smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

ILLUMINATED LETTERs.-Several GEN.
turies ago manuscripts used to be
written and books printed with what
were called illuminated capitals The
first letter of word at the beginning
of a chapter and Of paragraph was Orna-
mented with many flourishes, and painted
with different colors, thus giving very
bright appearance to the pages. Thomas
Cbatterton, the youthful genius and poet,
learned to read from one of these illumi-
mated manuscripts. He was very dull
boy at school, and had not learned to read
when six years and half old.


Then he happened to fall in with one
of these old manuscripts, and the odd let
ters excited his curiosity He studied
with a new spirit, and in few DAYS
could read with care and pleasure. He
searched out all the old manuscripts
within reach, and the antiquated symbols,
working on his imagination, prepared
him for the singular literary life he after
wards led. He began to initiate both the
style of writing and of thought, and was
soon master of both, and it required a
sharp critic todetect that his forgeries were
not the original manuscripts which he
claimed to have discovered.
Year: 1877

A heron is dangerous bird, even for
man to attack, as will lie seen from this
story Of an encounter between man, a
dog, and heron, published in the London
FteEd. The heron had been wounded its
left wing being broken by a shot.


spied him in large pool, some yards
from the river bank; seemingly, as he
rested ON the water he was unhurt. AS
| shouted out, "There he is, Sam" the
retriever plunged into the eddying pOol
and swan to seize his prey. Now the
fight began.


Without swerving an inch, the heron,
with his crest erect, and with scream,
iarted his formidable beak straight at the
dogs ewes. Sam was puzzled. Inamo-
ment, however, he was at him again, but
the terrible beak of the heron, as the at
tack was again renewed, held him fairly
at bay. Sam now changed his plan. He
tried to circumvent his formidable enemy
by swimming round to its back, but the
heron presented bold front at all points,
and once more Sam rushed 10. The fight
was getting fast and furious, but Sam,
though considerably punished, stuck to
his post, and though repeatedly recalled,
would not return without his bird.


There was nothing left to do but to kill
the heron, to prevent his binding the
dog, if he had not already done SO. Ac-
cordingly, 1 raised my gun, when my
companion shouted out, "Don't shoot!
Don't spoil the bird I'll save the dog"


In an instant he leaped from the bank
into the pool, and, swimming, made for
the heron. The bird now left the dog,
and turned on his new assailant; rushing
at him with scream, in an instant, the
heron darted his formidable beak at Mr..
Gwynne-Vaughan's eyes; but as he swan,
he managed to cover his face, and his
hand only was wounded.


Again and again the heron attacked
him, but never succeeded in wounding
his face. At last, he grabbed the heron
by the legs, drew it under the water, and
struck out for the shore. Grasping the
bird by the beak, he was soon on land,
none the worse for his courageous exploit
than wounded hand and wet skin.


Sam, the retriever, was bleeding from
at least five honorable wounds, all within
a quarter of an inch of either eye. 1t
was courageous fight all round.
Year: 1877

TRAVELLING on railroads will soon be
as pleasant as steamboating. In addition
to their sleeping cars, the Pullman Palace
Car Company have recently placed upon
several Of our leading railways their hotel
cars. In these cars one can take his
meals as pleasantly as at a hotel. The
springs of these cars are so finely adj
iusted as to entirely obviate all danger
from the overflow of liquids from the
dishes, even when the train is running at
forty miles an hour.
Year: 1877

influence and can compensate himself for
lack of money and leisure by delighted
sense of power. Another mistake On
almost every paper one man gets all the
credit, reputation influence 10 be made out
of the sheet How much power has any
body on the Cincinnati Commercial beside
Murat Hastead? Who knows or cares for
the men who make the New York Herald
what it is ! Can anybody in Cleveland tell
the name Of the editor of the New York
Times? 1t is nonsense to talk about the
power of subeditor. He is but single
wheel in great machine, and if II breaks
down his place can be supplied before the
next issue goes to press.


