davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29
ONLY A FEW RETURNED.
The Fate of the $50 Gilbert Islanders
Who Were Taken to Guatemala.

The Fate of the $50 Gilbert Islanders
Who Were Taken to Guatemala.
The bark Helen w. Almy bore a pa
thetic tale when she sailed in through
the Golden Gate yesterday She brought
the news that of the $50 Gilbert Island
ers inveigled to go to Guatemala in 1892
to labor on the plantation of Eugene
Disable, under a contract for four years
only 254 were now alive. Of these but
227 were returned TO their native land,
the island of Butaraitari, the majority
of them boken down in health. The
others, twenty-seven in number, found
it to be their inclination to remain in
Central America. Thus ends the in
famous Guatemala slave deal of 1892.
The details of the ''blackbirding" ex-
petition are still fresh in the minds OF
the American public. Ii was conceived
by Captain Blackburn, of the Montser-
rat, who, two years ago, met death at
sea. Knowing there was big demand
for cheap labor to clear land for coffee
planting in Guatemala he conferred
with Disable, large landholder in the
Central American Republic, who was
much taken with the idea of profiting
off the ignorance of the dusky island
erS, and authorized Blackburn to con-
tract with 1000 Of them, agreeing to
pay Sc a month for the labor of the men
and 81 a month for the labor of the
women, besides finding their food, for
term of four years. Blackburn's task
was an easy one. He first won the two
kings, who reign in the Gilbert Islands,
over to his side, and their Endorsement
of his scheme made it acceptable in the
eyes of the natives. There was a per-
feet rush of the latter to sign contracts
to go anywhere and do any kind Of
labor at any price Blackburn would
name. Stories of new sights they
would see in a land 50 much more ad-
vanced than theirs were circulated
about, and so enthusiastic did the
islanders become who had signed away
their liberty that they could hardly
wait until the day when they would
put away over the same sea- while those
who had failed to secure foreign con-
tracts felt that they were unfortunate
in having missed a grand opportunity.
-Four hundred Of the islanders, who
were to experience hardships unknown
among the slaves OF the South of this
country before the civil war, left their
native homes on the Montserrat, 220
of them were carried Oh the bark Helen
w. Amy, and go were borne by the
brig Tahiti. The MontserTat and Almy
landed their cargoes at San Jose de
Guatemala, but the Tahiti, while lying
off the port awaiting signals to land
from the Montserrat, was struck by
gale that capsized her, and every soul
on board was downed, including Cap
tain Erricson and his crew. ',.f Et....
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29

air from the side wall or even toward
the ceiling and allow it to flow down
along the surface of the walls and
eequaliZe itself through the room.
The old idea that, because warm air is
lighter, it must be brought in as near
the floor as possible, is modified by the
fact that some other considerations in
fiuence its diffusion, and especially if
the removal for foul air is so arranged
as to allow it in part to escape nearer
the floor
I'VE think it must be said that
there are no more difficult problems for
the sanitary engineer or physicist to
solve than those which relate to the
purity of air in rooms in winter and
the methods of securing a proper heat
ing and ventilation at the same time.
For the reason that heating the air
already in the room is too much re-
gardless of its necessary impurity, the
strong inclination now is somehow to
furnish heat, so that pure air, already
warmed, shall flow into the room, in
stead of merely by pipes and radiators
which are warmed heating the air as
it is. For this reason both hot air and
hot water are used as a means of in
direct heating. If air enters a cham
Der below a hall, and there is so
brought n contact with coils heated
by air, or warm water, or steam, as
that it, too, becomes warm, it has some
of the advantages which the summer
air has as it comes in warm from with
out. Probably this is the ideal to-
ward which we must work. How to
avoid dust, to regulate moisture, to
have the inflow and outflow such as
will make no severe draught, and be
equable and diffusive-these are ques-
tons of no small import and of no
little difficulty; but with the needs
clearly in view and the defects of for
mer methods realized, it is pleasant to
know that we are working toward
consistent and harmonious plan.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29
THE IDEAL BEDROOM.

