davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
DIFFICULT LESSONS.
In the study OF Questions Pertaining
vitality to the Conduct of
Political Candidates.

1t is announced that chair of public
life will be established in one Of the
western colleges. observes Judge.
will the class come to order, please
l am gratified, indeed, with the prog
ress made in your studies Yesterday 8
lesson was weil-nigh perfectly mas
tered by all of you. If it is possible to
make any distinction, might say that
Mr.. Smithkins is perhaps shade more
proficient than some others in his IN
derstanding of the best method of talk
ing to an audience with one hand tucked
in the bosom of his frock coat. How
ever, as an Offset to this, let us remem-
Der that Mr.. Smithkins has not yet fully
mastered the art of shaking hands with
perfect stranger and making him
think he is an old acquaintance. None
of you has yet equaled the performance
of Mr.. Conner in memorizing the names
of all the men, women and children in
congressional district, together with
complete data. as to the illnesses of each
family and the personal likes and dis
likes of the voters. Do not be discour-
aged over this, though, for it is more
a natural gift than a faculty acquired
by education. In the matter of look
ing happy when an enthusiastic, but
unknown, person slaps you on the back
and calls you old Sport | believe Mr..
Nimmerhammer and Mr.. Builders are
the leaders of the class. trust the rest
of you will renew your consideration
Of this important feature of public life
and secure better command of your
facial expression, as well as of your
language. The average voter does not
rejoice to see a frown or to hear a
trofane ejaculation when he, as he
thinks. is merely manifesting his deep
and abiding admiration for his candi-
date. All of you, 1t is a great pleas
ure to state, are making marvellous prog
ress along the line of delivering speech
Of acceptance with such hesitation and
embarrassment as to make it appear
entirely impromptu. l sincerely trust
that you may all some time enjoy the
experience in real life. Now, our les
sons, as you know, are growing harder
as we go along. For tomorrow we will
have one of the most difficult tasks yet
set for us. You will all be expected to
show, by thesis, and by actual demon
stration, the best way of lodging the
campaign cigar"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
LUXURIES FOR PETS.
Slumber Robes and Beds Are Now D.
purtenances of Up-tO-Date
Squirrel Cages.

The glittering cages and cage COM
day seem to quite reconcile little SOB g.
sters to captivity, says the Washington
Star.
The prettiest of the new-style cages
for small birds is an affair of brass,
with a broad band of brass wire net
ting around the lower portion These
are supplied with dainty drinking cups
and platters and batntubs, in which the
bird may take his morning plunge.
Canaries are satisfied with one swing
ing and one stationary perch, but mock
ing birds require five or six perches and
quite large cage.
Stands for parrots vary in elaborate
ness from plain zinc tray, with its
complement of cups and perches, to a
gorgeous tray of brass or lacquered
ware, standing midway on brass rod,
that is topped by brass perches and rich
ly ornamented drinking cups. A fancy
chain is there to hold polly to her rod,
and a big brass cage can be fitted on
top of the whole. The stand resembles
one belonging to a piano lamp, and the
same stands, with curved tops and
hooks, are made to hang small bird
cages from. Some cages have glass
sides about the outer tray to keep wa
ter from splashing on the floor, and all
are supplied with slumber robes, fash
Toned of bobinet, lace, embroidered vel
vet or fancy silk.
Little travelling cages, with flap lid,
are New Year novelty.
The newest squirrel cages are fitted
up with turning wheels, perches, drink
ing vessels, slumber robes and even a
bed, shaped like an overgrown tin mush-
room, with a hole in the top and per-
forations in the bottom In this the
squirrel curls up and tries to fool him
self into believing that the hard sides
OF the tin are the crumbling wood-lined
sides of a coy hole in hollow tree.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
: FARM WORK BY .sf0Ns."E
the Dntch Farmers Of New
York state.

