davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
TACT is THE THING.
At ANY Rate 1t Gave This Boy Star,
in Life.

At ANY Rate 1t Gave This Boy Star,
in Life.
Tact is one OF the first qualifications
d business man. and the following
little incident in the history of one OF
the most successful merchants shows g
development of this trait early in his
business career.
Coming to New York from the coun-
try, without friends and with very
little money, he found his way TO
lower Wall street" and walking into
into the counting room and waited
modestly and patiently till he should
divert the attention of Mr.. w, who
was at the moment busily engaged
with some friend. At last the franz
open face of the boy attracted his no.
tlce. and he addressed him with:
What can do for you, sonny?"
Il want a place, sir."
We'll, what can you do?"
The boy answered eagerly:
Most anything, sir.
MIR. W., partly for joke, and partly
to rid himself of the almost too con-
fdent boy, said:
All, ali! Well, just go out and
borrow me couple of thousand dol
lars"
The lad placed his hat on his head,
walked out of the store then passed
slowly down front street till he came
to another large store in the same line
OF business as our friends of the past,
Messrs. S. G. and c., then with bold
but honest look he walked up to the
head of the house and said:
M. W, of V. and Co., sent Inc
down to borrow 81. 000."
He did, my son? How is business
up at your place?'
The boy, having seen the appear
ance of large shipments. answered
quickly:
- cry good, sir"
8" wo thousand dollars, did you sayq
Will that be enough?"
w ell, s., 900 is all he told me, but
if 20 have plenty | think he would
like it if you sent him IS, O0O."
just give this boy a check for 49,
00C for W. and Co.," remarked Mr..
S. to his cashier.
The boy took the check, and with it
returned to Mr.. w, walking back into
the Office with an air of successful
pride, and said:
Here it is, SIR"
Mr.. w, taking one look at the
check and then at the boy, said:
Young man, come il here; you are
just the one l have been looking for ~
And giving him a desk, he set him
to work
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
Twisted Wire Nail.

The twisted wire nail-a cross az IL
were between a screw and the ordin-
airy plain wire nails said to be work.
ing its way into popular favor, and is
believed to represent as great an i'm
provement upon the plain wire rail as
that useful invention is over tae old
cut nail; t1r while the latter tears and
brushes the fibres of the wood as it is
driven, and its tapering shape destroys
the greater portion of its holding pow
er when it is partially Withdrawn, the
plain wire nail, on the contrary. being
pOiaed and smooth, does not crush
the'woOd fbres as does the cut nail.
but presses them aside; and as the d.
ameter of the nail is the same through
out its length. it fits as tightly and
holds as firmly on being partially
drawn as when driven home The
twisted wire nail not only brushes the
wood less than the two other forms of
nail, but by Its screw shape possesses
a much greater holding power than
the other forms. The nail in question
is of English origin; but quite similar
to this screw modification of the wire
nail is the recent American idea
brought forward viz, the making Of a
wood screw that will drive nearly az
well as a nail, ana yet can be with
drawn by means of screw driver az
readily as any screw. Y. Sun.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
Very Good Reasons.

slots of good farming land in this
country" said the first stranger IN the
apology for a hotel in little Missouri
town.
'Ye5?" queried the second stranger
with a yawn.
Sure. It's the first time I've been
in this section, but l couldn't help no.
ticing it. Splendid crops could be
raised here" The first stranger was
enthusiastic.
1T would seem So" The second
stranger yawned again.
''But they don't keep the farms up;
they neglect them wofully. They're
satisfied to make bare living, and
hardly do that continued the first
stranger.
i've noticed it.
THE farms aren't worth much as
they are now, but it seems to me they
could be made valuable"
They could be"
Il should think it would be a good
investment for an enterprising man. "
ut would be-"
'Then why doesn't somebody try
ftp"
II have"
''What was the matter?"
'Natives wouldn't sell because they
were too lazy to move away. And
stranger if lived in this country long
I'd be just about the same way" Chi
cago Tribune.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
BURMESE CUSTOM.
Every Boy Is Tattooed at the Age OF
Fourteen Years,

