davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25

wearied of the. stereotyped joys of life
in a large boarding house and decided 70
take fiat together.
lit will be so bohemian they told
their friends, though none Of them had
a very clear idea Of the meaning Of the
word and the orthodox aunt of one of
them translated it 'uncomforta table"
The fiat is full of all manner of femi-
nine contrivances; the cooking is done
in a closet, the beds look like anything
else, and the parlor is wilderness of
cushions, draperies, and shrouded seats,
which sometimes break down. The art
student has her sketches pinned up in
every available spot and the singer has
contributed a bust of Beethoven and a
mandolin.
They take turns in keeping house
and doing the marketing; the art stu
dent is famous for making an omelet
without burning her fingers, the writer
can make coffee if She has an hour 10 do
it H. and the soprano has won renown
for her method of carrying sausages
home in a music roll Sometimes none
of them feel like" cooking; then they
file over to neighboring drug store and
dine on ice cream soda
When they first moved in they decided
that it would be SO lovely and odd TO eX-
clude the light of day and burn gas con-
Stantly in rOSe-tinted globes; one glance
at the first monthly statement sent in
by the gas company settled that Idea,
however.
Somehow they don't seem to be popn-
lar with their neighbors, perhaps it is
because they sometimes give musicales,
when the soprano sings about lost loves
and messy dales at midnight; perhaps it
is because the elocutionist practices at
home or it may be just because the art
student sometimes makes sketches of
the children.
A month ago the flat above them be-
came vacant and ONE day a male Philis-
tine came to inspect it. He noticed
queer sounds in the fat below, and,
knowing that janitors are usually re-
ticent on such matters, he hunted up an
odd jobs man who happened to be on the
premises, proffered cigar, and said:
by the way, what is the fiat below
used for?''
"Aweei,'' said the old Scotchman,
scratching his head, @4if We ask me for
facts l Gamma say, but" Frightening up,
eff We ask me for nay opinion, think it's
a private lunatic asylum"
The fiat above is still vacant---Ex-
change.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
THE NAVAL MILITIA.
A Programme of Cruises for Ju1y-What
States Support Naval Forces.

A Programme of Cruises for Ju1y-What
States Support Naval Forces.
One duty which Admiral Bunce's
squadron will be called upon to perform
this summer is that of giving a cruise
at sea to the naval militia of such states
as desire it, and for this purpose period
in the early part of July is to be set
apart. 1t is recognized that one of the
best methods of accustoming these or
CARNATIONS to duties aboard ship, as dis
tinct from the functions of a land force
is to have them go to sea once a year;
and, accordingly, Assistant Secretary
McAdoO is now arranging for this pur-
pose convenient programme.
The Senatess concurrence in the pro-
vision made by the House of $4,000
for the naval militia doubles the appro-
priation hitherto obtained. This cannot
fail to be matter Of great Importance
to the organizations. The existing al
l0tment is $4,000, of which $1,000 is set
aside for the purchase of books. The
amount actually received per man has
been steadily decreasing with the growth
of the naval militia. Thus last year
the appOrtionment allowed 5000 PEI
man. while this year it is only S7.19.
Doubling this last sum will make large
difference in resources, and even the de-
ductiOn for such increases in numbers
as may be made this year will still leave
q large average.
1t may surprise some persons to learn
that New York does not have the largest
force of naval militia. Massach usetts
is first, with A officers and 439 men;
then comes California with 20 officers
and AT men, closely followed by Illinois
with 40 officers and 395 men. while New
York numbers "a officers and 312 men in
her militia. The other nine states, TAX
en- in order of size or organization, name
~. Louisiana, Maryland Michigan. South
Carolina, North Carolina. Rhode Island.
Pennsylvania, Georgia, make up a total
of 293 officers and 1889 enlisted men on
April /, 1896. for the fourteen states.
OF these states ten were represented
at the late annual convention held at
Baltimore. 1t was noted at that con-
vention that the Senate amendments to
the navy bill made the appropriation for
the naval militia applicable to outfits for
signaling and for the fitting up of pulling
boats to be used in Reconnaissance along
the coast. The preference which seems
to be manifested for this kind of work
over that of cruising at sea on warships,
will perhaps air the new movement for
founding a distinct organization, to be
composed of seafarins men and of those
whose occupations are allied to a naval
career. However, it is conceded that
the naval militia has a sphere Of it's
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25

