smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

The working shaft of the proposed
Hudson River tunnel, between jersey
City and New York, has just been COM
pleted. This marks an era in the hlsto-
ry of the undertaking It is six years
since the Tunnel Company was formed,
and five years since ground was broken
on the New Jersey shore, and yet not a
foot of the tunnel has been bored. This
delay has been caused by litigation.


The working shaft is the largest of
the kind ever constructed. A map of
the proposed tunnel shows that it will
pass through silt for $500 feet, thence
through sand and silt to the New York
shore. In the sand there is about 400
feet of rock to be tunneled. The bottom
of the tunnel is to be from 59 to 102
feet below the surface of the river, and
the top is to be nowhere less than Is
feet below the bed of the river. The
greatest depth of water in the river
where the tunnel is to cross is little
over 60 feet. The tunnel walls will be
constructed of the best hard brick and
cement, three. feet in thickness, circular
in form, 26 feet in width and "a feet in
height. painted white in the inside and
lighted with gas; with double-track
railway, with heavy steel rail, upon
stone ballast 5 feet from the bottom. The
entrance to the tunnel on the New Jer-
sey side of the river is to be from Jersey
avenue. in Fifteenth street; the work IS
to extend thence to Hudson street and
the river, about 3.4OO feet; thence un-
der the river. curving five degrees north
ward, to the New York bulkhead line,
at or near the foot of Morton street,
about 5,4OO feet thence curving slight
ly southwark in New York, about 5000
feet to a point to be selected by the
city authorities. The entire length Of
the tunnel and approaches will be about
10000 feet with the depot tracks to be
added thereto), being about one mile un
der the river and nearly three-fourths Of
mile on each side.


The company say that more than 4OC
trains of cars could be passed through
the tunnel every twenty-four hours
Freight trains would have transit al
night, market trains in the early morn
ing, all drawn by powerful engines
made especially for this purpose, to bG
run by signals, without bells or whistles
consuming their own steam and smoke
or run with compressed air. All con
Meeting railroads are to have an equa
right to have their passenger and freight
transported through the tunnel. Work
on the New York side will not be begur
until next spring. Then all the mel
that can well work in the space will bt
employed night and day. The work OF
the New Jersey side of the tunnel propel
will be begun just as soon as the air
COMPRISING machinery is ready.
Year: 1879

GUS snakes were not so beautiful. None
admired our native viper, with its yel.
lowish scales. To adults its bite was
far schooner serious than to the young.
Passing to snakes in general, of which
there were many hundreds of distinct
species, the lecturer illustrated in great
detail the adaptation Of their organiza-
ton to its manifold work.


Very graphic was his description of
the manner in which some of the more
destructive snakes dart suddenly on
on their prey, twisting themselves round
its body, crushing it into shapeless
and writhing mass, and at last swallow
ing it whole. He pointed out some very
curious arrangements in the anatomical
mechanism and jaw-bones illustrative Of
the statement that the snake cannot
r-.re-ly be ~A;l 70 nrallnrH hia rrAy he
holds on to it rather, gradually working
it down its throat in a most leisurely
manner, but never letting it 60. He
would take sleep for six weeks before
giving up his task, and if the morsel
were really to big would sometimes die
in the effort to get it down. Of course,
the snake required very tuII developed
and effective apparatus of salivary glands
for this purpose. The poison bag of the
venomous snakes was nothing but
modification of the salivary glands of
the harmless species, the structure of
both kinds being in almost all respects
not only parallel throughout but almost
identical. AS another instance of the
close relationship, it was shown that the
sharp channel-needle which conveys the
poison of the cobra, and its congeners is
nothing but the development of the tooth
which these murderous reptiles possess
in common with innocuous snakes. The
fact that the salivary gland was the
poison laboratory of the deadly snakes
as well as the known properties of the
saliva of dogs or other living creatures
affected with rabies appeared to Profess
or Huxley to point out the direction in
which the solution of the difficult prob
lem of the cause of snake poisoning and
of a possible antidote against it. At
present there was no man living who
could heal the bite of the cobra, except
by cauterization in very fresh cases.
| London Times.
Year: 1879

Years and years ago it used to be said
that girl might be willing to be kissed
when she voluntarily put boys hat on
her head. This cannot be true, for hun
dreds of pretty girls are now wearing
the little round Derby hats, and looking
we'll under them.
Year: 1879

