smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

up any commercial centre, or
promoting in any degree the ma
terial interests of the country
where the money was expended.
In the mean time, for eight years
nearly the whole of Washington
Territory has been under embar-
go, closed against Immigration
and settlement, and the whole
power of the company used to
destroy established centres of
trade and courses of commerce,
by attempting to build up rival
towns, which has only resulted
in unsettling business for time
and bankrupting every outsider
who could be inveigled into in
vesting his fortune IN their
schemes.


The editor of the Oregonian
knows that this is no exaggera-
ton Of the facts in this case; he
knows that the company is in
the main under the same man
agement it has been from the
beginning, and that the 0. S. N.
Co. bears the same relations to
it than the land rings have here
tofore borne, that of the Credit
Mobilier to the Union Pacific,
and yet he pleads with all his
ability for renewal of the grant
to this faithless company with
no conditions attached which
would impair their monopoly or
guarantee the construction of
the road beyond their steamboat
connections.


Mr.. Mitchell has honored him.
self no more by any act of his
official career than by the saga
city and devotion to the interests
of his constituents, in framing a
bill which not only guards the
public domain from the monopo-
ly and speculatlons Of the land
ring of the company, but pro-
vides the only means by which
Portland could be secured in the
construction of the road to that
city: by compelling the company
to construct that portion of the
road within a limited time, Or to
surrender the land grant for the
same to another company. That
is the only way in which the
construction of that section can
be secured. The Oregonian an
nounced in advance that in case
Of a renewal Of the grant the de-
sign of the company was to COM
mence construction at the head
of navigation and make the con-
nection overland first. OF what
avail would be a provision in the
act that the company should be-
gin construction at Portland and
complete so many miles a year
thereafter? 1t would simply
allow the company,to hold the
grant of land and the right of
way for so many years against
all competitors, and then forfeit
1t. We cannot believe that the
able editor of the Oregonian is SO
stupid as to imagine that the
managers Of the company will
build a railroad to destroy the
princely revenues they would
derive from a monopoly, OF the
transportation Of the Columbia
river, with a trans-contlnental
railroad for q feeder, any more
than we can believe that he
would devote so large an amount
of ability and space in his valu-
BILE paper to promote the selfish
schemes Of the managers of a
mammoth monopoly without a
valuable personal consideration.


The Baltimore Gazette takes
time by the forelock in opposing
the revival Of tax on incomes,
which it believes may be at
tempted this winter.
Year: 1877

The subject of the Convention
to form Constitution for the
future State of Washington and
the election of Delegates, is be-
ing pretty generally discussed
in private circles, though it is
far in advance of the time for
the selection Of such Delegates.
The act authorizing the Conven-
ton presents two very serious
obstacles to it's success. First,
in point of time, it is one of those
cases in which "the more haste,
the less speed" No one ima-
gines that we can gain admission
to the Union on the population
as shown by the last census re-
turn, and if the recommendation
of the Governor had been con-
Cured in by the Legislature to
postpone the election Of Dele
gates to the next general cleo
ton, the great expense of hold
ing a special election would be
avoided, and a census taken by
the assessors in the mean time
would show such a rapid in
crease Of population during the
current year as to materially
disarm opposition and induce
Congress to anticipate a popula-
ton thus reasonably assured in
a short time; and, in the mean
time, We might perfect coopera-
tive measures with the people
of Northern Idaho who wish to
join us, and thus greatly in
crease our chances for admission.
By rushing before Congress all
unprepared with a reasonable
showing, we but chrystalize op-
position and greatly delay ia.
vorable action. But that mistake
cannot be remedied now. We
have but to form q Constitution
in accordance with the act and
bide our time.


The second great mistake was
in rejecting all precedents by
limiting the Convention to a
committee of fifteen. This is as
absurd as it would be for that
Convention to limit the Legisla-
tive department Of the State
government to a council Of ten.
If there is any legislative body
in which every class and every
interest in community should be
represented, it is that which has
the forming of the organic law
which is to primarily govern in
every department Of State, fix
ing the limit to legislation and
prescribing the Executive and
Judicial powers. Such a body
should be as nearly democratic
as delegated powers could make
it, and should at least be endow-
ed with as large an element of
common sense as the last Legis-
1ature which limited the Consti-
tut1Onal Convention to less than
half their number.


