smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

All our young readers know well
the common mouse, and may have,
doubtless, seen the field mouse but
the dormouse is probably known on
ly to few The shape of the head
and body OF this pretty little Great
ure, proves that 1t is some relation
of the gray coated pilferer from cur
larders, hut its somewhat bushy tail
shows that it is also akin to the MIN.
bic squirrel. Like the squirrel. the
dormouse has its home in our woods
and thickets, but il is so shy and tim
id, that we are not likely TO see it
unless we come upon it during its
long winters sleep. The dormoose
is very small, its body being less
than three inches in length, and its
tail about two inches and half. It's
color is light reddish brown on the
upper parts, and nearly white on the
under. So rapid is it 10 its move
ments that the eye csn scarcely fol-
low it as il runs along the lower
branches of the trees, or leaps about
among the grass and leaves upon
the ground. It feeds upon nuts,
acorns and grain, and like the squir-
rel, it often takes its food between its
forepaws and sits upright to eat il.
A pretty, round nest of grass, with a
lining Of moss and lichens, is built by
the dormouse between the forked
branches of low bush, or within u
hollow tree. In this it places a guam
tity Of food, which it busily collects
during the autumn. When the cold
weather comes, il rolls itself into o
bali, by curling its tail over its head
between its ears. and falls iuto a deep
sleep. In this state it remains
through the greater part Of the win
ter, only waking up now and then
when the weather Is unusually warm,
and eating small quantity from lis
store offood. Creatures which, like
the dormouse, pass the winter in a
state Of sleep or torpor, are called
alternating animals
Year: 1878

The French military authorities
have condemned the shoe ard gaiter
and favor the adoption Of q boot
which is formed of two pieces cf
leather, reaches some way above the
ankle, and opens On the outside Of
the leg from the top to below the
ankle bone. This opening is covered
by piece of sofG leather, and closed
by three short leather strings fasten-
cd TO the boot on one side and three
buttons The pressure upon the iu-
step and the iightness of the upper
part round the leg can be regulated
at pleasure during any temporary
halt, man can throw the b1ot open
and allow the air TO circulate around
aud cool his feet; it can be put on
and fastened without trouble in the
dark, it effectually keeps out wet and
dust, and the bottoms Of the troweFs
can be worn either Inside or outside
the boot. This description IS some-
what attractive to the civilian boot
wearer, and we hope samples may
soon find their way cross The ocean
The boot is the invention OF French
officer.
Year: 1878

BosroS, October lI.-Theevid taken


in the investigation by the Railroad Com


missioners into the cause OF the late acci'
/ dent goes to show that while Burt, the en-


pineer Of the freight train, was crossing the
| inward track with his locomotive and five
cars, he discovered an excursion train
coming at great speed. He put on steam
and reached the outward track in safety,
at the same time swinging red lantern
as warning OF danger TO the engineer OF
the excursion trlin. The lantern was seen
by Weathersgate, the engineer OF Easton,
who gave the signal for down breaks. At
this moment Hartwell, the conductor Of
the freight train, was running to throw
the switch off the side track hack to the
main line. The switch over which five
empty freight cars passed had been left
Open after they passed: but the switch
being what is known as the patent safety,
Il was thrown back into its proper place,
the tiange OF the forward wheels OF the
first locomotive touching. So far as learned.
the evidence went to show that at the mo-
ment the excursion train reached the first
switch Hartwell was In the act of adjust.
ing the other switch, and had it Just half
over when the train reaced il. The tiange
OF the wheels OF the engines struck square
on She end Of the straight rail, where the
switch should have joined, and both en-
e!nes jumped the track, followed by sew
eral cars. Hartwell, who had hold OF the
bar OF the switch, the moment the engine
struck disconnecting the rail, was thrown
violently and some distance into field
near by.
Year: 1878

