

Myself and wife left the house in care
of our two little daughters-Rosie.
twelve years, and Gusta, nine years
old-one evening not long ago. Dur
ing our absence some one rang the
bell. Gusta opened the door. There
she found rather unprepossessing
fellow offering stove-blacking for sale.
Like fash it passed through her
mind that if he knew their lonely po-
sition he might take advantage of it.
She said: "Wait till l ask mamma
first" and walking into the room asked
loud enough for him to hear it, mann
ma, do you want any stove-blacking?"
She then told him. Mamma don't want
any, Chicago Herald.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
Anecdotes of Lawyers.
A LAWYER told me that he heard c

A lawyer told me that he heard one
of his learned brethren make a very
funny remark the other day. They
were talking about case in which the
learned lawyer was interested, when
the latter remarked: Il was talking to
Col. - about the case, and | asked
him a question, and whether he ans
wered it in candor or GESTURE l can not
say" And this reminds us of another
learned lawyer of the city bar, who
had the ambition to shine as law
maker in the state senate. He was
telling his fellow-citizens why he was
the best man for the position. Il I'M
derstand," he said, ''that my opponent
is drinking man; that he drinks
vinous, maltuous or spurious liquors.
As for me | don't drink nary one Of
EN-. "-Birmingham (AEa.) Age :
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
Why the Tartars Laughed.

The artist who accompanied George
KEENAN, on his trip through Siberia
was engaged one blistering day in
making a sketch of a group of pictur-
esque Tartars. Still other Tartars
amicably gathered around him as he
was at work inspecting his umbrella,
gazing curiously at his sketch, and
walking about. As the tartars were
armed to the teeth the artist thought it
was best to be amiable, and smiled a
broad and propitiatory smile upon the
party. Whereupon the entire party
smiled broadly in return and showed
great interest in him. He smiled again,
more broadly still; whereupon the Tar
tars came around in front of him and
began to 60 through the most extra
ordinary antics, laughing still. The
artist gathered somehow that he was
expected to laugh, too, and proceeded
to crafty their evident wish. The
more he laughed the more they laugh
ed and several big Tartars came
around in front of him and lay down
on the ground, rolling and tum bling.
The artist laughed until his jaws al
most cracked. The thing finally be-
came little alarming, and calling his
factotum and interpreter the artist
babe him find out of the head man of
the Tartar party what these extraor-
binary antics were all about.
His excellency, " said the Tartar
in explanation, ''smiled upon us and
showed us something which we never
saw before-tceth made partly of gold.
And as the men of my tribe saw that
his golden teeth were only to be seen
when he laughed they took all possible
ways to make him laugh; and when
they rolled on the ground before him
it was only the better to see into his
mouth and behold his golden teeth
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
Sc. Stephens Cathedral.

The roof of ST. Stephens Cathedral
at Vienna is reported to be in immi-
nent danger of falling in. The forest
of timber of which it is constructed is
of great age, having lasted long be-
yond its natural time, and is now in .
state of decomposition.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-23
A Barbarous Act.

"There are lots of barbarous acts
mentioned in the bible" remarked one
travelling man to another.
''Yes, but to what particular one
have YOU reference now?"
1.-The cutting of Samson's hair by
Delilah. "-IMerchdnt Traveller.
The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-07-27

In the vicinity In immense quantities. The tombs uniform In plan. and oonsst ofa circular walled in space, containing an enormous mas Of bones, with marine and fresh- water shells and fragments Of stone, bone and wood implements and pottery, most of which bear traces of the action of Are. The human remains were depoaited In round eArthen yars or urns each containing the separate bones of one body. Many of the skulls seem to have been artihciay nattened by pressure over the frontal bones