The manner Of selecting the
candidates for Delegate from the
four political divisions of the
Territory to which they are as
signed-one from each of the 9
Council districts; one from each
of the three Judicial districts,
and three from the State at large
lis another bother. In each of
the Council districts there will
be five candidates to be voted
for, while the voters in each dis
trict have only the exclusive Sc
lection of one. To nominate the
candidates by the usual party
machinery would necessitate the
holding Of three conventions of
each party, at an aggregate cost
Of not less than $4,000. There
is nothing in the present party
Year: 1877

Ono evening, when the elder Booth
va plsying Richard III. In I Baltimore
tneate!, in his maddest mood, Just as tho
second act was about to commence. a
messenger covered with dust rushed BE-
hind the stage, and, before he could be
stopped, was in conversation with the
tragedian: "What!" said Booth, A. he
pressed his long fingers on the broad.
white temples as though he had tried to
Clutch the brain: beneath, "dead, say
youF My poor little child-my loved,
my beautiful one2" And then, seeing
the curtain raise, he rushed on: The
scence between Ann and Gloster was
never better played. The actor, gave
the words Of the bard with thrilling 81.
rect, but there was strangeness about
his manner that told his mind was not
upon his character. Still the multitude
applauded till the old roof rang again.
and those behid the scene stood breath
less with eager delight. The third act
came out, but Booth was no where to be
found. : It was bitter cold
night, and farmer, as he drove his
wagon to market, was startled from his
reverle as he saw horseman wrapped
in large cloak (and it opened and dis
played glittering dress beneath) ride
rapidly past him.


1t was Booth in his Richard III. cos
tune! Madness had seized him, and. re-
gardless of everything, at the still hour of
midnight. he was going to pay visit to
his dead child. Drawing his flashing
sword and throwing his jeweled cap from
his head. he lashed his horses flank with
the bare weapon until the animal snorted
in pain. The tall, dark trees on each side
OF him touched his heated brow with their
silver er-trosted branches, and, thinking they
were men in pursuit, the mad actor cut at
them with his sword and cursed them as
he flew rapidly by. At last, after gal
liant ride OF two hours, the horseman came
IN sight Of country graveyard, and, as
he saw the white tops of the monuments
peeping through the dark foliage like
snowy crests upon the bosom of dark bill
lows, he raised shout wild enough to
have scared the ghosts from their graves.
he dismounted, and away sped the rider
less horse over hill and dale. It was but
the work Of moment land the insane are
cunning beyond Imagining to wrench
the wooden door from the vault contain
ing the body Of his child. He seized the
tiny coffin in his arms, and. with the
strong arm of desperate man he tore
open the lid, and in moment the cold
blue lips Of the dead child were glued to
the dead actors! The next morning some
member of the tragedian's family heard
a wild strain Of laughter that appeared to
come from his slecping-room. fhe door
was forced open, and Booth was discov-
cred on his bed, gibbering in idiotic mad
mess, and caressing the corpse Of his little
one,
Year: 1877

A Washington special says the Cabinet
was in session two hours Monday, and dis
cussed various subjects, one Of the most i'm
portant being the proclamation converting an
extra session OF Congress. A suggestion was
made that a session be called to meet June
18th instead Of June 4th, as already agreed
upon, and this proposition was favorably re-
oeived, though it was not finally determined to
change the date. The phraseology of the doc
ument was considered and agreed upon.
Year: 1877

After nearly three hours session, the
Cabinet resolved to postpone the extra session
Of Congress to 18th Of October next. Among
other matters which induced this action, it
was also considered that as Congress meets
IN October it may remain in continual session
and finish Its business before next summer. 80
as to avoid the Inconvenience of the hot sen.
son next year, as well. The proclamation
calling the extra session October 18th is to be
issued without delay.
Year: 1877

A survivor of the inundation near Batis-
con says only five were swept away. The
slide occurred half mile above the MILL
The hillside sloped into and down the river,
carrying the water below it like wall 20 feet
high. The bed Of the river was filed with
trees twisted in all shapes, huge blocks Of clay
and mud. At the inquest on the bodies re-
covered u verdict of accidental death was
given. The body of child is still missing.
Year: 1877

