smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1867

An OLD TELEGRAPH OPERATOR on THE
WEATHER.-The Cincinnati Commercial pub
fishes the following letter. The fact to
which it calls attention is curious;


As a matter of interest to your readers
who notice weather reports from the West. |
will state that in my experience as a tele
graph operator for the past eighteen years, |
have noticed that nine out of every ten
changes in the weather come from the West,
| first noticed this while in Baltimore
Oyster dealers in Cincinnati advised their
correspondents in Baltimore, of any change
in the weather at Cincinnati Eighteen
hours after, we would experience the same
change in Baltimore. During three years
service in the Baltimore Telegraph Office. /
noticed that but one storm came from any
other direction than the west, and that was
the day after the great battle of Mcclellan
before Richmond. The greatest and iercesi
storm ever experienced, came directly from
the South, and on the hypothesis about that
time going the rounds of the press, that q
great storm always succeeded great battle
/ concluded that Mcclellan and Lees
artillery had some thing to do with sending
US that storm. Since coming to Cincinnati
/ have noticed that all changes in the wealth
er are first felt at St. Louis. Twelve hour,
afterward, we experience the same chang,
here.
Year: 1867

LIMITED BUT GooD.-Two strangers, sup
posed to be from the East and believed to be


6 capitalists" as well from their manners as
from the fine quality of their "store Clothes"
strolled over Lander Hill examining various
mining operations. Coming to certain
mine, where there was but one man at work,
they stopped for moment to observe the
superior character of the preparations for
extensive mining. A spacious and clean
face had been cut on the hillside, which
afforded platform of generous dimensions OF
the mouth of the tunnel, which had been
commenced and driven in a few feet. The
handsome job seemed to be the result of a
combination of capital and skill. They ask
ed the solitary workman-who, by the way,
is of small size, but of good stuff'-the name
the company and its capital stock. Resting
on his pick, the plucky little fellow replied :.
" am the company, gentlemen and my
capital stock is couple of sacks of -four,
side of bacon, strong will, good health and
a quiet conscience. Reese Rirer Rcreitfe.
Year: 1867

THE New York Tribune's Beirut cores
pondent says that Mahometan, living at
Saffa, was greatly grieved because his wife
bad, for four years in succession, presented
him daughter. He told her that he should
regard the birth of another daughter as a
sufficient ground for divorce. The nexth
month (November) the poor woman gave
birth to four daughters at once. The hus.
band was paralyzed with amazement, and,
regarding this event as signal Judgment of
God upon him for his previous harshness to
his wife, told her that he would forgive her.
and not carry out bis threat of divorce.
Year: 1867

THERE is shoemaker at Lynn who makes
by hand regularly one pair of shoes in an
hour, or sixty pair in a week He has how
ever, when in hurry, doubled on this rate,
and finished two pair in an hour, or a shoe
in fifteen minutes.
Year: 1867

this afternoon is very large, and everybody
finds abundant amusement. To-morrow
will probably be still more attractive day
than this-especially upon the track. whore
some Of the closest contests are to be made
between the feetest horses on the ground
Year: 1867

A somewhat imaginative story wa:


in circulation a few years ago, about


the common use of arsenic among the
peasant women of Hungary for the pur.


pose of making themselves plump and


clear complexioned. No doubt most


persons who swallowed this arsenic sto.


ry at all, did so cum .gran0 sails, think
ing that a little poetic license was
to be looked for in account of that


romantic land. But DR.. La. Rue, a


medical professor of Quebec, has found
an Englishman who takes the poison
and thrives on it. This arsenic eater,


as he told the doctor, was of con-


sumptive family, and finding himself


attacked some ten years ago with
manifest symptoms of the disease, he
CHANGED to see somewhere a recon-
mendation of arsenic as a remedy


Being ready to try the experiment for


restoration, however desperate, he be-


gan taking arsenic, though in his igno-


rance much more literally than any


physician would ever dare to admins


ter it; using two ounces in six or eight


weeks. As though poisons, like saw


aye OtdSkss hdu lI6dho VI HIS


medicine, which by all laws of science


enough to have killed him, wrought a


thorough cure, and he had continued


the use of it as a remedy for colds and


disorders up to the time when DR.. La.


