davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

An Episcopal clergyman of Hartford
says that he was agreeably surprised to sec
present at the beautiful, but somewhat
rituolistic, Christmas-eve service in his own
church on the last Sunday of 1876 dis
tinguished Hartford gentleman who was
brought up as a Puritan of Puritans, and
whose leanings are anything but ritualistic
although he, in common with ali who
know tho man, has profound regard fol
the rector personally. A day or two after
the rector met his friend, and at once pro
ceeded to express his pleased surprise al
the latter's presence at church. ooh no
Don't thank me-" was the retort. GAL
though l was strictly brought up, was
never enjoincd from attending places ot
amusement on Sunday evening""
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06
VOLUME XXIIT.--NO. |.
I WOULD NOT, IF I COULD.
would not dic my INST

would not dig my past
Up from its grave of weakness ami regret
Up from its hopes-which glimmered but to set
Its dreams, that could not last
Yet can look before,
And profit by the lessons sadly learned;
As children, playing by the fire. are burned,
And tempt its glow 10 more.
would not, if could
Live DER again this dark, uncertain life
This slipping backward in the daily strife
Ofreaching after good
Yet can know how weak
Are all below, and so sweet charity
VIII cling and grow about each form see,
And thus to me will speak:
would not open ont
That half healed wounds of other years, long fed
'Twere better they were numbered with dead
Better than fear or doubt.
Yet can truly say,
Let the dead past bury its dead. We
So swiftly onward TO life's sunset glow
And then there is no day!
Life is too short to waste
III vain repinings or in weak regrets;
The strongest heart endures and never frcts
Ger Joys it may not taste.
And he who can so on
Brayely and firmly in the allotted way,
Gaining new strength with every darkcned ray,
Shall surely reach the dawn.
And 50 l would not lift
Up from the grave the shadows of my past;
The clouds that all my sky once overcast
Into the night may drift.
For there's enough to fill
Each hour and moment of the days to come;
Then wherefore WOO the shadows to Our home?
The valleys to our hill?
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06
A Warning to Literary Men,

There is a subject Of profound interest
which ought to be noted from other than
professional or scientifc-rathcr, indeed,
from a social-point Of view. 1t cannot
have escaped observation that, within the
last few years, dire mortality has taken
place among the most brilliant and promis.
ing OF our younger race OF literary men-if
that odious phrase must be employed.
Names need not be mcntioncd-b they
will recur to many mcmories-of men who
have been cut off exactly when life was in
its meridian, and when their genius, or
talent, was in the full prospect of 4
triumph. Now, in the last century this
would have been attributed to dcbauchcry,
drinking, and the other idle habits Of Il
dissoute, spcndthrift, unscrupulous life.
But it is not SO in the present day. The
evil is that men OF eXcitable intellectual
temperament, belonging 10 little excu-
siyn clubs, never care for rest, turn their
nights into days, royel on strong coffee and
stronger tea, and 60 to bed in the dawn,
with a swim Of conversation in their heads.
1t would be safe to say, in respect Of some
late melancholy cases, that this is the true
story of them all. Unnatural lives are led,
and the penalty is paid in an early, un.
timely, disaster-bringing death. OF course
It IS painful to point moral OF the kind ;
yet the truth of it will not be denied any
where, and the multitude Of examples
cannot possibly be passed by without com
miseration. We hear of men writing with
wet towels wrapped about their heads,
smoking themselves into excitement over
their tasks, almost initiating the sad ex-
cesses of DeQuinccy, and doing in the dawn
the work they should have done in the
evening; but does no responsibility attach
to all this?-L0nd0a EcLe.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

POLITICs IN THE SoUTH.-The New York
Tribune on this subject has the following re-
marks:
Though the negro may be safe in his
person and property, yet for some time to
come he will not be recognized as the
political equal of the whites, and will not
be permitted under any circumstances to
regain political power. He may be fairly
treated in the courts and the schools; he
will not be fairly treated at the polls.
Probably we shall hear little more shotgun
campaigns and masked riders; but the
negro majorities will melt away; the color.
ed people will be discouraged" from
voting; they will be strongly confirmed in
the belief, already gaining ground with
them, that politics for black folks will not
pay, and that they will find it easier to gel
work and make friends if they lot the
affairs of government alone. Ways enough
will be found to nullify the provisions Of
the enforcement acts without infringing
upon the boundaries indicated in the re
cent decisions of the Supreme Court. The
State election laws will be unassailcd b,
Federal authority; and yet it will be fount
that negro suffrage is to all intents anC
purposes abolished whenever it threatens
to lead to the restoration of a negro anC
carpetbag administration. If the whites
cannot keep in power by fair means, the!
will not hesitate to secure themselves b,
fraud.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

