davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
DINAH UNLOCK CRAIK.
The Romance of tn Lie of the Author
of ..John Halifax"

l was walking along Regent street
this morning when there was pointed
out to me young woman. There was
nothing about her manner, dress Or
appearance to attf act ones attention,
and yet her life holds one of the pref
test little stories on record.
Many years ago there were united in
marriage a far-famed authoress and
the man she loved. The man was a
cripple. but the couple lived an idyllic
life not far from London town. One
day the literary woman heard. quite
incidentally, that a baby had been
found on a stone at the cross roads;
that it had been taken to the town
hail. and that all the gentry about
were going to look at it because it was
such sweet little child. So, follow
ing the example of her neighbors, she
went too. Looking up into the sweet
sympathetic face of the famed authoress
the little lady smiled and put out its
wee hands. The woman could not
resist this, so she determined to take
the child for her very own. Quickly
it was wrapped up and then it became
her baby. Devoted to it. she was yet
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19

you the alphabet, so that you can learn
to read pretty stories. Here is pretty
book, and all these are the letters of
the alphabet This is A." pointing to
eacn one land this is 3, and this is c,
and this is D. Now, remember them
as / tell them to YOU" He named over
the balance of the letters and returned
to A
Nov what is that?"
Henri looked at it moment du-
biously. Il don't know"
''Whatl Don't know?n
'.N-o-o-o."
''Well | declare, 1t isn't five min
utes since TOLD you that was A. Now.
what is the next one?"
Don't know"
''N hat! forgotten that tooo Don't
you know what this is. nor that?n
'N-o-o-o."
If that don't beat all, Here I've
just told the child what these letters
are, and he doesn't know one of them"
My dear, did you expect him to
learn the alphabet in five minutes9"
We'll, no, not exactly; but | expect
him to remember what | tell him, 7
begin to fear that the child has no
memory. Now, sir, | shall tell YOU
what each of these letters are, and
expect you to remember their names.
Briggs repeated the alphabet over
and again pointed to A. Now, sir,
what letter is that2"
II don't know. Boob oo-oo."
See here, Jonathan Briggs cried
his vile you've made the child cry,
and you stop tormenting him this
minute and let him come to me!''
Mrs. Briggs | propose to teach
this child the alphabet. it he is capable
OF learning it, and do not want YOU
to interfere"
Henri wept.
'4ou shall do nothing of the kind
you big brute! Let me have that
child"
Mrs. Briggs!"
'.Mr. Briggs"
Henri wept
'4ou give me that child this in
stant Jonathan Briggs! and | shall at
once go home to my mother and per-
haps my father will have something to
say to you, sir, about treating his
daughter SOL"
Hang your father. Take the
youngun, he's just like your folks,
anyhow" and Mr. Briggs relinquished
the now screaming child. put on his
hat and went out, slamming the door
so hard that it woke up a policeman.
In about half an hour Briggs cooled
Off sufficiently to see that he had made
fool of himself 50 he sneaked back
home. His wife and child both bore
traces of weeping, and his wife refused
to notice him. a very humble apology
and a promise of cloak settled it
with her, and some candy won back
the child.
Henri now attends a select school
where for five dollars per term a sad
eyed girl is teaching him the alphabet.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19

