davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
THE GOD
BILL,IKIN
How a Chicago Idol
Came To Be
Born.

Some day you will see a queer idol
grinning at you from the top OF an
office 'esk or from some altar in
your lends den, or from the win
dow Of the arts and crafts shop.
You may or may not see ais crea-
tor, Miss Florence Pretz, a young
Chicago artist, but sher history is tied
up with that of the god Billikin IN
. way that proves his claim to being
a mascot. And, what is stranger,
whenever the friends Of Miss Pretz
took at him and then look at her
they declare that there is hint Of
family resemblance in the smile, and
they wonder If there is not some
strange, PARKWAY kinship between
them, in spirit at least.
HE IS the god Of things as they
ought to be-" said Miss Pretz, as she
set him up for her best girl friend
20 look at after moulding him out OF
clay and getting him cast in plaster.
There, smile for the lady, Billy"
Then the two friends began burning
incense before him and worshipping
MIN, and it was not long before he
began to prove his credentials as
mascot by bringing them good luck.
:. First the friend came to Chicago
a. a stenographer, bringing a plaster
edition OF Billy with her and setting
him up in her own little bachelor girl
fat. The next thing she knews her
small book OF poems, which she had
been writing and dreaming in girl
fashion, found a publisher-you may
know TIT is called the Book Of the
Singing Winds" Then, seeing her
own good luck, she had courage to
take the copy of her friends little
god BilIikin forth to publishers, ar
lists and other formidable people
anybody who would launch him in
Chicago.
With the god she took some Japa-
nese sketches that her friend had
made-but here the story must jump
back to the queer ideas which made
Miss Florence Pretz think Billy in
the first place-ideas from which
some of her friends who believe in
reincarnation declare that she must
have had an existence in an age and
country corresponding more nearly
with the style of the god and other
queer things that she does.
To spend Jour school days dream
ing OF things Japanese and have your
pencil run away with you, making
queer little sketches OF anything
and everything Oriental, all the
way from idols down to funny
little Japs, might in itself be a
bit uncanny in schoolgirl who
looked so much like a little Jap her
self that she only needed to do up
her own black hair in Japanese fash
Gou and slip on a kimono to imDerson-
ake the fiowery maidens TO perfec-
don.
You surely must have Jap or
some strange Orienta' man for an
Ancestor back somewhere, Florence
Prsta," said her little Kansas City
school friends.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
HoNORS ARE DIVIDED.
Different Cities Win Events ia Fire
mems Tournament.

Different Cities Win Events ia Fire
mems Tournament.
Lake Mills defeated Oregon at baseball,
II to 1. at the recent firemen's tournament
at Lake Mills The water fight was cali
ed off owing to a faulty hose. The hub
and hub hose race between Fort Akin
son and Portage was won by the former
in 81 seconds, prize $50. The hook and
ladder hub and hub final contest was won
by Horizon over Rice Lake in 81 seconds,
prize $50, and the contest between the
third and fourth teams was won by
Spring Green over Barron. In the single
mans coupling contest Zahn of Fort At
kinson won in 6 seconds over Ebert of
Portage in 81 seconds. In the fireman's
and assistant foreman's race Edward Mes
bit of Barron won in 1917 seconds. In
the championship relay bucket and ladder
climbing race Spring Green won in 90
seconds In the individual race r. L.
West of Barron won first. The chiefs
race was won by Spring Green.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
samuel de champuasn.


