davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23

1t is the custom in some families to
hide the Christmas presents, and if
after due search, certain gifts remain
undiscovered, the giver adroitly leads
the owner near the spot and coaxes
him into finding what is hidden. This
prolongs the delight of Christmas
morning far Tito the day. Those who
indulge in it will probably not care
for game of hide and seek in the
evening, but others who have received
their presents in less eccentric fashion
may enjoy hunt for candy, nuts, ETC.,
at night in the manner of the familiar
game of hunt the slipper or hot and
cold, whichever you prefer. For a
party, clubs is an excellent game.
The company is divided into sides or
clubs. One from each leaves the
room and decides upon some object
which the circles are to guess. The
Judges go to sides opposite to their own,
and the members of the club have a.
right to ask any question which may
be answered by yes or no. The club
guessing the object first claims the
judge for new member, and thus the
game goes on until one side has gone
over entirely to the majority, or the
company growing tired, the club con-
tanning the greater number is declared
winner. Picking up round apples with
a spoon is another diversion which is
much more difficult than you would
believe, unless you have tried it.
At the dinner table set the little
ones to work trying to take a. coin
out of tumbler by using only
skewer. They must not touch the
glass with their hands even to steady
it,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23

and drinks and crumpets, was singing
imperatiyely. She wished they would
come.
There was sound of crunching
snow outside, a rattle of harness,
a ringing of bells. All! there they are.
The doors fly open, and in furry of
snow and icy air a laughing party
of girls and men, preceded by a ma
| jestic-loOking lady and a fur-coated
dlgnitary of much manners and impor-
lance, enters the hall
Mrs. Edgerton advanced cordially
to greet her guests
There, Mrs. Robinson, hope you
are not tired with your journey, and
Count, | see you have taken excellent
care of her"
To the others-"Get off those snowy
things as soon as you can and have
some tea"
Mrs. Robinson's wig is a little to
one side, and she mutters angrilv in
side to her frightened maid, who is
laden down with her mistress's Jewels
IN morocco bag, five shawls and a
+ bad-tempered poodle
10 Mis-. Edgerton she speaks in :,
voice WHICH is deeply cordial and H.
pressh,.
On, Yes, dear Violet, a most com
IortaL-~ Journey, thank you, and 81
oellgLe-~ " get into the quiet OF the
country after that dreadful New York.
DO SO need rest"-sighs and looks
with satisfaction at the splendid
rooms, the powdered servants yes, a
rest-and you are to have a ball to-
night, tableaux tomorrow and another
party at the Lanes on Tuesday
How perfectly delightful" All this is
poured out with a rush, and the door
dear lady is so evidently excited and
oVertlred that Mrs. Edgerton takes
her to comfortable chair by the fire
and settles her with a hot cup of tea
before she turns to her other guests.
Mrs. Monty Lawrence, tall and
graceful, accompanied by her very
sporting-lookfng husband is greeted
by her sister with the familiarity oil
old acquaintance. 80 glad you and
Monty could come. l count on you tc
help me with the children and the
christmas tree tomorrow. You'll
amuse them. 1 never knew how.
Tom Cary and Dick Townsend. the
first very smart and good-looking
with a Du Maurier profile and new
English clothes, the latter languid anG
distinguished, receive their hostess;
greeting with an air of mild cordiality
which for them indicates a high de-
gree of satisfaction. Then they betakt
themselves with alacrity to cocktails
and condescend to little mild anC
desultory convesatiron. Then Their,
are two pretty girls, sisters. The Whit
temores, Helen and Kate Yer!
smart and slender, in faultless clotl
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23

