smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1868

SINGULAR HABITS OF CRoWS.-A CORES
pondent, residing in Contestoga township,
writes to US that ION the banks of the Contes
toga creek q short distance above Wabauk, In
this county is Crow Roost At this place
thousands of crows roost every night; Ihey
leave every morning and return IN the even
ing They do not go singly or In tiocks, but IN
tour divisions, one division going nearly due
East one nearly due South, another nearly
due West, and the other nearly due North,
and from these they branch off and spread
over tho country and In the evening they re-
turn from precisely the same points.


In the morning, as soon as daylight begins
to dawn, they are stirring about and Tying
about from tree to tree, keeping an lncessant
eaving, which is very diSagreeable and annoy
ing to the people living IN the nelghborhood.
About sunrise they start off, going on IN reg
ular lines and always 10 the same directions,
each division taking Its own route, and 1t
isvery probable that the same crows always con-
stitute the same division. Those which go IN
southerly direction, at distance OF hve miles
from the "Roost," never deyiate above quar-
ter of mile East or West, from their reg
ular route, either going or coming; never
deviating any except when the wind blows
pretty strong, when they fly very low and along
the more sheltered places, In order to avoid
the wind as much as they can. 1t takes them
on an average about thirty minutes to pass
given point, longer if the wind is against them,
and less if it is in their favor. Their line fully
one hundred yards in widtlH and they flying
with great rapidity, it is impossible. to count
them Or even to make an estimation that would
approximate closely to the number; but their
number is very great. About ten miles from
the "Roost" these divide into two branches
one going Southeast, and the other towards the
Southwest.


Where, OF how far all the crows that come
to this place to roost go during the day Is not
known to the writer, but they undoubtedly
spread over a large extent OF territory to seek
food probably one hundred miles or more IN
every direction from the Roost.


A few years ago their roost, which had been
about halt mile farther up the Conestoga!,
was destroyed by the clearing away OF the woods
which contained it, but they did not leave this
section of the country, but immediately sslec'
ted their present roost, to which they have
come ever sinae.-LancaS. Intel.
Year: 1868

Working as an ordinary hand in Phladel-
phia ship-yard was a man named John l.. Knowl-
ton. His popularity was, that while others Of
his class were at ale-houses, or indulging in a
jolifcatiou, he was necessarily engaged in study
ing upon mechanical combinations. One Of his
companions secured poodle dog, and spent six
months in teaching the quadruped to execute
jig upon Its hind legs. Knowlton spent the same
period in discovering some method by which he
could saw out ship timber in a beveled form.
The first man taught his dog to dance-Knowl-
ton, in the same time, discovered mechanical
combination that enabled him to do in two hours
the work that would occupy dozen men, by q
slow and laborous process, an entire day. That
saw is now in use in all the ship-yards of the
country. 1t cuts beam to a curved shape as
quickly as an ordinary saw-mill saw rips up n
straight plank. Knowlton continued his expert
ments He took no part in parades or target
shootings, and in snort time afterward he Sc
cured patent for machine that turns any ma
teral whatever into perfectly spherical form.
He sold portion of his patent for sum that is
equivalent TO fortune. The machine is now in
| operation in this city cleaning off cannon-balls
| for the Government. When the balls come from
the mold their surface is incrusted, and the ordi-
nary process of smoothing was slow and weari-
some. This machine almost in an instant, and
with mathematical accuracy, peels it to the sur
face of the metal at the same time smoothing
out any deviations from the perfect form. The
same plain unassuming man has invented bor-
ing machine, that was tested in The presence of a
number of scientific gentlemen. 1t bored at the
rate of twenty-five inches an hour, through a
block of granite with pressure of but three
hundred pounds upon the drill. gentleman
present offered him ten thousand dollars upon the
spot for part interest in the invention, in
Europe, and the offer was accepted on the spot


The moral of all this is that people who keep or
| studying are sure to achieve something Mr.


