davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
The LuckIess Great Eastern.

We have so often been called upon
in past years to announce the last, and
the very last, and positively the very
last of this magnificent but generally
useless ship, which has fingered on
through an obscure but prohtless ex-
istence since her first voyages to New
York proved commercial failure, that
the stranded hull on the Mersey shore.
to be broken up for a few thousand
pounds worth of old iron, may seem but
are miniscence of the fate repeatedly de-
clared to be imminent and commonly
believed to be past.
1t is thirty years since she first put
to sea from the Thames, and her pass
age down the Channel was married by
a shocking disaster, the blow up of
her steam apparatus, which cost ten
lives; but the laborious efforts to
launch this enormous leviathan, as she
was at first called, in 1857, from Mr..
Scott Russel's building yard at Mill
wall, had been ominous Of i'll success.
Men were killed by tie breaking of a
gear attached to hydraulic engines
that slowly pushed her broadside on
into the comparatively narrow river,
and Mr.. Brunei, the eminent engineer,
dying a few days afterward, was
thought to be victim of sore anxiety
and severe disappointment.
One serviceable and honorable per-
Torrance, the laying of an Atlantic
telegraph cable in 1866, is set down to
the credit of the Great Eastern, put
experience has shown that vessels of
moderate size can do such work just as
we'll. 1t is sad chapter in the history
of marine architecture, and some peo-
pie must have lost, at one time or an
other, nearly So, 100000 altogether by
this immense mistake. The Great
Eastern might perhaps have been con-
verted into very commodious floating
hotel, moored in some tranquil bay;
she could never have been good sea-
going ship, or competed in speed, COM
fort, or safety with the admirable lin
ers of recent construction. Her en-
gines. indeed, were manifestly of INSULT
cient power and she rolled grievously
for want of a keel.-London Graphic.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
WHERE FRANCE is STRONG.
The characteristics of the French Peasant
Factor in French Greatness.

The life led by comfortable English
or American farmer would represent
wicked waste and shameful indulgence
to much richer French peasant. says
Frederick Harrison in the Forum. |
myself know a laborer on wages less
than 20 shillings a week who by thrift
has bought ten acres of the magnificent
garden land between Fontainebleau
and the Seine, worth many thousand
pounds, on which grow many kinds of
fruits and vegetables and the famous
dessert grapes: yet who. with all his
wealth and abundance, denies himself
and his two children meat on SUNDAYS,
and even a drink of the wine which he
grows and makes for the market l
know a peasant family in Normandy,
worth in houses, gardens, and farms,
at least 500, 900 francs, who will live
on the orts cast out as refuse by their
own dodgers, while the wife and moth
er hires herself out as a scullion for 2
francs a day. The penuriousness of
the French peasant is to English eyes
thing savage, bestial and maniacal.
The French peasant has great vir-
tues but he has the defects of his vir-
tues and his home life is far from idyl-
lie. He is laborious, shrewd, enduring
frugal, self-reliant, sober, honest, and
capable of intense self-denial for dis
tant reward, but that reward is proper
ty in land, in pursuit of which he may
become as pitiless as a bloodhound.
He is not chaste Gndeed he is often
lecherous), but he relentlessly keeps
down the population and can hardly
bring him elf to rear two children. To
give these two children good heritage
he will intlict great hardships on them
and on all others whom he controls.
He has an intense passion for his own
immediate locality, but he loves his
own commune and still more his own
terre better than he loves France. He
is intelligent, but he is not nearly so
man, or the Hollander. He is able to
bear suffering without a murmur, but
be has none of that imperturbable cour-
age which Englishmen and Americans
show in l 900 new situations. He is
shrewd and far-seeing, and tough
hand in bargain, but he has none of
the inventive audacity of the American
citizen. He is self-reliant but too eau
tious to trust himself in new field.
He is independent, but without the
proud dignity of the Spanish peasant.
He has love for the gay, the beauti-
full, and the graceful, which, compared
with that of the Englishman, is the
sense of art, though he has nothing of
the charm of the Italian or of the must
cal genius of the German. If France
is strong. the backbone of her strength
is found in the marvellous industry and
thrift of her peasantry. And if her
peas antry are Industrious and thrifty,
it is because the revolution of 'S9 has
has secured to them a position more
free and independent than that present
ed by any monarchical country on the
continent of Europe.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
A Brothers GiyeaWaY.

