davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
A FIGHT FOR A BRIDE.
Peculiar Incident Attending the MarE.
age Ceremony Among the Maoris.

The oblong wedge, the Maori order
Of battle, advanced singing in a low
tone and gesticulating in what they
would have called a mild NJ amer, re
lates a writer in the Popular Science
Monthly. On they advanced the
movement raising no suspicion in the
breast of their adversaries, it being
part OF the customary ritual of the war
dance, until the thin end of the pha-
lanx overlapped the Mania, and stood
between them and the gates of the pa
Suddenly a change was visible in the
antics of the Ngatlroa; their gesticu-
lations became violent Their eyes pr0
truded, their heads were thrown bSc-
and their threats uttered a minl.v
shout. AS the cry passed their IiDs 3
stream of warriors rushed up the banks
OF the gully and joined the cluster 0.
their comrades, now swollen to a com
pact mass Of 600 men. When the
Mania realized the ruse practiced upon
them they never for a moment thought
OF giving up the fair cause Of the IL
cursion without struggle.
Into til pa poured both parties-the
Mania to rally round the girl; the
Ngatiroa, except the small party ex-
pressly told of to carry away the lady
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03

Heavy Braids Ten Feet Long Found In
Coffin Twenty Years Buried.

CONN twenty Years Buried.
A prominent citizen of Warren Sum-
NIT, n. H, recently caused the body
of his mother to be disinterred for the
purpose of burying it in another spot
when it was found that the coffin was
completely enwrapped with the strands
of the ladys hair, even the grave being
filed with the silky masses, which had
to be cut through before the coffin
could be removed. Upon opening the
coffin the remains, with the exception
of the head, were found TO have per-
ished, but the skull was wonderfully
preserved, and even the skin intact,
and from this had grown quantity of
hair, such as no living person could
carry. The lady had been dead twenty
years, and at the time of her decease
her magnificent suit of hair had been
clipped short, so that there is no doubt
of ali that was found in the coffin hav-
ing grown after death.
Her son says however, that his
mothers hair was Of beautiful bright
golden hue, whereas, the post-mortem
growth is of a pale, colorless tinge,
dingy and coarse, though retaining a
sort OF vitality. 1t had forced its way
through the seams of the coffin, and
twined about it like the tendrils of
vine, and was so thick as to hide it
completely, while it filled the coffin as
entirely. It was calculated that there
were nearly seventy-fve pounds of it
in all, and that the strands were fully
ten feet in length. The lady on whose
head this grew died at the age of 81,
and after an illness of only a few
hours, consequently retaining her ro-
bust and full-habited figure, which
may possibly account for the extraor-
binary growth. When it was removed
from about the coffin the latter fell
apart, showing that it was held to-
gether by the hair.-Cincinnati En-
quirer.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
NOTHING GOES TO WASTE.
Even the Dirt of London is Made to Yield
Much That is of Value.

There are about $50, 900 tons Of
household refuse to be disposed of in
London every year and many expe-
dients have been resorted to in order
to do the work WE'LL Much of the
refuse is sent down the Thames in
barges and spread on the marshes. A
new company is now trying to make
better use of this material by sys-
tematic process. Upon arrival at the
works all the refuse is sorted by pass
ing through cylindrical sleeves and
screens of sizes ranging from three
inch to One-half inch mesh.
Paper and rags are used for paper
making, straw for board and fuel,
wood is burned, tin is saved for scraps,
bones for manure, bottles and glass are
sold or remelted, and stones, vegetable
and animal refuse, rubbish, coal ETC.,
are ground up and mixed with dust
thus being reduced to a harmless, dry
powder. The cinders and coal are
burned under the boilers, or they are
saved and sold to the brickmalzers, or
mixed with pitch and pressed into
bricquetts for fuel.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
CHARLES LAMBS NATURE.
1t Combined KindUness With u Good
Hu,oored Sarirical Rent

