smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

The National House of Represent
atives had under consideration bill
for The free distribution OF public
documents last Thursday. In plain
English, it 10 bill to revive the
franking abomination. Mr.. Kasson
gave notice Of a substitute, provid-
ing that extra numbers ofdocumentr
printed by order of Congress shall be
sold Agricultural Reports and
Presidents Message and accompany
ing documents at 25 cents per vol
um6, and all other documents at the
actual cost Of paper, stitching and
binding, and that weekly newspa-
pers shall GO free in the mails in the
county where published.


. Mr.. Kasson had four large baskets
filled with petitions for the abolition
Of the franking privilege brought in
and placed upon his table. He and
a number of other gentlemen favor
ed free transmission Of papers in the
counties where published, but wer,
opposed to the franking privilege.
Ben. Butler could not restrain his
wrath against the county papers ;
said they all asked for the abolition
Of the franking privilege, and he
thought they would be sick of it be-
fore the year was out.


Butler was the father OF the bill
which placed postage upon local pa
pers within their counties. He COM
passed Its passage for spite; but the
local papers have made him 'sicl OF
it." He, more than any other man
was responsible for the salary grab ;
the press made him sick Of that.
Let him dare to revive the franking
privilege, and the press will make
him 80 ''siok Of il" that he will net
be able to secure another election to
Congress. We shall always honor
Ben. for the manner In which he
dealt with rebellious New Orleans.
He Is host in any cause, but is as
likely to GO wrong as right. When he
goes wrong in any plain matter in
which the people are vitality interes :
ed, he will find the county press
upon his back so thick as to give
him eofne trouble at least, though he
may affect to despise them. They
will torment him Notwithstanding
his cGsfefa ptuons Nsloo fly.v They
will not rest until their sheets go free
in their home counties.
Year: 1874

The National Grange, at its late
st. Louis session, recommended the
production Of more corn and less
cotton in the South, and therein, as 1t
appears to us, committed grave
etror. The production OF corn Is
already too great for, our transporta-
tion facilities; and as the South now
consumes Northwestern corn, If 1t
should give its attention to the pro-
duction Of that cereal for export, the
North and Northwest would certain
ly suffer in consequence, while the
South would not be benefited by
thus competing with US jim the pro-
duction Of corn, to the neglect of the
more profitable and more marketl-
Bile cotton crop. Just how the Ma
tional Grange proposes to benefit the
farmer by reducing the price of
grain and increasing the price OF
the cotton which the farmer must
buy, is beyond our comprehension.
To increase the supply of corn is to
reduce its price, and to decrease the
production of cotton Is to increase
the price of cotton fabrics. This
method of relieving the farmer
savors very strongly of what is
termed in logic reoiuctio ad abs,vdan'.
1t increases the cause to produce the
effect. In proportion to value, cotton
is much more easily and cheaply
transported than corn; and this is a
sufficient reason for cultivating 1t In
preference, If there were not many
more potent reasons.
Year: 1874

Mr.. Kasson, Of iowa, hns introduce
ed in Congress a bill "to prevent ex-
tortion in the use of patent rights"
The synopsis Of the bill, as We
find ii in the State Journal, indicates
that il Is such as the country needs,
SO amending the patent laws as to
secure to inventors increased advau-
tages, and at the same time opening
to competition the manufacture OF
oil patented articles, and thus dcs-
troying the patent right monopolies.
The inventor Of any useful and pop
ular article will secure a fair royalty,
under this bill, and the consumer
may procure it at a fair price. The
moneyed purchaser OF an invention
can not monopolize and sell it at an
extortionate figure.


