davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
ODD FANCIES IN COLLECTING

Harper's Round Tablet is doubt
full if there is anywhere in the world
a boy or girl who has not at some
time or another suffered from this very
harmless disease of collecting" 1t
comes to most of us almost as surely
as the mumps, but, unlike many other
Of the diseases of childhood, it can be
had more than once, and there is no
limit, apparently, to it's phases. Stamp
collecting and autograph collecting and
the collecting of coins are most reason
able, instructive and oftentimes profit
able; but what can be said of a person
who collects tOothpicks? 1t would al
most seem as if such a person were
insane, and yet to some men it has
appeared to be worth while to do it.
An English journal states that probably
the distinction of owning the most
valuable assortment of these useful
little articles belongs to an eastern
raJah, whose collection contains tooth
picks of the Iarest workmanship and
design, many of them studded with
costly jewels. Others of them are
valuable from their antiquity and the
unique circumstances under which they
came into his possession. The most
curious miscellaneous collection. the
paper goes on to say, ever made was
that of an eccentric Scotsman, William
Gordon, who lived at Grahamstown,
7 ear Glasgow. He had an immense
collection of the most varied descrip-
tI0n inRlnHinp odd rr;,o Io+o
keys, jars, bottles, toothpicks. tops.
marbles, whips, toys of all sorts. sizes.
Shapes ard materials, beside having an
assortment of walking-sticks and gold
ana silver watches. The most remark
dple articles ever used as tOothpicks
are the whiskers of the walrus. which
are quite stiff, and improve with age
Inc writer tells also of a curious fad
OF an eccentric collector, who went in
Tor bottled battle-fields, as he called
them. He had about rs bottles, each
bottle containing some of the soil of
historic battlefield, and duly labeled.
surely, If this mania continues To
develop, we shall shortly hear of COL
lection OF canned volcanoes. and bar-
reled rivers, and preserved voices,-in
TACT, 1t would not, in these days of
monographs, be bad thing at all. if
instead of taking an autograph album
to celebrity, and asking him to write
MS name in it, collector might read
lily take monograph fully stumbled
with cylinders to the famous men of
the time, and ask them to say a few
| words to be handed down to posterfty,
nct by word of hand, but by word of
mouth. 1t would be a great joy to us
now II some means of preserving the
voice OF Shakespeare, Washington,
Napoleon and other illustrious dead had
peen devised in the old days.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29

ture. Formerly the refuse Of the cod
fish and the herings was thrown
away, but now it is made into most
valuable guano. Whale fishing is ex-
tensively pursued on the northern seas.
Steamers are employed, and the har-
poems are shot from cannon. The
whales are lowed to conveniently stu
ated rendering works on shore. Near
the North cape we saw a steamer tow
ing in two enormous specimens One
Of these establishments was visited
After the blubber is removed for oil the
carcass, including the bones, is pre-
pared and ground for fertilizing pur-
poses. This establishment alone has
made over 400 tons thus far this sea-
son.
The lumber industry is very impor-
tant and great quantities are shipped
to England.
Norway iron has long been noted for
its excellent quality and remarkable
toughness. When horseshoe nails
were forged by hand, this iron was
almost exclusively used | Well re-
member how carefully these nail rods
were guarded in the blacksmithshop
on my grandfather's farm. It's site,
alas! is now marked only by the coal
dust in the soil.
Some mention should be made
of Norway trees. The
Norway spruce has been disseminated
throughout the world. 1t has been a
matter of interest to endeavor to find
specimens of this tree in it's native
habitat, but the search has been in
vain. Nowhere do they attain the size
or the beauty that we have them in
America. In regions where the tim
Der has been cut, we do not expect
much in the second growth, but there
are immense tracts from which the
lumber cannot be removed to any mar
ket; but there the trees merely look old
without having attained great size or
remarkable beauty.
The Norway maple is very fine, but
nowhere better than it is seen in Amer
lea. Quite singularly, it's foliage is
largest and finest in the far north. The
birch is found everywhere, and is the
only tree in the more northern regions.
The northernmOst forest in the world
is said to be one on the LofOden is
lands. The North cape region is tree
less. Bat nowhere does the birch
attain the size we sometimes see on our
side Of the Atlantic.
The horses and cattle of Norway are
so interesting that 1 hope to speak of
them in another letter. This one is
written from the northernmost town
in the world.-Norwegia Letter in
Country Gentleman
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
TIE NILE VALLEY.
The Great Debatable Region Where
None Dares Live.

