smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

A noticeable popularity of theatrical
people Is passion tor pets. lima de
Murska is no exception to the rule.
Last evening Chronicle reporter called
upon her at the international Hotel,
wishing to explore the story of the
singing mouse.


The reporter explained his business
Immediately.


Madame, have you q singing mouse
IN your possession


The lady ut once went to the window
and produced little wire cage. in which
the vocalizing rodent nestled in bed
of cotton batting.


Does he sing


Certainly


The cantatricc tripped up and down
the scale few times. This caused the
mouse to wriggle his tail slightly and
scratch its hind legs spasmOdically. but
he did not encore. The perverse animal
was then replaced on the window-sill.
with the assurance on the part of the
owner that he was liable to warble at
any time.


The reporter then had an opportunity
to examine ether samples Of natural
history scattered about the apartment.
In two large wickercages were couple
Of Australian magpies, which made
their presence felt by running their
bills into the calf of the reporters leg.
At irregular intervals they whistled
bars of music, and whea the prima
donna scunblsd up the scale, they imi-
tstsd hel xactly. One. however, with
. fine sense of humor, would begin .
familiar melody. then come to full
stop, and emit screech that made
ones pulse leap up l60 beats inmate.


Presently Scotch poodle crawlsd
out from under the sofa and climbed
into the reporters lap. He was imme-
disrely followed by Skye terrier with
cropped ears. and . little hairy spaniel.


Where is your bull dog!' inquired
the reporter.


Getting doctored in San Francisco.
He will be up in week. You should
see him-he is perfectly divine


You lie'


This somewhat blunt remark came
from . poll parrot in a cage on the
mantlspiece. Nine. de Murska remark
Cd that she had purchased the bird in
San Francisco, and at times it was
insulting.


Here the bird gave the reporter u
touch of his early learning by blasphsm-
ing in . most horrible manner. while
its mistress shook the cage and tapped
. towel at it. The bird went into fury
Of passion, and threw of shower Of
profane expletives that would have re-
flected credit on sixteen mule quartz
teamstsr. A glass of water soused over
il finally brought the wicked bird to
its senssa The Madame spologixed
Tor the parrots conduct. and then trot-
ted out the mouse again.


This time the animal Was in better
trim. and. in response to . little chuck
ing ON the part of its mistress. chirrup-
ed and chattered like bird for half q
minute That the mouse could sing
wss no mistake, bat he was by no
mcans "a accomplished performer as
either OF the magpies, and mis- voice
lacked compass as well IS volume.
The Madame assured the reporter
that shc hadn't half her collection with
her; most of it was in San Francisco,
and before she left she expected 70 get a
dog from Jack Magee and young bear
from Tom Bean. As the reporter left
the dogs barked, the inagpies screeched
like crosscut saws, and the parrot told
him to Take . spin round the block
Year: 1878

me, being a woman, and knowing what straits were myself, and no believer in that high flown cant which forbids your asking help except when you don't happen to need it. But there could have been work contrived for her, just as Mir. C. once gave an order for story, and paid forty dollars for it, when I needed it. 1 did the work faithfully, and don't believe either he or were the worse for it, though, as six years have passed and that story hasn't ap- peared yet, 1 suspectit was demoralizing piece or encouragement to pauperism on the part of the worthy c.

 hadn't heard from the Florences in some time, and was hoping that no news was good news, when note came by post, directed in pencil, begging me distractedly for help from any source. Scarlet fever had taken down the four children, the mother was speeches. with dlptheria herself, and they were out of every thing. l was out of town, and before could fansWer, came more cheerful note, saying the worst was over, and by the next postal card with one line, My boy Harry is dead"

 Well, the winter in summer clothing had done it's work, and the drain under the house was out of order and, paying no rent, they had not dared ask to have it repaired. Fever and diptheria swept the neighborhood, and the bright, brave children, who had borne their share of privation so cheerily, and kept the

