davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
The Japanese.

The Toxic Club recently entertained Sir
Edwin Arnold at dinner at the Rokumei-
Kwan.
The speech which he delivered on that
occasion is reported in the Japan Gazette
and from it we make an interesting ex-
tract.
Every traveller is struck by the remark
able good will of the Japanese toward each
other and the politeness which is a salient
characteristic of all classes. Sir Edwin
seems to have been specially impressed.
He said:-
But either | am an incompetent observer
or else there is to be met with In all ranks
In this country an entirely special charm or
demeanOr. an exquisite inese OF mutual
consideration, a politeness humble with
out servility and palpably springing from
graceful good will, all of which give a
finer atmosphere of life and render the
courteousness of less naturally polished peo-
pie well nigh vulgarity. Retain, | be-
seech you, gentlemen, the national charac-
t~eristic, export. Old Will Adams, the
pilot of Queen Elizabeth, whose name is
preserved In a street in this city, and
whose grave is on your shores, the first
Englishman that ever saw them, wrote of
Japan:-"'This c~ountrie is governed with
create clvlllte.' So 1T is still. | cannot
express to you the subtle pleasure | have
derived from contact with your common
people in cities and railway stations, In
villages, in tea houses and country roads.
| have nowhere passed without learning
thousands of finer manners than [ knew,
and without being instructed in that del
icacy of heart which springs from true
good will and lies above all precept.
Let it be understood, however, that this
universal politeness is wholly consistent
with muscular manliness and clear headed
enterprise. The Japanese are byno means
an effeminate race. In matters of social
reform and in large business undertake
ings they have the dash and vim of the
Occident.
Arnold hints that the teachings of Bud
dha may have something to do with the
prevailing good will of the people; and
that is worth thinking about.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
British Agriculture.

An English correspondent of the Coun-
! try Gentleman writes:
The agricultural returns Just issued pre-
sent features Of more than usual interest,
as showing the trend of agricultural pur-
suits IN this country. The number Of
separate returns furnished by occupiers of
land in Great Britain and of those obtain
ed by estimates. has been this year 574,-
$40: of these 429. 1884 were in England,
63, 003 in Wales, and g, 453 in Scotland,
and there were altogether 1916 returns
from owners of fine stock only, showing an
increase Of 1854 In Occupiers of land, and
a decrease of 299 in owners of live stock.
The increased number of occupiers is chief
" ascribed to the subdivision of land,
some of which has been newly reclaimed,
and this is a very welcome feature. With
regard to the quantity of land returned a
being in the hands of occupiers who rent
it, an improvement is shown of 106, 800
acres.
The area returned as under all kinds of
crops, bare fallow and grass amounted to
%, 733, 357 acres, exclusive of heath and
mountain pasture land, and of woods and
plantations, showing an increase of 48, 958
acres, which, however, is chiefly in pas
ture land, and the greater portion of
which has been reclaimed in the outlying
and hillv districts. In but two or three
counties is there any diminution. In re-
spect to corn crops there is, as compared
with 1888, a decrease in the area under
wheat of 114,883 acres, or AZ per cent.
This decrease is due to the low prices last
year. The areas under barley and oats
have both increased, by IS, 1863 acres in the
former and 6,452 In the latter. Other
corn and pulse crops show a slight de-
crease. The entire decrease of corn crops
is 112,600 acres, or l 3-5 per cent. Pota-
toes and roots show a decrease, and green
crops also, but there is an important in
crease in small fruit and market gardens.
In permanent pasture there is an increase
of 400, 900 acres.
Turning to live stock, there is an in
crease of horses and cattle, as well as
sheep and pigs. Horned cattle show an
increase of 0 200, COWS and heifers of 49,
805, and other cattle and calves, $1,000.
Sheep and lambs show an increase of 374,-
81, and pigs of 106 5000. Generally there
is an important increase IN Ireland all
round. The outlook is thus much i'm
proved.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
BEFORE DEATH.
L

