smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

From the Columbus tOhiol journal, May %.


Yesterday we heard of and read part of
the most singular will on record The
maker of the will is represented to be q
shrewd, successful business man, who har
accumulated quite large fortune. He ex
hibits no other signs of insanity than may
be derived from the extreme eecentricity of
his will, although it is probable the Courts
will, in due course, be called upon to deter
mine the question whether the testator was
of sound and disposing mind.


The will disinherits all the natural heirs of
the maker OF it, and devises the entire
property in trust for the establishment of
an Infirmary for Cats. A most elaborate
architectural plan for the necessary build
ings is attached to and made part of the
will. It provides areas for that sweet anna
tory converse so dear to the feline heart
and rat holes of the most ravisliing nature,
to be kept well stocked The most inge-
nious contrivances are provided for secur-
ing to the rat a chance of escape, so that
the cat may not lose the pleasures of the
chase by finding his prey comes too easily.
High walls with gently sloping roofs, for
the midnight promenade and other noctur-
nal amusements of the cats. The trustees
are directed to select the grounds for this
novel infirmary in the most pOpulOuS part
of some American city, aud the deyises are
to be protected by competent force of
nurses from the rayages of men and dogs.
No person OF the male sex is ever to be ad-
mitted within the walls, and no female who
has children or is under thirty years old
There are hundreds of minute directions
which we have no time to note


One would suppose that in the fore
going provisions the testator had exhaus-
ted all the eccentricities of one man, how
eqer unique his nature; but the last provis-
on OF the Will seems more outrageously bi-
zdrTe than any that 90 before Saws the de-
visor: 81 have all my life been taught to
believe that everything in and about man
was intended to be useful, and that it
was mans duty as lord of animals. to pro
tect all the lesser species, even as God pro
tects and watches over him. For these two
combined reasons-first, that my body even
after death, may continue to be made use
tul, and secondly, that it may be made in
Strumental, rs far as possible, IN furnishing
a substitute for the protection of the bodies
OF my dear friends the cats=I do hereby
devise and bequeath the intestines of my
body to be made up into fiddlestrinqs,
the proceeds to be devoted To
the purchase of an ACCORDION, which shall
be played IN the auditorium of the Cat In
tirmary by one of the regular nurses to be
selected for that purpose exclusively the
playing to be kept up forever and ever,
without cessationsday and night, in iorder
that the cats may have the privilege of al
ways hearing and enjoying that instrument
which is the nearest approach to their nat
ural voice"


If any journal can give us information OF
a more singular viii than this, we should
like to hear it.


FNTNENT NEW YORK and PhiladeIphia phv.
sicians claim that the Dubois Aiissisquo
Year: 1869

Augusta (de.) correspondent ce BOSTON Herald.


The recent suicide IN this city, of Libby,
the Photographic artis;, has not ceased to
be a topic of conversation. The victim wf.s
a good looking young man, six feet in
height, aud of good address. He never
drank a drop of liquor III his life, and
proved himself good soldier in the Union
army When he came here about p
year ago, with his wife, a pretty, well
appearing little woman, he did a good
business in taking pictures. For six
months everything vert well. He was
true to his wife, and Il was supposed he
was laying up money His wife grew jeal-
ous and they separated. He got into debt
about 81, 900, and couldn't pay his bills.
what little property he had IN his business
was turned over into the hands Of his
father He quarreled again with his wife
and she left him. This WAS few weeks
ago. by means OF his father ne promised
better doings. His wife forgot and fofgave,
and came back. On the evening Of the
suicide, he told his wife that she had better
go t. tea. When she left for the hotel
where they boarded, she never dreamed
that in an hour afterward he would be
found q corpse. The poison taken was
cyanide of potassium, used in his profes-
sion. After partalling Of the fatal
draught he must have expired almost
instantly. He was found stretched out on
the floor of his Photographic room, by two
gentlemen who wanted to see him, whom
he was owing, and who, finding his door
locked, had Obtained entrance by means OF
pass key. The medical gentleman tried
galvanic battery to resuscitate him, but
life was extinct. A pistol, with ball cart
ridges, were found on his person, and 9
paper containing cyanide of potassium
enough to kill ten men. A private diary y
which it would have been good Judgment
to have destroyed before he launched him
self into eternity. This sadseHd is q warn
| ing to fast young men.
Year: 1869

