davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
DID CROOKED WORK
Postmaster Wheat Has Been Doing Rush
ing Business.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.-In the inves-
tlgatlon into the charges against Postmas-
ter Wheat today most important testimony
was given by w. E. Bradley, who said that
young Wheat asked him if he wanted to
make some money by being sworn in
place of man who was expected
in a few days. This mans name
was Denny. He was simply to have his
name on the roll, Wheat doing the work.
Wheat told him that he would not even
have to come to the Office and would
receive S. for the trouble of being
sworn in. At the end Of March
he drew something over S67 and all of
which except S. h turned over to Walter
Wheat. Young Wheat also got Represen-
tative Caswell to indorse his application for
a place in the government printing office
At the end of April he was still on the
rolls In place Of another named
Hall. This time he drew S96 81.
In accordance with the wish of
young Wheat he kept this money for a
week. He then settled with young Wheat,
retaining SO. Finally he was discharged
by the postmaster.
Representative Caswell called the a ten
ton Of the committee to the act making
an appropriation for the house postoffice,
and contended that its ph~aseology gave
the postmaster the absolute right to
$4,000 appropriated for carrying the
mails
Walter Wheat, the postmaster son, said
that he did most IF the work for which
Bradley was paid and was entitled to the
money he received.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
A Naturalist and His Snake.

Speaking Of snakes said an am
ateur naturalist to Il New York Sun
writer "but for mans insane prejudice
against them they would be found to
be not only intelligent, but EXTREMITY
sociable. When was boy | lived at
Sheppard's Park Rock!and county,
and near by was GOOD stream we'll
stocked with fish. Whenever | caught
mess-WhIch was very often-my
father used to insist that | clean and
scale them at distance from the
house, and my habit was to thus prepare
the DAYS catch on the banks of the
stream before returning home. One
day while thus engaged ii large black
snake appeared from under huge
rock near by, and, approaching me,
made deliberate meal on the discard
ed portions of the fish. He then re-
tired. The next day he came again,
and after that he fell into the habit of
waiting for me. The spot where |
moored the dingv from which | anglcd
was the one selected by me for clean
ing the fish, and after few days Of
familiar friendship Mr.. BIacksnake
ventured into the dingy and went Il
fishing with me. After that he became
my regular companion, but many gen
erations of oppression had made him
suspicious OF my race. and if | made Il
violent motion he was over the side in
a second and swimming ashore for
dear life like an animated corkscrew.
On such occasions | invariably found
him waiting for me with an appetite
sharpened by his bath.
II do not know how intimate we
might have become but for the sad
sequel which cut short his earthly ca
reer. One day I was called away, and
during my absence two neighbors re-
paired to the bank of the stream with
the intention of doing little fishing
from the dingy. AS they approached
it large bIacksnake wriggled up to
them in a confidential manner. While
one of them was nearly paralyzed with
fear the other raised "A heavy stone
and letting it fall, my harmless COM
panion was no more. ! am an old
man now, but | never priced a friend
ship more than that, and to this day L
have not forgiven the man who killed
nv friend"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
PiS.PAN RUFFlES,
Delicate Rice Paper Frilis for Ornament
ing Game Pies and Puddings.

