smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

The fall is again here, and dull days
and chilly nights warn us that winter is
not far away. Before its advent let
every preparation be made to meet it,
for at best it is a disagreeable season to
the farmer OF all the causes that COM
bine to make it so, none are so potent as
one onething-mud.-Through perhaps five
months of the year mud is necessity,
but the farmer has it in his power to
obviate its evils to a great extent. Be-
fore the fall rains come on, let the lanes
be ditched and graveled, and good board,
stone or gravel walks constructed, from
house to road, from house to barn, from
house to spring or well, and, in short,
along every frequented walk or drive, on
or about the premises. See that they
are well made-high and dry-so that
the wife and daughters can pass from
place to place without sinking in mud


up to the shoe top. No one can realize
the amount of sickness, the doctor bills,
or detail, the direct result of wet feet
from this cause.-See to it that this
cause is removed, so that the sickness or
death of a member of your family be
not laid at your door.-YOur own health
and comfort, as we'll as that of your
horses that are compelled to draw heavy
loads through your muddy lanes, de-
mand that you make these improve
ments. What if they do involve labor
and little expense?" The pleasure OF
passing along these dry paths and drives
when the mud at each side is knee deep
is sufficient compensation, to say moth
ing about facility, health and comfort


We have often thought that farmers
should unite in the construction of foot.
paths along the road side, SO that the
village, the post office; the school OIL
church could be reached on foot, with


out wet feet This could be done at lit.
tie expense, comparatively, and ther
what world of annoyance, trouble, ex


posure, and discomfort would be pre-


vented. Who can tell how many live


would be saved dannually?-Ohio Farmer
Year: 1874

Men talk about Hardening the consti-
tution," and with that view expose
themselves to summers sun and winters
wind, to strain and over efforts, and many
unnecessary hardships. To the same
end ill-informed mothers souse their lit.
tie infants in cold water day by day; their
skin and flesh and bodies as steadily
growing rougher and thinner and weaker,
until'slow fever, or water on the brain, or
consumption of the bowels carries them
to the grave; and then they administer
to themselves the semi-comfort and rath-
er questionable consolation of its being
a mysterious dispensation of nature
when, in fact, nature works no miracles
to counteract our follies. The best way
l know of hardening the constitution il
to take good care of it; for it is no more
improved by harsh treatment than fin,
garment or new hat is made better b,
being banged about.
Year: 1874

When you find that you are beginning
instinctively to go to the window or the
open door when you take up paper or
book to read, it is time for you to pur-
chase pair of spectacles; then get those
of the lowest magnifying power, for if
they magnify too much the eyes will get
prematurely old-will fail rapidly. If,
while reading, you find an inclination to
stop and wink the eyes, as if to clear
them, you need spectacles, or if you have
them already you require older ones. A
good way to rest the eyes from reading
or fine sewing is either to close them for
few minutes, OF look at something a
long distance off; this gives great relief.


Do not purchase glasses on the street,
or at cheap places, for there is great dan
ger that the glasses are not alike-have
not exactly the same focus, or are made
of soft glass, which is easily scratched
and then older ones are soon required
The value of Brazilian pebbles, which is
natural glass, is their hardness; hence
not easily injured, last a great while and
the eyes get old very slowly. But if the
glasses are soft, are mismated, having
unequal focal points, the eyes are strain
ed and get old in short time, especially
if both foci are not in the centre of the
glass. In selecting glasses choose those
which enable you to see well without q
strain, for habitual straining of the eye
ages it rapidly; at the same time avoid
getting those of stronger power than is
needed.


Glasses should be washed with cold ol
warm water at least every morning, and
should be wiped several times during the
day with fine buckskin, and nothing else
paper scratches them, and so does fan
mel, and a handkerchief is seldom cleaI
enough for the purpose.


AS the eye is the most delicate organ
of the body it should be treated will
great care, and economy in spectacles il
a great, life long misfortune. The eye
should not face light; it is better t.
have the book in such a position as Il
have the light come on the page over tn
shoulder.


