smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

The RAILRoAD.-On Saturday last, large
number of our citzens, met again at the
Court House, to consider the all important
subject of having Railroad through this
county, and hear the report of the commit
tee appointed at a previous meeting. The
committee reported that they were in CORES
pondence with DR.. E. S. Holden President of
the Stockton and Corperopolis Railroad COM
pany, that they had also addressed Gov. Stan
ford of the Central Pacific Railroad Com
pany, and read such letters 40 had been re-
ceved. A Standing Committee was then
appointed for the purpose of obtaining any
and all information possible that will tend
to the accomplishment of the great object.


The committee have met since and are al
ready using their best efforts to procure in
formation, they will also in few days per-
sonally examine a portion of the county tor
the purpose of ascertaining its practicabi!ity
for running a railroad through it. 1t is to
be hoped that our people will persevere in
this matter until success shall crown their
efforts. We believe it can be done, and from
all we can learn our people nre alive to the
necessity of this great work, and will un-
doubtedly offer very strong inducements to
capitalists that will undertake it's construc-
tion. Our people are not able to do it oil,
but they are able and willing to give enough
to make il profitable to those who may desire
to build and own the road. This road will
be built beyond doubt, it is only question
of time. IT our present population hack the
necessary energy, and backbone to carry
this thing through, they are not deserving of
enjoying the benefits which civilization has
conferred upon enterprising communities.
Year: 1869

The people of the agricultural districts of
Long Island have during each year. two holidays, when
they assemble in convention at their respective fair
grounds and place competition their various articles
Of farm and garden productions. The Jealous and hard
working farmers Of Queens County have appointed for
their Summer holiday the 23d Of June, when hOrtcu
tural exhibition will take place at the fair grounds at
MineOa 1t anticipated that the display VIII be
usually large aud magnificent one as the crops are grow
ing excellent. The new diplomas 10 DO awarded
by tho Agricultural Society are OF fine
workmanship. The premiums upon crops average
from s. TO $lO quite large Increase over
other years. and wlll doubt have tendency greatly
to increase tic number Of competitors The premiums
upon flowers average from s. to go The competition In
this line Is mostly confined 10 the ladies. The Society
wishing to add 10 the interest Of tho exhibition some new
feature OF amusement have decided TO offer the following
premiums 10 velOcipedists For the safest machine for
general use t for the best machine for the OF la
Dies TO be operated by lady $40 Diploma to the maker
For the most skul riding, sl0 for the most graceful
riding, tlG for the slowest riding tO for the fastest
riding by eKpert mile go Each person Is 10 manage
ms own machine, but no dsmOuntng and rcmOuntug Of
machine VIII be allowed after the start unless the rider
may fall from his position. The last OF the exhibition
promises TO be very entertaining aud the young gentle


men OF the country are training Themselves the Of
Yeoepede riding with tine determination of giving the
city "iaddies' hard tussel for the supremacy
Year: 1869

Color blindness is much more frequent
than is generally supposed, for those
who are afflicted with it are mostly ig-
norant Of the defect, and frequently
practice trades or professions in which
perfect sensibiiity to the different hues
of color is quite indispensable. An in-
stance of this occurred some time since
il, the case of an engine driver, VIII o al
lowed his engine to run into a luggage
train, though not noticing the red dan
ger signal At his examination 1t was
proved that he was color blind, and cod
not distinguish red from green. Partial
color blindness is, no doubt. the cause
Of the frequent disputes we hear about
the tints of certain objects; to say moth
ing Of the glaring instances of bad taste
in the arrangement of color that are
now DAYS SO common. Out of thirty
BOYS at q school at Berlin who were ex-
amined by Leebech, he found i've who
were quite confused in notions of color,
and could not distinguish, between ordi-
nary shades Of the same hue. The af-
fection is in many cases hereditary, de.
scending from father to son. 1t is sing
uIar that instances Of color blindness
are much more common among women,
for out of over 500 cases there were but
four in which females were not the suf-
ferers 1t seems also that persons with
gray eyes are more frequently color


blind than those whose eyes are brown
or blue.
Year: 1869

A stitch in Time Saves Nine.
"For want Of nail the shoe Was lost;
For want Of a shoe the horse Was lost;
For want of q horse the rider was lost;
And all for the want of horseshoe nail :.
Year: 1869

he is held by his party friends in all
sections of the State, that he had only
TO have indicated his willingness to
accept to have been elected triumph
antly; and even now, after his
positive refusal to allow the
use of his name, it is strongly
urged that he should be made the
Senator. aolens volens, to settle the
present muddle. But he is needed
just where he is, and will be able to
do the State better service and gain
as much reputation for himself. There
are peculiar reasons why he should
remain in the Gubernatorial Chair.
and [ may allude to them in another
letter.


