davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
James n. Rutier's Simple Kindness
to Sidney Dillon Repaid in Way
That Relieved Him From
Financial Stress.

When William H Vanderbilt, son
Of the Commodore. resigned the pres
idency of the New York Central rail
road in order to become chairman Of
the board Of directors, he was sue
ceeded as president by James H. Rut-
ter. Mr.. Rutter began his career as
a railroad employee as station and
freight agent at a little town upon the
Erie railroad. He was promoted rap
idly and at last became an assistant
freight traffic manager in the main Of
fees Of the Erie at Payonia, near Jer-
sey City. A few years later Mr.. Rut-
ter became general freight manager
under Commodore Vanderbilt and
gained a national reputation as rail
way mana reputation, in fact, as one
Of the most successful railway man
ayers of his day His ability always to
mind his own business, and not to
interfere with anybody else's business,
he once said, had helped greatly to
win him success. But there was an
other reason for his success, and that
was his kindness Of heart, his affa-
bility and consideration for others,
even for the humblest of his employees.
And 1t was this trait which brought
to Mr.. Rutter unexpected and much
needed assistance in a financial crisis
of his career.
When Commodore Vanderbilt tempt
ed Mr.. Rutter away from his service
with the Erie railroad and made him
freight traffic manager of the New
York Central, Mr. Rutter thought he
could afford to buy a house in New
York city, and he did purchase a mod
est dwelling within convenient reach of
the Grand Central station, paying some
cash and giving a purchase money
mortgage for the balance of the pur-
chase price.
After he had owned the house about
three years there came hard times Mr.
Rutter was pressed for the payment
Of the mortgage. He did not have the
money, nor did he know where to turn
to procure it. He was in despair, since
he had been informed that foreclos-
ure proceedings would be begun upon
a certain day.
On the morning of that day Mr. Rut-
ter happened to meet while on his
way from his house to his Office a
railway magnate of much influence
and large wealth, the late Sidney Dill
lon. who was director of the Union
Pacific when the government was in
terested in that property.
Mr.. Dillon stopped Mr. Rutter, ap-
parently observing that the younger
man was in some distress.
Don't you feel well?" asked Mr. Dill
lon. you look anxious"
"Oh, yes, l am perfectly well ply
sically, Mr. Rutter replied.
But there is something the matter
with you; you have something on your
mind" persisted Mr.. Dillon. What is
it?"
Wei, I'll tell you, Mr.. Dillon, was
the reply. Il suppose that today fore
closure proceedings will be brought
to satisfy a purchase money mortgage
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
FOOD AGAIN
A Mighty important Subject to Every
One.

A Boston lady talks entertainingly
of food and the changes that can be
made in health by some knowledge on
that line. She says:
"An injury to my spine in early wom-
anhood left me subject to severe sick
headaches which would last three or
four days at time, and violent
course Of drugging brought on consti-
patton with all the ills that follow.
my appetite was always light and
uncertain and many kinds Of food dis
tressed me.
81 began to eat Grape-Nuts food two
or three years ago, because liked the
taste Of 1t, and l kept on because
soon found it was doing me good.
81 eat it regularly at breakfast, fire.
quently al luncheon, and again before
going to bed-and have no trouble in
sleeping Oil it. It has relieved my con-
stipation, MY headaches have practi-
calIy ceased, and 1 am In better Rhysi-
cal condition at the age Of SO than I
was at 40.
81 give Grape-Nuts credit for restor-
ing my health, If not saving ny life,
and you can make no claim for it too
strong for me to endorse" Name
given by Postum Co, Battle Greek
Mich.
Read the little book, "The RoaA to
WelIYilIe,'' in pkgs. There's a reason"
Ever read the above letter. a new
one appears from time TO time. They
are genuine, true, and full of human
interest.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
CUTS A SMALL FIGURE
BRIDEGROOM AMOUNTS TO BUT
LITTLE AT The WEDDING.
He Must Assume Neutral Demeanor
and Dress for Ceremony, and
Then Is Made TO Feel Like
Briqand.

