davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
IN A LIONS MOUTH.
The Perilous Position of an English Trap
per in South Africa.

A lion trapper in the Hottentot coun-
try started out one morning to visit
pit which his native assistants had dug
some two miles from camp, and near
which several of them had passed the
night in watching. a lioness had
fallen into the pit, and the enraged
lion was lying at the foot of the tree
in which the hunters had taken refuge.
The Englishman drove up, unsuspic-
ious of danger, and almost before he
knew it found himself on the ground
with the king of beasts standing over
him, while his horses were tearing off
in the distance.
1.-The whole thing was so sudden
that | had no time to be frightened.
l was on my left side, bareheaded, and
the lion stood for a moment with his
paw on the right shoulder looking
after my horse.
81 had time to collect my thoughts
in that single minute, and as | had
routed one lion in barking like dog
| decided to try the same plan in this
case. But lions are as unlike as men.
AT my first bark this fellow growled
savagely and gave me a terrible bite
in the hip. Had cried out at that or
made any struggle he would have
finished me at once. | repressed my
feelings and played dead.
81 had a revolver strapped to nv
back, but it would not do to reach it.
After biting me the lion watched and
waited for signs of life, and when he
detected none he seized my right
shoulder in his teeth, gave me shake
and twist, and next moment | was
being carried off on his back.
''His teeth did not touch my flesh,
and as | lay almost across him on my
side my hand struck the butt of the
revolver. l had it out of the holster
in a second, and then l felt l had a
chance.
"After carrying me half a mile
through the scrub the lion halted at
the head of a ravine, in which he
doubtless had his lair. He turned
about as if to see if pursuit had been
made, and the muzzle of the pistol
came against his left hip. l fired at
once, and the next instant was flung
in a heap on the earth, while the lion
uttered a scream of pain.
Il was on my knees in second, but
the beast was ten feet away, going
round in a circle and biting at the
wound. | sent another bullet into
him just behind the shoulder. He ut
tered another scream, and instead of
rushing at me, as l fully expected he
would do, made a leap into the ravine.
| was badly shaken up, but lost no
time in getting out of the neighbour
hood, and in the course of an hour
reached camp"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
Big British Investments.

The amount of money which has
within the last year or two come into
this country from England in the way
of investment is simply prOdigious.
In few instances, such as the English
purchases of breweries, the operations
have been carried on in manner that
has attracted public attention; but we
should say that this was the exception,
and that in the vast majority of cases
the investments made have been per-
sonal ones and have been made without
attra citing attention except in the i'm
mediate locality.
For long time past both English
capital and Englishmen have gone to
the West, the one to find investments
in improved agricultural properties or
in cattle ranches and the other to en-
ter into American life as farmers, cat
tle-raisers and sometimes in mercantile
pursuits. But of late the set of the
tide seems to have been south ward,
and, according to recent reports. En-
glish capital and Englishmen are to be
found, one in large amounts and the
other in considerable numbers, in
Southwestern Virginia, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Alabama, aud in other
parts of that great central section of
our southern country, which, if CHI
mate, accessi bllitY and natural re-
sources count for anything, is destined
to be the manufacturing center of the
United States, this being only another
form of saying the future workshop of
the world.
These foreign investors have been
Il Nv
ments held out and by the many op-
portunities of obtaining there larger
returns upon investments than can be
hoped for in the Old World. Since the
conversion of the English 3-per-cents
under the national debt conversion act
of 1888, those who were holders of
consols have been compelled tn con-
tent themselves with only q per cent,
and as in many instances their incomes
and outgoes have been fixed quanti-
ties, this has implied the necessity of
foregoing accustomed methods of life.
Such investors have been compelled to
look elsewhere for revenue bearing in
vestments, and have found in the
United States industrial fields for the
employment of their money that they
could not find elsewhere.
More than this, there is growing be-
lief in England that the United States
is destined to be the great country of
the future; that armv-ridden Europe is
INDUCING in slow suicide, and that it
is on this side of the Atlantic that the
industrial future of the world is to be
found. So thinking, it is but natural
that those who have spare funds should
seek to place them here rather than
keep them at home, and that young
Englishmen of intelligence and spirit
finding the chances of life contracted
in their own densely-peopled country,
should conclude that it was well for
them to throw in their lot and part
with their kinsmen in the New World.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
What a Word Accomplished.

