smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

Why Wet Land Should be Drained.


Free access of atmospheric air to
every part of the soil is Of the Ut


most Importance. The air assists


the various processes Of decomposi-
ton by which dead animal and veg
etable matter is made to yield pro
ducts of the highest value as ele-
ments of the food OF plants. If the
soil is full of water, Of course the
air cannot get into the soil to per
form this Office. Hence, drains By
drawing of the water beneath, give
the air free amission to the soil, and


each shower Of rain, by displaciHg
the air already present.. and then
falling through the soil and run
ming away in the drains, renew the
supply Of fresh air. In this wav
drains are of the greatest benefit.
Drains actually diminish loss Of
plant food by washing away. Stag
nant water is injurious to the roots
Of plants. They win rot grow in it.
Draining removes this, and hence
the plants send down their roots
deeper. Consequently their capabil-
ity Of absorbing nourishment is
greatly increased. It is this inereas-
ed depth Of the roots in well drained
soil which renders the crops growing
on them less liable to suffer from
drought than those on imperfectly
drained land.


Although rain, washing the sur
face and running of BY open chan.
nels, msy, and does dissolve and
wash away q considerable quantity
of nutritive matter, the water which
sinks into the land carries these nn-
tritive substances deeper down into
the soil and deposits them in the
lower portions where the roots of
the plants are TO be found, and whore
these roots can sieze and absorb
these soluble matters. Draining
causes the rain to pass through q
considerable thickness of soil before
it runs Of, and hence it causes less
loss Of nutritive matter than is oc-
by rain washing soil as Il
does in undrained lands, carrying on
to the streams and rivers much Of
the valuable nutritive matter that
on the sur1ace.--N Y.Hsr-
aEa
Year: 1874


ey and clothes Tor his Southern


home. Soon after he left. theEfefh-


er learned from the employer Sc tbe
young man, that be had admitted


TO having had improper intercourse


with his daughter. Thereupon the


father started for Cleveland after
the offender He found him at tie
depot awaiting the train. He sEora
out 3 warrant for him and had him
arrested. The officer in charge, at
the request Of the father and friends
accompanying him, turned the
guilty man overto them for the pur-
pose Of taking him back to the faith
er's home. The reason for this
course on theI officers part We did
not learn. When some way out Of
the city the party cut some Withes,
and tying the man up gave him q
terrible whipping They wore out
four withes on him and then tied
them together and beat him with
them. Our informant says that the
story in Cleveland goes that one OF
the party, in answer to the piteous
begging Of the whipped man, put
pistol to his hesd and proposed 70
put an end to the matter. At least,
such suspicious exist, for since the
whipping nothing has been seen or
heard Of the young man. His car.
pet-bag was found in the road.


The father has admitted to the
whipping, but threatens any one in
yestigating the affair. Il is also
said that when he got home be
whipped the daughter.


The sheriff of the county has now
taken the affair in hand, and is in
stituting an investigation a. TO
what has become Of the young man.
whether dead or alive. The affair
happened last week, and has caused
much excitement.
Year: 1874

Already the announcements OF holiday books are
upon Us, ana, as Tor sunday school literature, have
We not that always with uss II may seem invidi-
Gus TO doubt whether the children OF to-day are
better on IN the way oteamusemeni or edidcation
than were those who grew up no longer than q
score OF years ago. YET, while we acknowledge
the existence OF noble exceptions. which. alas as
exceptions VIII, serve more conclusively to
prove the rule. and with full knowledge
OF the walls OF wrath which await
the devoted head OF any one who dares TO break
In on the paans OF rejoicing over the blossoming
and beautiful literature with which the present
youthful generation Is supplied, we venture to
come In with humble but persistent inquiry into
the kind OF fruit which is to be the legitimate
outcome OF all this bud and bloom. Too large
proportion OF IL by far appears to be OF the
forced growth and hothouse culture, which re-
lakes. instead OF directing, the forces OF WV and
character, and which misleads and vitiatfs the
imagination, preventing It's legitimate In the
elevation OF daily lie and duty to their true ana
noble plane. We are In danger OF paying too
dearly Tor great deal OF lne 'jearning made
easy" the precocious tropical luxuriance OF In
tellectual growth and emotional awakening.
which are the unavoidable outcome OF much
Of the literature placed without examna-
tion by parents In their chdren's hands
because the volume comes from the shelves
oil Sunday school or city library, or bears upon
It's title page the imprint OF respectable puo-
Usher. In the majority OF cases II win work no
worse woe than enervation or thought, enieebiing
Of purpose, and The degeneration OF healtnful
feeling into pulling sentimentality; but are not
these enough2


