smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

The old confidence game practiced
since Noah was an infant, was played


on a well known young citizen of
White Haven yesterday, and he went
under for $50 cash. The sharper had
Colorado mining bond, with spread
eagle and coupon attachment, garnish-
ing its edges, making it resemble u.
5. government 4 per cent. to limited
extent Greeny, who ought to know
better, happened to be travelling
down to the same point as the bond
holder. The latter had freight bill
to pay on some cotton, and
he gave the soft fellow his
bond to hold security for the safe
and proper return of a small loan of
$50. After the transaction. the bor-
rover became missing, and upon ex-
animation it was found that the min
ing stock note was bogus. The police
have the matter in hand, and under
stand how the bloated bondholder
looks. The loser was unwilling to let
his name be made public, as he is evil
dently ashamed of the part he played.
He thought he knew his business, so
he said, when a police officer inquired
of him what the sharpers were up to,
whom he, the policeman, had seen in
his company. He learned when too
late that it is never too late to learn.
Year: 1879

know that we will not any longer
serve as the tail to any political kite,
The notice has cen served, the word
has been passed down the line. The
days Of sentiment have passed and we
are entering upon period of self
reliance, which will doubtless be one
of great prosperity and development.
We DO not want a strong government
in the sense generally understood, yet
IT 1t comes, we can stand it as we'll as
any other section. Mr.. Tilden took
it upon himself before the last elec-
ton to write letter especially against
southern claims. He prejudged all
alike, just and unjust, without hear
ing. Thiswas a deliberate insult upon
the supposition that the people down
this way would stand anything for the
sake Of electing a Northern Democrat.
We have voted for three New York
candidates in succession, Seymour,
Greeley and Tilden. There will have
to be a new departure next time, and
a nomination Of some able, unselfsh
statesman like Bayard, who will treat
all sections alike, to carry the solid
South. If this is nation with a big
N, we propose to spell out the whole
word with capital letters. If the
Northern Democrats cannot carry
elections without snubbing the South
and apolOgizing for us as poor kin at
a feast, they may aswell disbAnd
Year: 1879

COLUMBUS, o., November 25.-
Daniel Won Sickle, a farmer living in
Delaware county, was the victim of
foul play last evening. He gave a
tramp work and shelter yesterday, and
after the family had gone to bed the
stranger began to ransack the house.
Mr.. Won Sickle interfered, and the
tramp made an assault on him with a
butcher knife, cutting him very Sc
verely about the face and arms. The
villain also attacked Mrs. Won Sickle
and then made his escape. A large
number of citizens are searching for
the tramp.


The miners employed by the coal
operators ofthis city and engaged in
the Straightsville, Hooking and Shaw
nee regions, will probably go in for a
general strike to-day. They are ar
ranging for mass meeting of the
miners to take action in regard to the
reduced rates. 1t is very probable
that no work will be done in these
mines for several days.
Year: 1879

The present authorities are giving
the theater managers a sight Of trou-
BILE by attempting to exact a tax of
Sl5 for each nights performance of a
minstrel troupe, in face of the fact
that the theatre holds alicense receipt
for the season, of one hundred dollars,
paidin advance. The ordinance relat.
ing to the matter is an ambiguous
structure, and capable of several inter-
pretations. If carried out according
to the views of people in Office, it will
compel every opera troupe performing
at the theater to pay S25 per night,
and minstrel troupe $l5 per night. The
law is said to have been framed with
a view of protecting our local theaters
but it fails to protect.
Year: 1879

CONGRESS meets at Washington
next Monday. Very few ofthe members
have yet arrived on the ground. A
special to the COurier-Jo says :
This fact is taken by some Os an indi-
cation that there will not be much ex-
citcment at the coming session, while
others give as a reason that at the
extra session last spring the members
arranged for their winter quarters,
and will not need to be here before the
opening Of congress
Year: 1879

