davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
CARE OF WATCHES.
The Manner in Which a Pocket Timepiece
Should Be Handled.
A watch, ever of very good quality,

A watch, even of very good quality,
can only give satisfaction if it is treat
ed according to its subtle construction,
says the american An0lyst. It's pos
SCISSOR must prevent it from falling or
being knocked about. A Jump from a
street-car has more than once caused a
good timepiece in the jumpers pocket
to change its rate. A watch must be
articles of the pocket lining gather
continuously in the pockets, and even
the best-titting case can not protect the
movement from dirt finding its way to
the wheels and pivots of the move
ment. Watch-pockets should be turned
inside out and cleaned at regular in
tervals. A watch ought to be wound
up regularly at about the same hour
every day. The best time to do it is in
the morning. for two reasons. First,
because the hours of rising are more
regular than the hours of disrobing and
retiring. Second, because the full
power of the handspring is more likely
to reduce to a minimum the irregulari-
ties caused by the movements of the
owner during the day. When not car
ried in the pocket a watch should al
ways hang by its ring in the same po-
sition that it is worn. As a rule
watches will run with a different ate
when laid down. Only high-grade
watches are adjusted to position and
will only show a few seconds diff
ference in twenty-four hours, while
common watches may be out of time
several minutes in III night.
Ladies often complain that their
watches do not run regularly. This
may be on account of smaller size and
more difficult regulating, but the main
reason for the faulty rate is to be found
in the fact that ladies do not always
carry their watches and consequently
often forget to wind them. Never
leave a hunting-case watch open dur
ing a considerable length of time. A
careful observer will find in the morn
ing a layer of dust on the crystal of a
watch that has been open during the
night. The dust will find its way into
the movement. The dust on the out
side of the case will be unconSciously
rubbed off by the wearer, but when the
watch is closed the dust inside of the
case must remain there. A watch
ought to be cleaned every two, or at
the utmost three, years if it is not to be
spoiled. The oil will change. 1t will
become thickened by the dust that can
not be kept out of the best closing
case. The dust will work like emery
aud grind the surfaces of the pivots of
the train. The best of movement will
be spoiled if this requirement is neg
lected. Even after being cleaned and
put in order they will not recover their
exactness. Many times it has been OBJ
served that a watch ran we'll for years,
and that it was unreliable after having
been cleaned. The reason is to be
found in the fact the pivots and their
thick oil fit the jewel holes, and the
cleaned pivots and their clean oil do
not fit the same Jewels.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
Wonderful Toys.

A recent letter from Paris describes
some of the remarkable mechanical
toys that were seen at the recent great
exposition:
There is a gorgeous peacock, which
not only walks with nodding crest and
stately steps across a stage, but ex-
pands its broad, m~any-eyed tail in the
most natural manner.
A small dog next dashes forth, barks
%furiously, then, rs if recognizing his
master, wags his tail and frisks about,
so true to life that one can scarce be-
lieve he is an automation.
A rabbit-a very lifelike little bunny
then m out of his warren, pricks
up his long, soft ears, stares timidly
about for a few moments, and hops
rapidly away.
Afterward a monkey drops down
from his perch and performs a variety
of amusing antics, which invariably set
the children shouting with laughter.
But the most attractive toy in the ex-
hibit appears to be a fat Chinaman,
which is in reality a huge top. His
large, round hat seems to be another
top, a top atop of IA top. The hat
turns around upon the Chinaman's
head, while the Chinaman himself turns
slowly around, and presently unfolding
his large, g~ayly-colored fan, with
which he fans himself in a most
languid but ~aristocratic manner
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
Passages in the Life of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was born in Italy, of
fine old Scotch-Irish parentage. Early
in life he developed a fondness for the
classics and could speak Latin before
he was ten years old.
When Caesar had finished his military
education he was sent to Gaul to fight
the Indians, and conquered the country
so easily that a member of his staff one
day made the remark that General
Caesar had more Gaul than a Chicago
drummer" The man who was re-
sponsible for this effort at wit received
an extra allowance of thard tack'' and
canned salmon for a month. While in
Gaul Caesar distinguished himself by
building q toll-bridge over the Rhine,
out of which he made a large fortune.
For this he received a gold medal from
an association of German brewers.
This bridge was such an extraordinary
structure that floods and overfioWs
simply made it stronger, and it would
often be washed ten miles down stream
without receiving the slightest damage,
after which it would be hauled back by
oxen
Caesar once met with a curious mis-
hap or the Adriatic sea. AS a ferra-
man was taking him over hat noble
sheet of water, a storm suddenly arose,
and Caesar remarked to the boatman,
Fear nothing; you carry Cesar and
his fortunes" whereupon the boatman
quickly drew an old Colts army pistol,
and, pointing it at his interloctor, OBJ
served: 81 thought from the start you
had some Doodle, and now that you
have confessed it, shell out, and be quick
about it!n Caesar saw that the man had
the drop on him, so he calmly gave
him all the money he had, which
amounted to about $3.50.
Caesar came to his death in a curious
way. He and Brutus made a bet as to
which could eat a greater number of
watermelons within a given space of
time. When the contest had proceeded
but a few minutes, Brutus asked from
across the room, How many have you
eaten?" and Caesar replied, Eat two,
Brutus oon saw that he was beaten,
and, springing to his feet, he stabbed
Caesar to DEATH. A. Macon, IN N. 7.
Mercury.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
The Game of Information.

