smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Japanese people are very superstitious,
and have innumerable signs and tokens
by which to regulate their conduct and
beliefs. They never sweep the rooms Of
a house Immediately after one of the in
mates has set out upon a jouney-this
would sweep out all the luck with him.
At marriage ceremony neither bride
nor bridegroom, wears any clothing of a
purple color, lest their marrisge-tie be
soon loosed, as purple is the color. most
liable to fade. They have some curious
ideas in regard to the fnger-nails, which
are cut in certain times. When a per-
son loses tooth, either artifcially at
the hands of dentist-Japanese " tooth
carpenter r"-or by forceps, or by acci-
dent, in order that another may grow in
the empty socket, the tooth, if from the
upper jaw, is buried under the founda-
tion of the house; if from the lower jaw,
it is thrown upon the roof the house.
OF hundreds of their superstitions, here
are a few: If a woman steps over an
egg-shell, she will go mad; if razor, it
will become dull; if over milestone.
it will be broken. If a man should set
his head on fire, he will go mad. Children
are told if they tell lie an oni or an
imp called the tengu will pull out theil
tongues. Many a Japanese urchin has
spoken the truth for fear of an om sup.
posed to be standing by, ready to run
away with his tongue. No such watch
man seems to be set before the unruly
member of the scolding wife. Of these
ledge tools that grow sharper by con-
slant use there is a goodly number in
Japan. When husband and wife are
quarreliug, a devil is believed to be
standing between them to go on from bad
to worse.
Year: 1877

A well-known clergyman of Virginia
had one of those strange antipathies
which are independent of reason and
will-power. He had mortal dread of
cats, whose presence threw him into
painful nervous excitement. The Rich.
mond Religious Herald says: At the
sight of cat he would tremble, turn
pale, and sometimes vomit. He would
certainly have gone into convulsions had
he come into close and inextricable con-
tact with one. His friends, knowing his
ave rsion to cats, were careful to keep
them from his presence. But this care
sometimes led to amusing incidents.


On one occasion the cats were care
fully imprisoned at the head of stair
way. AS he was ascending the steps to
retire to rest, with a candle in his hand
and a servant following him, the cats
broke Jail and came bolting down the
stairway. ........ ...


The doctor turned suddenly, fell, and,
knocking over his attendant, extin-
guished the light. The servant, escap-
ing from the confusion, alarmed the
family by reporting that the doctor had
been seized with fit. ........


A similar case once occurred under
our own eyes. We were attending an
association, and many guests were enter
tanned by hospitable brother, among
them DIR. -. The family, knowing
his dread of cats, had duly confined them
in the meat-house. In the morning,
some one, not knowing of the imprison-
ment of the cats, had opened the door,
and they all rushed into the yard, and
neither cunning nor force could restore
them to their bondage. At breakfast
the doctor was behind most of the guests.
A grave minister was in the act of ask
ing a blessing at the table. An unusual
noise was heard, and he unconsciously
opened his eyes, just in time to see the
doctor, with alarm depicted on his
countenance, turning and running at full
speed up the steps. A cat had met him
at the foot of the stairway, and he was
making his escape from the dreaded ami
NAL as if his life had been at stake. That
grace was never finished.
Year: 1877

WHEN farmer Bulge, in the upper end,
read that bull painted by Rosa Bon
heur, sold for S., 900, he remarked to his
wife that he didn't see how coat of
paint could enhance the value of the
animal, but if Rosa didn't charge more
than ten dollars he would get her to
paint his bull in the Spring. And his
economical wife replied that she thought
he might paint it himself and save his
ten dollars. The indications are now that
the bull will be painted.
Year: 1877

There is certain curious member Of
the plant family, very common in ia
maica, we are told, called the life-plant, or
leaf of life, because it is almost impossi-
BILE to kill the leaves. You may cut one
off and hang it up by thread, where any
ordinary leaf would be discouraged and
dry up. 1t will send out long, white,
thread-like roots, and set about growing
new leaves. You may cut offhalf leaf
and throw it into tight box, where it
can get neither light nor moisture
(necessaries of life to other plants), the
spirited little leaf puts out its delicate
roots all the same. Even pressed, and
packed away in botanist's herbarium
the very dryest and dullest place you
ever did see-it will keep up its work,
throw out roots and new leaves, and
actually grow out of its covers. 1t is
said that botanists who want to dry this
pertinacious vegetable are obliged to kill
it with hot iron or with boiling water.
Year: 1877

