smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Falsehood is apparently so difficult to
avoid in our ordinary discourse, so invol-
untary, that the facility with which it is
employed has passed into proverb. Is
this moral obliquity due to the imperfec-
ton of the memory, to any mental or
physical Incidence, which might deter us
from the effort required to speak or act
the truth? or yet TO the simple habit of
exaggeration, which has crept upon us
inscnsibly, through our desire to make our
conversation spicy, TO be agreeable and
graphic IN our relations, to set off a
story as they say, or to establish our
own superiority in some doubtful case
Now the graphic is all very fine in its
way, when we do not pay for it too dear
ly, and the sense of superiority must be
highly delightful, provided it is not nom
sense; but we can dispense with both
more comfortably than with the ungarn-
ished truth, which is surely one of the
necessaries of life, though we may all
know people who make shift to live with
out it. One poor body thinks it no harm
to give her age to the census taker as
twenty ght for does not thirty-five con-
tain that lesser number ?-showing, after
all, that even figures will lie. She reckons
that part of the truth may stapd sponsor





. lapses would render statistics null and
void, not to mention their effects upon the
mind of the individuals. There is a sad
lack of exactness in daily intercourse; no.
body means to tell that vulgar thing, a fib,
but few shrink from its near relations
eXaggeration, prevarication and evasion.
1T Miss Polk danced twice or thrice
with Gen Shoddy, it is so natural
for her interested friends to overestimate
the sum total "The ladies are all out.
ma'am,'' said an Irish maid, repeating g
the message of her mistress to an unwel-
come caller, but adding on her own re-
sponsibility, 3" and Mrs X is particu-
tarly OUT" proving, in her bungling way,
that her untutored mind had begun to
suspect that truth was not to be spoken at
all times-perhaps for fear there might
not be enough of the article in the world
to go round, and if she used it extrava-
gantly to-day she might rue it tomorrow,
not knowing it resembed that magic
skein from which the more one wound
the more remained. 1t has been affirmed
that no two witnes sses of an event agree in
their account; but this might not surprise
US when we observe how few persons re
late an incident twice alike. With the
best intentions, doubtless, they omit some
thing which strikes them as supertluous,
or employ an emphasis which distorts the
expression of the case, because accuracy
does not seem vital matter, and they do
not stop to inquire whether the bad habit
OF treating it with contempt will be likely
to intrude into greater concerns. If a
falsehood is not going to injure anybody,
we are apt to consider it a harmless Ii
cense; if it hides our hort-comings and
relieves US of embarrassments, we do not
always perceive its cowardice; and are
not those who judge us unchartably
largely responsible for the fact that lying
is easy ?-Harper's Basdr.
Year: 1877

Months ago Western society rang with
the accounts of a grand wedding. a fair
daughter of one of the Oldest an wealth.
lest families in the Mississippi Valley had
been united to a foreign nobleman. The
arts of Worth were exhausted in the prep
aration of the trousseau. Members OF the
aristocracy from all sections of the coun-
try were present, and never was there a
more brilliant social event in the history
of anyone present. The dark -whiskered
nobleman was reported to be enormously
wealthy. In his own country he lorded
over vast den1ains and bid his bondsmen
tremble. His exits and entrances were
attended with a flourish of trumpets.


When he walked he was attended by vas
sails armed to the teeth. He was supposed
to own vast castles, the most impregnable
of which he inhabited, and spent the sea-


son in making fierce forays upon the bear
that abounded in the fastnesses of his ma
tive forests. The wedding was succeeded
by dizzy round of festivities, and socie-
ty was ablaze. The i'm pressive foreigner
flnally departed with his beautiful Amer
lean bride, and it was said that they
would proceed forthwith to the native
land Of the nobleman, and proceed imme


diatelv to inhabit one OF his palatial cas-
ties A sturdy IIibernian at work yester-
day among The hotel ruins, turned over
some rubbish and found scattered pack
Year: 1877

of letters. Some Of the people in the in
closure began curiously to examine the
documents. One Of them was from the
Russian Capital. The date was several
months back. 1t was from the bride of
the nobleman, and represented that his
pretensions of great wealth were false. It
was even doubted whether he was nobly
connected. It was feared that he was an
arrant impostor. The writer represented
herself as being in absolute need in money
for the purchase of necessities. The let
ter was addressed to a very near relative.
This is one of the secrets that the ruins
gave up.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.
Year: 1877

