davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26
FAMOUS "POOu BAH" ENCELLED.
A Justice Who Acts as Both Judge and
Jury.
Essex County Republican.

On the west shore of Lake George lives
4 justice of the peace who is as conscien-
tious as he is learned in law-possibly
more so. The case was An alleged theft
at country dance of one Derby hat, valu-
ed at $3.50. The lawyers on both sides
agreed to dispense with the twelve good
men," and requested the Judge to act as
jury. He took the request literally
Mounting the bench, he considered for a
long time, and finally consented. He then
began the proceedings. Leaving the
bench, he filed himself into the jury box,
had himself sworn in by the clerk, and
heard the evidence. When an objection
was made or law point raised by the
lawyers, the Jury" left the box, mounted
the bench. and passed on it as judge, re-
turning to the jury box in time to hear the
testimony. After the evidence was all in,
he wrote out his instructions as Judge, and
handing it to one of the attorneys, re-
questing him to read it to the jury. After
listening to the instructions in his capaci
ty of jury, he had himself conducted from
the room by the sheriff and locked up in
the jury room to consider the case and
prepare a verdict. He stayed out SIX
hours. At the end of that time he filed
into court, reported that the jury couldn't
agree. and as the judge discharged
himself and taxed the jury fees at three
dollars.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26

head in the attic and giancinr up wss
HORNED to see descending slowly from,
the ceiling large black coffin. 1t came
down until 1t was about two feet from the
floor, when 1t stopped, suspended in the
air. In the coffin was a tall Young woman
dressed IN long black STROUD. with her
hands ciasped on her breast and holding
boquet of flowers. The face was pale and
sunkan. with a sorrowful but dignifed
expression.
Suddenly the coffin vanished and, the
figure stood silently before the trembling
girl, who sank down helpless with fright
upon the bed
Upon the walls were two chains of
spools, such as are made for children to
play with. The apparation fixed its eyes
on these, and ordered Mrs. Stiebel to take
them down. She obeyed without being
able to help herself, and, breaking the
string, began taking the spools off one by
one. When she had certain number OF
them the spirit ordered her to take. three
Spo0ls, burn two and keep one. Still under
the influence of the ghost, she went down
stairs, threw two spools in the stove and
kept one. Then the spool disappeared and
Mrs. Stiebel sank faintine on the floor.
Her husband found her, and, after some
work, brought her to consciousness. After
hearing her story he told fout or five of
his neighbors about it, and party of them
sat up to see if the appara5ion would re-
| appear, but it did not.
The next day the ghost again appeared
before Mrs. Stiebel. and making her go
down cellar ordered bcr to dig. She dug
| four or FIVE inches of earth up, and found
an old Stockinp filed with p,itInwed
papers. This she was compelled to burn 10y
the spirit woman, who disappeared i'm
nIediateiy atterward Mrs. Stiebel still
has the spool she was told to keep, and
the hole in the cellar is still to be seen. The
neighborhood is greately worked up over
the stories, and there is some talk of dig
ging up the whole cellar to see if there is
anything else tEere. About four years ago
a family were driven out of the house by
the same strange eXperienees.-Washing-
| ton Star.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26
Spinning as a Fine Art.
quest.
Harper's Bazaar.

