smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

WHAT is the cure for gossip Simply


w culture. There is good deal of
gossip that has no malignity in it. Good
natured people talk about their neighbors
because, they have nothing else to talk
about. AS we write there comes to us
the picture of a family of young ladies.
We have seen them at home, we have
met them in the galleries Of art, wei have
caught glimpses Of them going from
bookstore, or a library, with fresh
volume in their hands. When we meet
them, they are full of what they have
seen and read. They are brimming with
questions. One topic of conversation is
dropped only to give place to another
Year: 1877

We want religion that softens the
step, and tunes the voice to melody and
fills the eye with sunshine, and checks
the impatient exclamation and harsh re-
buke religion that is polite, deferen-
tial to superiors, courteous to interiors
and considerate to friends; a religion
that goes into the family, and keeps the
husband from being cross when dinner
is late, and keeps the wife from fretting
when the husband tracks the newly
washed floor with his muddy boots, and
makes the husband mindful of the
scraper and the door-mat, keeps the
mother patient when the baby is cross
and amuses the children as well as in
structs them; cares for the servants
besides paying them promptly, projects
the honeymoon into the harvest-noon,
and makes the happy home like the
Eastern fig-tree, bearing in its bosom at
once the beauty of the tender blossom
and the glory of the ripened fruit. We
want a religion that shall interpose be-
tween the ruts and the gullies and rocks
of the highway of life and the sensitive
souls that are travelling over them.
Year: 1877

e. A Spanish sentinel one dark night
was posted at the entrance of fort out
side of Malaga. About midnight he
heard some one approaching, and gave
the usual challenge, equivalent to


"Who comes there Z"


To his amazement the answer was,
g Jesus of Nazareth ~


He at once called the sergeant of the
guard and reported the facts to him.
The sergeant went forward, challenged
the intruder in his turn, and received
the same answer. Infuriated at what
he considered an attempt to trifie with
him, he knocked the man down with
his musket and beat him severely. He
then sent for lantern to ascertain who
it was. When the light came, he saw
that 1t was gentleman of high standing
who lived in the neighborhood, but who
was out of his mind. The sergeant,
deeply regretting his hasty action, said
to the man:


II am sorry 1 hurt you; but here
after when challenge you, remember
to give your own NAME"


The poor victim replied


81 am not such fool as to do that
If this is the kind of reception you give
to Jesus of Nazareth, you would have
killed me outright if 1 had given my
own name"
Year: 1877

COME years ago my physician told me
- must leave the counting house
and travel for my health. Let it not be
thought from this that was weak,
puny man. Far from it. In fact was
too stout and strong for SO much con-
finement, the result of which was
morbid state of the liver, and a weak
ening of the digestive organs, with ac-
companying dyspepsia and constipation.
knew the physician was right, and 1
at once planned voyage to Europe;
but my parents were anxious to know if
a horseback ride through the Southern
States would not be as good for me. The
doctor said it would be better. " Them"
cried old Lattitat, the head of the firm,
"you will kill two birds with one
stone" The meaning of which was
that L could visit thousand and one
correspondents in the Cotton States, and
square up thousand and one accounts,
while looking after my lost health. L
had no objections to this. 1 steamed it
by rail as far as Cincinnati; thence by
water to New Orleans. Then took the
river back to Vicksburg, where bought
horse, and started across the country
to the eastward, intending to strike the
Atlantic coast at Savannah.


Late one evening L arrived at a small
settlement near the Tombigbee, in
Alabama, where found quite q COM
Portable inn. After supper I sat down
in the bar-room, and soon discovered
that among the guest presents, was the
Sheriff of the district and two of his
deputies and by listening to the con-
versation learned that they We're out
on important business. Later, when
alone with the landlord, 1 was informed
of the particulars. That section of the
country had fora long time been infested
by gang of desperate villains river
pirates and horse thieves-who had rob-
bed and murdered both travellers and cit
izens, and who had thus far succeeded in
eluding the vigilance of the officers sent
after them. There was something won-
derful in this, for the most expert de-
tectives had been upon the track of the
marauders many times, and yet not
even clue had been gained of their
hiding-place. That they had hiding
place was very evident; and further, it
was place where both men and horses
could be effectually concealed. The host
declared that it was very mysterious, it
was past his comprehension. For more
than year plantations have been rob-
bed; travellers have been robbed; boats
upon the river have been robbed; and
even large settlements have been in
Year: 1877

