davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18

ing the spot where are driven the big.
gest teams on earth. It is no unusual
thing to see sixty or eighty horses
hitched to wagon and galIoping as
though for dear life across the desert.
The reason for this is that Death val
ley is the centre Of the borax industry.
and, in order to get this useful domes-
tic article it is necessary for men and
horses to go through hardships that
kill the latter with distressing sudden
ness and brutalize the former so that
they become the toughest specimens of
humanity to be found anywhere on the
continent.
The region where the borax is found
is narrow break in the surface of the
earth from which the fercest heat is
always rising, The thermometer fire.
Quently registers as high as lao de-
grees, and in this atmosphere it is i'm
possible for man or horse to live with
out frequent trips to the world where
life is end0raAle. For this reason, as
we'll as because the ground over which
the poraX-laden wagons travel is rocks
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18

and begged him not to assist actively
at some private thea,ricals to which
the pair had been invited. COnceit,
however, outweighed her prayers. He
essayed the role of jeune premier, failed
lamentably, and had the modification
Of being contumeliously dismissed by
his fiancee, not, she averred because Of
his vanity and ineptitude, but by rea-
son OF the tenuity of his calves, which
the eighteenth century costume es-
sential to the play had unfortunately
betrayed
All went we'll until Helen F grew
romantic. She took to reading poetry,
and having assimilated certain TO
mances wherein lovers "penned son
nets to their mistresses' eyebrows, .
thought that her lover should do the
same. But though an excellent fellow,
the latter was very matter of fact, and
could no more have perpetrated verse
than he could have helped laughing at
his fancee's request. Alas, he soon
found that it was no Joking matter.
The lady was in bitter earnest, and, as
he could not soar above cOmmon-sense
prose, he was shown the door.
! tb-agyfnb mr. m nua etGoinnnnnnn
Through the escargot-that is the
snail-is regarded in England with
little favor as an edible, it seems hard
| that a man, for eating that Gallo
delicacy, should be mulcted in wife.
Yet such was the fate of certain
| London clerk who, on his return from
holiday spent in France, remarked
casually while relating his experiences
! to the girl who had promised to be his
wife, that he had tried snails. The
| lady, who possessed a most fastidious
taste was horrifed-so Mortified, in
deed, that she wrote the following day
canceling the engagement on the
ground that with man Of such gross
appetite mutual esteem and happiness
would be impossible.
1t is said that one of the judges Of
the Prerogative Court in Ireland tried
on the eve of his marriage, a case
wherein a man was sued for beating
his wife. In delivering judgment he
gave it as his opinion that, although a
man had no right to beat his wife I'M
mercifully, yet, with such little cane
or switch as he then held in his hand
a husband was at liberty, and was in
vested with power to give his wife
! moderate correction. These words
coming to the ear Of his prospective
! bride. she refused to adventure further
with such an ungallant lover-a de
cision that evidently met with the uni
versal approval of the judges lady &C
quaintances, for he died bachelor at
an advanced age-Tit-Bits.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18
and Where Loads Are

hicles so that the drivers have diff.
Guilty in keeping their seats
The horses that compose the teams
are not the valueless cattle that it
would be supposed the borax gatherers
procure for such killing work. A poor
horse could not live a day under the
burden he is called upon to bear IN the
borax fields. Even with the most
sturdy horse flesh the hardships and
the terrible atmosphere play such
havoc that six months is regarded as
the average life Of a horse in this
region. They are attacked with all
manner of diseases not down on the
calendar of ordinary horse complaints,
and succumb to the slightest weakness
with an ease and suddenness that
makes the profits of the business van
ash in way that breaks the hearts of
the teamsters.
Some day the horses will be replaced
with less delicate means of transporta-
ton. Steam railroads may at some
future date penetrate to the bOrax
fields of Death valley and make the
big teams thing of the past, but at
present they hold first place as by far
the most picturesque sight in the coun-
try from which novelties and relics of
bygone fashions are fast being driven
to return no more.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18
REASONS FOR JILTING POWERS
Instances of Femme UnreasonabIeness
in Affairs of the Heart.