From Ambigol two short marches
along the Nile bank brought US to
Akosheh. On May 25, having sent our
baggsge camels on before US, we rode
to the post of Tanjur. Before leaving
Ambigol We saw a large convoy sent
out, but we were permitted to travel
Independently, as there was but very
little risk of our encountering Der
wishes. On our Journeys to and from
Akasheh We carefully avoided the con-
voys, for it was far pleasanter to can
ter on along than to travel at a SLOW
walk, enveloped by suffocating clouds
of dust raised by the feet of many hun
dreds of tramping camels.
This portion of the Nile rive, is very
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
A HAPPY CHANGE.

All, what a happy chance has come
10 change and sweeten life
Since he has plead, in living wines.
With me to be his wife!
80. must give UP bicycling,
And being in the swim.
And | must never waltz again
With any one but him.
Ana L must never tell mamma
My worries and my care,
Because he says mammas-in-law
Make trouble everywhere.
ana II ne comes home cross at night
L must not mind or cry;
l wonder why ne chose a girl
SO ignorant as I?
And II his business should detain
He says | mustn't mind;
Of course, I couldn't be so mean
When he's SO good and kind.
That's why the world has changed for
me
To such a happy place;
Oh, how hope I'll always see
Approval in his face,
He is so fond and chivalrous,
And so unselfsh, too;
l wonder how | won his love-
7 can't baIiava tic +r,,of
By a New Woman.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
BLUEBIRD.

Listen a moment, | pray yOul
What that sound 1 heard?
Wind in the budding branches,
The ripple of brooks or a bird?
Hear it again, above US,
And see, futter of wings
The Bluebird knows it is April,
And scars to the sun and sings.
Never the song of the Robin
Gould make my heart so glad;
When ! hear the Bluebird singing,
In spring, l forget TO be sad.
Never was sweeter music
Sunshine turned into song.
To set us dreaming Of summer,
When the days and the dreams are long
Winged lutte that we call Bluebird,
You blend in Il silver strain
The sound Of the laughing waters,
The patter Of springs sweet rain,
The voice of the wind, the sunshine
And fragrance of blossoming things,
An you are poem Of April,
That God endowed with wings.
-EBEN Z. REXFORD.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
GOOD ADVICE TO A ROYAL COUPLE

The archbishop of Canterbury, when
he united Princess Maud and the youn
prince of Denmark in marriage, did
not deliver to them the antiquated
hCmily set down in the Anglican pray
er-boOk as a charge to husband and
wife, but gave instead a singularly
sensible eXhOrtatiOn of his own, from
st. Pauls word to the disciples of the
new religion in Corinth, "Ye see your
calling" This is what good Dr.. Ben
son said
This Of all ages OF the world is that
of which it can least be said that the
character and tone of those
who are highest placed are OF little
consequence except to themselves. 1t
is as true as commonplace to point
the democratic interest in all organize
rank. 1t is true, but too serious to be-
come commonplace, that royal right
and royal wrong, the world over, al
watched, copied, even mimicked to the
uplifting or the lowering Of myriads
You see your calling" So St. Paul said
TO the handful of Christians in the lux
urious, licentious town. Their own
calling was marked out for them by
the very character Of their surround
ings. And when a daughter of Eng
land, beloved from her childhood, Weds
with a son of Denmark, to which so
much of what is best in England to-
day traces back it's ancient descent, and
all England owes one of it's most loyal
ly priced blessings, they, and we, see
their calling" In that smallest region
OF society which is called society, in
the regions of the poor, which are So
ciety no less, in the vast middle re-
gioGs where popular standards rise and
fall more easily than would have SEEM
ed possible, Christian princedom has
Its calling" its Christian work to do.
Its virtues are the virtues of many
it's tastes and ways become modes OF
the period. 1t is impossible that, if it
be faulty or untrue to itself, it's incon-
SiStencieS should not be made the ex-
cuse of many for themselves, with q
hOllOWness indeed soon exposed, but
endlessly Iamented. All that men know
royal husband and wife is, to mems de-
light, fair and beautiful. We pray, we
believe that their record shall be white,
and that over it the sign of the blood
red cross of our redemption shall glow
and burn with hope and devotion TO
the truth of God. | would have you
read, nay, l would have you write out,
each for yourselves, the apostolic mes
sages collected in our prayer book.
And may the leadership of bride and
bridegroom, may the manful power
and purity, may the ornament Of a
meek and quiet spirit which are drawn
so mastery by a Peter and a Paul,
be the blessing of your young home
and joy of two nations. For of
such concord Our old poet, soldier. So
cial philosopher, Sir Philip Sidney,
sings that
Joined Herewith our Lord doth give
Such joy, such bliss,
That whose it is
Then may forever blessed live.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
AT ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSES
SINE Of the Aristocracy's Queer
Amusements.

