davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04
THE GRAND JURY.

One OF the judges OF q Philadelphia
court recently took occasion, in dis
missing a grand jury, to suggest the
ACCESSIBILITY Of abolishing that insti-
tuition. He maintained that it was
cumbersome, expensive, and adapted
to facilitate the escape Of criminals.
Originally, he observed, it was of
value to protect citizens against OPP
preston by officers of government.
Nowadays, no such danger exists, and
indictments may be prepared at once by
the district attorney. This latter sug-
geStiOn is enough to condemn Judge
Bregy's proposal. We know what a
sink Of corruption the Office of the dis
trict attorney of any large city may
become under our party system. We
know how the Office is administered in
New York. and the people Of PhiIa-
Or of public safety accused of an at
tempt at blackmail. AS for the es-
cape Of criminals from justice, matters
are bad enough even with a grand jury
to find indictments. If there were no
grand jury IN New York, what with
Tammany magistrates, a Tammany
district attorney, and a Tammany
commissioner Of jurors, there would
be little hope of Justice Very few
criminals who had any political in
fuence would then have any fear of
Sing Sing, while the persecution of
honest people would become a safe
and lucrative occupation. The grand
jury is, it is true, q cumbrous institu-
ton; but it is almost the only bulwark
of liberty which the ordinary citizen
possesses. 1t may allow some crimi-
nails to escape punishment, but it
causes some to suffer it would other
wise escape, and it protects a good
many innocent people from persecu-
ti0u.-NeW York Evening Post.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04
WHEN YOUNG MEN MAKE CALLS.

What to Wear How to Act, When TO
Arrive and Depart, and So On.
In making al afternoon call a man
usually leaves his oVercoat, umbrella
or stick, hat and gloves n the hall be-
fore entering the drawing room. He
may, if he choose, carry his hat and
stick into the room at first or formal
call if it is to be very brief, except
at d reception. He removes his right
glove before offering to shake hands.
He never offers his hand first, but
waits the invitation of his hostess. If
she is behind her tea-tabIe, she may
not rise to greet him, but gracefully
includes him in the conversation and
perhaps bows her adieus.
1t is an evidence of good breeding to
enter and leave a room unObtrusiVely.
1t is not usual to introduce guest
upon his entrance to more than one
other. He never shakes hands when
presented to woman, but always
when introduced to man.
He may leave upon the arrival Of
other guests alter htteen minutes,
turning his back as little as possible
upon the company and bowling COM
prehensively at the door.
A woman never accompanies a man
to the vestibule, but takes leave Of him
in the drawing room. 1t is no longer
customary to press ones guest to call
again.
The lady always gives the invitation
to call. A man must not go beyond
an evident pleasure in her society by
way of suggestion. Sometimes wo-
man friend will exert herself for him.
The sooner the call follows the invita-
ton the greater the compliment. A
fortnight is the usual interval.-Mrs
Burton Kingsland in Ladies' Home
Journal
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04
TARANTULA AND TOAD DUEL.
Desperate Encounter Between Two
Reptiles in Texas.

