davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
NO MORE MARRIAGE RISKS
Throwing All Kinds of Safeguards
Around the Ceremony.

Under the microscope of modern
criticism marriage seems to be honey
combed with false ideas and tyrannous
customs. So wrong is it that we al
most doubt If any Of our grandparents
could have been happy, and we sigh
with relief when we consider that at
last modern intellect is about to de-
molish the old-fashioned methods and
build in their place a scheme Of COM
nonsense marriage in which no sor-
row and regret can cloud the domestic
hearth.
What a primitive, careless thing
marriage has been hitherto Just be-
cause a man and a woman have been
attracted to one another they have
rushed blindly into a lifelong partner
ship without any careful forethought
or inquiry.
But we see the end of all that non
sense. Already the new marriage
the careful, well-considered mating
has arrived. The first medically ex-
amined wedding has been celebrated
In this country. Surely this will give
a lead to the world.
In future the first consideration will
be the medical certificate, and after
that the certificate Of temperament.
No man and woman will enter the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04

She laid down her pen and put her
forehead on her cIasped hands. How
empty and inane these entries seemed
beside this rich and eventfuI twenty
four hours just passed! What had
she been doing a year ago today? she
wondered. The lower drawer of the
desk held a number of slim diaries
like the one before her. She pulled 1t
out, took up the Iast-year's volume
and opened it,
Why" she said in surprise, 81 got
jessamine for mother this very same
day last year," she pondered frown-
ing, then reached for third and a
fourth From these she looked up,
startled. That date in her mothers
calendar called for cape jessamines.
What was the fourteenth of May to
her?
She bent a slow troubled gaze about
her. The room had been hers as
child. She seemed suddenly back in
that childhood, with her mother bend
ing over her pillow and fondling her
rebellious hair. When the wind cried
for loneliness out in the dark she had
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
Making Him Understand.

Many shy and crafty foreigner
has shielded himself from trouble by
affecting not TO understand the Ian
guage spoken to him. TagIiche Rouns-
chau tells an amusing story OF ar
oriental who pretended not to under
stand English, but forgot himself at
the mom%nt.
A Chinaman was brought before a
magistrate in court Of Canadian
city, and received a fine for slight
misdemeanor. The Judge had great
difficulty in making the oriental IN
derstand, for he pretended not to
know word Of English
Look here, man" he said, dis
gustedly, that is one dollar. Do you
see? Pay it-otherwise, in jail, IN
derstand2" The Chinaman signifed
that he did not understand, and the
magistrate repeated l.
Let me talk with him, your honor"
said the portly officer who had ar
rested the man. "I'I MAKE him IN
derstand!"
When the judge had given him
leave, the officer approached the
Chinaman, and shouted in his ear:
Say, you with the teakettIe face,
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
CHAPTER XIV.
The Anniversary

The story was not a long one.
though it omitted nothing: the morn
ing fox-hunt and the Identification of
the new arrival at Damory Court as
the owner o. yesterdays stalled mo-
tor: the afternoon raid on the jessa-
mine, the conversation with John Va
liant in the woods.
Mrs. cambridge, gazing into the fire,
listened without comment, but more
than once Shirley saw her hands clasp
themselves together and thought, too.
that she seemed strangely pale. The
swift and tragic sequel to that meet
ing was the hardest to tell, and as she
ended she put up her hand to her
shoulder, holding 1t hard. 1T was
horrible!' she said. Yet now she did
not shud6er, Strangely enough, the
sense Of loathing which had been
surging over her at recurrent inter
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
Protects Whole Hand,

Protecting gloves generally in use
for X-ray work are ordinary gloves
having applied on the back a layer OF
rubber that contains lead, as lead il
known to stop the rays. But this ia
somewhat stiff and lacks supDleness.
and besides it is only the back of the
hand that is protected. A French in
yenter makes use Of a fabric which
is much more flexible and it protects
the whole OF the hand from injury by
the rays The new fabric is woven
from silk which is heavily sized" with
a lead composition, so that it contains
three times its weight Of lead. This
tissue has the advantage OF being
much more elastic and acts As rer-
good screen for The X-ray. e specially
when the back portion IS ra.s Eolced.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
Bin Aanda Saved Him.