On the streets there's no tailor-made girl that
eer goes
In gown that's more dainty and dapper
Than my sisters, but, o, you should see her,
dear boy,
When she dawdles round home in wrap
per!
Tho you say that her feet wouldn't crush out
the life
Ola fower-they re such fary-like trippers-
They don't make such tender impression,
When she slaps round the house in old slip
pers.
Tho you rave DER the gold that enhaloes her
Ny dear fellow, twould give you the vapors
Once to see that deceptive young sister of
With those tresses in pins or in papers
She's SO shrinking and shy, maiden modesty
From the gown of the girl you are hymning?
Just you wait till you see her next summer
At the beach sasi when she goes in a-swimming!
When you say she's an angel, your notions,
OF that genus are but theoretic;
Angels DON'T, as a rule, go to bed, will bet,
With old gloves on nor masks of cosmetic
They don't giggle nor fiirt, nor pet poodles nor
In high old hystercal passion,
If they're doomed Easter Sunday to prance
and 10 pray
In a bonnet that's gone out of fashion
When you've sisters, my boy, tho you worship
the sex,
It's hard work to keep up the illusion;
With sister like Sue all your fances so fond
Of perfection but come to confusion.
o, our Sue is no santl She's woman-and
well
AS we find them, why, so we must take them.
Tho a torment and tease, after all she's about
AS good, too, guess, as they make them!
Sue, she'll pass in "A crowd! Come, now, Tom,
don't get madi
You may swear twas like heaven when you
kissed her,
But | VOW it's queer old conundrum to me
Where the fun comes in-kissing my sister.
Boston Globe
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
The Graceful Minuet.

The mlnuet which Strauss is about to
introduce to the partial exclusion of his
own waltz, was the first ball dance
which had a really worldwide popu-
larity. 1t is slow dignified dance,
an appropriate product of the time and
place of its birth. 1t is very old. When
Don Juan d'Austria went incognito
from Brussels to Paris nothing he saw
during his famous trip excited his adj
miration half so much as the grace with
which the beautiful Margaret of Bur-
gundy danced the minuet. Other beaus
and titled dandies of the same period
also put in writing fattering illusions
to the beauties of this dance. Never
theless, it is exceedingly doubtful that
the minuet of those times was the
original model of the minuet of to-day.
The minuet which very recently has
appealed in the Partisan salons, was
invented by the French ballet master,
Gardel, or rather was evolved by
him from a much older dance for
the celebration of the marriage
of King Louis XVI. '.Minuet of
the Queen is the title which the gal
liant Gardel gave to his new dance in
VI NhdlIC AulOluoluG. lie
of dance of the time of Louis XIV.
were utilized by Gardel as the basis of
his new minuet. The old dance, with
which every court ball of Louis XIV.
was opened, consisted mostly therein
that the gentleman and lady faced each
other, moved few steps forward and
backward in time with dignifed and
sonorous music, bowed deeply and re-
turned to their places. This dance
was called the ''Braule" 1t was sue
ceeded by the gavotte, in which 1.-The
gentlemen kissed the bouquet OF
flowers, and with deep bow handed
it to his partner" From this gavotte
Gardel derived the minuet. The famous
dancing master, Pecourt, introduced an
important innovation by changing the
S figure into the Il figure, which is still
danced. The minuet is the only dance
which preserves the courtly dignity of
the old regime, and therefore has ever
been regarded as the most aristocratic
of dances. The most popular of minute
music is from the first finale of Mozart's
Don Juan. This music is the model of
all other music to which the minute has
been danced of late years.-Berliaer
BOrSea- Courier
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
Up Go Billiard Balls.

The news that Emin Pasha has LETT
behind him his load of ivory has had
a surprising effect upon billiard inter-
ests in this country. says the New York
San, and its effect may be soon felt in
further bulling OF the market for soft
ivory used in the manufacture of bill
iard-balls. The price of billiard-ball
was recently advanced to $50 set of
four balls of standard S-S-inch meas
urement. 1t was the last boom of a
slow rise in price that had been going
on for nearly year. Last year, be-
fore the advance set in. standard set
of balls of the best ivory could be bought
for 500. Footballs were a trifle cheap
er, because such true spheres of ivory
are not needed in pool.
The billiard-ball manufacturers at
tribute the increase to the war that had
been going on in Zanzibar for a year
or more between the Arab traders and
the natives on the one hand and the
German leaders of the protectorate at
Zanzibar on the other. These costly
discussions, the manufacturers say.
had the effect of greatly retarding the
expectation of soft ivory from Africa,
and created scarcity of good ivory
that made the increase in prices of bill
iard-balls necessary. Only certain
part of the tusk can be made into bill
iard-balls, and that select part has to
be in perfect condition or it is useless
for the billiard trade. The select part
is cut into square blocks, and these
blocks are turned into spheres. Any
imperfection in the tusk will produce
a ball that will be cracked when turn
ed or that will not season, which is
just as bad. The trimmings of the COR
ners of the square blocks are utilized
for the manufacture of ivory rings used
in harness.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01