"No money, no influence only poor pay
and hard work." the would be journalist
will excaim. "why, then do men go into
the business or stay in l." Rather hard
question to throw at one suddenly. But stay
that must he the answcr-bCcausC of what
Philip Gilbert llammcrton calls the pleas
urcs Of the intellectual life. journalism is
a creative art, like sculpture, painting,
engineering and the writing of books; but,
unlikely any Otthcsc, its vOtarieS have every
day the satisfaction Of Witnessing the trui-
ton of their endCayors. Each daily issue
of newspaper is II new birth Thus the
completed result follows so closely upon
the effort that there is for the journalist a
constant succession Of the pleasurablc sen
satiOns that the artist feels when he secs
his finished picture stretched upon the
frame. poor compensation for poverty
and toll, did you say, young man? Well, if
you think so, you had best betakc yourself
10 another trade. You were not born for
q iOurnaIisl.
Year: 1877

1t frequently happens that fine en-
cravings, despite the care taken of them,
will in some unaccountable manner be-
come stained and dirty to such an ex-
tent as to seriously impair their beauty.
To those of our readers who own engrav-
ings that have been injured in this way a
simple recipe for cleaning them will
prove of value. Put the engraving on
smooth board and cover with a thin
layer of common salt finely pulverized;
then squeez lemon juice upon the salt
until a considerable portion of it is dis
solved. After the picture has been sub
jected to this treatment, elevate one end
of the board so it will form an angle of
about forty-fve degrees with the hori-
zon. From tea kettle or other suit
able vessel pour on the engraving
boiling water until the salt and lemon
juice be all washed off. The engraving
will then be perfectly clean and free
from stain. 1t must be dried on board,
or on smooth surface gradually, If dried
by the fire or sun it will be tinged with
dingy yellowish color.
Year: 1877

A Washington special says it is more
than probable that the sub-commttee of
the ways and means committee will report
Il proposition for an income tax. The argu
mcnt in favor Of an income tax is that the
Eastern and the seaboard Middle States
now pay far less internal revenue tax than
the Northern, Southern and Middle States;
that property and production are Overtaxcd
in these latter, compared with tho former
and that an income tax would equalize the
load. The Western and Southern members
of tho House very generally favor an in
come tax, and the measure is especially
strong among Northern members, who say
that the government bonds are almost all
owned in the seaboard States; that these are
exempt from taxation. and that an income
tax is the only way to reach the bond
holders.


PATENT FLOUR PROCESS CASE.


In the case Of Cochrane & Co. against
Deevcr and others, from the supreme court
OF the District, the United States supreme
court rendered decision denying the mo-
ton to set aside the decree and dismiss the
bill, This is known as the patent flour case"
and it was charged that there had been II
collusion between the partners prior to the
hearing, and to such an extent as would be
taken notice Of as rejecting on the decree.


WANT TO GO TO PARIS,


Governor Mccormick, commissioner
general to the Paris exposition is over
whelmed with applications for positions
from associate commissioners and clerks TO
laborcrs of every description. The Gov
ernor explains that very few clerks will be
needed on this side OF the Atlantic. The
office OF the ommssioncr-general will be
opened in New York the latter part Of this
or early next week.


TAKES NO STOCK.


General Sherman places no reliance
in the sensational reports from Texas; he
says the trouble in III Paso county grows
out Of demand of spectators for pay for
the produce of salt mines, which have been
free for years.


PATTERSoN's CONDITION.


The condition of Senator Patterson,
of South Carolina, this evening is consider
sd very critical, He suffered severe at
tack of congestion Of the brain. His rcla-
tivcs have been tclcgraphcd TO.
Year: 1877

Rural papers are advising their read
ers to lay in their coal, but an observing
exchange remarks that this should never
be done unless one is really too drunk
to get into the house.
Year: 1877

It demands the Unconditional Repeal Of
the Specie Resumption Act.


The RECOMMENDATION Of Silver.


The Abolition Of the National Banking
System.


A Reduction Of the Rates Of Interest.


That the Greentack shall be made a Full
Legal Tender-receivabl for all debts, pub
lit and private.


The adoption Of the Eight Hour System.
The establishment of Cooperative Institu-
tions-Productive and Distributiv-.


The Control and Regulation OF Railroads
and other Corporations by the State.


The Reservation Of the Public Lands for
Actual Settlers only.


The substitution Of Arbitration for Strikes
whenever and wherever the employer is will
to meet the employe on equitable grounds.
The Abolition of the Contract System in all
our Penal Institutions.


The prohibition Of the importation of all
servile races, and the discontinuance of all
subsidies to all national vessels bringing them
to our shores.


