smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

The following hint of the Telephone is
found in q book of scraps from English
newspapers printed about hundred years
ago:


On rod of iron, insulated on silk strings,
are hung small bells of different sizes for
the different notes; there must be two bells
which are unisons to each note, one sus-
pended by wire and the other by silk. A
metal ball suspended by silk between each
two unison bells serves for hammer.
From the bell suspended by silk descends
wire, whose end is fastened by another silk
line, and terminates in a ring to receive
small iron lever, which rests on an insulated
iron rod. Matters being thus disposed,
upon turning the glass globe the bell, sus-
pended by the wire, is electrified by the
rod or conductor which supports it; and
the other bell, suspended by the silk, is
electrified by the other wire rod, ON which
rests the lever. By pressing down a key
raise this lever and cause it to touch anoth-
er insulated rod, at which instant the ham
mer moves and strikes the two bells SO
quick that only an undulous sound is pro-
duced, initiating, in some manner, the ire
mendous sound of a great organ pipe. As
soon rs the leyer drops on the electrified
rod, the hammer stops; thus each touch
answering to lever, and each lever to its
bell, any any tune may be played, as on a
harpsicord or an organ. This kind of a
harpsichord has an advantage in commen
with the organ, which the common ones
have not, of preserving the sound of note
in its full and even force as long as the KEY
is kept down. We have heard of an oracu-
lar harpsicord; this is SO, in some sort, as
well as an acoustic one; and when played
on in the dark, the eye is agreeably enter
tanned, as well as the ear, by the brilliant
sparks which flash out at every touch.
Year: 1877

About half past two o'clock yesterday afternoon
sailor IN half intoxicated condition entered the dining
saloon No. 20 Main street, Brooklyn, and called for
dinner. He procured the best that the bill Of fare
afforded and was about 10 take his departure, when
the proprietor Loyst Smith, accostng his customer,
suggested the propriety Of bis paying for the meal


The man refused to settle, and upon smith telling him
that no would give him into the custody Of the police,
tho fellow soized carving knife from table and cut
tho landlord the forehead. nfilctng severe wound


He was arrested by officer Rail and taken TO the York
street station house, where he gave his name as
Michael Uugan, aged twenty SIX years. .
Year: 1877

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD


Why is II that peders permitted to occupy the
sidewalks Of Broadway, gathering crowds around
them and times completely blocking the walks TO
the great annoyance Of the community? Broadway is
daily lined with these nuisances both sides, from
Chambers WALL and that too. right the eyes
OF the police. Two three days ago called the at
pedler on tho sidewalk before the Park Bank who
gathered crowd OF twenty moro idle people around
him. ana the answer got "he don't do no harm !"
Surely there should be romedy for this growing and
intoerabe nuisance on chief thorcughares, and
the policeman who allows II on hts beat should DO
dismissed KNICKERBOCKER.
Year: 1877

The condition Of Fiity.seventh street, particularly
that portion Of 1t between Third and Lexington ave-
nues is the subject OF much comment among the res
dents of that thoroughfare Ia front Of the Civil and
Police Court House heaps OF refuse disngure the ap-
pearance OF the block, and prove positive annoyance
10 the people who live there. Ashes garbage and
manure are there accumulated making filthy mess IN
winter and suggestive oil pestcnce In warmer weather.
Tho street broad and with little care such state
of affairs would be well nigh impossible.
Year: 1877

To THE EDITOR OF THE HKRALD:--


beg leave to soy through your valuable Compliant
Bookn that person really runs the risk OF being
scalded by the hot water from the dummy Of the Ee
waited Road, besides beng sprinkled with OIL This
great nuisance is only caused by tow OF the dummies
Can be avoided on these old engines as well as
the new 2 y. L.
Year: 1877

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD


viii you kindly inform us why II is that on ST.
Patrck's Day tho colors tho CITY Hall were all dis
played but ON Inauguration Day not was to bo
on III u noble cdlnce? am democrat and no enemy
to st. Patrick but would like 10 see an American have
o little show. AMERICAN.
Year: 1877