creek, Ky, recently. Uncle Bob, as he
was familiarly called, lived to bury two
wives, and, not wishing to slight either
on his dying bed he asked that. his re-
mains be buried by the side of his faith
full old dog, that had but a few days pre-
coded him. The request was granted.
The death of ''Uncle Bob recalls an in
cident in his life that is decidedly out of
the ordinary. During the opening scenes
of the late Civil war ''Uncle Bob" was
anxious to join the Confederate army.
His wife was opposed to his doing so.
and used every argument and effort with
in her power to prevent it. One cold
winter morning, after Uncle Bob had
abandoned the idea. as Mrs. VIM sup
posed, of joining the army, she asked
s'Uncle Bob to go to the woodward and
gather some wood with which to kindle
the fire. Uncle Bob started, but in
stead of gathering wood" he walked
TO Mississippi and joined the army, and
for four long years fought for the cause
of the Confederacy. At the close of the
war he returned to the home he had
suddenly deserted. Entering by way Of
the woodward he gathered up an armful
of wood, and, entering the room, he
found his faithful wife, who had con-
tinued to remain at the old home. Walk
ing up to the fireplace, he carelessly
threw down his armful of wood, and
looking into the face of his now dumb
founded wife, coolly remarked: "Here's
your wood" after which he proceeded to
make himself at home as of yore.-Louis-
vile Commercial
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
The Oldest Lock.

The very oldest lock in existence is
one which formerly secured one of the
doors of a palace of Nineveh. It is q
gigantic affair, and the key to 1T, which
is as large as one man can conveniently
carry, reminds one of the scriptufal pas
sage where the prophet makes reference
to such instruments being carried on the
shoulder The exact words in the pas
sage referred to are. "And the key of
the house of David I will lay upon his
shoulder"
This enormous key to the lock from
Nineveh is nearly 31a feet in length
and of the thickness of a finch drain
tile. 1t was found at the end of ruined
chamber, where q large wooden door
brass hinges and heavy bars being still
in fair condition, though somewhat cor
roded. This relic of the olden times
has but few points of resemblance TO
the keys of modern manufacture, or even
to those of the early part of the Chris
tan era The tubular idea had never
been thought out in those days, but the
being equally as intricate a piece of
machinery as the lock in which it was
used. A great many of the bars and
pegs in the lock are believed to have
been made of wood, as their places are
now empty. The notches and pegs in
the key, however, show that there We're
corresponding pegs and bars in the lock
at one time. The great lateral iron bars
at the end of the key, with their COM
plicated series of notches, erossbars,
bumps, etc, are proof that the lock was
once similarly provided. This being the
case, it is reasonable to suppose that at
one time the door to that palace could
not have been opened until that key
had been inserted and the impediment to
the drawing back of the bolt removed by
raising up so many bars and pins which
had fallen down into their places upon
the key having been withdrawn. Similar
locks and keys We're in use in Egypt
5000 years ago.-St. Louis Republic.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
TRADING IN HAIR.
Big Crops Secured in Germany-Blakc
Now the Prevailing Color.


Now the Prevailing Color.
New York imports four or five tons Of
hair annually, and London twice that
amount English women have never
depended upon their own hair for adorn-
ment as Americans do. They have
finer suits generally, but like to see the
head overloaded with puffs, braids, buns,
etc.
The big hair crops come from Ger
many and France. 1t is handled by the
agents of Dutch company who visit
America annually for orders.
''Black hair is fashionable just now,
but there are certain golden tints that al
ways bring the highest price; for ex-
ample. certain shades of light hair that
fetch as much as 81 an ounce. The
peasant women of Brittany and Southern
France supply most of the dark hair in
the market, and from one to five francs is
paid per head. The average weight of a
single growth is one pound, and agents
refuse. as rule, to handle less than that
amount, unless the hair is naturally cur
ly or of a rare color. The peasants
and, indeed, as hair-growing is business
with them, they learn that it pays to
keep it clean. The dealers are careful
to attend all of the fairs and merry MAX
ings in the fall of the year in following
up the trade.
81 attended one such sale when visit
ing in France lately. The girls come up
die cabbage, each ones hair hanging
down her back. By the side of every
shearer was a long basket, into which
was thrown each successive crop of hair,
tied up in sheaf by itself. The wom-
en- wear close caps, shorn or unshOrn, so
there is not much lost or gained in their
personal appearances New York Com
r1on 0io1
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
GOSSIP FOR THE LADIES
& Love Song.


