davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

There's going to be a railroad up in Ice
land,
In Iceland.
And what a funny railroad It Will be!
l would never think Of Iceland as a nice
land,
A nice land.
For week ends at a cottage by the sea.
For the trains will very likely go on run
ners like a sleigh,
And they'll harness up the engine In a
jingle bells array.
At least. 1 cant imagine it in any other
In Iceland,
You won't need your thermometers IN Ice
In Iceland,
And You won't have any fretful Wis a vis !;
For up there In that anything but spice
But spice land,
The cars are always cold as they can o..
Oh, they'll have TO dig the sleepers out q
dozen times a day,
Or perhaps they'll tunnel through the great
big icebergs in the bay,
And that will be just bully till the ice
bergs move away,
In Iceland,
A Journey viii be jolly up in Iceland,
In Iceland,
The scen2ry's so wonderful TO see;
1t will seem like nothing short of para
disc land,
Paradise land,
As the open cars go whirling DER the lea.
They won't have any schedule so therell
never be delay,
The rates will be so low that almost any
one can pay,
For In that curious climate It is Christmas
every day,
In Iceland.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
CHRISTMAS IN DIXIE.
A Quaint Custom the Survival of
Slavery Days.

In some parts of the South, notably
Alabama, the observance of Christmas is
kept up after the manner of slavery days.
Two weeks before the festival brawny
colored men in the employ of the planta-
ton owner search out a timber tract, fell
the tree of greatest size, cut off the trunk
where the circumference is greatest, big
enough to admit of it filling the space of
the open hearth, fasten heavy chains to it
by driving in spikes, haul it to the near
est river or pond, sink it and anchor it
we'll below the surface. On Christmas eve
it is drawn UP, taken to the owners man
sion and in the presence of his family,
relatives and friends the dripping log is
placed on a roaring fire in the hearth. To
reduc the water-Soaked wood to ashes
is a slow process and sometimes a week
elapses before this is accomplished. In
the meantime the plantation darkies do
not work while the incineration is in pro,
gress. On Christmas eve the hostess
serves the company with eggnog and she
supplies them with eatables while the log
~sizales in the fire place. The banjo and
guitar are brought into play and the old
melodies are sung and jigs an1 other
dances are gone through with zest. The
white folks take a hand in the fun max
ing, too, and with song and story make
the colored folks happy. At some of these
gatherings 800 persons take part, the old.
capacious mansion giving ample room for
oil
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

ftfully, but the silence Of the vigil was
unbroken. John Thorne raised his head
and looked at Margaret as she lay with
closed eyes. Her white, suffering face
touched his heart. How much older she
looked. 1t was only four years since she
had stood a bride of nineteen and given
herself to him. Why, could it be only
four years? 1t seemed like an eternity.
The breath comes slowly. The little
hands are very still, and yet, o baby
fingers, through the solemn watches of
this night, thou'rt gathering up the tan
gled, broken threads of these two lives,
and with a touch no other hand might
use, art weaving them together, deity,
surely, with h~eaven-sent skill
There was a slight stir. The mother
and father felt a culver pass through the
little form. With startled faces they bent
over her. There was a gasp, a sudden
throwing up of the little hands-then all
was still.
In an instant his arms were around her,
her head On his breast.
Margaret, my wife"
80 John. John !" she said.
The clock struck twelve. A New Year
had dawned.
In the twilight of a summer day a man
and woman stand beside a little grave.
There is an air of subdued sadness about
them that tells to whom the little mound
belongs, and yet when they speak it is
hopefully and cheerfully. 1t is a tiny
grave-"only a baby a stranger would
say-but we who have stood beside such
know that love and grief are not measured
by feet and inches.
The glory of the setting sun fills the
place. 1t lights up the faces of father
and mother as they lay, with loving
hands, forget-me-nots upon the green turf,
and then, hand in hand, 90 forth. A stray
sunbeam falls across the white stone. We
stoop to read the inscription. 1t is a very
simple one:
BABY BETH.
AGED THREE.
"And a little child shall lead them"
The Housewife.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
Killed. Injured.
Cdlifornia
WHEAT ACREAGE INCREASES.
Government Report Indicates Gain
Over Last Nenr,s Aren.