Yesterday afternoon dispatch was re-
ceived at the Chronicle Office conveying
the intelligence that Russian Lieutenant,
De Kalands, had eloped with Miss Bur
dick of San Francisco, and taken the train
for Virginia with his bride. A reporter
was at once detailed to hunt up the illus
trious Russian and interview him. A lady
who had come up on the train was called
on and interrogated as to the presence Of
the couple on the train. She threw the
following light on the subject:
Year: 1877

"A good anecdote is related of lady
at party whose dress and form were
faultless Just before dinner an admirer
offered her flower from his button-hole


The dress being fastened behind, the
flower had to be adjusted with pin. Just
then they went down to dinner, and the
gentleman thought he heard a noise as
though wind were escaping from bel
lows. The lady had soon lost her fair pro-
portions, and the tightly fitting dress was
most baggy 1t appears that the latest
fashion for thin ladies' dresses is an air
tight lining blown out to the proper size


The pin put to keep the flower il had pen
etrated the air-tight lining and caused a
grand collapse.-Britfsh Court Circular.
Year: 1877

Justice Davis candidacy for election
to the Senate by the Illinois Democrats
having practically rendered his choice
as the fifth judicial member of the pro-
posed tripartite commission impossible,
there are rumors afloat tonight that a
number of Democratic representatives
who had intended to vote for the COM
promise bill on the assumption or un-
derstanding Of his being SO chosen, will
now oppose it. The general belief that
Year: 1877

There are a great many men in the
remote valleys of this territory who
have been there for years, and they de-
serve, as class, special mention. They
cast their lots with Wyoming long be-
fore the railroad was built, or even
thought of, and, accustomed to hard
ship and privations, they look at life
from practical standpoint. Many of
them are the owners of large herds of
cattle and bands of horses, and live re-
mote from civilization, depending upon
their rifles for protection against the
Indians. They are cool-headed, wiry
men, capable of any amount of suffer-
ing, and they are almost to man ex-
cellent shots, and the noble red man(?)
is well aware of the fact, and gives
them a wide berth. If band of these
marauding thieves is seen in the vicini-
ty of ranch ponies are saddled, and
though there may be but two or three
of these brave men, they do not hesi-
tate to give them warm reception. 1t
is fight or death, and many of these
men are strangers to fear. They are
kind-hearted and liberal, and if night
overtakes you, or storm sets in, you
are sure of kindly welcome at their
rude, though comfortable, dwellings.
Now and then they find their way to
railroad station and eagerly inquire for
the news. A paper a month old is
feast, and if you give one dozen cop
les of late papers he is your sworn
friend, and looks upon you as being one
of the most liberal of your species.
Some of them are covered with scars,
and not a few have really been scalped
and left for dead.
Year: 1877

Washington, Jan. 24.-While the
statement is made that the President is
favorably inclined to the electoral COM
promise bill, it is ascertained that all
members of the cabinet with the excep-
tion of Secretary Fish, are opposed to
it and will not favor its being signed if
passed and submitted to the President.
Unless the bill is promptly signed and
not retained for consideration for a few
days, it will become imperative, The
opponents of the bill feel sanguine that
the measure will not receive the Presi-
dents approval without full considera-
ton.
Year: 1877

This has thus far been a winter Of
unparalleled severity. There would
doubtless have been the most intense
suffering among the ladies who are
compelled to attend concerts and things,
were it not for the warm lace scarfs
thew wear
Year: 1877

New YORK, April 4,-Great efforts to
prevent the consummation of compromise
by the release Of Tweed have been made
bv expected disclosures regarding passage
of Tweed charter. Among the documents
10 the hands of Harper Il Bros. for
future publication is said be evidence that
S250,000 was divided among five Republi-
can legislators to secure the passage OF
this charter, The suppression of this evi
dence, it is understood, will depend upon
the alacrity with which those who received
it repay it to the state
Year: 1877

LOUISVILLE, April 4.-Henry johnson
the supposed leader of band of burglars,
before commencement of his trial to-day
sought to escape by descending forty feet
from a window in the court house. He
used small piece of twine and had hardly
proceeded four feet when it broke, allow
ing him to fall to brick pavement below,
When picked up johnson was discovered
to be seriously injured. A paper of pep
per and large knife were found in hi
possession.
Year: 1877

