davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
SURGICAL AID FOR IDIOTS.i

In the operating room of Bellevue
Hospital, New York, the other after
noon, a rare operation was performed
upon a child who had become an idiot
as a result of the Justification of the
bones and sutures of the skull In
stead of growing and expanding in uni
son with the rest OF the body, the bones
of this child's bead had hardened and
contracted on top consequently the
brain was cramped and crowded, and
the childs mind was in that constant
state of daze and inaction that is called
idiocy.
The child was Leo Freeburn, years
and months old. whose parents live
at No. 416 West Fifty-third street. Leo
was not congenital idiot Until his
first birthday he was as bright and
clipper and cute as a parent could wish
to have him. Early in his second year,
however, his skullcap began TO harden,
and the child became at first listless
and then seemed to lose the power of
voluntary action altogether He could
not be made to understand the SIM
plest things; he ate and drank mechan-
ically when food was set before him,
but he never indicated a want of it,
and would have starved or died of
thirst if locked for any length of time
in room with plenty to eat and drink
in plain sight and in easy reach. He
could not help himself in any way,
and, while he might suffer from want.
he could not even make his sufferings
known.
In this condition he was taken to
Bellevue on May IS. After a consulta-
ton of the surgeons there the parents
were notified that the only hope for the
child was in the operation known as
craniotomy; that by opening the skull
and removing the pressure on the
brain and giving it room to grow a
normal or nearly normal condition
might be brought about. There was
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20

danger, grave danger, however, that
the child might succumb to the shock
of the operation. The parents con-
sented to have the operation performed
and the child was prepared for it.
Professor Woolsey performed the OPP
Grafton, assisted by Dr. Frank l.. Chris
tian. The child was taken into the
operating room and placed under the
influence Of ether. The head had been
shaved and long strip of muslin was
bound as tightly as it could be drawn
around the upper part of the head just
above the ears and the eyebrows. Over
this an adhesive rubber bandage was
wound, the object being to prevent any
great loss of blood. Then spray of
bichloride Of mercury wash vas turned
upon the scalp and the child was laid
upon his back on the operating table,
his head resting en- a sand bag end an
assistant on each side holding him, to
prevent convulsive movement.
The operation of craniotomy for i'd
iocy as perfected by DR.. Seneca D.
Powell of the Post Graduate Hospital
of New York. is ingenious and simple.
After preparing the patient as de-
scribed here, one of the surgeons in
serts the point of a slender knife I'M
der the scalp of the crown and carries
it swiftly forward to the forehead, lay
ing it open The flap is then turned
down over the left side of the skull,
and on this side four holes are bored
into the bone with a trephine. This
instrument is like an auger, and 1t is
worked with a semi-rotating motion
until a small disk is cut out of the
skull. Two Of the holes are along the
line of the incision in the scalp, and
about three inches apart; the other two
are between the first two and the ear,
and scarcely two inches apart.
A strip of silver is inserted in one
Of the upper openings and worked
along between the brain lobe and the
skull until one end protrudes from the
other opening. This is shield TO pro-
tect the brain from injury by the saw,
which is next used to cut strip out
of the skull about the width of the di-
ametcr Of the openings tabout an
eighth of an inchl This saw is
small circular blade about the size Of
dime. set in a handle and connected
by wire with an electric battery. the
current from that battery causing the
blade 10 reyolve. The same operation
is repeated from the upper to the lower
row of openings. and two other strip
Of hone are taken from the skull.
When the shield is removed the braii
is visible through the openings. TIL
rough edges of the clefts in the sku'
are then smoothed; the inner skin
the scalp is sprayed with an antise
tic; then the lips of the scalp a
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20

The appointment of w. C. Hayes as
Locomotive Superintendent Of the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad will be fol-
lowed by a distinct change in the plan
of overseeing locomotives in service.
The positions of Supervisors of en-
gines and trains" have been abolished
and travelling engineers substituted,
who will report to the new official at
Mt. Clare, Baltimore. The road has
been divided into the following sub
divisions and travelling engineer APP
pointed for each: Philadelphia to
Washington Baltimore to Brunswick;
Brunswick to Cumberland; Cumber-
land to Grafton; Grafton to Benwood
and Parkersburg; Pittsburg to Cum
berland and Wheeling; Wheeling to
Sandusky and branches; Chicago to
Akron. The plan is expected to pro-
duce economical results with an i'm
proved service.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
CACTUS PRICKs A PROPOSAL.
Young Man Struggled Desperately Against
Fate hut Iad 60 ci,.o ~

