smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

If the result in Florida had been
fairly and honestly determined by the
first count of the returning board of
that State there would have been no
objection to compliance with the order
of the court and to a thorough rc-inves-
tigation of the facts. But Chandler and
Grant and Morton will have no inves-
tigatipn and the people are to be
cheated and the presidency stolen.
Whenever this is done the government
of the United States is finally undone
Year: 1877

PEOPLE have widely divergent tastes
and ideas about matters in reference to
which one would think differences Of
opinion impossible. We have abso-
lutely encountered correspondent
who would have US put up in tabular
shape the facts and figures affecting
the population and resources of Austin
and Travis county. If tables and num-
bers were before US we would write
out the facts and transform them into
editorial shape and matter that the
multitude might be induced to read.
Few people can be induced to read
tabular statements. Nobody ever read
the census tables. People turn away
from them in horror as from the multi
plication table in childhood, and when
one prepares a book or circular fer
the masses of reaCerS the labor spent
III tables aud long lows of figures is
wholly wasted.
Year: 1877

IL crisis like this the worst class,


the most passionate, selfish, reckless
and ambitious men, become most act
i've and prominent. The worse the
condition of the country, the more
brilliant and conspicuous becomes
their career, and all conceivable pub
lie good is sacrificed on the altar OF
selfish greed for power and gold and
office. Miscreant politicians would
not hesitate to sink the country into
depths of Mexican disgrace, Ignorance
and poverty If they may be borne into
power by the forces of Iuinous anarchy.
Year: 1877

PASSENGER and freight trains are
running on the narrow gauge from
Houston in this direction; but as Aus
tin is now governed it will never reach
the capital. Some village will pay
twenty or fifty thousand dollars for the
advantages of being on the line aud
Austin DE subjected forever TO rates Of
freight imposed by broad gauge rail
ways that have no competition II
merchants would double their trade
they would devise plans of lessening
By half the cost of importing goods
and wares and groceries.
Year: 1877

FoRT WORTH and Tarrant county
are ablsze about local option. If It be
well to keep whisky away from bad
boy it would surely be eminently
proper to remove it from the presence
Of the Juvenile, gushing, gusty and
bibulous Fort Worth just now, in the
very midst of the struggles Of fresh
adolescence.
Year: 1877

NEWSPAPERS persist IN saying that
in having two men put to death in the
capital of Texas on Christmas Day we
resorted to peculiar and novel mode
of celebrating the birthday of our Sa-
yior
Year: 1877

A correspondent Of the Ohio Farn'-
or gives the following estimate OF the
cost of growing wheat. He says: We
will now take 10-acre lot and sec what
it costs to raise and put crop OF wheat
into market, and what profit when there
ia a Weld of fifteen bushels per acre:
Year: 1877

At the time of Commodore Wander
bilt's second marriage, says writer III
the Buffalo Commercial AduerttseT, 3
lady acquaintance gave me its history as
an evidence of superiority OF feminine
cleyerness and fnesse. Years ago there
lived in Southern city shrewd, clear
headed widow with one daughter, who
by the death of her husband was LETT In
limited, though comfortable circum-
stances. A worthy young gentleman
courted and espoused the daughter, VINO
was especially devoted to her mother:
In fact. the devotion was so intense that
first separation and finally q divorce
were the results. The mother visiting
here Mrs. Vanderbilt, the commordores
first wife, who as I recollect was DIS
tant relation, added 30 much to the hap
piness OF the family that she was begged
to remain, which she did, and after the
death of Mrs. Vanderbilt suffer- SO
much from lonelines that she sent for
her daughter. IT was not very long
time afterward that the mother and
daughter returned to their Southern
home nor did many moons wax and
wane before Commodore Vanderbilt
jumped into special car, with special
engine attached, and with trusted
friend was whirled westward at mile a
minute pace until they reached London,
Ont, and after happy meeting and
brief marriage service, '-he was whlried
eastward again with his wife, the beau
tiful daughter, who haa journeyed from
the South with her mother to the tryst-
ing place in London.
Year: 1877

