smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

An Alpine hunter, ascending Mount
Blanc, in passing over the Mer de
Glace, lost his hold and slipped into
one Of those frightful crevasscs by
which the sea Of ice is cleft 10 its
foundation. BY catching himself in
his swift descent against the points of
rocks and projecting spurs Of ice, he
broke his fall, so that he reached the
bottom alive, but only to face death
in more terrible form. On either
hand the icy walls rose up to heaven,
above which he saw only strip of
blue sky. AT bis feet tr:ckled little
stream formed from the slowly melting
glacier. There was but one possible
chance Of escape-to follow this rivulet
which might lead 10 some unknown
cervice or passage. In silence and
terror he picked his way, down the
mountain side, till his farther advance
was stopped by giant cliff that rose
up before him, while the river rolled
darkly below. He heard the roaring
of the waters which seemed TO wait
for him. What should he dog Death
was beside him and behind him. and
he might fear, before him. There
was no time for reflection or delay.
lie paused but an instant and plunged
into the scream. One minute of
breathless suspense sense Of dark.
ness and coldness, and yet of swiA
motion, as if he were guiding through
the shades below. and thon x light
began to glimmer family in the wat
ers, and the next instant ho was amid
the green fields and flowers and the
summer sunshine Of the vale Of
Chamouny.


So 1t Is when believers die. They
como to the bank Of the river, and It
is cold and dark. Nature shrinks
from the fatal plunge Yet one chill.
ing moment, and all fear is Jeff behind
and the Christian is amid the fields Of
the paradise of God.
Year: 1869

One of the latest gifts to the Prosi.
dent is a pair Of palent-leather boots
trimmed at the top with gold fringe
and lassels, the American coat of arms
on tho leg, and pair of solid gold
spurs attached The boots are made
of the finest quality Of leather and in
the latest style, and lined in the inside
with yellow kid. They are valued at
$500. The shrewd donor will proba.
bly, be made Postmaster at Buffalo.
Year: 1869

4EWlSTON, April =, looS
To the Editor Of the Press:


The snow is gradually disappearing and the
tops OF the fences are once more coming into
sight. The river Is slowly rising. The aver
age temperature of March, in this city, was
IL degrees above; the average of the same
month last year was % degrees above, or ten
degrees warmer. But on the first day oil
April last year we had heavy snow storm
yesterday we were only threatened with one
Tonight Lucy Stone is to speak In Central
Hall on Woman's Rights. Next week we
are to have George Francis Trsin, who will
discourse of Irishmen's Rights. He can al
ways talk, whether on or off the track. i
would suggest that Senator Sprague would
be taking lecture card? He could discourse
of the Rights of Cotton Mill Operatives, 10,
600 of whom he tells us, are living in his en-
ploy at "poor dying rate" while he has ac-
cumulated millions out of their labor. What
a strange uncomfortable world this is getting
to be! Everybody is after his rights" in
these transition times. Will the world ever
settle down again and 60 smoothly on its
way without jostling and disturbing US old
fogies?


Then there is the velocipede. We have
one velocipede academy in "full blast" and
another nearly ready for business. Next
week Miss Carrie Moore, the champion veio0-
ipedist, is to give us an exhibition OF her skill
Like the measles, velocIpsds is catching, and
will doubtless have Q splendid run. ! know
one blind man who is suffering from vio-
leps attack of the disorder. The life of the
velocipede may be short, but it will be merry.


The prospect for business is not, just now
quite SO brilliant as one could wish. The
mills win probably keep at work, as usual,
but it is quite doubtful whether a new cotton
mill Is erected the present season. If there
is not, mechanics will not be kept so lively as
they were last year, though there will be con-
siderable done in a small way. A picker fol
the Lincoln Mill, 40x40, will be erected. The
Baptists will put up fine church. The Sec
ond Free Baptist Society also think of build
ing chapel One or two large school houses
will be constructed. Several fine private res
licences will be erected in this city, and Others
in Auburn. In Auburn a number of school
houses WIN probably be built.


Money is very tight. I understand that
our only bank has not discounted any paper
the last two weeks. This county has not one
half the banking capital it requires.