London World:-It is a sign of the
flmss NOWADAYS that country house
parties often eliminate in mere romn-
the fair ones were looked upon as in
uuders who were admitted to shoot
ing parties on sufferance, and were ex-
pected to refrain from the high crime
and misdemeanOr- of worrying the men
when they returned to the house after
fatiguing day, the evenings were short
and dull. The new regime, however.
has altered all this. The ladies are
there on an equality, and they expect
to be amused. They still permit the
men to go out shooting. because they
do not quite see their way to changing
that at present. But they follow about
about lunch time, and do their best
after lunch to spoil the rest of the
afternoons shoot in favor of filtration
under pretense Of marking How
ever tagged, moreover, then men may
be with the days tramp, that is no
excuse for being dull in the evening.
The ladies are to be amused, and the
least the men can do, say the fair ones.
after enjoying themselves in their odd
way all day, is to be lively and
entertaining in the evening. From this
point Of view music and conversation
have no lasting power. Both are ex-
cellent in their way, but it is impossible
TO spend evening after evening with
only this kind of amusement and not
be bored by it. Then there are cards.
But it is impossible for smart people to
play cards without gambling, and many
hostesses will not allow this accessory
not because they object by any means
to the principle Of the thing, but be-
cause they are determined that no
scandals. no quarreling over NOR ey, OF
losing more than can be afforded shall
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
THE DIFFERENCE.

RIB. isn't yours you'd spose
An easy act to codify,
But not at all-it's one of those
Which circumstances modify;
For now we know that, right and left
From New York to Albania,
II you're a pauper, thieving's theft;
If rich it's kleDtomania.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
DOG AND MONKEY.

A good story is told in one of our
exchanges OF dog that one day dis
covered an organ grinders monkey
seated on bank in his masters yard.
and at once made a rush for it. The
monkey, in jacket and hat, awaited the
onset so undisturbed that the dog
halted within few feet to reconnoitre
when the monkey raised his paw and
saluted by lifting his hat.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
NEW NURSERY RHYME.

A is an Angel, in boomers attired;
B is the Bike she has purchased Or
hired.
And the rest Of alphabet stands, il is
said,
For the newspaper men who are earn
ing their bread
By inditing these senseless and sour
riloUs jokes
Which are dear to the hearts of the
prejudiced folks
Who maintain profound and most
feryid dislike
For the blo0m9r-dressed Angel who
rides on a Bike,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29

Within the next five years, says
technical JOURNAL telephone rates will
go lower and lower, and the conse-
quence will be that not only systematic
lhter-urban connections will have been
established, but systematic inter-resi-
uence and business house connections.
Telephone apparatus will then be in
enormous demand, as well as telephone
apDutenances
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29

There is a popular notion, says a
technlcai journal, to the effect that lead
shot are made spherical by falling from
height. This is an absurd error. in
asmuch as the only purpose of lofty
shot towers is to give the shot a. chance
d harden as they tumble
Ihey are just as perfect spheres when
0hey star from the top rs when thew
reach the we'll of water 200 feet or 40
below. The usefulness of the water is
merely as a soft cushion to receive
them. Shot cannot be made from pure
lead, but an admixture of arsenic causes
the lead to form globules, like mer-
curry. The molten mixture is pIaced
IN big iron saucepan with perforated
oootom and the drops falling through
are the shot. They must fall some dis
lance In order to get time to cool amt
harden. A batch thus made. they are
sccoped out of the water, tumbled ahout
IN a revolving barrel with plumbaeo
and hnally put through a series of
sleVes, to sort them into sizes for mar
ket
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29

