smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1868

A traveller while vending his way
through the eastern portion of the State
of New York stopped over night at the
village of S, with some friends,
who were great wags. In one of the
bed rooms of the house there was bed
stead fastened by pullies to the ceiling
Night time came, and the traveller was
shown to his room. \ girl led the way:
candle in hand, and after pointing out
the bed, departed with the light, say
ing that she needed it for the other
dodgers. The traveller undressed, and
yroped his way to the bed, or TO the
spot where he had seen it, bus was
amazed to find thatit had disappeared.
From corner to corner he CROPPED, but
the search was useless. Somewhat
frightened, he commenced shouting,
proclaiming that the house was
bewitched. The landlord and
two or three of his guests, bearing
lights, answered his emphatic summons,
and lust as he was about to tell the
story of the missing bed, he looked. and
10. there 1T stood as it was before. He
tried to inform them of his inability to
find the bedstead, but they only laughed
at him, telling him he must be crazy.
Bidding him good night, and advising
him to 90 to bed at once and sleep Oft
his dellrium, they left him. As soon as
they mad shut the door he made a dive
for the bed, and landed on the floor.
He then began to halloa and yell louder
than ever, and darted fer the door. In
attempting to descend the stairs he fell
headlong to the bottom, making such
a terrible noise that all the inmates
rushed to him to learn the cause of the
disaster. Again he told his story, but
it was received with ridicule. To sat
isfy him that he had been mistaken,
one of the guests proposed to enter the
room with him and remain theIe until
he should fall asleep. The proposition


was gladly accepted, and in about
twenty minutes the traveller was sound
asleep. The wsgs then gently hoisted
the bedstead almost to the ceiling, and
commenced shouting fire, murder,
ETC." Thoroughly alarmed, he
ssrang out of bed; but the distance be-
ing fully six times what he had calcu-
lated.


he imagined that he had fallen over
fifty feet. Fear seemed to strengthen


his lungs, and he shouted like trooper.


proclaiming that the house was haunt


ed, and that the imp of darkness had


attempted to fly away with him. The


other guests who had entered the room,


coldly pointed to the bedstead, saying


that it could not have moved but they


were unable to shake the belief that


his Internal majesty had taken refuge
| in the mysterious bed.
Year: 1868

A decision has been rendered by the
Circuit Court of Henry county, Illinois,
says the Chicago Tribune, to the effect
that Judge cannot pass sentence of
death for murder under the law of 1867
unless a jury shall have so directed. In
case where the party indicted for
murder had pleaded guilty, there was
nothing for the jury to determine, aud
hence the death penalty could not be
inflicted. The decision was obviously
in accordance with the law. Capital
punishment is thus virtually abolished
in Illinois, since it is only necessary for
a murderer to confess his guilt IN order
to. escape that penalty. He may be sem
fenced to Imprisonment for life, but he
cannot be hanged. This was not the
intention of the Legislature when the
law of 1867 was passed. The intention
was to enable the jury to fix penalty
in accordance with the degree of guilt
found, instead of retaining the arbitrary
rule which makes all murder punish
able with death, and under which ten
murderers 60 scot free where one is
banged. Fortunately the Legislature
meets a few weeks hence, and will be
able to repair their singular oversight
Year: 1868

The PaU Mall Gazette says: That
England is not innocent of Mormonism
is evident from statistics in an account
of half-yearly conference lately held
by the London MormOns. The metro
politsn district alone has nine branches
with upwards of thousand members,
the receipts amount to tS79, nearly
the whole of which has been devoted
to emigration. Now, Mormon!sm is
weak in London compared with other
cities and towns. In Liverpool, for in
stance, it is believed to flourish more
than most persons are aware, while in
the Prlncipality the progress it has
made would astonish us all, if it could
be accurately measured. But such an
estimation is impossible, because the
Mormon population is constantly thin
ned off by emigration. None but the
Mormons themselves can estimate their
converts, for almost as last as they are
won they are shipped off to Utah. The
non. .conformist ministers In Wales
could probably supply the materials for
an interesting work on this subject, if
they were so disposed, and if some one
with a turn for writing history would
take it up. We present this subject to
any brilliant writer anxious to produce
the sensation book of the fOrthcom-
ing season"
Year: 1868

