davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21

artist? Ralph Paterson
Ralph Paterson-why l remember him
quite well. He painted very nicely
when he was a young man, before he
went to Paris or somewhere to gain
technique, or color, or something or
another he hadn't got. But whatever
he gained it was less than what he
the wretched things he called portraits,
and his sitters called libels-when he
came back. l have heard that he went
under, starved in a garnet. We all
thought he had died-Selena, too, for
she had a kind Of liking for him.
Selena was always like that, always
looking after the lame dogs. -"
The lame dogs! Ralph Paterson
turned and looked at the speaker, and
she surprised by his sudden uncon-
scious movement, stared back at him
a moment with some interest. She
said to herself: 81 wonder if he is the
author of some Of the atrocities l have
been criticising freely for the last half
hour? He looks decidedly wolfish."
She watched him with undisguised
amusement as he moved away, then
she turned to her companion: Il wish
you would find Selena she would like
to see this, I'm sure.-I believe she is
still in the first room"
This lame dog has done well for
himself, at any rate" she thought.
He has got good show for his work. "
Her restless eyes still raked the room
for the man who had looked at her so
keenly. His face is familiar" she
| said to herself 81 dare say he knew
me-" She began to move enterprising-
~ towards the doorway, where Ralph
| Paterson had come to pause, his dark
face standing high above the sea OF
/ men and women who drifted past MIN
He is a head above any Of them, -
she told herself with satisfaction. at
simplifies matters when you are look
ing for person In crowd like this.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
WHERE THE COWBOY SLEEPS.

dark, wet cash in the greening plain
The cowboys grave must be
Unmarked, alone, meath sun and rain,
Affair from waving fields of grain,
Where restless winds blow free
Away, away, DER leagues of sod
Cloud-shadows play and wind-fowers
nod.
Not sweeter doth the sailor sleep
On oceans farthest sands
Than the cowboy meath the level sweep
Of the sea-like reach of grasses deep,
On the prairie's virgin lands
In the dark, wet cash in the greening
plain,
Afar from the fields of waving grain.
-Leslie's Weekly.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21

had dwelt and been known since the Wars
of the Roses all this it was in Maude's
power to avert Why could she not mar
~ this man? He hard been brought up
gentleman, and mixed in the best society
in the county. If not quite her equal in
blood, be would repair the shattered for
tunes Of the family. Such matches were
made every day. The destiny of the plu-
tocracy was to strengthen the aristocracy.
Far be it from him to put any pressure
upon her, but it was his duty as a parent
to lay the whole case before her.
Calamity did Maude fight her battle,
and though at the end of this long inter-
view she stood with flushed and tear
stained checks to listen to her fathers
final exordium, she was still resolute in
her refusal.
But the struggle was too unequal. I'm
der the pressure put upon her by her hus-
band Mrs. Denison had not only made
Maude write a letter of remuneration to
Granville Rose. but had penned him very
severe philippe herself, in which she in
sisted that all correspondence should
cease between them. She had further,
under the threat of revealing everything
to Mr.. Denison, extorted promise from
Maude that she would write no more TO
her cousin. She knew her daughter well.
and felt implicit confidence that, her word
once pledged, troth would be kept.
l have described the first stage of the
attack. 1t is a common enough story,
as many woman could bear witness to-
as far as the general details go. Can
you not easily guess the result? She was
a high-spirited girl, and bore herself
bravely in the beginning; but cut off
from all communication with her lover
she gave way at last to the moral pres
sure brought to bear upon her, and, with
pale. cheeks and heavy eyes, whispered her
mother that they might do with her as
they liked; if she couldn't marry Gren,
she didn't care who it was"
Ito be continued.)
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW IN JAPAN
A Direct Cause of the Increase OF
Divorces In That Country.

