smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

A good many of our State exchan- ges are busying themselves suggest ing names for the various State ofii- ces, and publishing laudatory notic- es of favorites. We see no occasion for any hurry in this matter, and some months from now will be soon enough to agitate this subject. As for the DEMOCRAT we do not propose to commit ourselves to the support of any man for any office until we see who all may become candidates. When we see the aspirants all in the field we will take our choice; and our favorite will be the man who IS best fitted for the position to which he asplres. We don't care cent. where he may be from, whether or not we may have ever seen him, or how many other good fellows" or "peI sonal friends" we may have to drop, we propose to satisfy ourself who amongst all the names present. ed is best qualified for the position who will fill the office with most credit to the State and prof, to the people-and then we will support him.

 We want the next Democratic Convention to choose the nominees for the various offices from the very best material in the party. We trust all other democratic papers in the State will insist upon this thing also, and not commit themselves so far that they will not be free to sup. port the very best men who may be induced to accept positions.
Year: 1879

In all parts of the country there is sensible realization of the long predicted "better times"

 Business is good; wages have been advanced; the price of farm products has become more remunerative. Money which for years past has been so scarce, is getting more plentiful among our people. And what the people now want to do IS to so live and manage that they will not drop back into the old ruts and find them selves grooming under the pressure of hard times. There is not much of a secret about the proper way to do this, either. The hint given in the subioined extract from the Rural World will tell just how it can be done. Says the Rural.

 People say better times are coming. We hope the statement IS true. Prospects are more favorable. But will the better times come to stay? Have the hard times taught us any valuable lessons? Has the hard ex- perienpe we have had made so deep an impression upon us that if we once get out of debt we will be sure to keep out? Will we hereafter pay for what we buy? Will we keep up our present economy, or will we, when money is again plenty, run in- to the same extrayagance we did when money was plenty few years ago? Shall we have individual econ omy, public economy, or will we for get our present and past hardships snd do as nearly all people do when times are flush? Will the young people treasure up the lessons which have been taughttheir parents and never be caught ss they were for nearly every one has been suffer er)? People must learn to live with in their means. When they do this, we shall have continued prosperity.
Year: 1879

The Atkins News makes wig orous appeal in behalf of the propos- ed road over the Boston mountains to Harrison. We are just as certain that good turnpike would resul. in drawing an immense trade to the Arkansas valley, and much of it di- rectly to Little Rock, as we are that hundreds Of thousands of dollars now go annually from Northwest Arkan- sas to Springfield and other points in Missouri. We ought to control this vast trade, and can do it if we will put forth . little effort.-Little Rock Democrat, Nov. P.

 Faith without works is dead" (This, we believe, is scripture, and of course it IS true And now gen. tlemen of the Atkins News and the Little Rock Democrat, if you want to prove your faith, all you have to do is to stir your people up to the WORKING POINT. Russellville has had her force of workmen out on the road for two weeks, and If you really want to do anything to aid in bring ing the trade of northwest Arkansas to | market in our own State and stop the steady flow of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to Springfield, Mo-, why don't you join in with the effort now being made by Russellville and do somgthing in the way of substantial aid toward mak- ing good road?
Year: 1879

One of the wonders Of Iowa is tho
''Walicd Lakc,"' about one hundred and
fifty miles west of Dubuque city. The
lake is from two to three feet higher than
the carth's surface In some places the
wall is ten feet high, fifteen feet wide at
the bottom, and five feet on the Top. An
other fact is the size of the stones used in
construction, the whole of them varying in
weight from three tons down to one hun


drcd pounds There IS an abundance of
stones in Wright county, but surrounding
the lake to the extent of five or ten miles
there are none. No one can form an idea
as TO the means employed to bring them to
the spot, or who constructed it. Around the
entire lake is n belt of woodland half a mile
III length, composed of oak with this cX-
ception, the country is a rolling prairie.