mains Tor the observant to discover
them and make them known. Then
the general public wonders why it new
er before noticed them.
There are few who have not seen the
ordinary sign of jeweller-an i'm
mense imitation of a watch hanging
over the front of the store
But it Is safe to say that the mum Der
who have ever detected anything curl
Gus in these same signs is very very
small. The reader may ask at once,
'Well. what is there remarkable 10
them? | have passed them scores of
times. and / know of nothing strange
IN their construction"
Not to keep the inquirer in sus-
pense, says the y. Y. World, the won
derful feature of these big timepie ces
that don't go is that on almost every
one of them the time indicated is
eighteen minutes past eight o'clock.
And theryby hangs tale.
On the 18th of April, 1865, at this
hour, Abraham Lincoln was - assin-
ated IN FOrd's Theatre, at :, eaning-
ton, by John Wilkes Booth Since
that fatal night every one of these
watch-signs has shown the hour of
8:1S.
Mr.. Washburne tells this story of
how the first Lincoln signs" came to
be painted:
when | first began to make these
clocks / fixed the hands in any way
that my fancy dictated-some at one
time and some at another. The first
watch-sign was for 2. L. Barn. as old
store on COrtlandt street, which was
then The jerome clock company and
which has long since passed out OF exist
ence | don't know how the hands were
on it, and, as | have said, I never cared
until the night Of April IA. 1865. I
was then working on sign for
Jeweller Adams, who kept store on
Broadway, across the street from
Stewards. He came running in while
was at work and told me the news.
Paint those hands at the hour
Lincoln was shot that the deed may
never be forgotten, he said, pointing
to the sign | was making for him.
did so. Since then every watch-sign
that has gone out of here has been
lettered the same as that one
noticed at the time that it was d good
place Tor the hands anyway, leaving
the top and bottom of the dial open
for lettering, and this is probably the
reason why it has been generally
adopted.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
THE PLEIADES.
Their Chief Thousand Times ExceIs
Our Own Sun in BriIlianoy.

Their Chief a Thousand Times ExceIs
Our Own sun in EriIliancy.
The Pleiades are yisibly a group.
Throughout ancient history they were
represented as seven stars, wanting
one. In our own day that small square
of sky space over which this cluster
OF half dozen is scattered has been
found to be occupied by many more
than 2, 600 suns. The distance of the
group from us is estimated as at least
fifteen hundred millions Of millions of
miles, and it is calculated that Alcy-
one, the chief of its stars. must a
thousand times excel our own sun in
brilliancy. Now, in regard to this
goodly company there is evidence that
the ma GRITTY have an apparent motion
in common. But that which is true of
most OF this wonderful crowd of
worlds is not true Of all the individu-
ais that at first sight seem to belong to
it. A few are found to lag behind,
while two at least hurry on in advance
of the general progress. These sets,
then, do not in fact belong to the clus-
ter but, being situated far beyond or
far in front take their places in the
same apparent plane only through the
effect of perspective. The question
may naturally be asked, What can
produce this appearance of motion
either in the stars of the group or in
the stars before and behind it? It
must be produced by reality of motion
somewhere, either on the part of the
stars themselves or else of another
star the SIN with which we are our
selves identified or else on the part of
both combined. 1t is obvious that if
our solar system is in motion the other
solar systems of the sky are likely to
be in mot on ALSO and vice versa.
Thus we mi ht expect that the appar-
ent movements referred to would be a
mixed result and this is found to be
the case.-Edin burg Review
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
Good Advise.

A titled Partisan, aft er wasting
much time in the Latin Quarter, final
ly managed, by hook or crook, to be-
come enrolled as pupil of Gerome.
Day after day the nobleman came,
took his place before the model, and
sketched as best he could. Finally
Gerome paused before the new pupil
one day, and said: You come here
in the morning, what do you do in the
afternoon" 'Oh," said the noble
man, ID ride il the Bots, see a few Of
my friends, and then dress for dinner. :"
you do, unused the master; don't
you think you'd better do the same
things in the morning, also?" The
next week new pupil had the noble
mans place in front of the model
Argonant.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
GUiXZeG bE Lincoln.

Judge Glenni W. Schofeld was a
personal friend of Abraham Loncoln.
A Warren county private. having
knocked down his captain, was tried,
convicted and sentenced to the Dry
Tortugas. His friends urged Schofield
to have him released, so he went to
see the president and told his story.
Listening attentively, Lincoln replied:
Il tell you, Judge, you go right down
to the capitol and get congress to pass
an act authorizing private soldier to
knock down his captain. Then come
back here and | will pardon your
man" The Judge says there was such
an air of quizzical earnestness about
the presidents manner that they both
broke out in an out burst If laughter.
The judge did not press the case fur
her.-Harrisburg Telegraph.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19