The Senate Committee on the dirty streets
of New-Yorli have closed their investigations
and are now preparing their report. The eVl-
dence they have elected disclOses no reason
why the thoroughfarcs must necessarily be IN
their present awful condition, and certainly
does not raise our opinion of the faithfulness
of the Street Contractor. The principal efforts
of this gentleman and his friends before the
Committee have been directed to proving, hrst,
that the streets are not dirty; secondly that
they are cleaner than they used to be and
thirdly, that, if they are dirty, 1t Is because
the city does not pay enough to keep them
clean. But in point of fact, Judge Whiting
has no defense to make. The contract stares
him in the face its violation is patent TO
everybody He can only rest upon the asser-
ton that he has no wish TO make money; that
he undertook the work solely for the purpose
of serving his fellow-m that he means to
give it up by-and-by, and that anybody who
complains of dirt in the street must be a con-
stitutional grumblcr who would,not be satisfied
even in the Garden Of Eden. Yet, strange to
say, Inc refuses to show his books for fear OF
illegal proceedings in other mattors.' Nhlc
he virtually confesses that for SiSo,0OO year
he cannot keep the rOadways free from hlth'
the culverts and cutters open, the streets de-
Gently passablc and the cross-walks swept we
are assured that there Is q company ready to
do the work thoroughly merely for the manure


What practical remedy the Committee VIII
propose, there is nothing yet to Indicate but
it will hardly he Mr.. Writings plan of flooding
the city periodically from rain-water reservoirs
as if il were an Augcan stable. In the mean
while there is one thing which may be done
with a great deal of advantage. Let the con-
tractors money be withheld until he has earned
it. No work. no pay, is a good motto in all
matters of business, and there could not he
better opportunity for applying it than the
pTcscnt,
Year: 1868

The Boston Posts Washington correspond
ence has the foowng "Mr Evarts arrived here day.
and the counsel OF the President held proracied
sutaon with him relative to the preparation OF his
aDswer which will be ready for filing Monday next
1t is understood that demurrer will be first suDmlttcd
alleging that the matters charged frivolous and not
sufficient, if true, to justify impeachment Next an ex
cepon will be filed TO the Court being composed OF only


part OF a constitutional Senate Thirdly an exception
to certain members OF the Court as disqualified on 40
count of direct personal interest in the result OF tho
trial or OF their having disqualified themselves by form
ing and expressing Judgment In advance and therefore
they cannot be impartial judges contemplated by the
Constitutions II anticipated by the counsel for the
respondent that these exceptions will be OF any avail
further than to complete the record for the country ana
for histOrY The general denial OF mot guilty. VII then
be pleaded after which the will admit industry
the leading facts charged In the artces OF impeacect


Mr. stanbery expresses the confident opinion that therc
ia no danger OF conviction OF the President aud TINS
opinion confirmed by the declaration OF leading Radl
cal Senator to night that the hostility to Wade was 20
great that he considered the result OF the trial very
doubtful
Year: 1868

We see it stated that the Camden and Amboy
Railroad Company has purchased the Raritan
and Delaware Bay Railroad We cannot real


ize that the public is to be congratulated Oh
this transfer. The latter road afforded some
mitigation of the crushing monopoly so long
enjoyed by the Camden and AmbOy. That
monopoly is on the point of expiring, and the
people of South Jersey have strongly pctitioned
their Legislature for liberty to build a railroad
from Camden to Manchester on the Raritan and
Delaware road thus opening new line OF
transit between this city and Philadelphia. 1t
is plain that the Democratic managers of New
jersey dare not renew the AmbOy monopoly,
on the eve of Presidential contest But, If
the Monopoly have bought out the Raritan road,
they can checkmate the proposed Camden and
Manchester connection; and no one is likely
to build that road if they are doomed to run
their trains over branch of the Camden and
Amboy. Never, till Congress shall conc to tho
Year: 1868