OUR CHIEF JUSTICE made a very pointed
remark in his charge to a Jury before the
New Castle County Court last week when
he said the character of woman was eaual
to the life of man. We are pleased to
see our Chief Justice, who has not been
charged with being an advanced thinker
on the higher morals, taking such ground
and enunciating such sentiments that ac.
cord with a higher civilization. The judge
stands on plane but little less elevated
than that OF minister. One upholds the
majesty of the divine, the other of the
moral law, and the latter has its root and
foundation in the former. 1t is almost in
VAIN for one to erect a temple of beautiful
proportions. if the other by statutory inter
pretations tears it down


The rulings of the just Judge will
always be in favor of the weak and help
less, especially if the moral force be
on that side. 1t really does seem as if
there IS "revival" among the Judi.
ciary; that higher light is cleaning on
a.
Some of them may have received only a
single ray, but as whole, in the past
twelve months, the rulings have been of a
higher order than any time within the
past generation. Until very recently it has
seemed very easy thing for any moral
culprit, especially in our cities, to break
through the "meshes of the law but wit.
ness in Justification Of the remark how
every week now We read of some defaulter
of trust funds, defamers of character, &C..
being placed in duress.


The ancicnts p.e,uied the Goddess of
Justice sitting bIindlolded, evenly weighing
the balances. If thcy. before the light of
Christianity dawn.' .r.... r. pathway. thus
typefied II, why might we not expect it in
its fullest measure in this day of grace.
Year: 1877

The singular instance in connection with
the ill-fated Huron, narrated in another
column, is strictly true. Mitchell, the
engineer who suffered himself 20 be court
martialed rather than finish his cruise, was
tried at Norfolk and the late Dr. Culbreth
was one of the members of the court. The
Doctor and the other officers supposed that
Mitchelfs excuse was only pretext, and
that he gave it to hide the real cause, which
he did not wish to make known. He was
always regarded as an honorable and faith
full officer.
Year: 1877

REMARKABLE PREsENTIMENT.-In March
last while the ill.fated u s. steamer Huron was living
IN the harbor of Port Royal S. c.. Lieutenant Arthur
IL Fletcher, her executive officer, left the vessel on


twenty four hours leave of absence and failing 10
return at the expiration of that time the ship sailed
for another port without him. few days after Mr.


Fletcher returned 70 Port Royal, reported 10 COmmo
dore H. b Clitz, senior naval ofbcer present." and
stated 20 him that for some time past he had pre-
sentiment that II he went to in the Huron for the
purpose OF finishing the cruise two years. he would
DC wrecked This feeling took complete possession of
his mind, and he used every means to get detached
but the Navy Department refused to order Il without


better reason. when he found that all his efforts
bad failed. he left the Huron in the manner stated
with the intention not 20 return. For this he was
placed under arrest and tried by court-martial at
Washington Navy Yard in August last In defence
he made statement In substance as above and
called Commodore Clitz. Commander George p. Ryan
OF the Huron, and other officers TO prove that before
leaving the ship he had told them Of the dread-in
fact, houor-he had of finishing the cruise m the
vessel This Is matter OF record on file In the Navy
Department, and though such a line OF defence was
laughed az when made, the fate Of the Huron viii
cause many superstti0us people to think that Mr.
fletcfers premonition fully proven TO be true
one by the wreck of Kitty Hawk, ~ C--Jpdshinoton
Republican. S''''
Year: 1877


EDIToRs COURIER - GENTS En-
closed please find Sl.5O, for renewal
ofsubscription to the weekly CoUpIER.


have missed the last No. of the
COURIER, for some reason, perhaps
expiration of subscription, and when
we miss one we find we can't keep
house without it. I think this Is
about my 10th year for the COURIER,
and find it has become one of the
permanent fixtures of the family.


We have had rather an exciting
time for the past two weeks, over the
trial of Warren Clough, for the mur-
der Of his brother, last May. On Fri
day last the jury returned verdict
of guilty ofmurder in the first degree,
which is punishable, in this state, by
hanging. A motion for a new trial
is now pending which probably will
be granted.