 

 tience, came down together. Half delirious, the mother staggered from one bedside to the other, holding on by the head-board, to give them brandy and beef tea and medicines, un- able to call for help to the next room. Not a soul but the doctor came near them for fear of the disease, though friends and the church people sent wine and food and some more sub- stantial help, in the extremity. She nursed the children somehow through the crisis when one morning as she lay down in stupor of fa- tigue, leaving the children with their father, one little life, too weak to rally. slipped away. What coming back to life it was when the family rise from their sick beds again, pale, languid, with eyes and cheeks sodden with weeping, strength wasted, heavy, hopeless debt hanging over the future, and the gap in the household circle, made by the tenant of that little grave in the cemetery, a grave where the grass has not yet taken root

 True If you knew more of ife-life with it's wasted hands and despairing hearts, as it sits over dying hearths and empty tables this mild, mocking winter-you will not need to ask the question. Yes it's all true, as far it goes; but no one dares, any more than an ar tist does, to paint things in the colors of ac- tual life
Year: 1878

MR EDIToR-In your last issue noticed an interesting article from the Agriculturist, in relation to Village Improvement Societies; also giving a brief history of the one in Litch- field. The writer says, and truly too, that the example given by that Society has led to general improvement of private property, and that this desire to improve, spreads beyond the village, and that the farmers outside begin to adopt the general custom. My object in noticing this fact at present is to call the at tention of my brother farmers to this subject that we may all strive to improve very much more in this direction. If we wanted name, our society might perhaps more properly be called-"A Society for Roadside Improve ment," '" and we are all members, whether we will or not; for we all own land bordering on the highway. There has certainly been a very marked improvement of the roadsides, within the last ten years, in all parts of the town. Long rows of young maple and clms have been set out, and with little care, for few years on our part, to protect, replenish and add to them, our children a generation hence, will be riding through shaded avenues, or sitting in the cooling breeze beneath the wide spreading branches.

 But few years ago cattle were running at large, and now6we wonder how we could have endured such a nuisance Most of the rubbish of the farm used formerly to be thrown into the highway, and the roadsides were often dis figured by brush heaps, old wagons or carts anything that was considered useless. have sometimes seen a good load of shade-trce leaves gathered in the Spring from the front yard and dumped in the highway, instead of the barnyard, where they would be wotth a''sil- yer dollar" at least. Now, many of the far mers mow their roadsides where they arc at all feasible, thereby adding much to the ap- pearance of their frontage, and very often the grass if early cut, will pay for the labor. Can we not, by doing little more in this direction, make it pay still better ? Often by removing few rocks and stones to the fences where they are needed, and sometimes perhaps with a slight blowing and grading, a good bottom for the machine or the hand scythe may be had, that will give us fair returns of grass for years with but little care. Much of this work can be done at odd spells, especiallyin the late fall or open winter like the past. We do not need closely shaven lawns, but how much bet ter the roadsides look, if smoothly mOwn and the weeds and bushes cut, when they show themselves! There are many places to be sure, too wild and sterile to be subdued but the easier portions and those nearest to our homesteads, are the first that should be re- claimed. FARMER.

 March 11th, 1878.
Year: 1878

A press telegram from Charleston, s. C., dated March 8, states that the programme of the Liberian Exodus Association is now con- pletely arranged, and the sailing ship, Azor, which is to convey the first installment of col ored emigrants is expected here daily, having left Boston week ago. She was already loaded with provisions of different sorts, agri- cultural implements, dry goods, boots, shoes, etc., the property of persons intending to take passage. There were also provisions and seeds stored there, the whole being amply sufficient to last out the voyage and for some time after the arrival at Monrovia, the ships destination. Three hundred and fifty colored men, women and children, from various portions of the coun- try, are now quartered in that city awaiting the time for their departure. The Azor will carry about two hundred and fifty of these, which is nearly her full capacity. Only those will be taken who hold stock in the Liberian Joint Stock Steamship Company and have the means to support themselves for six months in Liberia without assistance. They will consist mostly of the better class of independent small farmers, who have acquired the necessary funds by the sale, and in many cases sacrifice, of all their property here They are to be pro- vided with comfortable quarters in Monrovia by the Liberian Government, until they are re- moved to the lands which are to be given them at the rate of twenty five acres for each head of family, and ten acres for each male adult. They intend settling in the northwest portion of the territory.

