smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

THE use of the Mnffatt bell punch
and register, it is thought, would not
be practicable in Fort Worth. The
demand for drinks is too rapid. 1t
would overcrowd the machine and it
would cork uo and quit counting.
When the machine was put in opera
ton in Virginia blacks and whites uni
ted, the New York Herald says, IN rid
iculing it and predicting its farcical
failure:


1t has lived down strorg opposition
and is now popular with the dealers,
and, of. course, with the people in
view of the amount of revenue 1t Sc
cures. Here all respectable liquor sell
lers would cheerfully obey the law and
the money it would realize to the city
would be acceptable to the taxpayers.
The registration Of drinks is found by
proprietors to be check on the bar
tenders. If the latter are disposed to
be dishonest toward their employers,
under the bell punch system they must
risk going to Jail for defrauding the
government, for they cannot cheat the
one without cheating the other. There
would be no practical difficulty in the
way of enforcing the law. The tax
would be paid cheerfully by licensed
houses; 1t would be most valuable
check on the unlicensed sale of liquor
as no unlicensed house could have {
register, and it's character would thu
be at once evident, and the amount re
ceIved by the city treasury would be
most important relief to the taxpayers
Year: 1878

The papers are for it and there issno
reason why a good editor, who tolls
faithfully and intelligently, would not
take as god Governor as blather
skiting stump-speaker; and therefore
the popular approval of the proposition
the next Governor of that common
wealth. The great danger is that in
making commonplace Governor out
Watterson a marvellous, proper editor
would be spoiled. The country at
large would gladly crafty the man,
but can't spare the editor.
Year: 1878

RAILROAD managers have discovered
that color blindness is very common
and very dangerous defect of vision
when 1t affects engineers and conduc-
tors. When these cannot distinguish
results. A train may be hurled for
ward to destruction when it should be
sent backward for safety. Opticians
have been testing the capacity of the
eyes of men in this respect, and it re-
suits that one in ten cannot distinguish
colors. Very many cannot discrimi-
nate between green and blue, and half
the husbands never know, when wives
dress IN yellow or orange, and now
and then an awful sinner comes along
who cannot detect any difference be-
tween yellow and white. Everybody has
learned that on election days the law
and all officeseekers are color-blind. We
haye often imagined, too, that their
sense of smell was even more defec-
tive. But it was only our purpose to
suggest that railway managers have
found it necessary to apply proper tests
to each engineer and conductor, and
no man will be employed in such ca
pacities who cannot distinguish green
from red lights.
Year: 1878

volume of currency must be restored
at once to its condition of six years
ago; that the domination of bondhold-
ers at Washington must end and the
prosperity and perpetuity of the repub-
lie assured by the restoration of that
and purity of government
which distinguished it one hundred
years ago. In other words, States and
people must be first and the empire
and aristocracy obliterated.
Year: 1878

IT should not be forgotten that the
Democrats have decided majority in
the House, and yet have evinced de-
gree of independence never known
before. Party ties are surely growing
weak when they admit of honest ac-
ton, when honesty lessons the strength
of the party, and, at the same time,
leaves Democrats out in the cold. By
a majority of one Democratic House
assigned contested seat to Republi-
can. Republicanism, In all the years
of its baleful reign, never did deed
like this, and its representatives are
leprous with perjury committed for the
axe of party.
Year: 1878

THE bill prepared by Postmaster
General Key to reform abuses In modes
of advertising done by the govern
ment will probably pass both houses.
He can insert six inch advertisement
in two papers in each State affecting
mail route lettings, and all advertising
done by the government will be paid
for at commercial rates.
Year: 1878

KENTUCKY proposes to make the
Moffatt register and bell punch sustain
the public schools of that State. Vice
is thus made to do obeisance to virtue,
and the more drinking the more learn
ing. II the scheme were made opera
tive in Dallas the Herald might acquire
a small share of the virtues of Solomon.
Year: 1878

