davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
YOUTH "COFFiNED' AT
STRENUOUS INITIATION
Goes Coasting in Burial Casket as One
of Stunts at High School Haz-
ing-Now Very III.

Grand Rapids, Mich.-Huron Lake,
a high school student, has been i'll for a
month as result OF strenuous initia-
ton given him when he became men,
Der of the Mu Delta Sigma.
Painting after the ninety-ninth degree
lowering between life and death on a
farm near Morley.
The young man has borne up brayely
and refused to divulge even to his moth
er what was done to him and what he
was required to do. but it is learned that
one Of the trials he was compelled to
undergo was being placed in burial
casket, the top screwed on, and the coffin
started down the snow path at the crest
of the Crescent avenue hill 1t is said
he coasted for nearly two blocks in his
CHASTITY toboggan. Returning to the
rooms Of the fraternity he is said to have
been placed in the casket at an early
hour in the morning and lowered to the
street by means of ropes which were let
out hand-oyer-h by his fellows.
Swimming in a snow-flled gutter was
part of the programme and another
ridiculous demand made upon him was
to melt the snow in the street with a
poker heated over gas jet in the fra
ternity rooms.
The climax is said to have been
reached when he was compelled to climb
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05

no words can adequately describe the
want, squalor and f1lthiness of the
place. 1t is made of heavy upright
timbers crossed with heavy beams.
The space between the logs is filled
with clay, which makes the house
like fort, and almost bullet proof.
There is but one living room, one
door and one window, and an attic
with one small window above, which
is reached by a ladder leading up
through hole in the attic hoor::>' In
the lower room all three of the fam
lily ate and slept.
This was the boys home. He had
never seen a trolley car, and spool
of thread which was shown to him at
the Wilburs interested him as a
novelty.
OF course he is unhappy in captivity.
He wants to return to his wild old
life in the woods, where he can roam
about at will, shoot and be dirty. Sew
eral times he has attempted to es-
cape. but each tire he has been cap
tured He longs to return to the "old
man and old woman, - as he says.
When taken to the photographer to
have his picture taken Pompey was
panic stricken. He fancied the cam
era some sort of a gun, and decided
that t; : day Of his execution had ar
rived. 1t was finally explained to him
that nothing fatal would occur, and he
was persuaded to sit for photograph,
which is good enough likeness OF
him since he has been washed and
dressed
1t is generally believed that the
boy never will he as other boys. the
old life in the forest constantly calls
him and he frets for freedom. He has
been taught to say sir. when he
speaks to Mr.. Wilbur. But nothing
can induce him to say madam II
is always sir" TO everybody.
The first night he spent with the
Wilburs. found him unwilling to un-
dress when he retired. He had al
ways slept in his clothes, he said, and
he saw no reason why he should take
them off, Also i'e refused at first to
sleep in bed He had never done
so, and for the first two or three
nights curled up like dog and slept
on the floor.
Pompey is moody, sullen and fa1
from bright Civilization does not ap-
jeal to him in any, way. He is wild
by nature, and it is predicted by
those who have seen him that some
day he will return to the forest, his
only real home.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
News Notes.

George Bresseau, convicted at Min
neapolis of passing forged obligation
and sentenced to four years imprison-
ment and to pay fine of $1Oo, was
released from prison, after taking the
poor debtors oath.
The large dry goods store of Pat
fridge Bros. was entered at Tracy by
burglars and silks worth $500 were
taken. The goods had just been re-
ceived. An entrance was gained by
forcing the locks to the door with a
chisel.
The Pelican Stone company has been
organized and will engage extensively
in the manufacture of concreto blocks
for building purposes. Buildings are
being erected aud it is expected the
output will be large.
As reward for kindness shown him
by Mrs. Mary De Motto when she was
child, an Illinois millionaire named
Brokaw bequeated 500, 900 to her, and
she was found on a farm two miles
from Crookston. She was overcome
with surprise, as she had expected
nothing.
It is expected that the new SO, 900
Catholic church, built at Eden Valley
last summer, will be dedicated by
Archbishop Ireland. 49,.
Lars Arsolud was struck by an Oma-
ha passenger traip and Instantly kill
ed at Austin. He was about 50 and
married.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
REAL WILD: BOY:
FOUND IN OHIO
TAKEN FROM HUT IN WOODS
ONLY AFTER A STRUGGLE.
NEVER SAW A TOWN BEFORE
Twelve Year-Old Youth Never Had a
Bath or His Hair Cut or Combed
Fierce Dogs His Only
Companions,