The room in which enc sleeps is the
one in which one breathes and absorbs
whether it be pure or impure air. A
dust-laden atmosphere will clog up the
lungs in very short time, and bad air
will lay the seeds of consumption,
fevers and all the horrors which flesh
is heir to, and which come through
careless neglect Of the simple laws of
life as anything else, The ideal bed
room is airy. 1t opens on free air and
is bathed in sunshine all day. 1t has
mating on the floor, and if the occu-
pant is an anaconda by nature, a rug
of fur or wool is flung in the centre of
the room. The windows are securely
screened from cracks by welI-fittirg
frames and leather strips, and so OBJ
viate the necessity for heavy draperies,
which accumulate dust and disease
germs. The muslin curtains which
adorn the windows, hung on slender
brass rods, are washed as soon as they
are at all dusty. The furniture is to
suit the occupants fancy, but it is not
too cumbersome to be easily moved
aside and frequently busted. HYGIENE
wall paper which can be wiped off with
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29

followed by sponge bath, will work
wonders with an ungainly figure. 1t
may not reduce the weight materially,
but it makes the flesh firmer and
healthier, diminishing the bulkiness of
the figure considerably.
A simple method for rounding thin
arms is to extend them straight out in
a lipe with the shoulders, and then bend
the elbows inward, so that the hands
will strike the armpits. Moving the
hands back and forth few times in this
way will be found to be trying work.
The woman who aspires to chest de
velopment can gain that object by
clasping her hands at the back of the
neck, leaning backward as far as posi-
BILE without losing her balance, and eX-
tending her left leg outward and up
ward as high as possible. The leg must
be kept rigid and the movement made
slowly. After this has been done two
or three times a change must be made
to the other foot and then back again.
Some women develop the chest by
swinging dumbbells or pulling up
weights, but this is apt to produce
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29
DAYLIGHT AT OCEANS BOTTOAA

In very clear water sunlight pene-
trates tie seas to the depth of 1880
feet. These experiments were made
in the Mediterranean, near Corsica, and
eighteen miles from land, the results
being obtained by means of photo
graphic plates. The depth to which
daylight depends, of course, on the
transparency of the water; the Mediter-
ranean being famed for the clearness
of it's water, admits light to a greater
depth than is the case where the water
is less transparent. Usually the light
Of the sun $50 feet below the surface
Of the ocean is no more than that Of the
moon, while at the depth of 300 feet it
is scarcely equal to the glimmer of twi-
light, and at 600 feet in many parts Of
the ocean there is perpetual darkness.
Near Mindora, in the Indian ocean, the
spotted corals are plainly visible under
$50 feet of water. The Caribbean sea
is of crystalline clearTess, objects be-
ing discernible on the bottom at a very
great depth.-Populac Science News.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29

a damp cloth covers the walls. The
bed is of brass or iron, without drap-
cries, w spring hair mattresses, and
no fiat bolster, no pillows. The bed
clothes are light and warm, blankets
being used instead OF heavy quilts. In
this healthful apartment the occupant
sleeps from eight to ter hours, going
to sleep before II, and here the gas is
turned out and the window opened for
fifteen minutes every night before the
sleeper goes to sleep. II the morning
an hours airing with the windows open
is not too much for a healthful woman's
room. The mating should be wiped
up with a damp cloth every day or
every other day, and dust should be
fought as one would death or disease
not only for appearance and happiness
sake, but for health and beauty's sake,
too.-Excnange
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29
WHY WHEAT RISES.
A London Broker Gives an Ex-
PLANTATION