CHEAP BUT RESPECTABLE APARTMENTs-
Mr.. Alfred 7. White, philanthropic citizen
of Brooklyn, New York, has recently built
block Of houses in that city capable of
accommodating forty families, with suits of
rooms containing everything requisite for
comfort and separate maintenance of the
families occupying them. The rooms are
we'll aired and furnished with all necessary
appliances for health and cleanliness. The
rent which the landlord receives fiom a
suit Of four rooms averages one dollar and
seventy cents a week, which may seem a
ridiculously small sum, yet the gross income
from this investment reaches twelve pei
cent, or twiceas much as landlords generally
can get for their property,
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

Whitefeld often affirmed that he would
rather have a church with ten men in ii
right with God than one with five hundred
at whom the world laughs in its sleeves.
Not long ago heard church member who
had failed four times, and paid only ten
cents on the dollar, and who had three
times assigned his property TO relatives in
an Infamous manner. He was making a
speech in summer evening devotional
gathering, the shutters of the basement OF
the church were open, and the quick, sharp
boys of the Common were within hearing.
This religious man was saying: 81 am OF
the opinion that our congregation should
all alone maintain missionary on some
foreign shore. For such purpose l will
myself give a hundred dollars" "Tcn
cents on the dollar" said boy outside
". 7. Observer.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

Tue action Of DR.. Cuyler's church New
York; in suspending prominent member
for notorious dishonesty has elected a great
deal Of comment, as though it were very
unusual thing for church to do. 1t is
certainly to be hoped that such acts of
discipline are not SO rare as the notice this
one receives would imply. But it is easy
to sec how small and struggling church
might be tempted to relax its discipline in
view of members past liberality and
prospective assistance; and even how a
strong one might shrink from suspending a
member who was bound 10 it bv many
tender ties, and for an act committed
under powerful pressure Of circumstan-
ces perhaps. But it is of the utmost i'm.
portance in these days of financial loose
ness to emphasize the moralities of the
Gospel, and make it distinctly understood
that Christianity and righteousness are
one. And if it were moro frequently and
fervently urged on the conscience of the
Christian community, that poverty is
neither sin nor fault, and that poor
people are not to be dispised nor even
pitied, but i'll many cases deserve to be
treated with far more respect and honor
than their rich neighbors, it might possibly
do something to check tho prevalent craze
for wealth which leads so many of oul
people to sacrifice health, home, conscience
and even reason.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

PAsTEEOAED BAEEHLs.-Iarols Of paste
board have been introduced j.4is sp,;ng for
the packing Of woc!icnsan fyys. These
arc seamless and regarded as moth proof.
The head, which fits down snugly, is the
only available entrance 70, The meth, and
directions are given 10 PASTE layer Of
brown paper over this almost invisible line
when the barrel is packed. Sell your
camphor and ruin the drug store.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

Miss Harper, the Vice-Regent from
Maryland of the Mount Vernon Associa-
ton, is strikingly handsome woman.
She is a granddaughter of Charles Carroll
of Carrollton, and niece of three famous
American beauties who went abroad and
married English noblemen-one the Duke
of Leeds, another the Marquis of Wellesley,
and third Lord Stafford. Miss Harper
lives in Baltimore, opposite the Cathedral,
and her house is crowded with everything
rare and beautiful; adorned with bric-a.
brac OF the choicest kind, and furnished by
articles valuable on account of their asso.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. so full of memories
that you can sit and listen by the hour in
any room in her house to the most delight.
ful histories Of this chair, that bed, of a
table, picture, or a dressing. table.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

Two friends Just married were, = few days
ago, discussing raptureusIy, as they con-
graduated each other the merits and
charms of their spouses. Said one; My
wife has got the lovcliest head of hair
ever saw, even On tie hairrcnoyator labels.
When sho let's her hair down, the ends fall
to the floor" That's no.h;ns." replied
the other. "When my wife lets down her
hair, it all falls to the floor"
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

