davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15
THE HORSE AUCTIONEER.
In an Emergency He Is Called In to Sell q
Piano.

The regular auctioneer was i'll and
in the emergency the auctioneer from
the horse stables across the street con-
sented to act in his pla"e. A big crowd
of people filled the room to bid on lot
of household goods that had been ad-
vertised for sale. A piano was the first
thing offered.
Now, ladies and gents" said the
horse auctiOneer, as he mounted the
block. II wish to call your attention
to dis magnificent pianer forte. l have
its pedigree here, which will be fur
nished to de purchaser an he will be
surprised at what he has bought. I
would call yeer particular attention to
it's color-a beautiful mahogany bay, one
of de most beautiful and desirable
colors dat kin be selected. Dis pianer
hasn't got spot or blemish. It is war
ranted to work double or single. Ex-
anime it closely for ringbone, SPAWN or
quarter crack. Will some one in de
audience please step to de front anG
test it's wind?"
A young man who combed his hair
pompadour and had wild look in his
eyes elbowed through the crowd and,
taking a seat on the stool, ran his ting-
ers over the keys, then through his
pompadour, hitched the stool a little
closer, found one of the pedals, and be-
gan to thump out tune.
what do you think of dat lick, ladies
and gents?" said the auctioneer, as he
looked triumphantly around the room.
Ever see anything purifier den dat in
ell 1,r,na l.
Dat gait's good fer 22O anywhere.
Now, what am l bid? Remember, who
ever buys dis pianer buys pedigree a
yard long"
The ladies in the crowd looked at
the auctioneer in some wonderment,
and taking this for silent admiration he
directed his remarks to them directly:
Now, ladies, here's pianer dat l
kin recommend to yer on de dead
square. Dis is single-foot instrument
dat doesn't shy or scare at de cars. Jest
as easy as a rockin' chair. Gentle as a
lamb. Doesn't kick or bite. Will de
gent let 'er 60 round once more for de
benefit of the ladies?"
The young man on the stool ''let 'er
60" again. this time pounding out
Where Is My Wandering Boy To-
Night" and several other things of
equal artistic merit.
Now, ladies and gents" said the
auctioneer, when the young man paused
for breath. ''dat's performance dat
speaks for itself Remember, dis piner
is jest off of grass. Hasn't been handled
for six months. What am | bid?'
But there was no bid.
The ladies went out of the room by
twos, threes and tours and left only the
men to enliven the occasion by calling
out, Let 'er go once under the saddle"
&c.-N. T. Sum-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15

physician recommended mountain air,
and house was secured for the Sum-
mer in a little village in Pennsylvania.
near one of the large seminaries. Here
she was gaining health and strength
when Max came to pass a few weeks
with her.
They were at church one sunny Sum
day ,..orning, and were lingering in
greg"tion had departed, when Max
asked. Who leads the choir here,
mother?"
The organist. She is lady teach
ing music in the seminary on the hill"
Does not her voice remind you of
Laura's?''
Eyes. have tried to see her face,
but she comes very early and l have
never met her leaving the church,
ut may be Laura! How can 1 find
out?"
"You can not forget her!'' his mother
said, sadly.
Forget her! Never! 1t is the one
hope of my life to find her. if only to
tell how she has misjudged me. must
see her once. She must learn how |
love her; understand that the dis
figured face is dearer to me than any
beauty can ever be-that every scar
upon its loveliness is mute record OF
the sacrifice made for my mother. Can
never show her my heart? Will my
Laura never come to me again?'
Il am here, Maxi" said a low, sweet
voice beside him.
He started as the speaker swept aside
a heavy veil, and the SCARED and dis
figured face was fully revealed. The
large soft eyes had regained all their
beauty, and the hideous redness had
all faded from her complexion; but the
deep scars were there for life, and the
beauty of the fair face would never re-
turn to it.
Max never thought of what was gone
He only realized that Laura was re-
stored to him; he felt that death alone
could ever part them again.
Only a few days later the little
chuch was the scene of quiet wedding;
and in the happy years that followed,
Max Creighton's wife never doubted
that it was Laura he loved and not
Laura's face-EUening World.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15
Benefits of Transplanting.