We are not proposing or advising that the
children should be restricted or sent back TO the
books which suficed their grandparents or even
their elder brothers and sisters; though they
might have worse mental pabulum than ''sandford
and Merton," Evenings at Home,' "rhe Arabian
Nights" and the ever Old ever new. fairy tales OF
all time and still not suffer. But we do advise pa
rents to take more care than the majority Of them
evidently now do to know what their children are
reading, and to exercise wise authority in emi-
mating from it the sweetly sugared poison and the
cloying connections which abound among 1t.
Year: 1874

OF The true girl has to be sought af-
ter. She does not parade herself in show
goods. She is not fashionable. Gener-
ally she is not rich. But oh! with a
heart when you find hcr-so large and
pure, and womanly. When you see il
you wonder If those snowy things inside
arc women. If you gain her love your
two thousands are millions. She'll not
ask you for carriage or first class
house. She'll wear simple dresses, and
turn them when necessary, with no vul-
gar magnificate to frown upon her econ
omy. She'll have everything neat and
nice in your sky parlor, and give you
such welcome when you come home
that you'll think your power higher than
ever. She'll entertain true friends on a
dollar, and astonish you with the new
thought how little happiness depends on
money. She'll make you love home, (if
you don't you're brute), and teach you
how TO pity while you scorn poor fash
ionable society that thinks itself rich
and vainly tries to think itself happy.
Now, do not, pray you, say any more,
IL cant afford TO marry" Go find the
true woman. And you can. Throw
away that cigar, burn up that switch
cane, be sensible yourself, and seek your
wife in a sensible way.
Year: 1874

Quite an excitement was produced al
Atlantic City, New Jersey, lass Satur-
day, by the arrival at the landing i'm the
Inlet of fishing sloop, having on board
a veritable sea monster, which the oldest
fishermen and watermen are at loss To
define. II is of the turtle species, with
a head similar TO a COW, with white spots
on the top. The body is black in color
and from the nose to the tip Of the tai
six feet long. 1t has four flukes or flip.
'pers, and is five feet seven inches in
breadth. The diameter of the body /.
two feet and half. 1t is estimated that
its weight is about seven hundred
pounds. The monster has been seen in
the neighborhood for two or three weeks
past and numerous fishermen had at diff
ferent times pursued il with darts and
spears, endeavoring TO capture it.


On Friday, about half-past five O'Clock,
Captain Dan Champion and crew cast 9
large seine off Brigantine Shoals, about
five miles out at sea, and were success
full in getting the animal entwined in
the meshes of the net. A rope and tackle
were slipped under his body, and it was
raised Into the sloop and deposited in
the hold, where 1t was kept until Satur-
day afternoon, when the rope and tackle
were again brought into requisition and
the monster transferred to large bat
teau, and finally placed in tub, which
had been built for that purpose, near the
New Inlet House. There It was visited
during the day by hundreds of persons.
who expressed the greatest surprise al
seeing what might be truly termed a
wonder. and which will no doubt engage
the attention of biologists and show
men.
Year: 1874

or The Mobile Register speaks out
aloud n follows: II is TO preserve, cN-
tend and reform the public school sys-
TEN that we 30 bitterly oppose The Civil
Rights bill. That bill would thrust the
negro into the white school aud drive
out the whites. II would, in effect. give
every public school in The State 10 Tho
negroes, while the whites pay the taxes
to maintain them. II would break down
our splendid Mobile schools and apply
every dollar Of our fund for the cduca-
ton Of the negroes.
Year: 1874