Arthur Sewall, late democratic can
iidate for vice president. said in an
interview that the recent democratic
successes in city elections were due to
local causes.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29

The question as to how hall-bearings
reduce friction, says the Cincinnati
Enquirer, has often been asked. With
ordinary bearings the wheel runs on
the axle as a sledge on the ground.
and no matter how smooth and we'll
oiled the axle may be, there must be
considerable friction. With ball-bear-
lngs, however, the wheel runs on
small steel balls placed between il and
the axle, and these, turning on their
axleS as the wheel rotates, act as 'fric-
ton wheels, and reduce the friction
between wheel and axle to a minimum.
Inc circumference of a ball is more
than three times its diameter, so the
balls travel round the axle only a third
as FAST as the wheel, but the inside of
the wheel In contact with the balls
must have greater circumference
than the axle, and therefore the wheel
VIII tend to turn the balls faster than
they can run truly on the axle. with
the result that there must be a Ger
tain amount of slipping of the balls:
the friction thus caused, however. is a
third less than if the wheel were run
ming directly on the axle.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29

Tubersulosis causes the death Of 90
900 Parisians every year.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-04-29
WAY OF SCIENCE.
An Iron Tree Found-Ball Bearings of
the Future.

A remarkable discovery, as narrated
by Pro. Carter to the academy OF
science, of Philadelphia, was made late
ly near Three Tans, Montgomery coun-
ty, Pa In a sandstone quarry at that
place an iron tree has been found en-
bedded in the rock 10 feet below the
surface. The tree is about Is feet long
and is inches in diameter, and has been
completely turned to iron, or rather to
the iron ore known as brown hematite;
and Prof. Carter accounts for the phen-
omenOn by the fact that the shales and
the sandstOnes in that neighborhood
are covered with red oxide of hon, and
sometimes with brown hematite. 1t is
presumed that the iron ore was re-
duced by organic matter, and that it
vas made soluble in water containing
carbonic acid gas; then, as the water
holding the iron in solution came in
contact with the tree. the iron vas pre-
cipitated on the latter, and there was
an interchange of vegetable and min
eraI matter, so that the rocks were re-
I1eved of their coloring and the tree
took it up.
The record-union., 1897-01-10
IOWA'S STATE MILITIA.
The Governor Ordered to Commission
Prime as Brigadier- General.

DIES MONIES 0a-). Jan. Ex-Governor
Drake must commission John r. Prime
as Brigadier in command of the First
Brigade of the Iowa National Guard or
answer for contempt of court In case he
is broght up for contempt. the Govern
or's attorney has stated that he will par
don himself, and the interesting spec
tacle will be presented of the Executive
and Judicial Departments in direct con-
fiict with each other.
Nearly year ago Prime was elected
by the First Brigade as its commander
Adjutant- General Wright had be-
friended James A. Guest, his opponent
and declined to admit Primes election.
He ordered a new election, and again
Prime won. Then the vote was so can
vassed as to throw out large number
of Prime votes, Guest was declared
elected and was commissioned. Prime
sued for a mandamus to compel the
Governor to commission him.
The case has been pending several
months. and to-day Judge Spurrier de-
cided it. He holds that Prime was
elected that only personal spite actu-
ated the Adjutant and Governor in re
fusing him the commission, and holds
that the Governor must commission him
at once. A mandamus will issue Mon
day.
The defense will appeal at once, and an
early hearing is expected. Prime will
commence a proceeding to GUST Guest
as commander of the Brigade, and some
sensational features are expected, as the
Governor is expected to refuse to obey
the courts s orders
The record-union., 1897-01-10
CALIFORNIA AHEAD.
Crittenden Robinson Wins natch at
rlonte Carlo.

