smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

A TERRIBLE BEREAvEMENT.-A cor
of the New York Herald,
writing of the Avondale disaster, tells of
one woman who looking from her cot
tage door, beheld the awful doom to
which the fire consigned the husband of
her heart, her three sons, three brothers,
and father. Eight strong men, for
any one of whom she would gladly have
risked her own life, were lost to her for
ever. In the s'orehore house of grief no
more bitter bortion could abide. He
saw this horribly afflicted woman the day
the dead bodies were taken from the
mine, sitting by the wayside, removed
from the throng of other mourners. She
had fair round face, and large lustrous
eyes. Her dress was decent, and in her
demeanor nothing unusual presented it
itself to the passing observer but on
near approach the death-like pallor OF
her features, and unearthly glare of the


dried-up eyes, and the fixed, statute-like


position of the body, told of a grief to
deep for tears, too large for utterance.
There were others left as forlorn, but
none were weeded to SO sorrowful mem


ory as hers.
Year: 1869

A Pretty RoUGH JoKE.-The Rut-
land Herald narrates ludicrous affair
which lately occurred in neighboring
town:


A young gentleman, whose flowing
locks reminded one of the fiery fur
nace," applied to a friend for the best
mode of giving darker shade to his
hair. The young pupil had been pre-
viously pointing out the particulars of
lecture he had heard, and which was up
on the nature Of the hair A solution
of nitrate of silver, he said, he had no
doubt would have the desired effect. The
solution was, he said, to be used in con-
siderable quantity in short, he was to
wash the whole head in this fluid. Ac-
cordingly the young gentleman applied
it on going to bed, and put on his night
cap comfortably only little wet. On
washing his head with the solution the
fluid naturally wetted the greater part
of his face, and whatever part of the
OF the skin it touched, it left its mark.
The next morning the victim was first
seen by his brother, who, believing him
suffering under suffocation or some ter
rible dream alarmed the whole house.
The alarm, however, soon subsidized in all
except the mortified patient, whose face
was the color of an old shoe. The skin
received no injury by the solution, ex-
cept that of discoloring, which cannot
be removed by any means fF some
weeks. The skin grows gradually red
before it disappears.-The young man is
in truly deplorable state, and seldom
speaks except to utter cuztes upon thes
head of his hair adviser. He informs
his friends that the process Of peeling is
not in the least degree painful, but fsth-
er unpleasant 70 his feeling and pride.
Year: 1869




THE SUNKEN LAKE.-The Sentinel,
published at Jacksonville, Oregon,
says:


"Several of our citizens returned last
week from visit to the great sunken
lake, situated in the Cascade Mountains,
about seventy-fve miles northeast from
jacksonville. This lake is thought to
average two thousand feet down to the
water all around. The walls are almost
perpendicular, running down into the
water and leaving no beach. The depth
of the water is unknown, and its service
is smooth and unruffled and it lies so far,
below the surface Of the mountain that
the air currents do not effect it. Its
length is estimated at twelve miles and
its breadth at ten.


No living man ever has or probably
will be able to reach the waters edge
1t lies silent, still and mysterious in the
bosom of the everlasting hills like
huge we'll scooped out by the hands of
giant geEii Of the mountains in unknown
ages gone by. Around it the primeval
forests watch and ward are keeping. The
visiting party fred rifle several times
into the water at an angle of forty-fve
degrees, and were able to note several
seconds of time from the report Of the gun
until the ball struck the water. Such a
statement seems incredible, but tit isvouch-
ed for by some of our most reliable citi-
zens. The lake is certainly mosl re-
narkable curiosity.
Year: 1869

of the United States were both gamblers
and drunkards Voices in the crowd,
"He did not say so.") Ihad notheard be-
fore that it was denied But am glad
to hear the denial now. Whether denied
or not, however, | do not intend to an
swer railing with railing, nor personal
attack with invective. l only wished to
state publicly in this city, where the
charge is said to have been made, that it
was utterly untrue as to President Grant
and as to myself, that / never gambled
to value of farthing, and have been
a total abstinence man all the years of
my manhood. However Imay differ on
political questions or others from any
portion of my countrymen, no one has
ever truthfully assailed my character.
| have valued good character far more
than political reputation or official hon
ors, and wish to preserve it unspotted
while life shall last.