The newest game for winter evenings
takes the form of an information party,
and is begun by passing to each boy a
card and to the girls small pieces of
paper, which should be numbered from
one up to the number of girls in the
game. The boys then write a number
on their cards, and those who discover
the same number on their card and pa
per are partners for the game.
Each couple must think of a ques-
ton, sensible or ridiculous, historical
or in regard to the weather, or be
written on the cards, after which the
cards are to be gathered together, and
the leader reads each in turn, giving a
few moments for the partners to con-
slider the subject and write the an
Swer, which should be read aloud in
turn.
This is where the fun of the game be-
gins, as many of the answers are ex-
ceedingly queer.
Those having a correct answer mark
their card 10; a wrong answer o.; and if
the answer is anywhere hear right it is
counted 5. When all are added, prizes
may be distributed as in progressive
games for the best and the poorest
record.
This is an amusing game because of
the misinformation it ELECTS. A great
many people will be surprised at their
own ignorance in regard to such ques-
tions as to the number of States and
Territories, the location of cities in
Europe, the names of well-known rul-
ers, and so forth.
Of course it is not fair to ask for ex-
act dates in history, but outside of that,
there is plenty of chance to trip some
body who thinks he knows it ALL
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09

up Nantes dolls-one IS Mr.. Merle
and the other is Aunt Alice. Leta
writes letters from one to the other
Aunt Alice makes love to Mr.. Merle,
and he pokes fun at her."
"Are these children, or fiends incar-
nate?" moaned Miss Alice, sinking into
a chair.
Il mean the dolls" explained Archie.
"You needn't get mad, as its not true y
ut is all false!" exclaimed his aunt.
''That wicked girl has contaminated
her brother and he tells lies for her."
Don't you call me a liari" roared
Archie. III get the letters; we always
keep them in the cabinet. There's
stories and verses, too; Leta writes lots
of 'em."
Mother, don't let himI' sobbed
Leta. I'D rather say anything that
aunt likes"
Il will" repeated Archie.
The boy ran off, and Leta buried her
tear-stained face in her hands.
Mr.. Merle regarded discounted Miss
Alice with such undisguised triumph
that her temper rose again.
Back came Archie with a wooden box,
which he threw open, displaying two
dolls-one dressed as a man, the other
in feminine attire.
They were such absurd ~caricatures
hat Horace Merle burst out laughing.
Leta, in spite of her distress, was
shaking with laughter, and Mrs. Jor-
den laughed and cried at once.
Marian said her sis~ter-in-law
menacingly, 'beware lest your hus,
bands spirit curse you for abetting your
children in their sins!'
She rushed from the room, packed
her trunks, and left the house by the
next train.
She believed by this step she should
most severely punish her sister-in-law.
But Miss Alice's retreat proved a sad
blunder, for Merle took advantage OF
her departure to exercise his influence
with the widow, while the boys declared
that if Aunt Alice came back they
would run away.
1t was not many weeks before Horace
Merle found he had fallen in love with
the exquisite child-woman.
Leta returned his affection, and the
W~edding-day was set for her seven
teenth birthday.
By the time Miss Alice came down
from her stills and condescended to
forgive her relatives, Mrs. Jorden was
so emancipated from her control that
she wrote her, frankly, she intended
hereafter to be mistress of her own
household.
So Miss Alice finally settled down in
to the sour, grabbed old maid for which
she was intended by nature.
But Leta, with her noble husband by
her side, and bright children growing
up around her, is happy as the day is
long.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
The VernacuIar Art in the West.