WATERING OF HoRsEs AFTER FEEDING
The National Live Stock Journal, in CIV
ing directions for the care Of horses says
"Another common fault in the almentation
of horses is the leading to water just after
full feed of grain. The first effect of this is
to largly distend the stomach, and the result
may be as serious as if the material were
masticated grain and saliva. But, should
this danger be avoided matters are not nec-
essarily left in a better state. The sudden
and excessive influx of water IS likdly to wash
much Of the contents of the stomach into the
intestines before the nitrogenous principles
have boen digested, and fermentation. extr-
cation Of gases, overdistensions, colics and
inilammatious result. Even this is not all.
The application Of an excess OF cold water
on the mucus membrane of the stomach aud
intestines causes vascular congestion and vio-
lent muscular contractions, so that all tend
to digestive disorder Of a dangerous nature.
CopiOus draughts cf iced water are hurtIul
alike to man aud beast. If it must be taken
it should be in small quantities Gnly and fre-
quently, But drink of water of moderate
temperature, just after feed of grain, is full
Of peril to the soliped Thirst should be al
layed before the feed is given; and if any is
allowed after it should be merely mouthful,
until the lapse of one or two hours time has
been had for gastric digestion. After a feed
of hay there is comparatively little danger.
From the excessive salivary addition to the
hay, and the comparatively small amount of
its albumlnoids, these are rapidly dissolved
out and digested aud the further addition of
water is often rather favorable than other
wise in Fastening its progress into the bowels,
where the digestion of its starch, sugar, fat
aud other respiratory elements may be COM
pleted.
Year: 1877

When mnnures are left over a season to
decompose, absorbents of the ammonia in
them are always beneficial. Plast or is de-
cidedly the best absorbent Of the gases in a
manure pile that is known to exist, and it
may be sprinklcd among the manure when
the pile is made-not much, say a barrel of
plaster to what manure ten head of cattle
will make in season. Lime has a tendency
to set the gases (ammona) free and it should
never be used in the compost heap, except
when much coarse matter is to be deoomposed.
Nor are ashes Of any benefit to the heap,
over their value when used alone. Swamp
muck is good, if placed in alternate layers of
manure and muck through the heap and left
a season to decompose and unite. All COM
post heaps should be made with their tops
fiat, or a little concave, to catch the rains to
keep the heaps moist. In England the sys-
tenn of composing is carried to perfection.
They pack their manure in oblong heaps, and
shovel them over two or three times during
the summer to hasten decomposition, and
apply such fine manures to their lands the
next season. Here we cannot so well afford
the labor of composing in that manner con-
sequently many farmers apply all their
stable dung to their land fresh and uudecom-
posed. Some crops, however, require we'll
rotted manures to grow in perfection, and
every farmer may prodtably have a small
compost heap TO supply him with fine manure
where it is most needed.-N. Y. World.
Year: 1877

A woman writes to the "People," Concord,
N. H., giving her experience, which we give
for the benefit Of our farmers wives for trial
or not, as they see fit:


Many farmers wives cease to make butter
at this season because it wi Il not come easy
1t is certainly very annoying to churn for
hours, perhaps days, and after all, as is some-
times the case, the butter fails to come, our
labor is lost and the crea m spoiled. But
there is a sure way to overcome this trouble
and propose to tell how it is done.


To begin at the beginning-scad the milk
when it is "a or 36 hours old, and skim the
next day. This is the Devonshire practice
and is preferable to scading the milk when
new. If you have but little milk you will
not collect enough cream in one week for
churning, and the cream will acquire dis
agreeable smell. To prevent this put lit
tie saltpetre in the bottom of the cream.pot
and mix it we'll with each skimming this
will keep the cream sweet for two Or three
weeks.


Before churning, place the cream-pot in a
vessel of hot water aud let it remain until
the cream is so warm that when a finger is
placed in it there will be no sense OF chill.
Scald the churn, pour out the hot water and
pour in the cream; but before chnruing add
for four or five quarts Of cream, one table,
spoonful of pulyerized alum this prevents
the foamiug that in winter keeps the butter
from coming.


