davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
BENEFITS OF A CIRCUS TICKET.


sse : to Boy.
When Captain Alva Bradley was
twenty years old he heard of circus
at Elyria and determined to go, says
the Cleveland Plaindealer. Money
was scarce, but the temptation was so
very strong that young Alva de-
termined to go if he had to walk all
the way. He went by tie pass, but
when he reached his Mecca he found
the admission to be so cents, and he
had %. He was too big to be admit
ted as boy and too proud to sneak
his way in, so he stood outside discon-
solately and looked at the flaming post
ers Drodigally displayed about the
grounds. While walking aimlessly
about he was found by an old farmer,
a neighbor of his at home.
We'll, Alvy, MY boy" said the
farmer ''ain't you going imp
Mop" he answered Il just came
to look at the pictures.
But the old man was lonesome and
wanted company and On that plea
succeeded in inducing the young man
to enter the enchanted place So
"Alvy'' saw the show and carried his
quarter back home with him.
Long afterward, one winter even
ing when the boy Alva had grown to
be wealthy shipping merchant he
sat in his study in deep conversation
with Captain Stone. The door bell
rang and the servant admitted to their
presence an old, white haired, stoop-
shouldered man.
Il wanted to see any boy Alvy once
again" be began, but you don't
know me, do you, boy; you don't re-
member the old man who took you to
the circus once?"
The tears came to the captains eyes
as he recognized in the aged man the
kind benefactor of his youth. He ex-
tended to him a cordial welcome, and
they sat together all the evening re-
viewing the years since last they met,
for fortune had not been kind to the
old man; his home had been removed
to the far west and he had found it a
hard struggle to get the necessaries Of
life. AS he was about to leave an en-
velope was thrust into his hands and
he heard the words in the captains
trembling voice, Here's the money
you took me to the circus with when |
was a boy, and a little more as inter-
est which it has gathered all these
years"
The old man was overcome with sur
prise and could not express his thanks,
but when he reached home he opened
the paper and found 1t contained a
check for 5000 cents for the circus
ticket and the rest for interest.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
4 ClRieftain,s Oath.

The Gaelic chieftains oath before
going into battle has been discovered
in an Irish text of the second century
and deciphered as follows: The
heavens are above us, the land below
rs. the ocean around us-everything
in circle about us. If the heavens
do not fall, casting from their high
fortresses the stars like rain on the
face of the earth, if shocks from
within do not shatter the land itself.
if the ocean from its blue solitudes
does not rise up ever the brows of all
living things, |, by victory in war, by
com bats and battles, will bring back
to the stable and the fold the cattle
and to the house and to their dwell
ing5 the women that have been stolen
by the enemy.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
In Africa.

A clergyman's wife now in the
Transvaal writes this: 1T seems
strange to think Of what is going on
in this bustling city of 10000 people
(Jehannesburg), where five years ago
were only a few scattered farm houses.
Tonight there are fourteen prayer
meetings in various churches, five or
six missionary meetings congrega-
tional bazaar, d grand temperance
rally. lenten services in the high
church and Catholic cathedral a skat-
ing ring entertainment at which one
of the novelties will be a race between
native boys who never put on skates
before, a rendering of passion music
in Music Hall, the Jubilee Singers
concert and many theatrical perfor-
mances
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12

