smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

While East Of the mountains n iow
weeks ago we learned that the people
In that section had In some way
gained the information that the last
Legislature had passed an act giving
the right to any one 10 put his own
brand on Calves six months old, which
happened To be running with their
herds, whether they really owned them
or not. This Is altogether erroneous,
Nothing Of the kind has ever been
passed by the Legllature, and anyone
who hos been working on that plan
has laid himself liable to prosecution.
such law wouldnot be just, and the
Legislature would have no authority
IN pass II. eAaREE "MNWae
Year: 1877

This Is the name Of q new variety OF
strawberry, several specimens Of whish
John MlllArd let on our table few
days age. He sent East last fall and
bought l76 strawberry plants Of differ
ent varieties, and out Of that lot only
one plant lived and II was the one
which bore these berries, He now has
nifty plants which have been produced
by this one, and next season will have
somo fthe fruit for sale. The berry Is
large, round, aud luscious.
Year: 1877

.5 NEW CASrLE, Oct. "a, 1877.


The town clock had just finished
striking nine as his honor the Mayor
open his court and the usual crowd of
attendants took up the be positions
for seeing and hearing. Their expecta-
lions were not realized to their full ex
tent as the case was merely one Of
"threats" and abusive language. His
honor with that smile so dreaded by
evil doors remarked, that 500 bail for
future good behavior would suffice-P
"r not having friend on hand
to sign the document was reman ded
to Fort Grubb.


The crowded condition of the coun-
ty prison is a su bject tn It should re-
ceive the attention of the Levy Court.
One large room is cow made to accom-
modate l8 or 20 female prisoners all of
whom have been sent over from Will
mington; the cell set aside for buns
and vagrants is crowded to 8 greater
extent. That petty crime should be ON
the increase in your city Is not sur
prising for the county prison instead
OF being of a reformatory character is
really school for crime, caused by the
over crowding of the cells. 1t is be-
coming evident that at least one half
of the cases sent to Court for trial
should be disposed of by the Magis-
Lrates.


One of our citizens doing business
near the river or rather the nearest to
the river on Delaware street whilst in
vestigating the ebb and flow of the tide
became so interested that he forgot where
the wharf ended and fell into the river
head foremost; he was quickly taken out
and at once called all hands who were
in sight to have segars; but it did leak out
and no fault of ours.
Year: 1877

But by far the most slightly class of
people to be met with in Russia are the
famous singing gypsies of Moscow. These
people, who are generally well-to-do, and
are not accustomed to wander about like
others of their race. dress with great
fnery, but yet with a natural eye to
artistic effect. Their songs, which nearly
always consist of an air with chorus,
and are usually accompanied on the
balalaika, sort of guitar, are greatly ad-
mired by travellers. In fact, it has been
said of them that if they are not the best
singers in the world there are no other
singers in the world at all like them ; and
there is story current that the famous
Catalani was once so delighted with a
female gypsy vocalist, that she threw
round the shoulders of the singer costly
shawl which she herself had lately been
presented with by the Empress.


Another peculiar and exclusive order
of people to be met with in Russia,
though of widely different sort, are
those strange patriots known as the Old
ReligionisJs. The Russians are not much
given to change, but these people are as
conservative as the Chinese themselves.
They detest all modern manners, insist
upon wearing the old Russian cattan,
and never cut their boards, allowing
them to grow to prodigious length, from
purely pious motives, because "man is
made in the image of God" But still
more singular is their religious objection
! to tobacco, for they look upon smoking
so common in Russia-as a sin de.
nounced by the Scripture in the text
"Not that which goeth into the mouth
defileth a man, but that which cometh
out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
One would think they might get over the
difficulty by consuming their own smoke
but, as a matter of fact, the Old Relig
ionists are SO particular in this respec
that there are special traktirs, or tes
houses, exclusively kept for them, anc
where the fragrant weed" and tn,
"pipe of peace" are rigidIy tabooed
Yet these queer folks are only few de
grees more behind the age than mos
other children of the Gar, and probabl!
several generations will have to elapse be
fore Russia better deserves to be callet
civilized nation than that Turke,
whose barbarism she denounces and i


