smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

For year or more we have frequently
heard the remark that in business and
financial reverses we had seen the worst,
and wholesome revival was about to, or
had begun.


We were promised returning tide of
prosperity if Hayes were elected Presi-
dent, but if Tilden, nothing but addition
al woe would ensue to increase our afflic-
tions. Well, Tilden was elected, but in
order to save themselves, the radical
spoilsmen determined to save the count
ry and themselves, even if they had to
resort to fraud, forgery and force.


Hayes was counted in to the great joy
ofthe radical leaders, and all was lovely
and sweet. The Inauguration and rule
of Mr.. Hayes has not yet brought the
promised millennium, as the following,
from Forneys Press will show:


"It is not to be denied that the produc-
tive interests of the country are endur-
ing steadily increasing depression. Bus
mess is transacted at loss. Citizens are
paying taxes out of realized capital, and
not out of current profits as is the case
when labor is in demand and the people
are prosperous. The taxable wealth of
the country is thus reduced by each new
assessment, and is 80 much the less able
to meet the demands of succeeding years.
Meanwhile the working classes are sink
ing from depression to despair, and in
their enforced idleness are entertaining
agrarian and socialistic theories that in
prosperous times, when they were drea-
ming of homes for themselves and famil-
les, and working hard and saving closely
in order to realize the happy dream,
would have been repulsive to them. For
more than three years we have lived on
the delusive hope that the next spring
or autumn would revive business and re-
store prosperity; yet each recurring sea-
son has been worse than its predecessor,
and few now hope that business will next
fall be better or even 80 good as it has
been this spring. In view of these facts,
it would seem that the defeat of the army
appropriation bill by the factious majori-
ty of the House was Providential meas
ure, for, had it been passed President
Hayes would not probably have felt
himself constrained to convene Congress
in extra session, and the Government
could not have extended relief to the
people before 1873"


The Press draws dismal picture, and
very different from that promised. 1t
would seem that the country has not yet
reached the bottom. The article seems
to hope that the government can extend
relief to the people, but does notsay how.
Is it by increased tariff taxationP Is it
by increased issues of greenback promi-
ises to pay2 Shall the extravaganza and
corruption OF the past continueP Or
shall there be more of the same economy
enforced, as during the past two sessions
of Congress by the Democratic House
During the two years the expenditures
were reduced some seventy millions, but
to secure this the House had to fight a
Republican United States Senate and a
Republican President. Reform and econ
omy are the means to be adopted by gov.
ernment to relieve the people, and help
along return to better times.
Year: 1877

Charleston, s. c., March %, 1877.


SIR In conversation yesterday with
an ex.Confederate officer, 1 learned the
following facts which deem of sufficient
Importance to lay before you:


Atabout eight o'clock on the first morn
ing of the battle of Shiloh, after the Con-
federate infantry under General BreCken-
ridge had driven body of Federal troops
from their position toward the river, a
battery of Georgia artillery following
close behind, came upon the dead body
of lady lying outside of a tent in the
rear of what was supposed to be the camp
of the 55th Ohio volunteers-many of the
dead of that regiment, dressed in Zouave
uniform, being on the ground. By the
side of the dead lady was little child,
beautifully clad, who seemed to be un-
conscious of its mothers death. Some OF
the men of the battery covered the child
with their blankets and placed it in charge
of two of the Federal prisoners and then
passed on. What became of the child
afterwards cannot at this time be posi-
lively ascertained, but it is thought that
Uu6 OOul6uOIdJO ulNlblOA 5ulbOOA ohW w
its welfare. The breastpin having the
lady's likeness on one side, and that of a
gentleman in citizens dress on the other
side, is now in the keeping ofan ex-mem-
Der of the battery, who 1 am assured
would he glad to return it to tho husband
or relative of the deceased.


do not know from what part of your
State the 54th Ohio came, but the records
of your office will show that fact. A
knowledge of the above made known to
any of the surviving officers in the dis
trict in which the regiment was raised,
may be of interest to some of its living
members, as would knowledge of what
became of the child to the survivors Of
the Georgia battery. The fate of the
child interests me. and should be glad
to know if it ever came into the posses
sion of its relatives.