AZ Another clerical scandal is now
announced. a Methodist Episcopal
clergyman Of New Orleans is said to
have suddenly become invisible, togcth-
cr with lady member of his flock, he
being. sad TO relate. a married mau. His
lawful spouse, with her little son, got
upon his track quickly, and came up
with him at a fashionable hotel at Ame-
mia, n thriving settlement about eighty
five miles from New York, on the line OF
the Harlem Railroad. a scene cnsued
between the first and second choice OF
the reverend scapcgrace, and the next
day, the hotel-keeper finding the party
destitute Of funds, they were elected, and
the march homeward was taken up. The
entire party booked for New York, and
as the first wife refused to pay Iarc ex-
ccpt for herself and little son, the wor-
thy divine was obliged 10 deposit dia-
mond pin with the conductoras security
for himself and second wife, in order TO
escape being put of the train. Both
women quarreled furiously during the
entire length of the journey, much to the
amusement of their fellow passengers.
On arriving at the Forty-second street
depot another exhibition took place
both women claiming a right to the cler-
|gyman. The first wife, however. car
ried her point by threatening to invoke
the assistance of policeman, and final
ly escorted her truant husband out OF
the depot, while the other woman def.
|antly brought up the rear.
Year: 1874

OF Coffee is said to be adulterated by
washing the grains in sulphate of copper
to give them a regular green color, and
to hide the rotten grains. Try soaking
coffee in tepid water, and if the water
becomes greenish, Iou may be certain
there is copper in it: Don't use sue,
coffee, for evidently none but the poor
est coffee i treated this way.
Year: 1874

From the Boston Journal, August 24l


General Butler WIN soon be obliged totske his
coat Oh and look after the chances Of his reeiec-
tion In the sixth district. A formidable opposition
has developed itseu. ana General william Cogswell
is the chosen champion Of those who do not pro.
pose TO acsept the present situation. We under
stand that General Cogswell has consented to run,
ana his friends will seek TO secure him the n0mina-
tion OF the repooncan convention. The many
claims OF the new candidate will rally 10 his sup
port hundreds who nave not taken much active
part IN politics for some time, while not Q few Of
the friends OF General Butler who have been active
In his behalf are ready, It Is stated TO 90 in iOR
General C0Rsweu with ruGh.
Year: 1874

A LITTLE FIGHT.-A colored gentleman
from the country came to town, last night,
and wended his peaceful wav to Sixth and
Walnut streets, where he soon struck up
an acquaintance with = city buck. The
latter proposed boxing match. in which
he completely woIsted his competitor. This
made country mad. and throwing of all
iestraint, he rushed into real lighting. He
met with no better success Than IN the
sparring match, ana was soon thoroughly
thrashed. With swollen eyes and bioois
nose. he beat hasty retreat, and will doubt


less remain some time in his rural home,
before he pays another visit to the CITY
Year: 1874

The Green Mountain State has latel,
contributed very fully to the tragic annal.
of the period. Three or four frighttu
murders have occurred within its borders
during the last month. 4 special dis
patch from Rutland to the Troy Daily
Times of Saturday, gives the facts, very
briefly, of another mysterious and CHASTITY
affair-a case Of suicide-which is not lack
ing in elements of horror. A man who
registered himself as c. V.Rollins, a CUES,
of the Bardwell House, in Rutland, was
found in his room with his throat cut from
ear to ear 1t was evident that he com
mitted the desperate deed with the great.
est coolness and deberation. He had
seated himself in chair and permitted the
life torrent to flow into a washbowl on the
floor before him. One extraordinary fea.
ture Of this horrible tragedy is found in the
fact that he left an incoherent statement,
written in his own blood, denying compli-
city in some murder of when nothing ap-
pears to be known. Numerous small
scraps of paper written over in the same
way we're found scattered around the room.
1t was plain that the man had permitted
himself to bleed to death slowly, and occu
pied his last moments in writing these
notes. AT last accounts the affair remain
ed mystery, and certainly not even the
morbid imagination of Poe could conjure
up anything more ghastly.
Year: 1874

against them in trial by law. 1t is fear
ed that should they escape conviction by
legal process, the community will rise and
lynch them The sheriff fears such an at
tempt, and is using every caution to keep
them ont of the hands OF a mob.
Year: 1874

