smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Probably one of the greatest problems
of this age is the mule. Although
volumes have been written on the mule,
yet the accident statistics show that he
is as little understood as ever. How to
mix kindness and firmness in the proper
proportions and then apply the concoc-
tion successfully to an energetic mule is
one of "those things no fellow can find
out" The mule is deceitful and des-
perately wicked. 1t knows no north, no
south, no west, no east, in the rigid i'm
partiality with which it bestows its
favors. In trying to solve the mule
problem many very wise men have been
baffled, and likewise knocked into q de-
moralized heap in the opposite corner of
the stable from which the mule stood.
And yet how strange it is that after all
these years of Intellectual research the
true solution of this vexed question
should be discovered by a small boy.
This little fellow lives in Richmond, Vir-
ginia, and while playing near o mule
was, by means of that animals method
of rapid transit, suddenly landed in q
neighboring field. When he recovered
from the emotion caused by SO unex-
pected an event, he managed to insinuate
himself into the mules affections, taking
care, however, always to keep at the
correct end of the mule. Finally the
innocent and unsuspicious quadruped
was firmly tied to tree, under whose
shades we're several hives of bees. The
mule brought disaster upon himself by
kicking over hive just by way of rec
reation. The combat that ensued was
dreadful to behold. The boy is not
quite certain whether the bees or the
mule won the victory. He thinks it was
the mule, because when the owner came
after the body, there was not a vestige
of the hives to be seen, and the bees
had all disappeared, while the remains
of the mule still occupied the battle
field.
Year: 1877

A Western paper says that the house
of Mr.. I. J. McAtee, of Dog Prairie,
st. Charles county, Missouri, has re
Gently become infested with bats. He
noticed large number of bats flying
in the direction of his house and con-
cealing themselves in the corners Of the
windows and under the weather board
ing. lie Immediately began an on
slaught on them, and in few minutes
he had killed seventy, this number be-
ing all that he could reach with such
weapons as he then had at hand. Next
morning none were to be seen, but at
twilight they returned in such vast num-
bers as to appall him. His attention
was first directed to the neighborhood
of his front gate, at which point he
heard innumerable fitting noises like a
storm in the distance. Looking thai
way he saw what at first he took to be
black cloud approaching, but as it got
nearer he realized that it was horde of
bats. As the swarm neared the house
it lowered and many of the bats entered
the open doors and windows. Mr.. McAtee
and his hired man at once set about to
kill the bats, and succeeded in making
away with two or three hundred. Hav-
ing rid the house of nearly all the bats,
Mr.. McAtee went out doors again to see
what the prospect was there. He was
surprised to find the air filed with
myriads of bats, flying and circling about
in all directions, and darting against
each other with audible force. A huge
and writhing mass had settled on the
window sill, and the entire frame, as
well as the wooden part of the sash, was
covered with them. The weather board
ing, for at least five feet on each side of
the window, and from the bottom to the
top of the house, was covered with the
black throng. Every clubhouse was
either invaded or surrounded. AS Nc
Atee walked through the yard the air
was black with bats, and he had to keep
up IL COhIlutlOuS LS ShblLB mlUu LID uttuItb
and arms to keep them from striking
him in the face. Overcome and con-
fused by the phenominal visitation Nc
Atee at first did not know what to do,
but finally conceived a plan which re-
suited in the capture and death of at
least very large number of them. The
result, by actual count, was 4,103 dead
bats, and their carcasses filled large
barrel which holds over five bushels.
Though this onslaught greatly dimin-
ished the number of invaders there were
still hundreds, and perhaps thousands,
of them left, though owing to the dark
ness, it was found impracticable to
make further war on them. Next
morning when McAtee awoke not bat
was to be seen, all the survivors having
disappeared as mysteriously as they
came. They have, however, since in
vNded the house, and all attempts to
keep them away are fruitless.
Year: 1877