The tarantula and the horned toad
live in the same climate. They are
usually on good terms, but once in
While trouble comes between them and
then there is a duel to the death. A
witness to a recent fight between these
rare animals describes the unusual
sight wildly, thus:
In the early summer, while herding
a bunch OF cattle in the northern pam
handle of Texas, l was sitting on my
pony about as indolent as could be
when a strong scent OF formic acid was
Whitfield on the wind to me. A few
lest away was a large bed of ants, in
which horned toad sat busily engaged
at meal Of the ant people. The toad
paid but little attention to the attacks
made upon him, but ate away as
though he had been with DR.. Tanner
on a forty-day fast and had just ar
rived at Delmonico's.
presently a large brown tarantula
came leaping toward the ant bed, as
though frightened. He halted a mo-
ment by the toad. Each looked at the
other as though some apology should
be made. The toad was the first to
take offense and demand a reckoning.
He ran at the tarantuIa with open
mouth. The great spider leaped into
the air about foot and descended
upon the toad's head, biting him over
the eye. A strange little cry of pain
came from the horny duelist. The
battle was on in earnest.
THE bite made the toad sick and for
an instant he halted as if he were
dazed. A little distance from the ant
bed a small tongue cactus was grow
ing. The toad ran to it and began
sucking the juice from a wound made
in the thick leaf. Then he returned
to the conflict with renewed energy.
The tarantula lost limb in the onset.
"a third time was the duel renewed.
The tarantula lost another limb.
Beady drops of a viscid liquid stood
on the tips of the toad's horns. The
leaps into the air we're not repeated by
the tarantula, but whether it was on
account of the loss of limbs or not will
never be known. Each stood facing
the other some seconds as though
seeking an advantage During the
armistice the ants set about infiicting
a few wounds on the fiat stomach of
the tarantula and the toad. Neither
seemed to care now for the bites Of the
ants, but eyed each other with a fierce
ness more than human. In an I'M
guarded moment the tarantula leaped
forward and inflicted a wound upon
the lip of the toad
''The struggle continued Half of
the legs were cut from the body of the
tarantula. The poor cripple seemed
lost, but somehow he closed in on the
toad and seized it's underlip and killed
him."
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04
HAS LOST HER LUCK.
Poker Annie, A LeadviIle Character,
Has Met With Misfortune.

One OF the most notorious characters
in Leadyille and Denver in recent
years has been Poker Annie" Logs
den. She has had an eventful career.
She has always been reticent about
herself, but the records show that a
dozen years ago she was eyicted from
Leadville for running the largest and
most open gambling den in the city.
The police chiefs OF Colorado's cities
unite in declaring that she has been
arrested oftener and for more varieties
Of crime than any woman in the west.
She is said to have been born in
small Ohio town Of an old and much
respected Swedish family. She was
given a splendid education, and grew
to be q woman of rare beauty and fas-
chatting manners. She eloped with
The cashier OF a bank twenty years
ago. He deserted her. She had been
very clever with cards, and when she
found herself abandoned she promptly
opened q gambIing-hOuse. She was
remarkably lucky Or dexterous, and in
credible stories OF her winnings at
poker are told throughout the middle
west Withal she was kind-hearted
and charitable
She dressed in barbaric spIendor and
scattered cash with reckless prodi-
salty. Once she took a roll of 500
bills she had won on a straight flush
and at once sent it to the building
fund Of a Leadville church anony-
mousIy.
Her luck" or ability to win, changed
suddenly, and then she went from bad
to worse. When she came to Denver
she associated with the most depraved
creatures. Her cIeverness as q sneak
thief and badger artist has caused the
authorities no end of trouble, but she
has managed to escape the peniten-
tiary. She has been arrested for
drunkenness and yagrancy, and now
is fat, fair and forty.
She lives at Thirteenth and Market
streets, Denver, and lately has talked of
riding wheel to preserve her sylph-
like figure" She laughingly tells the
police that she knows the end she will
inevitably reach if she does not re-
form. Consequently it is now sur
missed that she is about to set straight
the tangled skein of her life in the
form OF an autobiography or narrative,
to Jailer Lawson of Denver.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04
November.

Now Autumn comes with jocund pace.
We join in salutations low,
While Summer makes with scanty
grace
Her bow. We're glad to see her go.
September, next October flies.
Ger fruits and grain the farmer
glOats-
Then eagerly we turn our eyes
Unto the month that brings the
votes.
November, haste and usher in
The eager crowds who come in fOcks
From barn and bin in hope to win
A harvesC from the ballot box!
Oh mightiest season OF the year,
With reverent ear each person notes
Your potent will as We draw near
Unto the month that brings the
votes.
No tawdry garlands bind your brow;
No fragile blooms bedcck your hair.
Your pride ne'er bids you study how
With ornament to seem more fair.
Purple and gold, your regal dress
Free from coquettisn trappings
floats
So talk not rhyme, but business
Unto the month that brings the
votes.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04

