smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

THR EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONVENTION YES
TERDAY'-In the Episcopal general convention
yesterday the friends and opponents Of Dr. Sew
mour, the rejected bishop of Illinois, had some
conversation about an exchange OF papers re-
latIng to his case, but the house laid the whole
matter on the table. The committee on the
state or the church made report in favor OF the
creating Of a building fund. The churches i'm
the south were commended to the benevoence
Of their more fortunate sister churches in the
Dorth. a resolution was adopted providing for
a division OF the diocese Of Wisconsin. Greater
part OF the session was taken up by the debate
on ritualsm.
Year: 1874

NNHERE was not more noble craft
n than the "Saucy Kate" when she
sailed out of Marsailles harbcrin the spring
of so, and no ship was ever blessed with a
pleasanter company-who had taken the
4" Saucy Kate for New Orleans. Promi-
nent among us was British officer, who
was on his way to America, French
Able, a Kentucky farmer, and lady from
Louisiana, who was returning home with
her daughter


This daughter was the star of the COM
pany. Her name was Ida Greville, and it
was whispered that she was heiress to a
large fortune in slaves and plantations.
Yet this was not the charm that won hom-
age from all, and even from those who
might have refused TO touch property
which lay in plantation.


Her figure was slight but exceedingly
graceful. Indeed, it seemed impossible for
her TO be otherwise. Her complexion was
very fair, while her hair and eyes, in con-
trast, were intensely black; her eyes were





Southern ladies, and her hair was gath
cred about her brow ia glorious clustering
curls.


When she first entered the cabin, she
seemed so splendid an exhibition of spot
less beauty, that every one rose involuntary
from his seat, and, by one common impulse
stood up until she was seated.


In few days she showed herself as fas-
cinating in her manner as she was beauti-
ful in person, to those who were favored
with an introduction, and the hearts of all
on board were completely enslaved by this
queen Of beauty.


The British officer, whe wore the title of
Major Folsom, seemed particularly charm
ed with her; and, having obtained an in
PRODUCTION, constituted himself her special
attendant


The "Saucy Kate" was magnificent
vessel OF eighteen hundred tons, sharp as
razor, and fast as the wind itself And
now it only remains to describe the cap
tain.


OoBAaih Nbo etA
man in personal appearance. He was of
rather small stature, and his limbs were
slender, even delicately formed. His hand
was as small and white as a woman's and
his features we're as finely moulded. His
face was very handsome, and his light hair
was thrown back and curled closely behind
his head. His eyes blue, but full of fire,
and capable Of lighting up with a sudden
flash which was startling to behold His
voice was shrlll but musical, and we never
heard it aroused, as the mate generally
communicated his orders to the sailors.


Now, from the first m ament it was eyi-
dent that storm was brewing between the
Major and Captain Yalmy. The Major
assumed an air of hauteur which was alb
Year: 1874

The girl engaged in moulding bread
Shall make some sweet heart flutter,
With hope to get the dairy-maid


To make his bread and butter.
She may not play the game croquet,
Or French and German stutter,
If well she knows the curd from whey,
And makes sweet bread and butter.
In meal and cream she's elbow deep,
And cannot stop to putter;
But says if he will sow and reap,


She'll make his bread and butter.
The dairy-maid, the farmers wife,


Shall be the toast we utter
Alone, man leads crusty life,


Without good bread and butter.
Year: 1874




cally inferior to the present or the past. This is
easily accounted for. In the days of Slavery the
value of the negroes was so great that their health
was guarded with jealous than that of the
white people. A negro child was worth from $50 to
500 the day ii born, and annually increased in
cash value while white child good for nothing
in commercial sense except to spend money II
the negroes became sick, the most sklful physi-
clans were employed and precaution ever
spared to keep them physically in the best condi-
ton. Now they not only ignorant of many of
the commonest laws of heolth, but show the most
utter disregard for those which they do know. The
effect of this is seen not only in the advent
of a generation weaker than their fathers,
but also in the increased mortality among them.
have before me the mortuary reports for this city
for September and October of this year. The p0pu-
lation of Montgomery County was in 1870, l2,419
white and l,2S5 black. OF the negroes, at least
$500 have emigrated to Mississippi within the past
two years, while the white population has slightly
increased The proportion of black population in
the country is also very much greater than in the
c,tv as that percentage of deaths among the blacks
in the city ought to be- it no doubt Is lower than
in the whole country. But, supposing there were
nroportonately as many blacks i'll the city as in the
entire county, they would form 60 per cent of the
nonulation. OF those who died in this city In sep
tember. 10 were white and SO black in other words
60 per cent of the population furnished 81 per cent
of the deaths. In October tue blacks furnished %
per cent of all the deaths.


