smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

Last week we visited the State fair
and Minneapolis exposition, but both
are so fully described on our: second
page by our able assistant in St. Paul
that 1t is unnecessary for US to say much
about it. The State fair was u grand
success, but the Minneapolis exposition
was fully equal to if not ahead Of it..
Presideot Hayes, Attorney General
Devens and other noted persons were
at the State fair Thursday and at the
Minneapolis exposition on Saturday,
and made speeches. The races were
as good as the world ever Witnessed,
taken as whole and, in fact, every
thing was first class.
Year: 1878

A keen observer has discovered that
while men may doze through a long
sermon and nod when the contribu-
ton box comes around, women have
never been known to go to sleep in
church, and he wants some one to
explain the phenomenon. That's easy
enough. A woman's attention IS not
confined to the preacher and sermon
alone. She takes in the whole service,
from the plating on the bottom Of the
tower founce clear up to the top of
the hat feather. There is enough in
the contemplation Of these things to
keep any woman awake, while man re-
gards. :. only the prosy passages Of script
ure and the drovsy sermon, and very
naturally drops: into the land Of nod.
Year: 1878

The whole royal family of Denmark
recently had a narrow escape from in
Simultaneous death. The King, the
Queen and the Princess Thyra had left
their country residence of Bernsdorff
Castle with the intention of driving in
to town to be present at the representa-
ton of a new national opera. The road
from the castle crosses the railway line
from Copenhagen to Elsinore, and there
is, therefore, gate, which is closed
whenever train is expected to pass
but on this night, by the neglect of the
gatekeeper, the gate was left open, and
the royal carriage went on it's way, when
suddenly train turned curve and
passed so close that the hind wheels OF
the carriage were actually touched by
the buffers of the engine, while only the
presence of mind of the driver of the
carriage containing the ladies and gen.
tlemen in waiting which followed close
after the royal carriage, saved its occu.
pants from certain destruction, the train
passing between the two carriages. The
railway company instantly dismissed the
gatekeeper, but, at the request of the
King, who thought that "the man had
had such lesson that he would be sure
to be careful in future" he was reinsta
ted in his situation.
Year: 1878

How is the disease disseminated? In
two ways: In a given town or city. by a
slow and regular progression from house
to house; between distant places, by
following the lines of travel and COM
merce. 1t is carried with especial fre j..
quency by sailing ships, and generally
makes its first appearance in a previous
ly healthy place near the docks and
wharves. Whether the part of the town
nearest the water happens to be a clean
or dirty quarter, n rich or poor one,
makes no difference. Clean streets do
not check the disease, nor does foulness
favor its spreading. In 1857 the yellow
fever prevailed in that part of New
Orleans which was, by official report
''in the best possible sanitary con-
dition,' and in no other, though the
rest of the city was and had been for
years almost indescribably filthy. The
germs of the disease are portable, like
freight in bulk, and they will take root
in any soil. They lurk in baggage cars,
in boxes, and in clothing, in any loose
textured substance that is closely shut
up, as even in cargoes of sugar. In
porous materials like those-fomites, as
physicians call them-the poison will
hide and ripen for some two months
time, and develop its fullest strength
of infection. A parcel sent from New
Orleans may start an epidemic of yellow
fever in Boston or Quebec.


The disease is one of hot climates,
and of low alluvial ground by preference,
though any kind of soil will do for it,
] a,,I nIA Oh -Dl 1.ak
is not too great for the degree of heat
required. That degree is a daily aver
age, continued for some weeks together,
of from " deg. to 80 deg. F.-a tempera-
| ture which is reached for month or
more together, and exceeded, during eur
more than torrid summers, in almost any
of our towns and cities from Florida to
Maine Yellow fever has prevailed as
/ far north even as Quebec, and may ex-
tend as far again in the future.