Rue talked to him, in the spring of the


last year. The doctor was, natural
enough, somewhat incredulous, and
desired to see for himself. According
ly, the Englishman swallowed in his
presence four grains of arenic (strictly
arsenious acid, uncombined arsenic be-
ing a substance of rare occurrence, ad


ministered by the doctor himself from
his own laboratory. The patient offer
ed to take six grains. but the doctor
would not give it to him, two or three
being considered by physicians certain
death. He put one grain, however, in
the pipe he was smoking. After wait
ing two hours for symptoms of poison
ing, DIR. La. Rue dismissed the man,
having made him promise to come
again in the evening. The arsenic eat
er was Is good as his word, and pro-
fessed himself ready for repetition of
the dose; but the thought occurred to
the professor, What if he should die
after all And then the coroner's jury |
with their verdict of malpractice, and |
the startling story in the newspapers
all over the continent of the physician
who murdered man to test the effect
of poison. So he postponed further
till the next morning, and
indeed does not tell US whether he ad-
any more poison. Certain
ly enough has been done already to
show that this man was on much bet
ter terms with arsenic than the rest of
as could hope to be. The arsenic eater
informed DR.. La Rue that he always
took the poison dry and avoided drink.
ing water for little time thereafter.
He had no scruples however, about
taking wine or beer Immediately. His.
'avorite way of taking arsenic is with
MS tobacco, which he smokes incessant
y. His general health is good, and he
5 especially free from any of the bad
effects usually aseribed to Arsenic
The drug appears to have no effect on
lis complexion. DR.. La Rue's &C
count Of the case appears in the Bos-
on Medical and Surgical Journal
Year: 1867

A CHICAGO SPECIAL to the Cincinatti
Commercial describes the following


terrible tragedy: A terrible tragedy
Valparaiso, Indiana, last night. A
young man named Chauncey Page had
difficulty with his wife, whom he
left about year ago, and in the mean
she had applied for divorce. He Wis
tied her Yesterday, and found that she,
with her mother and hired girl,
would be alone that night. He went
to Valparaiso, but returned about 10
o'clock, desiring admittance. Being
asked who was there, he said page"
His wife replied that it was too late to
receive company. He then dashed
down the door, and as Mrs.
Long, his wife's mother, was coming
toward him to open the door, he fired
at her with revolver, when she fell
pleading for her life. He then passed
to another room, where his wife and
girl were. His wife having sprung out
of the bed, he caught her by the arm.
and pointing the revolver at her head,
shot her dead. The girl being cover
ed closely, he did not at first observe
her; but, seeing her feet uncovered. he
dragged her from the bed, shooting
her four different times, none of the
shots however proving fatal. He then
pounded her head with a wooden chair
until he supposed her dead, and then
set fire to the house. The girl, how
ever, recovered sufficiently to get out
of the house before the fire reached
her. The house was burned to the
ground. Mrs. Longs body was nearly
all consumed, while shapeless trunk
is all that remains of the wife. The
girl is horribly mangled, but may re-
cover. No clue to the whereabouts of
the murderer has been sscertained as
yet.
Year: 1867

Ii is curious and almost comical TO
hear the most violent rebels raising
the loudest shouts for the United
States Constitution. They don't say
so much about the old hag. but there
is no stint nor bound to their admira-
ton of the old Constitution. They
claim to be not only its truest friends
but also its sblest expounders and de-
tenders, and they administer their re-
Dukes with great freedom on those who
do not take their interpretations of the
Constitution as sound and orthodox.


The oddity of the thing is, that they
should set up as the best friends Of
the Constitution, when they have
lived in open war against it, for four
out of the six past years. And it is
equally odd, that the proposal to
amend the Constitution should so shock
their veneration for that old and valu-
able instrument, when they have been
doing their utmost for four years
to destroy it altogether.


