davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-12-14
.setting the River ON Fire. >

Sometimes, when person wants to
make an unpleasant remark in a pleas
ant sort of way about a dull boy, he will
say, ''That boy will never set the river
on fire." Now, that is all very true; for
even the smartest man in the world
could never set a stream Of water on
fire, and SO perhaps many of you who
have heard this expression have Won
dered what is meant by setting the river
on fire.
In England, many, many years ago,
before the millers had machinery for
sitting -four, each family was obliged
to sift it's own -four. For doing this, it
was necessary to use a sieve, called a
tense, which was so fixed that it could
be turned round and round in the top
of barrel. II it was turned too fast
the friction would sometimes cause 1t
to catch fire; and as it was only the
smart, Woodworking boys who could
make it go SO fast as that, people got
into the way of pointing out lazy boy
by saying that he would never set the
tense on fire. After a while these
sleeves went out of use, but as there
were still plenty of stupid boys in the
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-12-14
Inventions of the Insane.

4 writer in London Answers quotes
the talk of the resident physician of a
large asylum for the insane, who says
that persons confined in such institu-
lions often display an inventive turn of
mind. One of his own patients believes
himself shut up in the old Fleet prison
for the national debt, and in the hope of
raising the wherewithal to pay this
trifing sum and so obtain release, has
devoted himself to inventing things.
Strange to say, among host of alb
surd ideas, he has produced two which
are really practicable. His friends and
have supplied him with such harmless
materials as he requires, and he has
Just finished a simple automatic con-
trivance for the head of a lawn tennis
racket, to pick up the balls and abolish
STOPPING. It acts perfectly well, and
I'm so convinced there's money in it
that I've advised his friends to secure
a patent for him in case he becomes
cured.
His other invention is of a different
kind. being really efficacious prevent
i've of seasickness. It's very simple;
two of it's components are in every
kitchen and the rest in every chemists
shop. | have successfully tested it my
self on two occasions when crossing
the channel in very stormy weather.
AS an instance of the cleverness of
lunatics. it may interest you to know
that a very valuable improvement con-
nected with machinery, now in daily
use everywhere, was invented by the
inmate of an asylum well known to ev-
ery one by name AS he is now quite
cured. and is a somewhat prominent
man, I won't mention any details; but
his invention, designed and modelled
as a diversion while absolutely insane,
has since brought him in thousands Of
pounds.
A lunatic at an asylum where | was
once assistant physician invented fly
ing machine, and had a unique method
of suspending it in mid-air. "Atmos-
pheric pressure being fifteen pounds to
the square inch,'' he said, II have SIM
ply to exhaust all the air from above
my air-ship by an enormous air-pump
fixed over the whole deck, and the air
pressure underneath Will hold the ship
up"
/ told him he'd need another air-pump
on top Of the first one to exhaust the air
that would be pressing that pump
down, and another above that, and so
on. but he declared he once made a
model which had worked splendidly.
He said, 1T flew about in the room like
a bird. Unfortunately, the window hap
pened to be open at the top, and it flew
out and so lost it.
The chaplain of an asylum in the
north once told me of mailman there
who had plan for laying cable round
the world in two days. His idea was
to send up a powerful balloon to the
highest possible altitude, with a cable
attached. BY the revolution of the
earth on it's axis the cable, he declared,
would be laid completely round the
earth in twenty-four hours.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-12-14
WAS NOT ON THE BILLS.

Remarkable Scheme of Man and His
Wife to Bleed Mi11ionaires.
'This story I see going the rounds of
the newspapers about gang out West
scheming to hold up train with Van
derbilt, Depew and other rich meat on
it." remarked a detective, reminds me
of one similar that occurred in my baili-
wick when / was working in Califor-
MIA"
"As to how?" questioned the reporter.
"a chap out there came to me just as
the fellow did in the case of this detec-
tive and said he was one of gang that
was going to hold up train with lot
of Frisco millioIaiEes aboard, but that
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-12-14
Gold Is Scarce.

