smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

Two soldiers of an Anglo-Indian regi


ment, near Lucknow, last summer, left
their encampment to indule in a bath.
They had portion of jungle to cross,
and in doing 30, the foot of one of them
slipped into q hole. This proved to be
an old elephant trap. The soldier got
his foot Withdrawn from the trap, though
at the cost of his shoe, which the close
ness of the branches caused to come off.
On looking down to see whether his
shoe was gone, and if it was recoverable,
he beheld sight which made tim
shake from sheer horror. Through the
opening made by his foot, he saw an
enormous boa constructor, with its body
coiled up, and it's head curved, watch
ing the opening above, and evidently
prepared to dart on the falling prey.


Hurrying from the spot, the SOL
diers informed their officers, who re-
paired to the trap with firearms. The
creature was still there, and had most
probably remained in the place for a
long time, preying on the unfortunate
animals, great and small, which tum-
bled into his den. Ball and swan shot
soon brought the reptiles life to close,
and it was pulled out of the hole. 1t
proved to be fifteen feet long, and about
the general thickness of a can's thigh
Year: 1878

Most persons would agree that the
rose has enough in it's perfume and


beauty to sustain its pretensions to be
queen OF flowers but it seems that the
rose can be made exquisite also to a
third sense. Not long ago confection
of rose petals was served to Emperor
William, It was the gift of an English
lady, and came from Alexandria, where
the rose thus prepared is considered a
strengthening as well as delicate dish,


but Egyptian cooks are said to be the
only ones who understand the art of
preparing it, and the right species Of
rose for this purpose grows only in that
region. A Smyrna house, however, ex-
ports jelly of roses. Perhaps re-
search might find way of converting
other flowers besides Eastern roses into
delicate food. In that case, cookery and
Horticulture would strike.up Q closer al
lance than it now seems possible for
them toShaye. -
Year: 1878

The New York Mercantile Journal
says We cut the following from an ex.
change whose editor, it is to be hoped
for the good of the country, will long
stay ont of the "bone patch" His
words will bear repeating to other sub.
scribers than his own:


"MoNEY WANTED. We must have
money-it is useless to say We can do
without it, for We can not. II we we're
to die and go to the bone patch we might
get along without it, but whilewe live
we must have some money. From this
date we shall expect every one in debt
to us to at once pay US. Some can easily
do it, others must borrow the sum due
and send it, for we can bear no ones
burdens. Let it be 80 that We need not
ask again, for it is too painful for US
longer to bear what we are now bear
inn. - - "a &C u Is ~ y:
Year: 1878

A correspondent of the Cleveland
Leader says that the natural gas wells
of East Liverpool, Ohio, form one of the
seven wonders of the world. They are
situated in and around the city, and give
it continual supply of the finest light.
The gas is almost as free as the air. It
costs practically nothing, and forms the
illuminator and heater of the town. The
city is lighted by it, and the street
lamps blaze away at MONDAY as well as
at midnight. 1t costs nothing to let
them burn, and it takes trouble to put
them out. Its light is not the Pickering
mockery of poorly manufactured gas,
but fame which pro1imates in its
brilliancy that of the electric light. Al
most the entire fuel use. in the town is
this gas. It is conducted into the CRATES
and stoves in pipes, and by it all the
cooking and heating are done. It is
also used in furnishing steam power for
many of the largest pottery and iron
stone china manufacturing establish
ments, twenty-five of which are in
operation and busily engaged, employ
ing over two thousand hands, and which
it is considered Justly entitled East
Liverpool to be designated as "the
ceramic city" of America. Regarding
the duration OF the supply from these
wells it is stated that the first well dis
covered now burns as brightly as when
it was first opened, and for the last
twenty years has never tagged in it's
brilliancy, and none of those now in
operation have ever shown any signs Of
giving out. For years Liverpool used
manufactured gas, never dreaming of
the rich supply that was wasting away
daily under its very feet. The poor
quality of the manufactured product in
duced the opening of the first well in
1859. This well, which is four hundred
and fifty feet deep, has been furnishing
fuel and light to several houses, pro.
ducing the steam for large engine, and
burning pottery kilns, every day for
over twenty years.
Year: 1878

