smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Those who intend to see Turner'S celebrated
picture now In the Boston Art Museum will be
interested in Ruskin's famous description II
should be read before seeing the picture, else
the spectator may think the wrong thing, and
that would be dreadful:


think the noblest sea that Turner has ever
painted. and, if SO, the nobest certainly ever
painted BY man, is that of the "Slave Ship"
the chief.Academy picture of the Exhibition of
1840 1t is sunset on the Atlantic after pro-
longed storm; but the storm is partially lulled,
and the torn and streaming rain-clouds are
moving in scarlet lines to lose themselves in the
hollow of the night. The whole surface Of sea
included in the picture is divided into two
ridges of enormous swell, not high, nor local
but low, broad heaving of the whole ocean,
like the lifting of its bosom by deep-drawn
breath after the torture of the storm. Between
these two ridges the fire of the sunset falls
along the trough of the sea, dyeing it with an
awful but glorious Ii ht, the intense and lurid
splendor which burns like gold and bathes like
bleod Along this fiery path and valley, the
tossing waves by which the swell of the sea is
restlessly divided, lift themselves in dark in
definite, fantastic forms, each casting faint
and CHASTITY shadow behind it along the illu.
mined foam. They do not rise everywhere, but
three or four together in wild groups fitfully
and furiously, as the under strength of the
swell compels or permits them; leaving be-
| tWccu tucu GodCucIOuo SpdCtS VI ltV6t duC
whirling water, now lighted with green and
lamp-light fire, now flashing back the gold oi
the decling sun, now fearfully dyed from
above with the indistinguishable images of
the burning clouds, which fall upon them in
fakes of crimson and scarlet, and give to the
reckless waves the added motion of their own
fiery flying. Purple and blue, the lurid shad-
ows of the hollow breakers are cast upon the
mist of the night, which gathers cold aud low
advancing like the shadow of death upsn the
guilty ship as it labors amidst the lightning of
the sea, its thin masts written upon the sky in
lines OF blood, ,glrded with condemnation in that
fearful hue which signs the sky with horror,
and mixes its flaming floods with the sunlight,
-and cast far along the desolate heave of the
sepuchral waves. incarnadines the multltudin-
Gus sea-


I believe if were reduced to rest Turner S
Immortality upon any single work, 1 should
choose this. Its daring concepton-ideal in
the highest sense of the worlds based on the
purest truth, and wrought out with the concen :
trated knowledge of life; its color is absolute
ly perfect, not one false or morbid hue in any
part or line, and so modulated that every
square inch OF canvas is perfect composition
its drawing as accurate as fearless; the ship
buoyant, bending and full of motion; its tones
as true as they are wonderful; and the whole
picture dedicated to the most sublime of sub
jects and impressions-tc completing thus the
perfect system of all truth. which we have
shown to be formed by Turner'S work s)-the
power, majestyland deathfulness of the open,
illinitable Sea-
Year: 1877

The countries which have adopted the
metric system Of weights and measures are
France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy. the
Netherlands, Brazil and the South American
republics. The system has also been legal
lied in Great Britain and the United States.
In this country it is, regretably, making but
slow progress. The task of ling peo-
pie to discard the old complex, and unscientific
standards of weight and measure is difficult
one. We readily acknowledge the advan-
tages of the decimal system, and the gain
which will come of the greater ease and ac-
curacy with which all matters of measure
ment can be carried on; but we dislike to
lake the trouble to learn its names and ac-
quaint ourselves with the appearances of it's
divisions. But in time its simplicity and di-
rectness will win for it popular regard and
general acceptation.


But In order to bring about this desirable
result people must be made acquainted with
the new measures and taught by compare.
tive tables the differences between them and
the old. 1t is too much to expect that the
metre and kilo shall be at once adopted in
the shops. We can familiarize the younger
generation with the system. If in our
schools the boys and girls are thoroughly
taught the metric system, and made ac-
quainted.not only with its tables but with
the appearance of its units and multiples of
measure at least, the men and women Of ten
years hence will be enabled to use it with
ease. Every school-room should be provided
with models, SO far as practicable, of all the
divisions of the system. Every child should
have as distinct an idea of the metre as of the
yard, of the klo as of the pound.
Year: 1877

