smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

THE Washington correspondent of the
Boston Globe says that the resumptionists in
Congress regard the great question as virtual
ly settled. The anti-resumptionists are ai-
vided in their councils, and can come to no
agreement as to what to do.
Year: 1878

We do not read anonymous letters and communi-
cations. The and address of the writer are in
all Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or preserve COM
munications that are not used.
Year: 1878

"Technical education" says Prof. Hux-
leg, in Popular Science Monthly, In the
sense In which the term is ordinarily
used, and in which am now employing
il, means that sort of education which IS
specially adapted to the needs of men whose
business in life it is to pursue some kind
of handicraft, it is, in fact, fine Greco
Latin equivalent Cor what in good vernac-
ular nglish would be called "the teach
ing of handicrafts." And probably, at
this stage of our progress, it may occur
to many of you to think Of the story OF
the cobler and his last, and to say to your
selves, though you will be too polite to
put the question openly to me: "What
does the speaker know practically about
This matterl What is his handicraft2" l
think the question is very proper one,
and, unless were prepared to answer it,
/ hope satisfactorily, l should have chosen
some other theme.


The fact is, 1 am, and have been any
time these thirty years, man who works
with his hands-a hardicraftsman. do
not say this in the broadly metaphorical
sense in which fine gentlemen, with all
the delicacy of Agag about them, trip to
the hustings about election time, and pro-
test that they, too, are workingmen. l
really mean my words to be taken in
their direct literal and straightforward
sense. In fact, if the most nimble-ting-
cred matchmaker among you will come
to my workshop, he may set me to put a
watch together, and / will set him to dis
sect, say, black beetles nerves. I do
not wish to vannt but / am inclined to
tn NIX that shall manage my job to his
sxistscloa sooner than he VIII do his
Tsedf wotk Hmi4e
Year: 1878

One Of the greatest mistakes of the
western farmer is that he cultivates too
much land, says A. T. Strange, in Ameri-
can Farm Journal. His whole time is
spent In producing or taking from the
land and never returning anything. 1t
his labor and manures were put on one
half of the land he now tends, his crops
would be nearly or quite as large and the
fertility of the soil kept up.


The amount annually lost by attempting
to cultivate too much land, in labor and
time, as well as the natural wear of the
land, would more than pay for all of the
fertilizers needed 10 keep up the acme of
productiveness. There is no need or Occa-
sion tor worn out farms. "Poor lands"
generally means exhausted land, j. e., land
which Is exhausted in one or more of its
productive qualifications, and by care
ful study of the land, and of the methods
n.resSary to restore its wasted vitality,
and by applying the knowledge gained in
this study, the land may not only be kept
from deterlorating more. but may be ac-
tualiy increased in productiveness. Then,
too, the land, as rule, will furnish its
own manures if proper rotation of crops
is kept up, together with the benefits of
pasturlng.


We should raise wheat when to do so
will raise the productiveness of land that
has been worn out by corn or other crops,
and pice ccrsa. We should raise the
grasses because they recuperate exhausted
soils, and we should feed on the land be-
caase by doing so We are returning to the
land what was extracted from it by the
creis we feed. 1t is useless to war
against nature, and if we run to one crop
Tor any great length of time nature will


ertainly refuse to yield up her sustenance
''ecause her laws are violated. But while
one crop may exhaust the soil of one ele-
ment necessary to formation of the crop, it
will at the same time prepare the soil for
another crop which requires different
combination of elements for its produc-
ton.


We should make nature q co-worker
with us in our efforts. The deep rooted
clover or alfalfa will pump from the
depths below the sustenance for other
crops and leave it on the surface ready
for the assimilation of plant food, and
other crops act chemically on what is al
ready on the surface, thereby rendering
soluble and available what was of no use
before. Change is essential to success.
One kind OF weeds or grass succeeds an
other in the wild state, and we should fol-
low the example.