The Scientific american thus de-
scribes recent invention for catching
thieves: The object of this invention Is
to provide for use in banks, stores, ETC..
thief or robber trap, so constructed
that it may be tripped by the cashier,
proprietor, clerk, or other person sta
toned behind the counter, or in any
other convenient place, and thereb. pre-
cipitate the thief or burglar into the Gel
lar or apartment below. Thetilting Sec
tions constitute that part of banking
room which is in font of the counter.
On removing the support of levers from
the fitting sections they will tilt and pre-
cipitate any one standing thereon into
the cellar or apartment below. 1t is
hence within the power of the cashier,
clerk, or other person having access to
the tripper, to tilt the sections when
over robber has gained access to the
bank OF store, and thus precipitate him
into place of secure confinement with.
out ineurring the danger Of personaI
encourter and injury;
Year: 1877

Fortune and the sun make insects
shine.


Every rain drop which suiites the
mountain produces its definite amount
of heat.


Forgetting the things that are be.
hind, press forward" Excellent advice
to mule.


Mediocrity, with concentration and
application, wins oftener than great tai
ent diffused about in the speculative air.


The world is all ready to receive talent
with open arme. Very often it does not
know what to do with genius. Talent Is
a docile creature. It bows its head
meekly while the world slips the collar
over it. It backs into the shafts like
lamb.


It is with glory as with beauty; for as
q single fine ineament cannot make a
handsome face, neither can single good
quality render man accomplished uus
a concurrence Of many fine features aid
good qualities makes true beauty and
true honor.


All confidence which is not absolute
and entire is dangerous. There are few
occasions where a man ought either to
see all or conceal all, for, how little
soeyer you have revealed of your secret
to a friend, you have already said too
much if you think it not safe TO make
him privy to sll particulars
Year: 1877

of wild beast lore. GA lion will tear
you out of spite and temper occasionally,
bu! tiger attacks you only for sheer
love of blood. A tigers claws, too, are
even sharper than lions. The leo
pard's claws are less sharp, while a
hyena's foot is Like dogs, clawless, the
hyena's strong point being, like soold'
ing woman's, in the jaw"


Having now pretty well exhausted the
subject of wild beast tanning and train
ing concluding word may here be said
as to the pay of the professional wild
beast tanners. This is much smaller
than is generally supposed, ranging
from $3.50 to 800 month. Consider
ing the risks of life and limb these men
daily take and the fact that there are not
fifty of them altogether in the world,
this would seem scanty compensation.
But the men themselves seem satisfied,
and there appears to be wild bizarre
fascination about this wild beast life,
which, like the love of art in fine
artist, is its own, even if it is often, its
only reward.
Year: 1877

The Cincinnati Commercial says ::
Some medical students in one of the col
leges of this city, dissecting female
subject few days ago, found what is
called in doctors parlanee "corset
liver" When tight lacing has been
practiced through several years, per-
manent dent or hollow is produced in
the liver, which may be seen very plainly
after the woman is dead and her liver
dissected out. This kind of liver occurs
80 frequently in women that physicians
have given it the name of "corset liver: |"
In the subject mentioned the hollow in
the liver was large enough for the wrist
of grown man to be laid in it. Young
ladies who don't want their hyers put
into the newspapers and made an awful
example of after they are dead, would
better take warning.
Year: 1877

TUESDAY, November 13.-Townsend,
OF Illinois, introduced resolution nstructing the
committee on banking and currency TO inquire
into the expediency of winding up national banks,
Withdrawing their circulation and substituting in
lieu thereof greenbackS or other siRIilaI currency
THE house then went into committee of the
whole on the deficiency BILL and after considerable
discussion, passed the navy bill without division
- The bill to repeal the resumption act came up
adjourned.
Year: 1877

A woodpecker's hole is such very
convenient place for a nest, that many
other birds are glad to find one unoccu-
pied. Sometimesap pair ofwrens will watch
the motions of the woodpeckers while
they are work, until AN unfinished hole
is left unguarded, when they will take
possession of it. AS soon as the lawful
owners return, the thieves are driven
off, but they are so persistent and
troublesome that, although woodpeck-
er is larger and stronger than twenty
wrens, the owners sometimes abandon
the place, and make new nest Still,
the wrens are not always allowed to keep
the house they have stolen, for the blue
birds are equally covetous OF it, and
sometimes fight fercely with the wrens IN
their attempts to gain possession OF it.
Occasionally, both wrens and blue birds
are driven away by the martins, for these
birds also prize woodpeckers' holes very
highly. The fierce battles between these
various birds over an abandoned hole
are very amusing, and often last several
days for they all are very obstinate
birds, and as each one is determined not
to give up, the matter is not very easily
settled.-S. Nicholas Magazine.
Year: 1877

