smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

EvoLUrloN AS CREATIoN.-Creation
was accomplished by degrees. God
took untold ages for the perfection OF
his work. In the beginning all was
Chaos-''w without form and void"-and
darkness was upon the face of the
deep Then began the separation
the earth from the armament: the sea
from the dry land; then the fora and
the other myriad forms of vegetation;
then the various land and amphibious
animals. rising each higher and high
er above each other, In the order ot
creation, until. at last, man was ush.
cred upon the stage, Gods noblest
and crowning work.


Now, whenever the philosopher
shall tell us why God did not do diff
erently in regard TO the creation Of
His physical or material world; why,
instead Of consuming myriads of ages
in the production of the wonders oi
nature, He should not have originated
them at breath, and that, in full de-
velopment, instead of by the tedious
process of natural growth-nay. why
there should ever have been Chaos at
all, or darkness, seeing that God him
self is from all Eternity, and only
needed to have willed it and it was
done. When, we say, the skeptical
philosophers shall solve us this diff
Guilty in regard to material things,
then, but not before, will we under
take to resolve for him why Gods
moral government should be conduct
ed upon principles different from those
we behold in operation every day
The ApDeQl.
Year: 1877

We are reliably informed of remark.
able incident connected with the death
of a lady of Wilmington, Del, during
the past week, says the Star of that city.
She owned valuable dog. The animal
had never been in the habit of going in
side of the house, and had never been
known to leave the lot. On the night
succeeding the death of the lady, while a
number of friends were sitting in the
room with the corpse, the dog came to
the door, which was shut, and scratched
aud paved at it until it was opened,
when he deliberately walked to the place
where the body was lying, shifted at it
once or twice, and then walked out. The
next morning the dog was missing, a fact
which was SO mysterious and unaccount-
able, owing to the known domestic habits
of the animal, that a member of the
family inquired whether it had not been
placed in the city pound. Nothing was
seen or heard of the dog until that after
noon, when, as the funeral reached the
entrance to Bellevue cemetery, the ami
NAL ran out and met it, and then fol-
lowed with the mourners to the grave,
where he kept up most dismal howling
and whining while the last sad rites were
being performed. The sexton of the
cemetery said that he found the dog there
early that morning, that. the animal was
present when he ding the grave, end re-
p,nin,~l there during the entire day,
until the funeral procession arrived.
Year: 1877

The buried treasures of Lafitte, the
pirate, periodically stimulate to search
the fools of the Gulf coast in the same
way that Captain Kidd's hidden wealth
does their credulous brethren of the
Northern Shore Line. Ten years ago
n New Orleans pirate had i'll his possess
sion map that had been left him by n
relative, which pointed out spot on
Cat Island, Oh one OF the sand mounds
there, where chests of treasure were to
be found. John Newell, for that was his
name, started four times to make the
search, but by some strange and mys-
terious coincidence each time he and his
party came to grief just rs tire island was
almost in reach. On the hst trip Newell
went by himself, and when outside, his
little yacht, appropriately named the
Reckless Babe" foundered and her
owner drowned. For the last fifty years
these stories about buried wealth have
been current at New Orleans, especially
among the Creole families, and to-day
there are many who believe in the story
and have full faith in these old tradi-
tions. AS a sample of this confidence,
it is learned that since the publication of
the recent organization of stock COM
pany at the North, to search for Captain
kiid's buried gold, there is on foot in
atcity an expedition to go oafter Lafitte's,
and schooner is to be chartered soon to
carry the adventurers and their imple-
ments
Year: 1877

Three young gentlemen planned a
burlesque serenade to three young ladies
in Raleigh, N, G. One had a violin, an
other bass viol, and another q banjo,
and each instrument had a single string.
Enterirg g the front yard at midnight they
SCI eened themselves from sight beneath
the foliage of magnolia trees and opened
the serenade. Now the young ladies had
facetious father with noisy shotgun.
Sliding noisly from his bed, he took out
the shot from a shell cartridge, and, aim
ing his gun at the magnolia, fired. He
confidently expected stampede, but he
was disappointed. The overture was not
broken off; the players scraped and
picked each on his own string, and q
vol e cried out: "Shoot lower, old
coon." "Now, girls, I'll try the hose
pipe" said the facetious father, and soon
there was less music in the air.
Year: 1877

