davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
LITTLE Danger From Lightning.

Statistics as TO the comparatively
few deaths from lightning may not
avail TO lessen the nervousness of those
who view every thunder head" with
alarm, but they may avail TO quote 10
children old enough 10 be apprehensive
and who may have many summers
ahead Of them. Investigations made
q year or two ago showed that Of 29S
classes Of objects OF which 1907 persons
confessed fear, lightning was dreaded
by the greatest number. Yet in the
record of fatalities there is a very
small record agansl lightning. as COM
pared with other causes of accidental
death. Statistics. prepared by the
United States Weather Bureau show
that for four years the average num-
Der OF persons killed by lightning an
nually in the whole country was 1876.
More than that number are drowned
annually, in the waters about New
York city, it is said. and many more
than that number annually lose their
lives throughout the country in bicy
cling. 1t might even appear that one
is in greater danger Of being fatally
kicked by horse. or Of being killed by
a falling chimney, than Of being struck
by lightning.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
Literary Notes
I WUTS ITuIN,
MARY ANN EN>LEN

/Outing for February contains IA de-
ligattul assortment of tales of sport, ad.
venture and travel. The fiction is tale
entitled Ma Blonde, a complete story
by NJ. Gertrude Cundill. 4 wealth Of
beautiful illustrations and the usual
poems embellish a most satisfying num-
Der The editorial and record depart
ments have received the visionary care
full attention by leading writers in their
various fields.
In the American Monthly Review of
Reviews for February DR. Daniel Dor
chester presents statistics showing the
remarkable drift of recent times in the di-
rection Of colonial extensions and prot ect.
crate governments In the same mum
Der Mr.. SYLVESTER Baxter cities the ex
ample of Java. a successful Dutch colony
in the neighborhood of the Philippines.
The y |. T ranch, in the extreme
northwest corner of the Panhandle Of
Texas, the largest ranch in the world,
has an area of five. thousand square
miles It's herds of cattle aggregate 800,
600 head, besides 1900 horses, and the
calf crop branded in 1891 exceeded 81
coo Surprising as il may seem, all the
work on the ranch is done by 125 men,
one man 10 every $4,000 acres -Febru-
airy Ladies' Home Journal
The midwinter Frank Lesle's POpu-
lar Monthly is bright, crisp and pictur-
esque. IL is 20 some extent Spanish
American number, embracing among its
leading illustrated articles "West-In-
diaward. Ho - in which Champion Bis
/ sell gives some valuable information and
advice To citizens of the United States
who contemplate settling in Cuba or
! Porto Rico; ITO Make a Spanish Hol.
/ day." by Mrs. Frank Leslie. in which
occurs one of the most vivid descriptions
of a bull fight ever penned, supplement
ted by the splendid drawings of L. Luis
Mora; IAN old Spanish American Col
uny," by +. Williamson. giving n beaut.
fully illustrated account of journey up
the great Magalena River of South
/ America, and ride over the Andes to
the Colombian capital, Bogota; and
General Gomez's Tactics, and Cuban
Law and Order 10y Thomas X. DawIey
Jr., the famous war correspondent.
| Furthermore the number contains a pa.
per upon ice Yachting" by Wifi. =.
Pond, and several other very interest.
ing articles by prominent authors.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
bird Surgery.

An Italian naturalist reports that be
once captured snipe which had on its
crest large dressing OF down T., en-
from its own body, and fixed TO a
wound by the coagulated blood. Twice
ne brought home a snipe with inter
woven feathers strapped over the site
of d fracture of one of its legs. NJ
Magnin also records a case in which a
snipe, observed to fly away with a
broken leg, was subsequently found to
have forced the fragments into a par
allel position and secured them by
means of strong band of feathers
and moss intermingled. The observ-
ers were struck with the application
OF kind Of flatleaved grass which
was wound around the leg spirally and
fixed by means of "A sort of glue.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
Lightniug Rnn.ncIsed House.