The drama which has been revealed by the
murder of plain farmer at Passaic, y. j., is
the familiar story, though III n strange veT-
sion, of that brutal cupidity and sordidncss
which arc sometimes found in n most repul-
sive form among the lower classes of "A rural
population. Here was an old man afraid Of
his life while in the company Of his son and
his sons wife, an drinking only milk and
water because he could do his own milking,
draw water himself from the well. and thus be
sure that ne was not to be poisoned. Here
was the son, sullen brute, of whose creation
rs a character many a writer of fiction would
be proud. His standing grudse against his
father seems to have been that while the
father lived the son could not have his money.
People who had seen the two together many
times at work In the field never saw the son
speak to the father; for four years before
the mothers death the son did not once
speak to her. This was the fathers
own statement just before lie was mur-
dered, and an old servant confirms il in
striking way by saying that the mother Just
before her death, evidently knowing the base
ness of her son, yet longing, as a mother
might, for single word from him, actually
offered to give him money if he would speak
to her. This extraordinary animal refused.
The last touch is put upon this grotesQue and
horrible picture by showing that the son fol-
lowed his father for four days before the
murder. carrying everywhere, on the farm, III
the house, at the table, an axe, and preserv-
ing all the while the silence of hcadsman.


This strange group continued to live quietly
under the same roof until the fathers fears
we're realized. and he was butchered-by
whom 1t is easy to guess. And all this passed,
not against dark Russian background and
in the pages of Henry Greville,' but in a
pretty New-Jersey village lying a dozen miles
from NeW-York,
Year: 1879

the poles but Watterson's exuberant fancy stops
ot nothing. He doesn't agree with President
HAYES politically. and this is his way OF en-
pbaszing the difference. He sets him down
in the great archway of American History
hand in hand with thief; looks at them
both through the wrong end of telescope; !;
saws one is "sign" and the other sym
= boil" and moralzes over it as though he
meant every word he said.


But the wonder is that he should see only
cone little pair" Once before when he looked
adown the archway he saw hundred thou
sand unarmed Kentuckians about to march on
Washington upon another occasion he 81"
the devil let loose" and he has always seen
things much more startling than the present
vision. We do not doubt that he saw the
two figures by any means, but 1t Is qu'o
possible that he may have mistaken the form
of Twoed's companion. 1t must have been
President IIayes's late competitor who was
trottng adOwn the archway hand III manu-
with Tweed. These two were acquainted !;
belonged to the same party; were mem
bers of the same committee engaged
in the same election frauds anu
though they did have little differences
toward the last. there is no doubt that they
will trot along adown the great archway hand
in hand, looking as pretty as two little crock
cry cherubs MIR. WattersOn has evidently
hitched UP the wrong pair We do not
understand, either, why-if We may be
permitted to add to the great arch-
way another figure of speech derived
from the favoritc game of Kentucky-he
should make so much ado abou, " seeing ore
"pair," even though it was Tweed and Iildcn.
Somewhere adown the great archway. II he
looks sharp, he will see smith Weed, Marble
ana Pelton-" three Of kind'-alWdys bet
ter than one pair, as Wattefson knows.


Still, We are not disposed 10 be critical. Nr.
Wattclson is a gentleman who, whether he
looas adown the great aiclway OF History or
up the back stains of Time, always sees
something worth while. and always talks
about 1t in an entertaining way We
think there must be some mistake about
the pair moving slowly down the arch
way hand in hand. in the present IN
stance, but it is at least certain that Waiter
son has been gazing down the archway and
that he saw enough to agitate lis bosom
with some of the most stirring emotions
ever experienced in Kentucky. The entire
history of the game OF pCkcr-a history which
has 10 archway TO speak of-fnrnishcs no par
allel for the excitement occasiOned by tins
seeing one pair We are waiting ROW TO
see if he doesn't shortly turn up the three
" OF q kind above named.
Year: 1879

