smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

a great deal Of disappointment ns


been expressed by intelligent lawyers
at the defeat by the Senate of the pro


posed judicial amendment to the Con


stitution. There is no doubt but tht


feeling is general that our judiciary
system does not meet the wants OF the
people and that some revision is much
needed. The people rightfully expected
this Legislature to present some i'm
provement and they will not
be pleased that it was not done.
Whether the amendment proposed
was the best that could be offered we do
not know, but it was step in the right
direction, and If it was not perfect ii was
the duty of those who found fault with
it to attempt to make it so. Of course
the discussion of all the questions IN
volved will 60 on among the people; our
county courts, and our circuit courts, and
their functions and duties, and their
cost and efficiency, will be investigated
and compared with other modes, until
the masses will become more interested
and more enlightened, and then improve
ment will follow.


There was no difference OF opinion
among the members of the Legislature
as " the fact that some change in our
judiciary system is lmperatively de-
msnded, but not quite two-tbirds of each
House succeeded in agreeing as to just
what change should be made. This
does not prove the imprac-
ticability of the men composing
the Legislature, bat rather con-
firms the belief that time and delibera-
tion are required in the preparation of
wise laws. Had tie legislative session
lasted sixty or ninety days instead OF
fifty there would have been time in
which all the important measures de-
manded could have been perfected and
agreed upon. Where there are sixty
five inexperienced lawmakers in one
House to be brought into accord upon
large number of measures Involving
the interests of half mil
lisu of people, and twenty-four
members in another house to be
brought into like accord, and these
members, generally strangers TO each
other rs well as strangers to the modes
OF pursuing the work in hand, forty
five days once in two years is not ade-
quate time in which to propose, digest,
and deliberately and wisely consider the
legislation necessary for State like
West Virginia.


A clear headed lawyer told us ester
day that no State in the Union has such
a muddled, confused, crude and con-
Trajectory code of laws as West Virginia.
He further said that by reason of this
condition of our laws, the administration
of Justice annually costs the people Of the
State, unnecessarily, very large sum OF
money, besides a vast deal of incon-
venience, annoyance and waste of time.
He holds that it was clearly the duty of
the Legislature just adjourned, to pro-
vide for the proper codlfcation of the
laws, and that it would have done 80 but
for the expectation that the judiciary
amendment to the constitution would be
adopted. He thinks that it is the duty
of the Legislature to meet in extra ses-
sion next winter and do what was LETT
undone this winter. An extra session
for general legislation can be held pro-
vided two-thirds of the members of each
House sign call for one.
Year: 1877

"W hen We we're all children at home"
said friend, nothing delighted us 40
much as romp with my father; the
hour of his home. coming was the hap
piest in all the .twenty-four. often
think if all parents would play with their
children, home discipline might entirely
lose Its severe aspect, and become a law
of love-" Children are not made good
by the rod of power. How many par
ents are willing to devote an hour or 90
to play with the children? As . little
kitten will stop tapping her milk to play
with the string you draw across the
door, so will the child leave almost eve.
rything for romp with his father or
mother. In these romps, and during
these moments of recreation, the great
lesson of love is learned by the child.
This companionship makes the bond
between the parents and child which re.
suits in the future acceptance of advice
and guidance Perhaps you are natu.
rally dignifed person, and unaccus-
toned to play. So when your infant
first came to you, you were not accus.
toned to its care; but you did not for
that reason allow it to 90 uncared for.
If you are harassed by worldly ankle
ties, the recreation will benefit you as IL
benefits the child, and your sleep will be
the sounder for it. The experiment is
worth trying.
Year: 1877

From the New York World.