1 believe / am justified in stating
that what, for the want of a more con-
~venient name, | have called the YER
nacular art of the WeSt-that which ac-
companies the first advances of civil
lization into the new lands, and fingers
long after the successful establishment
of all the institutions of civil order and
prosperity-will not be recognized in
the future history of American architec-
ture; much less, that it will be stigma
TIED as a ~reproach. In fact, it is mere
ly preliminary to architecture, though
for the moment it pretends to be the
real thing. 1t is evidently a hasty
for IN enterprising people, too busy
with the practical problems of life and
the absorbing question of daily bread to
have established ideals of art, or to
have deliberately formulated in build
ing an adequate expression of their
civilization. 1t is an art whose essential
characteristics have been derived from
expediency,-an art which has been
mainly concerned with mechanical de-
vices for quick and economical build
ing. These devices have been invented
by practical men to meet practical
wants in a practical way. When freed
from the misleading adornments i'm
posed upon them by ignorance and
pretense; from shams of wood, gall
yanized iron, machine-ma6e mould
ings, and all the other delusive rubbish
of cheap deceit, which have no con-
nection whatever with tho structure.
these practical devices will develop
style. Until these quips and cranks of
undisciplined imaginations shall have
shabbily descended into their inevitable
oblivion, and have been replaced by
methods of decoration developed out of
the construction according to the spirit
of precedents furnished by the best
eras of art which remain to US for our
delight and instruction, deliberate and
permanent architecture will not come
into existence.
Upon this simple proposition rests
the hope of architecture in the Vest
atlantic.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09

the color Of the eye indicates in no in
stance any moral characteristic.
The lids are pregnant with meaning.
In the vacant-minded. the vulgar, they
are wide; in the cunning. close.
In the religious fanatic and prayerful
the "white of the eyen shows above the
lower lid; in the naughty, more of the
upper eye.
Byron, the prince of roues, had mex
pressibly beautiful brown eye Burr,
Americas most unprincipled and ire
sistibly fascinating ibertine, had very
dark eyes.
\ rather staight brow on the inner
half belongs to trapeze performers, sue
cessful stockmen and equestrians. This
indicates judgment of size, distance,
form, weight and muscular control.
The lids and brows are responsible
for the apparent change in size, and
the different moods affect the intensity
and luminosity, but never the color.
This is an undisputed fact among
Psychologists.
Arched thin eyebrows indicate the
artistic temperament, love of color and
orderly arrangement. Who ever saw a
slovenly housekeeper with a high arched
brow or a straight brow in a successful
painter?
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
Rare Thoughts.

The following excerpts are culled
from a paper read before the teachers
of Iowa, by Supt. Henry Sabin.
The only of greatness is
fidelity to duty.
Many a holy man was converted
while yet in his cradle.
1t is a very excellent thing when a
teacher knows how to use the textbook.
He is the best teacher who enters
most heartily into the everyday life OF
his pupils.
The servant in the parable was con-
demned for what he did not do, not for
what some one else did.
l wish the fences about the school
house were so high that the hobby-rider
could never overleap them.
The pernicious habit of comparing
ourselves and our success with others
is the cause of half the unhappiness the
world knows.
A change is coming over the whole
aspect of the teachers life. 1t is like
the change which m over the sky
just before the dawn.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
Are We Left-Legged.

