smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

A New York correspondent says:
1.-THE English ideas are prevailing that
a mans fare entities him to seat and
that railroad companies and not passen-
gers must furnish sittings to their Gus
toners. For this change in public sen
timent the ladies have only to thank
themselves. 1t is the rarest thing for a
New York woman to thank gentlemen
for yielding his seat. 1t is accepted with
an air that Seems to marvel at the i'm
portance Of a man for sitting down at all.
Two women will occupy three seats,
though the man is standing who yielded
his sitting to the new comers. If lady
comes into car with an associate, and a
gentleman gets upto make room for her,
she will watch her chances and smuggle
in her male friend, leaving the no
lite gentleman to hang on by the
carstrap. Men tire of this; and, tired
by their work and anxious to read their
papers, the great majority keep their
seats to the end. 1t is common thing
for methers to take a four year old in
their arms, enter the cars, confidently
expecting that no man will be brute
enough to see a woman standing up with
a child. The seat yielded, the child is
slapped down in it, and the woman looks
round for somebody to give her a seat.
These little tricks are well understood,
and after standing a few blocks the
mother will sit down and take the child
in it. Nobody yields seat in an omni.
bus nor at table Gentlemen don't
give up their staterooms because ladies
have to sit up; and there is a growing
feeling that if passengers cannot find
seats in one car, they must take the
pavt
Year: 1874

THE DANGER or DABBLING.-In ac-
counting for many of the recent failures
in that city a New York journal ascr4bes
them TO a tendency TO dabble in va
riety of businesses when the victim hap
pens 10 understand but one. 1t cites
the passage in the memoirs of Sir Powell
Buxton. in which the founder of the IA
nous house of the Rothchilds once said
to him: You are a brewer and under
stanl brewing; stick TO beer-making and
you'll succeed; dabble in a dozen busi-
nesses and you'll fail" 1t is this habit
of dabbling that has done the business
for so many men in this country. Some
who understand their trade would go off
wildly into stock gambling or real estate
speculation and inevitably fail; whereas,
if they had kept close and quiet and
stuck to the calling for which the expe-
rience of years had qualified them, they
would at least have come out whole and
sound, even if they had not brought out
fortunes with them. The secret of this
fatal dabbling is the haste to be rich, the
prevailing impatience with steady gains
and such healthy enjoyments as accom-
pany them. Once plunge in the mael-
strom, and the fortune-maker' never
comes out alive. e.-NlSsachuSettS Plough
man.
Year: 1874

The Truth, the Truth. What is the Truth
That thing for which all men inquire:
The questions heard from age TO youth,
Bridging the gulf of mans desire.
The Truth, the Truth. 1t is the real,
And stands opposed TO empty form.
Its head is raised on high, To deal


Godlike with ialsehoodS furious storm.
The Truth, the Truth! no shadow filings
Down on life's deep sequestered vale;
But likea diamond mountain, brings
Light by a source which cannot fail.
The Truth, the Truth with God began,
Or else from Truth the Lord was horn;
And then the Truth, when GOd and man
Are dead will their departure mourn
The Truth, the Truth. May that he thine
Through life with all lis weight of years;
In deaths dark moments it will shine,
And scatter all thy gloomy fears.


CiegeiuHd Lodde r.
Year: 1874

THEY have just been having nose
peted for the prize offered, for the most
extraordinary nasal prominence in form,
size and color. The jury decided that
only three out of the whole number
could be admitted to compete Tor tie
prize, which was finally adjudged to a
competitor from Vienna, possess. of
what is stated To be "a gigantic nose, of
deep violet-blue"
Year: 1874

IN the wilderness, eight miles north
west of Dingman's Ferry, Pike County,
Pa, underneath a huge rock, in small
cave six by eight feet, has lived for up
ward of thirty years human being by
born in Wales and emigrated to this
country about the year 1840 When he
landed in New York he had small sum
of money, with which he came afoot to
Pike County and purchased single acre
of wild, uncultivated, scrub-oak land,
situated in Lehman Township, amid a
from any habitatiOn.


At the western end of this small strip
of land is a small cave, only about six
alterations or improvements, this hermit
has for more than thirty years made his
home.