The trees must have been planted there ut
the time of the building Of the wall In
the spring Of the year 1866 there was q
great storm, and the ice on the lake broke
the wall in several places and the farmers
in the vicinity were obliged to repair the
damages 10 prevent inundation. The lake
occupies Il ground surface of two thousand
eight hundred acres; depth of water as
great as twenty-five feet. The water is
clear and cold soil sandy and loamy. 1t
is singular that no one has been able to as
certain where the water comes from nor
where it goes, yet 1t is always clear and
fresh. ..
Year: 1879

DR.. Louis Elsbcrg in lecture on the
throat, delivered recently, said that the
workings of the vocal cords and of all tho
muscles of the larynx used in speech and
song could be seen as distinctly as the
strings Of the violin and the fingers of the
performer. 1t was curious to study the
mechanism Of the cpiglottis--a switch at
the junction of the windpipe and the gull
let, which, being under the control of
nerves which act with lightning rapidity,
leaves the track open for the air to get to
tho lungs, or upon the notice Of hun
dredth part Of q second flies back and
leaves passage for the smallest quantity
of food or drink to pass into the gullet and
80 on to the stomach. Hc exhibited q
curious picture Of Il pair of diseased vocal
cords which were so affected that they
made the owner speak or sing in two tones
at the Same time. The lecturer strongly
impressed upon his audience the importance
of keeping the mouth shut, except when
they had something of value to say or
something good to cat. One man, he said,
had not long ago published a whole volume
on this subject, in which he took tho ground
that If human beings would follow the ex-
ample Of the lower animals aud keep their
mouth shut, they would be freed from a
great many of tho Ills to which flesh is
otherwise heir. etl
Year: 1879

An elegantly dressed female lately cn-
tered Paris jewelers. shop, and asked TO
see some valuable gold pins. While she
was examining them, man began playing
barrel organ, before the door. The music
seemed TO annoy the lady, and, step ing to
the front door, she threw piece of money
to the man, and told him to go away,
which he did ut once. On returning to the
counter she said that none of the pins
suited her, but that, as some compensation
for the trouble she had given she would
buy brooch. She accordingly chose one,
paid ten francs for it, and was leaving the
shop, when the jewclcr missed diamond
pin of great value from among those she
had been looking at. lie accordingly
stopped his customer, Who seemed highly
indignant, and insisted on the jcwelcr's
wife searching her, which was done, but no
pin was found. The jewclcr therefore al
lowed her to leave, but sent his sister to
watch her. The woman was soon seen to
enter another jewelers. shop and was pre-
tending to make purchase rs before, when
the organ grinder again made his appear
ance. AS soon as he began playing. she
again threw him some money and ordered
him to move on but the person who was
watching her perceived that with the money
she had given the man a piece of jcwclry.
This was at once made known to some SER
gent de vile, who arrested them both and
found on the man several articles of jcwelry
which had been obtained in similar man
Year: 1879

1t is high time that house plants that
have been kept out Of doors during the
summer be protected from the chill evening
air. All tender plants, as bcgonias, the
tender cactuscs Observation-Disclosures, pep
cromas, Gala, eplphillum, and all those
classes Of plants, should not become chilled
at night Geraniums, ageratums, lantanas,
fuschias, and all that class will not injurc
short Of actual frost, but care should be
taken that no plant intended for the house
should be exposed to strong winds. When
the weather is clustering it is better that
they be removed indoors, putting them out
again upon the recurrence of fine weather.
Avoid above all, to allow them to be
drcnchcd by cold, chilling rains. What
ever the temperature of the room during
tho day, it should not fall below forty-two
degrees at night, nor should the night tenn
pcrature really go much below sixty de-
grccs One Of the very worst things for
plants Is TO allow direct draft of cold air
to strike them from the outside Change
the air of the room by allowing it to enter
through another apartment. Do not water
except when the plants need it. This may
soon be estimated pretty correctly by the
size of the potts. and the nature of the
plants. Porous lcaved plants require more
water than firm lcavcd ones. All the cacti
tribe require but little water in winter.
The smaller the pot, the oftcncr it will re-
quirc water. 1t is better that tho plants
sometimes show signs Of dropping than to
keep them drenchcd. If the soil is kept
full of water, the plants arc sure to sckcn,
for this, Is one of the reasons, that water
should never be kept IN saucers under tho
pots, except in minute quantity, and not so
deep as to reach the earth in the pots.
The soil will absorb too much by capillary
attraction, and the very act Of this absorp-
tion and evaporation will keep the soil
cold, and 1t will become ultimately sour.
Ono of the greatest disabilities to house
plants Is the dust from the building Of fires,
the constant passing to and fro, and espe-
cially from sweeping. If you have bay
window, the plants may easily be protected
from dust at such times by means of cur
tains, to be drawn. If not, a curtain or
cloth should be used for covering. This
with an occasional sponging with tcpid
water rs to the firm and smooth-lcavcd
plants, and the rinsing of soft and downy
ones, with on occasional showcring with
fine rose pot or plant syringe, should keep
them IN good condition.
Year: 1879