How much would l care for it could | know
That when l am under the grass or the snow,
The ravelled garment of life's brief day
Folded and quietly laid away;
The spirit let loose from mortal bars,
And somewhere away among The stars;
How much do you think 1t would matter then
What praise was lavished upon me when
Whatever might be its stint or store,
1t neither could help or harm me more?
In the midst of my toll, had they but thought
To stretch a finger, 1 would have caught
Gladly such aid, 10 bear me through
Some bitter duty / had 10 do;
And when il was done, had l but heard
One breath of applause, one cheering word
One cry of Courage, amid the strife,
She weighed for me with death or life
How would it have nerved my soul 10 strain
Through the whirl of the coming surge again,
What use for the rope if it be not flung
Till the swimmers grasp TO the rock has chung!
What help in a comrades bugle blast,
When the perils of Alpines heights is past:
What need that the squirting pecan roll
When the runner is safe beyond the goal:
What worth its eulogy's blandest breath
When whispered in ears that are hushed in death
No! No! If you have but a word of cheer,
Speak II, while l am alive to hear!
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
a Millionaire's Palace.
Philadelphia Times.

George w. Vanderbilt, the Youngest of
the sons of the late William H. Wander
bilt is determined. in addition to his we'll
known palace in New York, to have the
most magnificent private park and the
lordlest country estate in America. To
that end he has recently bought, at a cost
of $4,000, nearly five thousand acres ly-
ing just outside of this town-a tract of
land fully a third larger than your Fair
mount park, about one third of the acreage
of which lies under the |Schuylkill and the
W~issahiekon. His landscape gardener Is
already laying out and identifying these
extensive grounds at an expense of $780,
600 more. His architect is busy prepar-
ing his plans for a lordly pleasure house,
like an old-style French chateau, which
will cost an additional 800, 600.
His modern stables, which will be scat
tered over the 5000 acres, for the purpose
of housing thousands of horses and cattle
of the very blue of the bluest bovine blood,
will cost, it is said. at least 5000, 900 more.
So you see that the estimated cost already
foots up to the magnificent sum of 81 POO
600. The shortest distance from the state
" entrance gates of the still s~tateller man.
sion of the lord of this vast estate viii be
be four miles by a magnificent roadway
sixty feet wide. and it is said that there
will be more than fifty miles of nacada-
mixed road within the grounds.
There are 1886 inmates of the insane
asylum of the state.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
Army Life is Not an Easy One.
Baltimore American.

The supposition that army life is an
easy n is the civilians delusion. No
occupation on earth is more exacting. The
r%eveille is sounded at daylight, and the
soldier must be up and ready. Between
r%eveille in the morning and taps at $50
at night, he has to attend to the majority
of thirty-three bugle-calls, and he is on his
feet most of the time till retreat at sun
set. The officers are busy at nearly all
times over new military problems. They
are called to mount and manage artillery
that would have struck dire dismay into
armies like those of Caesar, Hannibal or
Alexander. To-day war is a science, re-
curing all the skill of the best navigators,
the best able engineers and finest electric
ians. All the dnown means of defense
and destruction are availed of, even down
to the last electric trump, the telephone.
In future battles the commanding gener-
ais will open the engagements with Hell
To-" to their subordinates. If beaten they
will either say "Good-by!" or reverse the
syllables of ''Hello!"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
AN ABsENT-MINDED YOUNG MAN.
He Made a Bad Move, But Had His Re-
venge.
New York Letter.