To realize the small figure cut by
a bridegroom at his own wedding, one
need only peruse the pages of a book
marriage ceremony. There are reams'
of instructions for the bride, from
how to carry her veil to how she
shall greet the business acquaint-
ances of her father. But how about
the poor, neglected bridegroom?
There are no pages written, for his
enlightenment He does well to get
a paragraph or SO tucked down near
the end of the story. No one tells
him how to carry his hat or cares
whether he has a hat at all He is
supposed to efface himself-to en-
ter into the scheme Of things only
when the ceremony cannot go along
without him.
There is only one occasion upon
which the bridegroom is absolutely
necessary, and that is when the min
lister nut have someone to pro-
nounce the husband of the fair bride.
Even then the poor harassed man;
has propensity for slipping the ring
into the wrong pocket, so that he Is
compelled to tumble for It. In the
end he drops it, whereupon it prompt
ly rolls cut of sight, and is rescued
only after much confusion and con-
siderable embarrassment. Men with
out number have been known to for
get the golden circlet of sweet bond
age altogether.
Not only must the man in the case
the festivities, bat he must dress the
part. His clothes are black and sol
emn to behold; he is allowed to dis
play absolutely no partiality in the
choosing Of his wedding garments.
He looks very much the same as he
has dozens of times when attending
formal affairs. The bride may be
veritable Flora, wreathed with gar
mants, yelled in mist OF tulle and
flny lace. The only festal note al
lowed the bridegroom is single
blossom or boutonniere Of white
against the somber blackness or his
coat.
Another thing-he has always been
led to believe the woman of his choice
loved him devotedly, that her parents
approved of him as son and that he
was generally persona grata. Yet
when the day of happy contamination
arrives every one weeps over the
bride, who thereby endangers her
own loneliness by wiping the tear
drops from her shining eyes with a
wisp of lace masquerading as a hand
kerchief. Every tear is like a stab
to the man standing by wondering
what it Is all about and feeling very
much like a brigand caught in the act
of stealing away a beautiful young
| maiden.
All this sentimentalism and panoply
of love is very dear to the heart of
girl dreaming, as she has, over the
! most wonderful, the most eventfui
day Of her life. Yet when the loneli.
ness Of the bridegroom, despite the
fact that this is his wedding day and
one quite as momentous to him as to
the bride, is taken INTO considera-
ton, small -wonder thea that so many
pairs of lovers wing their way Sc
cretly to some quiet nook and take
the VOW of eternal constancy away
from the sight and sound of cere
mony.-Pittsburgh Sun.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
Music a Cure.

Believing that charms of music viii
lure men back from paths of crime
to lives of righteousness, Warden
Meyer, of the Atlanta federal prison,
where Morse, Green, Gaynor and other
unfortunates are confined, has asked
the department of justice and received
permission to hire a guard whose real
duties will be to direct the band at
the prison. AS a result of his per
suasions the civil service commission
er in Atlanta has been instructed to
hold an examination there for man
qualified as prison guard and or
chestra and band leader. The prison
has had a band for some time, but
the soothing effects Of music kept the
members in good standing and CORE
spondingly shortened their sentences
to such an extent that the band has
been depleted Of its best players.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
The "sure Nail" Of Palestine.

William H. Thompson's book about
the Holy Land, called THE Land and
the Book" has had the curious fate
of outlasting many books of Biblical
criticism of far more pretentious ma
ture Its popularity through the years
is due, in part, to the fact that 1t
explains so many obscure matters in
such a natural way. For instance,
there is the passage in Isaiah: 81
will fasten him with a nail in a sure
place" and again: This nail, fastened
in a sure place, shall be removed, and
cut down and fall" The nail" says
Dr. Thompson, was a wooden peg or
tent pin, sometimes driven into the
wall through the plaster, and he adds
with the feeling of one who has had
experience: mot one in score of
them but what bends down, or gets
loose or falls OUT
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
His Christmas CHECK.

