davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-30

VIGOROUS IN THEIR OLD AGE.
Women Who Accumulated Years with
Grace, Smiling in Times Face.
Ii is an acknowledged fact that a
great age is attained by women oftener
than by men. Tissot, with doubtful
gaIlantry, accounts for this by dtclar-
ing that the large amount OF talking
for which women are famous is q very
healthy exercise and promotes the cir
culation OF the blood without overeX-
ertlng the organs. The true reason
probably lies in the quieter and more
regular life usually led by women,
whose nervous systems and brains are
consequently not worn out SO quickly,
as q rule, as those OF men.
One of the most famous Of female
centenarlanS was the Countess of DeS-
mOnd, who lived to be l45, and died
in the reign Of James l. from the eff
fects Of an accident, according to the
New York World This wonderful wo-
man found herself, at the age of 100,
so lively and strong as to be able to
take part in a dance; and when she was
140 she travelled all the way from BriS
toll to LondOn-nO tritting journey III
those days-in order to attend personal
ly to some business affairs.
Lady Desmond is, however, quite
thrown into the shade by French
woman, Marie PriOn, who died in st.
Colombo, IN June, 1S3S-it is said
at the wonderful age of l5S. Towards
the end of her life she lived exclusive
" on goats milk and cheese. although
her body was SO shrunk that she only
weighed forty-six pounds, she retained
all her mental faculties to the last.
1t is an extraordinary but incontesta-
bic fact that some women at the age
when most people die undergo sort
of natural process OF rejuvenation-the
hair and teeth grow again, the wrinkles
disappear from the skin, and sight and
hearing reacquire their fOrme> sharp
ness. A Marquise de M1rabeau is an
example OF this rare and remarkable
phenomenon; she died at the age Of
sc, but a few years before her death
she had become in appearance quite
young again. The same change hap
pened to a nun named Marguerite Yer
dur who at the age Of 81 lost her
wrinkles regained her sight, and grew
several new teeth. When she died ten
years later, her appearance was al
most that of a young girl.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-30

there lowering about III the darkness
less bright now, and with Il pale yellow
halo. But it faded quite away; it was
a crJei, hooking dream.
Then was it dream when the old
curtain, which d Tide her corner Of the
nut from Ter tuners NOV u lt..r t4..
ground-blIged signify towa.,. Eel .
1t woIlid he curious 10 See Snd .s..e A..
still
From under the curtain seemed to
come a thin arm, ana slowly, cautious
Iy, after the arm ahead with 4 great
shock Of hair. AID then the moon
beams just touched Il tace-i think
they kissed it, though it was black. for
tEeE lound IN Il black hand the little
yellow object which had ffo.,ted IN the
urst dream
1t was all so real. SO beautiful. that
the CHILD lay stiu. scarce daring to
breath, lest the vision should melt away
and when III her dream came the voice
Of her father with the words. Sneak
OF I'll fire. her lips refused 10 omen.
But il was nc dream when the shot
came, and the black king rolled over
81 the earth dead, with the little gold
nugget he had come to restore pressed
LII the death agony against his heart.
where, 100, was little gold.
and the laughing birds on the old
tree, startled from their sleep by the
shot, laughed once more wildly and
madly ut HIly's honesty, but there
was bitterness in their maIriment, for
tier master, the devil, had been cheat
ed OF the soul Of d black KING.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-30
LONGEST TUNNEL IN TIL
WORLD.
THE
Now Under Construction Twelve Miles
Through the Simplon Mountain.