Of the mysterious way in which the
disease travels from house to house, q
living messenger of death, we know lit
tie. Science has not yet been able to
seize upon the secret of its cause, which
in all cases is probably the same, though
some observers think that there are two
distinct forms of the disease. Is it in a
microscopic plant or insect, too small,
however, for detection by the highest
magnifying power yet at our command,
that its exciting cause consists? That
is probable. 1t is supposed that these
germs enter the blood and destroy it by
a process comparable to that which is
set up in yeast by fermentation. 1t has
been suggested, very plausibly, that this
living germ can enter the human body
only at peculiar stage of its own
growth, and that when it has completed
its career by multiplying there, it has no
power to leave that body and invade the
sanctuary of another life. This theory
would account for the non-contagious-
ness of the disease.-Dr. T. N. Coda,
in Horper's Magazine for December.
Year: 1878

The national commission appointed
to investigate the causes of the yellow
fever in the Southwest has become con-
vinced, after due examination, that this
pestilence is not indigenous in the at
mosphere in any part of the United
States; that in New Orleans it was
caused by importation; that there seems
to he no doubt that the plague was car
ried from that city to other places, and
that, under favorable circumstances, 1T
might prevail in any part of the Union.
Under this view of the subject, the COM
mission is of the opinion that the only
reasonable protection to keep yellow
fever from this country is strict sys-
tenn of national quarantine.
Year: 1878

A NOVEL ceremony was lately per-
formed in front of the Court House in
Los Angeles, Cal. 1t was the solemn
administration of the Chinese oath to
tell "the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth" All Chic and
All Quong were indicted for robbing a
Chinawoman of iewelry and other valu-
ables. AS all the parties to the suit
were Mongolians, the Judge concluded
that it would be just the thing to swear
the witnesses in Chinese fashion. AS
the ceremony consisted of sacrifice by
fire and blood, the court moved to the
sidewalk to offer it. 1t requires a
chicken to be killed, and several wax
t,pers on sticks, and some yellow paper
covered with Chinese characters to be
burned. The witnesses walk over the
burning paper while the oath is being
read to them and repeated, and the
prosecuting witness chops off the
chickens head with sacrifcial cleaver,
and the oath is accomplished. The pa
per on which it is written is thrown into
the fire and consumed with the chicken
After this ceremony Cinnamon are
qualified to tell the truth.
Year: 1878

A PITIFUL incident of the late great
fires on the Iowa prairies was the death
of Fred Aiken, boy. He stayed in a
bayfield, trying to save a stack until it
was too late to escape the fire by run
ming. He wet horse blanket in a
creek, wrapped himself in it, and took
the desperate chance of dash through
the flames. The effort proved fruitless.
The fire licked off the blanket as
though it had been paper and burned
the boy so badly that he died within a
few hours.
Year: 1878

A DRUNKARD in Sacramento, warned
by touch of delirium tremens that he
had carried his drinking altogether too
far. resolved to reform or die. He de-
clared his purpose to several friends,
locked himself in his room, seated him.
self in an easy chair, and put a loaded
pistol on a table within reach. The
craving for alcohol grew stronger and
stronger, and at last, unable to resist
his thirst, he shot himself through the
heart
Year: 1878

The estimates for the maintenance OF
the French army for the next year de-
mand the enormous sum OF 549,OOO,OOO
francs. For such an expenditure the
republic should have an army equal In
strength and efficiency to any in Eu-
rope; but it is not believed that war
to-day would find France much better
prepared than she was when Napoleon's
Minister held that fatal interview with
the King of Prussia at Ems, only some
eight short years ago-it seems an age,
so many and great events affecting the
politics and condition of Europe have
been crowded into the intervening pc
riod. France has no leader in whom
her people have faith no man possess
ing the qualities necessary to command
efficiency in military organization and
to create real serviceable armies out OF
the vast mass of crude material and the
prodigious sums of money devoted to
that object.
Year: 1878


I'm be the goodest little girl
That ever you did see,
II you'll let me take my dolly
To church with you and me-
It's too drefful bad 10 leave her
When we's all gone away;
Oh Cosette will be so lonesome
To stay at home all day.
Twas such pleading pair of eyes
And winsome little face,
That mamma couldn't well refuse,
Though church was not the place
For dolls or play things she well knew.
Still mamma's little maid
Was always so obedient
She didn't feel afraid.
And though Cosette came straight from France.
She really was quite small.
And could be carried very well
Right under mamma's shawl.
So when they reached the great stone church
And sat inside pew.
Cosette was placed in Mabel's arms
Both OF them dressed in blue.
No mouse was ever half so still
As this sweet little lass,
Until the sermon was quite through
Then this did come 10 pass:
A dozen babies more or less),
Dressed in long robes of white
Were brought before the altar-rail-
A fash of heavens own light.
Then Mabel stood upon the seat
With dolly held out straight,
And this is what the darling said:
20 minister, pease to wait
And wash my dolly mp like that
Her name il is Cosette.-
The - minister ~ smiled and bowed his head {.
But mamma bushes yet.
IYeduOr Kirk
Year: 1878