half-abstracted, beside the vivacious
and brilliant Queen Nargherita. who
summons her. as it were, from mo-
ment to moment. to smile, to speak. to
wake to more s9ons.yeness toward
her surroundings.
Elena's unassertive air also con-
tTasts with the commanding grace and
stronger physiognomy of her mother,
the Princess Ailena. As we sometimes
see them, sitting beside each other. we
recognize the fila pulchra, mater pull
chr.or, and understand what an in
spiration the elder is said to have
been 10 poet and painter
Ii the new queen has seemed some
times Istless and not inexhaustible at
ordinary social functions, those who
have seen her on the hunting field can
testify to her transformation. Her
dark eyes then glow with unsupported
enthusiasm. She loves a spirited
horse and hard-won quarry. Firm in
her saddle, she dashes across country,
following the hounds with special ar
dor when big game is the prize of the
day. None are more fearless or more
sure Of aim. Like her brother DaniIo,
she inherits a passion for the chase
from a long line of hunting ancestors.
With the Italian people at large the
marriage has been popular. Every one
knows the story Of Prince Victor En-
manueIs first meeting with Elena at
Venice and his immediate determina-
ton to make her his own wife They
net again in st. Petersburg, and he
became more enamored than ever. In
a few months the marriage was ar
ranged, and the eager lover had found
his way to Cettinje, to see his bride
and sign the marriage contract.
Elena consented to renounce her
membership in the Greek church, and
was formally received into the Roman
Catholic communion at Bari shortly
before her wedding, which occurred
October "a, 1895. That was a gala day
in Rome, bright with soft autumn sun
shine, and astir with thousands Of
visitors from all Italy.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04
BRGTE HARTE AND A WAITnEss

Brete Harte has been so long a resi-
dent Of Great Britain that the days of
ais early fame, when he was a new
writer and when from time TO time he
appeared on American lecture plat
forms, seem very far away
He still loves to tell anecdotes Of
those early days, and among his stories
is one Of the time that he Iectured at
the famous New England town Of Con
cord. Mass.
On the morning following his lecture
he went down into the dining-room Of
inn, with his mind filed with
thoughts OF the men who had made the
name OF Concord so widely famous.
He looked dreamiIy from the window.
fancying Hawthorne and Emerson and
TkOreau and AIcott as they once paced
along that village street. He was SO
wrapped up in thoughts of the past
ihat he forgot the present, and did not
notice that a prim young woman waiter
was standing patiently beside him.
When she saw that at length she was
observed, she ratified out, swiftly and
without q break between any Of the
words: 'Mush, coffee, tea, ham, eggs,
and bacon. l enjoyed your lecture last
night very much, Mr.. Harte; there was
i very select audience. ''-SatUrday
Evening Post.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04

being crippled for life, had to undergo
a long period OF imprisonment
The kaiser's own pilgrimage was fol
lowed by whole series Of misfortunes,
which included the emp1 ess' breaking
her leg and becoming seriously ILL., the
death of her mother and the singularly
tragic suicide OF Prince Alfred OF Co.
burg, who has been confded 10 the pa
ternal care and control Of the kaiser at
Berlin by his own parents.
Several analogous cases could be
cited and it is probably due to this that
the vast majority Of the imperial and
royal personages who visit the holy
land make a point Of doing so alone.
leaving their husbands ortheir wives al
home. 1t is thus that the late empress
OF Austria, the late Emperor Frederick
OF Germany, King Leopold Of Belgium,
the Empress Eugene, Prince Henry Of
Prussia and a numb Der Of others have
been able to make their pilgrimage ID
the holy land without being overtaken
by subsequent misfOrtu
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04
CURE OF IRoNcLAD FEVER.
Experiments Showed Disease Was
Due to Lack of Ventilation.


