davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15
COSTLY ANCIENT MoNARcHs.
Prodigious Sums Expended by Them
on Public Works.

PrOdigiOus Sums Expended by Them
on Public Works.
It is safe to say that few OF the per-
SONS who travel in the East and gaze
in rapture at the pyramids, Coliseum
! or other great piles of antiquity ever
| stop to consider the cost. The amount
In money and labor expended in pro-
| ducing these wonderful structures is
probably the last thing thought Of un-
| der such conditions. But when the idea
is suggested then one begins to have
a faint idea of the millions Of treasure
expended by the ancient mOnarchs in
public or quasipublfc works. The con-
| trast of the power and wealth of these
men with those of the present day is
very marked. The ancfents could build
a new palace at will. Nowadays gov
ernments pause and consider ways and
| means when they think Of building a
new public building of any kind.
DR.. Arbuthnot has patiently reckoned
up the amount Of treasure heaped upon
the pile of Sardanapalus by Athenaeus
and he finds that it came to f16, 953, $780,
900 in English money at least, for II a
computation which Athenaeus himself
suggests be admitted the total would
be about twice as large. After this the
statement Of Diodorus-that the pha-
raOhs counted upon revenue Of E133,-
600, 900 annually from gold mines in the
Bishari desert and drew an equal sum
by taxation-is very moderate.
But when the same most valuable
writer comes to deal with Babylon he
lets himself go. There was a gold
statue Of Zeus-the Greek assigned his
own gods to Babylon as usual-forty
feet high; of Rhea equally tall, with a
lion of gold at each knee and silver SER
penis to correspond; Juno weighed 500
talents; in front of her was q golden
table, 500 talents, upon which stood two
cups, 300 talents each, and three bowls,
200, 600 and 600 talents. These orna-
ments of single temple represented
about Ell, 0O0, 900, and the building was
covered with gold plates.
1t has been calculated that the statue
of Nebuchadnezzar mentioned in Dan
lei would be worth f3, 100000; that the
treasure left by David amounted to
ESQ, 100000 In gold, f2,O00,O 100000 in
silver; but the value Of the Hebrew
talent is doubtful. We are told that
Pytheus, seemingly private gentle
man Of Phrygia, entertained Xerxes
and all Of his army with most sumptu-
Gus feast" too-and then had "a, 770,-
900 left, or, as some compute, f3, $780,
900. The tale Of Alexander's loot is
most wonderful Of all and that is his
toric. If we entertain doubts it is
futile to express them when the state
ments are so clear and the means Of
disproving them absent. In the Per
sian camp, then, and at Babylon Alex
ander secured something like 100000
900; at Persepolis, G18,000,00O; at Pasa-
gurtla, trifie over G9,000,000; at Ecba-
tana, G270,0OO,000; say some 55O,OOO,-
| 900. And Darius carried off 1000, 900,
which his murderers seized.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

A British statistician who has made
study Of the subject declares that
only per cent. of the lovers Of to-day
fall upon their knees in proposing mar
riage, and attributes the abandonment
Of the traditional custom to habit In
the matter of preventing the pantaloons
from becoming baggy at the knee. He
says that Notwithstanding this domi.
nance of the pantaloon at the supreme
moment in affairs of the heart, divorces
are comparatively few in Great Brit
ain. This is encouraging to social re-
formers, but not to the tailors who pro
vide for their families by keeping the
creases in the pantaloorS Of the young
man Of the day.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15
SPIDER AND CRAB.
Some of the Oueer Things Found In
Florida.


Florida.
Onthe borders of the Everglades you
often see large yellow spider. He
swings strong web from two plant
twigs ON each side of a path or clear
space Of ground and waits for his prey,
says the Jacksonville Citizen. The web
Is In the shape of hammock and ta-
pers at each end to fine point, though
quite broad in the middle. The bright
color of the owner seems to mark him
out for destructfon-he is clearly de-
fined against the white sand or dead
leaves, and you wonder what he would
do for defense in case of attack. Ap-
proach quietly and he watches you In
tently. Now raise your hand suddenly
and he will disappear! While you are
wondering what became of him you
will see first blur where he had been,
then several spiders, then you catch
sight again OF the yellow ball you mo-
ticed at first. Repeat the performance
and the stage effect is renewed. The
disappearance is absolute-there can be
NO doubt about it, and the little ma
lection. How is this done? As soon
as he is threatened he starts the vibra-
tfons of his airy hammock. These be-
come too rapid for the eye to follow,
and he vanfshes. AS these become
slower you see blur, and then several
spiders as the eye catches him at diff
ferent points Of his wings, until finally
he rests before you.
Haunting the rookeries of the birds
In the southern part of the peninsula Is
large blue crab. He makes q hole in
the ground, usually under log, and
when he hears a noice elevates his
head and protrudes his eyes with start
ling effect. He is able to take care Of
himself, for his pinchers are powerful,
and his she'll is hard-he is often as
large as a saucer. There is perpetual
war between him and the birds. He
WanderS among the nests at night and
apprOpriates the bits of flesh left by the
nestlfngs, and the young themselves If
he can find q mother off her guard.
But he has to be sly or he is killed by
the stroke of bayonet bill, and then
eaten in his turn. When the plume
hunters have driven off or destroyed
the parents of a rookery these crabs
swarm out and destroy the orphan
young In short order. But while the
mothers are allowed to do their duty,
the crabs are ideal scayengers, and de-
your the refuse as well as the insects
that infest the bird cities. Their bright
colors, like those of the tiger, make
them less dangerous than their appe-
tites would otherwise be.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