The bill provides that no patent
right now existing or hereafter to
be issued shall be extended beyond
the term already granted; that the
manufacture OF all machinery patent
ell hereafter shall be open To All per-
sons upon certain conditions by OBJ
tanning license for such mahufnc-
ture from the Commissioner Of pat
ents. which may be done by making
application for the right to man
ulacture the article, and filing bond
for the faithful compliance with the
law, and the payment Of certain
per cent. on the cost of each machine
20 manufactured to the owner Of the
patent-right. The cost Of manufac-
turing any such machine ready for
market shall be reported under oath
to the Commissioners and the owner
Of the patentright shall have the
right to enter such mandatory at
any time. The manufactures shall
report every three months to the
Commissioner the number of ma
chimes SO manufactured and sold, and
pay into his Office the amount OF
royalty then due to the owner of the
patent for which a warrent shall issue
In favor Of the owner Of such patent.
II provides penalty and damages
for any one to manufacture any ma
chine hereafter patented without
the consent OF the owner otherwise
than provided by this act.
Year: 1874

SnSnR hG0A1DRVht


A new feature Of this question is
developed in scu sion between two
farmer correspondents--one In Kan
sas and the other i'm Indiana, through
the columns OF the Western Rural.
The Kansas writer proposes that Con-
gress build a double track railway
from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The Indiana writer replies:


1t is quite easy to see that the
scattered population Of the South
west, the production OF whose cattle
cost nothing but salt, branding and
herding, would be pleased if their
stock could be set down in an East
ern market at nominal cost for
transportation. To him it would
be good thing. His land has cost
him nothing, the rearing of his stock
but trifle. If other parties would
bear the cost of transportation, "all
would be lovelyn. 1t will be more
difficult for the farmer of the older
States whose land is worth from $50
to 800 per acre and who has to feed
his stock half the year to see the
beauty Of being taxed to enable his
Western competitor to control the
markets. To him the element OF
transportation is the chief thing
that enables him to compete with
the cheap productions Of the Far
West. He will not consent 10 be
taxed to ruin himself. Let those
who will be benefited by cheaper
transportation pay the cost of get
ting it. The whole scheme of gov
srnment building railroads is inn
practicable and visionary. Because
transportation il dear, it no more fol-
lows that Congress should 60 into
the freight business than that Con-
gress should engage in the man
ufacture OF iron, steel or fabrics be-
cause they are dear.


The National Grange recently
adopted resolution declaring THAT
it is the sense of the National Grange
that the expression interested in ag-
riculturaI pursuitst' in article five of
the Constitution, means engaged in
agricultural pursuits, and having no
interest in conflict with our pur-
pose"


One of the declared purposes of the
Grange Order-and one Of its chief
purposes--is to secure cheap trans
portation between the East and the
West. How then can the Eastern
farmer become member of the Or
der, since his interests are in conflict
with this purpose? II cheap trans
portation will ruin them" by
bringing Western grain and live
stock in more direct competition
with his products, how can the Order
become harmonious and beneficial 10
the farmers Of both sections? The
West must and will have cheap trans
portation, even if it forces the East
ern farmer to exchange his farm
worth 500 per acre for a cheaper one
i'm the West. The "tide Of empire !"
Is irresistible In its westward march.
The thousand ten-acre mountain
farms in Vermont and New Hanp-.
shire must succumb to the millions
of broad prairie farms in the g bound
less West.D
Year: 1874

One great cause OF the poverty Of the
present day is failure of our common


people to appreciate small things. They
do not realize how a daily addition, be
il ever so small, will soon make large
pile. II the young men and young wo-
men Of to-day will only begin, and be-
gin now, 10 save little from their earn
ing and plant it in the soil Of some good
savings bank, and weekly or monthly
add their mite, they will wear happy
smile of competence when they reach
middle life. Not only the desire but
the ability to increase It will also grow,
Let clerks and tradesman, laborer and
artisan, make now and at once begin.
ming. Store up some of your youthful
force AMI vigor for future contingency.
Let parents teach their children TO be-
gin early to save. Begin at the fountain
head TO control the stream of cxtrava-
ganco--to choose between poverty and
riches. Let your youth go ou in the habits
OF extravaganza for firy years to come
rs they have for fifty years past, and we
shall have nation Of beggars, with a
moneyed arisiocracy. Let a generation
OF save in small sums bo reared. and we
shall be free from all wsnt. DO not be
ambitious for oxtravagant fortunes, bu:
do seek that which is tho duty Of every
one to obtain--independence and COM
Portable home, Wealth, and enough Of
IL, is within the reach Of ALL 1t is Oh
tanned by one process, and ono only
Year: 1874