parochial school, insists that the children OF bis
parishOners shall attend it instead OF the public
seminaries. Those parents who decline to follow
hIs suggestions are regir,led az guilty Of religious
offence and are denied the privilege of the sacra-
ments. This has made a scaudalous trouble IN the
church. The course Of the priest Is approved
by the Bishop. and so the former is not
likely TO yield. The whole proceeding Is
regarded by Protestants. from thei? point
Of view. rs an act Of spiritual despotism, and
Father scully will by no means be left TO deal with
bis own flock without interference and criticism
from the outside. 1t is taken for granted, aD-
parently. that his school cannot be n good school, or
at least not good those established and rogu-


lated by the State Government. OF this know
nothing; but so far as the refusal If the Catholic
parents of Cambridge to send their children to
Father Scullys school is act Of ecclesiastical in
subOrdinatiOn, they must settle the matter with
HIM as best they can. The public has no power TO
help tbens. The Church has no power to coerce
them. They are at liberty to leave II. If they do
so, they will neither be imprisoned, nor tortured,
nor burned at the stake.


We have in this country perfect religions liberty.
IL is cared for in constitutions. and set forth in
many bill of rights. Why then do not these dis
satisfied parents leave the Church, Inasmuch as 10
seems TO be n matter of conscience with them to
disregard its dictates 1t they do not believe it to
be what it claims to be, and what by their presence
in It they admit IL TO be- if it not The guardian OF
their conduct, and mentor whose advice Is also
command from which there IS no appeal, why do
they stay in it As Protestants, we may have our
own view of Father Scully's course may regard 1t
as despotic, bigOted. even cruel; but those VINO
camor against il are not PrOtestants. Such Is the
common sense view of the matter which naturally
presents itself to the unprejudIced mind. Hthe
Father will not give way, and his people VIII not
eve way. most uncomfortable state OF things Is
inevitable; and the dispute may be continued un-
I'll it has become thorn in the flesh Of the news
paper reader in Boston.


We claim that in this country we have perfect
RELIGIOUS liberty. If so, why should we not enjoy
the fruits which are presumed to come OF itf Why
should there be never-ending. still-begnning dls-
pute instead Of peace, charity and Drotheriy
loves Certainly We ought moi TO have tins perpet-
nal disagreement between religious guides who
cannot give way and parishioncrs who wish to be
treated as oval and obedien. and yet 70 90 IS they
personally please. The Inconsistency Is by 40
means confined to Catholic cbuIches-ihere is a
touch Of II i'm many others. There Is hardly a de-
nomination in which some are not dissatisfied ana
restless. In secular associations members expect
To obay the bylaws and constitution. or secede;
with religious bodies the rule seems to DC different
Year: 1879

4 staff correspondent in Utah describes the
gold miues in that Territory lying within
short railroad ride of Salt Lake City. The
place visited is of importance both as n gold
quartz region and the site of silver-lead
camp The latter mines are to be discussed
IA future letter.
Year: 1879

Al the same time Chat the Court Of Appeals
estops one Of the Brooklyn elevated railroad
companies from building its line, plan for
an elevated road in IIoboken and Jersey City
is announced. One feature of the new project
is a low and uniform fare.
Year: 1879

The sea is prolific in teuors and mysteries
The latest Of these is the extraordinary aban-
donmont, as 1t seems to have been, of a bark
by her crew, though the ship was evidently
in good order. Philadelphia steamer
found the bark deserted, the masts and rig
ging all in good order, the cargo likewise. and
the pumps working wei, with only two or
three inches of water in the hold. No cause
can be ascertaned for the abandonment. Pos
sibly the publication of the name of the YES
SCI aud the facts may lead to a solution of
the mystery.
Year: 1879

The movement for pure milk seems to be
growing in strength. Yesterdays meeting of
the PROPOSED association was well attended,
and some important results were reached. The
Committee having under consideration the
question of price wisely reported that the asso-
citation could not hope to receive "a higher
price than that now paid Tor ordinary milk.
To pat a higher price on pure milk will be
simply TO place premium, for the greater
part of the population, on impure milk. The
present prices are sufficient to pay even honest
dealers an excellent profit.
Year: 1879

The "Detroit News" tells the follow
ing: A facetious young man who
boar ds in hotel not very far from
Grand River avenue, was badly taken
down at the dinner table day or two
ago. The servant who took his order
was good looking sort Of a girl, and
when toward the end Of the meal she
asked him If he wanted anything more,
he replied, "Yes / would like a kiss
The girl left the room and told her
grievance to the laudlady who was in
the kitchen. -,