A few words more and | must conclude.
When our party visited you four years
ago, we all believed that, under wise
counsels, your city might become the
great city of the interior. But you must
allow me to say that you do not seem to


have improved these opportunities as


you might have done. What you should


do to develope the advantages your posi-


ton gives you, seems obvious You


should encourage, and not discourage,


competition in trade. You should well


come, and not repel, investments from


abroad. You should discourage every


effort to drive capital from your midst.f


Y You should rejoice at the opening OF ev-


cry new store, or factory, or mechanic


shop, by wbomsoever conducted. You
should seek to widen the areaof country
dependent on your city for supplies.


You should realize that wealth will come


to you only by develoment, by unfetter-


ed competition, by increased capital.


Before the completion of the railroad
!, your isolation could be maintained. Now
however, you are brought into close jux-
taposition with the remainder of the ma.


tion and with the civilization of the con


tinent. You can persist in the policy
you have adopted, but if you do, the
only result will be to dwarf and destroy
your own prosperity and to build up th'
rival cities near you that pursue true
and wiser policy. You will decrease anc
they will increase, and you will have nj
! one to blame but yourselves.


: Here / must close. have spoken t.
r you face to face, frankly, truthfull,y y fear
' lessly. I have said nothing but for you
: own good. Let me counsel you one
!. more to obedience to the law, and thank
n ing you for the patient hearing you hav
V given me, and for the hospitalities ou
S party have received, both from Mormo
n and Gentle citizens, l bid you all goo
r night and good bye.
Year: 1869

WEAR A SMILE.-Which will you do?
smile and make others happy, or be crab
bed and make everybody around you
miserable? You can live among flow
ers and singing birds, or in the mire sur
rounded by fogs and frogs. The amount
of happiness which you can produce is
incalcuable, if you would only show a
smiling face, kind heart, and speak
pleasant words. On the other hand, by
sour looks, and cross words, and fret
full disposition, you can make hundreds
unhappy almost beyond endurance.
Which will you do I? Wear pleasant
countenance, let JOY beam in your eye,
and love glow on your forehead. There
is no joy SO great as that which springs
from kind act or pleasant deed, and
you may feel it at night when you rest,
and at morning when you rise, and
throughout the day when about your
daily business.
Year: 1869

LONDON, April 8.-Advices from
Madrid give report that Marshal
Serrano. President Of the Council of
Ministers, and Admiral Tapete, Min
lister OF Marine, are about to resign,
and that a Directory Is being formed
to take the control of the Govern
ment
Year: 1869

Resolutions OF the Milwaukee Chamber Of
Commerce ON the Shipment Of Grain to tho
Acknowledgement Facilities and Cheaper
Freights Demanded.


MILWAUKEE, March %, 1859.


The committee OF the Chamber OF Commerce to
whom was referred the proposition presented by the
Warehouse and Elevating associations OF New York
have reported series Of resolutions to the following
erect


proves Of the proposition that all grain should be discharged
from canal boats Immediately on arrival At New YORK. the
oss to ana "a .s YORK ss .
in devising such system win best accomplish thls end
s % e es
msn c risk and $ Which entirely
hazard Of Legitimate business and imposing heavy In
and hsp system grain
delivery is imperatively called for.