A few days ago some persons were
boring well Oh the bluff near Baum's
Mill, Carroll county, Mo. They passed
through several strata of hard clay and
other formations, and had reached a
depth of forty-six feet, when the auger
struck a stick of timber, which, Judging
from the time it took to bore through it,
must have been at least two feet in diame-
ter. As soon as the auger passed
through the wood it seemed to drop, as
if into hole, and almost Immediately
water rushed into the well to the depth
of thirty feet. A piece of turf, in which
the form of leaves and pieces of sticks
were plainly visible, was brought up by
the anger. The wood of the log is Of
very fine grain, and is wholly different
from any now growing in that neighbor-
hood. Many people have examined the
w",j, AMI all, So far, lave declared that
they never saw wood like il before,
Year: 1877

A sad sight in Russia to Il traveller is
the manner in which civil prisoners are
treated. 1t is common spectacle to see
three or four hundred poor wretches on
their way to Siberia under military
escort; for most of them are chained
together in couples, and the women and
children who have elected to share their
bread-winners' lot have also to submit to
be treated as criminals. Poorly clad and
apparently half starved, the wonder is
that any of the party should ever survive
the dreadful journey. A Russian criminal


condemned to exile is sent away with
very little ceremony; but when an officer
of the army or other person of note has
been sentenced to banishment for life he
is dressed in full uniform, and led to q
scaffold in some public place. In the
presence of the crowd he is made to kneel
while his epaulets and decorations are
torn from his coat and his sword broken
over his head. Heis declaredlegally dead;
his estates are confiscated, and his wife
can consider herself widow if she so
chooses. From the scaffold he starts on
his journey for Siberia, HIS wife and
children, sisters or mother, can follow or
accompany him if they choose, but only
on condition that they share his exile.
Mr. Arnold in his book entitled "Through
Persia by Caravan" relates low, when
passing through Russia, he saw a
party of prisoners embarked on board a
steamer on the river Volga. They were
positively Gagged amidships, so that every
part of the interior could be seen, just us
in the lion-houses of the Geological gar
dens, with this ditference--that in the
case of the prisoners there was no over
hanging roof to prevent rain OF sunshine
from pouring in upon their wretched-
ness. At the back of the cage there was
a lair common to all, without distinction
of sex or age. And when all were secured
including the guiltless women and child:
ren, fights occurred for the places least
exposed to the east wind.
Year: 1877

The Newburgh IN. " Journal tells
the following story of adventure, the
little heroine being n young miss of some
twelve years, daughter of a farmer re-
siding near the village of Mount Hope:
"While she was engaged feeding hen
and chickens, at an early hour, II weasel
made its appearance among the brood,
and seized one of the chicks. The plucky
little girl grasped the chicken and vainly
endeavored to release it from the fatal
jaws of its ravenous enemy. Bereft, i'll
its eagerness for blood, of fear, the wea-
sci held on, resisting all the efforts made
to shake him off. Determined not to be
beaten in the contest, the young miss
then seized the weasel by the nape of its
neck and ran to the house, distance of
some two hundred feet, making her ap-
penrance in the dining where the
family were seated ut breakfast, with it
firmly clutched in her grasp, her hands
bleeding from repeated applications of
its teeth and claws. Here the family
dog was called in, but the weasel fastened
it's jaws into the upper lip of his dog
ship, who with howls of pain wildly ran
about the room. The distress OF the
dog, n great household pet, again put
the little girl upon her mettle, and seiz-
ing the weasel she choked him off the
dog, but only to cause him to fasten his
teeth in her thumb, which he bit through
and through. Though the pain must
necessarily have been great, the child
uttered no cry of distress, but patiently
awaited until the grip OF the weasel had
been released by his being choked. The
animal was then killed"
Year: 1877

A story comes to us from the coal
mines OF the Lackawanna valley--a
simple story, but with immense possi-
bilities. In the Diamond" shaft
there was no steadier, harder worker
than Jim Gardiner. What lie did with
his money was long mystery-he had
no wife, no family, no expensive habits,
no relatives that any one knew of, and
yet no savings bank account. 1t was
learned later that MI but the little need
cd for his daily wants went for charity
found its way quietly, unobtrusively
into the huts of women and children
whose husbands and fathers had gone
down in the crush of falling timbers or
come forth black and crisp from the
scorching fire-damp.