The Beauties of the Democratic


Army Bill.
No Force to Aid the Revenue Officers
in Putting Down Illicit DistilIers.
A Violent and Threatening Speech in


the German Reichstag.
The Old Colony Railroad Accident


Investigation.
Year: 1878

payments, and, in and out of Congress, he
argued that more paper money was neces.
sary to secure q renewal Of business pros
perity. In the last year or two Of his life
he saw and in measure acknowledged
his error, but the effect Of his teaching
remained, and it is felt to-day. The Ohio
pupils of Hayes and Garfield and Foster
and Cox rescue that state from the control
OF the infationists as often as a square
fight is made on that question. The In
diana pupilsof Morton assist in increasing
the inhationists' majority and power. We
do not doubt that in time the Indiana ma.
jority will discover its mistake. We only
regret that 1t is not ready to enlist earlier
on the right side of the fight.
Year: 1878

down and passing over his body, it picked
him up gently as an elephant would lift
a child in circus, and carried him along
on it's arms until in reached the station,
some distance off, and then turned him
out upon the platform as carefully as if
he were a basket Of eggs. The conductor
approached him with mingled relief and
wrath on his brow, as he was getting up
and shaking himself in an unconcerned
sort of way, and said: cold man, after
this experience; I should think you
would never touch another drop of liq-
uor in your life." "Umph," grunted
the old man, g if hadn't been drunk, I'd
be a dead man now," and he staggered
,.E
Year: 1878

On Wednesday evening as the down


Napa train was flying into Yountvilie,
gray-haired man named Dewitt, drunk,
staggered upon the track directly in
front Of the engine. It was too late to
stop the iron monster; on it came, and
the shuddering crowd expected to see
him crushed under its feet. The pilot
struck him, but instead Of hurting him
Year: 1878

"Minnie Myrtle" writes us charm
ing little poem beginning, "Life is not
all Thorns. Well, dog gone it, did we
say it was? Dent come howling at us
about statement we never made; 90 to
the man who said life is all thorns, and
don't 60 fooling around him with poetry,
either. Just slip brick in the toe of a
long-legged stocking and hide il behind
you, and go up to him and tell him he's
q primordial liar, and dassent take it up.
Then, if he makes a motion, swing the
stocking and stave in the top of his head.
We're with you in this thorn business,
and we believe You are right HaWkeye.
Year: 1878

Henry Ward Beecher, in a recent
lecture, intimated that he regarded a
man who did not labor with his brains
as well as bands as no better than a
mule. He did not make the simile
in that language exactly, hut he said;
"The man that only knows how to
work with hands and not his head
must he content to stand where the
hoof stands, where the foot stands.
Year: 1878

Darwin says woman loses one
tenth Of her time looking for her
thimble; but fails to state that this
waste OF time, and more too, is fully
made up when she goes for the roll
ing-pin on hearing unsteady footsteps
coming through tn front gate.
Year: 1878

Some women are 10th to credit Their
husbands with good Intentions, or to give
them the credit due their genius and en-.
terprise Such woman lives hard by.
She was fairly crazy about ceramics, but
in the midst Of her pottery decorations
she was summoned to New England to
see a sick relative. Her husband, good
soul, decided to ceramic that house
to the most complete extent during
her absence, and he invested money
enough in transfer pictures to have bought
his winters coal. He pasted old Roman
heads on the newal posts, bordered the
edges Of the stairs, had paper monkey
climbing up each leg of the extension
table, pasted an alligator on each panel
of every door, had sailors tumbling over
each other on the water pitcher, ran a
border along the Dashboard Of the parlOr
pasted the teapot with red roses, bordered
all the mirrors with lean dogs running
after fat rabbits, and gummed the head
Of a trotting horse on the back of every
chair. The panels in the bedscads bios
somed with giraffe. reaching out for
weeping willows, and serpents trained
around the legs of the piano shot mad
glances at small mules with their heels In
the air.


Some men would have stopped here,
and waited to be patted on the back, and
encouraged to go ahead. This man wait
ed only long enough to lay in a new sup
ply of pictures and to make some paste.
He whacked a dozen giratfes on the tea
kettle, two or three of which seemed in
tent on going up the spout, fastened an
elephant to the handle of the spider, and
made the stove boiler fairly howl with
its burden of camels marching up and
down with their backs oil bumped up.
When every door knob had been orna-
mented with the phiz of Queen Eliza
beth, and the family camphor bottle had
been made the groundwork for u Span
ish bull-fght, then the husband threw
the shears, four knives, two spoons and
his paste pail over the alley fence, and
waited for his wife's return.


