davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21
ABOUT FARM LIFE.
Some Seasonable Suggestions.

A man whose strength is habitually ex-
hausted by bodily labor becomes. at length
incapable of mental eXertion: and | can not
help feeling that half of the farmers of the
country establish insuperable obstacles to
their own Improvement by their excessive
toil-Titcomb.
Self-culture, intellectually, religiously and
socially and the same culture in his fami-
". would sweeten the toll and often lesser
it, too.-Thomas McFarlane
would these words were written in gol-
4en letters on every farmers hearth-stone.
Fifty years of farm life gives me some
knowledge of the hardships and privations
incident to the profession of farmer. and
| may be pardoned for few plain words.
| believe that labor is blessing When
the fat went forth, In the sweat of thy
face shalt thou eat bread, man 5 greatest
enjoyment of life outside of Eden was also
considered. To die in the harness, faith
fully and well doing the work assigned US
by the Great Master mind is the greatest
boom vouchSafed to man. Eternal vigilance
is the price of successful farming, but eter-
nal work never. To the average farmer
there is no limit to his work except day
light From year to year there is an IN
creasing round of labor. His sole recrea-
ton is work, and there is no thought OF
enjoyment not connected with bodily toll.
He runs in a groove and becomes at length
incapable of mental exertion. Intelligent
recreation outside of the weekly newspaper
is an unknown quantity. If he Is ever
betrayed into attending alecture, buying a
book or subscribing for a magazine, it Is
in an unguarded moment, and the expert
ment is seldom repeated. Years ago
the writer, just attending his
majority, learned something of Western
farm life by working for a Minnesots
farmer His hours of labor were as regu-
lar as the clock Flowing, sowing. reap
ing and all kinds of farm work We're Sc
systematized and arranged that nine OF
ten hours was the extent of field work Hi:
work was never behind, In fact he was the
most successful farmer of the section
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21

Originally from Vermont with but a few
hundred dollars besides the wife of which
King Lemuel writes, often paying 3 per
cent. month for money, ne certainly had
need Of long hours. But he always fol-
lowed regular hours of labor In harvest
we often rode two miles from our work
had our supper and chores done before sun
set. At the time of which | write. he
owed no man, while his yearly farm sales
aggregated s., 900. This is not an isolated
case. There are scores of similar ones,
all proving that farming can be made to
pay by regular hours of labor. One f my
farmer friends in York State stopped
the weekly paper because his hired men
took too much time reading. When his
children arrive at the age of understand
ing, quite likely the same provision would
be made for their intellectual require
mentS. Not thousand miles from where
| am now writing is well-to-do farmer
80 years of age. He recently told me that
81 would cover the cost Of all the enter
tainments of his life. | mentally observed
that would probably be the amount spent
for books and newspapers.
Time for reading and acquaintance with
the Worlds history, time for exploring
the rich mines of thought everywhere
around US, time for historical and bio
graphical research, time for making the
most of life and something near what the
great First Cause intended it should be,
time to such persons for self-culture is of
no consequence. Nothing short of light
ming would change them from their course.
They are joined to their idols, let them
alone.
To conclude, I would that every farmer
reader would read the first paragraphs.
Our calling is grand one, and we should
make the most Of it. Books by the most
eminent authors are within the reach of
ALL Means of self-culture surround us on
every hand. Intelligent farming is dig
nif1ed LIVING -
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21
SUCCESS IN LIFE.
How One Man Made a Dead Failure of His
Fyis


