davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

afterward, called Goldsmith an "idiot."
DIR. johnson contracted an inveterate
dislike to sustain intellectual exertion, and
wondered how any one could write except
for money, and never, or very rarely, wrote
from any more elevated impulse than the
stern pressure of want. "Who will say"
says Richard Cumberland, "that johnson
himself would have been such a champion
in literature, such front-rank soldier in
the fields of fame, if he had not been
pressed into the service, and driven on to
glory with the bayonet of sharp necessity
pointed at his back2 If fortune had turn
ed him into field Of clover, he would have
laid down and rolled in it. The mere
manual labor of writing would not have
allowed his lassitude and love of ease to
have taken the pen out of the ink
horn, unless the cravings of hunger had
reminded him that he must fill the sheet
before he saw the table cloth. x X :
He would have put up prayers for early
rising, and laid in bed all day, and with
the most active resolutions possible, beer
the most indolent mortal living.
l have heard that illustrious scholar asser
that he subsisted himself for considerabl,
space of time upon the scanty pittance o
four-pence halfpenny per day. How
melancholy to reflect that his vast trunl
and stimulating appetite were to be sup
ported by what will barely feed the weane,
infantw No wonder he so often screenet
himself when he ate, or, later in life, los
his temper with Mrs. Thrale when sh
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

BOoKs.--"I have ever gained the most
profit and the most pleasure also from the
books which have made me think the
most; and when the difficulties have once
been overcome, these are the books which
have struck the deepest root, not only in
my memory and understanding, but like,
wise in my affections. God be thanked
for books? They are the voices of the dis
tant and the dead, and make us heirs of
the spiritual life of past ages. Books are
true Jewelers.. They bring to all who faith
fully use them in society, the spiritual
presence of the best and greatest of our
race. No matter how poor am, no matter
though the prosperous of my own time will
not enter my obscure dwelling, if the
sacred writers will enter and take up theil
abode under my roof; if Milton will cross
my threshold to sing to me of Paradise, anG
Shakespeare to open to me the world o
imagination and the workings of the human
heart, and Franklin to enrich me with hi
practical wisdom, shall not pine for wan
Of intellectual companionship, and ma!
become cultivated man, though excluded
from what is called the best society in tn
place where live.'
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

TR1FLEs.-The world is made up of trifes.
The grand movements Of great events, and
the changes of Empires, are founded in
causes, very generally, which would be
pronounced triAes by the world. Yes,
"trifes light as air" have led to some Of
the most important discoveries we have
The fall of an apple gave Newton the clue
to gravitation; the rising up of the lid of a
tea-kettle gave us our railroads, steamboats,,
ocean steamers, and thousand other
things, not to speak of the press-that,
combined, put the world centuries ahead
in the mysteries of the universe and the
purposes of God. To the observation of a
flower dimly pictured on stone, we owe
the philosophical researches in chemistry
and light which ultimately gave us the
daguereotype.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

A BOYS OPINION OF SHEEP.-A sheep is q
usefuller animal than any other animal
Their skins is made inter pelts for drum
heads, and also inter banjo-heads, and inter
beanslings. Bibles. is sometimes bound
in sheep-skins. I'd ruther have the Boys
and Girls Weekly than have a Bible you bet.
The fat of sheep is made inter mutton
taller, and the rest of the sheep is spring
lam. One can allus tell sheep from hog
cos they never squeal. Hogs allus generally
comes from Ohio.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03
Victor Eugo's Belief in Immortality.