~ the burning log
He smek the breath OF pines That
b1ackly loom
On flaming compact o9 the sunset
clouds.
FIling the mountains, wferc white
winter shrouds
Dumb waters in a solitary gloom.
So dreamed he, and with spring his
fantasy
Was winged to see the unfettered
land rejoice,
Reused as a giant; to hear the
myriad voice.
A noise Of waters hurrying to the
sea,
The snow-fed torrents heavy plung
ing spray,
The duIler rumble where the ice
grew worn,
The swift continuous dropping all the
day,
The gurgle of the tundras. Many
morn
He heard the crash of hurting stalac-
ttte
Shivering to atoms; in the sharp sun
light
The first wild geese came honking
up the vale,
Again the Red Man called him, and
the trail,
Threading the labyrinthine forest
through
To the sudden lake. He saw through
city bars
slow-dipping paddles of the birch
canoe
Spill silver on the silver shining
stars
Reflected oversize. Still called the
wind,
Luring his further, further yet
again,
To pierce the serried ranges or to
find
The mystery Of the il1imitable plain.
Beneath the chestnut avenues at
There came a vision of white cold
moon
Above a dark and frowning cliff.
Thrice called
He came, he built his fort, his pail
SADIE,
Between the waters and that dark
cliff, walled,
And sowed nation where his bones
are laid.
wv. P. Osborne, In Montreal Univer-
sity Magazine.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
WISCONSIN STATE NEWS.
STORMS VISIT STATE.
Violent Attack of Tempest Does
Great Damage.

Violent Attack of Tempest Does
Great Damage.
A severe storm which swept over James
vile the other afternoon is believed to
have done 100000 worth of damage in
the neighborhOod. The storm struck a
funeral cortege at UtterAien Corners,
overturning a number of carriages. Sew
eral tobacco sheds were blown down. 1t
carried a windmill about quarter of a
mile, and spoiled fields wherever it stru TX.
Mrs. Matte Brown, superintendent of the
Sunday school at MELVILLE, was very bad
ly injured and is in a critical condition
as a result of being thrown from carry
all. The carryall contained about sixteen
persons, all of whom were badly shaken
up and bruised, but Mrs. Brown was the
only one injured seriously. Mrs Fay
Bund and three children, who were in a
buggy, were thrown out and the three chill
dren were badly cut and bruised and Mrs.
Bund was injured internally. The storm
was so intense that huge pieces of farm
machinery were torn and twisted to pieces.
A hog was caught in the path of the wind
and was carried a quarter of mile from
the pigsty and then was hurled with such
force that when it struck it was killed in
stantly and every bone in the body was
broken.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
TELL OF GREAT LAKE STORM.
MiTwaukeeans Toll for Hours to
Prevent Sinking of Yacht.

Mifwaukeeans Toll for Hours to
Prevent Sinking of Yacht.
The story of a terrible night in a
raging storm on Lake Michigan is related
by three men who arrived in Milwaukee
in a little forty-foot yacht, which had
made the trip from St. Joseph, Mich. The
men. were Manager Frank B. Winter, di-
rector in the Western Vaudeville Manag-
ers' Association; former Assistant City
Attorney William J. Zimmers and Michael
Zimmers. Mr.. Winter received word that
his yacht, recently ordered from st.
Joseph boat building concern, was COM
pleted. He decided to make the trip in
the yacht from the east shore TO Milwau-
kee Everything went well until squall
arose. The yacht then was in the middle
of the lake and mOnstrOus waves were
beating all over it. Things began to look
serious when the water crept into the cab
in, and while the pilot was keeping the
yacht steered right Mr.. Winter and the
brothers were busy bailing the boat. This
fight was kept up for hours, until the
storm subsidized
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
DRUGGISTS ELECT OFFICERS.
w. w. AIbers, Wausau, Heads Wis
cOnsin Pharmacists.

w. w. AIbers, Wausau, Heads Wis
cOnSim Pharmacists.
The Wisconsin Pharmaceutical ASsOcia-
ton elected the following officers Presi-
dent, w. w Albers. Wausau: vice presi-
dents, e. j. Suber of Fond du Lac, K. NJ.
Charlesworth of Kaukauna secretary, h.
B. Heimstreet, GAINESVILLE; treasurer, w.
p Clarke, Milton local secretary, W. II.
Barr, Milwaukee; State representative,
Robert Jackson, WauwatOsa delegate to
National Association of Retail Druggists,
Edward Williams, Madison. Thirty-five
new members were admitted. The next
annual meeting will again be held in Elk
hart. The Wisconsin Pharmaceutical
Travellers Association elected officers as
follows: President. J \. Maitland, Mil
waukee; vice presidents, Robert Jackson,
Milwaukee; c.. A. Herschild, Chicago,
John I. Malice, Madison; secretary and
treasurer, Charles Edwin Wilson, Wauwa-
tOSa.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
GOT DIVORCE AT LAST.
MamitOwOc Man Tried 1t Three
Times and Lost Out.