The longest tunnel in the world will
be that now to be constructed through
the Simplon. According to the final
plans adopted it will have a length of
1876 miles, OF 81 miles more than the
st. Gothnrd tunnel The northern
mouth will be situated about $500
yards south of B1ieg, at the little vii
lage of I'm Raft, and the southern 600
yards beyond Ivelle, just below the
present wall gallery. About one-half
of the tunnel facing north will have an
incline Of Is per 1000 yards just stuff
icent to cause the water to run off,
while the southern portion will have an
incline Of 6.5 per 1000 yards The
process of boring will be the same as
that followed with the Arlberg tunnel,
says the New York Advertiser. Work
shops and depots are to be established
on the right bank of the RhOne, close
to the northern entrance, at a cost OF
100000 france. The power of work.
ing required is estimated at 1 ,45O horse
power. viz: $40 for boring purposes,
7SO for ventilation and 266 for cleo
trio lighting, etc.. e., at the end of
the tunnel alone, for which purpose
the River Massa is to be damned up.
At the southern side a similar station
is to be established, which is calcula-
ted to cost 100000 francs and to fur
nish 2.76O horse power, derived from
damming up the River Cairasca. The
tota cost of the remaining works is
estimated at SO,OOO,OOO francs Of which
100000 francs are contributed by
the various states interested in the
scheme In order to facilitate the I'M
dertaking a track is to be laid on the
road between Dornodossola and Iselle,
while in the borings are to be used
Brandt's rotary boring machines. 1t
is calculated that the work will occupy
eight years and a half.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-30
A DOORSTEP COMEDY.

Mrs. c. is one Of those unfortu-
nate ladies who are rarely out OF COM
municatiOn with the servants regis
try office. TradeSmen and others who
frequently call at her house are met
ut the door with a perpetualIy chang
ing staff Of dOmestics. On one occa-
sion when a ring was heard, for some
reason or other Mrs. c. herself went
down, and opening the door found out
side the mllkbOy. Seeing her he lean
ed against the doorway and gave vent
to prolonged whistle. Then imagine
her feelings when he addressed her
thus:
What. Another fresh un. She's a
brute, she Isl"
He had mistaken her for another
new servant.-LondOn Tid-Bits.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-30

yolved in that disturbance were changed
by heat and pressure and the conse-
quent expulsion of volatile matter from
bituhinous to anthracite Canned coal
IS variety d bitU.a5nous coal which
burns with great freedom. the fame IF
it afording considerable light. It Eas
called candle coaI' by he English
people who first used it. is It osten
served as a substitute for can lies. III
name became corrupted to Camel
and has so remained. It is more COM
pact than ordinary biuminoUs coal and
it can be wrought in a lathe and pol
Yorkshire, England. is manufactured
into kind of jewelry known as let"
ished. i certain variety Of ii found in
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-30
OTHER PEOPLES BLUNDERS,
Funny to Everybody but the Perpe-
traitor, to Whom They Are Solemn.

uuIll W ILNCIy Doby but thiS , ~ ~
traitor, to Whom They Are Solemn.
'sWhy are other peoples blunders
so much funnier than our OWN de-
manded the wrinkled man at the south
east corner of the table, whose head
looked as though it had taken long
journey in trunk too loosely packed.
''When I fell on the street this after
noon everybody was amused but my
SELF
''Once upon a time," the reporter
for the New York Recorder broke in,
81 was deeply in love with certain
beautiful woman. At an evening en-
tertainment I chancd to sit next her
on a small divan. My brain reeled,
I thrust my hand into a back pocket
as I supposed. and drew forth my hand
kerchief. With it I mOpped my fevered
brow. But, alas! in my agitation /
caught up a young kitten. My neigh
bors laughed while it clawed my fore
head. / laugh, too, though [ think with
our friend here that the others were
most pleased"
II saw my absent-minded sister, Oh
one OCCASION" said the minister's wife,
"after having stalked up long church
aisle very late, enter the family pew
with a smallmantel clock under her arm
'sWhat have you there?' I WHISPERED.
aghast.
my prayer book" said she. Then
she looked and Gggled, too, though l
really don't suppose it was so merry
a giggle as tie rest Of the congregation
wre induls mg in"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-30

A citizens convention at Oconto NOM
mated VIM. H. Young for mayor.
Charles Cook for treasurer and Samuel
Simpson for assessor.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-03-30

After being thought dead for twenty
years a man named John s. Graves
turned up on the 14th at Huntington,
Ind, to claim fortune left by his uncle.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1893-12-23
MIRMAs
BELIEF IN SANTA clAtIs

The belief in Santa Clans gave me
years unqualified satisfaction,," saws
Mrs. Burton Harrison Whether it was
actually swallows in the chimney top or
flying squirrels gamboling upon our
caves. | believed sundry noises of the
night to be the paving of tiny chargers
on the roof. When recently | asked a
small person OF 6 whether he still be-
lieved in Santa Claus and he answered
me i'll whitening good English, 'Inever be-
lieved in Santa Claus; always thought
it was parents. | felt quenched and de-
jected beyond reason"
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1893-12-23
RECON-
BY R. K. MUNkiTTRIok

