smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Fifty or sixty years ago it was the
custom for gentlemen wishing SER
wants 10 visit the emigrant ships as
soon as they arrived in port. Select
ing the man or woman who pleas
ed them, he would pay his or her pas
sage money, about seventy or eighty
dollars, to the captain, agreeing to
give the servant clothing and board,
and at the end of three years service
twenty or thirty dollars.


One day, a gentleman, a man of
fortune, residing in Philadelphia,
went on board an emigrant ship to
hire a girl, or to purchase her
time" as it was then called. He Sc
lected one, and was shown her fa-
ther. The old man was anxious to
go with his daughter, and after some
persuasion the gentleman purchased
his time. "Well, now," said the old
man, "here's my old wife; take her
also" There was something so at
traetive in the countenance of
the old woman that the gentle
man bought her time.


Going together to the registers
Office to complete the bargain, the
gentleman was surprised to find that
the name which the emigrants gave
was spelled and pronounced ike his
own. Inquiries ended in his discoY
ering that he had bought the time
of his own father and mother.


When six years old son of the
old folks had been taken to America
by gentleman, and they had lost
all knowledge of him; indeed they
had almost forgotten that they had
a son in America. They recollected,
however that their boy had the fig
ure of a cucumber on one of his
shoulders. The newly-found son
was stripped in the office, and, to
the delight of the aged couple,
there was the birth.mark.
Year: 1877

of lightning, followed by a report
that seemed to shake the earth as
though it was a leaf suspended in
mid air. For long time they sat
haIf dazed and stunned by the re-
port, and when at last they were
themselves again the rain had ceased.
A bright light shone without, and
reuben once more gazed through
the ereVlce to see what it meant.


The oak was riven into a thousand
fragments, and its trunk was ON fire
Scattered among the debris Law the
mangled forms of the savages. The
same blow that had blasted the oak
had deprived them of life.


In after days Reuben and Ruth
told their grandchildren how it was
that they were saved by lightning.
Year: 1877

was as marked aman as in the pulpit


His conversation was wonderful. There


was the same soul of fire and of tender.


ness; the same deep thought; the same


rich melody of voice. The greatest


men of his time sought him out, and sat


beneath the spell of his words. His
learning was deep and wide, and skill
fully wrought into all he said. Yet he
was never ostentatious. His modesty
humbled the vain his courtesy inspired
the timid. To an earnest seeker for
truth his heart was full of love, his
manner full of tenderness; but when
aroused by indignation or in scornful
argument, no man but trembled before
his impetuous and relentless power.


The peculiar character of his oratory
is rapidly disappearing from the earth.
The days of Henry and Adams, of Web
ster and Clay, are past. Like theirs,
his eloquence was not of the schools
1t was an inspiration of God, working
out through a rare spirit And besides
the love of freedom and of country
which throbbed through the undying
words of these four great men, James
hod another and nobler in
spiration: the theme of immortality,
the perfect and eternal liberty of the
soul.
Year: 1877

PACKING APPLES so AS TO KEEP
To avoid the cause of such complaints
in future, it would be well to bear a few
hints in mind:


First, good, Glenn barrels are necessa-
ry ; old, damp, musty ones should never
be used. Over the bottom of the barrel
scatter a layer of buckwheat chaf, one
inch deep; then put in layer of apples
so that they will just touch each other,
taking care not to crowd them too much:
and if the apples in each layer are of
uniform size, so much the better. Now
spread a second layer Of chaf, just
enough to cover the apples, and work it
down between them by pressing the
hand over each stratum few times.
Continue this operation until your bar
rel is full, always pressing your apples
down tight after you have inserted four
or five layers. Apples picked, sorted,
and nicely packed this way, will hard
ly ever rot; and should one do so, the
chaf will absorb all juices, and those ly-
ing next to it will not be injured. Those
who have only a few trees and these
mostly bearing fall fruit, can keep theil
apples far into winter, if packed in this
way, and winter apples. indeed, do not
get fit to eat till about mid-winter. Nc
chaff except buckwheat will do, as all
others are apt to gather dampness and
mold.
Year: 1877