dolph sees the gleam of a white cloak
between the dark trees and with one
blow he stretches Cary unconscious in
the shadow at his feet.
He is just in time, for as his wife
comes in by the other door of the littlC
The place is filled with the diffused
light of the declining moon. Randolph
turns his back to the window and
looks from the shadow upon his wife.
She is dressed in white as for the
dance, and a heavy cloak is about her.
She throws back her hood and lifts
her face, but her eyes droop under
their heavy lids and her lips tremble.
L have come" she said, ''but only
because l promised"
No answer.
1t only seemed amusing, and now
it seems SO wrong. l am very un-
happy (weeping). Let me CO.
Silence.
Still not word. Oh, don't be so
cruel! l am here to keep my promise.
You have accused me Of every I'M
kindness said l was coquette and
only wanted admiration. 1t is true,
l did, but l am sorry, and 1 want to
be your friend, and I am here TO prove
1 meant no harm. Oh, Mr.. Cary, 7
have proved my friendship; prove to
me your generosity. You will not?
Then l must go. Try to forgive me"
Her voice breaks and she turns
trembling to leave the room, when
suddenly she feels two arms about
her, and, turning, she looks into her
husbands face.
'Oh, jack" she cries. ooh, Jack, it
is you. Thank God, it is you! Oh,
take care of me-forgive mel" She
sinks and would have fallen but for
his clasp.
Dear heart" he whispers, II over
heard them talking. 1t was trap
a trick. I am here, and always shall
be, to take care of you
But where is he, Mr. Cary? You
overheard-''
Yes, and I waited for him, the
scoundrel. He won't wait for you again.
Come, come, dear, let us leave this
place"
"Oh, Jack! oh, jack" she cried
again, "can you forgive me?'
L cam quite seriously. Did | not
hear every word you said just now?
This is a lesson, dear, you will moi
soon forget or-only answer me one
word, do you love me?"
oh, Jack!" throwing herself in his
arms, ''as l never did before. Oh! take
me home. Copyright, 1896, by the
Press Publishing New York World).
By permission of the World.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23

gowns, with sable collars and biz.
feathered hats tipped over their eyes
Count de Pau, invited over from
Washington to give dignity to the oc--
cassion and to make conversation for
Mrs. Robinson. struggles out of his.
fur coat with some difficulty, and over
flows with compliments and good man
nerS.
| The last to enter are the Randolphs.
| She lovely and flushed, with her fair
hair waving back luXuriantly from a.
brow pure as pearl, saint-like as a
Madonna's, and he, good-looking, quiet
man, somewhat older than his wife.
with look out Of his eyes which is,
both gentle and determined. They
have not come in the omnibus with
the others, but arriving a little later
in the brougham which was assigned!
to them.
The men and girls have all gathered
about the tea and are chattering to-
gether with the fmiliarity of long &C
quaintance;, when they see the Ram
dolphs approaching they all stop talk-
! ing and stare openly, with evident
surprise and disapproval. Mrs. Ed
eTton advances to meet them, and Mrs.
Roblnson puts up her lorgnette. The
only man to greet them is Count de
Pau, who bows low before the. new
beauty and wonders what can all the
others.
Mrs. Randolph sees all these things,
and the flush on her cheek deepens.
She knows that, although she is a
beauty, and may therefore. count on
the men, she is still a stranger and
has much hard fighting before her
ere she wins her game. She accepts
a cup OF tea, speaks few words with
Mrs. Edgerton and Count de Pau. and
then goes to her room.
j. =
Guests in their bedrooms dressing
for dinenr.
Mrs. Robinson-I wonder why Violet
Edgerton asked the Randolphs:
they've only been here six months and
hardly know cat. Of course she is
pretty, but that is usually a reason
why not Tor a woman like dear Violet.
still so well preserved, but not as
young as she wishes she were. Why
should she give the Randolphs such a
lit? l must ask them to dinner when
/ get back to town. She is the rising
star, evidently. I can't think why l
didn't see it before.
Tom Cary, alone, smoking nervously
and walking up and down before the
fire-So, she's here, the beauty, and
cooler than ever. I will melt you or
break you, my lady. No woman shall
play with me as you have done and
not pay for it. l made Violet Edger-
ton ask you here You don't know it,
but I shall see that you do You ought
to know just what it means, too: that
if you keep your head cool and do as
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23

a colored mixture and the other with
out any. According to the require
ments of the work, he dips his blow
pipe in one pot or the other, occasion
ally mixing the two substances. The
wonderful Iustre possessed by these
brilliant ornaments is obtained by
immersing the bulb in the coloring
fluid, while the delicate shading is
produced by eating away the color
with fuoric acid, and the most beauti-
full effects are obtained. Metallic
oxides applied by the children produce
the intense brilliancy Of color and
superb effects so greatly admired by
all who are familiar with these varie-
gated Christmas tree decorations.
When the glass-bloWer shapes the
article he is producing he passes it to
some other member OF the family, who
fastens to it a hook or an eye, which
ever is needed. If the ornament is to
be dyed it is handed to one of the
workers, who quickly dips it in the dye
and gives it to a child to put on
long stick for the drying oven. Ere
Quently the heat of the sun is utilized
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23
II Christmas yiIriallen.