A biographical sketch Of recent
Congress, as furnished by it's members,
discloses the fact that out Of mem
bership Of four hundred and forty-four
in the Senate and House Of Represen-
tatives the farming element. represent
ing over 100000 people, have thirty
five members in the House and but one
in the Senate. The chairman Of the
agricultural committee Of the Senate
records himself as an attorney, and the
only farmer on the committee is at the
tail end Ten Of the eighteen members
Of the House committee, including the
chairman, follow the Law as profess
sion. The great States Of Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and
Missouri have each one farmer to rep
resent that industry, and the heart of
the great agricultural regions, Indiana,
Illinois and Iowa, has no representa-
tive in either branch of that legislative
body.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Among the vessels recently sold at
the clearance sales Of the British Ad-
miralty Office were the Bacchante, on
board which the sons Of the Prince of
Wales made their voyage round the
world, and the Canada, which so late
as ten years ago was a crack ship.
Modern vessels become obsolete long
before they are old. Wooden line-of-
battle ships, built early in this century,
though obsolete, are still seaworthy.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

The Japanese Government has under
taken the construction Of 1000 miles
of railway, the first that has ever been
built there, in the island Of Formosa,
cecently acquired from Chi&a as one
of the indemnities of the late war. The
Japanese have found, since subduing
che rebellious natives, that the island,
which many thought worthless. is ex-
<ceedingly rich in natural productions
and worthy Of careful commercial de-
veIopment. The railway Will not only
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

A magazine writer predicts that In
300 years only three languages will sur
vive-English, Russian and Chinese.
English will be spoken throughout the
continents of America, Africa and Aus
tralia, and on most Of the islands OF
the world. The curious part Of the fore
cast is that Russian will be used ev-
erywhere in Europe except Great Brit,
ain. Some jocose Russian must have
suggested this to tease the rest Of Eu-
rope.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

It would be easier to 'sympathize with
our neighbors if their troubles were
beautifully expressed, and bound in a
book. You are always reading In books
Of little events that turn the current Of
a life. Did anything ever happen to
turn the current Of your life? When
on your way to grub for living in the
morning did you ever, by taking some
other street, run into something that
led you to a fortune, instead Of labor?
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Bounced from the church and disci-
pllned by their respective countries,
Prince Henri and the Count of Turin
find themselves in hot water on either
hand. Darkest Africa appears to be
the only place where they can find any
comfort at all.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15
Points to Ponder.

The muddier and rougher the road
the farther the farmer is from market.
II you use the roads for any purpose
you are interested in having them good
all the time.
1t will pay you to go five miles 10 see
a stone crusher at work, and learn how
easy it is to build and repair the roads
with one.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

An arrest in lynching regions is a
legal procedure making it more con-
venient to execute illegally person
charged with crime. The officers cap
fure the alleged offender; the mob over
power the officers and seize the person
In custody, and then kill him in some
Hideous fashion. All this in land con-
Secrated to liberty protected by law!
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15
Cyclists and Road improvements

Cyclists and Road Improvements.
In private conversation, in the period
icals Of the day and, now and then, In
formal memorials or resolutions adopt
ed by large bodies Of cyclists, the infiu-
ence Of the wheelmen and their sisters,
cousins and aunts is exerted in behalf
Of better thoroughfares. 1t is con-
slant though varied pressure worth
much more than spasmodic and short
lived ements.-Cleveland Leader.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

white foam clasps her In its arms.
There she is, up to her armpits in the
merry sea, disporting herself with
other friends already there. And here
is where Puritan England goes to learn
lessons in what it calls true mOdesty.-
Boston Herald.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15
subterranean Hot Water.