A traveller gives an interesting account,
in tie latter part of the seventeenth cen
fury, of the German schools for spinning
for little maids of six and over, where
they were thought to make the fine thread
that they could never make if the learning
were delayed, the teacher sitting in the
center of the room, long white wand in
hand, with which she tapped the idlers,
and as each child could spin fine and
finer thread she was raised to higher
form, spinning being the education, and
all the promotion and chastisements of
schools in general being observed. 1t was
at about the same date that the laird S
daughter of Baranan-Christian Shaw
herself commenced the spinning of fine
linen thread In Dundee, selling 1t to the
lace makers, and so brought about what
with subsequent improvements proved to
be great industry, for which good work
we may forgive her for having been the
cause of the burning of FIVE witches. 1t
was not long afterward that the wife of
Fletcher of Saltoun took a journey over
seas with two experts disguised as SER
wants, and brought back to her parish the
secrets connected with the weaving of hol-
lands, ''to the great enrichment of the in
habltants. 1t was a woman, too, who
in l725 brought into Scotland from Hol-
land, where almost all such ideas seem to
been in a very forward state, the art of
spinning white sewing thread, and we
can picture to ourselves the need she had
of it before she went farsome journey,
and watched and waited, like a spy,
among foreign people, in order TO bring
it into use-a great business now, giving
support to thousands, giving comfort to
millions
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26
FOREIGN.

THE London police think they have the
true Jack the Ripper this time.
PRINCESS LILIUoRALANI has been pro-
claimed queen of the Hawaiian islands as
successor Of King Kalakaua.
PRINCE SANJo, president of the council
of the court and custodian of the grand
seal is dead
SIGNoR MAGIsANI former y italian
minister of finance, died Saturday at
| Rome.
TROOPS have been ordered out at Bel
GUM to suppress popular demonstrations
In favor OF universal suffrage.
EGYPTIAN troops won battle from the
forces of Oseman Digma at Tokar on Feb
ruary 10. One thousand soldiers lost their
lives.
COUNT BYLANT, the German state sman
diplomatic, died in Vienna Saturday of
heart disease.
A DISPATCH from Rangoon states that
fifty insurgents were killed in fight on
the frontier OF Wuntho, in India.
ONE of the Great Eastern railway com
pany's channel mail steamers Saturday
colilded with and sank the steamer
Queen" of the North Sea. The crew of
the latter drowned.
AFTER desperate struggle with ship
owners and other employers the trades
unions and labor organizations In Austria
liza have been defeated.
IT IS rumored that Emperor Wilhelm
will order tie criminal prosecution of
Prince Bismark unless the latter ceases his
opposition to the imperial policy.
The church party which is unusually
strong In the new Spanish house of de-
putles, has created much dlsquiet By again
requesting the queen regent to interview
In behalf CT the pope and the restoration of
his temporal power.
A dispatch from Warsaw says that
Prince Battenieff, who murdered girl of
whom he was Jealous has been dismissed
from the army and sentenced to Siberia.
EMPEROR WILHELM ill-health is
causing great uneaslness in German court
circles.
CUBAN government officials are charged
with encouraging four prisoners to at
tempt an escape, and then shooting them
in cold blood.
The English government is at length
arous ed to the formidable character Of the
labor movement that has been gradually
gaining strength for about month past
in the seaport towns. Cardiff on Wednes-
day was full of policemen to prevent strik-
ers from becoming violent and troops are
held in readiness for use should the situa-
ton become alarming. The Cardiff
lockers are desperate and avow their de-
termination to drive free labor out at any
price
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26
ANECDOTE OF MRS. BURNS.
a Young EnG1ishman Desires a Relic o.
the Poet

It is generally known that Mrs. Burns,
after her husbands deaf, occupied exactly
the same house, in Duhfries, which she
inhabited before that event; and it was
customary for strangers, who happened to
pass through, or visit that town, to pay
their respects to her, with or without let
tiers OF introduction, precisely as they do
to the churchyald, the bridge, the harbor.
or any other public object of curiosity
about the place. A gay young English
man one day visited Mrs Burns, and
after he had seen all she had to show
the bedroom in which the poet died, his
original portrait by Nasmyth, his family
Bible, with the names and birthdays of
himself, his wife and children, written on
a blank leaf by his own hand. and some
other little trihes of the same nature-he
proceeded to entreat that she would have
the kindness to present him with some
relic of the poet, which he might carry
away with him, as wonder to show in
his own country.
Indeed said Mrs. 3hrns, II have
given away SO many relics of Mr.. Burns,
that to tell the truth, | have not one
left"
''Oh, you surely must have something +"
said the persevering Saxon; anything
will do'-any little scrap of his hand.
writing, the least thing you please. All l
want is just a relic of the poet; anything,
you know, will do for relic
Some further alteration took place
the lady reasserting that she had no relic
to give, and he repeatedly renewing his
request. At length, fairly tired out with
the mans opportunities, Mrs. Burns said
to him, with smile:
Dear, sir, unless you take myself,
then, | dinna sea how you are to get what
you want; for, I'm the only relict o him
that ken O."
The petitioner at once withdrew his re-
quest.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26