HI COmDlneu hIndIneSS NltH u Good
HUNDRED Satirical Bent.
The ChautauQuan says of Charles
Lamb that he possessed that highest Of
heart qualities, universal human ter
derness. He always saw the best in
men and awakened it, sometimes from
a long sleep. How could hate him?"
he said o. some one, Don't | know
him? [ never could hate any one
knew" 1t was this ready comprehen-
sion of every mans nature that made
him say, in his whimsicalway: Il love
a fool as naturally as if | were kith
and kin TO him"
Nor was it fondness which made
him blind to his friends foibles. Of
queer Martin Burney he wrote: why
does not his guardian angel look after
him? Maybe he has tired him out. :"
Of Wordsworth, who had declared he
could have written Hamlet if he'd
had the mind. he said: 1T is clear
nothing is wanting but the mind" OF
his landlord he wrote: He has e45 a
year and one anecdote.' OF every
body he made keen Characterization
but always with kindness.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
ONLY A SPIDER.
Yet It Brought Ruin and Defeat to the
Dutch Nation.

Dutch Nation.
When the French quartermaster,
Disjonval was confined in prison by
she Dutch at Utrecht he sought to be-
guile the tedium of his prison life by
attentively studying the habits of the
spiders which frequented his cell, and
eight years of Imprisonment gave him
leisure to be well versed in their ways.
In December of 1874 the French army,
on whose victory over the Dutch de-
pended Disjonvar5 restoration to lib
erty, were in Holland, and the victory
seemed certain if the frost which was
then Of unprecedented severity. con-
tinued.
The Dutch ENJOYS had failed to ne
gotiate a peace and Holland was de-
spairing when the frost suddenly
broke. The Dutch were now exulting,
and the French generals prepared to
retreat; but the spiders of Disjonval's
cell forewarned him that the thaw
would be Of short duration, and he
knew that his little insect weather
monitor never deceived him. Accord
ingly he contrived to communicate his
weather knowledge to the army of his
countryman, and its generals, who duly
estimated his Oisjonvars) character
relied upon his assurance that within
few days the waters would again be
frozen so as to be pas5able to the
French troops. They delayed their
retreat; within twelve days a sharp
freeze set in, and the French army tri-
umphed. Disjongal was released. and
a spider had brought ruin to the Dutch
nation.-St. Louis Republic.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
So Cruel of Them!

A couple who did not move in the
most exalted social circles of River
mouth, Mass, were united in the holy
bonds of matrimony upon the day
which followed the funeral of the first
wife of the groom. The conventional
sense of propriety in the neighborhood
was shocked by this haste. and upon
the night of the wedding there was
gathering to serenade the pair. The
charirari was at its height when the
bride appeared darkly at the window.
'.Ain't you ashamed" she cried in hot
indignation, Ito come here making
disturbance like this, when we had a
funeral only yesterday"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
For Finding the Sea Level.

An apparatus for measuring tho
mean level of the sea is announced.
1t is based on the principle that when
liquid wave traverses a capillary
tube or a porous partition its ampli-
tude diminishes, and it is retarded in
its phases without the mean level OF
the wave changing. 1t consists of a
glass tube. the lower end communicate
ing by a flexible pipe with a plunger
which is lowered beneath the lowest
water level. There are two cells in
the plunger, the lower being filed
with sand and open to the sea, the re-
suit being that the column of water in
the tube rises and falls very little with
the tubes, and the mean sea level can
be read from a graduated scale.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
TWENTY YEARS AGO.

How wondrous are the changes
Since twenty years ago
When girls wore wooden dresses
And boys wore pants Of tow.
And shoes were made of cowhide
And socks of h0mespun WOOL
And children did half days work
Before they went to school
. The people rode to meeting
In sleds instead of sleighs,
And wagons rode as easy
As buggies nowadays
And oxen answered well for teams,
Tho now they'd be too slow
For people lived not half so fast
Some twenty years ago.
Oh. well do / remember
The Wilson pa. 1T stove
That father bought and paid for
In cloth the girls had wove.
And all the neighbors wondered
How we got the thing to go.
They said 'twould burst and kill US all
Some twenty years ago.
The girls took music lessons
Upon the spinning wheel
And practiced late and early
At spindle swift and reel
The boys would ride the horse to mill
A dozen miles or SO,
And hurry off before twas day,
Some twenty years ago.
Yes, everything hes altered so
can not tell Use,
For men are always tumpering
With natures wondrous laws.
And what on earth we're coming to,
Does anybody know2
For everything has changed so much
Since twenty years ago.
New York Tribune.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
Growth Of Christian Work.