Last summer a Birmingham lady
accepted an offer Of marriage from a
young solicitor. Preliminaries were
arranged, and the fond couple only
awaited home the arrival Of the
bridegroom's father from a lengthy
sojourn in America to be made one.
In due course he came, but when the
bride beheld before her one who, while
he would easily qualify for fat man"
at a fair, asserted that in his son he
once again beheld himself in youth,
she refused to fulfill her promise, and
now seeks a lover to whom the future
does not threaten such ample proper
tions.
Some years since lady was engaged
to a gentleman who bore the name
and was a relation Of a certain gallant
soldier who, month previous to the
, date appointed for the ceremony, while
on service abroad, had the misfortune
to meet with a severe reverse. No
sooner did the news come to hand than
the lady, member of whose family
had been wounded in the disastrous
action declined, unless he should
promise to change his name, to become
his wife. To this caprice the gentle
man refused to submit, so the match
! fell through.
/ George c. thought himself borI
actor; his intended thought otherwise
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18
Novel Suit Against Sheriff.

A man in Pratt. Kan, was convicted
of selling liquor without license and
sentenced to jail. Sheriff Gibbons,
however, permitted the prisoner to re-
main with his family most Of the time
and did not lock him up as be should
have done. At the expiration Of the
prisoners term the prisoners wife
sued the sheriff for the price of board
and lodging for her spouse, alleging
that the sheriff was drawing pay
from the county for the prisoners
keep, whereas in fact, he was living off
her. She was awarded judgment for
s2160, but the sheriff has appealed to
the district court.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18

they dry in few minutes, and wear
for several days. The order of colors
on the stakes shall be red, white, blue
and black.
There are a few new rules which
have been added in late years in re-
gard to the boundary line, for the ben
eft Of those clubs which have adopt
ed the new style grounds, with corner
pieces. These are, that ball shot
over the boundary or border must be
returned at right angles from where it
stops.
A ball is in the field only when the
whole ball is within the boundary line.
No play is allowed from beyond the
boundary line, except when the ball is
placed in contact with another for the
purpose of croquet.
If a player strikes the bail when
over the boundary line, the stroke is
lost, and the balls shall be replaced or
left where they stop, at the option OF
the opponent
If a player hits ball Of the field by
a direct shot the play ceases and the
croqueted ball is placed on the bound
airy opposite the point where it lay be-
fore being thus hit. But if ball of
the field is hit from croquet the hit
shall be replaced properly in the field
and play shall not cease.
Should ball be resting in a corner
and another ball be played so that il
should be brought in at the same spot
it must be placed on that side of the
! ball upon which it passed over the
| boundary line.
The costume worn in playing golt
! is equally suitable for croquet, the
short skirt being ever desirable. While
game may be INDUCED in to while
away an hour before dinner, and the
players may wear trailing skirts which
are sure to more or less dislodge the
balls, such a thing would not be tolera
ted in a game to be played seriously
New York Tribune.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18
CHAPTER VIII.