In some parts Of Paris penny may
be dropped in slot and supply Of hot
water obtained. Boise City, Idaho, will
improve on this idea by piping into Its
houses water Of 40 degrees from a
subterranean lake 400 feet beneath the
surface.-St. Louis Globe-Demicrat.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

In Providence few days ago jew
eIer played joke on the public by
placing in his show window a chunk
of coal gilded with gold paint and pla-
carded, "Klondike- $4,000" A thief
threw a brick through the 800 plate
glass window pane and stole the coal.
Puzzle-find the joke.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15
The Yankee has been headed off by

The Yankee has been headed off by a
New Zealand John Bull. In freezing
meat the heat fingers at the center and
often ruins the whole. But hollow
cylinder may now be driven alongside
the bone, through this the freezing
agent passes, and the joint is frozen
from the center outward, and all trou-
H1ie is averted. Why could not some
one of us see so simple a thing?
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15
TO CORRESPONDENT.

Ar communications for this paper should be accom-
panied by the of the author; not necessarily fol-
Sacation but evidence of good faith on the par
s~f writer Write only side of the paper b
a<ticuary ea.afu IN giving and dates. to hAW
sAo iottors aud figures plain and distinct.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

No more significance is to be at
stached to the osculatory demonstra-
stions attending the meeting Of Euro
Epean crowned heads than to similar
greeting between two women.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

A poet who evidently is after. in
formation asks in current review: eff
L should force the sentries Of her lips,
What should it profit me to shock her
soul?" That depends very largely upon
the party Of the second part. The
safest course, ordinarily, is to advance
and give the countersign in the regular
Wyay
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15
New instrument of Death.

For use in time of war a new explo-
siye shell is forged with longitudinal
grooves on its inner surface to insure
its bursting lengthwise after firing,
thus scattering the shot inside at right
angles with the direction of the shell.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Not until long ages had passed did
man learn to make fire; lit was an adj
wanced art, the practice Of which re-
quired high degree Of skill. If you
do not believe it, just try to get spark
by means of the wooden sticks COM
monly employed by savages for the
purpose.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Here is a man who doesn't want TO
five because of grief for the two wives
whom he has buried within nine
months. There is still some constancy
In the world.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Mark Twain declares that he wouldn't
trade the book he has just written for
any that he ever wrote. Those who
a1ave been saving up their copies Of In
nocents Abroad" in hopes Of getting a
trade out Of Mark for his new book
may as we'll abandon the idea.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

A year from now the official reports
upon the gold finds Of Alaska will tell
the true story Of the value Of the Yu-
kon. A good many people are waiting
Gill that time before venturing in the
first rush for the diggings.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

The fact that the British press now
regards this nation as "a fourth-class
power" shows what sweeping changes
British opinion must have made since
.1776 and 1912.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

No serious loss is involved in the new
records for ocean travel being broken
almost as soon as made; it's quicker
got over each time.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Surprising tandem courtship comes
to wedlock the morals good: He
places her before himself when it comes
80 helping each other to get along.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

The husband Of the New York WON
an who recently made triple century
on her wheel has applied for a divorce
No other grounds are specified.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

A number of Boston girls who have
been studying the microbe question
have organized an anti-kissing society.
What necessity is there for the average
Boston girl to join such a society any
way?
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

| be useful in transferring troops from
! one part Of the island to another, but
it will serve to bring the trade Of For
most more closely into Japanese hands.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15
Plump Secrets.

Bustles and hip-pads are being put
on the market and also upon the fig
ure, Judging by the looks Of nine out
Of every ten women you meet.-Phila-
delphla Times.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Benham, the Buffalo wife murderer,
has begun to write poetry for the news
papers. That settles it; the fellow is
insane.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

The cello player Van Biene received
"A warm welcome in Boston. How could
anyone with such a name fail to win
Boston?
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Nothing is easier to understand than
now we shouldn't have made the mis-
takes we see other people make.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Western farmers are bearing up as
well as could be expected under the sad
news that Russia's grain crop is very
small.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

When a railway train passes over a
skunk no one cares to stop and go back.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Reggars and peddlers are not super
stitious. 1t usually takes more than q
Uigu to keep them out of building.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Tt is said that the Greeks are making
warlike demonstrations again. The de-
tails of the retreat are not given.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

One of the streets Of Kansas City is
named "Petticoat lane" Kansas City
unjust be a bustling place.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Don't condemn man for beating his
wife until you ascertain whether he
used club or a pack of cards in the
operation.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15

Some men are like monographs; they
talk a great deal, but never say any,
thing original.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-11-15
Ancient Chinese i'm Mexico.

The Mexican Government sent a
commission of archaeologists to inyesti-
gate certain alleged Chinese characters
recently discovered monument near
Hermosillo, and they have announced
that there can be no question that the
characters are Chinese and that they
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-02-07
QUITE AN EXODUS.
Many Twin City People Leaving for
Venezuela.

