smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

Plumbers arc looked upon as the nat
ural subjects for jokes, doubtless from the
fact that ouly in that way can one get
even with their bills :


\ plumbing establishment few days
ago took on new hand, just arrived from
Wales. On the day after his arrival a
water-pipe in down-t town establishment
burst. He was told to 60 and attend to
it.


Seeing the owner of the house in the
shop he went up to him and got the par
ticulars of the accident, and then made
ready his tools and started. The propri-
etOr shouted:


''Where arc you going!"


The new man told him.


"Do you mean to tell Me thai you alt
going down there to fix that pip. without
examining it, he gasped.


"Why, am going to look at it + "
get there, said the man.


"Wfy,' said the proprietor, catculng
hold Of the desk for support, ''can it be
possible that you would do Job ofwork
at one visit? Don you know your trade
better than that Have you no pride in
your business: Why, you'd ruin the en-.
tire community in less than ayear!"


And the speaker burst into tears. As
soon as he grew calmer he explained to
the new man that he should first visit the
house and make thorough examination
OF the building, got the lay Of the streets.
find the location Of the nearest hydrant,
go, upon the, roof Of the house, and, then
return thoughtfully~ to the shop for his
tools, keeping an accurate account of the
time.
Year: 1879

That species of solemn fantast1cism tot
which the Germans are famous has
reached about its climax in letter of
pastor in Prussian village to one of tn.
leading Berlin papers. The epistle reads
as ii the ghosts of Hoffman, and Hauff
had been galvanized from their graves
especially to write 1t.


Its author commences by deploring the
fact that our modern punishment for
murder simply makes the executioner
guilty Of the same crime as his victim;
that we can only ayenge one ASSASSINATION
by another. A second source of regret to
him is that an execution has virtually be-
come species of brutal and degrading
show. In view Of these facts. he suggests
the following Improvements in capital
punishment:


The scene of an execution shall bc the
courtroom in which the sentence was
pronounced upon the murderer. The
walls of the room shall be draped in
black, and the windows somberly cur
tanned, in order to exclude all light. The
enly article of furniture in the apart
ment shall be the Judges desk and an
arm chair. In the middle of the room
shall be IN iron figure of Justice, with
her scales and sword. This ef6gy shall
have IN place of bowels as powerful an
electric battery as may be necessary.
The battery shall be connected with the
armchair, ond governed by mechanism
in connection with the scales. The seem.
shall be lighted by single torch. burn
ing OH the Judges desk.


The only persons admitted to the cA
ccution shall be the Judge, jury and 9th
er officials concerned in the condemna-
ton Of the victim. That person shall be
brought in and seated in the chair, t.,
which he shall bc manacled immovably


Then the Judgr shall read the story
of his crime to him and reiterate his sen
tencc. This performed, he shall break 9
rod of Office and toss it into Justices bal
ancc.


The scales will be weighed down by
this, and the electric current thus set III
circulation. AS the balance descends the
Judge shall exstinguish1 1the torch, signi-
tying that nc thus puts out the victim $
life.


So, III utter darkness, the subtle cur
rent of the great battery will do its work
Unseen by mortal eyes the condemned
man will expiatc his crime and justice
will literally avenge itself.


It is understood that Edison will be
commissioned to make an experimental
electric statue at once.
Year: 1879

The most farcical of all farces are
some of the edicts of Plunket and his
cabinet at Nashville. His latest is
modification Of Rule No. l, ordering
Superintendent johnson to require
passes from persons entering the city
and ordering none to be issued except
In very urgent cases. The question is
asked, how can those on the outside
receive pass from Mr.. johnson on
the inside2 There has not been a day
since the pass system was inaugurated
that persons have not gone to and
from the city without passes, and
many have passed the picket guards
themselves, no passes being asked for.
If it were not somewhat serious the
whole business would be supremely
ridiculous. Those within the city
and those without, familiar with the
situation are disposed to laugh at the
Plunket theory.
Year: 1879