1t was o'clock in the afternoon be-
fore Christmas, and Mrs. Edgerton
was awaiting her guests.
From all the windows the house
blazed its welcome. Every prepare
ton for the weeks festivities had been
completed. Mrs. Edgerton looked
about her-at the noble proportions
of the hall in which she stood, at the
tapestries and portraits which lined its
walls. Through the curtains of the
drawing-room she could see a vista OF
pink-lighted distances and inviting
harmonies of gilt and brocade.
This house in the country was the
latest plaything. In its arrangements
she had gratified every whim of her
refined fancy, and now it was ready
for its first party of her chosen
friends.
Young she was and pretty no one
would have denied who should have
seen her as she stood there in her
trailing gown Of satin and fur, hold
ing one slippered foot to the blaze of
5he fire in this moment of pleasurable
anticipation. Yes, for once, she ad-
mitted to herself, she was a fortunate
person. The house was perfect; just
the right people were coming; she was
really quite content.
Her husband was absent, at Christ
mas, too, away on some railroad bust,
ness, but what of that? She was used
to it, and perhaps little glad. AlecE
was nice, of course, but not always
amusing.
She glanced at the clock, which ha(
just chimed the quarter hour. Yes
the train must be late. They should
be here by now. She walked to {
mirror and patted the thick waves o
her hair. and settled the rose in tn,
ace of her gown.
There they all stood-the servants il
their plush and powder, waiting il
solemn readiness on either side o
the doorway, and the tea kettle, wit
its surrounding battalions of cake
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23
WANTED ROYAL AUTOGRAPHS

When Andrew D. White, now the
United States ambassador at Berlin,
was minister to Germany nearly twen-
ty years ago he received some queer
letters from Americans asking for his
Influence in their behalf in court cir
cles. Perhaps the funniest of all was
very mandatory epistle from an old
lady living in the west, who inclosed
in her letter four pieces of white linen,
each some six inches square.
We are going to have a fair in our
church" she wrote, "and 1 am making
an autograph quilt. | want you to
get me the autographs of the emperor,
the empress, the crown prince and Bis
marck,and tell them to be very care
full not TO write too near the edge of
the squares, as a seam has to be al
lowed for putting them together"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23

tor this purpose. The silvering in
done by dropping some quicksilver into
an opening in the object. Then polish
ing with cotton batting gives the final
touches to the ornament.
! When the articles are all completed
they are placed on tables or chairs
! in an adjoining room, and make most
dazzling display, suggestive of the
sight in some fabulous treasure cham
Der. Every ornament is subsequently
inspected with great care in order to
detect possible flaws. The goods are
then carefully packed in sawdust or
excelsior and shipped to the nearest
city.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-23
CHRISTMAS BELLS.

oh, Christmas, merry Christmas!
Is it really come again,
With it's memories and greetings,
With its joys and with it's pain?
There's a minor in the carol,
And a shadow in the light,
And a spray of cypress twining
With the holly wreath tonight.
And the hush is never broken
By laughter light and low
AS we listen in the starlight
To the bells across the snow"
The true northerner., 1897-07-14

AGENTS WANTED for DR.. Tamages "The
Earth Girded," his famous tour around the
world. thrilling story of savage and barbarous
lands. -Four million Talmage books sold, and
"The Earth Girdled" is his latest and greatest.
Demand enormous; everybody wants this famous
book. Only $3.50. Big book, big commission,
gold mine for workers. Credit given; freightage
paid; outfits free. Drop all trash and sell the King
of Books and make $500 per month. address for
outfit and territory,
Peoples 39ll Market ST.. Phiadephia, Pa.
The true northerner., 1897-07-14

