davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
HOW DO MEN PROPOSE.
Does Ever a One of Them Get Down
on His Knees.

Il am a crank" said the club man
con the subject of proposals. [ would
rather hear a story of how man asked
the woman he loved to marry him than
to take a trip to Europe. | don't know
why | take so strong an interest in
this unless it is that | had such hard
time to get my wife to accept me. I
had been in love with her for years. l
had proposed to her seven times and
she refused me every time. Finally I
went to her in despair and said: Well,
Mollie I've asked you to marry me
seven times and you have declined my
name. I'm going to ask you once more,
and if you don't marry me l shall go
out west and stay there
q Well Jack, she said if you feel
that way about it, I'll marry you To
this day she cannot tell me why she
refused me so often, to marry me after
all.
There's my friend, Congressman
x. He was a poor young man,
and one day he went to a young woman
whom he had known for a long time.
= Nell, he said, I have been wait
ing till | had enough money to get
married. My salary was raised yester-
day. Will you marry me next week?'
& Wait until next month, she said.
." No, next week. and they were
married next week.
Brown, the lawyer, was careless
young fellow. The woman whom he
loved would not marry him.
{" You are the most reckless man in
the world she said, about money
affairs. When you get S., 900 i'll the
bank I may marry you if you still want
me-
He went away and saved S., 900.
She married him and to-day he's rich
man. He learned economy while
winning his wife.
'My friend Col. H enlisted at
the outbreak of the war.
" Joe, he said to the girl he want
ed to marry, i am going down south
to fight. Will you marry me now Or
wait till | come back?'
&c Right now, SAM she said and
that afternoon he marched away.
'My brother proposed IN cool way.
He hadn't been able to make up his
mind what he was going to do in life,
and one day the woman who is now his
wife said:
" Charley (they were second
cousins) what in the world are you
going to make out of yourself?'
" Just whatever you make out Of
me, he said, you've got lots more
sense than [ have, Name.
"Has any one here any stories to
tell about proposals." continued the
story-teller. Il don't know of single
case where a man went down on his
knees. | would like to hear of one.
No one will tell one, Ell? Well, I'm
sorry. 1 like to hear about proposals. :"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
Where the Lumber Goes.

Southern Lumberman: Where does
all the lumber go that is cut each yearP
Hundreds OF millions of feet go into
the thousands of houses built each
year in city, town and country. The
agricultural implement makers con-
sumo 1O0,000,0O0 feet yearly, mostly
oak, ash, maple and hickory. The
furniture manufacturers use 500, OO0,-
900 yearly, nearly all hardwood. The
wagon, carriage, and buggy makers
consume more than 100, 200, 900 feet
annually. These are a few of the
places where it goes.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
What Sir Edwin Arnold Thinks of the
Sticks for Table Service.

Chopsticks, far from being awk-
ward. are the most convenient as well
as the cleanest table utensils, once
the secret Of their use is learned,
writes Sir Edwin Arnold in ScriDner.
1t cannot be taught in words. There
Is an indescrloable knack of fixing
one stick firmly and Ringing the other
with the first and second fingers, so as
to play exactly upon the fixed stick,
which renders the little implements
perfect for everything except of
course, juice or gravy and soup. You
can even cut with them by inserting
the points close together and then
forcibly separating them; and as for
hardness and precision of grasp, IN
little wager at this very restaurant,
even myself picked up with the hashi
twenty-five single grains OF rice in
one minute from a iacluered tray, be-
ing beaten by q Japanese lady. whose
swift skill deXterously conveyed as
MANY as forty-nine.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13

ceptabIe to the young ladies' on such
occasions.
The scheme was no sooner con-
ceived than it was put into execution.
The telegraph Office was sought and
the following message was written
and directed to Mr.. IS brother in
Hartford:
Bring three dozen Bon Silens
Roses"
With tranquil mind and happy
heart Mr. - awaited the slmulta-
neous arrival of his brother. the roses
and the eventful evening. But mean
while the telegraph operator had got
in his work, either at one end of tho
line or the other, and so far no ono
was the wiser.
Mr. IS plans tor the distribu-
ton OF the roses were doubtless well
settled and he eagerly awaited his
brothers arrival. At length the lat
ter hove in sight; but goodness
gracious what was the matter with
him? He was loaded down with
bundles and out of his pockets peeped
still others. In fact, it seemed to be
only with difficulty that he could get
along at all, so weighted DOWN was
be with mysterious packages
After partially recovering from his
surprise Mr.. - demanded to know
what in the world his brother was
swearing at. The latter, as soon as
he had breath enough demanded in
his turn, in an injured tone of voice,
to know why he had sent for so many.
ii brought all | could" he added,
land that was two dozen and half"
80 many what" returned Mr..
"What have you got there anyway"
The brothers suspicious began to
be aroused and he said nothing, but
drew forth the telegram which he
had received:
Bring three dozen beer sub rosa"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
Poison That Tells No Tale.