fornia, there is a rocky prom inence and
there are many seals there. They are
protected by law. 1t must be remem-
bered that it is warm there.
During the winter months a cheap
house for protection could be built
on the edge of the lake, to which the
seals could come for air, as they must
have this. Then houses would be ne
cessary when the lake was frozen
over. A seal can stay under water
from fifteen to twenty minutes, when
it must come to the surface for air.
please remember what | tell YOU.
that within the next few years the seal
industry will be inaugurated in Michi-
gan, and it will come to stay and make
big money for the men who invest in
it, and you need not live many years
to see Toledo ladies wearing sealskin
sacques from seals raised in Michigan
lakes"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
He Was Thankful.

The disposition of some men to look
on the bright side of everything was
illustrated on far-western road the
other day. An old gentleman had
been an attentive listener to the some
low-travelers, breaking into the cul-
mination of each anecdote with pious
ejaculation of praise for some redeem
ing incident in the subject under dis
cussion. Finally they got to setting
matters up on the old man and telling
stories in which it was hard for him to
find anything to be grateful for; but
he managed to get there each trip I'M
til the boys were nearly at their wits
end.
But one of the worst l ever heard
Of" commenced one of the passengers,
winking at his companions to look for
a smasher-' really the worst, was on
the Savannah & Pensacola road in 1912.
We ran into coal train and not q soul
escaped. No, not a soul! Every one
was killed!'
There was a moments pause, and
everyone looked at the old man to see
how he would take it.
Thank heaven!" he exclaimed, fer
vently.
Thank heavenp What forp" de-
manded the relator of the story.
What are you thanking heaven for
nowPn
ITO think that you were killed by
that train!' calculated the old gentle
man. rolling up his eyes. 'If you had
been spared what liar you would
have been by the time you reached your
present age! Thank heaven for that
disastern'
After that the boys let him alone
N. 7. Ledger.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01

against hfty-tour for the whole of the
preceding five years.
Mr.. Gladstone, after refusing the
honor of an Earldom, may yet pass his
declining years in the dignity of cap
taincy of Deal Castle. His name is
mentioned in connection with the ap-
pointment, which has become vacant
by the death of Lord Sydney. The
post is in the gift of his close friend,
Lord Granville, and the duties are
light. They consist in the acceptance
of pleasant seaside residence.
Cardinal Pecci, brother of the Pope,
who died the other day, belonged to
the order of the Jesuits. He was a
man of simple habits, great learning,
and exemplary character, but a trife
eccentric. After Leo XIII. had been
elected he sent for his brother and told
him that he had decided to conferupon
him the dignity of a Monsignor. Very
we'll. | thank YOU" he said. But
mind, L want no more honors, nor will
l accept them" And it was only with
the greatest difficulty that he could
afterwards be persuaded to become a
Cardinal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
The Female Polar Bear.

The female polar bear is taught by a
wonderful instinct to shelter her young
under the snow. In December she re-
treats to the side of rock, where, by
dint of scraping and letting the snow
fall upon her, she forms a cell in which
to live during the winter. There is no
fear that she will be stifled for want of
air, for the warmth of her breath al
ways keeps a small passage open.
Within this strange nursery she pro-
duces her young and remains with
them beneath the snow till March,
when she comes out into the open air
with her baby bears. AS the only use
of the snow lssrrow is to shelter the
young. the male bears do not hibernate
like the females, but roam freely about
during the winter months. Before re-
firing under the snow, the bear eats
enormously, so that she becomes very
fat, thus laying in an internal store of
food which enables her not only to
support her own life but to nourish
her young during her long seclusion.
By an admirable provision of nature,
the young polar bears are extremely
small at birth. and grow slowly SO
long as they are in their crystal nur-
sery, thus needing little food and
space. When they emerge from their
shelter the mother bear is extremely
thin and very fierce. once q Week.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
Some Railroad Facts.

