smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

Even Tom Hood is almost inexcusable fer
such description OF music as this Heaven
reward the man who first hit upon the very
original notion of saving the inside of cat
with the tail of horse
Year: 1869

We know fellow who, upon learning a
friend had gone into the publishing business,
at once subscribed for the paper. The publish
er was rather delicate about sending the bill
but after some ten years had elapsed, made
bold to dun his constant reader" when the
latter at once grew indignant, refused to pay,
and ordered the paper stopped, alleging that
he 'shad taken the paper for so many years just
to keep it along, and now to be asked to pay
for it was too mean. Fired. Neacs
Year: 1869

Coop ADVICE TO BoYs-The following


good advice to boys, which we find in an ex-
change, is worth reading and digesting. How
many men would now be improved in mind and
morals if they had so acted in their youthful
days:


'The boy who spends an hour of each evening
lounging idly on street corner, wastes, in the
course of single year, three hundred and six
ty-fve precious hours, which, ifapplied to study,
would familiarize him with the rudiments at
least of almost any of the familiar sciences. If
in addition to wasting an hour each evening, he
spends five cents for cigar, which is usually
the case, the amount thus worse than wasted,
would pay for four of the leading newspapers
and four of the leading magazines of the coun-
try. Boys think of these things Think how
much precious time and good money you are
wasting and for what. The qualification afford
ed by the lounge ON the corner, or by the cigar,
is not only temporary, but positively hurtful.-
You cannot indulge in these practices without
seriously injuring yourselves. You acquire idle
and wasteful habits. which will cling to you
through life, and grow upon you with each sue,
ceeding year. You may in after life shake
them off, but the probabilities are that the hab
its thus formed in early life will remain with
you till your dying day. Be warned then III
time and resolve that as the hour spent ID
idleness is gone forever. you will improve each
passing one, and thereby fit yourselves for use
funess and happiness. p"
Year: 1869

1dAy TRAMMa.- all Of us can remem-
ber the delight with which we hailed the annu-
al May training or muster day. The great
field with its various encampmsnts of the mill
tia all clad in their diversified uniforms like
many hued birds of paradise, the numberless
booths from which gingerbread and lemonade
were dispensed, and the numerous side-shows
of negro minstrels and animal monstrosities.
while the many bands filled the air with har-
mony.


In accordance with the State laws the Port
land Mechanic Blues will have their May train
ing on Wednesday, the 9th inst They will
leave their armory and march to the CITY Hall,
where they will be received by the Mayor and
City Government at 2 o clock p M precisely.
From thence they will take up the line of
march down Congress to Pearl street, through
Pearl to Middle, up Middle and Free to Con-
gress Square, down High to Spring, up Spring
to Bramhalrs Hill. There the review and in
spection will take place according to law, after
which the company will 60 through company
and battalion drills. The company will then
march down Pine to State street square and
90 through dress parade, which will finish the
exercises. After dress parade the command
will proceed to the armory, whore collation.
will be furnished by the ladies, and the COM
bined labor and amusements of the day close
with dance in the drill hall.


The honorary members of the P. NJ B. 8,
and the members of P. NJ. B. Association, with
their ladies, are invited to attend the promen-
ade concert
Year: 1869

AMUsEsENTs THIS EvENING.-The long
talked of Concert by the Portland Band comes
off tonight at City Hall. So far everything is
auspicious for large attendance. A large
number of tickets have been already pur-
chased and very fine programme has been
prepared for the occasion. The Band will ap-
pear in their new uniform caps, which are
very tasty, the Infantry and Mechanic Blues
will be on hand in full uniform, and the citi-
zens will give the Band perfect ovation.
Among the new additions to the Band is q
very fine clarionet player, who we have listened
to with great qualification. We have been
particularly pleased with the efforts made by
this organization the past winter to perfect
themselves in all the new music published.
Their motto is Excelsior"


The ladies of the Univsrsalst Society at
Stevens Plains produce charade, some ele.
CANT tableaux and an operetta delineating the
departure Of Winter and the advent of Spring
at their church in Westbrook this evening.
The horse cars will run SO as to accommodate
those who wish to attend.
Year: 1869