you have sold picture, Randolph,
I am sure was the greeting Lord Ry-
yers received one morning, when he
saw Violet coming from the Hill farm.
He often went to the Hill farm now,
for Miss Anterior had caught violent
cold, which had caused her to relax
her vigilance and send her beautiful
niece out in her stead-not for long
rambles for her own pleasure, that
was plainly UNDERSTOOD; but it was
necessary for her to go to Warwick
once or twice in the week, and also to
the Hill Farm on little matters of bus
mess; and though it struck Miss Ath.
erton more than once that her niece
was long time absent, she never
dreamed of the cause.
Lord RIVERS had made himself quite
at home at the Hill Farm; the farmer
his buXOm wife knew him as a young
artist who admired the quiet sylvan
scenery of the neighborhood. Miss
BeatOn's name never passed his lips;
| but, by a tacit understanding, the
eood-natured mistress of the farm al
ways mentioned in his presence-quite
accidently, to all appearance-when
dressing herself pointedly to him, but
always to some bystander 1t happen.
ed that Violet saw him every day. He
was very gentle with her. He seemed
! to be content with the victory he had
| gained that evening when she had
| whispered her consent to be his sweet
! heart.
! He would walk by her side and hold
her hand in q Ions, lingering clasp, but
he never startled her more with pass
! tomato words and caresses. He was
/ too wise and too intent on winning her
On this particular morning it was
about half way between the farm and
Acacia Cottage that they had met
when she greeted him with the
words
You have sold a picture. Randolph
am sure"
What makes you say SOP" he asked
You know. Oh. Randolph, how
you love mystery, and how I hate it
You know what found in my canary's
|
ing" and the beautiful eyes were turn
! ed to him with mingled pleasure an,
r wonder. What place to put a pack
; ct in" she continued. Suppose m,
? aunt had gone to the cage the frs
5 thing this morning to feed the bird?"
? Il knew she would not From tn
D chestnut tree in the field l can see al
| that passes in your garden. Ever.
5 morning l see you going to feed you
bird after you have hung its cage u,
i in the porch
e Il believe that you know everything
u l do and say" she replied. laughin
and blushing ooh, Randolph: hoy
| beautiful it ISL
: That morning, on going to feed he
canary, Violet found little parcel i
t the cage. 1t was addressed to IN
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18

if you will try. You have no other ad
| mirer, and you love no one else. l SCI
no reason, my darling, why I shoult
not win you in time. l will live 70
you; I will love you so well, so dearly
! that you shall not be able to help low
! ing me. l am happier than I dareC
! hope; I am happier than l deserve tt
be. You might have sent me away; yOl
| have listened, and you will love me il
| time, and, Violet, I have been talking
| to you all this time, and, Violet, have
not seen your eyes. Raise them tt
mine, sweetheart, that I may see what
they say"
Slowly enough the white lids moved
the long fringed Iashes were raised
and the dark, violet eyes looked sadly
into his.
What beautiful eyes," he cried
and they tell me that you love me a
little. Is it true?"
His own were so full of passionate
alteration that hers fell before them.
Il am frightened" she said, with a
shudder. My heart beats. Oh, let
49, Ill < ebJ must dOL SLa1y uS1 {
What have you done to me? 1t is as
though my heart and soul were stir
red with mingled pleasure and pain. .
She tried to draw away the little
white hands; but he would not release
them.
my beautiful sweetheart. listen to
me-"
But she interrupted him.
Il am not your sweetheart. YOU
must not use that word to me-"
THAT is just the question: he said
"Will you be my sweetheart? will
not ask more just yet; consent to
that, and | shall be the happiest man
in the wide world My sweetheart,
my beautiful, gentle, graceful sweet
heart, will you? If you do not like me.
YOU can bid me depart; but, if you
learn to love me, you will make this
earth paradise to me-"
She was frightened, startled; but
her heart did not beat with rapture,
nor were here lips mute with the glad
surprise that comes to most young
girls when their lover speaks.
Think for q few minutes, and then
answer me" Lord RIVERS went on,
and remember it is not a mans fancy,
but a mans life, that hangs on the
word, / do not wish to influence you
unduly; but, if you say me nay, l
shall fling myself away as one filings
a worthless weed. Oh, Violet. is your
heart cold to me; are your eyes blind,
your lips dumb? l stand here before
you, my heart in my words, my life in
your hands. Now tell me- will you be
my sWeetheart?"
He threw his arms around her with
caressing gesture, as though he would
protect her fram everything hurtful;
and it was this gesture of his, this half
caresa, that touched her heart
Say yes Violet. You shall never
repent it." her lover pleaded, passion
ately. you do not know what life is,
I will teach you. Open your pure
young heart to the influence of love
Whisper that one word to me, Violet"
He bent his handsome head to catch
the faint sound. She thought for a
few minutes, then she answered.:
yes"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18

have to be loaded as quickly as possible
and driven from the scene on the dead
run. The average life of the horses is
not more than six months, and it is the
commonest thing for horses to drop
dead during the trip across the desert,
or fall and be left to die by the team
sters who regard the cattle as the
cheapest thing connected with the out
fit.
The skill of the drivers Of these big
teams is wonderful. 1t has puzzled
many who have seen them driving the
enormous span of cattle across the
desert, seemingly having them all in
perfect control, how it is possible to
guide such a number of horses. The
drivers are in all probability the most
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18
Tien-T sin.
To be continued.

