smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

A fact that is strongly commented upon relative to the Lake Shore dis aster is that immediately after the acci- dent a train dispatcher in Cleveland tele- graphed not to permit water to be thrown on the burning cars. The dispatcher admits sending the dispatch, but says that it was through fear that the wounded might be drowned by too liberal use of water. Near the west pier stands an engine house with steam pumps for forcing water up into the tank on the hill. It had plenty of hose that could have been instantly attached, and a powerful stream of water could thus have been thrown upon the burning wreck. In this way it is claimed that most of the wounded who were burned to death might have been saved, and the friends of the lost, maddened by their failure to find anything but the ashes of their friends, charge that it was the de- liberate purpose of the company to let the fire do its work as completely as possible. Until the coroner's jury, now in session, has rigidly examined all the facts, judgment on these points may fairly be suspended.

 The bridge which gave way was crossed by double track the wrecked train was coming over on the left hand, or southern track. That side of the bridge gave way first, and the train in falling was thrown some thirty feet to the left of direct line between the abutments. The bridge fell directly downward, and crushed through the ice to the bottom of the river. It would therefore form 0 dam which would stop the bodies washed down stream under the ice. It is cur rent theory at Ashtabula, where public feeling is intensely bitter against the managers of the road, that they are anxious to remove the bridge first so as to permit any human remains now lodged against it to be washed away, and thus obliterate evidence upon which claims can be based for damages by the'friends of the lost.
Year: 1877

MT. Moody, in an address at the Chi cago tabernacle, made rather practical application of the parable of the sower. He said that he did not believe every protestation of 8 change of heart which he heard. Men came with the crowd and acted with the crowd, but the seed was only in subsoil, and good stiff breeze would bear them down like stubble. He knew one who sang hosannas and was very much worked upon {; the seed had fallen and sprung up. But there was lack of depth. He knew this, because the man owed his landlady board bill which he was able to pay, but which he utterly neglected. He believed in the conversion of deeds. He did not believe in the Christianity that found time to read Sunday paper but none for the Bible,
Year: 1877

NATURAL CHEERFULNEss.-Is sometimes
wonder if the creatures of the woods and
fields, the little beings with downy breasts,
with shining shards, or silken wings, ever
know or think whether they are happy or
sad. Apparently they live because their
little bodies arc brimful of life, without a
thought of self-pity or congratulation-do-
inc what they were made to do just be-
cause they were made to do it and cannot
help it, without once stopping to contem-
plate the individuality Of that little atom
of animate dust which in our own case we
call "I.' We may suppose that the
grasshoppcr hops its life away blissfully
unconscious of the great work it is doing
in building up the patience of healthseek,
ers. The cricket chrps in the shadow OF
some convenient stone, and from the day
of its birth to the day of its death never
knows what a soothing power over the
tired senses is in its cheerful monotone.
The marsh-frogs play their merry chimes
night after night, and, so far as they know,
do not receive therefore so much us vote
of thanks from delighted audience.
Everything is useful everything seems to
do Just what it likes to do. just in the way
it pleases, and Just as long as it pleases,
and if some poor unfortunate did not yield
up its existence now and then, or if some
spiteful wasp did not insist upon taking
revenge for unpleasant accidental contigui-
ty, which is not heavenly characteristic,
one might almost fancy mans earth the
insects heaven.
Year: 1877

TIE MYSTERY OF DREAMs.-A man fell


Isl, ep as the clock roled the first stroke of
twelve. He awakened ere the echo Of the


welllh stroke had died away, having in
the interval dreamed that he had commit
ted n crime. was detected after five years,
tried and condemned; the shock of find
ing the halter around his neck aroused him
10 consciousness, when he discovered that
all these events had happened in an infni-
!esimal fragment of time Mohammed,
wishing to illustrate the wonders of sleep,
told how certain man, being a sheik,
found himself for his pride made poor
fisherman, how he lived as one for sixty
years bringing up a family and working
hard, and how, upon waking from his


long dream so short time had he been
asleep that the narrow-necked gourd bot
tie, filled with water, which he knew he
over. turned as he fell as eep had not time
TO empty itself How fast the soul travels
when the body is asleep! Often when we
awake we shrink from going back into the
dull routine of sordid existence, regret
ting the pleasanter life of dream-lHnd.
How it is that sometimes when we 90 to
Il strange place we fancy that we have seen
it before? Is it possible that when he has
been asleep the soul has Aoated away, seen
the place, and has that memory of it which
so surprised us? In Il word, how far dual
is the life of man, how far not?-Lond0n
Times.
Year: 1877