Love. the moon is overhead,
An the misty woods are still;
What was that my lady said?--
Il wall never wed until
Some great hero that | meet
Sucth humbly at my feet"
Wcll-a-dayi Well-a-day,
Sire would surely tell me nay,
/ will wait some other day,
Once again the moon is new
Like a broken band of gold;
New or old, my heart is true,
But my lady seemerh cold.
When the mellow planets shine,
Shall | ask her TO be mine?
Well-a-dayi Well-a-day!
What if she should tell nae nays
] will wait another day.
Sooth think she'll drive me mad
Yet | thought, when passing by,
That her nlossom-face was sad,
And a tear was in her eye.
Can it be if | should sue
I should find her heart was truc2
Well-a-dayI Well-a-dayi
What if she should tell me nay?
/ will wait another day.
Not a shred of uaOom above,
And of starlight there was none;
But met my lady-love,
And I wooed her, and WON.
Shyly, sweetly, did she own
That she cared for me alone.
WelI-a-dayl Well-a-dayl
Yet she might have told me nay
Had I asked her yesterday.
Hattie Whitney in Lippinc0tt s.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
Right on Top.

Two drummers in a Houston hotel,
that contained only nine rooms, were
discussing the omniscience of hotel
clerks. ''I'll bet you the drinks" said
one. ''that if you open that newspaper
in your hand, select the first phrase that
meets your eye, and then walk over to
the clerk and say it over to him, he will
respond in some way without moment s
hesitation The other drummer opened
the paper by chance at a political arti-
Gle. and the first words he saw were:
''The greatest good to the greatest mum
ber'' He walked over to the clerk s
desk, leaned his elbow on it and said,
seriously: '"The greatest good to the
greatest number" The clerk smiled
pleasantly. tapped bell, and said to the
bellboy: ''Take bottle of whisky up
to room 8"
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
Eyebrows and ExeIashes.

1t is really wonderful to see how very
little attention is bestowed, as rule,
on the eyebrows and the lashes. A
woman will worry herself thin and make
the lives of her household uncomfortable
if her hair is falling off, or she has a
pimple on her chin, but she pays less
than no regard to the state of any other
part of her face. AS long as there are
enough lashes to protect the eyes, and
the eyebrows are thick enough to make
their presence known, she rests content
unaware, perhaps, that much of the at
tractiveness of her face entirely depends
on these minor points that she seems to
despiSe.
Not everyone possesses that delicate.
high-arched curve that is the height of
perfection in an eyebrow, or the long
curling lashes without which no heroine
of fiction ever yet was complete. AS a
rule, scantinesS of hair chara cterizes the
one and short stubbiness the other. A
great deal of this unliveliness is owing
to the lack of care which nurses and
mothers take Of their children's appear
ance, and the stupid habits they let
child get into regarding them.
Eyebrows to be perfect should be
slightly arched, and the hair of the same
length and softness. 1t should not be
too bushy or it makes us look unduly
fierce and masculine; or too scanty, so
that we look characterless and insipid.
the hair.
The brows must never be rubbed or
brushed, except from the roots to the
ends. Some people contract a bad habit
in childhood of rubbing them the other
way, and the effect is both grotesque and
painful to behold. The hairs will never
after lie as fiat as they ought to do, and
bristle in unexpected places. A tiny
comb and brush should be used daily on
them to keep them soft and smooth.
They should be most carefully washed
every day, and the same care must be
taken about the direction they are rubbed
in. They should have vaseline gently
SmOCthed over them once or twice a
week. This will keep them in perfect
health and serve to strengthen and thick
en- them. Where they are very scanty
and coming out very much, there is
nothing better to use than a few drops
of castor oil in a little paraffin.
They are sometimes apt to get little
scurfy. Where this is the case. vaseline
must be put on the spot, and it must be
bathed with hot water and a little soap
till it is cured. On no account must it be
rubbed.
Eyelashes should be long and curling,
and when they are like this, they are
most attractive and bewitching. A
child's lashes may be slightly clipped now
and then at the extreme points, and will
be longer and better in consequence. But
this should never be done when a per-
son grows older, as the only effect it
has then is to make them coarse and
stubby.
Vaseline rubbed on every few nights
keeps the lashes in good order. and will
prevent them sticking together on wax.
ing.
All makeup near the eyes is very
dangerous to the sight, so no cosmetics
or darkening pomades must be allowed to
touch the lashes. Philadelphia Times.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
The Hated earn.