Knowton doesn't consider himself by any means
brilliant, but if once inspired with an idea, h'
pursues it until he forces it into tangible shape


If everybody would follow copy, the worlt
would be less filled with idlers and the streets


with grumblers and malcontents. Phrenologiea
Journal 5At'
Year: 1868

A Reformed Planchettist' makes the follow
! ing awful revelations in Harper's Magazine
| have little more to say, and surely nothing
| further to confess. have faithfully given my
experience, and if it be of use to any of my fel
| lows, that knowledge is guerdon sufficient
Reformed Plarchetfist 4 q .5eiler,
and sleep better than when pursuing my evil
practices My conscience is more at rest, and
no longer have troubled dreams. Let this en-
courage those who are still under the dominion
of the destroyer to emancipate themselves.


1t is useless to tell me that there is anything in
Planchette, or that by its aid every man may be-
come his own medium I've been there. When
you can pat tarrapin on the back and get him
to respond in Coptic with his tail, twill be time
to persuade me that block of wood can be
charged" sufficient to write sentences Mine
was charged (t stands charged against me, be-
lieve. to this day, but it would only write when
moved it, and then it wrote precisely what |
dictated. That persons write ''unconsciously"
do not believe As we'll tell me that a man
might pick pockets without knowing it. Nor am


at all prepared to believe the assertions of those
who declare that s'they do not move the board" 1"
know what operators will do in such cases |
know the distortion, the disregard oftruth, which
association with this immoral board superinduces.
| have seen charming young ladies, whose
word would take on anything else in life (even
if they protested they were not engaged), who
would not ib if you asked them if their curls
were false or if the red of their lips was natural,
sit up with both hands on Planchette-fort6ed
in falsehood by the contact-and lie like lawyers.
Bring me any two professors of the art--young
| ladies' for men are not to be believed under any
circumstances-not too far gone to be sensible to
some moral compunction, who will put one hand
on Planchette and the other on the Bible-estab-
fishing sort of galvanic connection between the
negative and positive poles of truth, so to speak
and swear Gas Ella says the custom ofresorting
to an oath in extreme cases has introduced into
the laxer sort of minds the notion of two kinds
of TRUTH that they do not write the messages they
promulgate, and will discuss whether they dc
or not seriously. Until then do not recant one
single expression, but stand firm by these confes
| Sions
Year: 1868

Ns- minister once prayed in the pulpit that
sthe Lord would bless the congregation assembled,
and that portion ot it which was on its way to
church, and those who were at home getting
ready to come, and that in his infinite patience,
he would grant the benediction OF those who
reached the house of God just in time for that. "
The congregation came on time after that.
Year: 1868

WA There is this difference between happiness
and wisdom he that thinks himself the happiest
man, really is SO but he who thinks himself the
wisest man is generally the greatest fool.
Year: 1868

Mn- Punctuality is not large sounding word,
hence not few of us are little inclined to un-
dervalue its importance yet this is wrong, for
to punctuality we owe, in a measure, our success
in many an undertaking. Not q few Of those
who have arisen to eminence, have attributed
their advancement to punctuality. And in that
character, which love best to cultivate, we hnd
itan adorning trait. The punctuality OF Washing
ton is proverbial 1t is said of Nelson, that one
always found him waiting and with Admiral
Napier punctuality was cardinal virtue
Year: 1868

In thousand tender actions


When we let the truth decide,
There's holy, soothing power,
Free from passions fiery tide.
In the haunts of sin and sorrow,
All along Times wreck-sirewn strand,
Should we let our fellows perish,
With no kindly offered hands
With no eye all moist with pity,
With no sweet and gentle word
Whispered to the doubling spirit,
BY all other ears unheards
Must a kiss on cheek or forehead
Ola brother in distress,
Have a tendency to baseness,
Rather than to cheer and bless
Ye that say.so from conviction,
Yours the hearts that hold the sin,
And at last your lips must answer
For the outlines within.
Year: 1868

PERSONS ADVANCED IN LIFE,
And feeling the hand of time weighing heavi
ly upon them, with all its attendant ills, will
find in the use of this Bitters. or the Tonic, an
elixir that will instil new life into their veins,
restore in q measure the energy and ardor of
more youthful days, build up their shrunken
forms, and give health and happiness to their
remaining years.
Year: 1868