1t is fortunate that murderers are not
chemists, reflects London Truth for
there are poisons known to every
chemist which leaves absolutely no
trace behind them. One there is (and
this, perhaps, was used in Italy and
France when poisoned gl2ves wef5 IN
fashion, which has only to o. put in
water in which a person washes his
hands for him either to die or to 60
mad few months later Then, again,
what bunglers murderers are in getting
rid OF a corpse, if they prefer steel or
bullet to poison! There is an acid
in which you have only to immerse a
corpse for it to lie dissolved in about
an hour. The water Is then poured
away, and not a trace or a vestige of
the body remains. Putting aside the
criminality, the foolish way in which
people commit murders is a reflection
on human intelligence.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
Berfng Sea, Not Behring.

We all spell Boring Sea wrongly, it
seems. The name of the Danish navi-
gator, after whom the sea in question
was called, was Vitus Boring. 1--WE
do not, indeed" says a learned writer
in the Neue Zuricher Zeitung, possess
an account of his voyages published by
himself, but the historian, Gerhard
Friedrich Muller who, when in the
service of the car, accompanied an
expedition to eastern Siberia, and had
free access to all official documents,
used Behring'S written memoranda in
his History of Siberia a work con-
sisting Of five volumes, and faithfully
rendered the name of Commodore
Boring. This same spelling was fol-
lowed throughout by the reviser of
Mullen's History J. Z. Fischer, who
was also member of the expedition
just mentioned and went to Siberia in
1740, when the commodore was still
living; by the German, G. W. Steller,
who had accompanied the discoverer as
naturalist; by J. G. Gmelin, St. Kras-
chenninikow, and several other au-
thors describing Siberian travels of the
eighteenth century. The correct
spelling is further found in our best
handbooks and maps, such as Gamma
bisch, Daniel, Stieler, ETC." Let us
hope that all this will be accepted as
conclusive. 1t would be dreadful, in
deed, to have another open question in
connection with this much-vexed sea-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
RESULT OF A WHIPPING.
The Lazy Country Boy Becomes Pres
ident of a Great Railroad.

taeHi Oh a 1FeaE IaIIrOa0.
Twenty years or more year ago
Mrs. John NJ Crowell, then Miss
Grant was the teacher OF a country
school near Yellow Springs, Ohio.
Among her pupils was an orphan boy
whom the principal farmer of the
district had found in Illinois and had
taken to raise. The boy was capable
and bright, put he lacked applica-
ton, and on that account was never
prepared in his lessons. Miss Grant
complained OF the boys shortcoming
to his adopted father and was ad-
vised to wear hickory CAD out on
him. She hesitated, for the boy was
big and strong, although good-na.
tured. But the father insisted. and
after warning the boy several times
she one day nsed the hickory upon
him in the presence Of the entire
school. It humbleQ the lad, and it
was feared he would run away that
night. He was accordingly watched.
But instead of running away he took
a candle and went to his Dom,
where the light was seen to burn the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
The English Cardinal.

Cardinal Manning. the great English
prelate, is 80 years old-one year old
er than Gladstone, His face is thin
and bloodless, his eyes sunken and
the wrinkled skin colorless. His kind
ly blue eyes twinkle merrlly and a
pleasant smile occasionally relieves
the ascetic look of his countenance.
He is more than ordinarily tall, and
now that his years are upon him, his
head and shoulders stoop. and he is
somewhat deaf He receives visitors
In a plain black silk cassot, with red
silk cap on his venerable head.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
Treatment. of Yellow Fever.

A Venezuelan physician, DR.. Dag
MO, becoming satisfied that the liver
was the organ mainly affected in yell
low fever. commenced the routine
practice of giving Guinine TO destroy
the virus and calomel and rhubarb to
act on the liver, with the result that
for many years be lost only from s to
10 per cent of his cases.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
A Free Port.

Denmark is proposing to portion off
q part of the harbor of Copenhagen
rs free port, emancipated from the
customs control. A slice of ad dining
land will be given within which the
customs have no concern and which
ranks in the eyes OF the authorities as
foreign territory. There the shippers
may land goods. and Store, handle
and work them, and finally re-export
them without interference any goods
gong into the country bearing, OF
10 lrse. the usual customs charges.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
Women and Poetry.

Most OF the poetry appearing in
current periodicals is written by
women. The sex has an easier knack
of versifcation than men, as we'll as
a more sentimental cast of mind, and
these are the qualities mostly distin-
gushing the poetry of the day. Even
in literature as in everything else
man is more practical than ever be-
fore, and now takes to prose in pref
erence to poetry, because it pays bet
ter. But woman is not whi3 be.
hind him In this line OF writing. and,
generally reviewing the field. may be
said to be more than holding her own
in literary work.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
A DriVerIess Horse.