A LADY'S EXPERIENCE ON A WRECK
ED TRAIN.-Miss Jennie Frost, of Coun-
Gil Bluffs, Iowa, who had marvellous
escape from the train that was wrecked
on the Rock Island Railroad last week,
relates that one woman heroically rescu-
ed her six children and then went to the
aid of other sufferers, while another lady
was terribly exercised over the loss of
her satchel, and could think of nothing
else. One lady, who was in agony from
% broken wrist and a compound fracture
of one of her legs, would not consent to
have morphine injected into her arm be-
cause she feared it might hurt her. An
other lady who was severely injured was
offered glass of brandy, but refused to
swallow it, stating that she was strict
temperance woman and meant to stand
by her principles, even if she died in the
attempt. A little child clung to win
dow-sill and kept her head above the
surging waters until she was saved. A
little girl lay for four hours with only
her face out of water, the corpse of a
large man being stretched across her lit
tie body. It was supposed that she too
was dead, but a man who was "chopping
out" the wounded thought he saw the
little ones lips tremble. She was taken
out covered with blood, her stockings as


red as if they had been dyed, and in a
few hours she was as lively as cricket
asking if anybody had seen her doll.
Year: 1877

WASHINGTON.
The Electoral Commission in


Secret Session.
NO CONCLUSION ARRIVED AT.
General Impression Regarding the Decision


in the Florida Case.
THE MOST PLAUSIBLE THEORY GIVEN.
Ebb and Flow Of Feeling Among


the Respective Partisans.
SERIOUS ILLNESS OF SECRETARY MORRILL,
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Year: 1877

The New York Times, after careful
examination by correspondents, thinks
that the famine in British India is of a
much more serious character than the
one which was so successfully met a
few years ago, or it has been permitted
by official apathy and neglect to secure
very alarming headway. Already
the loss of life is placed at the enormous
figure of halfa million, and afler such
a mortality as that, it is hardly proba-
BILE that an equally direful visitation
of pestilence which follows in the track
of famine can be avoided. The Orissa
famine of 1866 cost million and a halt
of lives but after the revolution of Off
cial incapacity which attended the in
yestigation of that calamity, it was
thought that no such sacrifice of human
life to starvation could ever again be
possible. II seems to have been the pol
icy of the government of the presi-
dency of Madras, in which the famine
chiefly RACES, to make light of the emer-
gency which it was apparent some
months ago they would have TO meet.
The folly of their rash optimism has
been demonstrated too late, and the
British cabinet is placed in very
unenviable position of being ready to
sacrifice thousands of lives in Europe
to obtain an ascendency in India whose
continuance il is unable to Justify by
proofs of vigorous and humane admin
istration.
Year: 1877

Several geological surveys have been
made of the proposed route of the tun-
mel under the English Chanuel, and the
opinion of scientific men appears TO be
that there are no faults or assures
which will be likely to interfere with
the work. The tunneling machine in
vented by Brunton will be used; this
apparatus works similarly to an augur,
and the pieces excavated fall to an
endless band which carries ii to the
cars in the rear. Ii is stated that by
this machine drift-way, seven feet in
diameter, can be advanced at the rate
of about a yard and quarter per hour,
at which rate il would only require two
years to pierce the channel through,
the boring being made from both ends,
and provided that no delays are occa-
stoned by leakage or change in the
hardness of the chalk. The company
is now fully organized, and work has
begun on the French side of the cham
mel. As the tunnel with is approaches
must be about thirty miles in length, it
is certainly gigantic undertaking, and
its completion will be hailed as a new
triumph of engineering science.
Year: 1877