ANOTHER REPORT ON THE PACIFIC RAIL
RoAD.-C. ii. Snow, one of the Government
directors of the Union Pacific Railroad, has
made report to the Government which goes
even beyond the two previously made in de-
nouncing the unsatisfactory manner in which
the work has been performed. According to
Mr.. Snow every conceivable form of incompe-
tsncy, careIessness, recklessness aid extrava-
gance has been the accompaniment of the cor
ruption and plundering of the capitalists who
have obtained the entire control of the enter
prise and of the funds belonging to it. The
construction has net anywhere followed
the requirements of the Government board
that sometime since fixed standard of excel
lence that was to be reachi d before the pay
ment of the Government subsidies. These re-
quirements have been entirely ignored by the
government commissioners themselves, who
have accepted section after section of the road
without the proper cnlverts, without ballast,
without adequate equipment, and with heavier
grades and sharper curves than any other good
road in the country. As for the mismanage-
ment Mr.. Snow can hardly find language ade-
quate to express his Indignation. The general
superintendent knows nothing himself, and
has made it the basis of all his appointments
that no one shall know more than himself
With the misappropriation OF the funds by the
directors, who are at the same time stockhold-
ers, trustees OF the bondholders and contrac-
tors, the public has already been made familiar
by the late judicial proceedings in New York.
The modern Proteus, who through all his
metamorphoses is still coiner of gold. is one
of the most formidable of all the portents of
the times
Year: 1869

MAsoN1c.-There are quite number of dis
tinguished Masons in town stopping at our ho-
tells and the residences of friends, who are
drawn hither by the annual May meetings of
the Order. The Grand Lodge will meet this
morning at o'clock and the Grand Chapter
at o'clock in the evening.
Year: 1869

HORTICULTURAL 6ocIETY.-The public will
bear in mind that the Spring exhibition of the
Horticultural Society takes place this after
noon and evening at Congress Hall, commenc-
ing at 2 o'clock. Exhibitors will please hand
in their specimens prior to clock P. M.
Year: 1869

ONE of the most characteristic anecdotes of
the late President Lincoln that has been told
lately is that related by Mrs. DR.. Walker, who
said at the late Dress Reform Convention, that
when she applied for an interview at one time
time he sent word that he was afraid Of a
woman in pants
Year: 1869

A PREMATURE REPoRT.-The announcement
that the Pacific Railroad is completed is pre-
mature. Only thirteen miles remain to be fin
ished, but the work upon the last section is 30
tedious that it will take two weeks more to
complete il.
Year: 1869

Their peculiar adaptability to all constitutions
as cleansers of the bowels and the blood has es
tablishcd their great merit. They restore the
liver, the spleen and even the heart to healthy
action when other remedies have been used with
out producing any benefit. They do not expose
those who use them TO any danger, being as safe
as salutary. a...lf ~
Year: 1869

To all who have passed through the vicinity OF this
property Is unnecessary to state that this diagram
being square, does not represent with absolute cor
rectness the City Hall PARK, which 10 angular, but
correctly represents the boundaries Of the property
In dispute.


/, Is claimed by some OF the heirs OF the Kip fam
lily that just title can be shown for the possession
OF the greater portion OF this property by s present
owners as 1t was not derived from their ancestors
Let US now leave the Kip family to carry out their
solve TO this property, II possible and refer
TO another valuable piece OF


LAND IN TnE PARK CLAIMED BY DESCENDANTS OF


THE PROVOST FAMILY.


This land includes the old site OF the present Su-
peror Court the eastern extremity OF the City Hall
Park SUIT was commenced about two years ago
10 recover in behalf OF the heirs but 1t has yet
been tried. 1t is claimed by virtue OF an old Dutch
title and by regular trans Of deeds up TO the close
OF the last century. The Corporation C0usel has
made tile necessary preparations to deiend the rights
OF the city to this piece Of property, but the claim
ants appear to be resting on their oars, whether for
long pull, strong pull and pull all together we
are unable 70 say. Annexed 10 = diagram OF this
property
Year: 1869

