smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

The pastor of one of the fashionable
churches OF Detroit, Mich, is a poet.
For years he has had small clock in
convenient place under the reading
desk by which he could note the hour
without losing time by taking out his
watch. The clock was lost some time
ago and the pastor, who missed it very
much, sent to one of his favorlte
parishioners the following note on
postal card:


Your pastor very meekly suggests
without venturing any decided behests
That time piece to the pulpit annexed
May keep the people from being vcxed,
By sermons that run to excessive length
And tax the popular patience and strength.
Perhaps an hour-glass might do as well
By which the passage Of time to tell;
With beadle to tap with his gentle rod
Not only the hearer who ventures to nod,
But the preacher whose words continue to run
When the sand in the glass says he CugEt TO DO


done.


That pastor got his time.piecc.
Year: 1877

It is an ascertained fact that there are
three classes of lunar mountains. The
first of these consists of isolated, sepa-
rate, distinct mountains of very curious
character. The Distinguishing character
istic of these mountains is this-they start
up from plain quite suddenly. On the
earth it is we'll known that mountains
generally go in ranges of groups; but
we find these isolated lunar mountains
standing up entirely apart, never having
been connected with any range. The
one named Pico is 5000 feet high; this
mountain has the form of an immense
sugar-loaf; and if our readers can i'm.
imagine fairly proportioned sugar loaf
5000 feet in height, and themselves
situated upon it, so as to be able to look
down upon its apex, they will have an
approximate idea of the appearance Of
Pico. There are many other mountains
of n similar description scattered over the
moons surface, and these mountains not
only stand apart from each other, but
what is still more remarkable, the plains
on which they stand are but slightly dis
turbed. How singular, then, the inau-
ence which shot the mountain up 5000
feet, and yet scarcely disturbed the plain
in the immediate neighb borhood. The
second class of lunar elevations consists
of mountain ranges. Now, this is the
principal features of the mountains on
earth. This phenomenon is also found
in the moon, but there is exception;
only two principal ranges are found, and
these appear to have been originally
only one range. One is called the Ap-
pennies. It is so we'll seen that, just as
the line of light is passing through the
moon, you will think it is, generally
speaking, q crack in its surface, but q
telescope of ordinary power will OF once
manifest ii to be a range of mountains.
The lunar Apprentices may be compared
with the loftiest range Of mountains upon
earth. It is $4,000 feet high, and there
is another still higher, rising Is, 900 feet
above its base. In this feature, then,
the moon corresponds with the earth,
but with this difference what is the rule
on the earth is the exception in the
ynoop
Year: 1877

A reputable merchant of Paris found
himself lately walkingin in the street with
out his pocket handkerchief, when its
services were particularly necessary,
and, as he was cursing his i'll luck, saw.
Just ahead of him, the familiar figure Of
friend who displayed the corner of a
most tempting looking handkerchief lap
ping over his coat.tail pocket. The
merchant made gentle dive for it, but,
as he drew it out, a heavy hand
was laid on his shoulder, and, turning
round, he confronted a policeman. No
sooner had he turned his head back
than the horrid fact revealed itself that
the owner of the handkerchief was On
utter stranger. So the unhappy wretch
was led off to the police station, but
what was his relief to find that the chief
officer on duty was an old friend, who,
after hearty laugh, begged him to ac.
copt the loan of what he needed, and
8 mt him on his way rejoicing.
Year: 1877

First of oil, what is barometer? It
is tube or pipe, closed at one end and
open at the other, made of some trans
parent material, such as glass, SO that it
may be seen through. This tube is
filled with the melted metal called mer-
curry, and, when quite full, the thumb is
placed over the open end $50 as to keep
the mercury from falling out), and the
tube is turned upside down. So the
closed end is at the top, the open end at
the bottom, and, if the thumb were re-
moved, the mercury would, of course,
run out. But now suppose you wished
not to waste any, and so put the open
end of the tube into basin with some
mercury in it, and then remove your
thumb, what would happen9 "Why,
the mercury would all run out in the
BASIN" some one will say. But this is
mistake, as the italian philosopher
Torriceli found out; and whatever size
or length of tube be taken, the whole Of
the mercury will not run out, but a
length of about thirty inches of the tube
will remain full of mercury, and you
cannot make it run out into the basin
unless you either pull the open end Of
the tube out of the mercury or make a
hole in the closed end of the tube.


This puzzled Torricelli for a long time,
until at last the thought struck him that
the only thing which was on the mer-
curry in the basin was the air, and that it
was probably the weight Of the Dir press
ing on the metal which prevented its
running out into the basin. "If 80,
thought Torricelli, then if I take my
tube and basin of mercury up O noun
tain, less and less of the tube will re-
main full, for there is evidently less air
above the basin at the top of the noun
tain than at the bottom" You may be
sure he didn't wait very long before he
made the experiment; and to his great
delight, he found the mercury getting
lower and lower in the tube, thus prov
ing that it really was the weight of the
air that kept it in the tube at all; and 80
the instrument was called barometer,
which is derived from the Greek, and
means in plain English a "weight
measurer.


