smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

This might be termed the age of theories.
Everybody has his pet theory about every
thing on the earth, and why not some have
them about everything in the heavens.
Astronomers are now puzzling themselves
and the public with theories to account for
the suddenly acquired and abnormal brill
fancy of small star situated in the con-
stellation Cygnus. This little twinkler, ac-
cording to the savans, remained unnoticed
among the myriads of luminaries that are
barely visible to the naked eye until
he took to asserting himself after the fashion
of mortals. He tried to outshine his neigh
bors, and. being consumed with vanity out
did the thing. Some Of our wise men assert
that the consequences are not pleasant to
contemplate. for they appear to involve the
destruction Of q world. Others state that
while the far off sphere was actually glowing
with the fires that destroyed it this earth of
ours was probably several hundred thousand,
If not million, years younger. Distance
arrests even the flight of thought, and
even the velocity of light has been
measured, so that when we can con-
slider that the fiery but fading star
in Cygnus is untold millions of miles dis
tant, we may feel satisfied that we are really
observing only the light of other days, the
brilliancy of star that was. The opinions
of Professors Parkhurst and Boss, which we
print to-day, throw light on this interesting
subject. Based on the information impaired
thereby every one of our readers can form a
theory for himself or herself regarding it,
We have no hesitation in stating that the
prospects of terrestrial confagration grow
ing out of a disturbance of the equilibrium
Of the universe by the destruction Of star
or two are still very remote
Year: 1877

proclaims the '.illegality" of the Nichols
State government he virtually decides that
the electoral votes Of the State belong to
Hayes. 1t is possible that Congress may
decide that this is so but it is an insolent
breach of official propriety for the President
to take the decision out of their hands, at
the demand of an unscrupulous squad of
political bull-dozers, who have precipitated
him into a rash net before he could listen to
responsible advice in n Cabinet meeting.
Year: 1877

Cold WEATHER is approaching again, and the
p,blc interest in the question of heating the
street ears will increase as the temperature falls
We print elsewhere an account of the meeting of
the Adcrnanic Committee Oh Railroads, which
assembled yesterday to learn the views of the
railroad officials on heating the cars. 1t
was the unanimous opinion of these gen.
tcmen that heating the cars would prove
dangerous !, to the public health, and that
it was better to shivcr like u car horse at the
sight Of rapid transit train than to risk death
by suifocaton. One director, and doctor ut
that, expressed astonishment that any one should
think heated car healthy. Such is the result Of
consulting tho feelings Of the rlinoceros-hided
horse car officials. We would advise tho Rail
road Committee to consult only the interests of
the public, and to compel these arrogant gentle
men, the railroad officials, to heat their cars or
surrender their franchises.
Year: 1877

as pig as the grand pyramid might be bn:ls OF the
teeth that have been ruined by neglect Shalt this
Thing 90 in face OF the great fact that Sozodont ID
Certain prcserSattve Of dental decay.
Year: 1877

Some encouragement for the business
future Of the country is to be derived from
the now ascertained fact that the number
Of failures will be less than those of las
year, and that the amounts will also be less
This reduction is doubtless owing in par
to the exhaustion Of business people ir
their resources and in The retirement O
many old firms from business, but the pre-
valent opinion is hat we have reached th'
end Of general commercial disaster.
Year: 1877

The great embarrassment in weddings is
that the principal parties thereto, "the party
of the first part, and the party of the second
part" have usually had no experience in that
ine Occasionally, an old widower will come
forward, who is used to it, and 90 through the
whule ceremony with the coolness of an adept
We are told of one old veteran who, when
requested by the clergyman to rise replied,
81 usually Sit" Another usually employed
DR.. Spring for such services" But these
specimens are as rare as springs in the des-
ert. Generally the parties are inexperienced.
They may have "talked it over," and "prac-
ticed," and "rehearsed;" :" but to practice on
the parade ground is very different from fac
ing the enemy. Besides it adds to the en-
barrassment to feel that it can be done but
once. There is no chance to correct mistakes
"next time" No doubt many couple have
felt with the poet,


GAIL things could be done so nice,


If we could only do them twice."