Plants like the aster. verbena phlox,
and pansy. are benefited by trans
planting once or twice. 1t makes good
stool Ky plants of them, while peoples,
candytuft, mignonette. are tap-rooted
and the seeds should be planted in the
beds where they are to grow. Tap
rooted means that they have one long
root and but few short roots, while an
aster, or pansy has many short roots
near the surface which hold the earth
when they are taken up. After the
ground gets warm and the cold weather
is really gone, the seedlings can be set
out in the beds. Choose a cloudy dav,
or after the sun goes down, for this
work. Asters and verbenas should be
set one foot apart, and they want pleu-
ty of room. After setting out. water
and shade when the sun is out for three
or four days. uncovering at night. II
you wish ANIMALS to bloom we'll pick
off all faded flowers and do not let
them go to seed. As soon as they do
this then mission is done.-Go0d House
6eeptitg.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15
A GREAT MAN.
The characteristics of Such Person, Ac-
cording to a French Philosopher.

NJ. Burnouf, the great French phi
losopher, in his work Lotus de la
Bonne Loi," gives tmrty-two char
be Interesting to all students of char
acter. Presumably he does not refer
to the town marshal or crossroads edi-
tor, but to some one truly great" a
rara avis seldom met with. The fol-
lowing are twentv-siX ct the thirty-twO
distinguished points according to the
learned Frenchman:
/. His head is crowned with pro-
tuberance of the skull.
2. His hair is of brilliant black. shin
ing like the tail of a peacock.
3. He has broad and regular fore
head.
4. Between his eyebrows is circle
of down, brilliant as snow or silver.
5. His eyelids are like those of young
heifer.
6. He has large and brilliant black
eyes.
Z. He has forty teeth, all smooth
and equal, set closely together, and of
the most perfect whiteness.
10. His voice is like that of Brahma.
II. He has exquisite sense of taste.
II. His tongue is broad and thin, or
else long and thread-ike.
Is. His jaws are strong like those of
a lion.
IA. His shoulders and arms are per-
fectly rounded.
10. The seven parts usually hollow
in man the hollows OF the feet, palms
of the hands, hollows under the arms
and the creek between the shoulder
blades) are full in the great man."
and some cases even have protuber-
ances.
16. The space between the shoulders
is covered,
II. His skin has the luster and color
of gold.
Is. His arms are so long that when
he stands upright his hands reach his
knees.
10. His front is lion-like.
20. His body is perfectly straight
and we'll rounded.
p. His hairs grow one by one Gum
ruly; standing out from each other).
%. Each hair turns to the right.
"a. His thighs are rounded, and his
legs trim as a gazelle's.
26. His toes and fingers are long.
%. His instep is high.
20. His feet and hands are soft and
delicate.
80. His toes and fingers are marked
with deep lines forming network.
80. His feet are of equal size and
well placed.
Surely, great men are scarce.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15
Tragic Story of a Diamond.

There's the most beautiful diamond
I have ever seen during an experience
of thirty years with the sparkling
gems" said veteran diamond mer-
chant, as he held up a stone that
seemed to live in fire. From every
facet radiated brilliant colors, and the
hue of the stone was that steely blue
which delights every connoisseur OF
the precious gems. The diamond did
not weigh over six carats. but it was
easily worth S., 600.
That stone has a tragic history"
continued the man of jewels as he laid
the diamond to rest amid a nest of
snowy cotton. sit comes from the De
Beers Mines in South Africa, and was
discovered by coolie employed by the
Company. His practical eye saw that
the gem was marvellous one for
beauty of color and desire to steal it
overcame him. Well, he did steal it,
and to conceal the diamond about his
person-for the coolies work almost
hole in his flesh under the arm. But
the wound did not heal, and the OBJ
servant eye of the foreman saw what
was the matter. A few days after he
charged the coolie with having stolen
diamond but the negro denied it.
when Jack, the foreman, reached for
his sore arm the thief made dash and
ran toward the outskirts of the camp
like deer. The foreman followed him,
but the fieet-Hooted negro outstripped
him. He knew that a severe punish
ment awaited him if captured, and CEN
tered all his efforts on getting away
with the stone, whose value would
have made him rich for life. But Jack
was equal to the emergency, and
drawing his pistol shot the coolie
through the back just as he was taking
to the hills. His dead body was dragged
back into camp, his arm cut open and
this beautiful gem in the rough was
taken from the insertion. It's tragic
story, but true as gospel, and only a
sample of what has happened more
than hundred times in the diamond
mines of South Africa. "-PhiladeLphia
Inquirer.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15