She arrived the other day. He sent
her home in u carriage from the depot,
and waited an hour or SO before follow
ing hsr. When he thought she had time
to thor oughly inspect his work, he went
home. Several boys were playing on the
walk, and as the husband was unlocking
the door, they saw woman's hand sud
denly reach out, seize his collar, and haul
in on him, and as his heels twinkled in the
air voice filled with emotion called out:


"I'll paste rhinoceroses on you till you
can't winkm


They are in a scrape in that house
they are scraping ceramics into obliv-
ion, and engaged in lively discussion
Norristooon Herald.
Year: 1878

The ancient rite with which all court
weddings in Berlin are celebrated is thus
described by Berlin correspondent OF
the New York World!


This weird rch-dance which seems
to be as heathenish as it is grotesque, is
really pre- Christian invention. 1t is u
traditional preparation of the hymenerl
dances of G reece. 1t travelled from Greece
to Rome, from Rome to Byzantium, and
the Teutonic knights brought it with
them to the shores of the Baltic aud the
banks of the Danube and the Rhine. II
has lcng been in vogue at the courts OF
Saxony and Bradenburg The leading
idea of the dance is that the torch or
burning taper is carried before the bridal
couple in merry dancing measure unit!
they retire into privacy, when 1t is at
once exringuished. In our times this Is
expressed by procession after the close
of the poIonatse parade. The ministers
hand over their tapers to the pages in
waiting, who carry them, still lighted up
to the apartments OF the empress, where
they stand at the door and extinguish
them as the stately procession passes in.
The court etiquette Of Prussia considers
the bridal couples to have retired from
public view when they pass this door.
The crowns are removed from the brows
of the brides. They change their dresses,
and the body of each dress is sent with
the Jewels of the bride under an escort to
the jewel Office; and after little the first
ladies in waiting of the two brides re-
appear, each at the door of the apartments
of her princely mistress, to distribute the
garters of the brides to the gentlemen Of
the court, who scramble and scutfle for
the honor Of carrying off piece of these


interesting memorials. 1t is strictly
symbolic operation, be il understood.
Two ribands fringed with silver lace, and
bearing on one the initial c with coro-
net, and the other the initial E with coro.
net, having been prepared in advance,
are drawn by the ladies in wait
ing from their pockets, held for a
moment against the dress of each
bride to identify them with the fair
wearers, and cut into bits which are
thrown about to be scrambled for. With
this ended the public ceremonial of the
priDcely weddings at Berlin.
Year: 1878

THE HENDEE bill for a reorganization of
the District government was defeated in
committee yesterday. This will bea source
OF cOngratulatiOn on the part Of the tax
payers of the city of Washington. That
bill was full of Objectionable features, and
would, in our judgment, never have sub
served the purposes Of just and equitable
government. 1t utterly ignored the principle
Of representation, and hence should never be
imposed upon this people. Those members
of the House committee who aided in reject
ing this measure are entitled to the thanks
OF this people, and to Governor CLAFLIN
especially should We make our grateful
Acknowledgements for the earnest and per-
sistent manner in which he insisted upon a
recognition of the elective franchise. No
measure should become a law that does not
Droyide for IL
Year: 1878

THE Chicago Inter-Ocea propounds the
following pertinent conumdrum to Senator
EDMUSDs: ave ask Mr.. EpMUNDs this
plain and simple question: Are we not as
much bound in honor to pay our private
coin debts under S. in gold as we are our
public debts; and if so, is the provision of
the statute making legal tender for that
amount an act to encourage dishonor?'
Year: 1878

THE House has acted wisely in refusing to
reduce the tax on whisky and tobacco. The
higher the tax on these articles, which can be
generally collected, the better it is for the
community. There are no vices so expensive
to the individual and to the body-politic as
those of the appetite and it is only just that
they should be taxed largely for the common
expenditures. Besides, high tax on whisky
must lessen the quantity consumed, and that
will also prove a benefit to the nation.
Year: 1878

WASHINGTON. March 4.-The Committee on
Postoffices and Post roads in the House has
agreed to recommend q bill providing for The
adoption OF double stamp return postal card.
This card is Of the same size as that now in use.
The two upper corners of the cards have each a
one cent stamp affixed
Year: 1878