THERE may be some truth in the state
ment that Russia has formed. or is about to
form, a close alliance with Persia. 1t has
been thought, in the expected event of a
war with Turkey, the Gar may order mill
tary operations in the Asiatic Provinces OF
the Sultan, besides throwing large army
into European Turkey, in which event a
good understanding with the Shah would be
Of very great advantage. If Persia were to
become the active ally Of Russia it would be
heavy blow to Turkey. Even if the Shah
were to maintain simple neutrality, leaving
the Moslems and the Christians to fight it
out, without interference, it would give one
point In the game to the Gear.
Year: 1877

NOTWITHSTANDING the assumed conf
dence Of the Democrats, it is easy to discern
that they are good deal concerned, lest the
control of the House will slip. from their
grasp. The word has been passed around,
and the organs are industriously trying to
whip the refractory members into sthe
Year: 1877

we DO not read anonymous letters and communi
cations The name and address Of the writer are in
all cases Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty Of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or reserve commu-
nications that are not used.
Year: 1877

The unprincipled scientist who has discovered
a new variety of cockroach in Florida probably
would not have expended any labor in such re-
search if be had ever been in newspaper Of
nee and seen one of the old standard kind rise
up over the top of mucilage bottle and inquire
If there were any new discoveries at Mscepa.
Year: 1877

Prof. Marsh broke up very solemn and i'm
pressive Indian Council the other day. He
tried to smoke the pipe of peace when it came
around to him, and he got it up his nose ard
sneezed, and coughed, and choked, and swal-
lowed smoke, and became, so to speak, clip
and made such scene that the peace makers
broke up the Council, bounced on their ponies
and went chasing over the plains after dis
tant emigrant train. And now every after
noon the soldiers at the fort sneak down to the
corral and furtively watch Prof. Marsh, seated
behind pile of oat sacks, growing palIid over
clay pipe and handful of crumpled plug
Year: 1877

ted States of America, on whose sum~
mits the clouds gather of their own
accord in the brightest day. There.
I've seen the great spirit Of the storm
after noontider 60 take his nap in t..,e
pavilion of darkness and of clouds.
l have then seen him arise at mid
night as a giant refreshed with slum.
Der, aud cover the heavens with
gloom and darkness. I have seen him
awake the tempest, and let loose the
red lightnings that run among the
mountain tops for a thousand miles,
swifter than an angels flight in heav-
en-. Then [ have seen them stand
up and dance like angels of light in
the clouds to the music Of that grand
organ of nature, whose keys seemed
touched by Divinity in the halle of
eternity, that responded in notes of
thunder which resounded through,
tie universe. Then I have seen the
darkness d'ift away beyond the hori.
zon and the morn get up from her
saffron bed, like queen, put on her
robes OF light; come forth from her
palace in the sun, and stand tip toe
on the misty moNntair top, and
while light fled from before her glo-
rious face to his bed chamber at the
pole, she lighted the green vale
and beautiful river where was born
and played in my childhood with q
smile of sunshine. OH! beautiful
land of the mountains with the sun
painted cliff, how can I ever forget
thee"


General Forrest stood amazed
while the speaker uttered these mar
vellous sentences.
Year: 1877




In going up to the Capitol yestcr~
day, we set to moralizing. On our
way we found at every step an abun.
dance of f 'od for laughter and tears.
Entering tile grand gate way of the
grounds at the Bartholdi Fountain
and passing up the broad avenue
toward the Western entrance, VIC
studied the faces we met, and what
multitude Of them. Some looked
sad and disappointed, others serious,
and as thoughtful as as q man having
a bill before Congress. Here and
there we passed one Of those Jolly
corrorositics, whose rotund appear
ance and shiny face associated tie
person at once with the lobby. These
men cal! to mind character and
face so we'll known here during the
days Of Buchanan and Lincoln. He
was the far far famed Bean lick
man. What a combination of the ell
egant gentleman and e,y rascal {!
Bean never was known to pay for
anything, no one expected him to, and
yet he was so popular with every
body that he held the open sesame
into all political circles. ne bore
the honors of~the salen with such
aplomb that he was of;en the ideal of
the women and the courted compan.
ion of the men. We could tell whole
chapters of this interesting man, but
space forbids. He died here several
years ago, and the lobby lost it's most
elegant representative and champion
conscience buyer. AS we enter the
Capital we Fl ID ourselves in the re-
tunda, where one can always distin-
guish the strangers from residents -
Ninc times ont Of ten, as you enter
the rotunda, you will find a group
in is center trying to saw off their
shirt collar in vain attempt to see
the "caultcrbury girls," as Senator
Nc Donald called the allegorical
painting in the done. Any man can
indulge in This amusement with i'm
punity, but mcYciful goodness ! what
piliable sight it is to see a woman
attempt it. Hat, hair and pufla are
invariably sacrificed. A stranger is
at once impressed with the number
of women he meets at the Capitol,
but he does not know that they all
have 'urgent" business with M. C's.
The woman who does not want a
position, or has not claim to push,
is a phenomena not understood by
the average Congressman. Every
day the reception room of the House
is packed by these hungry fem ales.
Year: 1877