At dinner party of 6cratc,ers it Paris,
recently, Victor Hugo gave free expression,
in the presence of several atheists, of his
firm belief in the Infinite, and in the souls
Immortality. To the latter the distinguish
ed poet said with enthusiasm, his face the
while frightening up with heavenly
halo:
"There are no occult forces there are
only luminous forces. Occult force is
chaos, the luminous force is God. Man is
an infinitely little copy of God; this is
glory enough for man. l am a man, an
invisible atom, drop in the ocean, grain
of sand on the shore. Little as | am,
feel the God in me, because | can also
bring form out of my chaos. make
books, which are creations. feel in my
self the future life. | am like a forest
which has been more than once cut down.
The new shoots are stronger and livelier
than ever. / am rising, l know, toward
| the sky. The earth gives me its generous
sap, but heaven lights me with the rehec.
tion of unknown worlds. You say the soul
is nothing but the resultant of bodily
powers. Why then is my soul the more
luminous when my bodily powers begin
to fail? Winter is on my head and eter
nal spring is in my heart There breathG
at this hour the fragrance of the lilacs, the
violets and the roses, as at twenty years
The nearer approach the end, the PLANES
hear around me the immortal symphonic
of the worlds which invite me- 1t is mar
velous, yet simple. 1t is fairy tale, anC
it is history. For half a century l hav,
been writing my thoughts in prose anC
verse !. history, philosophy, drama, ro
nance, tradition, satire, ode, and song
have tried all. But I feel have not saiC
the thousandth part of what is in me
When 60 down to the grave l can say
like so many others, have finished m
days work. but ! cannot say, Il hav
finished my life.' My days work will begi
again the next morning The tomb is nc
blind alley; it is a thoroughfare. l clos
on the twilight to open with the dawn"
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

AN UNTOwARD REsULT--The Norwich
Conn., Bulletin says: "An uptown man,
who believes in selfimprovemcnt, suggested
to his wife recently that they should argue
some question frankly and freely every
evening, and try to learn more of each
other. The question for the first night
happened to be whether a woman could be
expected to get along without a spring hat
and he took the affirmative but when he
was last seen he had climbed up into the
hay-loft and was pulling the ladder up after
him."
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

Avery and Mcdonald, the convicted
Whiskey Ring thieves, were being taken
from st. Louis to the prison when the
following conversation occurred Avery
said: "My God, Mcdonald, this is q
damned outrage! 1t is an internal shame
to crush an innocent man this way. l
have always been religious man. l am a
Christian, and am going to pray God
Almighty to see this thing right" To
which Mcdonald replied: "Avery, if you
expect to keep out of the penitentiary by
praying, you had better get at it damned
quick, for we shall be on the way in less
than twenty minutes"
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

CURED OF PEEPNG.-A Davenport drum
mer got into trouble at De Witt Hotel,
not long ago. He just lay down on the
floor and stuck his head into stove-pipe
hole to ovserve the movements of the
occupants of the room below him, man
and his wife, who were preparing to retire
The woman saw the Paul Pry and shriked
and the irate husband caught him by the
hair and pulled him down through the
stove-pipe hole, all but his feet, which
wouldn't come through. The operation
removed enough hide from the drummer
to start lanyard, and he says he viii
never, no never, peep any more, if his skin
will only grow on enough for him to weal
clothes.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

A young mother, while dressing a very
young child, few days ago, said in rather
an impatient tone, "You are such queer
shaped lump of a thing, it is impossible to
make anything fit you" The lips of the
child quivered, and looking up with tears
in its eyes, it said, in deprecating tone,
aGod made me- The mother wasrebuked,
and the little lump was kissed dozen
times
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

THE WOoLwICH RAILwAY.-In an article
in the Quarterly Revieo, an English
magazine, in 1925, it is said "What can be
more palpably absurd and ridiculous than
the prospect held out of locomotives
travelling hoice as fast as stage coaches! We
should as soon expect the people of Wool
wich to suffer themselves to be fired off
upon one of Congreve's ricochet rockets,
as trust ourselves to the mercy of such a
machine, going at such a rate. We will
back old Father Thames against the Wool
wich Railway for any sum. We trust that
Parliament will, in all railways it may sane
ton, limit the speed to eight or nine mila&ar
hour, which, we entirely agree with Mr.
Silvertree, is as great as can be ventured on
with safety" This is quite contrast when
compared with mail trains running at sirt3
miles an hourl The renowned Quarterly
with all its wisdom, missed the mark in a
| least the above named instance. We have
no doubt there are some makers of book
who would claim that they also missed i
in other instances.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