Now that the deed is done; now that
by the answering fidelity to their
pledged faith of the leaders of the Dem
ocratic party it has been made possible,
as by nothing else 1t could have been
made possible, for the deadly covenants
of the Electoral eight with the Return
ing Board of Louisiana to be carried
into effect, it is striking and q signifi.
cant thing that no exultations are heard
on any side from any but the hottest
and least considerate Of partisans The
President whom Packard has made, has
passed from Ohio to Washington
through kind of ominous silence
Even those who most earnestly conten-
ded against the crowning of this great
fraud seem 10 be moved to o kind of
pity for the man upon whom so awful
burden had been SO lightly laid, and
who is taking it up so blindly. No man
6t to be the ruler of great people can
ever assume such trust without GER
tain feeling of awe and almost of alarm.
There is no figure in contemporary his
tory so pitiable as that of Emile Oni-
vier, the ephemeral Premier of falling
empire, who rose in his place at the
outbreak of the tremendous war Of 1870,
and announced that he accepted the
dread ordeal with "gayety OF heart. -
Governor Hayes is beginning q task, in
which no man can possibly hope for any,
the least measure of success without
the most thorough sense of the unchal-
tieaged legitimacy Of his functions, I'M
| der cloud of doubt and of reproach
which might benumb the energies of the
ablest and the most experienced states
man that America has ever produced
This cloud cannot be conjured away
Though all the voices of all the Legis-
latures in the land should acclaim him
to morrow, they could not undo what
has been done in putting him where he
is. He must begin, continue and end
his Presidential career on sufferance.-
Not only on sufferance from his polite.
al enemies, but on sufferance in the
depths of his own consciousness. He
knows, and he never will be able to for
get, that his title to the Presidency has
not been sifted, has not been sounded,
has not been purged, has not been made
clear. Were he the basest of men, the
story of all usurpations under all forms
of government proves that be can never
hope quite to rid himself of this haun-
ting consciousness. II he be in any de-
gree such man as his friends, and bis
partisans, whom 1t would be cruel
mockery to call his friends, would have
us believe him to be, this haunting coz
sciousness will never for moment leave
him. It will look out at him from the
eyes of his counsellors. 1t will unnerve
him against the exigences Of those who,
having aided in his elevation, may
choose to bend his authority to their
own ends. 1t is not thing which he
can divide with others like his patron
age. 1t is not disability which laws
or shouting populace can remove
Not even the purest intentions, not even
the most brilliant successes in bis ad-
ministration of power can ever free him


of this original taint upon it's acquisi-
ton. The damning spot will not out.
Year: 1877

TIE DEAD SEA OF AMERICA. There
are no fishes in the Great Salt Lake. The
only living thing beneath its waters is Il
worm about quarter of an inch long
This worm shows up beautifully under the
lens of a microscope. When storm aris-
es. the worms are driven ashore by the
thousands, and devoured by the black
gulls.


We found pure stream pouring into
the lake, 1t was filled with chubs and
sinners. The fish became frightened aud
were driven down the brook into the
briny lake The moment they touched its
waters they came to its surface, belly up.
ward, and died without gasp. The wa
ter is remarkably buoyant. Eggs and DO.
tstoes float on it like corks,


Mr.. Hood and myself stripped and went
in swimming. | dived into the lake from
II small pier, which had been built for the
use of u small steamboat that formerly
piled upon the waters. The sensation was
novel. The water was so salty that my
eyes and ears began to smart, so buoyant
that l found no difficulty in floating, even
when the air was exhausted in my lungs,
As struck out for the bench felt as LIGHT
rs fearther. In spite of all that could
do my head would fly out of the water.
The lightness of the water and surging OF
the waves forced my feet from under me.
A person who could not swim might easily
be drowned in five feet Of water. His
Year: 1877

head would go down like lump of lead
while his feet would fly upTlike 4 pair of
ducks.


The water is as clear as Seneca Lake
SO clear that the bottom could be seen at
the depth of twenty feet. When we reach
ell the shore and crawled out upon the
land in the light of the sun, our bodies
were thickly covered with salt. We were
compelled to go to the small stream from
which we had driven the chubs and shin
ers and wash off in fresh water before we
could put on ourclothes. Our hair was
filled with grains of salt that could not be
washed out.
The Motmons occasionally visit the lake
ia drC'es, for the purpose of bathing.
Many say their health is improved by
leHving the salt upon their bodies and
dressing without wiping themselves.
Year: 1877