The Indianapolis Journal says: Not
only are the persons who give color TO
politics largely those who give color TO
social liIe but public and private life
arc so interviewer as scarcely TO be sop
arabic. II is impossible, therefore, that
the private and social life OF II people
should be healthy, sound and pure, and
their politics corrupt. Either IL is not
true that American politics are utterly
corrupt or II is not true that American
social life Is free from corruption. The
former takes its tone and color from the
latter, and II Is safe TO say that just as
far MS our politics need reforming just
so far our social life does also.
Year: 1874

Some people never make acquain,ances,
but shut themselves up from their kind as
does IN oyster in his shell: while others,
and by far the happier, are never at loss
for cheerful companionship. 1t is not hard
to make acquaintances if we set about it in
the right way, but it is useless to hang back
and wait for every door to be epened-we
must push them ourselves. Said a lady to us
the other day, 81 never make acquaintances
in travelling: wish could Said another,
81 get acquainted with everybody. l talk to
the women who sweep fcrry-boats, and to
any person who hapens to sit by me in the
cars. l find every human heart is human,
and that can learn something did not be-
fore from every new acquaintance, or COM
municate information that may be valuable to
her." We are, most of US, too apt to stand
on our dignity and wait for advances from
others; to indulge captious disposition and
criticise where we should commend. The
cultivation of genial, charitable, benevolent
spirit will not inJurc any of us, and will GER
tainly benefit the community in which we
live, and add constantly to the nummber OF
orr friends.
Year: 1874

DR.. Scuddcr remarks: 81 am satisfied that
have seen patients die from deprivation of
common salt during protracted illness. 1t
is a common impression that the food for the
sick should not be seasoned, and whatever
Stop may be given it is almost innocent OF
this essential of life. L.: the milk diet that
recommend in sickness, common salt is used
freely, the milk being boiled and given hot.
And it the patient cannot take the usual
quantity in his food, have given it in his
drink. This matter is so important that 1t
cannot bc repeated too often, or dwelt upon
too long. The most marked example of this
want of common salt have ever noticed has
been in surgical disease, especially in open
wounds. Without supply OF sals the tongue
would become broad, psllid. Pntfy, with q
tenaciors, pasty coat, the sccsetions arrested,
the circulation feeble, the effusion at the
point of iajnry serious, with an unpleasant
watery p,s. which at last becomes mere
sxL;es or ichor. A few days of free allow.
~ :, of salt would change all this, and the
patient get along we'll"
Year: 1874

The New York press are discussing
the propriety OF adopting cremation
as substitute for burial. The World
says:


1t is the firm conviction of numbers
of refined and earnest persons tina
the adoption of the practice of crema-
ton will tend to develop and not re-
press our progress in this direction.
1t is their belief that the custom OF
hydT-iotdphiG, or urn-burial, were 1t
to be established anew among US,
would make the culture of the MEM
ories of the loved and lost sweeter
and more general by chasing from it
many of the most painful and shock
ing associations which now surround
the disposal of the inanimate remains
of our kindred and our friends. This
certainly was true of the days Of old
in which this custom obtained among
the civilized people of antiquity.
Nothing is more striking in the fU-
neral monuments of imperial Rome,
even before the advent of Christlanl-
ty, than the witness which they bear
to the deep, abiding and tender inter-
est Of the survivors in the spots
which enshrined the ashes OF the de-
parted. The attention of the traveller
who fingers among the monuments!
inscriptions which line the walls OF
the Vatican and Lateran is arrested
at every step by the simple pathos
and touching beauty of these inscrip-
tions. The remains of the dead in
those ages, instead of being thrust far
out OF the reach and the contact OF
the living as things noisome and loath
some, were brought and kept within
the circle of the daily life and con-
versation of those to whom the dead
had been dear, and who could say OF
them, in the exquisite words OF one OF
the noblest of the Romans: "Alas
elias how much poorer q thing 1t Is
to mingle with all vino are left to me
than to muse upon my memories OF
thee ~


But without attempting or assum-
ing now to advocate one side OF the
most interesting debate, let it suffice
for US to emphasize the fact that the
debate is clearly beginning to shape
itself toward positive results. 1t 10
only now q question Of time how soon
societies for the express purpose OF Sc
curing to those who prefer the funeral
pyre to the tomb, the right and the
opportunity to crafty their prefer
ence, shall be established and set at
work among u.s. 1t is in all ways de-
siTable that this should be done, and
that q fair trial and decision should
thus be secured of the relative Sdvan.
tages, moral and material, Of the two
systems.
Year: 1874