Follow these simple directions and you
will succeed in getting butter as quickly in
winter as in summer.
Year: 1877

CoLoRING BUrTER-As to the method
Editor Chcever gives his views last week.
which, being new to many, We publish for
their benefit We have always coored the
cream in the churn instead OF the salt as he
suggests but shall try his method


We are entirely opposite to the practice Of
applying artificial color like annatto in the
churn. 1t is wasteful, as large portion Of
the color goes into the buttermilk. 1t is more
difficult to hit the same shade every week,
as the natural color oil the butter will vary
more or less. The strength Of the cream also
varies according as it is free or mixed with
milk in greater or less quantity. Applied in
the SALT with scales for weighing, one can
shade to a very nice point without risk of
OVERRIDING the thing. Color and work small
batch, and if too light, add more in the next
batch, or less il too high colorcd, then work
all over evenly, aud the desired shade may be
obtained. When using colored salt, one can
know exactly when the salt is worked in
evenly, aud there is, consequently, less dan
ger from overworking
Year: 1877

In the choice of fruit trees for setting there
are quite a number of things to be taken into
consideration. The stock on which the tree
is grated or budded should be from hardy
vigorous tree if not your young tree will
stand chance of being feeble. The root is
the foundation upon which to build, aud il
proper care is taken of the tree, which is
propagated on hardy, vigorous stock, it will
stand good chance Of succeeding.


1t is necessary to select varieties that have
been proved to be hardy for the latitude in
which they are to be set, which the mex
perienced know but little about, and hence
the many failures by those who buy of agents
that know as little Of the requirements of the
tree for the latitude in which they are selling
them as they do of the experience of those
to whom they sell, and 1 have noticed that
the less experience person has had in fruit
raising the more likely he is to buy of dis
tant agents, and as time advances aud he
VOWS that he will never set another tree aud
thereby deprives himself of having good fruit
from his own grounds. 1t is necessary for
the planter of fruit trees to consider that
if for home, what his home requires if fol
market, what his market requires.


There has been much done in getting
crosses on the Siberian crab which are valu-
able not only for cooking but for eating, aud
l believe it possible to get good eating ap-
Piles that will stand aud succeed in every
town of Vermont, and am not prepared to say
the pear will not succeed where the apple will
but my experience is not SO far advanced in
regard to pears as apples, still have here
in the Champlain valley pears as hardy as
the Northern Sky apple.


noticed in the FARMER of week before
last an inquiry about the termination of ap-
pie and pear seeds. have no trouble with
them but find the apple seed stronger than
the pair. l think that if the inquirer will
get the seeds out in the fall and plant them
before they are thoroughly dried through
iu shallow trenches barely covering them
do not mean so shallow as to be uncovered
by rains, with sand, leaf mould, some earth
that will not become broken in the spring,
there will be no trouble.


l.. NJ. MAooMBER.


NORTH FcrrisJurgh, March 8.
Year: 1877

ABOUT CALvEs.---Jesse Owen asks, what
is the best time for cows to drop their calves,
looking to the profits of dairying2 Presi-
dent Huffman; should prefer that they
all come into milking in March rather than
April. As early as February would be
better than in April. jesse OweH Of
about forty five cows in our dairy thirty
have already come in, FEB 10Y and we have
been making and sending off butter for some
time. Last year they came in early and We
received as much as five hundred and 6fty
dollars for the calves. A COW that drops
her calf in February is worth more, take the
season through, than one that calves as late
as April. Nj. A. Thurston My choice
would be to have my COW come in just in
season for the milk to be good when she is
turned to grass.-HitsJandman.
Year: 1877

cation we're used.


The professor explained that this test could
not be regarded as entirely satisfactory or
conclusive for it was on too small scale and
for single season. But the measurements
and weights were accurate, and it at least
pointed to useful lessons. Adjoining this
plot one-half acre was divided into three sec.
tions, the soil being as nearly equal over the
plot as it was possible to find it, The mid.
die section contained one-quarter acre. On
each side of this was an eighth-acre section.
On the middle piece of oue-quarter acre Prot.
Stockbridges chemical manures were applied
according to his formula for corn. The
chemicals were purchased of his agents,
Bowker & Co., of Boston. The chemicals
were applied in the amount recommended by
Prof Stockbridge, and by the application OF
which it was claimed that the yield would be
increased fifty bushels Of shelled corn per
acre. This quarter Of an acre yielded at the
rate Of sixty-one bushels and twelve pounds
to the acre. The two plots adjoining. on
which nothing was applied, and which to-
gether made one fourth of an acre, produced
at the rate of sixty.one bushels and thirteen
and one-half pounds per acre. In reducing
to bushels he called seventy pounds of ears
a bushel of sheled corn.