Tien-tsin is really two cities-the
native walled city and the foreign
quarter outside the walls.
It's Chinese population is over $780,
600, and by its position on the Peiho
river it has great commerce and is
the key to Picking.
About 10000 Chinese troops and
boxers hold the walled city or positions
of vantage in the environs.
Cannon placed on the walls have con-
tinuously bombarded the foreign quar-
ter since July 5, destroying many build
ings.
Up to July II about 10000 allies I'M
der Vice Admiral Seymour held the
foreign quarter, but their lines had
been steadily pushed back by the
Chinese
On the 18th the Ninth United States
infantry, 1.4O0 strong, and a force of
Russians and Japanese reached Ten
Tsin, bringing up the allied force to
10000 men.
On the 18th 1000 allies attacked the
walled city in order to destroy the guns
and drive out the Chinese.
The Chinese under General Nah and
General Mich had many rapid-fire
guns and repulsed the allies.
Failure to carry the walled cities
will necessitate the retreat of the al
lies to Taku and lead to the rousing OF
all China in triumph, and probably tc
outbreaks all over the country.
All women and children and male
| noncombatants have been sent from
Tien-Tsin for safety. They numbered
about 1850 persons.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18
All Sorts,

1t used to be supposed that perfect
sapphire must be of dark. rich. blue
tint Now the discovery Of a new sap
phire mine in the Rocky mountains,
where stones were found varying in
their shades Of color from light steel
blue to the deep blue tint. and again
from a lovely amethyst to a ruby red,
has changed all that. These new sap
phires have become the rage. They
touch the whole color scale of blue, red
and purple.
The law requires that a candidate
for West Point shall be under % and
over II years of age; that he shall be
sound physically and morally; that he
shall be at least five feet three inches
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18

5kllful on earth. With one hand
holding the long rope that takes the
place OF reins they VIII direct the team
With as much ease as though it wert
only a pair. To see two or three o
these teams driving across the desert
IN line 5 one OF the most striking
sights to be seen in the west. Behind
each wagon is huge tank which holds
several hundred gallons of water for
the use of the outfit during its long
trip across the desert. With the load
o. borax the average weight of each
load is 10000 pounds. With sixty
aJIses to drag the load this weight is
made short work of, in spite of the
TACT that the road is alternately soft
sand, into which the wagon sinks al
most up to the hubs of the wheels. and
rocky distractions that shake the We,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18
REVIVAL OF CROQUET.
Tennis Is Being Superseded by the
Less Violent Game.