Seventy-five million dollars is con-
tributed yearly in the United States to
the sustenance of the church. $31, 900, :
900 more being for purposes purely
devotional. Within the century now
drawing to a close $50, 900, 900 copies
of the Bible have been printed in 226
different languages. Fifty years ago
there were 502 missionary stations in
foreign parts; there are now 5,765.
Fifty years ago there were 653 ordained
missionaries; to-day there are 6,696
such servants of the Lord. Then there
were but l, 266 other laborers and
helpers abroad; now there are 40, 552.
Philadelphia Times.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
COULDN'T BEAT HIS PIPE.
Captain KS Ingenious GxPedient to De-
feat an Inventive Adversary.

Captain KS IngenioGs Gxpedient to De-
feat an Inventive Adversary.
There were two captains in the
til cavalry. Each was proud Of
his record, his horses, his family his
dogs-in short everything that was
his. II one had a thing that ne par
ticularly priced, the other had a bet
ter one, or got one, or tried to get one
Captain X. had a very old meer5chaum
pipe, and, seeming an antiquity, he
sent it to an expert in.New York, who
returned it with a certificate to the eff
feet that it was 800 years old. He i'm
patiently waited until the officers as
sembled at headquarters the next
morning, exhibited his prize, and read
the figures on the experts certificate.
Captain B., his rival, declared that
his family had a meerschaum pipe that
had been in their possession for 900
years.
Now Captain X. was too polite to
remind Captain 3. that neither t0bac-
co nor pipes were known in Europe
900 years ago, and he went home
crushed. There a bright idea occur
red to him, says the New York Sun.
He put a figure l before the 800 On his
certificate, and his pipe was certified
to be 1900 years old. The next
morning he returned to headquarters.
announced that he had made a mis-
take in reading the certificate the
previous day, and that his pipe was
really 1900 years old. To prove it
he showed the certificate.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
A Postage stamp with a RabY,s EEend.

Spanish postage stamps have caused
widespread interest for some time
past, because they have been issued
with TIE haby-boy kings head Alton
so NH. was born on the 18th of May
1886. and has the rare honor of being
the only monarch whose likeness was
printed on a stamp before he was four
years Old. Not that there have been
no child kings before him in Europe
but none since postage stamps came
into use
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
A Rhode Island Invention,

A novel machine, cal ed a whip
hosting drum. has been invented in
Rhode Island, for unloading lumber
and other freight from vessels, and is
found to be a great improvement on
ordinary methods in the saving of time
and labor. The machine has three
drums which operate two derricks. and
a central line which runs to the hold
OF the vessel; the power is furnished
by an electric motor OF 10-horse power,
the capacity OF the motor being 800
volts and making 1000 revolutions to
the minute. A belt connects the mo-
tor with the shaft which operates the
drums, the power being transferred to
the drums by what is called a paper
friction; each drum is operated by a
lever and can be stopped in an instant.
The motor is a self-oiling machine, q
drop of oil falling on the bearings
every thirty seconds. When the lum-
Der is drawn from the vessel, a large
hook from the wharf derrick is at
tached, and the sticks are transferred
in the most ready manner to any part
of the ward
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
An Accomplished Wife.

"Ah old fellow" said a Texas gen.
tleman to another on the street. 80
you are married at last. Allow me to
congratulate you. for hear you have
an excellent and accomplished wife"
Il have. indeed" was the reply.
''she is accomplished. Why. sir, she
is perfectly at home in literature at
homo in music, at home 10 art At home
In science-in short at home every
where except"
Except whereof"
Except at home "-Tsxas SiftingY.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
a Great Foot.

