davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21
TYPES OF BAD MEN.
Characteristics Of Frontier Desperados
Who Held Life Cheap.

Characteristics of Frontier Desperados
Who Held Life Cheap.
The wonder grows whence sprang
these men, who, with pistols on both
hips and knives in their belts, were
eager for some fray, and when no one
could be found to accommodate them,
picked a quarrel and then killed their
fellOw-man.
The peculiar dangers that attend the
pursuit of gold seem to bring out, in
enormous degrees, all the latent vicious
ness in man, and the interest is where
did such men hide themselves when in
more peaceful parts, or did the mere
sight Of the precious metal or the in
Satiable greed to obtain it transform
respectable citizen into an animal in
contrast with whom a royal Bengal
tiger would be sociable and almost
cOmpanionable.
| asked this question, says San
Francisco Chronicle writer, of II. J.
Grow, of Los Angeles, one of her most
prosperous and adventurous business
men. who had founded Idaho City, and
had followed mining in many states
and territories, about the characters
tics of these bad men" and whence
they came.
You could generally bet on it." said
Mr.. Crow, that they We're from the
southern states and seemed to have
had dark experiences before they had
penetrated into the mines. AS a rule
they were lazy men, possessed with al
most animal strength, and were utterly
deyiOd of remOrse. Indeed, these men
and / have known Seyeral-apparently
felt that they owed nothing to society
and had no responsibility. l saw
three men together one day and heard
one say to the other:
Z" We'll, jim, 60 ahead; I'll meet you
in hell in minute and when it came
his turn to swing he shouted: Three
cheers for jeff Davis
They actually feared nothing and
held their own lives as cheaply as they
took others Where these men disap
appeared after the mines gave out, OF
whether they ever became Ieaceable
have adopted the latter role, but il
would take little provocation to make
them AS bloodthirsty as when they
sought victims in Idaho
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21
ZOLA'S GOSPEL OF WORK.
Not So Bad as Some Other Ideas of
the French NoveliSt's.

Whatever the shortcomings or de-
merits of Emile lola, he is not lazy.
That his worst foe can not accuse him
Of In an article in the New Review,
headed Life and Labor" he addresses
himself in conclusion to young men and
exhorts them to toll. He says:
MY career began in hardShips- I
knew bitter misery and despair. Later
on Z lived life of battle. l live it
tili-disparaged, scoffed at, covered
with insults! Well, through all of this
l have had but one faith, one fortfier-
work. That which has sustained me
has been the huge labor imposed upon
myself. Yonder, in front Of me, l al
ways beheld the goal towards which I
ever the ills of life had laid me low
that sufficed to set me on my legs again
and gave me the courage to march on
and on, despite everything. The work
| refer to is steady, settled work, the
daily task, the selfimposed duty Of
making a forward step every day to-
wards the accomplishment of ones
allotted toll
It would be easy to find worse
gospel than that here preached by the
apostle Of realism, says the Hartford
Courant In fact, unless it be the con-
solutions of religion, we know Of moth
ing that will take the place of work
as an antidote to the ills that flesh is
heir to. Many an invalid has kept alive
for years and done a great amount Of
labor because each day had its task
allotted, and the eye was fixed steadily
on a desired end Robert Louis Steven
son and J. A SymOnds are examples
of this in the literary world. When
the whole nature is resolved on accom-
plishing something, and the morning
light brings the chance Of advancing
it a little, the power and the strength
necessary to do 1t are furnished often,
when in the abstract any work looks
impossible The absolute necessity Of
going through a days work mas not
seldom got a seemingly sick man out
of bed and left him better than it
found him.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21
MONEY IN RAISING PARROTS
Imported Birds Are Delicate, but When
Trained Fetch High Prices.