A word whispered on an Alpine
slope may precipitate an avalanche,
and suggestion spoken by friend
may start man in an honorable
career. Sir William Napier. disabled
by an incurable wound. and living on
half-pay, was walking one dav in
London with Lord Langdale. Napier
had been dabbling in painting and
sculpture, and had written for the
Edinb urgh RcUie1O an able article on
Jomini's great work on military oper-
atoms.
The two friends conversed, while
walking, on Southey's narrative of the
Peninsula War, then fresh from the
press. and Lord Langdale was greatly
struck by Napier's remarks concern
ing the events of the struggle, in
which he himself had achieved dis
tincton.
Napier, what are you going to do?"
suddenly asked Langdale.
''Do you mean where am | going to
dine?" asked Napier.
"No, no. What are you thinking of
for an occupation? You ought to give
Yourself to literature. Your article
on Jomini proves that you can write.
Why not write a history of the warp"
Napier went home to tell his wife
what Lord Langdale had said. He
added that he doubted whether he was
clever enough to write history of the
war. She believed in her husbands
talents, and was anxious that he should
take up some serious occupation, and
accordingly encouraged him to try.
Day after day he labored at the desk.
His wife, though burdened with the
cares of a large family, was his coun-
sellor and amanuensis. She declpher-
ed the whole of Joseph Bonaparte's
secret correspondence, written in
cipher which had baffied all the ex-
perts who had undertaken to read it.
81 would have given f200,O00,"
said Wellington, on hearing of her
success, Ito any person who could
have done that for me In the Peninsu-
La
Five years after the conversation
with Lord Langdale the first volume
of the History of the Peninsular
War" was published. 1t made its au-
thor famous. The public was delight
ed to read the book of one who had
nobly shared in making the history he
so eloquently narrated. His descrip-
tions of battles, sleges and marches
stirred the hearts of readers, and
school boys acclaimed his most bril-
liant passages. But the simple word
of friend had started the historian to
his work. Youths Companion.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
The Lines in Our Faces.

Come they must. 1t rests with us
whether they shall beautify or disfg-
ure.
As to the expressive power Of these
lines read, if you care to take so much
trouble, the directions for face paint
ing that are given to actors. By these
touches one is made old or young,
handsome or homely, kindly or crab
bed, charming or unattractive. The
face is the same, round or oval. The
changes are made by pencilings, which
run up or down, crossing here and
there in directions as numerous as
there are varieties of human express
sion.
The stage people, indeed, do not imi-
tate the examples set in real life. They
copy natures etchings as with mystic
rious fingers she manifests the work
ings of the soul.
Now some one may say:
Wherefore tell as new thing that
which is known everywhere"
1t is for such reasons that [ call you
to consider.
These pictures are so common that
we pass them by. Like the accustom-
ed things about us-Gght, air, sun
shine, etc.-we do not think of them
because of long familiarity.
Look on the faces of those about you
and note what lines are being drawn,
whether those of Disagreement or
beauty. Then look within and know
what is in process of portrayal in
your own case. Are you growing
beautiful or homely?-Ne York Mail.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
Their First Anniversary.

Mr.. Washington Pye Opening his
pipe-case)-Eh! what's this, my dearP
Where's my meerschaum?
Mrs. Washington Pye with beaming
eyes)-Why, saw it was stained near
ly black, so [ bought you this nice
new white one to surprise you with on
our wedding day. And it was such a
bargain, too! The man says it's war
ranted never to stain.
Mr.. Washington Pye (setting bum
die on table)-That's very kind of you,
of course. my dear, and thank you;
only l really prefer the old one. But
see, thought I'd give you little sur
prise. That's just as good a piece of
silk as a woman needs to wear. Ipaid
81 yard for it.
Mrs. Washington Pye examining
i)-So kind of you, darling! Just ex-
actly the same quality that saw in
Tape & Buttons yesterday for $1.50!
PUCK
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
Sherman's Trained Eye.

An interesting story of General
Sherman is told by Park guard.
When he was last in this city he was
riding along the Wissahickon when he
saw the sergeant of the guard riding
toward him. ''That man is an old
cavalryman," said the General, and
when he got opposite to him he was
saluted by the sergeant in a military
manner.
Halt, Sergeant" said the General.
The latter stopped and again salut-
ed.
You are an old soldier, cavalry
man, Sergeant" said Sherman.
"Yes, General, of the Seventh Cav
airy: served twelve years after the
war"
'Ah! then you knew of Custer and
Major Reno?"
II was one of the fortunate ones of
that command to escape and be res
cued by Terry"
Sherman smiled. Then the old SOL
der told again the tale of the massa-
ere. At the conclusion General Sher-
man said: Sergeant. let me shake
hands with you; you are brave man. !"
81 never make a mistake" added the
General, as he drove on. "a civilian
never rides like that, and the salute
settled all doubts. ~ Philadelphia In
Quirer.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
An Underground Canal.