A Direct Cause of the Increase of
Divorces In That Country.
There is no such thing as the moth
er-in-law joke in Japan. OF all the
serious things that the Emperor's sub
jects take with their characteristic Sc
robustness the mother-in-law is perhaps
one of the weightiest, says the New
York Sun
The relation between her and divorce
statistics In the island empire recently
published by imperial commissioners
shows how inapt would be joke about
ones wife's mother in Tokyo. Accord
ing to these statistics 65.516 DEGREES Of
divorce were granted by the courts last
year In Iwaie province the proportion
Of divorces to marriages for the year
was 26.3O per cent, the highest per-
centage in all the islands.
The commissioners themselves in a
commentary upon the increase Of di-
vorces in Japan give it as their opin-
ion that the rapid increase is due di
rectly to the growing frequency of
clashes between wives and their moth
ers-in-law. With the introduction Of
an educative system for girls and the
softening of the stringent social bonds
that used to keep watch in place of
obscurity has come the manifestation
of a new and rebellious spirit among
the women.
Since everything in Japan is the re-
verse Of conditions in occidental coun-
tries it is not to be wondered at that
If there is any pressure from the tabled
hard hand of the mOther-in-law it falls
upon the japanese wife and not the
husband. This is because of the very
fundamentals of japanese religion and
| family life.
Since the son must always be loyal
and obedient to his parents during their
| lifetime, no matter how ouerulous and
eXacting old age may make them, when
| he takes a wife that unfortunate wom-
an is more than her husband slave to
her husbands mother. From the days
when Shinto began to be the national
| faith of the Japanese filial affection
| ard obedience necessitated as a matter
of course that though the son might
marry his abode should be the abode
of his parents until their death unless
their consent to another arrangement
could be secured
This has meant that two and often
three generations occupy one house and
of all the occupants of one of these
communal houses the younger wives
are the least important. They remain
strictly accountable to their mothers
in-law until such time as death steps
in and makes them supreme.
Although in the larger cities the
western civilization has to great ex-
tent modified ancient custom, much of
the irksomeness of ancient restrictions
remains in the family life of the coun-
try people There it is that the clash
| between the new-found independence
of the women, found in schooling, and
the old scheme of dominant mother.
in-law has brought about the greatest
number of separations in families Of
the newer generation.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21

are that in the long the most pros
porous.
Cardinal Newman has painted the character Of the per-
gentleman:
He who never inficts pain He carefully avoids
whatever may jar jolt In the minds of those
with whom He is tender toward the baShfui
gentle toward the distant and mercful toward the alb
s,rd He makes light of favors while he does them and
seems receiving when he is comforting he never
speaks of himself except when compelled. He has no
ears for gossip He has too much good
TO be aronted by insult He is too clear-headed to
he unjust He as simple he is forcibe and brief
as he Is decisive Nowhere shall find greater candor
consideration, indulgence.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
CHAPTER XII.

Harold Denison touched his hat haught-
lily, and rode home; but the old usurer's
artful speech still simmered in his brain.
Why should it not be? 1t would cut the
tangled knot of his difficulties. He had
made INQUIRIES. Young Pearman had
been brought up a gentleman, and visited
in several good houses in the county. He
naturally a little exaggerated this to him
self, to Justify the course he intended to
pursue nay. for the matter of that, had
been pursuing for some days His wife
had told him that she had laid the Pear
man proposition before Maude. and that
the young lady had declined, with thanks !:
since which intelligence he had bullied
Mrs. Denison, and snubbed or treated his
daughter with cold Indifference. The heads
of the family can make contumacious
children conscious of their high displeas-
IRE without any unSeemly rating-indeed
that may be looked upon SIS mere mild and
salutary punishment compared to the 9th
er-that other which, &c speak metaphor
ically. consists in being condemned to the
domestic ice house. 1t is hard to describe
still there will be few of my readers
who. if they have had the good fortune
not to experience it, but must have seen
some culprit enduring that slow punish
ment-meted out more often, perhaps, to
daughters than sons. But don't We all
know it; the chilling rejoinder that meets
any attempt at geniality-the austere
look that seems to say it is heresy that
we should presume to forget the measure
of our offending-the moral thong always
awaiting US should we show any signs Of
relapsing into cheerfulness? Bah those
physical torturers of the middle ages were
mere bunglers at their craft
From this time poor Maude's life was
made heavy to bear. Harold Denison sent
for her TO his study. and himself put
Pearman's proposal before her. He en-
larged upon its advantages, and declared
that it was her duty TO save the property
TO her descendants: on her head it rest
ed whether the Denisons of Glinn should
cease TO exist, as Of course her future
husband must take her name. Fer HIM
| self, he cared not-he was an old man,
and it mattered little TO him. Any foreign
watering place was good enough for him
| to wear out his miserable life in. He
| deplored the follies of his youth. 1t
was sad that father should plead be-
| fore a daughter in this wise. He could
| bear anything but the thought that the
| Denisons of Glinn should be expunged
| from the roll of the county in which they
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
Unmade History.