The charges which Gen. Logan has brought
a gainst the Treasury Department ought to
have, we think a much more careful investi-
CATION than the House of Representatives has
shown itself willing to give them. We do not
believe that the enormous frauds which he
suspects have really been committed; but there
Is good reason 10 fear that such frauds might
be committed with comparative ease. 1t Is
grossly irregular, monstrous system OF mis-
management which allows any man the oppor-
tunity Of such unlimited peculatioD as seems to
be afforded Mr.. $. NJ. Clark, the head OF the
Printing Bureau in the Treasury Department.
When the safety Of millions of money is con-
corncd, the regulations Of the Department
ought to be based upon the assumption that
no official is strong enough to withstand
temptation. We do not question Mr. Clark $
honesty; but we have no business to depend
upon it, The Committee of Investigation ap-
pointed by the House have reported that there
is no evidence of fraud. Now let them be
sent back to inquire whether the regulations
of the Department do not offer special con-
veniences for fraud, and what reform should
be made in them.
Year: 1868

The Court of Special Sessions is, we believe,
the only self-sustaining Court in this city.
Probably this is why our Democratic Assembly
has passed bill providing that this Court
shall be split in eight pieces-in other words,
shall be held by any and all City Police JUS
tices. Are more fat offices wantedf The bill pro-
vides them. First we have new gang OF steno-
glaphers at salaries of $500 or $4,000 year,
q third of which goes into the pockets of Dem
ocrato wire-pullers; then the Police Justices
will demand extra pay for the extra work
and next we shall have an additional force OF
clerks and messengers, or a demand for In
creased salaries on the part of those already
employed. If the bill passes the Senate, the
city may congratulate itself if it gets of with
less than 100000 additional yearly expenses.
The proposal empowers each Police Justice to
adjudicate upon all cases coming before him.
Not the least of its evils will be the creation
of partisanism, and the melting out of justice
according to the will of party leaders We
have enough of that already. And now we
call upon the Senate, on behalf OF our over
laden taxpayers, TO check this new movement
for the feeding of hungry Democrats.
Year: 1868

paper 50 much as journal which may bo read when
the hustle of the day is over and the mind seeks re-
pose instead of excitement. We believe it processes
no political creed although the editorials not free
from bias which is not our own. They are written
however. with calmness and dignity, and, if we do
not like them there are many who will. For a FIRST
number the naner is unusually free from faults.
Year: 1868

In tho State Senate yesterday Mr. Genet pro-
posed bill directing the Common Council of
New-York to "cause Manual to be prepared
b for the use of the Mayor and Commonalty Of
/" said city" We beg the Senate not to enter
tain this proposition.
Year: 1868

The following article is interesting az
coming from Brownlow's Knoxville


Whig The Whig says:


By an act of the Legislature, passed
on the 9th of March last, tax of one
per cent. was levied on oil goods pur.
chased by merchants, wherever pur-
chased. This works great hardship
against our Wholesale merchants, and
gives Wholesale merchants of other
States an advantage which should not
be. AS the law now stands, the tax on
goods purchased in New York is the
same as on goods purchased in this
State. A merchant of Knox county must
pay the same tax on goods purchased
from Cowan Il McClung, or any other Of
our Wholesale merchants, as on purchases
made outside of the State. Goods pur-
chased by Cowan & McClung, or any
Wholesale merchant, outside of the State,
have State tax assessed upon them,
and when they are sold to their Gus
toners another State tax is assessed,
thus requiring tax to be paid on the
goods twice.


This seems to us discrimination
against our home merchants instead of
protection, as it should be. Whether our
Legislators ever thought of this we are
unable to say, but if the matter was con-
sidered with deliberation, we can but be-
lieve an erroneous view was taken. IL it
is necessary to raise more taxes to meet
the liabilities of the State, the taxes
should not be raised in way to discrim-
mate in favor of the interests of mer-
chants out of the State to the exclusion
of our home interests. Much more
might be said against such measure,
but we wish merely to call the attention
Of the Legislature to the inconsistency
thereof with the hope that relief may be
had for our merchants.
Year: 1868

pable, just, true, and impartial-as
long as they are so, and wish to re-


tain their position, they shall be al
! lowed to remain IN their place by the
people 1t Is well known by those
who are familiar with the legal pro
fession, that a successful LAWYER can
not afford to accept the position of
Judge of the Supreme Court, without
making some pecuniary sacrifices -
If he has large practice at the bar,
it IS much more lucrative than the sal
airy of Judge of the Supreme Court.