People who can love and hate with
equl intensity, within so short a space
of time, must excuse others less unfor-
tunate in the facility of turning, who
entertain doubts of the sincerity of
that love and obedience which lie on
ly in the direction marked out by pas
sion and prejudice.-Pihsburg CONNER
cial,
Year: 1867

The following we cepy from the Sci
entifc American which we think will
be interesting TO every one of our read
ers to know, as it may be instrumental
in saving life. Many persons when this
accident occurs, run for water immedi-
ately, or commence tearing at the per


son to get the clothes off. This is
wrong, as viii be seen by the following


Three persons out o; four would rush
right at the burning individual and
commence to paw without any dchuate
aim. 1t is useless to tell the victim to
do this or that, or to call for water.
In fact it is best to say not word, but
seize blanket from bed, or cloak
or dry wooden fabric-If none is at
hand, take any wooden material-hold
the corners as far apart as yon can,
stretch them out higher than your
head, and running boldly up to the
person, make a motion of clasping in
the arms, most about the shoulders.
This instantly smothers the fire and
saves the face. The next instant throw
the unfortunate persoI on the floor.
This is additional safety to the face
and breath, any remnsnt of flame can
be put out more leisurely. The next
instant, immerse the burnt part with
an inch thickness Of -four, put the pa
tient to bed and do ali that is possible
to sooth until the physician arrives.
Let the flour remain until it falls off IT,
self, when beautiful new skin will be
found If the burns are not deep no
application is needed The -four is the
most admirable remedy ever proposed,
and the information ought to be i'm
parted to all. The principle of its ac-
ton is that, like the water, it causes
instant and perfect relief from pain,
by excluding the air from the injured
parts. Spanish whitipg and cold water
of a mushy consistency are preferred BY
some. Dredge on the -four until no
more will stick, and cover with cotton /
baton.
Year: 1867

Presersohd sense to wit never study
to be diverting without being useful
let nojest intrude on your good man.
ners, or say anything that may offend
modesty. or heedlessly hurt the feel
ings of another.
Year: 1867

bENblbIb hEuEL.


Under this heading the Chicago 7rii
bune, Of the 9th, speaks of a sensible
speech in Memphis, Tennessee, on the
9th of June, delivered by Mr.. J. l..
Alcorn, Senator elect from Mississippi"
We did not happen to be Of the !ortu.
nate few who listened to the foregoing
speech, and having scarcely heard it
mentioned since the delivery, are indebt-
ed, with the body Of Memphians, to the
Chicago Tribune for information as TO
what that speech contained. 1t repre-
sents him as declaring that, in the col
lision between the Executive and legis.
lative departments Of the Government,
it is possible that the people may be
dragged into a bloody conflict, and that
in that event he "advises the South to
be on the winning side. This is charm.
ing, and q very good side TO be on, but
when was Mr.. Alcorn himself on the
winning side, and how are we to trust
him as our leader and adviser when the
moment of great trial and peril comes :
We prefer to take the right side, if we
can find il, and trust in God that may
prove "the winning sde.' With all re-
spect to Mr.. Alcorn, If he will advise Us,
we ask him to point out the right side
and help all good men to make that g the
winning side." 1t is this hunting after
winning sides, with the demagoguery
and trimming of place hunters which
results, that has cost us the chief evils
we suffer, and the Generalization Of the
present day. If Mr.. Alcorn would give
sound advice he would do well to begin
with counseling integrity, rather than that
very Machivalism which he charges upon
and denounces in the Democratic party
All parties have been in common fault
heretofore, and we have causes Of strife
enough without bringing a new issue
against the Democrats, which can do no
good unless it should be to make some
one of the alphabet Governor or
Brigadier. That Mr.. Alcorn should be
suddenly taken to the Northern Radical
bosom looks suspicious and of evil omen,
and we counsel him to beware, There is
no safety in running after winning sides.
If we are not mistaken, in his card, in
answer to request to make the foregoing
speech, he said he was not aware that he
had any new and particular light to give
in making it We hope he may here
after be able to find some, which will be
for the public good, without being of dis.
service to himself.
Year: 1867

s&~The New York Times, in abiding
to the convention now in session in that
State, characterises the debate on the
suffrage question as quite as bad Aa acme
of the discussions on the same subject
in Congress, and adds More than this
we could not say.
Year: 1867

F. OTTO respectfully announces to his friends
and customers and the public generally, that his
store having been removed from its former stand,
adjoining Days Drug store, to the large store and
warehouse building,
Year: 1867

