smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877




1t is to be hoped that the question as to
what description of wire shall be used in
making the great cables of the Brooklyn
Bridge will be decided by the trustees only
after very thorough understanding OF the
subject has been reached and without any
regard to individual interests or friendships.
The attendance of nineteen out of the
twenty trustees at the meeting on Thursday
last proves that the importance of the pend
ing discussion is properly understood and
gives hopes that wise decision will be
reached. The character and the cost of the
work forbid the incurring of the slightest
risk of its failure either through false idea
of economy or from any other cause. The
points of the present situation are readily
explained. The cables are the support of the
structure, and their soundness and the suffi-
cheney Of their strength must be assured
beyond peradventure. A defect in any
portion of them is practically the destruc-
ton of the whole. The trustees are called
upon to decide as to the description
of steel of which these cables are
to be made. The Trenton firm of Roeblings
Sons puts in a bid for Bessemer steel wire,
which will cost something less than half
million dollars. Other manufacturers, in
cluding some foreign firms, offer other de-
scriptions Of steel at higher rates. On the
application of the required tests an English
wire was found to possess more strength and
fexibility than the Bessemer wire, but its
cost would be double, and it is said that the
Bessemer wire test was satisfactory to the
engineers. The question for the trustees to
decide is whether they will adopt the Besse-
mer wire, which is reported to have stood
the test we'll enough, and which will cost
half million dollars or the English wire.
which will cost a million dollars, but the
superior strength Of which is unquestion-
able.


There is some disposition to discounte-
nance the adoption of the Roebling Bes-
semer wire, because the chief engineer Of
the bridge is one Of the Roebling brothers,
and was until recently member of the
firm. We do not think any such1reason
should cause the rejection of the wire, since
Mr.. Roebling would scarcely risk the loss
of his high reputation by indorsing wire
that would be likely to fail. But the ques-
ton is whether it is not better to make
assurance doubly sure by using wire
which, while it will cost half o million
dollars more than the Bessemer, is decidedly
it's superior in strength and fexibility. In
work which is to cost thirteen million
dollars is it worth while to take even the
slightest risk of failure for the purpose Of
saving half million? The people would
be better satisfied if committee of compe-
tent, independent engineers, to be selected
by the Mayors Of the two cities, should be
called in to decide the question.
Year: 1877

Awell established life insurance company
in this city has invited nine we'll known and
reputable citizens to make thorough ex-
animation of its assets and liabilities, and
the invitation has been accepted. The COM
pany in question makes the request 'in
view of the distrust which exists in the pub
lie mind in consequence of the mismanage-
ment and failure of certain life insurance
companies" and because it desires ''to show
that it fully appreciates the Importance of
an early establishment of the confidence in
the system of American life insurance which
it deserves when properly conducted" We
have no doubt that the proposed examina-
ton will be entirely satisfactory SO far as the
respectable company desiring it is concerned,
but we do not think that the company has
hit upon the best means of establishing con-
fidence in our insurance system.


The people are not satisfied in such mat
ters with private investigations made at the
request of the investigated. however re-
spectacle the Investigators may be- Such
kid-gloved handling seldom turns up rough
facts or drngs forth unsavory secrets We
do not say this to reflect on the reputable
company requesting the examination or on
the excellent examiners it has selected. We
speak only in general terms. II the COM
pany had made a public demand for re-
vision of the life insurance laws, for q
thorough reform in the Insurance Depart
ment by the appointment of an honest and
efficient superintendent, for an immediate
and searching investigation into its own af-
fairs and the affairs of all other companies
by such superintendent, and for an act
making il a misdemeanor for the officers of
any insurance company to refuse informa-
ton TO or scrutiny into its affairs by any
policy holder, it would, indeed, have done
something to establish confidence in our in
surance system. There are, no doubt, to-day
many companies which an honest investiga-
ton by capable public officer would close
at once We want deeper reform than a
mere friendly examination into single COM
pany's condition before confidence can be
established. Indeed, the very request made
by this com pany implies that the official ex-
animation required by the law is insult
ficient, untrustworthy and undeserving Of
public confidence.
Year: 1877

whenever it shall please the commercial
policy OF Great Britain.