There is story told of two Scotch lads
who knew little of gunnery and natural
history, but were familiar with King
James Bible, and with the winged heads
that pass for cherubs in painting and
sculpture. Going out a cunning together,
one of them shot bird, and the other
ran to secure the trophy. Coming neat
where it had fallen, he found white owl
so sprawled in the grass as to present to
his view only head with staring ewes
and a pair of wings attached. Instantly
ne shouted in dismay: Were in for it
now, Jock; we've shot cherubinr'
Year: 1877

| A ROYAL BoUNCE.-Tt was nit the


Cannibal Islands that the following occur-


red' and as it is too good n story to be lost


we give it rs told us. A New Bedford


ship with Nantucket skipper and Off


GERS, was whaling'ih the South Pacific


and running down to the Feeees. The


Cannlbal King came aboard with the


prosale intention Of selling hogs. After


the business was through with the CAP


tain turnee the royal highness over to the


oihcers with instructions to amuso him.


Mt Swain, the first mate, treated him


several times to rum, and letting good fel.


Iowship get the better of his Judgment
lie said There is one thing mean to brag
OF when L get home-that | have kicked
u king Here goes your royal majesty"
and Swain gave him kick that lifted the
sovereign fairly off his feet. The savage
was little excited over the treatment.
but MIR. Coffin, the second mate, came to
the rescue, gave him another glass of
grog that made him smile, Coffin saying
us the g lass was dropped, p" The mate IS
never going TO beat me at anything" and
he gave the king royal kick that equal
led the FIRST one. Third mate Macy came
to the front at this, soothed the iratc can.
nlbSl, explained that it had all been in
Joke, treated the angry monarch to an
other glass, and also treated him to kick
that 1arly made his teeth rattle. Before
the thoroughly Taddened native could re-
cover, the caTtajn, who had been watch
ing what was going on from the door of
his state room, came out, reproved his Off
GERS eoudly for their conduct, gave The
king another glass of grog, led him to
the deck, saw that the hogs were all
aboard, the gangway clear, and, some
what envious of the proceedings of his
officers, took the king to the side of the
ship, kicked him into the sen with all the
energy ola whale in his furry, and see
ing the native strike ont for the shore
with vim that said vengeance is mine,
squared away his yards and headed the
ship for Japan, entirely satisfied that none
OF his officers could beat him in Dragging
over royal bounce. island Rerie,H.
Year: 1877

A fashion report says that gentlemens
hats are provided with new Kind of VEN
tilator which will last much longer than
the hole style. Anything that will outlast
hole must be "a valuable acquisition 10
the resources of people.
Year: 1877

Our Rat-ignorant of the fact that a
New Orleans policeman has never yet been
known to hit anything that he actually
aimed at-gave in at the second shot, and
was walked off in triumph to the station.
Year: 1877

The grog-shops of Japan are neither
more nor less than tea-shops. All along
the public roads, at frequent distances,
are planted pleasant tea-houses. The
"tea," according to correspondent,
when they must stop by the wayside,
and in such little bits of cups that one
could drink the contents OF twenty OF
them, and then want more. Pretty tea
girls stand by the entrance, and (thelr
teeth not yet blackened) with pretty
ways and courtesies so fascinating that
tea even without sugar or milk becomes
agreeable. On pretty lacquered walters
the tea-girls hand you little tiny cups
with mouthful in them, and you squat
down on the nice clean mats, if squat
you can, and you sip, and sip, and SIP
this mouthful of hot tea, as If the gods
nectar was going down their throat In
infinitesimal drops of microscopic In
visibility. The keeper of a, Japan tea.
house picks out as pretty place for a
tea-house as he or she can get. The
keeper coyets, if possible, view Of and
the air of the Bay of Yeddo, along which
the most of the way here runs the
Tocaido. The grand tea-house is cut up
into numerous little rooms, with paper
partitions to part them, running on
Slides, bat all removable at will, to re-
store the whole to one grand room.
Cakes, sweetmeats and candies are
brought in with the tea, all put on the
clean matted floor (there are no seats and
all SQUAT or stretch out ON the floor.
Year: 1877

Lung-Sing at once, and he put his finger
on his nose and softly said: "Lung-
Sing somebody's fool, maybe"


The redskins got terrible roasting.
It has been twice stated by members OF
the same band that not savage escaped
injury, and it is certain that more than
dozen cooked and charred bodies were
found in the passages weeks afterward
by white men. Those who got out were
terribly burned, and several died at
their village. AS the redskins had found
no one in the cave the fire appealed to
their superstition. They believed the
place to be occupied by the spirit OF
some outlawed warrior; he had kndled
the flames in revenge on them for daring
to intrude. None of them had ever
been near the cave again up to six weeks
ago.


