smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

upon this groundwork was stretched
the skin Of the defunet beauty fas-
tened to the board by silver-headed
nails. The panel was boarded
with a narrow rim of silver, on
which was engraved an inscrip-
ton giving a brief notice of the
life and death of the unfortunate
Rose. This singular object was
then hung by its whimsical pos.
SCISSOR, as though it had been a
portrait, on the wall Of his drawing
room. But the oldest part of this
story is to come. The first time
the piano was played on after the
hanging up of the relic in Mr.. WIS
drawing-rocm all present were
startled at hearing a sort OF echo
of the music that evidently pro-
ceeded from the skin upon the
wall; it seemed to the listeners TO
these strange sounds as though the
soul of the former belle Of the
Closerie des Lilacs were making a
faint response to the tones of the
instrument. The matter was a
good deal talked of at the time, and
several savants set themselves to
examine the mystery, which they
explained as resulting from the
tension of the skin upon the panel
to which it was nailed, tension
which gave to it the property of a
Sounding-boar ; hence the vibra-
tions of the skin when acted upon
by the vibrations Of the piano.
David, who was a frequent guest OF
the Americans, was much i'm
pressed by the faint responses Of
the skin, and would often listen,
dreamily, to the weird sounds that
seemed like an echo of his thoughts
and fancies. Mr.. w., being obliged
to return suddenly to America, sent
the strange relic to David, asking
him to keep it safe until his return
to Paris, which he supposed would
be in the course Of a few months.
But circumstances prevented his
return, and the skin accordingly
remained in David possession un-
til his death. Mr.. W., however,
has now returned to Paris, where
his first care, on learning the de-
cease of his old friend, was to
claim from the estate of the late
composer the restitution of the lu-
gubrious curiosity which he prizes
SO highly.
Year: 1877

Virginia Chronicle.l


A reporter was sliding down the
canon toward the circus when he
met Captain Bob coming up,
wrapped in a new red blanket OF
ample dimensions. The sad ex.
preston on the chieftain's face was
painfully indicative of financial
embarrassment. He paused when
he met the reporter, and, hearing a
bowel-scraping sigh, pointed to his
wigwam and said:


Wiyah wife heap sick; you come
and see"


Visiting the sick being part of
the regular christian duties of a
reporter immediate assent was
given, and the two hastened to the
wigwam, where lay the suffering
partner of Bob'S joys and sorrows.
The woman was lying on a couch
Of rabbit skins, and was indeed the
picture of distress.


"Awful sick" muttered Captain
Bob, looking woefully down. "No
medicine; no money; die pooty
soon."


Overcome by the desperate state
Year: 1877

OCrlDner IOr y une describes Bar
tholdi'S colossal Liberty" to stand
at the entrance of the harbor of
New York:


1t will be presented to America
by the people of France. Allowing
twenty feet for the height of the
island above the water, the pedestal
is to be one hundred and ten feet
high, and the statue, to the flame
Of the torch, one hundred and forty
five. This makes the torch at least
two hundred and seyenty-fve feet
above the level of the bay. 1t will
equal in height the column in the
place Vendome at Paris, and will
be larger than the colossus of
Rhodes, so much celebrated by an
tiquity. Like that statue, it will
it will have to be cast in pieces Of
manageable size, and built up much
after the manner of an armored
frigate. The construction will be
a curious piece of engineering skill,
for which the sculptor and M. de
Stuckle will be responsible. At
night it is proposed that a halo of
jets Of lights shall radiate from the
temples of the statue, and perhaps
the flame of the torch may be fash
ioned in crystal, in order that it
may catch the light of the sun by
day, and at night form a glowing
object Illuminated by electricity.


In respect to the pose of the
statue, that has been calculated with
care. A Liberty would have to be
draped, even if a draped statue were
not advisable in a climate so cold as
ours, where nude figures suggest
extreme discomft. But NJ. Bar
tholdi has also used his drapery to
give a tower-like and therefore solid
look to his lofty woman, without
forgetting the necessity for variety
in the upward lines. Or perhaps it
it would be better to say that he
has followed the laws of stability to
be seen in the trunks of trees,
which are very broad at the ground,
where the roots are indicated, yet
by no meaHs of one mOnotonous
breadth from the root to the
branches.