''All of the line fishermen, as well as
the seine haulers of the Upper Poto
mac observed Capt James Barrett
cordially indorse every word that Fish
Commissioner Brice says in regard to
the damage done by the carp that the
government, by the fish commission.
forced into the Potomac. The carp may
be of some value in the ponds through
out Germany, where they were origin
ally raised but there is no place for
them in this country. Of course, they
can be raised, and raised to any size,
but, as they are mud eaters, they are
no good after they are raised, for it is
only by filling them with pepper they
can be eaten at all. These carp have
nearly destroyed our bass, as well rs all
other kinds of game fish. The people
out West saw years ago that the carp
were a dangerous invasion, and killed
them for fertilizers. They are tit for
nothing Establishing Star.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
A Social Sign of the Time.

In the Nav Ladies' Home Journal
Edward w Box editorially discusses
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe's recent utter-
aRces in regard to existing social condl-
tions, or more definitely stated, to the
effects upon society of woman exercise
of enlarged privileges" Mrs. Howe
comedies that the manners of polite So
ciety today are not quite so ponte as
they we're in her youth, that young Wom-
en- are losing in tome and culture ano
dignity, and young men in esteem ana
Difference for women, with the result
of general cheap-amd-easy standard OF
manners. Notwithstanding this damage
to society Mrs Howe believes that SUI
perior external benefits have accrued;
that women are leading nobler and bet
ter lives and filling larger places. Mr..
Box assents to Mrs. Howe7s first propo-
sition, but radically dissents from her
conclusions "@* The fact is" he
says, chat women of every mind are on
all sides beginning to reckon the cost
of this movement for the extension OF
their privileges Even those who were
strong adherents in the faith at the be-
ginning are showing signs of abatement
of enthusiasm 1t is not alone IN the
circles of fashion that the poisonous ar
rows of woman's enlarged sphere have
of our social life. And, in each in.
stance. absolute damage has been dome
1--WE need not go so far as to
say that as men and women we
are deteriorating, or that the So
cial structure is in any danger Of col
lapse. 1t is not so bad as that. But
it is bad enough. New ideas have been
interjected into our lives, and they have
brought forth new conditions.
new sense of self-reliance has been I'M
bihed by women. And what is the re-
suit? Men have tacitly inferred that
women scorn the sort of consideration
which at one time they felt was their
tribute to womanhood. Naturally, po-
likeness has become lax, the grace of
homage is often forgotten. Happily,
however. quiet revulsion of feeling on
this question of the sexes has slowly
become noticeable, and the opinion is
general that there has come a distinct
turn in the tide
fortunately, we have not outliyed the
possibility of a speedy and healthy return
to that halcyon condition of things when
the surprising charm of civilization was
the Difference paid by men to women.
Then the woman was the superior of the
man For time now she has descend
ed to be his equal. And SO let us hope
that she soon will be again upon her
old pedestal. In the minds of clear
thinking men she has always been
there"
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
Pleasures of Telephoning.