BARLOW.
Year: 1869

A few months ago, an engineer of


an express train on the Pennsylvania


Central Railroad going West discOv-


cred an engine approaching him at


such a rate of speed that he was at


once convinced that it was without
an engineer. He instantly whistled
his brakes down, at the same time
sending his fireman back to uncOuple


his "tender" from the train, while he
at the same moment uneOupled his
hose and engine, and opening his
throttle wide, with his red flag jump
ed back on his tender. He just looked
back and saw his train nearly stopped
and on dashed the two engines toward
each other like very demons. He
broke up gently on his tender, and
finally stopped it, and in breathless
silence watched for the collision. The
engines came together, throwing each
other clear off the track, and smashed
all to pieces. He left his tender, and
with his flag ran on to meet the ex-
press going east. 1t being two minutes
behind time, he had just time to flag"
and it was brought to stop within
few feet of the wrecked engines, and
one of those terrible accidents was
avoided. Need we say that for this
heroic act the Company presented him
with a check for 81, 900? Cannot en-
gineers on some of our other trunk
lines take a lesson from this ?
Year: 1869

The Pacific Mail Company adver-
tise that they will soon run weekly
steamers from China to San Francisco,
increasing their abilities for Transport
tatiOn in order to meet the demand for
immigrants. The new vessels will
also convey Chinese at lower rates.
The company intend to petition Con-
gress for an increase of subsidy To
compensate the Increased service
giving weekly instead of monthly
mails. In view of which you might
as well attempt to stay the ocean
stream which sweeps in from the In
dian Ocean to the Pacific shores az
forbid Chinese immigration.
Year: 1869

A BAD VERDICT FOR TRAVELLERS.
The travelling public will take small
comfort from the verdict of the jury
at Milford, Pennsylvania, who aequit-
ted the engineer Griffin, charged with
causing the terrible Mast Hope disas-
ter, on the Erie Railroad, some time
ago. This is the man who fell asleep
at his post while the lives Of hundreds
were placed in jeopardy. We are told
that the announcement of the verdict
of mot guilty" was received with
loud applause. We Opine that the
people who applauded do not travel
much on railroads.
Year: 1869

When Louis XIV was once attend
ing service, the court preacher broke
out with Brethren, we are all NOR
talW Seeing that the lesson was dis
tasteful to the royal listener, who knit
ted his brows, the crafty priest added,
"Yes, brethren, almost all Of Us !'i
Year: 1869

The result has created a profound
sensation through the entire eOmmu-
nifty. Immediately after the news
had become known confidence was
restored, though many still
linger around the Gold Room in an
ticipatiOn of another rise. The con-
sequence of yesterdays operations
be known in day. OF course
the most idle and injurious rumOrs
were put in circulation. To be sure
there may have been some failures,
but temporary suspensions cannot be
in that light. Indeed, it is
unfair to put forth statements calcula-
ted to damage the credit of many firms
by the movement


1t IS entirely impossible to give any
list of the supposed failures
and suspensions. In fact the reports
prevalent about several firms can
scarcely be relied upon. To be sure,
several brokers closed their doors, but
new statements will be revealed to-
day. Others were compelled to sus-
pend payment on their gold balances;
but the fact is that it was a physical
impOssibility yesterday, and that fact
alone has given rise to a great deal of
the embarrassment.


THE GAMBLERS IN THE RING.


AS already mentioned there will be
very little sympathy with the victims.
Ii was a desperate struggle between
Year: 1869

Another attsmpt 10 being made to drag
General Lee into the slough of politics,
this time by Walker, the new Governor
of Virginia, who has invited him to a
consultation. We sincerely hope the old
hero will persist in keeping aloof from all
such entsbgl clements, no matter how fair
they may promise. In the grandeur Of
his honesty and Spartan retieence, he
offers such contrast to the noisy idols
Of the land, as to reflect glory on himself
and every man, woman and child in the
South who feels interested in preserving
record free from cloud or stain. Dis
frsnchised and impoverished, but true to
bis instincts and his loTea, there is
sanctitY in his voluntary seclqsion from
public life, we would not see polluted
until the dawn Of brighter skies and hap
pier dsys.-Nsp Orleans Times.
Year: 1869

Fun AT iloME.-Don't be afiaid o.
a little fun at home, good people. Don''
shut up your house lest the ean should
fade your carpets; and your hearts,
lest / hearty laugh should shake down
some Of the musty old coowebs there.
If you want to ruin your sons let them
think that all mirth and social enjoy
ment must be left on the threshold
without, when they come home at
night.