Due to Lack of Ventilation.
In the fight between the Monitor
and Merrimac it was found that there
was not sufficient air in the turreted
steamer for the crew and the suffocat-
ing gases generated by the explosion
of gunpowder found their way below
and rendered it practically impossible
for the men to work Necessity, there
fore, compelled the introduction Of
some apparatus for artificial ventila-
ton.
The old methods in vogue for hun
dreds Of years had been retained even
under the new conditions, and but for
the striking of direct interference with
fighting capacity would have remained
many years longer. In the Monitor
was placed a rotary blower, worked by
steam. Air was thus drawn from one
half of the steamer through a system
of pipes and forced into the other.
Various changes were made in later
irOnclads OF this period. In some the
air was drawn down the turrets and
forced throughout the vessel, thus
rendering them more than ever liable
to SURROGATE the men below in battle,
while in others the supply was OBJ
tanned through armOred cylinders and
forced out through the turrets.
It was in the early ironclads that a
peculiar disease developed which,
being confined to those vessels, was
soon designated ironclad fever. In
this affection the initial symptoms
were much like those of typhus, but
in short time severe occipital pain
was followed by complete aphonia and
this by coma and death. The intro
GuctiOn of ventilating appliances
caused the disappearance of this sin
gular disease, and in time these metal
boxes, almost entirely submerged,
came to be regarded as probably the
most salu0riCUs vessels afoat.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04
MANY USES OF ALUMINIUM.
Nicola Tesla Believes 1t VIII Super
sede All Other Metals.

SSue All UtQef Metals.
In a contribution to the Century
Magazine, Nicola Tesla writes inter-
estingly on the present and future
uses of aluminium. Tesla is some
thing of brilliant theorist in his line,
much as the Frenchman Flammarion
is in the line of astronomy. Yet
Tesla has accomplished some wonder
full things, and his opinions are de-
serving Of attention when he speaks
on subjects connected with electricity
Tesla believes that just as we have
had an age Of stone, an age Of brass,
an age of iron and an age Of steel
not to speak Of a golden age-the
coming century will usher in an age
of aluminium. When we consider
that it is only seventy years since this
wonderful metal was first discovered,
and that the aluminium industry is
scarcely forty years old, it must Ger
tainly be admitted that wonderful
progress has already been made.
One conclusion arrived at by Tesla
which will be welcomed by electric
companies, and will be quite otherwise
regarded by those interested in cop
per mining, is that the advance of the
aluminium industry will result in the
humiliation of the copper industry
that they cannot exist and prosper
together. Even now it is cheaper
TO convey an electric current through
aluminium wires than through copper
wires. Aluminium castings cost less,
and in many domestic and other uses
copper has no chance to successfully
compete. A further material reduc-
ton of the price Of aluminium cannot
bat be fatal to copper Tesla believes
that the big copper companies, fore
seeing this result, will endeavor to
absorb the aluminium industry. With
metal that is so widely distributed
over the world this, however, would
be no easy job.
Tesla even goes further than this
and claims that before many years
aluminium will run iron very close
The possibilities of this metal are in
deed wonderful. There is said to be
thirty times as much aluminium as
iron in bulk available for the use Of
man. Among other things aluminium
may Tevoiutionize naval construction
ana Will make aerial travel a posi-
btlity.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04
The Carrier Pigeon.

how does the carrier pigeon, thrown
out from a steamer on the ocean. find
its way home?
The homing pigeon has proved that
locality is a faculty fully developed
in the birds little brain, but I heard,
the other day, an instance Of memory
in the species that was most touching.
A lady living in the top story Of
Boston sky-scraper had been in the
habit Of feeding the pigeons and spar
rows who flew to the little balcony be-
fore her window, and had succeeded
in tanning some Of her pensioners, one
or two pigeons even eating out of her
hand. One DAY, Vile passing along
Park street, this lazy 80 surprised
to see a pigeon t1utter away from some
companions strutting in the middle Of
the road, and come upon the sidewalk,
where it almost tripped her in its eff
forts to attract her attention. 1t fiut-
cred around her evincing every sign Of
pleasure and recognition, and when
she called it by name the little Great
ure fairly flew at her. Now, in the
midst Of all that passing throng the
pigeon knew its benefactor, who, with
tears in her eyes, says its recognition
gave her more joy than if the queen
had saluted her.-Cnatterer in Boston
Herald
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04
LOUISIANA STATE FLOWER.