Attorney John Cronin was appearing
for a client charged with picking
pocket. The governments chief wit
ness had evidently read detective fic-
ton. He described at length how he,
standing quietly by, had seen the pris-
oner slip slim fingered hand into the
victims pocket. He described the per-
fectly manicured hand and tapered
fingers of the alleged pickpocket's
hand infinitely, just as it goes in a de-
tective yarn.
Then Attorney Cronin opened his
defense. my defense consists of Elk
bibit a Mr.. Prisoner, hold out your
hands,, The prisoner, six-foot man.,
did SO, showing the jurors pair of
huge hands with gnarled fingers,
which would have done justice to a
bricklayer.
1.-THE witness called those fingers
long and tapering, gentlemen" said
Cronin. Now / want you to look at
them and tell me if you think that
hulking chap could get hands like
those in the subway, let alone per-
sons pocket"
The jury returned a verdict of not
guilty-Boston Traveller.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
Pictorial Hint,

On the retirement of rich manu-
facturer, who had been consistently
stingy in his business career, his
workmen presented him with an IL
Illuminated address, smartly designed
by one of their number.
He was obviously touched by the
gift, and acknowledged it in a neat lit
tie speech.
But there's one thing about it l
can't quite understand" he added.
What does that little sketch in the
corner representa-"
That's a picture of you giving your
workmen supper" the artist ex-
planned.
But 1 never did such thing in my
life!"
Il know that, sir, and my mates said
you never would; but l thought I'd
put it in, just to give you a sportin'
chance of provin' EN- all wrong"
The chance was taken, and the fare
well supper was a great success.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
Ljyinu on a SaaIry.

precarious form of existence, but it is
not always wise for every man to go
into business for himself Some men
are not fitted for that responsibility.
and there are a great many failures
of men who strike out for themselves
without sufficient backing Of capital
or experience. However, If you never
save any money of your salary, you
viii never get ahead financially. You
always viii be the tail of another
mans kite, always stocking to keep
up steam in the boilers of somebody
eIse's usiness-Rochester Sentinel.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04

eF p0' sIckly CONAN, wid er Ill gal
five yeah OF by er fust husban'. He
done beat huh heap o. times befo', but
dis time he boun' ter finish huh. All
reck'n he was too drunk fo' dat, en-
she got erUay en- run down heah. Eft
was wintah time en- dah's snow on de
groun'. Dah's er road f'om de Dome
dat hits de Red Road cIost' ter Rose
wood-dat ar's de cambridge place
en- she come dab. Reck'n she wuz er
pitiful-lookin' obstacle 'Peahs lax
she done put de III gal up in de
cabin lof' en- hid de laddah, en- she
mos crazy TO feah Greet git huh She
lef' he huntin' TO- de young 'un when
she run erway Dey was only Mis-
Judith en- Mis- Shirley en- de gal EN-
line at Rosewood Well, sub, dey
want no time ter SEN TO men. Whut
yo' reck'n Mis- Shirley do? She ain
afeahd O. muffin on dis yerf, en- she
on'y sebenteen yeah OF den, too She
DON tell Mis- Judith-no. sub! She
run out ter de stable en- saddle huh
boss, en- she gallop up dat road ter
Helrs-Half-Acre lax er shot outen er
shovel"
Valiant brought his hands together
sharply. yes, yes" he said. And
them"
When she come ter Greet Kings
cabin, he done foun' de laddah, en- one
er he foots was on de rung. He had
er ak in he han De po' Ill gal was
peepin' down thoo' de cracks O. de
flo, en- prayin' de bestes' she know
how. She say afterwards dat she
reck'n de Good Lawd sen er angel,
TO Mis- Shirley were all in white
she didn' stop ter change huh close.
She didn' say muffin, Mis- Shirley
didn' She on'y lay huh han on Greet
Kings ahm, en- he look at huh face,
en- he drop he ak en- go. Den she
clumb de laddah en- fotch de chile
down in huh aims en- take huh on de
boss en- come back. Dat de way ct
happen, sub"
And Hickey was that little child"
"Yas, sub, she sho' was. IN de
mawnin' er posse done ride up ter
He'll -HaIf-Acre en- take Greet King
in. De majah he argyfy de case TO
de State, en- when he done git thoo',
day mos put de tow eroun' Kings
mex in de co'ot room. He done got
six yeah, en- ct mos broke de majah's
ha'at dat dey couldn' give him no
mo-. He wuz cert'n'y er bad aig, dat
Greet WIZ. Dey say he done sw'ah
he gwineter do up de majah when he
git out"
Such was the story which Uncle
Jefferson told, standing in the door
way. When his shutting step had re-
treated, Valiant went to the table and
picked up a slim fooled volume that
lay there 1t was Lucille" which he
had found IN the hall the night of his
arrival. He opened 1t to page where,
pressed and wrinkled but still retain
ing it's bright red pigment, lay what
had been rose.
He stood looking at it abstractedly,
his nostrils widening to its crushed
spicy scent, then closed it and slipped
it into his pocket.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
MADE UP OF LITTLE THINGS
Small Events Count for Much More In
Life Than Those We Consider
Of Importance.