New 1OfK LeII6r.
All but n seat in a Fifth e stage
was occupied when a fresh-faced young
girl cot in and settled sweetly into the
vacant space. She found the pocket in
her very stylish skirt, after an assiduous
search of some moments, and then in the
inevitable n of her sex, produced a
TWENTY-FIVE cent piece. No woman, let it
be said. was ever known to possess the re-
quisite fve-cent piece In an omnibus. They
carry quarters for the sole purpose of per-
hitting young gentlemen to get change
for them. This particular maiden CHANGED
to be sitting opposite an exquisite youth
who cuts a brilliant figure in the select
circles of society here, and it was natural
that he should be the one who responded
to the coy glance of her eyes and relieved
her of her awkwark coin. With all the
grace for which he is remarkable, he pass
ed the money up to the driver, and after
waiting the usual time, received the ev-
velope in return. As is the custom In
these cases, he tore open the envelope and
handed the change to the rightful owner.
But then, instead of putting the nickel in
the fare box. he quietly put it in his pocket
and resumed his seat.
Of course no one said a word not ever
the fair maid herself. But every one In
the stage detected the action, and wonder
ed at such a good looking young gentle
man being guilty of such an insignificant
theft. Presently the driver discovered
that a fare was missing from the box. He
Immediately began ringing the bell at a
terrific rate, and the occupants of the stage
smiled in embarrassment at one another.
The pretty girl looked out of the window,
and stole panied and Mortified glances at
the criminal who sat opposite. Suddenly
he realized what he had done. Drops of
cold perspiration started from his brow,
and he grew pale from modification.
Every soul in the stage, including that IN
nocent-eyed girl, believed he was nothing
less than an elegant burglar. One sharp
featured woman remarked to her equally
sharp-featured friend in a whisper loud
enough for everybody to hear.
Hes a thief, Maria.
The young man looked quietly up at the
speaker. Then drawing a g bill from a
large roll he took from his waistcoat
pocket, he passed it up to the driver. An
envelope came back. Opening it he Sc
lected a fve-cent piece from a handful Of
coin and dropped it into the box. Then
turning to The sharp-faced woman who
had called him a thief, he said:
Madam. | think | was absent minded
enough a moment ago to put into my
pocket the bill you gave me to pay your
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
Failed in Their PuruOse.

AUSTIN, Tex, Jan. 10.-Two masked
robbers held up the San Marco stage We'd
nesday night thirteen miles from Blanoo.
The robber who had his pistol on the driver
turned his head for a moment, when the
driver suddenly lashed his horses at the
same time pulled his pistol and began
firing. A regular pistol duel followed.
The bullets struck he drivers clothes, bot
he was soon out Of range, He believes he
hit one of the robbers. Just before the
shooting one robber had ordered the driver
to hand out the mail sacks. The shooting
saved the mail. A purse will be given to
the driver.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
1t VIII Ever Be Thus.

A citizen Of Harlem who. was approach
ing the railroad depot, followed by a dog,
halted and picked up a stone, says the New
York Sun. and flung it at the canine, with
the exclamation:
"You good-for-nothing cur, but I'd like
to knock your head off,
Just then a man came down a side
street, followed by a second dog, and halt
ed to say:
I've got another just such cur here.
He is not worth his weight in soap
grease"
TN poison mine this very night.
And I'm going to throw mine under
the locomotive"
Say" said the second man after a mo-
ment' thought, 'call your cur UP here and
let get EN- 70 fighting"
Good idea! Here, Jep-Jep-Jer
Come here, doggie!'
The dog cautiously approached, and a
the two animals began growing and walk
ing around each other after a sudden
''Stubov!" brought a climax, and they be-
gan fighting. Both men laughed, but it
wasn't a minute before the first man,
whose dog was underneath, kicked the dog
on top.
Hold on, now. Give my dog a fair
show!" shouted the other.
He's the biggest
No he amt! Don't kick my dog
again!'
0"I'vea good mind to kick his owner!"
I'D like to see you try it,
81 can do it,
You're a Iiar!'
And with that they began whaling away
at each other with great vigor, ending
after five minutes in "a draw. Meanwhile
the dogs had quit and disappeared.
Il will allow no one to kick my dog!'
gasped one as he wiped his bloody nose.
And no living man can call me a liarl'
growled the other, as he held his black
eye.
I'll see you again."
.sAnd III see vnnI'
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
BLOODSHED PREVENTED.
Three Families of Striking Miners Evicted
in Pennsylvania.