A STRANGE TRADITION. Among The
Seminole Indians there is singular
tradition regarding the white mans origin
and superiority. They say when the
Great Spirit made the earth he also
made three men, all of whom were fair
complexioned, and that after making
them he led them to the margin of n
small lake, and bade them leap in and
and wash. One oheyed, and came out
purer and whittier than before the second
hestated moment, during which time
the water, agitated by the first, had be-
come muddled, and when he hathed, he
came up copper colored the third did
not leap until the water became black
with mud, and he came out with his own
color. Then the Great Spirit laid before
them three packages, aid ont Of pity for
the misfortunes in color, he gave to the
black man the first choice. He took
hold of each of the packages, and having
felt the weight chose the heaviest the
copper colored man chose the next
heaviest, leaving the white man the
lightest. When the packages were
opened the first was found to contain
hoes, spades, and all the implements of
labor; the second unwrapped hunting,
fishing, and warlSe apparatus the third
gave the white man pens, ink, and pa
per; the engine of the mind-the means
OF mutual, mental improvement, the 80
cial link OF humanity, the foundation
of the white mans superiority.
Year: 1878

/ THE TELEPHONE UNDER WATER


Various are the surprises which blossom
out of that wonderful Instrument, the tel


ephone. In France they have applied it
for marine purposes. The French war
steamer Bessie had to tow out from Tou


Ion the old ship A1gonaute. A conduct
ing wire was rolled round one of the
towing cables, with an end on board each
vessel. A telephone was introduced in
the circuit or each, and communication
established between them. During the
whole time Of the navigation conversation
couid be carried on as easily between the
officers on the two vessels as if they had
been seated in the same cabin. The next
step was to apply the telephone to the
work of the diver. One of the glasses of
the helmet is replaced by a copper plate,


in which is inserted telephone, so that
the man has only slight movement of
the head to make in order to receive com
municatons or report observations. The
advantages Of such arrangement are OBJ
vous. Frequently at sea the necessity
arises of examining the keel or bottom
Of q ship. The diver descends, and is
able to give an account of all he sees
and does, and receives instructions with
out having to be brought to the surface
to give explanations, us has hitherto been
the case. By the use of telephone.
man at the bottom of the sea can remain
in constant communication with those at
the su face. But :he most singular ap.
plication Of the telephone comes from
New South Wales, where Mr.. Severn,
an enthusiastic experimenter, claims that
he has made the deaf to hear with. it. -
After describing very simple telephone,
which he constructed out OF tin pot,
the closed end of which he opened and
tied over it a piece of parchment, passing
a fire string through the center and
making knot inside, Mr. Severn says
Make a loop in the string some four feet
long, put this loop over the forehead Of
the listener tthe deaf 'man), cause him to
place the palms of his hands fiat and
hard against his ears, let the loop pass
over the hands, and now this listener
will hear the smallest whisper, let him
be deaf or not. This fact may appear
extraordinary it is, nevertheless, true
that deaf man may thus be made to
hear tho vnica i1Dsip ntn
Year: 1878

PoRTuGEsE CoURTsHIP. - The young
men of Portugal have one occupation
more important than wearing tight boots,
and which almost, in fact, goes with il


that Of baking the very mildest form
of love know among men. The young
eentlemen pay their addresses by simply
standing in front of the house occupied
by the object of their affections, while
the Young person in question looks down
approvingly from an upper window, and
there the matter ends. They are not
within speaking distance, and have to
eontent themselves with expressive
glanees and dumb show, for it would be
thought highly unbecoming for the young
lady to allow q billet doux to flutter down
into the street, while the laws Of gravita-
lion stand in the way OF the upward
flight of such document, unweghted,
at least, with stone, and this, OF couse,
might risk giving the young lady a
black eye, or breaking her fathers win
dow panes. So tha lovers there remain,
often for hours, feeling, no doubt, very
happy, but looking unnIterably foolish
There silent courtships sometimes con-
tinue for very long periods before the
lover can ask .he fatal question, or the
lady return the fnal answer.
Year: 1878

A CLAIM for one dime in a court of jus.
tice bolstcred by such evidence as that
given by ANDERSON before the PurrET
committee would inevitably fall to the
ground, and yet the attempted revolution
is pushed forward. The assault upon the
Presidents title is not to be backed by
truth and justice, but by force, when tn,
hour of real trial comes. The present move
4 mere feint
Year: 1878