A young mana stranger-undertook
to take a little ride about the suburbs
for his amusement, so he said. He had
on large pair of Mexican spurs, and as
soon as he got in the saddle ne stuck
them into the sides of the animal, which
Immediately made about one hundred
wards, sometimes with his head stuck
down between its forelegs and sometimes
with it's tail up in the air, as it was trying
to walk on it's fore paws; in fact, 1t was
kind of taur pas all around-the young
man who was taking ride for his pleas
ure contributing his share. He saw
great deal of the country In very few
moments, then he struck the ground as
if he had through ticket to China.


He gathered himself up, and imping
to chair, holding on the lower extern
sion of his spinal column, seemed to be
out of sorts.


"Did you get hurt ?" was the anxious
inquiry.


grating.his teeth and fondling the aftiict-
ed part; "but somebody might have
got hurt if I hadn't dismounted when l
did but would not have ridden that
pony in the first place if ]. hadn't been
an experienced horseman.


Verify, "pride knows no pain, but
the Young man don't wear those Mexican
spurs any more, not even when he rides
out for his pleasure in a hack, with a
careful driver and two hearse horses,
hired especially for the occasion.-San
Antonio Herald.
Year: 1877

The Dubuque Times tells the following
story: "Two young gentlemen who took
a fishing excursion down the river hav-
ing fallen short of bait, commenced using
the eyes of the dead fish already caught.
One Of the fish caught on this bait strug-
gled so hard that the hook accidentally
fastened in one of its eyes and tore it out.
The pain occasioned by this accident
made the fish struggle still more, and at
last it slipped from the fisherman's hand
and escaped to its native element. The
disguised fisherman retained the eye Of
the fugitive, applied it to the hook, and
again launched his line into the water.
Only short time elapsed and he had a
bite, and jerking his line out of the
water he was surprised to find the iden-
teal fish which had eluded his grasp a
few minutes before, and which persisted
by swallowing its own eye"
Year: 1877

A Shanghai correspondent of the San
Francisco Chronicle, writing OF visit
to Chinese bath house, says: Within
we were aecosted by a damp looking
specimen of humanity, with o face
shriveled up like a washerwoman's
thumb, who proved to be the proprie-
tor. who consented for a consideration
to allow us to examine the workings Of
the establishment. Pulling aside q
dirty curtain we were ushered into a
large room in which half dozen tallow
dips made feeble effort to illuminate the
surrounding objects. A tank some fif-
teen feet long and ten wide was sunk
in the floor to the depth of four feet,
and possibly contained 500 gallons of
water, heated by means of underground
furnaces to quite high temperature,
and in which counted fourteen bathers
at one time, while at least twenty others
were either preparing to enter or COM
pleting their toilet prior to departure.
The proprietor seemed quite proud of
his accommodations, and after politely
inviting us to take bath, which we re-
luctantly declined, gave us the following
information The tank is reflled with
clean water every midnight, and is not
again changed for the twenty-four hours
succeeding. His customers arrived at
any hour between daylight and mid
night, and usually numbered about one
hundred and fifty day. None were re-
fused admission on any account, either
of filth or disease. tried to impress
upon the keeper what great advantage
he would have over rival establishments
if he would introduce toothbrush on
the end of chain, but he was inclined
to regard it as an innovation calculated
to engender too luxurious ideas, and
therefore declined it. Seriously speak
ing, this frightful system of bathing is
the cause of propagating more disease
than any other met with in this pestilen-
tial land, if we except epidemics, which
can hardly be regarded as causes.
Year: 1877

was broken only by the loud heart-beats of my
superstitious attendants.


