davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-16
THE LAUNCHING OF THE new SHAMROCK.
1t Will Be Completed Time Enough to Enter
Upon the Thames Races in March, and
Will Try Speed With the Valkyrie Ill.

For deep dark hide-bound mystery
and difficulty of access there are no two
places on the globe to-day that can com
pare with the Herreshoff yacht building
of Harland 81 Wolff, at Belfast, Ireland.
For it is at the former place that the
new Americas cup defender is well under
way, while in the Irish yards the chaI-
longing yacht Shamrock is beginning to
take on something of the form, which, it
IS expected will be powerful enough to
take back to England the coveted trophy
Of the seas now in possession of the New
York Yacht Club.
To the average man it would be quite
as possible to walk up to the Llama Of
Th1b1t on fine morning and offer to
shake hands with him as it would be to
enter either Of the shipyards in question
and take a look at either of the yachts
now building for the cup races. OF
course there is no end of speculation as
to the various dimensions of the two craft
and of the materials to be employed in
their construction. But most of this is
done at haphaZard so far as dimensions
are concerned, while as for the materials
the only information usually obtainable is
gained by watching the arrival of all the
freight for the two yards and drawing
conclusions from the size of the boxes
or crates and the shipping marks upon
them
That even this is not always feasible
may be judged from the care c2ken at the
Herreshon works where 10 my of the con-
signments Of materials arrive at night
and even then by wat1: that they may
docks Similar cars is aiken to hide the
progress of affaT.' II the Irish yard
And 1T is only by persistent inquiry and
watchfulness that such information as is
set forth here may be gathered.
There is one thing certain No ex-
pense is spared in anything that concerns
either OF the boats; and If the owners of
the challenging and defending yachts do
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-16

English mobiles which excel it from many
points of view, but they remain castles,
or abbeys, or halls, while it is only Blen-
helm which one thinks of and speaks of
as a palace
For the building of Blenheim, which
is part of whole royal domain that was
to. the victor Of the Field of Families as
a testimonial of the Nations regard, the
great Duke and his wife got between
them about $4,000, 900 from the royal treas
ury to lay out an edifice and the estate.
1t is estimated from their collected steal
ings, bribe-takings and other profits Of
office, the total amount of which no one
has ever pretended to sum up, they de-
voted about $3.50, 900 of what they called
their own money to the work. as well.
Marlborough himself died before the
huge structure had reached habitable
stage. For nearly twenty years there
after his widow struggled stormily with
the task, fighting with her architect, rob-
blng builders and melting workmen to
and, on the whole. conducting as exciting
and prolonged a campaign of battles,
sieges and fierce surprises among the long
corridors of scaffolding and in the stone
on the battlefields of the Continent.
When the old Duchess died, in 1744, she
had worked herself around into a state
of hostility toward Rlenheim and its &C.
cupantS, which was a curious contrast to
her early interest in the Work-a work
that was practically the whole ambition
of her life. And so strongly did this
feeling develop that in her old age she
began to divest Bienheim of everything
that the law left her free to take, with
a view to making the Althorp, home of
the Spencer branch OF the family, richer
than that of the Marlboroughs at Wood
stock. To this end she left all her own
large portion to her young grandson by
her will and every acre of land which
had not been specifically entailed by Par
lament, or the Dukes will, upon the
Blenheim branch.
Notorious as were the PREVIOUS records
of the great Dukes financial dealings,
they all pale into insignificance when
compared with those which directly con-
cerned the building Of the palace Of Blen-
helm by artisans under the direction OF
Sir John Vanbrugh, one of the most
famous architects of his time.
Vanbrugh has always been the re-
puted architect of Blenheim, but from
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-16