If you would keep from drinking SO
great quantity of ardent spirits, eat
more. Eat nutritious food. Eat some
thing whenever you take drink. The
drunk, in oil cases, comes from the
stomach full of whisky and no food.
There is a fact yet to be learned by
many, and that is, they do not eat
enough of real blood, bone, nerve and
tissue making food. You may half
starve to death on salt fish, potatoes,
cabbage, turnips, fried liver, stewed kid
ney, and score of other dishes that
please the taste, but add little or moth
ing to the body force. Eggs, the best
of steak, mutton and bread are what
one requires for strength. 1t is this un-
conscious, half starved condition which
causes so much of the craving for a
temporary increase of strength, and that
is quickest gained through glass OF
whisky; that gives, for few moments, a
spasmodic impulse to the wheels Of Life,
sending them whizzing and spinning
around for few moments; then comes
reaction, and they turn more sluggish
than ever. The best spirits in the world
reside in good blood, and worst in bad.
It is that which sends false imaginings,
suspicious and dependencies to the
brain.
Year: 1877

Among the inmates of charitable
soup house in St. Louis is a graduate of
Harvard who is well connected in the
East. He has been unfortunate in his
efforts to support himself and is too
proud to write to his friends and let them
know how wretched failure he has made
since he graduated. He goes out every
day in search of work and gets an odd
Job occasionally. His habits are good !;
he is intelligent +; he is careful of his pen
MES and is striving to save enough to
take him to another town. The moral
right of man, who has friends that are
willing to help him, to fall back upon
public charity may well be questioned.
The incident, however, illustrates con-
dition of American society which has not
been known until within few years.
Education is not as valuable capital as it
was twenty or fifty years ago. 1t was
easier then fora college graduate to win I'M
mediate success than it is now. He had only
- go from college to village in Western
;5;a'e and the natural growth of the town
would set him on his feet and enable him
to make rapid progress in professional or
business life. Collegians who acquire
literary taste and culture at their univer-
sity, but who are above following their
fathers calling on farm or in shop, now
have to struggle terribly hard in Ameri


can cities, East and West, to keep the
wolf from the door of professional life.
Year: 1877

If husbands were always lovers, says
an exchange, life would be pleasanter
than it is. But they are not. They never
were andA they never will be.


Our cdvice to young women ls Like
that of Punch, when asked to say some
thing to a couple about to we'd
"Don't."


Don't what !