We love little things, we hate little
things, We fear little things; our lives
are knit up with little things from the
time we are born to the day We die.
Big things draw US up to Heaven or
crush US down to hell Little things
live beside Us on the earth. eat and
sleep with US, laugh and grumble with
US, catch the early train with US. or
make US miss it, irritate and appease
us-never leave US alone for a min
ute.
That is why they are so much more
important than the big things-the
things that only come once in a way,
at long intervals, and even then are
nearly always the result of a hundred
and one little things com bined.
To be crushed by a large misadven-
ture is natural, but TO fall victim to
a series Of petty misfortunes is hu-
initiating There are many who would
prefer TO break their necks once and
for all b. falling of q mountain, than
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
FRIEND WORTH THE KEEPING
European Merchant Showed His Ap-
probation of Newspaper in Sub
stantial Manner.

Nothing pleases a newspaper more
than letters of appreciation from its
readers. The most hardened old edi-
tor will flush up and tears of JOY viii
fill his cynical eyes when Veteran
Subscriber" or Constant Reader"
writes in to say that yesterdays
smashing attack was the best ever.
Here in America letters Of apprecia-
ton are all that any editor can hope
for, Abroad. however. it is different
French editors are frequently reward
ed for good articles by presents Of
roses, gold fountain pens, baskets of
fruit, and so forth.
But nowhere in the world does there
exist such Maecenas of the press as
good old Mr.. Bimbo. the leading pork
dealer Of central Europe.
Mr.. Bimbo lives in Budapest, and q
year ago the Budapest Egyetertes pub
lished an interview with him, which
stated so accurately all his political
views that he sent forthwith to the
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
CHAPTER xlV-continued.

Listen. Shirley. What's that Ric-
key is telling Ranston?"
Don 20 come beah wild 70 no
count Dlay-actin' Cyan fool Ranston
wild no SIGH snel-story, neidah. Ain
no moc'sin at Danny Co'ot, en- neb-
bah vast"
There was. too" insisted Hickey.
"One bit him and Miss Shirley found
him and sent Uncle Jefferson for Doc
tor Southall and it saved his life! So
there. Doctor SCuthalI told Mrs. Ma
son. And he isn't a man who's just
come to fix it up, either; he's the
really truly man that owns it,"
Who on earth is that child talking
about?"
Shirley put her arm around her
mother and kissed her Her heart
was beating quickly. The owner has
come to Damory Court. He"
The small book Mrs. cambridge held
fell to the floor The owner. What
owner?"
Mr. Valiant - Mr. John Valiant.
The son of the man who abandoned
it so long ago" AS she picked up the
fallen volume and put it into her
mothers hands, Shirley was startled
by the Wilderness of her face
DEAREST" she cried. you are iii.
You shouldn't have come down"
No It's nothing. I've been shut
up all day. Go and open the other
window"
Shirley threw it wide. Can l get
fyour salts?" she asked anxiously.
Her mother shook her head mo"
she said, almost sharply. There's
nothing whatever the matter with me-
Only my nerves aren't what they used
to be, | suppose-and snakes always
did get on them. Now, give me the
gist of it first. | can wait for the rest.
There's a tenant at Damory Court.
And his names John-Valiant. And
he was bitten by a moccasin. When?"
This afternoon"
Mrs. Dandridge's voice shook. will
he-will he recOyer?'
"Oh, yes"
Beyond any question:"
The doctor says So"
And you found him. Shirley
your"
Il was there when it happened"
She had crouched down on the rug in
her favorite posture, her coppery hair
against her mothers knee, catching
strange reddish over-tones like molten
metal. from the shaded lamp. Mrs.
cambridge fingered her cane nervous
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04