twenty-nine feet ten inches, tapering, as
already stated, from bow to stern.
The initial work on the actual building
Of the new boat, which is the casting Of
the lead keel, depended entirely on the
progress of the work on the hull of the
old Defender, which has been hauled out
for repairs in the South shop. The COM
pletion of that marks the beginning of the
new Defender, a great portion of the
frame and plating for which are now in
the yard at Bristol.
The material of which the new cup
defender will be built is a subject of much
discussion. As the whole matter is
shrouded in mystery and known only to
the chosen few, speculation is rife as to
what material will be used. In view of
past experiences, a number of prominent
.yachtsmen are of the opinion that the
boat will be built of bronze.
They argue that if the boat is built,
topsides, bottom and all, of Tobin bronze,
there would be no danger of corrosion and
wiseacres say, the speed of the boat ought
to be added to. If Tobin bronze bottom
plates lessen the skin friction, side plates
ought to have the same effect. The full
benefit of a minimum degree of friction
where the hull alone is of bronze is gained
only when the yacht is sailing before the
wind.
AS the question of economy does not
enter into the contest in any way, it is
safe to assume that the two yachts will
be the best that money and brains can
produce. Reasoning on these lines points
TO the conclusion of a bronze beat. That
bronze is the best metal this country can
produce for the purpose has been demon
strated by the record Of the Tobin bronze
Vigilant.
She has been thoroughly tried in every
way, and her seagoing qualities are on a
par with her racing abilities. She has
crossed the ocean twice, making the trips
in faster time than was ever made by
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-16

not spend between them, a quarter of a
million of dollars in their chosen sport
Sni IS season exp is yachting expenses
will be very much out of the way in their
gueSSeS.
One marked difference between the
nrst Defender and Defender No. 2-for up
to the present no other name has been
selected for the new yachts that while
the former was generally regarded as a
way will be capable of going across and
doing some racing in England and per-
hapS the Mediterranean after the cup
races are over in these waters. On racing
length, water line the new defender, it is
declared will not measure more than 80
feet inches, while from tip of bowSprit
TO end of main boom she is likely to be
l2S feet long. Her draught will be about
- feet inches.
Two sets of sails will be made as for
tpe hrst Defender Ramie cloth was
among the samples received at the sail
loft last month. but whether this or
heavy duck is the material selected can
not be ascertained. Silk is said to be far
too light and, therefore, out of the ques-
ton. One, if not both sets of sails, will
be made in the new loft just erected by
the Herreshoffs on Burnside street. The
be of the irregular, /. E., cross-cut pattern.
from Ieech to luff, instead of from boom
20 gam, as Captain" Nat has not yet lost
Faith in this style which he tried against
Valkyrie three years ago.
The Defenders successor. from stem
TO stern will not be so long over all as
show less floor surface, a more rounded
bow, shorter stern overhang, and a big
ger bulb keel
In each successive Herreshoff sailing,
creation heretofore, as the forefoot was
cut away, removing weight from the bow
the mast has been removed Sternward to
conform with the location OF the lead the
greatest weight of which has been amid
ship. The eNCision in the new Defender
of perhaps three feet from the overhang
which detracts from the beauty of the
hn hriIo moi,
key weight forward and placing the big
mast of Oregon pine about half a foot
nearer the bow, is expected to allow a
larger sail spread on a given length and
considerably more speed.
The chief difference in the keels OF
the two defenders will be found more in
the distribution of weight than in the
shape or weight of the fin bulbs. though
the Shamrock's antagonist will have more
lead in her keel than was first anticipat-
ed. Present indications point to about
sixty-fve tons. An actual measurement
OF the upper part Of the keel mould now
ready for casting, shows a length of
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-16
IN
BIG BUILDINGS.

