smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

A TERRIFIC ENCOUNTER WITH Boa Cox
srRICroR-Onc Of the most thrilling incidents
which has ever come to our knowledge, occur
red a few days since in ''side show with Van
Ambuig & Cos Menageue, where two enor-
nous snalles--an anaconda and a boa consric-
tor--ara on exhibition. Both of the huge rep
tiles are kept in one case with u glass top
opening at the sides, and The keeper was in the
act of feeding them when the event occurred.
The longer of the snakes, the boa constructor,
which is some thirty feet long, and as large a
round the middieas a mans thigh, had just swal-
lowed two rabbits when the keeper introduced
his arm and body into the cage for the purpose
Of reaching a third TO the anaconda, at the OPP
posite corner.


While in this position the boa, NOT satisfied
with his share of the rations, made a spring,
probably with the intention Of securing fhe re-
naming rabbit but, instead fastened his jaws
upon the keepers hand and, with the rapidity
Of lightning, threw three coils around him. thus
rendering him entirely helpless. His shouts of
distress at once brought several men to his as
sisance, and among them, fortunately, was q
well-known Snowman named Townsend, n man
of great muscular power, and what was of much
more importance, one who had been familiar
with the habiis of these repuisive monsters all
his life, having, owned some of The largest ones
ever brought TO this country.


The situation of the keeper was now perous
in the extreme The first thing TO be done was
TO uncoil the snake from around him, but if in
attempting this The reptile should become in the
least degree angcred, he would, in second,
contract his powers sufficient to crush The life
out Of an OK. A single quick convulsion of
the creature and the keepers soul would be in
eternity This Townsend fully understood; so
without attempting to disturb the boa's hold
upon the keepers hand, he managed by power
full yet extremely cautious movements to uncoil
the snake without exciting him, after which by
the united exertions of two strong men the jaws
were pried open and the man r'eleasedin a com
pletely exhausted condition. The bite of the
boa constructor is not poisonous, and although
the bitten hand was immensely swollen the next
day, no serious results were apprehended A
more narrow escape from most horrible death
it would be difficult to imagine Columbus
(OIaO) Statesman


A CosrtY BIUNDER-A saloon keeper in
Year: 1862

TAKE your watches, clocks and jewelry to
Jeanncrct, next door to the Rock Island bank,
if you want them put in thorough repair
His charges are moderate and all his work
warranted to give satisfaction.
Year: 1862

g


The Detroit Tribune thus foreibly presents
10 the mind Of the reader the terrible crime OF
the great Rebellion, which is now taskiug the
utmost strength of the nation TO put down :


Now, while the country is bleeding and
sorrowfHl over the death of the brave men
who have fallen at Pittsburg Landing. let us
remember that this is what it costs TO put
down the causeless rebellion of the slavehold-
ing politicians These brave dead are men
they have killed In the 2 loop. Of these pailid
faces, we see the magnitude OF this great crime
against the Saiion, humanity, and God Here
is u mighty Fact Of ovcrpowering wickedness,
before which despicuble politicians who at
teul.,t to paiate this rebellion or diminish the
crime OF it, must stand abashed. This rebel
lior is the slaughter of loved ores, who die
rather tban see their country destroyed-it is
the loss of hundreds of millions of money; it is
Devastation Of eouAtry and suppression of in
dusty ana traffic Aud yet there are men
among us who seek to belittle this crime the
rebel leaders; who seek to lay it upon others;
30 make Us insensible t. its enormity; to plead
i1eafcy and tenderness and bloodlessness for it;
who heaye groans when rebels are shot down,
and hurl epithets into the very graves Of the
brave men gone from Northern homes that
are noy bathetl in weeping, to save the Con
stitution- o that 4he people gould take in
the damnable magnitude of this bloody war
forced upon loyal aud unoffendng people by
ambitious, reckless aud wicked political lea
ders p
Year: 1862

the mouth Of the creek, should inform


them if he were in trouble, and put them


upon the alert to help him. As soon
therefore, as he started from his cousin 8
the signal foated from the window to
warn them. And when they saw the pur.
suing party dash madly down the road
to the river, and recognized the British
uniform of the leader, they pulled swiftly
out to sea. The horsemen reached the
shore only in season to see the boat with
Two men in it, nearly out of sight; and
suPposlng their destined prey had escaped,
relinquished the pursuit.