In reading by artificial light the eye
lids should be shaded in such a way tha
the full glare does not fall on them, bu
on the paper or book, and cease usinl
them as soon as they begin to feel tired
Halls Journal of Health
Year: 1874

A correspondent Of the New York
Sun calls attention to all consumers OF
kerosene oil to the pernicious and un-
healthy practice of using lamps filled
with that article with the wicks turned
down. The gas which should be-con-
sumed by the flames is by this means
left heavily in the air, while the cost OF
the oil thus saved at present prices
would scarce be one dollar year for the
lamps of a household. His attention
was called particularly to this custom
by boarding in the country where kero-
sene was the only available light. A
large family Of children were taken i'll
one night, and on going to the nursery
the mother found the room nearly suffo-
Gated with a lamp nearly out, whereby
the physician forbade the use Of lamp
at night, unless burned at full head. lie
says he could quote many cases, one Of
young girl subject to fits Of faintness
which if not induced we're greatly in
creased by sleeping in the room with
lamp almost turned out. Besides the
damage to health it spoils the paper and
curtains, soils the mirrors and windows
and gives the whole house an untidy
and unwholesome odor.
Year: 1874

Some well-borers near Odell, Illinois,
are profane enough to report that they
have tapped hell, and are getting the
full benefit of the leak Gas was discov-
cred forty feet below the surface, and at
eighty feet vein of water was struck
which spouted two hundred feet in the
air, carrying up gravel as big as hens
eggs, and sending everybody flying hum
dreds- of feet away The performance
continued until the sand and gravel were
six inches deep within a radius of one
hundred feet of the hole. When the jet
Of water ceased, the aperature was found
much widened, with quicksand at the
bottom, and stream of gas had taken
the place of water. 4 match was ap-
piled to it, and flames leaped into the
air, producing a sound like thunder
The workmen think they have strucl
the gate of the evil doom, or brought
forth young volcano, they don't know
which. The gaS they are getting nov
causes blue color in the vegetation fo
miles around. and the people are Hock
ing from all quarters TO see the strang
phenomenon.
Year: 1874

st. Petersburg, the capital of Russia,
is the haven for. children who have a
propensity for making mud and sand
pies. In many of the small public parks
of that city there are, here and there,
large open spaces covered with gravel.
Every morning in each of these spaces
may be seen large pile of sand, cone
shaped, about four feet high, and six feet
in diameter at the base. After break
fast, all the children in the neighbor-
hood, equipped with little spades,
hatchets, and wagons, repair to these
cones, and employ themselves in digging
them down and scattering the material,
according to their fancy, over the gravel
spaces. The next morning the conesare
all ready for another assault. The city
government provides the sand, and has
it piled up in the cones each night. The
result of this simple plan is that the
children acquire a fondness for exercise
and labor, and get that healthful open
air amusement SO essential to their vi
tality in city. Perhaps they always
get the usual maternal spanking for soil
ing their clothing, but this is one of the
sweets of the halcyon days of childhood
that can be looked back to in after years
without revengeful feelings.
Year: 1874

Before the railroad days our oyster
growers used early IN the fall to canvass
the villages on the Hudson River for
oysters, to be filed just before the river
should be closed with ice. The mean
ing of this is that these men committed
themselves to supply oysters in the shell,
with the guarantee that the bivalves
thus supplied should not die before
their time came. The oysters were act
ually keptalive during the greater part
of the long winter. The fat bivalves
were handled with some care, and were
spread on the cellar door, the round or
lower side down, so as not to allow the
liquor to escape. That such life re-
quired a great change of capacity or
habit in the bivalves is evident; and it
needed a training, yes, an education, ere
the oyster attained to such ability. And
this was the way it was done: Begin
ming early in the fall, the cultivator of
the oyster took up the fat bivalves from
their bed where he had planted them,
and laid them little higher upon the
shore, so that for a short time each day
they were exposed out of the water. Af-
ter few days of this exposure by the
retreating tide, they were moved little
higher still on the shore line, which
gave them little longer exposure to the
air at each low tide. And this process
was continued, each remove resulting in
a longer exposure. And with what re-
suits? Two very curious Ones-inure-
ment to exposure, and the incubation of
a provident habit of making prepara-
ton for the same. What! providence in
an oyster? Yes, when he's educated.
When accustomed to this treatment, ere
the tide retires, the oysters takes good
full drink, and retains the same until
the tide returns. Once, while waiting
for the stage at country hostelry, we
overheard the following between two
rustic practitioners at the bar: "Come,
Swill, let's take a drink" "Well,
don't know Amt dry myself. Hows'
ever, guess 1 will take drink, for fear
might get dry" With better philo-
sophy on their side, these educated oys-
ters, twice in every twenty-four hours
took their precautionary drink. The