Il is estimated that the amount of
gold in circulation throughout the
world is about 100000, 000-less than
1000 tons.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-12-14

Merritt-Man was made to mourn,
YOU know. Cora-And what was wom-
an made for, pray? Merritt-To make
him do so, suppose.-NeW York truth.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-12-14

world, people kept on saying that they
would never set the tense on fire. Now,
the name of the river Thames is pro-
nounced exactly like the word TENSE .
and so, after many years, those persons
who had never seen or heard of the old
fashioned sieve. thought that setting
the tense on fire. meant setting the
river Thames on fire. This expression
became very popular and travelled far
and wide, until the people living near
other streams did not see why it was
any harder for slothful boy to set the
Thames on fire than any other river,
and so the name Of the river was drop
ped, and everybody after that simply
said ''the river" meaning the river of
his particular city or town; and that is
how it is that people to-day talk Of set
ting the river on fre.-St Nicholas.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-12-14

A-"Come and take supper with me. =
BIZ can't, old man. I'm just married
and my wife expects me home to cof-
fee." A-"What! you drink coffee +!
Why. I thought you always drank tea
at night" Bob, my wife cooks it so
that no one can tell the difference. -
Fliegende Blaetter.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-12-14

Vertical Handwriting on a Check.
In a Camden school the vertical style
of handwriting has recently been intro
duced and the change in the pupils
chirography is very marked.
One of the pupils has an account in
a savings bank. The other day he
wanted So, and, filling up a check for
that amount, signed it, and presented
it at the paying teller's window.
The teller stared hard at the boy.
us this your signature?" he asked
eyes, SIR replied the lad, in surprised
tones.
Then the paying teller compared the
signature on the check with that in the
book containing the autographs Of de-
positors There was 20 resemblance
between the two.
A consultation of officials was held.
and the youthful depositor was Piled
with more questions. Then it daWned
upon him what the trouble was.
.Oh,' said he, they've changed the
style of penmanship in our school, and
| use the vertical system now. That's
why my signature is different"
The check was id.-Philadelphia
Call.
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
AN Ex.oFFIcEn ARRESTED.
Sergeant Williams Has Police.
man SndIer Disminseh.

Immediately after the Board of Police
Commissioners adjourned yesterday af-
ternoon, ex-Officer j. l.. Sadler, who had
just been dismissed from the force, was
placed under arrest by Acting Sergeant
Williams on a warrant charging him
with stealing some months since q pearl
handle 3S-calibre revolver valued at SIS
the property OF oTcer GRIMM, who is
now turnkey at the station house.
The prisoner was bailed out by Jus
tice Gregory, ex-Officer Knapp becoming
his surety.IThe arrest created some ex-
element in police circles. and consider
able comment about town. The facts
in the case have never been entirely
made public, and probably will not be
until the case comes to trial
Sometime ago. however. the pistol In
question was stolen from Officer Griffin
and was not seen again until some weeks
ago. when acting Sergeant Williams SAW
1t In the possession OF Officer Sadler
recognized 1t, and asked him where ne
got It. Sadler said ne bought Il from
colored man for mere trifie. The Ser
geant preferred charges which resulted
yesterday In the dismissal OF the sus-
peciea policeman from the force. and
as has been stated, the arrest on the
criminal charge followed Immediately.
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
HISTORIC JAMESTOWN.
A Large Crowd Present at the Ami.
yersnry Excrcises.

Those who went to jamestown Wed
nesday to attend the exercises In COM
memoration Of the 2ssth anniversary
OF the settlement OF that historic spot,
are loud In their praises of the good
work being done by the Association for
the Preservation of Virginia Antiqui-
ties The exercises were of an especial
ly interesting character, and were nj
tended by many strangers from dis
tant States.
Governor O'Ferrali called the meeting
to order al 2:l5 o'clock, and the scene
was an impressive one. the stand be-
Ing surrounded with the people who had
come from Richmond. Norfolk and Will
liamsburg to observe the day. and all
of them seemed to be deeply Impressed
with the place and occasion.
Governor O'Ferrall asked the Rev
Dr.. James p. Smith, Of Richmond, to
begin the exercises, ana, advancing TO
the front or the stand. the reverend
gentleman offered an ELOQUENT and ap-
with Or. Smith In the Lords Prayer,
after which he followed with his beauti-
full Invocation of the Deity.
After the band had played, Governor
OFerrall said that he congratulated
himself on the easy and pleasant duty
before him. He came, he said, to hear,
and not to be heard. This Is hallowed
He SOnliuueu dRl we aTe mere
to keep alive and preserve memories OF
the times when 1t was made So
The men who landed here In the days
of old. in 1907, to MALE the first English
settlement in America blazed out the
way for the prosperity in the future
of the country, which Is now so blessed,
and stretches from ocean to ocean.
The duty Of preserving this sacred
spot was taken up by noble Virginia
women, who have saved IT from time.
tide. storms and vandals. AT this pill
grmage Virginia's citizens may draw
inspiration from the old church tower
and graveyard.
The Governor. who was appauded af-
ter his speech. then introduced the Rev.
c. Braxton Bryan, of Hampton, Va,
who read most interesting and valu-
able paper. which was listened to with
close attention.
Mr.. W. w. Old, of Norfolk, Va, then
returned the thanks OF the ladies of
the A. u. V. A. to the reverend gentle
man for his address. which he had
kindly agreed TO deliver In place OF
the Hon. John Randolph Tuck er, who
was prevented from coming, as expect
ed.
This closed the exercises, and then
the Governor held an informal reception.
many visitors shaking hands with him.
Among those from Norfolk who occu-
pied seats on the platform were Mrs.
Robert NJ. Hughes and Miss Mary Gait
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
POLICE HOARD MEETING.
Ofieer snaIer Disnissed from the
Force-Sergt. Williams Figures.