Government Report Indicates Gain
Over Last Years Area.
The Department of Agriculture finds,
from the reports of its correspondents
and agents, in conjunction with informa-
ton derived from other sources, that the
estimate made last December of the area
sOwn to winter wheat in 1905 should
have indicated 3~1,312,000 acres instead
of 31,341, 900 acres; also that last De-
cember's estimate of the area sown to
winter rye in 1905 should have indicated
100000 acres instead of 1,129,000 acres.
The corrected figures are used as bases
in computing the area sown to each crop
this fall.
The newly seeded area of winter wheat
is estimated as IL per cent greater than
the area sown in the fall of 1905, equiv
alent to an increase of $4,000 acres and
a total acreage of 81, 665,000. The con-
dition of winter wheat on Dec. l was
OIL, as compared with Oh on Dec. /,
1868, $40 at the corresponding date in
800 and a nine-year average of 92.9.
The following table shows for each of
the principal States the percentage of
acreage sown to winter wheat this fall,
the average condition on Dec. 1 and the
mean of the December averages for nine
years:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
Some Christmas History,

In 1905 the terms of peace between
France and Austria were argued and
agreed to on Christmas. In these Aus
tria was forced to make several large
gifts of territory to France, and Italy
to acknowledge Napoleon as king Of
Italy.
The United States forces began their
withdrawal from Charleston. S. c., to
Fort Sumter on Christmas, 1860.
Under duress from the powers, Tur-
key, on Christmas, 1876, gave out a
new constitution for the whole Ottoman
empire, which granted Christians equal
rights with MOhammedans-a decree, by
the way, which the Sultan began cheer
fully to disobey as soon as the duress
was removed.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
HUNTING SEASONS DEAD.
Record shows Seventy-four Persons
Were Killed During Year

Seventy-four deaths and seventy per-
sons injured. some of them so seriously
that death may result, is the record of
fatalities for the hunting season through
Out the country. Northern Michigan and
Wisconsin went ahead of the record for
last year in deaths, twenty-eight being
reported this season, against twenty-six
Tor the previous one, but in the number
ol persons injured this years record falls
tar below that of the previous one. hav-
ing only twenty serious accidents which
did not result in death. The larger part
Of the deaths were the result of acct
dental discharges of shotguns, many of
them occurring while the owners were
cleaning the weapons. In many of these
cases the victims were children. Many
OF the deaths were those of boys who
were hunting. and the mistaken for deer
reason accounted for a large number of
others.
Michigan leads the list in the number
OF dead and injured. with Wisconsin a
close second. the former having fifteen
deaths and the latter thirteen. Illinois
had a total Of eight deaths, three of the
victims being Chicasoans, but there was
hot a large number of persons injured.
Following is the list of killed and in
5rred by States:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
ri for Mncaronf Wheat.

When in the '10s Russian settlers in
western Kansas had introduced the so
called turkey hard winter wheat It
was found to be a good producer, u
there seemed to be no market for 1t.
Gradually the millers adapted their
machinery to its use and found it eX-
cellent. This experience is repeated in
the case of the more recently introduced
durum or macaroni wheat, which is
better adapted to a dry climate than
any other wheat yet introduced. Farm
ers have been anxious about the market,
but an investigation recently made by
Prof. w. II. DIN, ~agronOmist of the
Colorado Agricultural College shows
that there need be no further misgiv-
ings about selling this wheat. Prof.
Olin his replies from Kansas City,
Omaha, st. Louis, Cincinnati, Chicago
and Minneapolis which show ready
markets in all these places for durum
wheat. The export demand is strong,
but the time should oOn come when
American manufacturers of macaroni
will purchase and use the American
product of this wheat at least to the
extent of supplying the American de-
mand for macaroni.-Kansas Farmer.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
Farming Is Changing as "a Great
Industry.


Industry.
There is not in America any man
who is more familiar With agriculture
as a business than Professor l.. II.
Bailey, who, for years, has been at tue
head of the Cornell Agricultural Col
lege. and has contributed much to the
farmers sum of farm knowledge Writ
ing in the Century, Professor Bailey
says:
The character of farming is chang
ing rapidly. 1t is coming more and
more to be an efficient, profitable and
attractive business. With here and
there an exception, in the past we have
not given much consecutive thought to
the Misunderstanding like as much as
the merchant gives to his business or
the doctor to his. 1t has been 50
"easv" a business that unframed men
could succeed in it. The change IN
economic and social conditions IS
breaking up the tradition. Farming
is becoming more difficult, and the old
methods must go. In the future only
the well-infCrmed and efficient-thinking
man can succeed; that is, only the edu-
Gated man.
The country is to offer other advan-
tages to the educated man than merely
to be a good farmer There are good
opportunities for leadership on public
ouestions-probably better opportunity
and with less competition than in the
great cities. The very fact that city
representation is increasing i'll the leg
i~slatures should make the able country
representative more of q marked man.
The growth of the institute movement,
of the grange and other rural Organi-
cations, gives fresh opportunity to de-
velop leadership Of a high order.
If seems TO me that by the very ma
t1re of the progress we are making,
the college man must go to the farm.
Tn fact. college men have been going
hack from the beginning Of the agricul-
turaI education movement Statistics
show that a very large percentage
| actually have returned to farming, and
this in spite Of the fact that cities have
been growing with marvellous rapidly,
and that the whole system of agricul-
tural colleges and experiment stations
has been developing and calling for
men. Considering the limitations IN
der which the agricultural colleges
have developed, without sympathy,
with the Indifference and sometimes
the opposition of educators-the very
men who should have known better
with wholly inadequate funds, it is
little less than marvellous what they
have accomplished within a generation.
1t is probable that the proportion. of
| students of the leading agricultural col
leges who now engage in agricultural
p~ursuits is greater than that of stu
dents of colleges of law or Of other pro-
fessional colleges who follow their chos-
en- profession. No one now questions
the value of education to a lawyer or
physician; why question its value to a
farmer? The educated man will go
back to the farm if he is cited to be a
farmer.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
Strange Origin of Christmas