ESthetlc housewives are often both
cred to know just what to do with a
pan of game pie. fruit pudding, or bak-
ed custard that comes from the oven
with a ragged edge. No matter how
delicious the puff-paste may be or how
light the heart it covers brown spat-
ter-work along the rim of the dish or a
caving-in OF the crust is certain TO de-
tract from the merits of the pie. for
the reason that the eye is guide to
the gustatory taste of the gourmet.
The vulgar savagery of hunger has but
one sense. but the epicureau must be
tempted. 1t is this knowledge, SAYS
the \. Y. World, that leads well-bred
butler to dress the fish with lemon
wheels. to garuiSh the chops with
crosses. the tillet with cubes and truf-
fies and cylindrical olives and to scat
ter rose leaves over the souffie and
ices. Baked beans, delicate buildings
and game pies which are served a Ia
buffet and cannot be transferred to an
ornamental dish without detriment are
sunk in larger receptacle-a silver
punch-bowl, an ice globe. often a jar
diniere. or else a silver-plated adjusta-
bic rim is attached and the brown or
white earthen dish placed on a salver
and sent to table. This gastronomic
artist, SO deft in the manipulation of
table linen, will more frequently bind
a napkin about the unSightly bake
dish and pin it with a rose or a carrot,
whitfield into bodkin. However, in
a private home the damaSk is more
carefully handled, and an economical
houSekeeper will hesitate about using
her fine linen for dish muller to be
stained by peach pie, cherry pud-
ding. or the rich wine from straw
berry loaf. If she serves the pastry
herself it is different thing, but the
most careful of husbands IS liable to
get giddy in the heat of conversation.
and spill the few drops that ruin the
precious Irish loom. For those who
! cannot afford, or do not fancy the
plated lake dish cover and rim, there
is a pretty springy paper novelty
known us the pie-diSh frill, or the pie
pan rutfie, which decorates dish much
better than linen, and is more econom-
ical. The frills are made of amber,
cream, and delicate opal rice paper in
rope pattern, and being elastic can be
stretched to fit dishes of various sizes.
Like the japanese napkins they are
firm, tenacious. and cheap, costing but
80 cents dozen. Those made of
heavier paper with sprays of painted
blossoms are more expensive and less
desirable, as second using is not
pleasing.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
sCHUsTER FOUND GUILTY.
He is Convicted OF Committing Assault
Upon Rosa SackmaD.


BARABoo, Sept. 27.-In the circuit
court, Judge Siebecker, the jury in the case
of August Schuster returned to the court
room at II clock today after three hours
deliberations having concluded that
Schuster was guilty of committing an as
sault upon Rosa Sacknan in this county
with intent to commit murder, despite the
fact that no less than fifteen witnesses
from WATERFOWL testified that he was at
the Commercial hotel on the day the crime
was committed. The verdict meets with
general satisfaction
February 7 last some person entered the
farm residence of Charles KIimp, in the
town of Excelsior, near this city, with
the intention of robbery. Finding Miss
Sackman, a young lady about % years of
age, alone in the house, he demanded
of her money and other valuables
that were supposed to be secreted
in the house Miss Sackman re-
piled that she knew Of none. The ruffian
not succeeding by mild persuasion, pound
ed her with club until she became uncor-
scious, gagged and tied the unfortunate
girl and dragged her to the river bank with
the intention of drowning her to cover up
his crime. but just as he was about to
throw her into the water he became
amueard by an approaching wagon, an
fed, leaving his victim as he supposed
dead The girl was found shortly after
ward by Mr.. Klimp, who, with his wife,
had returned from this city. After several
hours hard work by the physicians the
girl regained consciousness sufficiently to
give an account of the affair, claiming
that her assailant was August Shuster,
whom she knew well as an old
schoolmate. Schuster, who is a son of a
wealthy farmer living in the same town,
had been away from home for year
Detectives we're at once employed to work
up the case About two months after
ward Marshal Zantuer, of WATERFOWL,
Wis, found Schuster working in the Com
mercial hotel at that place, under an as
sumed name. He denied any knowledge
of the crime for which he was arrested
The young man was brought to Baraboc
and placed in jail After preliminary
examination he was held to the circuit
court
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02

War is a frightful thing under all
circumstances and some of the most
dreadful wars have been Waged on the
most tlimsy and foolish preiexts, even
if they had a preteXt at all; but prOba-
bly, no stranger reason for war or peace
was ever recorded than has been noted
by French governor of the South Pa
cific colony of New Caledonia. This
governor, who was also an admiral OF
the navy, assumed his authority while
the natives of New Caledonia were still
Gambia Is. There bad been rumors of
an instruction and the admiral called
before him native chief who was
faithful to the French cause. and ques-
toned him us to their truth. You
may be sure" said the native. that
there will be no war at present, be-
cause the vans are yet far from being
ripe" The yams, you say?" Yes.
Our people never make war except
when the vans are ripe" why is
that?" Because baked vans 90 so
very well with the captives. '-Youths
COn1Da11iOn
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
Two Napkins.