another direction. ~ Ye1a6Utte7S Ne,os.
Wickars-sAn artist friend of mine
once painted banana peel on the side.
walk so naturally that the first man
who came along slipped and fell down
on it. Vickars-''It couldn't have
been very natural, if the first man that
came along tumbled to it."-Terrt
Haute Express
First Manager-"Ponson and l are
going to put on all opera next season.
He is now busy selecting the scenery
and I'm securing girls for the ballet
Second Manager-''Whom have YOU
secured the libretto and music from?'
First Manager-''O, we haven't decided
on that yet."-N. Y. San.
Mrs. Stukupp-'1 don't see why they
permit Miss Singleton to keep company
with that Mr.. Mann. Actually | don't
believe he's got cent to his NAME"
Mrs. Midway-''O, but it isn't quite so
bad as that, although, to be sure, he is
little impecunious. Mrs. Stukupu
10, is that all? Well, that doesn't
so much matter so long as he has plen.
~ of money. "-Boston Transcript.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15
Woodpeckers Create a Drinking Place by
Perforating the Bark of a Tree.

In June of 1889 | had occasion to be
out mile or Whereabouts from the town
of Kentville, says writerin Forest and
Stream. and was for some time de-
tanned in strip of clearing about forty
rods wide. While there | noticed wood
peckers continually crossing this clear
ing from one block of woods to the
other. | thought nothing of it at first,
but after a constant stream of them
had been going and coming for some
time determined to 60 across small
field to point of hard woods, where
they all seemed to be going, and see if
| could find the cause, expecting, Of
course, to find an old dry tree contain
ing couple or more nests of young
birds, as | supposed the old birds were
carving food On reaching the hill |
looked around for the dry tree, but
could see none. On further examina-
ton | discovered that the woodpeckers
were tiving to and away from the top
of living white birch tree. Selecting
a convenient seat | watched there for
some time to see what was going on.
About forty-five feet up this tree the
woodpeckers had thickly perforated
the bark for a space of about ten inches
around the trunk, causing the sap to
flow freely. l soon discovered that this
was drinking fountain, not only for
the birds that had so diligently worked
to bore these holes. but it seemed that
all the small birds in the neighborhood
were coming here to get a share of the
sweet sap that was continually flowing
from the wounded tree. At intervals
when there would be no woodpeckers
present the little fy-catchers and warb-
lers would come for drink as we'll as
to capture insects that had been at
tracted there by the sweet sap. At "a
time when there were no other birds
occupying the drinking fountain two
little humming birds improved the OPP
portunity of quenching their thirst, but
darted away on the first appearance of
any of the larger birds. l have often
noticed our common red squirrel nip
the bark of the maple in spring and
drink freely from the sap. | have
also seen the vellow-bellied sapsucker
bore a single hole through the bark of
a birch tree and drink the sap. | do
not think they return to the same place
when they want another drink, but in
stead they make another hole in the
nearest suitable tree.
The perforated spots on trees have
often come to my notice, but | had sup
posed it was done for insects that might
be found in or under the bark, and was
not aware that the work was done
wholly for the purpose of making a
drinking fountain.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15
1t Might Be Worse.

fhate the weepin' pessimist that's allus talk
in blue
An paintin' up his troubles with "a cemetery
He never sees rainbow but alus sees a
cloud,
And tries to throw it over everybody like
shrOud;
He pounds away at all he meets an tries to
make EN- think
That his has been the bitterest of bitter dregs
to drink:
He tells you that his trouble is an overpow' rim
curse,
An never stops to reason that it
Might
Be
Worse
like noble fellow who can play a cheerful
part,
No matter if hidden sob is wellin' up his
heart,
He makes you think little grit'n kinder ease
yer woe,
An mebbe when tomorrow comes you'll stan
He'll allus take you by the hand an soften
down yer fears,
An make you see a ray O. hope a-shinin'
That's the kind O. fellow that can meet with
He can brace himself and VT N3snt
Be
Worse.
Yer burden may be heavy, but you'll some
how find it true
AudI lnef are OUnefS cdrryln Digger lOau
than you;
The world is blue enough, God knows, without
yer gettin' down
An cryin' over trouble long afore it comes
arOun;
faintin' heart was never known to bring a
brighter day.
An weepin' an complainin' never drives the
clouds away
80 dontyo advertise yer woe throughout the
universe,
But keep it to yourself an say, it
Might
Be
Worse.
IF everybody's misery written in his face,
There d be but little pleasure here among the
human race;
The glow o cheerful happiness 'ud fade away
an die,
An all the springs O joy an mirth ud soon be
runnin dry.
So don't you grow discouraged, then, if every
thing goes wrong,
For if you wait streak o joyll surely come
along,
Don't keep a-mopin' all the time as mournful
as Il hearSe,
But gulp yer trouble down an say it
Might
Be
Worse.
Harry s. Chester, Elkhart, Ind.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15
Wedding Presents.

