smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

No part of the Presidents message was
with more universal applause than the
recommendation that the mint be put at
work coming fractional parts of a dollar
in silver, and the redemption OF retire
ment Herewith of the postal OF fraction
al;currency. This postal currency has
become an offensive nuisance, which has
not even the standing apology Of neces-
sity. There has been no excuse for this
currency for many years. In California,
Nevada, Oregon, and Texas, the people
make no use of it they have silver coin
in abundance. There being a demand
for the coin consequent upon the refusal
to take postal currency, it has gone there
in large quantity. There are some pee
uliarities about this silver coinage
Twenty years ago the amount of pure
silver in the fractional coinage of the
United States was reduced, under the
idea that, silver half dollar being worth
more at home than abroad, it would not
be exported But the law did not change
the real value of the coin. The bullion
value of these small silver coins is 80 ID
cents on the dollar, which is but a frac-
ton above the value Of currency; never
the-less, the market-value of the coin is
95 cents in gold and l04 il paper on
the dollar. The reason for this is that
there is a demand for the coins to be
sent to the Pacific Coast. OF course,
when the mints begin to coin these sill
yer fractional parts of the dollar to any
serious amount, the supply being made
more equal to the demand, their value
will fail to that Of bullion, and the coin,
having but 80 ] cents worth Of pure sill
yer in CONS amounting to a dollar, that
will be their current value in gold for
all sums less than SIS they will remain,
as now, legal tender. There is a great
delusion as to the amount of this silver
currency neededin trade. Asman guam
tity of it goes great way. The with
drawal Of the fractional paper currency
will permit all these small coins to appear
in circulation again, and with the new
coinage there will be no lack of ''change"
to meet all the requirements of trade


Chicago Tribune,
Year: 1874

ANENGAGING MANNER. Politeness is to


man what beauty is TO a woman. It


creates an instant aneous impression III


his behalf, while the opposite quality
exercises as quick prejudice against
him. The politician who has this advan-
tage, easily distan ces all the rival can
didates, for every voter he speaks with
becomes instantly his friend. The very
tones with which he asks forapinch of s1suff
are often more potent than the logic of
a Clay. Polished manners have often
made sconndrels successful, while the
best of men, by their hardness and cold
ness, have done themselves Iacalculable
shell being 50 rough that
the world could not believe there was a
precious kernel within 1t. Had Raleigh
never flung down his clcal in the mud
for the proud Elizabeth to walk on, his
career in life would scarcely have been
worth recording. Scores Of men have
been successful in life by pleasing man
ners alone. A trait of character that is well
worth cultivating, lads. Never forget
the value of true civility.
Year: 1874

will find predictions of earthquakes,
storms, and political events, together
with list of lucky days for marrying
and buying and selling, and other such
affairs although this is not so remark
able when we remember that the He
brews, the simplicity and grandeur of
whose religious code would be supposed
to lift them above small superstitions,
require the postponement Of certain
days in their calendar by the occurrence
of certain other days thought to be un-
lucky! These almanacs have borne the
sign-manual of their age stamped on
them more than any other class Of books.
In the darker ages they were abandon
ed to astrological calculations, and the
modern Greek almanacs are still full of
such superstihous lore and of things
pertaining to the Greek Church. In
other ages they have been absorbed al
most exclusively with religious matters.
The German ones are now padded with
genealogical tables of the petty potent
ates; Napoleon had one printed with an
achievement of his own set against every
day of the year; and our regular alma
macs of this epoch give in each issue
larger space to that statistical informa-
tion which the thinkers of the present
day find SO useful. Thus, on the whole,
it will be seen that to-day we are toler-
ably we'll provided with the means OF
knowing when New-Year's s comes.