BURLINGTON Hapk-Eye: There are
moments when even the tender language
of sympathy is mockery to the sorrow-
stricken heart. What consolation is 1t
to man who has slipped on the icy side
walk and broken through cellar grating,
to be told by Christian men on the other
side of she street, to " fare up and hit 1t
harder next time" Jl1
Year: 1877

EARNEST WoRKERs.-A medical man
who gives dreary round of the old pre-


scriplions he learned at college leads very
different life from one who takes an inter-
est in each case, and is all the time coming
closer to his fellow-nan. submit that
ten years of real, earnest, active life are
thousand times better than twenty years of
a sleepy, torpid existence. A lawyer who
lives as a dead man among dead forms,
never looking at law except so much as is
necessary from day to day, does not know
how wise and noble he may become by a
keen and studious interest in the great un-
derlying principles of law as the root of
liberty. A merchant who works by prices
current and daily markets, never looking
into the laws of supply and demand, lead
ing duh monotonous existence, is poor
thing. Let him look into and study the
great principles which regulate commerce,
by which all the world is feeding and
clothing all the world, and then he will
cease to be like ferry-boat, which makes
so many trips and carries so many passen-
gers and collects so many fares, and be-
come an intelligent agent and man. Some
men in the ministry give out annually so
many sermons, embodying that which they
learned at college, and do just as little as
they can in attending lectures and prayer
meetings, and lead a pitiab!e, eontempti-
BILE life, instead of carrying truth to all the
hungry souls they can reach, and so do an
angels work.-Rev. DR.. John Hail.
Year: 1877

PAINLESS DEATH.-In a recent holiday
lecture at the Royal Institution, Prof. Tyn-
dali, speaking of the painless death by cleo
triclty, remarked that Franklin was twice
struck senseless by the shock. He afler-
wards sent the discharge of two large jars
through six robust men, who fell to the
ground and got up again without knowing
what had happened, neither hearing nor
feeling the discharge; and Priestly, too,
who made many valuable contributions TO
electricity, received the charge oftwo jars,
but did not find it painful. Prof. Tyndall
said this experience agreed with his own;
that, in the theater of The Royal Institution,
and In the presence OF an audience, he once
received the discharge OF battery Of 10
Leyden jars. Unlike Franktin's six men
he did not fall, but, like them, he felt moth
ing he was simply extinguished for sem
sble interval. This may be regarded as an
experimental proof that people killed BY
lightning suffer no pain. Now, the meas
ured velocity of electricity is many thous-
and times greater than the measured veloc-
ity of sensation In the nerves. Hence the
electrical conclusion reaches the center OF
life, without any possible announcement
by the eve or ear or sense Of feeling. There
is abundant evidence that death by rifle
ball traversing the brain is for the same
reason entirely without consciousness or
pain. A rife ball, however, is tortoise
compared with the electric fash.
Year: 1877

FoR The VERMONT PHGNIx.


Beauty in Death.
Beauty in DEATH It no idle dream,
No phantom formed Of mingled hope and fear,
No glancing sunlight on a wintry stream,
But bright ray descending full and clear.
90 to yon chambers conseorated meeting,
Where the lost life has last word TO Eay
Where many flowers breathe round peaceful greeting,
And the soul speaks from out the lieless clay.
Beauty IN deathl 1t wears the crown aupernal
or all the loveliness that earth can knows
1t is to hear the rush Of things eternal,
Bearing us with them in their glorious flow
Yes, she is speakingl Come and look upon her.
Come, bear away the message Of her face.
Yes she is speaking though the skies have won her,
Turningto earth from her celestial place.
Year: 1877