Lung-Sing, rearranged his signal, and
returned to his work. In the gray OF
morniug, six weeks after he had been
driven out of Boston Town, an early
riser caught sight of him again. He
was trotting along at the head OF four
pack mules and dozen Cinnamon, all
loaded down, but he hadn't time to stop
and explain whether they carried goods
to set up an original dollar store" in
the Hills, or had the material which
yellow-boys are made of. The miners
had their own ideas about that, and after
close search they discovered the cave
and ITS great riches.
Year: 1877

Envy shooteth at others and wounaeui
herself.


Most of our misfortunes are more sup
portable than the comments OF our
friends upon them.


One ungrateful man does an injury 70
all who are wretched. ~


Frowns blight young children as
frosty nights blight young plants.


A cheerful face is nearly as good Tor
an invalid as healthy weather. .aa


Re not hasty to cast off every asper-
sion that is cast upon you. Let them
alone for while, and then like mud on
clothes, they will rub off OF themselves.


The memory of an eye is the most
deathless of memories, because there, IL
anywhere, you catch glimpse OF the
visible soul as it sits by the window.


No charity should be extended to
those who are not as willing to do justice
as they are to receive it. @


The wealth of man is the number OF
things which he loves and blesses, and
which he is loved and blessed by.


True happiness is of a retired nature,
and is an enemy to pomp and noise. 1t
arises, in the first place, from the enjoy
ment of ones self. and in the next, nom
the friendship and conversation OF o few
select companions.


The willow that bends to the tempest
often escapes better than the oak which
resists it, and so in great calamities it
sometimes happens that light and
frivolous spirits recover their elasticity
and presence of mind sooner than those
of loftier character.
Year: 1877

According to an English paper, the
richest heiress now on the engaged list
is Miss Crawshay, the daughter OF the
Vulcan of the Hills in South Wales. Her
dowry is said to be 9500, 600, and she is
about to bestow this with her hand and
heart upon briefess barrister on the
South Wales circuit. I should be very
happy to take her sister upon the same
terms, if I felt inclined to marry-for
money. These iron masters daughters
have q very considerate way of selecting
poor men for their husbands, Tor Slr
George Elliott's daughter married one OF
the special correspondents of the Daily
Neys. and few days ago the heiress OF
Durham colliery proprietor bolted with
the editor of a north country newspaper.
1t is said of one of these ladies, perhaps
it would be cruel to say which-for the
maneuvre after all was innocent enough
that meeting with gentleman on board
a steamer which WAS engaged in laying a
deep sea cable in the Atlantic, they very
naturally took to flirting on the quarter
deck. The lady was all alone except
with papa. The gentleman made HIM
self agreeable, and, being tall and hand.
some of course soon ingratiated himself
with the iron-king's daughter. One day,
finding himself alone, he proposed there
and then. "Hush !" said the lady,
"papa is asleep on the sofa and might
hear you. Let us take stroll on deck. y


"f am very sorry" said the lady, re-
suming the conversation on deck, "but,
of course, you did not know when you
were talking to me below that I was en-
gagged. But have sister at home who
is exactly like me; you would not know
us apart, and when you return home L
will introduce you to her." The intro
duction followed in due course, and the
marriage within six months. The court
ship al took place by proxy.
Year: 1877