DECLINES THE Honor. - General George H.
Thomas--not the General Thomas whom the
President nominated as Secretary Of War-begs
leave to decline the brevets of Lieutenant G en-
eral ard General to which the President nomin-
ated him, and requests the Senate to refuse to
confirm him /! The former rank is now held by
General Sherman only, and the latter by General
Grant only. Neither of these gentlemen could
be used by the President for his personal ends,
hence perhaps did he desire to raise man
to the same rank whose services he could make
valuable to himself; but evidently General
George H. Thomas is not the man to be thus
nsed. Thus far the Generals that have been
tried are true to the people, with perhaps the
exception of General Lorenzo Thomas, and Of
him enough is not yet known in this connection
70 Justify an opinion.=Bee
Year: 1868

DoUeLAs CIrY.-That old mining camp can
yet boast hundred voting citizens. The severe
winter kept all hands idle for four months, but
they are getting to work now. The Union Hill
Company have had to clean out their ditch from
Weaver creek three times, but have it all right
now. The Turner Bar Company g ditch was on
ly slightly injured-was repaired in three days.
John Smith feels little sore at the treatment
his bridge received during the late food, but no.
thing daunted be is trying to find unemployed
men enough to cut the timber for a new one.
Cali and see Charley Davis when you go to
Douglas he's got something.
Year: 1868

WILL FERRY The PEoPLR AwHILE.-E any
body asks you what the huge rope lying in front
Of John Martin g office is intended for, tell them
it is for John Smith ferry at Douglas City
He expects to have the boat running by the last
of next week.
Year: 1868

they had nothing to say. One time
travelling in the same carriage with
nobleman, | asked him his opinion of
the ballot. He replied, i have not
considered that subject yet You
Nigh. travel all over America" said
my lend, ''and never hear man say
that But the American girls gen
orally know a little of every thing,
and their general intelligence and
vlvacity make them very delightful
panions.


l had an idea before going out that
the New England ladies spent time
over intellectual pursuits to the neg
lect of household duties. l did not
find it so. Comparing class with class,
tney are quite as good housekeepers
as have seen anywhere. They had
need be, for service at present is in
very wretched condition in America ::
so much so that middle class, families
IN the country often dispense with
servants altogether. The young la
dies can make beds as we'll as dem
onstrate propostio on, and their men
tai philosophy, whatever it amounts
to, never mterleres with the perfec-
tion of the pies. Samuel Johnson
used to say that man would rather
his wife should be able to cook a good
dinner than read Greek. But he does
not seem to have anticipated time
when a woman could learn to do both.
Year: 1868

y CONTINENT COVERED WITH ICE.-
Professor AgassiZ comes to the con-
ciusIon that the continent of North
America was once covered with ice a
mile III thickness. herebf agreeing
with Professor Hitchcock and other
eminent geological writers concern.
ing the glacial period In proof Of
tins conclusion, he SAYS that the AL
leghany range of mountains are gle-
cler-worn to the very tc.,, except a
few points which were above the lev
el OF the icy mass. Mount Washing
ton, for instance, is over six thou.
sand fe7t high. and the rough, unpol-
lshed surface of its summit. covered
with loose fragments just below the
level of which glacier marks come to
an end, tell US that it lifted its head
alone above the desolate waste of ice
and snow. In this region. tnen. the
hight of the ice cannot have been
much less than six thousand feet: and
this Is in keeping with the same kind
OF evidence in other parts of the
country. for when the mountains arc
much below SIX thousand feet the
Ice seems to have passed directly
over them. The glacier, he argnec,
was God 5 great plow. and when the
ice vanished from the face Of the land
it left it prepared for the hand of the
husbandman The hard surface of
the rocks was ground to powder, the
elements of the soil were mingled
with the more arid and unproductivo
granite districts, and the soil was
prepared fit for the agricultural use
of man.
Year: 1868

The Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountain
ranges have crossed by the locomotive this sum
iner Five years OF patient drilling and blasting and
thirty odd millions Of money have been required to
the Sierra Nevadas; but the 10th OF June last the
miners OF the faramed washoe Region were, for tho


first time placed within q hours ride OF San Francisco
once emerged from the granite mountain excavations,
the Central Pacific Company, who have in charge that
end OF the railroad line have made remarkable headway
along the Truckee and Humboldt Valleys the two streams
trayersing the Salt Lake Basin in general eastandwest
direction The track already laid 200 miles east Of the
mountains and is still extending at the rate OF sixty TO
seventy five miles q month. Twelve thousand men are
employed the work. getting out the needf crosses
and bridge timber grading, track laying and hauling
the subsistence forward. OF course requires immense
resources 10 feed such army and keep at work To
have the materials at the right places and at the proper
times requires comprehensive foresight as well as great
energy.