determined, as it grew older 1t should
never have its heart hurt by being told
the story of its birth and adoption.
So, as soon as the little girl was
able to understand it. it was lovingly
whispered to her that she had been
found on the large stone which stood
in the center Of the hall and which al
ways was decorated with flowers and
that God had put her there that her
mother might find her. As soon as
she grew old enough, it became her
daily duty to cut the flowers and ar
range them to make beautiful this
great rock that had been dug up from
the cross roads and brought there. To
her it represented the place where the
hands OF the angels had rested when
they laid her down. Curiously enough,
this child became very proud of the
way in which she had reached the dear
mother who cared for her as lovingly
and as tenderly as if she was OF her
own flesh and blood. Her birthday
was the day on which she was found,
and when the tenth one came around,
and child's party was given her. she
was heard asking one little girl, How
old are you?" The other one answered,
81 was born nine years ago" %"
answered the baby. you were born
like other children, but I am better
than that; l was found just where God
had placed me-" The childish pride
was as amusing as it was pathetic.
The years have gone by. the eyes of
the good mother are closed forever to
the sights of the world; but the child
she cared for lives in the great town
of London, and remembers. The child
was the young woman [ saw on Regent
street this morning The athoressp
She was Dinah Mulock Craik author
OF John Halifax, Gentleman. Lon
don Letter.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
1t rs the law.

Here is little incident which may
happen in San Francisco almost any
time under the operation of the
Chinese exclusive law:
Officer-'I hear new Chinaman
has arrived at your house without ac-
counting for himself to the emigration
officers"
All Wang-''There has"
as he a returned merchant? Has he
ever been in the country before?"
He has not"
Then I suppose you know it is
against the law for him to stay here. "
II did not know it."
well it is so. Produce him.
''But he Is only a baby. He was
born this morning"
That makes no difference. Unless
he can prove previous residence in
the United States he will have to be
sent back to the country where he
came from. The law is explicit"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
MEASURES OF LENGTH.
Using the Length of Waves of Light as
standard

Scientists have long sought for
hXed and lnvariable standard of
length. The measures in common use
are mere arbitrary lengths. and, If
the original standard should be de-
stroye1. could not be accurately re-
placed. The French meter is suppos-
ed to be a ten-millionth part of the
quadrant of the earth; but the accur-
acy Of the original measurements
have been seriously called in question.
Therefore, the o-called wave
lengths of light have been suggested
as furnishing an invariable numerical
magnitude, but their excessive minute
ness and the difficulty of accurately
measuring them have hitherto been an
objection to their use. But it is said
that a method of measuring these
wave-lengths which is accurate to the
One-ten- millionth part has been dis
covered. When it is considered that
a wave-length of sodium yellow
light is only about one-forty- thou
sandth of an inch the extreme delica-
cy of this method becomes apparent
Whatever theory may be held as to
the nature of light. the numerical val
ues, called ''wavelengths" for conven-
fence, are actual and invariable repre-
sentatives of something; and if the
proposed new method of measurement
proves reliable, there will be no diff
Guilty in obtaining a fixed standard OF
length which can be reproduced at any
time Or place. Louis Republic.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
THE COFFEE DRUNKARD.
Once Under the influence of the Berry
Release is Almost Imposs bic.


In the course of his studies DR.. Men
del found very few instances in which
the confirmed coffee drunkard was
ever cured, says the London Standard.
The symptoms constantly grow worse.
and are only to be relieved by large
quantities Of the beverage the abuse of
which has caused them. In this way
the victims 60 from bad to worse, for,
though we'll aware of the mischief
being wrought, they suffer so severely
that they are afraid to abandon the
habit least death should end the agony
they experience.
After beginning with the agreeable
infusion of the roasted berries they are
driven, in their search for something
more powerful, TO swallow the tinct-
ure, which, though it operates for a
time in the direction desired, soon
losses its efficacy and has to be swal-
lowed in greater and greater quanti-
ties the evil influence of the coffee
being, of course, heightened by the al
cohol used to extract its essential in
gradients. When brandy is taken,
only temporary relief follows, though
not infrequently intoXication produced
by the latter is eagerly welcomed in
order to deaden the anguish caused by
the inordinate indulgence in the
former.
The last stage of this peculiar dis
ease shows itself in the sallow face and
chilly hands and feet Of the victims,
coupled with an expression of dread
and agony whic / settles over the coun-
tenance-a form of melancholia, alter
mated by hysteria, only to be Temporal
rily relieved by repeated application
to the cotfee-pot or to strong tincture
formed by sleeping the crushed berries
in spirits of wine. Meantime the dis
eased state Of the body is demonstrated
by the acute inflammation. which is
apt to supervene at any moment A
bruise, a cut a prick CT sting, which
in healthy person would be scarcely
noticed, is the starting point for in
fammation of an erysipelatious char
acter, so that it seldom happens that
the coffee inebriate IS long lived.
COffee-dru1kards are more common
among people of a nervous tempera-
ment than II the ranks of the stolid,
phlegmatlc folks, rot easily moved by
any stimulus, or who, like many Ger
mans Drefer eating to drinking
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
A Lar1e.SiZed lnciHen