London, Oct. "a representative
of the associated press had an inter-
view with the broker who does the
largest business in wheat on this side
of the Atlantic, in regard to the
wheat situation. He said in substance:
In half-the natural half-of the
speculative course, we have only fol-
lowed the lead set by the United
States, where spectators are very &C
tive. The years scarcity, in spite of
the fact that England had a 1000. 900
crop, has induced SPECTATORS to rush
in. Russia's crop is poor and Austria s
is practically nil. But what is of great
moment, consumers having large ad-
vance milling contracts also rushed In
to secure supplies, even at top prices,
which today are 20 per cent. higher
than last week. The California wheat
sent to India as yet is only a drop in
the bucket, but the moral effect of this
movement and the impending famine
in India has been very great. Of
course, if rain falls quantities of Cali
fornia wheat will not be wanted. But
I doubt this and, coupled with the vice
roy's grave kilograms, it naturally af-
fords spectators the real element of
uncertainty they delight in. Still this
does not account for more than half
the rise. The balance is solid advance
owing to shortness Of supplies. We
shall follow the United States closely,
however, and the spectators who force
the market. A rise il freights has at
all times been in advance of a rise in
wheat, and the demand for steamers is
most brisk. The closing of the sea Of
Azov early in December will free num-
bers of ships to load elsewhere, though,
at present, the Azov boats are loading
as rapidly as possible"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29

make 1t larger. The arms of a third
may be too thin or too plump, and she
exercises to decrease or increase their
proportions
1t may be asked why these women
select their boudoirs for these exercises
when there are so many gymnasiums at
hand. Vanity is the reason. The fash.
ioGable woman whose life is embittered
by a. surplus of avoirdupois and whose
system OF training consists solely of ly-
ing ON the floor, fiat on her back, and
kicking her feet in the air as hard as
she can, is naturally opposed to the
lGea of exhibiting herself in this role
betore the eyes of many of her friends
Yes, and the girl whose legs are
dreadfully thin and who dances up and
down on her toes, doesn't feel like pa
rading her shortcomings. clad in a
gymnasium suit, berore two score of ner
sisters.
Moreover, these morning exercises
only take fifteen or twenty minutes.
and the work is accomplished more
quickly at home, as it does away with
the journey to and from the gymnasium
and the task of undressing and dressing
for the exercise No apparatus is re-
quired. The first lessons in the exercis
are given by one of the half a dozen
physical culture women, who have built
up paying practice by visiting the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29

Washington, Oct 22.-The names
chosen by the directors of the Catholic
university Wednesday to be submitted
to the pope are Father Conaty, presi-
dent of the summer school at Platts-
burg, New York; Father Riordan OF
st. EliZabeths church, Chicago; and
Father Mooney, vicar general of New
York. One of these will be designated
by the pope as the rector of the Wash
lngton university. At 4 o'clock the
ceremony occurred of receiving the
gift of $4,000 from the Ancient Order
Of Hibernians for the chair of Celtic
language. Cardinal Gibbons in re-
spending to the presentation speech,
spoke of the generosity of the Irish
people, who, while not over-rich and
in time Of financial distress, gave this
handsome gift for the study of the Gel
tic language. They did not hope to
restore the Celtic to the spoken tongue,
for the English language was the ac-
cepted living language of this country,
but would preserve the ancient Celtic
from extinction. The cardinal said
that this gift would be recognized by
the pope as a response to his wish that
the university receive generous sup
port. After the ceremony the direc-
tors OF the university resumed their
private session and at 7 O'Clock ad-
journed sine die.
Early in the morning the eminen
ecclesiasticS began to gather at the
senate chamber of Mcmahon hall
Cardinal Gibbons in his long habit of
black, with cardinal skull cap, cardi
nal scarf and cardinal cord about his
waist, was one of the first to reach
the assembly room.
The board Of directors adjourned at
o'clock after having selected the
names of three priests to sumbit to
the pope, from which list Leo XIII
will select the successor to Bishop
keane as rector of the university
The vacancy ON the board of directors
of the university caused by the death
of Bishop Marty was filled by the
election of Archbishop Riordan of
San Francisco. The board refused to
accept the resignation of Bishop
Keane as director of the university
and he will continue to serve in that
capacity.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29