A PERFECT HoRsE-"In weight she might
have turned, when well conditioned, nine
hundred and fifty pounds. In color she
was dark chestnut, with velv5ty depth
and soft look about the hair indescribably
rich and elegant. Many time have heard
ladies dispute the shade and hue of her
plush-like coat as they ran their white Jewell
ed fingers through her silken hair. Her body
was round in the barrel, and perfectly sym
metrical. She was wide in the launches, with
out projection of the hip-bones, upon which the
shorter ribs seemed to lap. High in the with
ers as she was, the line OF her back and neck
perfectly curved, while her deep, eblique
shoulders and long thick forearm ridgy and
swelling sinews, suggested the perfection of
stride and power. Her knees across the pan
were wide, the canon-bone below them short
and thin the pasterns long and sloping; her
hoofs round, dark, shiny, and well set on.-
Her name was shade darker than her coat,
fine and thin, as thorough-bred's always is
whose blood is without taint or cross. Her
ear was thin, sharply pointed, delicately
curved, nearly black around the borders, and
as tremulous as the leaves of an aspen. Her
neck rose from the withers to the head in
perfect curvature, hard, devoid of fat, and
well cut up under the chops. Her nostriIs
were full, very full, and thin almost az parch-
ment The eyes, from which tears might fall
or fire fash, were well brought out, soft as
gazelle's, almost human In their intelligence,
while over the small bony head, over neck
and shoulders, yea, over the whole body and
clean down to the hoofs, the veins stood out
as if the skin were but tissue-paper against
which the warm blood pressed, and which it
might at any moment burst asunder. "a
perfect animal" said to myself, as lay
looking her over,-"an animal which might
have been born from the wind and the sun
shine, so cheerful and so swift she seems an
animal which man would present as choic-
est gift to the woman be loved, and yet one
which that woman, wife or lady-love,. would
give him to ride when honor and life depend
Murray, in Atlantic Monthly for april
Year: 1869

How FREIGHT CAR THIEVES OPERATE
The New York Central freight-car thieves have
been carrying ON operations for more than a
wear They used to enter the cars at Utica BY
means of the ladders leading down to the side
of the doors. The doors are not locked. hut
are sealed with some kind of leaden sub-
stance. This the burglars would tear off with
nippers Carried for the purpose. Once in
the cars, business was Immediately commenc-
ed. IT the goods were not of desirable
kind, they would jump off and get on the next
freight train. The goods were generally Sc
iected before station was reached. As the
train Stacked, the thieves would throw the
goods, previously stuffed into bags fom the
ears and then jump of, and under cover OF
darkness obtain tenn again and put them in q
safe place. One night the rascals did not
make their selection until the tunnel was
reached. Here they threw their bags out,
and then came into Syracuse and warmed
themselves and returned for the goods. On
one occasion they hid large quantities Of goods
in the woods near Oneida, and then made two
trims to that place to secure them. Large
quantities Of goods have been thrown away be-
cause the thieves were ignorant Of their value.
The amount of the depredations will reach
100000.
Year: 1869

FAcrs.-lt has now become apparent 10
every thinking man that gsed clothes ere
avery necessary commodity the next
thing ofinportancs is that San Perry is
the place 70 get fitted out with first cass
business Or drsss suit at any time on short
notice. A splendid stock Of Hue heavy
goods ere now on hasd. Gs around and
seo them.
Year: 1869

Mark Twain has been to Niagara, and his
impressions of that Sammer resort are given
in recent letter to the Buffalo Express.
His first funny remarks are directed to the
hack fares, which are represented as being so
much higher than the Falls that they appear
insnnifcant." Further on he complains in
this wise:


drank up most of the American Fall be-
fore | learned that the waters were not con-
sidered medicinal Why are people left in
ignorance in that way? might haze gone
on and ruined fine property merely for the
want of little trifling information. And vet
the sources of information at Niagara Falls
are not meaere.