The hermit is nearly seventy years of
age. His face has not been shaven for
forty years. The sides of his face and
chin and neck are covered with coarse
gray hair, while his beard is several feet in
length and white as snow. He wears the
same suit of clothes he wore twenty years
ago, which are so badly rent as to render
it necessary to fasten them together by
means of twisted hickory withes. He
never works, and unless obliged to go
to the nearest store for ammunition new
er leaves sight of his cave.


His mode of living is peculiar. His
diet consists principally of berries ana
fruit during their season, while In tne
winter he subsists on various xmas OF
wild game. His education was not neg
lected during his boyhood, for he is well
read and remarkably intelligent. He is
a firm believer in religion, and deVotes
most of his time reading the Bible and
other sacred works. He is deaf, and has
been SO for several years, rendering it
necessary to communicate with him by
means of writing. He has the faculty OF
charming birds, many of which he Sc
cured in this way and reared. He has
never used lamp or candle in his cave:
His bed is composed of straw scattered
upon a solid rock: Sheldon enjoys his
peculiar mode of living, and says he ex-
pects to make this cave his final resting
Dlace.
Year: 1874

A writer in an English paper says:


By the way, speaking of water-proofs,
I think can give travellers a valuable
hint or two. For many years have
worn india-rubber water-proofs, but will
buy no more, for / have learned that
good Scottish tweed can be made entire
ly impervious to rain, and, moreover. l
have learned how to make it so; and, Tor
the benefit of your readers, l Will give
the recipe:


ain bucket of soft water put half a
pound of sugar of lead and half pound
of powdered alum; stir this at inter-
walls until it becomes clear; pour it off
into another bucket and put the garment
therein, and let it be in for twenty-four
hours and then hang it up to dry with
out wringing it.


1.-TWO of my party-a lady and gentle-
man-have worn garments thus made in
the widest storms of wind and RAIN
without getting wet. The rain hangs
upon the cloth in globules. In snort,
they were really waterproof. The gen.
tleman, fortnight ago, walked nine
miles in a storm of rain and wind such
as you rarely see in the south, and when
he Slipped off his overcoat his underwear
was as dry as when he put them on
This is, think, a secret worth knowing;
for cloth, if it can be made to keep out
wet, is in every way better than what we
know as most water proofs"
Year: 1874

ing which would have been sufficient to
put careful person upon his guard, then
they should find for the defendants; if
otherwise, their verdict should be for
the plaintiff. The paying-tellers of sew
eral banks having testified that there was
nothing in the appearance of the check,
as raised, to excite suspicion, the jury
rendered verdict for the bank.
Year: 1874

Mark Twain to Redpath: Your
offer of $4,000 to lecture fifty nights
does not tempt me. l have run about
the world long enough. | mean to live
and die at home, now, if / starve at It,
I love you, but I cannot lecture any
more"
Year: 1874

New YORK, Aug. 22.-The Herald
gives the following synopsis of the forth.
coming report of the Plymouth Church
investigating committee. Til. report is
lengthy document in two parts. One
is mere report of the evidence, the
other giving conclusions of the commits
tee. Of course these are all in favor Of
Beecher.


The statement of Tilton is first taken
up and gone over piecemeal and each
main allegation is set plainly forth with.
out verbiage. the principal prominence
being given of course to tho alleged
criminal commerce between Beecher and
Tilton's wife. This is compared with
statements made on the Cross examina
Year: 1874

The Bald Mountain mystery has
at last been explained. In 1862 q
man named Gillem, a Confederate
soldier, wh5 was home on furlough,
chased fox into cavern in the
mountain, and built q FIRE in the
same to smoke it out. He passed
the place about three weeks after
ward, and she fire, which was still
burning, had penetrated the noun
tain further than the eve could see.
His furlongh having expired he
went back to the army. After the
surrender at Appomattox, curiosity
prompted him TO visit the spot.
Much to his surprise he heard an
indistinct roaring in the very
bowels of the mountain, aud put
ting his head to the mouth of the
cavern, he inhaled the gas from
burning coal. He is of opinion that
the whole mountain is one vast coal
bed, and that his little adventure
with the fox will ultimately lead to
the destruction of this continent.
We give the story for what it is
worth. Any one too stupid to be-
lieye it should read the Life and
Adventures of Baron Munchausen.
Year: 1874