The question as to how far the brain
exercises an influence on the motions of
ANIMALS has been engaging scientific
men for years. DIR. Broca was among
the first TO investigate the subject. lie
proved that when man was deprived
of the faculty of speech, by a stroke of
apoplexy, there invariably existed a
lesion at the very same spot in the brain
VIZ, i'll the anterior region, and on the
posterior side of the third frontal cir
cumvoution to the left. Hence the con-
clusion that this was the scat of the fac
ulty of speech in man, and thus one
was led TO conceive a special place for
every intellectual action. Fritz, IIitzio.
Fcrrier, Carville and Duret, the most
prominent among those who have treat
cd the question, operate as follows:
They take off part of the skull of dog.
then apply electric wires to different
parts of the brain thus laid bare. and
watch the motions produced. Certain
points cause none, so that it is not the
whole brain that acts on the muscular
system, but only special points. Fer
rier operated on monkeys in the pres
ence of the London Royal Society. Ac-
cording as he touched various parts of
the cerebrum, the ape would shake his
fist at the public, raise or stretch a leg,
or cut faces. 1t was shown that in the
monkey the center of motion of the
tongue answered exactly to that to
which the faculty of speech pertains in
man. From all this it follows that the
surgeon may now know precisely the
point of the skull at which to apply a
trepan. Thus, not long ago man was
brought into the hospital st. Antoine in
Paris. lie had received blow on the
left temple, and, on coming to himself
again, could only speak with difficulty.
and then he would call a fork an UNI
brella, lamp hat, and so on. More
over, his right arm was half paralyzed.
The surgeon at once knew what he had
to do; he applied the trephine to the
proper spot, and hit upon piece ofbone
that compressed the brain. This splin-
ter was removed, and the patient at
once recovered the use of his right arm
a few days later his tongue was freed
from all impediment, and he left the
hospital perfectly cured.
Year: 1877

God has so made the sexes that wo-
men, like children, cling to men, lean
upon them as though they were superior
in mind and body. They make them
the suns of systems, and their children
revolve around them. Men are gods.
if they but knew it, and women burn
incense at their shrines. Women.
therefore, who have good minds and
pure hearts want men to lean upon.
Think of their reverencing a drunkard.
a liar, fool, or libertine. If man
would have woman to do him homage.
he must be manly in every sense; true
gentleman, not after the Chesterfield
school, but polite, because his heart is
full Of Kindness to all; one who treats
her with respect, even Difference. be-
cause she is woman; who never con-
descends to say silly things to her; who
brings her up to his level. if his mind
is above hers; who is never over anx-
ious TO do right; who has no time to be
frivolous with her, always dignificd
in speech and act; who never spends
too much upon her; never Yields to
temptation, even if she puts it in his
way; ambitious to make his mark in
the world, whether she encourages him
or not; who is never familiar with her
to the extent of being an adopted broth
er or cousin; who is not over careful
about dress; always pleasant and con-
siderate, but always keeping his place
of the man, the head, and never losing
it. Such department, with noble prin-
ciples, good mind, energy and industry,
will win any woman in the world
worth winning.
Year: 1877

reticent man finds 1t hard enough to get
through six lines Of elOquence even after he
has eaten a good dinner but surrounded by
strangers, and in the awful presence, If we
may say so, of the nine MUSES., and with no
end of Dons gazing at him from under their
square caps, we are sure not that Gen. Grant
would break down in his speech, but that he
would not be able to begin it,


ID. G.. l.. and LII. ID. are most convenient
degrees. Colleges may confer them upon any
body or everybody without the least regard
for personal requirements. When Harvard
made Gen. Jackson an Ii. ID. it used to be
said in the Wing newspapers that he showed
his sense of gratitude and of the proprleties OF
the classic occasion by exclaiming: l. Plum
"bus Unum-Sine qua nOnw If this was all
the Latin Old Hickory knew, it cannot be de-
MED that he knew so much at least very well
indeed, and in practical politics acted up to
his knowledge.