The rapid progress OF the work enables the Company
10 dispose Of bonds fast as the money ID needed,
and every additional mile completed Of course enhances
the value OF the security.


The prospect fair that we shall have the cOntlnu
Gus rail the two oceans before tho close OF
next year. aud possibly within twelve months hence. 1t
IS not often that railroad corporations ahead OF their
PROMISES or OF the public expectations but the Pacific
railroad Companies are really dong They are re-
oured by charter to complete the through lire by
Juy 1874 and will ~ 1t five years sooner. one of the
stimulating motives for this extraordinary energy IS
no doubt found in the provision which authorizes tho
line 20 be built from opposite ends toward meeting
point zach company to own and control SO much as II
builds and TO receive the lands and bonds thereon Be
side this large flow OF travel and traffic may be e1-
pected when the line is opened throughout The Paenc
sope In particular from its fertile lands its genial ell
mate ma gnifcent scenery and opening commerce. must
derive fresh impetus from the Pacific Railroad We
cannot but wish well TO the gigantic undetaKng lor We
heeye il destined work great advantages Tor the


trade settlement and well being OF the Far Last as wei
as the Far West.
Year: 1868

the highest pitch Of enthusiasm lie held the great
crowd together until within few minutes Of midnight
and Notwithstanding the ateness OF the hour they
unwilling have him stop His review OF the currency
question most complete and mastery. The meeting
adjourned with a song and cheers This confcssedly
the largest political gathering witnessed in this part
Of the ainfe
Year: 1868

Or those who contemplate marriage. who are snf
fcring under any OF these fearful maladies, should
not forget the sacred responsibility resting upoE
them, nor delay TO obtain immediate relief.
Year: 1868

necessary requisites to promote connubial haI-
piness. Indeed, without these the journey
R through life becomes a weary pilgrimage; tho
prospect hourly darkens to the view, the mind
becomes shadowed with despair and filled with
the melancholy reflection that the happiness o.
another becomes blighted with your own.
Year: 1868

NEWSPAPER SpoNgEns An exchange
makos the following sensible remarks;
There are many people in the world
who make IL o business to sponge the
reading OF their county paper without
any expense to themselves. They are
found wherever the paper is left in
shop, Office, store or barber shop, and
often borrowing it before the owner
has had an opportunity Of seeing il.


This il done by very many who arc
abundantly able and whose duty would
seem to be to sustain their county pa
per, by subscribing and paying for it.
Year: 1868

short there Is no end 70 the ins,ruc.
tlons Now, either TIE pipe Is The sgg
want and friend oi man, OF the man i
the slave Of the pipo, aud tho former
relation seems 70 me preferable Liie
is too short and too valuable to devote
70 a hall inch o. color. which only a
iew persons can appreciate SO ! SAX
Ell the manufacturers, who ought y
know bosb how a plpe could be most
easily and successfully colored, and
give thoir answer for the benefit oi
many aspiring young Americans "lt
makes little difference, said they, pro.
wded the bowl is not touched by the
hand while IL is warm As general
thing il is better not 30 smoke new
bowl to the bottom. The color is suror
10 be fine when not produced too rap
idly, but tho main thing is that the
meerschaum should-eool without being
touched. This IS the only uso Of smok
ing with the bowl IN case exposure
to the air does no injury


The value Of the annual production
in Ruhla is upwards Of two millions Of
dollars. The Wholesale price Of the
genuine meorschaum varies from 81 so
to Sl20 per dozen but there are single
choice pieces, of unusual size upon
which the carver has expended all his
skill, which are valued at 500 apiece,
The pipes made in Paris and Vienna
may exhibit more elegant workmanship
in this respect, but the Ruhla manu-
iacturers say that the use of the pipe is
the best part Of its quality They
showed me a bowl, six inches long, up
on which tie battle OF Nachod was rep
resented in high relief price 500 but
| should not consider it convenient
or comfortable luxury. There are flaws
and pieces Of grit in the raw material,
and large and faultless peieo is as
rare in meerschaum as ii is in Carrara
marble.
Year: 1868