The Thomast5n Herald relates a case Of
attempted poisoning which took place recently
at Tenants Harbor. Miss Caddie Wall, tie
would.be poisoner is ab ,ut fifteen years of age.
IL seems that she conceived a oirlish affection
for young man who did not reciprocate, bnt
preferred Caddie's cousin. This aroused CAD
dies Jealousy and she determined to put her
cousin out of the way. She at first intended to
accomplish her purpose with arsenic and made
many inquiries concerning its properties. Find
ing however that SIZE could not obtain it without
a physician prescription she had to abandon
the idea Of using this poison. She next turned
her attention to sugar of lead, and finding it
was frequently used for sore eyes went to
drug store aud obtained a quantity on the
pretence that she wanted it for this purpose.
On the &ening Of Dec 9th, she attended some
sort of rociable and there found her victim,
Calling her to one side she gave her the sugar
of lead saying,"A fellow gave me this candy and
told me to take half of it aud give you the
other half" The young girl with the intention
of eating it put it to her mouth when its
peculiar odor arrested her attention and she
told Csddis that she could not eat such stuff as
that. CAddie told her to pat some cloves with
it, and then eat it, but the girl wrapped it up
and put it in her pocket. When she got home
she showed it to her mother who told her not
to eat it and the next day took it to the
druggists to see what it was. The latter pro-
nounced it sugar of lead and said that he had
sold it to Caddie Wall Cad1is was then
called upon to explain, when she said that she
bought it for neiehbor with sore eyes, but
Investigation discovered no neighbor with any
trouble with the eyes. An attempt was m ade
to hush up the affair and Caddie was not
orr
Year: 1878

STATISTICS show a marked diminution of
late years of fatal kerosene accidents This is
no doubt largely due to the almost universal
use of Pratts Astral Oil. 1t is fortunate, also,
that this ceebra ated Oil combines such excel
lent Illuminating qualities in connection with
its essential feature of absolute safety.


dpn23aodaw1 w
Year: 1878

Sending Obscene Matter Through the


Mails.


Mrs. Strout of Gorham, whose examination
before Commissioner Rand took place in No.
vember last for sending scprrious matter
through the mails and defacing buil6lngs with
ink, and who was indicted by the grand jury
at the present term of the District Court. was
brought into court on pillows Saturday and
gave bends for her appearance at the February
term. She was evidently quite ill from ner-
Won q debility
Year: 1878

The ,eteran Magazine, which long ago out
grew its original title of the New Monthly
Magazine, has not in the least abaied the pop
ularity it won at the outset, but has added
to it in many ways, and has kept fairly
abreast Of the times, thanks 10 the enterprise
of the publishers ard the tact and wisdom Of
lis editors. For whatever is best and most
readable in the literature Of travel, discovery
anG fiction, the average reader of to-day looks
to Harrer's Magazine, just as expectantly as
did the reader Of a quarter century ago !;
there is the same admirable variety of con-
tents and the same freshness and suggestive
ness in its editorial departments now as then.
Boston Journal.
Year: 1878

Judge Swsee Justice of the Peace, Notary Public. and Commissioner of Deeds, will always De found at bis Office at the Pioneer News Depot. Those fayoring him with business may rely upon its being dispatched without unnecessary delay.
Year: 1878

THE WHISKY TAX.


WAsHINGToN, Jan. 81. - Yesterday
WAS day OF triumph for the Republi-
cans in the House OF Representatives,
and one of defeat and humiliation for
the Democrats. Ever since the bill to
extend the time for paying the tax on
spirits in bond was first offered, the
Republican leaders have been working
for its defeat. MIR. Foster, OF OIio, Of
ferred a substitute, declaring that it
was expedient to reduce the tax
on distilled spirits, his OBJ
jeot being to get decla.'
ration by the House which would pre-
vent any reduction of tax, and thus
help to defeat any readjustment OF the
burdens Of taxation. The Eastern
members were especially anxious to
prevent the imposition Of an income
tax, which they thought would go along
with the reduction of the taxes on whis-
Ky and tobacco. The war made on
Western interest and the distillers by
Hale and his crowd was bitter, rancor'
GUS and mendacious to an extraordinary
degree.


