davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
HIGH CLIMBING.
Experience of SteepIejack In the
Air with Maniac

Experience of SteepIejack In the
Air with n Maniac.
Steeplejacks often find themselves in
tight places while exercising their
per1lous profession. Joseph Smith, IA
nous throughout England as the
Lancashire Steeple Jack" and whose
business is so prosperous that he trav-
els about the country in a private car.
told an Inter Ocean writer the fol-
lowing exciting episode in his ca
reer:
He and his mate were engaged at
200 feet In height, when his mate sud-
denly went raving mad and tried to
commit suicide by leaping over the
top. AS the mailman went over Smith
caught him by the ankle, and notwith-
standing the maniac's plunging and
kicking, Smith held bravely on.
Leaning over the platform, he en-
| deaVored with his disengaged hand
to reach the belt which all steeple-
jacks wear around their waist, but he
l.
crowd who had assembled saw the
struggling body slowly, by sheer
strength, raised till the belt came
within reach. The mailman, finding
his efforts at self-destruction being
thwarted, turned on his preserver and
bit his thumb to the bone.
He was, however, despite his strug-
giles, drawn upon the platform, and
then began another terrible struggle.
Many were the conjectures among the
crowd as to the meaning of the fear
full scene at the top of the chimney,
one individual, who seed 1t aw," as
sorting positively that they've been
wrestling and feighting, and Smith
threw t'other, who went DER tn edge
O. t. stage"
Suddenly Smith raises his hand and
delivers a blow with the hammer on
| the head of the man ne has just lifted
| out of the reach of death! There is
no more struggling. The man has
quite enough now!
The crowd looked at one another in
| amazement, wondering what it all
means Nit as we'll ave dropt i'm
| to t. foot of t. chimney as knock is
brains out wi a 'ommer," says one
man grimly Smith is standing up
working at his ropes. He kneels down
and In a few minutes the head and
shoulders of his companion are hang
| ing over the edge of the stage, Smith
having attached a rope to him. The
next moment he pushes him off and
| slowly lowers him to the ground
There is a rush to the foot of the
chimney. He's dead!" passes through
| the crowd. A doctor is soon in attend
ance. Smith descends rapidly to the
ground with a smile on his face, actu-
ally laughing. How is he, doctor?"
he asks. He's very bad" is the reply,
L don't think, however, the blow has
done more than stop his struggles.
| He's still in the fit"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20

Complete skepticism as to the exist
ence of canals on Mars was displayed
| by prominent astronomers at the meet
ing at London of the British Astro-
nomical Association. HaIes Mount
Wilson photographs were exhibited on
lantern slides, and were pronounced
the best yet seen.
Prof. Hergezell, aviator and friend
CT Zeppelin, who was sent by Emperor
| William to Jamaica to study trade
winds and the temperature of alti-
tudes in and near the tropics, reports
that at an altitude of 10000 meters he
found the air of the tropics colder than
that of the Arctic regions at the same
| height. Of nine balloons sent up with
instruments for these tests, four were
lost in the Caribbean Sea. The profes
sor 1ntimated that he would make an
air test for an expedition to the north
pole two years hence.
The recent tests conducted by the
scout cruisers Birmingham and Salem
OF long-distance wireless telegraph
| ~ oCCl1 WCIC PRONOUNCED HOI conclusive
and will be repeated in the near flu
| ture. The scouts cruised about 1000
miles apart, and the same distance
from the high-power station at Brant
Rock, Mass There was a bad storm,
and the system worked only intermit-
tently, whereas the requirement of the
Navy Department is that communica-
ton must be maintained during all
conditions of wind and sea- If this
system proves up in subsequent trials
at 1000 and 5000 miles, it will be in
stalled on all naval vessels.
Nikola Tesla, who has been at work
on a wireless light for twenty years,
at last announces that he has invent
ed something which actually works.
He says: at would be possible by my
wireless transmitter Of great power to
light the whole United States The
current would pass into the air, and
travelling in all directions would pro-
duce the effect of strong aurora bo-
reals. / would like nothing better
than to undertake to light New York
harbOr for say 100 miles around. There
would be great economy in produc:
ton, as there would be nothing about
the lamps to give out" Tesla has a
plant in process of construction on
Long Island and says he will be ready
soon to make a public demonstration.
DR.. Jonnesco, of Bucharest, the sto-
vain expert, in replying to criticisms
that had been published during his alb
sence in the West, on his return to
New York got back at the American
doctors by calling them slow and away
behind the times. He criticised the
operating tables used in American OPP
Grating rooms as being uncomfortable
to the patient and inconvenient to Cnc
operator He said he was surprised to
see American doctors still using anti
septic surgery, which, he said, they
had put aside long ago in fayor~of
aseptic methods. He also criticised the
instruments used here, and regretted
his lack of the English language il
trying to direct operations. Forty
minutes he considered the longest time
required for any operation, while here
they seemed to think that short time.
Our doctors were slow, though our hos.
pitfalls were of the best
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
THE DECADES FARM EXPORTS.
Cotton Alone Shows So, 651 900, 900
in ShinmentS tn Foraicrn T,an5C