The abrogation of all laws that do not
bear equally on capital and labor.
Year: 1877

THE FIRE YESTERDAY MoRNING.-At SIG
O'Clock Yesterday morning q stove in the
old freight Office at the Richmond and Dam
Vile railroad depot set fire to some OF the
woodwork, and On alarm Of fire was given
to the main Office by means Of the automatic
telegraph line. The operator on duty at
the central Office promptly struck Box 3A-
the nearest fre-alarm station to the fire


and In four minutes time stream OF water
was playing upon the fire, which was
promptly extingnished, and caused atrifing
loss. Several thousand bales OF cotton were
stored in the main depot, short distance
from where the fire originated. L--
Year: 1877

Unless the resignation Of Colonel Strother
is offered by Tuesday next (and it now
seems not improbable) subcommittee OF
the committee to whom was assigned the
duty Of examining into his condition OF
health will leave the city tomorrow to COM
mence the examination. Senator Dr.)
Lawson is chairman Of the subcommittee.
Year: 1877

Ever since the first of March, says the
Altoona Mirror, there has been missing
from his home in this city, on Ninth ave-
nue., near Fourteenth street, thirteen
year old lad named VIM. Barr. On that
day he was seen riding on a huckster
wagon, and his parents think the. .huckster
enticed him away. The man was OF
medium size, with black beard, and wore
blue army overcoat, and has not been
seeen since. On the day of the boys dis
appearance. he wore cloths of a neutral
color, rather well-worn, and rusty black
cap. The boy never experienced harsh
treatment at home and there is no reason
to believe that he voluntarily ran away.
The parents cannot afford to prosecute
the proper search, and exchanges will
confer favor by making note Of this,
Year: 1877

l would not dig my past
Up from its grave Of weakness and regret;
Up from its hopes, which glimmered but to set


Its dreams, that could not last!
Yet can look before,
And profit by the lessons sadly learned;
Aschildren playing before the fire, are burned,


And tempt its glow no more.


would not, if could,
Live DER again this dark, uncertain life
This slipping backward in the daily strife


OF reaching after good.


Yet can know how weak
Are all below, and so sweet charity
Will cling and grow about each form see


And thus to me will speak:


would not open out
'Twere better they were numbered with the dead


Better than fear or doubt.


Yet can truly say,
Let the dead past bury its dead. We go
So swiftly onward to lifes sunset glow


And then, there is no day!


Life Is too short to waste
In vain repinings or in weak regrets;
The strongest heart endures and never frets


Ger joys it may not taste.


And he who can 60 on
Bravely and firmly In the allotted way,
Gaining new strength with every darkened ray,


Shall surely reach the dawn.
Year: 1877

81 felt that as the death was sudden, !;
might be best for me to keep out of sight.
l was as sorry for it as stranger could be,
but my being there might be considered
suspicious. kept hidden up in the garret
in great lumber closet, and heard poor
| Choker's affairs talked over, and learned
his habits.


''Some of his clothes were up in the gar
ret, and an old wig; and one Of the patches
he had worn over his eye was there too;
and there was an old dressing glass in the
corner. tried on the wig and the patch,
and saw how like old Choker they made
me look, only was not so brown. Then I
took some walnuts that lay on the floor and
rubbed the juice into my skin. 1t increased
the resemblance, SO did whitening my eye
brows with bit of chalk. And l sit down
and looked at myself, and the plan that l
afterward carried out came into my head.
would play old Choker, as knew could.


cpd studied his voice and movements
well, and as told you, had once been an
actor, and so l should step into a decent
home and comfortable means without hurt
ing any one. The night after he was buried
l came out of the garret and went to the
graveyard, and not to enter into details,
you'll find Choker's coffin in the vault be-
yond his grave. Then 1 went back and
tried the effect of my disgrace on poor Peg
gy Kinder. 1t satisfied me. havn't led
a merry life, though knew it would not
be long one.


''But Pve been very comfortable, and
shan't die dogs death out of doors, as l
once expected. I've never been afraid that
Choker really would haunt me, though
Pm trifle superstitious, for l think he
couldn't find much fault with me, as he
had no relations, never made will, and
couldn't take either his handbook or his
house and farm into the other world with
him.