There is now living near Catasauq,la,
Penn, in hearty old age, the man who
discovered how 10 use anthracite coal in the
manufacture of iron. His name is David
Thomas, and the story Of his discovery he
thus narratcs: cone winter night, in the
old country, l sat with Mr. Crane, q brother
superintendent of Il blast furnace, over a
CRATE fire of hard COAL We had talked of
the recent invention of the hot blast, Just
patented by Mr.. Nelson, aSc0tchn.an, and
our conversation had carried us pretty far
along into tho evening. The fire had burn
cd low, and we were about to separate,
when picked up the bellows and began to
blow 1t. '4ou will put ont the fire. said
Mr.. Crane. AS he spoke il flashed over me
that If my bellows gave a hot blast ii would
bring the grateful of coal to u bright glow,
and with the thought there came like an
inspiration upon me that the hot-bast was
all that was needed to utilize the rich beds
of anthracite under our feet for making
iron: l dropped the bellows and gave ut
tcrance to my thoughts. Mr.. Crane smll-
ca, then grew attentive, and as went on
thinking out my theory as spoke he be-
came Interested. When l concluded we
graspcd hands over the dead Goals of our
anthracite fire and separated. Little sleep
we got that night. TO me it was one of
restless anxiety. When read an account
OF the night before the execution Of con-
demned man | always think of my night
with my new idea. The next day posted
up to Scotland, and on my return brought
with me the plans of hot-blast furnace,
which we at once proceeded to build for
the purpose of making iron with anthracite
coal. 1t was great success, and attracted
capital to tho development of the anthra-
cite coal beds of Wales and the attention of
tho scientific world. Before that for our
furnaces we had brought coke from the dis
tant bituminous coal fields, thereby incrcas-
Ing the cost of our product over establish
meLts moro favorably situated. The very
hills underneath our feet were filled with
rich deposits of anthracite, and the dis
covcry Of means to utilize 1t was like mino
OF gold to the country around. Our expert
mcnt was success. OF course the scientific
discussion carried on In the papers in that
country provoked attention in America,
and the few scientific journals published
here took up the matter, and thereby the
iron-workcrs of this region came to know of
It's great value. They were then using
charcoal aud coke. At once they set to
work on my plan. 1t resulted in great
losses to tho capital invested and many
cases Of financial failure and bankruptcy.


"The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com
pany watched these experiments with ardent
hope of success, for they saw what a great
advantage to them must result in carrying
to perfection in this country what we had
perfected In Wales. They waited and hop
ed in vain and finally concluded to send for
Mr. Crane or me. Their representative
visited me, in the person Of Erskinc Hazard
of Philadelphia. had often thought Of
coming to America, and my wife was
strongly In favor of 1t, 80 VI o received Mr.
Hazard's propositions with favor. Terms
were flxed upon; " was arranged that my
expenses out were to be paid and that If I
Year: 1879

WHEN Wade Hampton said the
resolution adopted by the National
Democratic Convention in 1880, declar-
Ing the constitutional amendments
null and void, was his, he wants now
to be understood in a Pickwickian
sense. The fact is, the General is get
ting elastic.
Year: 1879

PROCTOR KNOTT is said to be getting
up reply 10 the Presidents veto mes
But the trouble with Proctor is, his
coat tail is too near the ground. He
proposes to get his party out of bad
scrape, bnt the probability is he will
only get them farther in.
Year: 1879