Prof. Roberts stated that the corn on
which the Stockbridge mauures were applied
had the better appearance during nearly the
whole season, but put to the test of the scales
it did not prove its superiority. The rela-
tive amount of sound and soft corn did not
differ materially.
Year: 1877

SEED GRAIN.-Tt will pay to SOW the very
best seed Of all kinds, as know from trial
clean it thoroughly through the tanning
mill, to get all the weed seed and small aud
light grain from the heavy, aud have side
spout for the mill, so l can take out the
heavy, plump grain and SOW the very best
and keep it free from weed seed. There
will always be enough volunteer weeds with
out sowing them, and if farmers generally
would be more particular about seed grain,
they would get well paid for it. The grain
will grow taller, the heads longer and yield
more. 1t is just as necessary to take the
best grain for seed as it is to take the choice
corn or potatoes, or to select the best cattle,
horses and hogs to breed from. Now, in
the winter, when We probably will now and
then have leisure day, is a very good time
to prepare seed grain and not wait until we
are crowded with spring work. live wait
until we want to SOW it, the chances are that
it will not be cleaned so WELL aud perhaps
not at all. Don't put it of. ff.-Country Gen
tLemaR.
Year: 1877

THERE is trouble in the camp of the New
York state agricultural society; a clique at
Little Falls is said to "ruu" the thing, and a
new society is in order. If it was in Rhode
Island we should counsel peace, but the
Empire state has room enough for all.
Year: 1877

l SAW piece in last years number Of
your paper about the Toulouse geese. Will
you please inform me through your columns
whore l can got pair Of those geese, or
where l can get some eggs for Matching, and
oblige l.. f. WOODWARD.
Year: 1877

Some farmers seem to act on the principle
Of seeing how much manure they can lose or
throw away in season, as if it were nui-
sauce Some of these men select side hills
for their baru- yards; and if there is a run
ming stream near by they are delighted, and
forthwith dig passage from their barn-yard
down to the stream, $50 as to have a good
dry yard TO milk in" Others are contented
with letting the liquids of their manure run
off into some adjoining field where it is most
ly wasted within few yards of the barn
Now, large barn-yard made concave, say
two or three feet deeper in the centre than
at the sides, is not bad place at all to save
manure. Its virtues will not soak away
and be lost, if the bottom OF the yard be
clayey, or if a coat of clay be spread upon
it. The whole art Of keeping manures in such
yards, is to keep them well Uttered so that
nono of the manure shall be exposed to the
air
Year: 1877

III farmer were to have the best faeilI-
ties for saving his manure, with the least
possible loss Of ammonia, / would say, let
him have a manure cellar under his cattle
stalls, into which their dung is daily thrown
and the floor Of the stall so constructed as TO
allow all the urine Of the stock to run down
aud be mixed with it. This cellar would
have to be under barn built on side hill,
so as to admit of backing in wagon to car
ry the contents to the fields. A pump would
be necessary near by, with hose to saturate
the manure occasionally to hasten decompo.
sition. Horse manure, especially, would be
liable to serious injury if not kept wet.


The next best plan to keep manure is un-
der shed, piled up compactly with the top
Of the heap little concave, so as to hold
water, aud allow it to run down and dampcn
the whole heap. Water is highly necessary
in the decomposition of manure heaps. An
excavation in the middle of the barn.yard,
six or eight feet square, and of the same
depth, in which pump is placed, to carry
through hose or troughs the liquid manure Of
the yard to the heap under the shed, would
be good thing A platform could be made
over the well-hole, to consist of stats two
inches wide, and just far enough apart to al
low the liquids Of the yard to run through
it; or the shed manure may be wet once in
two weeks from pump not far away; or
the water from the roof Of the barn and shed
may be so conducted upon the manure as to
require no other wetting but the conduct
ors should be made to be removed when the
heap is wet enough.
Year: 1877

1t has been we'll said that the manure heap
is the farmers bank, on which be can draw
his checks with certainty Of always having
them honored in his growing crops. The
live stock on a farm produce in their ma
nure every ingredient which is necessary to
grow crops in the greatest possible perfection
aud II we could obtain enough animal manure
to keep our farms in a fertile condition, we
would have no need of commercial fertilizers
in tho least