Hirsch has nothing to brag over. He
got it by scratch only and had affairs
been properly managed by the opposition
August Timm would be the assistant
supervisor Moline loses by Timm s
defeat one of the most competent and
clear-headed supervisors ever elected from
this township. Considering the tremend-
GUS odds he had to contend against, he
made gallant fight and although defeated
by very small majority, he is not politi-
cally dead by any means There are
other offices of honor and trust which the
Captain can gil aud Moline will not be
slow to recognize his ability at the first
oppor tuDity.
Year: 1877

The case is that of Henry C. Ersh-


man, residing near the boundary of the


county, near Sweetwood, who is large


owner of iron-Ore lands, and the pos


SCISSOR of considerable property. Up to


within several weeks ago he was hale


and hearty, and, Notwithstanding his


abundance of this worlds goods, he gen.
orally wore one suit of clothes during
the week and on Sunday. Several weeks
ago he was startled because he imagined
that a very foul smell either came from


his ears, or mouth, or the pores of the
skin. He was greatly alarmed, and inn
agined he was sinking into galloping
consumption, aNd was gradually decay
ing. He was unable to sleep, became
haggard and emaciated, and even his
friends began to imagine that his end
was near at hand. He dressed him.
self regularly, and was determined
TO keep on his feet He went
into the fields and in the
woods determined to fight down
the disease, but wherever he went the
same dreadful stencil and feeling came
DER him. Finally an old woodchopper
met him in the woods one day. The
woodsman had a long talk with him, and
he stood quite close to examine him.
Then the woodsmar asked the sick
man for his coat. 1t was examined.
The woodsman carried it away twenty
yards, and il was discovered that the
stencil followed. The coat was then
examined and dead mouse
was found in the lining. The mouse had
by some means gotten into the lining of
his coat and died there, and its decay
ing remains caused the unpleasant
efliuvia. When this was made known
the sufferer gained courage, and as he
slowly realized what imagination had
done, he rallied and was sOon on IA
vorable road to the best of health again.
Reading (Pa.) Eagle.
Year: 1877

The superstitions of the Chinese are
sometimes very curiously exemplified.
The other day woman died in the. city
she was the wife of a charcoal dealer,
who for a long time had boarded money
secretly, the fact being hidden even
from her husband. When she fell sick,
she took her dollars and concealed them
under her pillow, her avarice extending
so far-the ruling passion strong in
death-that when she died her hands
were found clutehing number of the
coins so tightly that it was impossible
to unlock the fingers. Of course, firmly
as the muscles may haye been set, it
would no doubt have been possible for
the husband to have wrenched or cut
them apart had he wished to do so; but
no. "She stuck to her dollars during
her life," said the widower, sand she
clings to them still more desperately
in death; let her have them undisturb-
ed" And so the corpse was buried, its
dead hands clasping the dollars with a
desperate grip, while the rest of the
poor creatures savings were put into
the coffin and buried forever with her.
Shanghai Celestial Empire.
Year: 1877

Wa6Ges.-l pound of butter melted in
a quart of milk, and 10 eggs beaten
light; thicken the milk and butter with
sifted flower, and adds the eggs and a
little salt; should be of the consistency
of pound-cake batter; add enough yeast
to make it rise, the quantity to be regu-
lated by the quality of the yeast. Set it
to rise in warm place. To be eaten
in the evening, the waffles should be
mixed early in the morning in winter,
and in summer at midday. .i.
Year: 1877

Twas in late Autumn, and the North Wind strayed
To distant Southland, saying 90 will see


My brothers kingdom. He shall quickly flee,
For at this time he is of me afraid"
The peaceful South Wind fed with rapid speed


Their terror of the North Wind froze the streams
He stripped the glory of the woods. The beams
OF fleeing sun showed Winter ruled indeed.
At last more kind became tie aging Year;
He told the North Wind chat he must go back,


And obeyed, although along his track
The scowling North Wind seemed to go by fear:
So 10th to let the plains and woods regain


Their pleasing verture, bees to hum, birds sing.
Mid budding trees, with blossoms crowned glad