Most of us know that the Christmas
tree comes to US direct from Germany.
And we know of the tree worship of the
Druids which obtained in England and
France, and which probably had some in
fuence on the later use of the tree in the
Christian festival. But we do not all
know that a similar festival with the tree
as a browning feature is observed among
many heather nations, and that it comes
from sur worship, which is older than his
tory. The revival of the sun after the
winter ~solstice has ever been the subject
of rejoicing and of celebration by cere-
monies which represent the new light
brought back to the world. Our tree,
with its small candles, its gilded knick-
nacks and toys for the children, is a di-
rect descendant of this old festival in
honor of the sun
Traces of it exist in Iceland, where the
service tree" is found adorned with burn
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
uakiur Paint with skim MIX.

Stir into a gallon Of milk about three
mounds of Portland cement and add
sufficient Venetian red paint powder
to impart a good color. Any other col
ored paint powder may as well re
used. The skim milk will hold the
paint. in suspension, but the cement,
being heavy, will sink to the bottom, so
that It becomes necessary TO keep the
mixture well stirred with a paddle.
Mix only enough at a time for one
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

which are often found in punches of
three, were to them a divine symbol. The
carrying about of "the wren BUSH in
Ireland may be traced to the same
sources, as the wren was a sacred bird
with the Druids. Most remarkable of
all is the fact that the time of their
chief celebration was at the winter sol
stice. which is practically Identical with
Dec. %, our Christmas day.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
Aids Against Asparagus Pest.

Kindly insects help in the destruc-
ton of the asparagus pest. The lady
bug, some snake-feeders, or dragon
flies and wasps and the spined and
bOrdered soldierbug-all these eat the
larvae of this beetle. Ducks and chick
ems are fond of them air-slacked lime
busted on the dew-wet leaves destroys
the pest; OF the ends of the branches
where they ~congregate may be cut and
burned. The same remedies hold good
place of hiding is in the berry, so these
should be cut and burned as fast as
theY form.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

It is not generally known how many
of our Christmas customs are almost
Identical with those of the Druids in
early England. For example, the Yule
log is said to have come from the wheel
log, symbolizing the march of the sur.
Then the mistletoe was a sacred bush
among the Druids. They had a trinity
of their own, and the white berries.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
Curious Custom of oxferdshire.

In some places in Oxfordshire, Eng
land. it was the right of every maid ser
want to ask the hired man for a bit of
ivy to trim the house. If he turned a
deaf ear to her opportunities or forgot
her request she would steal a pair of his
breeches and nail them to the gate in the
ward or on the highway. This was sup
posed to debar him from all privileges of
the mistletoe.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
Easy to Be Happy.

Mrs. Nexdoor-Aren't you always
worried half to death when it comes to
buying a Christmas present for your
husband?
Mrs. Sunshine-Mr, no! 1 buy my
husband something l want for myself,
and he buys me something he wants for
himself. and then we trade.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
Plum

One pound Of grated bread. one and
a quarter pounds Of grated suet, one
pound of ~raisins, one pound of brown
sugar, twelve eggs, well beaten; two
wineglasEfuls of brandy, one-quarter
pound of citron, cut fine. Mix all these
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

A Western man has discovered that
his poultry does much better when pro
vided a bed spring on which to roost.
He says they rest better and thus are
made more profitable.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

1t certainly looks like a wasteful
practice to buck away the straw at
thrashing time and burn it. There are
SO many uses to which straw a be
put that it does not look right to see
it burned.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
Acreage com
pared with c

If the foregoing initial report of the
area and condition of the winter wheat
crop is maintained to harvest the yield
will be about SOC, 64O,000 bushels. The
December, 1905, winter wheat promise
was 499,000,000 bushels, or less than
100000 bushels less thar that indicated
in the present report.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

the night before. In the morning be-
fore putting it in the cloth stir two ta-
blespoonfuls of wheat -four, peat the
cloth and sprinkle with -four. Tie tight
ly and boil four hours. Put a plate turn
ed on the under part in the pot under
the pudding, add cinnamon and nutmeg
if liked.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

4 good mixture of seed for moving.
to be followed by pasturage, according
to 4 Pennsylvania correspondent, is six
quarts of timothy, sown with wheat,
followed in the spring, without plow-
ing. with a mixture of four quarts red
clover, two quarts alsike, four quarts
redtop. The ~clovers, he says, will hold
two years and the other grasses will
take their place.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
LET'S KEEP SANTA CLAUS.
Memory of H1ppy Days of Long Ago
Protects st. Nick.