The strangest canal in the world is
one | never saw mentioned in any
book or newspaper. 1t is canal six
teen miles long, between Worsley and
ST. Helens, in the north of England,
and is underground from end to end.
In Lancashire the coal mines are ex-
tsnsive, half the country being under
mined, and many years ago the Duke
of Bridgewater's managers thought
they could save money by transport
ing the coal underground instead of
on the surface. So the canal was con-
structed, the mines connected and
drained at the same time. Ordinary
canal boats are used, but the power is
furnished by men. On the roof of the
tunnel-arch are cross-pieces, and the
men who do the work of propulsion
lie on their backs on the coal and push
with their feet against the cross-bars
on the roof. Six or eight men will
draw a train of four or five boats, and
as there are two divisions in the tun-
mel boats pass each other without diff
Guilty GLObe-D cn1Ocrdt.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
Drawing

Prof Walter S. Perry of Brooklyn,
in a recent address called attention to
the intimate relation that drawing
bears to all constructive wOrk,-there-
by demonstrating its universal appli-
cation to things practical. Yet nearly
all these drawings represent simply
facts. They represent top views,
side views, sectional views, and as
many views as are necessary TO the
workmen. This is one phase of the
subject. Then there are drawings
which give to the eye the image or
pictorial appearance which the photo
graph would present if the buildings
were finished. All pictorial art opens
up to the mind a broad realization of
the whole eXpanse of nature. Decora-
ton in all its scope and detail of en-
richment forms a third division, aud
all art, industrial or otherwise, must
come under one of these three divisions.
Drawing is not merely a means of
training the hand and eye to accuracy,
it is worldwide language. And if it
is a language, it is the embodiment of
thought, and drawing in the public
schools should be taught as a means of
thought expression. The pupil is to
be led to observe, to discover, to think,
and then to express his thought by
graphic and verbal language. Thought
first, then skill. Learning to draw is
learning to see. There are compare
lively few people who really see much;
they simply look at things. If you see
well, you can describe what YOU see
Any system which does not recognize
the three fundamental divisions of the
subject, facts of form, the appear
ance of form, and the decoration of
form,-is incomplete. These divisions
should 90 down into the lower schools.
One year of primary life is worth two
five or six years later, if the subject be
dropped till then. The schools should
be equipped with suitable models,
from the primary upward. They will
last for years, and their value cannot
be overestimated; they must be handled
and studied. Expression should be
given the greatest possible freedom.
Except in the highest grades, have the
work freehand altogether. Careless
ness is not to be encouraged, but re-
quire children to express their thoughts
freely. with sweep and dash that
come from careful training. This
practice arouses interest. Pupils need
some copies, well-drawn and absolute
ly correct, and at times groups of good
composition aud objects of good form,
and decorative figures of historic value
as they get too much in the habit OF
looking upon their own as a standard
of excellence. But elaborate and con.
slant copying is dishonest and detri.
mental. The speaker gave resume OF
the progress that has been made
in this branch of study in the past few
years, giving special prominence tc
the great Improvement that has beer
made in the West.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
Crossed Out the Tax.

About twenty years ago Buckfeld
man, noted for his shrewdness, was at
tackled by the smallpox. Conceiving
the idea as he was convalescing that it
would be good time to dispose of his
road tax, he took his staff in one hand
and. shouldering his hoe, started for
the scene of operations. Like the
prodigal, he was seen .'afar off," The
men began to throw up their heads
and sniff trouble. The surveyor sang
out: Il swow, Jase. they are afraid
uf ye." Cant help it, says Jason,
II have got to work out my tax"
.'Say, Jase, if you'll go back I'll cross
out your tax" Albright, says Jason,
ford llHel Democrat.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
LeprOsy in India.

81 do not think" says man who
has passed a quarter of a century in
India, ''that the report of the death of
army in Hindoostan of leprosy is to be
relied upon. | suppose there are
many kinds of leprosy, and some of it,
like the disease spoken of in the Bible,
may be very infectious. Certainly
Father Damien died of leprosy in
Molokai, communicated to him by the
lepers around him. But lepers are
very common in India, especially in
the central and northwestern provin-
ces, and, though every one tries to
keep them as far from him as possible,
nobody has the slightest fear of being
inoculated with the disorder. 1t seems
to be almost entirely confined to the
natives, and they usually make their
living by it. They are all beggars
and ride about on small ponies solicit
ing aims.
"The doors of the Indian bungalows
are always open, and when sahib
looks up from his breakfast and sees
one of the horsemen sitting in his sad
die, almost naked, and looking hides
cribably wretched as he holds out his
hand in silent supplication, he is apt
to be willing to part with a coin to in
duce his unwelcome visitor to move
on. In fact, the leper won't go until
he receives something. He might, l
suppose, be driven away with stick,
but nobody cares to fiagellate him and
he make great deal of money. L
never saw white man with che dis
ease, though believe there are few
isolated cases. 1t is not necessarily
fatal, and lepers who looked as though
they must soon die of old age, have
told me that they were born with it.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
What a Sleeper Really Is.