The new birth Of Japan, and the rapid
strides Of its people toward the standard
of the highest modern civilization, have
been a subject for wonder and admiration
for the past twenty years. The spirit of
the age has now taken possession of India
and is working astonishing results. A
cable dispatch from London to the San
Francisco Chronicle says that railroad
building in India is being pushed as never
before. The effect of the introduction of
means of rapid communication and travel
to every point of the empire has been
most profound ON the politics, society, re-
ligion, industry. trade and commerce of
hundreds of millions of people who have
been planted in India from time immem-
orial. They have given the British gov
eminent a far firmer hold upon India than
it had before their construction. They do
not appear to have shaken the ancient sys-
tenn of castles, but they have unquestionlbly
had powerful influence upon the life of
the Hindoos, llberalizing their minds, I'M
dermining their superstition and offering
them all the advantages of extensive inter-
course with their fellOw-men. They have
given an immense impetus to reciprocity,
the opening of new markets to British
manufacturers of everything and furnish
ing new means of outlet for the native
productions. 1T is evidentto every obser-
yer who is able to compare the lndiao
half a century ago with the india of our
day, says a recent English visitor, THAT
the railroads, telegraphs, newspapers,
missionaries and the British system of
public administration are bringing about
profound changes there and preparing the
way for developments that will probably
be heard of in the twentieth century," A
renaissance at the cradle of the human
race will indeed be an interesting study.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26
GRACE GRTNDLEY WOKE.
A Pretty Girl Who Slept for Nine Long
Months

A telegram from Amboy, ILL.,, says: "At
last, after sleep of nine months, pretty
Grace Grindley, nineteen years of age
better known as The Sleeping Beauty Of
| Amboy," is awake Her case is the
strangest and most remarkable on record
SO far shown by m edical authority, and
has excited the deepest interest and per
| pIeXity among doctors and physicians al
over the country. Some time last March
there was religious revival at Amboy at
| the Congregational church. The entire
population of this quaint little New Eng
landish town was aroused 10y their enthu
lasm and fervor. Among the active attend
ants on the worship and in the work was
Miss Grace Grindley pretty nineteen year
old daughter Of aged parents, She becme
strangely engrossed in the religious exer-
cises, thought of nothing else, and it is
supposed dreamed Of nothing else. One
night she came home completely exhausted
and went to bed in her little room up
stairs. The next morning the sun peered
into her room through the half closed
blinds and shone upon her face, but she
did not awaken. Her mother called her
and she raid no heed. Then the physi-
clans were called, but in spite of their
skill the girl still slept on. Once she was
aroused by the aid of galvanic battery
Il don't think | ought to have been
walked up the girl said reproachfully to
those around her. She soon afterwards
fell into the same deep sleep. Once she ap-
peared In the sitting room, startling her
mother by Selling .. Bible aud then falling
in faint on the floor. She was replaced
In bed, where she remained without
further demonstrations. With gently
heaving breast eyes slightly closed and
parted in peaceful smile, the girl slum-
bered on.
"Ske had not wasted away to amount to
anything. said the mother 10 reporter.
"Her limbs are still plump and her cheeks
rosy. We administered food in liquid
form and she seemed sustained by it, al
though the act of swallowing was imper-
ceptlble. She was conscious of anyone in
the room. and we had to keep everyone
still, as her temperature was visibly affect
ed by conversation"
Her awakening was sudden and natural.
She dressed and appeared at her usual
place at the table, but strange air hangs
over her. She will notice no one and pays
no attention when spoken to. When urg-
ed to talk she only replies in a cultural
tone that has no resemblance to ordinary
speech. anu has evidently lost the faculty
of articulation.
The doctors In examining her case said
it was cataleptic hysteria. Is differed
from ordinary catalepsy in this way: The
are rigid in catalepsy, but hers
were not, and she seemed TO have a
certain amount of control over them. The
case was undoubtedly the effect of religious
excitement. which deadened the mental
faculty and produced the torpor. 1t is be-
Iieved now the girl will eventually regain
all her former faculties. Her case still
excites the highest medical interest.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26
SHE WORE PLUMBERS.
Here's a New Wrinkle in Feminine Device
for Thin Girls to Consider.