The giving of the wedding-fee to the cler-
gyman ought not to be embarrassing, one
would think, as it is not public perform
ance. But the very privacy Of il, and the at
tempt to do it slyly, and to seem entirely un-
conscious of what both clergyman and groom
are most intensely conscious of, makes this
part of the ceremony often the most awk-
ward of the whole. The ways of doing it are
most infinitely various. and some of them al
most infinitely comical. Sometimes there is
business.like frankness about the affair
which is refreshing. The bridegroom him
self, when he engages the services of the min.
ister wants to know "what the charge is !"
This is embarrassing again for the minister,
as there is no standard charge, and the best
he can do is to give the legal fee which a JUS
tice receives, ard feels he ought to receive.
Often the bridegroom has an eye to business
even then, and wants to know if less will not
do. Of course it must do. We read of a
Methodist preacher, who replied to one who
asked as to how much was the customary fee,
that "liberal people would give twenty dol
lars; some only gave ten; and once in
while stingy fellow would come and offer
FIVE dollars" Another Methodist preacher,
who had received one-dollar bill, wrote on
the back of it, "This dollar-bill is all l re-
ceived for marrying such a couple" giving
their names, and then sent the bill circulating.
One gentleman paid dollar, and blandly re.
marked, II suppose you would like all you
could do ofthis work." As the recording would
cost fifty cents, and the certificate twenty-five,
the remark might have been intended as q
piece of grim humor, but it was not 80 in
Year: 1877

GIRLS ATTITUDE TO YOUNG MEN.-There


is a thing of which want to speak, and that
is of the behaviour of girls toward young
men who are not lovers, but simply friends.
Let me tell you plainly that our sex we're not
meant to be wooers. The custom prevalent
among a certain class of young ladies of ask.
ing, directly or indirectly, the attentions Of
Young gentlemen is not an admirable custom,
Year: 1877

my son," said lady to me, not long since,
"is much prejudiced against a young girl
whom I admire, because she is constantly
sending him notes, inviting him to be her es.
cort here and there, and planning to have
him with her," A modest and dignifed re-
serve, which is neither prudery nor afecta-
ton, should distinguish your manner to gen.
tlemen. Too great familiarity and too evil
dent pleasure in the society of young men
are errors into which no delicate and pure
minded girl should fall.
Year: 1877

Many years ago gentleman from
the town Of Methuen, Mass, while oD
a visit to q prominent merchant In
Boston, was asked by the merchant
IL be knew a boy in Methuen that be
could recommend to work in his
store. At first the merchant could
think of no one, for he knew none
but faithful, honest boy would suit
the thrifty merchant. At length,
however, he called to mind q boy OF
excellent character in his neigh0or-
hood, but feared he would hardly do,
as his parents were very poor, and he
had no education or other advantages
to fit him for such position.


But the description Of the boys
habits pleased the merchant so much
that he banded the gentleman 8 dol
lar with which to pay the boys fare
to Boston by stage, ard requested
him to send the lad to the city, and
II, on personal interview, be should
not prove satisfactory, he would pay
his fare back home again The
gentleman, as requested, visited the
boys parents, and, stating the mer-
chants proposal, advised them to
send the boy for trial. He then gave
him 3 dollar which was to pay his
fare to Boston, and departed.