A correspondent in ROumania gives
the following war scene II was near
Jassy, not many days ago; the weather
was hot, and clouds OF fine chalky dust
rolled up along the passage of regi-
ment of the Imperi i Guard. The Cos
sacks were thirsty, and two of them, not
being able to resist any longer their
craving, dropped in rear of the column,
aid, allowing their comrades to march
on to glory, went in for drink at the
nearest crasma. Bumper succeeded bum
per with frightful rapidity, until at last
the landlord refused to listen to their
demands. One of the Cossacks, already
somewhat refreshed at former station,
became indignant and obstreperous. and
drawing his saber threatened to put to
death every one in the establishment.
Flight of the landlord, followed, some
minutes afterward, by the arrival of q
UatdgeI-policeman of the mayors Office
in the rural districts instead of
pacifying endeavored to arrest the
drunken soldier, and received for his
pains saber-cut which stretched him
lifeless on the floor. A second and a
third Vatdgel shared the same fate, and
then the mayor in person came to the
rescue with dozen of peasants armed
with slaves, by whom the Cossack was
soon beaten to jelly and,. bound hand
and foot, was thrown into an clubhouse
until cart could be got ready to convey
him to the Russian camp. Meanwhile
his companion looked on in silence,
neither interrupting in favor of the land
lord nor seeking to protect his inebri-
ated fellow-countryman against the just
reprisals of the village authorities. He
sat gazing at the performance in stupid
apathy, his horses bride in his hand,
humming to himself one of those wild
songs of the Oural, which, chanted in
chorus by these Eastern warriors, take
the place of regimental bands. He
wanted to see the finale, but he meant to
take no part in the performance, and, as
he was blameless, except in so far that
he had neglected to pay his bill, was
very indignant when the mayors follow
ers advanced to take him too into GUS
tody. He said very little, it seems, but
his gestures were more eloquent than
words, and, although no one could un-
derstand his jargon, the sight of a cooked
six-shooter was persuasive, and after a
hurried consultation among the notables,
he was hidden, by signs, to go his way
in peace, which he incontinently did, to
the great relief of the villagers. What
was his fate no one ever cared to inquire,
but his comrade was punctually shot, on
the same evening, by the sentence Of
court-martial always in permanent ses-
sion for the Judgment of similar
| offenses.
Year: 1877

The great wall of China was measured
in many places by Mr.. Unthank, an
American engineer, lately engaged on
survey for a Chinese railway. His
measurements give the height at eigh-
teen feet, and width on top of fifteen
feet. Every few hundred yards there is
a tower twenty-four feet square, land
from twenty to forty-fve feet high. The
foundation of the wall is of solid granite.
Mr.. Unthank brought with him q brick
from the wall, which is supposed to
have been made 200 years B. @. In
building this immense stone fence to
keep out the Tartars, the builders never
attempted to avoid mountains or chasms
to save expense. For 1900 miles the
wall goes over plain and mountain, and
every foot of the foundation is in solid
granite, and the rest of the structure
solid masonry. In some places the wall
is built up against the bank, or canons,
or precipices, where there is sheer
descent of 1000 feet. Small streams
are arched over, but in the larger
streams the wall runs to the waters
edge, and q tower is built on each side.
On the top of the wall there are breast
works, or defenses, facing in and out, so
the defending force can pass from one
tower to another without being exposed
to an enemy from either side. To cal
culate the time of building or cost of
this wall is beyond human skill. So far
as the magnitude of the work is con-
cerned, it surpasses everything in ancient
OF modern times of which there is any
trace. The pyramids of Egypt are
nothing compared to it.
Year: 1877

FISH CULTURE.-Our people who
constantly enjoy the luxury of baked
and broiled salmon, and whose boast
is that the fish of our waters are the
best that swim, are possibly not
aware of the pains taken at the East,
particularly by those bordering upon
the great lakes to preserve and prop
agate the delicious white6sh and
salmon trout of those inland seas.
The Legislature of Michigan, for
instance, recently appropriated &c.,
900 for this purpose, and the result
is that they have had in the incubating
establishment at Milwaukee, Wis
consin, 100000 whitefsh and sal
mon Fout eggs Matching. Ninety
five per cent. of these eggs will
hatch and the young ish be distribu-
ted in the waters of the State. The
greater part Will be deposited in
Lake Michigan.