AT the mention of tatto DING, the
English reader will be disposed to
lower the Burman in his estimation to
the level of the red Indian or South
Sea Islander. or other wild OffshoOt of
humanity. Yet, it is no mark of any
such want of culture. From the edu-
Gated native judge who sits on the
bench to administer the law of Eng
land, who speaks and writes the Eng
lish language, drives in his barouche,
and attends the social gatherings of
English ladies and gentlemen, to the
humblest laborer in the field, every
man of the population is tattooed, not
at pleasure and within the limits he
himself may draw. but by rigid GUS
tom which devotes to the tattooer's
art the body of every man from the
waist to below the knee. Within this
Year: 1878

area every Burman is branded with a


close tapestry of lions, griffns, and


other fabulous monsters, in deep blue
pigment, forced under the skin by q
painful process. Red tattooing is con
fined to the upper part of the body.
The necessary decoration is begun at
an early age, and the prescribed sur
face is only gradually covered but the
severity of the treatment in the case
of very young boys is the cause of no
little illness, and sometimes even of
death. have myself met only one
Burman who was not thus decorated,
and he was a privileged mountebank
to whom the license of clown was al
lowed, and who was the good natured
butt of his companions. The tattooer
is proud to execute his most artistic
designs (Which he will display on a
scroll like tailor's patterns) on the
arms of English officers, and among
those who have served in Burmah the
samples of this art are among the
commonest relics shown to admiring
friends at home. Whatever may haye
been the origin of this strange custom
it is considered an essential mark of
manliness, and the Burmese youth
who shrank from the ordeal would be
regarded and treated as milksop ;
and however unnatural the custom
may be, it undoubtedly has the effect
of attaching wholesome dignity to
hardship, and the fearless endurance
of physical pain, which may be partly
due the remarkable freedom from ef-
feminacy which is popular character
istic of the Burmese.
Year: 1878

He knew full we'll how the matter
stood. and he felt not little shame
for the ridiculous part he had enacted.
He retired with his wife very passive
ly, vowing in his own mind never to
be caught in like scrape again.
Year: 1878

The dying leaves fall fast,
Chestnut. willow, oak and beach.


All brown and withered lie.
Now swirling to the cutting blast,
Now trodden under foot-they teach


That one and all must die.
This autumn of the year
Comes sadly home to my poor heart,


Whose youthful hopes are fed.
The darkening days are drear-
Each love once mine l see depart


AS withered leaves and dead.
But is it all decay?
All present loss-no gain remote?


Monotony of pain?
All! no, 1 hear lay
The robin sings. How sweet the note
A pure. unearthly strain.
And of all flowers, the first
Beneath these leaves in spring shall blow
Sweet violets blue and white.
So all lost loves shall burst
"a In sprin like beauty, summer glow.
"a In heaven upon our sight. fN
KscnsiSzon Magazine. S i
Year: 1878

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The House spent the day
upon the Indian Appropriation bill, and passed it,
The discussion was mainly confined to two PROPOSE
tions The first was to make Appropriation for
the expenses of the Peace Commission and the sec
ond to prevent the President from colonizing Ind-
ans in the Indian Territory except by special act Of
Congress.


On the question of the Peace Commissioners and
their compensation the Southern Democrats were
particularly bitter. They thought it was enough
that the Peace Commissioners should know that
their names would be handed down through the
statutes TO future generations as intelligent and
patriotic men. The House. however thought that
the expenses at least, of the Peace Commissioners
ought TO be paid. and voted to allow them 81, 800
each for that purpose.


The proposition with regard to colonization pro-
vided that all Indians should be sent to the Indian
Territory, and that sufficient military force should
be stationed there to preserve order among them.
very animated and sometimes bitter contest sprang
up during the discussion of this proposition and 1t
was finally defeated. An amendment was adopted,
providing that no Indians from Arizona and New
Mexico should hereafter be coOnized in the Indian
Territory unless it should be authorized by special
act of Congress-,
Year: 1878

much difference Of opinion as to the wisdom OF con-
tinuing the Government Printing Office, but the
House committee now engaged IN attempting 10
throw mud upon Mr.. Defrees will probably fail to
make any of it stick
Year: 1878




