smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1878.


During my first residence in
Washington sixteen years ago our
colored brethren were pronounced
contraband of war, and it was won
derful to see them pouring into
Washington from the "old Virginny
shoah;" both sexes and all ages
from the new born piccaninny to the
ancient and gray headed patriarch
of an African family of intelligent
descent. How they streamed over
the long bridge and up the avenue
to the Capitol. They flocked to it
as to a grand citadel of freedom, a
freedom that signified to them life
long holiday with plenty to eat and
somebody to cook it. Their enthu-
siasm was slightly dashed when
they found that the stones OF Wash
ington would not turn to bread, but
this did not check the incoming
multitude, who swarmed from every
direction and centered all their
hopes of earthly happiness on the
nations capital. Sixteen years
have lessened but not changed the
tiue of colored immigrants
Throughout Virginia and Maryland,
and away off through the forests,
fields and fertile savannas of the
South, Sambo looks to Washington
as the Mecca of all his hopes. The
more ambitious aspire TO seats
amongst the conscript fathers of
the Senate, or the younger Solons
of the House, while the more mod
est, who stand in awe of the civil
service enactment content them
selves with seats in the galleries.


CoLoRED oTIUM CUM DIGEITATE.


How they can while away the
blissful hours of undisturbed re-
pose, while they seem to be drink
ing in great draughts OF wisdom in
terspersed with pleasant dreams or
gentle slumbers. Here they sit day
after day and month after month,
rank after rank of colored human
ity, running through all the shades
of miscegenation from the light side
saddle up TO the original oiled
ebony. How happy they seem
How little they care whether Con-
gress adjourns or not. Nothing
short of an incipient famine can dis
turb their blissful repose. AS they
sit thus in their solemn equanimity
they have been compared to "the
lilies of the field that toll not nei-
ther do they spin," but there the
quotation must stop for the dollar
store pinchback will not compare
with Solomon's barbaric gold.


WHERE WILL THIS END?


What is to be the end OF this con-
centration of the colored population
of the country in the cities, large
towns and villages? The negro is
naturally very sociable-loves to be
in company-loves to enjoy the
hospitality of his neighbor as well
as to dispense his own. He takes
about as little "thoCght for the
morrow" as the lilies to which he
has been compared. He is opposed
to much active exertion and prefers
a life Of ease and incidence. While
not naturally vicious, quarrelsome,
bloody-minded or revengeful, his
easy nature is easily led astray by
the dominating influence of vicious
white men, and he soon becomes
the victim of his own vices and IN
firmities. The aborigines Of this
country are fast disappearing, be-
cause they have INDUCED too freely
in some OF the concomitants of the
white mans civilization. The ne
gro will follow still faster towards
the same point, and q few genera
tions will write utter extinction
upon the graves Of the African race
Year: 1878

A Western editor remarks that
he is glad to receive marriage no
tices, but requests that they be sent
soon after the ceremony and before
the divorce is applied for. He has
had several notices spoiled in this
MaN
Year: 1878

A gentleman in England commit
ted suicide the other day, and left
a paper stating that he did so be-
cause his wife was a great deal too
good for him. The jury brought in
a verdict of "unsound mind"
Year: 1878

"Piety," remarked an Arkansas
preacher to his congregation the
other day, "does not consist IN
noise. The Lord can see you give
to the needy just as easily as he can
hear you pray the root off,"
Year: 1878

Designed to meet the public want for a
harmless hair dressing and restorative,
is found in Parker's Hair Balsam. 1t
acts like magic, commencing at the very
roots, removes Dandruff and all hu-
mors from the scalp, and never fails to
restore gray or faded hair to its original
youthful color and beauty. Falling
hair is Immediately checked by its use,
and it produces growth of beautiful
young hair, soft, glossy and luxuriant,
that surprises everyone. These prop
critics added to It's exquisite perfume and
purity of composition, render it the
growing favorite OF the toilet table
everywhere, Buy bottle from your
druggists, Sumpter q Stanley, and test
its merits
Year: 1878

When a mother is mending her
sons pants what a pang it causes
her to find a euchre deck and a pis-
tol in the pockets. And what a
pang-or several of 'em-she caus-
es the boy, when she interviews him
n few minutes later on the subject.
Year: 1878