for Thin Girls to Consider.
Never hear of plumpers p asked lady
friend of mine the other day.
NO." said !. What new feminine de-
wise is this, for goodness sake?"
well, she replied-we were calling, at
the time, at the house of mutual friend
Just you notice Miss-when she
comes down stairs and tell me if you no.
tice anything strange or remarkable In
her appearance.
The Miss referred to, be it said, is a
tall and somewhat angular young woman
of uncertain age, but who is possessed OF
a considerable degree of uncertain vanity
and more than ordinary desire to ap-
pear at her very best upon any and all
occasions.
WELL" said l to my lady friend, after
our departure. 81 have scanned Miss
pretty closely but failed to notice anything
worth commenting upon III her appear
ance.
She talked as if she had something in
her mouth
l was interrupted at this point by APPEAL
of laugher.
why, what on earth are you laughing
at?" SAID l. ''Apd, by the way" | ask
ed, ''did it not strike you that Miss
growing somewhat stouter? Her face
seems to be somewhat plumper-'
There, interrupted my friend, "now
you have it. Miss--had 'plumpers' in
her mouth. TO my look CT inquiry
and adjustment she responded
''Plumrers, you see, are small round
shaped affair like dolls saucer. They
are made of rubber, and when held in
place in the mouth they cause woman s
checks to become plump and round
Wnen ladies have lost some of their teeth,
plumrers come into play; prevents their
jaws from appearing lantern shaped
or their features from being angular"
Heavens and earth!" said /. What
will the feminine mind conceive next9"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26
LUXURIOUS GHOST.
1t AbandOns Pedestrianism and Is Carried
About in Its Coffin.

The mining district Of WilkesbaIre,
Pa, around the Stanton mines, has been
greatly excited over a very sensational
ghost story, which is leading to investi
cations that may bring to light a long
hidden mystery. Mr.. and Mrs. Stiebel
are young couple who have been living
at No. As Loomis street since their mar
rage three weeks ago. They are an
ambitious. Woodworking young couple
and while the husband works in the
mines the wife runs a small candy and
cigar store.
Last Thursday, between the hours of
eleven and twelve in the rlo1Iing. While
Mrs. Stiebel was making bed III the
front bedroom, she heard noise over
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26
TIE SAME OLD TROUBLE.
A Nebraska Farmer Shoots a FaithIes
Wife and Hired Man.

LEIGH, Neb.. Feb 20-This morning
AL. McCubbin, welI-to-do stockman, liv-
ing four miles north of this place. shot
and killed his wife and hired
man. Frank Yoh. He gave his
oldest child money with which to take the
younger children to their grandparents
home, and then took aconite, dying shortly
after. Domestic trouble was the cause.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26

EVERY once in while we hear of
great victory Won over the Soudanese
rebels-but somehow the rebels seem to
thrive upon defeat. They have more fun
and acquire more territory getting licked
by the Egyptians than if the reports ran
all the other way
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26