II was about a week before Christina
when Colonel Smith was wandering
homeward upon the main thoroughfare
of the city of his adoption, The colonei
was as full of the spirit Of the merry sea
SON as was the very air itself. He thought
of the presents he MAS about to make
and of those which he expected to receive
as he east his eyes about him and. saw
fine shop windows full of the latest nov
elites ii toys.
When he was lost in such a pleasant
Christmas reverie as he hadn't had since
he was a small boy, he happened to pass
along in front of great marble hotel.
At the time he was passing a painter
was engaged in the act of retoning. some
of the inside blinds at an open window.
It is not likely that it will ever be known
inst how it happened, but the painter,
while probably preoccupied with dreams
of the approaching holiday, toppled the
not of paint off the window sill, from
which point it whirled through the chilly
ashen air and deposited about three
quarters of its contents upon the colo
mel.
The latter was as red with rage as he
was with paint when he flew into and
through the main entrance of that hotel
and presented himself at the office.
Sir exclaimed the colonel in a tow
ering rage. What kind of treatment do
you call this. sirf''
Pretty rough. replied the clerk, not
knowing exactly what to say, because he
was ignorant of the accident that had
just happened.
Il am glad" roared the colonel, with
beautiful irony, that You are at least
kind enough to assume an attitude of
sympathy. bnt am here. sir, to demand
satisfaction for damages. AS was pass
ing, sir, one of your painters, sir, upset
pot of red paint upon ME, sirl"
Here the colonel paused for breath,
and the clerk, learning the cause of his
trouble, became very profuse in his
apologies.
Il am sorry it happened, sir, very
sorry. But you should not be SO unrea-
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1893-12-23
- 49,
SUITABLE GIFTS

Don't be too particular about giving
useful Christmas presents. notwithstand-
ing that hosts of practical individuals.
especially those of philanthropic turn
of mind, are forever advising Just to
the contrary. OF course where extreme
poverty is in question, when the very
necessities Of life are lacking, ton of
coal or basket of provisions is doubt
less more suitable gift than would be
a silken table cover or an embroidered
scarf; but, barring such extreme cases,
the greatest degree of benefit and happi-
ness experienced by the exchange of
gifts at the season of good will to men"
does not. as a rule, result from those Of
a strictly useful nature After all, men
and women are only boys and girls
grown tall; and, pray, what healthy bow
or girl would prefer pair of boots to a
toy pistol or u pair of skates. doll or a
box of candy, as his or her annual con.
tribution from Santa CLAUSE;
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1893-12-23

were right in sight. It seemed doubly
hard for Tom to be bowled over just at
this time and harder still to know that
the chances were all against him. The
only hope had was that his robust con-
stitution would pull him through this
mysterious illness, but as he lost
strength and grew weaker day by day
even this hope died away.
The "chinook" lasted nine days 1t
seemed as if summer had come back. /
nursed Tom, gathered lot more wood,
made the shanty more comfortable and
dug grave for Tom on a knoll 80 feet
back of the cabin. IF he pulled through,
he would never know it; if he died,
could not leave his body above ground
to be eaten by the wild beasts. He had
hardly spoken since his illness, his mem
tai faculties seeming to be benumbed,
and | was therefore greatly surprised
when / came in from my grave digging
to find him looking better than for days
before | took it as sign that he had
passed the crisis and would now mend,
and was trying to cheer him up when
he said:
Sam, heard you at work. You have
done right You know you could have
depended on me to do the same"
"Why, Tom. old man, you are much
better todayl You are surely going to
pull through! was digging bit to
run the water off if it came on to rain.
But he was not deceived. After bit
he told me of his old mother and sister
in the east and asked that his share of
the find might be sent them in case
things turned out right. That night the
chinook" vanished as swiftly as shad-
ow moves, and winter came bowling
down on us. 1t was the Goth of Deem
Der. Before morning it was far below
zero, and heavy snowstorm was raging,
and Tom had relapsed into his former
lethargie state. was in for it now for
sure-snowed up on the mountains with
dying man for companion. From the
morning of the Goth to the afternoon of
the cath the man never uttered a word;
sometimes he would open his eyes as
moistened his lips or forced little soup
down his throat, but he neither knew
nor saw me. knew by the look of his
eyes that he was stone blind. About 8
o'clock on the afternoon of the date Civ
en-, as | returned from the spring with a
kettle of water. Tom quietly asked:
Sam. is it near Christmas day."
within few hours.
And you have got the grave ready?"
why. man, you won't need grave
for years to come. Come, now. want
to try you with a bite to eat, and FL
warrant you'll feel better for it.
But before could get around to it he
had again become unconscious, and the
next and the last time heard his voice
was late that night; don't know bat it
was Christmas morn, for it was mid
night or after when he moved an arm
and broke my sleep. By this time had
of course given up all hope and realized
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1893-12-23
CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY.