Meanwhile the hunted victim Law safe
and quiet, where the simple shrewdness of
his little cousin had hidden him. until the
time came for her return to the house for
supper Then he babe her 90 as usual to
her home; telling her to ask her mother
TO ploce the signal lamp, as soon as it
grew dark in the window for the boatman;
and to send him there som supper, with
his valise, which in the hurry Of departure,
he had left.


The signal recalled the boat, which
after twilight had ventured in sight of the
shore, and the farmhouse; and the Go.
vernon made his way to the river in safety.
When he rejoined his family in secure
home. he named the infant daughter
which had been born in his absence.
Hetty Marvin, that he might daily be
reminded of the little cousin, whose
truth and shrewdness had saved his
life.
Year: 1862

1t Is not generally known, we believe,
that the frog is insectiverous, an Gather of
insects in considerable extent; that as
most OF the species stay near water, they
take comparatively few of the insects most
prejudicial to vegetation But we can
say that some kinds Of frogs by no means
confine their propenslties to insects they
will destroy young ducks, which 60 on to
the water, or young chickens which hap
pen to come near it. This we had exem-
plified while residing at Springside. We
had brood of ducks hatched by hen,
which instinctively found their way to a
small pool of water, very much to the
CONSERVATION of the mother hen. After
leaving the water, three of their number
were missing. On the following morning
they were watched by the person who
had charge of the poultry on the place.
Not long after the ducklings had entered
on the water, he discovered frog in the
act of swallowing one of them which
seemed rather too large for the capacious
mouth of the frog, and stuck fast, the
head downward and about one-half of the
body projecting blow with a long pole
soon settled the business with his frog
ship; on drawing him within reach, life
was found extinct in botn frog and duck
ling; but whether the duckling was suf-
fccated or killed by the blow, could not


be ascertained. On drawing Oft the water
from the pool, three more very large
frogs were found. Probably the frogs


would not eat insects enough to make it
an object to harbor them; and to feed
them with young ducks and chickens, it


would not pay-lt would be altogether too
expensive-even if we should adopt the
custom of the epicures and turn the car
! cass of the frog to the best account.


Poughkeepste July, 1852 c. N. BENESr.
Country Gentleman.
Year: 1862

When the Duke of Wellington was sick >
the last thing he took was a little tea.
On hisservant handing it to him in sau'
Ger, and asking him if he would have it,
the Duke replied. - Yes if you please"
These were bis last words How much
kindness and courtesy is expressed by
them He who had commanded the
greatest armies in Europe, and was long;
accustomed to the tone of authority, did
not despise or overlook the small courtesies
of life. In all your home talk, remember,
" If YOU please" Among your playmates
don't forget, " If you please To all who
wait upon or serve you, believe that If
YOU please" will make you better served
than all the cross or ordering words in the
whole dictionary Don't forget three lit
tie words, " If you please"
Year: 1862

SMOKING in the sire D. Russia is strictly
prohibited The Emperor. while walking,
one day, met French man, smoking a
cigar. He approached, and asked if he
was not aware that it was contrary to the
law smoke in the street. The Gaul, not
knowing by whom he was addressed, re-
piled that he had been in the habit Of
smoking in the streets of Paris and he did
not know why he should not 10 so in the
streets of any other city. The Emperor,
who detests a Frenchman, left him and
proceeding to the station Of policeman
near at hand, gave directions as to the
disposition of the smoker. The latter was
Immediately placed by force in a kibitka,
which is a small wagon. without spring Of
any kind, and bounced over a thousand
miles of bad road to the Turkish frontier,
where he was dismissed. with permission
to follow the Partisan fashions.
Year: 1862