HE memory of
happy days long
ago should ever
protect t a
Claus. When your
boy looks you
~squarely in the
eye and says:
Papa, Clarence
McGufy S d
there isn't any
Santa Claus and
/ punched him,
for | know there
isl what are you
going TO do? For
give the blow and
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
I;,.ed tbe Old Way Best.

"Pa. I've wrote Sanity Claus a mother
letter."
What about, Georgie?'
II tole him ne mustn't come in a auto
mobile: l want him TO come in a sleigh"
Detroit Free Press.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
Tommy Got One.

Tommy Con Christmas morning.
Where does Santa Claus get all his stuff.
mamma?
Mamma-Oh. he buys it.
Tommy-Well, he must be a jay to let
anyone palm off a tin watch on him =
Town Topics.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

1t is always an indication of a dry
spell or the neglect Of somebody when
the pump handle sticks up, pointing
obliquely at the sky. 1t makes one
weary to look at a pump in this predic-
ament.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

The lima bean has been an impor-
tant article of food with US for many
years. At the present time thousands
of acres are devoted to its culture,
where rainfall is scanty.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

There are several ways of planting
strawberries. They are sometimes
crow. in hills. In this case the plants
are set about two feet apart in rows
four feet apart, and all the runners are
cut off and the full strength forced in
to the single plant.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

While d%airying has its disadvan-
tages, it has this great advantage, that
it enables the farmer to utilize to an
unusual extent the cheaper labor on
the farm, and to make the most pos
sible out of a small tract of land.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

"What makes your father look so blue
to-night?"
"S-s-sh! Somebody thoughtlessly
mentioned the fact that Christmas is com-
ing."-Chicago Post
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

In Germany, where an elaborate mill
tary system controls everything, every
horse is available for the service of the
country in the event of war. Every
foal is registered and may be taken
away at any time by order of the gov
eminent, at a fixed price made by a
committee appointed for that purpose.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

This Is the age of the handy man
the man who applies his thoughts to
make things himself rather than to
hire them made. He is not only doing
these, but he has his eyes open to note
what others are doing so he a apply
their best ideas to his own needs.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

Even a small dairy often means in
creased fertility on the farm. With
most cows the profit comes out of the
first six months of the milking period.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

One Of the remedies for low prices is
to endeavor to make each acre of
land double itself in production. AS
many as sixty bushels of wheat have
been grown on one acre, as an expert
ment. yet some farmers who secure
twenty bushels per acre are satisfied.
is always room at the top" in
farming, as in every other occupation.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
The Old Year.

The white dawn glimmered and he said,
"'Tis day."
The east was r~eddening and he sighed,
Farewell
The herald sun came forth and he was
dead.
Life was all in his veins, but yestermorn,
And rudy health seemed laughing on his
lips;
Now he is dust, and will not breathe again!
Give him a place to lay his regal head.
Give him a tomb beside his brothers gone.
Give him a tablet for his deeds and name.
Hear the new voice that claims the vacant
throne,
Take the new hand outstretched to meet
thy kiss,
But give the past-'tis all thou canst-thy
tearsf
james T. Fields.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
N9I0X5ySNtZzRz@IHz;;:az@&
L. $500 IN ny E@z=ss-@N

paint will be as immovable and unaf-
fected by water as a ~month-old paint.
Cases are on record of this sort OF
paint being III good condition after
twenty years, and it has preserved the
wood admirably. The addition Of car
bolic acid or some other disinfectant
makes it very suitable for dairy work,
as it then has a cleansing effect.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

A seven-foot mower is a fit compan-
ion TO the hay loader, as it is just the
width required so the loader can take
up a swath at a time.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20

A cheap scrub is the dearest animal
on a farm. 1t may be dear in two
ways.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
His Plant.

The Christmas cynic's here again
To i~rritate the soul.
He saws that he gets neckties when
He needs a ton of coal
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-20
Wherever clover is grown lime gives

Wherever clover is grown lime gives
excellent results on the land, not only
On account of its chemical action on the
soil, but also because it enters very
largely into the composition of plants
md is frequently deficient in some soils.
Sulphate of lime (land plaster) on
heavy soils is a special fertilizer for
clover, and may be applied in the
spring of the second year.