Remember the appearances are
often deceiying. Many a pale, thin
young lady will eat more corned
beef than a carpenter. Because
you find her playing the piano
in the parlor it is no sign that
her mother is not at the corner gro
cery running in debt for peck of
potatoes, when she could buy them
at BRowN's for half the money.
Year: 1874

Remember this opportunity to
get bargains lasts but 80 days. In
our last sale a great many parties
delayed calling on US until the last
few days, and we had such crowds
that we were not able to wait on
them. So call early, and you will
receive prompt and polite attention.


j. r. G. BRowN.
Year: 1874

Our stock in these goods is COM
plete, and you will find a nice as
sortment of Fall and Winter Goods
at such prices that you will be able
to save % per cent. by buying your
winter clothing now, which is heavy
interest on your money.


j. r. G. Brown
Year: 1874

1t is q tale Of Idaho. There are romantic young


sters in the West as well as in the East; and two


of them, who are fond Of the chase, have had TO-


mantle adventure. They were out repairing their


numes near Idaho City. Near by hardy Old miner


had sQuaIted upon quartz lead. but he was
rarely seen and the youngsters were not aware
that within that old mans tunnel resided q syIph
like creature the Joy Of the old miner. Looking
over toward the old tunne! on the hillside they
saw sight that thrilled them with rapture.
young GIRL about fifteen years of age beautiful as
a Cleopatra, barei0oted and bareheaded, with a
wealth Of rich auburn hair dropping about ner Ike
q silken robe stood summing herself on grassy
knoll in the bright morning. Such divinity
bad never been 81 en- In the wlIds OF Idaho before.
aud they supposed she was wild girl. She was
game that must be oagged alive. Cautiously they
spot where the beautiful Nanetta drank in the
glorious beauty OF the morning. All at
once, from under cover, the hunters made
frightened fswn Al the approach OF the sportsmen.
suddenly she disappeared and Though lost to
sight to memory dear'' the chase was not
place OF refuge, the keen hunters plunged, only TO
stand agnast az the sight that met their gaze.
When their eyes became accus omed TO the dark
ness they beheld their beautiful wild girl sw0oning
in the arms OF the rough Old miner. The burlY
miner had seen the poor frightened fawn chased
to the tunnel and saw the Keen hunters at bay
animate beauty. He advanced few paces made
q little Oration OF one word :-"Rufnansi" then
lifted heavy boot, drew 1t pack q few feet, see-
back TO their saws and hammers at the numes
That entire day the 1ume was neglected. The
young Wild girl hunters were busy repairing the
swellings. They have no longer desire to hunt
Wild girls In the Idaho tnickets. Moral-Never 90
wild girl hunting without the permission OF her
papa n you would avoid pantaloon rents and
Year: 1874

A Girl Who Was Bound to Get Married.


From the Troy Timesj


BENJAMIN Provo carpenter residing in Cohoes
for number Of years, concluded to move with his
family, including his daughter Mary, who works in
the Ogden mill, to Canada. The daughter had
been receiving the attentions OF a young man
against her father's wishes and did not wish to
leave him. Becoming alarmed at the preparations
ior departure, the young pair applied to the Rev.
Father La Sale, last week, to unite them In mar
rage, but the good fatner was unwilling to do this
without the parents consent, and Mr.. Provo was
firm In his refusal not to allow his daughter to
wed, and we believe locked her up In the house all
day sunday and to Monday nOon. Alter dinner
Monday Mr.. Provo allowed his daughter to go after
her wages but her brother TO see that she did
not hold any communication with the enemy"
William Cooshap, who is employed IN the Ogden
mill wnere she went for the bill OF her time. She
prevailed on her brother TO take her bi!l to the
Harmony Company's ofiice. while she bid her shop
mates goodby. she then proceeded TO the room
IN which he was ut work. aud the Two soon alter
took the cars TOR Albany, got permit from the
RIsnop there and were married by priest o: that
city The father accepted the situation as grace
fully possible, and agreed to send the BRIDES
wardrobe aS soon as he unpacES his household
goods on their arrival in Canada.
Year: 1874

ii y hI# -
Ut WAS at the close Of a sultry day
Il about the first of May, 1854 that sim
gle horseman might have been seen riding
along the turnpike a few miles west of
Charlottesville. .,..,....-.,...