But to come to the more practical part of
this subject, the question is, How shall we
increase our manure heap to the greatest
extent, and render the manure of the great
est value to crops2 This is a subject that
cannot receive justice in few remarks, con-
densed as is what shall say on it. The first
point which | shall discuss is:
Year: 1877

The crossing of pure Shorthorn stock on
our native cattle produces valuable stock,
better for milk, better for stock, and better
beef; better in every way than native stock,
and the farmers are beginning to realize the
fact.-Kansas Farmer.
Year: 1877

Flatulency, Sluggish Digestion, want of Tone and
Activity in the stomach and Bowels, Oppression
atteI Eating are sure to be relieved by u single
dose taken after each meal A great want exits
a
Year: 1877

1t seems that the excitement about the cura.


tive properties of blue glass, which filled up 50
much space in the newspapers little while
ago, has bren productive in certain instances OF
more harm than such periodical epidemics, ii
we may call them so, usually are.


That blue glass has any curative properties
remains yet to be proved; but that glass of that
color will concentrate the rays OF the sun, in a
lesser degree, as the common burning glass
does, was known before General Pleasanton' s
book was printed and made so much of by the
newspapers. A gentleman of Brooklyn suffer-
ing from weakness of sight was recently led by
the advice of we'll l-meaniDg friends to use spec
tacles of blue glass, such as certain opticians
are selling just now. The result was that his
eyes, already too weak to be used much in or
dinary circumstances were exposed to a terri
BILE glare and heat, which in less than q week
entirely destroyed the eyesght of the sufferer.


He is now totally blind. This is fact, and the
gentleman would doubtless be glad to have 9TH


er sufferers from weak eyes know of his case


and draw a moral therefrom. Another similar


instance has come under our observation, a
young lady being in this case the dupe of the
blue glass enthusiasts.


1t is worth bearing in mind that the only


property in blue glass that has been proved is


its power to concentrate the rays of the sun


and produce extraordinary heat. One of the


most efficient methods employed in Siberia to


blind political prisoners is to pass before the


eyes OF the captives bright steel blade heated


to red heat; but it seems likely that with the


march of civilization the Russian iailers will


adopt another method which will produce ex.


actly the same result that is, they.will try blue


glass.-N. Y. Post.
Year: 1877

TRINITY College is in the midst of de-
cided unpleasantness over its colors. The
present green and white fails to please the
Hartford bellies, whose compilations are made
to look "just horrid'' by such unsympathetic
colors, and in spirit of gallantry which does
honor to the students, meeting which was
held on Thursday voted to change them to
blue and silver gray. But on Friday second
meeting was held, and the vote rescinded by
small verdant majority. Consequently par
ty feeling runs as high among the blue and
grays and the green and whites as it former
ly did among the famous blues and bluffs of
Eatauswill.
Year: 1877

GRAND Duke Nicholas intends to enter
Constantinople, to make the Turks feel that
they are crushed, but does not intend to stay
there. But there is no law against Grand
Dukes changing their minds, especially when
their own dispositions are controlled by a will
superior 20 their own. So when the Grand
Duke enters the Ottoman capital he may find
it a much pleasanter place than he autici-
pated, and though ne may not feel like yield
ing to the allurements of the Seraglio or con-
tinuing his grip of the Golden Horn longer
than is necessary for the exemplary humili-
alton of the Turks, it is still possible that his
retiring disposition may be overruled by the
Gar, provided, always that a way can be
found to cut the claws and draw the teeth of
the British lion.
Year: 1877

There was only cigar left in box, and there
were two young hopefuls struggling for it.
The first little boy clutched it, but he said con-
solngly to his brother. "Never mind, Dick,
I'll smoke on it till get sick, and then you
can finish it." And the heart of the other lit
tie boy was comforted.
Year: 1877

The fly that curiosity has led to explore the
inside of the chimney of lighted lamp, acts
when it gets down to the burner very much
like young woman trying to sell young man
a ticket to church festival
Year: 1877

When you see man who has been owing
you S. of borrowed money for year past skip
ping home with brand new shiny plug hat on,
and big basket of early strawberries daintily
carried in his right hand. it does indeed make
you feel that there are cases which the law
doesn't reach, or where man is fully justified
in being his own avenger