smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

The Scotch freshman is very shy
and curious being, all unlike the mirth-
full lads who come up from Harrow or
Rugby with hosts of friends ready
made, and with a social and cricketing
reputation to keep up. The English
University is continuation on larger
scale of the life they know already /;
they have already made their mark in
one way or another as scholars, or
athletics, or whatever 1t may be; and
they fit without difficulty into the place
which is ready for them. Everything,
on the other hand, Is strange to the
Scotch freshman; even the Greek al
phabet is not always familiar to him;
and when a Professor asks him to
breakfast he endures agonies of shy
ness. lie comes, perhaps, from parish
school, where he has been the one re-
deeming feature in the toilsome life Of
the Dominic. He has for years enjoyed
the benefit of all the leisure Of that
hardworked man, and has gladdened
him by his "grlp' Of mathematics and
his skill in Latin prose, an art which
fingers in Aberdeenshire villages as the
old Etruscan method of granulating
goldwork survived in one nook of the
Apennines. Full of modest confidence
that what Scotchmen have done Scotch
men may do, he sets himself to the
study Of the Hamiltonlan philosophy
and grapples with Consciousness and
the Concept This sort of student you
will hut rarely see in the open air,
never, certainly, at football or golf;
but in passing through the windy
streets one may descry the CLEAN Of the
candle by which he and friend can
read Reid's "Active Powers" or,
greatly daring, master the laws of Greek
accentuatlon Saturday ReUiet0.
Year: 1877

1t is well for all people in the country
to know the difference between "peep-
ing" and "croaking" frogs. Among
the first and most noticeable of the
spring sounds that come to us from the
neighbOrhood of the ponds and streams
is the voice of the peeping frog and
this little creature will well repay ones
attention. 1t is commonly thought to
be the young of the bull-frog; but this
is not 80 it seems to be distinct vari-
ETY. of the frog family, He makes him
self heard in the spring as soon as the
ice has melted, and is most musical
during the evening. You will find him
sitting among the old brown grasses
and leaves at the edge of the water !;
and as soon as he hears your football
down he flattens himself, andyou would
easily mistake him for a brown leaf |;
but trusting to your ears and not eyes,
you soon will see this little brown leaf
cautiously rise up, swell its little throat
to half the size of its body, and give
"peep" shrill enough to leave no doubt
as to what makes that sound. These
frogs are, when sitting, about an inch
long, and vary in color from light to
very dark brown. They are easily
caught; and by putting them in a wide
mouth bottle, covered with thin mus
lin, and placing this under hat, or in
any place away from the light, they
will continue their peeping for some
time
Year: 1877

ton. All tie details of this superb entertainment
were most admirably carried out. The speaking
was effective and at times eloquent; the solos and
other musical performances afforded delightful
entertainment, and were splendidly executed; the
military companies marched with the precision Of
veterans; the tabeauX beautiful and imposing,
and the entire Performance in every WY worthy
the good things that bayc been said Of IL We can
not speak in detail Of even the principal partic-
pants in this delightful entertainment, embracing
the best talent in our high and grammar schools,
but cannot resist the temptation ofmentioning the
Goddess of Liberty, this important cha acter being
impersonated with great grace and dignity Miss
Alice Philbrook accompanied the entire musical
entertainment on the piano, showing talent and
requirements rare for one Of her years, The
children and teachers have found the Manager,
Mr.. Hagar, gentleman and scholar, and are very
much pleased with the results Of his visit here.
Year: 1877

who have given us as fine club room as there is
in the State, and as finely fitted up. They have
counseed us, helped u.s. stood by US and in fact
have been our foundation; and have been instru-
mental in saving many q man. who to-day are up
right citizens. The prospects are still brighten
ing and this must yet be the Banner club. Henry
Penney Of Belgrade, expressed his interest in the
cause.


Albert Foss of North Belgrade said his club
numbered about one hundred. Al thought they
had some opposition, yet they could and would
conquer all, and yet triumph.