The returns for money invested
in fish culture are described as enor-
mous-500 per cent. is not a high
estimate. The fisheries of the Do
minion of Canada for the year 1875
yielded one million dollars worth of
6sh more than in any one year be-
fore artificial Matching was begun.
1t is reasonably estimated that water
with less culture can be made to
yield more food per acre than land.
Year: 1877

The wonder is not tnat the Republican
party should adopt the Democratic poll
cy of alone Rule" for the Southern
States at this late day, but rather that
there WAS not found enough of wisdom
and craftsmanship in that party to adopt
that policy immediately after the close of
the war. Had LINCOLN lived he un-
doubtedly would have attempted it, as
JOHNSON did after his death. Such q
policy, adopted at that time, would have
given the South to the Republican party;
but the party at large was blind, as it WAS
in West Virginia. A course of
humanity instead of brutality;
policy of statesmanlike concilla-
Iion instead of malignant perse-
cutlon; kindly taking by the hand and
lifting up in place of crushing down and
robbIng; trustful confidence in the in
telligence and worth of the various COM
munities instead OF their prescription
and the elevation over them of ignor-
ance and dlshonesty-thst would have
won the hearts of the noble and generous
Southrons, and the Republican party
would have had lease OF power for
a centnrv to come. The Democratic
party ruled the nation almost uninter-
ruptedly for three-quarters of century,
and was only driven from power by its
own follies. After the close of the war,
had the Republican party at once be-
come a national party in It's best and
broadest sense, it would have been i'm
pregpable. AS it is, its fate in the cOun-
try at large will be the fate 1t has cxpe-
rienced in West Virginia.
Year: 1877

Clifford and Davis; our insisting upon
Clifford and Field, aud they finally as
sentipg to that, but on condition that they
might drop Swayne and take Miller and
Strong, the completion of the bill, its
report to and adoption by both
houses and the organization Of the
Commission.


The Democratic members of the two
committees assented to this measure
with the full belief and expec-
tation that Judge Davis would be
appointed theI fifteenth member
or umpire. He was senior of the remain
ing associates; he was the only one quail
fed by freedom from partisan bliss,
which, together with his learning and un
sullied integrity had eminently fitted him
for the place; and whea IN addition TO all
this, two of the four associates were Dem
ocrats, it was not strange that we were
all confident that no one else than Judge
Davis would in any event be placed on
the Commission, and feel warranted in
affirming that had it been probable that
Judge Bradley, or either of the other
Judges would have been appointed to
a seat on that tribunal that the electoral
bill would never have been reported to
the two houses or enacted into law.
The selection of Judge Davis was an
ticipsted and expected by both parties III
Congress and the country At large. 1t
is but Justice to Messrs. Clifford and
Field to make public the fact that al the
first meeting of the four Justices they
voted for Judge Davis and per-
sisted in so doing, though Judge
Strong assured them that Davis would
not accept. 1t was only at the meeting
on the following day, when Mr.. Strong
presented n written communication from
Davis declining the position, that they
reluctantly voted for Judge Bradley.
Various reasons have been assigned for
Judge Davis declining this great public
duty. Senator Matthews attributes 1t TO
the interference OF Providence in causing
him in the meantime TO be elected
to the United States Senate. 1t is
hard To perceive how his election
10 an office, the term OF which would not
begin till the labors OF the Commission
were closed, could possibly couaict with
his dlscharging his duties as Com
missioner. Possibly the persistent op-
position of the Senate, implying distrust
or fear of his impartiality, may have in
tluenced his decision. However that
may be, his refusal to serve was the
occasion of profound disappointment
and deep and bitter regret, While
no man, as Tar as know, is authorized
to say what his final opinion
would have been after hearing the cases,
yet the Democratic party ard the whole
country would have accepted his decis-
ion as upright, learned and fearless, and
would nave respected it accordingly.


The speaker then ssve u history OF the
Florida case, characterizing the action OF
the Republican members OF the Com
mission as fraud. He spoke in the
the same PLAIN terms of their action IN
the Lousana case. While he WAS
speaking Hon. 4. NJ Bishop and Mr.
Hurd appeared and were received with
applause. Mr.. Hurd's speech was loud
ly applauded.
Year: 1877

EVANSVILLE, September &C. 1877.
Special to Pittsburgh Gazette.