" l am afraid it is mixed goods" said the
lady to the clerk. "Oh no, madam; i'm
possibleW replied the polite gentleman
"all our camels'-hair shawls are made OF
pure silk direct from the worm"
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

As we grow older each step has an in
ward awakening. The youth awakes as he
thinks from childhood; the full.grown
man despises the pursuits of youth as
visionary the old man looks on manhood
as feverish dream.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

OF all the loves on earth the one most
like the divine love is that of the good
mother-so unselish, unforgetting, watch
ful, consideratO, free from jealousy, and
desiring the good of her children far more
than her own happiness.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06
A. -Ludicrous Mistake.

a correspondent Of the Bostcn Jo.uual re-
latoa the following:
The little suites Of rooms at the National
Hotel open upon little halls, uniform in ap-
pcaIance, connected by long corridors, and
are all furnished alike. One night Senator
Mangum Of North Carolina, then President
pro t'mporc of the Senate, a dicnifcd gen
ticman of the old school, had lust returned
from party, when Gov. Upham, Senator
from Vermont, came in without an ccrc-
mony and took a seat. The two cLatted
away on politics, the weather, the social
amusement, &C., until the clock on the
mantei-shelf struck one. Really, Gov.
Upham,' said Mangum, ~ am always
pleased to see you, but l really believe it is
getting very late" "I have thought 50
for some time," replied Upham, but he
made no movement. Providently the
halfhour sounded, and Mangum remark
ed: 9 thought, Gov. Upham, that you had
decided to go to bed, sir?" $50 had, Mr..
President" answered the Vermonter. vet
he did not bulge. Mangum stared at him
in amazoment, and at last plainly said
" But why don't you so to your room, Gov
Upham? 1t will soon be o'clock = MY
room, Mr. President! why, this is my
room, and | have been waiting for you tc
so away for two hours past" Mangum
sprang to his feet, looked into the sleeping
room adjacent, and found that he was in
Upham's room instead of his own.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

Our enjoyment consists IN pursuits, not
in attainment. Attainmcn; is with us, for
the most part, the grave Of pleasure. Had
we no object TO excite fresh activity,
and impel us to new tolls human life would
quickly stagnato in melancholy indihtr-
cncn
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

"Dicll, why don't you turn that buffalo
robe t'other side out? The hair side is
the warmest." "Bah Tom, don't you sup.
pose the animal knew how 10 wear his own
hide? ?"
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

Mr. James Russell Lowell tells this story:
One morning his butcher SPOKE Of q lovely
moonlight night, and just as the poet was
attributing to him unloohr,.:or Refinement
of soul the man added: Tho night was
so fine l jest couldn't sleep. anJ had to set
up and so to ki!lin'."
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

a girl who can put square patch on
pair of pantaloons may not be SO accom-
plished as one who can work green
worsted dog on yellow ground, bnt she is
of more real value in the community.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

In what place are two heads better than
one?-In barrel,
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

Nearly one million people are suffering
from the famine in India.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

A witness for tha pros ecu .:,n il q mvr-
der case was thus 4ues,ioae. bY Ills honor
:" You say you saw The .n.n shot at and
lilled?"
eyes, sir"
You said, l think, jhat the charge
struck the deceased on his body between
the diaphram and the duod.num?'
"No, sir; didn'tsay no suoA tAin.,
said he was shot between The hog pen and
the wood house."
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

Have tho courage to &c occasionally
that which you can i'll i,ri 10 spare;
giving what you 10 no; vent nor value
neither brings nor deserves thanks in re-
turn. Who is grateful fora driui, Of water
from anothcr's ovcsHowin.. wei, however
delicious the draught?
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06
" HOLE 1 I.@y.
'-s-ar'-'..z zs-,-. --s-f.--