The olive napkin is a nine-inch
square OF linen, hemstiched and firing
ed. In each corner an olive spring
three long slender leaves are worked
The leaves should be simply outlined
and vened, but the olives should be
worked soidly in a silver shade Of
grav-green. This is a pretty mat upon
which to place an olive dish. A napkin
in which to serve boiled eggs is fringed
like these other doilies, and in three
corners some loose straws are outlined,
and upon them some eggs are scatter
ed, worked solidly in white floss, and
outlined in gold. In the fourth corner
is the appropriate motto-"V Various
are the tastes of men," This is pref
ty way of keeping boiled eggs hot
The corn napkin, with its ears of
corn worked in each corner, is so well
known to all needle-workers that it
needs no description here.
The potato napkin is more of nov
city. This should be about Is inches
square and have outlined in silk. as
near as the shade of a peach-blow po-
tato as possible. couple of potatoes.
This napkin is a convenience as well
as decoration. Cake basket and bread
plate doilies are two common to need
special mention. A wine napkin Is
little larger than an olive napkin. with
a cluster of grapes in the corner. and
leaf. spray and tendril. The leaves
are filled in with fancy stitches in
green silk. and the grapes are worked
solidlv ir crimson shades. food H"'4se-
keeping.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
WHEAT'S INVESTIGATION
He Admits That He Received
$3.50 Per Month From His
Assistant.
In Extenuation He Says that He
Followed the Practice Of His
Predecessors.
But Contractor CulbertsOn Denies
Ever Having Paid for the Con-
tract in Previous Years.

WASHINGTON, Sept 27.-The house
committee of accounts today began an In
vestigation into the charges preferred
against Postmaster Wheat, of the house.
Mr.. BOOthman, a member of the commit
tee, was excused from serving, he being a
tenant of WIleat'S. Mr. Wheat said a
contract was entered into December last
with Mr.. CulbertsOn at the rate of 5000
per year, OF which Mr. Culbertson was to
give him $3.50 a month. Some time af-
ter he learned that the matter was being
talked Of as improper and the charge sub
sequently appeared IN the papers. He
then wanted to give back the $3.50 he had
received from Mr.. Cul0ertson, but
was advised that it did not
belong 70 him. but to the government
He then went to the treasury department,
deposited the money aud received re
ceipt for it, He had received no more
from Mr.. Culbertson under the agreement.
Replying to Mr. Enloe the witness said
he mad consulted the clerk of the
house, Representative Caswell, the
speaker and others about the matter
Subsequently the contract was taken away
from CuIbertson and given to Mr.. Ddish
at $4,000 per year. In answer to the
question: IDS 10 HOW ut Cdme 10 uA
the first contract at $1,000 witness
said when he first came to
Washington the cfice was new to him
and he had simply had contract of the
previous year copied, as he supposed as he
supposed it was all right. He also found
an appropriation allowed for this purpose
of 5000 year. CulbertsOn swore that
he carried the mails for
Dalton, the former postmaster, for six
years prior to December last. He received
as compensation 5000 year, and had
not made similar previous payments of
$50 month to the postmaster. He
SAID Wheat asked him at first
for 5000 per month in return for the con
tract, he witness made counter prcpo-
sition to give lin $3.50, and this he said,
would require him to do the work at a
starvation price The witness said
one day when it was apparent
that an investigation was probable
Wheat son came to him anu sought to
have the $3.50 turned over temporarily
to third person, but this
was not done. Wheat, in his
testimony, declared that he knew of no
such conversation. In reply to member
of the committee, Mr. Culbertson said be
was the father-in-law of Dalton, the former
postmaster.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
ChicarO Market