A Birch Run (Mich.) family sends
the children to the country school,
some distance away, in a peculiar
manner. 1t has an eminently safe
horse. The children drive to school
in the morning head the horse for
home. and he promptly returns. In
the afternoon he is sent after them in
'Ihe same driverIess way"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
Wholesale Hanging.

1t is not generally known that
Henry Will of England hanged no
fewer than y. 900 robbers, thieves,
and vagabonds. aud that GOOD
Queen Bess" was in the latter part of
her reign responsible for the slaugh-
ter of 500 or 400 criminals yearly.
Turning to the year 1896. for exam
pie. we find that in the county OF
Somerset alone forty persons were
executed, thirty-fve burned in the
hand. and thirty-seven severely
whipped.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
NOT BEER BUT ROSES,
Amusing Mistake in the Transmission
of Telegraphfc Message.

Many have been the laughal e mis-
takes made by telegraph operators in
transmitting messages, but it is sell
dom that one is recorded so amusing
In its consequences as occurred in the
summer to gentleman of Hartford,
Conn.
He was spending his vacation at
the shore. A dance was to be given
one evening, and as Mr.. ex-
pected his brother to attend the fes-
tivities. he thought himself OF the ex-
cellent plan OF sending to him for
.ene ecwera which are always &c.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
In a Fog.

Experiments made on the New Jersey
coast go to prove that only one sea-
taring man out Of ten can tell the true
direction Of fog-horn, bell or whistle
when mile way from it in fog.
The hearing of the average man is as
much off, as his vision. In other words,
!wo men out of five are color-blind In
their ears
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
THE CONGO FREE STATE.
Il Leads the World in Civilization


Professor Emile de Lavelege in the
Forum: Colonial history offers no
other example of such rapid develop
ment as that of King Leopolds' enter.
prise in founding the Independent
Congo Free State. Thanks to the
station established alon% The banks
of the river, there perfect order
and safety as far as Stanley Falls.
Twenty-seven steamers, fourteen of
which belong to the state and six to
tho Campagnie Beige du Hant Congo,
ply the waters of the upper river and
its tributaries. and Cath olic and Pro-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
MONEY OF THE WORLD.
The Gold, Silver and Paper In Grcu.

The Gold, Silver and Paper In Circu.
lation i'm Different Parts ofthe Globe.
Mr.. Leech, Director OF the United
States Mint prepared for the House
Committee on Coinage. of the Fifty
first Congress series of tables show
ing the estimated and officially re-
ported amounts of gold. silver, and
paper IN circulation as money in diff
ferent parts of the world. The fol-
lowing tables comprise the most in
teresting portions of the statement:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13

This is the way the people who live
in the Isle of Skye are said to describe
their weather:
"Dirty days hath September,
April. June, and November;
From January up to May I
The rain it raineth every day;
All the rest have3l,
Without blessed CLEAN OF sun;
And if any of them had and 81
They'd be just as wet and twice as dirty"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
Animal Scalps.

The treasurer of Tehama county,
California, paid out $795. 40 for scalps
in December. There were > lions,
105 coyotes. So wildcats, 1852 rab-
bits. 80 coons, 10 bears, and eagles.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13

MAUDE EsTABRooKE, the Leeds Eng
land) heiress, has been found at Salt Lake
City. She is the thirteenth wife of
Mormon and refused to return to England
for her fortune.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13

The homes of T. J. Bryant, Charles
Towne, and Grandham Bradley at De-
Gator, ILL.,, were broken into and a consid-
cradle amount of money and jewelry
stolen.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13

Two WALKERsvrLLE Mont. children
died from the effects of drinking a demi
john of whiskey.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13

The following are the totals of covered
and uncovered paper currency in the differ
ent countries about year ago the uncov-
cred being that which does not rest upon sill
yer or gold. Notes resting on securities are
not considered to be covered by coin the
securities being only another form of evil
dence of debt. 1t is not possible, from the
data at hand, to separate the notes resting
on bonds like our National Bank notes, from
other nncaYerad ma nar.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13