Without sayinga word the venerable
dame wiped her withered lips and pro
ceeded to the dining room. The young
man sat in his chair laughing at the
girls discontinue, but he quickly
changed his tune when the old lady
threw her arms about his neck and
pressed her dewy lips to his again and
again. The fellow struggled to get
away, but the old woman held him
fast, and showered kisses upon his
burning face, until he finally made a
supreme effort, tore himself loose from
her clutches. and fled for dear life, pur-
sued by the mocking laugh Of his com
panions. ....
Year: 1879

CIxcINSATI, May 1.-THE body OF an
unknown man was found at the Spring
Grove Cemetery. this morning, with
the head crushed in. BY the side Of the
BODY was found club and a large stone
covered with blood and brains. oclue
to the murderers has yet been gained.
No one recognizes the dead man. When
the body was stripped the letters sc
W" were found written on the right
arm
Year: 1879

DAILY AND WEEKLY


H E r A I D


The Leading Paper
southern ca'ifornia a
Will devote its columns to fu'thering LII
interests of Los Angeles city and count!
and the Southern portion Of the State.
ia the Intention of the publisher max
Year: 1879

THE Louisville Commercial thus
talks about Tennessee:


The auihOTiiies of Tennessee ale
doing little or nothing for her sick. .
dying and needy. The rest of the
country must come TO the rescue as
usual Like tramp who bushes not
to beg bread at the back door, but re-
fuses TO work, Tennessee sits siolh-
fully and receives from all who will
give Let us not be uDgeDerous to the
needy on that account. The money
must be sent.'


The point of the above which cuts
sharper than the scorpions sting is the
fact that it is true. A man has to in.
fest the corner saloon now a days In
order to get himself in a condition
to "enthuse" over poor, dishonored, old
Tennessee.
Year: 1879

IN speaking of the Republican gain
in Maine. in our issue of yesterday,
thirteen thousand was what we meant
to write, and not twenty six thousand.
The same ratio of gain in Ohio will
give the Republican ticket fifty thou
sand majority.
Year: 1879

JOHN KELLY the Tammany candi-
date for Governor in New York, is
bitter in his denunciation of the other
wing. IF it turns ont to be Kill
kenny cat fight, it will be GODS
blessing to the country.
Year: 1879

After the fall of the Greek Empire in
1853, numbers of Greek scholars left their
homes in the imperial City of Constantine,
where the barbarous Turks had established
Themselves. They carried with them all
their worldly wealth-their precious man
useripts concealed under the folds of their
robes. The poor exiles found warm
welcome and a congenial home in Italy,
where a taste for classical literature had
lately been awakened We cannot help
thinking how Petrarch, who had died
three-quarters of a century before, would
have enjoyed the society Of these learned
Greeks-he who had loved learning so in
tensely, and had done much to cultivate
a taste for it in others. He died as he had
lfved-among his books-for he was found
dead with his head resting upon an open
volume. Now every one seemed smitten
with passionate desire for learning, and
eagerly embraced the opportunity ofprofit-
ing by the instruction Of these ..wise men
from the East Princes, ladies, and
eourtiers were alike enthusiastic. Like a
boy with new toy. they were filled with
delight over some newly-discovered frao-
ment Of an old Greek or Latin author


Now the lately-invented art of PRINTING
came into requisition. Paper had been
made from rags since about the year 1900.
and. with these new facilities, copies Of
the classic authors were rapidly multiplied
and came into the possession Of those who
had never dared to hope to own one


.Aldus Manutius set up printing-press in
Venice In 1888, and sent forth edition after
edition of those splendid classics, called


after him, the Aldine editions, which are
to this day the delight and envy of all
lovers Of rare and costly books. 1t was
not long before the results Of this revival
of learning were plainly to be seen. New
uAys Il thinking had come into fashion


. more correct and refined taste had be-
Year: 1879

WASHINGTON March 8-The Treasury De-
partment purchased about one hundred and
fifty Thousand ounces Of silver on Wednesday
last, all for delivery at the Pacific coast mints.
There were no offers for delivery at New Or
leans.