We suBpOse, if there were any different way
of showing its respect, that Oxford wOuld not
confine itself to the DC. l.. which it bestows in
discriminatory upon poets, generals, scientists,
and all manner of distinguished people, no
matter what they may be distinguished for.
We are by no means sure that Gen. Grant
knows what ID. G.. L. is exactly, but as he
will not be bothered with examination papers
his knowledge of the Civil Law will be OF no
consequence. He is already entitled by act OF
Congress to put on when he pleases the
uniform of a General, and over this or
under it, after next Wednesday, he will be
authorized to wear red gown, which, we trust,
he will find becoming. He is adding very rap
idly to the long catalogue of his distinctions.
On the 18th inst. he will be made free of the
City of London, and already, we are told, he
takes precedence of all others after the royal
family But no doubt he will come back to
us as good republican as he was when he
went away; for whatever else may be said Of
him, it cannot be denied that he is plain
man with plain tastes, and with no particular
passion for being lionized.
Year: 1877

The recourse of stepping out continues
to be employed by eminent public chalac-
ters. and absconding under difficulties prom
ises soon to be reduced to a fine art. Last
Saturday, Elliot, who was a participation
York Life Insurance Company, was taken
into the Supreme Court room on a writ of
habeas corpus. The prospect of making any
thing by this process does not seem to have
struck the prisoner as a brilliant one, and, re-
membering the prOyerb that the gods help
those who help themselves, or the line of the
poet that those "whO would be free them
"selves must strike the blow" Mr.. Elliot
brought matters to rapid if not a satisiac-
tory conclusion by walking out of the court
room and courthouse, and so vanishing into
infinite space. The world was all before him
where to choose but of course his choice is
unknown. He did not, for obvious reasons,
state to the officers where he was
going lie simply went. They had taken
off his irons, and so he walked out
without their insignia of his fnan-
cial achievements. When it was found
that he was gone, and that the chair which
lust before knew him knew him no longer,
tntfe was II great utdl Ol nubIglH Ill not HdSle
and possibly considerable emission of pro-
fame language. Subsequently tirre was also
considerable teegraphing-what is called ga
general alarm but the lost was not found
and the righteous anger Of Warden Quinn at
the carelessncss of his subordinates will prob
| ably make matters uncomfortable for them
unless they have the good luck to get back
| their man.


The ease with which escapes are effected by
criminals who think it worth their while TO 60
away is becoming rather serious matter. by
and by people will begin to think that there
must be some colluson with these keepers who
keep 80 i'll. One thing in this case is cOns0la-
tory-the lost one will hardly come back
though he may be brought back; and
he is hardly in position to make money
bargain and buy in the market IA condona-
ton of his oflenses. He is a sharp rogue, and
will strike for both liberty and ucTe He is
not one of your treaty-making thieves, but
his faith in his own legs is perfect, and appa-
rently will not be unrewarded.
Year: 1877

New-Jerscy people are not usually lacking
in hospitality, but they do not view their pres
ent guests with kindly feeling. Even the
titles of these red-cyed visitors are not fairly
accorded to them instead of their classical
name clcada, the erroneous one of locust is
inflicted upon them. The cicada couldn't be
more unlucky III the matter of getting bad
name if he were a Spit. There are thousands
of Jerseymen who firmly believe that the in
sect who il drumming mOnotonOus tune in
the treet0ps ia near relative to the long
legged hopper that has travelled from the
Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi. Now
whether the grasshopper of the West is or
is not tho locust, may be a dcbatable ques-
ton, with the weight of evidcnce.n the affirm
ative: but that the cicada is not locust is
Year: 1877

The honoS, great and small, and of every
Sort continue to come down, shower-ikc ia
England upon the head of our ex-President.
On Wednesday next the venerable University
of Oxford will confer upon him the honorable
and honorary degree of Doctor of the Civil
Law. 1t will be remembered that Gen. Grant
is already a Doctor of the Law of Laws, that
distinction having been bestowed upon him by
several American colleges. Indeed, at one
time he was frequently spoken of in the news
papers, in IA good-natured way, as Doctor Grant


The title, however, did not stick longer than
during political campaign, for the people
knew nothing of its wearer as a doctor of any
Sort while they knew a great DEAL and that,
too. favoraby, about him as General. IL is
fortunate, we suppose, that at Oxford Gen.
Grant will not be Obliged to go through any
examination preliminary to his investiture