HABIT.-"I trust everything under God,"
said Lord Brougham, "to habit, upon
which in all ages, the lawgiver, as well as
the schoolmaster, has mainly placed his
reliance; habit which makes everything
easy,. and casts all difficulties upon the
deviation from wonted course. Make
sobriety habit, and intemperance will be
hateful; make prudence habit, and reck-
less proAigacy will be as contrary to the
nature of the child, grown or adult, as the
most atrocious crimes are to any of your
loard ships. Give child the habit of
sacredly regarding the truth; of carefully
respecting the property of others; OF
scrupulously abstaining from all acts OF
improvidence which can invole him in
distress, and he will just as likely think of
rushing into an element in which he
cannot breathe, as of lying, cheating or
swearing"
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

Get up at five o'clock in the morning and
tell your wife you are going to dig in the
garden, and breakfast on oatmeal mush,
and get healthy and strong. As she stands
looking on and admiring your physical
strength, and you are sure you can never
spade up another row without fainting,
ask her why she don't go in and get the
shad fried; and then you can sneak out of
the back gate for cocktail. Always make
your good resolutions in spring time.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

A tramp" writes to the Providence
Journal of his profession as composed " of
men who go from place to place through
the country, gathering and disseminating,
of course great amount of useful infor-
nation, relying mainly upon the public
hospitality for their temporary main
tenance, never wearing out their welcome
by long sojourn in one place, never inter
fering in politics, carefully and conscien-
tiously abstaining from all agitation of the
labor question in any of its phases. y
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

"'You see, said the respondent man,
some people has good luck and some
people has bad luck. Now, | remember,
once | was walking along the street with
Tom Jellicks and he went down one side
of it and went down on the other. We
hadn't got more'n halfway down when he
found pocket book with $2l6 in it and l
stepped on woman's dress and got
acquainted with my present wife. 'n--Ns'O
Orleans Republican.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

God required the Jews always to pay
those who had been working for them
before The sun rent doWn. How kind and
tender God is to think about the poor and
take care Of them in this wayi
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

"Ma," observed Blobb's little child
reAectively, the other night, as the first
stars came out, "don't you think that
when those stars twinkle that way they
must tickle the angels feet ?''
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

TIE VERDIcT.-The coroner, in summing
up a recent case, pointed out to the jury
that there was no evidence whatever that
the deceased had come to her end by foul
play, and therefore there was nothing else
for them to do but to return verdict of
Death by the visitation of Cod The
jury, however, thought it dgnifed to retire
for consideration. They dared not, of
course, give a verdict right in the teeth of
the coroner's summing up, and so, after
long consultation, this is how they satisfied
their own consciences and the demands of
justice: ave find that the deceased died
by the visitation of God, Jm endcr the most
suspicious circumstances"
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

We should practice temperance, if it
were for nothing else but the very pleasure
of it; it is the glory of a man that hath
abundance, to live as reason, not as appetite
directs.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

STAMMERING.-A gentleman who stam-
mered from childhood almost up to man
hood gives a very simple remedy for the
misfortune. "Go into room where you
will be quiet and alone, get some book that
will interest but not excite you, and sit
down and read two hours aloud TO yourself,
keeping your teeth together. Do the same
thing every two or three days, or once a
week if very tiresome, always taking care
to read slowly and distinctly, moving the
lips but not the teeth. Then, when con-
versing with others, try to speak as slowly
and distinctly as possible, and make up
your mind that you will not stammer.
Well, | tried this remedy, not having much
faith in it, must confess, but willing to do
almost anything to cure myself of such an
annoying difficulty. l read for two hours
aloud with my teeth together The first
was to make my tongue and jaws ache,
that is while was reading, and the next to
make me feel as if something had loosened
my talking apparatus, for | could speak
with less difficulty Immediately. The
change was so great that every one who
knew me remarked it. l repeated the
remedy every five or six days for month
and then at longer intervals until cured
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