THE December number of the
North American contains an article
by Froude on "Romanism and the
Irish race, in which he takes the
ground that the natural increase Of
Catholics in this country is danger
Gus fact, and the increase by immigra-
tion will soon overturn the republic.
He thinks it impossible to pass laws
to prevent this disastrous result, and
recommends that they be killed. That
is about the only way we see to get
rid of them, but like the rats who de-
termined to protect themselves by
putting a bell on the cat, there was no
provision made as to which of them
should put it on. In all these cases it
is necessary to bell the cat.
Year: 1879

lT is positively affirmed from Wash


ington that a bill has been drawn and


will be introduced at the earliest
opportunity after congress assemblies
restoring General Grant to a position
at the head of the army. 1t is fur
ther asserted that this measure has
already been approved by Congress
men of both parties. The Philadel-
phia Bulletin, Radical paper, says:
There is, however, much doubt if
such scheme would be received with
favor by the general public. 1t would
interfere in an unfair fashion with of
fcers who now hold positions in the
army, and it would create costly and
perfectly useless office for the benefit
Of man who can serve his country
more effectively insome other position,
and if he shall not obtain such an
honor, there will be in private life
plenty Of openings for him in which
he can obtain handsome remuneration
for his services without assistance
from the government. The fact is,
the Radicals desire to hold Grant in
readiness for political uses, if needed.
Year: 1879

sulphur has been thoroughly mixed, and
also some coal ashes. Wood ashes are not
so good, or clear ashes of any kind, as the
fowls when damp will change itainto I've.
blistering their skin and flesh.


Variety is the spice of life,'' and varie-
ty OF food insures the usefulness of a hen
and plentiful supply of eggs. What that
food should beis somewhat varied, accord
ing to the season, and it has been fully dis
cussed in these columns from time to time.
Pure water is necessity, and a good sup
ply of milk is valuable adjunct Care.
proper feed and cleanliness will insure sue
cess; without cleanliness, you had better
not try to do anything. Cleanliness and an
occasional white-washing of the house. a
dusting of sulphur in small quantities in the
nests, and supply of kerosene oil sprink-
led over theroosts, will eftectually prevent
vermin-the principal enemy which breed
ers have to'contend against.-Cor. Country
Gentleman
Year: 1879

ION or the soil renders such shifting ne
cessity. ANY acre of land that will raise
wheat now will raise wheat throughout
eternity, if its capabilities are not taxed too
much. Look at Egypt. Even in Joseph's
time it was wheat-growing country. 1t is
such to-day. 80 also would be almost ey-
cry state in this union if the silly twaddle
about shifting" was disregarded, and the
land treated to rest or to fertilizers. The
farmers in Southern Minnesota, are becom-
ing convinced that they can no longer raise
large crop of spring wheat and are going
to try their luck on winter wheat. To
speak in slangy but expressive way, they
will most certainly ''get left" What their
land needs is rest, let the farmers of that
section put in corn, oats, or almost any
thing, and after year or so they will find
that the trouble is not in any climatic or
mysterious change, but in the fact that by
successive cropssof wheat they have simply
exhausted the soil. The idea as commonly
entertained that there is wheat belt is a
first-class fraud. Almost every acre Of land
from Mexico to Manitoba will raise good
crops of wheat if its energies are not taxed
too much. Scientific farming will dispel
any such vagaries as that of the wheat belt,
and in proof OF this, we have only to cite
the fact that this year the old states have
much larger yield of wheat per acre than
the new states, whose soils have been pre-
maturely worn out by succession of wheat
crops.-America7a Miller.
Year: 1879

WHEN the rush of getting the grain
threshed and safely started is over, the
farmerwho has no barn will find an excel
lent season for getting out timber for the
same. Every farm should be supplied
with commodious barn, so that his work
stock and mick cows may have comforta-
BILE winter quarters, and the barn should be
large enough to furnish room for winters
supply OF hay, that the work of feeding may
be performed without exposure. Not ev-
cry farmer has the means to put up such a
building, but the work may be done by
himself at this season of the year, at COM
paratively little cost. The timber may be
got out before cold weather sets in and the
building carried on at odd times through
the winter. BY managing to haye every
thing in readiness SO us to occupy the odd
days in building, barn may be put up in
course of the year, and the time scarcely be
missed.
Year: 1879

It strikes our comprehension that good
deal OF nonsense is uttered and made pub
lie about what is known as the "wheat
belt" Some of our contemporaries are dis
posed to regard it as living, thinking enti
ty with migratory habits, which now Sc
lects the Genesee as its favored abode, and
now the Ohio Valley, and later, the bound
less prairies of the Northwest. In spite of
all tabular statistics we are compelled to ac-
knowledge our skepticism in one or doz-
en- wheat belts. Canddly, we cannot be-
lieve that the changes of soil or climate
have been sufficient to cause the productive
area of wheat to leave one section of our
land and emigrate to another. We do not
believe that wheat is migratory in its hab-
its, and settles in one place only to desert
that place for some more favored locality.
We think that mankind runs the wheat
crop, not the wheat crop mankind.