"And now you have had the story, and
you've promised to keep the secret until
the last. You can see now, perhaps, that
Choker and we're good deal alike. I'm
four inches taller than hey was, for one thing,
and my nose is higher. But there's good
deal in make up"


These were almost the last words Choker's
ghost ever spoke, for his end was very near,
and it was not until


death had taught him more


Than this melancholy world doth know
that the doctor let Grabtown know the
sequel of his ghost story.
Year: 1877

The farmer came in from the field one day;
His languid step and his weary way,
His bended brow, his sinewy hand
All showed his work for the good of tile land;


For he sows,


And he hoes


And he mOws,


All for the good of the land.
BY the kitchen fire stood his patient wife,
Light of his home and joy of his life,
With face all aglow and busy hand
Preparing the meal for her husbands band


For she must boil,


And she must broil,


And sic must toll,
All for the good of the home.
The bright sun shines when the farmer goes out;
The birds sing sweet songs, lambs frisk about;
The brook babbles softly in the glen
While he works so bravely for the good of men;


For he sows,


And he mowS,


And he hoes,


All for the good of the land.
How brskly the wife steps about within,
The dishes to wash, the milk to skim;
The fire goes out, the flies buzz about
For the dear ones at home her heart is kept stout


There are pies to make,


1nere is DreaQ 10 BAKE.


And steps to take,
All for the sake of home.
When the day is oer and the evening is come,
The creatures are fed, the milking done,
He takes his rest meath the old shade tree
From the labor of the land his thoughts are free


Though he sCws,


And he hoes,


And he mowS,


He rests from the work of the land.
But the faithful wife, from sun to sun,
Takes her burden up that's never done,
There is no rest, there is no play
For the good of the house she must work away;


For to mend the frock,


And to knit the sock,


And the cradle to rock,
All for the good of the home.
When Autumn is here, with its chilling blast,
The farmer gathers his crop at last
His barns are FULL his fields are bare,
For the good of the land he ne'er hath care,


While it blows,


And it SHOWS,


Till Winter goes,
He rests from the work of the land.
But the willing wife, till life's closing day,
Is the childrens guide, the husbands stay;
From day to day she had done her best,
Until death alone can give her rest;


For after the test


Comes the rest


With the blest


In the farmers heavenly home.


-Ctristian Union.
Year: 1877

! Almost every one has at least one lock of
hair cut from the head of one now dwelling
| in that silent land whence come no mes
sages, no letters, no tokens of any kind to
| tell of love or remembrance. Every one
knows that strange emotion, half joy, half
woe, with which the tiny relic of SO much
that was once dear can thrill the soul. Only
now and then do we dare to take it from it's
hiding place, hold it in the palm, press it to
the cheek, and use it as talisman to recall
all that we must perforce forget in the work
a-day world for the sake of strength to do
it's battle.


We do not know whose hair that which
you treasure may be-whether the fossy
curl from baby's head, the dark lock from
the brow that once made your breast its
pillow, a parents gray tress, or young
lovers sunny curl. Nor does it matter, for
all love in it's essence, in that part of it that
outlives death, is alike and equally pure;
but we know that there is nothing like it to
you anywhere. There are no words for the
thoughts it brings. They mock language.
AS you touch it, and gaze at it, you have
nothing to say. You feel the thorns of your
dead rose, that is all, and the wounds they
make bleed.


There are old superstitions about locks of
hair. 1t was not we'll for lovers to exchange
them, it is said; and sorcerers always re-
quired lock of hair before working spells
for or against man or woman. In Sweden
and Norway one who let's little bird get a
hair of his head for his nest, dies before the
young birds fly, unless old gossips are mis-
taken. Even about the hair of the living
lies some romance; but the hair of the dead
is poem that hearts comprehend. So a
thief who had stolen lady's jewel casket,
once sent back, at some risk to himself, a
little golden tress folded away amidst the
diamonds-more precious than they-to the
childless mother, with this brief note:--
(which 'adn't the art to keep hit"


But it is only when it is cut off that there
Is any romance about hair, unless it is beau
tiful. On ugly tresses no one has any mer-
cy. Yet, coarse or thin, or red, or faded
though it be, some day, the commonest
thatch that ever covered skull will be so
much-so very much to one who has loved
and outlived the being on whose head it
grew. Such strange, awesome thing to
kiss and shed fond tears over, and put away
carefully, amongst most precious relics.
Year: 1877

