smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

southern States with dual governments is
now one of quiet expectation. The mis-
chief done by Stanley Matthews in as
suming 10 represent the President has
been checked. The trade and dicker pol
icy which Matthews tried to institute with
view to establishing democratic govern
merts in Louisiana and South Carolina is
repudia,ed, and the President himself
comes to the front with the policy of equal
rights for all and cancellation.


A commission is 10 be sent to Louisiana
to inquire into the condition OF things in
that State and report to the President the
facts they may find and the conclusions at
which they may arrive concerning the
course propes se be pursued. This COM
mission will be composed Of able men
selected with view to fair and Impartial
results. 1t will be composed of men ol
both parties. 1t will not investigate so
much the PASTOR that has already been
done-but will deal largely with present
facts and future probabilities and possi-
bilities.


In regard to 5 Juth Carolina different
course has been pursued, aiming howev-
er at a similar result. Chamberlain and
Hampton have been invited to appear in
person at Washington, or by delegates,
which they may appoint. 10 present each
his case to the President; or, if they may
prefer, to send written statements in sup
port of their claims to the Office of COVER
nor, the purpose on the part OF the Presi-
dent being to obtain as accurately as pos
sible the facts as they appear to each of
the contestants concerning matters in dis
pute. Whether they accept the PROPOSE
ton or not, the good intention OF Rresi-
dent Hayes is apparent.


In his letter he says: 1T is the earnest
desire of the President 10 be able to put
an end as speedily as possible to all ap-
pearance OF Intervention OF the military
authority of the United States in the polit-
ical arrangements which affect the gov
ernment. ami afll:ct the people of South
Carolina Here his object in inviting the
interview with Chamberlain and Hampton
is plainly stated. Reports seem to agree
that Chamberlain will accept the invita-
ton of the President. and that Hampton
will not accept. If Hampton had case
that would bear examination would he
decline to make it public in the way pro-
posed by the PRESIDENT


Thus stand matters at present in rela-
tion to Louisiana and South Carolina. Un-
til the measures adopted by the President
for his information and guidance have
been carried out the status quo will be
maintained. In the meantime public sem
timent is crystallizing in favor of the po-
sition that there must be no handing over
Of the freedmen to be trodden under foot
by the White League organization. With
cancellation must 60 the irrevocable dc
mand that equal rights for all. under the
constitution and laws, shall be maintained
at all hazards. This only is the way to
lasting peace. This alone will give com
mercal prosperity to North and South in
their relations with each other. Those
who attempt to build on other foundation
than that Of justice and right build upon
the sand. Compromise will settle moth
ing. We must fasten to the solid bed
rock OF principle if we mean to survive
the political tempests that are threatening.
Year: 1877

We have taken some trouble to inform our
selves of the corn and tobacco prospec, here at
this time, and We have no hesitation in saying.
that in the central sections Of our county and in
all light soils, nothing like full yield of either
crop can be realized. There can be slight room for
miscalculation in this matter, as much of the to-
hacro crop has been already housed and fully a
half Of the blade fodder taken from the corn. A,
this stage in the maturing Of these-crops any far
mer Of experience can closely approximate the
yield and i; is the Judgment Inexperienced farm
erS, with our own observation, which We rely
upon when we announce, that no, more than a
halfcrop of tobacco and two-,hirds Of a corn crop
can be realized in onr county from this year s
yield.
Year: 1877

Never write with pen or ink. 1t is
altogether too plain, and doesn't hold
the mind of the editors and printers
closely enough to their work.


If you are compelled TO use ink. never
use that vuligarity known as the blotting
pad. If you drop blot of ink OH the
paper, lick il Off. The intelligent COM
positor loves nothing so dearly a. TO
read through the smear this will make
across twenty or thirty words. We
have seen him hang over such piece
of copy half an hour, swearing like a
pirate all the time, he felt that good.


Don't punctuate. We prefer TO punct-
uate all manuscript sent to us. And
don't use capitals. Then we can punct-
r"'n and capitalize to suit ourself, and
yS'c' article, when you see ii in print,
will astonish even if it does not please
you.