Young Man Struggled Desperately Against
Fate, but Had to Give Up.
From the Washington Post: The
man in the case has been studying law
here, but on Saturday he went to
Omaha to share the practice of kins-
man. The girl lives here, and the man
thinks the climate Of Nebraska would
agree with her wonderfully. He has
been meaning to tell her so for long
time, but he has put the matter off
again and again, awaiting a favorable
opportunity. till last week, the sum-
mons to Omaha coming unexpectedly,
he determined to risk all at once
There was a party to Great Falls, a
party so properly chaperoned that most
of the day passed before he had a
chance to speak to the girl alone Then,
by connivance OF the chaperon. he had
her off to look for wild flowers. They
climbed the rocks. and there they
found cactus, or, at least, something
that looked exactly like cactus of the
western plains. 1t was so curious and
so enticing that the girl picked great
bunch Of it. Little white hair-like OBJ
jects which grew in patches on the
leaves stuck to her fingers. They looked
innocent enough, but when the young
man undertook to squeeze her hand she
discovered. and he, as well, that the
tiny white hairs were so many almost
invisible needles. They sat themselves
down on rock, and he went to work,
gently, with his handkerchief, to rid
her dainty hands OF the torturing white
"stickers. You can't urge the adj
vantages of the Omaha climate on
girl who says ouch" every time you
take her hand, you know. The young
man bided his time. and when the lit
tie hands were free of needles, he took
his handkerchief and quite absently
blew his nose If you have ever blown
your nose on a handkerchief loaded
with cactus spines YOU know what hap
pened An overdose of snuff and an
acute attack of hay fever are mere
hagatelles compared with what hap
pened TO him. He was gasping and
sneezing and cursing his luck when the
chaperon came in search of the two of
them. and he hadn't said word about
the Omaha climate. You can't say
things like that between sneezes to a
girl who is giggling, you know. Mourn
fully he left for the west on Saturday.
He may be foolish and bring up the
climate matter in a letter to her. He
may be wise and wait 10 tell it to her
in person when he comes 10 Washing
ton again next winter. If he IS fool
ish, she may set him. If he wisely
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20

drawn over the skull and stitched to-
gether, and the operation is complete
The Bellevue Hospital operation had
taken exactly twenty-seven minutes,
and the patient had lost less than one
gill of blood.
The child was taken back to his cot
Half an hour later he opened his eyes
and gazed about him in wonder. He
raised his hand to his head and felt
the bandage in which it was wrapped
The nurse shook her finger at him and
he dropped his hand at once. 1t was
the first sign of intelligence he had dis
played y over a year He fell asleep
then. an hour later he was dead.
The shock had been too severe.
DR.. Seneca D. Powell four years ago
performed the operation of craniotomy
successfully on two idiot children in
the POSTGRADUATE Hospital. These
children are living today, and while
not mentally as bright as other chill
dren of their age, they are vastly more
intelligent than they were before the
operation was performed
Until recent years the method en-
ployed in craniotomy was to cut the
bone with pliers, and the resultant
shock proved fatal in more than so
per cent of the cases operated on. Then
French surgeon devised an electrical
circular saw, which, as it had the bat
terry attached to the handle, weighed
more than twenty-five pounds, and
made delicacy of operation next to inn
possible. The knowledge that the shock
to the brain made the operation almost
useless set DR.. Powell to work to find
a means of obviating that shock, with
the result that he devised the electrical
saw that is now used in craniotomy.
1t weighs less than an ounce, and the
electrical power is transmitted to it
through light wire. 1t is this saw
and the use of the shield beneath it
that, in the opinion of the surgical fra
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
OPERATING ON AN IDIOT.

would not accept it, and when pressed
for his reason would give no satisfac-
tory explanation. A friend of the ar
fist, who had the confidence of the
rumseller, undertook to find out. They
were too natural altogether" said the
art patron, 'and some of my custom
ers who do not care for peanuts, see
ing the box standing at the end of my
bar, might go away undeceived and
think l was selling peanuts. That
would never do. Now, if it had been
some rare tropical fruit, or even burnt
almonds, that might CO. but peanuts,
never; not in this heightened place
they are too cheap"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
COLORADO RKS.
Natures Storehouses of Health In the
Rocky Mountains.