The farmers Of the township Of Fay
cite, adjoining waterloo. arc largely OF
Pennsylvania Dutch origin They are
"a hardy and thrifty race. and for gen
eral intelligence compare favorably
with their neighbors OF Anglo-Saxon
stock. They are. however. says the
Rochester Post-Express, full Of quaint
superstftionss and rural folklore of their
forefathers. and many interesting anec-
dotes are told by Fayette people illus
trating the length to which the good
Dutch yeomanry go in their devotion to
the s'signs" in the conduct of their farms
and the routine Of their lives.
In all earthly matters the almanac
seems to be their Bible, and the moon
and the consultations are really ven
Grated, though in a different way as
they were by their yellow-haired ances-
tors along the shores Of the North sea.
Not only in the tilling of their land. but
in all the minute concerns of their daily
lives the .signs" must be right before
anything is done, or-'woe betide."
If a cheese is to- be cut, 1t must be
done in the increase of the moon, or,
by the same token, it will fade away
with incrediblesrapidity before the daily
demands Of the family, who will yet
derive miraculously scanty nutri-
ment therefrom; whereas, IT,. In ODE
dience to the sage counsel Of the elders
of the house, 1t be done as the moon
wakes, it will; be like the widows meas
ure of meal and crust Of oil.
If fence posts are to be SET. spade mus
not be put to the ground till the posi-
ton of the sun in the zodiac be deter
mined from the book of fate, the al
manac. Otherwise, it is only a matter
of time when, not the frost below. but
the stars above, will heave them from
their places: The swine must not be
slaughtered with disregard for the stel-
lar divinities, or the pork will dwindle
in the barrel as If an army corps were
feeding thereon. So,
. In the sowing, tilling and harvesting
of their crops, of course. the same fldel-
ity to the old-folk notions of their ia
theirs is shown; but in this they are
not peculiar. for here their ideas are
shared by the-unscientific of every class
and race. Ina Waterloo business place
recently. where these signs were under
animated. discussion for an hour. only
one man raised the voice Of skepticism
against these fancies, and all but two
of those. present expressed positive
faith in one or more of the signs OF
Fayette Dutch folklore.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23

Mrs. N. Pepin is reported quite
sick this week.
Mayor Pankow, of MarShield, was
in the city today on business.
P. F. Newell, of Marshfeld. trans
acted business in the city today.
Benz. Burhite, of Barnum, was in
the city TODAY seeking medical advice.
w. w. Booth returned today from
one of his frequent trips 60 Green
wood.
H. P. Corriveau is confined to his
home with a severe attack of the
grippe.
Frank Higbee, d prosperous farmer
Of Barnum, was in the city today on
business
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
THE SPIDERS TRAP.
Laid for q Busy Bird That Was Elk.
terminating Insects in Chi
cagO Museum.

During the past season the Field mu-
scum in Chicago became infested with
a large number of obnoxious spiders.
They festooned the ceiling and great
columns of the building with yards OF
their shuttlework. Scrubwomen and
janitors tried in vain to rid the building
of the pests and their work. Finally a
small bird known as the brown creeper
discovered the state Of things. and de-
cided to take up his abode inside and
assist the authorities in Kidding the
building of the pests. The Chicago
News describes the birds experiment.
For several days he fitted about very
much as he pleased. wagging up and
down column after column and probing
his bill into every crevice. With his
vigilance he actually carried on very
effective work, and the authorities and
the public eyed him with gratified inter-
est.
One morning, however, as curator
of one of the departments was passing,
a guard remarked: There's bird for
your collection. Looks as if it were
done for"
The bird lay painting on it's side at
the bottom of one of the columns
Bring fly" said the scientist, as he
took the little creeper in his hand. The
guard held buzzing fly on the point of
q long pin to the birds beak, and to his
surprise the creeper bit at the insect vi
ciously.
Doesn't look as if he were going to
die" said the scientist. II wonder
what's the matter with him, anyway"
Turning the bird over in his hand, he
found it had been entrapped in a large
spiders web, which had bound the wing
and tail together in such a manner as
to preclude flying. It looked as if
some wise old spider had resented the
birds work of determination, and had
purposely ensnared him in trap.
The queer bandage was removed, and
the bird darted out over the iron graf
ing and shot out Of sight across the
lagoon.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
Grand Rapids Markets.
FEBRUARY %. 1904.

