davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31
SNAKE FOR FOOD
why don't people eat snakes?"
Because it is not stylish.''

why don't people eat snakes?''
Because it is not stylish"
The above question and answer are
really all that is necessary at this date.
The question is suggested because, at
the present day, there is great de-
mand for two other classes of reptiles,
namely, frogs and turtles-for food
and yet we never hear of snakes being
offered on the market. The answer fol-
lows, for the reason that fashion
dictates all things, from our birth to our
death, and as yet snakes are interdicted
as food, to Americans, at least
Frenchmen are generally credited
with knowing good thing" and they
practiced frOg-eating for centuries be-
fore other countries acknowledged the
delicacy of frogs legs, says the
American Field. At last the custom
reached the United States, and was
quite generally adopted, and the term
frog eaters" was no longer considered
opprobrious. Somewhat over a century
ago there was a revolt on a Virginia
plantation because the slaves were prin-
cipallly fed on diamond backed ter
rapinS, which could be secured at an
expense of 81 CARLOAD. Now these
teTapins bring from $40 to $50 a
dozen.
Snake flesh is white and tender, and
[ doubt not is as good as that of any
other cold-bloOded animal. There is no
earthly reason to doubt it, and it would
be unreasonable to dispute it., Preju-
dice alone prevents our trying fried
snakes and the same prejudice keeps
many persons from eating nicely-cook-
ed cells, because they so closely resem-
bic snakes. Let us compare snakes,
and, in fact, all reptiles. including our
favorite green turtle and delicate frog,
with our fish, and we find that they
are UNNECESSARILY above the cells and
all other fishes in the scale of animal
| life. But allowing that mammals, rep
tiles and clear down to the degenerate
fishes are all good because they are
yertebrates, why do we not limit our
selves to this subkingdom instead of
dropping to the lower and serving up
crabs, lobster and shrimpS? But not
content with this drop we take another
plunge, and going away, below
the insect we reach the clam and Oys-
ter, which we eat entire, and often in
a raw state.
In certain parts of Europe snakes
are eaten by the lower class Of people
They are sold prepared at the markets
as hedge-eels, and are in considerable
demand in South France. In many
parts Of the unciviIized world the flesh
of serpents is eaten, and we have it on
the authority of well-known travellers
and explorers that, although not temp
ting, the dish is in no wise unpalatable.
1t may be a long time before the
fashion generally adopts snakes as
food, but it should be borne in mind
that we descend lower in the scale
when we feed on fish, and immeas-
urably lower in our cultivated taste for
oysters.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31
ORIGIN OF DRUGGISTS COLORED
GLOBES.

There has always been a great deal
of discussion among druggists as to the
origin of the fancy colored show globes
that you always see in the windows OF
drug stores. While many theories have
been advanced think it is most likely
an evolution Of the old earthen Jars
that the herb collectors used to use be-
fore pharmacies were in vogue. In
olden times the doctors compounded
their own medicines, getting the crude
materials from d dealer in herbs and
such things The pharmacy of that
time consisted of a small room with a
number of earthen jars decorated with
scenes relating to different events in
the experiences Of a doctor and in
these the various herbs were kept
They were dingy, ugly-looking places
and no one but doctors frequented
them About 300 years ago, when the
physicians found the need of a per-
son to mix medicines for them the
pharmacy system was established and
The stores had to be made more at
tractive and the glass globes with the
bright colored liquid were evolved
from the old earthen jars.-Pittsburg
Dispatch.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31