Rocky Mountains.
The season of summer travel, with
its delights of recreation and new seem
cry, change of air and forgetfulness of
business cares and duties, is again
upon us, and the question most consid
cred in cottage and spacious home is,
"Where shall We spend our summer
vacation?" The answer is equally i'm
portant to those of limited means and
their more fortunate neighbors. Those
who live in the central west naturally
seek the higher attitudes, and the
neighboring state of Colorado furnish
es near and comparatively inexpensive
and delightful resorts. The Union Pa
cific has expended vast sums of money
in its efforts to provide health and
comfort for its passengers to Colora-
do, and its lines reach the most de-
sirable points, and traverse the i'm
mense parks which Nature has estab-
lished in the mountains. To fully I'M
derstand the Colorado parks they must
be seen. No description can do them
Justice, and neither the skill of a
Bierstadt or Moran could picture their
pure atmosphere-so like the breath
from ParadiSe-nor reproduce their
beauteous colors and forms. In the
city a park is huge square, with
trees in checker-board primness,
where the lakes have fish as tame as
chickens; the animals are in cages,
and are neither attractive nor natural.
But how different in a mountain park
The range kindly parts to give it room
and shields it in its great arms. There
J., JnI, e. \
the nohlest game, and trees which
shelter birds of plumage and song.
The lakes-some of them miles in
length-are rippled by the coming and
going of ducks and geese. The streams
bear along, eager for the bait of the
angler. the speckled loads of trout,
most delicious as they brown over
the evenings Goals. There are no pre-
else graveled walks, and no elabo-
rate fountains, but the football is lost on
the turf, and springs gush forth with
sparkling tune to gladden. the thirsty
with a liquid such as never ran
through the rusty pipes of a city.
The altitude gives GOODNESS without
chill, and warmth without oppressive
heat. "The Overland" is the name
given to the Union Pacific Railroad
and 1t has become a synonym for COM
Portable travel. The equipment of its
trains is up to the standard required
by modern tourists, and it makes the
best time and traverses a scenic route
which has made it famous.
No better advice may be offered to
those who are weary of the heat and
care of home than to apply to the
nearest agent of the Union Pacific for
tickets by its route to the GOODNESS and
pleasures of Colorado parks.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
ternity, have robbed the operation of
most of its dangers.-New York Press.
AN ARTIFICIAL SILVER MINE,
How Uncle Sam Checks the Waste at
the Mint.

the MINT
In one corner of the melting room at
the New Orleans mint is a large iron
tank in which the newly cast silver
bars are dropped. kissing, to cool off,
says the New Orleans Times-Demo-
crat. AT the end of a hard days work
the surface of the water shows a faint
ralnbow-hued scum, like the metallic
ulster of a stagnant pool seen near a
dyehouse. 1t comes in part from mi
croscopic fakes of silver that have
scaled off in the cooling. The water,
when changed, runs down a pipe that
terminates in the bottom of a cistern
which contains layer of mud a couple
or feet deep AS the water seeps I'D
ana through, the mud acts as a filter
and catches the particles of precious
metal, so in time it becomes an arti-
fetal silver mine. Once every quar-
ter the stuff is scooped out and passed
through a reduction process. The re-
suit is silver brick worth maybe $50
When it comes to moneymaking.
OhNAC Odhl NNtA DCdl lllt MOIIu lot
stinginess. The artificial silver mine
in the yard of the old mint premises
is only one of his numerous schemes
for checking waste. When the casters
raise their glowing ladies from the
melting pots a shower of sparks fly
from the molten surface. They are
mostly incandescent particles Of
carbon, but among them are
pin points Of silver, almost
gaseous. Some fall among the
ashes and clinkers beneath the fur
naces, and when the fire boxes are
raked out at night the contents are
scrupulously preserved. Down below,
in the basement. is a great revolving
crusher that grinds the debris into
fine powder. and when enough ac-
cumulates it is sold by sample to a
northern smelter and treated like or
binary ore. Nor is this all. Every
evening the floor Of the melting room
is swept far more carefully than ever
lady's parlor and the sweepings are
preserved along with the ashes Once
in three months or so the SCOT is
scraped out of all the fues and CHIN
neys and finds its way to the same re-
ceptacle. From the ashes. clinkers,
sweepings and SCOT of the New Orleans
mint Uncle Sam derives a larger in
come than the average bank presi-
dents. The crucibles used in melting
are good for about three charges: then
they are wheeled down to the base
laent, clusAea anu snare the fate OF
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
The Angry Tree.