But if the barometer is watched it
will be found to contain different quanti-
ties of mercury on different days. On
fine day the mercury will, as rule,
stand higher in the tube than on wet
day or just before rain; and now for the
reason of this: Why does the barometer
rise (or, rather, the mercury in it) in fine
weather, and fall when it is going to be
wet? Now, dry air is much heav-
ier than wet mir, or air containing steam.
The consequence is, that when the air
gets moist it becomes lighter, and
presses less on the mercury of the ba-
rometer, so more mercury flows out
into the basin, and, consequently, less re-
mains in the tube, or, rs we usually e1-
press it, the barometer falls. Now.
when the air is very wet, there is, OF
course, more chance of rain than when it
is dry, for rain is formed by the cooling
of the steam contained in moist air.
Little Folks.
Year: 1877

A regiment quartered at a certain
town in Scotland had among them an
expert gymnast, who taught his brother
subalterns how to walk across the bar
rack room on their hands. While en-
gagged one evening the door opened
and the colonel, stern discipinarian,
entered the room, looked attentively ut
the inverted company, shook his head
gravely and departed without uttering a
word. An order to be on parade next
morning was the least punishment ex-
pected for this breach of discipline.
Some days passed, however, and no
notice being taken, it was thought an
apology and explanation should be
offered by the prime instigator of these
unsoldierly movements. A reference
being made to the memorable night the
colonel amazed the intended apologist
by exclaiming: "Hush, sergeant, I
would not have anybody know it for the
world The fact is, had been dining
out with an old brother officer who had
served with me in India, and 'pon my life
I had no idea the wine could have had
such an effect upon me but when I came
to see if you were all right in your quar-
ters I could have sworn that saw you
all upside down"
Year: 1877

A writer in the London Garden gives
the following hints on this subject


The pain eaused by the sting Of a
plant or ihsect i the result Of q certain
amount of Beid poison injected into the
blood. The first thing 10 be done is to
press the t1be Of snall key firmly on
the wound, moving the key from side to
side 10 facilitate the expulsion Of the
sting and is accompanying poison. The
sting. II left IN the wound. should be
carefully extracted. otherwise IL will
greatly increase the local irritation. The
poison Of stings being acid, common
sense points 10 the alkalies as the proper
means Of cure. Among the most easily
procured remedies may he mentioned
soft soap. liquor Of ammonia lspirits Of
hartshorn smelling salts, washing
soda, quicklime made into a paste with
water, lime-water, the juice OF an onion,
tobacco-juice, chewed tobacco. bruised
dock leaves, tomato juice, wood ashes,
tobacco ash and carbonate Of soda.


II the sting be severe. rest and cool
ness should be added to the other reme-
dies, more especially in the case of ner-
vous subjects. Nothing is so apt to make
the poison active as heat, and nothing
favors its activity less than cold. Let
the body be kept cool and at rest, and
the activity of the poison will be reduced
to a minimum. Any active exertion
whereby the circulation is quickened
will increase both pain and swelling. If
the swelling be severe, the part may be
rubbed with sweet oil, or drop or two
of laudanum. Stings in the eye, ear,
mouth Or throat sometimes lead to
serious Consequences in such cases
medical advice should always be sought
as soon as possible.
Year: 1877

Among the many singular bantering,
betting, wagers, or by whatever name
they may be termed, is the following,
made by two frolicsome lasses of Ian
singburg, Rensselaer, county. When we
tell this story, it is with no intention of
rejecting upon the character of either
of these willful maidens, who, in spirit
of fun, while heated with discussion
of the chances of their various favorites
Zone of them being an admirer of Hayes
and the other o devoted adherent of
Tilden and reform) had made a very
foolish and somewhat unmaidenly reso-
luton, for the character of both are
above reproach, and when the language
was used neither expected to be called
upon to perform the task. One of them
whom we will call Jane, to more strongly
express the doubt of Tilden's election,
said that if he was elected President she
would walk from her residence to the
Rensselaer, Park gate clad only in her
chemise. The banter was taken immedi-
ately by her fair opponent, who promised
to perform the feat in case of the final
success of Hayes. And now the fair pair
have pledged themselves to the faithful
performance of this remarkable achieve
ment, and they are anxiously. awaiting
the result, that they may know which of
the pair will be called upon to pay for
felt. Boys need not watch for the event
to come off, as the loser will choose her
own time, which will, of course, be in
the hours of night when least expected.
No one is to know when the event
transpires, except the two girls, and we
can tell nothing more at present save
that the distance to be travelled by the
loser is quite considerable. .-Pougk-
keepSie Press.
Year: 1877

A LITTLE ONES LovE.-The Pough-
keepsie Eagle tells an affecting little
story of a child between two and three
years old whom lady found walking
on the street, evidently lost and crying
bitterly. Taking her by the haud the
hand the lady asked her where she was
going.