He seems to be always on the tramp.
From early morning till dark he is on
the march, and at all hours of the day
l have met him or seen him in his soli-
tary wandering. His special mission
seems to be picking up pins. Not one
escapes his eye, and the lapel OF his
coat, where he sticks them, is always
covered. Occasionally when he meets
little child he will stop it, take a pin
off his coat, and with benignant smile
hand it to the youngster and resume his
walk. Upon meeting him a day or two
since fancied look of pain upon his
face which had never seen before, and
| learned that he had quite little sum
of money in one of our broken savings
banks. He lives alone in cottage near
the southern limits of the city, and
seems to have no kindred or friends.
He will not be interviewed as to his past
history; the only hint ever given, SO far
as known, was his answer to little girl
upon the street who innocently asked
him where his wife was. "Sheis dead, "
and then sadly turned away.-1roy
Times
Year: 1877

j. G. Christopher, a barber at Balls
ton Spa, is the possessor of remarkable
canary bird, the voice of which has been
developed in peculiarly painstaking
manner, so that now this educated
songster can successfully render the
well-known air, GA Life on the Ocean
Wave" The bird will commence to
warble like any other of these pets,
but after uttering a few notes will imme-
diately strike into the tune, and when
its voice has attained full height the
above tune will be sung entire, and in a
manner that sounds singularly melodi-
Gus and attractive, literally setting to
note its natural vocal powers. This
was only achieved after the most dill
gent and patient attention. As soon as
the bird was old enough to pick up a
living it was put in room apart from
all others, and music box also placed
in the apartment that was kept per-
petually going, repeating the one tune
over and over again, so that this singu-
lar pupil had no other person to learn
from but that. After four months of
such apprenticeship, the owner was re-
warded by hearing his little favorite
render (" A Life on the Ocean Wave"
as naturally and perfect as if that was
the song Of its ancestors. Minneapolis
T,,ab7yo1p
Year: 1877

| Much speculation has been made with
regard to the reality of Mr.. COnant's
petrifed man, each differing, and now
comes an interview with Denver as
saver published in the Democrat of that
place. The assayer says in regard to
Mr.. Conant's "man:"


"In August, 1875, five of us were
prospecting in the vicinity of Pueblo.
In coming upon sandstone quarry, one
of the party observed a soIt OF likeness
of a man drawn upon the rock. The in
cident occasioned a deal of talk about
ancient creations, and the idea of get
ting up a second Cardiff giant was then
favorably discussed. The party agreed
to undertake the task, and stone cut
ter named Saunders, who had been
working in the vicinity, and known to
be clever hand at modelling, was at
once sought out and an agreement made
for the figure. While the plan was in
progress one of the party, in Joking
way, said the thing ought to have tail,
as in ancient times men had tails or
inches long. 1t was decided among the
party that the figure should be known
as petrifed Aztec Indian, and that
they would resurrect him after six
months and impose him on the public
as such. The stone-cutter not seeing
the joke set to work and made the fig
ure, with tail appended. The price
paid the artisan was $135, and after he
had completed the figure it was buried.
The 4 Muldoon' was made out OF sand
stone and dried by the cabin fire, which
partly accounts for the little moles on
the surface. After the burial-two feet
from the surface of the ground-the
party went their ways to await the res
direction. A few of the prospectors
had got wind of the proceedings and
were keeping an eye on the party, and
so they dispersed in different directions.
Finally they became scattered, some in
New York and the remainder in differ
erent portions of the country. l had
forgotten nearly about the matter when
the discovery was chronicled in the pa
pers. But l considered it best to keep
still about it, and it was only through
accident that said any thing in regard
TO the mattern
Year: 1877

Sweet are the uses of retributive JUS
tice. In passing through train on the
New York Central Railroad to collect
tickets, the conductor encountered,
east of Utica, colored man who had
neither ticket nor medium of exchange,
and, after a desultoly discussion,
stopped the cars and kicked him OIL the
platform. A few weeks afterward, the
conductor took chair in barber-shop
in Albany, under the ministration OF a
colored man. The barber covered his
customers face with lather, whipped
out glittering razor, and, while ne
was improving its edge by means OF a
strop that dangled from the wall, re-
marked to the gentleman in the chair:
"Say, boss, you doesn't know me, does
youP Does you remember de fellah you
iambed from your tram up at Tribes
Hill? Dat was bad thing for you to
do, sab, an l remembers it we'll"
Right here the conductor bounded from
his chair and danced around the room
with the lather dripping from his chin
and his hair standing on end. He was
finally induced to resume his seat, on
the barber's pledging himself to do no
mischief, but he did not enjoy the shave,
and breathed more freely when he was
outside of the shop.
Year: 1877

