davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
BEAUTIFUL AND NUMEROUS
PLANTS

At a recent flower show in New
York there was a most remarkable
collection of insect-eating plants, in
Guiding pitcher plants, nepenthes, sar-
racecia mandaiana and moccasin
flowers. They were brought from Aus
tralia by w. A Manda, formerly cur
Rtor at Harvard university botanical
gardens. Sensitive plants which close
up when they hear sharp sounds we're
also in the group.
A publisher from Buenos Aires,
Brazil, has in his collection some re-
markabIe sensitive plants, among them
an unnamed species which Different
ates between the sound of violin play
ing tremendously and a harsh sound
either too loud or unpleasantly shrill
to be appreciated by the human ear.
In one case the plant apparently
enjoys the sweet music by moving the
petals Of its blossoms slightly, and
on the other hand closing up almost
completely.
Certain varieties of sarracenia are
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15

said not only to eat insects but will
stretch toward the spot where Insects
are. In any event, they have been
found extended in the direction of a
tree upon which insects were feeding
on sap running from an incision.
Persons of wealth are now import
ing fine plants from foreign countries,
and amateur horticulturlsts are now
endeavoring to secure rare varieties
and freak plants.
An American woman, Mrs. Treat,
proved conclusively that leaves of
certain plants could hear insects or
were conscious OF the nearness of in
sects even when there was no con
tact between the plant and the body
Of the insect, and demonstrated it by
pinning a live fly half an inch from a
leaf of sundew, whereupon the leaf
moved itself within the succeeding
two hours near enough to fasten it's
tentacles upon the insect.
Possibly this was due to the sense
Of smell, but the fact that the buzzing
of the fy's wings as it died made q
hum would indicate that the sense of
hearing actuated this carnivorous
plant.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
GiIrs' Camps.

The American girl, while she does
not aspire to large muscles, or the
athletic records of boys, is coming
forward in these days to demand as
her right physical training that will
send her out into life with an endow-
ment Of health sufficient to meet its
demands
DR.. D. A. Sargent, director of the
Harvard gymnasium, tells us that
some twenty or thirty years ago he
had occasion to make a physical ex-
animation of professional athletes.
Nearly every one of these men," he
says, who had become especially dis
tinguished, attributed his ability to
his mothers fine physique" With
out comment upon this unanswerable
argument for the health education Of
women, ne adds another: Although
women constitute one-half of the hui
man race and are largely responsible
for its upbuilding, they have a right
to a health education for their own
sakes."
The camp has opened the way for
others to follow.-Outing.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
BORE RUSHED TO HIS FATE
Doctor Johnson's Scathing ReIoinder
20 Social Pest Who Asked Him
Impairment Questions.

Dean Swift long ago analysed some
of the ways in which people tire each
other in conversation, says the Boston
Herald. The man who talks constant
~ and exclusively about his business,
his ailings, his family, his books, his
Gisfortunes, who always wants to pre-
scribe for his acquaintance or advise
them soon condemns himself to soil
tude even in the midst of numbers
Labeled once with the pregnant mono
syllable, his way clears before him as
| by magic, for others cultivate the
little strategies which keep them out
of range.
Yet any man may become a bore at
times. A good deal depends upon
moods and circumstances. Poetic JUS
tice indeed would require that bores
be extinguished by enforced associa-
ton with their own kind The most
severe social punishment inflicted
upon one of the species by a great
man who had not acquired the fatal
facility which tolerates fools was ad-
ministered by Doctor Johnson. Said
the bore:
My dear doctor, what would you
give to be as young and sprightly as
ann"
Thundered the photographer in re
ply:
why, sir, I would almost be con
tent to be as foolish
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
SHADE FOR THE FARM HOME

