smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

FOR more than ten years past the most
scientific astronomers of the world have
told US, through publication in the maya
zines and otherwise, that during the months
of July, August and September, this year
QS69), the most wonderful comet the world
has ever known would re-appear. They
have also assured us that it would ap-
proach nearer the earth than any comet
ever did before, and that either the earth
or the comet would have to change its
course, or a collision would be inevitable.
As this comet is said to be many thousand
times larger than the earth, and as it is a
solid mass of fire, with a tail of fire that
would reach around the earth more than a
hundred times, it is not at all unlikely that
a collision with it would prove as disas-
trOus to the earth as the late accident on
the Erie Railroad did to some of the more
unfortunate passengers. According to as
trOnomers, it was this comet that immedi-
ately preceded the terrible civil wars in
Greece, and was Immediately followed by
terrible contagiOn in Persia and other
Eastern countries, a most dreadful plague
that in few weeks swept from the face of
the earth more than one-half the people of
the countries visited by it. Some years
after, this comet appeared again, and was
preceded by most terrific civil war in
Rome, and followed by plague, or scourge
that piled the dead up in heaps il the
streets of that proud but corrupt city, until
there were scarcely enough persons left
alive to bury the dead. This comet is now
visible, having made its appearance on
time, thus verifying the prediction of the
astronomers, without postponement on ac-
count of weather. 1t may be seen with
the naked eye, in any clear night in the
northern part of the heavens, at from II
to 12 o'clock and from that time till day
light, or till the morning star rises. The
late heavy rains have not had the effects
to delay its appearance and progress, or to
dim its brilliancy, though it will grow
brighter and brighter as it approaches the
earth-Erctange
Year: 1869

In many of his articles in broken Eng
lish Josh Billings" surpasses all who
have tried that class of writing. But to
fully appreciate him, you must see and
know him. He is about forty eight years
old, and is the quaintest specimen of hu-
manity with which we have ever met.


Five years ago he was an auctiOneer in
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He has since moved
to New York city, where he keeps board
ing house amused by his irrepressible od-
dities. As he passes down Broadway he
cannot escape observation. His broad,
bent form, his immense hat, and his large,
eagle-like features, are always noticeable.


His weakness is for chewing tobacco and
telling stories. Such quaint, laughable
yarns as he can spin are not easily put in
print. When the lecture season is at hand
he sends out humorous prospectus. He
makes from three to four thousand dollars
a year from his lecturing, and as much
more from his newspaper work. Always
cheerful and genial, always witty and yet
kind, he is liked exceedingly by his circle
of friends. Perhaps some of our readers
will remember the publicity that was
given a little time ago to the marriage of
one of his daughters, whose beauty had
become notorious. She was as handsome
as he was ugly.-&. Paul Dispatch.
Year: 1869

THE greatest depth to which diver can
descend, with the greatest appliances of
safety, is about one hundred and sixty
feet, and for this a bunch of hundred
weights must be disposed about his per-
son. The average depth at which he can
work comfortably is about ninety feet,
which was near the derth at which the
operations upon the Royal George were
conducted. In the water, from sixty to
seventy feet deep, the men can work for
two hours at time, coming up for ten
minutes rest, and doing days work of
six or seven hours. An English diver,
encased in one of Siebe's dresses, went
down in the Mediterranean to depth of
one hundred and sixty-fve feet, and re-
mained there for twenty five minutes; and
we have heard that Green, the American
diver, inspected wreck in the Canadian
lakes at the depth of one hundred and
seventy feet; but his experience was
enough to convince him that he could not
work on it without danger of life. At
this depth the pressure of water on the
hands is so great as to force the blood to
the head AMI bring on fainting fits, while
the requisite volume of air inside the dress
to resist the outward pressure of the water
Is 50 Siedt Inde Ii WouIu opecuHy SuHoCdto.
Means have been tried to Obviate these
difficulties, but for the present limit has
been set to the extent to which man may
penetrate the secrets of the deep. An in
genious Italian workman has brought to
England sort of armor dress which
would resist the pressure of water; but
our submarine engineers think that this
would not Obviate the difficulties arising
from the limits placed to human endurance.
-Ercblnoe.
Year: 1869