MORAL AND POLITICAL MrsHAPs.


Morally, the negro of the Cotton Belt has not I'M
nroved during the last decade. gentleman OF TINS
CITY who has done moro than any other person IN
this State towards the organization of the free
schools and particularly for the establishment Oh the
colored schools, told me. the other day. that was
fact to which be could not shut his eyes and one
IN the truth of which the teachers in the eolofed
schools who are Northern men and women. sent here
by the Missionary Association would bear witness
that there had been marked deterioration IN the
mental and moral condition of the freedmen since
the surrender. There are few bright chiidIen
among them but the majority after learning 10
ed and write little, which they do very readily.


find great difficulty in making any further progress
So there are few honest men and virtuous women'
but the average peH0 man will steal and the aver
Year: 1874

A Western farmer has come to very
sensible conclusion as to means to be a.
dopted tofinerease the price of farm pre-
ducts TO paying figures. Wheat. beef and
pork are too low in the market to he prof
liable to the producer. He urges that
farmers must do as manufacturers do-di.
minisb supply; '.seed down one-third of
our land immediately; practice economy !;
buy less supcrAuisies and luxuries do our
swn wsrk; manufacture ourselves more
of the common articles needed on the farm;
ply our debts as soon as possible and keep
out of debt" This Western farmer has
got good deal of sense, evidently. At
least be takes practical and sensible view
Of the situation. The chief kernel Of gold
in his, advice to his brethren, however, is
to keep out of debt" Hard times scarce
ly ever seriously affect any farmer who is
not in debt. To debt, with mortgage
on his farm and store bills to pay, he is
/. one Of the most-to-b e-pitied creatures in
the world. He thus becomes the slave Of
al other classes but out of debt be is one
oftho most independent aud should be one
Of the most complacent and happiest o


human beings.
Year: 1874

AN Eccentric MOoN-Thomas Brown
was employed at the Bank otrnat theatre
in this city few years ago rs kind OF
utility man, and one night the manager
put him behind the scene at the rear of the
stare to take care of the moon Brown
had a candle on u pole, and it was his du-
tx to hold the light behind the moon, which
was merely round, unpainted space in
the curtain, and to pull the curtain slowly
up to represent the rising of the moon.
Brown seated himself on piece of baron
ial castle, and while waiting for the order
to 90 to work, he fell asleep. Presently
the tragedian on the stage said to the
heroine, swear by yon bright moon,
ETC. and turned to point to it, but the orb
of night was not there. The stage man
ager flew around, gave Brown kick, and
/ in a frenzy ordered him to g hist that moon
auickr' Brown was bewildered and with
out waiting for further orders he ran the


curtain up with one jerk. when the cord


broke and down it came again.


Another string was hurriedly rugged on


the pulley and the moon began to rise prop


erly. but Browns nerves were so unStrung
bv fright that he couldn't hold the candle
steadily behind it. so that there were fif-
teen or twenty eclipses during the ascent,


the light meanwhile wandering all over
the curtain to the infinite amusement of
the audience. However, the luminary


got safely up at last, and the tragedian


again observed, "swear by yon bright


moon," but before the words were fairly


out, the cord again snapped. the curtain
unrolled with velocity and broke loose
from the roller, revealing Brown. the lu-
mar elevator, roaming around in his shirt
sleeves with a candle on stick. A mo-
ment later the manager was fumbling
among his hair. and that very night Mr..