The Joplin (Mo.) Herald says From
Mrs. Masmer, the proprietor of one OF
the largest saw and planning mills in
northwestern Arkansas, we learn of a
terrible tragedy which not long since
was enacted near her place, in fact on
her lands. Mrs. Masmer is we'll known
in southwest Missouri as one Of the
largest dealers in pine lumber in this sec
tion of the country, and who sells large
bills of lumber to the merchants of the
Southwest. Mrs. Masmer's story is
that she noticed passing by her mills a
couple OF men who were riding very
hard, and evidently in hurry to get
away from somewhere. They had passed
but few minutes when body of men
six in number-came riding by, evi-
IDENTIFY in pursuit of the two men who
had passed previously. In the course
of half an hour afterward Mrs. Masmer
started on horseback to the opposite
side of the mountain for the purpose
looking after some lumbermen who were
engaged in getting out logs for the mill.
When on the top of the mountain she
espied, in the shadow of giant pine,
eight men who she recognized as the two
former and the six latter who had a
short time before passed her mill in
such apparent hurry. They appeared
to be in very earnest conversation,
which they ceased as she rode by, show.
ing that their words we're not intended
for her ears. After visiting her work
men she returned by the same spot
where she had two hours previously
passed the eight men. She saw none OF
them there at the first glance, but on
casting her eyes upward, as she rode
under the tree, was Mortified upon see:
ing two bodies dangling at ropes end
full twenty feet from the ground. Mrs.
Masmer notified the proper authorities,
who buried the bodies, but could learn
nothing regarding them, except that
they were southwest Missouri horse
thieves, and had been lynched by indig-
nant citizens for their crimes.
Year: 1878

Springfield, Ohio, is getting its name
up for runaway matches, according to a
western paper, which says: Only a
short time ago young couple of Spring
field ran away from raging fathers re-
volver and club, and were married on a
railroad train going forty miles an hour.
They had hardly stolen away into bliss
full privacy before another Springfield
couple steal a march on one set of
parents and big brothers. Mr.. Burt O.


Taylor is the only son of the leading
coal merchant Of Springfield. Miss
Florence Arthur is the oldest daughter
of large planning mill proprietor. The
young people, moving in the same good
society, became acquainted years ago,
and the more they saw of each other the
better they liked one another. Taylor
was most exemplary young man, and
great favorite in society, but for some
reason, or no reason, the parental Ar


thurs and some of the young lady's
brothers violently opposed Taylor's at
tentions and evident intentions towards
Florence. At length they forbade the
young man the house and made threats
of demolishing him by various processes
if he did not cease his following after the
girl. They also threatened her with
casting out and utter disownment if she
ever married Taylor. On the other
hand everybody else of their whole ac-
quaintance was in favor of the match
and sympathized with the young couple
under their prosecutions. They con-
tinued to meet at the houses of mutual
friends, and their minds we're fully
made up. At length the paternal Tay-
lor told his son that he had house
ready for him to live in whenever he
wanted a separate establishment. He
also provided Miss Florence with a we'd
ding outfit, which was slowed away in
trunks. And, moreover, his son being
just under age he procured for him a
marriage license. The girl was eighteen
and her own woman, and 80 everything
was prepared for hasty wedding and a
swift departure from Springfield. One
day lately it happened that Mr.. and
Mrs. Arthur were away from home at
tending the funeral of relative, and it
also happened that Mr.. Taylor was at a
funeral. The young couple met with a
prospect of two or three hours sweet
peace, and resolved to employ the time
in getting married. They informed some
of their nearest friends, repaired to a
minister's, thence to church, and were
married without interruption. They left
with their trunks on the next train, and
the old Arthurs came home from a fune-
raj to be amazed by the report of the
marriage, bridal trip and honeymoon
begun. At last accounts they we're sui
lenly thinking about it all, and Spring
field was blaming them for their unrea-
sonable opposition, and joyful over the
union of the persecuted young lovers.
Year: 1878

GRAPE JAM.-Separate the skins from
the pulps, keeping them in separate
dishes put the pulps in the preserving
kettle with small cup Of water; whep
thoroughly heated run them through
the colander to separate the seeds then
put the pulps and skins together and
weigh; to each pound Of fruit put three
fourths OF o pound OF sugar add cold
wafer enough to keep from burning !;
cook slowly three fourths Of an hour.
Year: 1878