 After landing her passengers the vessel is to- return immediately for more, bringing back a cargo of African products. This method of transportation is to be continued until the con- pany secures fundsenough to purchasea steam- ship, when regular line is to be established between this port and Monrovia for carrying over emigrants and bringing back produce. The officers of the company claim to have on hand now, after paying for the Azor, nearly sufficient funds to pay the first installment on the steawship. Every stockholder has right to one passage to Monrovia, when his turn comes

 It is claimed that g, 900 people through the South have invested in the Joint Stock Associ- ation, and that over 160.0 900 are enrolled to go when occasion offers and do do not consider the claim ah extravagant one, that in this State, if transportation could be obtained, at least one half of the colored population would go, so thoroughly have they been worked up on the subject. The feeling is carefully cultivated and wide spread among them that it is their mission to return to Africa and endow their brothers there with the civilization and enlightenment which
Year: 1878

At the request of several citizens, we pub fish below an abstract of village real estate IS it appears in the grand list of the town. Houses estimated at less than $500 are omit ted; and, in some cases where persons houses or land, both within and without the village, we give the total. Each 'shouse" includes out- buildings and land appurtenant, not exceed ing two acres and the property listed against each name in this abstract is one such 'shouse" unless otherwise specified. In case the propri- etor has land exceeding the two acres of the homestead, the number of acres and their value is given separately. The list starts at the right of each street, following that side to the end then turning and coming back on the left. There may be few omissions but we think there cannot be many.
Year: 1878

The husband was quick of temper
and often inconsiderate. They had
not been married a year when one day,
in fit of hasty wrath, he said to his
wife:


"I want no correction from you.
If you are not satisfied with my con-
duct you can return to your home,
whence took you, and fiHd happiness
with your kind"


"If ] leave YOU" returned the un-
happy wife, Twill you give me back
that which brought you:''


EVERY dollar; l cOvet not your
wealth, you shall have it all all back. y


Ahu She answered. ~ mean not
the wealth of gold. thought not of
dress. | Imean my maiden heart-my
first and only love-my buoyant hopes
and the promised blessing of my wO-
manhood. Can You give these to
me:n


A moment Of thought-convulsiOn
and then taking her to his arms:


ono no, my wife, | cannot do that,
but will do more; l will keep them
henceforth unsullied and unpained. /
cherish your blessings as my own; and
never again, God helping me, will i
forget the pledge / gave at the holy
altar when you gave your peace and
happiness into my keeping"
How true it is that a soft answer turn.
eth away wrath; how, many oh how
| many of the bittCreSt strifes of domes-
tic life might he avoided by remember
ing aud acting in accordance there
with.
Year: 1878

West, would seize upon the unusual
circumstance ofa female having pass
ed q conjoint sovereignty, and would
gradually group around the name a
host of mystic details, which at last
accumulated to such an extent, that to
prevent the fiction from becoming
glaring the queen had to be thrown


back into mystic times with which
such details were in harmony. The
Babylonian wife of Nul-lush III, who
gave him his title to the regions of the
South, and reigned cOnjOintly with
him both in Babylon aud ASsyria, be-
came first queen of Babylon ruling
independently and alone, and then an
Assyrian empress, the conQuerOr of
Egypt and Ethiopia, the invader of
the distant India, the builder of Baby
Ion and the constructor of all the great
things which were anywhere to be
found in Western Asia. The grand
figure thus produced, imposed upon
the uncritical ancients, and was ac-
cepted even by the mOderns for. many
centuries. At length the school of
Heeren and Niebuler, calling com.
mon sense to their aid, pronounced
the figure a myth. 1t remained for
the patient explorers of the field of AS
syrian antiquity in our own day to
discover the slight basis of fact on
which the myth was founded, and to
substitute for the shadowy marvel of
place princess, who, like Atossa or
husbands title to his crown, but who
never really made herself conspicuous
by either great works or by exploits"
Year: 1878

MINING PROPERTY LEASED AT meeting
Of the Eggemoggin Mining Company held In
this city yesterday, it was voted to lease the
property for a term of twenty years to the Van
Wyck Smelling Company Of New York. The
papers have been made out aud signed, the
Van Wyck company agreeing to pay the old
company % per cent of all the net proceeds of
the mine and one-tenth of the proceeds of the
sale of the new stock of the Van Wyck COM
pany. Work will begin i'm mediately in the
mine and mill at Sedgwick.
Year: 1878