There is: dead lock in the South Caro-
lima Legislature owing to the refusal of the
Senate, which is Republican, to 70 into an
election for Chief Justice until the House had
admitted all the members Of the late Mackey
House.
Year: 1877

An old but vigorous looking gentleman,
seemingly from the rural districts, got into a
car aud walked its full length without receiv-
ing an invitation to sit down Approaching
one gentleman who had whole bench to him
self, he asked: Is this seat occupied ~
" Yes, sir, it is" impertiDently replied the
other. Well" replied the brcad-sboUdered
agriculturist, will keep this seat until the
gentleman comes" The original proprietor
withdrew himself haughtily to one end and
looked insulted. After while the train got
in motion, aud still notody came to claim the
seat, whereupon the deep-chested agricuIturist
turned and said " Sir, when you told me this
seat was occupied, you told a lie such was
his plain language never sit near liar If
can avoid it; / would rather stand up
Then appealing to another party, he said -
" Sir, may sit by to you ?" You don't look like
liar" We need hardly say that he got his
seat, and that the original proprietor thought
that there was something wrong about our So
cial system.
Year: 1877

A pin and needle being neighbors in a
work basket, and both being idle, began to
quarrel, as idle folks are apt to do.


81 should like to know" said the pin,
what you are good for, and how you expect
to get through the world without a head ?"


whats the use of your head, replied the
needle, rather sharply, "if you have no eye ?"


whats the use Of the eye" said the pin,
eff there is always something in IL"


Il am more active, and can 60 through
more work tnan you can" said the needle.


Yes but you do not live long"


why not 2"


Because you have always a stitch IN your
side" said the pin.


You are a poor crooked creature" said the
needle.


And you are so proud that you can't bend
without breaking your back" replied the pin.


"I'Il pull your head of if you insult me
again.


"IIl put your eye out if you touch me =
remember, your life hangs on single thread,
said the pin.


While they were thus conversing, little
girl entered, and, undertaking to SOW, sic
very soon broke off the needle at the eye
Then she tied the thread around the neck Of
the PIN, and attempting to sew with it, she
pulled rs head of and threw it into the ashes
by the side Of the broken needle.


Well, here we are" said the needle.


We have nothing to fight about now" said
The pin. 81. seems misfortune has brought
ms to our senses"


a pity we had not come to them sooner" ,"
said the needle.


How much we resemble human beings,
who quarrel about their blessing till they lose
them, aud never find out that they are bro
thers tilt they lie down in the dust together, as
We DO"
Year: 1877

A backwoodsman on hearing Bishop Meade
of the Protestant Episcopal Church preach
sermon in a frontier church without manu-
script, said " He is the first of them fine fell
lers that have ever seen who could shoot
without A rest"
Year: 1877

No man knows how big fly is til one lights
on the back Of his neck about o'clock 10 the
morning and takes its morning walk down bis
body, preparatory to breaklasting on his big
toes. Only the knowledge that be is not in
Africa can keep him from believing that
stray elephant has called.
Year: 1877

Whatever is, is right" Pope remarked.
But the man who arrives at the the depot just
as the train is scudding along at the other end
is generally left, or you would think SO if you
heard few remarks at the time.
Year: 1877

"My dear boy, said fond aunt TO very
fast nephew, don't you know that in leading
this irregular life you are shortening your days
It's quite possible, was the cool reply but
then look how lengthcn my nights"
Year: 1877