A cunning Californian tore his cloth.
ing, rolled himself in the dust and tied
himself to a tree by the wayside, hop.
ing to excite the pity of the passengers
of the stage-coach when it came along
by relating how he had been robbed by
highwaymen. The stage that day took
a short cut by new road, and when the
cunning Californian was about to unite
himself grizzly bear came along and
ate part of his leg.
Year: 1878

Two men go to farmhouses in Illinois,
pretend to be gatherers of statistics for
the agricultural department, stay all
night, insist on paying for their enter
tainment, and depart with good change
for bad twenty-dollar bill.
Year: 1878

In the Alps recently Mr.. and Mrs.
Wainwright and Christian Grass, their
guide, fell down a preoipice. Hans
Grass, the other guide, was q man of
strength, and the rope by which the
four were corded together was stout,
and throwing himself backward by sheer
force of muscle he held them suspended
and cried to his brother to cut steps in
the ice and mount, and be quick about
it for he could not sustain them for more
than half an hour. Mr.. Wainwright
had not dropped his hatchet, which he
handed to the guide, who soon reached
the edge of the crevasse; his brother,
still sustaining the Wainwrights, gave
him hand and drew him up, then they
hauled up their tourists, and all returned
little the worse for their frightful adven-
ture.
Year: 1878

A correspondent of New York paper
who processes to have been cured of the
opium habit at the New York State inc.
briate asylum, says that no drug can
take the place of opium, and that those
persons who profess to cure the opium
habit by giving substitute are mostly
charlstans. He was not entirely de-
prived of the accustomed stimulant at
once, but was allowed small portion
for two weeks in daily decreasing doses.
After the opium had been abandoned he
was given belladonna by day and hydrate
of chloral at night. The chloral was to
induce sleep; this was reduced from
what would be equivalent to about
thirty grains of the salt until at the end
Of month it was nothing at all. By
this time he could sleep without it. BE
was cured in month, and in the two
months that he remained there after.
ward gained in weight twenty pounds.
Year: 1878

HUNTING FOR WATER WITH A ROD.-A CORES
pOndent of the Bloomfield (Pa.) Times, writing on
this subject, says:


"Perhaps you and many of your readers do not
believe in hunting for water by means of a rod.
1 am forced to believe in this theory by my expe-
rience as shown in the following statement


"About three years since | wanted water on my
place badly. A young man who professed 10 tell
where to obtain water was at my house. Going
out with him he walked to a certain spot in my
yard and said, "you can strike small stream Of
water here in forty feet" l told him that it did
not suit me to have well there We then next
went near the corner of the house, when the young
man again stopped, his rod turning in his hand
and said: "0h, here is the place, for inside of
thirty feet you will get plenty of water with but
little rock. In l9 or 20 feet you will strike wild
stream, but don't stop there" This place did not
exactly suit me, and so the young man went to
other places but though he said there were several
places where water could be found, he advised me
against digging there owing to the rock he said L
would have to contend with. And so positive was
he in regard to the corner of the house being the
best place, that 1 declared to yield to his judg-
ment, though by so doing was compelled to move
my grape arbor and fruit tree


"This was in the spring of the year, but we did
not commence digging till in June. We did not
find the wild stream the young man mentioned,
but we got plenty of water inside Of the 80 feet,
with only 40 cents expense for blasting. When
we began walling the well in September there how
ever, came on wet spell and then the wild stream
the young man spoke of made its appearance and
flowed into the well quite freely. During every
wet spell the wild stream makes its appearance,
but at all times we have plenty of water Even
during this remarkable dry season when so many
wells 60 dry mine gives plentiful supply for
ourselves and neighbors. / should perhaps say
that before depending upon his birch rod he asked
for some iron to see whether there was any
mineral which would effect his rod, but finding
there was none, he commenced his search for wa
ter. Now don't say that this is an infalible
rule but make this statement that your readers
may see that it is fact that some persons tell
where water is by the use of a rod"
Year: 1878