When, in the name of mental
peace and quietude, will Congress
and the newspapers quit this ever
lasting talk about silverP 1t is
"silver," "silver," "silver," nothing
but ''silver" in one unending stream
from morning till night, until peo-
pie have come to hate the name
and the very metal itself, and with
such an implacable hatred, too, that
if a beggar happens to come up and
catch you with dozen silver half
dollars in your land, you reckless
thrust them-back into your pock-
ct, and give him Ave were going
to say a nickel, but the chances are
that you don't give him anything
Courier Journal.
Year: 1878

A California man tied one end of
a rope around his waist, and lassoed
a cow with the other. He thought
he had the COW, but at the end OF
the first half mile he began to sus-
pect that the cow had him.
Year: 1878

Honor and justice, reason and
equity, go great way in procuring
prosperity to those who use them;
and, i'll case of failure they secure
the best retreat and the most hon
orable conclusion.
Year: 1878

The pencil marks you see around this
paragraph (thus) mean that your sub
seription is out or unpaid, and that you
are "equested to pay up at once. We
would take great pleasure In extending
credit to our friends and patrons. but
cash alone win way our expenses, ana
we are forced to adhere to a strict cash
rule. We hope you will comprehend
and appreciate the necessity Of such q
course, and irenew your su scription
without delay. We solicit your favor.


% We enter no new names on our
books without the money in advance.
Year: 1878

Fortunately for Mr.. Hayes, and
still more fortunately for the coun-
try, the results of the conservative
policy are fixed facts. He can not
disturb them if he would. He can
not pull down Nichols and Hamp


ton and put up Packard and Cham


berlain. He can not re-establish
carpet bag rule; he can not return
these emancipated communities to
their former bondage; he can not
bring back to place and power the
white and black knaves who filed
their pockets at the expense of a
helpless people. But he may go
far enough in the wrong direction
to show that it was expediency and
not principle which sent him in the
right direction. He can not seri-
ously hurt the South, but he can
damage himself past all redemption.
We give him credit for too much
common sense, as well as honesty
and honor, to believe he has any
such intention as is attributed to
him. He may wish the Returning
Board had been let alone, hut he
will hardly tie himself to the Lou
isiana quartet and go to the bottom
with them.-[St. Louis Republican.
Year: 1878

A lady in London got the idea
into her head that the devil was in
her and hung herself. If women go
to hanging themselves for a little
thing like that, they are going to be
scarce that's all.
Year: 1878

Mr.. Daniel Tucker, as we see
from a Boston paper, celebrated, Il
few days since, his Tooth birthday.
There was a time when Mr.. Tucker
stood very conspicuous before the
American people, but, overcome by
the infrmities of age, he has long
since retired from the public gaze,
and his name, once in every body's
mouth, is now mentioned in the
public prints for the first time in
many years. In 1874 he was either
tremendous Wing or a tremen-
dous Democrat, and consequently
great worshiper of either Mr.. Clay
or Mr.. Polk, it is not now generally
known which. 1t was during the
memorable campaign of that year
that the poet wrote of him:


"Old Dan Tucker olomb tree


His lord and master for to sec,


But limb it broke and he got q fall,


And never saw his lord at all, !"


this statement Of facts being &C
compaDied by a request that Mr..
Tucker should get out OF the way
of some party or other whose name
was withheld, together with the as
suraLce that owing . the lateness
Of the hour of his arrival, all ideas
of supper we're out of the question,
the kitchen fires having been long
since extinguished. To the man of
middle age the name Of Daniel
Tucker recalls many pleasant reeOl
lections of boyhood. He is chiefly
remembered from the fact that he
was always in everybo1y's way, or,
at least, was always being told by
somebody 10 get out of the way,
and be seems TO have been known
as "Old Daniel I ucker" almost
from his infancy. Long may he
live TO awaken in us memories
of the past by the recurrence of the
anniversary OF his birthday.-COu
rier Journal.
Year: 1878

Texas is overrun with tramps,
and the Dallas Commercial offers
this advice: Don't feed the tramps.
If they ask for a meal send them to
the wood pile and make them earn
it. If they won't do that they are
not very hungry. A rigid deter
mination on the part of the people
mot to feed those who won't work
will cure the tramping business
sooner than anything else.
Year: 1878

The trouble caused by the un-
pardonable interference Of ghost
is thus described in a recent issue
of the Dallas (Texas) Herald;