pugnacious. When placed on the
trail of q man the bloodhound will
stick to it under circumstances OF al
most incredible difficulty, bat when
the quarry is run down will not at
tempt to attack, but will give tongue
until the hunters arrive. The fact
that these dogs were put on the trail
of the Nhitechapel murderer in the
most thickly populated section of the
east end of London, and that they at
tackled no one, should prove to all that
they are not the ferocious brutes that
they are commonly supposed to be.
The following description applies to
the true bloodhound and it will be
seen that there are few points OF like
ness to his Cuban namesake: The
head is the chief characteristic OF the
breed, lie skull is very long, often as
much as eleven inches in length, mar
row, and very much peaked. The
muzzle is deep and square, the ears
long, very thin, pendulous and set
very low, hanging close to the face
and curled upon themselves. The
eyes are hazel in color, deep set and
with triangular lids. The neck is
long with a great quantity of loose
skin forming the dewlap. The dogs
are from twenty-five to twenty seven
inches in height at the shoulder. The
color is usually black and tan, but
some animals are fecked with white
on the back, giving them the appear
ance of having been out in snow
storm.
The bloodhound is exceedingly pow
erful, but as gentle as lapaog and al
most as intelligent as collie. Its
wonderful scent far surpasses that Of
any other member of the canine
family. No foxhOund can compete
with it in this respect. To track men
or animals through a country not
thickly populated is an easy task to
the bloodhound. Once put on a trail
it will stick to that particular one, al
though hundreds may cross it. The
tests made in London during the ex-
element incident to the Whitechapel
murders were simply marvellous. The
dogs would hunt the clean boot for
miles through the most frequented
thOroughfares and scarcely ever hest
tated as to the trail.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
Three Generations,

There is little lad of ten years liv-
ing in New York City whose father
has long passed the three-score- and
ten milestone in his life, and whose
grandfather was present at Braddock's
defeat where George Washington first
distinguished himself. The grand
father was mere boy of some four
teen years, though hardy and well
grown, when he received the kings
commission and donned the red coat
of soldier. Afterward he held high
rank in the army of the revolution,
and died in this city at the ripe age of
ninety three. In his old age he mar
ried a second wife, and left a SIN who
had not yet reached his majority, and
who in turn married very late in life.
If the little lad of ten lives to his
father s age the three generations of
this family will have spanned 200
years in this country's history, and he
will be able to say at seventy-two:
MY grandfather fought with Brad
dock and at the side of Washington
200 yenrs ago to-day.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
Knitting in Mexico.

At Monterey. Mexico some Phila-
delphia capitalists, and not very large
capitalists either, started a knitting
factory about year ago. They got a
concession from the governor of the
state providing that they should be
the only knitting factory in it for
twenty-five years, and they are now
turning out 200 dozen pairs Of stock
ings per Gay. The duty on stockings
is so great that they can sell at a high
profit. They use Mexican girls to work
their machines and they are making
lots of money.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
SHE STOPPED.
NJ s. Jenkyns Found That She Co u1dn'i
Stay Longer.

Stay Longer.
She was a mild hammered little wo-
man and she let Mrs. Jenkyns, the
gossip, ramble along with her string
of scandalous stories. although she
did not encourage their recital by word
or look She even betrayed no sur
prise when Mrs. Jenkyns told her that
she had been informed by an intimate
friend that the little wOman's husband
was extremely attentive to THAT ter
rible firt Miss Brown" Nor did she
display any jealousy when she was
further informed that Mrs. Jenkyns
had accidentally learned that he had
been seen at the theater several times
with Miss Brown. She simply smiled
sweetiy and said:
"a woman doesn't like to hear such
stories about her husband, does she?"
No, indeed, responded Mrs. Jen-
kyns with emphasis.
ESPECIALLY" continued the little
her husband"
That makes it so much harder to
bear" said Mrs. Jenkyns. Il should
take pains to have it stopped. -
..Of course. OF course" said the
little woman pleasantly, and moment
later she changed the subject by ask
ing in her quiet way: do you keep
a calling list?"
"Oh, yes; have to, J." said the gossip,
"and it, SO hard to keep up"
The little woman got q book out Of
her dainty little writing desk.
Il have quite system for mine, e"
she said. Perhaps you'd like to
study it. See; there are the AS and
there the Bs" She turned rapidly
over to the Us. when any one
calls On me l put little dash af-
ter the name. and when l return the
call put cross after that l can
open it at any name and know whether
/ owe call or whether call is owed
me. Now there is your name. l
haven't had time to make the proper
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
,Fhe Depth of Misery.

