smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

1t would seem that the scientific world
of America is destined to be adorned
with new and brilliant name. Ensign
A. A. Nicholson, graduate of the An
napolis Naval Academy, and not yet 27
years Of age. has distinguished himself
by studies in the science of optics which
promise the discovery of q method for
measuring the velocity of light with al
most as much accuracy as the velocity Of
ordinary projectile. The two methods
now used for this purpose gives differ.
ence in the rate OF movement of light of
about 1000 miles per second. Ensign
Michaelson believes that he can over
space of 150O feet 80 exactly measure the
rate OF movement as to reduce the possible
error to twenty miles in the second. Some
time ago he r'ade. an address before a
scientific body on the subject of Light"
which attracted much attention and won
him the warm encouragement in the pur-
suit of his studies of Prof Newcomb,
the astronomer. and number of other
eminent scientific gentlemen at home
and abroad. In that address he men
toned the experiment he had made to-
ward measuring the velocity of light, and
so strongly interested were his hearers
that some who had the ear of Govern
ment besought Congress to grant an ap.
preparation of 800, 900 for the purpose of
enabling the young naval officer to con-
tinue his experiments on larger and
more elaborate scale than he had been
able to do, having to defray the expense
out of his own slender pay. Under
orders from the Navy Department En-
sign Nicholson has erected, or is erect
ing, the apparatus necessary to determine
his theory practically.-[N. Y. Times.
Year: 1879

FATAL RESULT OF LONG KEPT SECRET.
The Dubuque. Iowa Times relates the
following story: A wealthy couple here
had lived together in perfect peace for
forty-one years. While sitting in the
parlor one evening, not long ago, the
husband surprised his wife by saying:
"I am going to tell you secret you
have never heard before" There was
brief pause as the lady and a near rela-
tive who chanced to be present awaited
the disclosure, and the husband con.
tinued: "You will be surprised to hear
that 1 had another wife before l married
you" Startled and aghast the wife
asked: "Am I not then your lawful
wife?" You are my loved and lawful
wife, was the prompt reply; my first
wife died four years before came to
Dubuque and met you." Then he re-
lated how he had married his first wife,
and been summoned to his home to end
her dead. Then he went West and
settled in Dubuque, where the second
romance of his life came about. Six
years ago he received letter from the
woman who had nursed his first wife.
She wrote that she was on her death. bed,
and could not rest until she had con-
fessed her share in the base crime. The
wife had died, but she had left an infant
son. Through large bribe proffered by
the dead woman's father the husband
was told that the child had died with its
mother. The father was wealthy, but
his daughters death left him childless,
and he took this means of supplying
himself with son. His real father was
anxious to see him, and the second wife
was thus told the truth for the first time,
and asked to go east and pay the firsl
wife's son visit. When the story was
told the wife said in low tones: "Sinct
you kept it from me so long, wouli
rather you had never revealed it," The
excitement caused by the recital PROVED
fatal. In two days she was dead.
Year: 1879

A SUBTERRANEAN RIVER IN NEVADA
). W. Hammond informs US that Charles
CLARK, owner of the Dutchman mine in
Central District, found some Spanish
broom growing on the verge of the desert
which extends from Quin River Valley
to the Humboldt. The broom which is
shrub that grows about three feet high
and is covered during the Summer soa.
son with yellow flowers, is considered by
miners certain indication of water. As
there was none of that essential fluid
within eight or ten miles of the mine,
CLARK commenced digging we'll right
where the shrub grew. He and his as
sistant sunk about twenty feet below the
surface, and one evening about quitting
time they dug hole in the center of the
we'll and broke through crust into what
they believe to be subterranean river,
which filled the we'll almost instantly
and compelled them to abandon their
tools and 90 to the surface as speedily as
possible. The water is said to be as
pure as that from mountain springs, and
wholly free from alkali. This find is OF
great Importance not only to the miners
of Central District, but to the owners OF
cattle which range on the plains and hills
in the vicinity.-l silver State.
Year: 1879

GRAND RAPIDS, May 2.-Mrs. George j.
Moore, wife OF a farmer living few miles west
Of here, Was found dead in her bed this morn-
ing. Her son, a man grown, suspected foul
play, and asked Coroner Holden to hold an In
quest, stating that he feared his mother had
been poisoned by her father: perhaps to make
way for another woman, who has beer living
in the family. The story is not generally be-
11eved, though it Is known that the family has
had serious domestic trouble, and the public
will pass no verdict until the case
is thoroughly Investigated ani the Coroner's
jury has rendered its verdict. The jury will,
because OF the sons statement, look into the
matter carefully when it meets next Thursday.
for the woman was certainly we'll when she
went to bed last night.
Year: 1879

There was little lull in the converse
ton, and presently Miss Sillibub asked
the first society young man what the
syndicate was:'