81 am going to find papa" was the
reply of the child, between sobs.


What is your papas name p asked
the lady.


"His name is papa, replied the inno-
cent little thing.


"But what is his other name ?" quer-
led the lady; "What does your mama
call him ?"


"She calls him papa, persisted the
baby.


''The lady then took the little one by
the hand and led her along, saying:


"You had better come with me;
guess you came this way"


eyes, but don't want to go back;
want to find my papa, replied the lit
Sirl, crying afresh as if her heart would
break.


What do you want Of your papa p
inquired the lady.


81 want to kiss him."


Just then a sister Of the child came
along looking for her, and led her
away. From subsequent inquiries il
appeared that the little ones papa, of
whom che was SO earnestly in search,
had recently died. In her loneliness
and love for him she had tired Of wait
ing for him to come home, and had
gone to find him and greet him with the
accustomed kiss.
Year: 1877

THa INCONSISTENCY oP 1.-THE Bur
lington (Iowa) Halekeye thinks il Is a
touching comment upon the hollow
ness Of human declarations, TO see the
man who is groaning because he sees
the country going to the bow-wows on
account of the dishonor and corruption
Of lis political leaders, innocently stand
on the scales while he weighs load Of
coal for q customer.


DoN'T buy a coach to please your wife.
Better make her a little sulky
Year: 1877

DoN'T HAVE SEcRETs.-The moment
the girl has secret from hermother, or
has received a letter she dare not let her
mother read, or has friend of whom
her mother does not know, she is in
certain danger. A secret is not good
thing for girl to have. The fewer
secrets that lie in the hearts of women at
any age, the better. 1t is almost a test
of purity. She who has none Of her own
is the best and happiest; In girlhood
hide nothing from your mother do
nothing that. if discovered by your
father, would make you blush. When
you are married, never, never conceal
anything from your husband. Never
allow yourself to write letter that he
may not know all about, or to receive
one that you are not quite willing that
he should read. Have no mysteries
whatever. Tell those who are about you
where you go and what you do. Those
who have the right to know, we mean, Of


course. A little secretiveness has set
many a scandal ahoat; and much as is
said about women who tell too much,


they are much better off than women


who tell too little. A man may be re-


ticent and lie under no suspicion f; not
so a woman. The girl who frankly says


to her mother, 81 have been there. I
met so and so. Such and such remarks
were made, and this or that was done, {"
will be certain of receiving good advice
and sympathy If all was right no fault
will be found with her. If the mother
knows, out of her greater experience,
that something was improper, or un-
suitable, she will, if she is a good
mother, kindly advise against its repe-
tition. 1t is only when mothers discover
that their girls are hiding things from
them that they rebuke or scold. limo
cent faults are always pardoned by q
kind parent You may not know, girls,
Just what is right Just what is wrong.
yet. You can't be blamed for making
little mistakes, but you will never do
anything very wrong if from the first
you have. no secrets from your mother.
Year: 1877

An INDIGNANT PoEr. despite his
grave character, Frederick the Great
loved an occasional joke, provided it
were well spiced with malice. On one
occasion, Yoltaire, according to previous
appointment, came to read poem in
manuscript for his approval The king
had meantime secreted behind screen
in the same room man of wonderful
memory, who had the gift of repeating
any composition, however lengthy, to
which he had once listened. When Vol
taire had concluded his recital, Freder-
ick expressed great admiration, but de-
clared he had heard the poem before.
The poet was indignant, repelling the
charge Of plagiarism with great warmth.
The king, however, insisted that the
poem was by no means of recent origin,
and said there was a man in his court
who could repeat it from beginning to
end. He sent for the man who had been
concealed behind the screen and who
had listened to the reading, and request
ed him to repeat ceatain poem, quot
ing the first lines. The man instantly,
and to the great .astonishment Of Vol
taire, repeated the poem word for word.
After the king had sufficiently enjoyed
his Jest he revealed the trick to Voltaire,
who was both surprised and indignant
Year: 1877

the story of their wanderings in search
of home; of st. Icons wonderful
prosperity when he entered into busi-
ness again; of his determination to live
where a social position would be ac-
corded to his family. Both parents had
spared no pains to fit themselves for
this position both began with many
previous advantages to assist them.
Therese was elegant, and soon renewed
the graceful accomplishments acquired
in the days when her young mistress
made her her companion in all her
studies. Her natural aptitude for music
made her skill at the piano, and even
the harp, more than such as is common
ly found in private circles. st. Leon,
as he continued to call himself, had his
large knowledge of the word, of foreign
languages, and rare financial ability
upon which to base his fortunes and
his ambition.