The logger in an English canal
tunnel has a hard time OF it, SAYS a
traveller. Il went through two canal
tunnels last summer The tunnels are
just the width of one of the small
barges used, and but very little higher
than the board which runs from the
alleged cabin to the tow-line pole AS
it is impossible for horse to tow the
barge the animal is led around or
over the hill, and logger lies on his
back on the board referred to, and,
raising his legs from his hips. pushes
the boat along by pressing on the
dilapidated roof of the tunnel As
sat and watched the man in this I'M
natural position l felt the depth of
human misery had been discovered at
last. The work is arduous, the light
very bad, the atmosphere almost fetid,
the labor degrading, and the effect al
most equivalent to making a man
cripple. Yet the most the logger
can make is Is cents a day, and when
traffic is light or there is ice on the
canal ne makes little or nothing. The
old jail treadmill was bad enough in
all conscience but this is thousand
times worse"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
Should Re a Linguist.

An Alpine climber has just express
ed the opinion that knowledge of
several languages is very desirable for
a mountaineer. He says that while
ascending a mountain recently the
linguists IN the party were somewhat
annoyed by the others who could not
understand the guides French. 1t
was often necessary to carry out The
guides instructions at once. What
does he say?' the men of a single
tongue would ask. The linguist says
his answer generally was: He tells
you to kick your toes into the snow
like the devil"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
WINNING A BRIDE.
What Tribe of Cannibals Decree as the
Price.

On the lower Amazon dwell the
cannibal Rutocudos who distort their
features with the biggest ornaments
of a certain kind known. In baby
hood both men and women have their
lower lips and the lobes of their ears
pierced with holes, in which are thrust
pieces Of wood. AS they grow older
these wooden adornments are made
bigger and bigger until an adult ordin-
arily has ear lObes that hang down to
the shoulders and a lip that pro ects
six inches or more beyond the nose.
One must suffer to be beautiful, ;s the
French say, and such is the memorable
fashion among those anthropophagi.
In that country young man who de-
sires to take wife must first submit
himself to a frlghtful ordeal. He
draws over each arm up to the
shoulder a loose armlet woven of
palm leaves.
Then, under supervision by his
elders he plunges both arms as far as
he can into nest of fo"ce devouring
ants. The insects at once attack the
intruder, of course, ard ac-.,"dlng to
the terms of the trial un must stand
without moving for an hour submit
ting with absolute stOicism to the bites
of the enraged creatures. Ii he en-
dures the test he is eutitled to the
bride, otherwise he must wait for a
year and then undergo it again.
There are still tribes descended from
the ancient Incas which bandage the
heads of their children so that they
assume conical form. Funnily enough
the brain does not seem to suffer any
hurry from this treatment. -Phila
Press.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
SHABBY GRANDEUR.
Small and lll-K-p London Houses of the
Br4ti~h Nobility,

Small and Ill-Kap London Houses of the
Br!ti>h Nobility.
Americans who visit London for the
first time are always filed with aston
lshmenT Says the Illustrated Ameri-
cam al the very often insignia cant
houses occupied by personages OF high
rank. Among the Americans received
by Her Grace of Manchester, much
amazement is excited by the state Of
her establishment and surroundings.
1t is small and shabby As with so
many English houses, the dining-room
Is on the basement floor The furni-
ture is faded and worn to degree,
with forlorn dotted Swiss curtains at
smoke most OF the time and full
enough of holes to make frst-class
sifters. Upstairs, in the drawing
rooms it is much the same Dingy
carpets, dusty hangings. with thread
bare patches on old brocades, aud a
general air Of being used up. Oh
course, al about are objects of great
value and beauty, rare pictures, pieces
of rich tapestry and priceless porce-
lains, and on tables of Eastern work
manship stand gold vinaigrettes stud
ded with big .ewels, picture frames
set with brilliants. and so on. The
fact is, that only Americans and few
fabulously wealthy mobiles can afford
great town houses. AS with the Man
cheste"s, it requires every cent they
can raise to support country proper
ties that aIter all, are the ones En-
glish people really care about. They
all entertain, more or less, a contempt
for the city, abuse it, barely stop long
enough for the season. and on every
excuse are off to the continent or en-
PERTAINING or being entertained al
castle or manor.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
THE TACKEY.
Means of Defense Used Against o..
triches.