But what England or Russia respectively
saw in the Eastern question constituted its
older aspects. The newest form of this in
evitable question is this:-Are we to witness
n revived vitality in the Moslem power?
This is the Eastern question of primary in
terest just now. Is the resolute spirit with
which the Grand Vizier deals with the case
before him-refuses to accept the will of
Europe and throws himself into the last
ditch of Ottoman obstinacy-is all this but
the expression of renewed and revived con-
fidence in Moslem arms, and is it possible
that such a confidence may be well founded?
Europe would not have the right to be alto
gether surprised if it should turn out in the
present war that the Ottoman army is a
much more formidable force than it has ap-
peared to be in any war waged since the
extirpation of the old system and the adop-
ton of European military principles.


Turkey is as fruitful a nurse of vigorous
men now as she was in the days OF her great
est power. When the original national sys-
tenn of recruiting her armies was rooted out
her military capacity was destroyed for
time. No nation that grew in feudal forms
ever reached the administrative system
without cataclysm, and Turkey was like
the rest. But it has always been foreseen
that if the administrative system in the for
nation of an army should become in any
degree naturalized' in Turkey, her an
cient magnificent armies might reappear,
bettered with all the strength that organiza-
ton gives. Is the world likely to witness
this spectacle now?
Year: 1877

In four story brown stone house on East
Sixtieth street, between Third and Lexing-
ton avenues a number of poor children of
different ages, mostly orphans, are lodged
and fed at the expense, partly of charitable
individuals and partly of the public. 1t is
'.fold" At it's head is minister of the
Protestant Episcopalian faith and the min
isters wife. Rumor whispers something of
handsome young widow who sometimes
takes hand in the management of the gray
dressed little ones; but Rumor is as unrelia-
BILE as she is wicked, and it is always well to
doubt her word when a pretty widow is in
question. Recently it has been asserted that
the shepherd of the "fold" is a wolf among
the lambs, and that the poor children who
are under the guardianship of his crook are
not only lodged and fed, but are subjected
to the forcible discipline of the slippers Of
the shepherd. the hair brushes of his shep-
herdess and NE gymnastic exercises of the
pretty widow. Stories are told of the little
lambs being occasionally kicked down stairs
or tied up to the ceiling by the one, cuffed
and strapped by the other, and danced
upon after the negro minstrel breakdown
fashion, by the third. Of course these may
all be wicked fbs, invented in malice and
told with an evil intent. The reverend
shepherd of the fold SO designates them,
and as their truth or falsity is now in the
course of establishment through an investi-
CATION by the Board of Charities, his story
is entitled to credit until it is proved to be
unreliable.


But whether the poor little lambs Of the
fold are treated in kindly manner or are
really subjected to the alleged brutalities,
it is certain that these charities which re-
ceive liberal support from the public treas
ury should be more closely looked after
than they are. We have to-day a singular
statement from the reverend head of the
fold. He certainly indulges in very irrev-
erent charges against his assailants, ranging
all the way from wicked malice to con-
structive forgery. According to his ac-
count there is deep laid and Satanic plot
against the fold growing out of High Church
and Low Church quarrels. 1t is not very
encouraging to those whose money is appro-
priated to such charity to discover that
underlying it is a very unchristian, undig-
nifed and disgraceful quarrel among the
Christians who appeal to the people for aid
in a supposed benevolent work.
Year: 1877

ANOTHER ISDucEMENT TO Coon SAILoRs.-On
the burning slip Harry Mills two men were
ordered into the chain locker. though their
officers must have known that death would ccr-
tainly result, yet coroner's jury returned YER
diet of accidental death!
Year: 1877