The spring-time has come, gentle Annie,
and the industrious housewife arms herself
with a,bellows full Of insect powder and
sets forth to hunt the bounding bed-bug.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

Wonders will never cease. The other
day we heard that horse was turned into
a stable And this is in the boasted nine
teenth century.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03
Messrs. Water and Oil

MCSSIo. " tlVCI uIIU OII
One day had broil,
As down in the glass they were dropping.
And would not unite,
But continued to fight,
without any prospect of stopping.
Mr.. Pearlash o'erheard,
And quick as a word,
He jumped in the midst of the clashing;
When allthree agreed,
And united with speed,
And Soap came out ready for washing.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

Who was the straightest man in the
Bible? Joseph, for Pharaoh wanted to
make ruler of him.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

can homes"
ALTITUDE FAscINALIoN.-Jumping from
points of elevation is a fashion of suicide.
To stand on an elevated site exercises
singular fascination over some people,
leading them to jump into the air. 1t
causes others to perspire and tremble with
fear. Last summer | talked with the
guardian of the steeple of the Cathedral at
Strasburg on this subject, and he informed
me that few visitors were free from the
feeling of fright on reaching the first
terrace, which is of great altitude, and that
twas so pronounced as to generally prevent
them from going any higher. Sometimes
the women tainted. l confess l was not
free from vague dread in looking out
over the immense reach of landcape which
this view takes in, although there was
absolutely no danger, the terrace being
securely guarded by strong iron rails.
This man of the upper air-the guardian
or guide-informed me that the summer
before an Englishman had tainted, but
continued to ascend every day for a week,
until he could look out in the direction OF
the Black Forest, from the lantern, with
equainimity. During the summer a man
had jumped into the air through altitude
fascination. He was probably dead before
reaching the ground, on account Of the i'm
mense height from which he hurled him
self. Formerly the vendome Column wa
the scene of so many deaths of this kinC
that decree was issued to prevent visitor
from ascending it unless accompanied by
guardian. 1t was the Tarpeian Rock Q
Paris. Such number have killed them
selves from the fascination of altidute, 0
the fright produced thereby, that elevate
places must be recognized as dangerous fo
certain people. Those whose selfkilling
, premeditated of course are not comprise
therein.-Galaay.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03
WHOLE NO. 1,O97.

THE BURNING OF THE GREELEY HOMESTEAD.
Tho dwelling of the late Horace Greeley,
which has so long been pointed out to
travellers on the Harlem railroad as an
object of interest, about the time the con-
ductor sung out "Chappaqua," was totally
destroyed by fire on Friday evening of last
week. The building had been unoccupied
and unfurnished some years, and was being
placed in repair for Colonel and Mrs. Smith,
(nee Ida Greeley who intended residing
there during the summer. There is reason
to apprehend that several rare books and
documents were in the house and have
been destroyed by the flames. Mr.. Greeley
occupied this house for nearly twenty
! years.
Smyrna times., 1876-05-03

The fretted slave of the Greek household,
and the idle toy and doll of the age of
Chesterfield, has given place to a better
idea; and we go forward with Gods help
to find the true woman in the free Ameri-
can homes"
The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-05
RAILROADS.

