davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
Trials Of Newspaper Men.

One of the greatest trials of the news
paper profession is that its members are
compelled to see more of the shams of
the world than any other profession.
Through every newspaper Office, day
after day, go all the weaknesses of the
world; all the vanities that want to be
pulled; all the reven9es that want TO be
reaped; all the mistakes that want to be
corrected; all the dull speakers who want
to be thought eloquent; all the meanness
that wants to get its wares noticed gratis
in the editorial columns, in order to save
the tax of the advertising columns; all
the men who want to be set right who
were never right all the crack Drained
philosophers with stories as long as their
hair, and as gloomy az their fnger-nsils
in mourning because bereft of soap-all
the bores who come to stay five minutes,
but talk five hours.
Through the editorial and reportorial
rooms all the follies and shams of the
world are seen day after day. and the
temptation is to believe in neither God,
man nor woman. 1t is no surprise to me
that in this profession there are some
skeptical men; only wonder that jour
nalists believe anything. WIT Tat
maze.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
Gambling on the Weather.

They have no pools in Amer, India,
neither any laws prohibiting pool-sell-
ing, neither any horse regattas,
baseball matches nor Presidential cleo
tons whereon to bet. Therefore the
residents bet on the weather, first con-
sulting certain local seers of great re-
pute for their weather wisdom. After
the straight tip" has been purchased
from one of the prophets, the buyer
commences believing that he will take
or lay certain odds about the fall of rain
within given time. The ordinary quo
tations are sixteen TO one against heavy
rain coming down within twenty-four
hours, eight to one against light
shower happening, and longer odds in
both cases as the time is reduced. When
the weather happens to be exceptionally
variable, the whole street becomes
blocked by an excited throng of gam
blers. AS the hour approaches for the
majority of the bets to be decided the
more nervous gamblers are heard offer
ing their chances of winning at heavy
discount. This allows the weather
prophets an opportunity of hedging y
at considerable. advantage, and it fire.
quently happens that the book of an old
seer will show certainty of gain whether
rain falls or not. With "Old Proba-
bilities" over there, how the man who
read the weather reports Mt Calcutta or
Bombay and his agent at Amer could
scoop in the unwary natives
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
A Russian Hail-StOrm.

A correspondent of the London Times
describes a terrible hail-storm which
swept over Tifis short time ago. The
first indication of bad weather was the
approach of thunderstorm, which was
followed by deep gloom, as a black
mass of cloud was seen approaching the
town from the southwest. A grateful
puff of air became in the course of few
seconds violent squat, and soon the air
was full of hailstones two inches in di-
ameter, and weighing an ounce. The
hailstones fell in thousands, being driven
by the wind with the velocity of snow
ball thrown by an able-bodied school
boy. They were composed of hard ice
in concentric layers, alternating with a
white and less transparent ice, and a
crystalline structure consisting of radial
spicule. Houses exposed to the south
west suffered the most, the windows rat
tied to the music of the hail, and one
crash after another announced their fates
in succession. In one case clean hole
was made in pane Of glass as if it had
been pierced by bullet. The bonn
bardment lasted for five or ten minutes,
and then rain began to fall in torrents.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
How Prairie.DOgs Get Water.

1t has always been subject of curl
osity and inquiry as to how and where
prairie-dogs, living on the prairie far
away from any river or stream, obtain
their water. Mr.. f. Leech, formerly of
Mercer county, Pa, now of Ogalalla,
Neb., and frontiersman of experience,
assures me that the dogs dig their own
wells, each village having one with a
concealed opening. 1t matters not how
far down the water may be, the dogs
will keep on digging until they reach it.
He knows of one such well 200 feet deep,
and having circular staircase leading
down to it. Every time a dog wants a
drink he has to descend this staircase,
which, considering the distance, is no
mean task. In digging for water the
animals display as much pluck as in re-
sisting the efforts of the settlers to expel
them from the land of their progenitors.
Nebraska Cor. Chicago Journal.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27

An Account OF One of the Most Destruc-
tive Han-storms on Record.


