davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
SiLENCED THE "MASHER."
How New Woman Saved Herself from
UnweIcome Attention.

UnweIcome Attention.
He had smile as bright as his gayly-
colored trap as he rode up alongside
demure young woman who was walk
ing in Central park the other morning,
upon one of the asphalt paths, reports
the New York Herald. She heard the
rattle of wheels at her side, yet she
turned neither to the right nor to the
left.
Good morning." said the handsome
young man as he raised his straw hat
with the dizzy band, wouldn't you like
TO take a ride with me this morning?"
The girl didn't say "Sir-r-r!" or
What means this intrusion?" She
slowly turned around and looked the
young man over from head to foot. He
bore her gaze without finching, aud
started to get down from his seat as II
to assist her into the trap.
The girl looked at him and then at
the pocketbook which she held in her
hand.
81 don't know" she said, half aloud,
81 don't know, I'm sure. How much
would you charge to take me to the art
museum"
There was whirl of yellow trap, of
bright red hat band and flying wheels.
You'll do" the young man said, as
he drove rapidly away.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
THE DIVINE NAME.
The Insfrable Word That Is Never SpoksR
by Many IsraeIitos.

by Many IsraeIitos.
Rev. DR.. Wise, president of the He
brew Union college at Cincinnati. has
given his view of the ancient Jewish
rendering of the name of the Deity, re-
ports the New York Sun. He says that
the term Jehovah" the inefIable tetra-
grammaton, is never pronounced by
many Israelites. They use the word
@Adonoi," which signifies 'the Lord
The translators of the Bible followed
this custom, rendering the word ''Je-
hovah" rs Lord" In ancient times
the Pharisees replaced the tetragram-
maton by Shem; they used "Shemo,"
which is also Biblical, as the sacred
name, and this name is yet retained, to
some extent, among the Jews. But it
would appear from passages in the
Psalms that Adonoi, or Lord, for Je-
hovah was more ancient even than the
times of the Pharisees. 1t thus occurs
eight times in Psalm lxxxiv. 1t also APP
pears in the book of Exodus where "Je-
hovah" had been used in the original
Hebrew. This substitution would
seem to be older than any other, and it
is yet common among all Jews.
DR.. Wise says he has found that the
ancient TRANSACTIONS testify in favor of
~Adonoi"
Looking at the English translation
of the Old Testament it will be found
that the name Jehovah appears in the
books of Genesis, Exodus, Judges, the
Psalms and Isaiah. 1t is not in the New
Testament.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
THE MYSTERY LOVING.

Why do I love you, sweetheart mine?
In sooth, | cannot say,
Love came to me so stealthily
l never saw his way.
His gentle footsteps scarcely pressed
The pathway to my heart;
I only saw him standing there,
And knew he'd ne'er depart.
How can 1 tell what brought him
when
| know not how he came?
only knew, and bowed before
The magic of his name.
SO many are more beautiful
All, well, perchance it's true;
So many are much better, dear!
Sweet, no one else is your
Baltimore American.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
CURIOUS CLOCKS.
How Some People of Foreign Lands
Reckon Time,

Neither clock nor timepiece is to be
found in Liberia. The reckoning of
time is made entirely by the movement
and position of the sun, which rises at
six a. NJ. and sets at six p. H., almost
to the minute, all the year round, and
at noon is vertically overhead, says
Popular Science News. The islanders
of the South Pacific have no clocks,
but make an ingenious and reliable
time marker of their own. They take
the kernel from the nuts of the candle
tree and wash and string them on the
rib of a palm leaf. The first or top
kernel is then lighted. All of the ker-
enls are of the same size and substance,
and each will burn a certain number of
minutes and then set fire to the che
next below. The natives tie pieces of
black cloth at regular intervals along
the string to mark the divisions of time.
Among the natives of Singar, in the
Malay archipelago, another peculiar
device is used. Two bottles are placed
neck and neck, and sand is put in one
of them, which pours itself into the
other every half hour, when the bottles
are reversed. There is a line near by,
also, on which are hung IL rods with
notches from one to twelve.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
STRANGEST OF FISHES.
a Marine Wonder st the CoIumbia Unt-
versity.