endeavoriBg to make the pretext of a wa


of ambition.
Year: 1877

Miss Pongo, the favorite Berlin gorilla,
is about three years old sne has got well
over her winter attacks of feverish cold.
When standing she is about the height
of well grown child of four. She
never beats her breast when angry, as
DuChaillu's gorillas did, but sometimes
with one hand when well pleased; at
such times she also claps her hands.
Having had medicines out of spoon
when sick, she now repudiates that mode
of feeding, and the wife of the keeper
has consequently to take every mouth
full first into her own mouth and then
transfer it to Miss Pongo's. Her manners
are described as "a great deal better
than those of most children" After
dinner the keeper told her to wipe her
mouth, whereupon, a visitor tells us, she
wiped her mouth and blew her nose as
tidily as child of four or five.
Year: 1877

SPEND your time in nothing which you
know must be repented of. Spend it in
nothing which you could not review with
a quiet conscience on your dying bed.
Spend it in nothing which you might not
safely and properly be found doing, il
death should surprise you in the act,
Year: 1877

perhaps sixty cents, to make each gate.


Add to that ten cents, for nails, and the


value OF one hour Of your time, and
you have the whole expense. A gate
% this kind will outlast u framed one
'cooting "a, and as no hinges are used.
that expense Is saved also. 1t Is held
ID. rpsiflon by means of stake driven
In t1e ground four or five inches from
the Ybst; not In O straight line, but q
iittl6 more than the thickness OF the
gate toward the driveway. SO when
opened the gate can be turned half


lay around and be parallel with the
6tiveway. 1t Is kept q few inches
from the ground by q strip, nailed to
both stake and post. on which one end


rests when shut, and on which IL slides
half Its length and then swings around
as on pivot when opened. The strip
is usually placed under the second
board, In space arranged for 1t. by
cutting away two Of the battens. This
strip takes. the place Of hinges. A gate
OF this kind can be made in much less
time and at as little expense as pair
OF bars, and is certainly much more
Year: 1877

All the Doctors in town were seen
going out at full speed last Wednesday
morning, and suPposirg of course, that
some one must be very ILL.,, caught by
a gin saw, or cut in two by mill saw
we awaited with no little degree Of
anxiety, their return, in order to asoer-
tain the cause of such an unusual occur
renee. We had not long to wait
they rode in solemn procession single
fle down the levee. As the head of
the column neafed us, we ventured to
inquire the cause Of such "turn out Z"
ofthe medical faculty, when we were
informed that oolored man had been
suddenly taken sick, and that the sevc.
raj members of his family, had either
posted ofin person, or dispatched mes
sengers after a d.cror, and thus all had
been summoned to ,he sick mans bed
side, but unfortunately too late when
they arrived, and after the mutual sur
prise at meeting each other had worn
off. they were informed thar their pa
tient had already handed in his checks.
Our devil, who had been an attentive
listener during this recital, casually re
marked that "he didn't blame the man
tor dying, if he was aware that they
were all coming" 1t is needless to
say, that they all had Immediate and
urgent business at their respective
offices.


If it costs twenty four dollars to
find dead man and PCT him under the
green sod, how much will il cost to
keep live one on the pauper list du
ring the dog days? Answers will be
between IL and | o'clock, ?.
m. to- night.
Year: 1877

WASHINGTON, March l9.-Postmaster
General Key, in reply to a letter of Sena-
tor Mcrriman, asking for infol lmation in
relation to the distribution of patronage ir
the south says when a vacancy exists in
any office connected with the department
in the southern states preference will be
gwen to Republican. all other things be-
ing equal but should it be impossible to
tind Republican who will be satisfactory
to large majority of the people whose
business is directly affected by the ap-
pointment or in case of contest for an
office then L shall not hesitate to step aside
and select the person who, in my Judgment,
will give satisfaction to the business inter
ests of the community. While | shall al
ways be glad to receive the advice of sena
tors and representatives in congress touch
ing matters of this kind yet | shall moi
consider myself as In any way bound tc
act upon it. My desire is to do the great
est good to the greatest number and tc
this end l shall always be glad to have
your cooperation.
Year: 1877

WASHINGTON, March l9.-U. S
Marshal Fred Douglass to-day received
his commission. He was an object Of very
great attention from the crowd visiting
the state department.