French method of oyster training is
much more laborious. The adult BIZ


wales are carefully spread out in the wa


ter, and periodical lessons are given to
each one individually. Each oyster on
: this occasion receives tap, not with g
ferule, but with small iron instrument


This causes the bivalve to close tightly
Finally the last day comes with its last
premonitory tap. Its education thu;


finished, it takes passage with its fellow


graduates for Paris. AS a result of it,
education, it knows how to keep it.
; mouth shut when it enters society,"
Professor Lockwood, in Popular Science
Monthly for November.
Year: 1874

On the ship Scinda, now disOharging
at New York, there is an animal which
is attracting much attention. 1t is a cur
ious monstrosity Captain Folger, who
owns the animal, exhibited it to re-
porter and a number of medical men.
He says it was born in Calcutta, and is
about three years old. On entering the
room in the cabin where the animal is
confined the captain called to it, and
from the bunk it stretched its neck, and
rubbed the captains hand with its nose.
1t answers to the name of Billy.


The Captain was most enthusiastic in
the expressions of his regard for his pet,
which he declared was a beauty as kind
and as gentle as a lap-dog: While the
party Of men waited until their eyes be-
came accustomed TO the darkness of the
room the Captain gave the history of
Billy. He will be three years old next
month. and is one of those pretty-colored
bulls which are highly esteemed by the
people of Hindostan. "Just look at that
face; why it is full of intelligence; and
see those smooth, polished horns;;" the
Captain continued as he lifted the
blanket from Biuy's back and disclosed
one of the strangest freaks of nature
ever recorded. Hanging from the shoul
der blade is human arm!


When the surprise which the sight OF
this object had caused had died out, the
medical gentleman, assisted by the Cap
tain, raised Billy to his feet. In every
particular he is a perfect formed bull
walked about rubbing his nose against
the hand of those who fondled him, the
arm moved and dangled. 1t is as large
as that of a fully grown man, and is per
feet in all its parts from his shoulder tc
the wrist. At the wrist Is bunch OF
flesh, on which are four small horns
like fingers. The arm is covered with
short white hair. Billy has feeling in i
for when pinched he would lower his
head and attempt to brush the person
from his side. Billy has power over i
and moves it about at will.


The Captain, as he rubbed and strok
ed the arm, said he would not be sur
prised if Billy some mornidg raised hi
arm and used it like a man would
"Wouldn't it be jolly, Billy" the Cap
tain continued, addressing the animal
"if you raise and strike fellow witt
it?"


The animal will not eat hay. He
however, likes straw, which he devour
ravenously. The first week Billy wa
placed on the vessel he beloved all tn
time, and endeavered to butt the parti
tion of his room down.
Year: 1874

1t is well known to professional men
that by applying heat to water or other
fluid pressure may be developed by the
expansion of the mass, and this without
the production of steam. 1t is not un-
common to test steam boilers in this way,
any desired pressure being obtained by
simply filling the boiler to the safety
valve and making fire in the furnaces.
Sig. Ferdinand Tommasi recently ex-
hibited before a body of English engin-
eers an instrument designed to give a
practical illustration of this force. 1t is
simply an iron tube, three feet long and
about three eighths of an inch in dia-
meter. This tube was fitted at one end
with screw cap having an opening the
size of the interior bore of the tube and
wholly closed at the other end. A lead
Ell disc, quarter of an inch diameter, was
placed between the screw cap and the
end of the tube, and the same filled with
oil. Upon lighting a series of gas jets
beneath the tube disc of lead was i'm
mediately forced out by expansion of the
fluid. 1t is proposed to utilized the force
thus shown to exist in the production of
power, and the inventor intends to adopt
a fluid, such as. oil or glycerine, which
does not produce steam by being heated.
He also urges that as these liquids de-
svelop great power in small space in
the manner described, they may be use
fully applied to heavy machines usually
driven by separate engines, such as
presses, shears and punches. By furth-
er modification of the same principle,
Signor Tommasi produces a reciprocal
ing motion, which, he states, can be con-
verted into rotary one, as in the COM
mon engine. The heat is applied to the
oil by hot water, and as rapidly abstract
ed by means of cold water or other re-
frigeration of the column of oil. The in
vention was shown practically to a riv-
citing machine, a press and punch; and
it is stated that an engine is being con,
structed to drive street cars on the same
principle. The force exists as the in