Existence.
I have heard of two brothers, whose
father died, leaving them five hundred
dollars apiece. Il will take this money,
and make myself rich man, " said Henry,
the younger brother Il will take this
money, and make myself a good man, y"
said George, the elder Henry, who knew
little beyond the multiplication table,
abandoned all the thoughts of going to
school, and began by peddling, in a small
way, over the country He was shrewd,
and quick to learn whatever he gave his
attention to; and he gave all his attention
to making money. He succeeded. In
one year his five hundred dollars had be-
come thousand. In five years it had
grown to be twenty thousand; and, at the
age of fifty he W as worth million George
remembered the words of the wise man:
''With all thy getting, get understanding
He spent two-thirds of his money in going
to school, and acquiring taste for solid
knowledge. He then spent the remainder
of his patrimoney In purchasing a few
acres of land In the neighborhood of
thriving city. He resolved on being a
farmer.
After lapse of thirty-fve years the two
brothers met 1t was at Georges house.
A bright, vigorous, alert man was George,
though upward of ffty-fve years old.
Henry, though several years younger, was
very infrm. He had kept In his counting
room long after the doctors had warned
him to give up business, and now he found
himself stricken in health beyond repair.
But that was not the worst. He was out
of his element when not making money
George took him into the library and show
Of
Henry had never cultivated a taste for
reading. He looked upon the books
with no more interest than he would have
looked on so many bricks. George took
him into his garden, but Henry began
to cough, and said he was afraid of the
east wind. When George pointed out
to him beautiful elm, he only cried:
''Pshawr' George took him into his
greenhouse and talked with enthusiasm
of some flowers which seemed to give the
farmer great pleasure. Henry shrugged
his shoulders and yawned, saying: "Ahi
/ don't care for these things" George
asked him if he was fond of paintings and
engravings. mo, no! Don't trouble
yourself, " said Henry; Il can't tell one
daub from another. well, you shall hear
my daughter Edith play upon the piano;
she is no ordinary performer, | assure
you. Now, don't, brother-don't t. if
you love mel said Henry, beseechingly;
Il never could endure music. But
what can | do to amuse you? Will you
take a ride?'' Il am afraid of a horse.
But if you will drive me carefully down to
your village bank will stop and have a
chat with the president. Poor Henry
Money was uppermost In his mind To it
he had sacrificed every other good thing.
TTTl L IL
from his farmer brother, he laid his hand
ON his shoulder, and said: George, you
can just support yourself comfortably on the
interest of your money. and | have got
enough to buy UP the whole of your town,
bank and all. and yet your life has been a
success, and mine dead failure!'' Sad,
but tr11e words
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21
JOSH BILLINGS PHILOSOPHY.
New York Weekly.


Fust impreshuns are sed tew be lasting.
Emmy man who haz only been stung bi a
hornet once will swear to this.
The safest way for most folks to do IL to
do az the rest do. There amt but phew
who kan navigate without a kompass.
A wize man IL never konfounded bi
what he don't understand but phcol
generally IL.
Yung man don't grind your scythe all on
one side.
| don't know ov more lamentable sight
than an old rake. Even repentance looks
like weakness in him.
Politeness IL often wasted. but it IL a
good and cheap mistake tew make. Our
very best thoughts often cum few us sud
den, but seldum perfekt. They require
polishing them up to make them komplete.
There seems tew be degree ov excen-
tricty attending all of us; and WI will no.
tiss this, that while the excentrictys ov a
clown are quite often pleasant, the excen-
u1ctys ov CRATE man are most always
disagreable
Everybody in this world wants watch
ing, but none more than yourselves.
Cunning IL very apt few outwit itself.
The man who turned the boat over and got
under it tew keep out of the rain, waz one
this kind.
A weak constitushun kan be strength
ened, but weak set ov branes kant.
Vanity IL strange pashun. Rather
than be out ov job, it will brag ov his
vices.
All phools are poor listeners.
About all it takes tew make wize man
IL ter Civ other people opinyuns az mulch
weight az we do our own.
Flattery IL like ice-kream; to relish it
good we want it little at time and
often
The more yu praze man who dom de-
serve 1t the more you abuZe him.
Yu kant fatter a truly wize man; he
knows just how much praze IL due him;
that he takes, and charges over all the
balance tew the profit and loss ackount.
Once in a CRATE while fortune will ack-
tn Tally hunt for aman but generally thoze
who are favored with her smiles hav few
WOO them.
Do good turn, yung man, whenever w
kan, even it yu hav tew turn grindstone
to do it.
Repentance IL generally considered
weakness, but know of nothing more
Indicative ov strength.
Human knowledge IL not very kompre-
hensive after all, for hav seen men who
could kallkulate an eklips to dot, who
couldn't harness a boss tew save their
lives.
don't know ov more diffikult karacter
to fill nor more butiful one when filed,
than the command in the Bible-"Be We
VIE az a sarpent but harmless az dove >
1t is very diffikult for me few tell why
the lion should be so strong and the ant so
weak, when one IL nothing but CRATE
loafer and the other the very pattern ov
industry and thrift.
How kan we ever expect tew find per-
fekt person In this world, when we kan t
even find one who IL half az good az he
kan b.
Men beginners in literature are al wus
bothered tew find a subject tew write on;
as they progress they are more troubled to
find what tew write ON subiekt.
Men are seldum moderated; the merkury
in man finds its true level in the eyes ov
the world just az certainly az it duz in the
glass Of tn ermometer.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21
LuciOus Strawberries.