A North Carolina paper says that
there is, in Watauga County, N. G., a
flourishing oak tree of vigorous growth,
the leaves of which, when they first
burst forth from the bud in the spring,
are of bright, golden yellow color,
and retain this color during their whole
growth and maturity. In autumn, when
the coming frost dyes the other forest
leaves in the wavy brilliant hues which
give such wonderful beauty to the noun
tain sides, the leaves on this remark a.
BILE tree begin at length to turn green,
adopting as its own the fresh tint just
departing from the others.
Year: 1877

him to be the fortunate owner of a
Observation-Disclosures - has
thus only to arrange matters over night,
set the indicator, and on rising next
morning he will find every thing ready
without the intervention of a sleepy and
probably dificult-to-be-awakened Serv-
ant.
Year: 1877

HOPPER, JUNIOR, was In cur city
on Friday last looking after the in
terests of his father, Democratic
nominee for County Judge. John
ny's associates on this occasion were
not the same as those he sought in
This city few months ago when he
wanted endorsements for the post
mastership at Linden. Then he
pronounced, both himself and his
father, to be Republicans. Now he
is quite pronounced as a Democrat
and claims his father to be the same.
Their political gyrations suggest
them to be appropriately named
hoppers.
Year: 1877

conducted as respectfully Gf the
term respectability may he applied
to the business) as are saloons in
other places | do not write in be-
half Of saloons, but to vindicate the
people of Cross Plains from the
implied charge of "Edenite'
they are exceptionally wanting in
respect for the laws Of God and
man, and without regard for their
reputation as a community.


Cross PLAINS.
Year: 1877

We publish an abstract OF Bishop
Kain's sermon yesterday on the post
mortem condition OF unbapti1ed infants
We are glad to see'that the Bishop is dis
posed to deal leniently with the infants
and not send them to place OF endless
torment. This Is a great improvement
on the fate awarded the little innocentl
by those theologiaus who have taugh
that 4that there are infants in hell not I
span long" We are not without hope ths
the Bishop will finally let up on the infant
altogether and give them as good show
in the next world as anybody. Seriously
does it not seem strange beyond belief tc
the common mind, that theologians shoulc
even In all their curious mazes Of doc
trine, have ever raised doubt as to th'
fate OF au innocent babe whom some
body had neglected to baptize. Wha
sort Of conception would they have th'
world to form OF an All Wise and Al
Mercitul Rulsr Of the Universe to whoa
such neglect could make the slightest dif
ferencef The whole category OF tenet
teaching infant punishment are simpl!
barbaric and monstrous.
Year: 1877

As has long been his custom, the only
difference being that he does not sttemp
TO leave his bed. He receives his visi-
tors propped up by pillows, in sitting
posture and fully dressed, with his writ
ing table before him. The new opening
in his leg has had good effect upon the
general health Of His Holiness. Y For the
present the physicians, in constant attend
ance, express great confidence in the con-
tinuance OF favorable condition.


The Pope also said that it would prob
ably be necessary TO hold the coming
Consistory in his bedroom. His Holi.
ness is devotipg his last energies to the
founding OF Rnral School outside the
Portesegate.
Year: 1877

safeguards In the ways by which 1t is
commanded An inadequate volume OF
currency places the whole business
of nation and the stability OF
its values at the mercy of the gam
bier; it destroys all confidence; retards
Legitimate enterprise and denies the eX-
hausted patient the sustenance that Is
essential to restore healthy vigor. Our
banking system, although ostensibly free
and without limit to its expansion, is un-
equal to the task OF giving fexibiiity to
the volume of money under existing CIR
cumstances. When National banking
wss largely profitable it would have met
this want; but it Is not inviting to capital
now, and will. not be made so. We have
before us circular from the association
of National banks, urging such efforts
as will aid in the repeal OF the tax
on these institutions. 1t will
be frutless enterprise, tor IN
the present temper of the public
mind the reduction of taxation will not
begin, or even soon reach, the national
banks. There will not, therefore, be any
expansive qualities given to our currency
by our banking system; and, if banks can
use our present bonds rs interconvertIb!e,
as they do now from week to week, why
must individuals and institutions be de-
MED the right to do so2 What reason
can be advanced against q gold bond,
bearing low rate of interest, such
as France issues, that will ever
have a fixed value for the safe
investment of saving funds, banks and
individuals, and that will command gov
ernment currency as business necessities
may require2 1t would save the govern
ment largely in interest; it would save
banks savings Institutions and business
men from depreciation in investments OF
surplus means which may be needed at
any hour, and it would place the cur
rency OF the country beyond the reach OF
the combination of gamblers.