We know that we shall tread upon nu-
merous toes in making such an assertion.
Fer instance, thirty years ago crop Of
from thirty-five to fifty bushels of wheat to
the acre was no unknown thing in northern
Illinois. Why is 1t that now crop OF from
fifteen to twenty-five bushels an acre is re-
garded as good one, aud that on account
of the uncertainty of any yield at all, farm
ers have almost abandoned wheat culture?
What can it be, if there is not such a thing
as shifting OF the wheat belt p; Simply
this, there is shifting of the wheat belt SO
far as the sowing of pew soils is concerned.
Farmers in the United States have not yet
learaed, apparently, that soil can be ex-
hausted. in wheat country like the North
west, wheat is sown until tired Nature by a
succession of failures in the wheat crop,
tells the farmer that he can raise no more
wheat. Then straightway he says that the
.'wheat belt has shifted" and gets down to
raising corn, oats and hogs.


Now this is all the supremest nonsense.
There is no such thing as the shifting ct
the wheat belt," only so far as the exhaust
Year: 1879

The general belief is that the soil obtains
water from the air at night by absorption
and condensation to such an extent as to be
of the utmost agricultural value,'' and
that in times Of drought this moisture of the
air invigorates and sustains plants which
otherwise would perish. The observations
OF Professor Stockbridge snow the soil,
from May to November, both at the sur
face and five inches deep, to be warmer
than the air; it is hardly possible that the
moisture on the surface in the morning was
deposited from the air. A more reasonable
conclusion is that the vapor which arises
from the surface is condensed as it comes in
contact with the colder air. The phenome-
non of so-called ''dew fall'' is usually at
tributed to the supposed fact that soil and
plants are colder than the air at night, and
so condense it's moisture in the form of
"dew." The ''dew'' on the ice pitcher is
the common illustration to prove the theo-
ry; but, as we have seen, the conditions in
this case are the reverse of those with soil
and plant, which are both warmer than the
air at night, while the ice-pitcher is colder.
Further Investigations were made SIN the
study of thisquestion. A tin box, without
top or bottom, was filled with soil and
placed in growing grass; the next morning
the grass was loaded with dew, but not a
trace appeared on the box, and the temper
ature of the soil was 66 degrees, and of the
air 60 degrees. This experiment was re-
peated many times with the same results.
Then locsetin cover was placed upon the
box; in the morning the top of the cover
was dry, but the under side was 'sthickly
studded with drops Of water"--dew.
Year: 1879

No DANGER The Philadelphia
Times thinks it is hardly worth while 10
indulge in any premature worry over the
threatened immigration of German So
cialists. There is nothing in the laws of
this country to prevent a mans making
a fool of himself If be wants to, and as
soon as the German Socialist finds there
Is no restriction on idiotic antics he will be
very likely 10 restrain his anxiety to be
idiotic. Denis Kearney had the whole
business continent to roam over in his
patriotic work of hanging bondholdcrs
and eating Cinnamon raw; nobody mo
le.ted this untamed revolutionist, and he
finally tired himself out. The German
Socialist can have all the room he wants
in this country.
Year: 1879