Among the various methods by which
strawberries have been successfully grown
is the following: Select good corn land,
not too dry. Arrange for drainage suffi-
cient to prevent water from standing on
the bed in winter, as it kills the
plants. Just as soon as the ground can be
worked IN the spring, pillow till the soil Is
fine and mellow. Apply liberal quantity
of any good dressing and harrow it in
thoroughly Iffertilizer must be bought,
get some standard kind made expressly
for Strawberries, and use according to di-
rections. Ascertain what variety do best
with strawberry raisers in your vicinity;
the same kind will probably succeed with
you. Get plants of some neighbor, or of
the nearest reliable nurseryman Set out
towards night or on a cloudy day, as soon
as possible after the ground is prepared
Keep the plants covered during the opera
ton. us 1t takes but very few minutes
exposure of the roots to sun or wind to
ruin the plant. Have the crown of the
plant even with the surface of the ground
and make the earth very firm about the
roots Pinch off all blossoms. Make rows
three feet apart. Cultivate every two
weeks and keep weeds down. Cut run
ners every few days; let only a few take
root in the rows. This makes narrow,
bushy row. The advantages claimed for
this method over others, are that the
berries will be larger, the crop will hold
out better, it is easier to get weeds out,
and the berries can be picked with less in
jury to the vines If a plant dies dig care
fully down and see if it isn't the white
grub that has done the mischief Fill
yacent places with runners from adjacent
plants. When the ground is pretty we'll
frozen cover the plants with any convenient
mulch
The next spring if the ground is in a
condition to be worked very early, before
the plants blossom, shallow cultivation
of the soil between the rows is a good
thing, but if it cannot be done very easily
it hat, best be omitted As soon as the
plants begin to show green the mulch
should be opened little to give them
more sun and air and later on raked into
the spaces between the rows, where it
serves the double purpose of keeping the
ground moist and the berries clean. Get
reliable pickers, and even if you have to
pay more. Watch them closely and see
that they pick every ripe berry, that they
do not abuse the plants, that they put in
no overripe or underripe berries and that
they give good measure. Do not let bur-
ries stand In the sun after picking. Get
them to your customers as soon as possible
Use clean baskets Put a coat of dark
paint on soiled crates, If the bed is very
weedy after the crop is harvested, it is
better to pillow it up and plant some late
crop, as strawberries never do well the
second season, and 1t Is quite an undertake
ING to clear them of weeds
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21
Owls Are Better Than Cats.

The barn owl, when she has young,
brings to her nest mouse about every
twelve minutes, and, as she is actively EN-
ployed both at evening and at dawn, and
as male and female hunt, forty mice day
is the lowest computation we can make.
How soft is the pllmage of the owl, and
how noiseless her eight Watch her as she
floats past the ivy tod, down by the ricks,
and silently over the old wood; then away
over the meadows, through the open door,
and out of the loophole of the barn, round
the lichened tower and along the course of
the brook. Presently she returns to her
four downy young, with mouse In one
claw and mole In the other, soon to be
ripped up. torn and eaten by the greedy,
swapping imps. The young and eggs are
found in the same nest. If you would see
the midday siesta Of these birds, climb up
into some haymow. There in an angle of
the beam you will see their owlships snor-
ing and blinking wide their great round
eyes; their duet is the most unearthly,
ridiculous, grave noise conceivable, like
nothing else you ever heard. Here they
will stay all day, digesting the mice with
which they have gorged themselves, until
twilight, when they again issue forth upon
their madcap revels. This clever mouser,
then. has a strong claim to our protection;
so let not idle superstition further its dis
truction.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21
CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION.
The National League Makes Some Impor-
tant Changes.

