smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

One of the greatest objections TO our
farming operations in this country is
the tendency of our rich soil TO wash
off and rapidly deteriorate in fertility
Another misfortune is the difference
with which many farmers treat this i'm
portant subject 1t is plain to any OBJ
serving mind that field of rich, fertile
soil will yield double the amount of
one that has been thus neglected, and
suffered other malpractices. / have in
my mind now the case of a so called
farmer who allowed an old roadway, n
quarter of a mile in length, TO wash so
deep that a plough could hardly cross
il, when ten minutes work with spade
would have prevented it. And often
we see large, impossible bitches form
through valuable land, with no effort
to stay the fearful waste. This, wit
fearful voice, verifies the old saying, ga
stitch in time saves nine"


A few hints in regard to re nedies arc
in order. First, the land can be plowed
so as to help the case by running the
burrows crosswise of the rills. / pre-
fer to have the water flow in straight
rills at regular intervals, and to pre-
vent these from washing deeper, back
corn-stalks, large green weeds, fine
straight brush, etc, in the bottom, and
allow the grass AMI weeds to grow in
these bitches. Thus the water has
something to wear on, and with a little
care much soil can thus be saved. Bat
the best manner to preserve the fertili-
ty of the soil is, as any intelligent
farmer knows, to seed down to grass,
especially clevers, not forgetting the
importance of the proper use OF ma
nure CIR. WesterTl Farmer.
Year: 1874

The ordinary plan of drawing the
steer down to the block, and striking
him on the head with an axe, is too
slow for the wholesale butchery carried
on here. About one dozen head are
driven into q small pen, just suffi-
ciently large to hold that number
closely packed, and a gate forced to
behind them. This pen has an open
slat platform across the top of it, upon
which two men are stationed with poles
with sharp pointed knives fixed on the
end of them. With a rapidity acquired
by long practice, they plunge their
spears into the necks of the affrighted
and struggling animals, cutting the
iugular vein, and each successfully falls
as if struck down with an axe. The
blood spurts out in streams as if from a
dozen fountains, and in less than min
ute the whole pen full are down culver
ing in the throes of death, and covered
with blood. The door of the pen lead
ing into the rendering room is then
thrown open, the animals drawn out in
succession, a knife rapidly splits the
skin around the neck and down the
stomach. A rope is attached to the
upper part of the hide by a clamp, to
the other end of which is mule, which
Ieisurely walks off down the yard car
rying the skin of the animal with him,
and leaving the carcass still quivering
with animal life. A tackle hoists the
body up to a level with the mouth
of one of the immense caldrons, and
in less time than we have taken to
describe the process, it is in the seeth-
ing and boiling mass. There are four
or five of these caldrons, each large
enough to hold a dozen beeves, and they
are kept constantly going during the
killing season. The tallow is drawn off
into large hogsheads, and the remains
of these great soup kettles are carted
out on to what is called the "hash
pile" consisting of bones, horns, and
the animal matter from which all the
fatty substance has been extracted.
Year: 1874

The streets of Yokohama are wide
and straight. Each house is built Of
wood, without an atom of paint, and is
a real toy-house, a genuine Lilliputian
Swiss chalet, built with taste, n nice
ty and a neatness which are admirable.
The Japanese are wonderful workers in
wood and it is a pleasure TO see the
roof, so light, and yet so strong, sup
ported by walls which are made like
the side-scenes in a theater, of thin
strips of wood, over which are pasted
sheets of a cottony, transparent paper.
In the evenings, when the lanterns dis
pense their soft light round the inside
of these white buildings, the spectator
seems to be looking at a magic-lantern.
During the daytime the sides Of the
houses are slipped out, as side scenes
are, and the house becomes only a roof
resting on the four light corner posts,
the whole interior being thus opened
to the air. Every part of the house is
thus exposed to view, and every thing
done in it can be seen, while behind 1t
appear the charming verdure, the cas-
cades and the diminutiye plantations OF
the little gardens situated in the rear


-LipfincOtfs.