NEW YORK, Jan. 9.-The "Heralds"
Monte Carlo special says: A return
match, 100 pigeons, at thirty yards, for
2, 100 francs a side, between the Califor-
MIA shot, Crittenden Robinson, and the
we'll known English marksman, Or
chardson, took place Thursday at
Mount Boron and ended In favor of the
Pacific Coast champion.
The light was dull and gray, with
not a breath of air to help the birds.
This was considered by the betting di-
vision to be worth fully $50 in wagers
over the result in favor of the American.
The toss was won by Orehardson, who
led off, but missed the initial bird. Rob-
inson killed the first bird Eighteen pig
cons were grassed in succession, and at
the end of the first twenty the score
stood Robinson 1S, Orchardson II.
When twenty-eight birds had been
trapped Robinson had twenty-five to his
credit. AT the conclusion of the second
twenty the American had thirty-six out
of forty to his credit and was still lead
ing by two. The same difference separ-
ated them at the sixtieth round, when
Robinson's total stood fifty-five ito his
opponents fifty-three. In the fourth
twenty Orchardson accounted for every
bird, while Robinson missed the eigh-
teenth after a run of forty-three con-
secutive kills, thirty-one of which were
made with the first barrel. Robinson
failed to grass the eighty-fourth, low
outfiier from No. 2 trap. and ''tie seven
ty-seven" all proclaimed.
Excitement now ran high, but Or
chardson for some unaccountabie rea-
son commenced missing. and the loss
of his eighty sixth settler from No. 2
trap closed a glorious sequence Of forty
three kills. He also let the following
bird go, and failed on the ninety-second
and ninety-eighth.
1T was all over then, for although Rob-
inson missed his ninety ninth, he killed
the next, and was returned winner by
ninetybwo against Orchardsons eigh-
ty-nine, out of 100 pigeons shot at by
each.
Out of the number of birds grassed
seventy-nine fell to Robinson's first
barrel and sixty-eight to Orchardsons
Although the pigeons We're very mod
crate. 1t was good performance ON the
part of each. In a previous match shot
at Cap q TAI. Orchardson killed eighty
five to Robinson's eighty-two.
The record-union., 1897-01-10
SERIOUS TROUBLE MAY OCCUR
The Situation at the Rutland Coal
Mine Not Improved.

OTTAWA Ull), Jan. 9.-The situation
at the Rutland Village coal mine is prac-
tically unchanged. A crowd of miners
gathered on the principal street this
forenoon and afternoon, and after being
addressed byan agitator, who advised
bloodshed, advanced upon the mine. The
troops under Lieutenant Hardin waited
until the miners had advanced within
100 feet of the buildings, when the COM
mand to halt was given and was in
stantly obeyed.
After hooting at the guards the mob
returned to the village, a quarter of a
mile distant.
The miners are parading the streets
almost constantly, and nearly every one
of them has a weapon concealed upon
his person. The miners were partly
quieted at noon by a promise from Man
ager Haes of the coal company that
he would probably settle the question of
their wages and grievances on Monday.
Squads of sympathizers and miners
are expected in Rutland from surround
ing towns tomorrow, and serious trou-
BILE may occur.
The record-union., 1897-01-10
FAILURE IN NEBRASKA.

OMAHA, Jan. 9.-The First National
Bank of Alma, Neb., was closed by Ex-
aminer Whitemore this morning. The
liabilities are S134, 900, which includes
$4,000 deposits, S40,500 belonging to-
the State and 81 600 to Harlan County.
The assets are reported at about the
same amount.
President A. l.. Burr of the bank is in
the city, and when seen by reporter to-
day had just received the intelligence
that the bank was closed and in the
hands of the State Bank Examiner. He
said that the bank had assets of fully
$3.50 600. one half of which was in far
mers' notes in the valley, which could
not now be collected. President Burr
said he had no knowledge of the cause
of the closing of the bank.
The Merchants National Bank of this
city was the Omaha correspondent
The record-union., 1897-01-10
Indians on the Warpatl1.

OMAHA, Jan. "a number of Sioux
Indians on the Pine Ridge Agency have
been on the warpath. A report of the
ters to-day. The Indians succeeded in
getting hold of large quantities of fire
water and infiamed with the stimulant
started out to have a good time. The
authorities are very reticent about Civ
ing details. A number of fights and gem
eral disturbances are reported After a
chase the leaders were surrounded and
locked up. United States Deputy Mar
shall Ledyard has started for the scene
Of the outbreak.