tive Hail-storms on Record.
From the New York Tribune.l
The losses by the furious hail-storm
that recently swept over Rodman, Green
Settlement, Adams Center, and the ad-
jacent region in Jefferson county, N. Y,
foot up to 100000. This is principally
suffered by farmers, many of whom are
ruined. A gentleman who was in Adams
Center during the storm describes the
scene as having been terrible.
The storm came from the southwest.
Hail fell for thirty minutes in vast guam
titles. The stones were of enormous
size, some of them weighing half a
pound, and measuring nine inches In
circumference. They covered the
ground nearly foot deep. Many per-
sons who were caught in the storm were
badly injured before they could find
shelter. One man was driving team
near the village, and was 80 badly hurt
before he could leave his wagon and
crawl in under a bridge that he CHANGED
to be crossing that it was feared he would
die. A young man named Green was hit
in the head by one of the hail-stones, in
reaching out of his door to secure large
one that had fallen near, and was rem
dered unconscious. Some of the hail
stones were sharp, square pieces of ice,
some as large as three or four inches.
Horses and cattle were killed in
the fields, and growing crops. orchards
and gardens utterly ruined for miles.
Washburn's Hotel. Alsop Block and
Hungerford Collegiate Institute were
damaged to the extent of several thou
sand dollars. Expensive memorial win
dows in the church at Adams were de-
stroyed. Not less than 10000 panes of
glass were broken in the church. The
damage in Adams and vicinity is $50, 900.
After the storm it took an hour to clear
the sidewalks and streets of the accumu-
lation of hailstones. The village pre-
scented an appearance of the utmoCt ruin.
Branches of trees filed yards and streets,
and chickens, geese, pigs and dogs were
strewn on every side, and every vestige
of vegetation was destroyed. The little
village of Green Settlement was almost
demolished, and great suffering existed
among the people. For five miles
around the completeness OF the ruin pre-
sents itself.
At Rodman the storm of hail lasted
fifteen minutes, and was followed by o
deluging rain which lasted as long. A
scene similar to that at Adams followed
ruin and desolation on every hand.
The damage is $40, 900 in Rodman. The
storm there, although occurring stimuli
taneously with that Mt Adams, seems tc
have been distinct from 1T, as it came
from the southwest. while the Adams
visitation was from the northwest.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
Died for England.

This is the great Turkish cemetery of
Scutari. 1t is said that the entire pop
ulation of Constantinople does not ex-
coed twentieth part of the dead that
sleep under those Expresses. 1t is a
wilderness of trees set SO close together
that their branches are matted overhead,
and scarcely ray of sunlight penetrates
them. Not far away is another
battle-ground, vastly different in all
particulars. 1t is open to the sunshine,
a green lawn sloping to the sea, and
planted with roses and willows and
the vow. The white stones glisten
among the foliage; everything is as trim
and tidy and decent-looking as one
wishes it to be. There are costly tombs
and modest ones, and in the center is q
memorial column with sculptured angels
supporting it; but there is q billowy
waste of green mounds with no
stones to tell their tale, and
there sleep 5000 nameless dead
who died for England. There are rows
of graves with simple headstones on
which are recorded few lines full of
agony. You read again and again these
inscriptions in memory of young officers,
with ages ranging from Is to 20 years,
who bravely fell at this or that battle,
or wasted in the hospital, or who died at
sea. These stones are usually "erected
by his comrades" and they all lie within
sight of that hospital, now barrack,
where Florence Nightingale did her
labor of love. The afternoon sleeps on
that hallowed slope; the waves sing be-
low it. The islands hang like clouds
upon the face of the waters, and STAN
boul unveils her splendor, which is mir
rored in the tranquil sea. Turning
from all this sensuous beauty, my eye
falls upon a solitary slab. 1t bears in
bold relief an inscription that takes me
by storm. L think OF the flower of En-
gland, young, brave, impetuous, hurled
upon the fire of the enemy and ignomin-
iously sacrificed, and l read again that
last appeal of one of those ill-fated lads,
and l believe that such a prayer will
not pass unheeded-it only is this: 81
am thine-save me !"-COnstantinoplt
Cor. San Francisco Chronicle.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
A White Army.