sung old songs to her. Sad songs!
Even in those pinafore years Shirley
had vaguely realized that pain lay be-
hind the brave gay mask Was there
something = some event = that had
caused that dull-colored life and I'M
fulflment? And was today, perhaps,
it's anniversary?
John Valiant sat propped up on the
library couch, an open magazine I'M
needed on his knee. The reading
stand beside him was a litter of let
tiers I'D papers. The bow window
was open and the honeysuckle breeze
blew about him, lifting his hair and
ruffling the leaves Of the papers. In
the garden three darkies were labor
ing, under the supervision Of Uncle
Jefferson. The unsightly weeds and
lichen were gone from the graveled
pc rs. and from the fountain pool,
whose shaft now spouted slender
spray shivered by the breeze into a
million diamonds, which fell back into
the pool with a tintinabulant trickle
and drip.
The master of DamoTy Court closed
the magazine with a sigh. IF l could
only do it all at once!" he muttered.
1T takes such a COMPOUNDED time.
Four days they've been working now,
and they haven't done much more
than clean up" He laughed. and
threw the magazine at the dog who
lodged it with injured alacrity. After
all, ChJm," he remarked, its been
thirty years getting in this condition.
I guess we're doing pretty we'll"
He stretched luXuriously. III take
a hand at it myself tomorrow. I'm
as right as rain again now, thanks to
Aunt. Daph and the doctor. Some
thing of a crusty citizen, the doctor
but he's all to the good"
A heavy step came along the porch
and Uncle jefferson appeared with a
tray holding a covered dish with a
plate of biscuit and a round jam-pot.
Look here" said John Valiant, 81
had my luncheon three hours ago, I'm
being stuffed like a milk-fed turkey"
The old man smiled widely. FITS
| jes' er lii snack er BROTH he said
"Reck'n eth kinder float eroun' de
yuddah things. Dis yeah pots dat
apple-buttah whut Miss Matte Sue
SEN yo' by Hickey Snyder"
Valiant shifted with satisfaction.
I'm getting so confoundedly spoiled"
he said. that I'm tempted to stay sick
and do nothing but eat. By the way,
Uncle Jefferson, where did Hickey
! come from? Does she belong here?"
mo, sub. She come fom HelTs-
| Half-Acre."
What's that?"
Oats dat ornery passle O. folks
yondah on de Dome" explained I'm
! Gle Jefferson. "Dey's been dab longs
All kin recommembah-jes' er ram
shackle lot O. shifless po-white trash
whut git erlong anyways t all"
That's interesting" said Valiant.
so Hickey belonged there?"
| Vas, sub; nebbah d a-come down
heah 'cep'in' 70 Mis- Shirley. She de
one whut fotch de III gal outen dat
place, en- put huh wild Mis- Matte Sue,
three yeah ergo"
A sudden color came into John Va
liant's cheeks Tell me about 1t. +"
His voice vibrated eagerly.
We'll subj" continued Uncle Jeffer-
| son, "dey was one O. dem low-down
Hells -Half-Acrers. name Greet King.
whut call hese'f de mayah OBJ de
! Dome, en- he went on de rampage one
day, en- took ahtah bis wife She was
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
Trick Of the Orator

Disraeli, whose eloQuenoe Lord Cur
zon ranks below that Of Gladstone,
tried hard TO give his hearers the i'm
preston that he was not in the habit
of preparing his speeches. Discussing
Plunket's oratory with Disraeli, Lord
Granville remarked that the Irish
statesman hesitated so long for a
word that he seemed TO be on the point
of breaking down. Lord bless you"
Disraeli exclaimed. Did that take you
in? Why. that is part of the trick I
have often done it TO make it appear
that my speech has not been pre-
pared
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
SYNOPSIS.