The effect OF the vote is to render any
reduction OF the whisky tax very i'm
probable, and also TO diminish very
q, eatly the chances OF passing bill tc
reduce the tariff or the tobacco tax
rhe Radio calls are naturally jubilant.
MIR. WOODS TARIFF BILL


has been printed, and will be laid before
the Ways and Means Committee to-day
AS the report of the subcommittee, tt
be taken up next week. There is nj
lax ON tea and coffee. The intsrna
revenue portion OF the projected bill
has not been reported. IL will include
reduction OF the tobacco tax, and
probably ali income tax. The Commit
tee have yet to decide whether, In the
face of yesterdays vote they will In
\ clude q reduction Of the tax on whisky
The LIfe-saving Service.
| Ention Al Press A Associated to the Star.
Year: 1878

THE FARMERS INDEPENDENCE.-Whi lille the
manufacturing and commercial world is
passing through crisis called by the name
of hard times, the farming fraternity is
filled with plenty and is blessed in basket
and store. The farmers are not the ones
who are gazetted in the weekly list of
failures. Their homes are the centres of
abundance and peace. They can stay
quietly within them and defy the storms
that regularly sweep through the world of
trade. And these times are imprsssing this
truth to the popular mind. TO own and
cultivate a few acres is wealth indeed COM
pared with the actual dependence on
another for work to feed the family. The
man on the land is at no other mans call.
He is his own master to the end. He is
a citizen to be respected and consulted in
the neighborhood where he dwells, and
with proper thrift, coupled with industry,
he will ever be fortunate and happy
Massachusetts, PJowman.
Year: 1878

TENT CATERPILLARs.-It is the interest
and duty of every farmer and. fruitgrower
to make a resolute warefare against the in
sects named at the head Of this article.
The eggs will now soon hatch out and the
nests will be found in the crotches of trees
filed with the young caterpillars. They
may be destroyed by making swa5 of soft
rags on long pole and wetting them in
ley strong enough to destroy them. The
ley may be made by teaching ashes, or by
dissolving soda and potash in water. These
worms are very destructive to the young
and tender foliage Of fruit trees and grape
vines.
Year: 1878

VINEGAR FROM SUGAR BEETs.-One bushel
of sugar beets, properly rasped and pressed,
will yield five gallons ofiuice, which, treated
the same as cider will make a stronger
vinegar of as good but different flavor; and
in making cider, nine bushels of apples and
one of sugar heets will lmake cider superior
to apples alone. Every farmer can raise
sugar beets, and with the juice expressed
at the cider mill, make all the vinegar he
wants for his own use and have surplus
for sale. With vinegar at price it could
be made for from beets, its consumption
would be increased, as it would enter into
many articles of manufacture from which
the price now precludes it. When it is
found how cheap sugar beets can be raised,
and their value for vinegar as well as food
for stock, they will be grown more. The
beet juice can also be worked into sugar as
easily as maple sugar now is and requires
no more skill.-NatiOnaL AgricuLt,trtst.
Year: 1878

SPRoUTED PoTAToEs.-Yo our correspondent
inquiries if potatoes with the sprouts broken
off will do for seed. They will and the
sprouts will be renewed. But in producing
sprouts the potato is partly exhausted, and
plants will not be so strong as if they had
never sprouted at all for the same reason
that the plants from small potatoes are not
so strong as those from larger ones. If
your correspondent will plant alternate
rows with tubers that have had the sprouts
broken off and with seed that has been
kept cool and not sprouted, he will find
the latter to yield the most potatoes, il he
will measure the product of each. If he
guesses at the amount he will not perceive
much difference. The best way to manage
sprouted potatoes is to preserve the sprouts
on them. Carry the potatoes carefully into
the field just as they are, without pulling
the mass apart, and as carefully take Out
each potato, without at all touching the
delicate shoot and plant it, either with OIL
without cutting, and cover carefully; the
crop will be both eaflierand larger Country
Gentleman.
Year: 1878

ORCHARD Grass Again we take the op-
portunity to rccaauaud orchard grass to
be sown will ,..... aneu it is designed to
keep the land in grass for any length of
time. On the light soils of the Peninsula
it is the best grass there is for permanent
pasture. We have known a good set of it
to stand for thirty years, and we suppose it
will forever. II starts early in the spring,
grows and ripens with clover and mixes
well with it for hay. The seed sells now
for about one dollar and a-half bushel,
and bushel is required to SOW an acre.
Year: 1878

The crop correspondent Of the New York
Bulletin at Chicago says the farmers are not
going to hold back " for 81 on wheat this
season, but are going to send forward at
whatever price they can get. The farmers
in this act on that experience which has
taught them that a bird in the hand is
worth two in the BUSH"