Under similar circumstances,
nInety-nine out Of every hundred
bays would have said "Now for q
good time never saw the city, and
never rode in the stage. Oh, there
will be so much to see, and 1t will be
such long ride, and here is money
sent to pay my1iare ~ Not so with
this boy. Putting the money care
fully In his pocket, he said to him
self:


"This Is the first dollar 1 ever bad.
How I wish 1 could save it 1t Is on
can walk there in q day. Pl do it
and save my dollar"


His mother patched up his cloth es
as well as she could, and early next
morning the little fellow parted with
his parents st the door OF their hum
BILE home, and set cut on his long
tramp to the great city, which he
reached, tired and dusty, little bs-
fore sunset. He found the merchant,
who sternly asked {:


"Where have you been all day T?
The stage came in an hour ago W


The boy thought he had displeased
the merchant at the outset, and, with
doWncast eyes and tremulOus voice
he answered


"I did not come on the stage, sir"


"Did not CONS on the stage What
do you mean? Didn't l send you
money to pay your fare ,"


The boy thought it was all up with
him, sure, and, amid gathering tears,
he managed to reply:


"I am very sorry, sir !. [ did not
mean to offend you. l thought
would walk aud save the dollar. l
never had one before"


Placing his hand gently upon the
boys head, the merchant replied
"My little man, you did exactly right.
Coma home with me and get some
supper.


Then, turning to a bystander, he
remarked 81 wouldn't take q thou
sands dollars for this boy to-day"


That boy has grown 70 manhood
and has since become widely known
in business circles. He is now owner
of the extensive mills at Methuen,
the Pemberton mills at Lawrence, q
clearinghouse in Boston, and one of
the finest farms in Msssach usetts.-
chronological Journal.
Year: 1877

Good food, dainties and want Of ex-
ereise are the destruction of parlOr
dogs. They become fat with increas-
ing age, aud contract various diseases.
At last the day comes whon q dose OF
prussie acid must finish the business,
or that medical practitioners must be
called In who will, by q severe
regime, restore the dogs health and
appetite. An ex-kennel man in our
neighbOrhood made q very cOmfOr-
table income by this peculiar line Of
practice. Hs divulge1 the secret Of
his system 3 few days before b is
dissolution to the estimsbls clergy
man OF the parish. "I always tied
'em,n said this eaniua AOernethy,
''tO crab tree at the end Of nay gar
den for 8 week, and gave 'em moth
ing but water. When / fetched
'em from their mistresses they re-
fused to eat what / should have been
glad to get, R1d when they went back
they would eat what couldn't have
touched. Pve had some dogs tWics
or even three tune q year, but al
ways cured 'em at last. One Of them
was as good as e 8 year to me. ]
was terribly fond of him, but be new
er took to me and when he saw me
coming for him to bring down his
fat be woald wAddls away, and howl
enough to wake the dead. Dogs
haven't got no gratitude. .r-LOndOn
Field.
Year: 1877

the memory Of the oder tim. =, znd of


the mercies God has shown Us for


trying tO preserve our manhDOd, b..


harsh or cruel 10 him who was Iu dts


tress, even IL tire harvest he is reap


ing be from the seed he plsutvO in ti,-
gutter While We were dragging in tue
rocks


We LEANED" him the dollar. 1!


was s small sum-nerely a wafer on


the deed to which time affixed the
stamp. He said he would pay it
some day, That he should hear from
somewhere before long. We know


the pride tnat once dWeit In his heSrt.


We know it hurt him much to ask US


for such 8 favor, We know all the
feelings that must have come sweep


ing over his soul as be applied for
charity to one he had looked down


upon thirty years ago, and that the


hand that gave t. him what he asked


for, drew aside 8 curtain so that he
could see how different had been our
roads since last We met. His life Is
nearly gone. 1t will sOOn follow his


manhood. His team is nearly jsded
out snd can draw him but little furth-
er. He is but two years our senior,
yet he looks to be twenty. His life