Some railroad man has given to the
world what he knows on this subject
in the following: "A sleeper is one
who sleeps. A sleeper is that in
which the sleeper sleeps. A sleeper
is that on which the sleeper runs while
the sleeper sleeps Therefore, while
the sleeper sleeps in the sleeper the
sleeper carries the sleeper over the
sleeper under the sleeper until the
sleeper which carries the sleeper
jumps the sleeper and wakes the sleep
er in the sleeper by striking the
sleeper under the sleeper, on the sleep
er, and there is no longer any sleeper
sleeping in the sleeper on the sleeper.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
Filling a Long Felt Want.

Some da- or other every reporter
will carry around a phonograph and
when be intel views man the latters
words will be taken down with an
accuracy admitting of no dispute.
Then when the interviewed gentleman
comes around in the morning like a
volcanic eruption to explain that his
language was distorted and all that
sort of thing the reporter can quietly
roll the phonograph with one hand
and gun with the other and ask him
what he is going to do about it. When
this scheme can be successfully oper-
ated a long felt want will be filled.
As it is at present Wien man gets in
to trouble because of his remarks be-
ing faithfully printed he at once swears
that the reporter mixed up his words
with an egg beater and then run them
in. In such manner the guileless
newspaper worker frequently gains a
reputation for lying which he does not
deserve Lincoln Journal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
SchonIrOOm HarmnnY.

Many a teacher has said, and the
tones of her voice have had the wall of
encouragement in them, My class is
in good order when am present with
the children, out the moment am out
of the room their pent-up desire for
mischief breaks forth and bedlam
reigns. | am annoyed that my will
power is potent only when am before
my Glass; This is confession which,
while it does not detract from the
worth of the teacher as an instructor,
is humiliating and provocative of
criticism regarding the means used by
the teacher to secure order.
The submission of the will of child
to the teacher is a necessary condition
to the attainment of order. This sur
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
An Incident of the War.

A few days since a former compan-
one of those undying incidents of war
days. He and two other pilots were
drifting down the river one night lust
after having taken some Confederate
boats up. just as they were passing
Farragut's fleet off Vicksburg they
were hailed, but would have drifted
on past in the dark if a shot had not
been fired. Knowing well what was
wanted they planned a moment and
then one of the men went aboard. The
officer of the deck asked him if there
were any pilots in the party, telling
him the fleet was only waiting for
some one to take them up stream. NV
friend denied his calling, and then the
Admiral examined him with a manner
that indicated he suspected the truth.
Getting no satisfaction, he left, whs-
pering a word to his Lieutenant. who
called the Sergeant at Arms and re-
marked is an unconcerned way, You
take this man and the two alongside
in the skiff, lock them up and get them
ready to be shot. If they can't be of
service as pilots we can't and won't be
bothered with them as prisoners"
The Sergeant took them below, but
the bluff didn't work, for they would
have been shot by their own folks, the
Confederates, for serving the Federal
navy, and they preferred death with
honor to the same thing without.
Three days after Yankee pilot was
sent aboard, and one who knew my
friends well. The Admiral determin-
ed TO test them again, with a view of
having them exterminated if satisfied
they were pilots. The prisoners were
suddenly brought. unprepared, face to
face with the Yankee pilot, under
close scrutiny by the Admiral and his
staff. Ihere was, perhaps, the slight
est involuntary recognition, but it was
not detected, and even when the
Northern pilot was closely questioned
as to whether he knew them, he denied
it emphatically, and pooh-poohed at
the idea that they were of the profess
sion. This secured their release. /
have often been in their company
since, and enjoyed the mutual joke of
you're the man that didn't know me
at Vicksburg, eh?'-St. Louis Globe
Democrat
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
Why the Colts Licked the Calf.

A farmer named Hilton hired very
inexperienced boy to help him about
the place. One morning he told the
boy to 90 and salt the calf over in the
pasture. The boy took about a quart
OF salt and rubbed it all over the calf.
working it into the hair. A gang OF
colts in the pasture scented the salt
and got after the calf. They licked
the hair all off the calf's back and
tried to lick the hide off, too. The
farmer tried to catch the calf to wash
it, but the creature, thinking he wanted
to lick, too. kept out of his way. The
boy, calf, and farmer are all unhappy.
The colts are the only ones that got
any fun out of it.