Al Ryan, the hospitable flint glass
worker of Lockport. N. Y, and former
ly organizer of the socialist local at
that place, was being congratulated
by the boys at the glass factory
yes" said Al, my uncle out in
Tiffin is mighty good to me. The day
before Christmas he sent me a check
for 500 just as a little Christmas
gift"
After the usual congratulatory COM
ments had been duly made all around,
Al added:
Eyes, he certainly is fine old fell
low. In the postscript Of his letter
containing the check, he said:
Dear Al, if you manage to get this
check cashed, please send me 81. |
need a pair of shoes THE Coming
Nation.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
Act OF Courtesy Thai Paid

which I gave when I bought my
house"
Cant you raise the money!" Mr..
Dillon asked.
NO; can't offer any security, and
can't find anyone who will assume the
mortgage for me"
How much is it?" Mr. Dillon ask
ed, and he was told that the amount
was $4,000.
I'll let you have the money.
Jimmy" Mr.. Dillon said. And he was
as good as his word Before after
noon the mortgage had been satisfied
and had given release. Then, while
thanked Mr.. Dillon, Mr. Rutter con-
fessed that he could not understand
why Mr.. Dillon had been wiling to do
him a service.
"I'll tell you why. Jimmy" Mr.. Dill
lon replied. you remember when
you were with the Erie railroad in
house? I had done some heavy con-
tracing work for the Erie railroad. |
found it impossible to get my money,
and / needed it badly. I would go to
the Office DAY after day to see Mr..
Gould or Jim Fisk, and would wait pa
tientIy a long time and be obliged to
go away without seeing them. Well,
one day you saw me standing there.
You brought me chair You gave
me a newspaper to while away the
time. And you did that a second and
third time. 1t was simple little
| courtesy, but l never forgot 1t. l al
ways knew the time would come
when l could make you some repay
ment. I have been glad to pay off
! today a debt of gratitude"
| Copyright, 1911, by E. j. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
How Marshal Rhynders, Violent Pro-
Slavery Democrat, Quit Catching
Fugitive Slaves to Show His
Gratitude to MIR. Seward.

Recently 1 told of the chance that
made two old-time enemies friends
Williams Lloyd Garrison and Isaiah
Rhynders, whose name, though now
forgotten, was almost as well known
in ante-bellum days as that of the
great abolitionist leader. During the
period of abolition agitation Rhynders
personifed to a large part of the north
the pro-slavery Democracy of that
section OF the country. He was, in
fact, one of the most radical pro-slav-
cry Democrats in all the north, and
as United States marshal for the
southern district of New York, to
which Office he was first appointed by
President Pierce, he earned the I'M
mitigated hatred of all abolitionists
and great many other persons by
the vigor he displayed from 1858 to
1857 in. experimenting fugitive slaves
and returning them to their owners.
But, 10 and behold when Marshal Rhyn-
ders was reappointed by President
Buchanan, from that time on until
he quit the post of marshal at the
end of Buchanan's term never pur-
sued or tried to arrest fugitive
slave, and great was the wonder there
at among the abolitionists.
Fifteen years after Rhynders had
quit Office l met him and I asked him
to tell me how it happened that, aft
er his reapRpintment, he had left of
pursuing and arresting fugitive slaves,
to the utter bewilderment of his op-
ponents.
This man who had been branded in
ante-bellum days as demon in human
form smiled gently upon me. and when
he spoke his voice was g soft and
gentle as his smile.
That's 9 story I haven't told to
many persons" he said. But will
tell it to you, and first of I'll tell
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
Cell of a Fugitive Slave.

Although the work of razing the old
court house begun yesterday, one room
in the building will remain intact for
at least week. This is No. II, in
which Anthony Burns, the fugitive
slave, was hidden on the night that a
mob of Boston abolitionists, headed by
the late Col Thomas Wentworth Hig-
ginson, eHdeavored to secure posses
sion of the negro in order TO prevent
his return to slavery, several years be-
fore the beginning of the Civil war.
On the night that the mob attack
ed the building, following the supreme
court decision that Burns must be
returned to his owner. the fugitive
slave was believed to be confined in
cell in the basement of the structure,
but as a matter of precaution, he had
been secretly removed to room II Oh
one of the upper floors, where he was
kept hidden during the mob's attack
on the building Transcript
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28