OF all Burmese customs, one of the
most singular is that of tattoOing the
person from the waist to below the
knees, with figures in black ink.
Every man in the whole of Burmah is
thus adorned; and, unless his skin be
unusually dark, he looks at a little
distance as if he were clothed in a
tight-ftting pair of knee-breeches,
This mark of manhood, which is
usually conferred when the subject is
between II and IA years of age is a
very painful one, and the agony,
which must necessarily be of the most
intense, is often prolonged from three
days to week. The subject 5tupe-
fed with opium, lies iusensible to the
pain, while one figure after another
gradually appears ON his skin. The
instrument used by the tattooer in
doing this dainty work is brass rod
nearly 2 feet in length and J inch in
diameter, weighted at the top with a
little ornamental figure and provided
at the other end with hollow point
divided into four sharp points by cross
Sits. Deep as the points of this stylus
sink into the flesh they seldom draw
blood, but the limbs and body soon
swell in a manner that would alarm
anyone who did not know what the
final result would be.
Eight rupees is the usual fee, paid
the tattooer for his weeks work. The
figures that compose the design vary
little. consisting, as rule. of tigers,
dragons and devils. Each of these
figures is usually surrounded by a
border sentence invoking good luck
upon the owner of the skin wherein
they are inscribed. The Burmese
have many curious customs, the tat
tooed knee-breeches being one of the
most singular st. Louis Republic.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
Politics i'm Their Names.

The recent death of Lecompton
Constitution Bill at a New York hospi-
tai aged 81 years, disclosed the fact
that his father. the Hon. James A.
Bill, of the country town of Lyme,
Conn, he very queer way of naming
his children. He christened them
with the name of the most important
national event at the time of their
birth. Another son is named Missouri
Compromise Bill, and equally odd
names were applied to other children.
Mr.. Bill is notable in his town,
county and state. He has a wonder
fully fine large farm on the shore of
the sound, which is stocked with great
droves of fancy cattle. He has Angora
goats and European and Oriental
sheep. He has taken great interest in
agricultural fairs, has been president
of the New London County and Con-
necticut State Agricultural societies
repeatedly, and usually takes most of
the premiums at the fall shows for his
exhibits. He is short, stout gentle
man OF agreeable manner. 1t is
curious fact that Mr.. Bill never had
any teeth. N. Y. Sun.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
FATE IN A TEACUP,
spoanfns Couples Should Learn All Their
Less ons by Heart

Here are few old superstitions re-
garding the ever friendly cup that
! cheers: If while the tea is being made
and the lid. which has been re-
moved to pour in the water, is forgot
ten, it is sure sign that someone will
drop in to tea"
| If single person happens to have
two spoons in his or her saucer, it is a
prediction that the fortunate Cor I'M
/ Fortunately drinker of that particular
cup will be married within a year
| from that date.
If you put cream in your cup before
the sugar 1t will cross your love-" so
be very careful.
If a tea stalk floats in a cup it is
called a beau and when this is seen
unmarried women should stir their tea
very quickly round and round and
round, and then hold the spoon up
| right in the center of the cup. If the
''beau" is attracted to the spoon and
clings to it he will be sure to call very
shortly, if not that same evening, but
If the stalk goes to the side of the cup
he will not come.
Examine the tea leaves in your cup
II you are plebian enough to boil your
tea instead of drawing it in the refined
and dainty fashion, for lot of leaves
mean money and fortune.
Ii you want to know how many
years will elapse before you may ex-
pect to be married balance your spoon
on the edge of your cup first noting
that it is perfectly dry. fill another
spoon partly with tea and holding it
above the balanced spoon let the drops
of tea gather to the tip of the spoon
and gently fall into the bowl OF the
one below. Count the drops-each
one stands for year.
1t is sign of fair weather if the
cluster of small air bubbles formed by
the sugar collect and remain in the
center OF the cup. If they rush to the
sides 1t will surely rain before night.
When toast is made, three or four
thin slices of bread must be cut the
whole length of the loaf. and placed
one over the other. This done. they
must all be cut in half with one sweep
the knife. If this is done by young
woman and the slices are not severed
clean through to the plate she will not
be married within the year; if the
bread parts in two even heaps, she
might as well order her trousseau. On
no account must she take the last
piece of toast or bread on the plate,
unless she wishes to be an old maid.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
ExtraoT linary Jumping Feats.