It was the Romans who first honored
New-Year's Day with gifts, sacrificing a
steer to the god of the day, and giving
each other presents of fruit, dried and
gilt, of honey, of curious spoons and
lamps. The Roman emperors had as
as much of revenue out Of the fashion
as young married people contrive nova
days to get out of their wedding gifts,
Caligula standing all day to receive
them. In later times Queen Elizabeth
supported her jewel chest and her ward
robe out of such extortions. Druid
and Saxon and German likewise, in the
dark of eld, gave gifts and played games
upon the day, no matter in what portion
of the year it came. And, in fact, it
seems to have been natural inclination
of all humanity to mark so striking
division of time with agreeably memor-
able deeds, though we are sure that it
never has been more wisely or pleasur-
ably observed than in the annual renew
ing of friendly bonds and the open
hospitality of American fresides.
Year: 1874

KING DAVID says that among the
things in Washington which interested
him exceedingly was the process by
which the great government of the
model republic manufactured the Won
derful money Of that country. He did
not know before that little pieces of pa
per, of scarcely any value, could be
made so valuable by a curious process
of printing them with green and black
inks. Ii they really were so valuable as
some people seemed to suppose, what
puzzled him was that the Americans
should keep on toiling to get on in the
world when they could be so easily
made richer than ali the other kingdoms
and nations on the globe by requiring
their government SC convert all the pa
per that should be manufactured or i'm
ported, into greenbaeks But he had
always heard that the Americans were a
peculiar people.
Year: 1874

The Camilla Urso troupe gave one of
their concerts in La Crosse. Peck of
the San was there of course, and here is
his description of the performance.


The second Lecture of the Library
Association course, delivered on Tues
day evening by female lecture was
named Camilla Urso, on fiddle. The
lecture was supported by female sing
er, two male clamseHers and piano
masher, all of them decidedly talented
in their particulars lines. The lecture
on the fiddle gave the most unbounded
satisfaction, and the association in tax
ing this new departure, has struck a
popular chord. Scarcely a person In
the vast audience but would prefer such
an entertainment to dry lecture by
some dictionary sharp. Of the perform
ance it is unnecessary to go into details,
as all our readers were there, with few
exceptions The fat female Urso, more
than carved the fiddle. She dug sweet
morsels of music out of it, all the way
from the wish-bone to the part that goes
over the fence last She made it talk
Norwegian, and squeezed little notes
out of it not bigger than cambria
needle, and as smooth as a book agent.
The female singer was fair, though
nothing to brag on, while the male grass
hopper sufferers sang as well as was
necessary. But the most agile flea
catcher that has been here since Anna
Dickinson's time, was sixteen-f fingered
Jack the sandhill crane that had the dis
turbance with the piano. We never
knew what she row was about, but when
he walked up to the piano smiling, and
SHE'D his castor into the ring, anybody
could see there was going to be trouble.
He spit on his hands, spared a little,
and suddenly landed a stunning blow
right on the ivory, which staggered the
piano, and caused an exclamation of
agony. First knock down for Jack. He
paused moment, and then began put
ting in blows right and left, in such a
cruel manner that the spectators came
near breaking into the ring. Whenever
key showed its head he mauled it. We
never saw piano stand SO much punish
ment, and live, and Jack never got a
scratch. The whole concert was a sue
cess and the troupe can always get
good house here.
Year: 1874

The mighty tide of immigration which
for years past has filed the patriotic
American with Joy promises now to be-
come tide of emigration. Large num-
bers of foreigners are returning to their
native lands, and the doleful story they
tell of desperately short" times in


America is having depressing effect on
European emigration to this country.
It is estimated that the number of per-
sons who arrived from the old country
the past year viii not be more than hall
the number of the year before. z
Year: 1874

A CLOSE CALL.-Through the courtesy
of one of our subscribers, says The
Rochester Express, we are enabled to
give the following account OF a thrilling
occurrence on the line of the Marquette,
Houghton & Ontonagon Railway in the
copper-mining region at the head OF
Lake Superior