This last remark refers to the number OF
signs about the hotels and grounds, but they
prove unsatisfactory. For instance one OF
the 'rules" posted in his chamber read to TINS
effect: "If you place your boots outside tne
door they will be backed; but the house VIII
not be responsible for their Ieturn,' whereupor
the humorist moralizes: This is a confusing
and tanglesome proposition, because it moves
YOU to deliberate long and painfully as t
whether it will really be any object to you t,
have your boots blacked unless they are re
| turned"


Before leaving Niagara, Mark Twain Q
course visited Canada. At one OF the hotel
Year: 1869

A letter to the Cincinnati Gazette
gives the particulars of the sinking of
ground on DR.. Cooper's farm, near Lib
eriy, Indiana. The writer says:


On Sunday morning, five weeks ago,
Mr.. Dawson, near neighbor OF Dr.
Cooper, while out in the field among his
cattle, heard loud rumbling noise seem
ingly in the earth. The cattle we're
frightened so that they stopped feeding,
and ran across the field. The same mys-
terious noise was heard by Esquire Burke
four and half miles southwest of this
place, by j. +. Witt three miles north,
and by DR.. CARVER six miles southeast.
The next day after this noise had been
heard, DR.. Cooper discovered that a
patch of his land, perhaps q quarter Of
an acre, had sunk. 1t has sunk consid-
erable since then. / was shown the place.
and found it to be on the side Of tongue
of land rising some forty feet between
two ravines. The side on which il occurred
is irregular and broken, the indications
being that a number of such sinks or
slides had at different times taken place.
The sinking of the ground could be ac-
counted for on the principle of land
slides, we're it not that the piece which
sunk did not move downward toward the
ravine, but inward. making the same
break below as above, and leaving dis
tinct crevice on each side.


About TIVE hundred yards from this
place is still more remarkable evidence
OF some subterranean commotion. Here,
in a field gently sloping toward the south,
is crack in the earth some four to six
inches wide, which can scarcely be ac-
counted for on any other theory than that
of an upheaval of the earth in this
vicinity. The crevice was partially closed
up by the late heavy rains, but some
thirty or forty feet of it are very distinct
even through the tall grass. The land
slide theory could not possibly be applied
in this case, as the crevice runs up and
down the slope, and is most distinct
where the ground is almost level. There
is no creek or ravine on either side Of it.
Year: 1869

From the st. Louis Democrat. June II.


In Judge Knights Court yesterday, a
proceeding occurred which is not laid
down in Coke upon Littleton, nor COM
mented upon by Story.


A trial was in progress in which DR..
l. 81. Walter was defendant and his wife
plaintiff through a next friend. The suit
was brought to set aside deed made by
the trustee of Mrs. Walter to the doctor,
aud the family affairs Of the parties were
pretty freely ventilated The wife had
been on the stand, and had been quite
severe upon the husband, suit for di :
VERGE being also pending. She had de-
scribed him as cruel and harsh hus-
band, who buried cats alive, took dog
into his bed, and drove the wife of his
bosom from the house with cowhide.


When the doctors turn came to go on
the stand, he turned the tables and de-
pcted his better.half in no very amiable
colors. he was quite bitter in telling OF
her conduct, and she, no doubt, felt NOR
titled at being shown up in such light.
The lady's brother, Mr. Purdy, was sitting
near her, listening to the statements OF
DR.. Walter. On hearing his sister spoken
of in such disparaging terms, he became
indignant, and, unable to control his
temper, be drew pistol from his pocket
and leveled it at the head of the witness.
The doctor was not prepared for such re
hptting evidence; duckipg his head to
avoid the expected bullet, he looked
around for breastwork. The nearest
fortifcation was the manly form of
the judge himself, and, being a small
man, DR.. Walter slipped behind Judge
Knight, and was pretty well screen
ed. Purdy continued to point
his pistol, and the doctor shrank into
the smallest possible compass, and
crouched behind the judicial ermine like
weasel behind stump The Judge
knowing that the excited brother would
not send bullet through his magisterisl
body to the trembling bosom of the ply.
sciAn, stood his ground with commend
able solemnity, and called upon the sher-
iG to arrest the infuriated man, Sheriff
Owens LEFT his perch, on the south side
of the room, and took Purdy into Gus
tody and led him from the room. The
affair created some excitement among
the members Of the bar, but the agitation
soon passed away, and the circumstance
became the subject Of a great deal of
Laughter.
Year: 1869

plexity as to what she ought to
do. She still, loves her Brecken-
ridge, she !writes with true NO.
manly feeling-still loves what is
left of him-but her parents are
bitterly opposed to the match,
because he had no property, and
is disabled from working, and she
has not sufficient means to sup
port both comfortably. "Now
what shall she do I? she asks with
painful and anxious solicitude.


