davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

you, though, for coming and telling
me about it. There's q lot of fools
would have gone and telephoned the
arsenal and then I'd been on the car
Pet for not covering my post properly
was glad indeed Of the opportunity
to get away. It was nearing ten
o'clock. Ny trousers and shoes We're
in such condition that 1 wanted to get
TO my apartments for a change before
seeing Louise. fastened TO the
park entrance and hailed q taxi. BY
the time I left my rooms and reached
the Parrish home it was ten minutes
after ten.
A. my taxi turned into the street I
So another one stop before the Far
IRISH door. At first I thought it must
be the doctor or one of his assistants.
but as the front door closed behind
the tall figure Of a man who had been
admitted to the house realized that
it was some one I had seen before.
Their was something reminiscent in
the broad shoulders, in the walk It
was some one I knew, or ought TO
have recognized, yet who it was or
where l had seen him I could not at
the moment recall.
I was not three minutes behind him
in reaching the door. Though the other
visitor had been admitted at once,
there was no Immediate response to
my ring. I waited a while and rang
/ again. 1t seemed minutes before any
| one answered, then one of the maids
opened the door a trife and peered
out.
Mr. Kent to see Miss Louise" I
said
/ To my great amazement she did not
| open the door to me, but still holding
| it just barely enough to enable her to
talk to me, said: I'm sorry, but
have orders to admit no one to the
! house"
"Of course, understand that you
have your orders, but please tell Miss
! Louise that Mr.. Kent is here"
"IIl tell her, if you wish" she said
/ doubtfully, carefully closing the door
| before she went on the mission.
! The shutting of the door in my face
gave me an odd sense of desolation.
/ 1t seemed as if I were being shut out
! of the life of the woIaaE loved. Yet
on second thought I smiled at my per
| turbation. The maid was only carry
ing out a necessary order. AS soon
! as Louise knew I was there she would
! come running to the door herself. In
a minute she would be folded in nay
arms and all misunderstanding would
| be cleared away. Undoubtedly she
would have a good explanation for
her telephone message of the night
! before. l told myself that it was only
lack of sleep and the incident in the
park that had upset my nerves. My
misgivings were utterly foolish.
At length the door opened slowly. l
had expected to see Louise herself be
hind it, but it was the anne maid This
time she held the door hardly as wide
as before.
I'm sorry, sir, she said, "but Miss
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

a new face at the door" Bacchus and Venus
and bright-eyed Hebe give welcome and homage
to the newcomer, and salute the opening Of his
reign with mrthfUl song and joyous laughter
The festive celebration of the new year has been
salient feature in the social life of all civilized
peoples ancient and modern. and that CHI racter-
istic persists in the strenuous life of today.
The time at which the year began varied
much among different nations. The Carthagin-
ians Egyptians, Persians and other nations OF
antiquity began their year at the autumna
equinox New Years day falling on September
o. Of modern reckoning which is also the be-
ginning Of the Jewish civil year. The Greeks
chose December %, and afterward June % Jan
uary 1 first adopted by the Romans when
Julius Caesar brought the civil year into close
harmony with the solar in B. c. As but for
many centuries, the example was not followed
by subsequent European nations At one time
there were seven different dates for the begin
ming Of the year among the Christian nations
and even successive popes, until comparatively
recent times scarcely adopted the same
chronology. Russia and the eastern empire of
Constantine dated from September l. and the
Mohammedan year, being dependent on the
phases of the moon, had and has no fixed begin
ming. January became the accepted date of
the New Year among the Catholic nations of
Europe in 1882 when Pope Gregory XIII intro
duced the new style of reckoning. and corrected
the accumulated discrepancies between the JUL
ian computation and the actual solar year by
striking ten days out of the almanac of that
year. By 1900 this date was in general use
throughout Europe, but it was not until 1852
that England and her American colonies
adopted It,
Ancient and modern civilized peoples, while
differing as to the day from which they reck
oned the beginning of the civil year. have agreed
in distinguishing 1t by special festivities and re-
ligious observances. The Romans dedicated Jan
uary to the Oldest of their gods. Janus of the
two faces, one youthful and one aged-a symbol
of the wisdom of the god who knows the mast
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26
THE VANISHED YEAR