The emancipation of-woman having
at length worked out to a logical and
symmetrical finish, the bride and her
best woman waited at the altar, while
the groom came up the aisle on the
arm of his mother, who gave him
away.
The groomsmen wore crepe de chine
and carried groom roses.
Three clergywomen assisted at the
ceremony.
The groom's father sat in the family
new. He was dressed in wine-colored
silk, with ropes of pearls.
The streets In the vicinity Of the
church were packed with mob o.
oniookers, mostly men and children
prompted thither by curiosity.-Puck
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
A BOYS WAY.

Harold was going to a party that
evening. As the weather was rather
doubtful his father gave him a half
dollar and told him to get a cab If it
rained when he came home.
1t did rain, and rained hard. When
Il thought l told you to get~a cab
if it rained," said his father.
And so I did," was the reply. II
had dandy ride, and came home on
top, beside the driver Philadelphia
Ledger.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
ISumus.

Most soils, even when very poor, as
a general thing, contain plenty of plant
food, except nitrogen, though some
times other elements are lacking. The
texture must be improved in order to
increase fertility, and plant food and
humus added. Tillage goes great
way towards improving texture, but
this alone is not enough. Humus must
be added. and in doing so plant food is
added. making the soil more permeaoie
to air and water.
Humus is supplied TO the soil, hrst,
by the addition Of stable manure and
this Is probably the best method, call
ing for more forage crops and more
stock second. by planting crops for the
purpose of turning them under (plow-
ing under green crops Is called green
msnuring) third, by growing clover
end timothy, which are usually left
down for several years, during which
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21

CHAPTER X.-(Contfnued. }

Grenvlle had made up his mind that he
was powcrless : but still. all the same,
Maude's letter must be answered. This,
again, was not so easy to do. When the
girl you are in love with appeals to you
tearfully to save her from being married
to somebody else, the obvious course
would seem to be to run away with her
yourself But, as George Eliot says,
Running away. especially when spoken
of as 'absconding,' seems, at a distance,
TO offer a good modern substitute for the
right of sanctuary; but seen closely, it is
often found inconvenient and scarcely
possible" So, though to emulate young
Lochinvar and bear off your fair Ellen
Of Netherby may seem the proper thing
to do on the first blush of such occasion,
yet, on mature reflection, 1t may prove
hardly feasible. Mrs. Lochinvar must be
clothed and fed, while the reiving and
rading by which that adventurous gallant
doubtless supported the lady of his love
would, in these days, be known by the pro-
sale term of robbery with violence" The
attention of Colonel Henderson and his
myrmidons, the grave consideration of his
countrymen, and an eloquent grafton,
rather to his disadvantage, by a criminal
court judge, would probably be the ter
mination of young Lochinvars career in
these days.
What is he to write? What is he to
sayf Can you not guess? OF course he
will sit down and do the very thing he
should not. He can't help, but he can
complicate her troubles Love is essen
TALLY selfish passion. Having no con-
ISOLATION to offer her, no assistance to rem
der her, he betakes himself to his desk
and pours forth his story of love and la
mentation. He exhorts her not to marry
Pearman, but gives her no hint of how
she is to combat the difficulties that sur
round her. He pours forth, in good, hon
est, genuine terms, the tale of his love !;
he dwells on the certainty of his having
a home ere long to offer her through his
own exertiOns, and winds up with a ire
mendous peroration about having loved
her from her cradle. He has done moth
ing of the kind. His love is a child of
something under a twelvemOnth's growth ;
and though l fear all lovers romance
fearfully, they thoroughly believe in their
PIGMENTS at the time. Then comes another
sheet of postscript about "can she love
him. he shall know no rest till he gets
her answer. And after it is all done
and posted, Granville Rose feels more I'M
easy than ever. He is not thinking so
much Of poor Maude's troubles as What
will she say to his declaration of love?
He racks his brain for every Grace of
favor she has shown him all the past
year. Sweet and cousinly she has been
ever, but no sign of love can he recall
Fool that l have been :" he mutters *
have been so careful not to give her u
hint of my feelings. l wish l had that
letter back. No, | don't | don't know,
in short" and the last fragment CON
tanned pretty well the gist of Grenville's
thoughts at present
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21