The gentleman whose name heads
this article is laboring with all the
energy and industry he possesses in
the interest of the cause he represents,
that Of chief of quarantine for the
State at this point The LEDGER is
on record in opposition to several of
the measures he is attempting to en-
force. There are various reasons for
this all believed to be sound and logi-
cal, and to which it is unnecessary
here to refer. Mr.. johnson is GER
tainly conscientious in the performance
Of his duty, or what he concieves to
be his duty at least, and this journal
has no word Of unkindness for him.
On the contrary the untiring industry
and vigor he has displayed in the
Office he fills, is in keeping with his
previous reputation as a man Of action
and force, He no doubt regards
many of the onerous edicts of his
supericrs at Nashville with disfavor;
in fact it is well known that privately
he has not approved of several, yet
being only an executive officer he CON
sidered it his province to carry out
the noxious orders to the best of his
ability The attempted execution of
them has aroused a strong feeling of
indignation in many circles and friends
of Mr.. johnson have expressed fear
that it will tell against him in the
future. This, however, it is to be
hoped will not result. The folly of
many quarantine regulations is so
apparent and so futile in effect, chat
it is hoped the evils will be easily
remedied, should we ever be so
unfortunate as to be the only city on
the continent again afflicted with yell
low fever. In the mean time a pleas.
ant greeting is extended to Mr.. John
johnson. No more efficient person
could be found than he is, to ex-
ecute board of health or any other
orders, be they popular or otherwise,
and it is to be hoped that no friend
of the gentleman will think hard of
him, for simply trying to do his duty
The onerous, obnoxious and useless
regulations emanate from other quar-
ters. They do not have their origin
with John. johnson.
Year: 1879

everything look so CHEEKY and bright,
such halo all over the mountains, so
to speak, and rendered summer an
imaginary season. General Wilder
has built comfortable house of six
rooms near the hotel, in which he and
his family spend their summers. He
proposes to give a mountain lot to
every gentleman who will erect a sum-
mer residence upon it. We must not
forget to state that the mountain is
becoming a popular resort for hay
fever sufferers, though the first ex-
pertinent was made last season by Mr..
VIM. P. Ferris, of Nashville, and
others, when complete exemption is
said to have been obtained.


Very few Memphians had visited
the mountain up to the time we were
there last, August 14th. Miss Grace
Llewellyn came over with some East
Tennessee friends the day before we
reached there on that occasion, and
spent several days, apparently intoxi-
Gated all the while with the beauties
around her. Colonel Hugh G. HamiI-
ton was there also, having been there
several weeks. He was fully equipped
for fishing, but we have an idea that
he didn't think well of that portion of
"the circular" that referred to the
beautiful brooks, teeming with noun
tain trout, except, perhaps, from
literary standpoint. We did find an
abundance of trout up there, however;
but we needed no hook and line to
catch them, for we captured them with
fOrks-they were on the table.


A volume might be written about
the things of beauty aud interest on
the Roam, but as the LEDGER is not
in the bookmaking business, we desist.


The LEDGER comes regularly every
evening. G..
Year: 1879

We have a pair of good friends at
Pine Bluff, Ark, in the persons of
Major Charles G. Newman and Mr..
Sam G. Ryan, who edit the Weekly
Press at that fourishing place. The
able newspaper which they conduct
always reaches us freighted with
news items and would be literally
reproduced in the LEDGER but for
the fact that a multitude of duties
just now prevents more than a casual
glance at their excellent journal. The
lively city of Pine Bluff is situated in
the midst of the finest cotton produc-
ing region in the world. 1t is a grow
ing place and large share of the
trade of its merchants as we'll as the
planting community Of the vicinage,
seek this market as that in which to
sell their cotton and replenish their
stores with goods and supplies. A
feeling of comfy and generous cor
diality has long prevailed between
Pine Bluff and the people thereabouts
and those of this place. This has been
plainly exhibited during the past few
months by several kindly articles
which have appeared in the Press.
In the issue of Thursday last there
was the following sympathetic and SEN
sible paragraph Memphis will rise,
Phenix-like, throw off her mantle Of
distress after the first killing frost.
Her property owners will set about
toward putting the city in good con-
dition, and the public will be sur
prised to see how that city will grow
in the next ten years. Mark our pre-


dictionl" "
Year: 1879

SECRETARY ScHURz received an in
vitation to address the recent Repub-
lican convention in Colorado. He
accepted and made a speech, in which
he reiterated his well known views on
the currency question, favoring the
gold standard. He was somewhat
astonished in reading next morning,
in the platform of the Colorado Repub-
licans, resolution demanding that
congress enact a law providing for
the unlimited coinage of the silver
dollar on such terms as shall secure
to the people the benefits of gold and
silver as a circulating medium"
Year: 1879