WALL STREET YEsTERDAY.-T'he stock mar
ket was active and strong the principal dealings
being in Western Union, Lake Shore and Michi-
gan Central Gold opened at 1O6as and closed
at 1O65s. Money call loaned ut 6 and per
cent Government bonds were active and higher
and railway mortgages firm. The bank state
ment for the week is favorable.
Year: 1877

One OF Our CORRESPONDENTS complains to-
day of "A street car which he found too open and
filthy to prove effective even as u chicken coop,
but if all such were removed from the
streets how many city travellers would find even
etunduc room
Year: 1877

''rHE DANIscIIErrs7 was put upon the stage of
the Gernania Theatre last night. with an incl
dent not in the original play-to wit, an appear
ance Of the manager to acknowledge submission
to an injunction obtained by Messrs Shook g.
Palmer
Year: 1877

Of all the trials appointed by the way of discipline in this sublunary sphere, is not the greatest that of being forced into the perpetual companionship of a positive individual? One who is so eminently and distressingly respectable that he never did or could do wrong act in his life; yet who constantly jars upon your little harmonies and ideal dreams, who darkens your rose-colored atmosphere with glance, and jars every chord of life into discord. To be able to discover a flaw in the charac- ter of such person would be more re- freshing to your mind than that ''one vote" would be to defeated presiden- tial candidate; but no! from his i'm maculate and appalling responsibility there is no appeal. Defenceless and silent you must listen to his oracular opinions on every conceivable subject. His ground is staked out in right angles. around which your feet, leng accus- toned to wander at will in their own secret paths, must walk circumspectly.

 Oh for the grace oi adaptability Like charity it covers a multitude of sins. Though your friend be more wretched than a Patagonian, more un- comfortable in, disposition than the furies of old, yet shall his coming ever give you pleasure and his leaving pain,

 A great virtue in machinery is that it is easily adjustable to different work and different operators. It is no less a
Year: 1877

Take care of your pennies. Look well to your spending. No matter what comes in if more goes out you will always be poor. The art is not in making money, but in keeping it. Lit tie expenses, like mice in barn, when they are many, make great waste. Hair by hair heads get bald; straw by straw the thatch goes off the cottage, and drop by drop the rain comes in the chamber. A barrel is soon empty if the cask leaks but drop a minute. When you begin to save begin with your mouth; many things pass down the red lane. The ale jug is a great waste. In all things keep within compass. Never stretch your legs farther than your legs will reach, or you will soon be cold. In clothes choose suitable and lasting stuff, ana not tawdry ineries. To be warm is the main thing, never mind the looks. A fool may make money, but it takes wise man to spend it. Remember that it is easier to build two chimneys than to keep one going. If you give all to tle back and board, there is nothing left for the saving bank. Fare hard and work hard when you are young, and you will have chance to rest when you are old.
Year: 1877

"Odd come shortlies never do we'll" said an old lady to me one day.

 "Will you please tell me what odd come shortlies areP" I asked.

 "Wel," said the old lady, "I mean any odd acquaintance that you pick up in an irregular manner--hayen't been properly introduced-and know noth- ing about their antecedents. They never turn out we'll. Did you ever know them to do soP Think my dear"

 I thought. I had at first dashed at the conclusion that the old lady was wrong, but to the question I replied la couically, "No, ma'am, they do not" Yet to whom does the contiding heart of woman turn as to an "Odd come shortlyG" You travel in the car with her and she bOrrows your magazine and lends you her travelling cup, and you confide to each other that 1t does not make you ll.to ride backward, and likeing the color of her eyes, you cement a friendship, because of the surprising coincidence that her little boy is the same age as your little daughter, and

 

 is she more likely to turn out badly than if she were your second cousins daughter. I can't tell you. l don't know; but she will. After she has called on you, and borrowed your wat erproof and your silk umbrella, and begged a letter of introduction to the pastor, and hopes you will call to see her, and wondered that such cOngenial souls never met before, strange things will happen; your waterproof and silk umbrella will be that were te you, and you will miss the little verde antique from the etagere, and never see the purse that was lying on the table again.