Cases Of mistaken identy are rarely
pleasant, but, peculiarly distressing one
quite recently occurred in this city, says
the s. f. iStock Exchange. A few days
ago a well known business man, who is
greatly addicted 20 duck shooting, in his
peram bulations about San Pablo marsh
met a congeniai friend whose face is IA
miiiar TO frcquenters OF Pine street. The
two, after a splendid days sport, returned
to the city. On reaching the slips on this
side the merchant in the fuluess Of lis
cordiaity, invited his friend to dine at his
heme on-strect. The cougenial com
panion demurred. Being man fastidi-
Gus about his dress. he feared 70 present
| himself to the family OF his friend in the
| roagh garb of hunter and bearing the
miry evidence Of the chase. The object
ions were quickly ovor-ruled by the mer-
chant. ~ on can use the bath room at
my house," said he, "and then l can
lend you a clean shirt, so you will be all
right" This was satisfactory, and so
the twain wended their way to the abode
OF the entertainer. On their arrival there
the sportsman was at once shown to the
bath room. Noanwhiie the young wife
of the merchant was totally unaware that
the stranger had been brought into the
house, and as she happened to pass the
bathroom door she saw a light within -
Accordingly, without ceremony, she
pushed open the door and went in. The
| sportsman had dIvested himself Of every
| thing in the shape Of clothing except his
well we must say it-except his shirt,
and he was engaged at that very moment
in the ungraceful but necessary act Of
drawing that garment over his head. His
face was entirely concealed and the lady
still thinking that chubby" stood before
her stretched out her hand with Il grace
ful swaying motion, and laughingly said;
Ding g-dong !! Charley, supper's ready"
The touch and the word nearly petrhed
the sportsman.


The fair wife, wholly unconscious Of
me hWkWhTu nllslake She had made,
danced down stairs and into the sitting
room, and there-there-sa her legal
lord.


why, I thought you were in the
bathroom" she exclaimed.


mo, but | have a friend there who is
to take tea with US; SO hurry up, my pet,
and have an extra plate laid," WAS the
reply.


The awful and naked truth was too
much for the horriaed wife, and she
gasped out, II cant stay for dinner
I've call to make" she dashed from the
room. The astonished husband, after
endeavoring in vain to find an explana-
ton Of his wie's strange action, went
musingly upstairs after his guest. In
the bathroom fresh surprise awaited
him, for the room was empty. The
abashcd sportsman had dJnnod his clothes
in n hurry and silently stolen away.


The merchant having since learned OF
tho joke, rather enjoys 1t, but it would not
be a pruden. thing to whisper Ding
dong, Charley" to that sportsman while
he has shotgun over his shoulder.
Year: 1879

There are many young men who are in
the habit OF oxcusing their idleness and
inefHciency with thep'ea that they can Go
nothing without capital. The lack of
means IS the ready reply they make every
appeal TO action. They imagine they
possess in Themselves al the prerequisites
. to success except capital, in addition to
their other imagined virtues, they would
30 great things 10 the world would grow
and astoni.h The natives with the bodness
OF their enterprise. They would become
rich and lay the world under obligations
to them by the maguiaeeuce Of their BEN
eiac,ions. This Is the way they think
and talk, and they roll the vain glorious
idea over in thcir mind. until they come
to imagine that the world is an immense
loser by thoir poverty.


These persons forgot one important fact,
that all capital is the product Of labor.
That nearly all rich men in this country
were once poor. That nearly every per-
sonal fortune they can enumerate is either
the product Of its owners toll and skill,
or the representative Of his fathers toll
and skin.


How did the makers Of these fortunes
get along without capital ? Had they
spent the yigor Of their youth in idle and
foolish lamentations over their poverty,
they would have lived and died poor.
/ Capital allied TO labor and skill can work
wonders in the war Of material cnterpris-
ca. Bat money is not the Indispensable
thing to young men. There are other
kinds OF capital lesides accumulated
money. Brains, muscle, Industry, hon
esy, diligence, truth, fidelity, skin, tact,
education-all these arc capitals, and all
OF them have q commercial value, which
the owner will be able, sooner or later, to
command in the market. Provided with
these, any young man in this country may
make more than he needs to spend every
year, md thus have something at the end
Of each year 10 invest as money capital.
/ II he needs money let him 60 to work and
make it, and thus give proof OF his ability
to use it proGtably and judiciously. If
we go into any great city, or into any
prosperous agricultural district, we find
the capitalists are those who made their
fortunes without any outside aid. They
did not waste their time in repinng at
their poverty, ana in sily dreams Of what
they could do ifthoy had the money to do
it with. They wen. boldly and re-o'utely
to work they toiied oad thought and
Planned, and kept toiling and thinking
aud planing patieatiy until at last they
gtasped the fortunate moment, and sue,
cecdod .-NcUudu HeTcl3.
Year: 1879