: Occupants of high buildings are an
noyed by the frequent stoppage of their
pendulum clocks. It is caused by the
shiver, the constant vibration of the build
ings. Many a pendulum clock that has
kept accurate time for years in old low
structures has refused to move when re-
moved into one of the new, tall buildings
the clocks run fairly well, but higher up
in the buildings they become whimsical
and on the top floors they will not run
at all. A ST. Louis man has a pendulum
clock in the tower of a tall building which
has not done an honest days work since
he moved in the new offices. The pendu-
lum swings continually, but only from the
vibration of the building, as the clock has
not been wound for weeks. Useless to
wind it, for it would net keep time
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-16

THE YOUNG DUKE OF MARLEOR-
OUCH AS PAyMASTER GENERAL
.SGF THE ARaN BEARS A STRIK-
ING SESEM BI.ANCE 70 THE
GREAT DUKE WHO OCCUPIED A
A SIMILAR IOSiTIGs
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-16
THE STORY OF AN ENGLISH HOUSE.
The Young Duke has Been Appointed So Long
Occupied by His Great Ancestor, the
First

There may never come to the present
Duke Of Marlborough a great deal of
glory from the post of Paymaster Cen
eral, to which he has just been appointed
under the Government, nor very much
work. But it is certain that there never
will result from it such a cloud of scandal
as that which has always lowered over
the record of his illuStriouS ancestor, the
great Duke, through his occupation OF
that same Office, among many others,
when he was commander in chief of the
British forces of his time.
1t is one of the penalties of belonging
to one of the great ducal families of
England that all of it's members must
always live in something Of that white
light which beats round the throne and
on those near it, and it is also one of
the penalties, particularly of the MARI
borough family, that their finances should
always be, practically, a matter OF public
interest
This was lamentably true of the first.
the great Duke, and has been always
since Of the succeeding heirs to that po-
sition.
The change in the fortunes of the
Marlborough began when the last, the
eighth duke of that name, married Mrs.
Hamersley, of New York; who after
Charles Beresford. and they received ad-
ditional help from the fortunes of the
Vanderbiltss which the present duke
gained by his marriage with the daughter
of that house.
In discussing the financial as we'll as
the personal character of the great Duke
and the present bearer Of that name, 1t
is scarcely possible to find a greater con-
tIast than these two men present And
it is curious to remark how in both their
lives, as in almost every case, the for
tunes of the several Dukes of MARI
borough have been helped by the women
they have married. The great Duke s
reputation before the building of Blen-
helm began was an extremely shady one.
so far as finances went, to say the least
of it. Ard the building of Blenheim
makes long and extraordinary chapter
in the history of John Churchill and his
remarkable wife.
Blenheim is the only non-royal or non
Episcopal house in Great Britain which Is
called palace" The old acts of Par
lament and settlements carefully refer to
it as a house" but in popular nomen-
clature it became, from the beginning. a
palace. There are other residences of
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-16

his letters it appears that the design of
the palace was suggested by the original
Duke of Marlborough. There is NO cues
Ilon OF the fact that Vanbrugh did a
great zeal OF work upon it, nor that the
1rst scandal over the construction of the
building arose from his being stopped in
ms work by the non-payment of the
Iaborers IN his employ.
The gossips were rolling the morsel
over when George |. assembled the throne.
AS an evidence of the esteem in which he
held the Marlboroughs, the King declared
the debt of the laborers to be the debt
OF the Crown and he magnificentIy paid
for 1t out Of the public funds. The work
men insisted on receiving the money
through their employer, Vanbrugh, and.
at first, the workmen eventually had their
way in the matter.
For a few years the work progressed
smoothly. and then the laborers struck
again for non.payment of wages This
time the renewal of scandal was too
much for the British public, and further
grants to the Marlborough from the pub
lie purse were out of the question. With
his usual keen eye to his own pocket
the Duke compromised with the laborers
for one-tbird the sum due them And
then he was compelled to finish the struc-
ture out of his own funds. Thus Blen-
helm, which was intended as a testimonial
of nations esteem, ended by being paid
for, in a certain way, by the Duke him
self. 1t is not at all clear that any of
these last debts were ever settled by the
ducal builder.
Upon this turn of affairs Vanbrugh
appealed to the courts for payment of the
sums due him from the owners of Blen-
helm. No specific sum had been voted by
Parliament for the palace, and a tedious
litigation ensued. The Duke died before
it ended, but his shrewish wife contrived
a counter plot to that of Vanbrugh's in
an endeavor to turn the responsibility
upon him. The amount claimed by the
architect was 1900 pounds sterling. And,
though the case was decided in his favor,
he never lived to receive the money due
Duchess engaged Sir Christopher Wren
to finish the house. At the end Vanbrugh
found himself not only hopelessly ruined
financially, but also with a reputation
that was practically ruined His attempt
to bring ruin on the Marlborough family
cost him very dearly.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-16
THE DECISION OF
THE MARIA TERESA.
She Has, Herself Settled the Dispute of the Students Four