The Prince of Roumania inspect
ed of the batteries at Kalafat soon


after sunset one evening late in May,
and Mr.. MacGahan stood by to de-
scribe the scene for the London
News. There were the gunners by
their pieces, and the Prince and his
staff standing on the parapet to
watch the result Of the fire. In a
moment the roar of the cannon was
to roll along the quiet waters, but
there remained a moment in which
to appreciate the placid beauty Of
the fair scene in the soft half-light
which had followed the going down
of the sun. The majestic river
flowed on with its puissant sweep
through its wooded islands. The
blue Balkans, their blue studded
with snow patches on which the
sun still struck and kindled them
into dazzling radiance, furnished
the background. In the middle
distance, from out a cineture of
green, rose the slender white nina
rets Of Widdin. From his post on
the pafapet, Prince Charles waved
his hand, and with a flash of flame,
and a white belch of smoke, and a
scream, too, that always gives a turn
to the blood, the first shell speeds
its swift way across the Danube. 1t
struck to the right of the great work
on the west flank of the river face,
and a moment later rising smoke
told that it had fired something.
Then one Of the big guns of the
Elizabeth Battery gave tongue, and
its projectilo Clipped fragments as
it bursts off the coping of the A
bastion on the river front. Several
shots had been fired from the four
Roumanian batteries which are
armed, before the Turks gave any
sound of life; but at length a white
puff from one of the bastions of the
river face told that they were not to
remain wholly supine. Their first
three shells fell in the town, aimed
no doubt at No. 3 Battery, but too
high; most of the others pitched
about No. l Battery, on the parapet
of which Prince Charles was still
standing. When shell fell and
exploded close to him, its dust reach
ing him, it was felt that he had
done enough, and more than enough
in the way.of example, and the War
Minister adding his expostulations
to those of the staff, the Prince
came down into the battery, where
he remained while the firing lasted.
Year: 1877

which the wife of a cabinet minis
ter who can scarcely have been
personally acquainted with the
Admiral, wrote to congratulate him
on the victory Of the Nile. Lady
Hamilton was even more demon
strative and Nelson took naive,
almost childlike pleasure in being
made much of, and called "great"
and "glorious to his face. He
had done great things, and was not
ashamed to own that he felt proud
Of his achievements. Indeed, self
assertion on his part occasionally
took an unpleasant form. Toward
the close of the war with the first
Republic, when the general distress
was sharp and bread frightfully
dear-in 1900 the prices of the
quartern loaf rose to one shilling
and tenpence half-penny-a curious
fashion arose Of giving dinners in
which the guests were asked to
bring their own bread. Nelson was
invited TO such a dinner, but
through some oversight he had ap-
parently not been informed of the
conditions of the feast. At all
events, when he found there was nc
bread he made quite a little scene,
called his servant, and before the
whole company gave him a
shilling, and ordered him tC
90 and buy a roll, saying
aloud : "It is hard that after fight.
ing my country's battles / should
be grudged her bread" One would
not like to have been present al
that dinner party, still less to have
been the host ; and, in truth, either
Nelson should not have been in


vited, or an exception should have


been made in his favor. 1t is alsC


part of the ill-natured gossip o


history that Nelson's last sigma


was not " England" but Nelsol
expects every man to do his duty


and that the officer to whom tn,


order was given affected to hav


misunderstood his directions, ant
substituted the sentence which wa


actually telegraphed. Southey say
it was received by the fleet with en-
thusiasm, but an eyewitness Of tn


battle has recorded the equal
probable fact that some unides
! Britons could not well make ou
what it meant. "Do our duty !?
quoth one Of them. F" Why, c
! course we shall"
Year: 1877




The closing words of Professor
TyndalPs recent lecture on the
"0ngin of Life" before the Royal
Institution in London were impor-
tant. He said:


"This discourse is but a summing
up of eight months of incessant
labor. From the beginning to the
end of the inquiry there is not, as
you have seen, a shadow of evil
dence in favor of spontaneous gem
Grafton. There is, on the contrary,
overwhelming evidence against it /;
but do not carry away with you the
notion sometimes enormously as
cribed to me, that | deem sponta-
neous generation impossible, or
that wish to limit the power of
matter in relation TO life. My
views on this subject ought to be
well known. But possibility is one
thing and proof is another; and
when in our day | seek for expert
mental evidence of the transiorma-
tion of the non-living into the
living, | am led inexorably to the
conclusion that no such evidence
exists, and that in the lowest, as in
the highest Of organized creatures,
the method of nature is tfat life
shall be the issue of antecedent
life" 1sW
Year: 1877

The murder of Prince Caracciolo
and all the other bad doings at Ma
Piles may be traced directly to his
infatuation for Lady Hamilton.
And whence did that infatuatlon
arise? 1t has been asserted that
Nelson gradually became estranged
from his wife because she did not
take enough interest in his career,
and seemed hardly to know that her
husband was the idolized hero Of
the nation. If so, it was q grievous
fault, and the result, with man Of
Nelson's temperament, might have
been easily foreseen. "My dear,
great, glorious Nelson" if We re-
member Alright, was the style in
Year: 1877