We are having very warm weather,
more like April than February. The
farmers say they arc going to plow-
ing in the morning. The time is fast
approaching when L hope we shall
know something definite about the
Presidential matter. l for one am
decidedly opposed to deciding the
matter by a game of seven up or
drawing cuts. Mr.. Hayes or Tilden,
is, one or the other, honorably elected.
and which ever it is say give him
the office without gambling for the
chance of the office. 8 t5#


l am glad to learn from the CoU-
RIER, that my old friend Springer is
still in Nebraska and alive and
scratching. Notwithstanding the gras-
hoppers, bulldozcrs and all the ver-
min. think we have made good
selection for United States Senator,
from this state.


With respects to you and all old
friends, am respectfully yours
G. A. DEpBY.
Year: 1877

Robinson Bros, n Go. will, for The
next 30 days, offer to the public spe.
cial bargains in all lines Of goods
These gentlemen are well known te
most of our readers, and hardly need
an endorsement from MS, But te
those who have never become ac


quainted with them, we may be per


mitted to say that no more gentleman


ly dealers can be found anywhere
and they always do just what they
promise in their advertisements, henct
they have an extensive and constant
ly increasing trade. Give them a cal
and you will find what we say t,
be the exact truth. a
Year: 1877

Inc marshall Daily Times giving
an account of the recent fire in thai


city, which destroyed McCombs' liv.
cry stable and cremated nine horses


but which fire, thanks 10 their water
works, was confined to the building
where it originated, although sur.
rounded by tinder boxes, says:


Gas soon as the alarm was sound
cd, the engineer at tho


WATER WORKS


commenced showing in kindlings sat-
urated with kerosene, which are kept
on hand for the purpose of making
steam quick, and we are informed
that in just ten minutes from the time
the alarm was first sounded he had
80 pounds of steam on and ready to
start the second pump, which was not
used, however, in consequence of The
breaking of chain which was used to
raise the flood gates and allow q large
supply Of water from the river. The
gates were found frozen fast and
nothing could raise them, and only
one pump was used and the water all
had to pass through the filter. It is
well that it happened so at this time,
as the one pump furnished all the wa
ter that was required last night, and
the defect can now be remedied, The
water works have again practically
demonstrated their success and use
fulness, and there is not tax payer
in the city to-day who will grumble
at the investment. sIf it had not been
for the water works the best part of
the city would have been in ashes"
"The water works have more than
paid for themselves tonight" and
similar remarks were in the mouths
of everybody. present, and we can all
now have a greater feeling of securi-
ty than ever. AL praise to the water
works.


Our citizens can now 60 to bed with
an assurance of safety. The water
works paid for themselves twice over
last night and every good citizen glo-
ries in the possession of them. We
sympathize with our friend McC Combs.
We know how it is to be scorched
by fire, having been three times de-
pleted with it but Nc, can rest with
the assurance that this community are
with him and his paper will be none
the less valuable for the fire." i


Ottumwa ought to profit by this
example and utilize her water power
at once. ~
Year: 1877

A special to the Tribune from New
Orleans, dated Feb. 9, says: /


"The wife Of Littlefield, Governor
Palmer's witness, to-day sold what
little furniture she had, and will leave
tomorrow for New York with her
two children, there to join her hus-
band. She stated to-day to friend
that she had received a letter from
Littlefield. stating that he had made
money enough lately to lcare the
country, and bidding her to meet him
in New York, and sending her plenty
of money to enable her to do so. Al
he has always been impecunious here
tofore, it is probable that his sudden
ness of fortune IS the reward of his
services to Governor Palmer and his
associates as a Witness" t@
Year: 1877

The COURIER editorial room is now
furnished with an authentic edition
of the Holy Bible, and our visitors
and correspondents, in the future,
will please be careful how they quote
bogus scripture.
Year: 1877

The Chicago Tribune has double
loaded editorial favoring the election
of Senator Morton as Vice President
pro tenn. The reasons given arc that
Ferry's senatorial term expires on the
Sd of March, and that although he
has been elected Senator, there would
be an intcrregnum from that day un-
til the 9Th of March before he (Ferry)
could be sworn i'm, even if the Senate
was to elect him again President pro
tenn. and acting Vice President.