The enOn-commissiOnedo officers in the French
army are not often reduced to the ranks, al
though the colonel of the regiment has power
to do so. They are generally punished by
confinement to barracks, or arrest in their
own quarters, or, if on active service, in the
tents which serve as the guard house For
offences against honesty, or for insubordina-
ton, they are always tried by a court martial.
The commissioned officers, in like manner
are punished by from three to thirty days
arrest in their own quarters, for any omission
in matters of duty, or on account of any folly
for which their youth may plead with the
colonel not to be too hard upon them Some
times an officer who has misbehave1 is ex-
changed into another regiment. and OCCASION
ally, but rarely, is placed on the inactive list,
which is equivalent to temporary half.pay.-
The latter punishment is resOrted to some
times when officers have run very deeply into
debt, and it is thought better that they should
retire for a time from their regiment, until
they can make some arrangement with their
creditors. 1t is true that the latter cannot
arrest them; but still Indebtedness in the
French army is considered a disgrace and
unworthy of those who wear the uniform
With them officers have no excuse for being
behind the world. The State takes great care
that they shall have no excuse for extrava-
gance. The trades. tradesmen, workmen. and
officers of a French regiment arc of them
selves something to see and to study. The
baking of the bread, the killing of the meat.
the repairing of the barrack buildings, the
making of boots and clothes-all things, in
short. that can possibly be required in the
regiment are done by the men the rselves, aud
they thus earn considerable additions to their
pay. Every soldier. when once he has learned
his drill, is expected to work at something or
other; and those that can do nothing better
dig and delve aud plant aud cultivate the gar
dens which supply vegetables for the differ
cnt regimental messes. Nothing seems to be
made outside the corps, as those who have OF
late years taken notice of the French sold. .ers'
dress can vOuch for. The changes Which the
present Emperor has introduced in the dress
Of the army have been very great and are ex-
cecdingly popular in the service. Without
being at all expensive. their uniform is soldier
like, useful. and, above oll the rank Of the
wearers may be ascertained at glance.-PAH
Ledyer.
Year: 1867

To my boyhood home there came from a
city embowered among the hills Of Scotland
some years ago, young man Of more than or
dlnary promise. lie started business as a
merchant, and soon became u general favor
itc. Patronage poured IN until there had
been built up an extensive trade. lie was
on the road to fortune. \ marriage alliance
formed lifted him up another step, and made
his fortune look sunny as any mans who
walked our streets. \ passion for politics,
however, ut this point, led him into the tur-
bulent arena Of the partisan. There he
came to drink. The passion grew fcartully.
Never did see one sink so fast. There was
u visible descent day by dag. Before he
touched bottom that noble Christian woman
whom God gave him. sank into the grave un-
der the burdens of grief aud shame. Then
the very last link that held him back seemed
snapped. His property fell under the shcr-
1T ; hammer. As he walked out from the cs
tab!ishment that was his no more, he hoarse-
Iy whispered to u friend words too horrible to
be inserted, the substance Of which was that
he meant to reach the landing place of the
drunkard soon lie kept that promise The
end came quick. 1t was night or two be-
fore Christmas-one of those sharp zero
nights when everything without SNAPS. that,
staggering along to his Iodging,place, at late
hour, he fell or lay down near the edge of
the side walk on a deserted street Hours
passed before he was discovered, and then the
stranger who found him, not knowing what
else to do, ordered carriage aud had him
conveyed to the alms,house where the county
housed its poor. On examination it was
found that the arms were frozen to the elbow.
and the legs to the knees and consulting
surgeons said that in the morning every limb
must be amputated. as the only hope Of saw
ing life. Modification, however, mercifu!y
set in and moved with rapid steps, so that be-
fore Christmas dawn strcaked the skv. before
the hours began to toll that keep green mem
ory of a Sayiour's birth, that carer of wretch.
ed"ess and shame had found Its end, and he
who only little space before sat in as happy
home as Christmas smiled on, lay there wait
ing the hand of charity to bring his coffin and
dig his grave. Months afterwards there came
a Piteous letter from his aged mother in her
Highland home, begging to know what had
become Of her tar.off child, and to a minister
of Christ the sad task was given of breaking
to that loving heart on the other side of the
deep, the narrowing particulars appearing in
these lines.


\ lost life. A lost soul.