The Graphic thinks ladies would,
If they became proficient at billiards,
"jaw the balls and run the game out. "
Year: 1874

A correspondent of the Methodist Ad-
vocate tells the following good joke on
some Tennessee preachers "This re-
minds us of another incident, too good
to be lost, which we received from the
deputy sheriff of Crittenden county. A
Baptist divine preached long sermon
at night from the text L go fishing
A brother cleric of the same faith and
order followed it with another of SINH
lar length from the response, I'VE also
go with thee By an extraordinary
stretch of christian courtesy for that
latitude, a presiding elder of the
church, south, who happened to be pre-
sent, was invited to conclude. Rising
up, and in clear and measured tones, he
gave an inventory, in an amended quo
tation, of the net results, And they
toiled all night and caught nothing. 3"
Year: 1874

Paul Du ChailIu's Successful EncOuntel


With One.


He was about twenty yards off whe1
we first saw him. We at once gathered
together; and was about to take ain
and bring him down where he stood
when Malaouen stopped NE, saying il
a whisper, "Not time yet"


We stood, therefore, in silence, CUR
IN hand. The gorilla looked at us fol
a minute or so out of his evil gray eyes
then beat his breast with his gigantic
arms-and what arms he had then he
gave another howl of defiance, and ad.
vanced upon us. How horrible he look.
ed [ never shall forget it.


Again he stopped. not more than fif-
teen yards away. Still Malaouen said
"not yet" Good gracious what is to
! become of us if our guns miss fire, or
if we only wound the hinge beast? Again
the gorilla made an advance upon us.
Now he was not twelve yards off. |
could see plainly his ferocious face. It
was distorted with rage; and his huge
teeth were ground against each other,
so that we could hear the sound !; the
skin of his forehead was drawn forward
and back rapidly, which made his hair
move up and down, and gave a truly
devilish expression to his hideous face.
Once more he gave out a roar which
seemed to shake the woods like thun-
der I could really feel the earth trem-
bling under my feet. The gorilla, look
ing us in the eyes, and beating his
breast, advanced again.


'.Don't fire too soon," said Malaouen;
if you do not kill him he will kill
you"


This time he came within eight yards
of us before he stopped. L was breath
ing fast with excitement as I watched
the huge beast.


Malaouen said only " STEADY" as the
gorilla came up. Then he stopped.
Malaouen said snow % and before he
could utter the roar for which he was
opening his mouth, three musket balls
were in his body. He fell dead almost
without struggle.


He was a monstrous beast indeed,
though not among the tallest. His
height was five feet six inches. His
arms had a spread Of seven feet two
inches. His broad, brawny chest
measured fifty inches round. The big
toe of his foot measured five inches and
three-quarters in circumference. His
arms seemed like immense punches of
muscles only, and his legs and claw-like
feet were so well fitted for grabbing and
holding, that I could see how easy 1T
was for the negroes to believe that these
animals, when they conceal themselves
in trees, and watch for prey, can seize
and pull up with their feet, any living
thing, leopard, OK, or man, that passes
beneath.


The face of this gorilla was intensely
black. The vast chest, which proved
his great power, was bare, and covered
with parchment-like skin. His body
was covered with gray hair. While The
animal approached in its fierce way,
on its hind legs, and facing us,
as few auimals dare face man, it really |
seemed to be horrid likeness to man.
Year: 1874

You send your boy on an errand, and
being in hurry, anxiously await his re-
turn. Five times out of six he is gone
much longer than you think is necessary;
accordingly you reprimard him for play
ing by the way. Yet the boy is not at
ali to blame, very likely for it is the
lamentable truth that children are sys-
tematicalIy slighted by clerks and shop
keepers. When a boy enters a store,
Sin a hurry" invariably, he finds the
clerks all busy with customers, and re-
signs himself to await his turn but, just
as he is stepping up to make known his
errand, young lady sweeps in. For
some reason or other the young clerk
does not see the boy, and Immediately
begins to deal out his civilities to said
young lady. If the boy does not make
a general stampede, tread on the poodle's
tail, knock little children down, step on
the lady's train, tearing it half off, he
waits until the final, "Is there nothing
more L can have the pleasure OF show
ing you ?" Then the familiar, What
do you want, youngster ?" sounds in his
ear. Perhaps he mopes home, knowing
he is too late for supper.