\ boy WIG. a-ar......
and this IS what ho .ay .T.a. ..l..
frogs, but more ,~..::..l @..1 "a. j. c..a.
to think Of it, frogs j. ,.at.... a....
Wich toads IS no.ed lor c.a .5 r..1d. f..
they IS cronic,l; bu, j. co... III. g.. .y.,l
Ide stay in the aou+c. My -~@4I..Lc.
knew toad wich somebody had .@uoG Ill
il was folks, wcn its 1naste. wished i ,sos.G
come for flies. Ih>y cu,a.5 en- v.,l.
their tong which is oMe like long ro3
wum, but more U@oH.oa.-, only luoiia
hain't got 10 gum OH, il. I'll. a: vi. be
standin rubin is ai"d H.. ,......... =. ....l a
thinkin wot @ fine l.. III as ..o :9.:. q
scttin some dl-tMee a~y b.. L w.s
asleep. Thcn the toaI .t@ j.,,,s gp III ...
soIlcn out Of ms eye. ..." ~. a-.l ,,...
become Of that fl: but s.., ,..,. .e e..
IT,"
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

Theodore T!}tcn made IL G>2t.ons
the other day i. >an Fran -,-oo u.3n tie
ephomeraI character e Ell MIA. opinion.
"Obscryo." he r,marlci or-aey.ni was
received On his SCOOP visit otl". country.
Why, he played e@e i..gAt ~o city ta2
33S house. WA could 1:. Ills ca3i-
ness and believe thu. t:.o i laaa o'>ly
faw years hotoro "..w - WI. t..t r,s.lo
wcr" TUNED away from Tie 5oor* ..t-r.
had an e%rcyio ce .'alo- s;l@.iM il
seems to be impossible 81. any one 10 hold
popularity for az" great .-u ia Q. timo 10
matter how great H. og .ao may y..
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

\ New WALL pAr~r.-.ti "ov proposed
in Germany e make ".u r...r which viii
adapt itself to thoa -rn. .. "ra.,ua,.oa Of
the room, becoming dlr'..e d. HE ro3u Is
more lit up and The p.' I
Ze.aa..y suggests T. tAisoal .~ ."'n-at pr
coated with oXa.e,e q car Fl, which ac-s
in the manner above described (. is fo-
leyed that very b. ana .arcl o->etf Of
color and shade may II L. "-y n Y.o-
Iuccd on wall pa. r., oni n.yoa Other
materials.
Smyrna times., 1877-06-06

\ TH.cEIIa-.L3 Josl..--. 4.,ylcl
woman stepped j. II. l..'@. is t..- -.o..
on south Illinois ..o.J Ii. o-a...,... a....
asked the price Of ".5.- 49,. .y~"
" Why" said III. I.,-4.. ..a dom.
chew, do YOU"
"No sah! 1 doesn't c!,.,... wants ]. ID
send to my husband"
"Whcle is your husband
Wei, hes up Norl.
Whereabouts up North
"Why up-wo4, hes il. ....."
" Why" said III. I@.'o... '...;.,.l was the
mattcr?"
"Won," said She, -.a@.s was some M
undcrstandin' aLou. some harness. al. lie
couldn't explain it. uu"e...p3 K, lut
he couldn't make Ge Cote u...eg .all' IT,
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-05-28

Lord Northington, one day while
out walking, picked up handsome
ring, and was Immediately accosted by
the gentleman who had lost it, who In
vited the Chancellor to drink bottle
of wine with him. They went to a
neighboring tavern and discussed the
news of the day over their bottle. Soon
friends of the gentleman entered, the
conversation became general, and a
game Of hazard was proposed, but one
of the company objected, in an under
tone, but loud enough to be heard by
the Chancellor. "pick the old fats
pockets at once" The Chancellor then
discovered himself, and requested them
to tell him why they took him to be a
fat. One of them replied: awe beg
your lordship's pardon, but whenever
we see gentleman in white stockings,
on dirty day, we consider him reg
ular pigeon and pluck his feathers" /"
1t has been suggested that this is the
origin of the word "blackleg" as ap-
piled to gamblers.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-05-28
BIRDS NESTS.