TAMMASY has sometimes threatened TO bolt
Democratic nominations which were not to
its mind. and failed to carry ont the threat;
but this time the split in the New York
Democracy is clearly incconcilcablc Tam
many has bolted the Democratic nomination
for Governor and put up rival nomination.
And the last act of the New York Dcmocra-
tic State Convention was to read Tammany
out Of the party, and To give its representa-
tives distinct notice that they will not be adj
mitted to future Democratic conventions
doubtless verify the old proverb that when
rogues fall out honest men get their dues
Year: 1879

If John Kelly can retain control of the im-
mense patronage and power hr holds as the
Boss Of the great city Of New York, he
cares little who controls Tie State Govern
rather have both in Republican hands than
in the hands OF Democrats hostile, To himself
who would undermine his influence and in
terferc with his perquisites.
Year: 1879

Yesterday afternoon a young man OF
this city took notion that the after
noon being a pleasant one he would de-
vote the hours to riding around the
city. He went to livery stable and
hired a horse and carriagr, and when
near 9Th and King streets, he got ont IN
order to 60 into a barber shop. While
absent young student OF medicine,
who was passing by, thought it would
be pleasant thing to take ride, and
Jumping into the vehicle. drove Oft and
was absent about one hour. The young
man who had hired the team was some
what alarmed on his return to find that
his horse and wagon had gone, and
upon inquiry was told that young
student had taken "short drive.
The Young man surmised at once who
the student was, and on going to the
police station had warrant issued for
his arrest. The case, however, was not
tried last evening. as the studen: had
taken the team away in return for a
joke that the young man had played on
him.
Year: 1879




News having been borne to the Young
men James Monaghan, George kopp,
Walter Finn and George Smith, who
are confined upon the charge of ruth
Ies,sly numbering the aged negro Demby
of the probability OF their trial being
held on THURSDAY next, they are nat
urally beginning to become subject to
that nervous apprehension towhich men
in their terrible positions are peculiarly
liable. This however thy endeavor to
hide under a manner nochalence, and
apparently careless OF the consequence
which does not by any means coincide
with that exercised mental state which
is clearly photographed upon their
Yfegtnres.


They are confined in separate cells
upon the upper floor. They spend
most OF their time in smoking and read
ing, the latter occupation being cenlin-
ed almost exclusively to sensational
liter ature. Sometimes when particular
friends call at the door they will enter
i nto chat; but they cannot be drawn
into a consideration of the cause or
probable effect of the murder.


At the mere mention of a change of
public opinion in their favor they at
once brighten up, and the least allusion
O, a probability of an ultimate acqnittai
tley seize upon eagerly. Smith is
moody and sullcn and is disposed to
talk to 40 one; although it has been
said that he had made statements to
particular friends which if true would
seriously criminate some of the most
lmpo tant Witnesses.


They are being watched closely but
the surveillance is such as not 10 be OF,
fensive. They speak well of the man,
ncr in which they have been treated by
the officers of the prison and of Sheriff
PYLE especially. They have employed
M-sers. Levi. c. Bird and George c.
Gray two of our best criminal lawyers.
III these gentlemen they place every
reliance, and in fact actually believe
that they will so present their case, as
to rem ovs from jury all doubts as tc
their innocence.


The witnesses were before the Grand
Jury yesterday and will conclude the
t,.timony this morning. A bill, j
there is one, and every indication point:
to an affirmative conclusion, it will bt
presented to the court this afternoon
Owing to the fact of the additiona
Jury heing discharged until THURSDAY
morning the case cannot be head un
iii that time.
Year: 1879

A colOred man named VIM. Chase,
was hurt quite badly while engaged in
lining the cupola at stewart's foundry
at Front and Monroe Sts., this morning,
by the lining falling in upon him. He
was cut about the head and face.
Year: 1879

The early birl carches the worm
when the summer is here, but when
winter is come, the happy worm is i'll
the secluded depths of the chestnut.
(But he doesn't laugh long, for thu
IN N gets him, if the bird can
Year: 1879