ManitOwOc Man Tried 1t Three
Times and Lost Out.
That old school adage eff at first you
don't succeed, try, try again" proved
winner for Oscar Mueller of Cleveland,
when, after four attempts, covering three
years, he secured a decree Of divorce in
Circuit Court in Manitowoc. Mueller is
an eye specialist and when he came to
Manitowoc three years ago, he applied
for divorce from his wife, who was still
at Cleveland The court refused to grant
the decree until satisfied that the woman
was given every chance to defend the suit
and on three occasions denied the appli-
cation. This time, however, Mueller sub
mitted evidence that his wife would not
contest and gained the decree.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
HIS CHARIOT ABLAZE.

Broom PeddIer Burns Load, and
Nearly Went Mad Over His Loss.
When Edward Potter rode in state
down the street in Fond du Lac in a car
riage, which was in a blaze with burning
brooms, he looked more distinguished than
the same Edwin Potter did, when he dis
covered his loss. Potter was inconsola-
bic, and tried madly to save his property.
But the brOoms-there were about 300 of
them in the lOad-were burned to ashes,
and so was the wagon. In fact the only
things that remained of the blazing chariot
and its total equipment were the horses,
Potter, and red-hot iron frame
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
JUMPS FROM CARRIAGE; KILLED
Mrs. n. B. Treat of Monroe Victim
of Accident at Madison.

of Accident at Madison.
While riding in closed carriage
through the State university grounds in
Madison, Mrs. Nathaniel B. Treat of
Monroe became frightened when the
horses got beyond the control of the driv-
er and jumped, fracturing her skull and
dying an hour afterward at the City
hospital Her husband, Captain n. B.
Treat, politician and banker, who also
jumped from the carriage, was severely,
though not fatally, injured. The couple
came to Madison the other morning, being
on their way from Monroe to River Falls,
where they intended to visit a married
daughter. Mrs Nellie Williams. Captain
Treat was a member of the lower house
Of the State Legislature from 1898 to
1898 and member of the State board
of control, which has supervision of the
State charitable and penal institutions
from 1898 to 1903.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
CON GAME SUCCEEDS.
Fond du Lac Girl Clerk Is Victim of
Smooth Stranger.

Miss Lena Gruetzmacher, a clerk at the
Fond du Lac store of the Singer Sewing
Machine Company, was made the victim
of a confidence game the other afternoon.
A young man entered the store and hand
ed Miss Gruetzmacher an envelope which
he said contained SO in paper money.
He asked her if she would give him $50
bill and said he would go and get the
other dollar. The young lady passed over
the money and after waiting for some
time opened the envelope to find that all
it contained was a blank piece Of paper.
The police have been unable to find any
clue to the stranger.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
PRELATE VISITS OLD HAUNTs.

Bishop Joseph KOudeIka, Cleveland,
o., Native of ReedsviIle.
Bishop Joseph KOudelka of Cleveland,
Ohio, who officiated at the dedication of
the new Catholic church at Reedsville
the other day, enjoys the distinction of be-
ing the only Bohemian bishop in the
United States. Bishop Koudelka is ma
tive of Reedsville and will remain in the
village for brief visit with Old-time
friends. He was a guest of Bishop Fox of
Green BAY
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
CUTTING STEEL.
With oxyhydroeen and With Pure
Oxygen.

The process of cutting metals by
stream of oxygen, patented by the
German Oxhydric Company, has
been employed with success in numer-
Gus establishments for several years.
The operation is performed by means
of a blowpipe with two nozzles, of
which the first delivers an ignited
Jet of mixed oxygen and hydrogen,
and the second stream of pure oxy-
gen. The pressure is regulated by
gauge attached to the oxygen tank.
The oxyhydrogen flame and the
stream of oxygen strike the same part
of metal, which after being heated by
the flame, is rapidly cut, or rather
burned, through by the oxygen, the
temperature being raised to 1900 TO
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
SHOOTS SELF IN PARK.
WauIxesha Man Commits Suicide
While Surrounded by Children.