An abundance of shade is one of the
Injuries which every farm home can
and should have The city dweller is
often renter and must take things
as they are Or if he owns home,
| the lot is restricted in size, and large
trees are an impossibility. But on
the farm land for a commodious yard
should always be reserved.
Those having a grand old elm,
| maple, or oak to begin with, are for
tunate, indeed. But the idea that
trees planted now of these species will
| be a comfort only to succeeding gen
erations is quite mistake.
Most of the naples, and especially
the sugar and red naples are of rapid
growth, and at a few years at most
will give an abundance of shade.
Do not make the mistake of using
fruit or nut trees in the yard. Both
make a litter at certain seasons, which
renders them a sort of nuisance en-
ATely unnecessary. If you had no
room for an orchard it would be a
different matter You want the yard
for solid comfort, and not as a crop
producer.
Because the city man uses the
horse chestnut for shade, do not follow
his example. He does it because this
tree is low growing and compact-just
the thing where there is little room
either on the ground or in the air.
With your broad expanse a more as
bring species should be chosen. Be-
sides the burs are a nuisance.
There is nothing better on the farm
;awn than native trees. They thrive
admirably, and in every community
there are those we'll worth attention.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
BIG INCREASE Of
FARM PRODUCTS
Province of Alberta Shows In
crease of Over 20 Millions.

Figures just compiled BY the public
it, branch of the provincial depart-
ment show that last year. notwith-
standing that quite third of the prov
ince was affected by the drought to
very serious extent, the total value
OF agricultural products actually pro
duced in the province showed an in
crease of over twenty million dollars
over that of the previous year. Al
though southern Alberta had a bad
year agriculturally, the province as a
whole experienced a period of great
prosperity, due principally to mixed
farming, which is becoming more gen
eral with each succeeding year.
The value of mixed farming, in fact,
was never better illustrated than last
year as the value of the animals
slaughtered and sold alone eQuaIed
the value of the spring wheat crop.
without taking into consideration the
value of the butter, milk, cheese, pouI-
try. vegetables, and other by-products
of the farm.
Oats was the banner grain crop,
1,147,3S2 acres being seeded and pro
ducing 34,397,117 bushels, or S015 to
the acre Sold at an average of SOC
per bushel, these yielded a revenue Of
S17198,558. Comparatively little win
ter wheat was produced, the yield be-
ing a little short Of one million bush
els, but the spring wheat crop
amounted to 15,102,083 bushels, the
yield per acre being 1926. At an aver
age of $1.35 per bushel, the value Of
the spring wheat crop was therefore
$20,387,S12. The total production Of
barley was 7,847, $40 bushels, which, at
55c per bushel, yielded a revenue of
$4,316, 2O2.
Other productions were as follows:
Flax. 2O7,115 bushels, $31O,672.00; rya
261, 843 bushels, $19s,392 90: speItz, 49,
707 bushels, $32.O3O.O0; hay, 100000
tons, $2,500,0O0; potatoes, four million
bushels, 100000; turnips three mil
lion bushels, $75OOOO; carrots, 100000
bushels, $180,000; mangolds, $4,000
bushels, $4,000; animals slaughtered
and sold S20,000,000; butter and
cheese, $1,5OO,OOO; milk, 100000;
wool clip. 100000 pounds, 100000;
fish, $19500O; game and furs, $780,
600; horticultural products, $150OOO;
poultry and products, $2,65O.0O0
The total of the agricultural prod
ucts is given as $7S,516,891, as com
pared with $58,O98,O84 in 1913.
The statistics also show that the
value of the live stock in the province
at the end of the year was $11O,O44,-
$50, this being an increase of $7762.-
845 over the previous year There
were 609125 horses, 75O,789 swine,
SOL ,188 sheep, 192,9O5 dairy COWS, 1885,
035 other COWS, l9O,923 beef cattle and
$4,000 other Observation-Disclosures
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
she was No Labor Saver

A travelling man was eating in a
stuffy little restaurant one very hot
summer day. There were no screens
at the windows or the door. The pro-
prietress herself waited on her Gus
toners and shooed flies from the table
at the same time. Her energetic but
vain efforts attracted the attention
and reused the sympathy of the traY-
cling man, who said:
Would it not be better to have
your windows and the door screened?"
Well yes, I s'pose that would help
some, replied the woman, after think
ing a moment, but 'twouId look
mighty lazy ke."-Youth's Com
panion.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
NoProblenl to
Solve
Copyright, 1915. By ". G. chapmanJ
e n Il Il 81 Il II Il II 4 4
By H. NJ. EGBERT