CHICAGO. H., Sept. % .-Flour-Steady as last
quoted. Wheat-Easy; 95!Etd952l for seller cash
9S1a for seller December; 1.O32s for seller May.
Corn-Steady; Az for seller cash; 47S@4o for
seller October; 504 a 50as for seller May. Oats
Easy: 314 for seller cash; IS for seller October:
Az for seller May. Mess pork - Dull; 9 80 for
seller cash; II 60 for seller January; 1920 for
seller May. Lard-Firm; 60 for seller cash;
645 for seller January; 6.S21a for seller May
Rye-Easy; 591.. Barley-Easy; IS. Flax seed
Steady: As. Prime timothy seed-Quiet: 2600
l.T Whisky, 1.13 Shoulders, 3. 62@5. "a;
short clear, 5.6oG5 65; short ribs 5.221ze5. 25.
Butter-Unchanged; creamery, 15G23; dairy,
12l4l9. Hides = Unchanged; heavy and light
green sailed, Z; sailed bull, green sailed calf,
S1a@9; dry flint, 8G39; dry sailed hides, 4 dry
calf, 500; deacons, 30 cents. TalIow-Unchanged
No. 1, AZ. No. ?, 4: cake, AZ. Cheese-Weak;
full cream cheddars, S@S1z; hats, 614@S24
young Americas, $685. Eggs-Firm; fresh,
I7@1S.
Flour-Receipts, Il 900; shipments, $4,000.
Wheat-Receipts, $4,000; shipments % O00
Corn-Recnipts, 265,0 900; shipments, Gil 600.
Oats-Receipts, 251 900: shipments, 10000
CHICAGO, Sept 29.-The Evening journal re-
ports: Cattle Receipts, $4,000; Shipments
5000; steady to firmer; steers, 3.00@505; COWS,
bulls and Mixed 1250 $50: Texas steers, 2156D3
rangers steers, $50 $50. ogs-Receipts, 10000;
steady to lower packers and shippers, .ON04 %
prime heavy butchers weights, 4.3O14.40: light,
45O04 90. Sheep-Receipts, 1900; market lower;
natives, 415@950; westerns, 4. 05@4.371a: Tex
ans, 3. 750410; lambs, 3. 5U@.6. 20.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
A Curious Calculation.

A rapid penman can write thirty
words minute. To do this he must
draw his pen through the space of
rod-sixteen and one-haIf feet In
forty minutes his pen travels furlong.
and in five hours and third mile.
We make, on an average, sixteen
curves, or turns, Of the pen for each
word written. Wrtlng thirty words
in a minute. we must make forty-three
curves to each second; in an hour, 2S,-
900; in five hours 40, 600; and in 300
days, working only five hours each
day. we make not less than 43, 100000
curves and turns of the pen. The man
who makes but l, 900. 900 strokes of the
pen month has done nothing remark
able; there are those vino make four
times that number. Here we have in
the aggregate Il mark 500 miles long.
to be traced on paper by a writer in II
year. In making each letter of the
ordinary alphabet, we make from
three to seven strokes of the pen-on
an average, three aud half to four
ST. Louis Republic.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
"TraveIing Stones"

The curious travelling stones of
Australia are paraileied in Nevada.
They are described as being perfectly
round. about as large as IA walnut, and
of an ivory nature. When distributed
about on the floor. table, or any other
level surface within two or three feet
of each other they Immediately begin
travelling toward each other until they
meet at a common centre and there
huddle up in bunch, like eggs in a
nest. a single stone rem ed to a
distance of four feet. upon being re-
leased. returns to the heap, but if
taken away five feet remains notion
less It is needless to sag that they
are largely composed of magnetic iron
orp.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
Practical Suggestions.