The Rochester Democrat says: Some
time ago we happened to be for several
days in the same house with one of the
writers for the World, and found him
to be very clever fellow and good
Republican. In reply to remark of
ours upon the dissonsnce of his politi-
cal principles and those of the Journal
to which he was attached, he said that
scarcely any of the World editors were
Democrats at heart. They conducted
the journal on Democratic principles,
just as lawyer defended a criminal
for money. They found a numerous
body of Democratic clients in and
around New York ssdly in want of an
advocate-witbout anybody to state
their case in a proper manner, or to
plead for them before the bar of pub
lie opinion. They got hold of the
World, and, on speculation, made it a
Democratic organ, and did the best
they could to get verdict for their
client. But they did not, of course,
believe all they said in his behalf, any
more than criminal lawyer believes
all he says when trying to save rascal
from the gallows or the prison.
Year: 1868

OAlH u lHk hI-ALGA hLANs


Here, iE the p.ssenee of this skull
and the members here assembled, l
solemnly swear 10 be true to tie order,
to It's members Individually and col
lectiyely, and should | ever by word,
sign or deed, betTsy a secret, or
member of the Brotherhood, that the
skull upon which / now look may be
a counterpart Of mine, and hope that
all the social relations which | now
enjoy may be sundered; that honesty
in the men or virtue in the females may
not be known in my family and gene
ration, and that all who own my
name shall be branded as dogs and
harlots. further swear to obey i'm
plicitly the orders Of the Grand Cy-
clops, regularly issued through his
Council, and as soon as | receive an
order to fulfil it. l again swear that
should member Of this order be in
dagger that, even at the risk of my
life, | will defend and endeayor to save
him. That I will give no outward sign
or hint that person may know Of the
existence Of the X. X. K , unless au-
thorized by the Grand Cyclops, and
that each member of this order, as
soon as the sign is given, l will re-
cognize, defend and protect as q bro
ther.


al further swear that | will, under
and in all circumstances, bear true al
legianee to the South and her inter-
ests, as interpreted by the Supreme
Cyclopean Council, and when receive
its orders, should l be even in the en-
braces of my wife, will leave her to
obey them. l further swear that all
Radicals and negroes who have placed,
themselves opposite to the interests of
the owners Of the soil of Tennessee,
shall forever be my enemies, and that
under no circumstances will / have
other connection with them, if l can
help it, than to welcome them with
bloody hands to hospitable graves
That my family and the family Of
Radical shall never interchange visits.
And further pray that the God of the
Southland, whom | invoke, shall strike
me dead should ever, either in letter
or spirit, infringe upon the things set
forth in this oath. To all of which
swear in honesty of heart, and sincere
ty of purpose. So help me God"
Year: 1868

AS might be expected the semi
rebel and Democratic papers attempt
to ridicule the idea that danger is to
be apprehended from the secret order
in the South known as the Ku-Klux
Klan. This is the usual dodge when
anything dastardly or diabolicsl ia to
DO done. When the internal attempt
TO fire the hotels in New York was
made, the New York Daily News ard
other rebel papers made light Of the
matter, and endeayored TO show that
the whole thing WIS joke; when Of.
fetal information was given Of the
contemplated raids from Canada upon
our northern frontier, these same per-
sons ridiculed those who furnished
the information; and when intimstions
were given that an attempt wenld be
made on the life Of President Lincoln.
the Copperhesd press asserted and IN.
sisted that the idea wss simply ab-
sard. And SO now, when real danger
is to be apprebended, We End the same
rebel tactics resorted to-


The oath which we give below shows
the character of this KG-Klux Khan. 1t
is a secret organization, embracing
almost every rebel in the South. Men
who having been whipped in a fair
fight, are too cowardlY too again take
up arms against the Government, and
so by system of terrorism aud assas-
sinatioD, propose to accomplish their
reasonable and hellisb purposes. To
be at peace with murder is to be an
aecomphce in it. This grand army Of
assessins must be destroyed. Ku.
Klux Klanism must be stamped out
Can the authorities trifs with men
who have registered an oath Ike thisi
Ohio STATE Journal
Year: 1868

At Sterling, No., a temperance society
has been established on a novel plan:
No man can join unless he has been an
inveterate topper. The President and
chief officers were selected on account
of their prowess in conviVal circles. For
every offence against total abstinence,
clearly proved, the culprit is to be dip
ped into the river as many times as
there are members in the organization.