investigated the matter and both were
satisfied that the island pointed out by
tradition was the right one. Then came
the iconoclasts who began to get up the
cries disproving the old and generally ac-
cepted theories. They tried TO prove sew
eral islands other than Cat Island TO be
the original San Salvador.
Old shippers who for many years have
sailed from the coasts of North America
TO the coasts of South America have
shaken their heads and said No no.
refusing to give any other explanation
than that, from what they knew of the
the place.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-16

In choosing her resting place on Cat
Island the Maria Teresa has taken it up
On herself apparently to settle a point
which has Of late years been in dispute
that is, the exact island Of the Bahama
group first seen by Columbus. The rec
ords OF the first voyage of Columbus state
that he first saw land at an island called
by the natives Guanhani, but which he
named San Salvador" An island of the
Bahama group called by the settlers there
Cat Island was identified early as San
Salvador, and until recently bore that
name on all maps.
Humboldt and Washington Irving both
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-16
THE SCIENCE
OF CLEOPATRA.
Reading the Foot by the Shape
Has Become Society
PaStime.

A shaded lamp sent up a steady, clear
SOW toward the ceiling Of students
rooms. evidently student OF human ma
cure, Tor, around the room underneath the
csl1nS, ran narrow shelf, and upon this
SheIt were casts of hands and feet of
arms and heads, of limbs and snine1 ooI-
umns-aH the parts of the human frame
The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-01-19
Outwittinx Gladstone.

On one occasion two gentlemen, in
vited as guests at table where Mr..
Gladstone was expected, made a wager
that they would start a conversation
on a subject about which even Mr..
Gladstone would know nothing. To
accomplish this end they read up an
ancient magazine article on some un-
familiar subject connected with Chi
nese manufactures When the favora-
BILE opportunity came the topic was
started, and the two conspirators
watched with amusement the growing
interest in the subject which Mr.. Glad
stones face betrayed. Finally he
joined in the conversation, and their
amusement was turned into crashing
of teeth-to speak figuratively-when
Mr. Gladstone said, "Ah, gentlemen,
/ perceive you have been reading an
article wrote in the Magazine
some thirty or forty years ago."
The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-01-19
TWO GRATEFUL WOMEN
Restoredeto Healtp by Lydia r.
Pinkham's Vegetable Compound
"Can Do MY Own WOrl1." "

Mrs. PATRICK DANEHY,
West Winsted, Conn, writes:
"DEAE Hrs. PISKHAM:-It is with
pleasure that l write to you of the
benefit have derived from using your
wonderful Vegetable Compound. Twas
very i'll. suffered with female weak
ness and displacement of the womb.
''Icould not sleepat night, had to walk
the floor, suffered so with pain in my
side and small of my back. Was trou-
bled with bloating. and at times would
faint away; had a terrible pain in my
heart, q bad taste in my mouth all the
time and would vomit; but now, thanks
to Mrs. Pinkham and her Vegetable
Compound, feel well and sleep well,
can do my work without feeling tired;
do not bloat OF have any trouble
whatever.
II sincerely thank you for the good
advice you gave me and for what your
medicine has done for me-"
The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-01-19
Cost OhGanalS.