The Police Board met yesterday In
regular weekly session with all three
members present.
The charges which have been pend
ing against officer Sadler for some
time, preferred by Acting Sergeant
Williams, to the effect that the officer
had stolen a pistol from officer Griffin.
were taken up and thoroughly investl-
gated, after which the Board, in execu-
tive session. summing up the facts In
the case, dismissed Sadler from the
force.
The next case considered was that OF
Officer Williamson. charged by the same
sergeant with giving false evidence In
the Police Court In the case OF Mr.. w
+. Gregory. The aecuser stated that
officer Williamson's statement to the
effect that he (Willlams) had offered
TO settle his difficulty with Mr.. Gregory
outside the station-house. was untrue
He was In part sustained by two others
OF the police. Mr.. Gregory fatty con
tradicted the sergeant and supported
Officer Williamson, and the latter
speaking In his own behalf reiterated
what he had said In reference to the
sergeant's invitation to settle the mat
ter with the Mayors clerk. The charges
against Mr.. Williamson were promptly
dismissed.
w. f. Mansfield was appointed q sub
stitute, and Substitute Bell was pro-
NOTED to n regular.
An inspection of the force In its new
uniforms was ordered to be held on
the 18th inst. at noon In front of the
City Hall.
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
Naval Orders,

Washington. May 4.-The cruiser
Minneapolis. temporary flagship of the
European naval station. arrived a. Cron-
stadt to-day from Southampton with
Admiral Selfridge on board. The Admi-
nal and staff will proceed overland to
Moscow to attend the Coronation of
Gear Nicholas.
LAS a result of the findings of the court
of inquiry into the circumstances at
tending the disabling Of a gun mount on
the cruiser Montgomery Secretary Her
bert has censured Lieut. Charles H.
Lyman and Ensign Charles T. Jewell for
negligence in failing to see that a pro-
per supply of liquid was In the gun CYL
nder. The court reported that mo
further judicial proceedings should be
had in the matter"
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
ENERGY IN THE SOUTH
The Manufacturers Record On The Souths
Industrial Prospects and Ventures.
ERGLISHhEA PURCHASE BIG IRON WORKS
The Report Also Shows Considerable
Hesitation In Business Matters nnd
C"mplaints of DnIIness In Some
Lines. Yet the Industrial Situation
Is Steadily Expanding Generally.