Many sorts of primitive improvement are perncious
war; exquisite sense of beauty, love OF medita
ton tendency to cultivate the force of the mind at
the expense of the of the body, help in their
spective degrees to make less warlke than they
would otherwise But these the virtues of other
ages first work of the first is to bind men TO-
geher strong bond of rough, coarse harsh Gus
tom And the ncessant conflict of nations effects this
in the best way.
Long ages of dreary monotony the first facts In
the history of communities but those ages were
not lost to mankind 1t then that formed the
comparatively gentle and gudable thing which we nov
call human nature.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
Clean PiSStyes.

sanitation Is becoming paramount In
live stock industry, as much of the loss
of live stock can be obviated by clean
illness. Feed yards should be changed
when hogs are fed on the ground as
the soil becomes saturated with filth
which breeds fatal diseases. Cities af-
h1cted with cholera have become i'm
mune to the epidemic of this fatal con-
tagion when thoroughly cleansed and
the water supply protected from sew
age. Members of the animal kingdom
should be carefully guarded by prop
er sanitation to prevent losses by dis
eases generated by filthy environments.
Hogs spend the greater part of the
winter in pigstyes, and too often their
cleanliness Is neglected. 1t is not I'M
common to see hogs standing three
inches deep In their own droppings
and from being constantly damp they
often contract rheumatism and other
diseases that destroy their growth.
While brick or cement floors are more
permanent they hold dampness longer
IMAM plank nOOrS ana are less cOmfOr-
table to hogs that are housed during
the winter.
Hogs have an innate sense of santa
ton, AND unless forced by overcrowd-
ing, will reserve a corner Of the pig
stye for sleep and rest which they will
keep dry and clean. In the construc-
ton of pigstyes the sleeping quarters
should be elevated above the feeding
floor and provided with plenty Of
stray for bedding Hogs are often
treated as If they werc naturally filthy
animals and sanitary arrangements I'M
necessary in the industry. Domesti-
Gated hogs thrive better when proper
provisions are made for their cleanli-
ness and cOmfOrt.-GoodalHs Farmer
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
The Power of a VIII.

Hojax-There goes Mrs. Jimjones
They say she married Jimjones to re-
form him and has succeeded by mere
force of will.
TomdiX-But she is such a frail
little thing. How did she manage it?
Hojax-By giving him to understand
that if he didn't brace up and do bet
ter she would will all her money to
charity.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
Hints for the Farmers Wife


When vegetables or meat boils dry,
set the vessel in which it is cooking
quickly into~a pan of cold water The
contents can then be easily removed,
leaving the burned parts in the vessel,
and the latter can be more readily
cleaned.
Wash oiicloth or linoleum in milk
and water to give gloss almost equal to
new.
Two tablespoonspoonfuls Of ammonia
in bucket two-thirds full Of cold
water and a soft mop will make the
kitchen floor white and save any
amount of backache
Cheesecloth or mosquito netting make
most excellent dishcloths, as they do
not absorb the grease Two should al
ways be kept, one for dishes, the other
for kettles. pots and pans.
few drops Of ammonia with brick
dust will remove all spots from steel
knives and forks.
Ammonia with whiting or silver gloss
will save half the labor in Frightening
silver and will not injure the silver.
In kneading bread cut often with
knife In order to allow the carbonlc
acid gas to escape, or, as is usually
said, ''to let the air out" This will
make the bread fine grained.
Flowers of sulphur scattered on cup
board shelves, or in any place infested
with red ants, will drive them away.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
Wtse In Their Habits.