Is closing. Ours Is opening. His race
is run. Ours is yet before US. he
has nothing but dissipation and its re-
suits to build on. We have full
health, glorious strength and q hope
TO be useful. We are cutting flowers
while he reaps thistles. We have 3
loving, loved, contended home, where
singing birds, kind words, beautiful
flowers and the sweetest OF rest awaits
US in the companionship OF the true
and the good, while he has the street,
the cheap lodging, the asking Of
charity-the life of = wreck Not for
all the pleasure be ever knew would
We give one week OF our content and
happiness. It was hot working
in the fields under q summer
sun, and cold laboring in the forest in
winter SHOWS, but all that was moth
ing in comparison to walking the
streets looking for q chance and .
place to dieI


He chose his road when be was q
lad, and he followed it almost to the
end. We selected ours and have walk
ed it with patience, out OF the thorns,
the thistles, the briars and brambIes
out of the dangers and temptations
into the path over which angels how
er, and toward the gate that opens TO
q truer and q better life to follow our
schooling in this. We are satisfied
with our life, while we know that our
old sehOOlmate is not. We feel that
we are growing out OF the milk Of boy
hood into the meat Of manhood, and
that to our life is coming 8 thousand
blossoms for every little thorn that
priUked US In cur youth as we beat
against the bats that were needed as
He was not well taught
in the Home Corner. He was never
told that the boy could grow to be q
man, and that man could grow to be
almost as a God, il he would but
study Alright, and like God, seek to
benefit his fellow men, as we all pa
tiently, hopefully, journey on toward
the hand that gives not 10 charity,
but the glorious reward there is for all
who would save and not destroy
themselves Cd the way to our final
Night.-"BricE' POmeroy.
Year: 1877

The Board met in regular session,
all the members present and Presi-
dent Bell in the chair


The CLERK was directed to notify the
Superintendent of the several City De.
partments requiring the repair Of tools
TO have such repairs done at she city
shop, corner OF Liberty aud Liun
streets. 4
Year: 1877

Yesterday afternoon two men were seen


going up Tatnall street with can Of paint
which contained, from the size of the can,
at least 25 pounds. Nothing was
thought of 1t until they were seen endeav-
ing to dispose of their burden, and susp-
cion still further arose, when it was ascer-
tanned that 20 cents would buy it. After
an unsuccessful attempt to sell 1t, and pro-
ceedlng as far as Ninth and Orange,
the one who was carrying the can threw il
into the middle of the street.-the other man
quickly ran out, picked up the can, aud
coming on the pavement again, threw the
can, with all his might, upon the bricks,
spreading its contents in every direction,
and hastily disappeared. The police were
Immediately notified and made a thorough
search for tho party, but have not ye1
succeeded IN capturing. them. No person
has yet notified the police of such a loss.
Year: 1877

Several incidents which occurred
during General Ignatieff's visit to Eng
land are not likely to increase kindly
feeling between the two governments.
For instance, when the Queen received
Madame Ingnatieff-a beautiful lady
Her Majesty suffered her visitor, who
entered leaning on the arm of Lord
Derby, to remain standing, while she
herself was seated; and after three min
utes of chillingly formal conversation,
dismissed the Russian lady with wave
of her hand.
Year: 1877

Secretary Sherman says that he never
suffered more pain in his life than he
did in the recent removal of employees,
many of whom are helpless, poor and
needy. His predecessor had testified
and told him that the force must be
reduced, and when he entered the office
he appointed three of the most trusted
officers of the department to make an
examination, and to select those
who are not needed or were least eff
cient in the service. This was done.
He held the list for weeks, and handed
it over to Governor Mccormick, by
whom it was carefully examined and
held until delay was inexcusable.
There was no other way but to reduce
the force to barely sufficient number
to do the work.
Year: 1877

A gentleman has just died in Paris
who owes most of his celebrity to the
quaint manner in which he managed to
disembarrass himself of his creditoas.
No sooner did a dun present himself
than he was ushered into room hung
around with variety Of mirrors, some
convex, Others concave, etc. In one
the unfortunate creditor beheld himself
with head as fiat as founder, in an
other his features were nearly as sharp
as a knife, in third he had several
heads, and in fourth he was upside
down. Here he had the broad grin of
a clown, and there the long-drawn WIS.,
abe of an undertaken. On one side of
the room he saw himself all head and
no body; on the other side it seemed as
if dwarf had put on the boot Of as
giant. No applicant, however pressing,
was known to resist this chamber of
horrors for more than quarter of an
hour.
Year: 1877