She will stand so as to suggest
that the strongest hurricane could
never bulge her from the pedestal
she has chosen. Her gesture is
meant to call the attention of the
most distant person, and, moreover,
to let him know Enthusiastically what
the figure means. For in this statue,
also, M. Bartholdi has applied his
science to fine effect in getting the
figure outlined against the sky,
while energetic attitude has not in
terfered with a certain dignifed re-
posed which inheres in the resting
position and which may be owing
to the weight of the body being
thrown on the left leg, as well as to
the grave folds of ample drapery.
Even a stranger approaching from
the Narrows should not know at
once what she is holding up for him
to see, the energy of her action will
awaken his curiosity, and the dig
nifty of it will make him await a
nearer approach with confidence.
When he can make out the tablets
of the law which jut from her left
side as they rest on her bent arm,
and the flaming torch which she
high up above her head, while her
eyes are fixed on the horizon, he
will be dull indeed if he does not
understand what she wishes to tell.
Year: 1877

A strange discovery Is reported from
the Lake Of Geneva. "A tourist having
lost his trunk, two divers were employed
to search for it. While they were below
water, they found what they supposed
to be a village, since covered by the lake.
Their statements led 10 an investigation
Of the spot by the municipal authorities,
who took measures TO ascertain the truth
Of the extraordinary account Of the
divers. On covering the placid surface
with oil, these latter were able TO distin-
guish the plan of a town. streets, squares
and detached houses marking the bed Of
the lake. The ruddy hue which charac-
terized them led the observers to sup
posethat the buildings had been covered
with the famous yermillion cement,
which was used BY the Celts, Cimbri
and the early Gauls There are about
POO houses arranged over an oblong sur
face, near the middle Of which is space
more open, supposed to have been used
for public assemblages. Al the eastern
extremity lies large square tower.
which was taken for rock. A superb
cial investigation seems 70 indicate that
the construction of these buildings dates
from some centuries before our era The
Council Of Naud has decided 70 have the
site II the dwellings inclosed 10y jetty
stretching from the land, and 70 drain
off the water, SO as to bring 10 light
what promises to be one Of the most in
tcresiing archaeological discoveries of
our day london Daily Telegraph.
Year: 1877

a Confederate soldier from the Valley
Of Virginia. in one Of the battles Of the
late civil war. was struck in the head by
4 Mimic ball. The ball passed through
the skull, and the surgeons. afraid TO
probe the wound IN search of il, left the
man 10 die In the course IF time he
recovered, but had lost his reason, and
was sent 10 the Insane Asylum AT
>,annton, where he remained for eleven
years. AT length DR.. Fauntlcroy. an
eminent physician Of that city, obtained
permission from the asylum authorities
and friends Of the insane man TO make a
surgical examination Of the head, with
the hope Of finding the ball. He was
successful, and found the ball imbeddcd
on the inside Of the skull and pushing
against the brain. Unable TO extract Il
with any instrument At hand, he took a
chisel and mortised II out. As soon a
the ball was removed, reason resumed
its control, and thedcrangcd one was in
his right mind. lie says that lie Is not
conscious Of any thing that occurred
during the interval Of eleven ycars--from
the time he was struck on the battle
field to the moment the pressure was re-
moved from the brain all was a blank tc
him. Whceiing Register.
Year: 1877

A BAD FINANCIAL OUTLOOK Washington,
December 17-Treasury people take doleful look at
the financial situation They say to-day that the sale
of the four per cent bonds has been entirely stopped
in consequence of the silver agitation in Congress,
and that it is likely TO remain until the subject is
settled and they maintain that the government will
lose more by the increased interest the six per
cent bonds than it is likely secure by paying the
bonds in silver.
Year: 1877

The Ell PAsO DIFFICULTY.-While the
Fl Paso are all surrounded and will be maSsacred
less relief comes there to be little for fear
of any collision with the National forces of Mexico
The Administration. looking upon the affair local
brawl has wisely ordered that troops shall in
cross the border, and the Mexican Government seems
equally inclined to prudence.
Year: 1877

The merciful man is merciful to his beast
Horses and Cattle are sources of profit, therefore
should be well cared for By the timely of Foutz's
Celebrated Horse and Cattle Powders, the lives of
many valuable animals will be saved
Year: 1877

The election for State Senator in Beau
ford county South Carolina took place last Monday
week, and though the Democratic candidate made a
vigorous canvass, the Republican competitor was
easily elected. his majority being 800.
Year: 1877

.


THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY Is coming
into power under very favorable circum-
stances, II has kept itself free from the
corruptions and dishonesty which has
stained and ruined the gteat party that
until recently has endeavored to crush
every Democratic organization in every
State, first with the mob and then with
the Federal bayonet. Against these and
the horde Of negro voters sent to the
polls 10 vote away the rights OF the poor
people the party that is now dying out
from dishonesty, corruption and absolute
rottenness, the Democracy fought and has
prevailed. This is admitted by some
of their own organs. But all the while
they were peculatiog and stealing from
the Government they were damning the
Democrats to utter determination, and
the old organization that brought the
country wealth and standing among the
first powers of Christendom, aud was ad-
mitted to have gwen it the best govern
ment in the world, has actually strdg-
gled against every phaae of power, inclu-
ding negro political slaves, money By
the thousand millions, and all the power
of hundred thousand Office holders and
the whole. army and hayy, until now by
the force of pnbhc virtue against vice it is
about TO ascend again to power and take
the national Congress under its control.
Brave, spotless aud chasteoed The Dem
oeracy comes into power, and it should
be the prayer of every patriot and the
endeavor Of every Democrat that the
Government may be made pure and Kepi
from corruption, and that the great free
country OF which We are all so proaG
may again become what the corruption


lists found it, "'he best government .hs
world ever saw" .I 4,G
Year: 1877

A few days ago the Republican pub
lished concocted story that large num-
Der of the county collectors in Ohio
some twenty or thirty-were defaulters
The election is sufficient to nail the lie
to the counter. 1t was gotten up by the
rotten party in that State but failed tc
effect its desired object.
Year: 1877

Texas Jack has returned from a
hunt in the Sweetwater country
with a party of Fnglishmen and has
had talk about it with a writer for
the Spirit of the Times. The game
consisted Chiefly of elk, black tailed
deer, antelpe ana mountain-sheep.
No hostile Indians were encoun


tered. The only dangerous brute
in the West to hunt, Jack says, is
the bear. He is cunning, swift, and
always ready for fight. He
thinks that the best place to hunt
bears is where there are not many
to be found, and of the grizzly he
says: "He will stand in the middle


of the read. growing and letting


his mad up, when there isn't live
creature within forty miles of him.
If you meet one and turn out for
him, he will probably leave you
alone, but if you say a word, look
out for him. Many time have
made some such remark to a bear as,
Where are you going, Tommy"
when in an instant his arms would
be up, and ready to tear me to piee-
es. No, sir, we don't go bear hunting
very much. You see, they can run
as fast as a horse, and you have to
put bullet into just such place
to kill them, and until they are
dead they are dangerous" Jack, in
conclusion, tells this story: II was
out once with party in Texas, and
we came across a big cinnamon
bear. A fellow proposed to cap
ture him with lasso. He made a
good throw, and got the loop around
the bears neck. When old CHINA
mon felt it get tight, what do you
think he did? He just sat up on his
felt of the rope with one
paw, and then began pulling it in
hand over hand. There was a man
and horse fast TO the other end
of the rope, but they had to come,
both of them. As for the hunter,
he jumped off and got away, but the
bear drew the pony right up to
him and killed him."
Year: 1877