Several southern delegations remained
in Washington urging the president to
make certain appointments. To one OF
these the president to day said he would
take his time to answer the applications
made to him.


Gentlemen from the south who have in
terviewed the president 10 the interest o.
the recognition of Nichols and Hampton
| are very hopeful that this week will ter
inmate all anxiety on the subject.
Year: 1877

A WARRINGTON correspondent re-


Gently asked Secretary Sherman what
answer he would give to Ohio men who
ask leave of absence to go home from
their Washington work to vote in Ohio.
He said he should 60 home himself as
is his privilege and duty, and would
allow all others whose work could be
left without public detriment to do the
same; but their furlough would be for
four or five days instead of the usual
ten days. The Cabinet has decided
this question for all the departments.
Year: 1877

THE LEADER earnestly requests its
friends in all parts of the country to
send in the news. Write often, give
us all the news and keep us posted in
all matters Of progress and develop
ment. When In the city our friends
are invited to call at this Office and fur
nish Us with any information they may
possess.
Year: 1877

RUSSIA has not retrograded-she has
steadily advanced in wealth and expand.
ed her territorial dominion, She is not
likely now to withdraw from an enter
prize on which her people are more unan-
mously resolved than in any previous un-
dertaking. We use the word enterprise,
for we regard the invasion OF Turkey by
Russia simply as an enterprise in which
the people of that autocratic government
have resolved to aggrandize themselves
by conquest, Just as the Romans did two
or three centuries before aud after the
Christian era. The cost CT the war will
be paid for by Turkey with her territory
If she is not subjugated now, that event
will probably only be deferred quarter
of century longer. 1t is as likely to take
place, as any event can be foreshadowed
Turkey holds the pathway to India through
through the Dardanelles and Bosphorous
Russia will never rest until she acquire
this control, and thus settle the Eastern
Question ior century.
Year: 1877

INsuRAscE.-So many frauds have
been developed in the management OF
Life Insurance Companies and Savings
Banks, that a general distrust prevails
the whole country in regard 70 snch insti-
tutions and now the same feeling is
beginning to show itself toward the Fire
Insurance Companies also. And II is
very doubtful wheth & large class OF
these institutions are any more solvent
than others we have just mentioned. In
this city very general feeling Of distrast
has been awakened as TO the Fire Insu-
rance Companies that have agencies here.
Our own companies are the main reliance
and the only sure ones in which to take
risks, while their charges are at the same
time much lighter. But we have not
enough of local companies. Those we
have are making money SO rapidly that
they are enabled to employ officers at
high salaries and invest largely in real
estate. To do this of course the men,
kers are taxed unnecessarily TO build up
great surpluses. These funds are used
among a few, and of course great risk
follows but this is never known until
somebody becomes defaulter.


Companies on the mutual plan could
as well get along without large surplus
as with it, and there is no reason why
we should not have one or two more local
companies in Wilmington, for it is well
understood fact that the present local
companies will not take near all the risks
that are offered hence our people are
forced to encourage the foreign compa-
MES, whose exhibits are published, 1t is
true; but whether they are false state
ments or true ones nobody knows, excep


it be those who compose them, as wa.
recently shown by the exposure Of tn,
Charter Oak Lille, whose directors wer


as ignorant of its deficiency as the maj
in the moon; at the same time that de


fciency was upward of 81, 100000. .
Year: 1877

As has been previously stated in these
columns, the people of the far west, and
particularly of this portion thereof,
refuse to be bnll-dozed into the use of
poor, cheap liquors, and continue to
patronize men who deal in none but the
best goods. Such dealer is found in
the person of the portly and popular
military merchant, Col. Luke Murrin,
who stands to-day at the head of the
| liquor trade of this Rocky mountain
region, and is constantly increasing his
already immense list of patrons by
close personal attention to every detail
of the business and careful selection of
choice goods, both in buying and SELL
ing. 1t is not necessary to give in this
connection a list of the various brands
of liquors and wines kept at Murrin's
mammoth emporium. People who i'm
bibe know what they want, and also
know that by calling upon him they
can get the desired article every time.
He is always sat home," and never too
busy to smile upon his friends, though
it is wonderful to see him transact so
large a volume of business and yet per-
sonally entertain every man who calls
in style seldom equalled and never
excelled.