AN UNDERGROUND VoYAGE.-Mest Of our
readers are aware that a majority of the
small lakes through this section of the state
and MINI. are connected by underground
passages one with another. In some of
these ponds or lakes, there is a current of
two miles an hour, showing conclusively
that there is large and rapid stream Of
water continually passing between them
But We have a more convincing illustration
OF this fact than ever before given in the ad-
ventures ofa Norwegian named Christian
Hogan, who was engaged, a few days, ago
to dig well within about twenty rods of
one Of these lakes for Mr.. Amos Goodwin,
Of Minnesota. After sinking the hole to
sixty feet he reached sand stone rock
which he proceeded to pick through.
Hearing what he supposed to be a terrible
wind overhead, he called out to the man at
the wirldlass to know if storm was coming
up. He had no more than received the
negative reply when the whole bottom of the
well fell out, and he was precipitated into
torrent of water which carried him headlong
into the very bowels Of the earth. His
companion, as might be supposed was bad
ly frightened, and gave up Christian for lost.
Judge his surprise, on seeing, few minutes
later, the veritable Hogan putting and blow
ing like porpoise in the lake, where the
current of the stream had carried him in
less time than it takes us to Wi ite it. With
the exception Of few bruises received upon
the rocks, the Norwegian came out as good
as *-but he says he don't like that
manner of navigation mo how" as there
isn't air and light enough for comfort on the
route he traveled.-.Star.
Year: 1862

A DoLoRoUs ;DEACoN-I have seen q
deacon in the pride of his humanity. He
combed his hair straight, and looked stud-
ously at the main chance; and while he
looked, he employed himself in setting a
good example. His dress was rigidly plain,
and his wife was not INDUCED in the vani
ties of millinery and mantua making. He
never joked. He did not know what a Joke
was any further than to know that it was a
sin. lie carried Sunday face throughout
the week. He did not mingle in the happy
social parties of his neighborhood. He was
deacon. He starved his social nature be.
cause he was deacon. He refrained from
all participation in free and generous life
because he was deacon. He made his
children hate Sunday because he was dea.
con. He so brought them up that they
considered themselves unfortunate in being
the children of a deacon. His wife was pit
led by other women because she was the
wife of deacon. Nobody loved him. If
ne came into circle where men were laugh.
ing or telling stories, they always stopped
until he went out. Nobody grasped his
hand cordially, or slapped him on the shoul-
der, or spoke Of him as good fellow. He
seemed as dry and hard and tough as a
piece Of jerked beef. There was no soft.
ness of charactcr-no juiceness-no love.
liness in him.


Now it is Of no use for me to undertake
to realize to myself that God adttiires such
a character as this.
Year: 1862

WHAT WE Sow We SHALL REAP.-There
was once an old man whose eyes had be.
come dim, his ears deaf When he sat a,
the dinner table, he could hardly hold on
to his spoon, so that sometimes he split his
soup on the cloth. His son and daughter
in-law were much displeased with this a,
last they put him in corner behind tho
stove, and gave him food in little earther
pail. He never got as much as lie could
eat, and he would often look towards the
table with wet yet longing eyes.


One day his shaking hands let the little
dish fall, and it was broken. The woman
scolded, but he said nothing; he only sigh
ed. They brought wooden trough for
him. Once as he was sitting thus in the
corner, his little grandchild, about four
years old. was playing on the floor near
him, with some pieces of wood


what are you making!" asked the
father smiling.