How did you manage to look sur
priSed when he"
% dear, you
Girls, she has her ring already. she
is hiding her left hand"
20. o. how lovely.'
Amt it Sweet-he must love YOU
awfully to give you a ring like that"
cried the girl with the black eyes.
He selected the stone and had it Set
after a design of his own" said the
newly affianced, hlushing He said 1
should not have one just like anybody
else"
How lovely of him, Did you ask
the jeweler how much it is worth -
asked the girl with the straight nose
susie pretended that hers was too
large and took it back on purpose to
find out how much Wilson had paid
for it, and would you believe it, he
hadn't gotten it at the place he told
herr
How meanv cried the girl with the
slim waist, ''he knew she would do that
and did it on purpose so she wouldn't
know what he paid for it."
of course; men are so shy
But wasn't that lovely of Jack? /
am sure a man with mustache like
that would make a delightful lover"
But, Effie, how did he know the
size?"
20, he borrowed one of my rings; of
course [ knew what it was for, though
[ pretended not l was awfu,ly glad
he did not select the one that Phil gave
me-"
I should think so, But aren't you
afraid that It will be stolen?"
Yes, indeed; I keep that hand I'M
der the pillow at night.''
well, a ring like that is positively
economical: it is such a saving in GLOW
es," said the girl with the black eyes
Yes, indeed; but what [ like best is
the fact that nobody else ever had one
like it."
AS she spoke the newly affianced
walked over to the girl with the golden
hair, who had all this time been look
ing idly out of the window,
Don't you want to see my ring,
Ann:e?" she asked, with Il note of tri-
umph in her voice.
'Thanks, DEAR" was the smiling re-
ply, 81 am glad you like it so much
BY the way, you must be very careful
Of it, the setting is not very secure-I
lost the stone once or twice while I
was wearing it last year"
Then, in the midst Of silence which
could be heard, she turned again to the
window
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31
HOW SHE SHOULD REST.
A Little Programme for the Working
Woman to Follow

"The time for rest is not confined to
the hours between and and 10 and
Z, although it is necessary to observe
that period. The time to rest" says
the New York World, lis when one is
tired; not when one finds time to rest.
When the woman who works all day
gets home at night it is time for her to
rest. She should stretch herself out on
the floor, close her eyes and dismiss
thought. In five minutes she may ge(
up. Then she should rest the muscles
of her neck by bathing in hot water:
she should rest her eyes by washing
them in hot water She should rest
her head by brushing her hair until the
strained feeling that belongs to coils
and braids is gone. She should rest
her feet with fresh shoes. She should
try the restful influence of a fresh
gown. Then she is ready for dinner.
which should also be a restful thing,
utterly unlike the breakfast eaten in
business suit, with the days work a
head and luncheon snatched in the mid
die of the day.
Then she should have her evenings
recreation and then her restful BATH
After that the long nights sleep Will
make her as fresh and young for the
next days work as though she We're
not a Woodworking woman"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31

possible, to secure a uniform schedule
Of wages to be paid in the cotton in
dustry
1t is stated on the best authority that
a reduction of 20 per cent of the wages
paid in Fall River will be made as
soon as the mills resume operations
This reduction has been under advise
ment since the expiration of contracts
in July, but was not advocated strong
ly owing, it is said, to a hope that bust
ness would improve as soon as con-
greSS met. Instead of an improvement,
last week there was marked decline
in demand, and the annrling OF con-
tracts has become a daily occurance
Should business pick up within a few
weeks. action on the schedule VIII be
deferred. but sooner or later A read
iUstment will be enforced.
Representatives Of the operatives
in the various trades unions take
very gloomy view of the outlook. Sec
rotary Howard, of the spinners union,
is spending his annual vacation at Hail
fax, but two other officers agreed that
it would be useless to combat 4 cut
down under present conditions. Ii a
reduction went into effect at once they
would be compelled to put UP with it,
but at the first opening they would de-
mand an increase, and would enforce
their demands as far as they were able.
Officers Of the WeaverS' union hold
substantially the same views, but join
with the manufacturers in saying that
reduction can in no way benefit trade
throughout the country.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31
CEYLON'S INDUSTRIOUS BREED OF
SPIDERS

Ceylon is the home of the largest
species Of spider that has yet been
made the subject of chronological in
vestigation. This web-spinning mon
Ster lives in the most mountainous dis
trictS of that rugged island, and places
his trap-not a gossamer snare of airy
ightness, but a huge net Of yellow silk
from 5 to 10 feet in diameter-acrosS
the chasmS and assures in the rocks.
The supporting guys Of this gigantic
net, which in all cases is almost strong
enough for q hammock and circum-
stances may require). made Of a series
of twisted webs, the whole being of the
diameter of lead pencil. AS might
is not set for mosquitoes, flies and pes
be imagined, this gigantic silken trap
tiferOus gnatS, but for birds, gaudy
moths and elegant painted butterflies,
some of the latter having a spread cf
wing equal to that of robin or a blue
jay. Some extra fine skeletons Of small
birds, lizards, snakes, ETC., have been
found in these webs, with every yes
t'ge of flesh picked from them. The
owner and maker of these queer silk
traps is a spider with a body averaging
four and one half inches in width and
6 inches in length and with legs 9 to12
inches from body to terminal claw.
Some are spotted, others red with
greenish gold abdomen and legs.-(St.
Louis Republic.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31
BUT LITTLE LIFE.
Yesterdays Business Very Light With
Prices Declining.