At the corner of Ninth avenue and Sixth
street is little old cottage, before which are
the unpretentious words "Oottage Hospital
painted in yellow on a black ground. These
premises we're purchased at very low rate
for sweet charity's sake, and the deeds were
made out in the name of one gentleman
whose property it really is. This gentleman
applied to have this property of his exempted
from taxation on the ground of it's being a
charitable institution. To this charitable
institution the county paid last year
$1,53O.O2. One bill presented to the
county by this charitable institution is
very peculiar. A poor woman went
to the little old wooden hospital for the pur-
pose of being confined. Shc remained there
three weeks and the charitable institution
put in bill charging three weeks board for
the woman, at Sc per week, 1918; and three
weeks board for the infant, at Sc per week,
$19; total for mother and baby 1886. Not
withstanding the wealth of this large and
growing city this little old wooden building
is the only hospital of which the city can
boast, and there are not few who think it
is high time that something was done to pro-
vide proper and creditable building in
which the afflicted and unfortunate can be
taken care of and treated for sweet charity's
sake
Year: 1879

The House will probably take action on
the bill which provides for making con-
tract for carrying the United States mails
between this country and Brazil to-day.
The hostility to the measure has been very
bitter in certain quarters, but seems TO be
relaxing under an exercise of good sense
and considerate Judgment, 1t seems TO us
that rational and candid view of the ques-
ton Will disarm all opposition. A proper
sense of national pride will bring to it
strong feelings of friendship. If we desire
TO compete for the commerce of South
America, which is very important, this
measure opens the door to that competition
If we would add to the area of our COM
merce the success of the Brazilian steamship
line ensures that end. United States
mails should be carried in American
ships, and the way to accomplish that pur-
pose lies in the direct line of this effort.
And this policy should not stop with the
Brazilian line, but step by step American
steamers should be built and put in COM
mission until the mails of the United States
for foreign countries shall find transport
taton only in the American bottoms
Then we shall have merchant marine
that will secure to this country a CONNER
cial importance never before known to our
history, and which will increase our area of
trade and enterprise, add greatly to our
national and individual wealth, and secure
for MS an increased respect among all the
commercial nations Of the earth,


A late effort has been made to create the
impression that the coffee trade of this
country is opposed to this Brazilian enter
prise. The New York Tribune of yesterday
fully answers that question as follows :


Inquiries among tho leading merchants in
the Brazilian coffee trade yesterday failed to
confirm reports from Washington that there
was a strong opposition among them against
tho Now Orleans clause In the Brazil steamship
Year: 1879

The House of Representatives has an
other contested election case which it is
seeking to avoid lest justice may be done
and q Democrat may be bounced fiom his
scat. We refer to the case of NUTTING VS..
REILLY from the thirteenth Congressional
district of Pennsylvania The facts in that
case are so patent that Mr.. REILLY, who
occupies the seat awarded to him by the
Clerk of the House, really is no more enti-
tied TO it than any other man who was not
named in the contest. The case may be
summed up briefly as follows: NUTrING
was returned as having received 10,026
votes, while REILLY received 10,107. OF
these $50 illegal votes have been shown by
competent proof to have been cast for him.
Deducting these which we understand are
conceded by the committee which has in
vestigatcd the case, leaves NUTTING with q
fair majority of 3i7. The Democrats,
however, have claimed some reductions
which at most could not possibly reduce
NuTTINGs majority below II. And yet,
! with this clear case made out SPRINGER re-
| fuses to report it to the House, knowing
that under such report the House would
not dare to keep NUTrING out Of his seat.
In this way Republican member, with a
case that the Democrats themselves cannot
and do not pretend TO dispute, is kept out OF
his rights that fraud may share benefits
that do not belong to him. The history oil
the country does not find parallel to this
House in stolid persistence in wrong. II
does not seem to have any sense Of justice
or if it has, it is smothered under perverse.
ness which tramples right under foot and
renders justice moclery. SPRINGER is
without doubt the most unfair and unprin-
cipled of all the " Suckers who have dis.
graced the Government in Congress during
the last two years, The country has but
one remedy, and that is to relegote sucl
men to private life, and place in their stead
those possessed Of some sense of honor and
| RIGHT