a Marine Wonder st the Columbia Unt-
versity.
There is an animal at Columbia uni
versity which has neither ears, eyes,
head nor heart.
The absence of the head and heart is
naturally the odd feature of this strange
creature, which biologists call lance
ket> One of them is now being expert
mented on in Columbia university's
biological laboratory, says the San
Francisco Examiner.
Although this wonder looks a good
deal like a fish, it is really am animal,
for there is just as much difference be
tween the lancelet and a salmon, for
instance, as there is between a man and
an ordinary bird.
Epicureans with a sweet tooth for
fish will hail with delight the prospect
of having all the lakes and rivers of the
country stocked with the lancelet, for
in their entire body there is not a, bone.
True, there is kind of backbone run
ming the length of the body, but as this
bone is not bone at all, but only q
strip of what ordinary mortals would
call grlSte, no troupe with nSnooneS
can follow from the attempt to eat the
animal when a man is in a hurry to
catch an az" express.
Still another advantage exists to a
man who wants to eat the lancelet in 3
jiffy. This advantage is, perhaps, zone
better" than the absence of bones.
Every mans eyes perform the function
of an N-ray machine in good working
order, for the lancelet is absolutely
transparent in every section of its ex-
traordinarY corpus.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
A Phenomenal Rainfall.

The most phenomenal rainfall record
ed in the annals of Ohio took place on
the 18th day of August, 1861. Mr.. S. B.
Mcmillan, who gives an account of this
remarkable downpour, says that it ex-
tended over an area of at least 100 square
miles. The total amount of water which
fell during the II hours of precipitation
was 81 inches, and of that quantity 40
inches fell in 4R hours. What is meant
by fall of 81 inches of rainin so short
a space of time will be better under
stood when the reader is informed that
one inch of rain means $4,000 gallons to
the acre. This immense quantity of
water VIII weigh 100000 pounds. or 100
tons
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
Vice REGAL nvirations,

An invitation from the lord Iieuten-
ant in ireland is supposed to be, like
one from the queen whom he represents,
a command. Irish society, however,
does not always treat it as such. but,
according to convenience, either hon
Crs it in the breach or the observance
society" person may throw over a
previous engagement in favor of a vice
regal invitation without being consid-
cred to have COMPUTED breach Of man
ners. He may also refuse the vice regal
invitation if so minded. Irish society
is not seryile on this point, but e2er-
cises common sense and the liberty of
choice in the matter of amusing itself.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
TOBACCO IN WILLS.
Curious Directions Left by the King Of
Smokers.

Klaes, the merchant of Rotterdam,
was called the king of the smokers,
from his devotion to the gentle weed,
and he had a right regal funeral. By
the terms of his will, every smoker who
chose to attend it was presented with
ten pounds of tobacco and two Dutch
pipes, on which were engraved the
name, arms and date Of the decease of
the testator. All his guests were in
vited to be careful to keep their pipes
alight during the funeral ceremonies,
and to empty their ashes into his grave.
His oak coffin was lined with the cedar
of his old Havana cigar boxes. and
packet Of old Dutch tobacco was placed
at the foot of his coffin. His favorite
pipe was laid by his side along with
a box of matches, as well as flint and
steel and some finder, as he had ex-
pressed an opinion that there was no
knowing what might happen" Some
anti-tobacconists of the period seem to
have wickedly remarked that these pre-
cautions about procuring a light would
be found superfuous.
The courts recently set aside a clause
in the will of an anti-tobacco Lacquer
in Ireland. This gentleman had a
prejudice against smoking, perhaps be-
cause it made him sick. and inserted
this paragraph in his last testament:
81 have told my sons, John, Richard
and Samuel, that if they indulge in the
habit they would forfeit 6 500 each,
to be divided among their sisters, and
should they at any time begin this habit,
their sisters may sue them each for
800"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
PROVES TO BE A PUG.
Polite Girl Gives Up Her Seat to a Sup
posedly Baby-Laden Woman.