Chicago, Aug. 24.-Lower prices for
wheat, corn and oats was the result
of the trading in today's short session.
Compared with yesterdays resting
prices wheat is lie lower, corn is off
1-2c and oats 3-Sc. Provisions were in
the main firm, closing slightly higher
for ribs but rather lower for pork and
lard.
New York, Aug 24-The general
drift of the leading railways was in
the direction Of lower grade of quo
tatiOns. The decline, however, except
in few instances was slight. Atchi-
son declined to Il "a, st. Paul to 81 ID,
Rock Island to 56 81, Delaware and
Hudson to no, Jersey Central to 90 IA
New England to 1884, Northern Pa
cific preferred to 1884, Louisville and
Nashville to 81 Ii, Wheeling and Lake
Erie to IL and Wheeling and Lake
Erie preferred So Lake Shore rose
to 113 rs and Manhattan to Ill II.
In the specialties Denver and Rio
Grande fell off to g. Denver and Rio
Grande preferred to u Ia, Iowa Cen
trail to 53-4 and Texas Pacific to ).
Among the industrials Sugar Refining
declined 1 3-S to - Il, Chicago Gas
"a to AS Ii, Distilling and Cattle Feed
ing rs to 10 IA and General Electric
SIS to 81 3-S.
The market was very dull. Many
causes contributed to this. Among them
was the storm which destroyed tele-
graphic connection with the outer
world, wires being reported down
every where, and that tended to re-
strict business. But above and beyond
the causes already enumerated for the
decline in prices this morning was the
renewal of the talk of the probable
failure of a prominent Wall street
banking and brokerage house.
Money on call is steady at 6 per
cent; prime mercantile paper SQ12
per cent; sterling exchange is firm,
with actual business in bankers bills
at 49, II for sixty days and 4S1@
4S7 II for demand; posted rates, 1888
Ass; commercial bills, $50 1-2G4S6 IL;
bar silver, IA 81; government bonds
steady; state bonds dull.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31
HANGED BY A CATFISH.
This Story Comes All the Way From
Jones County, Miss.

George Wiley, son Of a well-known
colored man living in Pearl River
swamp, Jones County, Miss, left home
last monday morning to go on a fishing
excursion, taking with him a long,
stout rope line, such as is generally US
ed among the natives for catching
large catfish, a shepherd dog accom-
panied him. Early the same evening
the dog came back to the house alone
and Whined and jumped about the old
man in such an unusual manner as to
attract his attention. The old man
went out into the yard and the dog
Sprang out in front Of him, running off
q few yards and then coming back and
pulling at his clothes. Convinced that
something was amiSS, Wiley followed
river about five miles from the house,
where he found the lifeless body of
his boy suspended by one leg from an
overhanging limb by a line which ran
over the bough and extended far out
into the river.
Ivestigation showed that the boy had
thrown his line over the bough to give
his catch better play, and then, for
greater security, had tied the end
around his leg. A 150-pound catfish
had seized the bait and hauled the lad
UP to the bough and wrapped the line
fast round the willows in its struggle
to escape.-New York World.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31
BABY INTERESTED THEM.
YellOW-Haired Toddlekins Charmed A
Big New York Crowd