insurance a the Eastern lake ports and especially a
s port q so are e. :. and
are entirely opposed the necessities Of and
eo
lns system, hoce with pleasure ths. come movement


reduction in the charges on grain passing through sh


Resolved That the heavy tolls levied by the State Of New
York Al produce passing through her canal: are unwe
eIeasIng large poon Of the trade which should naturally
by esenng her completeness Of equipments and rendering
transportation expensive and nsecure and u
alton the most northern important shipping points on the
Western lakes renders us more dependent on the
the transport Of our produce and identifies our interest
this relation closely with hers feel the
deeply that consideration Of true policy calls for large
reduction Of tolls and the facilities for the
daton Of the Western trade and that unless the transit
charges produce essened or develop some
outlets suited position and wants much Of The
trade that employs railroads and lake marine will
be diverted from 70 other and cheaper Of transit
and shall suffer with New York In the loss OF
large portion Of the trade that egtnatey belongs to
Year: 1869

A young farmer found he was getting re-
duced in circumstances. lie went TO friend
TO ask his advice. This friend, with grave
face. said, AZ know Of charm that will cure
that; take this little cup, and drink from It
every morning Of the water you must get st
such spring. But remember you must draw
il yourself at five o'clock, or the charm will DO
broken"


The next morning the farmer walked across
bis fields, for the spring was at the farther end
Of his estate, and spying neighbors cows
which had broken through the fence, and were
feeding on his pasture. hc turned them out and
mended the fence. The laborcrs were not yet
at work; when they came lettering along after
their proper time, they were startled at seeing
their master so early.


ooh" said lie, i see how it is; IL comes
Of my not getting up in time."


This early rising soon became pleasant
habit his walk and cup Of water gave him an
appetite for breakfast and the people were,
like him, early at work. He soon acknowl-
edged that tho advice bis friend had given was
as good as il was simple.
Year: 1869

Yesterday we heard Of and read part Of the
most singular will on record. The maker OF
the win rs represented to be slrewd, success
ful, business man, who has accumulated quite
large fortune. lie exhibits no other signs Of
insanity than may be derived from the extreme
eccentricity Of his will, although it is probable
the courts will, in due course, be called upon
to determine the question whether the testator
was Of sound and disposng mind


The will disinhcrits all the natural heirs OF
the maker Of it, and devises the entire property
in trust for the establishment Of an lnhrmary
for Cats. A most elaborate architectural plan
for the necessary buildings Is attached 10 aud
made part of the will. Itprovides areas for
that sweet amatory converse so dear to the
feline heart, and rat holes Of the most ravish-
ing nature, to be kept well stocked. The most
ingenious contrivances are provided for secur-
ing to the rat a chance for escape, 50 that tho
cats may not lose the pleasures Of tho chase by
finding their prey come too easily. High walls
are to tc built, with gently sloping roofs, for
the moonlight promenade and other nocturnal
amuscments of the cats. The trustees arc di-
rected to select the grounds for this novel lnhr-
mary in the most populous part Of some Amer
lean city, and the deviscs arc to be proteciei
by competent force Of nurses from the raw
ages Of men and dogs. No peson Of the male


L. Il al usffb
and no female who has children or Is under
thirty years old. There are hundreds OF min
ute directions which we have no time to note.


One would suppose that in the foregoing
provisions the tcststor had exhausted all tho
ecccntricities Of one man, however unique bis
nature, but the last provision Of the will seems
more outrageously bizarre than any that SO be-
fore. Says the devisor: "I have all my bio
been taught to believe that everything in aud
about man was intended 10 be useful and
that it was mans duty, as lord os animals, 70
protect all the lesser species, even rs God pro-
tects and watches over him. For these TWO
combined reasons-frst, that my body even
after death may continue to 0e made usciu' -
and secondly that it may be made instrument
tai as far as possible in furnishing substitute
for the protection of the bodies Of my dear
friends the cats,-I do hereby devise and be-
qucath the intestines of my body to be made up
into fddlestrings the proceeds to be devoted
to the purchase of an ACCORDION, which shan
be played IN the auditorium Of the Cat inirm-
ary by one OF the regular nurses to be selected
for that purpose exclusively-the playing 70
be kept up forever and ever without cessa'i0n
day or night, in order that the cats may nave
the privilege of always hearing and enjoying
that instrument which is the nearest approach
to tlcr natural voice."