There is in Paris vast establishment
the most extensive Of its kind in the
world-where the imitation of pearls,
diamonds and precious stones generally,
is carried on with all the skill which
modern ingenuity renders possible.
The sand, upon which the whole art
depends, is found in the forests of
Fountainbleau. False pearls are lined
with wax and scales of the roach and
dace, which have to be stripped from
the fish while living in order to retain
the peculiar glistening hue. The set
ting is always of real gold and the fash
ion of the newest kind.
Year: 1877

A number of young Frenchmen un-
dertook to smoke and jest at a midnight
mass on Christmas eve in a parish
church, near Tours. One of them seized
a burning taper and set it under the
chair of pious gentleman who was
absorbed in his devotions. For these
and other eccentricities they have been
recently sentenced to terms of impris-
onment
Year: 1877

| thousands OF people all over the
United States. All we know con-
cerning him is that he left the hotel
on Tuesday morning, and has not
been seen since.


On Tuesday last a portion of the
roof of the new Post Office fell in,
crushing to death four men and
wounding several others.


The Corn Exchange has been a
sort of prize ring for the bulls and
the bears during the week Just
past. Wheat that brought two dol
larsssand twenty-five cents the week
before last tumbled to one ninety
within the last three days. Corn
holds It's own, and you can tell your
folks not to be alarmed if it does
rise a few cents; there is still corr.
in Egypt,-the entire crop of the
year 1876 being over twelve nun
dred millions Of bushesls.


see by my exchanges that
Talmage's life insurance sermon,
which lie preached about two
months ago, advising every one to
take out a life insurance policy.
quoting Scripture to prove that it
was favorite institution with the
twelve appostles-is now being
published as a campaign document
1t is refreshing to know that so
worthy an institution receives the
Endorsement OF so excellent a di-
vine. | trust that the Mutual Life
and Equitable may not be ungrateful
to his widow.


The Astor memorial at the back
of Trinity Church is almost finished +,
hundred thousand or more having
been expended to keep in remem-
brance a man whom the poor
scarcely knew. except as hard
task-master and opPressor. The
milliouaires who have passed away
within the past few years have left
little besides their millions behind
them. Macy, the great fancy goods
man of the Sixth Avenue and Four
teenth Street, died in Paris, leaving
a million to his wife and daughter
He was cursed, like another great
milIionarc, with a dlssipated son,
and he leaves him only one thou
sand dollars year.


Tie great terror of New Workers,
moving day, is over. The custom
of changing every year has long
been going into disuse, and there
were fewer removals this season
than ever before.


We have a grand Carnival com
ing of during next week, at which
all the world and his wife are ex-
pected to be present. Great prepa
rations are being made, and If the
weather is fine, | shall be prepared
to see one of the grandest turn-outs
that we have had since the Peace
jubilee.


The weather is getting settled,
and the treas in blossom. Still, at
the present time, we don't feel like
betting very heavily on anything.


=.
Year: 1877

THE BRECKExRIDGE CUr-OFF.-
General manager Farley and par
ty of surveyors went up the Main
line on Tuesday to survey for the
road to connect with the Northern
Pacific. There is no doubt that the
road will be built this summer, and
the Northern Pacific trade is bound
to pass this way instead of around
by Duluth. This will be a good
thing for the St. Paul q Pacific,
and will add considerable to the
value of property along the Main
line Wtlnsdr Gazette.
Year: 1877

THIS paragraph is going the
rounds of the Eastern papers: Gall
doubts about the wonderful power
of blue glass will instantly vanish
when Lake Superior EDITORS feet
loom into view" What does it
mean? We haven't the least idea.