The sidewalk was filled with hurry
ing people. Three peddlers stood on
the curb, one with shoe laces, another
with candy, another with gold paint.
Neither looked as if he expected to sell
anything. Nobody paid the slightest
attention to them, says the New York
Times.
A man without legs came stumping
lover the sidewalk. People merely hur-
ried out of his way. A man passed
dressed in outlandish garments, adver-
Using a patent medicine. Nobody look
ed twice at him. An old woman
whose tangled gray locks were blown
to the wind, shuffied feebly along and
nobody saw her. A pair of Chinese, an
Italian woman dressed as for a fete, a
negro nearly seven feet in height, a
Turk swaddled in turban and baggy
trousers, a drunken woman, a man
with locOmOtOr ataXia-an passed with
in a few minutes, and nobody stopped
even for a moment to look at anybody
else, except the beggars, and they were
utterly disregarded.
Then appeared from somewhere, as
if out of a hole in the ground, a child
about two years old, ragged and smear
ed as to its hands with mud, and as to
the face with traces of bread and mo-
lasses, besides plain dirt It's hair was
tous1ed, and it's large blue eyes were
fixed straight ahead with all that sweet
Inconsistencies of childhood written
of by the poets. In it's hands it carried
a gray striped cat. One little fist grab
bed the loose skin at the nape, the
other grasped it firmly over the hind
quarters. Each particular leg of the
cat stuck out staight and rigid; each
claw showed its shining curve. The
cat did not appear to be uncomfortable,
and the child was gloriously uncon-
scious of everything but it's own baby
thoughts. The child was so young that
it went unsteadily, lettering down the
middle of the sidewalk with the cat
held up in front of it like a drum
majors staff.
There was not one hurrying wayfarer
man or woman-who did not pause
and laugh. A number stopped short,
and followed the child as it staggered
along. By the time the baby had tray
eled half a block it had an escort of
twenty grown persons, besides the
swarm of boys. The baby tottered
along, its magnificent gravity undistur-
bed, and when a breathless, barehead-
ed woman came running and snatched
UP the young explorer (still holding on
bravely to the cat each person in the
crowd looked sheepish and hurried
away.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31

Paris, Aug. 21.-The French elections
took place yesterday For the seats
OF the 5S4 deputies there Were 900
candidates Inc best returns place the
figures as follows: Governmental re-
publicans and moderates, 31O; radicals,
80; socialists, 80; conservative repubIi-
cans, 90; mOnarchiStS and indepcnu-
ants, 80.
N. Floquet, president of the last
chamber will have to stand second
time, as he falls short of an absolute
majority and will be defeated if his
adversaries combine against him. The
Panama scandal is the cause of his lost
popularity
NJ. AndrieuN also falls short of the
necessary majority and he will certain
ly be defeated on the second ballot.
The results in the Draguignan dis
trlct, where NJ. Clemenceau was a can
didate, indicates that the radical lead
er will probably be defeated
NJ. Richard, the former minister of
justice and the compromised in the
Panama affair, has been reelected. NJ
Rouvier and Raynal who were mixed
up III the Panama affair, are elected.
At 2:3O p, n. the result of the bal
loting in 5S4 districts is known The
returns show the election of 300 repub-
Hcans Of all kinds, IA conservatives
rallies (the name given to the conserva-
tlVes who have accepted the republic)
and A royalists.
In the district of Gers, that NJ. Paul
de Caissagnac has represented since
1876, and in which he stood for cleo
ton yesterday, re-baIIot is necessary.
The republicans have gained forty
six seats and have not lost one.
The figures thus far received show
that the royalists have lost twenty
eight seats.
London, Aug. 21.-Several newspapers
have published this classification of all
results CT the French elections: Repub-
licans, 80: socialist-radicals and So
cialists, 30; rallied" Is; conserva-
tives, Sc.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31

Wednesday and the house adjourned
London, Aug. 21.-Gladstone moved
the adoption Of his resolution. notice
OF which was given or Friday last, To
apply closure To the report OF the stage
OF the home rule bill on Friday next
Joseph Chamberlain, the unionist
leader, then submitted his amendment
declaring the governments proposal
was calculated To turn the house into
voting machine, depriving the Brit
ISL majority OF its constitutional rights
and ought therefor to be withdrawn
After some discussion the house re-
jected the amendment by a vote of
200 to 165.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31
WANTS DAMAGES.

Watertown, Wis, Aug. 23-William
G.. Cody has Through his attorney
served notice of a suit claiming S1O,-
600 damages against each of the fol-
lowing parties: Justice j c. Halligan,
eN-Deputy Sheriff H. Graewe and Drs.
f. G. Werner and William f. Whyte
and Edward Johnson for alleged hand
cutting and assaulting and having him
placed in a Jail over night to the great
detriment Of his body and mind. The
three last named have also been sued
by Cody for $4,000 damages for al
legged SANDER and breaking into his res
idence.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31