When once home is regarded as
only place to eat, drink and sleep in,
the work is begun that ends in gamb-
ling-houses and reckless degradation.
Young people must have fun and relax
alton somewhere; if they do not find
it at their own hearthstones, it will be
sought in other aud less profitable plac-
es.



Therefore, let the fire burn brightly
at night, and make the home-nest de-
llshtful with all those little arts. that
parents SO perfectly understand. Don't
repress the buoyant spirits Of your chill
dren; half an hour of merrimeat
around the lamp: and freight Of home
blots out the remembrance of many a
care and annoyance during the day, and
the best safeguard they can take. with
them into the world is the unseen in-
Auence Of a bright little domestic sane
tuarp.-Txe Litlsstopn Press.
Year: 1869

THE ri.Gu IHE IN THE INDIANA LEGISLATURE


THE COMPROMISE.


INDrANAPoMs, April 13.-Tlis mornings
Journal he organ Of the Republican party In this state)
saws that the Democrats came into the Legislature yes
terday afternoon without having been urged by the
Republicans TO do so, which IS not the fact. beyeneen
Republican members OF the Legislature signed paper
agreeing TO do Just what they did yesterday when they
voted TO postpone the consideration Of the Suffrage
amendment uutn Nay u, and other Republican members
pledged their word of honor TO do likewise II the action
yesterday may viewed ia the light OF backing down
on one SIDE then the Republicans wero those who fell
back. You VIII observe that the consideration Of the
Suffrage amendment has been postponed until the lth
proIImO. In the mean time the Democrats will do all
they hurry through the bills pending. and all they
can TO prevent tine introduction Of bills, as TO
secure an adjournment Of the Legislature before May H.
and 40 ie consideration OF the amendment cannot be
reached before that tme-considering the Democratic
strength in the lower branch and the position OF the
measure under parliamentary ruling-thc Democrats
aud republicans will bOlh dodge the issue aud let 1t so
before the people az the Eau election.
Year: 1869

The Pennsylvania Legislature held its last
business meeting last night The occasion was scene
Of confusion the winding up Of the session OF 1869
was fitting close to the almost daily dsgaceful scenes
which have taken place In that body since January To-
day will be devoted specchmakng and presentations,
the Speakers and leaders OF both parties coming IN for
their share OF tho good things.
Year: 1869

@ A very admirable paper appears
in the North British Review. The fol-
lowing passage is weighty and excel
lent: "The Sabbath is Gods special
present to the working man, and one
of its objects is to preserve his life, and
preserve efficient his working tone. In
the vital system it acts like compen-
sation-pond--it replenishes the spir-
its, the elasticity, and vigor which the
last six days have drained away, and
supplies the force which is to supply
the six days succeeding; andin the econ
omy of existence, it answers the same
purpose as the economy of income IS
answered by savings bank. The fru-
gal man, who puts aside pound to-
day and another pound next month,
and who, in quiet way, is always put
ting by his stated pound from time to
time, when he grows old and frail, gets
not only the same pounds back again
but good many pounds besides. And
the conscientious man, who husbands
one day of existence every week who,
instead of allowing the Sabbath to be
trampled and torn in the hurry and
scramble of life, treasures it deyoutly
up-the Lord of the Sabbath keeps it
for him, and in length of days and a
hale old age gives it back with usury.
The savings bank Of human existence
is the weekly Sabbath.
Year: 1869

CHURCH INTERRUPTIONS Ken
lucky preacher who was often annoyed
by the habit of people leaving church
before the conclusion of the service,
determined to break the practice off,
So one day he was drawing his bow at
a venture when a nice young man
started out. But A., without lowering
his voice, cried out:


"a word with you, young man; you
shall not interrupt the congregation by
going out in time of service" But
pausing a moment, he said: "Now,
1 remember, took man to task over
at Shawnee Run for going out, and
brethren and sisters, what do you think
he turned out to be? What they call
lunatic. So go on, young man, may
be you are one of them sort"