The suns heat drives away the mois-
tMe of the earth and plants start up with
bound, then the dew of night falls upon
the withered stalks bringing with it the
nitrogen from the air and the plants again
are invigorated. The heat and moisture
of summer grow and build up, but the
frost of winter disintegrates the soil thus
preparing it for the chemical laws to
work out their beautiful results. Thus
we see that nature is ever changing, and
the successful farmer must profit by the
tact.
Year: 1878

A Boston lawyer, uncommonly pious
and extremely High Church, thinks it
needful to SOW seed by all waters, and so
has his note paper branded with Scripture
texts. The othsr day he had occasion to
write for favor from the Chief Justice,
and he unluckily used sheet headed,
"Ye are al bought with . price He
RdaTEs It.
Year: 1878

Almost no English novel is written
containing any reference to Ameri-
cans, that it does not have some
allusion to the sole-leather beef
steak of the United States. Next
after the beefsteak the English
mans notes of travel deal with our
muddy, bitter coffee, and our vile
hot bread. One will be surprised
when he stops to recall the hospita-
BILE mansions in which he has break
tasted at different times, to think
how few Of the housekeeperS broiled
their steak instead of frying it,
stepped the coffee instead of boiling
it, and had wholesome, homemade
bread. Those benevolent ladies
who are forming themselves into
associations to kindly help and
guide triendless and unframed
young women, would confer an un-
told benefit on humanity if they
would teach, first themselves, and
then the unframed young women,
how to cook a beefsteak and make
coffee and bread as it should be
done.


No matter how deliciously cooked
ones food may be, though, there
may be surroundings which take
away his appetite. If he raise his
eyes in a public dining.room and
behold countless host of his fel-
low-men eating with their knives,
plunging those dangerous imple-
ments well down their throats at
every mouthlul; if they sit curled up
like the letter S, with their elbows
propped upon the table; if they
schlurf" their soup and coffee like
a quadruped; if they talk so loud
that be knows every bottle of wine
and vanilla custard that are ordered
in a circuit of ten feet about him,
the epicurean will hardly care much
for his dinner. Refined and dainty
table manners are an indispensable
element of the fire art of eating
eating being an operation which is
not superlatively pretty to look at
at its best.
Year: 1878

be. His gallant effort to pay eighty
per cent. on debts not much more
than two months old has made him
a more popular man in the clothes
pin trade than even those who con-
tinue to pay one hundred cents on
the dollar If there had been any
ill-natured, suspicious persons in
the meeting Of creditors, they
might have insinuated that the de-
clared surplus at the beginning of
the year had disappeared with as
founding suddenness, considering
that there had been little or no de-
cline in the price of clothespins in
the last quarter. The absence of
all such criticism shows conclusive
ly that in the clothespin trade at
least there is a broad spirit of char
ity and truthfulness.


Both the debtor and creditors
have set an example that will no
doubt be initiated. Already, we
are informed, another clothespin
dealer, who, like the honest man
who has settled at eighty cents on
the dollar, lives in Texas, has noti-
fed his creditors that lie must scale
down his debts. For nearly quar-
ter Of century his credit has been
unimpeached; but when one can
gain more applause by paying debts
partially than by paying them in
full, there is money and reputation
to be made by going through bank
ruptcy. And if the creditors pre-
fer a part to the whole there is a
gain Oh both sides.
Year: 1878

Rochester Express. April17.l


The fact that human eyes with
the aid of a field glass have seen rifle
bullets, during their flight from
the muzzle of the rifle to the point
at which they were aimed, has been
published, we believe, several times;
but we have never seen, to our
knowledge, the announcement that
they could be seen with the naked
eye. Yet is a well-attested fact that
rifle balls were seen in their flight
by several gentlemen without the
aid of glass or anything, at the
rifle range north Of this city, one
day last week. A high wind was
blowing and showers were frequent
lin fact, it rained almost constant
ly. When the spectators stood at
one side Of the shooter, they could
only follow the ball to the highest
point of the arc which it described,
but when they stood Immediately
behind the shooter Che lying down
and they standing up) they could
follow the bullet from point about
ten feet from the muzzle, all the
way to the target, or whatever OBJ
ject it struck. One gentleman told
the shooter, Immediately after he
had fired, that he had shot toe
much to the right, and the signal
of the marker minute or two af-
terward confirmed exactly what he
had said. The balls were seen while
the shooters were firing at 500 yards
distance, The rifles were OF the
heavy military kind, which carry a
large bullet. Those who saw the
bullets on their flight, say that the
arc described by them is immense
at that distance, and that they also
appear to curve to the right as well
as up and down.
Year: 1878