Some men at the club had brought
up the old problem of wife versus
mother. Which should a man save,
if he were struggling with them in
the water? Then it was that Merrill
told this story:
"Sotheby had been out boating
with his fancee, Evelyn, and her lit
tie crippled sister, Mollie," he said.
q think that problem was still harder.
Ordinarily, Of course, his duty would
have been to save his fancee. but Mol
lie was Iame-had been so from birth.
She could walk, after a fashion, but
she couldn't have swan, and she was
far too fraiI and delicate to swim for
her life in such a tide as Eight Mile
race.
he knew Evelyn could swim like
a fish, too. The girls were staying at
North Cliff when he went to see them.
He had met Evelyn a few weeks be
fore, in town. He knew she and her
sister were orphans. They had hard
" a relative in the world. Sotheby had
become engaged week or two before,
and he was madly in love with Eve
Ign, and the envy of all the other
men who admired her dashing beauty.
I think his predicament was worse.
1t was about half mile to the land,
and Evelyn could probably have made
it. MoIlie was helpless. Sotheby did
not know what to do. He acted or
impulse. He saved MolIie.
He never knew how the boat had
overturned. He was trying to bring
the tiller around and let the boom go
when they found themselves in the
water. and clinging to the overturned
boat, which was drifting rapidly out
to sea.
He saw Evelyn struggling beside
him, and Mollie sinking Quick as a
fash Sotheby grabbed MoIlte by the
hair. He lost sight of Evelyn. He
knew he could not save both girls, and
he could not let Mollie go. Alternate
ly swimming and treading water, he
managed, in utter exhaustion, to get
Mollie ashore. Then he tainted
He awakened in Z fisherman's cot
tage. MOllie was upstairs and doing
well. The next day he saw her He
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
SETTLED THE WHOLE MATTER
Visitors Explanations for Wanting to
Leave Were Many, but Only One
Really Vital.

Yes, ] really must 60 tomorrow.
You can just as well stay till Mon
day.
But the folks are expecting me"
Telegraph them you are going to
stay,
I'm sorry. but if I stay I'm liable
to lose thousand dollars on that deal
I told you Of"
oh, pshaw, the deal can wait a few
days.
My manager has written me that
my business needs my attention"
Yes, but he is only afraid to as
sumo little responsibility. The bust
ness viii be all right"
There is an important meeting Of
the directors that I really must at
tend"
"Oh, they'll get along all right with
out you.
You know how much I'd like to
stay, but the fact is my railroad ticket
runs out tomorrow"
Well, in that case, I suppose you
viii have to 90. Be sure and come up
to see US again in a month or two"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
His Own Fault.

There had been an accident on the
worst railroad in the United States.
You know the name of the road as
well as l do, so what's the use of
risking libel suit by mentioning it?'
The sole survivor of the wreck was
sitting up in his hospital cot swathed
in bandages. Il suppose you're going
to sue the company for damages. .
said the friend at his bedside.
No" said the damaged one. 81 shall
do nothing of the kind"
why not? You've certainly got
a clear case against them"
Clear case, nothing! Any intelli-
gent jury in the world would bring
in verdict of contributory negIi-
gence. l ought to have known better
than to travel on the blamed line"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
Iamb as a Sacrifice.

In some Serbian districts every
master of household gives a lamb to
church one day each year. a wax
taper is lighted and fastened to the
head of the animal, and it is taken
to the church door. The priest then
recites a prayer over the lamb, in
which he asks that the business OF the
owner may prosper. At the conclu-
sion OF the ceremony the animal is
killed, its flesh being roasted and
eaten by the owners family, and the
skin is presented to the priest.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15