posedly Baby-Laden Woman.
The inbound Clark street cable train
was crowded. Every seat was taken
and many men were compelled to stand,
when at one of the crossings a lady en-
tered the car bearing in her arms bur-
den of her special care and attention.
Wrapped in a soft warm shawl she care
fully carried it, protected and safe from
the raw, chilly air. Although restless
and moving its tiny head from side to
side, she watchfully held the shawl
over it's head. She walked to the center
of the car, and, seeing no vacant seat,
took one of the straps. The men kept
industriously reading their papers, says
the Chicago Chronicle.
These gentlemen can keep their
seats" said a young woman as she
arose and proffered her seat to the
woman with the burden. The car gave
sudden lurch forward as the woman
accepted the offered seat with THANK
you" the shawl became loosened, and
eluding her grasp, the little object
freed itself from the folds
The men Uttered and the polite young
woman, looking around for the cause Of
the unwonted mirth, beheld on the
woman's lap, not a baby as she sup
posed, but very frisky and bright
eyed pug dog.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
SPANISH MINES III TCxEC.
There Is Talk OF Reopening Some of the
Old Ones.

The earliest settlers of Bell county,
Tex, found along the mountains north
east of Bolton and near Nolan's creek
what appeared to be old mines that lad
probably been worked by the SDaniards,
Indians or Actecs. Since then every
once in awhile there has been talk of
trying to open the mines and see what
was in them. says the Galveston News.
They presented the appearance of deep
holes in the ground some of which had
been partially and others almost en-
tirely filled with dirt. In some instances
bushes had grown in these places. In
one or two cases large cedar logs had
been placed over these mine-holes and
dirt thrown on them. Some people
have always contended that it would
pay to reopen and work these Old mines,
but until now no one who desired to put
time or money in them.
The recent discovery of gold four or
five miles from Bolton has given a new
interest in these old mines. in one of
these mines some men have begun work
in earnest, and are keeping at it from
day to day. They are not very cCm-
municative about their prospects for
success, but this much they tell, hat
in short time they are going to ship
some of what they think is their best
paying ore to the smelter at eagle Pass.
After it has been smelted they will know
more Meanwhile there is a good deal
of interestabout it around town.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
PHRYGIAN CAP ANDThE kNOUT.
Means Taken by France to Keep Out
Russian Exiles.

The French republic, thanks to the
now alliance between the Phrygian cap
and The knout, has done its best to make
its soil insecure for those who fed from
the tyranny of czardom, says the North
American Review. Among Russian tx
lies living at Zurich, Geneva and Lau-
same spies have Iatterly been intro
duced, even in the guise of alleged lady
students Of the same nationality. In
England alone prescribed Russians are
free, and in England, partly in conse-
qucnce Of their contact with the quiet
operation Of parliamentary institutions,
partly on account of a change of feel
ing among the cultured classes of their
own country, men like StepniaA, the au-
thor of underground Russia" and
kindred works, who once had hand in
the fierce active fight against autocracy
by all available means of irregular war
fare, have gradually ceased to be con-
nected with the organization of So
called terroristic attempts. Their Lon
don monthly organ, Free Russia, shows
how much they have moderated their
demands.
If the young emperor would only con-
sent to the introduction of some kind
of representative assembly, snch a: ell
European nations have, and as even the
sultan had adopted shortly before
Turkey was beaten down by the armies
of Alexander H., the reigning car
would rally around him many who are
at present his adversaries in what is be-
lieved to be the camp of the most e2-
IRENE DartV
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
RECEIVES IN HER BATH.
Sovereign of Madagascar Transacts State
Affairs In Her Tub.

Affairs In Her Tub
Persons who pride themselves upon
what they call their sturdy common
sense affect to despise elaborate civil
ties under the expressive term of
starch" None the less, says the Den
yer Republican, do such sacrifices to
exacting graces flourish, and certainly
not less than in countries nearer home
among the Hovas of Madagascar, who
were, even before their annexation,
nothing if not Partisan. Starch is, how
ever, at the court of Antananarivo no
mere matter of form; rather, if anyone
may say SO, a form of matter, for it is
the starch so indispensable in our laun-
dries that, like Shakespeare's divinity,
doth hedge around the Queen Ranavalo.
She, like Marie Antoinette, is accus-
toned to receive state visitors in her
morning tub. and quite seeing the dis
advantages of having her. bath water
like her state policy, too clear, the
starch is thrown into it to dissolve as
white veil around the queen. Among
the dignitares thus received by her
was, according to the Paris correspond
ent of the Times, French ambassador,
NJ LIE Myre de Vilers, who, after
plentiful use of diplomatic soft SOAP"
retired highly confident An old Hova,
however, more experienced in NADIA
gascar etiquette, took a different view
of the results of nj. de Vilers' mission.
"Oh. he will not obtain anything" he
said; there was too much starch"
Excessive starch would seem to make
queens and collars alike stuck up"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
AN AMERICAN GIRL ABROAD.
And a Lesson That She Taught Two
Men,