The appropriation for the maintenance OF
the service OF the Treasury Department was
by the late Congress reduced from 100000 to
100000. The reduction will necessitate an al
most complete reorganization OF the force.
Chief Brooks says that it will compel a reduc-
tion of the force TO two-thirds of the present
number and reduce pay for those retained.
Year: 1879

Whats your occupation" asked
a visitor at the capital of a bright boy
whom he met in the corridor. The boy
happened to be page in the House.
"fm running for Congress. was the
reply.
Year: 1879

miles of voting place leaving his quar-
ters on election day except to relieve guard
or to 60 to the polls to vote, and requires
him in the latter case to return to his quar-
ters Immediately afterwards. The Joint
sub committee will meet Monday, and ex.
pect to report to the caucus committee
Tuesday.


The joint meeting also considered wheth-
er the legislation of the present session
should be strictly confined to the appropri-
alton bills, including the measures above
indicated, or whether general business
should not be transacted by either house
when not engaged on ap-
preparation bills. A decided ma
jority favor restriction to appropriation
bills and the enactment of what is known
as the yellow fever bill A small majority
of the house committee insisted that the
opportunities for transacting general busi-
ness should be improved, without, how
ever, prolonging the session after the
appropriation bills shall have been dis
posed Of Ii was fully decided to report
the disagreement on this subject to the
joint caucus and leave it's settlement to a
majority of the democratic members of
both houses.


The report of the board OF inquiry 10 the
case of Gen. Fitz John Porter has been sent
by the secretary of var to the president.
Year: 1879

the Little Saskatchewan. Every
farmer intends taking a pair of bob
sleds with him. Upon their arrival
at.the end of their railway journey
they intend erecting upon the sled a
light single board tongued and
grooved house, with camp stove of
Russia iron in the middle of it to
heat it and for cooking purpos es.
About $50 feet of dry lumber will
build it. The agricultural imple-
ments for the colony will be sent on
in advance. The light weight of
this little cabin which will be IL
feet long by 6 wide, will enable the
farmer to carry inside oft all nee
essaries. In this house they will
camp during the drive from Winni-
peg west, and if necessary can
spend the summer in it. Travelling
in this way they will cross MYERS
and swamps while they are still
frozen and save the expense ofpur-
chasing wagons Il first ssyear. All
the hauling on the farm can, it is
expected be done upon ihese sIeds
the first year. Schools, churches,
stores, ETC., are being established,
SO that the colony will Immediately
enjoy all the adyantagesof an old
settlement. The promoters of the
colony offer to extend its privileges
to all those who want homes in the
Northwest. Many things have
been provided for the comfort of
the emigrant, and to save him ex-
penses, which cannot be mentioned
here"
Year: 1879

WHERE IS THE STUPIDITY.-Fiy-
id pictures are often drawn of the
stupidity of children, and especially
Of the Ignorance which they display
Of the mes nings Of common Eng
lish words. But such pictures are
more vivid than true. A child may
understand the meaning of woi d
perfectly without being able to ind
a synonym for it. To give def
nitiOn of the commonest word OF
handed Is not always easy. An in
spcctor expressed his surprise that
no child could tell him the meaning
Of the word boat" and upon being
asked himself TO define it, said:


"WhY, a boat is a-boat, you
know. Everybody knows what a
boat is"


The story is too good, perhaps,
to be true; but it points a moral
nevertheless.
Year: 1879

The PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN
American business men are fairly
swarming over Europe. They are
so numerous and Europeans are be-
coming so used to seeing them, that
when new enterprise is brought
upon the markets Of the Old World,
or a new invention is talked about,
the first question is els it Amer
lean 90 The bitterest enemies of
the huge Transatlantic Republic
can not refrain from expressing ad
miration of the energy of her sons.
Like the Englishman who always
began to laugh as soon as he heard
the opening paragraphs of an Amer
lean "yarn"-on the theory that it
was sure to be funny-so our Euro
pean friends summon a ready stock
of wonder whenever the American
business man introduces them to
any new thing. Now he presents a
wondrous pump which would draw
the very entraIIs out of the earth,
if allowed to Operate long enough t;
now a reaping machine SO simple
that the rudest Hungarian peasant
on the seemingly endless plains by
the Danube can manage 1t; now an
electric pen, new motor, a wood
working machine. Each and all re-
ceive prompt notice. If an Ameri-
can proposes to build road, cut a
canal, bridge a stream, drain a
swamp or light a city, he is instant
ly listned TO.