A coUNrRYMAN exposed his watch on the
corner of q street in New Haven on Wed
nesday when hystander offered to bet
So that it was not gold..d. Countryman ac-
cepted the bet, and it was taken to jew
eller's and pronounced q gold one. The
stranger handed the cOuntryman the
money, saying: ''You have won; here's
your money and watch, and then left.
After he had disappeared the cou9tryman
found himself in possession Of a galvanized
watch instead of his GOLD one.
Year: 1869

A GOOD medicine is welcome friend IN
every household, for it not only relieves the
sick but it brings with it The assurance of a
speedy cure. Such medicine is FoUGERAs
Compound Iodinized Cod Liver Oil. Bein g
five times as strong as the best Cod Liver
Oils sold, twill cure affections Of the lungs
&C., by arresting the disease, while others
only give temporary relief. Every one suffer-
ing should give it a trial. It is sold every
y17bbT
Year: 1869

Tho influx of Norwegians continues to
be enormous, and it is said that at least
two hundred thousand viii arrive within
the next eighteen months. Their destina-
ton Is invariably the Northwest.
Year: 1869

A WATER Works Company has
been organized in Indianapolis with
a capital Of $5OO,OOO. An ordinance


has also been prepared which will be
pr esented to the City Council for
doption. The new Company, if
authorized by the Council. propose to
commence work ct once, aud obi ,te
thems elves to have the works COM
pleted within one year and three
months from the time the charter is
granted. We have repeatedly advised
the organization of similar company
in our city, but thus far none of our
capitalists seem disposed to take hold
of the enterprise. We are certain
that no inves tment of money would
pay better interest if the works
were constructed with prudence and
economy.
Year: 1869

CINCINNATI, Oct. 6.-Senator Nor
ton goes to indianapolis tonight.


A bar-keeper named Smith fell
dead on Central Avenue this after
noon.


At5 O'Clock this evening, at the
corner Of Vine and Fifth Streets,
Mrs Rhinehardt was run over and
nearly killed by horse which was
running away with its rider, who was
mounted with halter. but without a
bride. The woman will scarcely sur
vive By the collision the horse and
rider were thrown on the pavement.
The rider was arrested.
Year: 1869

TO the Editors Of the Comaat:


Mrs. Stowe desires the friends of
justice and fair dealing to publish for
her this announcement, that she has
kept silence heretofore in regard to
the criticism on her article on LADY
Year: 1869

The following extract from letter by


a chicago Commission Merchants, refat-


ing to the price of wheat viii be Of


interest to the reader:


/ II can't so clearly see large profit


arising from a purchase of wheat for
delivery in the future as you seem to.
| You say wheat is cheap This may be
and this may not be. Cheap End dear
are relative terms. AS compared with


prices at which this ceral has ruled in


your market for the past few years. |


grant you it is cheap. But now circum
stances are changed, and in order to ascer


tain to what use it can now be put, and
| at what price that use will take 1t.
| Warming pans, which had been selling
| IN your market at 50 a piece, might be
said to be cheap at decline of 20 per
cent and yet if the purchaser at 50. SO


could find no use to which he could put
them, either in this market or any other
| by which he could realize owe fifty cents


a piece he would find them very dear,


instead of cheap, at S2,5 | merely
! give YOU this by way Of Illustrating my


position, that an article is not cheap


because it is now selling at half the price


at which it has sold in the past. Now
the question in regard to wheat is, to


what use can 1t be put at a figure above
current rates. 1t is this which must de-


termine its cheapness. TO W hat market


can it be shipped and pay profit? If
any, then it is cheap. But 50 far as my


information goes, there is none. Neither
do | see any 9 l0d reason ID anticipate any
material advance in distant markets


which would cause an advance in your


market There may be to be sure, be a
! foreign war or something of this kind to
advance markets abroad, but, without


some circumst lnce of this kind. which
at the moment looks to me quite improb-
able, | sec nothing to materially appre-
ciate prices. England has large crop
the whole world IN fact has large crop.