MARROW EscAPE.-Mr. Isaac Bradbury of
Hollis is a man about go years of age. Yester-
day morning he was crossing the Saco river on
the railroad bridge to take the train at the Saco
River station to come into this city; and when
about half way across he noticed the train
coming. HIS only chance of escape was to run
which he did with all his might Just barely
saving himself from crossing the river Jordan
instead of the river Saco
Year: 1878

Last and at the left of the entrance stood the
Snow-bound cottage of Whittier. Its exterior
was strongly symbolic of ''conciliation, cotton
clustering upon the boughs of the pine. With
in a portrait looked down upon these children
Lin IaaS
Year: 1878

In front OF the platform was the famous shoe
in which the old woman lived, copper-.oed in
proper and prophetic recognition Of the great
advance in Crispins art mada By practical
science Within wsre'these charming little
Year: 1878

GENEVA, Friday, July D, 1879


Vera Sassultch arrived at Geneva, In dis
guise days ago She relates extraordinary story
respecting her adventures after her acquital at 81
Petersburg upon the charge of shooting NJ Trepoh the
project OF the police. During the riot which followed
her acquta she seized by some secret agents OF
the police who disguised medical students, ana
who persuaded her they were friends. They hurried
her through unfrequcnted passage way to
carriage standing near and she driven with them to
n house in the suburbs Of St. Petersburg where she
found herself detained in sort OF honorable COnlne-
length IL intImatcd TO her that she was 70
he spOred to Siberia; hut the same Informant o
her that certain consideration, which she consented
to give he would arrange for her escape She was pro-
ylded with the attire OF Sister OF Charity ana WIN
papers showing that she authorized To visit Pafs
mission With these aids she managed to cross the
Russian frontier, aud TO find her way to Geneva Her
arrival here made known 10 certain Russian exes
now here, and caused some excitement. Al the supper
given In her honor last night at which she sat at the
night OF Henri ROChefOrt, she made speech IN Whcn
she declared that she had given herself body ana SOUL
to the of revolution; and that In her opinion us
triumph distant The Russian people,
she sad. fast becoming undecelYed; tue
blood that had been spilled in the late
the last that would be shed In combats
instigated by the ambition Of princes the next combat
would be that of the people against kings The Oller
speeches the supper Of violent character The
municipal authorities here uneasy at the presence OF
Miss sasSutch and they have ntimaed TO her That her
early departure would be agreeable to them.
Year: 1878

,ur ACTIVITY OF THE CITY ENTIRELY Al THE DE-


purvrNrs-TuE POTTER COMMITTEE ON A


,,.w rRAIL-REsUMPrIoN PLANS.


The National Capital was almost devoid OF
activity Yesterday. The Potter Committee was
not in session When this committee meets
AGAIN. on the 10th, it is said that evidence
will be produced of hitherto unknown bar
cam. Secretary Sherman believes that he can
resume specie payments before Congress
meets. Professor Corlyer, at the Agricultural
DEPARTMENT. is analyzng the grasses OF the
country to ascertain their nutritive qualities
A call will soon be made for proposals for
building the new building of the Engraving
Rureau,
Year: 1878

A paper has been posted in all the cotton
mills OF the stockport district, giving fortnights no
tice Of a reduction of per cent in wages The opera
tves at present favor resistance strike there
would affect -, 900 persons
Year: 1878

Our clever editor being entirely
alone this week, we can't tell you all
we wanted to. But we will say to
our customers and friends generally
that Col. Donnell of our firm is now
in the eastern cities buying largely
for our already well>stocked store.
You may expect in our store at all
times a good assortment of all kinds
of good goods. We don't propose to
be equalled in any inland town.
People of small means are especially
invited to come to our store. We
offer to them great inducements. We
have a big tale to tell about clothing,
but the good editor can't set any more
type for US this week. Everybody
come to see us. Ladies, don't forget
the Emporium.
Year: 1878

We are willing to receive twenty or
thirty cords Of wood in payment Of
inscriptions for the EXCHANGE, aud
we would be glad to receive it during
the summer months. Bring it in
while the roads are good, and before
cotton picking time comes.
Year: 1878

Just received at
the BAN KR UPT
STORE a large as
sortment of Cloth
ing. We can fit eve
rybody, small and
big, at prices to suit
the times; also, a
fine assortment of
Gents Hats and Caps
and a new lot of
Boots and Shoes.