The best way to find nests is to watch
bird while building; in that way,
moreover, you are sure to see them in
their best condition, and to know when
the eggs are fresh. It requires patience;
but you see the workers return again
and again to the same spot, and little
closer inspection usually completes your
knowledge, though you may sometimes
be deceived or nonplused by the caution
and cunning of the architects. You
will facilitate your work by scattering
cottonwood, horse-hairs, straws, string,
worsted, and cloth where they will at
tract the attention of the birds about
you. Put them on your lawn or on the
piazza vines, and watch them. A robin
comes to carry off the string, and hav-
ing used up what you have provided,
and liking the material, attacks long
piece wound round stake, and sup
porting a gladiOlus. By persistent ef-
fort he frees part of it, but the harder
that he pulls at the rest. the tighter he
ties the knot around the stake, and the
string is becoming entangled with his
legs; he fights twenty minutes, and
then gives it up. Sparrows pick up
hairs and straws from the lawn, and
warblers come to the vines for cotton
wool, passing fearlessly within three
feet of your chair then they come back
to break off little twigs and to peel off
shreds of dry bark from the honeysuckle
A pair of golden robins-the male with
black and orange, the female with yell
low and duller backbone for string,
worsted, and thread; but beware of them,
for they are thieves. Leave your knit
ting under the tree there for five min
utes, and it is gone; you will find it
week later, part irrevocably woven
into the hanging nest, and part
dangling with the needle in it. The
weaving is so cleverly done that you
wonder whether the orioles haven't used
your needles. Not at. all, madam; |
defy you to produce with your imple-
ments such piece of work as these
birds have produced with their bills.
Successful experiments have been made
by supplying the orioles, in the tree
where they are occupied, with bright
silks and worsteds, which they employ
altogether, if literally provided, SO that
very gay and party-colored nest may
swing in your orchard where you can
see it from the house Wilson says
that an old lady, to whom he showed an
orioles nest in which piece of dry
grass, thirteen inches loug, was passed
through thirty four times, asked him,
half in earnest, If the birds couldn't
be taught to darn stockings.-H. d.
Manot IN Harper's Magazine.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-05-28


A few months ago Russian peasant
and his wife and four children, while
travelling in sleigh along the banks
of the Pruth, were pursued by pack
of wolves. The peasant urged on the
horses, but soon saw that the wolves
were fast gaining upon him. At the
moment when the sleigh was surround
ed by the rayening beasts, the man
seized one of the children, threw it in
the midst of them, and while the wolves
were struggling over their prey he hast
ened on his horses and gained ground.
Four times the wolves came up with the
fugitives, and four times the horrible
sacrifice was repeated. At last the
peasant and his wife arrived at the
nearest village. leaving behind them
the bones of their four children. In
the bitterness of her despair the mother
informed against her husband, but the
Judges considering that if the peasant
had not resigned himself to the horrible
sacrifice he would not only have lost his
children, but also his wife, acquitted
the prisoner.
Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-05-28
ssHON. r.. b. HAYES.o

A friend hands us the following,
which appeared in the chronological
Journal in 1867 !; and though much has
been written and said about the Presi-
dent, some of the people still have an
interest in the "rising. young states
man.:
Mr.. Hayes is good-sized, well-formed
man. He is between the extremes of
large and small. or lean and stout. He
is every way well made, has hand
some head on rather handsome body,
and face which would introduce him
favorably anywhere. His complexion
is light, skin horid, temperament COM
posed of the vitalmotive and mental in
almost equal proportions. He is neither
too fast nor too slow, excitable or slug
gish, but he is at once sufficiently ener-
getic, original, comprehensive, dignifed.
and resolute. He is more profound
than snowy. and has more application
than versatility. He will finish what
he begins, and make thorough work.
He has hopeful. happy, loving nature
is eminently social. fond of home and
all that belongs thereto indeed, when
surrounded by wife, children, and
friends he is as happy as a king on his
throne, and as hospitable to all as he is
thoughtful and considerate. But to be
more specific. This gentleman is com
paratively young in years. and younger
in spirit. Though he has already ac-
complished much, he has by no means
reached the climax of his fame. He is
a rising young statesman, and, if spared
will, in the course of few years, be
found in the front rank of the best
minds in the nation. We base our pre-
dictlon on the following points: First,
he has capital constitution, both in
herited and acquired, with temperate
habits. Secondly. large and we'll
formed brain. with a cultivated mind
with strong integrity. honor, generosity,
hopefulness, sociability. and ambition,
and all we'll guided by practical good
sense. At present he may seem to lack
fire and enthusiasm. but age and exper-
fence will give him point and emphasis.
Mark us this gentleman will not dis
appoint the best expectations of the
most hopeful.