An industry which invites the atten-
ton of enterprising Americans is the
breeding OF parrots. DR.. Stejneser says
that it would be entirely pratical to
propagate and rear them in hothouSeS..
The best takers among these birds, ac-
cording to the Washington Star, are the
gray African variety, with the red tail
They are very delicate and make risky
stock for the importer. If one parrot
in an invoice dies, all of them may
be expected to Succumb almost imme-
diately. 1t is suspected that the water
in this country does not agree with
them. They are worth from $40 to S12
unframed, and when trained they fetch
almost any price. They come from
Liberia and Monrovia, where they are
caught in great numbers by the blacks.
The latter make a business of catching
parrots, and have regular parrot farms
in their villages. At the breeding seas
on the men, women and children
scatter in the wilderness and rob nests.
They wait until the young are nearly
ready to leave the nest, and then they
take them. Trading vessels buy them
in quantities and carry them to ports
where steamers in the African trade
stop for cargo. Thus they are forward
ed to Europe. The talking powers OF
parrot depends to a great extent on
it's being taken in hand at a very early
age This would be one advantage OF
rearing these birds in confinement.
Under such conditions also it would be
practicable to vastly improve the speak
ing faculty by mating the best takers
together for genera tons. Thus would
be produced such feathered CONVEX
sationalists as are unknown up to date.
1t would certainly be profitable to
breed and raise the parrots known as
Carolina parrakeets. These are rare
now and bring high prices, though they
used to be very common as far north
as Pennsylvania and Illinois. At pres
ent the few survivors are almost
wholly confined to scattered localities in:
Florida and the Indian Territory. They
have been successfully bred in cap
tivity. The green Australian parrakeets,
Of the sort used by strolling fortune
tellers ON the streets, are among tbs
easiest Of birds to rear.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21

and that much travelling had broken
his chest, col >l1inns :m :. use .
strong sample case. The ba,gsge was
according checked to Memphis, but the
rightful owner appeared in time to
prevent the theft of the sample case.
which contained about $4,000 worth of
jewelry. To prevent similar frauds
system of claim checks was devised
If a transfer company calls for a trunk
at hotel or private residence and the
owner is not present, but viii return.
claim check is left for him. which is
a duplicate of that attached to the
trunk. If he has gone to the depot the
baggageman will not receive the trunk
unless the transfer company accepts a
claim check for them Then when
passenger directs his baggage TO be
checked, he is told to call at the office
of the transfer company and get a
claim check" This simple means of
Identification has been found to work
effectively.
A favOrite method Of doing crooked
work at baggage rooms was to steal
somewhere number Of pairs of checks.
Then, while the baggageman was look
ing for the trunk bearing the number
corresponding to that on the bogus
check rendered, the crook would clev-
erIy remove the stray check from any
trunk of which he desired possession,
and substitute therefor a strap check
from his pocket. Hence it is that all
outsiders are regarded with suspicion
in a baggage room, although this plan
of robbery is no longer practicable
with the new paper checks"
The origin of the paper check dates
back a few years TO the commencement
of the era of railway consolidation,
when changes in routings were so fire.
Quent that the brass checks were found
inadequate for the work.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21

offered for mailing is immoral or not
he acts as censor for the people
W henefer Il postmaster N any Guy is
doubtful regarding the morality of a
publication that is sought to be mailed
he forwards a copy of the suspected
work to the third assistant postmaster
general, by whom it is referred to the
assistant attorney general Very likely
the latter may be too busy to investi-
gate the subject personally, in which
case he turns it over to one OF his
clerks. who peruses it and marks any
passage which he considers Indecent
Thus the law lord has simply to glance
over the selected tidbits of impropriety
and pass on them. The assistant at
torney general also determines what
mail matter shall be considered fraudu-
lent and be excluded as much from the
post.
The third assistant postmaster gen
eral is himself an autocrat. He has
authority to exercise his own discretion
IN deprving periodical publications of
the advantage of second class postal
rates. Publications intended for adj
Veruslng purposes primarily are not
allowed those rates. On account of the
"kreutZer Sonata" a whole series Of
books, Of which it was one, was shut
out of the mails. Publishers commonly
get out volumes in series, because IN
this shape they go Second-claSs as
periodical publications. so long as they
are issued at least four times Il year.
The decision against that work did not
actually exclude it from the post. be-
cause it could be and was sent at first
class rates, sealed, so that nobody
could lawfully open the package and
find out what was inside
The autocrat of the department of
agriculture is the chief of the bureau
of animal industry. He has authority
to kill any animal he may choose any
where in the United Stats When
one of his inspectors reports that such
and such cattle are afflicted with an
infectious disease he orders them pur-
chased and slaughtered The value of
the beasts is judged by two appraisers,
one chosen by the owner and the other
by the bureau. If they cannot agree
they appoint a third person to decide.
In case a man refused to have his
livestock thus disposed of, the police
and United States marShalS would be
summoned. The payment adiudicated
is made by check. The, chief of the
bureau is DR.. D. Z. Salmon. His au-
thOrity in such matters is absolute
over the territories and District of
Columbia. For opera tons in any state
he must have the consent of the COVER
nor, but the governors consent cannot
be withheld because he is in position
to cOerce the state. If he chooses he
can quarantine the state, preventing all
animals from going into or coming out
for an indefinite period
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21
PASTEBOARD INSTEAD OF BRASS
A New Kind of Baggage Check Crowd
ing Out the Kind SO Long Used.