Very Respectfully,


JOHN MCQUEEN,


Formerly a resident of Circleville, O.
To the Adiutant General State of Ohio,
Columbus, o.
Year: 1877

Probably the heaviest wholesale sailing of
land is that mentioned in the 1Nlchigun Fdr-
maer, where Mr.. Smith, near Detroit. re-
ceived carload of refuse salt from the salt
works, intending to spread it as an expert
ment upon 100 acres of land, but by mistake
of the hired man, the whole ten tons were ap-
piled to ten acres, or a ton to the acre. Now
for the result: The land was sandy loan,
two feet deep, everything a stiff clay subsoi,
and was thoroughly drained with tiles. The
field on which the salt was spread had re-
Gently been seeded with winter rye and
timothy seed The water from the drains
was so salt during the next few months as to
be unfit for drinking, but in spite of the ap-
plcation, and contrary to the expectations OF
Mr.. Smith and his hired man, both rye and
timothy survived and made full crops, al
though the rye was retarded somewhat in its
growth. Clover seed was sowed and har-
rowcd in, in the spring following, and dur
ing that season and the next very heavy
crops of grass were taken Of-Over three
tons per acre-three and one-half by esti-
mate. The field was also remarkably free
from all descriptions of finsects-neither grub.
wire worm, earth worm or maggot could be
found, and even grasshoppers seemed to have
all been destroyed or repulsed, for none were
to be seen. That serious result did not fol-
low is probably due to the understanding of
the land, which allowed the saturated water
to pass quickly away. We may we'll believe
that the application was death to insect life in
the soil.
Year: 1877

The short run of players, rifemen, billiard
champions, and men of sporting life gener-
ally, is remarkable feature OF New York
life. Drink is at the bottom of this. Men
who indulge in the cup can't control their
nerves, and men who can't do this 60 to the
wall. The bad shooting of some men, of
whom so much was expected, resulted from
their cup indulgence One of the best marks
men in the city said yesterday that Gin rifle
shooting the variance of a hairs breadth
made the difference at the muzzle of one foot
in 100 yards; and man must have absolute
command Of his nerves. A man who would
win must not steam Dan Mace, when he
was in bis prime on the road, drank only
lemonade. heard him say "A single glass
of whisky affects my nerves. Men who
drink on the road would not trust their valu-
able teams to me if was not, in driving
season, a teetotaleI." When the billiard con.
gress was in session the champion said:
"We can't drink and do anything. We have
to abstain totally from stimulating beverages
while we play; we have season of prepa-
ration. We have to be clear and cool, or we
fail. The reason that so many eminent play
ers pass out of sight is, they will drink.
Then the nerves grow unsteady and the eyes
fail, and all is up with the player; the drink
ing goes deeper and the playing worse"
Year: 1877

(Chicago Inter-Ocean.l s-.
Does the average editor pant for war with
the Mexican greasers?


He does.


Will we gentle editor shoulder his musket
and march gallantly to the fray?
He will not


What will ye gentle editor do?
He will print the war news and sell his pa
per to the anxious people who await tidings
from the battlefield.


What should be done with ye gentle edi-
tor who cOunsels war and fails to attend the
matinee when it comes off :?
He should be bounced.
Year: 1877

Chicago editors are calling each others
attention to the grammatical errors that Green
unobserved into the columns of their papers.


What's the use? The reading public are
aware that much Of the material for a dailv
paper is gathered on the run-sometimes on
the jump-and that every particular sentence
cannot be weighed and rounded with that
care and precision necessary in the prepara-
.lon OF an article for frst-class magazine.
BESIDES, who is there in Chicago that can tell
"hena sentence is grammatically constructed?
Year: 1877

Why is it that paragraph in any way
connected with game of poker will be
recognized and appreciated at once, while a
joke with good moral point travels as
economically as a plumber at work by the
y.-Brdgeport Standard
Year: 1877

There are times when everything seems
to go wrong. From seven o'clock in the
morning, till ten o'clock in the evening,
affairs are in twist. You rise in the
morning and the room is cold, and
button is off, and the beef steak is tough
and the stoves smoke. and the pipes
burst. and you start down the street
nettled from head to foot. All day long
things are adverse. Insinuations. petty
losses. meanness on the part of custom
ers. The ink bottle upsets and spoils
the carpet. Some one gives wrong
turn to the danper and the gas escapes.
An agent comes in determined to insure
your life. when it is already insured for
more than it is worth, and you are afraid
some one will knock you on the head to
get the price of your policy; but he
sticks to you. showing you pictures of
old Time, and the hour-glass. and deaths
scythe. and skeleton, making it quite
certain that you will die before your
time unless you take papers in his COM
pany. Besides this, you have cold in
your head, and grain of dirt in your
eye. and you are walking uneasiness.
The day is out of JOINT, and no surgeon
can set it.