This Is the second tower telescope
constructed at the Mount Wilson OBJ
servatory, in California, from a new
design by Professor Hale. The first
was IS feet high, and it was so sue
cessful that the larger one here shown
was built, which is $50 feet in height,
while the well containing the specto-
graph and spectro-heliograph is rs feet.
By the later instrument photographs
can be taken of the whole face of the
sun, showing the vapors across its
disk. The coelostat and secondary
mirrors are mounted at its top. and
after rejecting from them the suns
light passes vertically downward on
to lens placed near them on the top
of the tower A horizontal image of
the sun, II inches in diameter, is
thence obtained in plane near the
ground
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
Pretty Well Down In the World, but
He Retained Love of Good
Literature.

"Tramps that I have met have
asked me to buy nearly everything
for them from a drink to a ticket to
Europe" said the gray-headed man,
but not until this morning was I
asked to buy a book The literary
beggar stood at my elbow outside a
Fulton street secondhand book store
He was pretty ragged and pretty
dirty, but he had a mind about dirt
and rags. On the table before us
lay The Crime of sylvsgtre Bonnard'
in French.
"'Oh, AnatoIe France said my
tramp with kind Of gasp. Buy il
for me. mister, won't your
81 was not in a mood for comforting
favoTs. I shook my head. My tramp
picked up the book. They were a
good match, one as ragged and soi1ed
SIS the other. He read a passage.
"'GA. the dear old Innocent he
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
SoIon Robinson, While Travelling
Through Country Acquired Habit
of Observation That Made
Him a Writer of Romance.

We hear a great deal about the So
called best sellers" in these days
novels that have sold many editions
and that have brought wealth in
greater or less degree to their writer's.
But this is no new experience. Fifty
years ago there were number of best
sellers, and prodigious as was the sale
of Harriet Beecher Stoves Uncle
Toms Cabin" there were at the time
several other stories that were selling
by the thousands, even the hundred
thousands.
In Florida in the spring of 1883 l
was seated with a company of gentle
men, some of whom were familiar
with Florida life, upon the deck of a
steamboat bound from Jacksonville,
Fla, to Sanford, town which is sit
uated at the head of navigation on
St Johns river. One of the party
pointed to an orange grove a little
distance south of the village of Pal
atka
Just beyond that orange grove is
the Florida home of Harriet BeecheT
Stowe" he said "She has invested a
good deal of the money she has re-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
NEEDLE ENDS LONG TRIP


A pair of tweezers were used the
other day by Edmund c. Gaskill, a
lawyer of Atlantic City, to remove a
needle that had been in his body
twenty-three years. 1t had worked it's
way from his knee to his shoulder.
He found it there when bathing the
shoulder in the belief he had rheuma-
tism. When eight years old, Gaskill
fell against his mother, who was sew
ing, and the needle was jabbed deep
in his knee. A doctor failed to find it.
It was forgotten when the puncture
healed. That the needle took 50 long
in working through his body may be
explained by the fact that he is six
feet eight inches tall
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
is ALIVE AFTER "FUNERAL"

After formal funeral services had
been held at his former home in
Washington, and his near relatives
had donned mourning for the man
supposed to have met his fate and
been buried in far-off India, word was
received the other day stating that
Bert R. Emrick, widely known and
well-to-do oil man, was alive and we'll
and was planning to start for home
within a few days Emrick went to
near Singu, in Upper Burmah, India,
about Is months ago, for the Burmah
Oil company. Recently word reached
his people by way of the company Of
fees that Rmrick had been killed by
breaking of cable at one of the wells.
It was afterwards discovered that the
original report of the tragedy was a
mistake.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
WHO'S WHO IN THIS TANGLE?