FIGHT BETWEEN A LION AND A LEoP-
ARD.-The Geological Gardens Mt Pesth
have Just been the scene of n combat wore
thy of Nero or Heliogabalus. The Gag
tenanted by lion and lioness happened
to be next to that in which dwclt female
leopard, for whom the captive queen of
the desert entertained II special hatred.
Probably she was jealous of the bright
eyes and beautiful skin Of her neighbor.
and may possibly have suspected her lord
and master of casting tender regard or
two across the barrier which separated the
two dens.


The suspicion, brooded over in silence,
became devouring passion, and it ripen-
ed into certainty at the precise moment
when vengeance happened to become pos
sible. The keeper of the gardens had in
advertently one day left hanging within
the lions cage the chain which served to
draw up the partition, and the lion was
not long in seizing it and beginning to
pull. Whether he was animated with u
spirit of fcklcness or by curiosity alone
must remain forever secret. But the re-
suit was that the partition flew up and the
road remained open from one cage to the
other. Through it instantly rushed the
lionesS, breathing hatred and malice, but
the lion had no sooner dropped the chain
and prepared to follow in chase than the
portcullis fell and the passage was barred
again.


In the mean time, however, n struggle
commenced between the two lady war
riors such rs has not been seen in Europe
since the palmy days Of the amphitheatre.
The leopard, worsted ut the first onset,
attempted to take refuge from the foe by
jumping and hanging to the top rails Of
the cage. 1t was all in vain, however.
She was brought to bay again, and com
PEELED to fight face to face with the terri
hle invader. For twenty long minutes
the battle ragged in royal style The neck
and shoulders of the lioncss were deeply
furrowed with red gashes. But her vie
tim was overmatchcd, and at length
thrown on her back. when the coup dc
grace WAS given by the savage flngs of
the victor.


The lion, who had been looking on
probably with mingled feelings-at the
scene, will now, no doubt, he restored to-
the affectionate confidence of his spouse.
Nothing remained, at the end of the en-
counter, of the pretty spotted skin which
had so captivated him but a few torn and
mangled shreds, and the romance of the
cages, if romance there was, came to a
tragic end.-London Globe.
Year: 1877

A Hartford paper tells how lady of
that city "plays it" on tramps, through
the agency of the bogus money known as
advertising greenbacks,' and which, to
the casual observer, appear genuine Inc
lady with studied carelessness puts bill
of this kind under the mat ut the back OF
the door, and waits the approa II of the
innocents. Up to the door comes trampy,
and his greedy eyes at once alight on the
money. In flash it is transferred to his
pocket, and without stopping to knock and
beg, us he intended to do, he hurries out
of sight, radiant with the JOY Of one who
unexpectedly strikes good luck. When at
a safe distance he looks at the bill, and as
the extent of the terrible deception dawns
upon him. he clutches his hair, and with
wild despairing cry Of Sold, by Jerusa-
lem!n crawls into a convenient Ht-hole
and dies.


A Young gentleman from a semi-rnral
town has relations living in the city, and
the other day he came down to make them
a short visit. In the evening he went cut
to call on a young lady OF his acquaintance,
and she proved so irresistible that he did
not leave her till one in the morning.
When he arrived home he quietly let HIM
self in, and espying light through the
crack in the door, supposed TINT one oil tile
family had thoughtfully left II light burn
inc for him, and so he quietly removed his
boots, stealthily entered the room, and
found his amazed self standing in the
presence of large and brilliant party. No
EXPLANATION was needed. The boots in his
hands, the sheepish expression on his face,
told the story, and hole in the heel of his
stocking added greatly to his pleasure
Rochester Democrat.


Frederick Tennyson, the Poet Laureate
brother, once had the audacity to disre
card the awful rules Of the British Opera
House. He was about to walk into Drury
Lane one evening wearing black, instead
of n white cravat, when the tieket-taker
stopped him. Pardon me, sir said
1.-THE functionary, "your cravat does not
admit YOU" But my ticket does" said
Mr.. Tennyson, and in he went.