IT is said Of NorbGry shat he would at
aay time rather lose a friend than joke.
On one occasion he began the sentence
OF death in this wise: Prisoner at the
bar, you have been found guilty by a
jury Of your own countrymcn Of the
crime laid to your charge, and I must
say l entirely agree with the verdict, for
see "Scoundrel" written in your face"
Here the prisoner interrupted with
"That'a strong reAection-from your
Lordship!" whereupon the judge, keeniy
apprecnting the joke, commuted the
sentence INTO transportation for seven
years.
Year: 1879

THE Conference had before it two ques-
tions outside of routine duty that are of
considerable interest to the denomination
at large. The more important one was the
resolution introduced by the Rev. John
Hough in relation to Sabbath dissertations
at camp meetings. To large part of the
people 1.-THE great body of the masses who
have not the means or time for travel) the
camp meeting is a cheap and convenient
means of social intercourse and recreation,
People must and will be brought together
where they can see and know and enjoy
each others society. The camp meeting
gives this privilege, while it has the sane
ton of law to circumscrihe it with restraints
intended to shield and protect from harm
full influences. In addition to this, are
the rules regulating it as a religious associa


ton and which, except in extreme cases,
are all that are, or should be sufficient to
control them. The original idea Of the
camp meeting was, a convenient place in the
heat of the summer to repair to for earn
est worship. The bread and feed stalls
were, however, almost from the beginning
considered necessary adjuncts, while at the
same time they were made to serve the
purpose of helping to bear the expenses.
From places to simply feed the hungry man
and beast they have enlarged in some cases
to an absorbing traffic in luxuries that over
shadowed and dimed the religious in
fluences and to this extent made it Il place
of sacrilege, instead Of the simple grove.
worship of the Fathers. Mr.. IIough calls
attention to this as growing evil that
should not compromise the ministry, and
his resolution pledged them not to attend
any meeting where managers allowed such
proceedings. After an animated discus.
sion, committee of five was appointed to
consider the subject, who subsequently
made report disappearing the traffic
usually allowed by camp p-meeting managers.
The other question referred to above is
that Of the missionary COLLECTIONS, viz


how appropriated. Several churches, nota


bly, Union of Wilmington, set aside of the
money raised for missions, 40 per cent fol
home use. After spirited discussion tho
Conference adopted resolution to the effect
that all money raised in the name of tho
missionary cause should be paid to the


Missionary Society and that any other ap


plcation of it was a breach of trust.
Year: 1879

The effort of the citizens of Wilmington
to have the Court House removed from
New Castle to that city has, after a most
vigorous effort, succeeded by an unanimous
vote in the Senate and Is to in the House.
The vote would indicate that it was a one
sided fight, but such was not the case.
The result was shrouded in doubt in both
houses up TO the day Of the decisive ballot.
OF course in this section we had little
direct interest in the question, but our
citizens have frequent needs to consult
their law or record offices, aud from all
such we have heard but one expression,
that Of qualification at the removal. Will.
mington was hilarious over the event.
They rang the bells, sent up rockets, threw
out their flags and laughed and shook each
other heartily by the hand in their con.
CALCULATIONS. Thus has ended fight that
has been waged with varying fortunes for
r.r'v years. The only wonder is that il


80. thus decided years ago. 1t finally
became contest Of forty thousand to two
and the former won by weight of number
rather than by greater pluck. The Will
mingtonians are pointing the New Castle
ians to the experience of Chester and con
soling them with the result. Chester, they
are told, did not begin to grow until the
court house was removed to Media anC
then it sprang up like magic. But, despite
all this palayer it is a bitter pill to the ole
family residents of New Castle. The Viii
Iningtonians wants the court house erected
ia time for the fall term of court.
Year: 1879

THE petitions that have poured into our
legislature by thousands for the intellectual
improvement of the colored people, the
curtailment of the liquor traffic and against
the unlimited power Of monopoles have
been entirely disregarded by our law makers
as if the voice of the people was no voice
to them. On all morals questions they
have looked backwards instead of for
wards. 1t remains to be seen if they will
disregard the will Of the people in the
villanous legislation proposed in the Lot
terv hill