After while two or three young
women started out, and he let out at
them thusly:


.eYoung ladies, it amt good man
ners to walk out while preaching's 60
ing on" But pausing a moment, he
exclaimed: "Go on, l forgot at the
moment it was water melon time" -
There was no more going ont that
day.
Year: 1869

respectful manner, you haven't sense
enough to hush when you know you
have the worst of it. If | was in your
place l would not say another word.
think you are conceited blockhead,
and have no respect for anybody.
always talk plain, and don't care
whether it will please you or not; but
that's little too hard. l am still in
hopes you are not the good for moth
ing, lazy fellow you talk like. Indeed
I'm getting interested in you. l hope
you'll make up with the "School
Marms" but don t advise you to marry
one. l hope you'll marry some one
before you arrive at bachelordom. l
am acquainted with some bachelor
school teachers and must say that they
are the most disagreeable creatures l
ever saw; everybody hates them, but
they do not seem to know it. They go
round sponging a living when not en-
ployed in school teaching. / am a
friend to old bachelors generally, but
have no friendship for the school teach
ing bachelors. -


Goodbye, Clem.


Yours, sincerely,


LOU"


P. s. l beg leave to state that
n ~, .,of ap old mold
Year: 1869

EE- Good old Deacon Fowler, of
Westfeld, Mass, died years ago, and
this story is told of his latter days.
'In extreme old age his mind was brok-
en- SO that he could not remember the
days of the week. One Sabbath morn
ing he carried pail to cooper living
near. to be repaired. He was told that
it was the Sabbath. when he went home
in great distress. Early the next morn
ing he called upon his pastor, to ae-
quaint him of what he had done, and
asked for an opportunity to make a
public confession on the coming Sab
bath. His pastor tried in various
ways to comfort him, and finally said,
''You did not mean to do wrong, you
forgot that it was Sunday" "That,"
said the old man, sis the very thing
want to confess, for the commandment
is, Remember the Sabbath day to keep
it holy"
Year: 1869

g The Chicago Post offers the
following observations: One OF the
most significant facts of the times is
that nearly every sensible Democrat IN
the land has discovered thatthe green
back theory of the late campaign was
a precious humbug. This is the explo-
sion Of another Democratic frecracker
"a little smoke, little sizz, and a
GOOD deal of, not to put too short a
q 6oint upon it, unodoriferousness.
Year: 1869

Coop THrSes.-one of the Washing
ton correspondents relates the following
rich incident of Inauguration day:


President Grants father and brother.
merchant in Chicago, are here. In
conversation with the old gentleman. I
asked him if Mrs Grant, the old gen-
tleman's wife, wouldn't be here for the
Inauguration? NO" he said, 81 tried
to coax her and bribe her to come, but
she wouldn't did not scold her
about it, for never did scold her and
l am TOO old to begin now. She said.
Pap. do you think | would go to
Washington and be stared at by fifty
thousand people. and have every stitch
on me printed in fifty newspapers; no
indeed. She need not stay away on
that account" said the old gentleman,
''for she would have looked as smart as
anybody here; but she and ULYSSES are
a good deal alike, and once her mind is
made up, thefe was no use talking 10
her any more about it."
Year: 1869

sy- The late horrible report that a
little child had been found in keg of
lager, turns out, happily, to have been
erroneous. 1t had its foundation in the
fact that keg of lager had got into
his father. y
Year: 1869

AHEAD OF HARRIsBURG. The New
York Tribune, after declaring that the
Legislature of New York "was the
most shameless assemblage that ever
met in our Capitol" gives the follow.
ing account of the operations of the
"Ring' in passing and debating bills
in the Senate and House. 1t says:


IA red handkerchief denoted the
manner in which the members were
to vote. Whenever the Clerk had
read the title of bill, in which there
was a bone the leader, if he consid.
cred this Ring satisfied, would march
TO the front of the Clerks desk and
gracefully blow bis nose with his red
linen. Every member of the Ring
would vote in favor of the measure.
II, on the contrary, the leader should
careloss'y hold the handkerchief to.
wards the floor, that denoted that his
followers should vote against the
measure. Many a project was carried
or defeated by that red handkerchief,
and it was as much terror TO the
applicant for legislative favors as were
some of the Executive Committee, of
the Assembly of lS69n


This is a little ahead of any arrange
ment yet entered into at Harrisburg
to carry out the corrupt bargains Of
the "Ring"
Year: 1869

In Hartford recently, a stranger
went to hotel for bath, and as he
did not emerge from his retirement
for an hour, the proprietor entered,
with fears of suicide in his heart, to
see what was the matter. The stran-
ger had only been washing bis shirt,
and was waiting for il to dry.
Year: 1869

less and commanding scenery, new beau
ties feast your eyes at every hour.