When Edward F. Nehrik was ar
raigned on a lunacy charge at Day
ton, Ohio, the other day, curious
family relationship developed Nehrik
Is the father by marriage of the wom-
an once his wife, he is the grandfather
of his own daughter, while his son is
stepfather 10 the child as well as her
brother. Mrs. Nehrik is mother-in-law
to her husband. Mrs. John Nehrik,
divorced wife of Edward, filed the in
sanity papers against him. In 1900 she
welded Edward Nehrik and by the
union came daughter. Pearl In
1906 she was granted a divorce decree
and custody of the child. Nehrik' s
son. John, by his first wife, married
his fsther's divorced wife, or his own
stepnother. At the hearing the court
declared him sane.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
Another Definition

Politics Is like marriage-and you
know what the pretty widow said
about marriage at the seashore." The
speaker, Congressman Hardwfck of
Georgia, smiled and continued; "A
somewhat passe summer girl. at the
end of a season that had left her fur
Their of than ever from the matrImo-
NAL harbor, looked sadly seward and
said; Well, marriage IS a lottery But
a fair young widow, whose engage
ment to millionaire Of ffty-two
summers had just been announced
this fair young widow with toss OF
the head retorted: Don't you believe
it. It's a game of skill
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
RUBBING IL la.

The girl was telling the man an
anecdote and queer look passed
over his face. The girl stopped, en-
barrassed. 4 am afraid / have told
you this story before" she stam-
mered.
Yes. you have" the man admitted
frankly. but don't worry. 1t isn't
half so bad as what happened to me
yesterday. A man told me story that
| had originally told him. Worse yet.
he got all mixed on it, lost the point
entirely and then expected me to
laugh at it."
And you couldn't"
"Oh, yes. l oosld. but not the way
he thought"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
LLAMAS IN HARNESS

An interesting attraction in one of
the European geological gardens is a
pair of tame llamas that draw passen-
gers about the grounds. They are de-
clared to be the only creatures of their
kind in Europe that have been trained
for this purpose. The animals draw
a light carriage and at a recent test it
was shown that they could easily pull
a load OF $50 pounds. They are quite
docile and readily answer to the rein.
In their native Andes they are the
beasts of burden.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
Herolc Treatment.

The physician turned to the Office
patient in the canvas coat and leggins,
You must follow my directions i'm
plicitly," he said, handing him a small
vial of liquid You are to take three
drops in water every four hours
Three drops in water every four
koursl" calculated the patient in
bewildsled manner. And I'm an ayia-
tori'-Etppincott'
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
SOME CURIOUS TREES

Every once in awhile some place or
other claims to possess the banner
freak tree in the world. In little
Ohio city, for example, tree seed
once lodged itself in church spire
and has grown to be tall tree. Again,
in a planning mill in the midwest, a
man cutting a tree let his eye rest on
the shingles as they fell to one side
Suddenly he saw one which bore the
perfect impress Of monks head, with
the cap extended out over the face.
Superstitious laborers believed that a
monk sat Rear the tree during a thun-
der storm, and that the lightning sill
houetted the profile.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
GOING TO COLLEGE AT 80

Mrs. A. D. Winship of Racine, Wis,
is the oldest university student in the
United States. When Mrs Winship
was seventy weight years old she en-
tered the University of Ohio. She is
now eighty years of age, and has com
pleted her freshmen and sophomore
years. Her specially was psychology.
At summer school this year Mrs. Win
ship won a prize for excellence in her
studies
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
POWER OF NIAGARA FALLS

A recent estimate Of the amount of
energy derived from Niagara Falls
places it at 273,140 horsepower, divid-
ed in its applica IONS as follows: Elec-
tro-chemical industries, 10000; rail-
way service, 5000; lighting. 3e,400;
various industrial purposes, 81 $40. The
total energy of the falls is estimated
at 100000 horsepower, so that not
much more than five per cent. is at
present utilized.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-28
BerIIn's Wealth.

Berlin with its surroundings repre-
sents about 9 per cent. of the popu-
latien of the kingdom of Prussia, but
it pays IN taxes one-fourth OF the to-
tai amount collected on incomes. The
total amount assessed IN Prussia was
294, 900, 900 marks at the end of 1910.
Berlin itself contributed 42,000,0 900,
but when the suburbs are included the
sum amounts to 72,500,00 The Ger
man metropolis pays 10000. 900 more
than the whole Rhenish province, and
the six eastern provinces furnish to
the treasury 1o,500,o00 marks less
than does Berlin.