In order to accept positisn on the
bench, he is obliged to give up his
practice entirely; and at the expira-
tion of six years, if he should be turn
ed out Of Office, he is unqualified to
resume the practice of his profession.
In the first place, he has no clients :;
and on account of having been upon
the bench for SIX years, his mind
framed itself habits which makes it
difficult for him to practice again at
the bar; and | say again, that after
man has served six years upon the
bench, and has shown himself able and
just, that because he has made a de-
cision freely and Independently.
against particular influence, and has
thereby made himself unpopular,
that he should not for that reason be
thrown from the bench. five should
pursue that course for any length of
time, Mr.. President, we should soon
find that we would have few men who
were capable of filling the bench who
would take it. l trust, therefore, Mr.


President, that this convention viii
again nominate for candidate for Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, Mr..
Justice Dixon. Applause,
Year: 1868

4 plain unlettered man from the
back country, in the State Of Ala
bama, came up to Tuscaloosa, and on
the Sabbath went to church He Sc
lected a seat IN a convenient slip.
and awaited patiently the assembling
Of the congregation. The services
commenced. Presently the music Of
a full-toned organ burst upon his ear
he had never heard one before. At
the same time the gentleman who
owned the slip came up the aisle, with
his wife leaning upon his arm. As
he approached the door Of the slip he
motioned the stranger to give place
to the lady. The movement he did
not comprehend, and from the situa-
tion Of the gentleman and lady, asso-
ciated as 1t was in his mind with the
music. he Immediately concluded that
a cotillion or a French contra dance,
or some other dance, was intended
Rising partly from his seat, he said to
him: d. Excuse me. sir, excuse me, ifyou
please I don't danceI
Year: 1868

THE L. s. Senate very properly
refused 10 receive a communication
from the Governor Of Michigan, urg.
ing that body not TO ialter in execut-
ing the law against the Executive
The members Of the Senate are sworn
in as a court, to be governed by their
oa.hs, the law, and the evidence; and
any attempt 10 instruct them IN the
matter is as much in contempt as If
directed TO the Judges on the Supreme
Ranch
Year: 1868

A Mad Doc SroRY.-A good story
is told Of one Of the baggage MASTER
Of an important station between
Worcester and Boston, a fat good
natured, droll fellow, whose Jokes
have become quito popular on the
road. His name Is Bill. \ few
mornings since, while in the perform
ance Of his duties in checking bag
gage, an ugly little Scotch terrier
got in his way, and he gave him a
smart kick, which sent him over the
track yelping. The owner of the dog
soon appeared in high dudgeon, want
ing to know why he kicked the dog.


{" Was that your dog f" asked Bill,
with his usual drawl.


Certainly it was; what right have
Won to kick him p


" He's mad, SAID Bill.


No he's not mad, either, said the
owner.


d" Well, I should be if anybody kick
ed me in that way" responded Bill.
Year: 1868

ton. This year the publication was
confined to the papers having the
most limited circulation, and conse-
quently the larger proportion of the
taxpayers received no notification
whatever.


But we have no disposition to do
Mayor WALKER any injustice, even
by intimation, and make the correc-
ton. which we regard as due him.
Year: 1868

A CAREFUL examination of the


files Of the Courier conyinces us that
we did Mayor WALKER injustice on
Friday by intimating that he had not
notified taxpayers that the Board of
Equalization would hear complaints
with reference to the valuation Of
their property. The notice was en-
bodied in the advertisement announe-
ing the sessions of the Board. Our
mistake grew out Of the fact that
heretofore the advertisement was pub
lished in all the papers of the city, SO
that all the taxpayers of the city
could get the benefit of the notifca-
Year: 1868

In A long article in the Courier of
Saturday, a pretended comparison is
made between the printing bills
allowed the JOURNAL in 1866, and the
Couirer during the first quarter Of
the present year. The only reply we
have to make to it is, that in the main
the statements and figures are false, as
an examination of the JOURNAL bills,
on file in the Clerks Office,
will demonstrate. We challenge
the Courier to copy the bills as
they were rendered. They viii not
only convict it of falsehood in the par
ticular to which we now allude. but
4, also In other statements that it has
y made.
Year: 1868

"What will you take to drink % asked
the waiter Of young lad who, for the frst
time, accompanied his father to a public
dinner. Uncertain what to say. and feeling
sure that be could not be wrong if he fol-
lowed his fathers example. he replied, 'I'Il
take what father takes.''