To RESTORE SCRATCHED FURNITURE
Scrape one pound of beeswax into shavings
in pan; add half gallon CT spirits of
turpentine and one pint of linseed oil. Let
it remain twelve hours, then stirit we'll with
stick into liquid; while stirring add one
quarter pound of shellac varnish and one
ounce alkanet root. Put this mixture into
gallon jar and stand it before the fire or
in an oven, fora week Ito keep it just warm) !;
shake it up three or four times day. Then
strain it through a hair sieve and bottle it,
Pour about teaspoonful on wad or baze;
60 lightly over the face and other parts of
mahogany furniture; then rub briskly with
similar dry wad, and in three minutes it
will produce dark brilliant polish unequal
ed. Another preparation may be made as
follows: Make mixture of three paris
linseed oil and one part of spirits of turpen-
tine. 1t not only covers the disfgured sur
face, but restores wood to its original color,
and leaves lustre upon the surface. Put
on with wooden cloth, and when dry rub
with wooden.
Year: 1877

There is superstition among many peo-
pie that weeds or briers cut on the 30th of
July, will not grow again. The day is
known as Upton, or, as the Germans call it,
Ufdorn. It was and is still customary
among some of the older residents to clean
out fence corners, and cut and destroy
weeds and briers on that day, with the firm
faith that whatever is cut down at that time
will not sprout again, no matter how deep
the roots may be.
Year: 1877

A SIMPLE CURE FOR DRUNKENNESS
A Brooklyn man writes to the Sun: 81
drank more intoxicating liquor from the
year 1857 to the last day of 1878 than any
other person ever knew or heard of; and
in the mean time, knowing this sure cure,
did not practice it on myself, but, for fun,
did practice it on many others, and effected
permanent cures. The remedy of the cure
is this: When person finds he must have
drink, let him take drink of water, say
two or three swallows, as often as the thirst
or craving may desire. Let him continue
this practice. His old chums will laugh;
but let him persevere, and it will not be a
week before the appetite for any kind of
stimulant will disappear altogether, and
water be taken to quench the natural thirst.
If at any time the victim should feel crav-
ing, let him take the first opportunity and
obtain a swallow of water, and he can pass
and repass all saloons. When he goes home
at night he will feel satisfied and sober and
have money in his pocket. commenced
this practice the first day of 1874, and never
think of taking drink of stimulants. /"
Year: 1877

must have affected the earth, enough to
change It's poIes, destroy its life, partial
INil not wholly, and devcIope another
in it, place.


Could it be proven, that the cartl's
axis Nns always been the same as nov,
that the poles and the equator have
never shifted, that it retains its original
shape and position. the same as when in
its 'ncandcscent state only condensed,
the theory TINT life originated at the
poles would have much to sustain it
But the opposite has hecn established as
far as human research and enquiry can
establish anything.


The theory Of evolution is not new,
neither is Darwin its originator True,
he has done more TO apply it to the ori,
Gin of life than any other scientist. But
Astronomical and geological evolution is
as old as the nebulous theory, and every
scientific discovery only tends to confirm
its uncontrovcrtible truth.


Many newspaper and magazine anti
cl9s, ike the one now commented on,
advancing some new theory, plausibla to
those who have only taken surface
view Of natural facts at variance with
the well known principles Of science, are
often mistaken, by the popular reader,
for contradictions of science, when in
fact, they are only the dress parade evo-
lutions and brilliant tlourishes of some
gaudy pumcd knight armed with quill
and mounted unpou the hobby horse of
some special ism, who is seeking for and
imagines he has found seam in the in
vulnerable armor of scientific truth.


A little more patience and earnest,
careful search after truth, instead of
popular applause, by many whose ready
pens and eloquent speech so often in
modern times captivates public attcn-
tion, woull be the means of banisning
much Of that class of literature devoted
TO the contradictions of science. The
conclusions that some scientific writers
arrive ut is too often mistaken for science
itself The uniniormed masses are too
easily carried away with the, manner
and the man" and don't think and reason
for themselves. The literature. of legiti-
mate science is not so terribly yolumin.
Gus. 1t is mostly contained in the grea.
volume of Nature, an index TO which is
found in the treasures of natural science
slowed away in the rooms of scientific
institutions, societies and museums.
Science has great army Of workers,
many plain methodical writers, but few
takers. The thousand and one daily
captures, made by the irregular Bashi-
Bu2ook and guerrilla element, scouting in
&ery theoretical field, and brought to
notice ut head quarters, have to be sifted
and tested by the touch-stone of fact,
ere they are accepted and honored with
u niche in the great store-house of
truth.