Intense excitement was occasioned
here to-day by the discovery OF fearful
tragedy which has been enacted a few
miles from town, and involved the
death OF two persons-s man and wife.
the victims were Mr.. and Mrs. Abner
James. Mr.. James was an undertaken,
VINO had an office in this city. 1t seems
that he and his wife did not live happily
together. They had been married about
fourteen months, and recently business
troubles added to their unhappiness to
such an extent that separation was
talked about. Yesterday their disagree
ment seemed to have reached a climax
when the wife LETT the house, declaring
as she went that she never would live
with her husband again. She started Tor
her mot hers house. which is out from
this city in the suburbs. The husband
folio we'd her, and both of them were
seen leaving the city on the afternoon
train on the 9. IL NJ. V. Railroad. They
got of the train at Delcarbe, and started
TO walk across the telds to the house Of
widow Lscock, the mother of Mrs.
James. She resides on small farm
about mile east of Rosevllle, which is
about eight or nine miles from this city.
When last seen alive, they were walk
ing up the lane leading from the public
road toward the no Sc. They never
reached the house. This morning about
eight o'clock the bodies OF both were
found lying in fence corner about three
hundred yards from the house The
husband had bullet hole IN his breast,
and the wife one in the temple and an.
other IN the region OF the heart, They
were tightly locked IN each others arms,
and in The left hand of the wite-held
as in vice-Was q revolver with which
1t is supposed the dreadful deed was
done. How they came to their death is
in u measure mystery, as no one saw
the fearful tragedy enacted. The suppo.
sition is however, tnst the wife
first shot the husband, and then put two
bullets into her own body before death
came to her. There was no indication of
any struggle, and it is supposed that 1t
was plan mutually agreed upon to put
final quietus upon all their earthly sor-
rows.


James, the husband for some time had
been quite respondent, owing to his busi-
ness troubles, and many thought he was
demented. Both parties were compara-
lively young
Year: 1877

New YORK, September 27.-At the
Prohibitioni,t Convention the following
WAS declared to be the declaration of
principles OF the Prohibitionist Society:


That it is neither right nor polite Tor a
State to afford legal protection and
sanction to any traffic or system that
tends to increase crime, to waste national
resources, to corrupt socisl habits and to
destroy the health and lives of the people.


The declaration goes on TO state this
point at considerable length and con-
cludes by resolving to vote for no persons
for public office except those who favor
these principles.
Year: 1877

LAS worked a revolution In the treatment of Ca
u tsrlh. 1t has demonstrated beyond all doubt
that this disease, in its severest FORMS is cure
able and that comfort and happiness may be made
to follow years of misery, years of suffering by
persistent use of it. The method of treatment or
iginated by DR. Sanford. the local and consti.
tuItional by remedy prepared by distilation, is
the only one ever offered to the public that will
bear the test of time
Year: 1877

At any other time and under any other
circumstances. tho procession Of such gang
OF outiaws, thieves, and Communists through
tho City OF Chicago would lave attracted the
serious attention Of tho police and the
thoughtful consideration OF the people.
Yesterday 1t was burlesque, and the best
efforts Of tho banditti only held the Rtrike
System up 10 ridlcule. It Was pleasant
sort Of midsummer festival that amused the
children and did no damage.
Year: 1877

was nlcc thing for him to marry me, madame, because my dot was a thous- and francs, and he gave me my we'd ding suit and veil, and two rings, and we had rooms together for three years, which was long time considering, and then it got tiresOme to both of us. The money was gone and 1 came into ser vice, and he is valet to a baron, and indeed l am quite satisfied with him. He takes me out to Cafe chantant' sometimes, and I mend his clothes to pay him; but he is quite like the baron when he is wearing his masters clothes, which it is natural that he should be, being just the same size and style. Bat, as l said, the broom corn was failure last year, madame;" she continued quite decidedly, as if, having confided her matrimonial affairs to me after my questioning, that was another reason why I should remedy the dis aster to the broom corn crops. As it was casaner amusement for me, l addeuu nother twenty centimes to her purse, and she went away quite deject- ed at her foolishness in not asking for a larger sum at the outset.