The jumping and pole-vaultins feats
OF our contemporary athletes seem but
the work of babies and pygmies when
compared with the extraordinary do
ings of the old-time acrobats. If his
tory is to be believed Phayllus of Cro-
iona could stand and make a fifty-six
foot jump on the dead level. He was
one OF the main athletes at the Olympic
games, his enormous jump forming
a part OF the course Of the Pentathlon.
Strut the noted English authority on
games and amusements, speaks of
Yorkshire jumper named Ireland
whose powers were something marvel
Gus. He was feet high at the age of
Is, at which time without the aid of
springs Or spring board, he leaped
over nine horses ranged side by side,
and another time lightly cleared a
heavy wagon which was covered with
an awning. Colonel Ironsides, who
made voyage from England to India,
early in the present century. relates
that he met in his travels an old white
haired man, who with a single bound
cleared the back of an enormous ele-
phant, fianked on either side with six
camels of the largest breed. A book
entitled ''History Of Wonders Per-
formed at Fairs, mentions an English
man who, at the Fair of St. German,
IN 1924, leaped over the heads of for
ty people without touching one of
them.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
Dogs for War.

The Prussian jaeger battalions have
number of dogs on trial all of them
being thoroughly trained to seek out
wounded soldiers in the field. The
experiments so far have had excellent
results. A number of men hide in a
wood or behind hedges, lying on the
ground face downwards. and with or
ders not to move. As soon as the dogs
are let loose they begin the search.
When they find one of these men they
place their forepaws upon the pros
trate body and begin to bark, an exer-
else which is continued till the bearers
appear and carry the man off, where
upon the dog starts afresh. Each COM
pany of the Laben jaeger has about
twelve of the dogs. Hunting dogs can
not be relied upon on account of their
love of the chase, and therefore sheep
dogs or Pomeranian Spitzhunde are
chosen for the work.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
Is 1t or Is 1t Notl

Paul and Virginia" as we know
Them, are threatened with humiliation
like William Tell and other characters
beginning to be enveloped in the haze
OF myth. NJ. Arene has written an
article to prove that Virginia de la
1our, who was reported to have been
drowned in the wreck of the Saint
SIeran, was really saved by her lover
aand duly married him. NJ. Arene re-
lies largely on a fan said to have been
given to Virginia by NJ. NJ De la Bour-
'aonnais, the colonial governor who
amarried her to Paul, this remarkable
Ean being in the possession of one of
che governors Descendants. Nj. Ana
sole France, however. says that the
tan from the description is pure Louis
Seize, and that as the Saint Geran
vTent down in 1744, it is of no value as
IN argument against the accepted le-
gsud
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
THE PRAISE OF BLIND PIGS.
Strange Tale Told b, Eva Carson In
Harper's Young People.