A newspaper in the fullest sense of the word,
at once adapted to the Merchant. the Me-
chaRic, the Farmer. and everybody
desirous of keeping up with the
stirring news Of this live and


progressive age.
Year: 1878

From the Boston Advertissr.l


In these days of defalcation and
fraudulent bankruptcy it is refresh
ing to see and gratifying to recog-
nize examples of sterling honesty in
misfortune, and to observe how
highly integrity is appreciated by
merchants. A case has lately come
to our notice that should be made
known in business circles, because
it conveys a useful lesson both to
debtors and creditors. Perhaps
those of the former class are chiefly
interested, inaSmuch as it furnishes
valuable hints by which they may
profit. 1t may not be prudent to
be too particular in presenting all
the facts, nor in giving them with
too great accuracy. 1t would, we
have a right to presume, be dis
tasteful to the parties concerned to
have their noble conduct in the af-
fair spread before the public, and
notOriety given to what they doubt
less intended should be acts of
goodness done in secret,


A few months ago-sinoe the
present year came ina merchant
with an established business either
in the South or West, perhaps it
was in both, came to Boston to buy
goods. He was in the clothespin
trade, and was understood to have
been successful. 10 those of whom
he bought and from whom he So
licited credit he represented that he
had a surplus of $4,000. The
cautious wholesale dealers in
clothespips made the usual inquiries
with a satisfactory result, the buyer
obtained a stock Of clotbespig5 "a
The amount of 1000, on the usual
terms. and went home. In about
two months the failHFs of this here
tdfere successful merchant was an.
noppeed, sGd soon after the gentle
man came 10 Boston himself to con-
suit and arrange with his creditors,
He first saw some of them privately,
explained his misfortune, and gave
notice that he was prepared to offer
fifty-6vc per cent. On All the claims
upon him. One hard-hearted creli-
tor Eas met who told him that
would not do. He would not ac-
eept the terms. lie could SEQ no
reason why eighty per cent. should
not be paid, 8ad he would agree to
no less. The unfortunate debtor
saw no way of escape from yielding.
Accordingly, when a meeting Of
creditors was held he appeared and
made speech, in which he said
that he had thought at first he
could pay. no more than fifty-Aye
per cent, but now believed that by
careful management Of his assests
he might be able to pay eighty per
cent. That amount he was there
fore prepared TO offer.


This annoppcement was received
with uproarious cheeFs. A motion
10 accept the proposition was put
to a yote and carried by acclama-
ton unanimously. The gentleman
who presided at the meeting came
down and shook the debtor cor
daily by the hand, saying that he
1.-THE de6tor) was an honest man
The poblest work of God. The
creditors Of this honest man were
so effusive with their compliments
that he was moved to tears and
speaking Of the meeting, which
soon afterwards separated with the
utmost good feeling on the part Of
oil, h0 said he was proud Of it, and
proud to retain the respect and cou-
lidence Of the men upon whom his
misfortune, but not his misconduct,
had entailed loss, Well he may
Year: 1878

twenty TlOuSaGd People
old and young. every week. 1t is just to say
that the patrons of the WESTERN
METHODAST belong to the best class Of
community.


We desire our business men to make a note
Of the above facts before completing their
advertising arrangements for the coming
season.