An American girl travelling alone in
compartment car from Ostend to
Vienna was annoyed by two English.
men, who began by staring at her, and
ended by making remarks about her III
French
She took no notice of them, but
busted herself in the corner seat near
the window, writing with a pencil in
notebook.
-1ssGn.ng that she did not under
stand French, they commented upon
her beauty, stylish appearance and in
nocence, and exchanged surmises re-
specting the extent of her fathers for
tune.
While they were debating, says a
writer in The Youths Companion
whether it would be worth while for
them to f1irt with her, she at once rang
the bell for porter and speaking in
excellent French, gave directions for
her luncheon, which she expected to
take on the train.
The two men looked at each other in
amazement. They had been talking
about her for half an hour on the op-
posite seat without suspecting that she
understood their faulty French. Then
continuing their conversation in Ger
man, of which they knew less than
they did Of French, they rallied each
other upon their misadventure and de-
cided that so handsome a girl must
have rich father, and that marriage
with her would be a good speculation.
This went on until an English travele
from the next compartment came in
assistance.
Il do not speak German" he re-
marked, land this man is trying to tell
me something which probably I ought
to know"
The ticket-collector, speaking in Ger
man, explained that the Englishman
had got on the wrong train, and would
have to get off at the next station and
wait several hours for a return train,
unless he. preferred to buy a ticket for
another station further on, where he
could make a better connection.
The Interpreters did their best, but
they could not fully clear up the situa-
ton. The ticket-collector finally turn
ed to the lady and asked her if she
understood German. She nodded her
head and Immediately gave the con-
fused traveller the correct information
enabling him to decide what he would
do.
The two handles were silent when
the ticket-collector and the passenger
retired from the compartment. En-
barrassed by the evidence that the
American girl had understood their
German as we'll as their French, they
said nothing more, but settled them
selves back in their seats and closed
their eyes The lady went on with her
writing.
When the train reached Vienna she
tore number Of leaves out of her note
book and handed them to the two men
with the sarcastic remark:
Il have corrected some Of your
French and German. Possibly my
notes will help you to improve as lin
guists''
The men lifted their hats and had
the manliness to apologize for their
conduct The American girl had
taught them the wholesome lesson tha
a gentleman is never vulgar and in
decent, and therefore never makes in
solent remarks about a lady in any
language.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05

front door and made the bear a prisoner.
The intrepid woman then tied dog
to pole, thrust the bowling canine
through the door and thus coaxed the
bear out. As bruin appeared she struck
him with an ak and killed him at the
first blow.
manner of fishing for $50 bear with
dog worth $50, but the woman re-
torted:
We generally shoots 'em, but We
never runs from EN-"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
A REMARKABLE TOOTH.
Wonderful Relic in the Temple at Yaka-
dana, Japan.

The temple at Yakadama. Japan, con-
tains a wonderful relic in the shape of a
tooth which, tradition says, one of the
gods pulled from his jaw in order to
have a weapon with which to dispatch
an immense cobra, says the ST. Louis
Republic. Years ago, according to the
tradition, after the tooth had been
worshiped by heather devotees for
centuries, a change of sentiment took
place in regard to the relic. It was
declared to be a fraud and was, ac-
cordingly, ground to powder and then
thrown into the river. But the particles
came together, so the priests say, and
again formed themselves into a per
feet tooth, which was found as per-
feet as before the ordeal, quietly repos-
ing in the bed of the river. After this
miracle, the Temple of the Sacred
Tooth" which had also been destroyed
by the unbelievers, was rebuilt and the
tooth again enshrined as an object Of
alteration. At present it is kept in a
gold box wrapped in films from the
sacred white spiders web.
Non-believers in the power of the Sa-
cred Indestructible Tooth say that it is
simply molar of some extinct species
Of gigantic animal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
he WON HIS CLIENTS CASE.
S1ccessfnl Venture of a Broker as a Grim
inal Advocate at the Bar