l crawled noiselessly from below, and hearing
a slight rustling in the direction of the shed,
passed over the bow and moted softly round to
listen. On arriving at the opening in front
looked cautiously in, and what was my surprise
to see figure approach from the further cor
ner, with something held in what appeared to
be an cutstretched arm. 1t moved slowly and
guardedly toward the spot where stood con-
cealed by large box. Quick as lightning the
truth flashed across my mind. closely scrutl-
nlzed the object 1t was held by a small,
gloyed hand, which was now near my face, and
10, it was a huge turnip! The figure placed
itself in an attitude as if to throw it with more
than ordinary strength, when I stepped for
ward and there fell into my arms the form of
Clara Sea. Another slight report might have
been heard, and the ghost would trouble us no
more. Iwaited till the day of the picnic, and
the one following-and another. aud another
until the old man began to go oftener than
usual on the wharf, and then sailed out OF
port, perhaps not so enthusiastic sailor, but
more devoted lover. Clara's artifce, if it did
not frighten us into giving up the voyage, hast
ened g. marriage ceremony.
Year: 1877

A writer in the Baltimore Bee is OF
the opinion that black-eyed ladies are
most apt to be passionate and jealous.
Blue-eyed, soulful, truthful, affectionate
and confiding. Gray-eyed, philosophi-
cal, literary, resolute, cold hearted.
Hazel-eyed, quick tempered and tickle.
A woman is either worth good deal OF
nothing. II good for nothing, she is not
worth getting jealous for; if she be a
true woman she will give no cause for
jealousy. A man is brute to be jealous
of a good woman fool to be jealous OF
q worthless one but is double fool to
cut his throat for either of them.
Year: 1877

Man believes himself always greater
than he is, and is esteemed less than he
is worth.


It is the admirer of himself, and not
the admirer of virtue, who thinks him
self superior to others.


There is not one among us that would
not be worse than kings, if so continually
corrupted as they are with sort of ver-
min called fatterers.


Folly consists in the drawing in Of
false conclusions from just principles, by
which it is distinguished from madness,
which draws just conclusions from false
principles.


He seldom lives frugally who lives by
chance. Hope is always liberal, and
they that trust her promises make little
scrnple of reveling to-day on the profits
OF tomorrow.


Look upon every man as suicide
from the moment he takes the dice box
desperately in his hand, and all that fol-
lows in his fatal career from that time is
only sharpening the dagger before he
strikes it to his heart.


Grief or misfortune feems to be indis-
pensable to the development of lntelli-
gence, energy and virtue. The proofs to
which the people are submitted, as with
individuals, are necessary then to draw
them from their lethargy and to disclose
their character.


Like flakes of snow that fall unper-
ceived upon the earth, the seemingly un-
important events of life succeed one an
other. As the snow gathers together so
are our habits formed. No single fake
that is added to the pile produces SEN
sible change, no single action creates,
however it may exhibit mans charac-
ter.


love serious preacher who speaks
for my sake, and not his own-who seeks
my salvation, and not his vainglory. He
best deserves to be heard who uses
speech only to clothe his thoughts, and
his thoughts only to promote truth and
virtue. Nothing is. more detestable than
a professed declaimer, who retails his
discourses as quack does his medicines.
-Massillon.


Those who are in the power of evil
habits must conquer them as they can
and conquered they must be, or neither
wisdom nor happiness can be attained
but those who are not yet subject to
their influence may, by timely caution,
preserve their freedom; they may effec-
tually resolve to escape the tyrant, whom
they will very vainly resolve to conquer.
Year: 1877

Russian leather is the skin of the
horse or calf tanned with the bark
OF the birch, which gives it that Pc
culiar smell which is so grateful to
the senses and which seems to pro-
serve it from the attack of insects.


A man should never be ashamed
to own he has been in the wrong,
which is but saying in other words
that he is wiser to-day than he was
yesterday.
Year: 1877

How IT WAS DoNE.-The firm name
is Hull & johnson, and the business of
life is to be conducted in accordance with
the following conjugal contract: : We
regard ourselves rs in every sense of the
word equal partners, promising to strive
to treat each other, under all circum-
stances as becomes such. We promise
that we will not try in any other way than
by advice or persuasion to control the
action of each other. Believing that
neither Church or State have "-those
who are fired by great social principles
are sometimes above little matters of
syntax-" amy business with our affairs,
we promise Ia live our own lives without
reference to either, farther than is neceS.
sary to give security to the Commonwealth
Of Massachusetts that our children,
should we be blessed with off prings, shall
be at least rs well cared for MS are ma.
jority Of those born in legal wedlocks.
We further contract that when mutual
love shall no longer justify our conjugal
union, we shall pnrt, giving the State II,
little ttOuble in our parting as we have in
coming togethe'." The Boston Horatd,
in publishing this contract, states that the
father of the bride is an avowed believer
in free love, and that his daughter and her
cupartner, who is clerk in leather
store, produced the document one night
last week aud called for his criticism. -
The father expressed his approval and the
paper was signed.
Year: 1877