Well, first and foremost, of all things,
don't marry drunkard. Depend upon
it, if you cannot keep him sober during
those days of the average woman's
strongest influence over wayward men,
the season of courtship, the chances will
be against success. Some women have
succeeded in this labor of love, but there
are 10, 900 failures to one. success. 1t Is
a field of missionary labor that very few
of the sex are fitted to enter. If John
gets drunk once a month while he is
billing and cooing, depend upon it ne
will require semi-monthly seasons OF
Bacchanalian recreation when he becomes
a Benedict. A man who gets drunk is
necessarily bad or foolish man when
he is under the influence of liquor, and
is very apt to soon become bad. man
whether drunk or sober. The romantic
idea that woman who can reform a
drunkard is deserving of crown OF glory
is all the veriest bosh. They would be
shocked by the suggestion that man
who marries fallen women and restores
her to life of virtue would be deserving
the praise of all mankind. The latter
would be q much easier task than the
former, and more likely to succeed.
The debasement in one case is generally
incurable, and scorns the influence of
kindness or affection while in the other
the opportunity to escape from life OF
degradation would in most cases insure
hearty cooperation with the missionary
in such field.
But the drunkard, as is generally the
case, may be addicted to a number OF
other vices, each one of which ought to
be considered as repulsive as that of
drinking. Still we find pure, virtuous,
refined and delicate women risking their
lives and happiness in the delusive hope
of rescuing and restoring them. In
stances of the terrible failure in this
missionary field are to be found in every
street and lane of a great city, accom-
paniment of scores Of the dissolute
widows and orphans of those who have
staggered into drunkard's graves. Still
the experiment is tried by new votaries,
who foolishly think they can succeed
where others fall. It is terrible de-
lusion. Love and devotion are power
less on a dr1mkard. Nothing but an
iron will and frmness that few women
possess can check, the career Of man
who has once taken hold of strong drink.
He must become subject to her will, and.
be restrained from his evil course by q
power stronger than love or kindness.
There are enough men who become
drunkards after marriage for all reason
able purposes of experiment, without
taking them fully trained in career OF
vice and debauchery. Therefore we say:
"Girls, don't do it"
Year: 1877

Blow your own horn. Yes, give it
blast and let modesty blush if she will.
This false deicacy has been the stum-
bling-block of thousands of really good,
capable men. Make noise-it will at
tract somebody. Let the world know
that you are alive and intend to drive
things until you get to the top Of the hill
and have made fortune. To the man
of energy and perseverance mountains
are but molehills. IT'S only the drones
that fail. They are always looking on
the black side, predicting disaster, al
ways complaining of hard times-always
waiting for something to turn up. Such
men never have and never will find good
times, nor prosperity. Neither will
they ever find friends or admirers among
first-class business men. If you would
succeed in anything, don't stand still.
Go ahead. Don't be afraid. Do some
thing. If you don't blow the horn some
body else will, but not for your benefit
except SIN horn"
Year: 1877

A sorrowful story from the ocean comes
to us by the way Of the old seaport OF
Gloucester, Mass, ten vessels being re-
ported missing from the fishing fleet.
These craft usually carry about ten men
each, and the loss OF life, If these tan
schooners are wrecked, as is probably
the case, will be large. 1t is heavy
loss1er the hardy little community III
Cape Ann to bear. The fishermen OF the
North Atlantic coast endure many hard
shies in pursuit of their dangerous call
ing. This cold and stormy season has
witnessed many disasters but this latest
is one of the saddest repetitions OF the
old and tragical story of suffering, danger
and death on the sea, and of hope de-
ferred, despair and lamsntitien on the
land,
Year: 1877

LYoNNA1sE POTATOES. sauce
pan a large lump of butter and small
onion finely chopped, and when the
onion is fried to an amber color throw in
slices of cold boiled potatoes, which
must be thoroughly stirred until they are
turning brown. At this moment put in
spoonful of finely chopped parsley, cn J,
as soon as it is cooked, drain through a
colander, SO that the potatoes retain the
moisture of the butter and many parti-
cles Of the parsley.
Year: 1877

A Toronto paper has just disgusted
the fashionable world of that city by in
serting a mysterious paragraph an
nouncing a stylish wedding for given
morning. The church was fairly jammed
with aristocracy that crowded to assist at
the nuptials Of a Pullman car conductor
and lauudress-both colored
Year: 1877

An exchange remarks: "This is the
time to go out wolf hunting. Nothing
Will give you higher percentage on your
time and money than chasing the wolf
from your poorer neighbor's door"
Year: 1877

Yaou Chae-lan was rich mans
son, but before he came of age his
family were reduced to beggary.
lie was accused by a shopkeeper of


being a thief, and fleeing from the
town of Kingseang, worked on a
river as a ferryman. An old man
with a wife and daughter used to
pass up and down the river in a
fishing boat, and noticing how dill
gent was the ferryman, gave him
employment. He married the
daughter; three years afterward the
old lady died, and five years later
the old gentleman was on his death
bed. He olasped the hand of his
son-in-law and said. 81 was once
steersman on a junk, and | knew
that the anchor, chain and rudder
were all of pure gold. When the
rebels were beaten l got possession
Of these treasures and covered them
with black varnish. have kept
the secret for ten years. l now
bequeath them to you. Make good
Year: 1877