The evening meeting commenced at seven
o'clock, and was addressed by visiting brothers
from Waterville and other clubs and the West
Watcrvllle boys were not behind in tesfying for
this great cause of total abstinence. Long will
this meeting be remembered in the hearts of the
people of West Waterville.
Year: 1877

Another crowd at Granite Hall, last evening, to
witness Hagars grand Allegory of "The Great
Republic" this timc completely filling the hall.
Those who saw the exhibition on Saturday even
ing we're all the more eager to witness its repeti
Year: 1877

broad ground of public morality We do not
see how the principle can he sustained 1t
is unwise enough to cut down the force in
the custom house 50 that it is simply unable
to perform its duty and prevent smuggling.
Ii Is foolish enough to proclaim to officers
that they may Just as well oppose the admin
istratlon as support it. But to 90 farther
and tell them, with touch Of inconsistency,
that they must leave politics severely alone.
IL not merely unwi>e-it is repugnant to our
whole system. And when we advance from
| general public considerations to those of a
more distinetively political character, it IS
| equally difficult to understand what
thought has dictated this policy. Weare
frank to say that We cannot be Indifferent
| to this view of the case. We believe the
success of the Republican party too vital to
the country to regard with patience a course
which imperils it. 1t is mete afiectation
which does not look squarely at the practical
side of this question. Everybody knows
that a party without organization is like an
army without leaders Or discipline. Doubt
less hosts Of citizens will, without reflection,
say amen tn the President order, who when
1t comes to the next campaign, would not
lit their fingers to secure success. This
hollow, unthinking approval Will not take
the place of good, hard work


We are not defending or sustaining any
abuses Of the public service. We welcome
any reform which strikes at real evils in a
practical and rational way. We have no
doubt that in the present movement the
President means w@ll, and honestly aims to
advance the general welfare. Bat in this
practical world we must deal with things
as We find them, and there is too much OF
the IDEAL and romantic in this new plan. To
throw away our guns and attempt to fight
the enemy alone with pure reason il not the
way to success.
Year: 1877

Richard Toner, professional rat-calcher Of
considerable notoriety in New York city, ar.
! rived in St. Louis yesterday, and has taker
i contract to rid the Lindell House of rats
lie is accompanied BY one assistant and has
thoroughly trained ferret Mr.. Toner
says that rats begin to breed at the age of
three months, and once every month there
after produce litter of thirteen that the
number of the litter never varies, and is al
ways composed of twelve males and one fe-
male that il the number of females were as
great as males, rats would become plague
that all the terriers and rat-catchers in the
country could not keep down.


lie began operations at the Lindell last
night, in the presence of half dozen per-
sons. lie armed himself with dark Ian
tern, gunny bag and peculiarly con-
structed pair of tongs or nippers. The tongs
are about two and half feet long, and
have handles like shears. Mr. Tonner gave
the bag to his assistant and took the dark
lantern in his left hand and the tonss in his
right. Equipped an this manner, he crept
about the cellar among barrels and boxes.
and every now and then seized rat with
has tongs The assistant, who kept at his
heels, instantly opened the mouth of the
bag and the rat was dropped into it, the
process OF capture not occupying over ten
seconds. lie says that when he throws the
strong Light from the lantern upon rat it
does not run, but simply turns so as to pre-
vent the light from shining in its eyes. As
1t turns there is no difficulty in seizins it
with the tongs.


Mr.. Toner did not make use of his ferret
until about one O'Clock, when everything
was quiet in the house. lie first went all
over the premises, examing the rat-holes to
familiarize himself with the rats run
ways lie says the rats have certain holes
to run through when they are frightened,
and that an experienced rat-catcher can soon
learn how these holes lead. After acquiring
this knowledge he sent his ferret into rat
hole, and stationed himself at the other
end of the hole. For instance, he found rat
hole in the pantry and traced its course down
into the cellar. where it came out in some
corner lie started the ferret into the hole
up stairs and stationed himself below with
his tongs. The ferret pushed his way along
the turnings of the hole and drove the rats
ahead Of him. As the rats ran from the
hole in the cellar Toner picked them up
with his tongs and dropped them into his
bag.


Toner owned the largest rat-pit in New
York
Year: 1877

GEN HANCOCE'S WELCOME TO THE GRADUATING


CADETS.