An English correspondent with the
Russian army invading Bulgaria says !:
" The white caps showed in dense
mass among the willow trees of the
Argis it was as if mighty host was
pouring through the little plain, so far
stretched the concourse of stalwart SOL
diers. This army is a white army now.
white to the last shred, save facings and
boots. Officers and men wear a loose
white canvas blouse, which is the per-
lection of campaigning garment for
warm weather. The white of it is not
pronounced as to dazzle in the sunshine.
nor do the dust of the roads and the
stains OF the bivouac foul it into absolute
dinginess. 1t can be washed and dried
in an hour"
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
How Mr.. Fly Takes a Wash.

The toilet of the fly is as carefully at
tended to as that of the most frivolous of
human insects. With a contempt for the
looking glass-an article which he re-
serves for the most ignoble uses-he
brushes himself up and wabbles his little
round head, chuck full of vanity, wher-
ever he happens to be. Sometimes,
after long day of dissipation and fiirt-
ing, with his six small legs and little
round body all soiled with strip and
butter and cream, he passes out of the
dining-room and wings his way to the
clean white cord along which the morn
ing-glories climb, and IN this retired spot,
needless of the crafty spider that is
practicing gymnastics few feet above
him, he proceeds to purify and sweeten
himself for the refreshing repose and soft
dreams of the balmy summer night, 30
necessary to one who is expected to be
early at breakfast. 1t is wonderful
toilet. Resting himself on his front and
middle legs, he throws his hind legs rap
idly over his body, binding down his
frail wings for an instant with the pres
sure, then raking them over with back
ward motion, which he repeats until they
are bright and clear. Then he pushes
the two legs along his body under the
wings, giving that queer structure a
thorough currying, every now and then
throwing the legs out and rubbing them
together to remove what he has collected
from his corporal surface. Next he goes
to work upon his van. Resting on his
hind legs and middle legs, he raises his
two forelegs and begins a vigorous scrap
ing of his head and shoulders, using his
proboscis every little while to push the
accumulation from his limbs. At times
he is so energetic that it seems as if he
were trying to pull his head off, but no
fly ever committed suicide. Some of
his motions very much resemble those
of pussy ut her toilet. 1t is plain, even
to the naked eye, that he does his work
thoroughly, for when he has finished he
looks like new fly, so clean and neat
has he made himself within few min
utes. The white cord is defiled, but
Floppy is himself again, and he bids the
morning-glories very good evening"
Louisville COurier-JOurnal.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
Honesty Proclaimed.

The last number of the Paris Droit
contains five official notices of probity,
the names and addresses of the honest
folk thus commended being given in
full. A workman had picked up gold
watch and handed it to policeman, who
managed to discover its owner aud re-
turn it to him; brakeman had acted
similarly with valuable gold medal !; a
photographer who found an $50 pin had
sought out the owner and returned it to
him railway porter had turned over
to the marie a 81 900 package of checks
payable to order, and a house-servant
had restored q pocket-book containing
81, 900 to it's owner. In all these cases a
reward was declined.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27

Douglas Frazar, in Harper's Maya
zine for August, gives instructions how
to fish for trout: Always fish down a
stream. In fishing up stream the bait is
continually coming home to ones feet
after every cast, and the nearer it APP
proaches the person, the less chance OF a
bite. II is best TO wade in the bed of
the stream, as by this means one can
keep the bait in the water for long dis
tances without making a cast. Give up
up all idea of using artificial flies; there
is usually no chance to cast them, and
very few fish will rise to them. Use a
light jointed pole, not over twelve feet
in length, with delicate running gear and
small, compact reel; small hooks, gagged
OH silkworm gut. Put no lead on your
line, as it kills the artistic and natural
motion of your bait. Use angle
worms, and these may be much improved
by being kept few days on clean moss
in an uncovered, large-mouthed bottle.
In batting the point of your hook it had
better not be covered. Take a worm by
tine middle and pierce the hook through
a small portion, say half an inch; then
put on another in the same way at the
same time. There is great science in
batting, and it chiefly rests in the skill
of having the worms lively, and with the
extremities left dangling. When you
have bite, do not pull at all, but strike
your fish, as it is called. This is done
by motion of the wrist, sharp. short,
abrupt; not jerk, a motion which is
commenced sharply, but ends almost in
stantly and abruptly. Be in no hurry
to land him; you can do it at your leis-
ure, stepping back to sure foundation
before raising your fish gently from the
water. The great mistake made by
those who do not understand this sport
is to pull the moment they have bite.
The result usually is to see the trout
wind himself round about some limb
overhead, or, il he fail to be hooked,
which is often the case in pulling, TO see
the bait and hook in the same position.
Remember that trout are very shy, and,
once having disturbed them, it is useless
to fish for them. OF course every fish
erman will differ with Mr.. Frazar on
more or less of these points.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
The Devil to Paw.