ONToNAGoN, Wednesday, Dec. 10
Dza-- y x But the principal
reason for my writing was to tell you
what happened to Johnny-(He used
to run on the Central, you remember
He WAS pushing one of our big heavy
snow-ploughs over the road with Cotton
engine, such as we have to use here on
account of the heavy grades, and had
Just started down very long and heavy
grade near Michigamee. You know how
they have to run. Well, John had just
let her out for what she was worth, when
on turning a short curve he saw, about
a quarter of mile ahead, a four-horse
team hitched to sleigh that was caught
in the track somehow. The men in
charge seemingly made frantic efforts to
get the sleigh loose, but at last gave it
up, and to Johnny's surprise they all ran
off as hard as they could go across the
n01ltS. CdCh CIlISN IoI ofSI dlS SoOIl tAo
they came in sight, but the old thing was
going too fast to allow brakes to hold her.
Then he opened his whistle and ''made
her howl"! At that the horses began
to get restive and scared, and at last gave
a'plunge altogether that started the sleigh
Just in time for the engine to Craze it as
it went blythe horses starting off on the
run, but were caught by the men IN
charge. AS soon as Johnny stopped, he
went to find out if any hurt had been
done, and you may guess how he felt
when he learned that the sleigh was load
ed with 800 pounds of nitro-glycerine
just from the magazine at Michigamee,
enough to start a young railroad to the
moon if Jack had struck it.
Year: 1874

BURYING THE YoUNG.-It was among
the loveli9st customs of the anients to
bury the young at morning twilight for
as they strove to give the softest inter
probation to death, SO they imagined
that Aurora, who loved the young, had
stolen them to her embrace.
Year: 1874

EDITOR HERALD: - IF space will
permit, allow me-a stranger-to ex-
press through your columns, the pleas
ure feel and to remind others of the
privilege many more might enjoy, by
attendance upon the services OF the
Episcopal Church in Los Angeles.
Upon each recurring Sabbath the doors
of the neat, commodiOus, and conve-
niently located church are thrown
invitingly open; and upon entering,
the open peWs-free to all-seem to
bid you welcome, and one feels that
he is invited to rest for an hour,
where he may shut out the busy
world of everyday life with its cares,
and bask In contentment in an atmos-
phere as peaceful and refreshing as
the breath Of Spring, in communion
with God and in the society of his fell
low worshipers; and while in this
state OF true repose, by application to
the Great Source of all strength, may
burnish his armor, and grid up his
loins for his share in the battle of life
for the week to come. In this church
it seems to me, that the hour or more
of service is rendered unusually at
tractive, while it is profit b e, as such
service should ever be. There is Il
charm about the music SO feelingly
and skillfully rendered, and such u
pathos in the beautiful service as per-
formed, that at once soothes and sat
isfies the listener, and makes one feel
that the words OF benediction come too
soon.


Ifone will but reflect for moment
at least one who is at all acquainted
with the world, he will remember
how invitingly free. are the tempta-
tions to sin; and, indeed, one has only
to keep his eyes open while passing
upon the public ways, to see many of
the allurements to vice; and should
not the friends of virtue, and a true
life--the followers of the meek and
lowly Savior--also open their doors,
and not only make the place OF wor-
ship accessible to all, but also attrac
tive to all. / feel that this is the spir-
it of the pastor and of those who co-
operate with him in the services OF the
church Of which speak.
Year: 1874

is disposing of the fifty-five thousand
acres lying around the town of San
Fernando enables many people of
small means to purchase lot or farm
who would find it difficult to do so
under less favorable circumstances.
Four hundred dollars will buy an en-
tire block, consisting of about two
acres of excellent soil. This is land
enough to plant out a considerable
grove of orange, lemon and lime trees.
Or the same amount of money will
purchase nice little farm within a
short distance of the railroad depot.
These great advantages are the secret
OF the great success which has at
tended Mr.. Maclay's enterprise from
its inception and will attend it until
he has not an acre for sale. Attend
the sale to-day, if you want cheap
lot or farm
Year: 1874

M The tide ofjmmigration is steadily set
ting In, and the first thing eastern people do
is to throw away their New York Hats and buy
new one of DESMOND. They say there is no
comparison between the two. 2l2o
Year: 1874

The following is the method by which Mr..
Carson. President of the Horticultural Socie-
ty of Victoria, sent fresh apples and pears to
the Vienna Exhibition. Each frait was
carefully wrapped in smooth, fresh tissue
paper, and layer of cotton having been put
in the bottom of the box or case, layer of
fiuit was then placed upon it. Cotton was
crammed between the specimens and next to
the sides of the box, and another layer added.
and so on until the box was filed. The lid
was then nailed on and the package was ready
for shipment. When unpacked at Vienna,
we are told that the fine appearance of the
fruit excited admiration and astonishment." ="
We have received fruit in perfect order after
journey of thousands of miles, similarly
packed, except that fine chaif or soft bran
was used instead of cotton. 1t was of course
essential to select such specimens as would
keep sound lcng enough for the transit The
Garden.
Year: 1874