A strange domestic disturbance
exists in a family whose place Of
residence is on San Jacinto street.
The gentleman and his wife live
alone, and while he fondIy cher
ishes his better half, as she does
him in return, they are both OIL
the opinion that they will be com
PEELED to separate. The wife, whom
he married several years ago, has
within the past few months deyel-
oped into a spiritual medium, and
SO troublesome has this become to.
her husband that he admits that in
order to find peace and comfort he
will be compelled to leave his wife,
whom he adores above all other
creatures in the world. She, teo,
looks at the matter in the same
way, and is free to confess that there
will be no peace until the separa-
ton occurs. The spirits manifest
themselves unbidden by her, and,
while they do not particularly
frighten, prove, nevertheless, a
source Of great annoyance to her
and her husband. The furniture
is hauled about the house, the bed
on which they sleep is tilted, and a
thousand other mischievous pranks
are played by the ghosts The
spirit that causes the greatest dis
turbance is that Of a young man
who was the husbands rival for
the hand of his wife, and which
insists on their separating, having
communicated to the medium the
fact that it will never give them
peace or quiet until they do So
The gentleman is q respectable citi-
zen, and his wife a most estimable


woman, and they had kept the
entire matter a secret, hoping that
the annoyance would cease, but the
sririt in question becomes more
violent each night, and he and hil


wife have mutually agreed to live


apart for awhile at least.
Year: 1878

Ireland Severing Her Chains is
the name of new play which is to
be produced in New York at an
early day. 1t is the work OF Mrs.
Nathalia Pollard, the widow Of the
Southern historian. a eu
Year: 1878

THE MICROSCOPE AS A DETECTIVE
Some years since it was discovered by the
authorities of Il railway in Germany that
L btrrel which, on being dispatched from
a certain station, contained silver coin.
had. during the journey to its destination
been emptied of its contents and filled
with sand. For some time no clue to the
perpetrator of the robbery could be dis
covered; but mt length learned professor
having been consulted on the subject, call
ell in the aid of microscope. And this
was how the thief was found out. The
prosessor knowing that, even though in
the very minuteSt degree, there WAS dis
tinctive difference in the sand found neal
the various stations along the railway line
sent for samples of it from each of the
places through which the train containing
the silver coin had passed. With the mi
croscopc he then carefully examined each
sample, compared it with the sand found


in the barrel, and thus identified the sta
tion from which the latter had been pro
cured. Having. in this ingenious manner
found out the station he wanted little diff
ficulty remained Tor the railway servants
employed at it, by one of whom the rob
berry had been committed, were so few ir
mum Der that the culprit was readily de
tected
Year: 1878

A TERRIBLE WITNESS. The WatchW0rd
gives the following account of Il recenr
death, by dellrium tremens. of talented
young man in the state of New York:


He haI been an earnest laborer in the
temperance cause and had strven to
btni>h the traffic as q means of protection
to himself, and others, like himself, easily
subject to temptation. But his effort wa
unavailing; twenty free holders, some of
them members of the church, to which he
belonged, signed n petition for license, and
it was granted. The trap being thus Set,
the young man, against his better resolves
fell into it. Rapidly he went down, until
drlrum Frustrated him on bed of death
tAbout half an hour before he died, reas n
returned, and he was calm. His pastor
stood by his bed side lie said " Pastor
you know how it is with me | have
tried to he sober and lead Christian life
have failed. My appetite was too strong
the temptation was too great, There is
no hope now. am dying and going to
hell. But have one request to make of
you. want you to get copy Of the
names of those members of our church
who signed perition for license to be,
given to that traffic which has been my
destroyer, and place it on my breast,
when am put into my coffin; for wish
to offer it ut the judgment seat of Christ,
us one reason why am lost In few
moments the Young man died.