The Tribune thinks that in view OF
democratic threats to carry the de.
cision Of the Presidential muddle past
the 9Th of March, for the purpose OF
forcing another presidential election
next November, it is of the utmost
Importance that there should not be
break in the authority of the acting
vice president, and that Senator Nor.
ton has the advantage Of holding
over, besides the universally conceded
merit of great courage ahd executive
ability.


We believe that the men of honor
and ability in the democratic party
who, for the most part, come from the
South, will continue to abide by the
action of the Electoral Board, which
is, to great extent, their own crea.
tion, and that the declaration OF
Hayes election, which is now appar.
entity inevitable, will be acquiesced
in with substantial unanimity.


Nevertheless, the suggestions Of IN,
Tribune, to have man of great abil
ity and undoubtcd nerve at the helm
about that time, should be accepted
by the Senate.
Year: 1877

Perhaps it would be better cX-
pressed and more to the point to say
heavier horses are the need of the
times. Trotting horses, PAGERS, rum
ners, or any other gait are all right in
their places, but the majority of hors-
es arc for labor, and not for show
they are on duty as producers, and
are valuable in proportion as they
can do work; they are the motive
power on the farm, on the highway,
in the large towns and citics-as in
dispensable as bread and butter
Prices of large horses of all breeds
that are compactly built and con-
structed on good rules of proportion
rule high and pay well for handling.
"Plugs" and scrub stock are cheap,
and will be even less in price than
heretofore, as all who employ teams
are fast learning that heavy strong
team costs no more to keep than a
light, poor one, but even less, and can
do much more service. A farmer
should have at least one heavy, strong
team. He may own a small, light
span, but for plowing and general
uSC, thC uCuNs tCouu luat Is seluOlti
urged beyond fast walk on the road
and will take fourteen or sixteen
inch plow and 60 all day without any
evidence of weariness, is the one to
depend on. The market is full OF
semi-fast stock they do not command
a staple price, but depend wholly on
circumstances for their margin OF
profit, if any, that they yield. Pure
blooded Norman or Clydesdales may
not be the best tor their exclusive ma.
ture, but by crossing them with good
native western stock there can be
produced superior grade of horses
that will command good prices and
be in demand at all times.


Farmers should not be indifleren,
to this fact, and when they propose tt
raise colt, select from that stocl
which will insure a heavy horse; i
may cost more in the beginning, bu
will net larger returns in the end
Good horses, good cattle, good sheel
and hogs, are good deal the cheap
est.-F'acto,y and Farm.
Year: 1877

Let us have fair counts to Z.


s to Z. In hoe signo Hayes gets in.


Let us have peace, by vote Of s to
Z.


No use counting any more. II is
to all round.


s to Z is q tremendous majority,
when the s are OH your side.


Bradley is q great man. Let him
not weary in we'll doing.


The tow-line covered itself with
glory yesterday by vote of to Z.


We hope no Democrat will be al
lowed to forget that the vote was to


The Republican party may now
very properly be called the party OF
eternal 8.


BY vote of 8 TO 7 the Democratic
party is beaten once more and for
ever.


sto z is a beautiful figure of speech
and will make first-class epitaph fol
the Democrats.


The Democrats want to jump the
game because they can't take the eight.
spot with the seven-spot.


"Would you walk into my parlor p
said the spider to the fly. The fly
walked in, and by vote of s to Z he
got hurt.


Even bar'l % money can't make
seven beat eight. 1t is sad epoch
in our country's history when such il
the case.