1t was at a party, and another fellow
had marched off triumphantly with his
girl" That's the way" said he, sadly;
" it isn't merit that wins in this world, it's
brass watch-chains and paste diamonds
and dyed moustaches.n And he swal-
lowed down his Adams apple fully three
times before it would stay, such was his
grief.


A Milesian having returned to his native
land was asked to give an illustration of
American enterprise. Made answer the
Irelander: " II a Yankee was shipwreck-
ed on an uninhabited island, the following
morning he would be selling newspapers
to all the inhabitants"
Year: 1877

IMAGINATION AND DIsEAsE,-The in
1uence of the imagination in the simula-
ton of disease has often been proved. 1t
was in France, believe, that an expert
ment was made upon soldier who, being
condemned to die for some infraction of
military discipline, was handed over TO
scientists as u living subject. He was
placed in a hospital, and told that all
around him were patients suffering from
smallpox Although this was not true,
the man was soon taken violently sick and
displayed every symptom of the disease.
Instances tending to establish this remark
able domination of the mental faculties
over the body are not rare, and story is
going the round of the newspapers which
may be cited in this connection


A young man in indianapolis went into
a drug store and asked for fifty cents
worth of strychnine. The druggist gave
him harmless POWDER and he swallowed


it. He then explained that his affections
had been blighted, and he had taken the
poison to get even. The druggist told him
that there was not fifteen minutes life in
him, and that he was beginning to fade
about the eyes already. The youth sank
to the floor, and the sweat streamed from
his brow He was becoming very sick,
mentally and bodily, and appeared to be
dying The medicine-man became alarm
ed at the effect of The dose, and examined
the iar from which he had taken the pow
der 1t was sugar Of milk" sure
enough-perfectly harmless, and yet it
was producing spasms AS last resort
the young man was informed that he had
taken no poison, but instead very HARM
less powder, bushel of which would not
kill. The information put Il stop TO the
dying business; he revived, got up and
walked out of the store disguised, promis-
ing, however, to give the coroner an early
/ Job. 1t was the opinion of all the by
standers that the mere imagination OF
poison in his system WAS really killing the
youth.
Year: 1877

THE TAYLOR JuG.-A gentleman tray
cling at the West met an emigrant journey
ing with his family to the fertile regions
beyond the Mississippi He had all his
goods packed in wagons, and on one load
there hung huge jug with the bottom
broke out He asked the stranger why he
carried that with him. Why" said he,
81 had son with Gen. Taylors army in
Mexico, and the old gentleman always
told him to carry his whi,ky-jug with Il
hole in the bottom; and since then have
carried my jug as you see it, and find it
the best invention | ever met with"
Now" said Rev. DR.. Tying, who related
the anecdote, " if our presidents, govern
ors and legislators would carry such
whisky Jugs as this western emigrant car
ried; if their jug had no bottom in il, we
should have much less drunkenness and
misery" O, the ruinous example of those
in high stations.
Year: 1877

To repair the silvering on u mirror, the
following method has been recommended
by good authorities; Clean the bare por-
tion of the glass by rubbing it gently with
fine cotton, taking care to remove all dust
and grease. With the point of knife cut
upon the back of another glass portion
of the silver of the required form, but a
little larger. Place drop of mercury up
on it. This spreads, and presently the
piece of amalgam may be lifted up with
the blade of knife, and transferred to the
place to be repaired. Press it with a
piece of cotton wool. 1t hardens speedily
and the patch is as good as any other part
of the mirror.
Year: 1877

People make great mistake about
heaven. They think it begins up yonder,
but it really begins down here. If you
can be happy in the basement story, you
are fitted to enjoy the happiness of the
upper stories. But if you whine and moan
here, heaven itself can't change your
mood.
Year: 1877

We are under especial and peculiar obliga-
tions to the publishers of the Courier for their
generosity In extending to us the use Of their
material IN our time Of need. OF course it is
but what We should expect from such gentle
nen, yet We feel none tn less grateful
Year: 1877

Hard times are now upon Us,
And people are in debt;
The country's full of trouble,
And the worst is coming yeti
IT'S not without its causes,
And we'll plainly tell you now,
The only way 10 stop it


Is to follow up the plow.
yHo.-Then follow up the pillow, boys,
Follow up the plow
If you would build the country up
Just follow up the plow,
Then follow up the ploW, boys,
Follow up the plow
IF you would build the country up
Just follow up the plow.
Fill up your fields and prairies
With a crop that's good as gold,
And mine your hills and valleys wide
For iron, salt and coal.
The earth is the producer,
And we can tell you how
To make princely fortune
'Tis to follow up the plow."