FEBRUARY I'd, lSU4.
The following are the market price
OF produce in the city Of Grand Rap
ids corrected on the day Of publication:
Potatoes-70c
Rye-45c to 48c.
Oats-45c
Corn-shelled. 100 lbs, 90c.
Hay-marsh, 5000; timothy, $3.50.
Eggs-25c.
Butter-18c to zoe.
BeanS-Sl. Is to $500.
PeaS-75c. to S1.00.
OniOnS-65c to 75c.
Beehive. 100 lbs, $3.50 to $500;
dressed. 81 SO to S.. so.
Pork-live, 81 % dressed S.. SO to Sc. 90
Veal-live, &c; dressed SIC to &c.
Chicken-live, 7c to SC; dressed, 10c
to l2c.
Turkey-live, 1Oc to 12c; dressed lac
to 15c.
Flour-bbl., $500.
Feed-ton, S22.
MiddlingS ton, S16.
Bran-ton, S18.
BOlted Corn Meal bbl., $3.50.
Lard-l1c to 12c.
Ham-whole, 14c.
Mess Pork-bbl $500.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
Gfnxer Nut wafera.

Put fourth of a cupful of butter, q
fourth of cupfuI of lard, half cupful
of molasses and half cupful of brown
sugar together over the fire and heat TO
boiling. Remove from the stove, add
three cupfuls flour, a rounding teaspoon
full each of ginger and cinnamon, q
fourth of teaspoonful Of cloves and .
level teaspoonful Of soda sifted to-
gether, stir until thoroughly mixed,
then stand in the cold over night Next
morning roll out about fourth OF an
irch- in thickness, sprinkle with cupful
Of finely chopped walnuts and press
the rolling pin lightly over the surface
to secure the nuts firmly into place.
Cut into strips three inches long and
an inch wide and bake In a moderate
oven.-Good Housekeeping.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
BEARS FOND OF PEANUTS.
Even the Big Fellows from the Polar
Regions Delight i'm a Feast
of the ssGOObers.'.

All bears appear to like peanuts,
whether the beasts come from the south
ern regions. where the peanut grows,
or from the mountains or the frozen
north, where the peanut is quite un-
known. If the taste for peanuts is not
implanted in them naturally they &C
Quire it very readily. as is shown. for
! example. by the grizzly and the polar
bear in the menagerie in Central park.
The big grizzly comes to the front of
Its great cage in the bear den, and thrusts
Its nose between the bars and opens its
cavernous MOUTH thus affording to
visitors an opportunity Of indulging in
the sport of throwing peanuts down its
throat This is a pleasure that appeals
chiefly to children.
But those who try it don't always sue
coed in tossing the peanut into the bears
mouth. There is a railing in front of
the cage that keeps the people at lit
tie distance, and the children's fear is
likely to make them nervous, and so
their aim is uncertain. Therefore, the
peanut may hit the grizzly nose instead
of going straight into its mouth, or it
may hit one of the bars of the cage and
fall outside on the stone in which the
bars are imbedded.
But when the children throw more
peanuts and when they have thrown all
they have, and have seen the grizzly eat
all it caught, they have another sight
waiting for them that pleases them more
if possible than it did to see the bear
catch the peanuts in it's mouth.
When no more are coming to it, the
grizzly lifts one of it's big paws and
thrusts it out between the bars as far as
1t can reach on the stone ledge, and
sweeps up and gathers in the peanuts
that have fallen there and eats them.
To see the bear eat the peanuts it catches
Is amusing as well as interesting; to see
1t stretch out through the bars that pom
derous and powerful paw is almost
startling.
The polar bear comes up and thrusts
It's nose through the bars for peanuts
In just the same way, and it CLEANS those
that fall outside in the same manner,
with this addition, that besides thrust
Ing out its big Whitehead paw between
the bars to rake in stray peanuts that
have fallen outside it sometimes for this
purpose thrusts out it's tongue.
The grizzly bear eats the kernels Of
the peanuts only, and rejects the shells;
the polar bear eats them shells and all.
But the grizzly has been here the longer
time-perhaps the polar will come to be
equally fastidious. All bears, grizzlies
and polars as well as those from milder
climes, appear to be fond of peanuts.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
DRAINAGE DIFFICULTIES
HAVE BEEN SETTLED

The difficulties between the Dancy
drainage district and Altenberg &
Stoddard have been settled. Alien
berg & Stoddard contended that the
improvement of the marsh as planned
would entirely ruin their mill site.
The terms of the settlement are that
the persons interested IN the district
must pay the mill owners $1,000. for
the site on which their dam is located;
Altenberg & Stoddard, however are to
have the right to maintain the dam
and operate the mill for a term of
three years. At the end of three years
they may dispose Of the mill. Cog
gins & Brazeau and Kreutzer, Bird &
Rosenberg were the attorneys for the
drainage district.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
LINES ON THE FACE.
Frefs and Frowns Grow In. 50 Woaen
should Guard Their Facial
Expression.