- -. FkRF h n
Year: 1874

- The tide oftumigration is steadily set
ting in, and the first thing eastern people do
Is TO throw away their New York Hats and buy
q new one OF DESMOND. They say there Is no
comparison between the two. 2%o
Year: 1874

In transmitting to the General
Assembly OF Kentucky a memori-
al, with the signatures of over l47,-
900 citizens, asking the enactment
of law regulating the license and
sale of Intoxicating drinks, Gov
Leslie accompanies it with a most
sensible, patriotic and Christian
message, from which we extract
the following passage:


1T cannot be doubted that the
State in it's guardianship of the
public morals. and the exercise OF
its sovereign police power, is fully
competent to regulate, restrict or
entirely forbid to the citizens, the
pursuit of any trade or avocation
which tends to prodnce disorder.
debauchery, vice or crime. 1t
seems equally clear to me that,
when an evil VIGOROUSLY hurtful
to the best interest of society ex-
lists, and the remedy for it. whole
or in part, is lodged exclusively
| in the hands of the Legislature,
the exercise of its power in the
case becomes an imperative duty.
That the Incorporate use Of in
toxicating drink is such an evil,
is unhappily toe evident.


When we consider the thou
sands of destitute widows and beg
CARED orphans it has made; the
fearful catalogue of wrongs and
crimes for which it is responsible;
the ignorance, squaIid poverty, dis
ease, and brutality of life and
manners which follow in its train;
the injury it has done to the pub,
lie service; the corruption, riot, land
violence with which it has SO Of
ten disgraced our elections and
public meetings; when added to
this, we contemplate the terrible
suferings and doom of the poor
inebriate himself-his loss OF all
that can constitute the happiness
of life, the wreck of all true man
hood, the final mania and scOrpl
on-lash of despairing remorse, by
which he is driven to suicide anC
into the blacknes5 of darkness for
overland know that among these


wretched victims have been some
OF the noblest hearts and loitles


intelIects that could adorn society
or lead the counsel of nation
when we look upon such a picture
and teel, as we must, that
dark as it is, it is but faint de


lineation of the evils of intem


perance, can we hesitate to give


every aid that just and proper


legislation can contribute for 1T
suppresSion?"
Year: 1874

WHAT is AN ADVERTISEMENT =
tits salesman who never sleeps,
and is never weary; who goes at
ter business early and late; who
accosts the merchant in his shop,
the scholar IN his study, the law
yer in his office, the lady at her
breakfast table; who can be in a
thousand places atonce, land speao'
to a million people every morning
saying to each one the best thlnE
in the b.st manner.
Year: 1874

To the Editor Of the Ne,0 York Sun:


Having had my attention
drawn to an article in a recent
number of the Catholic World,
in which incidental reference
to the rat as an article of food
was made, and which, without
straining its meaning, might be
easily construed as depreciating
the use Of it, | was somewhat
surprised that writer's usually so
well informed upon general top
les should know so little of the
very great changes which have
taken place in this country on
the subject of diet. Not many
years ago it would be difficult to
find persons who would ac-
knowledge that they regarded
frogs as choice morceaux, which
are now to be found for sale in
all the markets. In like man
ner rats, which have been look
ed upon with disgust by all
manner of people, now form no
inconsiderable source of reve-
nue. to those who cater to the
public taste.


1t would perhaps be difficult
to assign any reason, other than
that of popular prejudice, for
not employing this animal as an
article of daily consumption,
and it may surprise many to
know that there are at present
restaurants in this city which
make the Wand a speciality.


Having spent some years at
the East, chiefly in China, l ac-
quired a taste for this species of
food, the flavor of which | was
assured, and found, superior to
that OF any meat that could DC
procured. Nay, | may safely
affirm that not even the finest
"porter-house," when done
to that degree of perfection fol
which many of ourrestaurateurs
are famous, can equal that Of q
rat when properly cooked.


At the present time, when
any plan that would tend to in
crease our food production
would be hailed with JOY by


rich and poor, it is a matter fol
regret that such IN article of di-
ct, which needs but to be once
used to be appreciated, should


be neglected because Of an m,
reasonable prejudice. RODENs.