Spring


Dances with South Wind come again to reign.
The conquered North Wind cries: I'll have sign
That I've been here, and here again will bel
leahess rose-bush from the ground tore he,
And carried to his home this token fine,
Which he soon planted in the cheerless SOIL


One day, the tyrant in a Northern stroll,
BY night was overtaken near the Pole.
That eve his brother, resting from his toll,
Slept unawares near where the rose-busn stood.
And, at day dawn, he saw his cherished plant,
Hopefully waiting, trusting time would grant
His return, to bless her solitude.
Thus waiting patiently, the rose prepared
Herself for his approach; his gentle sighs
Told he near and, soon, his wondering eyes
Gazed on her beauty none with him shared.
Quickly he clasps her in his loving arms


How tenderly! And with him she shall reign
Iife's season, where the North Wind brings no


pain,


Till time shall steal the aged Years last charms
But even then, The rose need have no fears
For her grief-stricken lover shall but lave
With April-showers her weIl-remembered grave,
When she Will smile with him amid their tears.
Ladies' Repository for July.
Year: 1877

To MAKE the complexion white and
soft, use tepid water containing a little
powdered borax for bathing the face
and hands every morning and evening.


FoR rheumatism, take one or two
strong doses of rhubarb. A single dose
of from one to two fluid ounces of the
best-tincture has been found to be quite
efficacious.


MUSTARD PLAsTER-Take a table
spoonful of molasses, more or less, as
desired stir thick with mustard, and,
having spread it on cloth, apply it di-
rectly to the skin. It viii not blister,
even if kept ON for an hour.


To WASH BLACK ALPAcA.-Rip the
garment in all of the seams take each
Year: 1877

A Russian General about to begin a
bombardment, but being short of trained
artillerymen, has the happy thought of
addressing himself to the leading build
ing contractors of the city besieged:


'sGentlemen, says he, "I wish you
10 build and operate battery for me.
You will readily understand that every
house knocked down you viii doubtless
have a contract to build when this cruel
off warovitch is oversky."


They address themselves to their task
with energy, and employ architects as
gunners. The fierceness and accuracy
of the fire poured upon that devoted
town is without parallel in the annals of
war-Poris paper.
Year: 1877

The Bridgeport Conn., Standard
saws: Gone of our citizens of an OBJ
serving and experimental turn of mind,
found toad upon his doorstep recently
and. in order to discover whether itcoui
hear well, got down upon his knees and
made different noises to test the ques-
ton. The toad bore the noise and took
part in the experiments with such un-
tagging good nature that the inquirer
was working up considerable interest in
the matter, when he happened to look
up and found himself surrounded by a
crowd of people who were speculating
crazy or simply drunk"
Year: 1877

A man who does not possess a par
ticular talent, satisfies himself by
despising it ; he removes this obstacle
which stands between him and merit,
and by this means he finds himself on Il
level with him whose labors he is afraid
of.


To be in company with those we love
satisfies us it does not signify whether
we speak to them or not, whether we
think ON them or Indifferent things, to be
near them is all.


The best society and conversation in
the world is that in which the heart has
a greater share than the head.


Women exceed the generality of men
in love, but men have the advantage of
friendship.


A man is more faithful and true to an
other persons secret than his own a
woman, on the contrary, keeps her own
secret better than another's.


Fly him who, from mere curiosity,
asks three questions running about a
thing which caunot interest him.


Love is far from being gay passion.
; True love is almost always chagrined,
melancholy and ill-humored.
i Absence destroys small passions, and
increases great ones; as the wind extin-
g1lishes tapers and kindles fires.
Year: 1877

piece separately and wash in this way
Have tub of quite warm water, throw
in tablespoonful of powdered borax,
place the alpaca on the wash-board and
scrub the soiled places with clean
brush, using only very little soap; rinse
very blue water; press the water out by
rolling up and squeezing down on the
board. Dry quickly, and iron on the
wrong side when almost dry.


To WASH BLUE FLANNEL.-D not let
flannel remain long in ary water have
the water clean, and as hot as can be
comfortable for the hands use one
tablespoonful of pulverized borax for
every tub of water; use soap sparingly,
as it is apt to harden the flannel; rinse
quickly in one hot clear water wiring
very dry, then shake well, and beat or
stretch out with the hands; hang in
good shady place to dry quickly.