Once again a year has vanished,
To the realm of bygones banished,
Where the past years sleep in glory
Not forgotten-gone before
And the New Year comes to greet US,
On the wings of Time to meet US,
And to tell the Old old story
OF the years that are no more.
In the wings of Time, swift flying,
Lies the Old Year, signing, dying,
Borne to join the host that slumbers
On that distant unknown shore
Borne to join the countless legion,
That have crossed that mystic region.
And are counted with the numbers
In that land of Nevermore.
Once again the bells are ringing.
Tidings of the New Year bringing.
With the blythe and gladstone clangor
OF the bells that rang of yore,
And their glad and tuneful pealing,
Brighter, fairer skies revealing,
Bids US Danish sorrow, anger,
Think Of gladness yet in store
Let US greet the New Year gladly
Though we miss the old one sadly
Let US hope for bright skies Ger US.
Let our dreams be ever fair
Let us Danish care and sorrow,
Hope for gladness on the morrow
Let us build for days before us
Brighter castles In the air.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26
SYNOPSIS.

Harding Kent calls on Louise Parrish to
propose marriage and finds the house IN
yrea- excitement over the attempted sui
tide Of b sister Katharine. Kent starts
an investigation and finds that Hugh
randall. sutton for Katharine, who had
2Ten forbidden the house by General Far
ash mad talked with Katharine over the
telephone just before she shot herself.
torn piece Of yellow paper Is found,
AZ sight Of which General Parrish Is
stricken with paralysis. Kent discovers
hat Crandau has left town hurriedly.
Andrew Elser. an aged banker, commits
suicide about the same time as Katharine
attempted her life. A yellow envelope Is
found in EIser's room. Post Office IN
fpectOr Davis, Kent's friend, takes up
me case Kent Ii convinced that Gran
tall is at the bottom of the mystery
Eatharine's strange cutlery puzzles the
detectives Kent and Davis search Gran
Salts room and find an address. Lock
IQx IT, Ardway n. ]. Kent goes to Ard
way to investigate and becomes suspl-
Sous Of a Henry Cook" woman
commits suicide at the ArdWay Hotel. A
yellow letter also figures in this case.
Kent calls Louise on the long distance
-eIrph0ue and finds that she had Just been
allied by Crandau from the same booth.
.C00k" disappears. The ATdWay post
master is missing. Inspector Davis ar
riwes at ATdwav and takes up the lnves-
LEGATION. He discovers that the dead
woman is Sarah Sacket of Bridgeport.
louise telephones Kent tmplOring him to
crop the Investigation.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26
On London, fer Instance, Carriers
Walk over Sixteen Miles Garry
ing Forty Pounds,

Has it ever struck you why stout
postman is such q rarity? The Ques-
ton is worth attention
A postman who in busy London
residential district walks from four
teen to sixteen miles a day, starts out
in the morning with mails weighing
something like eighty pounds. As
his letters and packages are distrib-
uted, the weight of his bag, OF course,
grows less, so that the average weight
he carries during his trip is forty
pounds. a pint of water weighs a
pound 10-quart pail weighs about
twenty pounds. and the average
weight the postman carries is equal
TO two Of these. Il you want to know
Way postmen are thin, try a 15-mile
walk with 10-quart pail Of water in
sach hand
TIE driver Of a brewery wagon, on
he other hand, is usually fat. The
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