Means of Defense Used Against Os
triches.
When the birds are savage, or quei
as the Dutch call it they become very
aggressive, and it is impossible to walk
about the camps unless armed with q
weapon OF defense called tackey.
This is long and stout branch of
mlmosa, with the thorns all left on at
the end. 1T seems but a feeble pro-
tec1on against foe who, with one
stroke OF his immensely powerful leg
can easily kill man, the kick. no
less violent than that o. horse, being
rendered infinitely more dangerous by
the formidable claw with which the
foot is armed. Those. however who
are well practiced in the use of the
tackey have no difficulty in dealing
with the most furious bird Thew
thrust the thorns in his face, and he
shuts his eyes and is bewildered and
the man goes on. Fortunately, one is
never assailed by more than one os-
trich at a time; for, in the large camps
each one has his own domain, separ-
ated from those of the others by some
imaginary boundary line of his
own, within which he defends his
claims with vigor. Any other ostrich
daring to invade his territory is at
once attacked, and the human in
truder is carefully looked out for till
he is seen safely away Immediately
after thus speeding the parting guest,
the most savage bird is quite harmless;
he dismisses you from his thoughts
and walks quietly back, feeding as he
goes. And in the distance you see
the head and long neck of his neigh
Dor, whose kingdom you have now
entered, and whose sharp eyes spied
you out the instant your foot crossed
his frontier. He now advances toward
you with jerky spasmodic movements
as if he were bowling you a welcome;
this however, is far from his thoughts,
and, after sitting down once or twice
to give you his challenge whereby
he hopes you will be intimidated
trots up defantly, and the tackey's
services are again required. Popular
Science Monthly.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
THE SWEETEST SONG.

With trembling finger take the harp,
And touch the strings with gentle care,
For stern reproof is quick and sharp,
To one who fingers there;
Rememb ring all the masters old,
Intense with thought DER them have
hung,
And Of the words that yet are told,
The sweetest songs are yet unsung.
The ocean has d secret wave
That breaks unseen and softly dies
Where mermaids in the fountain lave,
And seaweeds fall and rise;
SO flows the current OF the heart
With pleasing shapes are ever young,
And thus the truth will ne'er depart
The sweetest songs are still unsung.
Indianapolis News.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
Ed Tells Fish Stories.

The Yuma (Cal.) Sentinel, when it
tells story. tells one of magnitude.
1t asserts that at the mouth of the
Colorado river and the upper end of
the Gulf of California are to be found
sea bass that weigh from 250 to $50
pounds each. clans as large as a COM
mon dinner plate millions OF sardines
and smelt oysters small but delicious
millions of soft-shelled crabs and other
shell fish, myriads of wild geese
brants, ducks, cranes ard other sea
fowl and birds
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
Dog and Elephant.

The dog is the only brute animal
that dreams and he and the elephant
are the only quadrupeds that under
stand looks. The elephant is the
only animal that, besides man. feels
sorrow; the dog the only quadruped
that has been brought to speak.
Leibnitz bears witness to a hound in
Saxony that could speak distinctly
thirty words Sat Evening Post.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
Sea Bath ing.

Horne Tooke ridiculed the practice
Of sea bathing and said if any one Of
the seal species were sick, it would be
just as wise for fish physician to
order them to go on shore. Person
declared sea bathing was only reck-
oned healthy because many persons
have been known to survive 1t; but
Sheridan's objection to salt water was
the most quaint" pickles, said he
don't agree with me-"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
A NOBLE WOMAN.

A Friend of tin Great and a Blessing to
til. Lowly.
She is Madame the Baroness Roths-
child o. Paris born Of as well as we'd
ded in that golden race. She lives in
the heart of the gay capital in big
castle whose walled grounds are at
least four times the size of Madison
Square. says the New York Recorder.
There is u porter's lodge past which
you drive to the castle between
stretches OF turf and trees and the rar-
est flowers. Widowed for years, Mad
anne lives alone save for her thirty
-. ------A- VA& ahA IN MAYER soil.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
The Breathing Gave.