Judge Blacks speech before the
electoral tribunal, ostensibly in the


South Carolina case, will be memor-
able as the exhibition of the sublim


est impertinence ever displayed be-
fore any dignified tribunal. He
would not venture to make any such
reflection before an average alder
man or rural justice of the peace,
and yet he stood before what should
be the most reverenced tribunal ev-
er known under a government, and
pointed out to it, in terms which
lacked even the pretense of court
esy, how it had given its high sane
tion to the most shameless fraud
and how.it had disregarded the vi
tai principles of law in doing so.
He stripped from them the thin
guise of technical protection on
which the decisions were based, and
proclaimed to the nation, through
the argument before the commits
sion, that it had parleyed only to
find excuses for fraud, and had in
voked the execrations of the coun-
try by shameless disregard of du-
ty. And it was submitted to in ST
lence. Even Morton bore the keen
stripes with sealed lips, and five
members of the Supreme Court of
the United States, acting in what
Congress meant to be judicial ca
pacity, had no taste for claiming
the protection that was due to their
position, to their duties and to
themselves. Indeed, fifteen men
submitted to it just because fifteen
men felt that it was too just to be
questioned. Eight of the number
did not dare dispute it, for they felt
that complaint would only arouse
the country the more to the exam
ination of their record, and seven
doubtless welcomed the merciless
castigation. 1t was painful exhi-
bition of the cowardice that follows
the dethronement of right.-PkiLa-
ds.pAia ZKnss (RudscG.
Year: 1877

WASHINGTON, April 5.-In dis
coursing about "what might have
BEEN in the situation, the Louisi-
ana Democrats are reviving the
scheme which had been pressed up
on Mr.. Hayes as the most feasible
and conclusive yet advanced. 1t
was simply to remove the disreput-
able Custom house ring in New Or
leans and appoint solid business
men OF the city without regard to
politics, II is a notorious fact that
these ringsters ere supplying Pack
ard with all the money he has OBJ
tanned from the State, which they
do by grinding the negro. Remove
them, and his sources Of supply are
at once cut of, and he soon dies of
starvation. Under the present
state of things in that unhappy
community, very important trusts
are administered by colored men
who can't sign their own names,
and are simply tools of Packard.
This is the case with the naval Off
Ger, whose position is one of great
profit and responsibility. The
attitude of the President is not
enyiable. He lost nearly all
the respect the Southern Con
servatives had for him, and they
are loudly branding his policy as a
betrayal. One of them to-day in
repeating his views said he had oh
served some time ago that while he
thought we'll Of Packard and Cham
berlain and was not sure they did
not have the right Of the case, still
it was necessary at times to sacrifice
technical rights for the public wei
fare, thus intimating he thought
this sacrifice must be made. 9th
ers believe he is still sincere in his
professions, but accepts a commits
sion as an easier way of contending
against the bloody shirt element of
his party.
Year: 1877

To the Editor of the Morristown Gazette:


March Goth, 1877.


There is strange story, yet new
ertheless a true one, to be given you
for your readers. In the early his
tory of East Tennessee, about 1874,
as near as can be determined, three
men by the name of Patterson, all
brothers, visited the New Market
Valley, with the intention Of buying
the rich and extensive lands near
what is known as Panther Springs.
They brought with them a large
amount of money, supposed to be
from $4,000 to $4,000 in Mexican
coin. While looking over the lands
they were murdered and their mon.
ey and other articles of value taken
from their person by hunter, and
their bones were burnt in a cave
near what at that time was known
as the "buffalo crossing" now
known as the Grindstone Hollow,
which place was also the rendez-
vous of the murderer, whom it is
supposed, feared that the Patter
sons would be missed from the
neighborhood, fed to the western
portion of Virginia. There he died,
and on his death bed he gave way
bill that his hidden treasure might
be found. Some forty years ago,
say the older citizens, two men
came with the way bill, giving de-
scription of the place, and every eff
fort made to find the money, but to
no purpose, and after several weeks
of hard labor gave up the search.
Now for the sequel;


During the heavy snow of the
past winter, a man by the name of
John Lambert and man from the
vicinity of Panther Springs went
hunting ard tracked q coon to
small hole by the edge of a rock.
Lambert stopped up the hole and
remarked, that che would get the
gentleman yet, if he wasn't pretty
sharp" He subsequently went back
lit is supposed after the snow had
melted) and fonnd two rocks over
the hole; he moved them and saw
below them q vast cavern. He re-
turned home and procured a bed
cord, tied the same to walnut tree
and descended into it some one
hundred feet, and there found the
treasure spread out upon q rock,
with an old Mexican saddle blanket
spread over il. The blanket had
decayed until nothing but the "fill-
ing" remained. He also found one
saddle and six Mexican stir-ups.