All animals, except those that prowl
at night, retire to rest soon after the
sun goes down, from which we may
conclude that Nature intended that
the human species should follow their
example. 1t is from the early hours
of sleep which are the most sweet and
refreshing, that the REORGANIZATION of
muscular energy and bodily strength
takes place, as we'll as that due excita.
bility of the brain Indispensable to the
eXertion of our waking hours. Sleep
has been called the chief nourisher in
life's feast but how few find in such |!
In order that sleep may be refreshing
it is necessary to take sufficient exer-
else in the open air during the day, TO
eat light supper, or none at all,
avoiding tea or coffee late iii the eve
ming, TO sleep on a hair mattress, with
light covering Of bed clothes, in a
room freely ventilated. It is we'll
known that the Duke of Wellington,
till hale old man, was accustomed to
sleep on narrow hard pellet; and VIC
believe the couch OF her Majesty is also
o! the simplest possible construction.
Il is reported that the Duke justified d
the narrowness of his resting place on
the plea that when man wishes to
turn, it is then high time TO turn out.
We seldom hear the laborious peasant
complain of restless nights. The in
dolent, pampered epicure, or the man
who overtasks bis brain and denies
himself bodily exercise, is liable to
sleeplessness.
Year: 1878

been very sick with the measles.
was glad in my heart that I had tina,
excuse.


1t was seven o'clock when / reached
the Office. l knew DR.. Russell's ad.
dress, and Immediately telegraped:


your niece, Miss Betty Willis, tells
us that Mrs. Russell is dangerously ill.
Is that fact?'


waited at the Office for an answer.
1t came within thirty minutes,


mo. I'll send a detective down
early in the morning. have no niece
of that name. Detain the woman


l went home with the message.
Miss Betty had gone to her room ;
Miss Berry was lamenting to my aunt
that she was to be left alone. l felt
strangely-trembled from head to foot
but was cautious enough to hold my
tongue, not even telling my aunt more
than part of the message.


l think I did not sleep at all that
night. l felt fear that Miss Betty
might even now slip through our fin
gers. was sure she suspected. dan
ger. Her trunk was packed the first
thing in the morning. She wanted it
sent to the station, but 1t was an hour
before we could get man TO take it,
1 stood at the window almost crying
as it was brought down to the lower
hall. The next moment eayy a strange
man, who l felt must be detective,
enter the house.


l can hardly tell what happened
next. Miss Berry was in Mysteries
and all the stolen goods were piled on
the parlor floor. Presently the house
was cleared Miss Betty had gone, and
Miss Berry soon came to her senses.


Since then nothing can prevail upon
my aunt to take summer boarders.
Even Miss Berry has applied in vain.
Year: 1878

One Of the bottest regions on the earth
Il along the Persian Gulf, where little or
no rain falls. At Bahrin the arid shore
has no fresh water, yet comparatively
numerous population contriye TO live
there, thanks to the copIous springs which
burst forth from tie bottom OF The sea.
The fresh water is got by diving. The
diver sitting on his boat, winds a great
goat skin bag around bis left arm, the
hand grasping his mouth. Then he takes
in bis right hand heavy stone, to which
is attached strong line, and thus equip
ped be plunges in and quickly reaches
the bottom. Instantly opening the bag
over the strong Jet Of fresh water, he
springs up the ascending current, at the
same time closing the bag, and is helped
aboard. The stone Is then hauled up,
and the diver, after taking breath, plnnges
sgain. Tie source Of these copious sub.
marine springs u thought 10 be In the
green bills Of Osmau, some five OF slI
hundred miles distant.
Year: 1878

Her hands are cold her face is white
No more her pulses come and go;
Her eyes are shut to life and light


Fold the white Yestures. snow on snow.
And lay her where the violets blow.
But not beneath craven stone.
To plead for tears with alien eyes;
A slender cross Of wood alone


Snail say that here maiden lies,


In peace beneath the peaceful skies.
And gray old trees of hugest limb


shall wheel their eircling shadows round
Te make the seoTching sunlight dim.
That drinks the grsenness from the grOuu
And drop their dead leaves on her mound
When Ger their coughs the squirrels run,
and through their leaves the robins call,
And, upen1ng in the autumn sun


The scOrns and the chestnUts fall,
Doubt not that she viii need them all.
To her the morning choir shall sing
Its mathis from the branches high,
And every minstrel voice of spring


That thrills beneath the April sky
Shall greet her With its earliest cry.
When, turning round their dial track
Eastward the lengthening shadows pass
Her little mOurners, clad in black,
The cr1ckets, sliding through the grass,
Shall pipe for her evening mass.
at last the rOotlets from the trees
Shall find the prison where she lies.
And bear the buried dust they seize
In leaves and blossoms to the skies
So may the soul that Warme d it riseI
II any. born Of kindlier blood,