A Cincinnati liquor dealer applied 10
customer for letter of recommended
tion of a certain brand of whisky he
had recently sold him. The customer
wrote: Il have tried all sorts of in
sect poison. and find none equal to
your Old Cabinet Whisky"
Year: 1877

The very simple reason why the world
is full of gossip is that those who in
dulge in it have nothing else in them.
They must interest themselves in some
thing. They know nothing but what
they learn from day to day, in inter
course with, and observation of, their
neighbors. What these neighbors do
what they say-what happens to them
in their social and business affairs, what
they wear-these become questions of
supreme interest. The personal and So
cial life around them-this is the book
under constant perusal, and out of this
comes that pestiferous conversation which
we call gossip. The world is full of it,
and in million houses, all over this
country nothing is talked of but the per-
sonal affairs of neighbors. All personal
and social movements and concerns are
arranged before the high court of gossip,
retailed at every ireside, are sweetened
with approval or embittered by spite,
and are gathered up as the common
stock of conversation by the bankrupt
brains that have nothing else to busy
themselves with but title tattle. The
moral aspects of gossip are bad enough.
| II = - oo,oIox4 -, Fro o+;oy, &C +bo Ian
rule it is full of all uncharitableness.
No man or woman likes to have his or
her personal concerns hawked about and
talked about and those who engage in
this work are meddlers and busybodies
who are not only doing damage to 9TH
ers-are not only also engaged in most
unneighborly ofice-but are infictlng a
great damage on themselves. They SOW
the seeds of anger and animosity and
social discord. Not one good moral re-
suit ever comes out of it. 1t is thorough
ly immoral practice, and what is worst
and most hopeless about it is, that those
who are engaged in it do not see that it
is immoral and detestable. To go into a
mans house, steadily when he is away
from home, and overhaul his papers, OF
into ladies' wardrobe and examine it.


would be deemed a very dishonorablt
thing but to take up mans or wo


mans name, and smutch it all over with
gossip-to handle the private affairs o.


neighbor around hundred freside'
why, this is nothing 1t makes con
versation. 1t furnishes topic. 1t keeps
Year: 1877

GOOD RULE FOR HoME.-Do not eX-
press your opinion too freely and decid-
edly when it differs from those around
you, merely for the sake Of saying what
81 think" when no good will be done.


Try to give up your will and way to
others in trlfes, as we'll as in more i'm
port matters, except where principle is
involved.


Do not complain of little discOmforts.
but bear them cheerfully.


Try to avoid making disagreeable re-
marks of any description, and make no
unpleasant comparisons.


Do not perform disagreeable duties
with martyr-like air, but always cheer
fully.


DO not indulge the idea that in a
different position from the one in which
God has placed you, you would lead a
better or happier life.
Year: 1877

To smoke or not to smoke-that is the question:
Whether it's better to abjure the habit.
And trust the warnings of a scribbling Doctor
Or buy at once box of best Havanas.
And ten day consume them? To smoke to puff
Nay, more to waste the tender fabrics OF the lungs
And risk consumption and its thousand ills
The practice leads to-'tis a contamination
Discreetly to be Stunned. To smoke to puff
To puff perhaps to doze-aye, there's the rub;
For in that doing state we thirsty grow.
And, having burned the tube up to a stump,
We must have drink, and that's one cause
We modern youth are destined to short life;
For who can bear to feel his mouth parched up.
His throat like whalebone and his chest exhausted
His head turned gddy and his nerves unstrung,
When he himself might drench these ills away
With wine or brandy? Who could live in smoke,
And pine and sicken with a secret poison,
But that the dread OF breaking Ger a rule
Prescribed by fashion, whose controllins win
None disobey, puzzles ambitious YOUTH
And makes us rather bear the ills we feel
Than others that the doctor warns us off
Thus custom does make specters Of us all
And thus the native hue Of our complexion
Is sicklied DER with consumptive cast;
The appetite, loss Of greater moment,
Paled by the weed, and the digestive powers
Lose all their action.