smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

UTILIZATION OF A WgED.--The com-
mon cat-tail of our swamps, scientifically
known as typhu iatitoiia, is susceptible of
being used as food, for which purpose it
is highly estimated in some countries.
The plant is perennial and propagates by
the formation Of underground stems con-
tanning much starchy matter. In South.
ern Russia the young shoots when they
push up in the spring are cut and tied up
as asparagus is for our markets, and sold
in all the markets. Boiled as asparagus is
boiled and seasoned with salt and spice, it is
nounced quite delicious by travellers who
have purtaken Of it. This plant is found
in more or less abundance in swampy
places all over the United States, and may
be very easily introduced in places where
il does not grow already.
Year: 1874

The New Brunswick, N. J. Times, of
the I'd instant, relates the following -
"The myriads Of sparrows that nestle in
the ivy, which clings to and almost entire
ly covers the walls of Christ Church, occa-
sionally display surprising amount of
intelligence in their little acts Of kindness
to each other. This was beautifully illus
trated yesterday morning about ten o'clock.
From tree located about opposite to
Northrop's in Church street a sick or
crippled sparrow fell to the ground and
futtered about the sidewalk in vain efforts
to regain place of safety. Several of its
little companions gathered around it aud
seemed greatly concerned for it, and by
their incessant chirping attracted swarm
Of the little-winged converts from the
church walls. Efforts were then made by
several of the number to lift the helpless
bird by catching its wings in their beaks,
but there seemed to be difficulty in get
ting started together, and the effort was
futile, and then the ehattering increased
perccptibly, as if there was a general
scolding going on. Presently several Of
the birds flew away, one shortly returning
with a twig about four inches long and an





eighth of an inch thick. This was drop
ped before the sick one, and at each end
was picked up by sparrow and held up
so that the sick bird was enabled to catch
the centre Of the twig in its beak, and with
tho aid Of the other two it flew over the
fence into the churchyard, and from tomb
stone to tombstone until the church was
reached, when they disappeared in the ivy,
followed all along by the swarm Of their
companions, chirpiug as if in great joy.
The whole affair lasted about FIVE minutes,
and was viewed by several spectators"
Year: 1874

An old man and his wife who came in
by the Central road yesterday morning,
saw about thirty hacks at the door Of the
depot and about thirty hackmen shouting
Hack at them. The man took It all
as a high compliment, and turning to the
old woman he said: / tell you, mother,
they think We are something great, or
they'd never had all these carriages down
here to meet us. ] wonder how they knew
we was coming. Detroit Free Press.
Year: 1874

Common-sense is an element In which
many persons are sadly wanting. Com
nonsense implies sound perception, cor
rect reason, mental capacity, and good
understanding. It is not to be acquired
entirely bysducation; il is a sort of in
stinct. 1t may polished and made more
acute by experience There is a great
deal Of sound philosophy in little COM
nonsense sometimes, and the exercise Of
1t upon certain occasions would save many
men from much subsequent humiliation,
Year: 1874

every kind of human suffering can be
alleviated others supply work to both men and
women. These agencies are in constant.
close communication the city is divided
into districts and kept under close
inspection by visitors; an applicant for
aid to any one society can be thus
promptly proved worthy or unworthy by ref-
erence to the others. The Bureau is not de-
signed to abrogate private charity, but to
serve as means of reference TO prevent that
charity from being misapplied. and to direct
it into the currents where it will prove most
effectual. Applicants able to work are given
work, and if it is refused arc sent to house
of industry, where they are supported and
kept busy. The result Of this thorough and
watchfu system has been not only an enor-
nous saving to the societies, but the almost
complete removal of pauperism from the city.


In late able paper in an English review
on pauperism, the system in Boston is in
stanced as being at once the most thorough.
economical, and charitable of any known
city, "while New-York," the writer adds, with
Justice, from utter lack OF any rational, sys-
"tematic oversight of charity, mas become the
receptacle for the pauperism not only Of the
surrounding States, but OF half the countries
"in Europe"
Year: 1874

II is possible that the condolences which
Mr.. Gladstone is so generally receiving for his
recent pamphlet are not needed. We are told
that he has thrown away his leadership OF the
Liberal party, and has forever excluded him.


self frsm the prominent position he has
hitherto held in public life. There is every


reason to think that these considerations, II
thew were well founded, are by no means so
powerful with Mr.. Gladstone as they would
he with many other active politicians, or as
tbey would have been with him few years
ago. He retired from Office after defeat
which cast no discredit whatever upon himself,
and which was of nature to engender more
than n passing disgust for the strife of parties
in a mind so severely honest and disinterested
"a that of the late Premier. The sudden


detection of his Irish supporters which threw
him into a minority was the rudest shock he
had ever received. and the effects of 1T
ara likely to last as long as he lives.
When summoned several months ago to resume
his most of leadership, he distinctly declined
70 do so. and intimated that it was doubtful


whether he should ever undertake again the
wcobty responsibilities incumbent upon a
chief of party. When during the last session
OF Parliament no lutiouuo0u aiu oh0n "ieh


drew his propositions In regard to Church
Government, his action was entirely consist
ont with his former declarations. 1t indicated
that his mind was much more occupied with
the question Of tho relations between the
Church and the State than with the struggle
for mower and place between the Liberals and
Conservatives. His allegiance to his con-
science was evidently stronger than to his
marty. and he apparently cared very little for
the admonitions he received on that occasion
from the organs which were alarmed for the
disciplpe of the opposition. In tho article
which he printed in The Contemporary Re
,iep he took no thought of the effect
of his calm and unfinching assertions upon
the organization with which he acted in Par
lament. And when that article gave rise to
sucb passonate discussion and attack on the
mart of English Catholics, he resolved to
answer them fully, and with equal disregard
of the consequences. There may have been
in all this a certain amount of Mr. GladstOne's
constitutional impulsiveness. But he has been
Too long in the habit of weighing his words and
actions, to have been led into such sequence
Of important acts without knowing whittier it
would tend. If by the course he has pursued
he has abdicated the position of leader of the
Liberal party, it has been from one of two
motives. Either he considered the position no
longer worth holding, or else he followed
conviction of duty 80 strong as to counter
balance that love Of power and political dire0-
Year: 1874

ton, Which grows to be 5ecOnd nature a1Ccr
lifetime Of its exercise.