Our stock of DRY
GOODS is the best in
town. We have got
$50 pieces of the latest
styles of Prints. All
Wool Jeans for a very
little money.


We invite every body to come and
see us. Young men come and look
at our fine Stock of Clothing, and if
you don't want to buy come anyway
and see the latest styles and fashions.
If you want to 60 cou1tihJ buy SUIT
of Clothes from us, and you eannOt
fail to have success
Year: 1878

risk ofa little unpopularity, is not only
himself happier man, but is more re-
spected and liked by the larger and


better class Of citizens. Though have
used the word unpopularity, doubt
if there would be an iota Of such feel
ing toward our Commissioners if they
would tear up, rebuild and tax us for
payment. There is class Of people
that are always contented SO their
taxes are low. It matters not to them
whether their town is improved or not.
Such men, however, are a drawback
to community. They have no ambi-
tion to make any enc else happier; to
promote the good Of their country or
their neighborhood. We claim to be
long to the uncontented class, for moth
ing is more certain than that improve
ment in human affairs is wholly the
work of the uncontented characters.
All superiority, whether physical Or
mental, is the result Of "active effort. "
So we want our officers to put forth q
little "active effort" to make improve
ments; we cannot remain stagnant
things left to take care Of themselves
inevitably decay. IF our Commission
ers cannot give US assurances Of pro
perty, they ought, at least, guarantee
to US permanence. But we appeal for
more than permanence. We want ad-


vancement and progress, and are vii
ling to pay our share Of the cost. Ev-
erybody will agree that the qualities
in the citizens individually which con
duce most to keep up the amount Of
good management are integrity, indus
try, justice and prudence. There j.
not town in the State whose citizens
closer approximate these four qualities
than do the citizens Of Middletown.
Let Us take advantage Of it then, and
combine prudence with an. "active eff
fort" in executing the necessities Of our
little town. We, by electing our Com
missioners, virtually say we trust to
their judgment in such matters they.
BY accepting the office, promise US to
do their duty. That duty is to carry
out the wishes and desires Of the con
stituents they represent. They repre-
sent us-the people-the citizens Of
Middletown. Sogive US improvements,
and tax US accordingly. We cannot
and will not be satisfied till they do.
This, Mr.. Editor, is one Of the many
planks Of the platform upon which we
stand. YOUNG BACHELOR.
Year: 1878

The new dellars-the big white dol
lars-the "dollars Of the daddies,' are
around. A few Of them arrived week
ago and we're quickly gobbled up by
eager curiosity seekers. This "dollar
Of the daddies" is not like the "dollar Of
the daddies" after all. for the eagle
the glorious American eagle-is not
like any other American eagle that
was ever seen, and the nose of the god
dess Of liberty is straighter than the nose
Of any other goddess Of liberty Of our
acquaintance; but, though her nose is so
very straight, and her chin a little too
prominent for frst-class goddess, she
is above the average and considera-
ble improvement upon the goddess Of
the trade dollar. To be sure the en-
graver has only given us the head Of
the goddess upon the new dollar, but
the head i fair to look upon and we
are happy. The night-cap Of liberty
does not stick up 50 much above the
head Of the goddess as it does upon
some other coins, while little stray
lock of hair over the eye shows how
hard the engraver found it to resist
"bangs." Taking all things into con
sideration, we are much pleased with
the goddess and can suggest no i'm
provement. But the bird Of freedom
upon the diverse attracts more atten-
ton than the goddess, because it is the
queerest looking bird of freedom Vet
imposed upon suffering public. He
is particularly fat-headed for a we'll
regulated bird Of freedom, and from
the position Of his wings we should in
fer that he was just getting ready to
flop"


Upon the whole, we have no serious
objections to the new dollar, and while
we admit that bushel Of them might
be a little unhandy for one to carry
about, the most Of Us will not refuse
them on that account, even if We
should be compelled to charter wheel
barrow to move them. But this i a
contingency not likely to arise. While
some people might think they could
make as good a dollar out Of lead as
the "dollar Of the daddies" it might
not be safe to try the experiment.