To my generous minded friend | told
the story. Others only heard from me
that they we're West Indians whom !
had known when they were living at
the South. There was nothing about
them to call their pretensions into ques-
ton. The children were all that the
children of such parents should be, eX-
cept that neither of them were their
equals in presence, and Therese could
never be equaled in her remarkable
beauty.


Many an evening we passed in the
house which they had made so attrac-
tive, where the fine taste of Therese
had dictated every arrangement and
adornment, listening to her rich voice
perfected by skillful training. Many a
dinner we sat down to, III a room on
which taste and art had exhausted
themselves, to Therese's incompatible
dinners. They almost worshiped Regi-
maid and myself, visiting on us much
superfuous gratitude. They are court
ed now in the elegant cOteries which
they all are fitted to grace, my good
Therese and her husband, and this Owre
true story could only have been posi-
BILE before the lOdr, thank God
Year: 1877

A gentleman who had been employed
in the manufacture of safety matches ex-
pressed it as his opinion that they are the
most dangerous matches made. For, in
the majority Of cases, when match is
struck, some of the phosphorus on the
box flies off, and, being highly infam-
mable, if it meets with any combustible
substance, it always gives rise to dan
gerous fire. If lighted where the phos-
phorus can fall on the carpet, the result
is the same as though the carpet was ex-
posed to the sparks of fire. There is
also a certain degree of temptation
offered to those who manufacture these
matches. This consists in putting a
small quantity of phosphorus into the
heads to make them ignite more easily
when brought in contact with the phos-
phorus on the box. This fraud has ac-
tually been carried into effectin Northern
Germany, and although nothing Of the
kind has been discovered in this country,
the fact that it may be will probably in
crease their unpopularity. The safety
match has certainly had time to win its
way, as an old variety of it existed in
Switzerland at period when other parts
Of the world were still occupied with the
flint and steel. 1t has been claimed for
these matches that they are better able
to resist moisture than other varieties.
The reason, however, is not apparent, as
the heads are composed of salts, which
are affected by water in the manner of all
saline substances. 1t may be stated as a
general rule that those matches are safest
which require considerable friction for ig-
milton and which, when lighted, furnish
merely heat enough to kindle the splints.
The safest, probably, are those in which
considerable part of the compound is
formed of sulphur, as it requires more
than usual friction to light them. They
are also a quiet match, and in lighting do
not scatter any part Of the head about.
But they kindle slowly, and the sui
phurous fumes always render them OBJ
jectionable. They can also be lighted so
conveniently rubbing them on the wall
that great temptation is held out to ser
wants to disfgure the appearance of a
room in this way.-Popu!ar Science
Monthly.
Year: 1877

1t appears from a report of the result
of o series of experiments to determine
the utility of ballooning for reconnoiter-
ing purposes, recently carried on in Ger
many and extending over considerable
length of time, that, after repeated trials,
balloon was constructed that could be
packed up in a comparatively small space
and carried about without being dam
aged or rendered in any way unfit for i'm
mediate use. A second difficulty arose
providing portable apparatus capable OF
supplying sufficient quantity of gas for
the imitation of the balloon whenever and
wherever it might berequired to use this
latter. But this impediment was likewise
overcome, and an apparatus was designed
which could generate in from two to two
and half hours enough hydrogen to
raise balloon carrying three persons.
Unfortunately, however, there has been
found to be yet another obstacle in the
way of using balloons for reconnoitering
purposes, for which no remedy can as
yet be devised. From theheight to which
the balloons must ascend, useful obser.
vations can only be made by the aid OF
telescopes. The balloon must, however,
necessarily be "captive," that is, they
must be confined by rope and pre-
vented from drifting away, perhaps only
to fall into the hands of the enemy; ana
it is found that when there is the
slightest current of air such captive
balloon begins to rotate about its Verti.
cal axis, and this so rapidly as to prevent
observations being made with the neces-
sary accuracy and detail. Consequently
the conclusion has been arrived at that
captive balloons can not at present De
used for reconnoitering purposes, ana
that therefore the employment OF pal
looms in war must be limited to carrying
dispatches and information.
Year: 1877

COLONIAL Relics.-There lies in the
Stone River, near Church Flat, four
stone anchors, which are supposed to
have been cast there when the British
first landed on Carolina SOIL These four
stone anchors are square, and weigh
about five hundred pounds each. An
iron is run through the stone and riveted
at the bottom, and at the top are fastened
iron rings for the purpose of making
them fast to vessel. On the stones are
cut the coat-of.arms of great Britain.
Those four stones are separated from each
other not more than twenty-five feet. A
gentleman from this city came across
them the other day, and made an effort to
raise one, but without effect, as it was too
deeply imbedded in mud.