There was bear who danced for a
living. He did not adopt this occupa-
ton from choice, but from necessity,
and because his master carried a
strong whip. and had quick arm.
But he was a conscientious bear. and
anxious to do his best. although it was
not the sort of work he preferred. He
danced carefully, and practised his
steps along the road, when he travel
led beside his master from town to
town.
One day executing a new waltz as
he went he passed monkey, who sat
On the topmost rail of fence, and sur
veyed the bears performance with a
quiet smile.
'What do you think of my dancing,
sir?" asked the bear, wishing to hear
the opinion of one who had a reputa-
ton for wit and wisdom.
ut is bad enough replied the
monkey. you are a tremendously
clumsy fellow. But you have a GER
tain heavy style of your own, and may
improve if you apply yourself long
enough.
His remarks saddened the bear, but
did not prevent his still trying painful
ly to make his steps correctly.
Presently he came to a couple of pigs,
half blind, who lay doing in the sum
shine beside the road.
''What do you think of my dane
ing?" asked the bear. He was foolish
enough to ask everyone the same
question.
beautiful! Exquisiter' cried one
pig, without opening her eyes.
"Such enchanting grace such a
lovely figure such perfect time!"
grunted the other. Beautiful! beauti-
ful!'' and they both fell asleep again
Immediately.
Then the bear, suddenly seeing what
simpleton he was, sat down and
groaned, hiding his nose in his paws.
'.Now what do you mean?" cried his
master wrathfully raising his whip.
Get up and go on with your steps.
Is that approval enough? What more
do you expect? Dauoe again, that
you may have more praise"
Master" wept the Inundated bear,
al can never dance again. The mon
keys criticism worried me; but he
knew what he was talking about, and
| still had hopes of doing better. But
when [ have fallen so low as to be
treated to fulsome praise from blind
p5gs-I see my case is hopeless, and
that as a dancer I never shall sue
ceedn
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17

his threadbare clothes, there was that
about him which impressed. He dined
with US for several weeks, off and On.
When he did not, it was, as we learned
later, because all his money had gone
for the rent of his little attic room, or
for sculptor's materials.
Do you recall how cold was the win
ter of 40! There were weeks when
| those who worked with the clay needed
well-reddened stoves to keep their
models from freezing and falling to
| pieces; yes, and dared not leave them
! foH an hour unwrapped in clothes and
| fannels. One evening l saw him glid-
ing like a shadow along the narrow
steet toward his lodgings; but he did
not answer my hail and. as had an
appointment to keep | did not follow
him. After that several days passed
bitter cold days and when he never
Joined us, some presentiment of evil Op-
pressed our usually careless thoughts.
until, at last we found ourselves
mounting the rickety stairs in the Rue
de Seine-two flights, three four, five
and we paused breathless before his
room. Ugh! but it was cold No an
swer came to repeated knocks, and
the concierge, at our entreaty, took
the trouble to open the door. All!
what a scenei what a scene!
There lay the sculptor and over hi.
dead face brooded hunger and cold.
His coat and waistcoat were wrapped
around the clay model, which his rigid
arms half embraced, as though to give
If the last warmth of his congealing
blood-a figure of Victory, entire but
/ for the raised hand, from which the
wrappings had fallen away, and which
lay in a thousand fragments upon the
floor.
All Paris talked of the dead man
for a week; and his Victory was
cast and set up here as you see it. Let
me look at your catalogue. All yesl
jean Michard." remember it now,
They have spelled it wrong though -
Harper's Bazaar.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
young Fur Seals.

When the young seal is about q
month old its education begins. One
may wonder wherein this consists, and
this feeling will be intensified when we
learns that it consists in teaching the
young to swim. 1t seems paradoxical
one can hardly believe it-that the
finest swimmer of all amphibious crea-
lures which spends half its existence
at sea, >as no more idea Of swimming
at first than one of our babies. But it
is fact Take a pup and put it out
OF its depth, and straightway its bull
let head sinks, its hind parts flop about
impOtently, and it's death by sutfoca-
ton is the question of only few min
utes, the little creature not having
the least idea of lifting up its head
and getting the air. Such being the
case, its education is a question of
some little time, and is thus effected:
At about six weeks old his instinct
takes him down to the waters edge,
where he paddles about all day long,
now and then washed by the surf, and
now left high and dry, in another mo-
ment perhaps to be rolled over and
over by the water. After a few min
ute5 of this be gets tired, curls himself
round and round like a cat or dog on
the hearth rug. and goes to sleep but
only for short time for the seal at
all ages is the most restless of all
creatures. Then again to the surf,
padding about like our own boys and
girls, every day expanding his own
ideas, and proving to himself that
water is not such dreadful thing after
all. By repeated efforts, then he
learns to keep himself afoat, to reeog-
nize his own powers, and become thor
oughly master of the element in which
he has to spend the greater portion OF
his Efe-All the Year Round.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
ENoLlsHMEN IN NEW YORK.
Obliged to Leave the Contine emit on Ac-
count of Americans.