The maple in some form is widely
disseminated. Its leaf is graceful in
outline, the flowers and fruit are
dainty, and the tree is charming in
its autumn dress.
The catalpa is a favoTite in parts
of the West because Of its quick
growth. The flowers are also dainty.
Yet there is never the stability of the
oak, and the hammock is prefera-
bly, hung from a more sturdy speci-
men.
The tulip tree or white wood is
one of the best of our native species,
the queerly cut leaves, tulip-shaped
flowers with their beautiful orange
crescents marking each petal, and COM
pact forms rendering them most use
full shade trees. The tree is a relative
to the magnolia, and one of our most
valuable timber trees.
The Eastwood, so serviceable as
bee pasturage, and several of the oaks
are satisfactory and highly recon-
mended. In fact, when lamenting
that you cannot afford to pay high
prices to nurseryman, just go to
your own woods and select a few tall,
straight specimens. As they can be
replanted at once there is no danger
of injury through exposure of the
roots. They are in the best possible
condition to grow.
Do not neglect to include one or two
evergreens, for the birds if not for
yourself. They do so enjoy the shelter
of the leafy branches when caught i'll
a belated snowstorm. The hemlock
and cedar are the most pleasing of
this class, their slender branches be-
ing much more graceful than the stiff
spruces. By all means avoid the
pines. Their gummy nature may lead
to the ruin Of valuable clothing.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
moth of Polar Dau

The length Of day at the poles of
the earth, i. E., the time during which
a portion Of the sun is continuously
visible, is about one half a year plus
four days, or 1877 days. The additional
four days is added to the half year if
We count sunrise as the time at which
the upper edge or limb Of the sun Just
begins to be visible on the horizon, and
sunset as the time at which the upper
edge is last visible; this additional
time being necessary on account of re-
fraction and the suns semi-diameter.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
Growth of Judgment

Nobody's judgment is good without
development. One who forms the hab-
it of accepting the opinions of others,
who allows his path to be marked out
for him by interested friends, cannot
expect that his judgment will be any
thing but feeble, like an unused mus
Gle. Only by thinking does one learn
to think. Only by deciding does one
master the power of wise decision.
Judgment must have regular exercise
to become worthy of dependence.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15

had not dared to ask about his fiancee;
everybody knew she was drowned. To
his establishment MoIlie seemed al
most unconceTned.
1t was a tiny fishing village, and
the tragedy, though it stirred the
place, was not widely reported After
Mollie and he had recovered the girl
gave up the little cottage and went
home.
You must let me come an see
you, for Evelyn's sake, said Sotheby.
He was rather astonished when
MoIlie resoIuteIy refused. I bear you
no i'll will, Jack, and I owe you my
life, she said. But I feel that it
would be impossible after-what has
happened
The girls uncanny calmness
shocked John. However, there was
nothing to do but acquiesce. 1t was a
year before he saw Mollie again. They
met on Fifth avenue, and the recogni-
ton was mutual. Mollie told Jack
Sotheby that she was living with an
old aunt in an apartment uptown.
That had been a hard period for
Sotheby. He knew that the shadow
over his life would deepen rather than
disappear, as the years went on. And
yet, strangely enough, he began to
realize that he had not truly loved
Evelyn. Their meeting and engage
ment had been rapid, and there had
been no communion of tastes between
them. 1t had been infatuation, and,
in spite of the tragedy, Jack thought
of Evelyn as an episode in his life,
rather than his lost love.
When he looked at Mollie he was
conscious of a sudden awakening of
interest in the frail girl, whose beauty
had developed until she seemed a
replica of Evelyn-less dashing, less
vivacious, but the Evelyn whom he
would have loved rather than the one
he had known.
I am coming to see you, Mollie,
he said. And this time the girl did not
refuse.
Weeks passed. Their intimacy deep
ened. The girl was becoming very dear
to Sotheby. At last the day arrived
when he felt that the shadow which
hung over them ought to be lifted.
'MoIlie,' he said, taking the girls
hands in his. I want TO tell you, dear,
that I love you. l want to ask you
to be my wife. I feel that you and
have something inseparable, some
thing that makes our lives one. It is
Evelyn, and yet I never cared for Eve
Ign as l love you.
The girl looked at him, and then, to
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
The Real Thing.