Don't try to write too plainly. 1t is
sign Of plebeian origin and public
school-breeding. Poor writing is an
indication of genius. It's about the only
indication of genius that great many
men possess. Scrawl your article with
your eyes shut, and make every word
illegible as you can. We get the same
price for it from the rag man as though
it were covered with copper-plate sen-
tences.


Avoid all painstaking with proper
names. We know the full name of ev-
cry man, woman and child in the Uni
ted Statds, and the merest hint at the
name is sufficient. For instance, if you
write character something like a
drunken figure SO" and then draw q
wavy line, we will know at once that
it means Samuel Morrison, even though
YOU may think YOU mean "Lemuel Mes
senger." 1t Is great mistake that pro-
per names should be written plainly.


Always write on both sides of the pa
per, and when you have filed both sides
of every page trail line up and down
every margin, and back to the top OF
the first page, closing your article by
writing the signature Just above the
date. How we do love to get hold Of
articles written in this style. And how
we would like to get hold of the man who
sends them. just for ten minutes
Alone. lii the woods, with q cannon
in our hip pocket. Revenge is sweet
yum, yum, yum.


Lay your paper on the ground when
you write: the rougher the ground the
better.


Coarse brown wrapping paper is tho
best for writing Your articles on. i
you can tear down an old circus poster
and write ON the pasty side of it with {
pine stick, ii will do still better.


When your article is completed
crunch your paper in your pocket ant
carry it two or three days before send
ing it. This rubs of the superhuoui
pencil marks. and makes it lighter to
handle.


If you can think Of it, lose one pagt
out of the middle of your article. w,
can easily supply what is missing ant
we love TO do 1t. We have nothing clst
TO do.
Year: 1877

My experience in boomerangs is main
ly confined to the natives about the Con-
damine and its aff1uents, where I was
frequently in company with natives for
about year. They had two weapons,
one large, for war, the other small, for
game. | should think the weapon Is
seldom thrown in war, since most of
their contests (such as they are) take
place iii scrub or forest, where it could
not be used to advantage; but | have
seen native frightfully cut in the
abdomen, and was told by a ma
tive that he had been struck by a
boomerang thrown by the hostile party.
have seen few of these contests, but
never saw the boomerang used in any
way. The "waddys" were thrown
freely, the spear seldom. The game


boomerang is thrown among flights of
ducks, and also parrots when congrega-
ted on the trees and gathering nectar
from their flowers, and with marked ei-
leet. This | have seen several times.
There are two ways of throwing the
weapon. which, as could throw Il well
at one time, ! will endeavor 10 ho ,cribe


1t is grasped quite at the end by the
right hand and raised above the head.
the elbow being bent, the weapon as
suming position with its convex edge
downward on nearly horizontal line
at right angles TO the intended line of
flight. The arm is brought swiftly
round from left to right, becoming grad
ually extended until il reaches a line
directly in front of the face, when the
weapon is delivered from the now
straight arm, with the coneave edge
toward the line of flight. This is the
method of throwing into the air. No
dependence can be placed OH the return
of the weapon within a circle Of twenty
yards, though it sometimes returns dan
gerously near the throwor. If ii meets
with an obstacle ii is either stopped and
falls dead to the earth, or its course is
changed In either case its peculiar
motion is being destroyed, as must be
obvious. In the other method of throw
ing, the weapon is held in the same
way, but. delivered nearer on line with
the hip, and made to strike the earth
about ten yards in front of the thrower,
pitching, believe, though it is not easy
to observe, OH one of its horns. Thence
ii richochets and flies straight away for
perhaps seventy or eighty yards, keep
ing a position of about four feet from
the earth, and gradually rising until it
Is spent. 1t returns very little, if at all.
In this way only can il be used for war,
since in tLe other 1t begins TO mount at
once, and would soon be above the en-
emy's head. The weapon Is made OF
various woods, a piece with slight ell
bow being selected. II is hardened by
baking. The right form is arrived at
by trial, as have seen during the pro-
cess of manufacture. Those sold to Eu-
ropeans are the failures. | had to pay
a good price for the two l brought
home, but they are excellent specimens,
Year: 1877