 These people do not always vanish so mysteriously. It is the mission of many of them to become bores-to come, on the strength of the fancy" they have taken to you, to breakfast and to stay to lunch and afterward to tea-to look over your shoulder while you write or read and to ply you with questions until you could shriek-to be always Communicative without hay ing anything to communicate" and to become as unbearable in the endi as was Sinbad's Old Man of the Sea.

 "KnOw her!" cries some long suffer- ing friend. "How I pity you! How did she get introduced9" Then you re- member she was not introduced at all. She called one morning to hope that Cher canary did not trouble you by singing so much, because it it did, she would send it away, much as she loved it."

 So sweet of her, you know. Yet to day, when you look at her, you re- peat the old lady's Yankeeism and say, "Odd come shortlies never turn out well. l."-Erchange.
Year: 1877

Dickens tells us that his friends dis suaded him from undertaking a work to be issued in monthly parts, price one shilling, because it was low, cheap form of publication, by which he would ruin all his rising hopes. Ma caulay, in his essay on Addison, has recorded few of the instances in which the friends of an author have adjured him not to undertake the par ticular work by which he raised him. self to that eminence which now makes him widely known. Herder entreated Goethe not to take up so unpromising a subject as Faust. The History of Charles the Fifth gave Robertson inn mense reputation, and put forty five hundred pounds in his pocket; but Hume tried to persuade him not to choose such period for the exercise of his historical talent. Pope advised Addison to print the tragedy of Cato, but not to run the risk of it's being hissed from the stage. One of Scott's best friends predicted the failure of Waverley, and urged him not to peril his reputation by publishing it. The list might be indefinitely extended of intelligent persons who, with the most cordial good will to an author, have advised him not to think of doing the special thing which his taste or genius prompted him to do.
Year: 1877



 Many children instead of being as fresh as peach are as wrinkled as last years apples because they do not sleep enough. Some physicians think that the bones grow only during sleep, This we cannot say, certainly; but we do know that those little folks who sit up late at nights are usually nervous, weak, small and sickly. The reason you needmore sleep than your parents is because you have to grow and they do not. They can use up the food they eat in thinking, talking and walking, while you should save some of yours for growing. You ought to sleep a great deal; if you do not you will in activity consume all you eat, and have none, or not enough, to grow with. Very few clever children excel, or even equal other people when they grow up. Why is this 7 Because their heads, if not their bodies, are kept too busy; so that they cannot sleep, rest and grow strong in body and brain,
Year: 1877

A very singular account of the use to which 8 camel is sometimes put, is given by the traveller Bruce. He tells us that he saw one employed to ap- pease quarrel between two parties, something in the same way as the scape goat was used in the religious services of the Jewish people. The camel being brought out, was accused by both parties of all the injuries, real or supposed, which belonged to each. All the mischief that had been done, they accused this camel of doing. They upbraided it for being the cause of all the trouble that had separated friends, called it by every opprobious epithet, and finally killed it, and declared themselves reconciled over it's body.
Year: 1877

There is nothing-no moral or intel lectual phenomena-more strange than falling in love. What is it; whence it originates; how it is brought about; those things are among the hidden mysteries of our nature.

 A girl has reached the age of eight teen a young man that of twenty one. They have lived at home; travelled 8 little pursued their studies; attended parties, and been a good deal in society of other young people yet they never took very deep interest in anything in particular neither of them ever cared very much for any other person.

 They meet, and To! of sudden all is changed! Each sees the other in different light from what any other was seen in; the world seems changed. Life itself seems changed; their whole being is changed, to be like what it was, again, nevermore!

 Love is often as sudden as this, but not always.

 Sometimes it is of very slow growth.

 Persons have known each other for years, and been much in each others society, and been intimate all this time, but never thinking of tie stronger than friendship; when some incident or event-a temporary parting, or the intervention between them of third person, friend or stranger-reveals to them, for the first time, the great truth that they are mutually in love.