The wedding-present tax is as in
exorable on people of social place as is
the civil tax on landed proprietors. A
story is told by Philadelphia paper of
one of the citizens of the Quaker City
who offered his daughter S., 900 to put
the words No presents" on her we'd
ding invitations. Of course she re-
fused; her gifts filled two rooms, and
every one remarked on her popularity
and her friends generosity. But her
unfortunate father. knowing we'll that
the appreciation of such gifts must be
shown in kind. has already spent $1O.-
900 in reciprocating them. To the
sister, niece, cousins and aunts of each
giver he feels bound to send a remem-
brance in return, and what the aggre-
gate cost of the transaction will be
when all the obligations are met is one
of the things Its better not to dwell
on"
The gentleman who was thus freeing
his mind and giving his actual expert
ence with the tax that custom thus i'm.
poses is one of the wealthy men of the
city, but he was willing to admit that
society made greater drain on his
purse than he enjoyed. During the
months of autumn, spring and winter
that are considered most advantageous
for fashionable weddings he received
on the average three invitations week,
some of them from people who have
moved away and whom he had not
seen for years, vet his invariable an
swer to every card is a present OF APP
preciabie value The tax on his time
having become almost as annoying as
the strain on his purse. he has given up
selecting the gifts himself and turned
over the task to his confidential clerk.
Consequently the perfumed. tinted
notes of gratitude he receives from
brides come in answer to gifts he has
never seen.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15
Our Fleet in the Mediterranean.

Our practice fleet in the Mediterran-
can has a good deal of trouble with
foreign regulations. Spain forbade the
landing of cre,.s anywhere on her
shores for land practice, and Italy has
a law that more than three war ships
of any foreign power shall not be in
any one of her ports at the same time.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15
Encouragement in Russia.

A government officer in whom Grand
Duke Vladimir of Russia placed such
high confidence as to permit him tc
have all the handling Of funds raised
by voluntary subscription for the cree
ton Of a large church on the spot
where the late emperor was assassl-
mated, has mismanged the trust to the
extent $3.50. 600, and the grand duke
and one of his brothers have made hhe
amount good from their private purses.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15

The increased cost of wood and ivory
is said to have increased by one-third
the cost of English pianos.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15

If the doctors orders bark, has not
the patient Z right to growl?
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15

Hastlngs-''Why,y yes; provided I'm not
ruined by the expenses of long en-
gagementr'-Puck.
Benevolent Old Lady-''Dear, dear.
Little boy, why do you sit on the curb
stone eating those crusts?" Small Boy
I'm doin' it for me health, ma am.
You didn't suppose | was hungry, did
ye?"-Lippi'scofs Magaajne.
Irate Customer Look here, want
| my money back. That parrot you sold
me won't talk at all" Bird Dealer
Il did the best I could, sir. You in
sisted on having bird that would not
swear. ''-Terre Haute Express.
'.And how did you like the services
at our church last EVENING"" There!
So it was a religious service? | couldn't
have told whether it was a religious
service or grand opera. I'm awfully
near-sighted, you know" - Boston
Transcript.
If Heaven had a high board fence
round it you'd see dozens of pesky sim
ners trying to climb in on each others
shoulders way down in the far corner
while the gatekeeper's attention was
held by single dead-head in 'front.'.
ashland Press.
We'll" said swell young woman
of the West End to a friend after half
an hours experience with a pompous
fedgling of 20, ''well, for man who
doesn't know anything that youngster
knows more than any man ever met"
Washington Star.
Kentucky Colonel This discussion
about how to treat ex-Presidents is en-
tirely uncalled for New York Man
'Ahr' Yes, sir. The way to treat
them is to hand them the decanter and
q glass and then turn your eyes in
New-York tribune., 1890-08-06
TurcASr or WESLEY TREDyELL.