During a severe storm the home OF
Mr.. c. II. Redlige. in California, Wi
comico, County, Nd, was struck by
lightning The bolt struck big locust
tree in the yard Jumped from that to
che peak of the house and burned or
melted some nails In the wood From
there it went down the attic window
post, which was splintered. went
through the plastering in five small
holes II looked as though the holes
were made by a gun. Ii set the lace
curtains on fire and partly burned
feather bed. The bolt seemed to par;
here, part going out front and part go.
ing back.
The part going front damaged the
shutters, ripped off the plastering, fol
lowed some nails over the doorhead
and melted the wire on a screen door
and went into the ground under the
front steps. The part that went the
back way doubled again before il en-
tered the ground, one part taking one
aide, tearing ont a window frame, fol-
lowing tin valley down a doorway,
then into the ground The part that
took the other side ran along parti-
ton, ripping off laths and plastering
down the back stairway and through
tin safe OF cupboard. In this cup
board was glass spoon vase, with
silver spoons in it, The spoons were
blackened and some of them were
melted when they touched each other.
In the same cupboard were knives aud
forks. These were melted and stuck
when they came in contact with each
other From the cupboard it went
through the corner of the house, tear
ing off plastering and weather board
ing and ripping open the corner posts
The family, strange to say. were not
hurt in the least, nor did any one feel
auy shock
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03

\ movement is on foot 10 repeal the
beet sugar bounty law, or at least 10
materially reduce the encouragement 70
be extended the new industry. The
bounty law was enacted by the legis'
lature of 81 for definite purpose.
This purpose was TO lend state aid 10 the
development of new enterprise
for the employment of labor and capital,
and for the starting of a new farm crop.
Under the stimulus of this state aid, one
sugar factory has been put into success
ful operation at Bay City -Four or five
other companies have been organized IN
different parts of the state to engage III
the industry, and in many quarters. the
organization of companies is being
agitated The bounty law has awak-
ened this interest, and while the pay
ment OF the bounty, if all these new
enterprises prove successful, will entail
u heavy expense upon the state, the
bounty may well be allowed to run an
other two years BY that time beet
sugar making will not be an experiment
and the best and most economical meth
DDS will have been learned. Those in-
terested in the companies already organ
lied and in the projected companies are
bringing influence TO bear against the
repeal of the bounty law.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
A SMALL BLAZE.
The Old Angel House Again Assailed
By the Fire Fiend.

ON Monday morning last the fire
alarm was sounded at abdnt 30 stand
ard time and il was soon ascertained
that the Edwards Hotel was on fire.
The fire department was on the ground
almost Immediately i'm spite of the zero
weather and as soon as the boys could
gain an entrance 10 the garnet they had
the fire unGor control aud IT was only a
question of short time before they had
it extinguished. The hotel was an
occupied but the fire originated from the
chimney " hich was used by Il L. Ed
wards 10 connect with the stove that
heats his saloon in the building adjoin-
ing the hotel part. The entire garrett
was nearly burned out and the roof Is
nearly destroyed, bat the loss is fully
covered hy insurance This makes the
second time this building has caught
fire. the time before was when it was oc-
copied by ~ b Angel. The fire
department did excellent work because
If the building had burned down in all
probabilities the wooden buildings across
the street would have been burned also
and then no knowing where 1t would
have been stopped The intense cold
weather made it hard work to do eifec-
tive sorvica bur the boys worked faith
fully although the water would freeze TO
them in solid sheets Of ice just as fast as
il would strike.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
SESSIONS or CONGRESS.
No Longer IN War Times Than Ia Times of
Peace. But More Busins-slike.