SUBSCRIBERS who wish 10 re-
new will do us a favor by SEND
ING MONEY before their time
expires, as our mail list Is very
large, and our force to do the
work small. NO USE TO SEND
ORDERS WITHOUT the MONEY.
Year: 1879

The subscription price of the DAILY
PUBLIC LEDGER is IS per annum and
SOC per month fOrlsss than one year, The
WEEKLY LEDGER Is 81 per annum-
postage free.


Persons leaving the city for the summer
can order the DAILY LEDGER at SOC per
month in advance, with the privilege of
changing pOstOfioe.
Year: 1879

A REPUBLICAN paper says Charles
Francis Adams is apt to know what
he is about We have always thought
so since he declared that Hayes in the
White House was fraud first
Triumphant in American historY.n
Year: 1879

An old farmer once said he would not
have hired man on his farm who did
not habitually whistle. lie alway Us hired
whistlcrs. He never knew whistling
laborcr to find fault with his food, his bed,
or complain Of any extra work he was
asked to perform. Such a man was gen.
orally kind to children and animals in his
care. He would whistle chilled lamb
into warmth and life, and would bring
in his hat full of eggs from the barn with
out breaking one of them. He found
such a man more careful about closing
gates, putting up bars, and seeing that the
nuts OIL his plow were all properly tight
cncd before he took it out into the field.
He never knew whistling hired man to
beat or kick COW or drive her on a run
into the stable. He had noticed that the
sheep that he fed in the yard or shed
gathered around him as he whistled
without fear. He had unemployed 4
whistler who was not thoughtful, and
economical. -'''
Year: 1879

You were made to be kind and gcncr-
GUS and magnanimous. If there is Il boy
in the school Who has a club-foot, don't
let him know you saw it. If there is a
poor boy with ragged clothes, don't talk
about his rags in his hearing. If there is
lame boy, assign him some part of the
game which does not require running.
If there is dull one help him to get his
lessons. If there is a brig ght one, be not
envious of him; for if one boy is proud of
his talents, and another is cnvious of
them, these arc two great wrongs, and no
more talents than before If larger or
stronger boy has injured you, and is sorry
for it, forgive him and request the teach
er not to punish him. All the school will
show by their countcnanccs how much
better it is to have, a great soul than a
great tist.-Horace Mann.
Year: 1879

CAUCUS OF DEMOCRATIC SENATOR'S


sWAsHxaroN,' June 9.-Ihe Democratic
members of the Senate assembled in caucus
soon after the adjournment of that body this
afternoon. and renal ed in private consulta-
ton nearly three hours. The caucus was called
At the instance of friends of the Warner silver
bill with view to convincing their colleagues
that in . party point of view it would be de-
sirable to procure final action on that measure
by tho Senate during the present session; a. q
me ans to that end it WAS suggested that the
Dsmocratic members of the finance committee
should agree to report back the bill Immediate
" without recommendation, or that other wise
sSe,, s6e dom.n.nt :.a party in the Senate
ing resolution which provides for bring
ing the bill forthwith before tho Senate by
discharging the committee from its further
consideration. 1t was not proposed to make
IT caucus measure, except to the extent of
insuring prompt action on it, but the discus
sion to-day developed such inmovable opposi-
ton to tho bill on the part of some Senators,
and such irreconcilable differences of opinion
as to the question of expediency involved in
the suggestions above noted, that no PROPOSE
tion Whatever Was pushed to a vote and the
caucus adjourned without taking any action
and without its members being nearer
an agreement than when they assembled.
The speakers in favor Of the bill were
Senators Thurman, Beck, Voorhees,, Garland,
Maxey, Hereford, Coke and Pendlcton. Sena-
tors Bayard, Eaton and Herman made the prin
cipal speeches in opposition to the bill. The
merits of the bill were debated only incident
ally, thero being no hope of changing opinions
concerning them, but the question of the
probable effects of its passage by the Senate in
connection with its antici pated veto by the
PRESIDENT was the subject of very animated
discussion. On one hand It was argued that
the effect would be to give increased strength
To the Democracy in the West and especially
in the coming Ohio contest. On the other hand
It was insisted that aside from the doubt
whether the bill would obtain a majority vote
in the Senate. its passage by the
dominant party in that body
would tend to alienate Democratic votes in the
Eastern states, and notably in New York and
Connecticut. It was also earnestly argued in
opposition to the demands for immediate &C.
tion upon the bill, that the friends of the BIZ
metallic system would most effectually pro-
mote the permanent establishment of a double
standard in the country by deferring the present
measure until next session, and thus avoid an
alleged threatened embarrassment to efforts al
ready IN progress to establish an international
common ratio of values betw the precious
metals. The indications in the caucus to-day
were that at least eight or nine Democratic Sen
ators will vote against Coke's pending resolu-
ton, and that it will therefore be defeated
Year: 1879