1t is a delicate question it is
one which involves the lifelong
happiness of woman, and that
of nearly two thirds Of a man, and
l feel that it would be assuming
too great a responsibility to do
more than make a mere sugges-
tion in the case. How would it
do to build to him? If Aurelia
can afford the expense, let her
furnish her mutilated lover with
wooden arms and legs, and a glass
eye and a wig, and give him ano-
ther show; give him 80 days with
out grace, and if he does not break
his neck in the meantime, marry
him and take the chances. 1t
does not seem to me that there is
much risk, any way, Aurelia, be-
cause if he sticks to his propensity
70; damaging himself every time
he sees a good opportunity his
next experiment is bound to fin
ish him, and then you are all
right, you know, married or SIN
gle.


If married, the wooden legs and
such other valuables as he may
possess revert to the widow, and
you sec you sustain no actual loss
save the cherished fragment of a
noble but unfortunate husband,
who honestly strived to do right,
but whose extraordinary instincts
were against him. Try it, Maria.
I have thought the matter over
carefully and well it is the only
chance I see for you. 1t would
have been a happy conceit on the
part of Caruthers if he had started
with his neck and broken that
first but since he has seen fit to
choose a different policy and string
himself ont as long as possible, l
do not think we ought to upbraid
him for it If he liked it. We do
the best we can under the circum-
stances, and try not to feel cxas-
pcrated at him.
Year: 1869

OPPOSED TO WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Ia negro preacher of the Gospel,
doxbtless alittIe inspired, on being
asked if he was in favor of woman
suffrage, with great pomp: No,
sar. / is posed to dat de woman
was de first to commit sin. sar, l
tell you dat de damsel demanded
he head of John de Babtist, sar.
I tell you dat when God made man,
He gave de man power over all
living, and made de man boss
over de woman, sar. I tell you
dat God let de man name ebry-
thing, and de man named de wo-
man Eve, because she was the
mother Of all Evil, [ tell you sar,
it will never do sar, for l am a
preacher, and my father was a
preacher before me, and I am a
better preacher than he ever dare
be /; 1 tell you what, sar, dat I
understand de Bible a good deal
a good deal better before I could
read, dan my old missus ever did
sar, l tell you it will never do to
let desc women VOTE"
Year: 1869

Coleridge was such slave to liquor
that he had to be kept an unwilling
prisoner by Christopher North on an
occasion when some literary perform
ance had to be completed by a certain
time; and on that very day, without
taking leave of any member Of the fam
lily, he ran off at full speed down the
avenue to Elleray, and was soon hid
den, not in the groves of the valley, but
in some obscure den, where drinking
among some low companions, his mag
nifcent mind was soon brought to the
level of the vilest of the vile. When
his spree was over he would return to
the society of decent men.


De Quincy was such slave to the
use of opium that his daily allowance
was of more Importance than eating.
An ounce of laudanum day prostrated
animal life during the forenoon. L
Year: 1869

A good story is told of two boys liv-
ing in Western New York, many years
ago, whose father, on returning from a
visit to the east, brought them as a
present a silver "bulPs eye" watch.
There was a warm discussion as to
which of the boys should carry it, but
it was finally decided that one should
carryit one day, and the other the next;
and that the one not carrying the watch
should always have the key in his poss-
ession. This watch was the only one
in the settlement, and the display ol
even the key was an enviable ornament,
One day the elder of the brothers was
to make journey to the city, to be
gone two days; and, after long and
serious consultation, it was determined
that he must maintain the dignity o.
the family by wearing the watch; but
the younger was to retain the key. 81
they bethought them to give it a good
winding, that it might run for twice it
usual period of twenty-four hours. ThC
key was applied and twisted vigorous,
ly for fifteen minutes, when they founC
to their CONSERVATION that the little
machine no longer clicked" They
shook it and thumped it; but no sigut
of life appeared. So a diagnosis was
determined upon. After careful in.
spection of the interior mysteries, the
elder brother exclaimed, Il haveit, Joe
Don't you see that fine hair curled W
in there that's what stops it." "Fact,'
said Joe, "that must be it," Can't W,
yank it outp A pin was at once ben
up into a hook, and "the hair" wa
"yanked" out. The watch didn't g
any better when relieved Of it; and t,
this day the boys have not been per
mitted to forget about the watch wit
the hair in it.