Gen. Sherman death leaves Gen. Daniel
E. Sickles first on the retired list of the
amy, with Gen. John c.. Robinson, OF
Binghampton, N. Y, second. They have
but two legs between them.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26

The bathtub in the dressing room of
Miss Mary Garrett, of Baltimore, cost
$4,000 and is lined with Mexican onyx.
But the fair crectrr. could keep just as
tidy by dipping in an old wooden tub.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26

IT is announced that work upon the
government building, for exhibits at the
worlds fair, is to be begun Immediately.
The building committee Of the govern
ment, jointly with the chief of construc-
ton and local committee ON grounds and
buildings, has been in consultation, and
preliminaries are now arranged, with
100000 in the United States treasury, to
be drawn upon at the outset. The build
ing is to stand in Jackson park, near the
entrance to the Midway plaisance con-
Meeting Jackson with Washington park.
1t is to extend $50 by 450 feet, and to be
constructed of iron, brick and glass, with
an octagonal dome In the center, $50 feet
in height; the whole costing, when COM
plete, 100000 The exhibit is to be in
departments representing the post office,
treasury, agriculture, interior and state
departments; also that of justice, the
Smithsonian institution, and the fish
commission, There are to be, also, under
government auspices, field hospital, a
Iife-saving station, lighthouse, and a
coast line battle-shlp; the vicinity of the
lake affording fine opportunities for dis
plays of this kind. Much enthusiasm is
shown by those in charge, in regard to
making the government part Of the
whole exposition especially complete
and attractive. We see it stated that
about fifteen acres have been set apart
for the purpose, and that the whole will
be occupied.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26

Ex-Governor CHARLES FOSTER, of
Ohio, was on Saturday nominated for
secretary of the treasury by President
Harrison.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26

A Dense Fog Hangs Over the City of st
TaniS

ST. Louis. Feb. pa dense fog hangs
over this section of the country, rendering
the telegraph and telephone wires almost
useless. Dispatches from the interior in
oicate that the storm is general and inter
fered somewhat with the railroad traffic.
CHICAGO, Feb. 20. Mrs. Catharine
Seely, mairon of the so-caIled Bethany
Home, was indicted today By the grand
jury for cruelty to children.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26

"Oh, she responded. there are lots of
things about feminine attire that you
have not heard of yet.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26
WISCONSIN
PEOPLE IN PRINT.

Miss Kate Greenaway is to have an ex-
hibition Of her drawings at the London
Fine Art Society early in November.
MIR. Moody declares that if an archangel
should come down from heaven and preach
in Boston, the congregation would find
flaws of grammar or logic in the sermon.
President Garfield died nearly ten years
ago and his devoted widow still wears
mourning as deep as that she assumed on
the day of his funeral.
Sherman was as light sleeper when IN
the field as the great Napoleon was. He
rarely took more than FIVE hours of rest
when the enemy was near by.
John Jacob Astor and She Was Viii
ling" is the clever headline over the
Aston Willing wedding. To demonstrate
the perversity Of womonkind, it may be
added that after the nuptial knot was tied
she was no longer Willing.
x;
One of the aspirants for Senator Hearst
seat in congress is Major Bonebroke, o.
Los Angeles. He is known as the Beat
BrummelI of southern California, and IS :
man of curious and picturesque ways. HI
has been known to wear fur oyercoat IL
summer, and never goes out without pan
of rubber overShoes.
Gen. Sherman was the only one of The
more noted union commanders who LIVED
beyond his SEVENTEEN year. Grant, Sheri
dan, Thomas, Hancock, Mcclellan, Meade
Warren, Mcdowell, Halleck, Hooker, Burn
side and Logan all dropped into soldiers
graves before reaching the moderate limi
of life. Among the familiar names Of gen
erals of the war still living are Rosecrans
Buell., Butler, Banks, Howard and Palmer
all past seventy.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-02-26

Miss Kate Greenawsy is to have an ex-
hibition Of her drawings at the London
Fine Art Society early in November.