Therefore, it is with the conscious
ness of having in the past treated every
body with kindness, and the further
consciousness of carrying the heaviest
stock of strictly pure and choice wines,
liquors, cigars, etc., that the gentleman
under notice steps over the threshold
of another year. AS in the past, so in
the future, Col. Murrin deiies would-be
rivals, courts the favors and orders of
dealers and consumers throughout this
section, as well as China and the East
Indies, and promises to sell cheaper,
sell better goods, and give better salts
faction to all than he has ever done
before. So help him Wakantanka.
Year: 1877

INFORMATION from Berlin is to the
effect that Bismarck is determined to
break up the French Exposition. To
accomplish this, he will urge Russia to
demand impracticable terms, so as to
necessitate English interference. Ger
many will then send force to aid Rus
sia. France, he believes, would not be
able to resist the opportunity to attack
Germany, whereupon he would turn on
France and complete the work begun
in the Franco-Prussian war, and which
did not leave France sufficiently broken
to suit the interests of Germany
Year: 1877

SENATOR DAWES has introduced a
bill to carry out Capt. Howgate's plan
of colonizing the polar regions for the
purpose of exploration. 1t authorizes
the President to send out an expedition
to establish colony at or near Lady
Franklin Bay; to detail such officers
from the navy as may be needed, and
to equip a government vessel. The
bill provides for an appropriation Of
S50.000. The committee on Naval
Affairs have it under consideration
and are likely to report it favorably.
Year: 1877

GEN. NELSON A. MILES is a bold
man, as well as brave, or he would not
have dared to tell the House Commit
tee on Military Affairs that the aver
age member Of the staff service was
merely ornamental; that the present
staff arrangements had tendency to
build up an aristocracy in the army,
and should be done away with; that
there should be no permanent staff and
no extra rank or pay, and that officers
should be rotated in staff duty and
fewer appointed.
Year: 1877

IT IS said in London on excellent au-
thority that 10000 Indian troops are
being prepared to move at call, and
that Egypt, either by force or purchase,
will be taken possession of, is contin-
gency liable and almost sure to occur.
1t is urged that the present is the most
favorable time for war, owing to the
vast number Of unemployed men who
would enlist to escape starvation.
Year: 1877

A GRAND dramatic entertainment
will be given at the New York Acade-
my of Music January 18th, as mark
of love and esteem to John Brougham,
who is now recovering from a painful
illness. The testimonial will be under
the auspices of leading, society people
and representative actors and actresses.
Year: 1877

WE insert the explanation of Senator
PATTERSON in relation to his interview with
Hamburg BUTLER pending the vote on Mr.
THURMAN's motion to admit him to sea,
in the Senate for the reason that he rc,
quests it, and we are disposed to treat hin
fairly. The Senator admits enough I,
establish the fact that BUTLER tamperct
with his vote, and the only difference be
tween us now is as to BrrLER's languag,
and bearing during the interview. Our in
formation is widely Mt variance with the
statement published by Senator PATTER.
son, and our intormanls are regarded as
truthful men. We must adhere to the opin.
ion that the Senator IN his excitement and
anxiety to defend his friend BUTLER has
lost his head, q circumstance which renders
his memory detective.
Year: 1877

THE President has authorized the cor
respondent of the New York World to make
specific denial of the statement that he had
declared that he would not sign the silver bill
lie says: | have authorized no such state
ment ! not only have nov authorized,
have not made any such statement, and l
hope that is satisfactory" If JACK FAIL
FrAFF lived in these degenerate days, he
would cSclaim, emphatically, How this
world is given to lyingw
Year: 1877