A steel rail lasts. with average wear,
about eighteen years.
The cost of railroads in the United
States has been 50, 900, 900, 200.
There are sixty miles of snow-sheds
on the Central Pacific railroad.
The average daily earnings of an
American locomotive is about 500.
The cost of a palace sleeping-car is
$15. 600, or if ''vestibuled," ST.,
One million persons are employed
by the railroads Of the United States.
The cost of Il hi@h-class eight-wheel
passenger locomotive is about IS, 800.
There are 208, 749 railroad bridges
in the United States, spanning 3,213
miles.
The consolidation locomotive weighs
fifty tons. and is able to draw on a level
over 2, 100 tons.
The highest railroad bridge in the
United States is the Kinzua viaduct on
the Erie road-305 feet high.
The average cost of constructing a
mile of railroad in the United States
at the present time is about $50, 900.
The line of railroads extending farth
est east and west is the Canadian Paci-
tic, running from Quebec to the Pacific
ocean.
The longest railroad bridge span in
the United States is the cantilever span
in the Poughkeepsie bridge over the
Hudson river-54S feet.
The highest railroad in the United
States is the Denver & South Park, a
branch of the Union Pacific, at Al pine
tunnel-11, 596 feet about sea level.
The longest American railroad tun-
mel is the Hoosac tunnel on the Fitch
burg railroad-four and three-quarter
miles. (The St. Gothard tunnel in
Europe is over nine miles in length
" Y GO1l1J1prci0L advertiser
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
Lemon Soap and Orange Blossom.

Lemons are used for soap in many
countries where they grow. When, for
instance the men and women at the
West Indies want to wash their hands
they squeeze the juice of a lemon over
them and rub them friskly in water
until they are clean. There is an acid
in the lemon similar to that used in
soap. And in countries where oranges
grow in great plenty country gentle
men use the cheapest kind for black
ing their boots. The orange is cut in
two and the juicy side of one-half is
rubbed on the SCOT Of an iron pot and
then on the boot Then the boot is
rubbed with a soft brush and bright
polish at once appears.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
The Eastern and the Western Girl.

In the east, when a girl gets an invi-
tation to the theatre. she writes a letter
to the information column of the paper
asking if it is proper for a grl of 81
to accept an Invitation from man
of % the tenth time she met him. hav-
inc been introduced to him as her own
home in The presence of all her rela-
tives, her mother to accompany her to
the show, the play to be nothing more
immoral than Uncle Toms Cabin"
and he to call for her ia a carriage,
and she to wear her blue silk or her
black alpaca. In the west when a
girl gets an invitation she puts on
her duds and goes. But the east is
cultured and the west is not.-Atchison
Globe
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01
DOMESTIC SEAL RAISING.
An Opinion that They Would Thrive in the
Great Lakes.

The time is not far distant" said
John Farrent, to reporter of the To-
ledo Blade, when a new industry will
be inaugurated in this country, and
that is the raising of seals. A seal is
not alone valuable as fur-producing
animal, but it will yield from eight to
twelve gallons of oil. The seal has
great confidence in man. 1t may be
readily tanned, and is a very docile an
imal. 1t exhibits much affection for its
keeper, and is more intelligent than
the dog.
You look as though you doubted the
practicability of such an enterprise"
he remarked to the reporter. We'll,
you will remember a few years ago
some men in California determined to
60 into the ostrich business. People
all over the United States thought they
were missionaries, but nevertheless
they expended good deal of money
in sending to Africa for ostriches and
bringing them to California. Several
of them died while being transported,
but there was sufficient number of
them left to give the industry a fair
trial. Even after the birds began to
lay eggs people in California said the
projectors of the enterprise had thrown
their money away. But the incubation
went on satisfactorily, and the young
ostriches came out in healthy condi-
ton. and it was not long until all adj
mitted that it was a success. More os-
triches were brought from Africa, and
the industry tlourished to such degree
that the authorities in Africa issued an
order preventing the taking Of any more
ostriches out of the country. There are
plenty of these birds in California now,
as large and fine as the best specimens
found in Africa.
results as ostrich farming. They may
be successfully raised in any of the
Western lakes. They would do we'll
in Lake Erie. The small islands and
rocky prominences in the lake would
be just the places for them to come
out and bask in the sun. They are very
fond of getting out on a rock and warm
ing themselves in the sun.
The difficulty in the way of secur-
ing the full benefit of the increase of
seals after they had been placed in
lake would be that as they were mig
ratory animal many of them would
make their way to Canadian waters,
and this fact would make it unprotita-
BILE for those who would 60 into the en-
terprise.
But there are many good-sized lakes
in Michigan which would be very suit
able for the introduction of seals and
their rapid increase. Rocky promi-
nenceS miuht he made about the center
of any of these lakes as basking places
and the industry would flourish from
the start. They would soon learn to go
regularly to given place for their food.
1t would be an immensely profitable
enterprise.
Some people have an idea that a
seal will not thrive except in very
cold climate, This is mistake. They
will thrive in any fresh lake. In the
Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Cali
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01

Tennyson still occasionally smokes
the pipe. which has always been his
favorite style Of using the weed.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01

The state of Ohio has 81, 260 more
boys than girls.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01

Lady Wallsend's carriage passed.
he bowed politely to me and off went
my hat.
She's a sumner" said my nephew.
Il hope she is happy said l with a
sigh.