NOrwalk, O.-Barnum's wild boy has
been discovered near this city, where
he was born in the woods bordering
on the New Haven swamp. in the
northwestern part OF Huron county.
Pompey Brown Patterson is the boy S
name, and he is only II years old. He
was brought up like a young barba-
rian, with only pack of large and
feocious dogs for his playmates, and
breech-loading musket for his play
thing. Until he was captured by Off
Gals recently he was wild, untutored,
uneducated and neglected.
The people OF Plymouth, a little
Town four miles from the hut that
Pompey called his home, decided that
Pompey must have schooling and be
as other boys. So, without consulting
Pompey's feelings or his fathers
wishes, Sheriff Snyder and a deputy
we're dispatched to the hut in the
woods with orders to bring the anon
ally back with them.
For the II years that Pompey had
lived in the woods he never ventured
beyond the limits and never visited
a town. On the approach of a man
he always fled to some hiding place in
the woods or to his hut. So when
the officers appeared Pompey retired
as usual to the hut and set the dogs
on the officers. They were driven
back to town, their clothing torn to
shredS
The next time they returned they
we're armed with sulphur, formalde-
hyde and legal authority. Pompey and
his grandmother, who is known as
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Freight Rates.

The state railroad and warehouse
commission has begun to collect and
arrange data to be used in making a
readjustment of freight rates in the
state, which was ordered by the re-
cent legislature. 1t is probable that
the preliminary work will take several
weeks.
The commissioners have not fully
decided just what plan to pursue, but
the object of the readjustment, as Of
fered by the legislature is to prepare
uniform schedule Of rates, in which
the difference between distance and
a distributive tariff for a given dis
lance shall in no case exceed per
cont
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Office But no Salary.

Although the bill creating state
fire marshal passed the legislature,
some question whether provision has
been made for the payment of the
marshal's salary and expenses for the
first year.
+ The law says that a tax is to be
levied to meet such expenses of one
fourth of one per cent on all fire insur-
ance premiums payable ION or before
the first of April in each year." Ac-
cordingly, there will be no income
from the new tax till next April. 1t is
an open question whether any other
insurance tax money secured under
the old laws, can be used to pay the
new state fire marshal.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05

Calamity jane were on the lookout
for more visitors. They had climbed
into the attic OF the hut by means Of
a ladder. Pompey armed with a mus
llet and "Calamity Jane" with an AK.
Pompey thought the men meant to
kill him, and determined to sell his
life as dearly as possible.
The officers, meanwhile, having
climbed on the roof, emptied the pack
age OF sulphur in the fireplace. Then
they climbed down and threw the
formaldehyde into the room through
crack in the logs. The odor of the
formaldehyde and the fumes of the
burning sulphur soon drove Penney
and calamity Jane" down from the
attic, and in few moments they were
obliged to open the door to obtain
fresh air.
The officers rushed in and finally
overpoWered the boy and his grand
mother. Pompey nowled with fear,
for he thought the men would kill
him.
Pompey to Norwalk, where he was
placed in charge Of a family named
Wilbur. They are making heroic ef-
forts to civilize him. so that he can
be placed in the children's home
here, but as yet it is necessary to
keep him under lock and key.
When captured Pompey's hair hung
over his shoulders in matted strands.
1t had never been cut or combed. He
had never had bath nor washed mis-
face or hands. The clothing in which
he had roamed through the woods he
had slept in until it became so rag
ged that it nearly dropped from his
body. When brought to Norwalk the
boy was given Turkish bath, his hair
was cut, and new clothing furnished
him. Still his face wears a Wild
hunted look.
Pompey's father, Emory Brown Pat
terson, was formerly wild mountain
eer in the unsettled portion of Ten
nessee. He makes his living by hunt
ing, fishing and cutting wood, and
sometimes assists railroad gang.
Twice since his son has been i'm
prisoned here the old man has walked
from his hut in the woods to Nor
walk, distance of 20 miles, to beg
}for Pompey's release. but each time
his request has been refused. and each
time he has tramped back to his home
the same day.
Pompey's mother is dead. and his
grandmother, Calamity Jane" has
been keeping house. for him and mis-
father. There was another boy
called sledgehammer Patterson, but
he also is dead.
The hut lies in a deep forest and
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Authorizations.