The days Of the brass baggage check
are numbered. says the Globe-Demo-
GRAFT For the past two years the paste
board check has been gradually crowd
ing it out of use, until brass checks are
now employed only for local checking,
and for that purpose solely because
each company has large stock of
them on hand. Thus an American in
stitltion which has long been source
of admira ton to European visitors is
relocated to an obsolete custom. The
old system WAS Objectionable for sew
eral reasons. An immigrant who could
not speak the English language might
come on to this city while his baggage
would be checked only to Cincinnati
This involved q tedious delay while the
baggage was being traced by mail and
telegraph from New York Again. a
busy or absent-minded travelling man
might ask for a CHECK. Vandalia" If
a check should happen to be given to
Vandalia station, the man might go on
to PittSburg or Chicago before dis
covering that his baggage was astray
There was nothing whatever on the
brass check to denote whence or by
which line the baggage had been for
Warded. But now as soon as he looks
at his check he can see the point to
which it has been forwarded.
The new paper checks" as they are
called, are designed to and do obviate
these difficulties. which have long been
a nightmare to baggage agents. Each
road has its own system of pasteboard
checks, printed in different styles and
on different cOlored cardboard. When
travel between certain cities is heavy,
the name of the destination. as well as
the originating point, is printed. In some
cases the routing is also printed. But
Oh general checks. which may thus
at once be issued for any place on any
railroad ia the United States. blanks
are left for the destiI.a ton and the
names of the connecting roads over
which the baggage is to pass. These
checks are numbered cOnSecutvely.
and are kept for limited time after
the baggage has been claimed when
they are destroyed. The check issued
to the passenger is, therefore. an exact
VI luc NlllCH COLI
tains full and explicit information, and
missing baggage can therefore be
quickly located by means Of the details
printed or written in. The difficulty
of tracing baggage is lessened in
another way. A brass check might be
received here in the morning, used TO
Kansas City at night and sent out from
there the next day. But a paper
check can be used only once.
| Baggage agents in large terminal
cities have to be eternally on guard
against frauds. A baggage room is re-
garded by many as a desirable object
for plumber, and new schemes to beat
it are being constantly evolved. Some
years ago a man applied to have big
sample case checked to Memphis.
When one of the employees demurred
and said that the applicant did not
look like a commercial traveller the
man replied that he was machinist
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21
HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE.

Boston Budget: A minister of prom
inent New York church, who was about
to leave home for a few days, was
bidding gOOd-by to his family.
When he came to Bobby he took the
little fellow in his arms and said:
well, young man, 1 want you to be a
good boy, and be sure to take good care
of mamma"
Bobby promised, and the father de-
parted, leaving him with very large
and full appreciation of his new and
weighty responsibility. When night
came ard he was called to say his
prayers, the young guardian expressed
himself as follows:
"Oh Lord, please protect papa, and
brother Dick, and sister Alice, and
Aunt Mary, and all the little Jones
boys, and Bobby. But you needn't
trouble about mamma, for Pm going
to 'Ook sitter Der myself"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21
HER ATTRACTIONS.