jacksonville broler, " lille travelling
m the Alabama mountains, was invited
by friend, a local judge, to attend the
trial of a ''cr acker" for hooting mig
ger, and the prisoner having 40 money
70 hire lawyer, the Judge appointed
he broker to defend HIM, alleging that
Hthe brolerWas not lawyer "he was an
IDIOT because he wasn't one IA Judg-
ment amply supported by his conduct
Of the case. The broker, says the San
francisco Argonaut. cross-eXamlned
the witnesses briefly. sending in now
and then a discomfiting trajectory.
When he came to make speech be said:
"Gentlemen of the jury, | have taken
great pains to show you that my client
was respectable citizen. Ten wit
nesses have asserted-on oath, mind
you-that he stands high IN his com
munity." The defendant was six feet
three inches tall and the jury smiled.
NHe stood high N the community. and
that is sufficient. Now for the law. We
find that the 3Oth verse of the 10th chap
ter of 'Chitty on Pleadings' -Chitty,
gentlemen, was one Of the bravest gen
erals IN the confederate army-this well,
established principle of law" Here the
broker adjusts his glasses, holds the
book far off, elevates his chin and reads:
"'No respectable white man can be
guilty of crime That, gentlemen, is
enough. leave the case in your hands"
Each juror changed his quid, looked at
his neighbor, nodded, and, without leav-
ing their seats, rendered a loud and EN-
phatic verdict of mot guilty" and then
Joined in three cheers for the defendant
and his lawyer.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
SHE KILLED THE BEAR.
Her Method Was Original But None thu
Less Effective.

Some Philadelphia sportsmen hunting
the deer in the wild portion of Clear
field county, in the center of the noun
tains of Pennsylvania. were hurriedly
called out one morning by the guide,
who had discovered two bucks few
miles away. says the New York World.
Hastily starting, the men did not carry
a large supply of ammunition and what
they bad was all used or wasted in bag
ging the deer. Starting back to camp.
they encountered bear and as they
could not shoot they ran, each going
in a different direction.
The bear chased the guide and he
took the direct course toward the camp
log house, where his wife was pre-
PAIRING a meal. With a yell he dashed
into the house and up into the loft.
His wife ran out of the back door,
closed it. and as the bear had gone in
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
WHAT WORRIED HIM.

"Cap'n," sair the old colored inhabi-
tant, ''is yo' dedicated on dis heah
finance question:"
ooh, yes"
know all erbout it?"
"Well, I understand it tolerably.'
''Des sol Now l wants ter ak you fer
some information"
''All right"
what I want ter know fun you is
dis: Do dis heah sixteen ter one BUSH
ness mean sixteen votes fer one dol
lar ?'-Chicago Times-Herald.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05

neophytes, and become full-fedged
warriors, entitled to all the rights and
privileges Of men. All those who can
survive the terrible training certainly
have proved themselves fitted to I'M
dertake the responsibilities of the
South African warriorship.
The particular dance which was
kodaked was a very successful one,
and was witnessed by an enthusiastic
crowd of about 200 spectators.-New
York World.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
Origin of Billiards.

The origin Of billiards is obscure, but
the best authorities on the subject de-
clare that the game was brought from
the east by the Crusaders. 1t was GER
tainly played by the early Knights
Templar nd the Knights of Malta. and
II medieval times was exceedingly
popular among the monks in tae
monasteriPs of France and Italy.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05
ITALIAN ANTIQUITIES.

An Underground Trade in Them in Spite
of Legal Interdictions.
Some days ago a well-known dealer
In antiquities offered for sale to the
Louvre museum in Paris a splendid col
lection of ancient vases from Italy Or
Greek or Italian workmanship, says the
London News. The museum was una
BILE to pay the price asked-e 10000
and declined the bargain. The Italian