homes of the rich and planning out the
particular kind of work to be done
The most common complaint to be
met with is the woman with a weak
back, and such a woman is usually de-
void of proper hip and leg development.
The system of exercise for the short
comings is simple. The subject places
her hands on her hips, balances herself
securely on the left foot and with the
knee Of the right leg bent and the toes
pointing toward the floor, she raises her
knee as high as the waist. Then she
must swing her right foot around in a
circle, keeping the toes pointing down
ward. After making half a dazen cir
Giles she must change to her left foot
and then back to the right again.
For Strengthening the abdominal
muscles the gymnast is placed fiat upon
the floor on her back, with her arms
folded over her chest. Then she must
raise herself to sitting posture by
simply using the muscles of the body.
This is not as easily done as some peo-
pie imagine, but is first class exercise.
The cOrpulent woman will find it
more efficacious than starving herself
and much healthier. In addition to
moving her body up and down she must
lift the legs slowly until they are at
right angles with the body, keeping the
toes pointed upward. Alternating be-
tween raising the legs and raising the
body for fifteen minutes each morning,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29

the ticket-collector and the passenger
retired from the compartment En-
baTrassed 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:
4 have corrected some of your
French and German. Possibly my
notes will help you to improve as lin
GUSTS
The men lifted their hats and had
the manliness to apologize for their
conduct. The American girl had
taught them the wholesome lesson that
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, 1896-10-29
MAUD AND GLADYS AND ETHEL

To say just who have been response
BILE for all the changes in public taste as
to names would be harder than to find
the source of every fashion in dress
Tennyson is credited with having
brought in among English-speaking
people Cymric name-fad which has
left us Gladys and Gwendolen and the
like. Perhaps the revival Of Saxon
isms, whose prophet was Carlyle, in
fuenced the liking for Ethel and Edith
and Edwin, though Thackeray may
have helped to popularize the first of the
three. The influence of the Bible is not
so perceptible in the choice of names as
it used to be when the custom prevailed
Of opening the book at random and TAX
ing the first name found, but probably
no other single source has been so pro-
ductive. The patriotic and sectarian
and political-favOrite styles seem to
hold their own without any loss, though
the consequences are sometimes eX-
tremely unsatisfactory as when George
Washington or John Wesley is convict
ed of theft or burglary, or a break in
party lines separates the public man
from his namesake. The classic fash
ion has practically departed, even in
the United States, and no English
writer Of american Notes. can now
fairly accuse us of an abnormal tenden
cy toward Junius Brutus or Tiberus
Gracious. But old customs of that
kind come back so easily that it would
not be strange if the Greeks and
Romans should again supply us with
resounding historic designations.-Wil-
liam Ward Crane, in Lippincott's.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29
A CURE FOR ENNUI.
The Book Agent Keeps Things From
Getting Slow.

Il used to revile the book agent" re-
marked the slightly blase young man
4 once read the gibes at him which
appear in the publications with grea
relish. l looked upon him as an en-
envy of mankind"
Have your feelings undergone q
changer" inquired his friend.
Decidedly"
There was a time when | was get
ting weary of life. My business wasn't
sufficient to- occupy my entire time
and | was cursed with leasure.
Things seemed to be getting quite
slow"
Exceedingly so. Nobody was writ
ing the kind of novels l like, and the
theatrical entertainments seemed stag
nant with dreary sameness. 1 tried
a trip to Europe, which was very well
while it lasted, but it didn't do any
permanent good. The days dragged
along SO that a week seemed a liberal
installment of eternity. Nothing
afforded any relief until, by accident
| tried book agents"
You mean you bought some in
structive works that absorbed your
attention"
well, I suppose the works were in
structive enough. But l didn't look
into them more than once or twice
Two or three happened along on the
same day. They had art collections
from English literature, and l bought
set of books from each l was to
pay for them monthly, and now every
miEute has wings on it. 1t seems to
me that [ scarcely make one payment
before the man gets around for the
EeXt one. And then | figure out, and
see how the time has really flown, and
pay up and look pleasant and feel that
I've had more than my moneys worth
even if | never read a line in my new
library. Free Press.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29
THE NEGATIVE MOTT.