BAKED CABBAGE.-Boil firm white
cabbage for fifteen minutes, ti..n change
the water for more that is boiling, and
boil until tender; drain and set aside till
cold, then chop fine and add salt and
pepper, one tablespoonful of butter, two
eggs well beaten. three table-spoonfuls
of rich milk or cream; mix well, and bake
in a buttered pudding dish in a moder-
ate oven till brown. Serve hot.


GREEN-CoRN FRITTERs. sufi-
cient number of ripe ears of corn to
make quart; rub together quarter of
a pound of butter, quarter of a pound of
sugar and three tablespoonful Of -four,
a pinch of salt; stir into this one quart
of rich milk, eight eggs well beaten, add
lastly the grated corn; if not thick
enough, little more flour may be add
ed; fry in hot butter, OF bake in pud-
ding-dish. You may make half this
quantity
Year: 1877

The report of the surrender of Plevna no
longer awaits confirmation, but comes from a
source that leaves no doubt Of its truth.
With the capture of this stronghold the war
would seem to be virtually at an end, for the
army of Osman Pasha was the largest and best
equipped and best disciplined force which
Turkey had in the field. Mehemet Ali's
troops are chiefly irregulars, good robbers but
bad soldiers, and Suleiman's division is not
strong enough to seriously oppose the Rus
sian march. BY the capture of Plevna and
its defenders hundred thousand Russian
soldiers are set free to attempt the reduction
of the fortresses of the Bulgarian quadilat
eral or force the range of the Balkans and
seize upon Adrianople. The Turks are
left in much the same plight as were the
French by the capture of Bazaine at Metz,
and it is not probable that they can bring an
army into the field sufficiently strong to beat
back the invaders. As after the surrender of
Metz the besieging troops took up their
march for Paris, so after the surrender of
Peyna the Russians will press on to Con-
stantinople. Bad roads and the wintry sea-
son may make the passage of the Balkans
impracticabe before spring, but other obsta-
ces there are none. The Turkish fortresses
can be masked and the Turkish armies easily
forced back.


1t is not improbable however that the war
will now come to an end. In view of their
sad plight and hopeless future the Turks will
be wise to sue for peace, and the neutral
powers will exert themselves to bring about
an immediate settlement. 1t is an opportune
moment for mediation. England will CT
course be thoroughly alarmed and urge upon
the Porte the acceptance OF almost any terms
to keep the Russians out of Roumelia. The
peace of Austria is SO menaced by continu-
ance of the war that she is eager to bring it
to close. Germany will readily give her
support to treaty which affords Russia
proper indemnity for losses while it does nol
unduly increase Russian power in Europe.
France will have nothing to say, while Italy
and Greece will support any plan that prom
ises to benefit them.


1t is idle now to speculate upon the terms
of peace. But this may be taken for granted I:
The virtual independence of Bulgaria and
Bosnia will be acknowledged, ,and Russia will
gain some territory in Asia and some freedom
in the Black Sea.
Year: 1877

THE Cincinnati Commercial wants "a dol
lar with au eagle on it, whose right wing
shall fan Washington city, while his left waits
the dust along the streets of San Francisco,
and his tail spreading over Hudson bay, while
his beak is dredging the mud islands from the
stream between the jetties at South pass.'
That would be nice handy coin, just the
thing for pocket piece.
Year: 1877

TENNESSEE people strongly object to the
proposition TO scale down their State debt to
sixty per cent. of its face-not because they
are honest, but because they think sixty per
cent. too much. Indeed, they resent the
proposition to pay even one per cent. and
talk vigorously about the money sharks OF
the East
Year: 1877

SENATOR Thurman has gone into the
camp of the silver men, and there is really
danger not only that the silver bill will pass
the Senate but that it will pass in both
Houses over the Presidents veto. Then
will the good work of the last few years in
the way of return to stable currency be
undone
Year: 1877

We don't know what there is about mantel-
piece that imparts confidence to the man trust
ing himself to it. But thers is, no doubt, o
certain degree Of inspiration ia it, for it is a
fact that the bashful man in social gathering
always sits, if possible, under the mantel. He
naturally gravitates to that place and is not at
rest until he reaches it. With the top of his
head pressed against the under side Of TIE
shelf he will sit for hours at time as inmov-
able as a mortgage, and apparently as deeply
interested in what is going on about him.