THE resumption repeal bill passed the
House yesterday by a majority of thirteen.
and thus another elomont of doubt is cast
over the business community like u pail.
What business requires in law, or legislation
rather. is uniformity of action aud stability
of financial policy. What trade, commerce.
and finance stand in constant dread Of by
Congress is the tendency to tinker iicklencss
and change. With these confidence Is utterly
incompatihe
Year: 1877

Judge Lewis, at the recent term of hi
court at Steilacoom, decided that liquor
licenses issued by the Auditor in vaca-
tion are void. He held that the Auditor
was merely as the Clerk of the Board for
such purposes; and that the Board, be-
fore they make any order granting Ii
cense, must in open court be satisfied
from evidence that the applicant is a man
of good moral character, and their re-
cord should so state. The bond must be
sufficient to the county in the sum ofone
thousand dollars, in case the party Ii
cehsed shall keep disorderly house.
The duties OF the Auditor are merely
clerical and not magisterial. 1t is there
fore held by the court that all licenses
issued otherwise than by the vote of the
Commissioners are null and void, and
that all bonds upon such licenses are va
Gated by SAID nullity of license.
Year: 1877

Prof. James Thompson, at the meet
ing of the British Association, exhibited
q model to illustrate the action Of rivers
in modifying the forms of their wind
ings. He said that most trea'ises on
hydraulics speak of this action as if
water consisted of particles impinging
against the outer side of the bend and
so wearing it away. This is objection
able, as water does not impnge but
presses against the outer bank. The
action is more properly as follows The
stream lines of water flow less rapidly
from the center to the inner side. In
consequence OF this and fluid friction,
there is @ flow OF water at the surface
from the inner to the outer side, and
below from the outer to the inner.
This causes the earth at the outer side
to be transferred along the bottom to
the inner bank. He illustrated these
remarks by the behavior of threads at
tached to pins stuck in at different parts
of the bend of the model river. The
bottom threads inclined towards the
inner side, while the upper threads in
clined slightly towards the outer The
actual state of matters could also be
seen from the mud raised by the flow of
the stream in the model.
Year: 1877

One hundred years ago not pound
of coal or cubic foot Of Illuminating
gus had been burned in this country. No
iron stoves were used and no Contriv-
unccs for cconomi2ing heat were en-
ployed until DR.. Franklin invented the
iron framed fireplace which still bears
his name. All the cooking and warm
ing in town and country were done by
the aid of fire kindlsd on brick hearth
or in the brick over. Pine knots or tai
low candles furnished the light for the
long winter nights, and supplied the
place of rugs aud carpets. The water
used for household purposes was drawn
from deep wells by the crcaking sweep"
No form of pump was used in this coun.
try, 50 far rs we can learn, until after the
commencement Of the present century.
There were no friction matches in those
early days, by the aid of which fire
could be easily kindled, and it the fire
went out on the hearth over night, and
the tindcr was damp so the spark would
not catch, the alternative remained of
wading through the snow to borrow a
brand from ncighbor. Only one room
in any house was warmed unless some Of
the family was i'll; in all the rest the
temperature was at zero during many
nights tn the winter. The men and wo-
men OF hundred years ago undressed
and went to their beds in temperature
colder than that of our modern barns
and woodsheds, and they never COM
planned.
Year: 1877

The brilliant Spanish French painter,
Diaz, who has lately died, married u
fortnight before his death charming
young wife, he being seventy years old.
lie was, however, young looking for his
age. While asleep on the grass one day
in his youth he was either bitten by
viper or stung by some poisonous insect
so that two portions of his right leg in
succession had to be amputated, which,
however, did not prevent bin from dan
cling, shooting, swimming and riding on
horseback. He had very quick play
of feature, o dark complexion, black
beard, and large black eyes, which VA
ried in expression from extreme sottness
to extreme severity, according to what
people addressed him. He had received
no education, but his natural refinement
and distinction were remarkable, and he
had tact, and, above all, eloquence.