Wheat and corn starch are used in
the adulteration of bakers and eating
chocolate, according to the weekly re-
port Of the state dairy and food de-
partment. The wheat products are
mixed with cocoa bean.
The department analized thirty
eight samples of cocoa and various
brands of chocolate during the week,
and found twenty-eight of them legal
Ten of the samples examined were IL
legal, nine were adulterated with
wheat products and one with corn
starch. The illegal products were all
manufactured by New York concerns.
all the samples of articles sold by Min
nesota manufacturers and whole
salers under their own firm names be-
ing up to standard.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
HORSES IN OVERALLS
UNsIGHTLY GEAR OF RACERS
WHEN UNDER TREATMENT.
For Protection Against Insects After
Tendons Are Burned-Turf
Kings Are Thus
Clad

Physical culture, Systematically ap-
piled, having made it possible to clip
seconds from record performances by
human athletes, horsemen have deter
mined to apply the same methods to
the lithe-limbed racers of the turf. It
has been demonstrated, states the New
York Tribune, that the speed of race
horse can be increased by the ~sys-
tematic manipulation of the muscles
that do the work when the animal is
bounding toward the finishing point,
carrying with him the hopes and fears
of countless hackers. It is now part of
the duty Of the trainer of a racehorse
to flex the muscles and tendons of the
thoroughbreds under his care. This is
partly done by manipulating with the
hand or massaging the muscles of the
horses exactly as the muscles Of hui
man being are massaged to make them
flexible and springy. Huge sums fire.
luently depend upon a fraction of a
second of speed and the horse whose
muscles have been carefully massaged
prior to race goes to the post with
a decided advantage over the animal
which is just as fast in every respect,
save the additional life in the tendons
provided by the energetic work of the
horse masseur
When the king of the turf is retired
to the stable for the off period of racing
he is now kept in thorough condition
eco fr1o n11 %Io
tendons and muscles that are used dur.
ing his performance on the track being
carefully rubbed and kneaded to keep
them flexible. If the tendons show
signs of being the worse for wear, and
IT must be remembered that the strain
on the tendons of horse as he pounds
down the racetrack at top speed is
enormous, then extreme measures are
resorted to to restore them to their
pristine f1exibility. The up-to-date
stable is provided with tools especially
made to burn the tendons Of a horse
that has gone stale. An electric ma.
chine is used for this purpose, the iron
being applied to the tendons by the
skilled hand Of the stableman and the
stiffness literally burned out of the
worn tendons.
There are veterinary surgeons who
make regular business of treating
racehorses by the physical culture
method. In the stables of these men
are to be found some of the finest
horses on the turf. Some have gone
stale. and, the secret being carefully
guarded, are under treatment by mas
sage and burning for restoration to
their former speedy condition.
After the tendons have been burned
1t is necessary to keep the horse quiet
and prevent flies from Irritating him.
The simple method of protecting the
animals legs is to encase them in a
pair of overalls. Sorry indeed is the
appearance of the proud king of the
turf when he is returned to his stall
after electric treatment. with his fore
legs, and sometimes his hind legs as
we'll, covered with overalls.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
THEY PUT HMM A COFFIN.