Then follow up the plow, boys, etc.
There are too many people
Who from their duty shirk,
Who'd rather make a fortune
By some other means than work.
The man who plants tobacco,
Corn, wheat or cotton now,
Is king among the "moneyed mem
he "follows up the plow."


Then follow up the plow, boys, etc.
Year: 1877

A judicious rotation of crops will
keep farm in good state Of fertility
without any manure, except what is
made on the farm. In the first place,
turn ever field in sod for corn, 6rst
spreading upon the field what manure
you can spare, and turning it under as
fast as spread, or the same day at least
Deep plowing is not necessary in pillow
ing sward land for cOrn but it should
be turned over fat and evenly, and
after narrowing the land, the corn
should be planted Immediately, SO as to
get good start ahead Of the grass
The next year this land may bear crop
Of oats, barley or spring wheat. Seed
il down to clover or to any other grass
with it. the clover being necessary to
fertilize the land the third year, BY
turning under a second growth (the
first being cut for hay) early in Sep
tember and sowing the land to wheat
or rye, and seed it down to grass again,
emitting to sow the clover seed in this
case till the following March, when it
may be soWn even if the ground be
covered with snow; and as soon as the
snow is gone and the land is dry roll
it, and the clover seed will catch well
There is no kind of grass so good a
green fertilizer as clover; as its roots
penetrate the soil quite deeply, and
with the green clover turned under, it
Is equal in fertilizing land to a moder-
ate spread Of stable manure.
Year: 1877

PRUEE YoUR GRAPE VINEs.-The
proper time to prune grape-viDes is in
the fall +; but many persons neglect to
prune at that season, and in cases where
the vines have not been pruued, they
should be attended to the first pleasant
day, and not wait till the sap begins to
flow, as then they would bleed" and
be badly injured. In pruning grape
vines, you are merely to put the vines
in good shape, being careful to save
the most Of the best canes of last wears
growth. which may be known from
their reddish color. The ends of the
canes saved may be cut of to suit your
trellis space, and the side spurs cut
back 10 one bud, or as many IS you
please, according to the length of the
spurs A spur four feet long, with
eight or ten buds, cut back to two or
three buds. and the cut is to be made
several inches from the nearest bud.
As you approach the end of the cane
where the spurs are shorter, one or two
buds only should be left. Where vines
are laid down and protected for the
winter, Of course no pruning can be
done until taken up; but we presume
that no one, who is worthy of owning a
grapevine, has laid down his vines un-
pruDed.
Year: 1877

Potato Wine.-Slightly frosted po-
tatoes may be utilized into a very
passabIe wine by carrying out the
following directions: TO about a
bushel Of potatoes, thoroughly pound
ed or crushed, add ten gallons of wa
ter after its having been previously
boiled for half an hour, with half
pound of hops aud half pound good
ginger, Gin power). Let this mixture
stand three or four days, in a mod
erately warm PLACE. Then add
finally half pound of course sugar, a
half pint of yeast or a bottle of sound
ale, to start brisk fermentation. In
a few days the fermentation will have
nearly ended, then rack off into Il
small, clean cask, and in three months
the wine will be ready for use.
Year: 1877

Why Farmers Keep Poor..-A re.
cent writer says: After long obser-
walton | have come to the conclusion
that a great majority of the farmers
that are poor might have money. If
you inquire into their business hab-
its you will find that they always sold
tile. best and kept the poorest. For
instance if they have too many sheep
on hand, they pick out the best to be-
sold. If you ask them why they do
SO they will say, "Because they bring
twice. ~ much as others, and am
ha'd up just now for money. I know
that it is not a good plan, and I do
not intend to follow it always"
think the habit Of selling the best is
a very poor plan for any man, | don't
care what his circumstances may be.
l have IA man in my mind now who
always sells his poorest sheep for
more than twice as much as the av
erage farmer gets for his best. l
have seen farmers 70 the fall pick ont
their best pigs to fatten, because they
would make q few more pounds of
pork than the others. This | call
poor economy.