Lambert made these statements
to a friend of his, and showed him
a pocket full of the money. He |
was a day laborer, and did not know
what it was to have any amount of
money.


Your correspondent visited the
section of country while the people
were making excavations where
Lambert had found the cave, and
with his own eyes nearly
one half of a human skeleton taken
out, and all other signs made hun
dred years ago, Lambert and his
family have departed to some un
known country with the money.
These are facts as can be proven by
any number of the best citizens Of
Panther Springs. NJ. CUBE.
Year: 1877

A newcomer in a Texas town al
ways enjoys himself. After spend
ing short time looking around the
place, lie grows weary and finally
asks the clerk of the hotel if there
is any chance of having fun that
day. And the clerk, scratching his
head a moment, says: swell, dun
no. l reckon we can get up some
thing for you before night. Have
Mt been shot at yet, have you? No!
Oh, well, you will be soon. Just
loaf around the streets a little
while and even if you amt shot at
yourself you can dodge the bullets
intended for some other person.
Maybe you might object to its com
ing in that way-sort o second
hand, you know; and if you do.
why wait little while. and I'll go
out with you, and 1 guess we can
get up something real lively" Two
minutes afterwards that man is
studying the time table for the
leaving time of the next train, and
not even the clerks promise to let
him carry the revolver that he shot
a man with last week can keep the
guest in town over night.
Year: 1877

The best solace for the despond-
ing patriot now may be expressed
in the words of the mighty Daniel
Webster: Fellow citizens, you have
waterfall hundred and fifty feet
high. No people with a waterfall a
hundred and fifty feet high ever lost
their liberties.
Year: 1877

The San Antonia (I exas) Herald,
in speaking of the relations between
newspapers, business men, and the
general public, observes: "TEe news
papers are good things in which to
advertise, and there is, or should
be, kind of moral obligation on
merchants to advertise and other
wise support the press. Newspaper
men never lay up any money. Cen
orally speaking, if an editor has
halfway sort of living in return
for fifteen hours day hard work,
he excites the envy of the entire
profession. But what he does make
always goes 20 improve his paper,
and the more local paper is i'm
proved the greater is the advantage
to the community in which it is
published"
Year: 1877

Fame is fleeting and short lived.
The laurel wreath of glory and re-
spect is fading from the memorable
brow of the man who first discoY
cred America, and settling on the
brow of the man who gives the
most chewing tobacco for five cents.
Year: 1877

The pencil marks you see around thi


paragraph (thus) mean thai your sub
scription is out or unpaid, and that you
are requested to pay up at once. We
would take great pleasure In extending
credit to our friends and patrons, but
cash alone will way our expenses, and
we are forced to adhere TO n strict cash
rule. We hope you viii comprehend
and appreciate the necessity Of such a
course, aud renew your subscription
without delay. We solicit your favor.


tB- We enter no new names on our
books without the money in advance.
Year: 1877

a Major General of the Belgian
army who fed, after killing a man
in a duel, six months ago, is now q
waiter in a New York hotel Al
ready he can worm half dollar out
of your pocket by the defcrentiai
manner with which he puts 8 chair
under your legs.
Year: 1877

San Antonia (Texas) Herald; We
hear it frequently stated that there
is not much timber in Western
Texas and what there is OF it is not
worth much. In illustration of the
erroneousness of this idea, VIC may
state that Mr. B f. Biggs, from the
Sabinal, brought TO town 10000
shingles, cut from one cypress tree,
which shingles he sold for $500,
enough TO pay for the tract of land
on which the tree stood. A tree
that produces 10000 shingles is
worthy oi local mention. just
think what n beneficial effect those
shingles would have on the future
Of America If they were put where
they would do the most good.
Year: 1877

1t Is great deal better TO carry your religion in
your heart than In your prayer book.
One way TO keep your husband Al homo Ia TO mako
II pleasant for him when hc IS there.


People sometimes bit personal whom thcy como
out Of church alter long sermon, ana say TO each
other, "rho weather Is very dry Just now"
u is not tho best or most exhlaraling kind OF gym-