them Gu the grass to dry, for they
were al but falling apart and I hardly
dared handle them. Meanwhile I con-
tinued my search for other yellow
scraPs-this time without avail. If she
had carried a torn-up letter with her
as she sprang to death, the other
pieces had f1oated away.
At last, convinced that there was
no possibility Of recovering more Of
them, I gave up my search and re-
turned to where l had spread the re-
covered scraps On the grass. One by
one I studied them. They were evi-
IDENTIFY part Of a typewriter letter.
but the ink had run so that it was
impossible to read a single word on
them. From their shape, too, it ap-
peared that they were not consecutive,
so there was little hope of learning
anything from them.
Just two Of the inky smears seemed
to have a possible meaning.
On one Of them I was almost posi-
tive that l could trace the word
youth" On another scrap was a
word that little stretch Of the imagi-
nation might decipher as her"
Youth" and her"
They might mean much or nothing.
They might. have some bearing on
the great mystery I was trying to
solve. They might have none Per
haps they were, after all, merely
phrases from a letter that had brought
disappointment to a loving woman.
In all likelihood this suicide had no
connection with the others. But why
then, the yellow paper?
So intent was I on my thoughts that
I did not observe the return of the
policeman until beard his voice.
What have you got there?"
There was suspicion in his tone
the natural suspicion of the represen-
tative of the law II was on the tip
Of my tongue to say: Another yellow
letter"
For once prudence restrained ne.
I recalled how my too hasty speech
at the cOrOner's inquest had led me
into trouble. I could hardly expect
q Nv q uLAl Cu-AOlld4 DOllCCuldI4 "
assist in solving the mystery that was
still perplexing Davis.
Just some scraps of paper" I said
careIessly. After you had gone no.
titced that she was cIutching a bit Of
paper in one hand. searched around
the lake to see if I could find more.
found these. 1t is evidently part Of
letter, but the ink has run so you
can make nothing out of them"
Lets see them"
I handed him all of them.
This" I explained, q found in her
hand and the others were over there
under those bushes"
One by one the policeman examined
them, turning them carefully over and
! over.
There's nothing to Them" he final
ly announced. The wagon will be
here in a minute. I don't suppose
you'll want to be claiming any credit
! for finding the body?"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26
CAN YOUR BABY FIND ITS NOSE.
Here Are Some of the Tests for Determining
Normal Child

If a child Of three years knows his name and
thrust a chubby finger to his nose mouth
and eyes, when asked about those organs he's
a normal kid II he can't then it's time papa
and mamma got busy with petty's little think
tank, or he'll grow up to be boob.
This, in plain Boweryesque, is the translation
of the formula given in scientific terms by the
medical savants Of the Mental Hygiene confer
ence and exhibit, who holding tests Of
children" in the hall Of the city college, remarks
the New York Journal
"a child Of four" continues the scientific for
mula, "is expected to know its sex and to be able
to recognize such objects as a key, knife or a
penny, and to tell the comparative length Of
lines.
cat five a boy or girl should be able to draw
a square and to repeat sentences. When a child
is six we ask for definitions. might ask: What
is a fork" II a boy answered: I eat with
fork it would be sufficient for that age but IL
he inserted the word something In his defni-
ton. as a fork is something to eat with it
would place him in the eightyear class If he
said "A piece of tableware he would be in the
twelve-year class"
A child Of ten is asked what he would do II
he missed a train. Here the answers vary Any
reply that is answer is accepted One child
"aid: Wait for another" Another said he
would run and catch it." While boy from
the Bronx said he would go home for the day
What to do if struck by a playmate was the
most pulling of all questions. Boys invariably
looked at their mothers when the question was
put. Forgive him" the answer only few
times.
The best examination passed SO far was BIZ
sevenyear-old Donald Grant Of 507 West 18Th
street who passed the examination for the child
of ten
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

them. Old cookery books abound in
recipes into which rose leaves enter.
One writer tells how to make pot
ted roses Il first pound some of the
most fragrant roses in a mortar; then
l take the brains of birds and pigs
well boiled and stripped of every par.
ticle Of meat. then add the yoIks OF
some eggs, some oil, a little cordial
some pepper and some wine. After
having beaten and mixed it well to
gether, I place 1t over a slow fire
When this dish is brought to table the
most delicious fragrance issues forth.
covering the guests with delight
Every good housewife in the seven
teenth century made rosewater. which
was used for favoring food.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26
Small Boy Was Not Giving Away
Goslines Simply Out of the Good
ness of His Heart.