There is curious tree in Australia
known as the angry tree" 1t grows
rapidly, reaching usually the height
of so feet At sunset the leaves fold
up, and the tender twigs coil tightly.
If the shoots are handled, the leaves
rustic and move uneasily for a time.
If this queer plant is moved from one
spot to another, the leaves stand out
in all directions, like the quilts on a
porcupine. A most pungent and sick
ening odor, said to resemble that given
off by rattiesnakes when annoyed, fills
the air, and it is an hour or so be-
fore the leaves fold in the natural
way.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
HIS IDEA OF LUXURY.
1t Was to have All of the Canned Food
He Wanted.

A story is told of an old Arizona
prospector who, after 80 years of hard
luck, hardship, ard privation. finally
struck it rich a few weeks ago in the
vicinity of Flagstaff and sold half
interest in his prospect hole for $12.-
600 cash. When the money was paid
over to him at the bank the cashier
who had known him for a long time,
remarked casually: WELL Bill, what
are you goin' to do to make yourself
comfortable and enjoy life, now you've
got plenty of money!" Bill thought a
minute in silence, and then, as a
pleased expression frightened up his
rugged face, he answered: 81 reckon
| won't eat nothin' but canned stuff
hereafter" That was his idea Of lux
ury. He had lived SO long on salt pork
and heavy biscuits of his own manu-
facture that canned corn beef and to-
matoes and salmon represented to him
the highest luxuries that life could af-
ford.-New York Tribune
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20

Williams College, with the class of
1871, from which he won the highest
honors. He then took up theology, and
after he secured his bachelorship he
was called to the pulpit Of Union
Church, at Lebanon, N. Y In 1881 DR..
MacLean went abroad, and before his
return he had successfully tried for
the degrees OF Phi. D. and A. NJ, and
enlarged his store of knowledge by
study in the big universities of Eng
land. Leipsic and Berlin In 1884 he
assumed the duties Of professor of
English at the University of Mime
sofa, but left there in 1894 for a years
study in the British Museum and in
the library OF Oxford University. On
his return Prof MacLean was called to
his post of chancellor of the university
of Nebraska. His private fortune mas
enabled him to pursue his profession.
He is a native of Connecticut and is
40 years old.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
HENRY PROBAsCo.

lie gave Cincinnati the beautiful Ty-
ier-Davidson fountain, an art treas
ure which has added to the fame of the
queen City the wide world over; he
made public and private donations to
every kind of cause until it is estimat-
cd that his gifts and benefactions ag-
gregated over 100000 and now in his
old age he finds himself hopeless
bankrupt homeless and practically
penniless in the city which he so last
lngly enriched by his munificence. He
Is credited with having been a remark
ably good business man and every
transaction down to the present time
exhibits the man Of most careful and
methodical habits, for his accounts are
models Of bookkeeping, accuracy and
precision, but giving grew to be a
passion with him. and he literally gave
his all away.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
A Story of Dean Swift.

Dean Swift was very intolerant OF
conceit and ever ready to give prac-
teal demonstration of his pet aver
sion. On one occasion he is said to
have listened for some time to the
impertinent observations of foolish
youth, who ventured at last to say:
well, Mr.. Dean, you must know that
I set up for WITT" ooh, indeed" says
the Dean; then just take my advice
and sit down again."
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
up-to.nate Nursery Rhyme.