A FARMER at Ulverstone, England,
gave lift home from market to neigh
Dor and her three children. For this
kindly act he was arrested, on the ground
that he had violated the law, which
licensed his cart to carry only merchan-
disc, and reluctant Judge was COM
PEELED to fine him heavily.
Year: 1878

HOW A COUNTRY EDITOR TURNED THE TABLES o,


MAN THAT WANTED INDIA RUBBER ADvER


TIsISG.


He was the manager OF church fair, and
one morning he walked into the newspapel
Office and said


"Waut an item this morning -,


'Of course replied the editor. Whereup
on the visitor laid the following note upon the
table:


1.-The ladies of the---Street Church
will give a festival at their vestry hall next
Friday evening. Literary and musical enter
tainments will be provided aud a supper will
be served to all who desires. The ladies il
change of the affair have much experience in
such matters and are sure to provide good
time. The admission will be only Ifteen
cents, and it is certain that no one can spend
that amount to better advantage. BE sure
TO go and take your friends" "


When the editor had read it. he said


''Oh, | see. an advertisement"


"No not an advertisement. We prefer to
have it go in the local column, replied the
manager.


And seeing that the editor looked sceptical
he continued


'lt Will interest q reat many of your read
ers, and help good cause besides. we have
spent 50 much money getting up our entertain
ment that we can't afford to advertise it with
out Increasing the price Of our tickets. In
such a matter as this we ought to be willing
to help each other"


"Well" said the editor, "if it goes into the
locals, suppose you would reciprocate by
reading little notice in your church next
Sunday"


The visiting brother asked what notice.
and the editor wrote and handed him the
following:


The Weekly Chronicle for the coming
year will be the best and cheapest family
paper in Maine. Its proprietor has had much
experience, and has all the helps which
large outlay Of money can procure. Ills paper
has q larger circulation than any other pub
lished in the county, and IL to be furnished
at only 50. II is certain that no one can spend
tina. mount to a better advantage BE sure
to take the Chronicle, and subscribe for your
friends"


The manager hemmed and hesitated, and
then said, solemnly, that he doubted whether
it would be judicious 10 read such IA notice
but suggested that if it was printed copies of
it might be distributed at the door OF the
vestry on the evening of the entertain
mcnt


"Yes, said the editor, "but it would at
tract more attention IN the middle Of sermon
1t will interest large number Of your con-
gregation and help good cause and besides
SO much money Is spent upon the Chronicle
that | don't see how the owner can afford to
print handbils to advertise it without in
creasing the subscription price. In such
matter as this We ought to be willing to help
each other


Then the gentleman saw the situation.
Year: 1878

EIGHTEEN YEARS AFTER LOG. Cover
nor Duval Of Florida, WAS the son of poor
Nirginian,a "A stern, strong, taciturn man. The
boy was huge youth of fifteen. At the
cabin fire at bedtime, according to the GUS
tom Of putting on a back log. the old man
said between the whifis ofhis silent pipe


"Tab. go out and bring in that gum back
log and put It on the fire."


Tab went out and surveyed the log. He
knew it was ofno use explaining that it was
too heavy, nor prudent for him to return
without having IT on his shoulder. His little
sister'passilg was not surprised that he re-
quested her to bring out the gun and powder
horn, as possum or coon might have passed
or the brother might have seen bear signs.
She brought the gun and Tab started. He
found his way through the woods in,o Ken
lucky in 1871. After an absence Of eighteen
years he was elected to Congress man of
immense size and strength he started for
Washington going by the way of his old
home to see the folks who had long since
given him up for dead. Entering the little
cabin door near bedtime he saw the iden-
tical gum log. He shouldered it, pulled the
latch-strng and with his load stood before
the old man, pipe in his mouth, as quiet rs
usual


..Here is the gum back log. father"