There is a well-deveioped Venezuelan craze
rapidly developing in the Northwest. Pre-
sumably the proximity OF the Grant fam
lily, OF Faribault, has had Iauch to do with
the interest in Venezuela that is shown in
this vicinity. The Grants are the moving
spirit in the "Orinoco company limited, I"
which owns 10,000,G00 acres OF land in Ven
eZuela, having been granted the same by the
government of that country. Within the last
two months nearly twenty residents OF Min
neapolis and st. Paul have left for Venezuela,
each representing some line of industry and
mo error less capital, to go to seek profit
able investment, and II the stories Of the re-
sources of the country are true, they will
find what they are looking for.
On the 18th Of this month a steamer char
tered by the Orinoco companysswill sail from
New York and go directly up the Orinoco
river $50 miles to the companyss headquar-
ters Santa Cataline. 1t Is here-Ihat Frank
Anson, the well-known railroad man, former
iy Of Minneapolis, is now associated with
Donald Grant in the development of several
industries separate from lhe Orin0co COM
pany, except as to the use of the latter's
lands.
1t is said that Mr.. Anson, Mr. Grant and
a FTenchman have struck a bonanza in rub
extracting 1C0 pounds of rubber from tree
that would only yield ten pounds from the
process now in general Use. The arm is
going over the ground exhausted by the rub
Der hunters using the old process, and takes
ninety pounds of rubber from the trees that
were supposed to have been tapped Tor all
that was in them. These gentlemen send back
reports of the most wonderful! deposits Of
rich mineral ores. and adds that the cedar
from which cigar boxes are made is very
plentiful and accessible there. In2smuch as
it is now almost impossible to get this wood
from Cuba, the main source of The supply,
the outlook for the Venezuelan cedar market
is very bright.
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-02-07
DEATH OF GARFIELD
Furnished the Most Impressive Incl
dent of Keene's Career,

dent OF heene'S Career.
Thomas w. Keene, the tragedian, Is
considered one Of the most entertaining
takers in the profession. He has a
wonderful memory of incidents in his
career on the stage, and, whenever he
meets party Of friends, he is apt to
indulge in storytelling and reminis-
cences Not long SINCE while he was
being entertained, he was asked by one
of his friends what incident in his
stage career impressed him most. He
replied:
II think that the one that indeliblv
stamped itself upon my memory was
at the time 1 was playing an engage
ment at what is now known as Robin
sons opera house, in Cincinnati, at tile
time when the late Bob Miles was the
manager. At this time President Gar
field was on his death-bed. The the
ater was crowded, and l was PLAYING
Richard Ill Just as I had spoken
the line, How awful is this gloom in
tie tent scene, Miles whispered from
the wings, Garfield is dead I i'm
med1ately rose from my haunted couch
dlvested myself suddenly from the
character and walked to the foot
lights. | said solemnly: Ladies and
gentlemen, the president is dead. The
audience is dismissed. Please go out
quietly There was not a word spoken
by any one in the audience that I
heard, and everybody departed as 7
had requested them. Frequent com
ments were made at the time and
have often been heard since the Incl.
dent on the singular and appropriate
expression which I used in my lines
immediately preceding the announce
ment Of Garfield's death"
The Saint Paul globe., 1897-02-07
HANNA COUNTED IN.
Cleveland Puts Him Down for u
Place in the Cabinet

CLEVELAND, O., Feb. 6.-There
We're many prominent visitors at the
office Of Chairman Hanna today.
Among those who conferred with him
were Hon. Benjamin Butterworth, Of
Cincinnati; Judge A. G. Thompson, OF
Portsmouth, O.; Bishop Arnett, Of the
M. E. church; Judge Dudley, of Cali
fornia; j. S. Spear, a prominent Re-
publican Of California, who yesterday
went with the national chairman to
Canton to visit President-elect McKin-
ley,and many others. Mr.. Spear said he
expected to remain in Cleveland until
Monday, when he would again go to
Canton to visit Maj. Mckinley, with
whom he had an appointment.
Mr.. Hanna today again declined to
discuss his visit to Canton yesterday,
stating that there was nothing he could
say for publication. Now that it seems
pretty certain that Mr.. Hanna will
not be appointed to fill the place to be
made vacant by Senator Sherman in
the United States senate, there is. Of
course, much speculation as to whether
or not he will enter the cabinet as
postmaster general. i is generally be-
lieved by those who, should know that
this question was discussed and finally
settled at yesterdays conference, and
there seems to be but little doubt that
the chairman will befa member of Maj
McKinley's official household.