If any Journal can give ms information Of .
more singular will than this, VIC should like to
hear of it. Ohio STATE Journal.
Year: 1869

Pierre Momble, the St Denis murderer, was
guillotined on the morning of the 5th in
the Place de la ROquette. He savsgely killed
his mistress, who had long lived with him as
his wife, from feeling of jealousy, which, &C
cOrding to the oath of the police agent who
was the object Of his suspicion, was unfounded.
Momble was a man of low organization, and
had he killed the woman only would doubtless
have obtained extenuating circumstances. But
he also hacked to pieces with a hatchet in the
dead of night her son, a lad ii years old, who
was sleeping by her side. NJ. Alex. Laya, his
advocate, in vain attempted to persuade the
jury that the boy was killed accidentally. M.
Laya subsequently had an interview with the
Emperor at st. Cloud, to solicit communication
for his client, on the ground that he was a
coarse brutal man, scarcely responsible for his
actions. The Emperor kept NJ. Laya with him
three quarters of an hour, listened most atten
| lively to all he had to say, showed a thorough
knowledge of all the points of the case, anC


concluded the audience, according to establish


ed usage, by saying he would talk the matte


over with the Minister of Justice. The con


clusion cone to was that the law must take it


course At the execution an unusual and hor


rlble spectacle occurred. By some inaccurac


in the mode of strapping the criminal to th


plank his neck did not come into the groov


exactly under the knife, and one Of the execu


TONER assistants had to pull the head violent
ly into the right place, aud hold it there till


was cut off, when it fell into his hands. Th
name OF the present eXecutlOner-IuOHSleur {
: Paris, as he is grimly called by old usage
: NJ Hedenrech, and it is stated in the pape
for the first time that he was once surgeon
the navy. About 10000 people were presel
e to see Momble die. The cabmen of Paris a
+, always the first to know of the hour fixed Fl
e an execution, and they canvass the jetene
9 doree and their fair companions as they tul
, ont during the small hours of the mornin
4 from Boulevard supper rooms, to take a rit
e for louis and see the sight. A great deal
custom is got in this way.
Year: 1869

INFINITY. 1t has been often said that the
mind of man is incapable of comprehending
the infinite. This may be true in a certain
sense, because we may entertain reasonable
doubts whether we really and fully understand
anything. AS far as the visible universe is con.
cerned, we feel much less difficulty in compre-
hending its in6nity than in oonceiving that it
can possibly be finite.


AS to space: Can we by any effort imagine
the existence of boundary, blank wall, an
impossible limit, where there is no further ex-
tension of space 2-where winged messenger
or angel, sent on the errand OF penetrating
deeper into space, would have tc turn back be.
cause there was no more space to penetrate
No; we cannot figure to ourselves such fna
! limit to the extent Of the universe, such ring
fence enclosing all things created. Ii is fal
easier both to grant and to understand thai
space mast be infinitely extensible. !.
| Then again, as to ime we cannot conceive
its actual stoppage. The events by which w
measure time the motions Of the heaveni!
bodies, might alter, nay, might even cease; tn
planets might all fall into the sun; suns nigh
coalesce or group together, making new heav


ems and new earths; still there would be


change, a progress, which is only another mod


and manifestation of time. Even supposin


(what is impossible to suppose) that no NOR


motion or event took place in the universe


that the great All were still, stagnant and dea
Time nevertheless, that is to say Eternity
would not cease. Immortal beings would "
possess and enjoy an everlasting Now of lii


and happiness Here also we can more readi


admit the infinite than conceive the finite.
Year: 1869

REAL CHEEK An exchange contains the
following advertisement: Wants a situation,
practical printer, who is competent to take
charge of any department in a printing and
publishing house. Would accept a professor
ship in any Of the academies Has no objec-
tion to teach ornamental painting and penman-
ship, geometry, trigonometry, and many other
sciences. Is particularly suited to act as u pas
tor to small evangelical church, or as a local
preacher. He would make no objection to
form a small but select class of interes ing
young ladies to instruct in the highest branch
es. To dentist or chiropodist he would be
invaluable, as he can do almost anything
Would cheerfully accept position as a bass or
tenor singer in choir. Would board with a
family, if decidedly pious. For further parti-
culars inquire at Browns Saloon"
Year: 1869