The answer reached his fathers ear, and
instantly the full responsibility of his posi-
ton flashed upon him. If he said, "I'll
take ale," as he had always said before,
his son would take it also, and them And
the father shuddered as the history of sew
eral young men who, once promising as his
own bright lad, had been ruined by drink,
started up in solemn warning before him.
Should his hopes also be blasted and that
open-laced, noble lad become burden and
curse, as they had become But for
strong drink, they would have been active
earnest, prosperous men and if it could
work such ruin upon them was his own lad
safe Quicker than lightning these
thoughts passed through his mind, and in
a moment the decision was made. eff the
boy falls, be shall not have me to blame;'
and then in tones tremulous with emotion
and to the astonishment of those who knew
him, he said, Waiter, I'll take water -
and from that day to this strong drink has
been banished from that mans table and
from that mans home.


The young lad, in This brief utteraneer
was really the representative of the genera
ton to which be belongs. God has SO de-
creed it. that father is the highest author.
ity in the world to his child. Who does
not know that "My father said so'' is the
end Of all controversy with the little ones
around US ? Who does not see the parents
tones, and gait, and manners reproduced
continually IN the children, whose natur'
is now ''sOft as wax to receive an inpres
sion. and rigid as marble to retain il - and
who watch With quick aud initiating eye
those who, to them, are Gods Vieegs
rents


Would that We could impress upon the
fathers and mothers Of this country the sol
emu fact, that the future character Of th'
children is being formed by them. That i
they are trained up in the way they should
go. when they are old they will not depar
from it. But II they become vain, sensual
and degraded, The seeds will have been de
posted and the bias given in the early
morning Of their lives. If We teach them
that strong drink is good creature Of God
they win believe US and when, depending
upon our judgement aud truth, they sbal
have taken it. and It shall have shOwn itsel
to be the DEVILS masterpiece, and have bit
Year: 1868

ten and crushed and dragged them down to
ruin, We say weep and pray as we please,
the blame will be our own, and We must
not accuse God, or cast reflections upon
the gospel.


We shall have sOwn the flesh, and Of the
fesh shall have reaped corruption: God
viii have visited the sins of the fathers up
on the children. They only ''took what
thsir fathers took" If, on the other hand ,
we Danish the 6eRd when their young and
trusting hearts are most open to our teach
ing, We tell them that wine is q mocker.
that strong drink is raging, and warn them
that no serpent is so dangerous, no adder
so much 70 be dreaded. and We shall be CO.
workers with an all-merciful and wise God
who. to preserve them from taking it. has
sent them into the world with a loathing of
its very taste. Our children will believe
US. They will grow up with their natural
instinct fortified by our instruction and
example. They will be a bridgeless gulf
between them and the companions who are
most likely to lead them into the ways Of
sin. They will be preserved frUm habits
Of extrayagsnce and waste. They viii have
no companions but those who walk in the
ways of God no employment for their
spare time but that which is elevating and
purifying, and when We pass to our reward
they will rise up and call us blessed, for
they ''took what their fathers took"
Year: 1868

Immediate work, when the stomach is
may produce LESSONS Of the lungs, which
will terminate in hsaves. A horse with
hsaves should be fed on nutritious diet, and
should not receive too much at time, as
the overlooking Ofthe stomach and bowels
renders breathing more laborious.
Year: 1868

CURE ron HEDRoPHoBIk.-In these
times of rabid dogs, the following recipe
for the cure OF by bydroPbObia may be Of
service TO the public


The bite must, as soon as possible, be
bathed with warm vinegar and water, and
when this has dried, few drops Of muri
attic acid poured upon the wound viii de-
stroy the poison Of the saIi1s, and relieve
the patient from eli present or future dan
ger.
Year: 1868

A novel question in railway law and ethics
has lately come up in England A party of
weavers went on an excursion, buying return
tickets, and one of them was drowned during
the pic. mic. His friends rendered the unused
half of his ticket as the pay for the Transports
ten of his body back with the party, but the
station master refused to consider the corpse q
passenger, and required separate bargain for
conveying it in the usual way.