John Valiant, q rich society favorite,
suddenly discovers that the Valiant cor
poration, which his father founded and
which was the principal source CT his
wealth, has failed. He voluntarily turns
over mis- private fortune 10 the receiver
for the corporation. His entire remaining
possessions consist Of an old motor car,
white bull dog and Damory court. neg
Iected estate In Virginia. on the way TO
Dam0ry court he meets Shirley Dand-
ridge. an authenticated beauty. and de
cides that he is going to ike Virginia i'm
Tnensely- Shirley's mother. Mrs. Dand-
ridge. and Major BrisJow exchange rem
iniscences during which It IS revealed
that the major Valiants father, and
man named Sasson were rivals for the
hand Of Mrs. cambridge. in her. youth.
Sasson and Valiant fought a duel on her
account In which the former was killed
Valiant finds DamOTy court overgrow1
with weeds and creepers and the build
ings in a very much neglected condition.
He decides TO rehabilitate the place and
make the land produce a living for him.
Valiant saves Shirley from the bite of
snake, which bites him. Knowing the
deadIiness Of the bite. Shirley sucks the
poison from the wound and saves his life.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
Hook and Eye.

The scene was q teachers training
college; the class one of girls; the lee
turer on phonetics a gentleman with a
nice taste in sarcasm. This sound"
he said, "has for symbol something
even you can all remember--a dress
makers hook; just the ordinary thing
you are all familiar with" AS he
spoke, says the Manchester Guardian.
he drew the symbol in chalk on the
board. and the worried pupils all
laughed. Even they-to borrow the
professors remerk-knew that the
hook" depicted was an eye"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-06-04
AWAY WITH AGE LIMIT
THEORY HAS BEEN PROVED To
BE AN ABSuRDiTY.
Many Notable Instances of Men Who
Have Done Their Best Work
After What Is Looked on
as Middle Ace,

Though Sir William Osler persist
emily denies that he ever advocated
what is known as Oslerism, it is a con-
yenient and euphonious name for a.
theory as to old age, and Oslerism it
Will remain so long as there is life in
that fallacious doctrine. He explains
that in an unguarded moment he
quoted a foolish jest from a forgotten
novel, but being physician he was
taken seriously. However, our SYM
pathy for him should be qualified bv
the fact that his mistake has given
him far wider reputation than any
of his achievements in medical re-
search.
Who utters a joke must bear it's con-
sequences, and these should not be SO
painful to man who had the pleasure
of seeing his mother smile at Oslerism
In her hundredth year, and who at
sixty-fve boasts that he is doing bet
ter work than at thirty.
Gladstone at forty expressed the
opinion that no statesman could be
of real service to his country after
passing the three-scc-e mark, but his
brain was never clearer than when
at eighty he was the most important
factor in British politics.
Some men only begin to live or to
do their best when they have reached
the stage usually spoken of as that
of the sere and yellow leaf Innumer-
able instances might be cited, but per-
haps the most conspicuous is that OF
William de Morgan, the foremost Eng
lish writer Of today, who wrote his
first work at sixty and whose humor
becomes the more youthful the older
he grows.
And here is our own John Bur
roughs, world famed as a naturalist
and author, planning new volumes on
his seventy-seventh birthday. Age
has not withered his imagination nor
weakened his enthusiasm in the cause
of natural history, while his latest
work has all the freshness that
marked the illusions OF two-score
years ago.
It is time that men ceased to limit
not merely their activities, but their
lives as well, because of the supersti-
ton that old age necessarily means
feebleness. Those who are actually
exhausted may not deny the fact,
whether they are forty or eighty, but
there are many who are only victims
of the suggestion that at certain
period they must begin to decline.
7 oh fhCca LOT 0f pIr oh
and others that suggestion can cut
both ways and is just as effective
when conducting to the belief that it is
never too late to dc good work and
enjoy life