The second session OF the Fifty-hrh
Congress. which ad burned sine die on
July after a term CT service beginning
on Dec. 6, 1897. transacted as much
business, adjusted rs many matters Of
dispute, provided as much required leg
islation, and did all this with as little
friction and controversy as any prev
ious Congress in the country's history
perhaps.
The Thirty eighth Congress, some
times called the last war Congress. was
In session from Dec. T. 1868, TO July 4,
1864, and from Dec. >, 1864. TO March
4, 1865, in all 299 days, less than either
OF its immediate predecessors, and less
than the succeeding three Congresses,
Thirty ninth, Fortieth, and Forty-first.
During the Thirty eighth Congress,
however. Notwithstanding its relatively
brief session. more public business
gained attention than at any Congress
since. The appropriations for the
year 1865 included 81 100000 900 for
war expenses. and Sl22 100000 for
naval expenses-and amounted 10 a to-
tai of nearly 81 900 900 900 in one year
Relatively few bills were introduced
but those which secured attention were
important. Few matters obtained pro-
tracted attention. In the presence OF
q national emergency prompt consider
alton was given 10 measures requiring
Congressional action, and there were
no unnecessary delays.
The Fiftieth Congress-. on the other
hand held during The years 1855 and
1889. was a prouac-cd affair, though
the country was at that period at peace
and enjoying material conditions which
required little Congressional action.
The first session OF the Fiftieth Con-
gress adjourned on Oct. 20. 1885, after
the longest continuous session ever
held by an American Congress up to
that time. 32l days During this first
session, $40 bills were introduced in
the Senate, and 1855 bills in the
House. The second session of the
Fiftieth Congress stopped only by sta
tutory Limitation on March 4, 1889, and
there was no lack of bills offered and
OF measures discussed. though few Of
them were Of great Importance. One
was the act establishing the Depart
ment Of Agricultural on an executive
basis, giving the Secretary of it the
right OF membership in the Presidents
Cabinet Another was the bill pro-
viding for the eleventh census. and the
other measures included several relat-
ing to the Indians and TO Indian reser-
yations. In consequence Of the Hood
OF bills introduced. few of them could
be seriously considered. and nearly all
the important measures brought up for
consideration in the Fiftieth Congress
failed particularly the Mills Tariff
bill, the International Copyright bill.
the Canadian Fisheries bill the Pacific
Railroad Funding bill, the Blair Edu-
cational bill, and the dill to reduce let
ter postage TO one cent
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
Alma Merchants entertainment

The leading business men firms of this
city, have secured Handerson's G.yceum
Entertainment Co, for weeks en-.
gagemcut under their auspices opening
at the opera house. Monday, Feb. 8.
The company come highly recommended
aud viii present am up.to-date repertoire
of popular comedy dramas, presenting
AN entire change of program nightly.
iuterperscd with the latest singing and
dancing sp, cialties. Remember and ask
your merchants for tickets when pur.
chasing go DIS Reserved seats on sale
az Webb's. Secure them early.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03

We noticed in last weeks Republican
Leader that Monte Everden had not
recovered from the grippe and his read
ers were treated 10 another spell of his
"vertiginousuess - See Webster Una
bridged, page 1872 He even got
abusive Ii we wished 10 stOop so low,
as to use vile abuse we think that
Monte Everdeu would get his fill,
but the people of the county are only
too well acquainted with his methods Of
doing business TO need any such re-
marks from Us. He laid considerable
stress upon the fact that the editor of
this paper Is also postmaster and init
mates that the RECORD would be unable
10 exist if II were not for this fact We
know of time not very long ago when
our esteemed Bro tried hard TO get the
nomination for public office in order
O. help exc out the existence of the
Leader, but his own friends in St. Louis
turned him down They had undoubt-
eddy heard of his career while he held a
public Office III Alma few years ago.
However, the scoring which we gave
our Bro. in the first instance has served
its purpose, and it is not necessary to
prolung the controversy.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
THE WEIGHT OF OSMlUM.
Heaviest and Most In fusibie Metal IN 'ss
wO1ld.


The heaviest thing in the worid ~
he metal osmium, the bluish-wnite
METAL with violet luster, wnich M'.
mithson Tenant discovered 80 years
20 in the residue from dissolved pia-
tinum ores. This metal has specinc
gravity of 22.477 that OF gold being
10 2G5, lead IL 1857, iron 7.7s, and litn'-
UNI, the highest, only O,5s4. Inc
French chemist, Jolly, determined tha'
osmium is likewise the most IN
fusible Of metals. 1t could never De
made to yield TO the oxyhydrogeh
flame, which makes platinum and IT.
iridium run like water. But Jolly mas
been subjecting oslnium TO the exciu-
sively high temperature OF the electric
arc which Moissan has OF late EN-
ployed successfully In the manufacture
of diamonds
Under this fierce heat the rare metal.
ruthenium, which used 10 be deemed
all but infusible, readily melts. But
osmium remains refractory, there be-
ing apparent only the faintest traces
OF fusion. On thiS account osmium
cannot be prepared In sufficient quaint
~ to make it very useful in the arts.
But its alloy with iridium. which de-
ties the acids, is Of some value, moth
ing better having been found where
with to tip gold pens. Being non-mag-
netic, its employment for the bearings
Of the mariners compass has been ad-
vocated .-,
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03