The probability is that if you would
look at the weather vane you would find
that the wind is northeast, and you
might remember that you have lost
much sleep lately. 1t might happen to
be that you are out of joint instead of
the day. Be careful and not write
many letters while you are in that irri-
table mood. You will pen some things
that you will be ssrry for afterward.


Let us remember that these spiked
nettles of life are part of our discipline.
Life would get nauseating if it were all
honey. The table would be poorly set
that had on it nothing but treacle. We
nnod n EttIa uinAear- rnnstard- nAnrAr
end horseradish that brings the tears
even when we do not feel pathetic. If
this world were all smoothness, We would
never be ready for emigration to high
er and better. clustering March and
weeping April prepare us for a shining
May. This world is hitching-post.
Instead of tying fast on the cold noun
tains, we had better whip up and hasten
on toward the warm inn, where our
good friends are looking out of the win
dow watching to see US come up.
Year: 1877

A KNOWING BIRD.-Where do you
think bird once built its nest? On the
edge of quarry of slate SO near that
when the rock was blasted, piece of
the flying and falling slate frightened
and incommoded the poor bird very
much. 1t was thrush. Yet she did not
change Ter quarters. But being pretty
observing bird, she noticed that at the
ringing of bell the men started and
ran. "Ah." thought the bird. "l'll run.
too" So the next time the train was
fred and the bell rang to warn the men
away, the thrush few from her nest and
lighted among them-indeed, close un-
der their feet. The explosion over, she
returned to her nest and they to their
work.


This she did whenever they blasted.
Of course it highly diverted the men,
and visitors were told of her sensible
and discerning conduct. They were anx-
ious to see the thrush. The slate could
not be blasted to crafty visitors, but
the bell could be easily rung. and it
was. The bird heard it and down she
few. After a few times she saw herself
hoaxed, and when the bell rang again.
she peeped over her nest to see if the
men left. If they did not, she sat still
and cooked her head. as much as to say,
mo, gentlemen, | am not to be cheated
again. Life in my nest is too serious to
be tri6ed away for your amusement. No
more make believes for me. | see thro'
you
Year: 1877

We are workers in one vineyards;
Some are strong. aud some are weak;
But the smiling Of the vintage
Is the common Joy we seek.
Some must trail the vine and prune it,
Some must stoop to dress the mould;
But the few can pluck the clusters,
In the autumn's haze and gold.


We are workers altogether;


Let us show no vain conceit,


While we pray the Lord Of harvest,


Make us loving, make us sweet.
We are builders. aud the temple
Rises slowly, day by day;
Some must lay the polished corners,
Some the brick Of heavy clay.
Only one can place the cap-stone
On the summit grand and high.
While the shout Of Grace unto IL"
Rises to the vaulted sky.


We are workers altogether.


Let US haste with ready feet,


Praying to the Master Builder.


Make US loving. keep us sweet.
We are fighting in the battle.
But we cannot all command;
Moss oS murcti ut Orucrs,
Forward like a soldier band
Fame is not the hero's blessing.
But the sense OF duty done,
Life and treasure all are ventured
Ere the victory is won


We are workers altogether


In the battles fash and heat;


Let us pray our great Commander.


Make US loving. keep us sweet.
All our hearts in us are throbbing
For the good Of human kind;
But we see not altogether
With a single eye and mind.
Let each workman speed his brother,
With voice of love and cheer;
let us not prevent each other
With our words Of blame severe.


We are workers altogether.


For earlh's brotherhood complete;


Let us pray, in all our dong.


Make us loving, keep us sweet.
Golden prizes lie before us.
And the the race is open now;
Not the swim alone are victors.
Wearing crown upon their brow,
For the lame and halt Unes running
God has promised each Il goal;
o my poor aud sorrowlng brother.
Thou shalt he a victor soul


We are workers altogether.