West Superior, Wis, Aug. 26.-W. V
Noad was sued today for breech nf
promise by Florence Byrne. a school
teacher of Chicago. DAMAGES ara
placed at $4,000 The defendant is
u native of Louisville, KY, but a Mon
eer OF this city. He is a nephew of
John ID. Hammond, the primal owner
OF W est Superior and was the first
postmaster. He was treasurer of the
Douglass County Street railway and of
the Northern Pacific railway here five
years ago. He has lived away from
Superior the past three years. He is
Wen known and owns considerable prop
erty. The suit created a great deal of
gossip here in social circles.
l\aukauna, Wis, Aug. 26.-Word has
oeen received from Freedom of the
burning of Theodore Boomers house
ana contents this morning. Two chill
dren were badly burned and lived but
a short time
Milwaukee, Aug. 26.-The Vilter Man
ufacturlng company made an assign
ment this morning to Herman Segnitz,
who gave bonds in the sum of 1915
900.
Milwaukee, Aug. 26-The funeral Of
the woman and child murdered bv
Gustav Scharff took place from Pea
COCKS undertaking rooms this after
noon, money for the purpose having
been raised by subscription. There
was large crowd present. Last night
Scharff was told what was being done,
and he asked that Sc which was taken
from him when arrested be placed in
the fund, and the police turned it over.
1t has been learned that Scharff was
married to his victim, the ceremony
having been performed by Justice Par
sons about three weeks ago.
Waupaca, Wis, Aug. 26-Robert
Murphy, granite worker, was shot by
James Cheyne, foreman of Lentholt &
Holman's quarry at Granite City, in
the north part of this county, yesterday
ana uIeu last night. Cheyne Is In jail.
Marinette, Wis, Aug. 26.-Fire de-
strOyed the stock of the New York
Mercantile company. The loss is about
$4,000, covered by insurance.
Lake Geneva, Wis, Aug. 26.-The
twentieth annual race for the silver
yacht given by Gen. Phil Sheridan was
sailed today. Five yachts sailed over
the fourteen-mile course. Expert own
ed by Julien NJ. Ramsey crossed the
line first in hours A minutes and
80 seconds. The race for the Folly cup
given by L. u. Letter, was participated
in by u boats. Carpenter & Cor
with's Rival won in 2 hours 81 min
utes and 81 seconds.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31

Fall River, Mass, Aug. 24.-At meet
ing of prominent Fail River mill owners
it was voted to appoint committee to
go to Boston to discuss the trade stu
alton with other New England textile
manufacturers and also to endeavor, if
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31
THE ATLANTIC COAST SUFFERS
SEVERELY.
LIVES.

A Gale from the Indies That Small
Craft Could Not Possibly Weather.
Terrible Damage at the Seaside Re
sorts-Long Branch VIII Not Re
cover Soon.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-31

New York, Aug. PA West Indian
cyclone which swept over this part
of the Atlantic coast last night and
this morning left marks over the whole
region around New York, with a sweep
of fully a thousand miles.
Much damage throughout the country
and city resulted. Telegraph and teIe-
phone wires were Frustrated and train
service knocked out. Brooklyn also
suffered. One man was killed.
AS the day wore on arriving crafts
brought in the story of the storms
work and it proved a terrible supple
ment to the record of its raYages on
land.
The fishing schooner Empire State,
with Il crew of ten men, and Ella NJ
Johnson, with a crew of eight, went
down last night off Manasquan, on the
Jersey coast and all on board were
lost
These two vessels were in company
with the ChOcrua last night when the
storm struck them, and after beating
around all night in some of the worst
L,
and with the loss Of the captain and
first mate, the ChOcrua reached port
today, the only survivor of the three
The crew of the Chocrua says that
no small boat could possibly live in
such a sea.
The steamer Eggleston Abbey, from
Cardiff, put in for repairs this after
noon. The captain reports picking up
George Upton, of Portland, Maine, day
before yesterday, he being the sole
survivor of a crew of six of the fish
ing schooner Mary Lizzie, which foun-
dered August u.
From Long Branch tonight it is
learned that it will be some time be-
fore that resort RECEIVERS from the eff
fects of the storm. Fortunately there
was no loss of life but there are few
houses in Long Branch which did not
suffer some slight damage From the
west end of the hotel to Normandy
not n single bathing house is left The
famous old iron pier is a thing of the
past, the storm carrying away four
fifths of it.
Galilee, the pretty little resort north
of Monmouth Beach, is completely
inundated and at one time it was
feared the Protestant Episcopal church
would be swept into the ocean. Other
resorts along the coast suffered severe
ly.