THE NEWSPAPER BUsINEss.-Here is how a
brother journalist puts it: We suppose that
many people think that newspaper men are per-
sistent duns let farmer place himself in a sim
liar business position and see if he would not do
the same. Suppose he raised one thousand bush
els of wheat, and his neighbor should come and
buy bushel, and the price was a small matter of
only two dollars or less, and the neighbor says, "I
will hand you the amount in few days" As the
farmer did not want to be small about the matter
he says all right, and the man leaves with the
wheat Another comes in the same way until the
whole of the one thousand bushels of wheat are
trusted out to one thousand different persons and
not one of the purchasers concerns himself about
it, for it is a small amount that he owes the farm
er, and of course that would not help him any
He does not realize that the farmer has frittered
away all his large crop of wheat, and that its
value is due him in thousand little driblets, and
that he is seriously embarrassed in his business
because his debtors treat it as little matter But
if all would pay him promptly, which they could
do as well as not, it would be very large amount
to the farmer and enable him to carry on his bus
iness without difficulty. The above comparison
is too true of the difficulties that the newspaper
man has to contend with.
Year: 1878

TAKE CARE OF THE IMPLEMENTs.-It is la
mentable fact that large majority of our farm
ers lose as much from a want of proper care of
tools as from the actual wear-and-tear of them.
Repeated wetting and drying Injuries, sooner or
later any kind of woodwork ; the moisture get
ting into the cracks soon begins the work ofdecay.
This may be prevented by the timely and ocea-
sional application of some cheap paint. Much
has been said and written upon the value of tool
houses and it is hardly necessary for us to add
our mite to the general array; but providing the
tool house is not all that should be done if the
shovels, spades and forks are brought into the
tool-house with the dirt sticking to them, and in
that condition are allowed to remain through the
winter or until they again needed. All prac-
tical farmers know how much better a bright
plow turns the furrow, how much easier it is on
the team and driver, and yet they viii bring their
plows and harrows in every fall with the dirt
sticking to them, and let them be so until again
wanted, much to their own loss.


There are various mixtures which might be ap-
piled to the iron to prevent rusting, the cheapest
of which is common (unsalted) grease. A better
article may be formed by melting together six
pounds of fresh mot salted) lard and two of rosin
An old iron pot is good thing to keep and com
pound the mixture in. As soon as a tool is done
being used for the season clean it of and give 1t
a coat of this mixture and even if it remains un-
disturbed for years, it will come out as bright as
when put away. Implements properly eared-for
will not only last nearly twice as long as when
this is not the case but, as we said before, they
are far better in every way.-Germ0ntoscn 1ete-
graph.
Year: 1878

Hearing one day that peasant had found a
vault full of wheat each grain of which was as big
a date-stone, certain king desired greatly to
know what manner of men lived on earth at the
time when that corn grew. Being advised to con
suit a wise and aged yeoman, he sent messenger
to him with a sample of the grain. On the way
the messenger met friend, who begged him to
ask the wise old man two other questions :-"Why
does mans hair turn white when he grows old
and why does age improve mans good looks and
impair those of woman 2" The messenger found
out the old yeoman, and proposed to him his first
problem. The old man, whose hair was blanched
and whose form vas bowed and broken by age,
said he knew nothing about the corn, and referred
the visitor to his elder brother. The second old
man, though more aged than the first, was much
more active and vigorous, and his beard had not
yet turned gray He also said he knew nothing
about the corn, and sent the messenger on to a
third and still older brother. This very old man
turned out to be bX far the least aged in appear
ance of the three, Ms beard being quite black and
his figure still youthful. From him the messenger
obtained an answer TO all his questions. A hun
dred years previously, it seemed there lived on
earth people who were yerv. cd feqrin~


pious and in return for t6eii s.y dId ln,


Oeive from the almighty that wOndrous gift OF
gigantic grain. As regards white hair, continued
the sage blond of black locks the sign of youth
but white is 'the sign of age on account of the
cearness of its thoughts" With respect to the
different effect of age upon men and women, that
arises from the fact that man was made of earth,
which improves the longer it lies fallOw whereas
woman was made of flesh, which is liable to decay
and corruption. Having received these answers,
the messenger asked, moreover, how, it was that
the youngest of the three brothers was the most
decrepit, and the eldest least This also the sage
explained. His youngest brother, he said, had
foul land and an ugly and vicious wife; therefore
was he so worn in appearance. The second broth
er possessed good land, but his wife, too, had
and Oul-favOred; therefore did he seem old, though
not so stricken in years as his younger brother
But he himself he went on to say, was blessed not
only with good land, but also with good-lOOking
and good hearted wife, and therefore, was it that
be, although the eldest of the three brothers, was
by far the youngest in heart and frame for the
proverb truly says that "a mans home is either
his heaven or his hell"
Year: 1878

As through the busy street pass,


Often in sun and rain.
/ mark some pleasant household group,
Behind a window-pane
The mother is politely blind.