Jennie Morgan, Kittie Vail and Ger
trude Dykman, aged eighteen, seventeen
and fifteen, respectively, all of Brooklyn,
N. Y, came to spend a brief vacation
with some relatives who dwell near the
Blooming Grove Pa. Park association 8
pond. A fishing excursion was arranged
for them, and they took an old boat and
rowed out into the water and anchored.
They fished for several hours, and then
rowed once or. twice around the pond,
and then started to row across to the
point from which they started. Near
the center of the pond the head OF q
buck hove in sight. The maidens took
the situation as coolly as the circum-
stances would admit, and began to pad
die with a will. But the animal gained
upon them, and seeing that further ef-
forts to reach the shore would be futile,
they stopped padding and prepared for
an attack. And their preparations were
not in vain for, slashing and plunging,
and with eyes like balls of fire, the buck
bore down upon them. When he was
within few feet of the boat. one with a
piece of seat, and the others each with
one of the oars, made thrust at the
bucks head. The blows sent him under
the water, but in an instant it shot up,
and the buck planted his fore feet into
the side of the boat, nearly capsizing it,
and throwing Miss Dykman and Miss
Morgan out into the pond. Miss Vail
seized the opposite side of the boat and
saved herself. The two girls now, each
with one hand, seized the buck by the
antlers, and clung to the boat with the
other. Miss Vail began to bring heavy
blows to bear upon the bucks head, but
with little effect. The snorting monstes
swayed and plunged, yet the plucky girls
maintained their hold, and screamed.


Within few rods of the pond lives a
German, who, hearing their cries,
fastened to the pond with his rifle. The
girls still clinging to the boat, which
was about five hundred yards from the
shore, the buck had freed itself, and was
swimming for the opposite shore. Get
ting into an old scow, the German pad
died out to n good range and shot the
buck dead. After the German had land
ed the maidens, Miss Dykman and Miss
Morgan tainted. They were cared for in
a farm house near by. The clothing OF
the two girls who had been in the water
was nearly torn from them, and they
were considerably scratched and bruised
by the deer's antlers. The deer was
brought to the shore, and when dressed
weighed over two hundred pounds.
Year: 1877

A correspondent. writing from Dead
wood in the Black Hills says: On the
Sabbath day the streets present per-
feet Babel of confusion. Ok trains and
mule teams block the streets, their
drivers shouting and cursing in a vain
attempt to unravel the tangled teams.
Auctioneers strain their throats, while
the eating-house keepers add to the
clamor by inviting with bells and gongs
the poorly miners to walk in and get
square meal. The sidewalks are
crowded, and locomotion is difficult.
Bootblacks invite the passers-by to take
seats in their comfortable booths on the
edge of the walks, while the newsboys
lift their shrill voices and announce the
latest news from the strikers, the
Indians, or the road agents. While the
city is thus in the possession of people
from outside camps, hundreds of those
who can get away roam through the
country, and the roads in every direc-
tion are lively with pedestrians who are
visiting the various mines, or going to
see how their own ventures are pro-
crossing, for nearly everybody has a
claim Of some sort, and all expect to
realize fortune. A ride through the
country is refreshing, indeed, after one
has tired of the confusion in the city on
Sunday. The greater portion of the
cabins are of course closed and locked,
as their proprietors are "seeing life, "
but occasionally one Is found where the
inmates are more frugal. Some are
reading, some playing cards, some re-
sumo practice on their fiddle and ac-
cordeon, and some are busy in pounding
rocks, snxious to find colors. Once in a
while you will come across a cabin
which is distinguished from the others
by an air of neatness and taste. The
path before the door has been swept.
The window has curtain and perhaps a
few plants, and little bed of vegetables
is visible. If the door is open, you will
see clean floor with perhaps strip of
carpet on it, and a rude bedstead with
snowy sheets and pillow slips. Look
carefully, and you are sure to find a
woman and probably baby. When
you discover such habitatlon, if you
will examine those Immediately about it
you are certain to find comparative
degree of neatness prevailing, although
they are inhabited by men alone, for
one woman has a refining effect on a
whole neighborhood, and the rough,
lonesome bachelor miners are ashamed
to live in dirt while their neighbor's
woman can see it.
Year: 1877

The young ladies in Upper Sandusky,
O., are aiding the Murphy temperance
movement in the following manner:
When a young man calls upon one of
them with matrimonial intentions, he
finds Murphy badge on one corner of
the center table, and ON the opposite
corner the representation of a mitten,
and he is asked to decide which corner
he accepts.