The wonders and pleasures of the long
distance telephone are most agreeabiy
illustrated by two pretty stories told by
the Tacoma Ledger. The first has to do
with a Chicago man who had been hunt
ing in the Northern woods and happened
into Merrill, Wis, on the very day that
the long-distance telephone line opened
an Office in the town. Hearing OF the
innovation, he decided at once to I'M
prove his opportunity. -
He went into one of the "sOundprOof
booths and had himself put In cOfHmnnl-
cation with his family. AS they had a
telephone in the house the task was
small one He chatted with hrs wife,
told her a fish story at which she might
smile without embarrassing him, since
he could not see the sign of incrednslty,
talked with his boy and girl, and then
called for "Gyp."
Sewn was a setter. great family pet,
who had been left behind because of an
accident which rendered him lame Gyp
was called to the telephone, and he STOOD
OH a chair, his forefeet GA the back,
his ear.
Hello, Gypv' called the master from
Merrill And the dog I'm Chicago pFlcked
ND his ears and whined. The master
whistled cheerfully, and Gyp barked d.
rectly into the receiver. He knew ms
master voice. anu Tile WHSLE az ss%.Ae
and the master cheered him by ready
laughter at the prompt and eager reply.
It was worth the So or So that it cost
A lady living near indianapolis, who
had for more than a year been In deli
cate health, was brought to Chicago ear
ly last winter, where she received sur
gical treatment in a hospital 1t was
impossible to take her home for the
Christmas celebration, although she had
SO far recovered that she could walk
readily all over the hospital.
She had three beautiful children at
home, and the father prepared Christ
mas tree, just as he had formerly done.
Only he added one new feature. he had
the electricians come in on the afternoon
before Christmas and put his residence
telephone into the tree, where it was
concealed with pine needles and tinsei.
He arranged with the long-distance
people, apprised his wife of her part in
the play, and at certain moment ia the
evening, when the children, bRbbling
over with joy at their presents, still felt
a sadness at the absence of their mother,
he clapped the receiver to the ear OF his.
youngest child, and the gentle voice of
mamma came over the wire.
1t was their most precious Christmas
present
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
Monkeys as Gold Miners.

Capt. e. Moss, who has just returned
to London from the TranSvaal. tells the
story of the monkeys who work for him
in the mines: Il have tWenty-fOur mon
keys" said he, employed, about my
mines. They do the work of seven able
bodied men. and it is no reflection upon
the human laborers to say that they do
a class of work a man cannot do as we'll
as they. In many instances they lend
valuable aid where a man is useless.
They gather up the small pieces of quartz
that would be passed unn0ticed by the
workingmen, and pile them up in little
heaps that can easily be gathered UP in a
shovel and thrown in the mill. They are
exceedingly adept at catching the little
particles, and their sharp eyes never es-
cape the very things that the human eye
would pass over. When went digging
gold / had two monkeys that were ex-
ceedingly interesting pets. They were
constantly following me about the mines,
and one day ] noticed that they were
busily engaged in gathering up little bits
of quartz and putting them in piles.
They seemd to enjoy the labor very much
and would go to the mines every morning
and work there during the day. 1t did
not take me long to learn their value as
laborers, and / decided to procure more.
So Immediately procured number and
now have two dozen working daily In and
about the mines. 1t is exceedingly inter
esting to watch my two pet monkeys,
teach the new ones how to work, and,
still stranger, to see how the newcomers
take to it. They work just as they
please, sometimes going down into the
mines when they have cleared up all the
debris on the outside. They live and
work together without quarreling any
more than men do. They are quite meth
odical in their habits and go to work and
finish up in the same manner as human
beings wou1d do under similar circum-
Standardization Evening Transcript.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
Columbia River Thrice Named.

The Columbia river has had three
names 1t was first called the Oregon.
Afterward it was called the Saint Ro-
que, but when it was discovered by Rob
ert Gray in 1892 it was given the name
of his vessel, the Columbia, in place of
the two floating appellations-Oreg
the original name of the river was the
OREGON, big ear" or lone that has big
ears the allusion being to the custom
of the Indians who were found in it's re-
gion of stretching their ears by boring
them and crowding them with orna-
ments-Portland Oregonian.
Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-25
Proud of O'ConneIl.

A story is told of how Daniel O'Con-
nell received the grateful blessing Of an
Irishman During the course of his cir
cult in ireland, he was able to secifre
the liberation Of a young son of Erin,
who had been charged with some of
Tense or other. On a second turn round
the country, O'Connell again saved the
Irishman from the arm of the law. The
prisoner, overwhelmingly grateful, went
up to the advocate, shook him by the
hand, and in the fullness of his heart,
exclaimed: "And may the Lord save ye
to defend me always, Mr.. O'Conn9G''
England has So per cent. of the