To play on a mans name when dead
is no uncommon, and these two are ex-
amples of this unfortunate failing:
This world is but a shadow,
And, so, alas, found poor Tom Meadow
n. B. His nave was ield, not Meadow.
But changed to make it rhyme with
shadow.
Some people like to decant on name,
and turn and twist it ir every conceiV-
able way.
Here lies a man that was not born
His father was Knott before him;
He lived Knott, and did Knott die,
Yet underneath this stone doth lie
Knott christened,
Knott begot.
And here he lies
And yet was Knott.
Good Words.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29
CHILDREN'S TEETH,

1t is quite sad to see young children
In these days with bad teeth and suffer-
ing with tOothache. Much trouble
might be saved if children were taught
when very young to use their tooth
brushes night and morning. The
night cleansing is more important, as
it gets rid of the acids and particles of
food that have accumulated during the
day, and which, if allowed to remain,
causes decay. Warm water and fair
ly hard brush should be used. II
children were taught when quite young
that cleaning their teeth night and
morning was as important as brushing
the hair, or any other of the duties Of
the toilet, the habit acquired in youth
would remain with them in after years,
and would, I feel sure, save them much
trouble and pain.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29
VALUE OF WHALEBONE.

Whalebone promises to become one of
the most valuable commodities of COM
merce, and before the next century is
very old it may become as highly
priced as gold. 1t may then be the
means of settling forever the mono
metallist and bimetallist controversies
by abolishing both, and making the
substitution of whalebone currency
possible for there is no chance of over
supply of that article, and it is quite
evident that it cannot be initiated.
Numerous attempts have been made to
simulate it, but none has been success
full. Not very many years ago whale
bone could be purchased for 400 pounds
a ton. At the end of last season the
price was 1000 pounds. Today it is
about 1920 pounds, and before Christ
mas it may be higher still, for the
Green land fishing this summer has not
proved an immense success At this
price an old family giHgham of which
the whalebone ribs were generally
about half an inch square, would prove
very handsome legacy, much more
valuable than a gold-mounted but
steel-ribbed umbrella of the present
day. A collection of the old articles
might form a small fortune.-London
Telegraph.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29
THE LITTLE OLD SHOE.

1t is only a tiny shoe
That she touches with tender
A cunning little bit of a thing
That a oaby used to wear:
And she gently raises it to her lips
And lovingly holds it there.
1t is worn, and faded, and old,
But it brings up the happy past;
She sadly signs as she thinks Of the
joys
That were too sweet to last.
In fancy she sees little child
AS it gambols upon the floor;
An elf-like creature with golden
hair
Is cooling a baby song once more
And a tear drops down on the tiny
shoe
That the beautiful dream-child
wore
''Ah, wellr' she signs to herself,
Pm cursed by the willful fates;
| used to be able to wear this shoe
But now l take number Fights
Cleveland Leader.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29
LOVE CAME TO ME.

Love came to me when I was young;
He brought me songs, he brought me
flowers;
Love wooed me lightly, trees among,
And dallied under scented bowers;
And loud he caroled, Love Is
kingp'
For he was riotous as Spring,
And careless Of the hours
When 1 was young.
Love fingered near when l grew old;
He brought me light from stars above;
And consultations manifold
He fluted to me like a dove;
And Love leaned out of Paradise
And gently kissed my faded eyes,
And whispered God is Love-
When l grew old.
F. H. Williams.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-10-29

New York, Oct. 18-The woman OF
fashion, whether she be maid or mat
ron, takes as much care of her physi-
cal condition nowadays as does the
prizefghter who hopes to win champ
ionship. Women are born beautiful Oh
commonplace, according to the eccen-
tricity of nature, but it is possible foT
all to be attractive by wholesomeness
a we'll proportional figure and the in
describable charm which surrounds the
healthy, vigorous woman.
The chief attraction of Mrs. Langtry
was not an excessive beauty of feature
but her wholesomeness. The same can