/
The English colony in New York is
largely made up of young men Of Gull
tured, leisurely habits. with epicurean
| appetites and plebeian incomes. They
are, for the most part younger sons
OF good education and no calling or
| profession. In almost every case in
quiry ELECTS the fact that they are
pensioners on home bounty, They are
| living on limited alowances-iust
| enough to encourage probability
| such allowances being apparently doled
| out with the view to sustaining life
without leaving margin enough for
dissipation or return ticket. In fact,
| in many instances, the allowance is
made conditional on remaining abroad.
| If they should violate this condition it
is work or starve. Under the circum-
stances. it would seem that a CONT
mental life would be preferable, in
view of its cheapness, but these young
| men prefer America. Americans
are kinder to Englishmen, says one
of these young men, than the people
of continental Europe. We have
worked that section of the earth trife
! threadbare. They do not like US.
When it comes to Irdia, Australia.
Canada or any of the English colonial
| possessions, we prefer the United
States. 1t costs more to live here,
| but the life is worth living. Society
J receives US whether we have money
or not InLondon I would be an Office
/ drudge and limited to boarding house
society. Here well-educated, agree
able English gentleman is well thought
OF, and can dine at the expense of
somebody else a good deal of the time.
Speaking of Englishmen in New
! York suggests the recent plant of a
very well-to-do Britisher of the female
sex now in this city, says New York
exchange. you know there are no
distinctive resorts for English people
abroad" she said. We used to go to
| Scotland. but the rich Americans over
ran the country and gobbled up every
available estate. Then we tried
Brighton. but bless you, the hotel
people there will not look at an Eng
lishman where he conflicts with an
American They next drove US out of
every fashionable resort on the CONT
nent lastly the Riviera, our special
stronghold.
We have no longer the exclusive
social sway anywhere outside of Eng
land. 1t used to be t"at The Swiss
! and German watering Ilace hotels
were run chiefly in the interest Of the
English traveller. Now the American
has it all his own way. There are
now more Americans living in villas
about Florence. Como, Rome, Dresden
+ Lucerne and the German spas than
Englishmen. Even Paris is getting to
be dominated by tie stars and stripes.
What are we going to dO2' Come
to America, | suggested. Here, at
least, the American is small potatoes
and few in hill. Here Anglo
mania RACES worse than pleuro-pneu-
monia. Come to America. unhappy,
outawed dethroned people of an eff
fete civilization, and come with con-
fidence and cash-especially cash.
Here you will find a newer growth in
New York to fall down and worship
you.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-17
OLD-TIME SAND GLASS;"
Sand Took the Place of Slate in the
School of Long Ago


Sixty years ago / taught the sand
class in the schools of this city in the
grand jury room OF the old court
house, said a gentleman to Har-
risburg Telegram reporter. The
sand class" exclaimed Gossip.
what in the name of Socrates was a
sand CLASP" And then the ancient
pedagogue proceeded to say: Sixty
years ago the schools of the town oc-
cupied the old court house and | was
one of the scholars. In the grand jury
room there was q long table about
eighteen inches high with strip OF
board fastened on top all around the
sides, thus making the center lower
than the sides. This center was filed
with fine sand an inch deep.
AT the end of the table was a
wheel on which the letters of the
alphabet were printed so that but one
letter would appear at time; around
the table the smallest children of the
school were gathered and each fur
nished with stlrk. |. as the peda-
gogue appointed by the head teacher
would take my stand at the end of the
table and alongside of the wheel, and
as [ moved it would announce the let
ter that was brought to view, which
the children would proceed to make
in the sand with their sticks When
all had made that letter | would level
the sand VITA a comb, and the wheel
would be moved on to another letter.
And these little ones were called the
sand class 1t was an interesting
sight. The system was somewhat like
the kindergarten of the present day,
and it was clearly an economical mode
of supplying writing material" This
was the sand class of sixty years ago.