baltimore, Md. May 1.-THE Manu-
lacturers' Records weekly summary OF
southern industrial news reports that
Notwithstanding the efforts of cotton
mil companies to curtail the production
on account OF market conditions, the
organisation of new mills goes on.
During the week new mill enterprises
have been projected at Carte,svills. Ga.
with $4,000 capital stock: a $3.50, 900 com
pany at Douglasville, Ga; a S125. 600
company at Austin, Tex: a $4,000 com
pany to esta blish a thread mill at Az
lanta; a s250,000 company at Monroe.
La; the proposed enlargement of Char
lesion mill at an expenditure OF about
100000. and an addition of $500 spin
dies TO mill at Forest City, N. G.
Among other enterprises reported
have been the organization OF an Eng
lish company, with a capital of $500, 900
10 purchase large iron works at Middle
borough. KY, and put them in early
operation: a projected bicycle factory
at Atlanta has mater ialized by the
incorpora ton of a company with $780,
600, which will establish the first bicy-
Gle works south of Maryland; a COM
pany to manufacture FIRE brick and
building brick has been started at
Blacksburg, S. c.. large chemical works
at Richmond, Va; a 60-ton cotton oil
mill al Cisco, Tex; $4,000 oil COM
pany at Groesbeck; a $4,000 ice and
coal plant a: H.llsboro; a $4,000 water
works company at Richmond, Tex.
WAile reports show that there Is con-
siderable hesitation in business matters
and complaint OF dullness in some lines,
yet on the whole the industrial situation
throughout the South seems to be steadi-
Is expanding on a solid basis, and the
outlook Is favorable for continued
growth. not only in leading industries.
such as cotton, but in more general di-
vers:fication OF manufacturing interests
Mir. Herman Frash, of the Standard
OIL Company, of Cleveland, writes the
Record that the extensive development
of sulphur mines in Louisiana under the
process recently introduced for this work
has been successful. and that an average
output of 260 tons Of sulphur per day is
now being made-the quality being
SO 9S-l00 per cent pure. This extensive
sulphur property, which was recently
purchased by Mr.. Rockefeller and others,
will shortly he Incorporated Recent re-
ports from Sicily showed that the sulphur
producers were watching with great in
terest these operations in Louisiana. an
tic.pating the curtailment OF exports of
Sfcilian sulphur to America, should the
Louisiana developments be successful.
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
Funeral of srr. McC,earv.

At o'clock yesterday afternoon.
from the residence OF his father Mr..
f. f. McClelry. "a Holt street. his
son, Clarence. was carried to his last
re1ting place In Elmwood Cemetery.
The funeral was largely attended by citi-
zens OF Pennsylvania, Maryland and
Virginia. as he was young man OF
unusually genial and attractive in
dividual'ty. The residence. as we'll as
the street. was crowded with friends.
and the floral tributes were far beyond
the usual Offering, and were exquisite
In design. Among them was a blanket
of roses, 4 feet wide and Gls feet long
from friends in Pennsylvania and
Maryland. In the centre OF this blan-
ket was clock with the hands pointing
to the hour of five, the hour at which
Mr.. McCleary died. The other designs
were unique and bountiful. covering the
entire grave and part OF the lot In the
cemetery. The pallbearers were Messrs.
]. Murray Priest. Harry Butt. Harry
Wrenn, Walter Graham. Doc. Lassiter,
Hunter Butler, Russell DENLY and Jas.
IT. Hannah
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
KILLING WAS JUSTIFIED.
30 Thought The Jury In the Case orn
Newspaper Man.

Jacksonville. Fla. May l4-William
NJ. White, newspaper man we'll known
In Georgia and South Carolina, who has
Deeh on trlal here for killing Robert
Mitchell. negro hackman, in Febru-
airy, was acquitted this afternoon. AT
the time of the killing, White was drink
ing and hired the negro to drive him
nome. Twenty-Five cents was the legal
rare, and when White reached home
he offered that sum to the negro. The
hackman demanded 10 cents more. A
quarrel followed, and White shot the
negro dead. In his statement to the
jury White said the negro applied a
vile epithet to him refiectlng on his
mother and began to beat him with
the whip. Then White used his pistol.
The jury returned a verdict of acouit-
tai in a few minutes. White is a ma
tive OF Charleston, s. c.. and Is prom
inent mani, state Senator Bulst of
South Carolina, Is his brother-in-law.
and was in attendance at the trial.
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15