She has no dazzling charms, no classic
grace.
Nothing, you think, to win mems
hearts about her;
Yet, look at her sweet and gentle face,
/ wonder what our lives would be
without her.
She has no wish in the great world to
shine;
For work outside a woman's sphere.
no yearning;
But on the altar Of homes sacred
shrine
She keeps the fire of pure affection
burning.
We tell our grieves into her patient ear;
She whispers Hope when days are
dark and dreary;
The little children like to have her
And run into her open arms when
weary.
Her step falls lightly by the sufferers
bed;
Where poverty and care abound she
fingers;
And many weary heart and aching
head
Find gifts of healing in her tender
fingers.
She holds Il helping hand to those who
fall,
Which gently guides them back to
paths of duty:
fer kindly eyes, with kindly looks for
all,
See in uncomeliest souls some hidden
beauty.
Her charity would every need embrace:
To shy and timid fear not to address
her;
With loving tact she rightly fills her
place,
While all who know her pray that
heaven may bless her.
-Chambers's Journal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21
AUTOCRATS IN THE DEPART
MENTS.
Men in Washington Whose Only Law
Is Their Own Sweet VIII.


Among the most remarkable features
of this government by the people is
the extraordinary authority vested in
certain subordinate officials at Wash
ingtOn. For instance, no man in the
United States yields such power in
money matters as the first comptroller
of the currency. He is entirely indie
pendent of the secretary of the treas
means Of cOercing him, as the following
story, related by the GlObe-Democrat t,
shows: When Grant was in the White
House, First Comptroller Taylor refus-
ed to counte1sign a warrant for the
payment Of a big claim out of the
funds of the treasury. The president
summoned him and said:
You must sign"
Il will not, Mr.. President" replied
the reoalcitrant official
Then L will compel you to do so,'
said General Grant
You have not the power" rejoined
the comptroller coolly and respectfully
I'VE will see about that said the
President Il will consult the attorney
general
The attorney general, on being con-
suited, stated that the comptroller was
right; he could not be forced to counter
sign the warrant. Next day the Presi-
dent summoned Mr.. Taylor and said:
Il find that I cannot compel YOU to
countersign the warrant. However. l
can get another first comptroller"
Very well, Mr.. President" replied
the officer. You can have my resigna-
ton, but not my signature.
In fact, the only way in which the
President can override a decision Of
this powerful official is by dismissing
him and appointing another man. All
of the accounts Of the government, eX-
cept those which relate to customs and
the postoffice department, are settled
by warrants countersigned by the first
comptroller. Without his signature the
payments cannot be made.
There are two autOcrats in the post
office department One Of them is the
assistant attorney general It is his
function to decide whether matter
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21
A TIGHT MONEY LYRIC.
If you have a word to say. say

If you have Il word to say. say it
Like Il man:
f you have Il debt 10 pay, pay it
If you can.
If you have a chance to seize. seize it
With your might:
If you have hand TO squeeze.
squeeze It
Good and tight.
Kansas City Journal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21
MARIE STUART'S CRUCIFIX-

The cathedral of Mayence has just
come into possession of an interesting
relic. The German poetess, Hahn
Hahn, has just left to the sacred ed
ifice the crucifix worn by Marie Stuart
at her execution, and which bears the
date of Feb. IS 1873. This relic is
perfectly authentic.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21
FLIM-FLAM IN SALOONS
A Novel Game Recently Worked with
Success in San Francisco.

A large number of saloon-keepers in
San Francisco have recently been vic
umized by two counterfeiters DR.. Whit
field and John Mcdonald. Their
methods Of Showing the queer are
audacious and amusing. Their success,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21

. Indiana furnished a great many tall
men for the army. Out Of 1IS,254
men, whose descriptions were taken at
the time of enlistment, 1892 were six
feet in height or more. There were
2,614 six feet one inch; 1857 six feet
two inches; 400 six feet three inches.
and 3O3 over six feet three inches.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-21

She. What is that awful noise?'
He. Guess it's the clambake over on
the island"
She ''Poor thing! How the clans
must be tortured to make them screech
like that"
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-20
Accidents.