A Week of Successive Feasts and Rollick-
ing Festivities.
Christmas IN Germany is not limited
TO one day. but extends over week Of
successive feasts and festivities The
family gatherings are usually very large
and the lnerriment correspondingly
great The obseryanees are usually in
augurated on Christmas eve with a sup
per.
The tree, which is comparatively
small, is placed III the center of the ta-
BILE. where it stands until after the New
Year. retaining its tinsel decorations.
The gifts are not suspended from the
tree. but are placed in parcels about it
and under the table The presents are
distributed amid great hilarity by an ell
der son or brother. who makes up as a
joyial St. Nicholas. The children, Ike
children everywhere. enjoy their toys,
which are less expensive and more pr2c-
teal than ours, and their elders rejoice
in additions to their personal wardrobes
and household belongings
The supper is a comparatively plain
one. The table is set forth with backerei,
meat or sausage, herring salad, French
cake or German tart and light beer or
wine After heaIths have been drunk
and songs and chornses sung, the final
ceremony is 10 bid every one 'Froehliche
Weihnacht. and the party disperses.
The Christmas dinner is GA more eIab-
CRATE scale. The piece de resistance con
sists of roas; goose. the national dish 1t
is stuffed with apples or chestnnts and
preceded by ii soup aud accompanied by
kartoffei (potatoesl blumenkohl (cauli-
hower) or rosenkraut brussels sprouts)
and sauerkrant, the latter cooked and sea-
soned. and a compete of plums er other
fruit cooked with vinegar, sugar and
spices. The dessert upon so important
day may consist of two dishes beside fruit.
pudding and APPEL krapfe1 This will
perhaps be of rice stewed until tender in
milk, and then blended while hot with
fine chopped and sifted beef suet, raisins
and eggs, whites and yolks both well
beaten. This is sort of German plum
pudding, for it is boiled in a cloth or
mold and served with hot and sweet
wine sauce.
These feasts are renewed every day
until the inception of the New Year. and
then whoever you meet, wherever you
are, the greeting is passed, "Prosit Neu-
jahr" Happy New Year,, and the Christ
mas season comes to an end.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1893-12-23

that II was only II question of few
hours more. His long fast had reduced
him to mere skeleton, and during the
last two days could hardly get the beat
ing of his pulse or heart. BY the time
was awake. he said:
Sam, where are you? cannot seel''
took his hands in mine and bent over
him as | said:
Here am. old fellow, Do you feel
better?"
I'm most gone, Sa1ni And it's
Christmas day, amt it?'
Yes" answered. greatly surprised
that he had kept the run of time so ac-
curately. But you are not going. Tom:
you are better!
christmas day in the old home,
Sam he went on. 1t is years since |
was there. They'll remember me and
speak of me, though-father and me!
Fathers grave is there, near the old
home Mine they will never seer
But Tom Tom. you are better You
will get Welt" cried, as lighted a
candle and bent over him to lift his
head.
No. Sam I've been dreaming,
dreaming of my mother and sister-of
father---of the old home--of-- Good
by, Sami know you ding the grave
days agol Mark it, Sam Mark it so
that mother may know it if she ever
Motherl Motif
Aud it was all over with poor Tom
| sat beside him till the day came, the
day of prayer and feastina aud rejoic-
ing among millions. and then wrapped
him in his blankets and carried him ont
and gave him burial and uttered the
prayer which knew was ON his moth
er's lips, and shed the tears which felt
were yelling mp az she thought of the
absent one He asked me to mark his
grave. did SO. and then | waited for
weeks before could get down into the
valley The next summer when the
snow had melted away from the noun
tains Went back to the lonely shanty
with laborers enough TO develop the
mine, which we called Dead Mans
Find, and before another Christmas
day lis mother sat by his grave while
told her the story of his illness and how
her name had been the last on his lips
on that dark Christmas morning when
his soul went outinto the great unknown.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1893-12-23
WEREYf-
TRAoe lN CHRISTMAS Tres.