While Surrounded by Children.
Michael J. Regain, aged Al, foreman Of
the bottling plant of the Bethesda Min
eral Spring Company, made a dramatic
suicide when he calmly seated himself on
a bench in the city park in Waukesha, di-
rectly beneath the east window of the
public library, and fired bullet into his
brain with a 32-caliber revolver in the
presence of several children who were
playing nearby. Regain has been subject
to spells of melancholia for some time,
and year ago spent several months at
local sanitarium. He had not been work
ing for several weeks, having secured
vacation. His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth
Regain of Waukesha, and sister, Mrs
Henry Stoeckel of Chicago, survive him.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
GRIEF KILLS MOTHER.
Parent of Paul Krause Dies After
Hearing OF Sons Arrest.

A tragedy in Appleton, which is alleg-
ed to have included murder, on which
charge Paul Krause is awaiting trial. has
led to another tragedy in far away Ger
many. where Krauses mother is reported
to have died of grief when she heard Of
her sons arrest. Krause, who is in the
Jail in Appleton waiting for trial on the
charge of Staying his wife. cabled his
mother for money Immediately after his
arrest. She sent him 1000 marks, but
the news of her sons arrest led to her
death.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
Fireboat Is Christened.

In the presence of over 800 guests, in
Guiding Mayor Busse of Chicago and 9th
er city officials of that city, the new steel
motor fire boat, Joseph Medill, manu-
featured for the Windy City, was launch
ed at the yards of the Manitowoc Dry
Docks Company. Little Helen Geer, aged
6, daughter of l.. e. Geer, secretary of
the company, christened the boat. The
second fireboat for Chicago will be chris
tened in few weeks.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
saloon Men on Carpet.

Twenty-four applicants for saloon Ii
censes are ordered to appear before the
council committee on licenses in Racine
and make personal application. Of the
III applications, % were granted without
discussion. While the others will proba-
bly, be granted, it will only be after the
committee has given instructions as to
strict obedience to the law.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
LocKTENDERs ARE Baking.
Fox River Government Employees
Refuse to Cease Work.

Fox River government employees
Refuse to Cease Work.
Twenty-Five of the twenty-three lock-
tenders who were engaged on June | to
help the regular tenders of locks along
the Fox river between Menasha and
Green Bay, refused to sign the release or
resignation papers which were presented
to them by a government representative.
The tenders claim that they are acting
in accordance with a letter received by
one of their number. Samuel Hendricks,
from the Office of Secretary of War
Wright, saying that a special act of Con-
gress authorized the hiring of the extra
lock tenders and that the action of the
official who asks their resignation is very
irregular.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
Hold for Fraud. Case.

Michael Coughtery was held for trial
ON the charge of perjury and aiding and
abetting illegal voting in the spring mu-
nicipal election in BelOit. The case was
sent to the municipal court at GAINESVILLE,
Judge Rosa expressing the belief that an
unprejudiced jury could not be found in
Belsit.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
crnrrh Sees Man Drown.

Theodore Ulezelski of Milwaukee, sol
der. was drowned at the upper end Of
Eake Pewaukee in the presence of large
number of people, who failed to give as
sistance. He stepped into boat from a
pier and was thrown out.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15

The number of ties purchased by the
steam and electric roads of this coun-
try during the year 1906 was 1O2.SS4,-
O4O. The demand OF the steam roads
amounted to 70 per cent. of the total.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
Rro,bers Drown at Racine.

A double drowning took place in the
river at Racine when John SEVERN, aged
IS years, and his brother Herman, aged
Is years. went beyond their depth while
bathing. 4 younger brother was rescued
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15

Brlgadier-General Barry, command
ing the Army of Cuban Paci1cation.
has been granted leave of absence for
one month, with permission to visi'
the United States.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
NEW ROAD PROPOSED.
Railway to Extend Between La Belle
and Sank City, About Forty Miles.

and Sank City, About Forty Miles.
There will be a new railroad in the
State. between La Belle and Sank City,
two points in Sank county about forty
miles apart. The road will run to Gaze
novia and the name of the company is
the Cazenovia and Sank City Railroad
Company. The capital stock is 100000.
This new road will connect point on
the Northwestern line with a distant
point on the st. Paul road. The incOr-
porators are Joseph Duren, Joseph Lem
kuehler and John Hanzlik, all of Gaze
novia. and W. f. Howe and w. W. Gill
man of BoscObel.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
SALARIES ARE RAISED.
Presidents of State NOrmaIs Are
Benefited.