PUNxsTUAwNEY, Jan. 10.-Three fam
lies of striking miners were eVicted today.
There was considerable excitement but no
violence. After the sheriff, accompanied
by thirty-three Pinkertons armed with
Winchesters, had thrown out an Italian
family, about three hundred of their coun-
trymen collected and began yelling and
firing into the air. Two hundred shots
were fired, and they were getting more
excited as the music of their
revolvers increased. Master Workman
Wilson arrived ON the scene just at this
time and went among them and told them
they must keep quiet and not break the
peace or they would ruin their cause. Mr..
Wilson says it is his sincere conviction
that had he not happened on the scene
when he did, there would have been one of
the bloodiest riots ever seen in this coun-
try
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
HOME AND GARDEN
STRUCK AN OPENING TO-DAY.
BY Clinton COLLINS.

Come. Freddy, boy, it's only a mile,
Only mile in the wind and the snow, /.
Tired and half-starved this long, long while,
But courage and pluck, boy, let u go.
What matters hard luck after its by:
just struck an opening in the hard wall;
Behind the dark clouds there Is always blue sky,
With hope in the neart, we'll overcome all.
Poor wife at home, she waits us both,
No food in the house. oh, cruel to say:
What need of food when there's hope in the heart
Struck an opening at last, this cold, cold day.
Come, Freddy, on so cold and thin;
Only a short way now-don fail:
With a cleft in the rock to put your hand IN,
1t is an easier matter, then, to scale.
Long months Of want, of dread and despair,
VIII soon fade out and vanish away;
With a chance at hand to get a start,
Dark night will mellow into brighter day.
Well, Freddy, here We are safe. Come in,
Wife, dear, luck at last, an opening to-day
With a crack in the wall to put my toes IN,
I'll climb high enough TO drive want away.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16

vhas all mixed oop und can't find his way
back"
All. Didn't You lose a coat, too?"
Yes. 1t vhas behind der door, und
somepody takes coat und money too
Come this way"
He led him into the lookup. halted him
at one of the cells, and asked him if he
knew the occupant.
Why, he was my traineri'' exclaimed
Mr.. Dunder. How he comes in here?
Was he some lost child?"
He got your coat and money. We
have the coat and most of the cash. How
do you tell a thief, Mr.. Dunder?''
But NJ. Dunder didn't reply. His hair
stood up, his eyes bulged out, and he
walked out of the station like a man going
somewhere in a nightmare.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16

The marriage of Talleyrand was a queer
one. Talleyrand, although an eldest son,
had taken holy orders, on account of his
lameness, as it was said, and wholly with
out vocation to the priesthood, and had
been made bishop of Autun When he
came back from America, he was followed
by a Mrs. Grant, who had been his mis-
tress during his exile, and with whom he
lived publicly In Paris. This shocked the
sensitive morality of the First Consul, and
he insisted that a marriage should sane
ton the connection. Talleyrand did not
wish to be married, but he did wish to
keep his place as Minister of Foreign
Affairs and to avoid a quarrel with the
head of the state. A dispensation was
therefore obtained from Pope Plus the Sew
enth, and the wedding was celebrated both
civilly and in church. Nine. de Talleyrand
had the name Of being as stupid as she
was handsome, and her husband took a
manly pleasure in leading her OF to
the commission of the most amazing
blunders for the amusement of their guests.
One day, for instance, when Demon, one of
the savants whom Bonaparte had taken In
ais train on the expedition to Egypt, was
to dine with them, Talleyrand told his
wife that he was a traveller of note, whose
last book he would give her to read. At
dinner, Demon was at first delighted by
the accuracy and discrimination of the
compliments which Nine. de ~Talleyrand
paid him, but she soon gave such feelings
pause by saying: "And that good fellow,
Friday-what a comfort he must have been
to youl' TaIleyrand had given her ''Rob-
inson Crusoe" to read.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16

describes it: "A little particle of apparent
ly homogeneous jelly, changing itself into
a greater variety of forms than the tabled
Protens, laying hold of It's food without
members. swallowing it without a mouth,
digesting it without a stomach, moving
from place to place without muscles, and
feeling without nerves.
Prof. l.. Lesquereux has determined for
the museum of Brown university the
names of % species of fossil ferns from the
coal measures of Rhode Island, chiefly
Pawtucket.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
Roman Plumbers.
iii see you again!
And I'll see you!'