Looks count for nothing, in some
cases. Nothing can be more absurd
than the idea that "looking guilty.
proves guilty. An honest man charged
with crime Is much more likely to blush
at the accusation than the real offender,
who is generally prepared for the event,
and his face "ready made" The very
thought Of being suspected Of anything
will bring lhc blood 10 an innocent mans
cheek, min, times out of ten.
Year: 1877

Scientific American


One of the anomalies in Ameri-
can customs is that of the driver of
a wagon sitting on the right hand
side, while he always turns out to
the right when passing another
team. 1t matters not whether he
is on the broad, safe thoroughfare
or on u narrow lane or crowded
city streets, his seat is the same.
Thus seated it is very difficult to
see the exposed wheels in passing
those which require the eye of the
driver, Doubtless this is q promi-
mont cause of the many collisions
between passing teams, and the
wonder is that more do not happen.
The custom was brought over by
the Pilgrims, but, like q Dutch sem
tenoe, the parts got transposed in
the translation, Across the pond
the driver sits on the right, but
always turns to the left. In copy
ing the practice, We retained the
useless part and changed the essen
tial for some unexplained reason,
Possibly our fathers thought to be
consistent in the matter and rather
than be right.handed in the driving
changed the latter to suit, at all
events, the thing as now prac6ced
is every way inconvenient, and is a
worthy subject of reform in this
year, whom reforms are so much in
favor, And since it is easier Ia
change ous position on the seat than
alter the custom of turning to the
right, let US henceforth hand oui
friends up to the right side of tn.
wagon, while We, as driver, take the
opposite side,
Year: 1877

ASArD WAS IN CONSTANT AOflufe.
Evansville und.l Journal


George Miller, of Princeton,
died last Friday night, after fifteen
years of the most hideous and tor
tured life that one could well i'm
agine. No matter how wonderful
the flight of fiction, there is now
and then some true story coming
to the surface which puts it to
shame and sets all philosophers agog
with amazement.


The history of George Miller is
one Of horrible strangeness, and is
the most remarkable we have ever
heard. Fifteen years ago, when
Miller was nineteen years of age,
he was suddenly seized with an
epileptic fit, and ever since then he
has been subject to them. They
came frequently and with fearful
power and effect. The utmost skill
of physicians was exerted in vain
to relieve him; his afliction batlled
them all.


Ten years from the date of his
first attack he became insane and
very dangerous, not only to strang-
ers, but to his friends and family
also. His case was incurable. and
he could not be received into the
asylum. For two years he was
chained fast to his room to prevent
him from doing any damage. But
during the remaining three years
of his poor life no chains were
needed, for the insidious disease
fast claimed him. rt


The muscles Of his legs contracted
so that his knees were drawn ur
within an inch of his chin, and his
arms were drawn and distorted in
q most horrible manner. By this
time he had become almost wild
beast. His tortured mind was un-
lit by ray of reason. All human
instinct even was gone. His appe.
tite became rayenous and horrible
He would, at times when hunger
was upon him, seize a bed blanket
or quilt and tear it to pieces like
an animal, devouring the shreds aa
if they were digestible food. He
would, again, tear his own flesh,
and it was with difficulty that he
was restrained from eating his own
flesh. Death finally released him
from a condition as miserable as
hell itself, and on Friday he died
easily, we understand.


DR.. S. II. Shoptaugh held a post
mortem examination of the body
Sunday, and found in the left ven
tricle of the heart a lump Of fat
two inches long and quarter Of
an inch thick. The gall bladder
was diseased by an enlargement, the
right lobe of the liver was enlarged,
and other arrangements Of his
functionary organs.