WE NOW SELL TURKEY RUN LIE


w HIGH, which is proved by three years expe-
rlence 70 be equal for hardness and purity to any
Lehigh In the market, at schuylkin prices All who
have used It, buy again
Year: 1874

My grandfather, Professor N. r.
Smith, has, during his extended ex-
perience, met with several remarkable
instances of the entrance of insects into
the auditory meatus.


In one instance he encountered a
case very much like that described by
Politzer, except that but two insects in
stead of three were discovered. He
relates also another, which occurred in
the practice of his father, the late Pro-
fessor Nathan Smith, of Yale College,
in which a fly having blown in a
mans ear during sleep, the maggots,
presently coming in contact with the
membrane tympanic, created such an
uproar and sensations so unbearable as
almost to drive the man frantic before
relief could be obtained. In another
case honey bee few suddenly into the
ear of man who was quietly walking
in his garden. At once the man was
thrown into state of frenzy and ex-
citement that he was unable for some
moments to explain what had happened,
and those who beheld his actions con-
cluded that he had suddenly gone mad.


Sir William Wilde says in his book
upon diseases of the ear: I" 1 remember
being out shooting on plantation
many years ago with friend, who,
suddenly exclaiming, Oh, an earwig,
and, throwing aside his gun, fell on the
ground, making the most piteous means
and rolling about in convulsive agony"
Sir William relates that, having pro-
cured some water from neighboring
ditch, he poured it into the meatus,
and, watching for the result, soon saw
ga little animal, we'll known among
anglers as the hawthorn fly" creep out,
and the gentleman was at once relieved.


Some months since a patient came to
consult me, saying that during the
previous night, while she was asleep, q
| bug had crawled into her ear and had
caused her great suffering, which was
finally relieved by pouring into the ear
laudanum and glycerine. l discovered
in the meatus cockroach which had
penetrated to the inner extremity of the
canal before the remedies used had sue
ceeded in destroying its life. After re-
moving it the mem brane and the walls
of the meatus in proximity to it were
found to be highly congested, but no
further trouble resulted.


The movements of the wings and feet
of insects in contact with the drum
membrane produce most distressing
and painful sensations, as the descrip-
tions of the cases 1 have mentioned
show, and it becomes, therefore, mat
ter of the first importance, when living
insects have entered the meatus, to be
able, as quickly as possible, to kill
them, after which they may be removed
at leisure, and with great ease, either
Swinging or by the forceps if neces-
sary. This may be best accomplished
by pouring into the ear small quantity
of any mild oil or of melted lard, though
the most popular remedy for this pur-
pose is urine.
Year: 1874

A bull which was being driven along
the road near Plane No. of the Della
ware and Hudson Canal Company's
gravity railroad, became unmanageable.
1t climbed up the steep embankment
of the railroad, on the loaded track
Just then long train of coal cars came
along at a high rate of speed. The bull
turned and lowered its head, and start
ed to meet the train. The collision
came, and the bull was thrown high
into the air, and came down on one of
the rails in front of the cars. Fourteen
of the cars were thrown down the bank
fifty feet, and William Healy, q car
runner, was fatally injured. The other
men on the train had very narrow es-
capes, saving themselves by jum ping.
Year: 1874