We now require a million or two of
young evergreens for Christmas trees,
and these, too, are cut and stored away
in good time. the choppers often going
into the woods soon after the LIST of No
yember A fall of snow in November or
December greatly increases the difficulty,
because the snow is apt to melt and
freeze, rendering the branches too brit
tie for transportation. The woodmen
therefore like to get their work forward
and pile their trees in the woods along
side the road, where they will keep fresh
and green for six weeks,
The largest market for Christmas trees
is Philadelphia, whence they are dis
tributed 10 All parts OF the country with
in 1000 mites The woodmen get from
s6 to IS IA hundred for their trees, which
sell in the cities at prices ranging from
so cents to So
AS for Christmas presents. they give
employment to many important trades,
the work upon which is continuous from
the first of January to the last of De-
cember. So knowing grandmothers
and ingenious aunts, to say nothing of
uncles and grandfathers, are on the look
out all the year for Christmas surprises,
which they hide away in unfathomable
reeesses, sometimes forgotten by them
selves.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1893-12-23
eMsRRf-
s-RMAs
DEAD MANS FIND"
BY NJ. QUAD.

lCory right, 1893. by American Press Associa-
tion.l
1t was along in November that Tom
and | discovered indications" at q spot
III the Pinyon mountains of Nevada and
started drift. We didn't intend to put
in more than weeks work-just enough
to develop the find" and load up with
specimens for assay-but after four or
five days Tom was taken sick. Winter
was already at hand. with q foot of snow
on the ground.
If you have never been among the
western mountains, may tell you that
at about the middle of December, after
winter has seemingly shut down, there
comes what is called "chinook"-a
warm wind off the Pacific--which melts
the snow and stands the season off for a
week. az it were. We had calculated to
take advantage of this break to get out
of the mountains. but fate willed it 9TH
erwise. Tom was New Highlander,
rough and rugged. He hadn't been sick
a day since he could remember, and his
sudden breakdown was a complete sur
prise to both of us. He was attacked
late in the afternoon with violent
twitching of his muscles, and by mid
night was in profound stupor, which
lasted with but few intermissions until
the end
knew that he was i'll dangerous
condition. but ! could not leave him.
helpless as he was. and make my way
down into the valley for help, nor could
take him down. In his weak and help.
. IL. l.
and that WAS to get shelter ready and
take the best care Of him possible
found a sheltered spot and in a day and
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1893-12-23

sonable as to fIame the establishment for
what was the fault of a painter en-
ployed by it.
You should employ oaly painters who
understand their business. siri" roared
the colonel in a fine frenzy, land will
teach you that paint cannot be poured
upon me with iinpnnity, sir!'
1--WE are willing" said the clerk, Ito
do what is right in the matter We will
pay for having yonr clothing cleaned or
we will buy you new suit if necessary
You cannot get out of it on any such
basis as that, sir am going to make
an example of you, sir, and inside of "a
hours, too, sir!' And having made this
threat the colonel hustled out of the
building and up the street.
Upon the following day the colonel
sent his legal representative to talk the
matter over and see if it could not be adj
justed to his satisfaction without the
worry aud expense of a legal contest.
1t happened that the hotels attorney
was present when the colonel's legal
friend arrived, and the former said:
1--WE are perfectly willing to do the
fair thing by Colonel Smith. We admit
that the colonel's clothing was ruined
through the negligence of one of our en-
ployees, and we are willing to pay forit.
We will give him a sufficient sum to
purchase himself new suit of clothes.
How does $50 strike you?"
Such proposition would not strike
the colonel at all. replied the friend of
the ex-warrior. ut is not the amount
of money involved in this thing that is
making him miserable"
Then what's tf" asked the hotels at
torney
tits his feelings" replied the other
lawyer "his feelings. You know he be-
longs to one of the Oldest and proudest
OF all the old Virginia families, and he
Is as naughty and representative as any