The influence exertel by the food of the
COW upon the richness of the milk is an i'm
portant subject for the farmers consideration.
If the richness OF cows milk which is nat
urally poor, can, by good feeding, be made as
rich as the best of cows, then it is more i'm
portant to feed well than it is to secure good
COWS. If the degree of richness of milk cali
not be materially increased by good feeding,
it is apparent that the selection of cows is
very important


The idea generally prevails that the rich
ness of milk in butter-making elements, may
be increased by giving rich, oily, fatty and
saccharine articles of food. To certain ex-
tent and within restricted limits this is mn
doubtedly true. A COW which is not receiv-
ing sufficient food, which is kept in pasture
was there is a scanty supply of grass with her
other additional food; or which is kept upon
poor hay, will give milk which is poorer in
butyraceous matters than when she is in good
feed, either in pasture or in the stall. There
fore with such COWS which are insufficienty
fed, an increase in the amount, and an i'm
provement in the quality of the food will in
crease the richness of the milk. If, however,
the COW is in good pasture with abundant


feed, or is well-fed in the stall, an addition OF
oily, starchy, concentrated food auM not in
crease the richness of her milk, bnt will very
likely, increase the quantity. Consequently
the extra feed will not improve the quality of
the milk of cow thus circumstanced but by


increasing the quantity, will make the week
ly yield of butter greater.


A cow naturally giving poor milk cannot,
by any process of extra feeding, be made to
give rich milk. The quantity may be IN
creased, but the per cent of butter which 1t
will yield will remain the same. This being
true, and its truth may be demonstrated by
any one possessing such acow, it is apparent
how hopeless is the task of making dairy
of such cows, naturally producing poor milk,
| by any extra feed which can be givea, yield
| milk which is rich in butter elements. The
man who keeps such cows, keeps them 10
his own loss whether he feeds them well OF
scantily. There is no profit in them to the
butter producers.
Year: 1874




As the time for making cider is close at
hand, few words to our farmer friends in re-
lation to cleansing cider barrels may not be
altogether out of order. More or less COM
plant is constantly made of bad cider, which
results chiefly from casks not properly cared
for. In order to have good cider, have good
clean, pure casks, and various opinions exist
as to the best method for cleansing them.
Some say to slack a small piece of lime in the
cask will render it perfectly pure; Others use
sweet fern water.


The method Of drawing casks dry and
thoroughly Iinsing and then laying them
away will cause them to mold and must. The
practice of filling casks with water and allow
ing it to remain in them for several days is
almost certain to create must. Now, the best
method to pursue, is not to wholly draw the
casks dry until nearly the time they are TO be
used; then rinse thoroughly with water and
turn them bung down, and after the water
has drained out, turn into the cask two quarts
of alcohol, shake well so that the spirit will
reach every crevice upon the inside of the
cask. The same alcohol will answer to cleanse
number of barrels, and if the same method
is pursued, one cannot fail to have pure casks


The next requisite to good cider is the man.
ner of making. Most people are in too yeat
a hurry to make cider after the apples have
been picked, Apples should be allowed to
lie several days in heaps, before making up;
they will become more juicy and the cider
can be more readily pressed out. Pomace
should also lie eight or ten hours in the
trough after it is ground before removing il
to the press; this gives the cider good color.


If any one wishes for something better
than the above method of preparing cider,
and can afford the expense, we will mem
ton another way of doing it. After the
cider has thoroughly fermented, rack off and
place in kettle over the fire, bring it to a
boiling heat, skim, and return it to the cask
Immediately. To barrel of cider add two
quarts of alcohol, and to every gallon Of
cider returned add one pound of sugar.
Cider prepared in this way will keep for
several years without becoming hard.-Mir-
ror and Farmer.
Year: 1874