 Yet this love, springing up gradually and imperceptibly, isno less mysterious and unfathomable than that which is sudden and at first sight.

 It is not mere friendship grown strong; it is a more absorbing more | violent, more uncomfortable sentiment. Whether person can fall in love more than once is mooted question:.

 Some people appear to fall in love many times.

 It is not unusual to see widowers, who have been very devoted husbands, marry again and seem to love the sec ond wife as we'll as the first.
Year: 1877

CLEANING TIE HEN.uOUSE-If the
careful poultercr will look to the under por-
tions Of his pcrchcs. and as faithfully apply
the saturated kerosene brush to this part Of
the premises as he does to the top and sides
and creviccs, once in Il while, he will find
1t profitable for the removal Of vcrmin


Lice brood and breed and live under the
roosts, in great numbers. In the day time
they are thus partially sccreted In tho
night, when the fowls settle down to their
roosts, these millions Of parasites crawl up,
and nestle themselves comfortably among
the birds soft fcathers-wncre they sub
sequcntly stick to their new warm quarters
until they are carbolated or sulphurcd ou,
again.
Year: 1877

IL Is desirable to avoid as tar as possible an
annual expenditure for labor in the manage
ments of our lands. We require certain
amount of forage for winter. Pulling fod.
der is Que of the operations of the farm
Well cured fodder is the most palatabe
forage which can be given to horses Sois
champagne the most agreeable Of fluids to
man. But the fodder is too expensive for
the farmers hors,, and the champagne too
expensive for the farmer man. Just think
OF farmer going into hundred acre corn
field, with gang of hands, and handling
every seRaEpts. blade Of every corn stalk
eight acres of grass day, say sixteen tons,
raked up by horse rake, teddercd by horse
power, loaded into the ragon and thence
into the barn by hay litter untouched by
human hands in the whole process.


But there is cheaper process than this
1t is one that cannot be adopted at the
North because the climate will not allow of
it. This cheaper plan is to provide win.er
pastures for mules, horses, colts and cattle,
thereby enabling them to NOW and save
their own hay without cost to us, either in
the way of negroes, mower, hay stacks or
barns.


The way to obtain good winter pasture
is simple and not expensive. Take piece
OF wood land, thin out the worthless timber,
leaving rail trees and most bearing trees
The exact distance cannot be given, because
trees differ very much in the amout of shade
which they produce. The Kentucky rule
is to thin timber, so that the ground shall
get sunlight, at least a portion of the day,
otherwise the grass will be sour, and rejec-
ted by live stock The ground should be
we'll sproute,.; grubbiug is not necessary,
though it is best. The tree tops and brush
should be piled and burned and the ashes
scattered. Except for appearance, the logs
need not to be piled and burned. The
ground should not be plowcd; grass seed
should be sown. The available live stock
OF th9 farmer should be turned upon it to
trample in the seeds. Hogs are excellent
for this purpose, feeding them shcllcd corn,
scattered as widely as possible, and feeding
in different place every day.


The seed sown, should consist of orchard,
blue, herd and meadow oat grass if the
6btHired: 6uv tIIsi1ri uf this
mixture to be sowed to the acre-onc- half
orchard grass, and the other seeds in equal
proportions.


Persons wishing an immediate use of
this pasture, may plow or harrow the sur
face, and sow rye with grass seeds In
such case the logs must be burned. The
rye will not make good grain, but will give
excellent winter and spring feed. This
operation must be performed in August or
September. But most persons will prefer
the cheaper plan, and sow in February grass
seed alone. AS soon as the native grasses
and weeds will appear, live stock should be
turned in to eat them down. They will not
hurt the young grass, but benefit it by con-
solidating the soil. So long as these weeds
and native grasses springs up they must be
re- s down. :a @ la the fall 59sy cease to grow,
until New Year, when they should again be
put upon them Ina year or two the native
grasses and weeds will disappear by close
grazing and tramping and good sward of
artificial grasses will be formed Grange