"FoRTY thousand pounds of wool
have been marketed at Decatur this
season, considerable amount less
than shipped from there in former
years. Dem. Exch. All of which
is true. Under the operations of the
democratic tariff, the farmers sheep
have been driven to the shambles.
There are not half as many sheep in
Van Buren, county as there were be-
fore the enactment Of the German
Wilson tariff law putting wool on the
free list, and what wool there is left
has been worth scarcely half as much.
Democratic free wool has been sort
of morganatic blessing to the farmer.
A man with a hundred sheep has, if
he did not sell them for half price,
sacrificed at the rate of fifty dollars
on his wool crop and gained, possi-
bly,, fifty cents on the price of suit
of clothes.
The true northerner., 1897-07-14

cratic senators who have, by their
useless opposition and tiresome dis
cussions, delayed the passage of the
Dingley bill which should have been
and would have been the law of the
land months ago if the senate had
done its work as promptly and ex-
peditiously as did the house under
the matchless leadership of big
Tom Reed" The gates ought to
have long since been closed against
the flood of free foreign goods; they
never should have been opened.
The true northerner., 1897-07-14
PAW PAW. MICH. JULY IA, 1897.

AFTER weary months of pro6tless
discussion, the senate has passed the
tariff bill and il is now in the hands
of conference committee with fair
prospect that it will soon become the
law of the land. Although the bill
was returned to the house with S14
senatorial amendments, it is doubtful
if it had been improved as whole,
and it is likely to come from the con-
ference much more nearly as it left
the lower house. Certain it is that 1t
would have been much better for the
people, had the senate promptly
passed the bill without amendment
than to have delayed its passage un-
til the country became filed with
foreign importations that have come
in free or at a less rate of duty
than is imposed by the pending
measure. The long delay makes
very problematical the result of the
first year or two of the operation
of the new tariff law as a revenue
producing measure. In speaking of
this aspect of the matter, the
Detroit free-trade Free Press says:
ut is estimated by leading
firm in the New York wooden trade
that we now have on hand and to be
derived from domestic sources dur
ing the next two years more than a
thousand millions pounds of raw
wool. And as the annual con-
sumption is less than 500,000,000
pounds, the consumption of the next
two years is fully provided for" The
Free Press then proceeds to argue
that the estimated S23,000,000 an
nual revenue from the wool tariff
will not be coming for two years at
least and that, therefore, there will
be continued deficit IN the public
revenues. There is no doubt but
there have been large importations of
free wool, as well as of other articles
which the Wilson-Gorman law plac-
ed on the free list, in view of the
anticipated duty to be LEVIED by the
pending tariff bill. 1t is to be hoped
that this has not gone so far as to
cause deficit in the governmental
revenues for the first years of the
new tariff, but if such should be the
case, let the responsibility rest where
it properly belongs, on the demo-
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-06
A FEARFUL EXPLOSION.
ONE KILLED AND SEVERAL OTHERS
FATALLY BURNED.
DIsustcr Occurred In Mine - of the
Kansas and Texas Coal Conn
pnny-Cuuse Unknown.