report: That In the selections OF Bish-
cps the delegates should be untramrneled
and. therefore. the race or nationality
OF Bishop is not proper subject for
legislation"
Wade H. Thomas, eoioted, Of North
Carolina, said: Including the eighteen
bishops there are forty-fout General
Conference officers, and Of these the 2es,-
600 colored members have only one rep
resentative. Is that justice?"
Rev Dr. Madison c. N. Mason, Of
Savannah. *ho IL one of the leaders of
Southern Methodism, said he hoped that
there would be nothing done 10 drive the
white Bishops out OF the South, but at
the same time he thought the time had
come to elect colofed Bishop.
The previous question was ordered and
the substitute tabled. The committee
report was then adopted.
DIR. Buckley read report No. 8, from
the Committee ohi Episropacy which del
clared that there should be three Bish-
ops selected.
Rev John d. walsh, of Kentucky,
another Bishop, providing one Of those
selected is colored man.
DR.. Little moved as a substitute that
the number to be elected be two :
DR.. Bristol. OF Chicago. moved to
amend by declaring that there should be
no more bishops elected. He said that
the Bishops had little work to do.
The previous Question was ordered
DR.. Buckley was given the floor and
said: 'Most of the bishops are old and
are liable to die or become incompetent
at any time. Therefore, i hope you will
add at least two bishops to the board"
The report was amended by making
the number OF bishops to be elected two
instead of three. The report was then
adopted. The two new bishops will be
elected at Q O'Clock tomorrow
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
The Electric Light Question.

The special committee appointed to
look into the matter Of electric lighting
In this city met at the Treasurer's office
last night to consider the needs Of the
city in that line. Representatives were
present from one of the present com
panies and proposed company.
A letter had been sent TO the
electric light companies OF this city,
asking for information as to the facili-
ties for furnishing electric lights and
the price OF same. The replies were
read, in which both OF the present COM
panies claimed to have SUFFICIENT facili-
ties to supply all demands for electric
power.
The matter was discussed for some
time. The report of the committee will
be made to the Councils.
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
OPEN THEIR CAMPAIGN.
"CItixens.Reform"M II Getting at Armory
RaII Last Night,

The Citizens Reform" element opened
their end of the municipal campaign at
Armory Hall last night. The audience,
which was OF considerable size, was COM
posed about equally of ladies and gem
tiemen. Seats had been arranged for
many more than the number present, but
We're conspicuous by their vacancy
Mr.. r. Y. Zachary. chairman of the
party In the city, opened the exercises
in half dozen words, and asked Dr..
Barrett to pray, which he responded TO
briefly.
Mr.. and Mrs. c. c.. Bever!dge were
introduced. and after few remarks by
the former. the couple sang Putting on
the Sand" and responded to hearty
encore with I'VE Can't"
Colonel w. c. ELAN. editor OF the
new Daily Pilot. upon being introduced,
spoke briefly, and in the course OF his
remarks said that in the course Of a
journalistic career OF forty years, II re-
manned for him to come to little city
like Norfolk, to be pulled up by a petty
Judge for contempt Of court, when he had
in times past criticised Supreme Court
Judges 10 their teeth.
After this, upon the invitation of Mr.
Zachary, and under the leadership OF
Mr.Outten, a number of the "Citlzens-
Reform" candidates came upon the stage
and the Beverdges sang "Whitswash"
to an encore, after which the lights went
out and darkness prevailed for some two
minutes throughout the hall.
The address OF the evening was deliver
ed by Mr.. John Lloyd Thomas, OF New
York. who spoke for over an hour, deal
ing chiefly in generalities. and enliyen-
ing his discourse with entertaining illus
trations. The meeting closed with a
duet.
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15

ries fbeing the widows OF Col. Orlando
NJ. Foe. Gen. John j. Newton, Brigadier
General Charles d. jameson and Brisa-
spencer and Robert Smalls, Of South
Carolina, the famous colored pilot and
ex-Congressman.
Later in the day MIR. Hepburn entered
motion to reconsider the. vote disagr ree-
Ing to the Sehate's amendments to the
River and Harbor bill. and appointing
conference. and the matter went over
until tomorrow.
AT 5:i5 the House adjourned.
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
Y. NJ. q. A. Membersh p content.

The membership contest at the Y.
NJ. c. A. will close tonight at o'clock.
The Reds and Blues Will both be In
evidence to-day in the final effort to
make good records.
Much good work has been done by
members OF both sides, and in face of
the fact that this Is not favorable time
Of the year for securing members, q
goodly number will be added
The result will be announced tonight.
The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-15
young Men.' christlan Aa.oc,et,on

The Association Literary and Debat-
Ing Society holds its meeting on Mon
day next at $3.50 p. m. at the 7. M. g A.
There will be an address by DIR. r. l..
Payne. Of Norfolk, on the subject OF
Some Relations OF Mind and Body"
The members are requested to prepare
themselves to give two-minute speeches
on the dependence OF full mental de-
velopment upon physical development.
An interesting musical programme has
been prepared. All are invited.