The greatest Of physical paradoxes
is the sunbeam. It is the most potent
and versatile force we have, and yet
most accommodating. Nothing can
fall more softly or more silently upon
the earth than the rays Of our great
luminary-nOt even the feathery
flakes Il snow which thread their
way through the atmosphere as If
they were too filmy to the demands
of gravity like grnsser things. The
most delicate slip Of gold leaf, exposed
to targe t the suns shafts, is not
stirred to the extent of hair, though
an infants faintest breath would set
it in tremulous motion. The tender
estOf human Orgsns-the apple of the
eye-thOugh pierced and buffeted each
day by thousands Of sun beams, suffers
no pain during the process, but re-
jOlces in their sweetness, the useful
light. Yet u few of those rays in
sinuating themselves into a mass of
iron, like the Britannia Tubular
Bridge, will compel the elOsely-knit
particles to separate, and will move
the whole enormous fabric with as
much ease as a giant would a straw.
The play of these beams upon our
sheets of water lifts up layer after
layer into the atmosphere, and bOists
whole rivers from their beds, only to
drop them again ir SHOWS upon the
hills or in fattening showers upon the
plants. Let but the air drink in q
little more sunshine at one place than
another, and it desOlstes a whole re-
gion in its lunatic wrath. The mar
vel Is that power which is capable
of assuming such diversity of forms,
and Of producing such stupendous re-
suits, should come to US IN so gentle,
so peaceful, and 50 unpreten tious q
manner.
Year: 1874

The Springfield Republican says :
Zone of the papers tells the story Of
q man coming into ehuch after the
sermon had begun, WhereupOn the
preacher paused and said 10 him /:
Glad to see you, but come in, come
in always glad to see those here late
who can't come early Thank you /;
would you favor me with the text p
ICertainly,' was the answer, which
was done, and the discourse moved
on as before. This recalls a Missouri
incident. One cold night the Rev.
Ezra 8. Fly, OF Presbyterian fame,
was preaching ia prairie farmhouse.
When about a third through the SER
mon, two late corners rode up to the
door and entered. The preacher
stopped, and then said that as these
friends were very cold with their ride,
the meeting would sing q hymn
while they were warming themselves,
which being done, he observed that,
as they had taken so much trouble to
come, he would begin his discourse
again for their benefit, and, taking his
text, he accordingly commenced once
more at the beginning and repeated
his sermon, rather more tn their eGi-
fcation than to that of the rest Of the
audience, perhaps"
Year: 1874




How shall q woman fasten her
stockings so as not to interfere with
the circulation Of the blood, or spoil
she shape Of the le-let US see-Of the
hORi soft qIi NAL y pense AlLlr the
most careful research, as far as our
limited facilities would allow, we
arise from our humble explorations,
and humbly tender the following
suggestions:


Wear them short, and let the tops
bubble over the shoe in the form nf
laee-dld beer-mug.


If you have 'em long, put mucilage
inside and stick 'em to you.


HaYe them long enough to tie about
the waist, and use the top for a pan
ier.


Edge the tops with steel and fssten
a loadstone to your corset.


Fasten q strap to each stocking,
extend them gracefully up each side
Of the body and attach, with blue
ribbons, to the earrings.


Pin them i'm some other article of
clothing in the immediate vicinity.


Hold still now, we are doing this
for your own good.l


Fasten them ID nail and go bare
footed.


Attach small balloon to each stock.
ing.


Make them out uf material that will
draw up.


II you are thirty-five and unmar-
ried, make q hole near the top OF each
stocking and button it to your knee
cap.