DR.. w. K. SibIey read a paper before
the British Association in which he
argued that man was naturally left
legged, SAYS the Medical Record. Stand
ing working with the right hand there
is a tendency to balance on the left leg.
Race paths are nearly always made for
running in circles to the right, and the
majority of movements (such as dane
ing, running, etc., were more readily
performed to the right. In walking it
was natural to bear to the right;
crowds as well as individuals did so.
Troops started off with the left foot;
the left foot was placed in the stirrup
or step of the bicycle in mounting; the
left foot was the from which a man
took off in jumping. From measure
ments made by DIR. Carson of the skele-
tons of TWO legs, in 57.3 per cent the
left leg was the longer, and in 1913 the
right. From measurements of 200
pairs of feet, it was found that in A
per cent the left. and in 21.5 the right,
was longer, while in $40 they are
equal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
Ar Ingenious Enumeration.

There is no doubt that in the course
of time work people are going to be a
su%periuity, and that we are all going
to spend our time in play while the ma
chimes wait upon us and perform all
necessary labor. | came across a new
proof of this assertion the other day in
n of the telegraph offices. [ noticed
that a man who received my message
went to Il queer looking machine and
struck some keys, something after the
manner of a typewriter. There imme-
diately flew up in the back. part of the
cOntrivance the number of my tele-
gram, the number of words in it, and
the amount l had paid. My curiosity
being aroused I interviewed the player
of this queer instrument, and he told
me it was a new labor-saving device,
and also a check upon dishonesty which
Norvin Green was trying in their office
and vas about deciding to place in
every telegraph office the Western I'm
ion controls.
1t is an enumerator. Now adding
machines have been known ever since
the invention of the old abacus. but
this enumeration performs the work OF
LdlI d uOAcu CIcIhS. QO0S III Will I'LL
failing accuracy. and is, moreover, so
simple that it can be made for S. or Sc,
while the ordinary adding machine
used in banks fetches anywhere from
$40 to 800. 1t is a double back-action
sort OF an affair. as the telegraph clerk
explained it to me. As it is used in
their work it registers every telegram,
its price and length on a slip, and al
the end of the day registers the whole
number of words dispatched and the
entire sum of money received. In banks
it is used in much the same way in fill
ing the checks and making up the
books at the end of the day.
On touching a key the number and
value of the check are thrown up into
view, at the same moment being reg
istered on the slip, while at the end Of
the list of checks it registers on the
slip the entire amount calculated with
perfect mathematical accuracy. Sc
greatly does it simplify and shorter
the cashiers and bookkeepers' work
that the clearing house the other day
using one of them, cleared off its entire
list in thirty minutes-the same work
usually occupying two hours and &
half and the labor of many clerks
Brooklyn Citizen.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
The Eve in Teaching.

The eye of the teacher has an infiu-
ence that he cannot Over-eStimate. 1t
is of the utmost Importance that he
train himself to look the school ~squarely
in the eve, that he so command a view
of the school hat whenever any child
looks up he may meet the eye of the
teacher. The place for the teacher,
almost invariably, is at his desk with
his face to the school as a whole.
There is rarely any excuse for the
teacher to have his back to any pupil
in the room. In doing blackboard
work he is tempted to stand with his
back to the school, but the occasions
for this are not numerous.
The object in facing the school is not
primarily for the sake of discipline,
though it has this for it's aim second
arily. 1t is largely because the eye is
the most economical force to use in
commanding attention. Attention the
teacher must have; he cannot command
it by any order issued or rule laid
down. 1t must be by the teacher,
and it must be won by the exercise of
some force. The play of the voice is
one of the forces, but this requires
energy of mind, expenditure of nerve
force. Physical activity may secure it,
as may personality in physical sympa-
thy; but these are naturally exhaustive.
Keenness of intellect, brightness of wit
may hold the attention, but this a cor
slant draft in its way. While the
teacher needs, by way of variety, all of
these resources, that which is the most
economical is the eye. The teacher
a put more life, energy. and person
atty into the eye with less draft upon
intellect or nerve force than in any
other way. 1t is a study to know how
to do it. 1t is high art to do it. Great
skill is required, but it pays a hundred
fold.-J0MrnaL of EdMc0tiOn.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
A Good Story of a Famous Book.