This phrase, doubtless, originated in a
printing Office on some Saturday nights
settlement of weekly wages. "John, !"
says the publisher to the bookkeeper,
chow stands the cash account ?" "Small
balance on hand, SIR" Lets see, y
rejoined the publisher, chow far that
will go toward satisfying the hands.
John began to figure automatically; so
much due to Potkins, 50 much to Typus,
80 much to Grubble, and 30 on, through
a dozen dittos. The publisher stands
aghast. ",rhere is not money enough
by Jug full. /" "No, sir; and besides
there is the devil to pay r.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
POLICIES IN FORCE.
The following table shows the number and
amount of policies in force in Michigan since
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS.

The companies represented in this State dur
ing the wear 1876 received from their entire
business an income amounting to 1896, 1886, 1853.
or this amount $72, 020, 578 was IN premiums,
sos. sos. 723 interest, other sources S312,6 62.
The total disbursements during 1876 were
s76. 963, 122. OF this amount there was paid
for losses and claims S25, $40, OF; dividends and
disbursements to policy-holders, S37, 416 1889;
dividends to stockholders, 1868, 799, and man
agement expenses, $l3, $50, 222.
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.
The net assets of these companies Dec. 81,
1876 we're 1886. 731 500. The general balance
sheet shows the total admitted assets to be
s4O0, 1872 $50, and the total liabilities, including
surplus to policy-holders (S5S, 495, $3.50, to be-
800, 1892 259.
EXPENSES OF INSURANCE BUREAU.
The total expenses Of Commissioner Rows
office, including, OF course, both life and fire
insurance business, for salaries, printing. post
age etc, were So 1875 in the year 1876 in
1875, 1865 in 1874, 1896.
INSURANCE TAXES RECEIVED.
The amount OF revenue brought into the
State treasury from the tax on fire and life i'm
sllrance premdms depends somewhat on the
energy and faithfuness with which the Com
missioner performs his duty. II 1876 the total
receipts from this source were S97, 1886 in 1875.
S123,477 ; in 1874, $l07,273. A law passed in
1875 reduced the taxation on life insurance
premiums from 3 TO 2 per cent. annually.
This, with the "hard times" accounts for al
most the entire falling off from 1875 to 1876, az
the life-insurance tax dropped between the two
years S25,770
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
Large Wheat Yield.

A farmer named Long, who resides
several miles south of this city, begun to
harvest-his wheat, twenty-acre field of
nice grain. Being in want of cash, he
shelled some of the grain and took a
sample of il to miller and asked what
he would give for his crop per sample.
He struck bargain at 1.65 per bushel.
On inquiring how much his crop would
yield, Mr.. Long said it ought to be fully
400 bushels. But he was most agreeably
astonished when the threshing was COM
pleted, and the grain measured in the
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
Personals.

Murphy, the temperance agitator, is in
Chicago. Gen. Sherman will remain in
the West until fall. Barnum is in Eu-
rope. Bob Ingersoll is having a lively
time in San Francisco, lecturing against
Christianity and being answered by the
clergymen. Prof. Bell, the telephone
inventor, is to be married soon, and after
ward will go to Europe. Brick Pomeroy
is lecturing in Texas. Gen. Mcclellan
has gone to Maine for vacation. Mrs.
II. b. Stowe will summer at Rye beach.
William Lloyd Garrison is made much
of in London. Gen. Comly's little
daughter is dead, and his wife is very i'll
in Washington. Secretary Schurz has
moved to Edgewood, the former residence
of Chief Justice Chase. DR.. w. W..
Patton, of Chicago, will enter on
the duties of President of Howard
University, Washington, in Sep
TENDER. Edwin Booth may de-
eide to rest next season. Senator Hill,
A. S. Abel, of the Baltimore San, and
ex-Gov. Walker, of Virginia, are at
White Sulphur Springs, w. Va. The
Rev. Robert Laird Collier has gone to
Europe. Jubal Early has been trying
to cure his rheumatism at Hot Springs,
Ark. Ex-Gov. Chamberlain will spend
the remainder of the summer at West
Brookfeld, Mass. Orpheus G. Kerr i:
still failing in health. Gen. Butler has
gone on a sea voyage for pleasure. Gen.
Hooker is at Martha's Vineyard. Stew.
art l.. Woodford was lionized on the
Fourth at Senator Lamar's home, in Mis-
sissippi. John Z. Owens is very i'll a
his residence at Towsontown, Md. JET
ferson Davis has been engaged to lectur,
in Atlanta next fall. Ex-senator Bout
well is at Hampton beach, N. H.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
Singular Railroad Accident.