Hush-a-by, baby, and leave all to me;
That you're well married, mamma will
see.
Sleep then in peace, for my baby girl
Shall some day wed lord, duke or
earl.
Rare pearls and diamonds for bosom
and ear,
An income from papa of million a
rear:
All these shall be yours, without a
doubt,
So slumber in peace while mamma
looks out.
Chicago Daily News.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20

Eyes" said the ford lady, Il made
my will several years ago, and it was
one of the wisest things l ever did"
"Why?" the meek-looking woman
asked. do you expect to drop off
suddenly"
mo, but it's such a satisfaction to
go and change 1t whenever l get mad at
any of my heirs. Chicago Times
Herald.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
Then You Do Know.

Mrs. Younghusband-Yo never real
ly know man until you are married
to him.
Mrs. Muchwed-You don't then; you
never really know a man until you are
divorced from him and your friends
come round and tell. you lots of things
you never even suspected.
Weekly.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
Took the Same.

Lawyer-You say that you were in
the saloon at the time of the assault
referred to in the complaint.
Witness-I was, sir.
Lawyer-Did you take cognizance Of
the barkeeper at the time?
Witness-I don't know what he
called it, but took what the rest did,
Boston Courier.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
LARGE PROFITS
And Freakish Appearance of Many
Visiting Pianists.


One Of the returning pianists who is
leaving this country after a stay OF
several months admits that he has
earned 100000. This is not to be re-
GREETED, as he was an admirable art
list, and such an evidence Of the ma
terial prosperity of the country is
agreeable. 1t is a little discouraging
to have the estimate of his profits fol-
lowed by the announcement of his in
tention not to come back here for at
least four years more as such dispo-
sition to neglect the opportunity to
make a fortune is very rarely encoun-
tered in the case of visiting celebrities
They are likely to return regularly SO
long as there is anything to be earned
and rarely evince disposition to allow
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
Might Have Been Worse.

Father i'll and can't work! Tut,
tut! That's very serious matter for
all Of you, my little man."
"Yessir, but 1t might have been
wuss."
Worse! Why, he's the breadwin-
ner, isn't he?"
"Yessir; but it might have been
mother, and she's the rent an oil an
tea an clothes an sugar an milk an
meat winner Pick Me-Up.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
Explaining the Rush.

what has occasioned the remark
able rush for strawberries today? Ey-
cry man l meet seems to have basket
of EN-" did you notice they are all
married men," mo. Are they?"
"Yep. Somebody has been circulatin'
the story that New Jersey woman
got lockjaw through eatin' too many
berries"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20

Freddie, do you know what the
Bible says about a lie?" asked his
mother with feigned severity.
"Yeth, ma'am." lisped Freddie, "a lie
is an abomination unto the Lord and
a very refuge in time of trouble. -
Kansas City Star.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
Bound to BE a Hitch.

They'd rehearsed the ceremony over
time and time again,
But when the time appointed came
a-speeding,
And they stood before the altar, 1t
caused them lots of pain
To find there was a hitch" in the
proceeding.
New Orleans Times-Democrat.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20

the clinkers. The pores of their earth
en- sides are full of virgin silver, and
the gritty brown powder into which
they are ground yields an average of
5000 a ton. A WORKOUT crucible is
really worth more than a new one.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20
LIKE ALL GREAT MEN
oHILANTHROPIST FINDS HIM
SELF IN NEED OF MONEY.
Gave Away Million Dollars, All He
Had, for the Benefit OF His Fellow
Men and Is Now in Abjec Want-His
Home Sold for $4,000.

Oakwood. the beautiful Probasco
home in Clifton. near Cincinnati, on
which over 100000 was expended, was
recently knocked down at auction to
Louis b. Reakirt for $4,000, and thus
passes from his possession the last as
set OF Henry Probasco, art connoisseur,
bibliophile and philanthropist, who re-
tired from business over a quarter OF
a century ago, worth easily $1,000, 000
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-20

Bellamy Storer. the new minister to
Spain. who was lost sight of for
week or two, is a son Of the late Judge
Beuamy Storer Of Cincinnati, and a
nergonal friend of President Mckinley.
he is a second edition of his father
ard in the opinion Of many who knew
the elder Storer and also know the son
he is even more brilliant than his sire.
He came out z Harvard in 1867, and
two years latei was assistant United
states district attorney for southern
ohio In 1890 Mr.. Storer was elected
N congress ind was returned for a