The Governors message will be
read on Friday or Saturday. It will
be an able document and the clearest
statement of State finances ever pub
lished. may give some of its lead
ing point tomorrow.


To-day - be busy one at the
Capital, tn, :ate Board of Agricul-
ture and several other bodies conven-
ing. J. WI.
Year: 1869

WASHINGTON, January 5.-At noon
to day, the members of the Printers
Grant and Colfax Climb, numbering
about one hundred, called at the
Headquarters of the Army, for the
purpose of presenting to Gen. Grant
a congratulatory letter of their Club,
ment and signed by all the members,
and neatly framed. General Grant
met these gentlemen in the reception
room at Headquarters, and, after
short speech from Charles r. Latrop,
foreman of the Public Printing Office
and President of the Club, the mem
bers were individually presented and
shook hands with the General. At
the conclusion of this formality, Gen
Grant said:


Gentlemen II thank you for this
manifestation of your sentiments. /
do not know of anything that [ can
say more than that | am glad to have
the support of all classes, and par
ticularly Of those who are finding
employment under the Government
| hope there will be nothing in my
course hereafter to make you regret
the present you have seen fit to give.


There was considerable excitement
in the upper part of the city to-day,
in consequence of two colored men
being found dead In their bed at the
residence of the French Minister
Large crowds were surrounding the
house. Reports were current that
they were either suffocated or poi
soned.


Gen. Spinner still remains very un-
well, and is unable to be at his desk
at the Treasury Department.


WASHINGTON, January 5-In the
Senate to-day a communication was
received from the Secretary of the
Interior, transmitting and recon-
mending to favorable consideration a
letter from the Commissioner of In
dian Affairs, submitting an estimate
Of an appropriation required for
medalions of IT, S. Grant. President
of the United States. for distribution
| to the Indian tribes. The ComH.is-
when President is elected to have
medalions of such President made
and distributed to the head men of
the tribes who have proved deserving
of some special mark of favor and
recognition, aud he therefore asks
that an appropriation of $1,000 be
made for that purpose now.


A communication from the Secre
tary OF War to the Senate shows that
2,56l regular and 1913 volunteer
troops are employed In the Indian
hostilities, and in protecting the Mis-
souri, traffic and the Union Pacific
Railroad and otherwise In that region.
Year: 1869

The waters of the political pool
are beginning to be stirred by the ar
rival Of quite number of members
of both branches of the Legislature
and applicants for positions. The
Bates House last night gave evidence
of the gathering swarm of politicians,
aud tonight the number will be
greatly increased. The indications
now are that Judge GEORGE A. Bus
KIRK, of Bloomington. will be chosen
Speaker, but beyond that it is hard
to predict tie result Of the Republi-
can Caucus Of tomorrow night. Maj.
WILSON is again candidate for Sec
retary OF the Senate, aud will be likely
to be chosen, Notwithstanding OYLER,
a prominent member of the last SEN
ate, will be in the field. The candi-
dates for the subordinate places in
both Houses, are fully as numerous
as at previous sessions.