In NewYork there is a stock Of over
four millions In Buffalo and Oswego
there is one and one half millions
and in neither Of these places can current
or anything like current quotat.ol5
be realized for the wheat in store
at those points not within ten to
twenty cents per bushel. Our own coun-
try, as you are aware, is full Of wheat
from one end to the other, insuring large
receipts all winter both at Chicago and


Milwaukee. Under such state ofthings.
do not, with you, look to see markets
drag all winter, and open at a price, In
the spring, no higher, if as high as at
present-losing to the holder the cost OF
carrying and perhaps five to ten cents
per bushel besides.
Year: 1869

The feelings Of our community have
been shocked by the intelli gence received
last Saturday OF the sad death, by assas-
snation, of James Laird His connec-
ton with this Office years a. dseems to
render an allusion to it necessary. The
story in brief is this During the suppos-
cd absence Of "a jealous husband Mr.. l..
was visiting the WIFE, The husband
doubting the fidelity of his wife, was
watching her and her visitor through the
window and fancied he saw unmistakable
tokens that criminal acts were intended.
Burning with fury he rushed into his sit
ting room and meeting young Laird i'm
nediately fired The shot took effect in
the breast, and was unnecessarily followed
by others; even after the victim laid dead
on the snow outside his assassin went to
him and fred his last shot


Some facts, as it appears to US, are
worthy of notice. This young man we
know to have been. kind, generous and
sympathetic even to fault. What he
could or would say, if spared to tcstity,it
is useless to conjecture. The mouth of
one important witness was hastily, ruth
!essly, unlawfully, vindictively stopped;
FOR dead men tell no tales.


Another witness is the jealous husband.
Under the control Of the green eyed mon
ster, he could not be candid, truthful
witness, probably, if he would: and the
deed he has done makes him interested to
peryert the truth to his own purposes of
safety and vindictiveness, even if he
could give a candid testimony. The tes-
tmony of such an unbalanced mind and
of such a ruthless vioator of all law, is
the testimony for himself on which he re-
lies for the public acquittal of his deed
Of foul assassination.


The wife, the remaining witness, ex-
pjcitiy declares, in letter received by
friends OF young Laird in this village
that euikless man was murdered. She
knows, and she alone, probably, is com
petent to give positive testimony. She
might he preiudiced witness. anda false
one, it is true, but she only kuo,cs what
the fact is. Nothing to his dshonor. she
solemnly declares has Laird done. Their
rea tons were unwise and even indiscreet
and possibly. Notwithstanding her testi-
mony, criminal, but be that as it may,
Bailey's act was certainly premedltated
murder and cowardly ASSASSINATION. His
crime cannot be too utterly condemned.
To the already wrecked happiness of this
i'll assorted couple must be added reputa-
tions probably blasted beyond all hope
Of restoration Over the grave of the
dead-because ne was forbidden to speak
the living certainly should spread the
mantle of charity, and give him the ad-
vantage always accorded the accused of
crimes at the bar of human justice, to
suppose him innocent until quilts proved
Year: 1869

The Senate committee on commerce
agreed on Saturday to report the House
bill oflastsession with slight notifications
making appropriations of FIVE millions of
dollars for the improvement Of rivels
and harbors. An appropriation of two
hundred and thirty thousand dollars for
IL the New York harbor is Included
Year: 1869

DROPPING ATTACHMENT.


The Dropping Attachment TO this machine is very
simple and reliable there small. intricate or
irihIng parts TO get OF order and acknowledged
the Best DrOppeT in America.


This machine can be truly said 10 be a complete
com bInation The moving qualities are not impaired
by any Of the Reaping Attachments. and the Reapng
QuaIiies ire not injured in adapting the machine to
cutting gross. The change from reapIng 10 moving
can be made IN two minuies. and All par
ties wishing purchase first class machine in every
respect will please call and examine the ChamplOa
or send for Pamphlet giving full information.
| Ne hau fha
Year: 1869

During the late rebellion, the Circassian, a
fine large English steamship, freighted with
valuable merchandise, was sent from Liver
pool to run the blockade at Mobile The day
that she sighted the coast of Cuba, little
armed steamer of the United States Navy,
that had been converted from the merchant
service into a cruiser, lett Key West and stood
over toward Havana, ON the lookout for suspi-
cious characters. She was a small craft, of
moderate speed, but heavily armed. If she
caught any blockade runner it must be by
strategy. The Yankee sighted Moro Castle
aud the Circassian about the same time, and,
suspecting her character, resolved to try a lit
tie stratagem to get her in his power. Cover
ing his guns with tarpaulins, the commander
ordered the most OF his crew below, set some
miscellaneous signals, and headed for Havana
at moderate speed. The bait took. The block
ader, taking the cruiser for q tug or excursion
boat out from Havana, came unsuspiciously
close alongside. He was hailed and requested
to stop until boat could be sent ON board
With Tav7n5 n, ti---4 aasaidnt- -ha hnthered