ventor claims, but whether it can be de


veloped practically and controlled read


lily is a matter open to question.
Year: 1874

The most singular fact connected with
the proper motions of the star is that
one or two stars are flying through space
with such enormous rapidity that the
combined attraction of all the stars Wis
ible with the telescope could never stop
them. This seems to be especially the
case with small star, invisible to the
naked eye, designated in astronomical
the name of the astronomer who first
recorded its position. The rate of mo-
tion of this star Is about seven seconds
per year-the greatest known. 1t was
hence concluded that it must be very
near us, and number of astronomers
have found it to be only about tenth
of second. Its apparent motion in a
year being seventy times its parallax, it
moves at least seventy times the distance
from the earth to the sun IN a year, or
18, 900, 900 of miles every day, and more
than 200 miles every second. From
what we know of the distribution, mas.
ses, and number of the stars, it seems
probable that the attraction of all the
bodies in the universe can never stoI
this headlong speed, nor bring this stal
into any orbit, and that consequently il
will pass through our universe, and leave
it entire in its passage through infinite
space. If we had accurate observation
of the stars position 5000 or 1900 year
ago, we could speak with more certain
ty of its destiny. We may expect tha
our posterity of few thousand year


hence will, by the aid of the observa


tions and tables we shall transmit t.


them, be able to come to definite con


clusion respecting the age and the struc
ture of the universe.-[ Harper's Maga
zine.
Year: 1874

y few days since an elderly gentleman
in Sacramento, who had got out of busi-
ness and considered that he was too adj
vanced in age to do hard work, conclud-
ed that he would start a grocery store.
He secured a stock of goods, and few
days since, while preparing for opening
the establishment, concluded that he
would tap the kegs of beer left on the
previous day. A friend who was pres
ent, seeing him approaching one of the
kegs with an anger, inquired
what he vas going to do, and learned
that he intended "to tap that beer" The
quastioner suggested that the proper way
was to place the faucet in position, and
drive in the cork which the revenue
stamp covered, but the old gentleman
concluded that his way was the best, and
forthwith forced hole through the top
of the keg. OF course the beer ascend
ed like a fountain rs he withdrew the
anger, and he endeavored to suppres IL
/ by putting his hand over the hole, and
failing in this, by inserting his finger;
as last resort he sat down upon it, call
ing loudly for some one to hand him a
faucet; but meanwhile the beer had fore
ed its way through his pants, climbing
upward, and was Oozing out everywhere
emerging from his waistband and ev en-
at his shirt color, and the bystanders
we're laughing so hard that they were un-
able to do anything to relieve him, even
if they had dared to venture within the
area of beer spray. 1t was not until
every drop of liquid had left the kef
that the old gentleman felt warranted ii
getting up.
Year: 1874

Coon LANGUAGE. - Young people
should acquire the habit Of correct
speaking and writing, and abandon As
early as possible any use Of slang words
and phrases. The longer you put this
off the more difficult the requirement Of
correct language will be; and IL the gold
en- age of youth, the proper season for
the acquisition Of language, be passed in
its abuse, the unfortunate victim will
most probably be doomed to talk slang
for life. You have merely to use the
language which you read, instead Of the
slang which you hear, TO form taste in
agreement with the best speakers and
poets in the country.
Year: 1874

DYsPEPsIA.-The only cure for this
prevalent malady is the proper regula-
ton of the food; first let it be regularly
taken; let it be in moderate amounts;
we'll cooked, plain nutritious, and easily
digested; this, with moderate degree Of
gentle exercise in the open air two or
three hours a day, win cure any ordi-
nary case. Dyspepties always get we'll
and get fat when they are sent to the pen
itentiary for year or two, because their
food is plain, is taken regularly, and the
exercise is moderate, steady and health
full. If a man "can't' diet himself thus,
then let him suffer, or 60 to Jail Halls
Journal Of Health.
Year: 1874