Totteiing &C. and mankind feet;


So we pray to Jesus ever,


Make us loving, keep US sweet.
Let the blessed kingdom hasten,
When the will of God shall be,
Evermore the law and pleasure
or his people glad ana free;
Would we strive to be the greatest,
Let us then be servants all,
God has crowns and jewels waiting,
For the lowly and the small.


We are workers altogether.


Every brother let us greet;


As we pray the Lord or Glory,


Make Us loving. keep us sweet.
Year: 1877

How it cheers and gladdens the heart
to have something pleasing for the eye
to rest upon. no matter if it be but
simple engraving, or bunch of autumn
leaves tackled up here and there on the
bare wall. A few sea shells. little stat
uette, or even pot Of green moss grow
ing on tie window-sill, give an air of
taste and refinement to the most homely
cottage. And how true it is that the 81
lent influence of these little surrounding
helps to make up the great whole that
purifies and uplifts the soul to something
higher and better !


II remember once to have called on
poor sick woman, who lived in miserable
lodging and without many of the neces-
saries of life (; yet | noticed on the old
rickety stand near her bedside flower
pot containing pansy. rich in its tints
of purple and gold "Oh p | replied,
''what beautiful pansy." ''1es," she
exclaimed, her pale countenance light
ing up with tenderness and joy, '.it is
very beautiful to me, and often leads
my thoughts away from myself, from my
suferings and sorrows. Somehow, | nev-
er feel half SO poor when l have some
thing pretty to look at. No matter
how humble our station in life. there is
always something to cheer the heart and
make US happy if we would but accept
it. The pure air of heaven, and the glad
sunshine, are they not for US all +? The
sweet cloyeEl NaP0nng OF BIRDS, and
the rippliug of the brooks, do they not
speak to US of love, hope and happiness ?
Yes, there are many beautiful things in
the world, if we would but see them.
Yet how many men and women live in
continual discomfort and repinings, SEEM
ingly unmindful of the gifts with which
God surrounds them
Year: 1877

If we should gather all the flowers
that grow upon the mountain sides and
in the valleys. and heap them up before
God, he would not be richer than be is
now but when we bring ourselves to
Him. and affection after affection opens
and exhales in His presence. He is rich
er, and His joys are greater.
Year: 1877

New Years morning dawned glorious
ly. Not cloud was in the sky, and the
surface of the snow glistened in the rays
of the rising sun. With heavy heart
Harold Ellsworth took his way towards
the barn. He had felt more than pass
ing interest in the lovely girl whom he
had met but the evening before, and her
supposed terrible fate had filled him
with horror and pain He unlocked the
door. pushed it back, and stood rooted


to the spot-utterly amazed, utterly con-
founded. Could he believe the evidence
of his senses. or was this some vision
that would soon fade away? No, it was
the real and living presence of Miss
Nell Washburne. There she stood in q
Year: 1877

The Grange as n Social Organization.


The oranges of the organization known as
Patrons of Husbandry have done some OF
their best work in this direction. 1t is doubt
fll whether in New England they have been
of great use in any other respect, but some
of the most prominent members of the order
have felt from the first that this was not their
true work, that it was more important that
the bonds of fraternity should be cemented
among the agricultural population, than that
a few dollars a year should be made in the
disposal of farm products or saved in the
purchase of agricultural implements and gro
ceries. We suspect there has been too much
machinery about the grange to make its ben
efits general, but a more serious drawback
has been the Indifference of the farmer to the
opportunities which the brotherhood Offer
N f. Homestead.
Year: 1877

WASHING FLANNELs.-A lady correspond
ent says: II will give little of my exper-
ience in washing fanels in hot water, but
it is great mistake. In Italy my fannels
were wonder to me; they always came
home from the wash so soft and white. 1
learned that the Italian women washed them
in cold water. Many time l have watched
them kneeling in box, which had one end
taken out, to keep them out of the mud,
by the bank of a stream, washing in the
running water and drying on the bank or
gravel without boiling; and I never had
washing done better, and fannels half so well.
/ have tried it since, and find the secret of
nice soft aannels to be the washing of them
in cold or lukewarm water, and plenty of
stretching before hanging them out. Many
recipes say, Don't rub soap on fannels; but
you can rub soap on TO the advantage of the
fiannels, if you will rinse it out afterwards
and use no hot water about them, not for
getting to stretch the threads in both direc-
tions before drying. Flannels so cared for
will never become stiff, shrunken or yellow"
-E1chGnge.
Year: 1877