These are all the methods that sug-
gest themselves to US st present, and
Of the number some one or more may
be deemed worthy Of adoption. We
have taken q sudden Huu lively IN
terest in this matter, and shall not
rest until the needed reform is brought
about. Woman's limbs shall not be
hampered, and knOtted, and de-
formed, IL we have enough inventive
faculty to bring about new and health
full ways Of wearing the stockings,
and we think we have. We shall con-
tinue our Investigations into this SUBJ
ject, even at the hazard of getting ouI
neck into the matrimonial moose.
What the women of this country
most need is not suffrage, but SYM
metry not rights, but nationality
not q place in legislative halls, but q
place to fasten their stockings.
Year: 1874

The East Saginaw Courier has the
following statement of an incident
which occurred near Averill Station,
formerly known as "Red Keg,"l on
the Flint d Pere Marquette Road, a
few days since:


The party of the first part is a lady
whose parents keep boarding camp
near "Red Keg." While attending
school she formed the acquaintance OF
young man doing business for the
Railway Company. The young lady
was full of fun, and perhaps a little
Wild, and one night, while visiting at
a house where the proprietor happen
ed to be Justice of the Peace, the
two met, when some one remarked
that now was the time for the two to
be made one. She consented to the
arrangement, thinking there would
be nothing Of it. They stood up,
when the Justice performed the cere-
mony. She tried to let his hand 90
during the performance, hut he held
fast. They went home, but she found
the next day he was bound to hold
her to the marriage contract. Then
she went home TO her folks in the
woods. While there she received a
couple Of notes daily from the groom,
wanting her back. This and the per-
suasion Of her parents finally pre-
vailed, and she returned to the 'Keg"
in 8 queer state ofmind, judging from
the way she "took on" and cried when
leaving her camp home, to reap the
reward of her rash and foolish flirta-
ton. She is now living with her F..
d P. M. man, says our correspondent,
"but how happy can only be surmised
by her sad and detected looks"
Year: 1874

To obtain light instantly without
the use Of matches and without the
danger of setting things on fire, take
an oblOng phial Of the whitest and
clearest glass put into it g piece Of
phosphorus about the size OF q pea,
upon which pour some olive oil, heat
ed to the boiling point, filling the
phial about One-third full, and then
seal the phial hermetieally. To use
it, remove the cork and allow the air
70 enter the phial, and then re-cork il.
The whole empty space in the bottle
will then became luminous, and the
light obtained viii be equal 10 that OF
q lamp. As soon as the light grows
weak its power can be increased Oy
opening the phial and allowing q
fresh supply Of air 70 enter. In winter
it is sometimes necessary 70 heat the
phial between the hands to increase
the fiuidity of the oil. Thus prepared,
the phial may be used for six months.
This contrivance is now used by the
vatchmen OF Paris in all magazines
where explosive or infiammable ma
terials are stored.
Year: 1874

A few days ago a very handsome
lady entered q dry goods house and
inquired for a "beau." The polite
clerk threw himself back, and remark
ed that he was at her service. Yes,
but want buff, not . green one, was
the reply. The young man went on
measuring goods Immediately.
Year: 1874

The Boston Traveller makes this
observation: "For many years the
liquor sellers have been making war
upon the peace, the comfort, and the
rights of women I; the injured party is
now taking the field, seeking security
against further wrong. We may
soon see the great body of the people
of the country arrayed on the one
side or the other.n
Year: 1874

A Scotchman is noted for determin-
alton to accomplish whatever he un-
dertakes, and General GRANT has
gained some notoriety through his
flight it out OH this line" qualities.
Two determined men have met, and
each is determined the other shall
turn out. JAMES GORDON BENNETT,
Of the New York Herald, demands to
know if GRANT is a candidate for the
third term, and the President refuses
to say that he is or that he is not. The
bull is defying the locomotive, and one
or the other will 60 off the bridge with
3 crash and q groan. When an ire
sistible meets an immovable, some
thing must yield, though the very
names of the contending powers imply
that neither will give way; yet we
know enough about these things not
to pitch our tent between them. BEN
NETT may find out what the President
proposes to do about the third term
business, but we doubt if he will re-
ceive the information minute before
it is to be given to the whole world
The President may battle the young
Scotchman on the point he is now
seeking enlightenment, but be will do
1t at the expense of the HERALD's op-
position to himself in the future. The
struggle is pretty one to look at by
those not directly interested, but the
two athletes are terribly in earnest,
and fight with seeming conscious
ness that no quarters are to be given
or asked. Why the President refuses
to define his position on the third
term is probably matter of policy,
and why BENNETT wishes to force q
definition of that position is perhaps
a matter of policy also. Let the con-
test go on until one side or the other
is vanquished.