There was something about Gardiner
that suggested former life of higher
grade. He talked but little, but that
little was in words we'll chosen and of
choice dialect. His dress was as rough
as the toughest, but he carried it as
man who had been used to face the
world smilingly. They called him
Gentleman jim" in the mines, but
they all liked him rs man who
always played fair and asked no odds.


In the accident OF last April, when the
roof Of part of the mine fell in,
Gardiner was killed. 1t appeared in the
evidence that there were few seconds
during the crack Of timber before the
roof fairly came down, and in that brief
time, in those few beats of the pulse,
Gentleman Jim" had caught two
boys with his lion-like strength. and
tossed them clear out Of the fatal cham
Der into the safe main alley. Then he
went down with the roof. When his
body was recovered the next day they
found him with his right hand thrust
inside his vest and clasping tight little
pocket-book. There was nothing in it
save card, on which was fastened, with
a drop of sealing-wax on the stem, ill
that remained of rosebud and two
geranium leaves. Underneath was writ
ten, in a woman's hand, Marie-All
for Her--June 4, 1867" Just below
was written, in mans hand "June,
1S70-all withered-except the thorn"


1t is tale for poet-we have given
the barest outlines as they came to us.
But our informant adds that the face of
the man, as they found him, unmarried
by the cruel rocks which crushed his
chest, was placid MS that OF sleeping
child.
Year: 1877

There's something In the "parting hour"
Will chill the warmest heart,
Yet kindred, comrades, lovers, friends,
Are fatod all to part
But this We seen-and many a pang


Has pressed it on my mind
The one who goes IL happier


Than those he leaves behind
The bride goes to the bridegroom's home
With doubtings and with tears,
But does not hope her rainbow spread
Across her cloudy fears?
Alas tho mother who remains,


What comfort can she find,
But this-,the one is happier


Than one SIZE leaves behind.
Have You friend, Il comrade dear,
An old and valued friend?
BE sure your time of sweet concourse
At length will have All end
And when you part-as part you will
Oh, take it not unkind,
II he who goes is happier


Than yon he leaves behind.
God wills it so and so it is;


The pilgrims on the way,
Though weak and worn, more cheerful are
Than nj! the rest who stay.
And when at last, poor man subducd,
Lies down to death resigned,
May he not still be happier far
Than those he leaves behind?
Year: 1877

Some time ago, in Tunis, u Sicilian
athlete Of Rinaldo's circus excited gen.
eral admiration by his manly beauty and
feats of strength. He was in the habit
of overcoming lion during the per.
formance, which, however, was trained
to succumb. The hey of Tunis, hear
ing Of this, sent him M offer Of thou.
sand ducats il he would kill a lion which
he possessed. The proposal was ac-
cepted, and on the day appointed, the
hey had large company gathered
around the pit where the lion was kept.


The beast had been there three days
without food, and was furious. The
iron door of the pit opened, but instead
of the athlete, trembling dog was
thrown forward, which timidly took
refuge in corner. The lion, who was
at distance, turned in surprise Mt the
humble intruder. His tail ceased to
lash his side, his roars ceased, and he
sat, with paws extended, contemplating
his victim. Propelling himself forward
upon his belly, he finally made spring.
The dog, however, who had watched
him with vigilant eye, sprang in the
opposite direction.


The lion seemed astonished at missing
his prey, but after rolling over few
times made another jump, which was
also avoided. Pity for the dog induced
the hey to order cord to be lowered for
him, and while the lion was gyrating
preparatory to renewed spring, the dog
intelligently seized the cord with his
teeth and was drawn up. As he as
sended, the lion sprang again, but was
too late. At this moment the Sicilian
appeared, calm and fearless. He was in
n rich circus costume, and carried
heavy mace. He took his position in the
same corner previously occupied by the
dog.


At first the lion did not perceive him,
but on turning, his eyes expressed
vague inquietude. He slowly withdrew
few steps, watching his enemy with
furtive and sidelong glance. The Sici-
liam, on the contrary, looked straight
in his eye and watched every movement.
The lion evidently had misgivings, but
impelled by hunger, sprang upon the
man with a terrible roar.