Ex-City Marshal B. F. Andrews, was
thrown out of his team by a runaway
horse at Stratford. N. H., last Thursday.
He suffered strain of the knee which
will confine him to his house for some
time.
Mr.. Walter Tozler, messenger for the
American Express Company. was
thrown from team in Longfellow
Square Friday morning and received a
severe cut on the chin which required
the services of physician. About fifty
stitches had to be taken in the wound.
Mrs. o. S. Fogg Of Neal street was de-
scending the cellar stairs carrying glass
jar in her hand when she fell over coal
hod that had been left at the lower step,
precipItatiug her to the floor. The jar
broke and the fragments cut the palm of
her hand SO badly that the services of a
physician were required.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-20
PERSONAL.

Hon. Charles J. Chapman left the city
Thursday, for Boston and New York.
Miss Grace Carnage, of Oxford street,
is spending a few days with friends in
Gloucester, Mass.
Miss Mabel A. Kenney. of Oxford
street, is spending a few days with friends
in Maiden, Mass.
Mrs. Eta S. Osgood, of Winter street,
attended meeting of the Ladies' Club
at Woburn, Mass. on EFriday last, pre-
senting the work of the Federation, of
which organization she is president.
Mr. Joseph Russell, the veteran car
riage maker, SO long in business in this
city, is very i'll at Somerville, Mass, with
no hope of recovery.
Last Thursday evening, Mr.. Ell. P. Cox,
the shoe manufacturer, gave compli-
mentary supper to his friends and en-
ployes at Messing's cafe on Middle
street, it being the 25th anniversary of
his entering the shoe business.
Letters were received last week from
Mrs. Roswell F. Doten, who has been
quite i'll in London for the past two
months, that he and his family are now
at Ventnor, Isle of Wight, where they
will remain for several weeks to recuper-
ate, when they will proceed to the south
of France, to Nice, Monte Carlo and
many other places of interest on the con-
tinent.
Mrs. George S. Hunt, of State street,
gave reception Saturday evening, at
her home, to the teachers of the public
schools to listen to Mrs. Fessenden' s
method of presenting scientific temper
ance instruction. The subject was pre-
sented in clear and forcible manner,
and it is hoped that new interest will
be awakened here by this effort. De-
lightful musical selections were rem
dered by Miss Eva Goodwin, Mrs. Bibber
and Miss Nellie McGregor.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-20
Unhappy Democrats.

Alderman Gallagher says he shall run
as an independent candidate for alder
man Notwithstanding that at the caucus
he moved Mr.. McGowan's nomination be
made unanimous. Mr.. Gailagher's action
is probably blind part to get out all
Democratic voters.
Mr.. O'Brion says that at the meeting
of the Democratic city committee Tues
day evening he shall present list of 1875
registered voters of the ward in his be-
half He is not in favor of running as
an independent candidate, but wants
another caucus, and trusts to the city
committee to do him Justice.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-20
Sailing of the Alcides.

The Alcides, Capt. Rollo, of the DON
aldson line sailed for Glasgow yesterday
morning. She takes out among other
things, 29,66S bushels of barley, lbs
bushels of peas, 9,573 bushels Of rye,
cheese, flour, apples, oat meal, 100 tons
clover seed, rice flour, etc. There also
goes out as cargo, 1872 head western
cattle and II fine carriage horses are to
be offered for sale ON the other side.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-20
Reduction in Overweight Baggage Rates

Commencing Monday, February goth,
Maine Central will put into effect a new
schedule of rates for what is known
as extra baggage, that is, baggage
over the amount allowed each passenger
to carry free, which is $50 pounds. For
merly the rate has been, for instance,
where the price of ticket was 81, as from
Portland to Brunswick, on each 100
pounds over $50 40 cents per 100; this is
now reduced to 30 cents. Where the rate
for ticket is 50 the old rate was 60 cents,
now reduced to 45 cents, and so on, MAX
ing general lowering of over 25 per
cent. This iberality on the part ssof the
railroad will doubtless be appreciated by
commercial travellers carrying heavy
lines or samples, such as carpets, books.
etc.