The Senatorial question will be the
absorbing one of the session until it
Is disposed Of, aud very little interest
'Fill be taken in legislation until that
il out Of the way. The gathering Of
znembers does not make much change
IL the situation from that indicated
by the press of the State for a few
weeks past. WILL CUMBAcK has
undoubtedly decidedly more strength
than any other one candidate, but
not enough to elect him on the first
ballot. All the other candidates or
their friends appear anxious to defeat
him, and if combination is practi-
cable, such may be the result; but
very much doubt it. IF he can go
into the caucus with thirty-fve or
forty votes. as his friends claim, il
will be very hard to prevent his elec-
tion. He is on the ground,
and is using his popular address
an6 clever accomplishments act
lively and with good effect, at least
IN strengthening the confidence OF
his adherents. Congressman ORTIZ
has rooms at the Bates House, and
has few indefatigable friends, who
may be able to swell his vote in eau:
Gus, but he is far behind CUMBAcK
Mr. NEwcoMB is on the ground, and
Is by no means idle, but I am unable
to say how strong he is. Judge FRA
zGR. of the Supreme Court, will com
bine a considerable vote from the
north part Of the State. WoLcoTT's &
friends are trying to work up" {
party for him, but not with very
marked success. Col. Dick THoMP
SON does not appear to have much
strength. His own District appears
TO be divided on the question, and hii
friends have done little effective work
to secure his success. He will no
himself enter into the scramble
Judge HUGHES is here, but is no
apparently pressing his name for tn,
Senatorship. General VEATeH hal
many personal friends and admirers
but it is not understood here that h,
Is candidate for Senatorial honors
should his name go into the caucu
he would get quite number of vote
even at this late day. IF Governo


BAKER had desired HENDRICKS
place in the Senate, he could hav


had it without struggle So great i
y the confidence and esteem in whicl
Year: 1869

II was with pleasure that read the article In the
HERALD this morning on "IIydrophobia," and am
thankful that there Is at least one man who can look
at the subject with reason and common sense There
IL no other way OF combating the popular ignorance
and superstition on this subject than by educating
the people 10 the facts Of the case and thus prevent


ng this periodical which results In frightening
few persons to death and the useless slaughter Of
many valuable animals. The popular belief that
dogs 20 mad only In not weather originated In
Europe long ago from an erroneous association or
ideas. rne Egyptians were annually warned OF the
overflow Of the Nile BY the appearance OF the
star SIRIUS which from this apparent wAtchfulness
occurred In August, and from this arose the name
OF dog days. The origin Of this name having been


lost sight or people naturally interpret its meaning
70 be the season In which nadness occurred. The
Year: 1869

nal of the land-ne, the same kind of alphabet be-
ing used in both cases. The receiver (not opera
tor,) sits in dark room, and the small mirror re-
fleets the ray of light upon piece of paper before
him, on which black line is drawn, to the right
and left of which the light is alternately reflected
The receiver reads these signals Dy "sight' and
transmits them to another person, placed outside
of the dark room, by means of an ordinary instru.
ment A short time since, General Reynolds told
me that he had sent message, without either
wire or cable, ninety 1.-TWO miles across an arm Of
Lake Superior, by means of the heliotrope or mir
ror, and on the return of this messenger, who had
been sent with written copy, he found that the
heliotrope message had been received, understood
and obeyed. He had two assistants, who had been
telegraphic operators, who had for a whole sum-
mer been amusing themselves in talking to each
other with these instruments, though they were
stationed ten, twenty, or thirty miles apart.


When the rebel General Morgan made his great
raid through Indiana and Ohio, he captured one
of my operators, and compelled him to telegraph
in General Lew Walaces name to Cincinnati, ask
ing how many regular troops were in that city.
Morgan read by ''sound" and therefore the opera
tor did not dare to intimate that he was under du-
ress, and could only venture to add an extra initial
to his own signature. The receiving operator at
Cincinnati knew that Morgan was in that neighbor-
hood, and suspecting from the extra initial letter
that all was not right, replied greatly exaggerating
the force of regulars, and the consequence was
that Morgan changed his route to a circuit Of
twenty miles beyond the city, and thus saved it
from sack, and the probable loss of millions Of
do1loro
Year: 1869