Great responsibilities in time of danger
are not given to the Ignorant, to the sloth-
fnl, or to those who have impaired their
powers Of mind and body by the indulgences
Of life. In times Of danger favorites are
discarded. When work Is to be done, deeds
performed,i 4 men of action have their oppor-
tunities, and fail not to seize them. 1t is
the interest of commanders that such men
should be selected for service, when success
or failure may follow according to the Sc
lection, as the instrument may be sharp or
dull, good or bad, would say to you, lead
active. temperate. studious lives, develop
your physical qualities as well as your men,
tai. Regard the education you have ac-
quired here as but rudimentary pursue
your studies in the line of your profession
US well as in such other branches of science
or language as may best accord with your
inclinations. 1t will make you greater in
your profession, and cause you to be inde-
pendent Of it. The latter is but prudent in
these practical days. Study to lead honor
able, useful, ana respected lives. Even if
no opportunity presents for martial glory,
you will not fail to find your reward. Avoid
the rocks Of dissi sipation, of gambling, OF
debt. Lead those manly lives which will
always find you in health in mind and body,
free from entanglements Of whatever kind i,
and you may be assured you will find oppor-
tunitles for great services, when otherwise
would have been overlooked or passed BY.
knowledge derived from books
may bring great distinction outside of the
field of war, as an expert in the science of
military profession and in others but the
lessons of hard service are salutary and
necessary to give the soldier practical un-
derstanding OF the world and its ways as he
will encounter them in war. advise you
to go when young to the plains-to the
wilderness. Seek active service there put
of the days Of indulgence and case Those
should follow wears. Take with
you to the frontier your dog, rod and gun
the pursuit of life in the open air with
such adjuncts will 90 far to give you health
and the vigor to meet the demands to be
made upon you in trying campaigns, and to
enable you to establish the pysical condition
necessary TO maintain life of vigor, such as
the soldier requires. And by no means leave
your books behind you. There
are many 'extreme western" posts to-day.
The Yellowstone will serve your purpose
well. And ifanY of you wish to seek that
service, your taste will not be difficult to
crafty, for the hardest lessons will certainly
be avoided by many. Gentlemen, bid you
welcome.
Year: 1877

AS the telephone, the new invention
OF Professor A. Graham Bell, is but lit
lie understood, the following reprint of a
description and explanation of the instru-
ment may not be amiss:


The telephone in its present form con-
sists OF powerful compound, perma-
nent magnet, to the poles of which are
attached ordinary telegraph coils of insu-
lated wire. In front of the poles, sur-
rounded by these coils of wire, is placed
diaphragm of iron. A mouthpiece to
converge the sound upon this diaphragm
substantially completes the arrangement.
The motion of steel or iron in front of
the poles of magnet creates n current
of electricity in coils surrounding the
poles of the magnet, and in the duration
of this current of electricity comedies
with the duration of the motion of the
steel or iron moved or vibrated in the
proximity of the magnet. When the
human voice causes the diaphragm to vi
brate, electrical undulations are induced
in the coils environing the magnets pre-
cisely analogous to the undulations of
the air produced by that voice. These
coils are connected with the line wire,
which may be of any length, provided
the insulation be good. The undulations
which are induced in these coils travel
through the line wire, and, passing
through the coils of an instrument Of
precisely similar construction at the dis
tant station, are again resolved into air
undulations by the diaphragm of this
Leti0
Year: 1877

A new peril besets the husbands of
married women in England. A wife
owns racehorse Oh which several mort
cages have been given, and suits for
settlement have been brought in court
against the wife and her husband. The
latter asked for dismissal OF the suit
against him, for he knew nothing of his
wifes racehorses. He was refused Oh
the ground of strict equity. He was told
that he was responsible for his wife's
acts, and if his wife sold or disposed
of the horse he would be constructively
liable for her contempt of court and have
to 90 to prison. If he chose to marry
woman who ran racehorses he must take
the consequences 1t is now thought
clause should be written in every mar
riage settlement by which a husband
will not be liable for the debts of horse
raing wife.
Year: 1877

price may be higher Mt prcsent-and it is
useful to keep on hand. When any out
building, or even your dwelling house il
to be painted, one-half the expense may
be saved by applying a coat of petroleum
with fine whitewash brush. let it dry
several weeks, and then put on one coat
of paint, and by 80 doing second coat
Of paint is rendered unnecessary.