Excuse me, ma am" said the DOCK
canvasser to the lady who had opened
the door in answer to his ring but II
you have a few moments to spare I'd
like to show you this great work on
the Habits Of Savage Animals
40 use wasting your time, young
man. replied the female. i've been
married three times and know all
about their habits"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
His First Cigar,

'Ah, my lad sighed the benevolent
old gentleman, cit certainly makes me
feel bad to see you smoking that vile
cigar
Den we can shake, mister" re-
sponded Tommy, making a wry face.
1T makes me feel bad, too,"-Chicago
News
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
A Natural Cross.

One of the most beautiful natural
rock carvings in the world is the
Southern Cross, on the Island of Grand
Manan, in the Bay of Fundy. 1t stands
at the head of a ledge of rocks jutting
into the bay from the foot of one of
the immense cliffs at the southern end
of the Grand Manan. Its shape is that
of an almost perfect cross.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
He Meant Rusiupss

Gladys-Tom made me feel foolish
when he proposed last night.
Evelyn-Got down ON his knees and
all that, / suppose?
Gladys-No, indeed. He went about
1t in such businesslike way that at
first / didn't know whether he wanted
me to be his wife or his confidential
nlarlr
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21

1t is in such atmosphere that PATRIOTS are
raised and noble qualities find favorable soil.
What elements in the home as it exists to-day can be
dispensed wh The departments sentenced to disappear
many.
The basement would be gone with its scullery, its
coal cellar and it's dust bin The pantry would be gone
with its redundant knives and forks napery and plate
The servants would disappear and greatest change
of all the troops of servants would be Upstairs
the dining room would be gone and the drawing
also All the spare bedrooms would be gone, and most
of the servants bedrooms. What, them would reman
Fathers sitting would be left. Mothers sitting
room would be And best of all, the children would
remain taking their right place in the house. the first
place each with private room always well warmed
and lighted and designed for rest meditation private
work places where young minds would have that space
leisure and solitude which induce true growth =
Women must move the public mind They must sit
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
Very Slight. Indeed.

Btnks (who has given Jinks cigar)
You'll find, old chap, that Is some
thing like a cigar.
Jinks (after few puffs BY Jove!
there is a slight resemblance. What
is lt?-Royal Magazine.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
Protection.

Mrs. Jawback-Why do you persist
In wearing your hat In the 'houseI
Don't Won know that such a habit
makes the hair fall out!
Mr.. Jawback-Maybe; but L prefer
that way of losing beforehand
Leader.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21
CHARACTER MAIN FACTOR IN SUCCESS.
Ry William, Fl

One of the most important lessons that ex-
perience teaches is that on the whole and In
the great majority of cases success in life de-
pends more on character than on either In
teIlect or fortune Temperance, industry, In
tegrity, frugality, self-reliance and self-te-
straint are the means by which the great
masses of men rise from penury to comfort
and if is the nations in which these qualities
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21

promptings which to the young head on the young
shoulders these later years especially, when SO
much of worlds work is in the hands of the young
man. it is more than devoving upon him TO get
line on many Of the worlds ways and means
are new-so many the worlds arts to be learned
in the scientific and chronological schoois-that the
young man must be both student and worker.
The young man DE too alert to the significance
all that he comes in touch with In the life OF the
outside world There phase of life which may not
Weld to him under observation something by which his
may be directed and shaped He cannot too
soon of Opportunity He cannot too quick
ly the nonessenals which would clog his prog