na5- A Boston journal has made the brilliant dis
covery that lit is easier to find dozen good news
paper writers than one good newspaper editor. :"
This will hardly be regarded in the light of an i'm
portant discovery by the public at large, for it re:
quires but very slight knowledge of newspapers
to know that their success depends not 50 much
on the ability of individual writers, as upon the
tact and generalship of their conductors. Anews-
paper is, in fact, almost as much the production
of one mind as book, for though there may be
fifty different pens engaged in furnishing the mat
ter which goes into it, it is the individual tact of
the conductor that gives it all consistency, that
bots out the Objectionable sentences and adds the
necessary words here and there to elucidate and
give point to what would otherwise be obscure and
meaningless. The editor of paper occupies a
position somewhat similar to that of the chief gen.
eral of an army, under whose charge there may be
many brave and accomplished officers, without su-
perors in their respective spheres, but yet not one
could lead the host to victory in the absence of the
commander.in-chief The editor of the London
Times is not by any means brilliant writer; there
are doubtless many men under him who can excel
him in writing leaders, reporting speeches, or do
ing the miscellaneous work of daily journal, but
probably not one who could conduct that famous
paper with the success he has secured to it. The
proprietors properly appreciate his services and
his salary is equal in amount to that of the Presi
dent of the United States.
Year: 1869

We find the following interesting account OF the
working of the Atlantic cable in recent lecture by
the Hon. William j. McAlpine on the subject Of
"Modern Engineerining:"


Teegraphy may, with propriety, be considered
one of the branches Of engineering, and is pecul-
arly of modern development. A clever writer says
that it may be read by each of the five senses. On
land lines each signal is made by suspending the
flow of the electric current for two different inter-
vas of time called ''dots and dashes' the use Of
which, in different ORDERS constitutes the alphabet
of the telegraph. When these are printed, they
are read by ''sight" but ordinarily the operator
reads them by "sound'' as easily as musician
reads the letters of the scale by the same sense
If the operator has no instrument, he will grasp
the wire in his hand and read the signals by feel
ing the rtermissions of the flow Of the electric
current. In like manner, by placing the wire
across his tongue he can ''taste" the same inter-
mission, but this is dangerous experiment. And
it is said that electricity can be made to dissolve
chemical and produce pungent odor in the tele-
graphic alphabet which can be read by ''smelling,"
but for this I do not vouch | believe that the
method of fsignalng through the Atlantic cable is
known in detail to but few persons. The opera
ton is exactly reversed from that of the land wires


The gutta percha covering Of the copper wires,
under the pressure of great depth of water, be-
comes an absorbent of electricity which is being
sent through them, to the extent of 30 per cent
The first portion of the electric wave oflO per cent


crosses the ocean l7OO miles, in two seconds, and
it would be followed by succession Of waves from
the restoration of that portion Of the electricity
which has been absorbed by the gutta percha in
impulses, and the signal would be repeated like
echoes, and produce not only confusion, but great
delay. To remedy this, Professor Varley intro
duced key, which sends alternate currents, posi-
tive and negative, at such intervals as to allow the
first wave of 10 per cent to pass forward and then
that portion absorbed by the covering is neutral
lied by its opposite, and the cable is cleared for
the transmission of second pair of currents The
battery used is very small one three Of Daniel 8
cups,) and the signal being 10 per cent Of this
small current, is powerless to move any Of the
other instruments in use on land. The instrument
used consists of minute polarized needle, sus-
pended on a sirgle strand of spiders web or one
from the slkworm. In the middle Of this minute
needle is placed an almost microscopic mirror,
which reflects single ray Of light from power
full lamp The currents Of electricity affect this
needle alternately to the right and left for space
of time corresponding to that occupied in the sig
Year: 1869

A KNOWING CLERGYMAN.-A Prussian clergy
man applied to the king Of Prussia for permission
to preach in his chapel. His majesty thought it
presumptuous for country clergyman to ask such
favor, but nevertheless granted his request, and
told him he would give him text to preach on,
and that he should preach on the Sunday follow
ing, when he would be there to hear him. The
clergyman waited with anxiety from day to day for
the text as he wished to have it in time, that he
might make fine sermon of it; he, however,
went into the pulpit with the intention to preach
one of his old sermons, thinking the king had for.
gotten to send him text. The king came to the
chapel soon after, and sent the clergyman letter,
which he opened and read; the contents were {:
1.-THE enclosed is your text; you will preach on it
Immediately" He opened the bit Of paper that
was inclosed, when to his great astonishment, he
found it quite blank he looked at the other side,


it was blank there too he held it out for the audi
ence to look at, and said, Here is nothing" and
then turning it, land there is nothing; and ofno-
ing God created heaven and earth, " then quoted .
verse in the first chapter Of Genesis, to preach q
sermon on it extempore. The king was so delight.
ed at the great presence of mind the clergyman had
shown, that he made him his almoner.
Year: 1869

NIGHT AIR Nor INJURIOUS is popu-
lar prejudice concerning the evil effects of night
air, about which word must be said. In her ad-
mirable writings on hygiene and the management
of the sick, Mrs. Nightingale has done much to
correct this mistake. 1t was formerly the univer-
sal belief that the air of night was very injurious.