A Mr.. Croft was travelling with his
wife and child to Market Marlboro, in
England, by the Northwestern railway,
and four miles from Grove he changed
places with her, in consequence of a
draught. Immediately afterwsrd bar of
iron protruded into the carriage, and
swept her head clean off, taking it two
compartments away, and leaving her
sitting upright. At the same time also
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27

field, and it turned out to be almost 800
bushels instead of 400, yielding almost
forty bushels to the acre. Mr.. Long in
forms us that there are number of
fields of wheat in his region which are
quite as heavy, or heavier than his
Ddyt0n (Ohio) Democrat.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27

tiser. Suspectfng his method or cure, 1
sent TO him and procured several bottles
of his sopium antidote, Upon examin-
ing them Chemically, ascertained that
each bottle corresponding to its num-
ber) contained a decreasing amount OF
morphine; henceh he curesby my method.
But the patient can just as well cure
himself, thus avoiding an enormous
price for morphine, that he can purchase
in New York of the wholesale druggist
ut one-twentieth the amount"
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
Railway Construction.

An interesting article on railway con-
struction in the first half of 1877 ap-
pears in the RaiLWay Age. In most
cases the length of the track actually
laid to July l is given. Following is a
summary of the construction in twenty
three States and one Territory:
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27

the carriage was all torn TO shreds. Mr.
Croft and five other persons in the car
riage had marvelously narrow escapes !.
There were no persons in the other COM
partments of the carriage. The bar of
iron protruded from passing luggage
train
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
Curing the Opinm Habit.

A New York physician cures the opium
habit ON the tapering-off" plan. He
writes to the ,SVn: "There are several
doctors who advertise extensively their
opium-habit cure One of the most
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27

Considering the financial condition of
the country, and the general distrust of
railway investments, the Railway Age
regards this showing as somewhat re-
markable, especially as it excels the total
for the first six months of any year since
1873. A comparison upon this ground
stands about as follows:
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27

In every year noted the ck.laying
in the first six months has amounted to
only from one-third to one-fifth of the
new mileage for the entire year, and if
this rule continues to prevail the railway
building in 1877 may reach 5000 miles
ormore. According to Poor's Manual, "
the number of miles of new road opened
was:
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27

PHILADELPHIA spends $4,000 daily in
postage.
The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27
PREMIUM RECEIPTS.

The following table shows the number Of com
panies represented and their premium receipts
In Michigan from 1861 to 1876 inclusive:
The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-17
THE COURTS.
United states Circuit Court

J.. H. Porter w. Schooner Sea With, which was
q suit for towage service. Judge Woods yester-
day decided that towage was privilege, and gave
Judgment that the proceeds OF tie sale of the
schooner be applied frat to the satisfaction Of
plaintiff g claim.
In the case OF United States Va. Il. g. Denee,
indicted In the fraudulent cotton cases. the de-
murrer to the indictment was overruled; also
in the case OF A. 2. Nobom.
Briokham Il Moore vs. Thos. Walden. Verdict
for plaintiffs for $6375 81.
The United States District Attorney represent
ed to the court that one James Lyon alias DAILY,
is now in the Parish Prison, charged with coun-
terfeiting and further that it is believed he Is the
same as Jas. Murphy, indicted In Ohio, the
Judge ordered that he be brought into court for
identification to-day.
United States vs. Manuel Trigo, charged with
having In his possession cigars unstsmped, was
found guilty, and was sentenced to ak months in
the Parish Prison and 500 fine.