before my father, a miserable, haggard,
woe begone wretch. 1 told my tale bnt
ms did so l could not quite keep down
my tears tears of mingled shame and
vexation. He listened to me with a Gu
rious cynicle smile. When l had done
he went to his bureau and opened draw
er. Set your mind at rest, Ned" he
said. Here is the ring, safe and sound'


l could only stare at him in open
mouthed astonishment. when ma
dam, with the ring in her possession,
left you asleep, she was just in time to
catch the afternoon boat back to Dover.
The ring was in my hands again before
ten o'clock last night"


But-but," l stammered out, az
don't understand. When she had once
got the ring in her possession, why did
she bring il back to you ?"


" Because she was paid to do so. Be-
cause she was hired by me through the
agency of a private inquiry office to act
as she did act. Madam by profession is
not thief, but thief catcher. You had
grown so self-conceited of late, Master
Ned, you had got such mighty tall
opinion of yourself and your abilities,
that thought it would do you no harm
to take you down peg or two. l hope
have succeeded in convincing you that
there are people in the world quite as
clever, or it may be cleverer, than Ger.
tain nincompoop of one-and twenty. If
you profit by the lesson my money will
have been we'll spent"


An hour or two later l said "But
wasn't it a risky thing to do with a ring
worth five hundred pounds ?"


MY father winked at me with the So
emnity of a Judge. my dear Ned.
what do you take your old dad for The
diamonds were nothing but paste.
Hdiper's.
Year: 1877

THE fall OF Juggernaut is being widely
prophesied among the Hindoos. The
falling of a stone last year from the tow
er of the temple OF Pooree produced n
powerful sensation. The impression is
widely spread that it betokens the end of
Juggernaut, his temple, and worship.
Those who have examined the temple
say that it must soon fall, the walls being
already interlaced with the fbres and
branches of trees, which in course of
time must cause the whole structure to
collapse.
Year: 1877

New YORK. Aug. lS.-Albert Fink,
the commissioner having charge of the
apportionment of the west bound freight
from this city, sent a. communication yes
terday to representatives of the trunk lines
stating that the Wabash R'y had been
found guilty of carrying freights below
schedule rates. Fink therefore directed
that no more freight should be sent by
agents of the trunk line over the Wabash
R'y until further notice. He also stated
in his letter that it was reported that the
Canada Southern mad been cutting rates.
aud although he had not yet received
positive evidence to that effect be feared
the report was true.
Year: 1877

10 Governor Connor and the Legisla-
ture OF Maine belongs the credit OF max
ing the first practical attempt to encour-
age the production of beet sugar in the
Eastern States In his inaugural address,
IN 1876, Governor Connor urged the mat
ter upon the Legislature, and enforced his
public recommendation by presenting the
subject to the citizens OF the state gener-
ally wherever he Glanced to meet them
during the year he has given much atten-
tlon TO the Investigation of the subject,
and as the result has become fully CON
tirmed in the opinion that the enterprise
will prove a profitable one for Maine. In
January he again presented the subject to
the Legislature, and was able to show the
subject in SO favorable a light that the
members OF the Legislature Of that State,
although proverbially careful in voting
away the dollars in the State Treasury
were convinced that the subject is so I'M
portant that they could afford to offer in
ducements to capitalists who would test
the capability of Maine for the production
OF beet sugar Accordingly the Legisla-
ture has passed a measure authorizing the
Governor and Council to offer persons who
VIII take to Maine the machinery neces-
sary for the production OF beet sugar. Tor
the purpose of manufacturing the same
from beets grown in the State, bonus o.
one cent a pound for all such sugar manu-
tactured, ard All additional bounty of 500
year Tor ten wears as a general encour-
agement Beets grown in various parts
Of the State have been tested, and have
proved Very rich i'll saceharine qualities
| Boston Journal