The furniture man drove up to the
door. ard the new extension dining
room table was carried in.
Little Willie stood watching as his
father and mother, one at each end
pulled the table apart His eyes grew
big as his father put one board after
another IN place until the table was
double its original leTSgth.
"Gee!" said Willie at last. q al
ways thought addition tables was only
something in the arithmetic book.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
To Mend Wall Cracks,

Wall cracks may be mended in two
ways. Stir whiting into mixture Of
equal parts Of water and silicate of
soda until Of consistency to spread.
Apply with a knife, let harden for if
teen minutes, and smooth of. Or mix
plaster Of paris with vinegar instead
OF water. As it viii not set for Is
minutes, it can be smoothed of be-
fore it is hard.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
Without Prejudice.

A party of young men and women,
members of a sketching club, were
motoring along a country road. Just
within the fence on the left grew in
Vulnerable graceful stalks, each bear
ing globes of pale green that shaded
into gray and purple
How enchanting!" exclaimed one
young woman.
DO tell us" said another young
woman, equally enthusiastic, to a
gardener standing near, what those
beau-Oo-tiful things are?"
Them? Them's onions gone to
seed" - Pittsburgh Chronicle-Tele-
graph.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
Cold With kits,

A Boston man recently returned
from London tells of standing, in a
raw March wind, alongside of two
English girls as a regiment Of High
landers marched past. IF l we're a
man." he heard one of the girls say,
I'D be a soldier"
so would l." replied the other, but
I'd join a regiment that wore trousers
In the winter. Boston Transcript
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
Was Too Clever.

James Payn, the novelist, remarked
of one woman who used to say the
most brilliant things in conversation
that if she had only devoted half the
time she spent in thinking Of them TO
considering whether the brilliant
things would be in good taste and not
arouse i'll feeling, she would nave
been ten times more popular As it
vas she was cot voted delightful
person by any means.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
H}Sh Time.

The home team had two-run lead
at the end of the eighth inning, but
when the visitors went to bat in the
ninth, a base on balls and two fla
grant errors by infielders filed the
bases with no one out
AS the champion slugger of the Wis
iting team stepped to the plate, Mr.
Phan rose from his seat in the grand
stand and hurried toward the exit.
Where are you going?" asked a
friend. The game isn't over yet"
Il know it" said Phan, disgustedly.
I'm going home and eat my dinner
before those bushers spoil my appe
tite."
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
Truly ; Remarkable "BuII ("

Humor expresses itself in action as
we'll as words. The Irish rebels of 1898
enacted a bull" of a remarkable kind.
They wished to annoy John Beresford,
a banker. So, forgetting that every
bank note that is lost relieves bank
Of liability, they collected at great ex-
pense a pile Of Beresford paper money
and burned it with great sound and
fury.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
EleVatino the Standard

You don't seem to have the trou-
bic over your baseball games that
you used to have" remarked the visi-
tor at Crimson Gulch.
NO" replied Three Finger Sam.
1--WE made new rule that keeps
everything nice an orderly Nobody
but the umpire is allowed to carry a
gun"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
NeIicafa Ground

What is to be the subject of your
graduating essay, Clarice?"
Beyond the Alps Lies Italy Do
you think l could venture to use
that?"
why not? 1t has been used be-
fore with a modicum of success"
81 know, but things are so tangled
just now. Would it seem to indicate
a disregard of the requirements of
strict neutrality. think you?'-Puck.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
Would Waste Nothin1.

woman was engaging a cook. and,
having almost brought the interview
TO a successful termination, said:
There is one thing, Mary; l do
hope you are not wasteful."
"Wasteful, NUM- Why, Lor' bless
you, I'd eat till l busted rather than
waste anything"
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15
Cement From Beets.

It is now reported that French
firm is making an excellent cement
from a by-product in the process OF
making beet sugar. The scum that
forms when the beets are boiled, and
which has heretofore been thrown
away, consists largely Of carbonate Of
lime and water, and from 10000 tons
of beet treated 1900 tons of carbonate
of lime are obtained; to this LOO tons
of clay are added, the resulting pro-
duct being 3,162 tons of excellent &C.
ment.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-15

The scum is pumped into large
tanks, where it is allowed TO dry par
TALLY; fnely-divided clay is then
mixed with it; the mixture is thorough
" amalgamated by heaters for an hour
and burned in a rotary kiln, much in
the same way as Portland cement.
The clinker is then removed and pull
verified into cement.