Col. Armstrong swore blue streal
at man yesterday for simply telling
him that he went to dinner at six and
ate to seven.
Year: 1877

The Chicago Times howls fearful
ly about the commission. It uses
language in abuse of that body that
could only have had its origin. with a
man stepped in all the experience
which makes first class blackguard.
Tho mistake it makes is, that in its
rage it ovcrdoes the matter, and the
reader is disgusted after reading a
very few paragraphs of its diatribe.
The Chicago Ii,aes will bear for
many years, as it now does, wide
spread reputation, it is true, but it
will be as notorious among journals
of decent reputation as is Nero
among the Emperors of Rome. Ut
.tcrly void of reliability or honesty, it
is deplorable how many depraved
tastes there are which are satiated by
a constant reading of SO foul a jour-
nal.
Year: 1877

The Senate committee in the Ore.
gon matter, ought now to summon
Sam. Tildcn to testify. We don't
suppose the country would have much
confidence in what the old man would
say, after the last years experience
with him, but then it might be inter-
csting to know how he would squirm
out Of the rascaliry he has been caught
in. If Hayes was implicated tithe
as much as Tilden is, he would long
ago have been summoned to Wash
ington before a democratic inquisi-
torial committee and been incarcer-
atcd in some sink hole beneath the
Capitol, if he had not danced right
lively to all questions asked, even to
giving an inventory of his wife's
wardrobe.
Year: 1877

4 REPUBLICAN Congressman, ex.
changing congratulations with Sena-
tor Blaine last Sunday over the
fortunate result of the Electoral
Commission experiment, asked the
eK-Spcaker.if it was not about time
for him to regret that he had opposed
the passage of the bill creating the
Commission. "By no MEANS" re-
piled Mr.. Blaine, u still adhere to
my first impressions about the bill. A
much better plan of settlement would
have been to pass bin giving the
defeated candidate the right to bring
a quo warranto suit in the Supreme
Court, and requiring the Court to
decide the case within thirty days.
With such a law we could have gone
on in the old constitutional way to
open and count tho vote. The decis-
ion of the Court would have carried
far greater weight with the people
s4han will that of the Commission"
Year: 1877

The insane desire possessing the
minds of majority of farmers is
more land aud larger farms. Not
content with as many acres as they
can till to advantage, or with econo-
my and profit, they watch and wait
until they can obtain another eighty
or add forty to their already too
large possessions. Enough is as good
as feast, and too mt ch is more than
a famine. Farms in our great West
are altogether too large, one reason
being because no long years of labor
are required to remove the forests
and prepare for the reception of seed ;
and the purchaser, instead of taking
eighty acres and doing the work
thoroughly, will buy half section
and only half perform anything he
may undertake. We are ready to
confess that the soil is rich, and will
do its part of the work well; but a
rich soil and bright sun, with rain,
dews, and genial climate, are not ali
that is required to show balance on
the profit side Of the farmers ledger.
A careful and practical gardener or
farmer from the Old Land, or even
New England, will make q handsome
income from the neglected spots on
the average. farm. What use is there
in owning 16O acres of land to use
only GO acres 2 and why pay interest
ON the extra hundred acres when less
than half of it will not only produce
all you obtain from the larger farm
and spare you hours of useless con-
Germ because the untitled portion is
not producing?


An illustration of how large farms
work failure to their owners, is be-
fore us now, in the instance of the
Sullivan farm of 10000 acres; if ii
has not swamped the owner it has
dragged him down until ruin was so
near that recovery was only possible
in dividing up and disposing of the
acres that were more than he could
make profitable.


There is point beyond which, in
farming as well as business, results
are obtained only by more than pro-
portionate expense. A merchant
may sell 100000 worth of goods at
fair profit, but the expense and extra
cost necessary to increase it to $780,
600 not unfrequently occasions actual
loss. A farmer may till farm Of
l6O acres and have fair balance left
each year, but when he adds the next
l6O acres he has put about his neck
an anchor that may draw him under.


Again, we say the farms are too
large on an average. More farmers
are what we need, not larger farms ;
do better the work that is undertake
en-; employ means that will take out
of the soil the most from the fewest
acres; use every foot Of ground you
own, and be content to put your
profits out at savings, and not into
more land that will burden you with
debt and put an end to gain.-Fdcto-
RI and Farm.
Year: 1877

be left behind.


The party could not dig up the fro
zen ground to give the brave man
burial. Fifty miles away the gaunt
wolves were tearing at the bodies of
wife and children. AS the party
turned away from the horrible sight,
gaunt wolves crcpt down to strip
these bones also. They rushed from
corpse to corpse, gnashing their yell
low fangs, and before the sun went
down another record of plains and
hills was hidden from sight of the
traveller.