A shoe dealer in Middletown, n. Z,
on measuring a customer the other
day was amazed to find his foot so
large that shoes to fit could not be
found IN stock anywhere in town. Ac-
cordingly they were made to order,
and were fifteen inches long. inches
across the sole, II inches around the
instep and y inches in the heel.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03

Argand. the inventor of the famous
lamp which bears his name, had been
experimenting for some time in trying
to increase the light given out by his
lamp, but all to 40 purpose. On a
table before him one night lay an oil
flask which had accidentally gotten
the bottom broken off, leaving a long
necked, funnel-shaped tube. This
Argand took up careles ly from the
table and placed, almost without
thought as he afterwards related,
over the fame. A brilliant white light
was the magical result. 1t is needless
to add that the hint was not lost by
the experimenter, who proceeded to
put his discovery into practical use by
''inventing" the common glass lamp
chimney.
Hundreds of discoveries which have
been heralded to the world as the
acme of human genius have been the
results Of merest accident, the auger,
calico printing, inflammation of rub
Der, ETC.. being among the number.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
DEATH BRAEELY MET.
A Recent Military Execution in One of
the Mexican States.

Monterey and the state of Nuevo
Leon has been the theatre OF many
military tragedies, but the shooting OF
Salvador Estuperron, second lieu
tenant OF the Mexican cavalry. May
10, was the saddest that has ever dark
ened the annals of the state. A brief
history OF the event which led to this
execution is necessary to proper
understanding of the case, says the
obe-Democrat.
Last December a company of the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
Did Not Want to Tell All.

1t was an evening school in Provi-
dence, r. l. There was a class of
restless. dirty newsboys and bootolacks
on the front seat trying to see how lit
tie they could study and how much
they could annoy the teacher Finally
the teacher called up the class and put
them through the catechism of the
United States history.
'Who discovered American"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
Taking Chances.

She-You know, Dick that papa is
not nearly as rich as he is reported to
be-
He-Oh. well, he is likely to make
u fortune before he dies. l shall have
to take my chances like the rest of the
follows. | suppose. Puck.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
NOT A WASTE,
To Spend Your Money For ANY Thing
that Will Give You Pleasure.

that Will Give You Pleasure.
1t is not a waste to spend your
money in cabs, in good medicine and
in good things to eat when you are
going to get health from them.
1t is not a waste to buy somebody a
bunch of flowers, a box of candy or q
new book, for it is going to bring a
smile to her face and happiness 10 her
heart.
1t is not a waste to scatter pleasant
words everywhere; you will reap q
benefit from them.
1t is not a was to have your coats
and trousers, gowns and Jackets well
made, for they will wear much longer.
1t is not a waste to spend your
money on newspapers and magazines,
because then you learn to talk about
something else besides your neighbors'
affairs.
1t is not waste to spend your
money at all-that is what money is
made for 1t was made to give the
greatest amount of pleasure and hap
piness to you and me- and we are con-
summate fools if we don't realize that
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
Waste Products,

A new application of waste products
is the manufacturing from cedar wood
pulp of a paper for laying under car
pets and Wrapping wool. furs and other
things on which moths love to feast.
The paper makers get the cedar chips
from the pencil manufacturers, and
the paper has been voted Il great sue
Cess by everybody but the aforesaid
moths, who simply can't bear it.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
The Latest COMPLAINT.

The last complaint OF the great gun
ships is that their weapons often miss
fire. owing to the failure of the two
foot long tube. containing the firing
charge to carry the spark
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
{ Ork.

A process has been discovered by
which the specific gravity of cork can
be reduced one-third, thus producing
material only half the weight of com
mon cork. This will enable anyone at
sea 10 carry life-belt in his pocket.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03

A grocery clerk puts down an order, and
then he puts it up.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-09-03
The MuIe il Tough.