An Ohio farmer was greatly annoyed
by the inroads of sheep upon his grain
field, and raised the hci ght of his fence.
A ram was the only one of the flock that
could leap it, but he enabled his COM
panions to do so by placing himself
alongside and offering his back for them
to jump on before clearing it.
Year: 1879

London, Sept. 30.-A Vienna dis
patch says it is now certain that Prince
Gortschakoff will visit Berlin, although
the date is not yet fixed. The prince
acts on his own initiative in making
this visit, the object of which is to con-
suit Bismarck on his recent journey to
Wen ma.
Year: 1879

In his sermon on Sunday last Henry
Ward Beecher said,


"The great question to-day is wheth-
er certain Returning Boards counted
out or did not count out certain candi-
dates when the fact is, that there is
no man but knows that before the
election there were frauds peTpetrated


by terrorism and violence; citizens
were robbed of their rights. and suff-
rage was made amOckery. Applause. |


About that the newspapers forgot /;


but they awOke when the OdOr of per-
sOnal corruption arose. Does anybody
doubt that if Louisiana had been let
alone to exercise her own viii she


would have swept the whole question
into the sea, where it never would
have been heard of again? But when
il became a different matter, when
the little Board got tOgetherand began


its peculiar work, when the question


of two and two make five laughter
came up, then the conscience of arith-
metic WAS aroused: but as for the con-
science for humanity there was no de-
mand for any Of that"


Mr.. Bcecher paused for about half 4
minute advanced TO the right of
the desk with a tremulOus and feeble
motion. continued: If there is an


old, crafty paralytic; if there be any


leader who Is a representative of an
extinguished fame; any man who rep


rcsents the dying out of a glorious en-
! thusiaSm for the faith Of our fathers


or, if any man who is the representa-
tive of calculating cunning and craft,
hold him UP and say to this nation


This is the symbol and the represen-
tative Of what you Will become if YOU
have not a conscience about national.
mOrality.'
Year: 1879

Never lean with yOur back upon
anything that is cold. Never begin a
journey until the breakfast has been
eaten. Never take warm drinks and
then Immediately go out i'll the cold
air. Keep the back-eSpecially the
shoulder blade-well covered, also the
chest well protected. In sleeping in a
cold room, establish the habit of
breathing through the nose, and never
with the mouth open. Never go to
bed with cold or damp feet; always
toast them by a fire ten or fifteen min
uteS before going to bed. Never omit
regular bathing, for unless the skin is
in active condition the cold will close
the pores, and favor congestion or 9TH
er diseases. After exercises OF any
kind never ride in an open carriage OF
near the window of Il car for a mo-
ment; it is dangerous to health and
even TO life When hOarse, speak as
little rs possible until it is recovered
from, else the Voice may be perma-
nently lost. or difficulties of the throat
may be produced. Merely warm the
back by Il fire. and never continue
keeping the back exposed to heat after
it has become comfortably warm. To
do otherwise IS debilitating. When
going from a warm atmosphere into 4
colder one. keep the mouth closed SC
that the air may be warmed by its pas
sage through the nose, ere it reaches
the lungs. Never stand still in cold
weather, especially after having takeT
a slight degree of exercise; and always
avoid standing on ice or snow, Ol
where Il person IS exposed to a cold
wind.-IlJGHy Argus.
Year: 1879