We use our best efforts to keep our columns
free of all irregular and irresponsible adver-
Using; for many good people seeing an ad.
v'rti'ement in paper. especially their
church paper. take it as guarantee of re.
spOnsibility. Such confidence should not te
abused when it can be helped. We want.
therefore.
Year: 1878

The expression of a boys face at the end Of straw tha- lacks two inches of reaching the cider m q barrel, is supposed to be the model the artist selected in the dclineatlon os Adam leaving Paradise.
Year: 1878

JUDGE WHITAKER. who presided at the
Anderson trial in New Orleans, once greatly
distinguished himself by robbing the Govern
ment of 100000. he then being Assistant
United States Treasurer; and again by using
part of the money to bribe the jury before
whom he was tried for the robbery. He
seems to be a good man for the business he
is now engaged in.
Year: 1878

1t is thought by very many of the most active
friends of Temperance that the cause could be great


ly advanced in this State, by more judcious con-
cenration of purpose and effort on the part of the
various Temperance organizations, the Church and
the public generally, by association in some State


ganzation similar in plan and scope to that of the
massachusetts State Temperance Alliance" which
organization has existed in that State for upwards of
twenty-five years. and embraces in active member
ship, members of all the various Temperance organ
izations well as the Clergy and Church of almos.
every denomination; receiving and disbursing from
fourteen to eighteen thousand dollars every year, au-
thenticatng and sending out Lecturers into every
portion OF the State arranging for public meetings
and supplying speakers, and closely watching the
Temperance pulse, and providing means and meas
ures to keep it in healthy and vigorous state care


fully scrutDizing all legislation and ready at all
times to sound the alarm when encroachments from
the enemy are attempted. With a view to organiz-


ing similar Alliance in Maine, and auxiliary to the
to the National Temperance Alliance, the under
signed invite the friends of Temperance to meet at
Year: 1878

Necessity never made good bargain.
Man lives only to shiver and perspire.
Mems judgments sway on that side
fortune leans.
Many are willing to wound who are
yet afraid to strike.
Misery leads to despair, aggrandize-
ment to presumption.


Give full measure, when you measure,
and weigh with a just balauce. Expend
not but according to the measure OF your
goods.


The slanderer Injuries three persons at
once he of whom he speaks i'll, him to
whom he says it, and most OF all himself
in saying it.
Imitation is always unhappy, for all
which is counterfeit displeases by the
very things which charm us when they
are original.
Great souls are not those who have
fewer passions and more virtues than
the common, but those only who have
greater designs.


The desire of talking about ourselves,
and of putting our faults in the light we
wish them to be seen, forms great part
of our sincerity.


The same pride which makes us blame
faults from which we believe ourselves
free, causes MS to despise the good quail
ties We have not.
Happiness is in the taste, and notinp
the things themselves; we are happy in
possessing what We like, not from pos
sessing what others like.


So scanty is our present allowance Of
happiness, that in many situations life
could scarcely be supported if hope were
not allowed to relieve the present hour
by pleasure borrowed from the future.
Year: 1878

Saws the american Monthly: "a
gentleman who resides near Boydton,
Va, has sspired to a new science-that
of controlling the clouds in order to
cause it to rain at will. With the view
of attaining this end he built Z" rain
tower" which, novel structure is said to
be thirty feet in diameter at the base.
which size it retains to the height OF
forty feet. To this height it contains
four fines, each seven feet in diameter.
The number of fues is then reduced to
two, which run up twenty feet higher,
the top OF the structure reaching an
altitude of sixty feet. The whole con-
Germ was erected at cost OF about
81 900. The method of causing rain to
fall is as follows: The fues ara filled
with dry pine wood, which is set on fire,
and which is kept up until the desired
effect is produced on the elements. His
theory is, that the great heat produced
in the air above the "tower" will cause
the clouds to concentrate over it, when
plenty of rain will fall in that vicinity.
The originator OF this novel idea is said
to be firm believer in the practicability
and utility of his. invention, notwith'
standing the fact that after repeated
trials, during which he consumed hun
dreds Of cords of wood, his tower faile6
to produce the desired effect on the un
propitious heavens, he having been {
great sufferer from drought during tht
entire spring and summer.
Year: 1878

Ourd is alluded to as "ofal from the
dairy" but it is an offal allusion.