He was apparently about forty or fifty
years of age, large powerful frame, bold
open oountenanoe, and possessed Of a
daring, restless eye. His attire being
semi military and semi-citizen, it would be
hard to determine to which OF the opposing
parties he belonged.


He wore the blue cap Of theYanlxees,
the grey blouse Of the Confederates, and
the remainder of his apparel was that of an
ordinary citizen.


His horse, a large powerful bay, swept
along with an easy rapid pace.


BY making an abrupt turn he left the
main road, and entering bride path was
soon in q dense forest.


The sun had already gone down, when
he emerged from the forest, and riding up
to large farmhouse, asked lodging for
the night.
Year: 1874

HNHE Chinese are almost indifferent to


the phenomenon of dissolution, and
frequently compass their own end when
life becomes to them wearisome. A wife
sometimes elects to follow her husband on
the still road of death, and parents will
often destroy their offspring in time of fam
inc and great distress rather than allow
them to suffer. Still more remarkable is
the custom of selling their lives in order
that they may purchase the superior ad-
vantage of obsequies, which are considered
to insure the body in safety for the future
resurrection. A wealthy man condemned
TO death will arrange with his jailor to buy
him substitute for certain sum of mon
ey, to be spent upon the poor wretch's
interment and preservation of his body.
Should he have parents, so much is usually
paid to them in compensation for their
sons life. Cinnamon invariably help to
support their parents iilial respect and de-
votion is the great Chinese virtue and re-
ligious precept in which they rarely fail.
Regarding death as inevitable, he makes
the best Of a bad bargain, and cunningly
and comically gets paid Ifor dying. The
wholesale destruction of life in this country
is greatly the result of indifference. Hence
the massacre of Europeans, SO terrible
TO us, seems to them matter of little mo-
ment, and they cannot comprehend why
we should make fuss about it. They re-
gard our indignant protestation very much
as we might treat our irate neighbor whose
dog we had shot. "Well, well, be pacifled (;
IL it was such favorite, am sorry but it
is onlya dog, and there are plenty more.
How much do you want to be paid for it?"
"You English think SO much of hfe,"
argues the Chinese shave you not plenty
of people at home" Death, in China, is
awarded as the punishment for the most
trivial offences, and often for none at all
except being in somebody's way. A story
was told to me as fact that, during the
visit of one of our royal princes, theft
was committed Of a chain or watch be-
longing to the royal guest. The unfortu-
nate attendant was caught with the prop
erty on him, and without any further cere-
mony his head was chopped off. The man
DARN in attendance Immediately announced
the tidings to the prince as a delicate at
tention, showing how devoted he was in his
service. To his astonishment the prince
expressed his great regret that the mans
head had been taken off. "Your high
ness" cried the obsequious mandarin,
bowling to the ground, 8 it shall immediate
ly be put on again = So little did he under
stand that the regret was for the life taken,
and not the severed head. In times of in
surrection or famine the moving down Of
human life is like corn stalks at harvest
time, appalling to European ideas. must
confess to a nervous shuddering when l
stood upon the execution ground at Canton
"a narrow lane OF potter'sl field-where SO
many hundreds had been butchered per
diem during weeks together, the execu-
toner requiring the aid of two smiths to
sharpen his swords, for many Of the wretch
cd victims were not allowed to be destroyed
at one fell swoop, but are sentenced to be
Year: 1874

hacked to pieces by twenty to fifty blows
l was informed by European who had
travelled much and seen most of the fright
full sides of life, but witnessing Chinese ex-
ecutions was more than his iron nerve could
stand and in some of the details which he
was narrating was compelled to beg him
to desist And yet he said there was moth
ing solemn. about it, and the spectators
looked on evidently amused. 1t was the
horrible and the grotesque combined.
Year: 1874