Brown closed his theatrical career. The


manager remarked to a confidential friend
, that man who was capable of making
. the same moon rise three times in one


night and of getting any number of eclips-
, es and other astronomical phenomena
!, might be valued for some purpose, but he


was about as fit for theatre as wall
! eyed mule was for singing hymns.-Aaa
Adeler.
Year: 1874

SATISFIED WITH THE TERMs.-A GER
tain good natured old Vermont farmer
preserved his constant good nature, let
what would turn up. One day while the
prevailed in that State, one
of his men came in bringing the news that
one of his red oxen was dead. Is hep
said the old man; "well he always was a
breechv cuss. Take his hide off and carry
it down to Fletcher's; it will bring the
cash. An hour or SO afterward the man
came back with the news that line-back"
and his mate were both dead. " Are they?"
said the old man; well, took them of
B. to save a bad debt that never ex-
pected to get. Take the hides down to
Fletcher's; they will bring the cash." After
the Lapse of another hour the man came
back to tell him that the nigh brindle was
dead. "Is he?' said the old man; well
he was a very old OK. Take off his hide
and send it down to Fletcher's; it is worth
cash, and will bring more than two Of the
Others" Hereupon his wife, who was
piuus soul, taking upon herself the Office
of Eliphaz, reminded her husband very Sc
verely of his sins, and asked him if he was
not aware that his loss was the judgment
of Heaven for his wickedness. Z" Is it?''
said the old fellow; "well, if they will
take the Judgment in cattle it is the east


est way / can pay it.
Year: 1874

the accumulated wisdom of ages-is di-
rectly opposed to this If the state cannot
give the boys trade. then, in Gods name,
let them 60. The state has no power to
take away a mans natural rights. If my
boy breaks the laws of society, then society
may punish him in a lawful way. If he
commits MURDER society may take his life.
But no crime would Justify society in
taking my boy and crushing out the best
days of his existence, then turn him into
means of gaining a livelihood. The COM
mon law would give me right to take
him away by force. And if my boy was
like making it pretty warm around that
institution if they did not give him up.


Where is the poet Hood, who sang s. The
Song of the Shirt" to put the case of the
boys into poetry? If l was only IA poet,
and sing The Song of the" No, no
" chair bottom is not poetic, and cannot
find a proper synonym. But never mind.
should want the first stanza to begin


Knit, knit, knit,


From eight to twenty-one


But am not enough of a poet to finish
that stanza. Let me commence another:


Braid, braid, braid.


Till youths bright days have gone.


But give itup. feel prosy. [ am prosy
and there is not muchIpoetry in my subject
therefore leave it with the people OF the
state Let them take this prosy subject anC
make it Il poem. Till the Reform School
shall have not only poetry in its flowers, bu
poetry in its fences, poetry in its old COWS
/ poetryin its workshop, and its history be
come poem, sung by the hundreds re
deemed to useful lives on earth, and angel
/ take 'upthe refrain in heaven.


/ GEORGE w. KENNEDY.


Waterbury, May y, 1874.
Year: 1874

A HUGE SKELETON-The most remark
able object in the Warren Museum is the
largest skeleton Of the Mastodon giga,ateus
ever discovered on the continent. BY its
side. in way of contrast, is the frame of
the elephant Pizarro, the largest ever
brought to this country, The skeleton OF
the Mastodon gtgdnteus Will not tall to
cause the visitor to start back IN awe and
he will be hardly able to suppress that ad-
iective of fools, g Impossible - 1t is
twelve feet high, and thirty-four in length,
from the tips of the tusks to the extremity
of its tail. Its trunk is seventeen feet In
length. The animal must have weighed
10000 pounds!--From Popular Science
Monthly for May.
Year: 1874