For the women and girls who are
constantly exerting themselves ia
wear a fascinating smile or frovn'
there is to be had no better advice
than the following from the Philadel.
phia Telegraph:
Very charming is the animated face
Of the young girl who tells story and
smiles and arches her, eyebrows and
makes little expressions with her
plastic features.
But that same young lady is laying
up trouble for herself in years to
come. Every time she raises her eye.
brows tiny horizontal lines are formed
across the white forehand. Every time
she smiles and wrinkles her eyes,
parentheses marks outline her mouth
and wrinkles form at the end of her
eyes, Ten years from now those lines
will be printed on the map to stay.
Other women frown tiny bit over
every little fret Of daily life. The
frown marks soon are permanent, and
we have the ungracious. and angry.
looking woman of 80. Again, the wom-
an who is always yearning for the un.
attainable has droop to the mouth
and hungry look around the eye,
which at middle age is most unbecom.
ing
The best advice to such women is to
moderate little. 1t is impossible and
state of things not to be desired that
one should go through life with no
more expression than that of the
wooden Indian in front Of cigar store
always with features like a plaster
cast. But on the other hand, one must
be careful not to be extravagant in the
use of facial expressions.
If there is one bit of advice that
could be given almost universally to
women it is this-keep the eyebrows
down!
For the majority of feminines over
work these members. They are raised
in surprise. in admiration, in disdain
and in animated conversation.
They are lifted when cook leaves,
when baby cries, when visitors arrive
and at the death Of a relative.
They are hoisted over the manner
of new dress, or when husband stays
out too late.
They are again upreared when the
owner cleans her teeth, adjusts the
neckwear or tries on new pair of
Shoes
And every time they go up the hori-
zontal lines form those lines which
are the first to show. when Time is
making his mark upon us. Keep the
eyebrows down, dear women, or regret
it when 1t is too late.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
HOW TO CORN BEEF:
Several Valuable SuggestionsonD Dry
ing and Smoking the Meat
a. Well.

The following rule for corning beef
will be found an excellent one, but can.
not be guaranteed to preserve the meat
full year unless it is kept in very cold
icehouse in warm weather. Corned
beef was never intended to be kept SC
long a time, says the New York Trib.
une. 1t deteriorates rapidly in flavor
after it has stood in salt and water
many months, and is not as good at any
time as meat eaten fresh, for the juices
are extracted by the process of corning.
There is always great loss of nutritive
value when beef is corned. The process
is only intended for family use and not
for the butchers trade, although butch
ers often dispose of their surplus beef in
this way.
The plate. navel and, brisket pieces
make the best corned beef, and cannot
be used in any other way, except for
stewing. The rump is the most expen-
sive piece used for corning, but it is not
satisfactory as the brisket in which the
fat is evenly mixed with the lean, and
there is usually some proportion of bone.
The brisket is always chosen by good
housekeepers for pressed corned beef Z
To corn so pounds of beef add to four
gallons of cold water four pounds of fine
rock salt, two ounces Of saltpetre and
two pounds of brown sugar and mix
these ingredients together and let them
dissolve. The brine may be boiled up
once to mix it more thoroughly together,
but 1t must be ice cold when used.
Equal parts of molasses and sugar may
be used instead of brown sugar.
Before the meat is placed in the brine
it should have been heated for couple
of days to week, according ito. the
weather, by rubbing with a mixture
composed of half an ounce of saltpetre
and an ounce of brown sugar to pound
of salt. Rub the mixture all over tho
meat number Of times during the day,
and keep it on an inclined board. so that
the blood and the brine can drain from
it. When the blood has all dripped from
| the beef it is ready to corn. Care should
be taken to see that the beef is abso-
lutelv without faint Butchers some
times attempt to use tainted meat in
this way. Nothing could be more fool
ish as the corning does not, In any way,
hide the fact that it is tainted, and the
process of decay goes on, apparently, in
spite of the corning.
When the beef has been In the brine
for five or six days it is ready for use.
It may be kept an indefinite time in this
brine, or may be smoked, like ham or
bacon
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23