one Of the trees in the Crescent hill
park to the very dizzy top and sing:
Nearer my God to Thee, nearer than
l eyer expect to be-"
Finally he was introduced to the mys-
teries of the black bottle kept for that
specific purpose and which was not filled
with an intoxicant.
Young Lake remained home i'll for a
few days after his initiation, but started
to school when he could no longer stand
the taunts of his brother fraternity men
who passed his home and yelled to him
as he reclined at a window:
How do you like it, 'Red?'"
Painting at school he was compelled
to give it up and has since been trying
to recover his strength. Bitter feeling
has been aroused by the revelation.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Same Tobacco,

Now, what the dickens!" said the
brutal husband. What on earth is
the matter with this tobacco of mine?
Smells like a rubber shoe and tastes
like medicine"
"Why, my DEAR" said the trusting
young wife, 1T scented the house all
up with that horrid tobacco smell, and
so poured a lot of my favorite per-
fume into the tobacco JAR Judge.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
MINNESOTA NEWS.
4 New System.

A new system of accounting in the
several state Offices, which it is be-
heyed fwill reduce to the minimum
mistakes and discrepancies in the dis
oursement of state funds has just been
put. into effect in accordance with a
law passed by the recent Legislature.
Under the new system, the head OF
each department is required to prepare
an ostract in triplicate, showing each
item Of expenditure, the person to
whom it is payable, the amount and
the fund. One copy of the abstract is
sent to the state auditor, one to the
state treasurer, and the third is kept
by the head of the department..
The state auditor, under the new
system, will issue his warrant covering
the ent lire abstract, and the treasurer
issues his check for each separate item:
This is practically the same system as
is provided in the law relieving the
state board of control of the care OF
the state university and normal
schools.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Strategy.

Socrates came darling around cor
ner. II
whittier are you going SO fast?"$in-
quired Alcibiades.
II am executing a mastery retreat"
gasped Socrates.
Scarcely had he disappeared around
another corner when Xantippe, with
blood in his eye and skillet in her
hand, came swiftly into yiew.-Chicago
Tribune
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Landlady Hits Back

"Some young men in this town." re-
marked Mr.. Blackboard, "are Sc fast thew
seem determined to beat everything"
Eyes" replied Mrs. Starvem, "and 9TH
ers are so slow they seem determined to
beat their board bill "-Chicago Jour-
nal
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
A Modern Heroine,

Through three acts the villain pur-
sued her.
But the girl was not greatly disturbed.
In act four she grabbed the villain by
the scruff of the neck, twisted him into
the shape of a pretzel and hung him
over cliff.
You see. this girl understood jiu jitsu.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Retribution.

Millions of years had passed.
Birds had succeeded to the supremacy
formerly held by man. ~ -
what is that you are wearing on
your hat?" asked the f1amingo
cts the scalp of an almost extinct
biped called a woman" replied the egret.
"A few specimens of the creature still
exist. am told, in the inaccessible fast
nesses of the everglades" - Chicago
Tribune. 's$#
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Scrupulous Discrimination.

Are you giving anything to charity?"
mo; l don't think the charitable Or
CARNATIONS would accept my money"
"Why not?"
Because they might find out that l
got it from man who got it from a man
who got it dishonesty So don't be-
lieve it's worth while Offering it,
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Friendly Advice.

Nov that youth have-aw-wefused
me-" said young Sapleigh, T-aw-
have a notion to blow me bwains out,
doncher know"
WELL" answered Miss Biffkins, ''rd
advise you not to say anything about
it\if you do, and no one will ever
know the difference. "-Cincinnati En-
quirer.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Encoura cement.

But" complained the young man.
IF you don't care for me why have you
been encouraging me all this timer"
Encouraging you?" she answered;
why, I haven't been doing that or
course I have let you hold my hands
some, but, gracious, if you call that en-
couragement you ought to see ME wien
I'm with Jack. Chicago Record-Her-
aid.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Turn About.

could you let me have $10?"
mo, I'm sorry, but
Don't say word. l didn't want to
borrow. l merely wanted to know if
you could let me have ten. I've got
plenty"
Then you might let me have ten."-
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Festival.