4, HEMME, says the San Francisco
Chronicle OF March 30, requested his
daughter to go to the kitchen for some
article which he needed. Soon after
wards she returned with G frightened
look on her face, saying that she had
smelled Chinaman in the kitchen. The
announcement caused her father to laugh
heartily, but in consequence of her
earnestness be consented to 60 and salts
fy her OF the absurdity Of her idea. A
rigid search of the kitchin was made but
no hidden Celestial found, and the search
was about to be abandoned when the
daughter, who had been prying about in
the wash room, ran in with the announce
ment that he was Tin there Her as
sertion was Immediately proved by the
searchers, who found the Celestial who
had propagated SO extensive scent con-
cealed behind an array of wash tubs. An
officer was sent for and the culprit was
taken to the City Prison, where charge
of burglary was entered against him.
The examination yesterday in the Police
Court educed the foregoing facts, and re-
suited in the holding of the fragrant
heathen to answer before the Grand
Jury, with bail fixed at $4,000
Year: 1874

a FASHION writer announces that coffins
VIII De more profusely decorated than
ever this season. Wonder if it will be
fashionable to die. This is a day of
strange revolution, and nobody can tell
"hat Tomorrow will bring forth.
Year: 1874

WASHINGTON, March l.


The bill introduced by Senator West
for the settlement of loyal claims, pro-
Yides that the Court OF Claims shall
have sole jurisdiction of all claims
against the United States brought by
loyal persons for all classes of property
destroyed or occupied in the United
States; taken by the army or navy of
the United States for and in the service
of the United States also that persons
who have been restored in the rights
of person or property after participa
ton in the late rebellion, by reason of
any amnesty proclamation or personal
pardOns of the President, and who re-
sumed their allegiance before the final
ending of the war, shall be entitled to
the benefit of the provisions OF this
bill. 1t also abolishes the Southern
Claims Commission, and provides that
all claims now pending and under
mind of said commission, or before the
Quartermaster-G General, Commissary-
General, Third Auditor of the Treas
ury, or any other executive department
of the government, shall be transferred
by adjudication to the Court of Claims,
which, after rendering judgment on
the same, is required to report them to
Congress for its action thereon, al
though either the United States or the
claimant can appeal for final review
to the Supreme Court OF the United
Year: 1874

At this season for drinking cider
and eating nuts, it may not be alniss
to give hint which may be useful.


Medical men advise that salt should
be taken with nuts, especially when
they are eaten at night. One time
says a writer while enjoying q visit
from an Englishman, hickory nuts
were served in the evening, when my
English friend called for salt, stating
that he kenw of a case of a woman
eating heartily of nuts in the evening
who was taken violently ill. The
celebrated DR.. Abernethy was sent
for, but it was after he was too fond
of his cup, and he was not in cendi-
ton to go. He muttered, Salt
Salt!" of which no notice was taken.
Next morning he went to the place
and she was corpse. He said had
they given her salt it would have re-
lieved her; if they would allow him
10 make an examination, he would
convince them. On opening the
stomach the nuts were found in a
mass. He sprinkled salt on this aud
it Immediately dissolved. have
knowR of sudden death myself,
which appeared from the same cause.
| generally eat salt with nuts and l
consider that it improves them.
Year: 1874

ONE must take care how he takes
pity. In France = farmer found lit
tie gypy girl of eleven wears in the
road. She said her sister had deserted
her. Out of pity he took her home
and two weeks later she ran away
with his baby eight months old.
Year: 1874

The Funny Man of the Detroit Free Press.


U. 2. Lewis is the wag of the Detroit
Free Press. During the past three years
be has written some of the finest touches
of sentiment and human nature in bis
police court proceedings that has ever ap-
peared in the United States. Unlike
Bailey, he did not inherit his wit; unlike
Mark Twain. it did not come to him
through ociations. The truth is, it was
blown into lin. He was an ordinary
stupid country printer about Ann Arbor
and Lansing, Michigan, till he took
it into his head to go on "a tramp"
After. footing it to Louisville, he engaged
to work his passage on O steamer TO
New Orleans. Tho first day OUT the
steamer blew up. Lewis, one of the
victims, was sadly scared and crippled.
but as soon as be got able to write he sent
an account of his experience and sensation
In being blown up to the Datroit Free Press
which at once established his reputation as
a versatile genius. On his return home the
FIRE. Press took him on its columns as items
man. The leading editor said the other
day that he had to watch him like a hawk.
for about half the tine, like old Milton, he
cllags lovingly to the hittest e.nanations of
his brain. Lewis writes good deal for the
Eastern weesiies. over the signature of M
quad bourgeois EN- quad he says,
''as It is worthless in a printing office, ex.
cept In its own ine-it won't Justify with
any other type" Lewis win probably last
some time.