The congregation is composed principal
ly of men and boys, dressed in their every
day clothes. Some of them stare about
them, or talk with each other Instead of
sitting down and paying attention to what
is said, many stand up and walk about
Perhaps some will come up to the speaker
and try to look over his book, if he reads
from the Bible, or they will examine the
foreign stove, if it is cold weather and
there is fire i'm it; or they will stand in
front of the clock and watch it for a while.
Others have with them parcels of mer-
chandise, or fowl, some vegetables, etc,
they have bought or wish to sell: and if
it is warm weather very many will strip
the upper part of their bodies naked, and
fan themselves so as to be cool as possible.


Oftentimes unless forbidden to smoke,
several engage in smoking little pipes full
Of tobacco, having first struck fire by
means of a flint and a piece of steel and
some very dry paper Almost every
Chinaman carries about with him his pipe
and tobacco and materials for striking fire.
Sometimes beggar woman will enter the
chapel and bawl out Justify for cash. 1t is
yerv common practice for most of those
who come to stay but short time, and
when one of them goes out all of his mates
and friends usually follow.


If an idol procession or a mandarin and
his retinue are passing along the streets,
or some sudden or unusual noise is heard.
the boys and most of the men rush out to
see what is to be seen, after which some of
them will perhaps come back. Very few
are regular hearers of the Gospel, and
fewer still come in for the purpose of hear
ing about Jesus


Almost all who come are prompted by
motives of curiosity.-ErchdnQe
Year: 1869

who have some difficulty in effecting an
entrance. The crowd opens the way, and
as the passenger passes onward his hat is
slightly pushed from behind so as to near
ly cover his forehead. This is so adroitly
accomplished by the thief as to throw the
passenger aforesaid off his guard He
puts his hand up to adjust his tile, and at
the same moment the scientific "knuck
relieves him of his pocket-book, or other
valuables, which he hands to "pal," who
gets off and disappears.


The hat-tipping business is quite IA
vorite practice, although it is not always
attended with success. Persons who meet
with such an event, either in getting on
railroad cars, or while waiting at ticket
offices in depots or at places of amuse-
ment, should remember these words OF
caution: In case any one should feel his
hat move from behind, in the manner
above stated, whether on q crowded plat
form or any other place, as already indi-
Gated, let that person Immediately turn
around to the one behind him, and say
I'm on that myself" After that he may
feel perfectly secure from further annoy
ance on that Observation-Disclosures Bul-
lxtn.
Year: 1869

ALTHOUGH everybody who patronizes
milkmen supposes that they are none
too honest, yet we imagine few people
are aware TO what extent this article
is adulterated, or that substances are
in common use that cannot be detected
by the lactometer, and that only
chemical analysis can discover


The farmers of Westborough, some time
since, formed a cooperative association for
the purpose of bringing the producer and
consumer together without the aid of mid
dle-men, thereby saving one profit, and
also preventing the adulteration of their
milk. An agent was appointed in the
city whose duty it was to look after the
interests of the association, and to see that
the customers receive a pure article of milk
One day, after the business of the company
seemed to be progressing finely, the agent
was somewhat surprised by one of his
best customers informing him that he pre-
ferred to obtain his milk elsewhere, and
that he need not leave any more at his
house. The agent inquired the reason o


the change, when the customer informed
him that a neighbor of his was receiving
richer and better article at the same
price, and he was hereafter going to have
his milk from the same man. "The mill
that my neighbor gets" continued the
customer, has a better flavor, and i
more of the color of cream than what you
furnish, and suspect it comes from Jer
sey cows" Now, Mr.. A." said he afsel
hearing his story, "I will tell you what
will do. You take can of our milk, ant
also one from the milkman who supplies


your neighbor, and carry them to a chem
ist to be analyzed, and if he don't tell you
that nurs 10 pura and the milk map's admit
Grated, l will supply you with milk fo


five years for nothing. The customer sale
this was fair offer, and he accordingly
took a can of each to a chemist, where al
analysis showed that the rich cream-c col
ored milk was adulterated with water anC
burnt sugar, while the Westborough mill
was pronounced pure. The result wa


that the agent, instead of losing a custo
mer, gained another, as the neighbor VIII,
had been supplied by the milkman pre-
ferred pure article to one that contained
water and burnt sugar, even if it did lool
little more creamy.-Boston Spectator.
Year: 1869