FAVE Composed Of the
Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw R'y.
Gin, Lafayette & Chicago R.R.
indianapolis, Gin, & Lafay'eR.R
Is the Direct Route from
BURLINGTON, :KEOKUK AND PEORIA
LOUISVILLE NASHVILLE
MEMPHIS
COLUMBUS NEwAR
GAINESVILLE
PITTsBuRG WASHINGTON
BALTIMORE
PHILADELPHIA NEW YORK
BOSTON
Also
Chicago, Detroit. Toledo, Cleveland, Buffalo
And to all points in the
EAST, SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST
The attention Of the travelling public is called to
the following superior advantages offered by this
Route: ...
Unrivaled tor Speed and Safety. Unexeelled in its
Equipments! Magnificent Tracki New Steel
Rails Luxurious Reclining Chair Cars!
Miller Platform. We.tiLhouse
Air Brakel
And in TACT every modern appliance which caIcu-
lated to Increase the comfort x safety of Passengers
Magnificent Sleeping Cars are run on night trains
splendid Day Coaches on day trains Chicago and
tlegant Reclining Chair Cars evening trains to
INDIANAPOLIS & CINCINNATI without change
| BY this rouie passengers will avoid delays and
dlsagreeabie Omnibus transfers through large cities
which maxi it especially desirable for old people
and those not accustomed to travelidg and for La
dies travelling alone Gentlemanly and courteous
Conductors OF this route always ready 10 antic-
| ipate the wants OF passengers.
Through tickets can be obtained at the Offices of
| all connt citing Roads. Baggage checked through
Be and ask for ticket reading. via 1T p &
W." Route, from Burlington, Keokuk or Peoria
| A L. HOPKINS, Receiver,
| II. G. TOWNSEND, Gen. Pass. & TktAgt reoria'
| For further information in regard to Freight or
Passenger BusIness, address
w. r. CRUMPTON
| General Western Agent,
| 101 Main Street, Burlington. Iowa.
The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-05

escapement time piece, of careful construction
QUALITY GUARANTEED Novel, tasteful and
attractive in style and in every respect article of
superior exec lence.
IT WILL Run IN ANY Position. and will be OF
especial value to the traveller. They are suitable
for the Library, the Family Room, the Dining
Room, the Sleeping Room, tae Shop, the Store, the
Saloon, and the Cabin.
Sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price.
S. b. JEROME Il CO.,
New Haven, Conn.
The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-05

Eastern trains leave Indianapolis via p C & st L
Riy, AS A III, for Columbus, Pittsburgh and New
NJ for Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, New ORG and
Boston.
The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-05
an ORDINANC
Relating to the lighting of Streets, Public
Grounds, Buildings and Offices of the
City of Rock Island with gas.

SECTION /. BE ii ordained 6ythe city Council Of
the City Of Rock ISkdtd. hat Sylvester Watts, Car
roll E. Cray, and AIbert b. Bowman. of St Louis,
Mo, their ASSOCIATE s, sIccessO ami assigns. shall
furnish gas the CITY of Rock Island for the IL
offices of said city and said city hereby binds Itself
the gas manufactured by the grantees, their
associates. successors aud in. in all its street
lamps, public grounds. buildings and Offices where
any gas l. nsed, at the prices and tie
matter specific G, towit: The price for supplying
with gas, lighting eXtinguish hing. cleaning and re-
pairing the street lamps that now owned or
shall hereafter be erected used by said CITY, sha
he Forty Dollars per lamp pei annum payable
monthly. The gas be furnished for the street
lamps shall be fixed, permanent, merchantabIe
gas of fourteen "a standard candle power Ia 3.
street lamps to be provided with ive-foot burners
Street lamps shall he lighted one hour af er sun
sets or one-half hour before moon SETS, and shall
be eXtinguished one hour before rises or one
half hour after moon rises and shall be lighted
other lines when kts are necessary The price for
gas 10 be supplied by said Watts. Gray and Bowman
for in the public grounds. buildings and offices
shall be THREE (3 Dollars per thousand cubic OF
the standard aforesaid.
SEC.s2. In consideration Of the large reduction
from the price at present paid for gas and the ben
ets to be derived by the city of Rock Island from
the terms and conditions hereinbefore recited the
city, by its Mayor and Common Council, hereby
agrees that this contract shall extend and be in
force for tire term Of ten years from nd after the
time said Watts, Gray and Bowman shall com
| mence the supply OF gas.
Passed May 81. 1876.
Approved ". p. BUTLER Mayor
Attest: 5 K. COOKE, City Clerk 1d3t