Cotton Alone Shows $3,651 100000
in Shipments to Foreign Lands.
Nine billion dollars worth of agri.
cultural products have been exported
from the United States during the last
ten years, those exported in the fiscal
year 1909 having alone amounted 70
practically $900,OOO,OOO, against less
than 100000 in 1899.
The above statement summarizes the
results of a special compilation made
by the Bureau of Statistics of the De
partment of Commerce and Labor
showing the exports of the principal
products of agricultural origin in the
period from 1899 to 1909. The exports
of agricultural products as a whole
have increased from $7S5, 900 900 in
1899, to 1898, 10000 in 1909, the high
est record having been made in 1907.
when the total exceeded S1,000,0O0 900,
or, to be exact, S1,049, 100000
While the general agricultural group
thus shows gain of over 100000, 900
during the decade under review, 1t
must not be understood that the
growth applies to all or even a large
share of the important items. On the
contrary, most of the staple farm prod
ucts used for food, such as breadstuffs,
meats and live cattle, show decreased
expectations during the period, the
loss in that line of articles having been
more than offset by the great increase
in cotton and certain comparatively
new industries whose chief develop
ment has occurred in the last few
years, notably cottonseed oil, corn oil,
oil cake and oil cakemeal, oleomargar-
Inc, lard compounds, sugar and molas-
ses, fruits and nuts, ETC.
Cotton, the largest item in the agri-
cultural group, shows total exporta-
ton in the last ten years amounting
to 1851 100000, it's annual exports
having increased from S210000,000 in
1899, to $481, 100000 in 1907 and $417,-
100000 in 1909 This increased expor-
tation is due, in some degree, how
ever, to higher prices prevailing in
more recent years. In 1899 the aver
age export price of upland cotton was
Sc cents per pound; in 1909, 94 cents
Europe took fully 25,O00,00O worth
Of American tobacco, out of total ex-
port in the fiscal year 1909 of $751;
300, 900.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
CLAIM FOR THE CLASSICS.

Teachers See Their Efficacy az
Preparation for Leaders of Men.
Views CT leading headmasters print
ed in the Daily Mail in the last few
days are sufficiently unanimous to sug-
gest that movement which might al
most be termed classical renais-
sance" now accompanies the strong
tendency in favor of technical, COM
mercial and modern systems of educa-
ton.
Oscar Browning says, according to
the London Daily Mail: 81 am a firm
believer in classical education. What
ever may be urged against it, no rival
system has yet been invented which
can surpass it. Modern languages and
history are admirable studies, but a
well-trained classic is better prepared
for dealing with them than any one
else. l am well acquainted with
French, German and Italian, but | owe
my proficiency in these languages to
my classical training Sir Henry
Maine, one Of the greatest publieists
of our age, was a first-rate classical
scholar; so is Goodwin Smith.
The Greek language is the most
perfect expression of the subtlest
thought and emotion of the most gift
ed nation of whom we have any knowl-
edge. The study, even the temporary
and superficial study, of it leaves an
indelible impression 1t is the deep
breathing of the mind. He who
knows most of Greek will know most
of everything.
The study of Cicero, Livy and Taci-
tus at Elton has had a profound effect
on English history They inculcate
the dignity and Importance of human
affairs, the recognition of which is the
first qualification for leader of men,
These studies produced the Ciceronian
statesmen of the eighteenth century,
whose busts decorate the upper school
at Elton and to whom our country
owes so much.
Science is not an education and
never can be; mathematics is not an
education and never was. The only
GuuCdL1Ou WOIIuy Ol Iu6 name Is liter
allure, and literary education to be
sound, solid and enduring must be
founded upon the classical languages
and especially ON Greek"
DR.. Gray of Bradfield College depre-
Gates the existence of two opposing
systems of education for youths up to
seventeen and eighteen. The alleged
fact that a greater capacity for &C
curing general knowledge is to be
found among classical Students" he
says, docs not in itself form a proof
that classical studies are the best
mental gymnastics. 1t must be re-
membered that by far the greatest and
most valuable academical prizes have
been allocated to this particular
sphere of learning, and to quote from
my recent inaugural address at Winni-
peg, just as where the carcass is, there
will the eagles be gathered together
so where the emoluments have been
thither do the cleverest students con-
centrate their intellectual force"
DR.. Gray advocates a grand trunk
system of education, in which one
dead language, one modern language,
history, geography, mathematics, En-
glish literature, natural science and
manual training should all gain a pro-
portionate place.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
CHAPTER ".