"Well you've been a long time getting
it-p 1t on the fire and go to bed was the
reply.-Sar Antonio Herah.
Year: 1878

my step-mother turned out to be
frst-rate, and l got to like her
splendid. Then papa seemed to


get infatuated with another woman


that he got acquainted with, and


she wheedled around him until she


made trouble, and the result was
another divorce, and papa soon


married the woman that made the
trouble. When the second separa-
ton took place | went with my
step-mother because loved herand
because my services were necessary
to help take care Of the baby. Then
what does she do but 20 and get
married? | declare never saw SO
much marrying in my life. 1t only
happened little while ago, and my
new step.step-father-I suppose he


is-treats me in a very kindly sort
Of way, as if he felt he couldn't
help himself; but didn't exactly like
it, and | don't like it a bit. l can't
go back to mamma, because she is
mad with me for going with papa
in the first instance, aud l can't 90
to papa because Of that wheedling
woman, and ] can't bear to stay
whore | am. 1t is too bad that a
girl should have a father and mother
and two step-fathers and two step
mothers all living at once and not a
home that she can feel at home in.
Year: 1878




Ten Brock VS., MOIIie MeCarthy.
Louisville Special to Cincinnati Commercial.


Mollie Mccarthy and Ten Brock
are training ON the Jockey Club
track. The public pulse does not
beat so much in Ten Broeck's favor
as might be expected. The splen-
did condition, fine form, and the
strong evidence of endurance to be
noticed in a survey of Miss Mollie,
shake Kentucky's confidence in the
son of Ph@ton, and while it is GER
tain no Baltimore apple can reach
him, for the reason that ever since
his defeat in Maryland he has re-
fused to eat apples, people of his
native cline are not in a mood to
offer odds on his success. An apple
played smash, (again) to be more
elegant than expressive, with a
gentleman some thousands of years
ago, and Ten Broeck's owner SAYS
his horse suffered from the effects
Of one at Baltimore. This is a new
story in the Parole-Ten Brock
affair. Certain is it that Ten
Brock only needs to have an apple
thrust at him to behave after the
style of old John Robinson's ele-
phant when a piece Of tobacco is
put in his trunk.
Year: 1878

NhouiSdl GAuHlueI.J


Situp to the table when you read;
easy chairs abolish memory. Do
not read the same book too long at
one sitting. If You are really weary
of one subject change it for anoth-
er. Read steadily for three hours
a day for five days in the week; the
use of wet towels and strong coffee
betrayS ignorance of how to read.
Test the accuracy of your work as
soon as you have finished it. Put
your facts in order as soon as YOU
have learned them. Never read
after midnight. Do not go to bed
straight from your books. Never
let your reading interfere with ex-
ercise or digestion. Keep a clear
head, a good appetite and cheer
full heart.
Year: 1878

TO KEEP FrRS IN SUMNER. Furs or
woolens may be kept safe from moths
during the Summer by brushing thorough
", 50 as to eradicate all the moth eggs !;
then wrap them up in newspaper so that
every part is covered entirely This is
unfaiing if the clothes or turs be well
brushed beforehand. Some think gum
camphor put with them is desirable, but
| have used only the newspaper, and
never had any trouble unless the moths
were there when wrapped up in it.
Year: 1878

AN EFFECTIVE DEODORIzER The
nitrate OF lead is now recommended. in
medical journals, as scarcely second to
any other substance, in point of cheap
ness and efficacy, as a deodorizer To
prepare it for use, it is simply necessary
to take, for ordinary purposes, half a
dram of the nitrate, dissolve it in pint
or more of boiling water, dissolve about
two drains OF common salt in pail of
water, pour the two solutions together,
and allow the sediment to settle To
purify and sweeten fetd atmosphere
Immediately, dip cloth in the liquid and
hang it up in the apartment.
Year: 1878

Mrs. Mary Jane Sweet. thirty-two years Of age
committed suicide yesterday by hanging herself with
clothes line in her room at her residence
No. DAG East Thirty NTH street. She had been
in poor health for long time. and her
mind had in consequence become impaired. Her
husband, William Sweet. is conductor the Third
avenue railroad. They lived in comfortably fur
nshed apartments on the second floor of the above
dwelling with their only child boy eight years Of
age. Deceased attended TO her household duties
during tho forenoon and seemed to be in
her normal conditions. Later In the day she
nplsincd Of being i'll and told her son TO go 10
Thrtyfourn and there await the arrival OF his
fathers car. She cautioned the little fellow to in
form his parent that she was in very low
spirits and tha. she sick and growing rapidly
worse. She wanted her husband to come home