The first society young man stared
and presently said he believed 1t was the
name of a new opera. Last time he
was in Chicawgo, heard Mapleson, tellsh
that runs Queens opera company say he
was going to


faint that" best young man broke
in. II read all bout it toothah day.
It's a kind of-aw-darkies all going to
Kansas YOU know; whole boat loads OF
EN- going every day. Political scheme ;
Republicans and abolitionists all mixed
up in it. Coin to be a war if taint
stopped


Guess you're wrong" said a son of
one of our first families. Syndicate
nothing to do with politics; heard some
fellows talking bout it down town today
Aw-fellow has one in the new Court
House, has to have it, you know, or they
wouldn't let him built it That's what
a syndicate is. ="


The son of one of our first families
was looked up to with so much confidence
that there was at first general inclina-
ton to accept his theory, which was dis
turbed, however, by young lady who
said "she couldn't exactly understand
how that could be, because she had read
or heard somewhere that General Sher-
man had ordered the syndicate or had
something to do with il"
Year: 1879

A fool made himself sick by riding
FIVE hours in an English coach with MS
back to the engine. He said he couldn't
change seats with anybody because there
was no one else in the car.
Year: 1879

iney Become Numerous and Obstreperous


The cold weather makes tramps as plenti-
ful as icicles. They are hanging the tramps


not icicles-around every house in the city


The outskirts of the city are infected with
them, and they are very mandatory in thei,
requests for food. Yesterday numerous
complaints were made at police headquarters
OF the army of invasion. These
fellows know when to time their
v1slts-when the man of the
house is absent, and if their demands, they
are beyond making request, are moi
promptly complied with they became indig-
nant, and their indignation assumes to
threats uttered in the surliest and most men
aclng manner. Sunday night a gang OF
nifty took possession of the Lake Superior
depot, or that vicinity, ;and defed
the neighborhood to dislodge them.
Besides these reports of the presence of
the vagabond, he, in great numbers, has
applied nightly to the station for accommo-
dations. They have been housed there at
the rate OF thirty to fifty for the last three
nights. The Office of the Relief society has


been visited by many; they have been offered
work, but in most instances have declined
the insult. They are the veritable specimen,
mostly, and don't take to labor. Last night
Chief Weber had the Lake Superior DEPOT
ralded, and captured twenty five of the genus.
Ihey will be arraigned in the municipal court
to-day, and will be assigned to work on Col.
Aliens rock-pile. This likely will have the
effect OF scattering the host which haunt our


city and are lowering on the march to this
place as goal. Jail will be the interpreta-
ton given to the word for them when thew
get here.
Year: 1879

~ Supt. Scarborough informs Us that
the average pay for teachers in North Caro-
lima for the few months they teach is S23. IS
per month-less than IS cents a day. Thus,
reader, your children are taught at less
wages than any able bodied negro earrs in
the field OF course, there are intelligent
men who are compelled by circumstances to
accept such wages but the success of a
teacher fit to take the care and instruction Of
children ought to be worth at least much
as those of big buck negro.
Year: 1879

From the Syracuse IN. " Courier. July A.


For more than two centuries men have sought to
penetrate the regions surrounding the North Pole.
but thus far efforts have been attended with little
success and but comparative little has yet been dis
covered there. Undaunted by failures in the past
cisco. which on several accounts promises to be
The vessel is especially designed for SER
vice among ice fields; her equipment is
perfect time opportunity and ample
means make 1t; her crew of about twenty-five
men mas been elected with great care from more
than thirteen hundred applicants; Lieu tenant
George W. DE Long. her commander. is in the United
States the strict discipline OF the navy
will be enforced board. These are advantages
which have not usually been enjoyed by Arct &c ex-
plorng expeditions. and. It is proposed to enter
the Arctic O,ean by way or Behring's Strait, this
party will have the additional novelty or an
entirely untrie field before them. The plan of
Commander DE Long Is to push into the ice
foes north or Cape Barrow far the
Jeannette possibly be worked this season.
and from that point to continue tue journey with
Plies. An impo. tant element in the ultimate sue
of expedition il the distsace the vessel
be carried toward the Pole. II she get VI far
north the degree it will be regarded
as q very favorable condition. Anything she add
to this distance will be looked upon good omen
WHILE 1t fails to make that point difficulties will
inca in proportion che ialls behind it. The
Jeannettc Will carry supplies for three years which
will allow ample time to experiment with over-icc
means OF ocomoton after the vessel has reached the
extreme limit OF her northei n journey.
Year: 1879

sufficient reason to change my opinion on
that subject and before this policy is aban.
doned, I think it should be given thorough
trial.