your team square around upsetting the hide
and leaving the dirt where you want ii. In
this way by continually passing your teams
back and forth over the embankment as it is
built up, it will be well packed by the time
it is done dam built in this way 80 feet
wide at the bottom, and 10 or Is feet wide at
the top will be sufficiently strong to sustain
a heavy pressure of water But in order to
make it more secure. it would be we'll to
select 4 place where there is u cave or widen
ing of the hollow above, and the confgur-
alton ns the banks snch that in case of floods
the surplus water would flow around over
the solid ground and not over the emhank-
ment


Tanks can be constructed on almost sny
kind of ground. as the water from rain fall,
is always muddy when it flows from the hills
and slopes, it soon forms sediment which
in time becomes impervious to water, For
the same reason it would perhaps be best to
make the reservoir where there are not many
deep griiies or perpendicular banks IS the
sediment cannot form rapidly on perpendi-
cular or steep banks.


Tanks or reservoirs can also be constructed
by excavation on slopeing ground by build
iug long cUuvergIug Embaukueuts to ron-
duct the water into the tank or reservoir, |
have seen some such in Mexico Would it
not be possible TO obtain State aid to build
tanks and reservoirs on the great thorough
fares leading from san Antonio and Austin
to this country, thereby securing an emence
trade to those cities and the State. Also BY
exploring and opening of new roads, some
bad hills might be avoided, and better
supply supply eef water sls,,ssaiisetdl see by 5eaE
paper that you are disposed to favor the
opening of the southern route for the trans
portation Of your section. Therefore / deem
these suggestions not inappropriate.


Our town is not declining but improving
slowly; our people seem to have enough to
eat and wear, which is more than can be said





for many other sections. There is large
amount Of stock awned in this town, There
are stock ranches all along the Rio Grande
as far down as For Quitman. and the whole
wiley is aiive with stock of different kinds;
horses, mules. cattle, sheep and goats. Our
stock rsisers do not pay sufficient attention
to the improvement ofltheir breeds, but they
are beginning to feel its importance, and ap-
preciatc its advantages. By the by an ar
ticle from your faciIe pen on the advantages
and profits to be derived by stockraisers
from tue improvement Of their breeds of
sheep in particular, might do some good.


Your old friend Charly Ellis has bought
Mr.. Campbell's large Touring mill, and
seems to be doing smashing business, mil
ling and merchandising. Mr. John G. At
kinson also whilom friend Of yours seems
to be doing a good business Our other
merchant, Doa Ysmael ochoa is also appar-
entity doing welt; all of which speaks well
for the prosperity of our town. Our farmers
raised a splendid crop of wheat this year,
but their corn crop prospects are not 80 good,
owing 70 the failure Of the supply Of water.


eosxoFouTAx
Year: 1877

1t takes great deal TO put q pro-
fessional tramp out of countenance,
especially when be is dealing with a
woman but occasionally these gen
try wake up the wrong customer,
and then his peculiar abilities as q
traveller are sure to be exercised.
Only a few days since Melrose
lady, whose home is separated from
the depot by a piece OF woodland,
was passing along the road through
the timber when an ill-favOred man
suddenly sprang from the bushes, and,
seizing her by the wrist. demanded
Der watch and money With great
presence Of mind the lady responded:
"Let me alone and you shall have
my money! This the fellow did,
but still meDanced her with q heavy
walking-stick. The lady then de-
liberty unfastened her handbag,
quick as flash took out revolver,
and springing back several PAGES,
leveled il at the head CT the villain
The fellow was so astonished that be
in turn sprang back, and throwing
up his hands cried: Don't shoot"
and in q moment dashed into the
bushes and disappeared. The lady
is crack shot, thanks to the instrue-
ton of her husband, who is employ
ed in a well-known Boston wholesale
grocery establishment, and she feels
pretty confident she could have ef-
fectually winged her man had there
been necessity for it. When assured
that she ought to have brought the
fellow down, she replied: "Yo1
would not have me shoot him IN the
back, while running, would youE-
R0sfOa P0sf.