Done. "A man who looked like coun-
tryman was lately walking in the street with
packet in his hand, sealed, and inscribed with
an address, and note that it contained one
hundred dollars in Treasury notes. As the
bearer appeared to be at loss, he was accoSted
by citizen, who asked him what he was look
ing for. The simple countrymen placed the
packet in the inquirers hands, and requested
that he would read the address The leply was
made as with an agreeable surprise


"Why. this letter is for me! have been
expecting it for long while ~


Tie messenger upon this demand ten dollars
for the carriage of the packet which was read
lily paid. The new possessor of the packet has
tened to an obscure corner to examine his
prize but, en- breaking the seal, he found no.
thing but few sheets Of paper, On which was
written "Done'
Year: 1869

THE CONSTITUTION INvIOLABLE-A Wes-
tern Justice ordered witness to come up
and be sworn" He was informed that the
person was deaf and dumb


q don't care" said the Judge, passionate
ly, whether he is or not. Here is the Con-
stitution of the United States before me. It
guarantees to every man the right of speech !;
and SO long as have the honor of scat on
this bench it shall not be violated or invaded.
What the Constitution guarantees to a man,
I'm bound he shall have"
Year: 1869

There is story of an old hunter who came
into Chicago one day, and after wandering
about for a while looking at the public bnild-
ings and other improvements, got into chat
with one of of the inhabitants, in the course of
which he mentioned to him that he had once
had change to buy all the ground that the


{" And why didn't you buy it?''


"Well, l hadn't the boots just then" was
the old mans calm reply.
Year: 1869

It is stated in a despatch from Berlin that
the collery accident which recently occurred in
Saxony, is likely to prove more terrible than
was at first reported. Three hundred and
twenty one men are said to be shut up in the
the mine, and there is no hope that any of
them will be rescued. ,-usi
Year: 1869

Patience is always crowned with success.
This rule is without an exception. 1t may not
be splendid success, but patience never takes
anything in hand that it does not succeed with
in some form.
Year: 1869

Rather pleasant to meet half-a- dozen good
looking young ladies, arm in arm, taking up
the entire side walk, and be obliged to walk
down into the gutter, on one side, or run over
an old woman with basket of cabbages on the
Year: 1869

An important change in the sys-
TEN of educating children has been
inaugurated in Germany. There
school authorities have determined
to have no afternoon classes. They


have ascertained that three or four


hours clear.headed mental study,


without any rental tasks in the af-
ternoOH. leads to better results than
the old system. 1t would be well if
the hours of study were shortened in
our schools. Too much study not
only dwarfs the intellect, but damages
the physical health. Let the first
half of the day be devoted to the ac-
quiring of book-knowledge, and the
last half to the gaining Of bodily
strength and vigor. t7-1d5sr


And, in order to do this, the les.
sons must not be SO long and hard
as to encroach upon the afternoon.
An hour or so after supper ought to
be sufficient to devote to study
leaving the rest of the evening for
some pleasant game or conversation
and, in the case OF young or weak
children, for sleep SeDsibleas these
rievs are, it is almost impossible to
make teachers conform to them.


One word more. II German chill
dren should thus not be oFerworked,
much more is it true Of American
children. The stimulation of the
brain and nervous energy in this
country is something terrible. And
we must encourage the physical il
order to counteraet this result of our
social and political education, bv ev-
cry rational means in our power
Rural Ne,o Yorker.