The Shanghai News Letter says the fol-
lowing story has obtained large credence
among the Chinese recently, and is inter
esting as showing the ease with which the
Chinese mind grasps superstition:


at appears that sometime since man
and his wife, who together opened bean
shop in the city of Tai-tsan, some forty
miles distant from Shanghai, had do
mestic imbroglio, which resulted at
length in the death of the husband by suf-
location, which the wife by combination
of means effected. The body was con-
cealed for long time, coffin provided,
and at suitable hour in the night, was
placed on board boat and sent to a GER
tain place in the canal and sunk, large
milestone from their bean shop being
used for the purpose. A few nights after
the city magistrate was awakened from
his slumbers by fearful noise, as of some
one beating on the Distress Drum at
the entrance of his Yamen. Next morn
ing inquiries were made, but no one
seemed to have heard the alarms but him
self The night after it was heard again,
but no person was seen. The third night
watchman was stationed to observe
what took place. The noise came again,
but on being questioned by the mag
iStrate, the watchman said it was the
soind. Go and arrest the wind, then, he
said, and forthwith issued a warrant for
the apprehension of the disturber. The
man charged Herewith protested his in
ability to accomplish such a task, how
ever, but departed on his rambles and
allowed the wind to snatch his warrant
from him and dash it into the canal Fol
lowing close after, he secured it again,
and bore it all wet to the mandarin, and
told him that the wind had taken refuge
in the water. Where? exclaimed the ex-
cited button; 60 forthwith, and dig him
out. Away went the man again, armed
and equipped for a contest, this time with
both the flung (wind) and shut (water).
He prObed and eXerted himself but a
short while, before discovering its refuge
twas curious something, but on being
hauled up to light was found to be coffin,
containing a dead man and weighted
down by q mill stone The mandarin came
and held an inquest no marks of violence
were discovered, but all the circumstances
were so suspicious that the mandarin at
once, taking the milestone as an index,
ordered search for the perpetrators. A
bean-shOp was soon found, and woman
in mourning for her husband, and as the
other stone of the pair was wanting in its
place in the mill, and no satisfactory ac-
count could be given of it, a comparison
was instituted by producing the one found
attached to the coffin. No evasion could
satisfy the officer that she was not the per-
petrator of the foul deed, so mysteriously
communicated to him in the watches of the
night by the spirit of the departed She
was arrested and dragged to prison, there
to await sentence, which, according to
Chinese law, is decapitation. The above
has recently traspired, and obtains large
credence among the ignorant Chinese II
is on such slender threads that the great
superstition flung shut hangs, and not un,
frequently by such reports that a mandarin
succeeds in bringing himself into notoriety
and securing prOmOtion."
Year: 1869

hard to extricate himself but withou.
avail He then attacked one Of the s.
men, whom he seized by the arm, an


Notwithstanding that several of the M
belabored him with weapons, the brute
would not relinquish his hold until he had
torn the flesh from above the elbow to
near the wrist, and had been rendered in
sensible, when he-was carried to his den.
Year: 1869

The Empress Carlotta has been stay
ing for some time at Spa. The other day
she insisted with SO much vehemence on
playing roulette that it was impossible to
restrain her. On approaching the table
she deliberately placed gold piece on the
number 10. The Emperor Macmillan
was shot on June 10. The wheel turned,
and, though 81 chances were against her,
she won. She smiled sadly, took up the
money, and quietly left the room. On


her way cut poor man passed by. She
Year: 1869

THE WHITE HoUss.-Thers was large
crowd OF visitors at the Executiv. Mansion
this morning, but none We're admitted TO see
the President AS he was in his Office but a shor,
time this forenoon.
Year: 1869

NO APPOINTMENTS TO BE MADE IN THE
TREASURY Secretary Boutwell, requests US to
announce that it Is perfectly useless for parties
to call upon him fer appointments in the
Treasury department, as none Will be made
Year: 1869