We were fishing in the James river
In the Ozarks, writes a correspondent
of The Companion, and for three days
had foated down the clear, swift
stream, casting as we went. For fifty
miles We had not seen a human habfta-
ton, although occasional sounds indi-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26
What a PitvL


A member Of the committee of a
certain swimming club is, very unpop-
ular with his colleagues Until re-
Gently the fact did not appear to trou-
bic him greatly. On the eve of some
aquatic sports, however, he made a
startling discovery. and at onos
brought the matter before his fellow
members
4 kave discovered a dastardly plot. -
he began. Certain of the competi-
tors have conspired TO throw me in
the river"
Can you swim?" eagerly interrupt
ed a Scotsman on the committee.
"Of course, I can swim; but"
Man" muttered the interrupter.
but that's a PITY"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

snow is mournful dirge for the days that
are gone, for the irreVocable past. Chast-
ening some with the heavy hand of sorrow
and woefuI loss showering blessings
happiness and love upon others the We
that is dying in the night has strfv,
nightly tobe the friend of all Eve.
where unmerited misfortune has swamDet
the high spirit and bruised the acbin.
heart, the old years passing stirs memo
r1es OF regret for bright hopes faded, and
or gratitude for the few radiant CLEANS of
happiness which have illumined the darkness
BY a natural force of habit with MANY the
declining moments of the old year are devoted
to sort of spiritual stock-taking The mistakaa
and the offenses of the past are canyassed over
during this burial of last years SINS" and
resolutions OF reformation adopted for future
guidance. It has been said that those who make
good resolutions are only those who break them
Too often they are simply the impotent prod
ucts Of lingering habit, aroused to life in the
beW1lderng swirl of a customary moral house
cleaning, and doomed to a brief existence A
momentary repentance induced by the sol
emnity and associations Of the season, does not
effect much material change in the moral ca
pacity for clean living. Generally, something is
bound to give way when wine is put into
old bottles. To do as a matter of course that
which is right as it comes is the true secret of
a good life, and becomes in time a force more
persistent and effectual than the weakened
habit Of shipping an n[assorted deck cargo of
good resolutions. whose shifting in bad weather
Will give serious trouble until it is jettsoned or
swept overheard.
But hush! the hour is near. The old man Is
breathing hard, his eyes grow dim, the hue of
death is spreading over his hollow cheeks and
wrinkled brows. Soon he will be gone forgot
ten with the trouble and sorrow, the joy and de-
light he brought in his train. Across the waste
his son and heir doth ride post-haste" and we
prepare to salute the rising sun, to make the
rafters ring with THE king is dead long live the
king" And so, unmindful Of benefits forgot"
with regret and remembrance buried deep in
the joy Of the moment hail the signals of
the momentous change-the blaring Of sirens
and the boom of cannon, the cheering of revealing
crowds and the mad joyous clangor Of multitude
bells.
Ring out, Wild bells. to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
The blessed glad new year is coming, her
aided with rejoicing, and respondent with hope.
There's new foot the floor. my friend, and
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

and can peer into the
future. They sacrificed
to him on twelve affairs,
and were careful so to
order their conduct on
New Years day that ev-
cry word and action
should be a happy au-
curry Of the twelve
months of the coming
year. Kindly salutations
and presents of figs,
dates and sweetmeats
were exchanged among
the people, holiday dress
was worn, and feasting
became universal. New
Year presents became
under the Caesars a
source Of great personal
profit to the ruler, and
an onerous burden to
his subjects. The in
famous Caligula, making
it known that his daugh-
ter required a dowry at
the New Year, walked
barefooted over the piles
of gold which covered
the courtyard Of his pal
gifts Of the terror
lied Roman citizens.
How this custom per
sisted down the ages
may be gathered from
the fact that, even as
late as the reign Of
William and Mary, the
English nobility were
accustomed to send to
the king q purse with
gold in it, every New
Years tide" Queen
EIiZabeth's ardro b e
and iewelry we're almost
wholly supplied from
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26
CHEAP Cleaner