The evils complained of, growing out Of
the absence of proper guarding, can be rem.
edied, and do not think that the labor Of
the country is so abundant as to be seriously
affected by the competition referred to. At
all events, these convicts should be made in
some way to support themselves, and the peo-
pie thereby and to that extent relieved from
taxation. And until some remunerative In.
dustries can be established inside of the Peni-
Tertiary in which all the convicts can be en-
ployed, the alternative is presented either to
hire portion of them out or to support them
in idleness from the public treasury, which
would require an annual appropriation near
ly double that at present made. Of the two,
the former course, in my judgment, is the
best.


The reports of the Board of Directors, the
Superintendent and others connected with
the institution will be before you, and to these
reports I refer you for further information,
calling your attention especially to the wants
of this institution stated and the recommen-
dations made therein. In addition, / would
recommend that the law in relation to hiring
convicts be amended so as to make it Grim.
inal offence, with penalty sufficiently high
to enforce prompt compliance, for any contrac.
tor to refuse to return convicts to the Peniten-
Year: 1879

AS to our hnanclal system, the present
scheme in operation for the support and
maintenance of the government, stands upon
as just principle and upon as economical
basis, as can well be devised. 1t rests
upon the broad principle that every citizen
should bear that proportion of the necessary
burdens of government which his ability and
property shall demand. This makes it bear
equally upon all, and all are satisfied.


am not aware Of any improvement that
can be made either in the collecting or disburs
ing of that portion of the public money
which is administered by the State Treasury.
AS now conducted, the present scheme seems
to afford absolute security both for the
prompt gathering and the prompt and honest
disbursements of the public funds. But
while this security exists as to that portion of
public moneys administered by the State
Treasury, yet it seems to have been forgotten
that large portion of the taxes collected is
collected for county purposes, and is admin
istered by the County Commissioners of the
several Counties without any sufficient check
being provided for the correct disbursement
thereof. 1t is true that the County Commits
sioners are required to make reports to the
General Assembly, but it would be almost i'm
possible for the General Assembly to look
fully into all the acts and doings, contracts
and vouchers of the County Commissioners
of the thirty two counties, so as to afford that
check which the magnitude Of this part of
our financial scheme demands.


1t would be better that these reports should
be made to some local authority, where the
facts could be more fully examined and the
vouchers more easily tested and for this bet.
ter security recommend that these reports
be required to be made to the Circuit Court
in the several counties, to be examined by the
grand juries under its supervision, after being
Year: 1879

A young lady, being addressed by asentleman much older than herself. observed that the only objection she had to union with him was the probability ofhis dying before her and leaving her to the sorrows of widOwhood. To which he made the complimentary reply: Blessed is the man who hath virtuous wife. for the number of his days shall be doubled"
Year: 1879

A man never keeps diary long. At the beginning of the year he re cords aroW to swear of. After that there are entries of few simple drunks, a couple of headaches and the book closes.
Year: 1879

Some Of these whs are emphatic in
their recommendation Of thrift, as q
wise provision against want and dis
tress. are themselves lacking in that
more important form of thrift which
consists in 'redeemlng the time.' The
rich fool mentioned by our Lord, in
the parable recorded by St. Luke, was q
thrifty man, so far as his worldly in
teress were concerned. He had made
timely and abundant provision tor
future years. And, so far, he was
right. But then he had utterly neglec-
ted the chief thrift ofall. He made no
provision for the long hereafter. lie
was an absolute pauper as to practical
recourse to God for the salvation Of his
soul. He had locked after his body, as
if he were merely a brute animal. But
he was blindly ignorant as to the future
of his spiritual being. he had made
no effort to be rich towards God 1.-THE
only abiding riches) rich IN the habits
of humility and PRAYER and faith rich IN
the love of Christ, rich in the COM
nunion of the Holy Spirit, rich IN the
knowledge Of the Holy Scriptures. AS
20 these, the true riches, he was a
destitute paaper at death. Hence he
is known universally by the name oi
Rich Fool. And, as such, he still has
a vast posterity. For many ot the
thrifty ones as to this life are utterly
impreyident for eternity. This ia groS:
folly. It's as ifa steamer should start
on a voyage round the world with only
a supply OF food and fuel to last her
crew for one day.