In the autumn of 1s4S, says a writer,
I presided at a temperance meeting in
old Faneuil Hall, and among the promi-
nent speakers of the evening was the
venerable DR.. Lyman Beecher. In his
address upon the occasion alluded to,
in picturing the dangers of the intozi-
eating cup, he remarked that none of
us could be too steadfast or too earnest
in the work of reformation, for not one
of us could tell how near to our home
the danger might come "Work |
work |" said he, "for, ere you know it,
the very child of your love may fall. I"
And in this connection he related the
following incident. I give it in his
own words:


mot many years since," said he,
"as the Rev. Joseph Davis, an esteemed
Baptist minister in London, was walk
ing along one of the crowded streets Of
that city, his attention was suddenly
arrested by the sight of great danger.
A heavy coach, drawn by four horses,
was driving furiously on, and directly
in front was little girl, seemingly un-
conscious of her peril, slowly picking
her way across the busy thoroughfare.
Unmindful OF his own danger, he
rushed into the street, caught the child
in his arms, and bore her safely to the
sidewalk. His first thought as, pant
ing, he reached the walk, was-What
would the parents of this dear child
have felt had she been killed? And
then, for the first time, he looked into
the face of the little one, which had
been partially concealed by her silken
hood 4; and imagine, if you can, his feel
ings when he found that it was the face
of his own darling daughter 1 saw
him half an hour after the occurrence,
and I shall never forget his agitation
as he told to me the story, nor the tears
that welled from his eyes as he turned
his heart in thankfulness to the Infinite
Being which, he felt, had guided him,
through a path of simple duty, to the
deliverance of his dearly-beloved child
from a horrible death p
Year: 1874

Ny heart was sound and firm and round


Till saw Kitty LeeS
But never since then has it beaten again


With pit-pet, happy and free.
1t may be here, or it may be there,


But heartless man seem;
And it's my belief Kitty turned thief,


And took it away with her cream.
Her basket tight on her arm SO white


She bore to the market town,
With cream so yellow and butter so mellow,
And white and blue was her gown.
Her eyes were soft as the dove that cooeA
Her smile was bright as beam;
But how should she know I'd heart to lose
know it went with the cream.
often wishInow could be her COW,
Or the cream her little hands thump;
or tne three-legged stool, or the butter so cool,
To be kneaded up in a lump;
CT fain would ask it, to be her basket,
With good things for her to team;
Better still, let her sip with her little red lip
oh, don't wish was cream!
still live on, though my heart has gone,
And it's not gone far away;
For Kitty's my bank, where the treasure sank
To come back cert. per cent. some day.
In city and street. you may beauty meet,
or OF plenty in fancy dream
Seek all the world round, but I'd still be bound
My Kitty would be the cream.
Year: 1874

There is class of persons in this
world, by no means small, whose promi-
nent popularity is whining. They
whine because they are poor, or if
rich, because they have no health to en-
JOY their riches they whine because
they shave no luck" and others pros
perity exceeds theirs they whine be-
cause some friends have died and they
are still living; they whine because
they have aches and pains, and they
have aches and pains because they
whine and they whine, no one can tell
why. Now word to these whining
persons. First, stop whining-it is Of
no use complaining, frettihg, fault
finding and whining. Why, you are
the most deluded set of creatures that
ever lived Do you know that it Is a
well-settled principle of physiology
and common sense that these habits are
more exhausting to nervous vitality
than almost any other violation of ply
siological law? And do you know that


life is pretty much as you makeit? You
can make it bright and sunshiny, OF
you can make it dark and shadowy.
This life is meant only to discipline us
to fit us for higher and purer state
of being. Then stop whining and fret
ting, and go on your way rejoicing.
Year: 1874

1t is going to be hard winter, says
the New York Ledger-a season of un-
usual suffering for the poor. We can
not recollect time when there were so
many persons out of employment. With
the increase of idleness there always
comes corresponding increase of
crime. People will do well to guard
their houses with extraordinary precau-
tions. Robberies and thefts will be
the order of the day. Our prisons and
work houses will be filed, aud an un-
usual number of criminals will still be
left outside. A little precaution against
their depredations will be found much
more effectual than the expenditure of
large sums in their pursuit. Look out
for them.
Year: 1874

F. That doesn't amount to anything.
l don't know the second letter. mean
which it is" Somehow he was led to
put the letter one side instead of throw
ing it in the waste receptacle. He
thought he'd like to look at that mono
gram once more, it was such q pretty
one.


Five, six, seven, eight, nine more
letters read, and nothing in the shape
of business yet. Number ten Num-
Der ten was a small, delicate hand, d.
reoted as follows