"Why should the spirit of mortal be
proud? ?" We can tell you: he has got
trusted for a new suit OF clothes.


Most women have need to whisper
"lead /, not into temptation when
they SEQ another with new bonnet.


Serpent skin shoes for ladies are the
latest Paris novelty. Thus it is that
they get even for the way the snake
treated Eve.


The proverb ga short horse is soon
curried," must not be construed as ap-
plying to mules. The shortest are the
most careless with their feet.


Appearances cannot always be relied
on. A young man may seem to wear a
fine gold watch-chain, girls, but after
all it may be plated, and pinned into his
vest pocket.


It is said that the left foot of a left.
handed man is always longer than his
right one, but when the old man reaches
after Adolphus from the top step he
always sends the right foot, and in most
cases it is long enough.


Educate the nose," says some writer
on physical culture. A great many are
sufficiently educated now to turn up n
people who are their betters.


The people OF Ceylon bake and eat
bees. If we were going to indulge in
this kind Of provender, we should want
to know that the baker understood his
business, for if bee should revive after
he had been swallowed-l
Year: 1878

In an account of tour in the north of
England, by George Colman, the young
er, in 1775, occurs the following pas
sage: "In the adjacent village of Kirk
lentham there was at this time an indi-
vidual residing in a neat. comfortable
cottage, who excited much interest in
the visitors at the hall. His looks were
venerable and bis bearing above that
usual among the lowly inhabitants of
hamlet. How he had acquired this air
of superiority it is difficult to say, for
his origin must have been humble. His
eightieth summer had nearly passed
away, and only two or three years pre-
viously he had learned to read, that he
might crafty parents pride by read
ing his sons first voyage round the
world! he was the father Of Captain
Cook 80 -,
Year: 1878

the purpose of surprising women and
children, travellers, boys in search of
lost cattle, etc. But they we're not con-
tent with hunting and preying upon
their enemies, but preyed much upon
each other also :; for many of their cap
lures were made from amongst the peo-
pie of their own tribe and, even worse
than this, in time of scarcity their own
wives and children became the victims
of this horrible practice. If wife
proved lazy or quarrelsome she was
speedily disposed of, or a crying baby
would be in like way silenced, and any
member of the community showing
signs of sickness or of bodily infrmity.
would not be allowed to inger or fall off
in condition. Such were the practices
of these people ; and although it is now
commonly reported that they had for
many years given up this mode of life, I
saw that the custom has not been alto
gether abandoned, for amongst the
numerous bones we're few that appear
ed very recent. They were, apparently,
those of a tall bony individual. with
skull as hard as bronze. In the joints
of these bones the marrow and fatty
substances were still evident, showing,
but too plainly, that many months had
not elapsed since he met his fate.


There are still old cannibals in exist
ence. On the day that we visited the
cavern was introduced to one of them,
who is now living not very far from his
former dwelling. place. He is 8 man of
about sixty years of age. In former
days, when he was young man, dwell
ing in the cavern, he captured, during
one of his hunting expeditions, three
young women, and from these he select
ed the best-looking as partner for life
the other two went to stock the larder.
This union, Notwithstanding the strange
circumstances attending it, proved to be
happy one, the lady soon reconciling
herself to her new mode of life, and
settling down in the cavern, where I
was shown the corner which she and her
husband formerly occupied. Her son,
fine strapping youth, brought us some
milk on the day of my visit.


At one Of these caverns We met with
an old savage. who told us he had for.
merly assisted in cooking thirty persons.
He seemed, like the "Last Minstrel"
greatly to regret


"Thst old times we're changed,


Old manners gone;'


and that


"The bigots OF this iron time


Has called his harmless life crime"
Year: 1878

Astronomers tells us that if there was
q telegraphic wire from the earth to the
nehu]e in Andromeda it would take
1850, 900 years for dispatch from here
to reach its destination. And suppose
the rate was forty cents, and you sent
the message to be paid at the end of the
line, how like all eternity the interest
would pile up on the other fellow by
the time the boy handed him the mes
sage. Figure it up some OF you.-