Even so, that is not the true thrift
which caresafor the brief space remaln'
ing of this lite only, and neglects 70
make provisions for the lnduite periods
of the life to come. Yet God has gwen
abundant promise ofreward for all such
efforts. AS it is written, Whatsoever
good thing any man d0eth, the same
shall he receive OF the Loed.' And God
repays with most manifold additions.
What earthly investments are 50 relIa'
BILE? Yet, personal advantage great as
it may be, is quite an inferier consider
alton, when compared with the 'nhnlte
claims Of Christ's loye upon the grate'
'u' "a ssis people.
Year: 1879

Everybody lis willing to say hls
prayers when he is in a tight fix and
sees no other way out. The Lord is
The last resort Of some people and their
religion after the fashion Of the sailsr
who prayed and said: 20 Lord,
haven't asked anything of. you for
fifteen years, and if you'll get me ashore
| won't ask for anything for fifteen
years more" The little shoe.black
also had theory after which a great
many take pattern. He told an inquiry
missionary that he always said his
prayers at night because when he was
asleep and didn't know what might
happen; but never in the morning,
because any bright boy can take care OF
himself in the day time.
Year: 1879

A darkey was once attempting to
steal goose, but dog raised an OBJ
lection. and Sambo retired. The next
night during a thunder shower he at.
tempted it again, and just as he was
on the point of getting away the fowl,
the lightning struck close by and the
noise like to frightened the poor fellow
to death. Dropping the goose, he
started away muttering, "Peers to me
dar'. a heap OF fuss bout a common
goose"
Year: 1879

The ape family resembles man. They love
liquor and fall. In Darfour and Sonar tho ma.
tives make a fermonted beer, Of which the
monkeys are passionately fond. Aware Of this
tho natives so to the parts of the forest fre.
quented by the monkeys, and set on the
ground calabashes full of the enticing liquor.
As soon as the monkey sees and tastes it he
ntters loud cries of joy that soon attract his
comrades. Then an orge begins, and in a
short time they will snow all degrees of intoxi-
cation. Then the negroes appear The few
who came too late to get fuddled escape. The
drinkers are too far gone to distrust them, but
apparently take them for larger specimens of
their own genus. The negroes take some up,
and these begin to weep aud cover them with
kisses When negro takes one by the hand
to lead him of, the nearest monkey will cling
to the one who thus finds support, and en-
deavor TO so on also. Another will grasp ut
him, and so on, until the negro leads strag-
Cling line of ten or dozen tipsy monkeys.
When finally brought to the village they are
securely Gagged up and gradually sobered down
but for day or two gradually diminish.
ing supply of liquor is given them, so as to
reconcile them by degrees to their state of
CADtiyity
Year: 1879

From the Louisville Courier.Journal.l


Washington is the most beautiful city in tho
Union 1t has been made so by Boss Shepherd.
The citizens who Were denouncing him seven
years ago and calling him by all sorts of hard
names now speak Of him with entire respect.
They now have city that they are proud OF
and the Governments capital it is not ashamed
of. When Congress and the Supreme Court Of
the United States are in session it is full of life.
In their absence it closely resembles one-horss
town. The hotels are nearly deserted aud the
boarding-house keepers are put ON short allow
ance. By the by, Washington has the reputa-
tion in the States OF being place Of much dis
sipation. 1t is not true. 1t is but seldom that
a drunken man Is seen on the streets, and
there is not a gambling shop that is visited by
respectable men. In word, there is not q
city in America that can boast of a more re
spectacle population.
Year: 1879




In the efficient operation OF rapid transit
even the remote possibility Of danger to the
life of the passenger must. be carefully
guarded against Otherwise the luxury and
benefit of comfortable and quick travel may
be paid for at too high price. In city
like ours there ought to be no difficulty in
avoiding those perils which always attend
functions and crossings of steam railroad
lines. To-day we print an article, with
diagrams, ON the subject Of insuring
"safety on the LIS" one which
our readers will recognize rs being
as important as safety on the seas
to which we have given SO much space. We
main and branch line controlled by one
company, and when the running of trains
can be regulated in the strict sense Of the
term. Such functions may beseen at Fifty
third street and Sixth avenue, Forty-second
street and Third avenue and soon at Thirty
fourth street and Third avenue. We do not
apprehend any danger at these points be-
yond that incidental to the ordinary opera
ton of an 81" road. But if the two COM
panies persist in using the proposed Beaver
and Pearl street junction, and common
track northward to Chatham square, We con-
slider that such an arrangement will be very
dangerous to the public.


The Chatham square crossing, which, as
we show, is one that may be pronounced
impracticable on the conditions SO inju-
diciously laid down by the Rapid Transit
Commissioners, nevertheless can become a
centre of extraordinary danger if the COM
panies endeavor to tinker up plan that
will not do away absolutely with every
thing approaching the character Of cross
ing No consideration of money expended,
time lost traffic suspended, public in
convenience or any other plea should be
listened to that can lead to any other
system than Independent tracks for
the two 'L" roads at Chatham square. The
plan proposed in our columns to-day is o
feasible one in every engineering particu-
lar. But its adoption, or that OF one SIM
liar in principle and object, must depend
on the willingness Of the IL" companies to
concede mutually the interests they claim
in the main and branch downtown termini.
If they cannot do this their plans will be
self-defeating, and selfish disregard Of
public safety will perhaps react as dam
agingly on the IL" companies as an equally
selfish disregard of public decency and
comfort did on the horse. car magnates.