The vitality of the mule is little
short of amazing. In Memphis one
fell twenty-five feet down an opening
in the street. 1t landed on it's head
and, the hole being narrow, it was I'M
able to change its position. 1t was
supposed that. the beast had broken
its neck, as a sharp, clicking noise
was heard when it struck bottom.
After half an hour the mule was
hoisted out by the heels and laid on
the ground. 1t showed no signs of
life, but Notwithstanding, it was given
brandy literally and, in a little while,
to the surprise of the thousand specta-
tors who had collected, the mule rose
to his feet and walked off as though
nothing unusual had happened. de-
troit Free Press.
A Good Horse.
In 1867 there was born on the farm
of Laforest Ellis, al Sidney, Maine. a
sorrei colt, and could the horse talk he
would furnish story that would COM
pare in a measure with BLACK Beauty"
He grew well al his Maine home, and
GU CAAC clS3 . VI SCII SIIdLISo anu NIobLl-
son Ellis. brothers Of his owner, took
fancy to the colt ana bought him,
paying $500. They took him to Bos-
ton and used him about two years Us IA
driving horse. About that tiue ,he
fine qualities of the animal att. ed
the attention Of Springer Bros, and
they wished to purchase him, which
they did, paying large sum.
For years Jack remained with them,
and when, at the age of "a years, his
owners wished to have him spend the
remainder Of his days as comfortably
as possible, made arrangements with
Mr.. Ellis his first owner, to have him
go back for the rest Of his life to the
farm where he was foaled. Mr. Ellis
says that he is perfectly at home and
can open the stable door and unite his
halter the same as when a colt. He
seems as happy as a school-boy. Jack
in his old age is well preserved, as he
always had the best of care. If others
who have such faithful horses would
be more careful to have them used
well when they become old, it would
be only just to be kind to them for the
years of service they have given.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-09-25
Bonds and Currency.

In 1866, after the war, by the call
ing in and destruction of greenbac6
money issued during the war to pay
debts to soldiers, sailors. contractors,
public officers, etc, as authorized by
congress- interest drawing bonds were
issued in exchange for the money
called in and destroyed.
This volume OF money put into cir
culation during the war was a help to
trade, commerce and industry. Taken
out and converted into government
bonds. on which the people had to pay
interest-in gold-the union soldier
had to return home to work to pay
himself for being shot at, the farmer
had to pay interest on money taken
from him. and he had to pay taxes on
all his wealth in land and implements.
while the man who got the bonds
principal and interest payable in gold
for greenbacks. had and has no taxes
to pay.
What followed? The rate Of inter-
est went up. The rate Of taxation
went up, and the price of labor went
down.-Exchange.
The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-09-25
Stand by the Demands,

The more we read the comments of
the press of both parties, and note it's
attitude toward the Alliance, the more
united and determined we should be
in our efforts to secure the reform
measures which the Alliance has in
augurated. There is an under-current
that is sweeping against the founda-
ton of our order with such a force,
that unless vigilantly watched and
earnestly resisted, will have the effect
of destroying much of the power and
influence of the organization. While
our brethren are sanguine of accom-
plishing many things for the good of
the organization, they should not be
forgetful OF the fact that the mightiest
forces arrayed against us are to be re-
sisted; and in order to resist them sue
cessfully we must be united in one
solid line. We must hazard almost
anything in order to secure the utmost
unity and harmony in the organiza-
ton. The most essential prerequisite
to the sccurement of any reform in
which the masses of the people are in
WI SoCSA 40 OuAOy, eiAO VIC StOluOulSIl OuE
brethren throughout the country to
stand by the demands as adopted at
Ocala, Florida. They are the embodi-
ment-the essence-of the principles
of honest, just wise and economic
government and it is our duty to main
tain them. After calm and deliberate
reflection they were formulated for
adoption by that great convention, and
seeing in them the embodiment of wis
dom and justice, they were adopted as
the platform Of the Farmers Alliance
and Industrial Union of America. We
have espoused a great cause-one that
requires gigantic efforts on the part of
an oppressed and downtrodden class of
people to throw off the letters of the
enormous money powers of the coun-
try, and let not petty Jealousies and
chickering's estrange you IN the fight
against these monsters Farmers ADJ
vocate, n. c.