Carelessness in measuring and pre-
pairing dish is often the cause of
failure. When recipe is found good,
it should be followed exactly.
1t is not only an economy for home
makers to keep an account book, but
it is a great satisfaction to know, from
year to year, exactly what has been ex-
pended.
The excellence of baked potatoes de-
ponds upon eating as soon as done, and
not before. They are worthless till
cooked, and dry rapidly as soon as
baked through.
To remove claret stains from table
linens, rub on salt as soon as possible,
and wash in the usual way. If not en-
tirely removed, apply lemon juice and
dry in the sun.
What is more disaoreeable to use
than rusty fat-iron? Rub them
with fine emery dust and sweet oil.
If you cannot make them smooth,
send them to a factory and have them
ground.
If the stove is cracked, a good ce-
ment is made for it as follows: Wood
ashes and salt in equal proportions, re-
duced to a paste with cold water. and
filled in the cracks when the stove is
cool. 1t will soon harden.
Save stale pieces Of bread. and when
an easy day comes. dry them thorough
ly In an open oven, and with rolling
pin crush as fine as dust. These, then.
will always be at hand for preparing
oysters, outlets, croquetteS, etc.
Go to bed at night to sleep: and not
to think over the troubles of to-day.
nor the anticipated trials of tomorrow.
One woman said: Il plan my next
days work each night after retiring"
Poor, little nervous ching, she 10 oked
it.
Keep celery fresh by boiling it in
brown paper sprinkled with water,
then wrap in damp cloth, and put it in
& COOL dark place. Before preparing it
for the table, submerge it in cold water
and let it stand for an hour. 1t will be
found very crisp.
When furnishing home, do not neg
lect to purchase pictures. They serve
to recall pleasant memories and scenes,
and when hung to harmonic with the
furniture and in keeping with the use
of the room, they are highly ornamen-
tai. Buy good ones, or none.
When one is fatigued, tea is an eff
cient restorative. 1t forms an agreea-
BILE, warm drink, which is neither heat
ing to the blood, nor oppressive to the
stomach, particularly if taken slowly
when one is sitting quietly. Large
quantities, however, induce nervous
disorders.
The Importance of letting the sun
light fall into all parts of our dwellings
cannot be too highly estimated. Good
health is dependent on sunlight and
pure air. An eminent physician has
said Sunlight should never be exclud-
ed except when so bright as to be I'M
comfortable to the eyes.
Silver, washed after each meal in
very hot water, with sometimes little
ammonia in it, will be bright and shin
ing for a long time without other clean
ing. When a more thorough cleaning
is necessary, use any good silver polish,
being sure to rub Ii ghtly, as the bright
lustre soon wears dull, and if it be
plated. soon wears oif.-G0od House.
69eping.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
DR.. o. w. Holmes on Heart-LOve.

| never saw a garment too fine for a
man or a maid; there never was a chair
too good for a cObbler or a cooper or a
king to sit in; never a house too fine to
shelter the human head. These ele-
ments about us-the glorious sun, the
imperial moon-are not too good for
the human race. Elegance fits man;
but do we not value these tools a little
more than they are worth, and some
times mortgage house for the mahog-
any we bring into it? ! would rather
eat my dinner off the head of a barrel,
or dress after the fashion of John the
Baptist in the Wilderness or sit on a
block all my life. than consume all on
myself before | got a home, and take
so much pains with the outside when
Ihe inside was as hollow as an empty
hut. Beauty is great thing; but
beauty of garment, house and furni-
!ure are tawdy ornaments compared
with domestic love. All the elegance
in the world will not make home;
and | would give more for a spoonful
OF real heart-love than for whole ship
loads of furniture and all the gorgeous
ness all the upholsterers in the world
can gather.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
A COUNTY SEAT STRIFE
Two Western Cities are Having Serious
Time Regarding Court House.

LAMAR, Col, Sept. 25.-Word was re-
ceived of serious county seat strife be
tween the towns of Boston and Springfield
in Baca county. Springfield has secured
the seat at the election held last fall.
Boston claims Springfield has not the
amount of county property necessary to
prevent the seat from being moved
by a minority vote this fall. The only
available building for county court
house was the hotel building in Boston.
A few weeks ago this was sold at sheriff 8
sale and bought by Sprlngfe cid parties
Saturday night a party left Springfield
for Boston to move the build
use it as a court house. thus preventing
the county seat issue from being raised
this fall by reason of prominent improve
ments being made. The building
was moved about FIVE miles toward Spring
field, which is about % miles from Bostc n,
when the people of the latter place dis
covered the trick. and Immediately
organized all the available horses and
rifles were brought into requlsltlon and a
pursuit male. Upon overtaking the party
the battle begun. which ended Id the
Springfield party being driven from the
building which was then burned by the
Bostonians. Great excitement prevails,
out, owing to the isolation of the
towns, news Is hard to obtain. Several
parties arrived here from Springfield last
night and departed hurrledIy after buying
all the cartridges they could find IN town.
1t is reported that several parties were
seriously wounded and two killed during
the fight but the news IS not authentic.