Somebody will make speech. to him in
Latin, but he will not be obliged to
respond either in the Roman tongue nor
yet in the yernacular. This is fortunate. The
Year: 1877

The Collector of the New-Orleans Custom
house is willy reformer. Quietly bundlmg
twenty nine employees out of the back door, he
goes around to the front and inquiries of the
United States Government, in loud tone of
voice, if it has any remarks to make. The
New-Oreans Collector must have heard the
news from New-York. At It's present rate of
speed it ought to reach San Francisco in a
fortnight
Year: 1877

And now the Lord Provost of Edinburgh
wants Gen. Grant-wants him not after the
stern fashion of some of the Lord PrOvOsts of
the olden time, but to make speech at him and
do other friendly acts. Gen.. Grant seems
likely to swing around the circle second
time-and perhaps in better company than the
last.
Year: 1877

The joint commission which is to assemble at
Halifax tomorrow might be deemed legacy
from the last Administration. 1t was provided
for in the Treaty of Washington, signed over
ak years ago, and is to determine if we owe
the Dominion any additional compensation for
the fishery rights acquired by that agreement.
1t is to be hoped that counsel on both sides
are well prepared for the discussion, so that
the arbitratOrs may act promptly and intell-
gently.
Year: 1877

-Messrs. Erickson, Peterson & Co.,,
corner of Fourth and Plum streets, are
putting up handsome lot of farm
wagons and farmers spring or platform
wagons to be ready for the anticipated
heavy demand this summer. The work
from this shop is constantly growing in
popularity, because of the care used in
selecting good timber and in putting it.
together in the most durable manner
The felloes of their wagon wheels are
always immersed in boiling oil, and
thereby rendered impervious to water
even after the paint is worn off. This
makes them vastly more durable than
such as are not thus protected. When
we were in their shop, a few days ago,
they had stone dray for Mr.. Danielson
in course of construction and we don't
believe that we ever saw a more sub
stantial looking vehicle for its weight
and size. They had, also, nearly fin
ishcd light buggy for Mr.. Sias, which
may be used for one or two horses and
rigged as single or double seated af-
fair. 1t was to be painted and trimmed
in the best style.
Year: 1877

The railroad meeting held in
Rochester last week did not result
in anything definite. The Roches-
ter business men are divided in
opinion as to its advantages to that
city. Many of them think that,
while it will not be a through line
competing with the Winona and
St. Peter road, it would have ten
dency to divide the business
now centering at Rochester and
attract it to intermediate points
north and south of that city; that
it would build up Oronoco, Pine
Island, Marion, Chatfeld, Sc, at
the expense Of Rochester. For this
reason, they are not enthusiastic ad-
vocates Of the road. It was, also,
stated at the meeting that Zumbrota
could not extend the assistance her
Year: 1877

it is fact that, with our improved systems
Of education, the clever, bright and in
dustrious American boy or girl is
fond of study. The children have
had long and pleasant holidays, and
return refreshed to their books. The teach
ers also are strengthened for the work of
the winter, and pupils and preceptors are
doubtless glad to meet again. In little
while the schoolrooms will be well filled,
will use to the best advantage his opportu-
mites. 1t is true that all work and no play
makes Jack q dull boy, but it is well to
reflect that all play and no work will make
him duller still
Year: 1877

The most important news from Europe
this morning is the death of ex-President
Thiers, which took place last evening at
six o'clock He was little over eighty
years of age, having been born in
April, 1897. For nearly half century
he has filled France and almost the world
with his fame as journalist historian, orator
and statesman. No one in France has had
larger share in moulding her destinies,
and nearly all his life has been
one long battle for liberty and consti-
tutional government. His first Office was
under Louis Philippe his last was after
the fall of the Empire, when he brought
France through the dark days Of the Com
mune to the present Republic. M. Thiers
was a statesman of the very highest
order, and his career, which extended
over perhaps the most important
period of French history, forms large por-
ton of the annals of his country. His death
at the present time is severe blow to the
Republic. He possessed the confidence of
large portion of the French people, and in
The present crisis his counsel, modera-
ton, wisdom and patriotism were specially
needed