The women of Louisiana have select
ed the magnolia as the state flower be-
cause of its beauty as well as the fact
that it belongs peculiarly to that state,
growing in her forests to great height
The charm Of the flower is we'll known,
but only those who have seen it in it's
native state can realize the spIendor of
the tree, with its large, satiny leaves
and graceful form. The magnolia be-
gins to flower in the early spring and
continues to bloom luXuriantly until
the end Of summer. The old French
mansions frequently have long avenues
Of magnolias leading to them, but later
residents object to them as lawn trees
on account OF their copious shedding OF
leaves all through the year.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04

wore, until her twentieth year, the
short white skirt, scarlet apron, en-
broideries, silver belt and ornaments
OF the peasant girls OF the mountains.
6ut she was carefully taught and
guarded. for it was known that witn
her beauty and high birth and superb
health she was meant for a princes
bride.
While she loves books and pictures
and science as much as the king, her
husband. she is fond Of the pomp and
ceremony Of court life and the stimu-
lIs OF brilliant society. She loves the
people also, for she was Uorn in a
democratic country. She bids fair to
make 4 self-possessed man Of the world
and a popular king out of the man
who, as prince of Naples, was but shy
and sensitive student.
Girlhood Days.
4 glamor of romance has ALWAYS
surrounded the Slavic princess who is
SO early destined to share a throne
made vacant by an assassin. Elena.
third surviving daughter of the reign
ing Montenegrin prince, was born in
1873, and as Danilo, the heir apparent,
mad arrived two years before, the ad-
vent OF daughter was not so depress-
ing circumstance, and Elena was wei
coined more cordially than her elder
sisters, who preceded the heir.
The first twelve years of EIena's
life were spent in her native place.
the little Montenegrin capital, Cettinie.
IN her fathers plain white wooden
residence, generally dignifed by the
name of palace" Cettinje, with it's
one long street and low frame houses.
reminded a recent traveller of mining
towns in the Rockies of Colorado.
Nestled amid the black, barren noun
talns, it is, even at this late day of
Improvements. only
reached by rough trip in the dill
gence.
A Swiss governess, Mile. Neukot. was
secured for the little Elena, and dailv
lessons in French, German and other
branches, besides training in domestic
accomplishments, trained the Young
to habits Of industry and an
plication. Prince Nicolas ALWAYS av-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-04
FAIR QUEEN INDEED
Is HELENE, CONSORT OF ITALY'S
KING.
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
Crown Prince Meets the Pretty Monte
negrin Princess in Venice and De-
termines at Once That She Shall Be
His Bride-A Simple and Romantic
Girlhood.

Although the new king Of Italy, Vic
tor Emmanuel II, is in his thirty-frst
year, but little is known about him or
the sort of ruler he is likely TO be. In
deed, 4 crown prince OF mOnarchical
government, like the vice president Of
the United States, is, says The Little
Chronicle Of Chicago, supposed to keep
himself in the background. He is al
lowed to do little, and little is expected
of him except to be on hand and ready
in case he should be wanted. Some
crown princes are content to amuse
themselves; others use the time to pre-
pare themselves for the position which
they may, at any moment, be called
upon to fill, or to travel and to study
subjects that interest them. AS prince
of Naples, Italy's new king was seri-
GUS. He is said to have been sensi-
tive about his small stature and deli
cate health, and he avoided public and
court life as much as possible.
Instead, he shut himself up, when he
was not out travelling, in his palace in
Naples, that overlooked the lovely bay
and the volcano of Vesuvius, and there
he worked in his electrical laboratory
that is said to be the finest private one
in the world. He correspondent with
Edison, Marconi, Nicola Tesla, Lord
Kelvin and other students Of the sci
ence of electricity and famous invent
ors, and he entertained them whenever