The Hog, Its Value and How to
Care for.-The hog is an animal of
great importance in tl'is country, and
is every day day becoming more so.
Almost every family outside of large
cities, and even in the suburbs of
these can keep one or more pigs.
Pork can be grown cheaper than any
other kind Of meat, and what is of
much importance, small outlay of
capital brings a qnick return; if kept
in good condition, the pig may be
slaughtered at any age after one
month old.


The next important question is,
what variety is the most profitable to
kept Where the Chester White ia
known, no other breed can compete
with it. 1t is nearer perfection rs a
hog, than has ever yet been arrived
ut. It's outline is beautiful, its dis.
position gentle, its habits quiet and
eontented, not disposed to roam and
Get, so that the food it consumes goes
to formation Of flesh and is not Apent
in roaming after mischief. 1t is not a
gross feeder, but, like all other ami
mails, requires its TODD at regular IN.
.tervals; this care and attention is
never lost on it. There is no other
breed that enjoys better health. If
2 kept till twelve or fifteen months old
and properly cared for, it will yield
from five to seven hundred pounds
of net pork. What other animal will
yield so much in 80 short a time, from
10 small beginning, with such a
small outlay of capitall


The hog, like other animals, should
he kept clean or rather, it should
have an opportunity of keeping itself
clean. Its house should bare Il good
roof to turn the rain ; its floor should
be sufficiently elevated to be kept
dry and no hollow place for puddles
OF water to stand in. 1t will tfO we'll
gu pasture III Summer, with very lit.
tie slnp or grain. Clover is the very
seyt pasture for it.


The economy Of selecting the best
breed Of hogs for stocking farms is
Just beginning to be appreciated, the
Iongicgged will have to knock under,
they have had their day. Agricultu
raj periodicals are disseminating light
and truth in every corner Of our land
and with that light md truth will GO
the better breeds of all kinds Of farm
stock. =
Year: 1877

number OF young women formed an attractive
procession yesterday, through the streets Of Mott
Havsn They were attired In . summer costume that
rcsemblcd more the fashion by Eve In the Garden
Of Paradise before the FALL than that set in modern
times by the Partisan millinsr Worth Thoy wore no
crnolines or pun locks, but their dresses fitted
closely to their well developed forms ami
appeared nicely adapted Tor walking suits. These
ladies had taken plunge at Harlem River nc 160tn
street. and on repairing 10 thoir improvsed dressing
room, they found that their street attire had been
stolen. Whether this was practical joke or folony


the young women wore unable 10 doermine Their
clothing was not returned ana they To
return TO thsr homes with only bathing suits as their
attire -
Year: 1877

DR.. Cbapin substantiates the fact that he has not
resigned the pastorshp of the Church of the DIVINE
Paternity He had proposed to resign on the ground
Of Ill health, but his proposition not accepted
Year: 1877

We copy from an exchange
the following stirring thoughts on
the necessity Of grit;


"a score of cattle were in our
best field. They had put their
horns under several panels of fence
and lifted the posts out Of the
ground. ] unclaimed a dog and
pointed to the cattle scattered all
over the field. Leo started with a
bark and bound. He rushed at a
COW five or six times as large as
himself. The COW tried to hook
him, and he sprang under her horns
and bit her nose. She then tried to
kick him, but he avoided her heels
and seized her tail with his teeth.
Defeated in her efforts to injure or
frighten him, she ran, and he drove
her through the gap in the fence.
Then in the same fierce and resolute
way he sprang at another, and she.
too soon fed. In few minutes
the dog had driven the whole herd
out of the field. I thought, as
watched him, This is not superior
strength or skill event is grit
The dog is plucky. He won give
up. He will risk horns and heels
but he is bound to succeed. HI
clings like burr or mosquito t.
a cow until he conquers her. Their
he does not stop to calculate hi
victory, but pitches at once int
Year: 1877

ladies' wearing a bandean of dia-
monds across the front of the hair.


The weather is most delightful
and all would go on right merrily
but for the presence among us of an
almost infinite number of sick and
miserable poor who wander about
the streets with their haggard,
want-worn faces till they haunt the
quiet hours of the well-to-do's and
afford them no rest or peace of con-
science. M. M. w.