Burc spots Under Trees.


To preserve handsome, rich lawn,
the trees must not be 80 close and dense
as to exclude entirely the SIMS rays
from the grass beneath them. But
where the foliage is so thick or abundant
as to cause bare spots, the difficulty may
be variously obviated. Orchard grass
grows we'll in shade, but it is too coarse
for lawns. June grass or Kentucky
blue grass, on the contrary, makes n
fine, soft, beautiful turf, and will also
grow we'll in n moderate shade after it
has once obtained foothold, which it is
rather slow to do, requiring two or three
years. The periwinkle (VincO will
make dense growth, green both in
winter and summer, the objection to it
being its tendency to spread. Perhaps
bost of all is the ivy, which, if thickly
planted, will soon cover the surface, lay
ering assisting in the operation. In the
northern portion of the Union, where
the ivy is killed by winter on the sides
of walls, it will remain green on the
surface of the ground, where it derives
warmth from the ground.
Year: 1877

A story was told in an eastern paper
some years since that serves to illustrate
the profits in the retail drug business.
A village druggist advertised for boy
to help him in the store. He accepted
the first young lad who applied. He
waited on customer and sold him m
article for thirty cents, taking a twenty
five cent postal scrip and nickel five
cent piece. He took the money to his
employer, who informed him that the
paper money was counterfeit. "Never
mind, old fellow, sold the young clerk,
encouragingly, $50 the nickel is good
you make four hundred per cent. any
way" A singular fashion has grown up
in the United States which requires that
a drug store shall be fitted up like pal.
ace. In many cases the pictures and
articles designed for show cost much
more than the stock of goods.
Year: 1877

The Niagara Falls Gazette has the fol


lowing account of the singular suicide O.


an unknown young man Mt the falls


About noon, one day recently, a stranger


apparently about twenty-five years O


age, dressed in dark clothes, with black


slouch hat, and snuff colored overcoat


his face smooth, with the exception of AZ


auburn mustache, applied at the upper


gate to Prospect Park for admittance,


and after paying his fee entered and


walked along the bank to point just be-


low the tail race that empties in the
river. An attache of the park walked
down toward the stranger for the pur-
pose of directing him where to obtain the
most attractive views of the scenery
around the grounds. His attention was
attracted from the man for moment. and
when he turned was thunderstluck to see
the stranger wading out into the rapids.
He instantly shouted "Come back,
you fool, you will go over the falls !"
The only attention the man paid to this
gratuitous advice was to throw himself
forward ON his face, and strike out lust
lily for the brink of the cataract. just
below where he entered was small cas-
cade, over which he was carried and
under the water out of sight for a mo-
ment. When he emerged his hat was
off, and a moment later he obtained n
foothold in the rapids, and stood up
waist-deep in the foaming water. Nit
chell, the park attache, had by this time
reached Prospect point, where he had
hastened in hopes of being able to reach
the man when he came down the stream
The stranger, standing in the rapids,
saw Mitchell, and, divining lls intention,
instantly struck out again, swimming
Justify out further from the shore, and
successfully placing himself far beyond
the aid of the astounded man on the
bank. just as the stranger reached the
brink, and as he went over, he doubled
himself up, clasped his hands over his
head, and went down to his death. OF
course the body of the suicide has not
been recovered, and the chances are
against it's ever being found. There is
no clue whatever to the identity of the
stranger. 1t is thought that he arrived
in town on Conductor Story's morning
train from Lewiston, although it cannot
definitely be ascertained whether he
came at that time or earlier in the morn
ing, owing to the very meager account
given of the suicides personal appear
ance. AS consequence nothing is known
of the reason impelling the suicide to
commit self-destruction. Those who saw
him say he had every appearance of be-
ing sober and in his right mind. At the
present time of writing no inquiries have
been made here for any missing party,
and the mystery surrounding the affair
remains,as impenetrable as ever.
Year: 1877