But the fact is, that, except ulder certain crcum


stances, it is as heathful, or even more so, than
that of the daytime. The night air oflarge cities,
such as London, when the bdssle andsSs..1motion,
which cause it to be loaded with dust particles, is
comparatively quelled, and the numerous fires
which contaminate it with their smoke, are mostly
extinguished, is purer than that of the day. Moth
ing conduces more to healthy sleep than good ven-
tlation, and no mode of ventilation surpasses that
obtained by opening window at the top, by which
the influence of draught is avoided, while the up
per stratum Of air, to which impurities ascend is
certainly renewed. But there is still another rea.
son for at times adopting night even in preference
to day. ventilation. In sultry weather it is COM
mon mistake to open the windows instead of keep
ing them altogether closed, as is the case in very
hot climates But little reflection will show that
since the height Of the thermometer in the sun
greatly exceeds that shown at the same time by
another thermometer placed in the shade, by open
ing the window we admit air much heated into our
rooms. The proper time, under such circumstances,
for ventilation, is during the night, when the ex-
ternal air has cooled down. By adopting this plan
in hot weather, the temperature Of room may
always be kept several degrees lower than if the
opposite course is pursued y Good Health.
Year: 1869

Cur This Our AND KEEP IT.-Franklin Dyre,
highly respectable and intelligent farmer of Ga
lena, Kent county, Maryland, gives the following
as sure cure for the bite of mad dog As will
be seen, he has tested it with the most gratifying
results:


"Elecampane is a plant we'll known to most per.
sons, and is to be found in many of our gardens.
Immediately after being bitten, take one and hall
ounces of the root of the plant-the green root is
perhaps preferable but the dried will answer, and
may be found in our drug stores, and was used by
mesice or bruise, put it into pint of fresh milk,
boil down to half pint, strain, and when cold
drink it, fasting at least six hours afterward The
next morning, fasting, repeat the dose, prepared
as the last, and this will be sufficient It is recon.
mended that after each dose, nothing be eaten for
at least six hours,


I have son who was bitten by mad dog eigh.
teen years ago, and four other children in the
neighborhood were also bitten; they took the
above dose, and are alive and we'll to this day.
And have known number of others who were
bitten and applied the same remedy.


1t is supposed that the root contains principle
which, being taken up by the blood in its circula
tion counteracts or neutralizes the deadly effects
of the virus of hydrophobia


I feel so much confidence in this simple remedy
that I az, willing you should give my name in con-
nection with this statement"
Year: 1869

THE USE OF ADvERsrTY. wear out your
clothes. You are not troubled with visitors You
are exoneratsd from making calls. Bores do not
bother you. Tax-gatherers hurry past You. No
one thinks Of presenting you with a testimonial.
Impostors know it is of no use try to bleed you.
You practice temperance You swallow indefinite
ly less poison than Others Fatterers do not shoot
their rubbish into your ears You are saved many
deception, many headache. And lastly, if you
have true friend in the world, you are sure, in
very short space of time to know it.
Year: 1869

a@ Fretting does no good and worrying over
what we cannot CONTROL does not make the pot
boil or give the child new frock. Then why fret
and waste our strength for that which is not bread


Why not enjoy every day and everything that God
gives us, and trust for the rest 1t is certain that
fretting always proves feebeness and shalloWness'
It is not the strong and self poised man that wor-
ries. He says Il am my own MASTER and can
take care of myself; what is past have won, and
what is to come will control" But to the feeble
mole hill becomes mountain and plgmy IS
giant He fears every shadow and trembles in the
anticipation Of what may now be, Sowe find that