A big tramp made a big mistake tho
other day at Wiscasset says a Maine
exchange. He entered school house
there where a little miss of the genuine
Yankee stamp presided. There was a
moment of alarm, for the school house
was upon a bleak hillside far from
neighbors. The tramp approached the
teachers desk, evidently liking the
looks of her watch. The spunky little
schOoln1a'am came at him like hor-
net and buzzed around him with her
whip. dealing viciously stinging strokes
with the weapon. The tramp made a
few vain efforts to advance or to catch
his nimble antagonist; then, blinded
and maddened by the flying whip, he
turned and streaked it out of doors and
down the hill. He stood afar off and
shouted ugly epithets at his vanquisher,
but kept away from the whip.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
Life Wade Comfortable.

Borem-Still living in Jersey, Ell?
Hustler-Yes; have no thought of
coming back to the city.
Borem-But it must be very incon-
venient forty minutes by train and If
teen by boat every day, and you've got
to catch both right on the minute.
Hustler-That's what | like about
it You see when people buttonhole
me and get to talking, all | have to 90
is to jerk out my watch, mutter some
thing about train time and | get away
without giving offence. Seq
Borem-Ha, ha! That's good. That
reminds me of little thing Saphead
was telling last
Hustler-By the way, it's train time
now Ta-ta New York Weekly.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
A POOR TEACHER.
An Incident So Comm on That It's Real
ism VIII Delight You.

An Incident So Common That It's Real
ism VIII Delight You.
Jonathan Briggs is the father of a
bright little boy, five years Of age, and
he naturally takes a great deal of
pride in the child and has a deep affec-
ton for the little fellow. About a
week ago the idea got into Briggs
! head that it was time for the child to
commence on the foundation for an ed
ucation.
Maria" said Briggs to his wife,
! Does little Henri know his letters?"
What letters do you mean?" asked
his wife innocently.
The alphabet-does he know the
alphabet? Can he say the letters a, b,
C, d, and so on, like l could when | was
lis age?"
NO, of course he doesn't know the
alphabet; he's never been taught it,
the little dear"
Il am surprised my dear, that his
education has been neglected. l shall
commence at once this evening, when
l come home, to teach him the alpha
bet"
That evening after tea, Briggs
called the child to him.
'.Now, Henri, papas going to teach
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
Her Invention.

A St. Petersburg lady of fashion has
invented an improvement in her turn
out which the local papers say is like
ly to become popular with all the lad
les of her rank. She has a mirror
fastened to the girdle of her driver
when she takes drive. This enables
her not only to see whether her head
gear and dress are in perfect order,
but even to notice the carriages and
the people who are coming up behind
her vehicle
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
A Diamond Neck.L.ace.

A diamond necklace was possessed
by Nine. Godfrey de ST. Hilaire the
wife Of the famous French naturalist
1t was one of the chiefest of her ''con-
tentments, -" as Hindoo women aptly
term their jewels. One day, madame
missed her necklace. There was a
terrible turmoil in the house; and all
the servants, down to the foolish, fat
sculllon, were suspected, but in turn
proved their innocence. At last it was
remembered that NJ. de St. Hilaire had
a pet monkey, and, on q search being
made in the glory hole" of the quad
rumane, the precious bauble was dis
covered hidden away, with d white
satin shoe, several cigar ends. pencil
case and decomposed apple. The
renowned naturalist calmly observed
that he had frequently seen the monkey
playing with the necklace. why did
you not take it from him?" indignantly
asked his spouse. Il thought it be-
longed to him." replied NJ. de st.
Hilaire. He evidently thought there
was nothing non-natural in an ape pos
seSsing diamond necklace as his per-
sonal property.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
A SONG AND A LIFE.
Inc POWER of Song to Move the Heart
and Even Save Life.