 A few days later the same dress was disgraced with mud, and when I asked Fanchette to clean it, she replied, with downcast look of sorrow and pain i: "Pardon, madame, but have no broom and have not sufficient money to pur- chase one. The broom crop was an en- tire failure in both France and Spain, indeed it was.'

 gave her franc, and she took it as if it were quite her own, and with far less gratitude in her manner than she expressed when she received the first ten centimes. Even her pretty white cap frills and starched apron stirred with l0ftier sense of rectitude and self-respect, which was still more re- markable than the fine philosophical calm with which she had confided to me her peculiar eonnubial arrange ments. Her own domestic matters ap- peared to be of much less serious inn brush. A short time afterward passed her in the hall, where she was adding few last strokes of attention to my garment, and she was using the old broom

 That night was Fanchette's evening out. and ill the interest of these social problems, ] looked over the balcony to watch her as she passed under the bril- liant door-lamps, with her husband, and l was profoundly sorry for the baron, his master, if Francois wore his clothes. The valet looked as if he were a small, lean, over-roasted snipe. How ever, he had been fine enough and large enough to transform Fanchette from being French girl to the grand free. dom of being wife and housemaid.

 You should have seen this young person as she walked down the boule. yard on .:le arm of her legal lord, an6 yiu wolab gave imagined that she was fond and proud of the animated little manikin. Her cap had been laid aside Ca rarer thing in France than you woult suppose possible), and her finerie' quite shamed my own possessions, a least they did by gas-light.
Year: 1877

feeling makes us wondrous kind. You've got wooden leg, and, perhaps, know it isn't just the thing to stump over the country all night with

 ''It was old ChOker spoke to, and what he said was:

 "'I don't understand about your poetry or scripture, or whatever it is, but I do know about wooden legs. Come in.'

 and bed in the garret. We both saw that we looked considerably alike, and laughed oyer it. That night I slept in the garret, and when l awoke in the morning found my host was dead, and the house full of neighbors.

 'I felt that as the death was sudden, 1t might be best for me to keep out of sight. l, was as sorry for it as stranger could be, but my being there might be considered suspicious. I kept hidden gp in the garTet in a great lumber closet, sand heard poor Choker's affairs talked over, and learnt his habits.

 ''Some of his clothes were up in the garret, and an old wig; and one of the patches he had worn over his eye was there too; and there was an old dress ing glass in the corner. I tried on the wig and the patch, and saw how like old Choker they made me look. only I was not so brown. Then I took some walnuts that lay on the floor and rubbed the juice into my skin. It increased the resemblance, so did whitening my eyebrows with bit of chalk. And I sat down and looked at myself, and the plan that I afterward carried out came into my head. would play old Choker, as 1 knew l could.

 | I'd studied his voice and movements we'll, and as I told you, had once been an actor, and so should step into de- cent home and comfortable means with out hurting any one. The night after he was buried I came out of the garret, and went to the graveyard, and not to enter into details, you'll find Choker's coffin in the vault beyond his grave. Then went back and tried the effect of my disguise on poor old Peggy Kinder. l AL SdGlaAcu \ udNCll lCu merry l life, though knew it would not be a long one.

 "But I've been very comfortable, and sha'n't die dogs death out of doors, as once expected. I've never been afraid that Choker really would haunt me, though Pm trifle superstitious, for think he couldn't find much fault with me, as he had no relations, never made will, and couldn't take either his bank-book or his house and farm into the other world with him.

 "And now you have had the story, and you've promised to keep the secret until the last. You can see now. per haps, that Choker and were good deal alike. I'm four inches taller than he was, for one thing, and my nose is higher. But there's good deal in the mske up." 4gar.-

 These were almost the last words Chokefis ghost ever spoke, for his end was very near, and it was not until

 Death had taught him more

 Than this melancholy world doth know,'

 that the doctor let Crabtown know the sequel of it's ghost story.
Year: 1877

Few people have reason to regret that they have talked too little. Forbear to sport an opinion on subject of which you are ignorant, especially in familiar. If it be not always in your taihlv is to be silent; and, though thou sands have remembered with pain their garrulity, few have reason to re- pent their silence.