The greatest Scandinavian festival
which ever took place in Minneapolis
will be the celebration, May II, by
Norwegians and Swedes alike, of the
anniversary of the independence of
Norway.
Gov. johnson has accepted an invi-
tation to be orator of the day, and for
the first time in history a son of Swed-
en- will deliver the chief grafton upon
this Norwegian holiday,
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
It Was Always So.

Methuselah's father had just bought
two reserved seats.
Il didn't want to go myself he ex-
planned, pointing to his 1OO-year-old off,
spring, "but had to take the boy to the
circus"
Investing in some peanuts, he blithe-
ly passed inside.-N. Y. Sun.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Coming Event.

Meanwhile an army of millirers
Is working to beat the band,
And the NEaster bonnet is casting
It's shadows athwart the land.
Chicago Tribune.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Burned to Death.

Matte, the 3-year-old son of Robert
Grams, eight miles south Of st. Cloud,
was fatally burned as the result OF his
clothes catching fire from burning
bonpile.
The father saw his son perish while
at a distance The boys flesh was
cooked and terribly scared.
Anna Richtner, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs Richtner of Rail Prairie, living
about ten miles from Little Falls, was
cremated by flames which destroyed
the log house in which she was sleep
ing: The family occupied a log house,
which has an attic sleeping room that
was occupied by the child. Mr.. RIGHT
ner climed ladder to the attic win
dow, but found the bed empty, the
child having run down stairs in an
attempt to escape.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Mountain of Iron Found

What is said to be solid mountain OF
iron has been discovered in Syria Aus
tTia. The mountain is situated in the
famous iron mining district of Leobeu.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05

Il hate to do this" muttered the frog,
nimbly escaping the bill of the stork.
''for like as not this fellow will go home
and tell all his friends about catching
frog as big as a house, that got away
from him Chicago Tribune
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05

The man who loves to shout "hooray!'
Is a persistent slayer,
When orators have naught to say
= He'll cheer the baseball players.
Washington Star.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Blows Its Horn

Blows Its Horn.
Some foxy ones who never work
Still make the greatest showing.
The rooster never lays an egg.
But still does all the Growing.
Judge
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
The R1Ira1 Earn

"There goes Prof. Figger Attit," says
the native.
Who he?" asks the visitor.
why, he's the man who computed the
total pumpkin productions of the world
for the government bureau Of statistics.
He's one Of our most prominent men. -
Judge. --..- - =. :. ~. ,,.z ---
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05

The Spring Bonnet Joke.
Some people write quite merrily
About the prices high
Upon spring hats, which, verify,
They do not have to buy.
Chicago Tribune.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
Expensive Engagement Ring.

Expensive Engagement Ring.
Dolly-Nell says that her engage
ment ring cost 20 pounds. q. 50 e.
Polly-Perhaps she meant that she
spent as much as that entertaining the
goung man before she got tilt Bits
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05
The Joke Was Transferred.

The Joke Was Transferred.
Marietta-Such Joke on Mr.. Gayboy!
| We were out on the balcony between the
dances, and he got the sleeve of his
! dress coat all over red paint from one
Of the posts that were just painted.
Papa-And did you go near the post!
mo. Why"
Because you have red paint all over
the back OF your waist.''-N. Y. Weekly.
| By Degrees. -
Chesterfield Chauncey-Could You
spare me an old pair Of trousers. mum?
Mrs. Winrow-Yes; do you want any.
thing else?
Chesterfield Chauncey-Oh, YES. I'd
like about $50,000,0Oo and a seat in the
senate-but dat kin wait!-Puck.
| =. The Boss. e.. =
Now then" said the teacher Of arith.
| metfc, what is above par?'' .
II thinkI know ;yentured small
boy, after long silence IA the class
| Well?" asked the teacher.
! It's ma. "-Philadelphia Press.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05

"Say, auntie, aren't the lamp-posts in
heaven near together?"-Chicago Jour-
nal
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-05-05

He-1 think she's a jewel.
She-She certainly is set in her ways
Brooklyn Eagle