Evidently there was an understand
ing between these two strange crea-
lures, and thereby an occult connec-
ton with the ideas and doings of DR.
Etwald. What the trio were plotting
against Isabella and her lover remains
to be seen; but it can be guessed cas-
lily that the message of the devil-stick
carried by Battersea to Dido was OF
some significance.
Battersea himself knew nothing OF
its esoteric meaning, but to the ne
gress the mention of the emblem con-
veyed distinct understanding. She
let her arms fall listlessIy by her side
and. with an unseeing gaze she stared
at the green trees bathed in hot sun
shine. After a moment or so, she NUT
tered to herself in negro jargon. and
clenched her hands.
fBaali the wand of sleep! the bring
er of DEATH"
What are you saying, Dido?" asked
Batrersea, his feeble intellect scared
by the fierce gestures and the unknown
tongue.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
The Island of Nicl<e1s and Dimes.

The Island of NicSeIs and Dimes.
This past summer seven to eight
million people made twenty million
trips to Coney Island. They spent
there forty-five million dollars, mostly
in nickels and dimes, and the total
sum was three times what the nation
paid to Napoleon for Louisiana, or six
times what we paid Russia for Alaska.
There are in Coney Island peanut
stands, the size of a broad top desk,
which rent for fifteen hundred dollars
a season. The men who sell frank
furters" pay enormous sums for the
right to stand where they do, and get
their money back in the nickels of
the twenty millions.
On weekdays the attendance is
large, but on Sundays and holidays
it rises to a point where each visitor
has room only to be happy standing
still. On the Fourth of July four
hundred thousand people crowded into
the little island, bathed, shot the
chutes, were photographed and ate
"red-hots." 1t was believed then that
Coney would not hold a single addi-
tional visitor, but on August 18th a
new hundred thousand came, making
half a million in one day
It is a wonderful business-this
Coney IsIand-but very risky one.
The nine hundred million nickels de-
pend upon the weather. When the
mercury drops, profits fall to nothing.
If q plague should break out and the
island be quarantined, boats would
stop running and the people would
stay in their city homes. The Coney
Island farmer must harvest his crop
of nickels while the sun shines.-Suc-
cess Magazine
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
$1,000 So

rather. squeezing, the handle. 'I tight
en- my grip upon this, and the sting
Of the serpent shows itself" Where
upon EtwaId glanced at the end of the
wood and saw a tiny needle of iron
push itself out. When Jen relaxed his
pressure on the gold handle, this iron
tongue slipped back and disappeared
entirely.
"I got this at Kumassie," explained
Jen, when he had fully exhibited the
gruesome mechanism Of the stick. 1T
belonged to the high priest. Whenever
he or the king disliked any man, who
was too powerful to be openly slain,
they used this wand. What excuse they
made I don't know, but I suppose 1t
had something TO do with fetish-wor-
ship. However, the slightest touch Of
| this needle produces DEATH"
1T Is poisoned at the tip?"
Not exactly The needle within is
hollow, and a store Of poison is con-
tanned in the handle up here. When
squeezed these turquoise stones press
bag within, and the poison runs
down to the point of the needle In
fact, the whole Internal contrivance is
modelled upon a serpent's fang"
But it is quite harmless now" said
David, as Jen replaced the wand In It's
old place on the wall, else you
wouldn't have it there"
We'll, no doubt the poison has dried
up" said Jen, with a nod. "All the
same I shouldn't like to prick myself
with that needle. 1 might die" finished
| the Major, with the naive simplicity
Of child.
| Etwald said nothing. With his eyes
| fixed upon the devil-stick, he meditat-
! ed deeply. The barrister, whose be-
| lief was that Etwald knew more about
| the wand than he chose to say, watch
| ed him closely. He noticed that the
doctor eyed the stick then, after
pause, let his gaze wander to the face
| Of Maurice. Another pause, and he
was looking at David, who received
| the fire of this strange mans eyes
| without blanching.
| There was something so mesmeric
in the gaze that David felt uncomfort-
able, and as though he were enveloped
| in an evil atmosphere. To his sur
| prise, he found that his eyes also were
| attracted to the stick, and a longing to
| handle it began to possess him. Clear
ly Etwald was trying to hypnotic him
| for some evil purpose. By an effort
| of will David broke through these
nightmare chains and rose to his feet
The next moment he was in the open
| air, in the cold moonlight, breathing
| hard and fast.
Within, Maurice and the Major were
| talking gaily, and the sound of their
voices and laughter came clearly to
the ears of David. But silent in his
deep chair sat Etwald, and the burning
| glance of his eyes seemed to beam
menacingly through the air, and COM
| pei the young man to evil thoughts.
! David looked at Etwald dark and
voiceless; and over his head, in the
| yellow lamplight, he saw the glitter
ing golden handle of the deviI-stick.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
HOLDS CHURCH Is GAINING.