THE COMMITTEES or THE WAR PRISONERS
ASSOCIATION, who are agitating tue question
of the erection Of a monument in this city to
the memory of Union soldiers who died in
Confederate prisons, called upon Genr Sher.
man yesterday TO request his endorsement OF
heir plan. The General received them kindly,
and promised to reply TO them writing with
in few days.
Year: 1869

A few days ago, one Of God 5 acknowledgements.
man endeayorlng 10 glority his HeuveDly
Father with his substance and to lay up treasure
IN heaven, made this remark to nc:


sat down night or two ago, and calculat.
ed the Increase Of dollar put at compound in.
tereSt, and found that in less than two hundred
and forty years, it amounted to more than t,ro
millions and a half of dollars, And 7 astad NV
self whether God would not make dollar laid
up for him grow as rapidly as it does By the
laws Of trade?'


The arlthmeticaI calculation and the transfer
theretrom to the field Of benetcence struck
me.


YES, my brother, said l, we need hardly
doubt it. The word Of the Lord IS: Lay up
tor yourselves treasures in heaven. He has
also said He that hath pity upon the poor
endeth to the Lord and that which he hath
given will he pay him again. The laws operat-
ing in the spiritual world must be at least a.
certain as those which operate in any other de-
partment OF the universe. God is more able
and willing to pay his debts than men to pay
theirs. L ou would not have my money as a
loan without paying me interest. and God i
more noble minded than man. How certain
and emphatic Is that promise thar be qciU nav
1t again have not the least doubt. dear
brother: that IN two hundred and forty wears
from this day you will find every dollar vou bava
laid up for the Lord worth more to Won than
two and q half millions Of dollars. And tban
there IS this TO be thought about the matter. If
you put out Your dollar on interest. you must
be cert0!n to collect Your money and interast
every year, and every year fad a responsible
borrower for the amount; whereas, Won give to
the poor, you lend 10 the Lord, who keens
most accurate accounts, and does the componnd.
ing for you. "-Dr. Deans.


AGREAT IsTINCTIoN. Henry Ward Beech.
er says in one of his sermons Il love good
ness a thousand times more than | hate had.
ness. A noble sentiment. But, ah, how
often is il not true, even among Christians
The bellgerent element seems to be most de-
veloped. It is the church militant, the church
hates badness rather than the church with
serene brow loving and cultivating goodness
1t is the church hunting down heresy, rather
than the church gladly recognizing orthodoxy
1t is a bad sign when man is more inclined to
discover spots in the sun than to admire ;ts
glorious shining. Too often, we fear. preach
ing assumes a controversial, disputatious tone
1t is more an opposition to error than an ex-
hibition Of truth. But he who is so enamored
of truth and goodness that he continually holds
them up in all their beauty with the enthusiasm
of lover, does more to destroy error and evil
than By an unceasing play of red hot polemics.
Education pays an annual income for life with
out expense tor insurance, repairs, or taxes,
Year: 1869

confidence and success by all, human testimony


was the only means by which the moral and re


ligious duty Of man could be fully attested. In


this, also, we may see the reason why, in the


choice Of the apostles, plain common sense men


were better fitted for the simple narration of


the facts of the gospel, without gloss, and with


out any proneness to philOsophize upon its ma


ture and doctrinal teachings, than the more


eurldite minds of an age of disputation and


philosophy. A plain statement of facts and Of
duties was absolutely necessary to meet the de-


mands Of the race and, We may also add, of rea-
son. 1t was not designed that anything should
be added thereto or subtracted therefrom, but
the PHILOSOPHERS Of the world, even where the
questions involved refer to the present time and
by existent facts, seem to follow regular cycle
rising to-day and falling tomorrow in manner
which procaims the tallibility of the human
mind, the instability of its interpretations of
nature, and the impossibility Of deriving from
them phlosophlc religion at all commensu-
rate with the necessities of the race, or which
would command its unqualified assent for even
one generation. Thus reasoning from the anal
ogy of nature, in supplying our necessities, and
its total insufhcency, when reference is had to
the highest element in the nature Of man, we
are. forced to the conclusion that the Author Of
all being has vouchsafed to US revelation Of
Himself beyond and above that manifested in
nature When this question becomes settled
in the mind as one of high probability, the
next step will be to decide upon the claims for
precedence amongst the various religions of the
EARTH discussion which is not embraced in
orr present design. c. j. X.
Year: 1869

lettering to the proposed introduction Of
Chinese labor in this country and its effect, the
Baltimore Sun says:


IF it be asked what is TO become Of the ne
gro it may be answered that the very competi-
tion thus introduced will have beneficial ef-
feet upon him, in rousing his dormant ener-
gies, teaching him the necessity of industry
and application, and making him thus more
useful to himself and to the community. As
the supply Of labor increases and greater con-
idence is felt in its quality, more land will be
put into cultivation Thus the demand will,
in turn, be stimulated by the supply, and the
effect eventually will be not SO much TO cheaper
quality Of labor, and with it the condition of
the laboring man, while adding to the prodtlc-
ton and wealth of society.
Year: 1869

Over and over agaia,


No matter which way [ turn.
| always find in the Book of Life


Some lesson | have TO learn.
] must take my turn at the mill.


/ must grind out the golden grain.
must work at my task with "a resolute vii
Over and over again.
We cannot measure the need


OF even the tinest flower,
Nor check the flow Of the golden sands
That run through a single hour.
But the morning dews must fall,


And the sun and summer rain
Must do their part, and perform il ali
Over and over again.
Over and over again


The brook through the meadow flow,
And over and over again


The pohderous mill. wheel goes.
Once doing will not suffice,


Though doing be not in vain;
And blessing, failing US once or twice
May come If we try again.
The path that has once been trod
Is never 50 rough 10 the feet:
And the lesson We once have learned
Is never so hard to repeat.
Though s0rroWful tears NAV fall,
And the heart to its depth be driven
WITH storm and tempest, we need them ali
10 render US meet for Heaven
Year: 1869

r. The circulation of the SPECTATOR"
is about as great as the combined. circula-
ton Of both the other papers published in
this place, and has as many subscribers IN
this county alone as are contained IN the
whole list Of either of the other papers.
Year: 1869

THE THIRD WAR-K .nsas hiss already
had two wars. a war against slavery and
a war against treason. The third war is
already = hand Kansas has never
failed. TIE two wars have been severe.
The third war will settle our stains.
The contest is not urged by any one.
The people know that it is a, hand. 1t
means fight of honesty against corrup-
ton. That fight is sure to come. The
people did not seek it and will not delay
it. Many times have we alluded to the
question. Many times more shall we al
lude to them.


This the only political question before
the Republicans and the Democrats alike
This is the question which is to be voted
for and which is TO be decided ct orr ap-
preaching elections.


These facts ought not to be unknown
to our readers. Intelligent men ough,
to know the critical state Of Kansas af-
fairs.


There shall be no concealment on our
part. There shall be no unfairness on
our part.


Perhaps it is unnecessary to say any
thing more to thinking men. Perhaps
it was not necessary to say even this.
Repetition is not Agreeable to Us. bnt the
old rn'e of iterun' ;terumque may be nece.-
sary to make the votes of Kansas fully
understand that an entire change must be
made in our whole politics.-Leaysa-
north Conservative.
Year: 1869

T 1t may Be Of interest to Q certsin
Presidential aspirsnt. to know that the
overthrow Of the Chivalry in the rebel
lion. gave . death blow to three Of their
fsvorits institntions-ths Duello, the
Tournament. and the Chase.
Year: 1869

Gw With Dyspeptics everything is
wrong. Food does not digest; sleep does
not refresh: wine does not cheer; smiles
do not gladden.; music does not charm.
nor can any other joy enter the breast Of
the miserable dyspeptic. You must get
rid of it, or it will become seated and
confirmed. and life win be burden and
existence . curse. Plantation Bitters
will do away with all this. New life.
strength and energy will take possession
Of you. The damssk will again bloom
upon your cheek. and the lustre in your
eye will sgsin be ss bright as in your
beslthiest. hsppiest. and most joyous
days.