1t is certainly the most remark
able case on record. q.
Year: 1877

\ correspondents of the iuabandlnun
writes rs follows: There are in almost
aIl orchards some trees that bear only
once in two years. such trees often bios
som SO proiusely every alternate year
that the tree has not strength enough to
perfect all Of the fruit, hence the apples
are small and jll-shapcd, while the next
season they do not blossom at all. This
unprotabic condition Of an apple tree
may tee almost always rcmcdird by ma
naIring The ground around it and thin
ming out thc fruit IN the bearing year.
When the apples are about the size Of
hickory nntS pick ot1' from one-haIt to two
thirds Of them, according to the amount
the tree is bearing in excess, leaving only
the largest. This may seem difficult
undertaking, but have found it profitable
III my OWN experience. 1t takes no longer
to pick off half of the apples in June than
IT does IN autumn, and the remaining
fruit from its superior size, will be worth
as much aS the whole would be if the
tree is not thinned, besides, il will bear Il
good crop the next season. If time can
not be spared to pick off the apples
they may be knocked off with q pole.
but this is likely to iniure the tree. and
the larger fruit is as apt to be knocked
of us any
Year: 1877

An exchange says: ''IIcmlocll bark
has long been the chief source of supply
for the acG required in the tanning Of
leather. The bark was formerly cut from
the trees and transported great distances
to the places where it was required: but
at the present time AN extract is made in
the forests which answers every purpose
and obVates the necessity of transporting
50 much dead wood. 1t has been estimated
that one cord Of hemlocll bark produces
one barrel Of good tanning extract. worth
go. 1t is now found that one cord OF
alder will Weld the the same amount,
and one ton of sweet fern gives even Il
larger amount. In the New England
States, where the fern grows in album
dance and where some OF the wild weeds,
such as hard hack, also contain tannin Il
new industry has sprung up for making
extract, which promises to prove profit
able to those engaged in it, and valuable
to other interests in the saving of hem
lock forests from utter destruction.
Year: 1877

\ COLORED DEMOCRATIC ORATOR. At
the recent barbecue at Lexington, Ky, to
celebrate the division Of the hitherto solid
cOl0red vote, the whole cOncOurse (says Il
correspondent of the New York World)
gathered around the stand to listen to the
speech Of a colorcd orator named Ross
They gave lllm as respectful attention as
was ever given 10 speaker, but they
could not have helped il, for undoubtedly
he commanded their attention, as he is Il
natural orator, the equal OF whom have
rarely heard. If report is correct, his
powers may be regarded as a birth-right,
for he is said to be the natural son Of pro
badly the most gifted orator Kentucky
has ever produced. Ross, after serving
his Republican taslmasters for many
years, has learned that the interests of his
race are identical with those OF the white
people, instead of antagonistic to them !:
and this recent victory over the common
enemy is probably more due to him than
any other half-dozen men interested in
the campaign, for lie took with him no
small crowd of followers to the Democrat
lc camp.
Year: 1877

Would the diamond seem such peerless gem
If it measured one foot around
Would the rose leaf yield such a sweet pcrtllm,
If it covered yards OF ground!
Wonld the dewdrops seem SO clear and pure
If dew like rain should fall
Or the little woman be hall so great


If She We're six feet tall
'1'is the hand as soft as the nesting bird
That grips with the grip Of steel
lis the voice as sweet as the summer wind
That rules without appeal
And the warrior. scholar the saint and sage
May fight, and plan, and pray.
The world will wag to the end of time
In the little woman,S way
Year: 1877

1t is thought that b. Young ought to
have recovered from his cholera-m -morbus !;
but when it came to fighting with twenty
seven women, each one with Il different
kind Of a mustard plaster for her dear
husband, and new kind of herb tea, it
was too much for him. Every woman laid
her plaster where there was room, and
the Prophet went down to his grave like
a sandwich.
Year: 1877

6 In THE THEATRICAL NOTICE in Yesterdays
Dispatch alIusion was made to the tall bon
nets and feathers worn by the lady auditors
at the Theatre. They are very Objectionable
not only because they obstruct the view Of
the stage to gentlemen, but because they
equally ineommode the ladies themselves:
On their own account they should discard
these bonnets and substitute some head
gear that will not shut off all chance to OBJ
serve the play with satisfaction. In the
large northern theatres ladies appear with
opera-hats, or ornaments for the crown OF
their dear heads, which do not rise enough
to incommode the spectator. The matter
is serious one, and should be earnestly
considered by the fair.
Year: 1877

Leaks in the Canal.-In consequence Of
threatened break at the reservoir yesterday
water was let off. Leaks are also reported in
the canal. A force III workmen was at once
put to work to repair the break ut the reser-
voir and to guard against another serious
stoppage Of operations on the water-line.
Year: 1877

rving out the rulerof following the current
price of labor, nor would it be thought just
bv the great body of mechanics and labor
ers if the Government employers we're thus
favored. =.