The Sicilian slipped aside with agility,
and before the paws of the lion touched
the ground, a violent blow from the
mace upon the head laid him insensible.
The mace was raised for the death blow,
when the bey interposed. He offered
the man another thousand for the life of
the beast. 1t was accepted, and the lion
was allowed to recover.
Year: 1877

Life becomes useless and insipid when
we have no longer neither friends or ene-
mics.


An able man shows his spirit by gen.
tie words and resolute actions; he is
neither hot nor timid.


Friendship is the medicine for all mis-
fortunes, but ingratitude dries up the
fountain of all goodness.


An inclination toward still sitting
comfort nestles in man; like a great
dog he let's himself be pricked and teased
q thousand times rather than take the
trouble to jump up in lieu of growing.


The miser tolls for riches, the hero for
fame, the scholar that his name may be
known to coming ages. How much
higher and nobler the aim of a Christian
who is living for all eternity--toiling for
q crown of everlasting life


Death is the wish of some, the relief
of many, and the end of all. 1t sets the
slave at liberty, carries the banished
man home, and places all men on the
same level, inasmuch that life itself
would be punishment without it.


You are we'll off when you are in
healthy neighborhood, with enough to
eat and drink, a comfortable, we'll venti-
lated apartment to sleep in, and you are
paying all your expenses and laying up
something-even slowly-for rainy
day, and in addition to all this, acquiring
knowledge and strengthening your char
acter. Young men whose situation COM
bines all the preceding advantages
should be cautious about exchanging
such certainty, unless it be for another
certainty. Happiness does not depend
upon great wealth SO much as it does
upon independence and intellectual and
moral culture.
Year: 1877

Hope.
Hope IL comfort In distress,
Hope Is in misfortune bliss,
Hope in sorrow is delight.
Hope IL day in darkest night.
Nor wonder at
This riddling knot.
For hope h everything which she is not
Hope, though slow she be and late,
Yet outruns swift time and fate.
And aforehand loves to be
With most remote futurity.
Hope, though she die,
Immortal IL,
And In fruition fruit doth fairer rise.
Year: 1877

Quite commotion was caused in the vi clnity of the Forge" Weston, on Thurs day last, by the wild freaks of an evidently escaped lunatic. His first appearance was before Mir. George Hull who was planting in a field near the roadside, who, on look ing up to see what the man wanted, re- ceived blow between the eyes which nearly felled him recovering himself and starting for the man who was then on a run for the fence, the fellow stopped and commenced stoning him, which caused a halt on Hull's part. The man then took to the highway. and next came up behind MT. B. Hull, and felled him to the ground by a blow Tn the back of the head from large stone. He next met man coming tow ards him with hoe, and running up to him he snatched the hoe from his hand and struck at his head, but he caught the blow ou his arm, and the handle was broken In two pieces. By this time the neighbor- hood had become alarmed and an effort was made to seize and con fine the fellow, but he somehow got six foot fence stake and went wildly for any and all who approach ed him. One of the men finally went into house, borrowed pistol and presenting it at the man, threatened to fire unless he gave himself up, but the fellow would not yield, and continued his attacks on all He was finally shot, the bali going through one ot his cheeks, yet he would not give up, and apparently did not mind the shot in the least. A boy getting behind hit hlm on the back of the head, which knocked him senseless, in which condition he lay for about an hour. He was bound so as not to be able to do any more mischief, and on his recovery complaint was made and he was taken to Bridgeport. During the melee it is sad he did not speak one word, and being perfect stranger, he is supposed to have been an escaped lunatic from some asylum.
Year: 1877

The Russians have won decided victory in Asia-something which, with their supe rior numbers and equipment, they should have done before. They will immediately be reinforced by large reserve army so as to be fully prepared for any demonstration which the Mohammedan Circassians may make in their rear, and will then proceed with their aggressive warfare. Meanwhile the army of the Danube is in no hurry to cross, but awaits achievements which are on the way before carrying the war into Bulgaria. The decision of Servia to re- main quiet decreases the probability of Austrian interference.
Year: 1877

'sVesuve" is the latest shade of red. Any man can color his nose to the Vesuve- ian tint by holding it regularly over the cratsr. ..f