John Phpnix's story about the mule ar
tillery is old, but it has not lost its fun.
This is the way it runs: Out in certain
western fort, some time ago. the major
conceived the idea that artillery might be
used effectively in fighting with the In
dians, by dispensing with gun-carriages
and fastening the cannon upon the back of
mules So he explained his views to the
commandant. and it was determined to try
the experiment. A howitzer was selected
and strapped upon an ambulance mule
with the muzzle pointed toward the tail.
When they had secured the gun and load
ed it with ball cartridge, they led that calm
and steadfist mule out on the bluff and set
ND a target in the middle of the river to
practice at The rear of the mule was
turned toward the target, and he was
backed gently up to the edge of the bluff.
The officers stood around in a semi-circle,
while the major went up and inserted a
time fuse in the touchhole of the howitzer-
When the fuse was ready, the major lit 1t
ard retired. In 4 minute or two the hith
erto unruffied mule heard the fixing back
there in his neck, and it made him uneasy.
He reached his head around to ascertain
" hat was going on, and, as he did so, his
BODY turned and the howitZer began to
sweep around the horizon. The mule at
last became excited, and his curiosity grew
more and more intense, and in a second or
two he was standing with his four legs in
a bunch making six revolutions minute,
and the howitzer, understand, threatening
sudden death to every man within half
mile. The commandant was observed to
climb suddenly up a tree: the heutenants
were seen sliding over the bluff into the
river, as if they didn't care at all about the
high price of uniforms; the adjutant made
good time towards the fort; the sergeant
began to throw up breastworks with his
bavonet, and the major rolled over the
ground and groaned. In two or three
minutes there was puff of smoke, dull
thud, and the mule-oh, where was he?
4 solitary jackass might have been seen
turning successive back-somersaults over
the bluff, only to rest at, anchor, finally.
with its howitzer at the bottom of the
river. while the ball went off toward the
fort. hit the chimney in the majors quar-
ters. ratified the adobe bricks down into
the parlor, and frightened the m ,ior's wife
into convulsions. They do not allude to if
now, and no report of the results of the
experiment was ever sent to the War De-
partment.
Year: 1874




If the state could save money, perhaps
some might think that they would be justi


ned i'll crushing out the best part of the
lives of cne hundred bright boys. See
lere. The six boys working in the mill
provided by the superintendent earn to the
state one sixth as as much as the one hun
dred boys in the knitting shop. The six
boys in the mill earn as much as sixteen
boys that braid rattan into chair bottoms.
One boy in the mill where he learns a
trade, pays the state almost as much as
three boys working rattan. So the state
loses money by breaking this law. Here,
then, are the simple facts. / do not say
that it could be any better But / do in
Slst that there is no lac that gives the gov
ernment power to take away persons
liberty during his minority, and give him
no useful occupation. The common law
Year: 1874




To Americans especially he ancient
world IS little more than an abstrae-
ton. Save the relics Of the mound
builders which dot the praries OF the
West. and the occasional discovery
Of old Indian remains buried here and
there in New EnglaHd, Te have lit
tie TO bring Us face to face with evl-
dences Of human existence IN ages
zone bv. We study our histories
and become familiar With them as
we are with the tale Of the romance :
we can discuss the Punie wars, with
as much fredom, perhaps more than
the closing campaigns Of the Rebel
lion: but the new world, except IN
its sparsely filed museums, shows Us
nothing tangible, nothing which we
can directly connect As part and
parcel of the times and men OF histor-
ie yore.


But let the old world be visited,
and the antiquarian may ind the very
handiwork OF nations which have ut
terly disappeared Whether be wan
der through civilized Europe, hall
civilized Asia, or barbarous Africa,
everywhere are the relics Of the past,
all forming, to the lover Of arehaolo-
Year: 1874

They had 4 funeral over at Pen
cadder Hundred the other day, at
which I happened 10 be present Af-
ter al affecting discourse by the min
ister to the friends Of the deceased,
who are gathered in the front parlor,
a stranger arose and said that be
would Ike to make . few remarks
He said \ beautiful thought &C.
Cured to ne as I listened to The elo-
auent words Of the venerable clergy
man. and a. | saw the sOrrowing
throng which Is about TO accompany
our brother 70 lie last resting place
be is rot lost but has gone before
He il. as Il we're, our advanced agent,
sent on bevoud the boundaries Of the
mysterious land to herald the coming
of the rest Of Us, who are on our way
to that undiscovered country. Ny
attention was directed particularly
to this singularly sweet suggestion
during the address u my reverned
fellow pilgrim, because L owe a some
" hat similar relation here IN earth to
you TO that Of nv deparird brother
in the other world 1t Is nv high
mission to represent q firm which IS
engaged in the manufacture Of q supe-
rior article Of stomach bitters which
could confidently have recommend
ed to cur lamented friend over there
in the coffin if / had arrived ere the
vital spark had fed, but which / can
now urge upon the attention Of the
weeping survivors, and particularly
upon that afflicted sister sitting there
il the corner with the snifies, and
upon the undertaken whose warts
upon his nose betOken a dangerous
arrangement Of the digestive funet-
ions. It is put up in pint bottles and
contains no deleterIOus substances
This Is a world ofssrrow and mourn
ing, and the grief which we are cal
led TO endure rob the stomach Of its
tone. To restore this, we need not
only 70 have the gloom dispelled from
our hearts, but to have our stOmaehs
excited Is action, and for this purpose
my bitters-'