Presidents of State NOrmaIs Arc
Benefited.
At meeting of the State normal re-
gents a resolution was passed which pro-
vides that the minimum salary Of presi-
dents Of normal schools, after they had
served five years, should be $500. The
change will affect this year w. ]. Brier
of the River Falls normal school and Al
bert Salisbury of the Whitewater normal.
A resolution was also passed raising the
salary of President Mckinney of the Mil
waukee normal school to $1,000. A de-
partment for the training of teachers in
the manual training course was estab-
lished at the Platteville normal school.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15
Aneh Man Kills Self.

James Moran, aged 80 years, commit
ted suicide by jumping into the Sheboygan
River after several previous unsuccessful
attempts
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-07-15

Some 100000 tons Of moss peat
are located in the bogs near Lake Tez-
COCO in Mexico.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-26
WHAT IT COSTS.
Expense of Running State Two and
Half Millions.

An Oklahoma Republican has written
to the state auditor to state that Gov
ernor Haskell of Oklahoma is making
political capital out of the statement
that 1t costs Republican Kansas $780,
600 year for current expenses and
Democratic Oklahoma only $1,000, 900 a
year.
The Oklahoma Republican wants to
know what there is to this proposition
and w. E. Davis assistant state audi
tor, had sent to him the following re-
ply:
L have your inquiry of August a.
relative to the amount required to pay
the running expenses of this state per
annum. and in reply will say that the
total amount expended from general
revenue for the maintenance of the diff
ferent state departments and institu-
tions for the fiscal year 1907 was So
503, S26.53 This includes all sums ex-
pended for the purchase of land cree
ton of buildings, and other improve
mentS OF a permanent character at the
different institutions. I do not have at
hand the amounts expended for these
purposes for the year, but it is safe to
approximate it at not less than one
fifth of the total expended.
THE total expended for the fiscal
year. 1908, was S3,21692034. This like
wise includes the amount expended
for the purchase of land, erection of
buildings, and other improvements of
a permanent character at the different
state institutions. There was expended
for these purposes for the year 1908.
1874 ,666.43, deducting this amount from
the total expended would leave not
quite S2,500,000 expended for the main
tenance of state departments and in
situations for the year. This expendi-
ture also includes the legislative ex-
penses for both the regular and spec
ial sessions. The total expended for
the year 1908 was in excess of the ex-
penditure of any previous year.
1T must be remembered that this
state maintains a number of large in
lstitutions which includes the state un-
iversity, state agricultural college and
it's auxiliaries, state normal school and
it's auxiliaries, nine charitable institu-
tions, and two penal institutions, be-
sides various departments that it is
hardly likely that new state like
yours has yet established
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-26
JOHN D. TO FUNNY men.
Rockefeller Sends a Letter to the
Press Humorists.

Denver, Aug. 26.-The following
letter from John D. Rockefeller was
read at today's session of the Press
Humorists convention:
Forest Hill, Cleveland, o., Aug 10.
Gentlemen: With the pleasant
memories of an official call by the
Ameriman Press Humorists, I send
you my best wishes for a successful
convention. The echoes at Forest Hill
still laugh, now and then, over the
quips sprinkled through our quiet at
mosphere by your members. My own
success In appropriating those jokes
of yours. and in passing them off as
my own has made me feel that I am
almost entitled to a union card In your
order. May you always be able to COL
lect for your witticism on the union
scale.
Speaking seriously as one should
to professional humorists, the rest of
the world owes you real gratitude and
the best of good wishes, gentlemen.
You are the true specialists in dys-
pepsia. Charity is born of good
hearty, honest laugh. 1t spreads a
kindlier feeling among mankind
wish you collectively and individually
all success. I am sorry that I can not
attend your sessions. hope to receive
you again. some day at my home.
"Fraternally yours,
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER
"The American Press Humorists, Dem
yer, Col"