3. The time is here when the govern
melt can pause in the work of deprecia-
ting its own currency by refusing to re-
ceive it tor all government dues. 1t has
hitherto been estopped from doing so by
the shade of doubt that might thereby
have been thrown upon the faith OF the
nation, but now, when currency and
gold can be made practically of equal
value, and when the public credit is fully
established, this important step can be
taken, not only with safety, but in obe-
dience to the clearest dictates OF wisdom.


A. Any departure from gold :as the
basis OF value must wreck every tiaancial
policy Granted, for the sake of argu-
ment, that it is delusion; that there can
be money without tangible basis OF
value the world will not so accept it, and
the world is right. All inventions to
escape paying an honest dollar for an
honest dollar OF debt, whether in paper
or in silver, Is but the refinement of dis
honesty without decent plauslbility.
Make silver money as free as the people
want it, but let dollar be worth a dol
lar, and there will be just faith in the
whole financial structure of the govern
ment,


With such 9 settled financial policy,
would not the dstrust in values ani In
the skill and integrity of labor, perish
from every channel of industry and
trader
Year: 1877

tered so as to be beyond the temptation
of the burglar and the power of food or
fire.


Either plan seems to US to be entirely
fessable, and what is of primary import
ance, thoroughly safe. We hope that
Congress, which is to convene in few
days, will give this matter the same en-
lightened attention that the newspapers
are doing, and that it will not adjourn
until it has put one OF these schemes, or
something better, if anything better can
be found. into practical operation.
Year: 1877

IT is no longer n secret that the new
,avernment four per cent. loan is fail
DIP, and that the syndicate and MIR.
S4sRNAS both understand that much.
The bonds are being hawked on the
streets of New York at 90 cents, and the
.yndicste, so it is alleged, have informed
Mr. SHERMAN that they will take no
more of them at par.
Year: 1877

WASHINGTON, September 2G.-Gen.
A. {. Jones, who made an extensive and
official tour through the Southern States,
represents that everything throug hout
the South bears ne appearance OF
growing prosperity and the revlving
o! trade President Hayes in An inter.
view said as far a. he WAS able to Judge
the Southern people were rs enthusiastic
and loyal to the representative OF the
common government as any, and he
hoped there was no particular South; that
tle southern and northern ir-
rests were identical and that
me main object to be considerer
WAS the unity OF interest in improViI &
the material prosperity OF the country; b,
desired to learn the wants and condition
of the people throughout the Union, and
the people were the best judges OF the
effect OF his Southern visit. He summed
1t up by saying; "Ncthing could be
plessanter than my trip throughout. The
country is apparently recovering from
its extreme business prostration, and the
agricultural South seems TO have felt the
hard times less than other sections, and l
believe the era q. good feeling between
the North and South is permanent and
that they are sincere in their expression
OF community Of Interest.
Year: 1877

The City Fathers pretend to laugh at any efforts OF
the committee about 70 be designated by the inde-
pendent democracy to Investigate their official acts
and regulations Some of them yesterday insisted
tha: tho committee could not roach thcm by any legal
method in the progress OF such NATION. glance
at section 100 of the charter Of 1873 however, DIS
PEELED this illusion. II appears therein that ANY vc
citizens who taxpaycrs can move for an inyesti
CATION against any city Official from the Mayor down
dog cachcrs Tho law, too, provides that they shall
be assisted their researches by one OF the Supreme
Court Justices OF the district.
Year: 1877

DELAWARE cannot be laughed at this time
by people abroad for complaining about
the failure of the peach crop. Some one
has been foolish enough to send letter
from Wilmington to the Philadelphia Times
stating that the coming crop will very prob
ably amount to twenty millions of baskets.
The writer further shows his lack of good
sense by stating that the crop is now be-
yond danger. One-half the quantity above
named would glut the north and swamp
the growers-6, 100000 baskets nearly did
it two years ago-while it is will known
that the most complete failure we have
ever had was caused by heavy June frost.
Growing before we are out Of the woods
may prove as ludicrous as croaking.