Here the speaker was hustled out
0fthe front door BY the undertaken
and four Of the pall-bearers, and the
procession went away without him.
Personally 1 was in favor Of allowing
him to 20 on. / knew that in a few
minutes he would have routed into
the corpse and tried to re-animate Il
with his bitters, and | was anxious
10 see him do it.-Nar Adler.
Year: 1874

To Americans who indulge gener-
allv in a large use Of water for drink
ing purposes, It viii seem rather
queer that in some armies soldiers on
their march could be forbidden 70
drink water. Still such was the
case with the German army, especial
" during the French campaign Of
1870 The practice was, almost in-
Fariably, when halTing near water, 70
stop all access to it by a guard, for it
was taken for granted that if the SOL
diers were allowed to drink they
would chill themselves. Il was
through such a wrong notion that
there was much suffering in the Ger
man army. aud that in q Bavarian
regiment which moved BY Sedan,
no fewer than seven men were
brought into that place insensible
from the effects Of heat, and two Of
them died the same night Expert
enee has taught hard lesson on the
Prussians, and they viii adopt, very
likely, the opposite system Of the
Swiss general staff. Not only Is g
Swiss soldier allowed 10 carry his
water bottle with free leave to use It,
but on every halt in a village the IN
habitants wait for the soldiers with
pals OF water. which they have or
dered to get ready by mounted or
derlies. who are dispatched ahead OF
every column Of infantry.
Year: 1874

There is an old mouse living with
her youngest little son, between some of
the boards of our barn-loft floor. 1t is
a nice, snug, little hiding place, and
they can step out any hour of the day
to get nibble at the sweet corn. stalks
or the hay. But it is not so safe for
them to 60 down stairs and eat the
corn and oats, and other nice things
which the horses and chickens eat
The little mouse often thinks his moth
er unkind when she will not let him go
down, for he gets tired Of the hay and
stalks. But she tells him how the cat
once caught her, and shows him a place
in her side where the hair has never
grown since the cat gave her a
scratch. She got away from the
cat, but she was sick-a.bed for a week
after in the house of friend near by.
She could not get to her own home,
she was so lame; and when at last she
did get home, she found the four little
fat baby mice she had left there, all
dead with starvation. When the little
mouse hears that story, he thinks that
after all, hay and corn-stalks are not
such very bad eating.


One time he and his mother did 20
down stairs and got into a barrel full
Of ears Of corn, and would you believe
it, great lady came and looked at them
The mother crept down under the corn,
but the little son was so surprised and
so frightened that he could not move.
But the lady went away without eating
him up, and then he ran trembling to
his mother, who listened kindly to the
story Of his fears. He said that the la
dy Eas bigger and more wicked than a
hundred cats. But his mother assured
him that in this country ladies' do not
eat mice Vermont Journal. "+.: = ="
81. ,,.; S,% [To BE coNr1Nu1p. -@.*., - <',' =.
Year: 1874

RED WING, Sept. II, 1874.
For The Advance.


I have read the account Of the pro-
ceedings Of the Featherstone Conven-
ton with satisfaction, and will be much
better satisfied if on the Gath a good
ticket is placed in nomination; one that
all honest and well~meaning men can
support. A Republican ticket has al
ready been put in the field. Men that
have held official positions since the
memory of man runneth not to the con-
trary, are again set up, and we are asked
to give them our votes because they
have been honest, faithful, upright, &c.,
&c. Now, to be plain, to speak the
truth, a ring has set up this ticket; a
ring who think they own majority Of
the votes in Goodhue county; who
think the farmers of this county pack
of fools that can be bought and sold !;
boast that all the farmers want is
chance to vote for them, because they
wear paper collars and smoke fine cigars.
Why, said one Of these ring men the
other day, people in the country would
much rather support a man in town
than one among their number, and this
man now asks you for your votes. Now,
let the farmers and mechanics and all
honest men meet and send delegates to
Featherstone on the e24th of September,
and let such men know that paper COL
lars and fine cigars or bad whisky will
not carry the election this fall., Let all
the elements Of opposition turn out and
see that good ticket is placed in NOM
ination, and let them go to work and
carry Goodhue County by ten hundred