and Even Save Life.
1T was in 1876" said Mr.. jackson
to Free Press reporter, that | was
riding on horseback across the noun
talns from Parkersburg Va, to Charles
ton In company with the Rev. Mr..
Perkins, an Episcopal minister There
We're very few Episcopal churches in
those days and Mr.. Perkins preached
at regular intervals in Charleston, al
though he had church in Parkers-
ourg. As we rode along l hummed
the air of the Lament of the Irish
Emigrant song that was very popu-
lar just then. The clergyman became
very much excited. He turned around
On his horse and asked me:
g Do you sing that song?'
- was trying to hum the air. I
said
Let me sing it for you, / know it
well, he said, and he began to sing
and sung until the words echoed with
the air. He had sweet. rich. power
full voice, and l never heard such sing
Ing. In the pathetic parts it brought
tears to my eyes, especially when he
came to the verse:
Pm biddin' you long farewell,
My Mary, kind and true
But I'll not forget you darling,
In the land I'm going to:
They say there's bread and work for all.
And the sun shines always there
But I'll not forget old Ireland,
w ere 1t fifty times as fair"
when he had finished it. neither of
us had anything to say for a spell, then
he turned to me and said:
" MIR. jackson that song saved NV
HE orce. | can never forget it
''He then told me that in 1889, or
40, he had gone on a mission to
Texas. After reaching San Antonio
he had to go some distance up the
banks of river, through a wild coun-
try. riding mustang. He was unfor-
tunate enough to fall in with a gang of
raiders or bandits who took his money.
his gold watch, and his horse, and held
him prisoner. They were lawless.
desperate men, and they bound him to
tree for the night Their camp was
near enough for him to hear them dis
cusslng him and he learned his fate.
He was to be shot in the morning. for as
the captain of the band said, dead
men tell no tales
cit would have all happened as it
was planned, but the young minister,
to whom life was sweet asked time
Tor prayer and it was granted with
many an oath. Then he bethoupht
him of the song he loved, and looking
his last as he believed. on the world.
he began to sing. The men crowded
about HIM. and the captain doffed his
hat and the tears came to his eyes.
* knew then said Mr.. Perkins.
that my life was safe, but | was not
prepared for such complete restitution
rs that which they made Why, the
captain returned my watch and money
and sent two OF his men to direct me
back to my trail. and asked me to
shake hands with HIM. Do you Won
der that | love the Lament and sing
1t whenever / camp"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-11-19
THE FARMERS WIFE,
The Dresry, Monotonous Tread MIL
Round Is Her Fate.

The Dresry, Monotonous Tread Mill
Round IS Her Fate.
Every day of her life she goes
through the dreary, mOnotOnou round.
At an early hour, every morning
through the hot summer, she prepares
the same black coffee and fried pork
(perhaps hot biscuits), and before she
can clear away the breaklasI things
and make the bed she hears the calves
bleating, the milk-cow stamping. both
impatient to have the mornings bust
ness done with. Then comes the
dreary routine of the forenoon's work,
the baking of bread, the washing, and
the like, until the meridian sun warns
her that the everlasting midday meal
is due and must be ready at once. To
round up the duties and responsible
ties OF the day her labors are carried
far into the night and often, very
often, they continue long after those
Of the male portion have ended. She
has long since ceased to think about
her personal appearance. A tender
kiss from her husband would almost
surprise her. Once she grieved that
her little girls were so barely clad;
now, she scarcely thinks of it. That
she should have a spare hour every
day to read never enters her head and
the bare suggestion that on every Sun
day she should 'dress up and devote
herself during the rest of the day to
social intercourse would cause stare
of incredulity. For be it undersl God
that Sunday for the farmers wife is a
sort OF clearance day to adjust odds
and ends of the previous weeks cares
and labors, to be in readiness Tor the
renewed labors of the coming week. -
John W. Bookwalter in the Forum.