immediately, she afraid she
going die. The little fellow faithfully performed
his mothers instructions His father receiving
the message not particularly alarmed and told
the child go home and say to his mother that IL
was all right that he would join her he
had made the round trip and reported at the depot
When the child entered his dwelling ne saw his
bedroom Her eyes rolling in their sockets
her tongue yroruded, her arms twitching
nervousy and she fast stranglinR to
death. The boy was naturally frightened at
the startling sight. and he sought singular way Of
calling for assistance He locked the door leading 20
the hallway. and with all his speed To inform his
father OF the II took n considerable time
to do this and when they returned to the house the
unfortunate woman was dead.
Year: 1878

and breaking the chain of the boat lesped into the
river. hauling the wagon after them. and were
drowned. The driver saved himself. but the team
and the wagon are at : he bottom Of the river.
Year: 1878

that she had found a place where
her story had not preceded her, and
that at last she could be free from
any reminder of it. But she was
mistaken. The honest and kindly
natured people about her were IA
miliar with the news of the world,
and she found it best to accept her
fate aud leave the rest TO their
charity.


From her childhood in the army,
accustomed to outdoor sports and
amusemehts, and exceedingly fond
of outdoor exercise, she could not
live an artificial life, and she pre-
ferred a farmers work and duties to
the slavery of a public career. With
her wonderful musical gifts, her
great and singular beauty, and her
fine education, she might have be-
come famous-might have won dis
tinction in literary field--had she
desired. But such was not her
wish. She had no ambition to
crafty, no revenge to satisfy; peo-
pie tired her, and solitude was hel
comfort. She made her home in
the country, and chose nature fol
her companion. With her horses
and dogs abouther, anlsurroundeC
by the few comforts she desired, shC
found life pleasant the first few
years of her life in the West, ant
doubtless is still in the enjoymen
of life there. Some years ago sh,
went to California and the Sand
witch Islands on atrip of pleasure
and since that time she has no
been made the subject Of newspa
per mention.
Year: 1878

"All on board were saved" Such was the
gratifying announcement that followed the
news Of the Idaho's wreck on tho coast OF lre-
land In the steamship wer, many American
residents who had sailed from this port q week
before The voyage was almost ended. but In
the fog and storm the reckoning was lost, and
OF n sudden the vessel brought up on rock.
II was "A critical moment. Delay or irresoution
10y the Captain must have resulted In terrible
loss of life. for the broken ship rolled under the
waves In fifteen minutes aftcrward But he
promptly acted. aud In that fifteen minutes all
were saved,
Year: 1878

What is called a spiritual marriage has
just taken place in Boston. Perkins
Carleton; no cards. The bridegroom, who
is a widower and the contestant in the Har-
dy-Perkins will case, never heard of his
recently annexed bride until two weeks ago,
when he was informed by medium that
the spirit of his deceased wife would COM
municate with him through Miss Carleton,
who was about to engage in the practice of
her professionalism of healing medium
Mr.. Perkins Immediately sought out this
lady, who thereupon went into trance for
his benefit, and communicated to his aston
ished ear matters presumably known only
to himself and the late Mrs. Perkins. The
spirit of his late wife also directed him to
invite Miss Carleton to dine with him,
which he did, and after dinner she went
into trance, in the course of which his
deceased wife, speaking by the mouth of
the medium, expressed desire that he
should marry Miss Carleton, as by so doing
they would be able to work out certain
purpose which she (the shade) had in view.
The late Mrs. Perkins was wiser than the
children of the flesh for she remarked:
"The worlds people will think you insane;
but never falter; we will protect YOU"
The shadowy protector was even so oblig-
ing as to name the day.
Year: 1878

Henry Green, crazy Englishman, who
recently committed suicide in Leavenworth,
Kan, had disordered fancy. One night
he determined to attend his own funeral.
He hired hearse, a coffin and several
mourning carriages, and proceeded to have
funeral all by himself. He placed the cof.


fin inside the hearse, got into the coffin with
bottle of whiskey, and the solem process
sion took its course through the principal
streets of the city. 1t was a queer time
for snowy funeral, but it was not until
the procession had appeared in the same
thoroughfares several times that the suspi.
cions of the community were aroused.
When the hearse was opened, the corpse
was found sitting upon its coffin and declar-
ing that it wouldn't 60 home till morning.