81 am making a trough" answered the
child, "for father and mother to eat from
when they are old and am grown big"


The man and his wife looked at each
other in silence. They brought their old
father back to the table and gave him as
much as he wished, and they never again
spoke angry when his trembling hands
split soup on the cloth.
Year: 1862

WESTERN SOLDIERS s-The western men
fight like heroes. Old soldiers and new
recruits arc alike in earnest and almost
equally efficient in the battle field. One of
the regiments that stood the bravcst and
suffered the worst at Fort Donelson, had
been organized less than month and was
very raw in everything but stern heroism
The officers Of these men have no doubt of
their courage. They know that at any hour
they can be led against the encmy's bate
ries. No long preparation is needed to
make them fit to fight for their country
And so the men gloriously justify the con.
fidence Of their leaders


AS yet the great achievements of the war
have mainly been the work Of western men,
Their advance reminds us Of one Of Web.
ster's sayings that one Of these days it
would rain bullets down the Mississippi
We trust, however, that the men Of the east
may soon have large opportunities to prove
themselves Of the same manly stock. As
the history of the conflict now stands, tho
glory of lofty daring and Of noble deeds for
freedom are not equally divided between
the two sections.-New YORK. Tribune.
Year: 1862

NC AoSsC o1 sne issue.


The persistent observation of the facts
connected with this war, by those who
should look with the eye of logic into the
matter, is one Of the inexpl,cable mysteries
of the day. The New York Times, howev-
er, penetrates the subject in the following
remarks which in their clearncss are axi.
omatic, though popular opinion generally
rests upon very different hypothesis


"The first great obstacle TO the restora-
,ion of the authority of the National Gov
ernment is the military power which rcsists
and defies it; the first thing to be done,
therefore, is to break doacn that yoscer j; and
this can only be done by force of arms
The question of Slavery has no direct or
immediate connection with this. Slavery
may be at the bottom of the rebellion, as it
doubtless is; but the rebellion itself must
first be crushed before We can explore its
causes or deal with them. One thinsA
very clear; whatever is to be done with
Slavery can be more wisely. more safely,
more effectively done after the rebellion is
crushed than before. Half million of men
in arms now stand between US and Slavery :
before that can be touched, they must be
conquered
Year: 1862

ASK Your ENEMIEs-If you want to
know your faults. ask your enemies what
they are and you will be told. If there is
broken place in your coat of mail, thsy
will discover it and thrust in spear there
They will pierce you between the joints of
your harness. Perhaps some people think
that one must needs be very wicked to
have enemies. No, no; there is not good
man or woman on earth (unless they arc
happily good-persons of no force of char
acter) who has not at least one enemy. It
is no credit to man to have it truly said
of him. "He has not an enemy in the
world" Such a sentence would do very
well to engrave upon the tomb stone of an
infant or an idiot, but it is far from being
complimentary to man.
Year: 1862

II It is related by the French family
Of the Duke de Lewis. that they have pic
ture in their chateau in which Noah is rep.
resented going into the ark, and carrying
under his arm small trunk on which is
written, "Papers belonging to the Lewis
family"
Year: 1862

Feeling thankful for the patronage of his old frends
extended to him for the lastyear would beg leave to
say that his interests In with theirs and
that every variety OF Goods in his line shall be fur
nished them at prices ranging with eastern markets


5. NJ MCCONNELL.
Brick Store, Fronting the Leyec.
Year: 1862

VTNIIE subscriber has just returned from different


L cities in the east with of the most complete
and perfect stock of goods In his line OF the
Mississippi, consisting of every variety pertaining to
the trade OF the most recent and modern Styles to
which he begs leave to call the attention OF those in
the trade, both in this State elsewhere, assuring
them that in regard to variety, quality and Prices
will not be excclle in any sister cities OF the east for
Cash His Stock consists in part, to- wit:
Year: 1862

EE- At the beginning and end of win
ter there is an appreciable quantity of nj
tric acid in the atmosphere. 1t is discov-
cred by exposing iodized paper to its in
auencc. The blue color of the paper soon
becomes red. BY passing air at such sea-
sons through pure carbonate Of lead the
nitrate of lead is formed The forma-
tion of verdigris on bronze statues expos
ed TO the atmosphere shows the presence
of nitric acid
Year: 1862

PLENTY OF MATERIAL.-The Charles
ton authorities talk of building another
fort. The Louisville Journal calls their
attention TO the fact that if they want
any stono for the purpose, they will find
an abundance in their harbor.
Year: 1862