A number of book-men were relat-
ing professional anecdotes the other
night. says the Philadelphia Press.
about twenty years ago" said one
of them, Il was employed with the
L%ippincotts. Thomas Hughes was at
that time being lionized very exten-
sively. and when he anne down to
Philadelphia of course he came to see
the great publishing house, and was
shown all over.
'.After he had inspected the whole
establishment and expressed his SUI
prise and qualification the head of the
house took him by the arm and said:
"'Now. Nh. Hughes, | want to show
you one of our greatest publications
Allibone's Dictionary. 1t contains the
name of and some information about
every author of any account in En-
gland and America. Now let US see,
for example, what it says about Thomas
Hughes
SO he turned to H., and, 10! the
name of the author of Tom Browns
Schooldays' wasn't there. 1t is one OF
the oldest condolences | know of, that
the only serious omission in this great
work should have been discovered in
this accidental way
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
Proverbs About Storms.

When oXen or sheep collect together
as if they were seeking shelter, a storm
may be expected.
Domestic animals stand with their
heads from the coming storm.
Foxes barking at night indicates a
storm.
Peafowl utter loud cries before a
storm, and select a low perch.
Wild geese flying over il great mum
bers indicate approaching storm.
When a heavy cloud up in the
southwest and seems to settle back,
again, look on for a storm.
Red clouds at sunrise indicate storm.
A long strip of clouds called a Sal
mon or Noah's Ark, stretching east and
west, is a sign of stormy weather, but
when it extends north and south, it is a
sign of dry weather
North and south the sign of drought.
East and west the sign of blast.
If the clouds be of different heights,
the sky being grayish or dirty blue,
with hardly any wind stirring, the wind
however, changing from west to south,
or sometimes to southeast, without per-
ceptibly increasing in force, expect
storm.
The aurora, when very bright, indi-
Gates approaching storm.
Goals becoming alternately bright
and dim indicate approaching storms.
Fire always burns brighter and
throws out more heat just before a
storm; and is hotter during a s'orm.
1t is said that blacksmiths select a
stormy day in which to perform work
that requires extra heat.
SCOT burning on backof chimney in
dicateS storm.
Distant sounds heard with distinct
ness during the day indicate rain.
Sound travelling far and wide
A stormy day will betide.'
The weather usually moderates be-
fore a storm.-BoStOn J0urmaL.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
The New Hand.

The express had been stopped.
sFWhat's the matterp" asked the con-
ductor, hurrying forward.
"There's a tramp asleep on the track
ahead there" said the fiagman.
well, why in thunder didn't you
wake him upP"
He said he was tired, and | thought
it only c~onsiderate to let the poor fell
low Sleep
"Well, I'll be-what's your name,
anyhow asked the conductor.
'Little Lord Fauntleroy," was the
innocent answer; and then the con-
ductor saw how it was.-Puck.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
Lassoing at Atlanta.

The lassoing fever has taken Atlanta.
The other day two of the larger boys
in a well-known family of five boys
lassoed the youngest and began drag
ging him around. The slip-knot tight
ened on his throat and he was unable
to yell, and when released was
almost unable to breathe. AS the
milkman was delivering milk at
another house last week he was sur
prised to see a coil of rope gracefully
slip out of an upper window and settle
about his shoulders. Before he could
dislodge it it frightened and he was q
prisoner to unseen captors.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
Told by the Eye.

Gray eyes do not indicate intellect.
uality any more than eyes of any other
color.
Deep, close set, little eyes of any
color indicate temper, selfshness and
ignorance.
Negroes of all degrees of morality
have dark eyes; so Indians, good or bad
so other races.
1t is probable that thin eyebrows dc
not indicate deceit. or heavy brows
honesty, as many think.
Wholly contrary to popular belief,