Huntington, Ark, March 5.-Mine Al OF
the Kansas and Texas Coal company Of
this place exploded last evening, burning
thrty-five men. all Of them seriously ana
some fatally.
Dead-Budd Hanley (colored).
Injured-Joe Hubbard. badly burned,
will probably die; William Hanley (col-
ored), badly burned. will probably die; #.
Fricker, burned on arms. head and face;
t. Stusner, badly burned, may not re-
cover; Andrew Fox. badly burned; Ennis
Gable (coloredD, probably fatally burned;
Marshall Hatch. burned severely ON mead
and face; w. lille, track layer. severely
burned: John Harris (colored). hands. face
and head burned, John Patterson tcol-
ored), badly burned, thought 10 be injured
internally; Doc Huuaker tcolored), burned
on head, shoulders and arms: j. Ellis tool
ored), hands and head burned; William
Morris, badly burned on face. mead ana
arms; William S. Carlen. severely burned
and cut on head. in serious condition;
William Maxwell, very badly burned;
William Gartenshra burned on face, neck
and head.
Mine A Is situated about quarter OF
mile north OF the main part OF the town.
1t was a shaft sunk six years ago, but
abandoned LOT t"o SSaiS' = hiS S"h'''SA =.
slope was driven to the old working, and
II again commenced to produce coal. over
100 men, half of them negroes. were en-
ploycd in the mine. About 4:3o muffled
roar startled the people and they turned
their heads toward the mine. a column
of smoke and debris shot up high from
the air shaft at the mine. Over the open
ground and network OF railroad tracks
rushed men and women. Many OF the lat
ter had husbands and other members OF
their families 10 the mice. In few MIN
utes after the explosion the men com
menced to appear Some were not burned
at all. while others appeared with the SKIN
hanging on the faces and hands or hang
ing in ribbons. The work OF looking for
those unable to walk up the size was at
once begun. Superintendent Vain OF the
Kansas and Texas mine directed the work
One by one the injured were brought out
and taken TO their homes. How many o,
them are burned internally the doctors
can not say, as their efforts are employed
solely In dressing the wounds.
Different theories ARE advanced for the
cause OF the explosion. Superintendent
Vail saws he believes that a key of powder
was exploded by carelessness. but the
general opinion among the miners appears
10 no that il was caused by windy shot
firing the gas and powder smoke They
saw that the mine was very dry and dusty
and that the furnace was not sufficiently
strong TO create sufficient draft to carry
the d-st out Of the rooms and entries
There is very little gas in the mines here
and nonSeare Of the opinion that II had
sny part In the blow up State Mine In
speotor McMuliIn has been notified and
will investigate,
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-06
THE UNSIGNED BILLS.
MEASURES PASSED wIIItH FAILED
TO BECOME LAWS.
cludcd Among President CIeve-
lands Pocket Vctocs.

Washington, March "a largo number
OF important bills failed to receive the
signature of Mr. Cleveland before the OK
piration OF his term at noon yesterday and
as result they fail TO become laws. Most
of these are the sundry civil bills ICON
tanning harbor and river ana many other
items). tho Indian appropriation bill and
the agricultural appropriation bill. TIE
first three are known as pocket vetoas,"
being received by the president on March
and not acted on. Tho deficiency appro-
prlation bill. carrying about ten millions,
failed In conference between the senate
and house
Among the bills which failed are: House
joint resolution to prevent introduction
and spread OF contagious and infectious
diseases in tho United States.
Senate bill TO require patents to be Is
sued to the land settled under the act to
provide for settlement OF the peninsula Of
Florida. etc.
House bill relative to delivery OF letters
in towns and villages where there Ia no
free delivery.
Senate bill No 1928 to repeal portions OF
timber culture laws; authorizing tho Gal
weston and Great Northern railway to con-
struct railway through the Indian Ter
ritory and thirty-five bills OF u private ma
ture, individual pensions, etc.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-06
GOV. BRADLEY 10 HMM,
Practically Tells Him to Niad
Own Business. ga
TIPS ON IMPORTANT APPOINTMENTS
List Includes Most ~ the Amhssses;
dorships--Cousin Osborne Goes q
London a. Consul General. "a

Frankfort. KY. March 5.--covefnor
Bradley yesterday afternoon wrote ana
filed tho following dispatch:
lion. NJ. A. Hanna. Arlington Hotsl,
Washington. u. c.:
1T was stated IN the newspapers more
than two months ago that no sesston
would be called until after March 1.
told you that session would be called
immediately after that date. Hence your
dispatch OF today. urging mo call s<u-3
sion Immediately Us unwarfantcd. The
session will DO called tomorrow. and that
act will DO influenced alone by what cone
scientifically believe TO DO tho best inter-
osts OF the public service
"'wm'. o. Bradley
This telegram was tho result Of several
dispatches received by Governor bradley
from Mr.. Hanna since the latter has been
In Washington. Governor Bradley's fftends
claim that DR.. Hunter and other antl-
Bradley Kentuckians IN Washington have
made Mr.. Hanna believe that Dralt4y
means to appoint and fail to call sos
sion, rather than allow his old enemy,
Hunter to be elected senator They say
that these same men have persuaded Hanna
to send several kilograms here. ono urging
him not TO appoint tho senator. A. 7. wond,
and advising that he call an extra session
Immediately. Hanna wired Bradley again,
asking when ho would call an extra ses-
| sion and urging IL ba done ut once. Mr..
Hanna followed 1t up with a dispatch. say
Ing; why don't you answer my tele-
grpm?"
Then came MrM. nradlcy's message In
| raiuru -