At that moment the Yankee commander
sprung the rattle, the signal for general quar-
ters The men swarmed from below, dragged
the covering from the guns and trained them
on the stranger, who put on steam and endeav-
ored to escape. A shell from the Yankee
brought his foreyard to the deck, and seeing
the danger to which he was exposed himself
the commander of the Circassian came to. The
commander of the cruiser boarded the Circas-
sian, and was met by the exclamation-"By
Cd, if had been captured by anything 1
wouldn't care. But to be taken by such d-d
insignificant craft as that, Is too blasted badp'
She was taken to Key West and condemned.


This capture excited much interest at the
time, and the commander who made the cap
ture received many compliments as well as
handsome amount of prize money. But we
never knew until one day last week that he
who did this neat thing is our genial and pop
ular friend Captain Dennison, of the City OF
Richmond. While his swift steamer was
threading her way way among the islands on
the passage to Portland, in reply to our ques-
tioning concerning his cruising, he related the
incidents of the affair. And we thought, no W
wonderfully these men Of the sea jump from
their calling into the dangers and excitements
of war, and when it is over go back to their
peaceful pursuits without for moment think
ing they have done anything remarkable. II
we have a war with maritime nation, the
blood that made the American navy famous in
the war of 1872 will crop out abundantly.-Bel-
fast Republican Journal.
Year: 1869

NEwBURYPoRT, MASS, May 15, 1869.


Only one craft could we see building ON the
river. Ship carpenters, lew years since set
tied down in this city, built themselves small.
trim cottages, meaning to make stay, but the
dullness of shipbuilding has called most Of
them to sell out at ruinous prices and leave.


Heretofore capitalists have been very liberal
with their money, building up different kind s
OF manufactures, in the hope of bringing BUSH
ness to the place; but they have been failure
with the exception of the cotton mill.


High street is the aristocratic part of the
town. The oligarchy do not deign to mix with
common people. About ten o'clock A. M.
their carriages roll down to the depot, and they
are off to Boston and return in the afternoon


The Putnam Free School is one OF the best
schools in the country. The founder, in his
bequest, made 1t binding upon the trustees
that the Door scholar should have the same
privileges as the rich.


The Masons are making great preparations
for celebration to take place ON the oath of
June. At that time their rooms will be
thrown open to the inspection of the public
Among their collections are relics of the last
century, autographs of celebrated men, whose
names are inscribed on the page of history.
This lodge was one of the earliest organized
in the country, and there is much locked up in
their private history which would throw light
on the famous Morgan revelation.


Something new in these parts. A cultvatOr
of the soil has under cultivation two acres OF
checkerberry plants, two of peppermint one
of spearmint. They grow wi i'h such vigor that
he harvests over. three tons to the acre. AS
soon as it is in a proper condition, the oil is
extracted and marketed.


A few years since former resident of this
city was so Shocked with the old tumble-down
gate Of the cemetery, that on his return he
sent check of $500 to the Mayor to build one
that the dead might not be ashamed to
pass in.
Leonard Choate, charged with the crime Of
firing by means OF internal machinery, differ
ent buildings in this city, confidently asserts
that he is innocent, and is a victim of the de-
tectives, and says he shall make it appear.


1t is hopedi byl the citizens of Hayerhill by
the removal of a few prominent rocks in the
Merrimac river, that larger crafts will be able
to reach that point with coal and lumber.
One distillery in this city has made its own
ers wealthy by distilling none but pure rum.
| So even in the rum business 'honesty is the
best policy" STEVE.
Year: 1869