From all lines of trade comes the de.
mand for skilled workmen. In com
pliance with this demand, many of the
colleges are putting in short special
courses 70 fir young men and women
for special work Most of these too, are
mechanical in their nature. Only few
years ago the idea of a mechanical
course in Michigan Agricultural College,
was regarded with disfavor. Now it is
pursued by large per cent of the
students. Cheese and dairy courses arc
now a feature Of the winter work, and
although the sugar beet industry is now
III its infancy. sugar courses are already
being agitated for colleges The indi.
cations all point to the fact that in few
years, the greatest demand will be for
educated, skilled labor
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
That Never Drink.

There are some animals which never
drink for instance, the llamas OF Pata-
gonia and certain gazelles Of the Far
East. A number OF snakes, lizards
and other reptiles live in places devoid
of water A bat of Western American
inhabits waterless plains. In parts OF
Lozere, France. there are herds OF
COWS and goats which hardly ever
drink. and yet produce the milk for
Roquefort cheese.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
Valuable SnruCe.

Spruce is not commonly accounted a
costly wood but some of it may be very
valuable. Spruce is largely used for
the tops OF stringed musical instru-
ments, such as guitars and mandolins.
the finer grained being the more de-
sirable The value OF rosewood de-
Ponds upon its color and quality. IL
ranges IN price from a cent and a
quarter TO 10 cents pound. Thirty
grain Adirondack spruce would be
worth more than the finest rosewood.
1t might be that not one such log would
be found among a thousand
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
HELLO, CENTRAL!
The New Telephone Lines.
Alma Is 10 be Connected with the independent
Telephone system Of The State
SOMETHING OF INTEREST TO EVERYBODY.

SOMETHING OF INTEREST TO ENENfbOOi'
There is every reason 10 believe THAT
Alma and Gratiot county will IN the
near future be connected with the In
dependent Telephone system of the state.
A line is 10 be built connecting at Sagl'
nav with the splendid exchange OF The
Valley Telephone Co.. and extending
west as far as Alma, here connecting
with the system of the Citizens Iele-
phone Co., who are rapidly building III
from the west From here the line
turns and goes northward to Shepherd,
Mt. Pleasant Clare, Harrison Cadll-
lac and EvaIt, connecting AT last two
points with Citizens system for Traverse
City, Chailevoix and PetoSkey. From
here or st. Louis line will toe built TO
Ithaca, there connecting with the Ma
tional Telephone Co, for towns IN south
ern part of county, st. Johns, Lansing
and Jackson
The Independent system ot-the state
comprises some dozen or more companies
who have sprung up into existence and
built up these systems during the past
three years until today they have IN
this state some - 900, 900 or thereabouts
invested in the business with about 22oO
miles of metallic circuit toll lines, most
of which carry copper wires, and they
reach 800 cities and towns with an az
gregate of over ~, 600 telephones IN use.
When il is taken into consideration
that this enormous amount of capital l.
furnished and these lines are owned 10y
Michigan men almost exclusively, and
that they have not only reduced the
cost OF using telephones and telephone
lines about 90 per cent bur that they 10.
day are giving a service far superior 70
anything thar the Bell Co, ever saw
fit TO give, besides having lucrative
and safe investment for their money.
one readily understands why the Bell
Co. is slowly but surely being driven
from the field.
Subscribers are being secured here and
inst Louis for telephones on a two years
contract at $40 90 per year for business
and sl2 90 for residence phones or "a
combination rate of S25 90 when both
are on one circuit of wires This in.
cludes free toll service between Alma,
st. Louis and Ithaca
These Instruments ar an of The heavy
long distance type.and are being used
nearly exclusively 10y all the companios
The exchanges as well rs the toll lines
are metallic circuit thus inSuriug good
and perfect service.
Toll rates will be established from as
follows MI Pleasant and 81 Johns
10 cents Saginaw, Harrison, Big Rap
ids Ionia, OWosso, Lansing, and Bay
City, 20 cents Grand Rapids. Jackson.
Flint, Cadillac, - cents. While De
troit comes in the Do cent class,
We understand that nearly every uer.
son who now u,es a telephone IN this
city and ST Louis have already given
their CONTRACT along with eight or ten
new ones, and thar there VIII probably
be i'll the neiqhborhocd of 10 or les, sub.
scribers here This certainly Will be an
Improvement over what We now or eycr
have had. Success Is what the hide
pendent Company deserve
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03