In extremely cold weather the ami
mails should be cared for earlier in the
morning than usual. Curry and brush
the horses little longer, and don't fail
to card ths cows. Cattle ought To
have access TO the sunshine, which
they naturally seek if they have the
chance. Horses do better if they are
exercised daily, but they need good
care after it. Il is common To see a
man tie his horse to a post, toss an old
robe over his back, and then leave
him for an hour or longer In
few minutes the animal he
comes restless, and in moving
about the robe is thrown under foot.
Every owner of horse ought to own a
good blanket that can be fastened
around the breast of the animal, where
protection is needed most. Act upon
this precautiOn. and tie the horse so
that he will not face the wind, and he
will DE saved much discomfort and
perhaps more serious trouble.
Year: 1879

Applying cold water to a bruise or
confusion stops, more or less, the blood
in its course through the injured part.
The spot is "black and blue Apply
ing hot water compels the moving fluid
10 hasten it's course and be far away
from the scenes of turmoil. So the
blood hastens on its way and leaves
very few marks OF its presence. Or
dinarily, bruises and cOntusiOns rup-
ture some capillary blood tubes, and
allow the blood to OOZe out. The thing
to be done is to compel the blood to
flow on its wOnted way. The appllca-
ton Of very warm water is the best
treatment for cOntusiOns and bruises.
Year: 1879

The "inyisible patch" on boots and
shoes is thing that the owner of dilap-
ldated fancy feet coverings delights in.
But to get one put on by the cObbler
costs nearly rs much rs by the old way.
This need not be, for any boy can put
them on himself in the following way,
given by correspondent of the COUn-
try Gentleman:


Take gutta percha, half ounce; bi-sul-
phuret carbon, two ounces. In wide
mouth bottle put the two together, and
shake occasionally until the gutta
percha is dissolved and it is ready for
use, when the patch is To be applied,
scrdpe the boot or shoe until the black
ing is off and the leather is "A little
rough, On this dust with fine resin,
minuteSt quantity; serve the patch the
same way. Then spread a little Of the
cement on both the shoe and the
patch, first having shaved the
edges of the patch. Apply like court
plaster, and smooth with "a warm
spoon or iron, and the shoe will soon
be ready to wear. 4 few hours will
harden the cement When properly
done the patch will he Invisible, and
will last as long as the shoe. This
cement is waterproof, The gutta
percha, shaved to thin slices, is kept in
India rubber stores for the above pur-
poses. Ten cents worth will do the
work of a family for a long time. The
bi-Sulphuret of carbon is sold by drug
gists, and will cost five or ten cents an
ounce. The smell, which is offensive
soon passes off.
Year: 1879

The lawyers frequently have appli-
cants for divorce who give singular
grounds for their petition. but the
most singular one came last week
when a young woman of Westtield
asked for a divorce from her newly
made husband because he had very
thick lips. The lawyer told her she
could hardly get divorce on that
ground, and suggested that usually the
wife knew what kind Of lips her hus-
band had before marriage. The par
ties in question are we'll known in town
and were married only week or two
ago, but separated the day after the
ceremony. The husband is not over
twenty-five, and. though a member of
the church and never liquor drinkeT,
got drunk soon after the separa-
ton, and in disgust has left town,
where he had lived since a boy
Springfield (MGSS.) Republican.
Year: 1879

Our present modes of using fuel are
generally understood to be exceedingly
waSteful. In cooking, the draft reqmir.
ell is less, and so there is less waste
but there is no doubt that under Ordi-
nary circumstances four or five times
as much heat goes up the chimney rs
is used. y great saving can be made
even with ordinary appliances, if the
cook will keep careful watch of the
damper. Many times, the reason why
''the oven will not bake" is that the
draught is too strong, After the fire
is going well, the damper may be turn.
ed so az TO delay the escape of the
heated gases, and thus much heat may
be saved.
Year: 1879

Boil two chickens in merely water
enough to make them tender; take
them out when done; remove all the
bones; mince the meat very fine; sea-
son with salt, pepper and butter, and
return them tn the water in which
they We're boiled; cook until the liquid
is nearly gone; pour into a deep dish |;
lay plate over it; put on weight and
set away in a cool place. When ready
To be eIten cut 1t in slices and it will he
rs firm As cheese, and is very nice for a
Sunday evening tea.