Here is the Bridal Veil, a creek 20
feet wide, falling over its rocky wall 900
feet at single leap, dissipated first into
lace-like strands, and then into feecy
mist by the descent. Here is the Yose-
mite Fall, the highest in the world, at
two leaps falling twenty-six hundred
feet, fifteen times higher than Niagara,
the eye firing as it looks almost straight
upward to where it comes rushing over
the precipice into view. Here are the
falls by which the Merced River tumbles
from the higher ground behind those
mighty walls of the valley into the val
ley itself-at one fall, the Nevada leap
ing from the top of a perpendicular
cliff full 700 feet, and then, after dash
ing on rapidly over smooth and round
ed granite bed, into which the water has
literally worn its channel, leaping down
ward again at the Vernal Fall $50 feet,
with that rare phenomenon, a circular
rainbow at its base.


Though no mule or horse can reach
these most fascinating of all the wonders
of the valley, and the trail is rugged and
difficult, and wearisome on foot, and lad
ders nearly 5000 feet high are needed to
scale the perpendicular walls of rock over
which, by your side, the river thunders
at its second plunge, fatigue and danger
are forgotten in these awe-aspiring and
startlingly sublime works of the Creator
around you. The long journey from the
east is more than repaid by such combi-
nations of austere and exquisite scenery
as l looked on with mingled admiration
and surprise in the Valley of the Yo-
semitic
Year: 1869

evening before the battle of South Noun
tain, Reno is said to have been so struck
with her enthusiastic waving of the flag
at the window, that he asked her age
and called upon his men to give three
cheers for the loyal grandmother"


Although most of Lees army passed
by her house, it is asserted--and proba-
bly, with truth--that jackson himself
did not pass directly by the same, but
through an alley which crosses the street,
obliquely, at short distance west of it.
Whittier has evidently taken as a fit
nucleus for an exquisite poetic ideal this
brave, honest old patriot, who certainly
kept her flag up when others pulled theirs
down, who SO disliked traitors to her
country that she couldn't tolerate them
on her porch, and whose enthusiasm and
venerable appearance provoked one of
our brave officers to call upon his men
to cheer her.


l believe the foregoing paragraphs
contain the facts upon which Whittier
has framed the poem which has linked
Barbara Fritchie's name in immortal
verse.


Her house has passed into the hands
of the Corporation of Frederick City,
and has since been removed so as to wild
en- the bed of Carol Creek, which wash
ed its walls, with the view of providing
against recurrence of disastrous food
such as visited the place last summer.
The cane sent you was made from one
of the oak timbers of the house.


Inclosed you will find portraits of the
old lady and the famous house. I also
send copy of diary kept during the
rebel occupation of the place in 1862,
which will acquaint you with some of the
incidents connected Herewith. With
great respect, your obedient servant,


LEWIS III. STEINER.


Gen. Joseph r. Hawley,


Hartford, Conn.
Year: 1869

began to be dreadfully frightened. He
gave one more tug. An unearthly yell.
as Of fiend in distress, came from the
inside, and then the clockcase pitched
head foremost on the floor, smashed it's
face and wrecked its proportions.


The current of air extinguished the
light--the Deacon the old lady and Sally
fled up stairs, and Joe Mayweed, extri-
eating himself from the clock, effected
his retreat in the same way that he had
entered. The next day all Appletown
was alive with the story of how Deacon
Barberry's clock had been bewitched
and though many believed its version,
some, and especially Joe Mayweed, af-
fected to discredit the whole affair, hint
ing that the Deacon had been trying the
experiment of tasting frozen cider, and
that the vagaries Of the clock case ex-
listed only in distempered imagination.