SYNOPSIS

A band of Kings Daughters meet to
arrange fora iair which they are TO give
in few days Mis-, Rebecca Spencer
who considers herself one of the girls is
in love with Deacon Starr and the girls
try 90 do some match making, to the
anger of Miss Spencer
An unknown mistress of Grafton
Mause cntcrtains the Kings Daughters
ou her cstare. Nan Graham proves her.
self true daughter Of the king and
finds that she is an heireSs
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
Another Department Store
Our EnterrrsinR Merchant L H. Hayi. thus
Branches out.

When man engages i'm a conpara
lively small business enterprise aud then
gradually enlarees and branches out iu-
to other lines of business, it is "A sure M
dication that ne uses good. sound bust
ness methods. Such has been the career
of our enterprising towusman, l. II
Hayt, since he came to Alma few
years ago ana purchased a Smal. bazaar
stock in the postofiina block His next
venture was 20 engage IN the grocery
business in connection with W. 9. Nliet.
whose interest he purchased after the
first year : partnership He has increased
the stock in both of these stores more
than double the original amount, besides
mas been engaged IN several other lines
of business during this time His latest
venture is the purchase of the New York
Store stock of dry goods in the same
block and adjoining room An uchway
will be cut through the wall between the
grocery and this room and then Mr..
Hayt will have a general department
store where almost anything YOU wish
| may be purchased Mr. Hayt will also
add considerably to the dry goods stock
/ both in quality and size, which Will
then give him first class stock Of goods
/ Although the managers of the Now
J York Store have done good business
while in Alma their methods were not
very cOmmendable and they were fast
losing their trade II never was more
than branch of Seitner Bros store i'm
St Louis and all their goods were
brought from St Lous by dray The
managers never from the start, would
offer good word for the town IN which
they were doing business, and in fact
used this store rs a feeder for the one
in -. Louis These are not the kind
Of men we want in the town and the
council should vote Ny Hayt bonus
for relieving Us Of their presence. Sue
cess to the new department stores.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03

There are many accidents 10 live stoc X
which cause delay and loss to the farmer
III this work. In large number Of in
stances the delay would be but trifing
If a remedy was promptly applied DR..
J II McLean's Volcanic oil Liniment
has for many years been regarded as the
farmers friend, Its healing influence
on the flesh OF domestic animals is i'm
mediate and permanent. Price 25c, soc
and 81 q bottle. For sale by D. 8 WEED.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03

When Won will be IN sore need Of some
thing to ease the pain Of bruise, cut,
burn, strain rheumatism, neuralgia, or
some other ailment either on your own
person or that Of some of your family.
Would il not be wise TO have bottle of
that best o. all pain cures, Henry. *
Johnson Arnica and Oil Linimert,
handy by i'm case OF any accident Also
good Tor hcrsce and cattle We Sell It
and guarantee /, tu cure or money re
funded y. 5. WELD.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03

Al extension of the definition OF as
sault has been devised by some Lon
don low churchmen. They attended an
"aspergesP service in a spiritualistic
church and later asked. for a summons
for assault against the vicar, who had
sprinkled holy water on them.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
wooden MIX Cana.

In Germany wooden cans are in use
for the conveying OF milk, a metallic
ring being inserted in the upper end
OF the can. with lid OF softer metal
pressed against the ring by means of a
ball having a camlike action when bent
downward.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-03
A Handy Pencil.

The lead in a new pencil is screw
threaded and is brought forward
though the screwed tip by turning the
exposed end with the fingers. the tip
being partly cut away if the lead gets
broken or wears down too short 10
reach.