New YORK, Nov. 14.-Three or four
important changes were made in the league
constitution al late hour last night, and
when the convention assembled at noon
to-day, consideration of the constitution
was resumed Section So was amended so
as to read, mo player without the con-
sent of the club with whom he is in con-
tract can negotiate with any club for SER
vices, but if said consent be given, said
player may negotiate and receive money
consideration, which may be accepted by
the releasing club
This action does away with the system
of sales over which there has recently been
such a cry.
Section Sc was cut out and another sec
ton inserted, providing that in case of the
withdrawal of club, players under con-
tract or reservation shall be considered as
therefrom, but any negotiation for
the services of any player must be subject
to transfer to any other club designated in
he league.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21
A SPRAY OF APPLE BLOSSOM.
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

They lay on the broad. low window ledge,
Where the hand of little child
Had placed them-dewy, and fresh, and sweet
And the grandmother had smiled,
And softly stroked with her wrinkled hand
The curly, tumbled head;
And then the needles bright were still;
Unrolled the snowy thread
For. borne on the breath of the apple bloom,
She lived in the golden past,
She saw an orchard where blossom SHOWS
Where falling thick and fast
Falling upon the fair, bent head
Of maiden in girlhood's prime,
Reading letter worn and creased
From folding many time.
''When the apple blossoms are here once more
l shall come back, Allaire-
Shall come for my answer The scented wind
Which ruffled the maidens hair.
Brought to her ears welcome voice,
She turned in startled way
II have come for my answer: what is it, dear?'
What could she do but lay
Her hands In the eager, outstretched ones:
All! life is sweet in June,
When hearts keep time to the liquid flow
Of life, and light, and tune;
And when, in her snowy, flowing veil,
She stood on her bridal morn.
She would have but the tinted apple bloom
Her white robe to adorn.
Through the open window the western wind
Blew soft on the wrinkled face,
When a smile shone, sweet as that could be
Which had lent her girlhood grace.
A little voice called her truant thoughts:
"Grandpapa sent me to see
If you knew that the clock has been striking
six
And he wants you to pour his tea!''
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21
Take a Day In Bed.


There is no better preventive of nervous
exhaustion than regular, unhurried mus
cular exercise. If we could moderate our
hurry, lessen our worry, and increase our
open-air exercise, a large proportion of
nervous disease would be abolished. For
those who cannot get sufficient holiday
the best substitute is an occasional day in
bed. Many whose nerves are constantly
strained in their daily avocation have dis
covered this for themselves A Spanish
merchant in Barcelona told his medical
man that he always went to bed for two
or three hours whenever he could be spared
from his business, and he laughed at those
who spent their holidays on toilsome
mountains. One of the hardest-worked
women in England. who had for many years
conducted large wholesale business, re-
tains excellent nerves at an advanced age,
owing, it is believed, to her habit Of tax
ing one day week in bed
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21
A Horrible Ceylon Custom.

Recently the District Judge at Kalutara,
had before him three persons. including a
village headman. charged with causing
grieYous hurt to four others by requiring
them to plunge their right hands into a
caldron of boiling OIL The medical evil
dence described the hands as being In "a
sodden, suppurating condition, the fin
gers being in some places deformed In
all cases the injured persons were unable to
follow their ordinary avocations for about
amonth. The facts of the case, as stated
In the judgement, were these:
A woman in the village had some plum
bago and rice stolen from her; a headman
made inquiry, and, failing to obtain clue
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21