A brother-in-Iaw Of we'll known New
Haven. gentleman, says the Journal,
engaged in the gun business, dropped a
pistol cartridge in the yard of his resi-
dence, while ago, and has since found
out where it went to. One of his hens
not at all appre-hen-sive picked it up,
and getting down the wrong kind of a
shell-not favorable to egg making or
longevity-for day or two afterward she
was blown into mincemeat by the explo-
sion of the cartridge inside of her diges-
tive apparatus. This is fact
Year: 1877

In regard to applying petroleum to
shingles to preserve them, a writer says
1t enters the pores of the wood at once,
and as it hardens makes it more compact
in texture, and rather less liable to take
fire. The petroleum also prevents the
surface of the shingles from rising in
downy fibers, or Z" fuz," and it is on the
whole not so liable to fire from sparks
when treated with it. Wehave tried the
experiment with shingles oiled some
time previously, and find they are not so
easily ignited by outside fire, although
when once burning, they will, of course,
produce more flame than the wood with
oiit the petroleum. Petroleum is also
very good to apply to the iron work and
steel of farm implements to prevent their
rusting when not in use. The crude ar
ticls coss- hu. 81 or a. per harrej~tbs
Year: 1877

review of the terrible battles that took
place there i'm 1856, and the repulse Of
the Russians, who undertook to capt
ure the town by storm. but were re-
pulsed with loss of 1000 men. This
was a lesson that ought TO have been
needed by the Russians, and though
the dispatches indicate a repetition of
the blunder. it may he that the reports
are exaggerated, and that the so-cslled
assault was nothing more than a rec
onnoissance in force to cover some
other movement.
Year: 1877

HAT CREEK, wy, June l4.-About
8 80 this morning the coach from
Deadwood was stopped by two road
agents. some twenty-five miles north
of this place. The driver states that
while coming through a narrow ra-
vine two men who had been hidden
by the broken nature OF the ground
suddenly sprang up about ten yards
ahead Of him, one OF whom covered
him with his rifle and ordered him to
halt. The other covering Skinner,
the messenger, ordered him to throw
out the treasure box. The messenger
complied, and this seemed to satiEfy
them. for they Immediately told the
driver to go ahead, No attempt to rob
or molest the passengers was made.
Three men and one lady was aboard.
Both men had their faces bleckened
and were otherwise disguised.
Year: 1877

The Issue of one and two dollar
greenbacks has been discontinued.
This action is said to have been taken
TO compel banks and individuals to
take and put In circulation silver
.nnirn
Year: 1877

The architects OF the country seem
to be catching abuse and legislative
antagonism on all sides. Scarcely had
the falling of the roof of the United


States court house at New York been
announced when the fall of the dome
of the Rockfor court house in Illinois
occurred, and terrible loss of life
followed. Then came the fall of
three-story block at Cedar Rapids,


Iowa, and Others at points not now re-
membered, until people are afraid of
house more than two stories high. In


vestigations have shown that the ar
chltects failed or were incompetent to
determine mathematlcally the safety of
the structures which proved so made
quate In strength and imperfect in
workmanship. Of course no one is to
blame, or rather, as shown by the re-
ports of investigation, so many are to
blame that none will be reached by the
proper punIshments. Calculations
made on the strength and attachments
of the trusses in the New York court
house show such defects in capacity
and carelessness in supervision, and, by
analogy, such ignorance, that the pub
lie demand for punishment seems only
reasonable. In the Rockford court
house and others the arrangement was
first improper and criminally weak,
to which is added such imperfect ma
terials and workmanship that those
criminally involved have fed. Secrt- =
tary Sherman is so dissatisfied with re-
ports on the New York court house
that he has ordered three engineers to
investigate the facts and inquire as to
the stability and safety OF the public
buildings In charge of his department.
How many public and private build
ings and bridges in Texas have been
built in accordance with plans and
specifications for which careful and
perfect mathematical calculations as to
safety and sufficiency were first made
by capable and learned architects2 Let
us have no more of this sort construct,
ed, or churches or halls without doors
opening outwardly, and such other
provisions for popular security as his,
| torical and terrible calamities suggest.