Would it not be well for all who in any
way encourage the wicked traffic, to think
of that young man, and the thousands of
others like him, some of whom may be
witnesses against them?
Year: 1878

WATCH THE CHILDREN's FEET.-The
following advice from the New York
Eren:H1 Post is very important. Lei
every mother remsn ber it:


Lifelong discomfort and sudden death
often come to children through the mat
tention or carelessness of the parents. A
child should never be allowed 10 90 t.
sleep with cold feet; the thing to be last
attended to is To see that the feet are drv
and warm. Neglect of this has often re-
suited in dangerous attack of Group
dlphtheria or fatal sore throat. Always
on coming from school, on entering the
house from visit or errand in rainy.
muddy or thawy weather. the child should
remove its shoes, and the mother should
herself ascertain whether the stockings
are the least damp. If they are they
SHOULD be taken of, the feet held before
the fire and rubbed with the hands TIL
perfectly dry, and another pair of stock
ings and another pair of shoes put on
The reserve shoes aud stockings should be-
Kept where they are good and dry, 50 a.
to be ready for use on minute notice.
Year: 1878

Little by little the time goes by
Short ifyou snig through 1t, long If you sigh !;
Little by httle-an hour, day,
tome with the years that ha We vanished away
Little by little the race is run,
Trouble, and waiting, aud toll are donei
Little by little the skies grow clear
Little by little the sun comes near;
Lillle Ly little the days smile out
Gladder and brighter on pain and doubt;
Lutte by little the seed we SOW
Into a beautiful yield will grow.
Little by little the world grows strong,
Fighting tie battle of right and wrong;
Little by little The wrong gives way,
Little by little the right has sway;
Little by little all longing souls
Struggle up nearer the shining goals
Little by little the good in men
Blossoms to beauty Tor human ken;
Little by little the angels see
Prophecies better OF good to be;
Little by title the God of all
Lifts the world nearer his pleading cali
Year: 1878

How TO GET A CINDER OUT OF THE
EYE.-Having caught cinder in the ey e,
it is possible that, by remaining quiet a
while. it may be dissolved by the tears and
vanish; or we may promote the flow OF
tears by attempting to open the eye now
and then, and cause the cnder 10 be car
ried off by them. We may also help the
flow of tears by seizing the edge Of the
npper lid, drawing it away from the eye
ball. and at the same time blowing the
nose smartly; or we may pull the upper
lid down over the edge Of the lower, and
thrusting the latter up beneath it, make
the lower eye-lashes do service as a room
in brushing away the offending substance.
If these expedepts fail we have sure
one in turning over the upper lid and
wiping off the cinder. This is easily done
by travelling companion. Take II pencil
case for fulcrum. place 1t parallel with


he edge of the upper lid, about half an
inch above it; then with the thumb and
fprefnger of the other hand seize the up
per Id firmly by the eye-lashes and free
edge, and direct the person to look down,
and the moment the eyeball rolls down
ward turn the lid quickly up over the pen
Gil. Do not wipe the delicate surface Of
the eyerted lid with the handkerchief
more than is necessary. First find tile
situation Of the ofending substance -
which possibly may be so small rs 10 be
almost invisible; then remove it with the
finger or point Of the pencil, or with the
handkerchief turned over the end of the
finger. The cinder will generally be found
nj about the middle of the upper lid, NOT
far back from the edge. In case the for
eign body sticks on the ball of the eye in
front of the pupil, it may be wiped of
with a bit Of paper twisted to point, oil
possibly by bit of soft pine wood (say
the free end of common friction match)
If however, it does not come off easily
surgical aid must be sought, as great harm
NAV be done the transparent point OF the
eve by the use Of sharp instruments II
inexperienced hands.
Year: 1878

Vision under water is attended with
some peculiar consequences-the result of
what is termed - internal reflection. An
eye placed under perfectly still wafer, AS
for instance, the eye of u diver, will see
external objec only through a circular
tperture, as it were, of 960 50 min. 20 sec
in diameter over head. But all objects
down TO the horizon will be visible in this
space-those near the horizon being much
distorted and contracted in dimensions.
especially in hight Beyond the limits OF
this circle will be seen the bottom of the
water, and all subaqueous objects reflected
and rs vividly depicted as by direct vision
and, in addition, the circular space above
mentioned will appear surrounded with
rainbow of faint but delicate colors. In
he eyes Of fishes. the humors being near
ly of the refractive density of the medium
in which they live, the action of bringing
the rays to focus on the retina is almost
entirely performed by the crystalline lens,
which is nearly spherical, and of small
ra'lius in comparison with the whole di-
ameter of the eye.
Year: 1878

A subscriber wrote to journal TO make
some inquiries about the next world s fair.
whereupon the wicked editor replied that
he was under the impression that the
next world wouldn't have any fair.
Year: 1878