AGE OF MEATs.-We do not mean
from the birth, but from the butcher
The Englishman would insist upon hav-
ing his beef Mt least a week old, if tho
weather be not especially hot, his mutton
not less than month old; and other
meats of such age as he has found them
most savory to his taste. People Of 9TH
er nations think that meats require time
some more some less-to come into their
best condition for the table. In this coun-
try there is much more dread of tainted
than of tough meats While stunning
Scilla, we have approached too near Char
ybdis. We often butcher in the evening
and devour in the morning; and some
times eat for breakfast that which was
killed at sunrise. Except in case of ne
cessty, this is not wise. Meats do not
come into that condition in which they are
most readily assimiated, and most nour-
ishing, until some time after slaughtering
longer in cold than in warm weather,
and longer with some kinds than with
others, at the same season. Until then,
they are tough, and although "there is
no disputing of tastes" it must be adj
mitted that they are, to large majority
of persons who have fairly made the COM
parison, less tasteful, if not absolutely un-
savory.-1mericdn 1griculturist.
Year: 1862

APPLEs.-There is no fruit more uni
versally loved or more really useful than
apples. 1t is the most healthy kind of
food that is placed upon our tables, hay-
ing an admirable effect on the general sys-
tem often correcting it more effectually
than the most approved medicines. And
surely it is better ms well MS cheaper to
pay the apple-man's bill than the medi-
cine mans. If men would but substitute
on their tables sound, luscious apples for
cakes and sweet-meats, with which chill
dren are often indiscriminately stuffed,
there would be decrease of the doctors
bill in a single year sufficient to lay in
supply of this delicious fruit to last the
whole. season. Children are invariably
fond of them, nor can child eat enough
of the ripe fruit TO injuro it. A raw, mel
low apple is digested in an hour and a
half while most vegetables take from
three 10 FIVE hours. Let children have
all the apples they want, instead of sweet
meats, and there will be no difficulty
about their health. Let the dessert Of
apples be placed upon the table after DIN
ner, and there will be less of dyspepsia
and other disorders brought on by the
food which people eat. Let every family
lay in goodly number Of barrels Of this
fruit, and it will be TO them the most &c
onomical Investment in the whole range
of culinaries.


The raising of apples in this State is
becoming m item of considerable impor-
tance. The climate and soil Is found to
be admirably adapted, and farmers are
increasing and extending their orchards
yearly. There is no danger of flooding
the market with this fruit. The North
Western States, whose climate is not
adapted to raising orchards, are to be sup
piled, and Michigan must do it. Already
Michigan apples bring the highest price
of any in the Chicago market, and as the
fruit comes to be the more appreciated
here and elsewhere, the domand must be
greatly increased. Det. Free Press.
Year: 1862

The Pittsburg Chronicle thus describes
two irOn-Oladsj which are being built in
that city:


"They will have length Of one hundred
and seventy two feet, with fifty feet breadth
Of beam and seventy feet depth Of hold. In
appearance, when finished, they will diff
fer materially from any war vessel ahoat.
After looking at the plans, as drawn by
Mr.. Gengambre, we should say that were
one Of our large coal barges made quite
sharp at the bow, and then covered with
flush deck, through which we will suppose
the usual Monitor turret protruding, it
would not be bad representation Of what
these batteries will be when completed
The aides win not be SO perpendicular as
those ofs barge, and the depth Of hold
viii, of course, be greater, but in other re-
speots the illustration will be found
good one, sufficiently good at least to en-
able the reader to form toIerably fair
idea of what they viii look like when
ready for service"
Year: 1862

The New York Herald does not make
much fuss about the removal of Mcclellan.
It has its usual amount of slang against
those whom it calls abOlitionists and Jac-
obins, preserving its wOnted pretended
regard for the President. This it will
maintain till it suits its purpose to throw
off its disguise.
Year: 1862

Within the last sixty years there have
been started in Washington not less than
one hundred and four papers and periOdi-
calls, and all but three or four have died in
the shadow Of the National Intelligencer.