WILLING TO PAY FOR AN HONEST
GovERNMRNT.-The tax collector of
the first district of New Orleans has
been in office only two months and a
half, but his returns show that in Ii
censes alone he has received more
than was paid into the same office dur
ing the whole of last year. The New
Orleans Democrat says this has been
done without employing any harsh or
even urgent means to force such col>
lections, but is due. to the cheerful
readiness of all classes Of the people to
pay theii ,xes to a government which
they feel confident viii make a proper
application and render an honest ac-
count of the same. The other tax col
lectors of New Orleans have been
equally successful. owl ....
Year: 1877

Cohtiy luStituteu Wy 0cA' We w. ". hSe


to eject the persons now in possession of


the Arlington estate, the Cincinnati En-
quirer says; -.


at is well understood that the COM


mander and the superintendent of the
cemetery there are the Richard Roe, and


that the real defendants are the eleven
thousand dead who lie there. If it Is
decent in great government to put and
to leave it's dead in a position where
they are liable to be vexed with sum
monses before tbeir time, the question
does not admit of discussion. Tits al
most certain that Lee will win. His
mother forfeiture could not extend be-
yond her own life. There is something
in the constitution almost specifically
providing that no woman's attainder for
her husbands fault shall work forfeit
ure beyond her own-life. As life tenant
she was found to pay all lawful taxes,
and her failure so to do cannot take
away the right of another owner whose
title was to begin at her death, and who
had no previous duty to perform in pay
ing taxes. 1T he had he still is not liza
BILE, because there was no assessment
and no proceeding against him. The
only serious question is whether, when
ne RECEIVERS, the government will agree
with him to pay for the land, or will
condemn it for q n itional cemetary, or
will remove its dead to some more hal
lowed place. where visitors will perforce
recall the memories of this stain put up
on these mcn who died in fighting men
and not in litigating with women" d.
Year: 1877

the world are gamblers.


The most reckless gambler OF all
is the legislator, who speculates Sc
largely on human interest, and often
stakes national prosperity against
some petty interest.


Life itself is game OF chance.
The very axiom nothing is certain
disproves even the certainty OF
nothing being certain. The very
machinery of the armament is a
sublime game Of billiards, in which
the stars are the balls, and the cues
the centripetal and the centrifugal
forces.


Every dinner is a game Of chance
it may choke you on the spot, or
else you may never live to digest
it What matters it if a man be
killed by an active mad bull, Or a
bit of passive beef?


But gambling reaches its climax
in marriage. Rouge ct noire is
never so dangerous as when they
represent the cheeks and eyes Of
beauty. Marriage is dipping in
the lucky bag in which, out Of
hundred, ninety-nine are snakes
to one eel.


Even agriculture is gambling !;
it is risking one potato in that great
faro bank, the earth, to gain a
bushel. Grains of wheat are dice,
and the farmer who reaps q good
harvest is an enormous gambler.


Commerce come under the same
penalty Every mercantile firm is
illegal, whether it gains or loses.


Even the drama is a gambler.
What manager can be sure that his
new tragedy may not be q broad
farce, and kill half the audience
with laughter
Year: 1877

4 MODEL HUSBAND plain
countryman entered a bank in this
city and made a deposit Of $4,000.
One Of the officers asked him what
he intended to do with SO much
money! 'O,' he replied, I am do
ing this for my wife, and am de-
termined to keep on working and
adding TO the amount until, when |
die, she will be real manageable
widow Now # that man does not
fill the bill Of a disinterested hus-
band, thea let any one produce a
better example.
Year: 1877

A little girl suffering from
rheumatism was crying piteously,
when her father, thinking to divert
her mind from the pain, said.


Mamie, | have just been to see
your little Cousin Joe, and lie has
the measles. She at once cried out,
Year: 1877

THE sudden discovery of valuable minerals
in localities where their existence was never
suspected is lending an impetus to specula.
tion in small way, and enhancing the value
of property which was not before deemed
worth the holding. In Kentucky coal mines
are being discovered by the hundred, and in
Iowa the discovery of gold is said to have set
people wild. 1t remains to be seen how
much connection exists between these oppor-
tune discoveries and the possession of other
wise unstable land
Year: 1877

We do not read anonymous letters and communi-
cations The name and address of the writer are in
all indispensable, not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or reserve commu-
nications that are not used.