Some years ago q cobbler, given to
drinking, went, after copious libations. to
procure more beer in champagne bottle.
and somehow contrived to Jam the bottom
Of the bottle on an iron spike, and break
it,, He then placed the bottle accidentally
upright. but in such position that flies
could creep under the base of it, and next
morning discovered that the bottle was
full of them, many lying drowned in the
residue of the unspilled lager. A little
observation enabled him to see that flies
always ascend to get out of confinement.
md do not seem to have any idea of get
ting out by a contrary course. He ulti-
mate y took out patent for glass fly
catcher on this principle, and it will be OBJ
served that the wire catcher, now so sue
cessful, is merely an adaptation of the
same principle.
Year: 1878

PoRT DALHoUsIE, Ontario. May T.
A feet OF hundred vessels is here.
There is strong feeling of indignation on
account of the postpouemeut of the open
ing of the Welland canal. One vessel
owner with four cargoes of ice has
entered action against the Board of Pub
lie Works to recover damages for loss
through delay.
Year: 1878

WASHINGTON. May 6.-By consent Mr..
Gordon spoke on the resumption repeal.
He favored honest finances, and return
to specie payment was the best one, no
matter how rough it be, He could not see
Why it was not better to save the country
by common sense than ruin it BY
science. The policy of contraction planted
the seed. not OF resuption but Of consump-
ton of the vitals of the country, until il
swept all our energies and enterprise away.
He did not believe the secretary of the
treasury could maintain resumption with
out bringing great distress upon the
country. The south would not be found
wanting when the country's honor or fas
we're assailed. He spoke of the banefu


effects of communism, and said it must b.
suppressed.
Year: 1878

PHILADELPHIA. May THE new hunt.
ing park Was formally opened yesterday.
In hurdle race the horse ridden by Peter
Morris. fell and had his neck broke and
falling over upon Morris fatally injured
him. The remainder of races were post.
noned.
Year: 1878

Some days ago We gave our views Of
the Stewart body sna.ching affair, and
holding out the idea that very little
sympathy is expressed or respect shown
TO either the remains or memory of .
man who in his lifetime boarded up his
millions, and dying left not solitary
endowment for any charitable institu-
ton. The Philadelphia Evening Buiie.
tin, in devoting an editorial TO the same
subject, ~e are pleased to see takes the
same view Of the case, and says that
now that it has become so dangerous 10
die rich, the good example Of the veal
thy men who make themselves their
own almonsrs during life o-ght to be-
come generally popular. Nobody will
ever harry the grave of the good mln
or woman whore life has been spent in
applying wealth to its highest use, the
scattering Of brnefactions among the
poor and destitute and afflicted. There
are many strong arguments in favor Of
right uses Of wealth during the owner's 3
lifetime. The satisfaction of knowing
that the money has gone whore it was
meant to go, and Of seeing it do the
work for which it was designed, is of
itself reassn enough for preferring the
living gilt to the post-mortem bequest.
But now that rich men have got to run
the risk of being stolen out of their
graves, tor the sake of the wealth they
have left behind them, there will be a
good many who will consider whether
it is better to invest their extra wealth
now, in the various safe channels Of
active benevolence around them. In a
new sense, such men will rest easier
in their graves"
Year: 1878

There is no Iced for scare on the
part of the citizens living in Shipley
Run valley by any exaggerated reports
which may arise through leak occur
ring in the basin every now and then.
The Mill river disaster in Massachu-
sets is yet fresh in the memories of the
people, but in that case the basin was
situated on a stream of water, which
caused continual flow into the basin
and when it broke there was no cessa-
ton until much damage was done and
loss Of life occurred. Our basin is en-
trely different. No sudden break can
possibly occur and any indications Of q
ak are promptly met and checked.
Rven should a leak occur, the water
could not rush out from both compart-
ments in sufficient volume to do much
damage, and if it was found that there


was any danger OF a break the whole
basin co1ld be emptied in six hours
sufficiently to be past all danger. By
opening the escape pipes and the water
plugs through the city all the water in
the basin could be drained off in twelve
hours. The embankments of the basin
are so firm and solid, that no amount of
water pressure could move them, and
the leak which has occurred in the
north compartment is from the bottom
of the basin, the water working its way
along the gravel leads into the drain
pipes and from thence out from under
tue basin and not through the embank-
mrnts. Those having the matter in
hand Seem perfectly to understand
their business and are on the sharp
lookout for leaks and when found they
will be promptly repaired.