Census Figures Quoted to SocioIo-
gists in Session at New York.
The church is not losing it's grip on
the people, in the opinion of Prof
George A. Coe of Union Theological
seminary, one of the speakers at the
annual meeting Of the American So
Geological society, in session in New
York Prof. Coe based his argument
on census figures, comparing the mem
bership Of 1906 with that of 1890
While the population increased 4 per
cent in these sixteen years, church
membership increased so per cent"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20


o boe
rather the tanner of comets 1t who
higher
Among
which in in
1882 orbits which
reality
Revising calculations
to conceivable finding to
stroke predict
In l742 before of
and the world
not forget watching Carut
eys calculations
sa would hold
jupiter would hold
nearest to the the middle
Haleys in
rono on the watch
saw II then all dead
when
conten
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
Not for His Benefit.

He-I thought you said you'd scream
if l kissed you
She-So / did
II didn't hear you"
"Oh, well, 1 didn't intend to scream
just for you to hear me"-Yonkers
Statesman.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
MEAT INSPECTION.
There Must Be Local Cooperation to
Make It Effective.


Under the present Federal system of
meat inspection during the past year
36,000,000 animals were inspected at
the time of slaughter and 1000. 900
we're condemned in whole or in part.
On re-inspection more than $4,000, 900
pounds of meat and meat products
| were condemned which had become I'M
wholesome since inspection at the time
Of slaughter.
On the face of it this report indi-
Gates very satisfactory condition. 1t
shows that a vast quantity of meat,
which otherwise would have reached
The consumer and been purchased as
wholesome, was declared unfit for
food and was kept from the market as
such.
But this inspection was federal. It's
main effect was in assuring the for
9ign purchaser that the American meat
be purchased was from animals which
were in a state of health at the time
Of slaughter. But the result is not so
reassuring to the local consumer.
Rigid Federal inspection drives to
those slaughter houses, not under Fed
eraI inspection because their product
is not intended for interstate trade,
thousands Of animals which could not
pass inspection The result is that
the local consumer is more likely than
ever to have imposed upon him meat
from animals which could not pass in
spection.
Dr. A D. Melvin, chief of the United
States bureau of animal industry, in
his annual report calls attention to
this condition and recommends more
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
The Nature of IT

"A hotel keeper has an occupation
which inclines him to amiability."
How SOP"
Because to all Inquiries about
rooms, no matter how put, he likes to
give suite answer" = Baltimore
American.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20

The magnificent memorial church
being erected in Birmingham. Eng
land, through the generous contribu-
tons of worldwide admirers of the
late John Henry Newman is nearing
completion. 1t has been built outside
Of the old oratory, so dear to the
heart of the late Cardinal.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
Talking Low.

What am I offered for this silver
set?" asked the auctioneer; speak
up!"
Ninety cents" came from a voice
in the crowd.
you're talking pretty low, neigh
bor," was the auctioneer's retort.-
Workers Statesman
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20

The work on the Jungfrau Railway
is progressing so rapidly that it will
probably be opened next year to jung
frau Joch, where station and hotel
accommodating 200 persons have been
heWn out of the solid rock
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20

Lightning will strike more than once
In the same place. A transmission line
in Colorado was recently struck five
times in the same place.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20

Psychologists are now using an
electrically heated incubator to hatch
germs because the temperature can be
controlled for an indefinite period
without variation.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
Between Friends.

Miss meleigh-Perhaps you won't
believe it, but strange man tried to
kiss me once.
Miss Cutting-Really! Well, he'd
have been a strange man if he'd tried
~ kiss YOU twice-Illustrate Bits.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20

American capitalists are trying TO
form a merger OF every acre of timber
producing land in Novia Scotia. invest
ing $500, 000.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20

The City Council of Chicago has
killed the proposed ordinance prohibit
ing peddlers and newsboys from crying
their wares
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20

The observed rate for the sound of
"a" in great" is APO, and for the
sound of "a" in ma" no waves a
second.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20

A tack hammer, the head Of which
folds into a recess in the stick, for
conyeniences in carrying, has been pat
ented by Pennsylvania.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20

At some stage of the game every
masl poses as his own hero.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20

The government is endeavoring to-
predict the spring freshets by gaug'
ing the snowfall in the mountains.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
Mn and Tuck,

He-I wouldn't marry a girl who
put on false hair.
who put on false front.-Boston
Herald.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-01-20
hAALlLEY5C(M|lEr
SON 10N Visible


n HALLEYS comet, which is moving direction at an
9concevabe of speed visible to all who
have the time to look at the sky, story of human
ambition equal IN its to most of the make
the pth and pulp of history Why astronomers keen
Haleys comet? Thousands Of good or better
nioa lily