Less Violent Game.
The whirligig Of time has brought
about a renewed interest in croquet
as an outdoor game, and many lawns
Of country homes display croquet
wickets where formerly tennis nets
have been stretched. 1t has been dis
covered that tennis is too violent
game for the majority of women, and
when the exigencies of golf are too
fatiguing then the game Of croquet is
called upon as a relaxation.
The manufacturers are buster this
season, they say, than they have been
in 20 years.
In 1870 croQuet became the rage in
London, through the enthusiasm of
'tCavendish" Jones, who was instru-
at Wimbledon, where fine pavilion
was built, as we'll as two Or three
matched summer houses. In 1880 came
lawn tennis, which soon evicted GRO
Quet, and everything and everybody be-
Ion ging to it, but since 1896 the game
has been gradually creeping back to
favor.
The lawn, to be in perfect condition
for croquet, must have the grass
cropped short and kept moist and
green. On hard and dry grounds the
balls are liable to give irritating little
leaps just as they are passing the OBJ
ject hole.
The game of croquet should be
played, according to the American
custom, on grounds as nearly level as
possible - 80 by As feet has for years
been considered a convenient size, es-
pecially for grass courts. Where &C
curacy is required, the dimensions
adopted by the National association
are as follows: Length, 70 feet; width
SO feet; corner pieces, eight feet long,
inside measurements, with a line de
noting boundary Of the field 80 inches
from the inside of the border. The
surface should be rolled dirt, lightly
sanded. to hold the balls. While the
game is ordinarily played on turf, al
tournament games must be played on
dirt or made ground"
The wickets must not be more than
! four inches in width and eight to ten
inches above ground. They should be
sunk into the ground six or eigh
! inches, or set in blocks of wood buriet
under the surface to insure stability
When the ground will admit of it, the
stakes should be placed 72 feet apart
| with the first wicket seven feet il
[ front CT the starting stake. Thu
second wicket must be seven feet from
the first, the third, Il feet to the RICH
of. and one foot in advance of the sc
ond: the fourth, on line with the sec
ond. and the remaining five at TIL
same relative distance. Thus, Their
will be five arches in line between tn,
stakes and four wing arches.
The mallets should be made of box
wood or dogwood, seven to nine inche
long. by two and one-fourth to two an
one-half inches in diameter, and tn
handle Of the length that best suit
the player. The best balls are O
hard rubber, and, according to rule
are three and one-fourth inches i,
diameter. They can be easily painte
by using a preparation Of shellac dis
solved il alcohol, mixing Chinese vel
million for red, Prussian blue and Yin
or flake white for blue, and SIM c
fake white for white. Thus painte
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18
Play Lessons For Children.

Many enjoyable half hours may be
spent by children in playing at nouns
and verbs" and good deal learning
unconsciously impressed upon the
young mind. "a noun is the name OK
anything" is definition enough for "a
beginner Then with her box of letters
she makes a whole list of nouns which
of course are names of the things she
sees around her. The notices and the
names are printed carefully on creek
cred paper or cardboard When the
latter is used the words are afterwards
pricked with a coarse needle and re
produced in bTight-colored silks in
Kindergarten fashion.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18

in height and weigh 100 pounds. and
that he shall be versed in reading,
writing, arithmetic, grammar, ge)g-
raphy and the history of the United
States. The examinations, however,
are very severe, and an average Of 80
per cent. of the candidates fail to pass.
One of the features of the celeDrar
ton of the Fourth of July at LeadVille,
Col, will be contests in drilling rock,
open to drillers from all mines in Colo
RADIO. For the contest the town com
mittee has appropriated 500 for the
double-handed drilling matches, and
$500 for the single-handed mat hes,
and will increase the purses # more
money can be obtained. Already he
people of the state are discussing The
chances of favorite miners to win 'he
prizes.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18
Valley, Famed For Its Borax,
Heavy and Drivers Expert.

and sandy and the toughest driving
road to be found anywhere, the IN
usually big teams have to be employed.
The loads carried by these borax wa
CONS are enormous. AS much as eight
thousand pounds are carted across the
desert at one time, with the long
string of horses pulling it at a gallop.
Speed is essential, for the horses can
not live in the terrible atmosphere of
the boraX grounds, and the wagons
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18
Children Should Not Study at r. re.

Notify your child's teacher tI&t 40
more study will be permitted in %aur
home. See to it that youy CHI ! NJ
lowed to come home from eChD0' til
the same satisfactory feeling that The
business man feels when he comes
home; that his days work is done. 1t
is over It is behind him. He IS
ready to give his thoughts to other
things; to clear his mind Of the days
work; to clam his brain for refresh
ing nights rest, to which he finally
goes with thoughts of other things
than business. So should il be with
the child. His studies should not be
the last thing on his mind. He should
go to sleep after hours Of play and
fresh air. Then his sleep win be quiet
and refreshing, and his mind. when he
awakens, will be clear and fresh for
new days studies.-Edward Box in the
Ladies' Home Journal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18

Fish are covered with a Shiny coat
ing to protect them from fungus,
form of plant life found in all waters.
If a fish is uncovered by slime the
fungus lodges there and grows until IN
time it kills the fish. The slime helps
also to increase the speed of the fish
through the water.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-18

Death valley, in the great American
desert, can claim the distinction of he