4 Bicycle pump is a good substitute
for a vacuam cleaner in getting dust
from neoks and craanfss in marble
statuary, plaster casts, carved fUrni-
ture or any creTiees where it may Turk
in spite Of dust cloth and brush. Run
the open end Of the rubber tubing over
the surface te be busted, while WORK
ing the pump vigorously with the fo1-
A soft dust cloth will do the resi-
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

sion, as if he had picked it up again
very. carefully. One morning I found
close TO the house the end OF q pleas
ant trail. Something had evidently
scared him, and he had risen from
the ground, brushing the snow on
both sides with the first flap Of his
wings. Curious to see how far he
had walked, I put on my pedometeT
and followed that trail It led me
through my little swamp, up the hill
through a neighbours yard, across the
road, through a spruce hedge, across
the great lawn Of a big summer estate,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

I had feared that he would insist
on my accompanying him to testify
to its finding. It was quite a relief
to hear him take this view of it,
OF course not" answered hastily.
Then" said he with utmost can
dor. you might as well beat it. 1t
don't do a cop no good to have other
people finding things on his post. If
you amt here when the wagon comes,
there amt nobody to say it wasn't me
that found the body I want to thank
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

into the woods behind. I put on my
snow shoes in the woods and kept on.
The trail finally ceased in brush
heap. where the snow was tracked all
about. and in one place scratched
through the brown leaves That
pheasant had walked exactly one mile
and Quarter long walk for bird
And in all that distance there was no
sign that ne had stopped to scratch for
food. It was as II he had set out
deliberately to walk to my house I
could not fatter myself that such was
the case; doubtless come sense OF his
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26
PHEASANT TOOK LONG WALK
the Credit CT English Bird
in America.

Some years ago a wealthy resident
Of our hLlz stocked his game pre-
serve with English pheasants, which
have now spread over the country
The pheasant is a walker You can
not mistake his tracks, for he puts
one foot neatly down directly in front
Of the other, making a clean impress
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26
REASON FOR HIS GENEROSITY

Gated that there were scattered farms
beyond the fringe of timber that close
" lined the stream
One morning, when the current was
hurTying US along at eight miles an
hour. we saw a tow-headed boy pop
out Of the underbrush on the bank
fifty yards ahead.
Say" he called, as We drifted by,
III give you some goslings if you
want theml'
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

"Goslings?" I said, surprised. why.
what should we do with goslings?"
81 dunno" he replied indiferently.
What are you doing" I asked,
"fshing?"
Mo- little rebelliously,-'Tm
nindin' an old COW out OF the corn.
Say" he said, little anxiously, as
We were floating by, you can have
them goslings If you want them. I'll
show you where they are"
mo. thank you" we said. I'VE
couldn't take care Of them"
There they are. he leaned for
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

Louise says she can not see you now
WHAT" I gasped.
She repeated her message while l
stood there dazed There must be
some mistake. Louise must have mis-
understood the name.
did you tell her it was Mr.. Kent ?"
Yes, sir, I told her"
What did she say?"
She said she could not see you o.
any one else now"
CTO BE CONTINUED1
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26
Ever See a Stout Poslman?

reason is that he sits on the seat of
his dray most Of the day. and often
consumes large quantities of liquid
Policemen. too, often grow fat
through standing about on their beats.
Answers. London.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

Me and tide wait not. And
so we are gathered once
more around the couch Of
the dying year, whose short
lifetime has been fraught
with new experiences and
old failures, with sorrow
and with JOY to the sons O.
men. With friendly feel
ings of regret we watch his
solemn passing. The weary
signing of the winter wind
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-12-26

There's one thing" said the ma5del
fair, that I can't understand about
this Balkan WARP"
What is it2" the man asked
why are Zenda and GraUstaak l0t
mixed tp in it,"