The father does not see,
But if note baby there,


The baby smiles at me.
Dear sinless soul Of babyhood,


She does not coldly wait
To ask about the bank account.


Or bonds, or real estate
With small soft face against the pane,
And dove-like COO the while,
She beckons with her dainty hand.


And answers back my smile.
She does not scorn my glance because
She never heard my name.
Nor query of my social place,


Nor question whence 7 came
No tedious rule of etiquette


Reetrains her loving glance.
Or chills the winning smile that lights
Her lovely wildfower face.
She knows me by the name!ess sense.



That wisdom sweet and fine,
Which babies have ere time has spoiled
Their innocence divine
The strange unerriBg magnetism


Which some kind angel sends,
BY which all sinless things perceive


Aud recogniZs their friends;
Which draws the pigeons to my hand.
Fearless and trnstul still,
Which makes the social sparrow crowd
My friendly window-sill
The silent sympathy which makes


The homeless dog meet
Forget bis hungry lonesomeness


To fawn about my feet
All! though the world seems full.


sometimes


Vi darkness aud Of dust,
The soul is not quite desolste


Which birds and babies trust
Life is not all wilderness.


Made up of grief and guile.
While eyes 80 shadowless and sweet


Smile back to eyes that smile
Year: 1878

Several wears ago, when Campbellism
was exerting considerable influence in
( kentucky, the preachers Of that sect
were in the habit at the close of their
sermons. TO announce to their audiences
that they would be glad TO answer any
questions that any person might wish 70
ask, or explain any passage of the word
of God that might not then be under
stood.


One evening, in Mt. Stirling. KY, al
the close Of his sermon, one Of the preach
ers of that Church started that he would
take pleasure in removing any difficulty
that might exist in the mind of any per-
son present in reference to any PASSAGE in
the Bible, and requested his audience to
ask for any information they might wish,


The house was crowded to its utmost
capacity. On a seat in the rear Of the
church there sat a tall, roughly-dreSsed
man, who arose TO his feet and said:


Miste', I have got Il difficulty"


The preacher replied


Statei it.


The stranger said r


Mister it is a very grave difficulty
and I am afraid YOU cannot remove it"


The preacher repeated with emphasis
State your difficulty"


Mister, it is a very bad difficulty, and
] hate to bother you with it, but | would
give anything in the world to have II
explained" said the inquirer.


The preacher showing considerable
restlessness, said


g. If YOU will state your difficulty | will
at once remove it


The stranger said:


Well, now, mister, hate to interrupt
YOU, but you told Us to AK you any ques-
tions, and its not my tault if YOU can't
tell what | want to know. It's big
difficulty with me. In the Testament, you
see, way over in the back part Of it, there
Is IN account of beast that had seven
heads and ten horns. Have YOU read of
him."


"Yes; certainly, replied the minister.


The stranger continued


"Well now, there must have been more
than one horn on some Of the heads :;
don't you think so p


Yes"


The stranger then said


"Well, now we come TO the difficulty.
1t is this How many heads had more
than one horn, and did any of them
have more than two, and ifso, which heads
were they"


The audience became thoroughly con-
vulsed with laughter, while the preacher,
fully realizing the situation, said


Let us arise and receive the benedic-
ton"


Although we had frequently heard
Campbellite preachers, previous to that
time, make The request OF their audiences
Ut the close Of their sermons, to ask any
questions they might wish we do not re-
member since then Of any such privilege
being granted.
Year: 1878

At a political meeting in Philadelphia on
Tuesday evening, some Oue threw large stone
At Speaker Randall. who was addressing the
crowd The Speakers escape was very mar
row as the stone struck a door Immediately
behind him. No arrests were made