LET him that thinketh he standeth take
heed lest he fall"
Year: 1867

y correspondents of the Glasgow Herald.
who recently visited the island OF Lewis, in
the Hcbrides, says 1.-The women do all tho
heavy work. They dig delVc and hoe; they
carry heavy loads Of manure to the fields. and
IN the peat seasons You may see them all day
carrying creeliuls OF peat from the bog You
will often see man trudging along the road
beside Il woman, but the creel is always ON
the woman's back. If they come to a river
or ford, the woman crosses first. deposits her
crcel on the other side, and then returns TO
carry the man across. l only saw this once.
but the farmers tell me it is a thing of every
day occurrence. When the creel is ernpty.
the man sometimes slings it over his own
shoulders, and then mounts upon the back
OF women, who carries them both across to-
getheT This, am told, is the only occasion
on which, by any chance, you see a crecl up
on the back OF a man TIE woman in the
rural districts here is. in fact, beast Of bur-
den, and men, in lookout for wives look large
Iy to muscular developemcnt. \ story is cur
rent among the English speaking farmers
that illustrates this conception Of womeu's
mission. In the middle Of one peat season.
when labor was much in demand. a man who
was supposed to be confirmed old bachelor,
suddenly married. 4 friend met him some
days after. What for did you marry a wo-
man like that said the friend Did YOU
no hear, replied the friend, that my horse
was dead p"
Year: 1867

Frederick, King Of Prussia, one dav rang
his bell-aud no Que answering he Opened
his door, and found his page fast asleep in
his elbow chair. He advanced toward him.
and was about 10 awaken him, when he per-
ceived letter hanging out of his pocket
Curiosity prompted him to know what it was
he took it out and read it. 1t was letter
from the young mans mother, in which she
thanked him for having sent her part of his
money to relieve her misery-and telling
him that God would reward him for his filial
affection. The King. after reading it, went
back softly to his chamber, took out purse
full Of ducats and slipped it with the letter
into the pages pocket. Returning to his
chamber, lie rung the bell so loudly that it
awoke the page, who instantly made his ap-
pearance.


You have had a sound sleep" said the
King.


The page was at loss how to excuse him
seif-and putting his hand in his pocket by
chance, to his utter astonishment he found
there a purse Of ducats. He took i, out
turned pale, and looking at the King. shed a
torrent Of tears, without being able to utter
a word


What is that" said the King, what is
the NATTER"


"Ah, sir?" said the young man throwing
himself on his knees, '.some one seeks nv
ruin l know nothing of this money which
have Just found in my pocket"


My young friend" said Frederick. Good
often does great things for rs even in our
sleep Send that to your mother; salute her
on my part, and assure her will take care of
both her and you"
Year: 1867

y gentleman of wealth, who had been
much addicted to frolic and sports became
converted and member of one of our con
gregations. The congregation had adopted
the at r0Ioren principle as a means Of de-
iTayIng Its expenses In few months after
this gcntIcman's conversion, the deacons
waited on him to make their assessment and
knowing that he was rich, and that his pro-
portion Of the expenses would amount to a
pretty handsome sum, they feared that he
would not be willing to bear it, and their de-
mand might give him serious offence. and
prove an injury to him; hence, they approach
ed their business with some trcpidaiion and
great caution.


At first hc was at loss 20 ascertain the rca-
sons OF their apparent diifidencc The dea-
cons PeTceiving this, became, Of course. more
explicit. The gentleman was surprised.


"What on earth, said he. do YOU mean :?
Did you suppose that would be unwilling TO
pay my full proportion? When was a man
OF the world, and united with others in
schemes Of pleasure, would have deemed
myself a mean man had l not paid the full
proportion of the expenses Go to the assess
ors book and put me down nv full propor-
ton OF the expenses of the church. Do Won
think that intend to be a Ineancr man now
since | have become a servant of God, than |
was when servant of the devil ?"
Year: 1867

In the little village of Pembroke, during
the progress of protracted meeting, one
hopeful aud exceedingly liberal convert pray
ed in behaf of the many who had ranged
themselves on the anxious seat that the
Lord would convert them at once" Come
down now, Lord-right off; right down
through the roof; ENPGy for tie shingles" "
Year: 1867

= Bunsby lucidly explains the present
system Of raising revenue as follows Now,
you see, in the first place they git the amount
Of tel!er's business. That is taxed. Then
they find out how much he earns every
month. and that's taxed. Then they find
out all about his profits, and on that they lay
their tax. Then they manage to get some
tax on what he owes. Next comes what they
call income, and that's taxed. Then, if any
thing is left the preacher calls round and gets
it to sustain the church and convert the hca.
then"