The Suez canal is about 100 miles in
length, and cost one million dollars
per mile for its construction The
COrinth canal is 4 miles in length, and
cost completed, with it's approaches.
one million per mile. The proposed
Nicaragua canal will cost per mile,
with it's terminals and approaches, GER
tainly not less, and probably more
than the sum named. The canals of
Suez and Corinth are real maritime
canals. built without locks, upon the
sea-level. The one, that of COrinth,
is situated in the temperate zone,
where the rainfall is 81 or 40 inches
per annum The other, that of SueZ,
is located in a region without rain.
Neither of these is threatened in its
course by streams liable to sudden
and perilous foods, so common in the
tropical region of Central America.
These two great works afford no real
parallel to the Nicaragua project,
either as to cost or feasibility. The one
work parallel to this undertaking is
very near, very like it, both in place
and circumstance; it is that of the
Panama canal across the lsthmus Of
Darien.-Harper's Magazine.
The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-01-19
Grand Mothers Pound Cake.

For many years l tried in vain to
make a pound cake that would have
the soft, velvety texture which l re-
membered in that eaten at the table Of
a dear friend in my girlhood, writes
Mrs. Lincoln in the American Kitchen.
The recipes which tried made a fair
ly good cake, light and fine flavor, but
the texture was never what l desired.
Soon after my Boston Cook Book was
completed friend gave me her moth
er's recipe for pound cake, and it was
as definite as most of the old style for
mulas.. One and One-half teacups but
ter, two blue cups sugar, five unbeaten
eggs, added one at time, and five
handfuls of unsifted flour. Fortunate
ly, my friend could show me by actual
measurement. just what she meant by
handfuls of flour and how she packed
then, as it stands, after careful weigh
ing and measurement by our standard
half pint cup, reads thus: One cup but
ter packed solid, one and twO-thirds
cups granulated sugar, One-half tea
spoon mace, five unbeaten eggs, two
cups sifted pastry flour. Have a round
pan, creased and Toured, the oven
ready and ingredients measured, as the
mixing must all be done by the hand.
Cream the butter, add sugar and work
until very light. add spice and one egg
at time and stir with the hand until
you do not see any of the egg yolk.
then another egg. and so on until all
are used. Then mix the -four, and turn
at once into the pan and bake slowly,
about an hour
The grain Of the cake should be fine
and close, with no suspicion of any
tOughness or heaviness, not porous
like cake made light with gas from
soda and cream of tartar or by long
beating, and yet soft, light and velvety.
This texture is obtained by the thor
ough blending of the butter and sugar.
and not over beating the eggs.
The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-01-19

same thing. 80 they waited and wrote
letters instead.
Janet liked Florida 80 well that she
decided to spend the winter there.
AS for Ezra. he declared that he
never would leave the North again II
he could possibly help it. 1t seemed
like home to him. He stood the win
ter well. and he looked forward to see
ing Janet in the spring. But Janet
thought she would try summering in
the South.
Ezra sighed. 20, dear" he said.
Have we got to see-saw back and
forth this way all our lives BY the
time she gets sick Of Florida shall
have to go there again, probably"
In April. however. a postal card
came which made glad his heart.
IF you will stay North till can
get there, l will start the minute I
hear from you. 1t is so fearfully hot
here that l can't stand it any longer"
Ezra met her in New York, and they
staid there a few weeks, seeing the
sights. This is our honeymoon" he
SAID. Ihey were surprised 10 nn0 now
glad they were to see each other. They
came home and went to housekeeping.
and were happy.
One evening they were coming home
from church. They had not said much.
but finally Ezra asked: do you sup
pose we ever would have been married
if it hadn't been for my going to Flor
ida?"
II don't know"
well, I don't believe we would.
Just think of the time We have wasted.
1 have been an old fool for seventeen
years."
Janet laughed. 81 think l belong
to that class, too," she said.-BOston
Post.