Should ask, What maiden lies beloW2
Say only this: A tender bud


That tried to blossom in the snow
Lies WIthered where the ViOlet5 blow.
Year: 1878

Her hands are cold her lace Is white


No more her pulses come and go;
Her eyes are shut to life and light


Fold the white Yestures, snow on snow.
And lay her where the violets blow.
Year: 1878

A POTATO bug crawled out Of his hole
on n recent fine morning and mounted =
fence post TO sun himself. Piously and
psnsivsly he sat there. and ~ he COM
placsntiy watched the farmer ut his
potato planting. he ever and anon car
oied thus. ~ II in mockery "what
shall the harvest DO p
Year: 1878

THr eight -ysar-old daughter Of lead
ing physician in berkshire county has
brought forth the following as her first
school essay: There was little girl and
shs Vas very sick. They sent for my
papa and she died very quick"
Year: 1878

twenty five cents a week, let him
save that. II doesn't amount to
much, it is true it is only thirteen
dollars a year, but it is worth saw.
ing; it is better than wasted; bet
ter saved than fooled away for to-
bacco or beer, or any other worth
less or useless article or object
But the best thing about it is, that
the boy who saves thirteen dollars
q year on very mesger salary ac-
quires a habit of taking care of his
money which will be OF the utmost
value to him.


The reason why working men as
q class do not get ahead faster
are not more independent--is that
they have never learned to save
their earnings. It does not matter
great deal whether man receives
a salary OF a dollar day or FIVE
dollars, if he gifts rid Of it all during
the week, so that there is nothing
left Saturday night he will not
get rich very rapidly. He will new
or have much ahead But the in
divldual who receives one dollar
per day and is able to save twenty
cents, or the one getting five dollars
who is careful to lay up one dollar,
is laying up something for a rainy
day.


louny people who expect to Ia
Dor with their hands for what they
may have of this worlds goods,
who have no ambition or wish to
become professional men, Office
holders or SPECTATORS, should by
AL means acquire habits OF economy
and learn To save. So surely as
they do TINS. so surely viii they ac-
cunulate, 50 surely VIII they be in
situation to ask uo special favors.
Every man wants to learn TO look
ont for himself aud TO rely upon
himself. Every man nee Is to feel
that he is tie peer of every other,
and he cannot 60 it if he is peuni-
less. Money is power, and those
who nave it exert wider iufuence
| than the destitute. Hence it should
be the ambition of every young
man te acquire, and to DO this he
must learn to save. This Is the
first lesson to be learned, and the
youth who cannot master it will
never have anything. He will be a
menial, dependent.
Year: 1878

SELF REsPECr-Teach a boy to
think meanIy and contemptibly OF
of himself, to east of all sense of
character and all consciousness of a
superior nature, and moral per-
suasion can no more act upon that
boy than if he were dead. A boy
may be addicted to many vices and
yet there may be hope of reclaim
ing him. But the moment he loses
all sense OF character and all con
sciouNness of superior nature
that is the moment he begins TO
look upon himself and his vices as
worthy of one another, that moment
all hope of him perishes; for the
last ground is surrendered on which
it is possible tor his remaining good
principles to rally and make a
stand. We have often known per
sons to retain their self respect
long after they had lost their regard
for principle, but never one who
retained his regard for principle at
Year: 1878

LEARNING TO SAVE. The first
thing 10 be learned by boy or
young man, or any one else having
the least ambition TO become USE
ful memqer Of society, is the habit
of saving. No matter if a boy or
girl has weslthy parents, each
should save, for no other reason
than that riches are well known "to
take to themselves wings and fy
away" Few are so well-to-do as
to be secured against poverty and
want. In this country it is uoto-
riously true that the children OF the
wealthy classes are often miserably
poor; while the men of large
means among us, As rule, com
menced life without other advan-
tages than habits of industry coupled
with the disposition to save.


1t is especially important that
the children of people in moderate
circumstances and of the poor
should learn to take care of the
money they get. A boy who il
earning fifty cents, seventy five
cents, or dollar day, should
manage to save portion Of it, il
possible. If &c can lay by only