The following is a good recipe which
will give saddles and brides good pol
ish, and be entirely free from all sticki-
ness: The whites Of three eggs evapo-
rated till the substance left resembles
the common gum, dissolved in pint Of
gin, and put into a common wine-bottle,
and filled up with water.
Year: 1874

A New York insurance clerk, while
waiting in crowd at one of the Brook
lyn ferries, playfully picked handker-
chief from the pocket of companion,
when he was instantly tapped on the
shoulder by a genuine. pick pocket, who
had just relieved him of his pocket
book. but he returned it with the apollo
gy that he never knowingly operated on
brother professional, and was sorry he
had made such a mistake.
Year: 1874

The leaves of geranium are an eNcels
lent application for cuts, when the skin
is rubbed of, and other wounds of the
same kind. One or two leaves must be
bruised aud applied ON linen TO the part
and the wound will become cicatrized in
a very short time.
Year: 1874

Considerable excitement was occasoned yester-
day by the announcement that six prisoners had
made their escape from Jefferson Market Prison.
WARDEN Quinn, Of the Tombs who was commits
stoned to inquire into the facts relieves the ocias
In charge OF all blame. The fugitivcs, whose
names have been already published, belonged to
the class known as ten day prisoners, who were
detained on temporary commitments for trivial
charges. Discharges had, In fact, been prepared for
them, and they only anticipated their release In due
legal form by lew hours. The ten day house, which
Is apart from the prison, Is long dungeon, at the
end OF which Is register used IN winter Tor heat


ing, or rather suff0catng purposes. Through this
the prisoners crawied until they reached the coal
vault the fastening to which Is not secured. They
raised the cover and easily regained their free


dom. No blame can be attached to any one ex-
ceptiDg the authorities whose parsimOny prevents
the prisons being kept in decent order and repair


It is fortunate that In this instance the prisoners
were not OF class to interest the public to any
great extent In depriving them OF their liberty.
Year: 1874

Not long since the building lately used as the
Eleventh regiment armory, on the northeast cor
ner Of Delaney and Chrystie streets, was torn
down to be replaced by several tenement houses.
In making the necessary excavations for the fOun-
dation the laborers came upon two headless bodies
near the street. They seemed to have had the
heads removed in order to prevent Identification,
and were covered with white sand, such as Is used
in sanding 1oors on the top OF which huge stones
were piled. Some sixteen bodies were removed
from beneath the building. but their presence was
accounted for by the fact that the building was
formerly used as church.


There Is remark able history about the old
building. The cornerstone bore the .tnsCrip-
tiOn
Year: 1874

Mr.. Bartan, the marker, who was wounded on
Monday last by ''splash' IRON a bullet. is now
abe to walk about lie was only Gay or two
confined to his room.


The Sixth returned to New York by the twenty
minutes to five train, and arrived home over two
hours In ADVANCE OF other corps vino went out
before them on former occasions.
Year: 1874

ness on his part towards his w;fe-onsy
utter neglect. Ida by and by ceased to
feel this. She learned to expect moth
ing from her mate--to give everything
to his ways-and fer her there was
tranquility if not happiness. She knew
that she was not neglected for any 9th.
er woman, and that satisfied her. He.
only rival in the thoughts and affsc-
tions Of her delighted husband was his
own superlative self.


A for me the ze<rt;on IN my nind
was complete; and IN . I'M ysdSS tiunu
l found as much difficulty in preventing
myself from utter disgust and dislike
toward the selfish sef-worshipper. as 7
had before found in restraining my
love for-what I supposed to be Jas.
per.


have never married and never I'M
tend to marry; for, to tell the truth, 7
am not quite disinterested enough 10
make up nv mind TO be football, or
to 30 through the married woman's
purgatory, for the sake Of any man that
l have yet seen. My experience with
the once adored Jasper has convinced
Inc that to keep away from a man that
one loves is not the way to cure an at
tachmcnt. The truest way is to get
thoroughly well acquainted with him
learn to look a: him as he really is, and
your love will, in most cases, turn to
contempt.