In consequence Of these difficulties in
the enforcement of vague statute, there,
fore. the rule has been adopted. we believe,
of onlylequiring eight hours labor Of gov
3 ,eernment employees, at fixed rate per
hour and when necessity arises for more
work, to pay at the same rates for extra
labor. If we are correct in our information
on this point, we must say that we cannot
see how the law can be better enforced.


If Congress had attempted to fix the
rates of wages, ia every case-as so much
nor dav for one class of mechanics, or Ia
borers-so much for another, and so much
for third, there would still come in the
difficulty, that the same sort OF labor would
he worth more in one place, owing to the
relative expense of living, than in another;
and the catalogue Of rates would be end
less. Neither could Congress regulate
them intelligently and fairly, for want OF
the requisite information. 1t would re-
ouire the peculiar knowledge of experts in
great variety of places and occupations
tn settle such details.
Year: 1877

Complaints are made against the GovS
ernment for not enforcing the eight-hour
law. But we suspect that the fault Is IN
the law itself; and that the fault IS due
mainly to the difficulty Of legislating on
the subject. The law is contained In the
following few lines Of the Revised Stat
ntes:


Eight hours shall constitute days
work for all laborers, workmen. and MT
chanics who may be employed by or on
behalf of the Government OF the United
States.


It will be seen that the law imposes upon
the several Departments of the Govern
ment the duty and necessity of fixing the
rate of wages.


Where youth has been educated to per-
firm mechanical labor he is admitted, by
the common consent Of the world, to be
entitled to higher pay when he becomes a
man for his labor, than is allowed for the
labor which requires no skill Or knowl'
edge, but merely physical strength. Here
ia the first difficulty. The heads of De
partments are called on to discriminate
not ouly between different kinds of skilled
labor, as we'll as between different kinds
common labor. 1t is easy to conceive tn
difiulty Of satisfying everybody in maxim
these determinations.


Another difficulty arises from the fac
that private employers and employed pa
no attention to the eight hour law fixed b
Congress for Government laborers, To /
nav men laboring for the Government fc
eight hours the wages paid by private pa
ties for ten hours labor would not be Cal
Year: 1877

At recent meeting of the "City Faith
ers" it was announced that the stiles had
been placed at the entrances of the Park
O, Eighth street, and that the grounds
we're open to the public. We either fail
to clearly comprehend the object Of a
park, or the meaning Of being "open to
Ire public" Our impression has always
.peen that city park was for the use, COM
fort, and enjoyment Of families that might
wish to spend their time in recreation
within its borders, and that being formally
ypened was the placing it at the disposal
Of such families, young and old. We gee
we are mistaken, and that our park is to
be used for other purposes. Almost daily
NAV be found companies OF young men,
not bows, within its limits vigorously car
ing on game at ball and bat, and often U.s.
ing language that is not only vulgar but
indecent. As matter Of consequence, no
lady wishes to take her family to such a
place and even if she did venture, II
would be safe to do so only after che had
her life insured.


We regret the Quickstep Ball Club has
no funds to give them prominence witt
other first-class clubs through the country
bnt since it is 80, would it not be well fol
the "City Fathers to give the free use OF
The park to the said club, and they woult
thus aid them, and the public would know
what to expect when they visited tn
Year: 1877

The Secretary of the Navy has deter
mined to diminish the expenses OF his de-
partment, and has accordingly decided that
vessels in commission, while lying in port
and subject to and held in readiness for sea
service, where the crew has been reduced,
will be put upon the list Of Especial shore
SERVICE" and the officers thereof will draw
the dimished pay.