JERSEY CITY, January q.
Year: 1874

An exchange gives the fol-
lowing, which it says may pos
sibly be useful as a caution to
all who are thinking of joining
the Shakers:


In the first place the Shakers
ignore the family. If a mar
ried man joins them with his
wife and children he is separa-
ted from his wife, and his chill
dren are taken from him. When
ever the husband and wife meet,
according to the rules Of the
society, there can only be a SIM
pie salutation between them, as
between brother and sister, but
never a kiss, for that would be
too bad.


"In the second place their
food consists Of vegetables, milk
and fruit. Meat is forbidden.
W Ork with them commences at
dawn and continues until night
fall. If, after working for TWEEN
ty OF twenty-four years for the
Shakers, you wish to leave them
they will possibly give you ten
cents.


Smoking and drinking are
strictly forbidden. 1t is true
they advertise for men, women
ard children, and l hardly think
they refuse to admit into theil
society any> one who brings
money with him; but [ Knew
that last week they rejected {
widow with five children who
was without a cent.
Year: 1874

clang of the bell, sinking away in the
rush OF the train, signals town after town
and village after village. The dusty
turnpike, the dreamy canal, and the
shaded by.roads are crossed and passed
in flash. On, on, on goes this tireless
train, over clear track, carrying the
traveller by a panorama, the like Of
which can be found nowhere else on this
continent, and probably not in the world
After having breakfasted in the Missis.
sippi valley and dined at the capital of
Pennsylvania, the passenger finds him
self seated at supper in the metropolis
of New York, where the Atlantic throbs
and swells in its ceaseless activity.


A few years ago the man who should
have predicted such a ride would have
been pronounced utterly and hopelessly
insane, Not even the most sanguine
enthusiast on railroads, when their con-
struction was commenced, dreamed OF
overcoming distance at such rate; and
it is only because of the perfection oi
machinery and the invention Of science
that it can be done now Bat it is a
fact accomplshed-a reality of the day,
aud all that is left for the people is to
wonder and enjoy.
Year: 1874

A writer in the Galaxy says: Every
art has limits, in endeavoring to pass
which it becomes not only powerless but
ridiculous; but within those limits it sd-
mits no rival, no co-worker. Hence it
is that great music is not written TO great
poetry, that music is not married to i'm
mortal verse. A beautiful song, like one
of those which Shakespeare has scattered
through bis plays, needs no music. By
its inherent quality it attains its end.
In itself it is q song II sings itself, and
is both words and music. What would
Take. o take those lips away gain by
being sung to musie2 II the music were
great the poetic value Of the thoughts
would be lost, or sink out of sight for
the time; il the music we're inferior to
the words it could only provoke the re-
sentiment of impertinence. Hence it is
that lyric writing is not Of the highest
order-that which embodies the pleasant
suggestion Of emotion in flowing rhythm,
without much strength or beauty of ex-
pression-is most frequently made the
vehicle Of fine musical thought. The
composer expresses that which the song
has suggested to him. His is the pas
sion, his perfect utterance. Lyric ex-
preston may come from one soul, not
from two. Words written for music
should merely minister TO oceasioH, and
be the humble, unseen nucleus Of beauty,
like blade Of grass made splendid by
the jewels Of the morning.
Year: 1874

Trains from all points in the South
and West reach Louisville and st. Louis
in time to connect with the train on the
Pan Handle Route, which connects with
the Daylight Express train.
Year: 1874

From the Science of Health.


The pernicious habit Of breathing
through the mouth while sleeping or
waking, is very hurtful. There are many
persons who sleep with the mouth open,
and do not know it. They may go to
sleep with it closed, and wake with it
closed; but if the mouth is dry and
parched on waking, it is sign that the
mouth has been open during sleep. Snor.
ing is certain sign. This habit should
be overcome. At all times, except when
eating, drinking or speaking, keep the
mouth firmly closed and breathe through
the nostrils, and retire with firm deter
mination to conquer. The nestrils are
the proper breathing apparatus-not the
mouth. A man may inhale poisonous
gases through the mouth without being
aware Of it, but not through the nose.
Year: 1874

reconstruct the South. He has two opportu-
mites that are certainly golden. He can in
duce the calling of q national convention OF
peace and reconstruction. He can influence
an amendment to the constitution limiting
the Presidency to one term. Let him do this
in his next message to Congress- 1t will be his
last response to Cesarism, and it will certainly
not be ''beneath his dignity" for he will be
following the examples of Washington, Jeffer-
son and jackson.