Roman plumbers were either a little
more particular than their brethren of the
present era or the authorities compelled a
detail that would be now undreamed of
with our short-lived water pipes. The
commission in charge of the Improvement
Quantities OF lead water pipe, each plainly
stamped with the name of the owner of the
house, the year of the plumbing, the name
of the consuls for that year, and that Of
the reigning emperor. Inopening eighty
two miles Of new streets In that city ma
terial has been found sufficient to add to
our present knowledge 1000 details con-
corning the baths, heating fues, water
s ptPeS' o fii fba noiice and f RrPVi brin nsd el etc
Engineering News
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16

fare from. I beg your pardon and here
is your change complete, | assure you,
though coming a little late IN the day"
With these words he let the money fall
into the astonished woman's lap. and
hastily left the stage. He had fully vim
dicated himself, and the sweet maid. who
had been the innocent cause of the entire
situation, watched him out of sight with
admiring eyes.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16

Mrs. K. North of Sparta, suicided by
throwing herself head foremost into a
Darrell Of water.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16

Itwould be hard to cite a nobler story
than that of the career Of Marie Therese,
the French Sister of Mercy, who has just
received the Cross of the Legion of Honor
at the hands of the Governor of Tonquin-
This devoted woman was only 20 years of
age when she received the first wound In
the trenches as Baiaclava. She was
wounded again in the battle Of Magenta
Later, with undaunted energy and courage
she" pursued her chosen mission under her
country's fay In Spria, China and Mexico
From the battlefield of Worth she was
carried away suffering from serious iu-
%juries, and before she had recovered she
was again performing her duties. On
one occasion a grenade fell into her am
bulance; she seized ane ran with it for a
hundred yards, whereby her patients
lives were saved, though she herself was
severely injured by the bursting of the
missile. The French troops, who were
called out to witness the unnsal scene of
the bestowal of this honor upon a woman,
presented arms to the heroine of the
ceremony. Well might the Governor ask
whether there was a living man more de-
serving of the cross than 1.-THE wounded
soldiers sister, mother and most devoted
nurse"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16
AFRICAN PALM OIL.
A Big Industry of the West Coast of the
Dark Continent.


An interesting report comes from the
| governor of the Gold Cost on the palm on
industry of the west coast of Africa, says
the Kew Bulletin. In cultivating the
palm ripe nuts are scattered over the
ground we'll raked and are then covered
lightly with earth. The planting takes
place IN the rainy season. When the young
shoots have grown about a foot they are
carefully removed in the evening and
tranSplanted at least fifteen feet apart.
The tree grows luxuriantly and bears most
~abundantly at a height of ten feet to twelve
feet In damp, semi-marshy soil. The sup
ply of nuts fit for use is biennial and the
most abundant supply of commercial oil is
obtained from the nuts during the rainy
reason. The lunches of nuts are cut down
and placed In a heap in the air, where they
remain for a week or ten days. The
joints of the nuts are thus weakened by de
composition and they can be detached by
simply beating them against any sub
stance.
When the nuts are collected those with
a hard, unyielding pulp are placed in a
hole about four feet deep, which is lined
with plantain leaves, and with palm leaves,
and earth. They are allowed to remain
for periods varying between three weeks
and three months, until a certain decom-
position has taken place, so that when re-
moved the pulp is soft and appears as if it
had been boiled. The nuts are now put in
a trough made by digging a hole in the
ground and paving it with rough stones.
Here they are pounded with wooden pest
DIES until the pulp is teremoved from the
surface of the hard nut. The whole is
then removed from the trough, put in a
heap, and the stones taken out, leaving the
oily fbrous pulp, which is put into a small
quantity OF water, under a good fire, and
well stirred until the oil begins to melt
out. The pulp is then put into a rough
net, opened at both ends, to which are at
tached two or three short sticks, by burn
ing which in opposite directions the oil is
squeezed out. The longer the nuts are
under ground the thicker the oil and the
worse the quality. This alone accounts
for the different qualities of oil exported
from different places along the coast.
Other methods are employed to produce
the oil for home consumption, but that
here described is the mode usual in the
production of the palm oil of commerce..
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16

There are 1886 inmates of the insane
asylum of the state.