The case Of Wesley Tfrdwch against Jo"n WIfand' a
mol, ean of Manhattan Beach for assault cam" ny "f
trial before Justice Sutherland a. "a" ton"y Island fo'e
u.adausftcfs yesterday moIniIg. Ird"c" HN'' ~
l.or.bead Bny where Lis father Aloa'on Iied"rli ue
well Known broadway cIothicf has srnm"f cottage
Ahou, three weeks Trcdwell hs eichi-en-yearod
it,, and a Miss Roland. Of New Brunswick, " d.
,,cured row aud rowed from Sh-"psf"ad BAY 70
Manhattan Beach. Arriving At The later place young
rrea,y, fastened boat the bspci The thrre got
ont and storted stroll along the beach policeman
ordered then, get with I'll. boat. but they pau
Itr attention 70 him Tredvell ss!d TINT hr oulcc ap
n,oshd and dubbed him the head aud shoulders MISS
rrrdvcu stepped between her brother and tile oih'rr
The onc.r then arrested Miss Trcdvell and her brother
and started for the lookup After walking several h"u
,oct alonu the beach The officer renrcd Mites lted"'"
ustice McAahon discharged Trdwel on his own f"'"s
tlun.o o. apprar b.for tine justice the neat Ia Ih
,,s,.- falling 70 app. lr-dwcll va di,rm 'ru. II
NM am, durns tl. r.l. yt.trtd,y That the -i9n- "arh.
,lo mot " land Manhattan Beach wcrr not crectd AZ
IN. time of the trouble 0ieer Wigand was found !I'S
and ancd s26 and costs. The verdict WAS received '
satisfaction.
New-York tribune., 1890-08-06
MERCHANT TAfLORS IN SESSION.

Boston, Aug. epcca!.-Thc nm annual session
OF the Merchant Taifors' National Exchange opened AT
the Vcndome this morning. The represent alton Of dele
rates was large, all paris Of The country being repre-
s,nted The convention was called 20 order by the
pret,dent OF the Excllagc James 5. burbank Of Bos
ton Edward Kly n Chicago offered prayer and
Lieutenant Governor Hale made brief pddrces Of
welcome on behalf Of the state. Mayor Hart followed,
extending welcome 70 the delegates IN behalf Of the
civ Of BOSTON President stariId, Of the Boston FIX
change presented IT'S welcome 10 the visiting brethren
iu sppr0pra,e remarks. President burbank then de
hvcrrd his annual address, in the OF which he
,ludcd 10 the Large quantity Of clothing that j. an
nuallv smucgled coast cities from London He cub
urt@d sf5iement from Collector Beard, Of the port
NJ rton 10 the effect that 591 $50 worth Of ready
made clothing imported into Boston during the
wear ended June 80, o-@ IN this time 1929 blG was
;hc voinn ~ imDortatOns into the United states An
agent for London house visit this country and makes
Ids boast that by visiting such cues as Nsw iot,t
Philadelphia. Baltimore ana boaNH' hc ScIls @'ooo
,iliiS IN A season.
New-York tribune., 1890-08-06
GOV. CAMPBELL PROTESTING AND DENYING.

Columbus ONO Aug. lspeciaD.-The controversy
between Governor Campbell and the Columbus news
papers In regard the alleged ansua used by the
Governor, in effect that II Federal supervisors at
TEMPTED to carry ont tine Lodge law IN ONO ne would
dispose OF them If 1t necessary 10 call out the
National Guard came 10 a focus this cvonns 10y
the Governor addressing letter 10 Editor ''alor%t1
making al emphatic denial aDd Offering 10 give 500
20 any charitable ttH On any responsible evidence
can be procured TINT lie used language bearing
upon such a proposition. Mr.. Galbrath replies sIe
esting that the place his challenge IN the
following form
hereby declare that | never stated nor suggested
to any one the calling or oI the military ~ ONO IN
case The Lodge bin should pdss AID attempt be niat
10 enforce { I'm my state, ana hcV"! stated, sus
gcstcd utinafcd 10 any one that would hLaA" sbch
declaration I'm iny speech at TIE state House al tIc
meeting called for the ISM OF July.
rhc cdit0rsstacs that the press is not charitable
institution and itS only desire Is 70 ctabllsh TIE truth
Of It's statement. Governor Campbell ha~ accepted uc
pfOposition as suggested and 20 morrow night the
entire evidence viii be made public