In the Fork Range" of mountains
in western North Carolina singular
phenomenon exists. 1t is the Breath
ing Cave" In summer a current of
air comes from it so strongly that a
person cannot walk against it; while
in winter the rush of air inward is
just as great. The cool air from the
cave in summer is felt sometimes for
miles in a direct line
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
A Wetding Out,

Il was very srieved to hear you
have lost two of your little children,
Mrs. Mulvaney, " said a young clergy
man, whose first parish lay among the
tbickly populatel regions Of Shanty-
town. to the affiic; ed mother of very
numerous progeny. ''Shdre, an l
dent call it so mitch a iosin Ct Thin,
replied the Spartan parent ''as a
weedin' of thin out "-Argonant.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
Little Curious Things.

The creature having the greatest
number Of distinct eyes is the chiffon,
a species of moIlusk, in the shell of
which has been found as many as II, =
900 separate mobile eyes.
The largest animal known is the
rorquaL which is 100 feet in length the
smallest is the twilight monad, which
is only the twelve thousandtn OF an
inch.
A single sheet of paper feet wide
and = miles long has been made at
the paper works at Watertown n. j.
1t weighed 2. 207 pcunds.
Brof Lintner, an authority on ento-
mology. says that there are a million
or more species of insects in the world
and that he has seen at one glance
more snowheas of single species than
there are human beings on the globe.
She Consented.
will you be mine?"
Can you afford to dress me we'll if
Imarry you?"
1T depends upon what you consider
being dressed well. If you mean
w VI I'll uIOSSSS IIClu l. Oils, Cet1 d.
ford them; nor do you need them"
Il don't?"
mo. Your beauty needs no adorn-
ment and it will always eclipse any
dress you wear, no matter how fine Or
how expensive it may be. No one
that looks at you sees your dress.
The beauty of face and perfection of
figure only are noted. All finery sinks
into insigniiicance beside them. What
satin is there like your skin? What
silk like your hair? What color to
compare with your lips, cheeks and
eyes?"
John, l am yours. philadelphia
Press.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
Recruits for the German Army.

During the year 1890, 1872, $50 men
were recruited for the German army
Out OF these 5, 916 were not permitted
to enter, as they were in excess of the
number provided for by the army bud
get The volunteers numbered II, 666,
making the total 1875, 5O2, of whom
4, 121 are destined for the feet.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
Fortunate Purchases.

The Dublin national gallery has
been curiously fortunate in making its
recent purchases, having acquired a
portrait by Sir Peter Lely for 80
shillings, a portrait of Sir Richard
Steele by Kneller for ego and group
of saints by Paul Veronese for ESQ.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12

entry on it yet
She took up little gold pencil that
was attached to the book and drew q
line clear through the name
I'm sorry you can't stay any long
err she said with slight bow
Chicago Tribune.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-12
TIE LITTLE DARLING.
He Had His Own Way, But He Had J
Pharmacies

He Had His Own Way, But He Had No
Playmates.
.'Madam!" exclaimed the indignant
neighbor, your little boy has got a
Ratchet and he won't give it up"
20, we'll let the little darling have
IT. . replied the fond mother
But he's brandishing it about his
head and chasing the other children
around the yard
He's crying Ugh! Ugh! Whoopn
isn't he?"
That's exactly what he's doing"
Yes; my pet likes to play Indian.
Does he cry, Me scalp paleface.' P"
Eyes, yes; but don't you see"
"Oh, let the little fellow enjoy him.
self He takes such pleasure in
sport" said the fond mother.
But he'll hit one of the others!"
cries the indignant neighbor frantic
ally.
Not Intentionally" returned the
fond mother. He never means to
hurt anyone"
mo but he does sometimes, and
it's dangerous. madam-its danger
Gus.
Perhaps it is" said the fond
mother thoughtfully. Then she went
to the window and called OUT
Willie, if you hit any of the chill
dren with that Ratchet I'll spank you
and put you to bed"
You need have nc fears" she said
to the indignant neighbour as she re-
sumed her seat Il hate to punish
Willie, but | promias you that | will
if he hits one of the children"
And she cannot understand now why
the neig hbor5 VIII not allow their chill
dren to play Win Willie. San Fran
cisco examiner.