testant missionaries nave stations
there. under the protection of the flag
with the gold star. Lower down the
river there is even an administrative
and judicial system well organized
and perfectly established. The value
Of the exports India rubber
palm oil, copal, sesame etc.. amounted
in 1885 to nearly 5000, 900 francs.
and the expenses of the state were
3. 900, 600 francs. Commerce cannot
fail to increase prodigiously as soon
as the railway from Matadi to Leo
poldsville is opened. At present ali
goods have to be carried by porters
from the upper Congo to the sea
coast which necessitates such heavy
expense that the colonial produce
cannot compete with other produce in
the European market. When the
railway is built all this will be altered.
The whole of central Africa will be
opened up to trade.
1t is not less interesting to study
the manner in which the civilized
states have sanctioned in Africa those
humane principles which they are
more and more abandoning in Europe.
namely, free trade equality for all
onalities, neutrality, perpetual
peace and arbitration. All vessels,
without distinction of nationality,
even those of states that took no part
in the conference, have free access to
all ports and to all rivers. Goods i'm
ported by sea or by land are free from
all entrance duty or transit duty. save
small tax TO be levied in certain
conditions as compensation for sums
laid out in the interest of navigation.
Any differential treatment with re-
gard either to vessels or to merchan-
disc is forbidden. No privileged
monopoly can be granted. and citi-
zens of all nations may enjoy the
same civil rights. Freedom of con-
science and of worship is guaranteed
to all, and missionaries, learned men
ard explorers are objects of special
protection. The slave trade is for
hidden, and each of the powers I'M
dertakes to use all possible means
utterly to abolish it. and to punish
those who carry on the traffic The
territor, comprised within the lone
OF commercial liberty is considered
neutral. All friends of humanity can
but admit that these regulations are
most admirable. Why should their
application be reserved to a certain
zone of the dark continent?
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
Cost Of a London Fog.

1t is almost impossible to estimate
the cost 10 Londoners of such a fog
as that which spread over great
part of the metropolis recently, says
the News. To take the case of light
ing alone, it has been calculated that
on a foggy day the receipts of one
only Of the large gas companies are
increased by more than e., 900. Be-
sides the increased receipts OF other
companies, and the numberless lamps
and candles burned. allowance must
be made for the great falling off in
the shCp-keepers' business for the
day, no small item in what ought to
be the busy times preceding Christ
mas. In the neighborhood of Hyde
park cornerlocomotion was absolutely
dangerous during the afternoon, de-
spite the use Of torches and lamps.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
As ERrOnd as She Is E.nny.

Comparatively few people know
that the largest woman in Georgia
lives in Houston county, yet such is
doubtless the fact. She is a negress
is A. years old, the mother of eight
children, and lives on the Dick j ohm
son plantation. near Grovania, Her
name is Anroe Brown. From actual
test Of weights and measures the fol-
lowing figures were obtained: Her
weight is 200 pounds. She is ) feet
s inches in height. feet inches is
her circumference around the bust, 6
feet inches around the waist, and
80 inches around the arm near the
shoulder. One man was unequal to
the task of measuring her. She came
remarkably near being as broad as
she is long. 1t is said she fills COM
pletely the body Of a one-horse wagon,
and is a full load for one horse to
pull Within the last twelve months
she has gained 100 pounds in weight.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13

AN unknown tramp threw himself in
front of train at Beaucoup, Ill.,, and was
cut to pieces. A bag Of silver coins was
found on his body.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13

Total. el03 5S5,567 sS5, 765, 333
The silver money is classified into that
which is full legal tender and that which is
tender for only limited amounts of indebt-
edneSS:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
Don't Use Your Arm as a Pillow

Don't Use Your Arm as a Pillow.
G. Hagemann, a well-known resi-
dent of MorrisviIle. Bucks County,
Pa, lost the use of his right hand in
singular manner. He went to bed
as usual one night and fell asleep with
his right hand under his head. On
awakening in the morning he could
not raise his arm. 1t was paralyzed,
aid all efforts TO put the blood in
circulation have failed. 1t is thought
4 will be months before he will be
able to use his hand again.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
PAPER CURRENCY.

Total. So 929, 900. 900 s40S OO1 600
Tie total stock of full legal tender silver
coin in Europe is given at 81, l01, 100000.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
Eon6onss Fog.

An enthusiastic champion has at
length been found for the London
fog, which heretofore has not had a
single friend except certain French
artist, who recently went into rap
lures over the aid which it gave to
artistic effect. London fog. it seems,
consists largely of disinfectants-
creosote, all the antiseptics of coal
tar and carbon in the form of SCOT.
very WELL" says our champion,
then just think what the air of Lon
don, with it's millions of people, it's
steaming sewers, its decaying vegeta-
BILE and animal matter. would be on a
calm day if it were not for the long
merciful Intervention of smoke. Think
OF its streets, a tuagmire Of rotting
exudations, without the swectening
influence Of a gentle rain of SCOT"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
When Company Comes.

Misery loves company, and company
makes misery for the housewife when
company comes Unexpectedly and she
has nothing cooked in the house.
Somerville Journal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13

Totals So, ~. 01ss6 $500 ST. S46
The following table shows in pounds ster-
ling the specie holding of the principal
EurOnaan banks Nov % 1900.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-13
CHOPSTICk TALK.

Total. ,a25, tx, 900 s2,44s, 900 ool