SINGULAR PHENoMENoN.-Th The Yreka
(Cal) Journal Of April 8, describes singular
phenomenon in the heavens wlileh happened
about noon on the Saturday previous. 1t
consisted of three rings, two of them around
the sun and another larger one north of the
sun, with its outside rim passing through the
sun. The latter was the object which excit-
ed special interest. Where the circle passed
through the sun it was bright red, bat the
remainder was of whitish color, the same
as the two rings around the sun, and contain
ed nine mock suns, the mock suns so divided
around the circle that if a straight line was
drawn from one mock sun to another on the
outside line, it would form an octagon shape,
with a mock sun to another ON the outside
line, it would form an octagon shape, with a
mock sun at each point of the squares. The
phenomenon lasted about two hours, COM
mencing at noon and continuing until 2
o'clock. No change of the weather followed
this singular appearance. od d
Year: 1869

This being the principal Hotel of the place, and
fitted up in complete order tor the accommodation
OF the travelling public, we have no hesitaney in
inviting all to give us q call.


THE ETABLE will always be supplied with the
greatest luxuries of the season, and THE BAR
stocked With the best Of Liquors. Aug Is my
Year: 1869

h FINE AND IMPRISONMENT. The law makes any
member oil the Board of Supervisors, OF its clerk


conscntng to the allowance or issuance OF war
! rant Oh the General fund for anything done in
connection with the County Hospital guilty of a


misdemeanor and punishable by fine or imprison-


ment in the county Jail. bill Tor newspaper,


intended, doubtless, for the mental culture OF the


ind gent sick at the Hospital possibly for vom-


tt) his been allowed, ordered, and paid Tor out
J of the General fund. Where is the District AT.
atorney!
Year: 1869

THIS NEW AND POPULAR SALOON is


L now open for the accommodation Of the pub.
lie. who have already occupied the premises in
force. and proceeded to make themselves at home
The people know good liquors when they taste
'em and good cigars when they smoke 'cm; and
therefore when they have once been to the
UNION they are bound to call again and repeat.
The proprietors will keep none but the best arti-
cles and they hdlter themselves that they know
how to mix and serve them Call. OFT.
Year: 1869

ONE MORE RELATION TO THE FRONT -
There appears to have been some mistake
about the appointment Of the new Minister to
Guatemala. II was said that the appointee
was a colored man, like the Minister to Hayti !;
but we are assured by reliable Information
from Washington that the Minister accredited
to Guatemala is white man, and, more than
more of the family who is prepared cheerfully
to obey the order, ''snother relative to the
front"
Year: 1869

The copperhead press of the North are in
dustriOusly working to persuade the people OF
the unreconstructed States Of Virginia, Missis-
sippi and Texas to reject the State oonstitu-
tions awaiting their action, SO as to prevent in
each case State organization and Legislature,
whereby, under the terms of Congress, the
fifteenth amendment equal suffrage regardless
of cOlor) must be adopted. The design of the
Northern copperhead organs is to defeat this
amendment in order to keep out the Northern
negro vote, of which they are afraid, and so
they are urging upon the Southern States di-
rectly concerned the policy of keeping them
selves out in the cold to accommodate the
Northern copperhead politicians. But we ara
glad to see that the Southern conservatives in
the unreconstructed States are acting for them-
they ''are not all democratic partisans Of the
Bourbon stripe, stone blind to all the changes
that have been brought by sweeping revolu
ton and doggedly bent upon sacrificing South
ern material interests to unreasoning spite"
but that the Southern people, struggling for
life and a prosperous future, are in no mood
for ''entangling party alliances" Of such en-
cumbrances they have had enough, and hence
forward they will, in consulting their own


interests, take their own course. This is sound
sense, and upon this platform, even under the
fifteenth amendment, the white mans party Of
the South will soon become the black mans
party. Go ahead.
Year: 1869

GENERAL GRANTS PROCLAMATION ON THE
EIGHT Hour LAWN this proclamation, up
setting the construction of the law as applied
by the Navy Department, General Grant sim
ply enforces the letter and the spirit of the act
Of Congress, making eight hours days work
to workmen in the government service, with
out any reduction Of the wages paid before for
a day Of ten hours. The laboring classes Of
the country will be gratified with this decision
of the President. II is Napoleonic idea.
Now, then, if General Grant will only ''assume
the responsibility" Of proclamation or two on
some of the great International questions Of
the day, in the line Of the public sentiment
of the country, his popularity in the Cabinet
will soon eclipse his glory In the field. And
why not, when he has everything to gain by
prompt and decisive action and everything to


lose by waiting for more convenient season {?