We are far from saying or believing that
any ''new departure" will enable the republi-
cans to return to power in 1876. Our impress
sion is that the decision expressed by the
country at the polls is too emphatic to be
reversed; that it means q democratic Presi-
dent in 1876; that it repeats what was written
on the wall: 'God hath numbered thy king
dom and finished it''-'sthou art weighed in
the balances and found wanting" But at
the same time, we do not see that the repub-
ican case is absolutely hopeless. The demo-
Gratis must remember that nothing is SO
easily lost as q victory. Our experience Of
the democrats since the war began leads US to
fear the return of the Bourbons to power. If
the counsels of men like Mr.. Tilden are to be
overruled, and if we are to have an ascendancy
of influences like those which nominated Sey-
mour and Blair; if we are to have the wild
notions on finance which are represented by
the Cincinnati Enquirer; if we are to see
restoration of the old secession feeling in the
South, under some madman like Toombs if
there is to be any interference with the amend
ments to the constitution resulting from the
war; if, in fine, the democracy go into power
not to reform the government, but to pull
down all the war has built up, then there will
be as much of reaction in 1876 as there was
in 1864 after the defeats of 1862.


What the country expects from the demo-
Gratis is the utmost wisdom and circumspec-
ton. 1t must begin here in New York. Mr..
Tilden is now the titular and responsible
leader of the democracy. Let him give us re-
form in our New York civil service. Let him
put his foot on "bosom friendships" in Office.
Let him secure an amendment to the consti-
tuition limiting the Presidency to one term.
Let HIM rebuke every effort at repudiation and
secession. Let him inculcate upon his party
conservatism and temperate measures. He
will then show the country that he and his
party have deserved the victory that has
crowned them, and that they deserve the
highest confidence a people can pay q party
namely, the control of the government of the
country.
Year: 1874

We print elsewhere the text of some impor-
tant letters in the Arnim-B Bismarck con-
troversy. The substance of these letters has
been given in special cable dispatches; but in
o matter of so much gravity as the contro-
versy that now divides public opinion in the
German Empire and excites the utmost inter-
est in Europe every fact that contributes to an
exact knowledge of the merits of the case will
have great value.


As we have contended from time to time,
this is not merely personal controversy be-
tween Count Arnim and the Prussian Chan
cellor, but grave issue in German politics.
No one supposes for q moment that the Count
has committed any act that will justly bring
him within the pale of the criminal law.
That was an incredible supposition in
the beginning, and we have seen
nothing in the whole progress of the
discussion to throw any stain upon his
character. The attempt to fasten a criminal
charge upon him is therefore the desperate
expedient of statesman whose policy of
"blood and iron" he applies to all who Cross
his path. This Bismarck has conceded by his
release of Count Arnim. In his efforts to
crush his domestic enemy the great German
statesman has exposed himself to serious
snubblng from his old opponents in Vienna.
In the hope Of acquiring evidence against
Won Arnim an application was made to the
Austrian Provincial Court to compel the
editors OF the Press to give information of
the source from which they derived their
news relative to the Won Arnim dispatches
The Austrian Court declined. however to
be used by even SO great man as Bismarck,
and curtly refused to put the law into force,
on the ground that, though the question was
important to Prussia, it was of no consequence
to Austria. 1t Is many years since Prussian
diplomacy has received so humiliating q
check. 1t is evident that the personal policy
of Bismarck has a tendency to get him into
trouble.


What the end will be it would be folly to
speculate. We do not see that any action has
been taken by the German Parliament which
assembled the other day. In that Parliament
the influence Of Bismarck is commanding
But in forms of government like that of
Prussia, where the absolute will of monarch
is supreme, no one can tell what the morrow
may bring. 1t would not surprise us if Bis
marck, who has risen like Wolsey, should
some day suddenly fall like him before the
anger of capricious king