 Big cuff buttons have gone out of fash ion, and hereafter retired grindstones of the largest size will have to be utilized in some other manner.
Year: 1877

A singular SUIT was commenced yesterday, on behalf
Of the United States government In the United States
District Court, against General John G Fremont 1t
Ia charged against the General that he mis-
stoned major general in May, 1851, but did not as
sumo actual command until tho following July For
the time between receiving his commission
ing command he drew pay from the government
amounting to So OO0 II has now been decided by the
government that he should have drawn pay only from
the time OF taking actual command, and tho prcscnt
SUIT is brought back The $4,000 previously
Year: 1877

Mrs. Catherine Burke has sued her husband Cap
tain Christian Burke proprietor OF restaurant on


Myrtle avenue for divorce the ground OF cruel and
inhuman treatment She says her husband is habit
ual drunkard, and who under tho influence Of liquor
throws lager beer glasses and decanters at her. He
also demoshes tho furniture Yesterday Judge Neil
son, OF tho Brooklyn City Court, appointed MI George
P. Murphy referee TO try the case.


Mr. Edward Wheeler, of Ninth street, and who Is q
produce merchant in Now York, has been sued for
absolute DIVORCE BY his wife Minnie IN the Brooklyn
City Court Yesterday the Judge granted an order
compelling tho defendant to show cause why he should
not pay amony.
Year: 1877

Doctor Fershland, Of No 2o7K Prospect place, South
Brooklyn. caused the. arrest of hts wife, Christina,
yesterday afternoon charge Of stealing her child,
OF which the custodian pending her action for
divorce. Some timo since the doctor sued her for
divorce tho ground Of adultery, but tho evidence
was not sufficient ince the jury of her inhdcy
and they urned verdict IN her favor Her husband
then offered her homo again, but she refused 10 ac
ccpt it. She then brought action Tor divorce from
nim and suit has not yet been tried. Yesterday
she her husbands house to soc the child and


finding tho former not In walked OF with the IT.
tic one She was before Judge Walsh, but as the
refused press tho charge she was discharged
Year: 1877

Doing GooD.-A few years since n
wealthy gentleman of Paris, who lived in
idlcness, at length became weary OF life,
and left his house one evening with the
intention of drowning himself in tho riv-
or Seine /; it being yet twilight when he
arrived at its banks, he concluded to walk
about short time till it was darker so
that it should not be discovered. While
thus engaged, he put his hand in his pocI-
ct and felt a purse which was filed with
gold he concluded to go and find some
poor family, and give it to them, as il
would do no one any good, if he cast him
self into the river with the money. He
soon found a dwelling that bespoke pov-
erty within I; he entered it, and there he
bebeld the mother of the family stretched
on bed Of sickness, and six children in
rags, and crying for bread. He gave
them his purse Of gold, and Immediately
their tears of sorrow were transformed to
tears of joy and their gratitude was Sc
ardent and simple to their benctactor, as
to fill his heart with joy and peace and
he exclaimed: : 81 did not know that
there was so much happiness in doing
good. | abandon the idea of killing my
self, and | will devote the remnant Of my
life to doing good" He did so, and was
much distinguished for his deeds Of be
| nevolence.
Year: 1877

SKILL OF THE HINDoos.-The ancient
Ilndoos were not deficient in the arts
DR.. Rox xburgh is of the opinion that the
Western world is indebted to India for
its knowledge of the rotation of crops in
agriculture. The law punished n farmer
who failed to SOW his fields in due time,
with the forfeiture of "ten times as much
as the kings share of the crop that might
otherwise have been raised" In the
manufacture of Iron they were proficient;
and il is now known that the famous Da-
mascus blades were of Indian steel, man
ufactured in the West Of India. The
skill with which they worked granite in
to beautiful forms is the best proof of tho
excellence of their tools. In the manu-
cacture of cotton they have never been
equalled and Mrs. Speirs observes that
:" the time may soon arrive when it will
not appear incredible that fabric Of ten
yards in length and one yard wide should
only weigh two ounces, three penny
weights, and pass readily through small
ring. Similar to this must have been the
woven air of Sanscrit literature, and tho
robe in which a woman exhibited herself
in Buddhist story, and was punished for
going about unclad."