In speaking of the young Frcnchmen of
the present day. and the hatred they bear to
their foes, the Tours correspondent Of the
Boston Transc,5pt. says: Every young
man who arrives at the age OF twenty years
is obliged to be sol!ier: for one year, if
he can pay the Government fifteen hundred
francs; if not, for five years. The peasants
often pay the sum required. bat the working
classes in towns and cities have not SO much
money, and arc obliged to serve out their
time There are six thousand of them now
in barracks at Tours, and they are every
where; promcnading the boulevarls, loung-
ing on the quays. and sauntering up and
down the streets in the most listlesS, wocbc
gone manner. 1t seems such a pity that
they should be obliged to waste five of the
best years of their lie, They cannot even
enjoy themselves. for they have no money !;
their pay Of two sous a day not aM1rding
them many uXuries. They are most OF
them small in stature aud very mild-looking,
and supposed at first that in time of war
they would be useful only in stopping the
enemies balls; bat one has only to say the
word 'Prus~ian' in their hearing, to see
the hot blool rush into their olive cheeks,
and the brown eyes light up with a fire that
bodes ill to the enemy, when next they meet
on the field Of battle The fierce hatrc,,
that the French have treasured mp against
the English for centuries, and that has i'm
PEELED them to give the name of 'Anglais'
to every disagree able and disgusting thing,
lras been transferred to the Prussiaus, and
they long for the day TO come when they
shall once more meet them face to face.
God help them all, foG it viii be terrible
day. They never tire Of recounting Incl
dents Of the war, when there We're PruSSianS
Quarterei in almost every house at Tours,
and they were obliged to wait on them and
serve them with the best Of everything they
could procure, although hating them 50
hitter,V'
Year: 1874

Take your spring cleaning lcisurely,
ladies, and do not drive the gude-man from
his accustomed corner with clouds of dust
Commence at the top OF the house, take
one room at a time; rest after each room is
completed: AMI you will escape much of the
discomfort due to such time. We have a
fancy for taking thi, particular industry of
house cleaning laisurey, says a house, keeper,
and managing it in II peaceful sort Of a way
so that there may be distributed along with
the inevitable disorder and up~ile-downcd-
ness a good many hours Of solid comfort and
and genuine ~eli-complacence. When clos
cts and drawers are thoroughly ovcrhauled,
all the Old shoes and rag, diiapilatcd hats
and od-ljtShipnel bonnrts are gotten out Of
the way, and everything is in it> appropriate
place, in these test places Of houSewitcly
order and neatneSS, then we take long
breath and rest awhile, read a new book, or
make fresh lrock for the baby by way of
diversion, and contemplate the next raid
upon the enemy. 1t Will be the attic and
then the guest chamber The walls shall
be carefully wiped down. the carpet shaken,
the bedding left out doors in the sun and air
all day, the be1steal to be busted and care
fully cleansed in every part, the curtains
washed, and all thing, pat back in place
and given the last touch Of nicely. There
is one room done ind we breathe again
Somewhat fAtigued we rest on our oars, and
next day take another room, and so on to
the end, going from the top down, from the
front back, and every day during the process
having little time to sit quietly and rest,
or read OF sew.
Year: 1874

making splendid leap, caught the
child in his arms and without attempt
ing to regain his feet, threw himself
over the rail with the agility of q cat.
1t was close call. Before he had
quite cleared the track the pilot struck
his foot, but he rolled safely out of
the way for several yards, still hold
ing the child in his arms.


The rate ut which the train was
running may be judged. when it is
known that it moved five car-lcngths
past where Evans was lying before it
could be stopped. The mother of the
child, who witnessed the affair, was
on the spot in flash, trembling,
weeping, and almost specchless with
excitement. Jack rose to his feet
and handed her the baby as coolly as
though he had just taken it out Of its
cradle. Madam" he said, "you had
better take care of that young one
hereafter" And he climbed into the
cab and went ahead more uncOncern-
ed and less excited than any Of the
gentlemen who were aft, serving
their country by twisting breaks. It
was gallant deed, and well perform
ed, and among the many thrilling le-
gends which already fill the pages of
the "Romance of the Road" railroad
men will have one more to relate in
the intervals of duty, and that, too,
one whose chief value is that there il
naught of invention or exaggcration
in its details-"How Jack Evans Sa-
we'd the Baby"