to the theft, announced that it would be
necessary on the third day to hold an or
deal by boiling oil. This appears to be
a not uncommon custom In remote parts of
the country, and the formalities are as fol-
lows: Some oil from newlv-gathered
king coooanuts is manufactured by one of
the compliments; this is poured into cal
dron and heated to boiling point. Each
of the suspected parties is supposed to dip
his hand into the vessel of boiling oil. and
is at liberty to sprinkle as much of the hot
oil as he brings up with his fingers on the
complainant, who stands close at hand.
Any exclamation of pain on the part of the
suspected person is construedinto an adj
mission of guilt. If no such exclamation
Is made the innocence of the party is sup
posed to be established
In the present case the evidence estab-
lshed that the pressure ON the accused was
not merely moral; they were forced to dip
their hands In the burning oil. No force
appears to have been used in bringing
them to the scene OF the ordeal; they col
lected there In response to the orders of the
headsman, who, seated on a platform OPP
poslte the vessel of oil, appears to have
acted as the presiding judge. Each of the
compliments deposed to the fact that they
were reluctant to submit to the ordeal. but
were forcibly dragged up to the caldron by
the other two accused and their hands
plunged into the boiling OIL They had
sufficient self control to abstain from call
ing out, except boy of II, who cried out
Justify, and was thereupon pronounced the
guilty one. The judge took the fact that
1t was custom into account, but refused
to dismiss the prisoners with warning,
as suggested by their council. He fined
them 100 rupees each, with the alternative
OF rigorous imprisonment for ten months.
Hint to Boys.
While | was standing In a friend 5
store, the other day, relates a gentleman
boy came in and applied for a situa
ton.
Can you write a good hand?" was ask
ed.
''Yaas"
Good at fgures?''
''Yaas."
THAT will do don't want you, said
the merchant
But, l said, when the boy had gone,
Il know that lad to be an honest, indus
trious boy. Why don't you give him a
chance"
Because he hasn't learned to say Yes,
sir, and No, sir If he answers me as he
did when applying for a situation, how
will he answer customers after being here a
month ~
What could say to that? He had fall
en- into habit, young as he was, which turn
ed him away from the first situation he had
ever applied for,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-21
INSUFFICIENT jury SYSTEM.
Address by Ex-President Hayes at the Ma
tional Prison Congress.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Nov. 16.-Ex-Presi-
dent Hayes delivered the annual address
before the National Prison congress in this
city today. The feature of the address was
his reference to the inefficient jury system
which prevails In most states. He said
that tie lack of popular confidence in the
fairness and justice of criminal trials be-
gets crime. Delays in criminal proceedings
IN these days when wealth has such
power offers great temptation
to bride giving and bride taking. He re-
ferred to the Cronin case as a recent and
notorious example. Referring to the iurv
system Mr.. Hayes spoke particularly of
the technlcality that no man can sit on
jury who reads newspapers. Already this
has been eXpunged IN some states and a
rational rule taken its place 1t would be
far more reasonable he said to exclude
from juries men who do not read news
pap rs and who do not form an
express opinion from what the
read. Ignorance, not intelligence should
be shut out from the jury box. Another
example of unreason in our jury system is
the unanimous jury" IF fve-sixths of
jury or three-fourths agree upon YER
dict of guilty, and if the presid ng Judge
approves the verdict, why shall itnot stand
Under our republican system the greatest
questions are decided, finally by majority
vote of its citizens and these reforms de-
pend on popular Judgment and popular
will
Referring to the question of convict
labor, Mr.. Hayes made strong plea in
favor of keeping prisoners employed in
learning useful trades. He said that
honest labor outside of the prison will gain
by supporting in idleness convicted crimi-
mails is now rejected in quarters most in
fiuential. He quoted an opinion from the
official journal of the knights of
Labor to support this statement.
Mr.. Hayes argued in favor of indeter-
inmate sentence for known criminals, con
fning such until in his Judgment, some
tribunal it is evident he is likely to be
a fit citizen. If the person be determined
upon a criminal life the best thing that can
be done for him and society is to confine
him where he can do no mischief, and
where his labor will pay for his keeping