Probably one of the tiniest MSS. ever
recorded was the little Bible in wal
nut shell the size of small hens egg.
an account of which has been pre-
served among the Harleian manu-
scripts by Peter Bales, an Englishman
and clerk of the chancery. It con-
tanned as many leaves as large BIZ
BILE, and as much reading matter on
each page. With q powerful glass 1t
could be read easily. The author OF
this tiniest book on record lived in
the time of Queen Elizabeth, and in
1875 presented her majesty with the
Lords Prayer, the Greed. Ten Com
.mandments, two short Latin prayers,
his own name and motto. and the date,
all written on q bit Of paper the size
Of finger-nail. and set in q ring Of
gold covered with crystal. In this
case also magnifying glass made the
writing quite legible.-London Globe.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
DATES TO REMEMBER
Wednesday. Feb. "a.

Wednesday. Feb. "a.
The east side ladies' aid society
of the Congregational church will
meet with Mrs. L. f. PhilleO.
Ladies aid society of the Congre-
gational church, west side, will
meet at church parlors. A large
attendance is desired.
Thursday, Feb. rs.
Mothers meeting at Howe kinder
garten rooms.
Friday, Feb. rs.
st. Katharine's Guild will meet
with Mrs. W. A. Drumb.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
NATURES REMEDIES.
Employed by the Adirondack Natives
for the Healing Of Their Hurts
and Ailments, i

80
When the Adirondack native becomes
afflicted with any of the numerous
trifing ills which make mankind
swretched, said the returned visitor, &C.
cording to the New York Herald, "he
does not waste much time on doctors.
but goes straight to the woods or the
attic for natures own remedies. There
is one old man whom l have met with
packbasket on shoulder and shears and
a rough board stool in his mittened
hands going after yarrow. which. dried,
is standby for coughs when 1t has
been made into wicked looking brew.
Fir balsam, coaxed, drop by drop, fl ON
the blisters which, swell on the. balsam
fir at full moon, is sovereign REM
edy for chest and lung complaints.
Gravel weed, by which name they
insult. trailing arbutus, is excellent for
the complaint which gives tits name.
and bladder root has a desirable effect
on the kidneys and neighboring organs.
Sage tea. containing. q little summer
savory, is eficacious for worms in chill
dren, for which belmonia. also stepped.
is also used. Sunflow er seeds. stepped,
strained and sweetened with molasses,
will cure the whooping cough. Horse
radish leaves. wilted and bound on the
face and back of the neck, will drive
away neuralgia, and nutmeg, bored
and tied around the neck, will keep It
away. The nutmeg must be renewed
about once every six weeks.
Onions, sliced, pounded and placed
in cloth and laid over the affected
part, will draw out Inflammation. A
red onion, halved, and with one part
slightly scooped out and the cup placed
over carbuncle or q boil will speedily
remove the pus. and has saved life.
There are many more Of these SIM
pie remedies in the north woods pharma-
copoeia which the wise ones have at
their fingers ends, and II they are not
more widely used and money kept in the
overalls of the thrifty native, It Is be-
cause a lenient and more fortunate fate
prestdes over the incomes Of the Adiron-
daek medicos."
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23

Beat the yolks OF two eggs and half 4
cupful Of sugar to a cream. add q table,
spoonful of lemon Juice. the Juice and
half the grated rind Of an orange and
half cupful OF chopped English wal
nut meats, Line deep pie plate with
pastry, and when half baked add the
alling and finish baking. Cover with q
meringue made Of the whites Of two
eggs, two tablespoonfuls Of sugar and
two tablsspoonfuls q chopped walnutA
Good Housekesplne.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23

The well-known combustion-support-
ing properties Of oxygen are turned to
advantage in a new German process for
perforating thick iron plates. The part
in question is heated to incandescence
by an oxyhydrogen blowpipe, and then
subjected to the full action Of a Jet of
pure oxygen. A hole Of q determined
size Is bored within four minutes
through q 12-inch iron plate.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-02-23
Curious Heather Ornament

: Sir Henry Stanley. the famous Afri-
tan explorer, treasures plated silver
sork bearing the name Of fashionable
london restaurant which he picked up
IN the heart Of an African forest It
had been used as an ornament by the
chief Of tribe Of pigmies; though how
It went SO far away from the tracks Of
white men Sir Henry cannot even con-
lecture.