1t cannot be denied that by this controversy
he has endangered the continued existence OF
the Liberal party as it now stands. Most of
its victories of late years have been won by
the assistance of the Irish members, whose CO.
operation must now be given up, unless tho
Liberal party distinctly disavow all connec-
ton with the views of their former leader
which would be about as dangerous as TO
adopt them. But if the discussion takes the
range and excites the interest which 1t now
promises, it is idle to imagine that the Liberal
organization alone is to be affected by II. lr
the question of the conflict between the loyalty
of Catholics to the Church and to the State
becomes q living issue of English politics, 1t
will disturb the equilibrium of all parties as
profoundly as the question OF Slavery did III
this country after the compromise measures
of 1859. It is likely that Dir. Disraeh
looks with as much anxiety upon thls
EXPLOSION of conscience in his old adversary
as that which is felt by any of Mr.. Gladstones
associates. 1t is one thing to write fancilui
romance in which the possibilities OF future
conflict of Church and State are set 1orth'
and quite another to be forced against ones
will to take and hold certain position IN
relation to such a conflict. Mr.. Dlsrael mas
in former days made good deal OF capital
by putting himself forward as a defender of
Protestant Christianity. 1t will hardly meet
his views to see so powerful man as Mr..
Gladstone doing the same thing with twice
his force and earnestness. The fact that Mr..
Gladstone is not the leader of his party only
makes Kim more dangerous to Prime MIN
ister who it may be said without malice,
thinks as much of his place as he does OF
Professionalism.


Tt is not ia the ranks of the Reformed
Church alone that this controversy seems des-
tined to leave its traces. Among people Oh
such active minds as are to be found among
the English Catholics it is scarcely possible
that discussion Of this importance should
not develop serious differences OF opinion. Ibe
expressions which have already been ellclted
from prominent ecclesastics have thrown no
light whatever upon the true issue, as tney
cOnfine themselves to saying that the Cath-
olics are bound to obey their civil ralers IN
all things lawful leaving the definition oil
legality, by implication, with the authority OF
Rome, as their opponents say. A Ger
tain body of English Catholics have
made public declaration of their paramount
allegiance to the laws of the land, and it is
said that delegation Of English Bishops are
20 GO s3 Rome to obtain permission to pursue
an independent course in case the British
Government should seek to restrict the I'D
erty of action of the Catholic clergy. Even IL
they are successful in this-which, In the
present temper of the Vatican, is doubtful
the question is very little relieved by such an
exceptional dispensation. If the Court OF
Rome and the trained and polite Papal Bish-
ops of England can meet this crisis without
damage to the historic unity of the Church,
they will achieve great, and as 1t seems to
us, improbable success.
Year: 1874

such swindles as the Salary Grab The
Democratic party has been in the mock auc-
ton business great many years. 1t has
taken down its sign, to be sure, but the people
are not quite certain yet that Mr.. Peter Funk
is not still behind the counter. Dealing IN
pinchbeck will be little unsafe now for
or fUn
Year: 1874

nclency, ne hndS, Is IN respect 10 tne IorCo VI
teachers. Their numbers and their pay are
too small. Increase of both is needed, and
the proposed reduction of their salaries would
add to the difficulties of the situation. As
the Board of Aldermen, after examining
the subject, have expressed themselves unfa-
vorably respecting this reduction, it is hoped
that the Board of Apportionment will recon-
slider the matter. and if they do not increase,
will at all events not diminish the salaries OF
the teachers who at the best are as hard
worked and poorly paid as any class In the
community.


One of the most satisfactory of the annual
reports at this season is that OF the Patent
Office; one reason being that the bureau IS
self-sustaining. Ex-COmmissiOner Leggett re-
lates several circumstances showing progress
and improvement. Though the number of ap-
plications for patents has diminished, the pro-
portion of those that are granted has much
increased; this result following the wider cir
culation of official reports of inventions.
whereby applicants learn sooner than formerly
what has been done to anticipate their dis
coveries. An index of all patents from 1870
to 1873 is promised and digest for reference
suggested, both of which can probably be cir
culated at a price that will pay their cost,
while they will prove of great service to in
ventors.


The extraordinary number of unemployed
persons in this city at the approach OF Winter
makes it important to ascertain what are
their prospects for relief. We present on
our fourth page complete review
OF the situation, showing how serious
is the problem presented, and likely
how far the various organizations Tor relief
can nope to meet the demands upon them.
Last wear the relief associations were taken
by surprise; this year they have the advan-
tage of experience and preparation Dut all
the aid that benevOlence can supply Is
to be exhausted before the opening OF
business in the Spring. We should be better
pleased to chronicle the revival of enterprise,
new factories started, new buildings going up,
than the increase of soup kitchens and benevo-
lent societies but when business langu'shes,
charity must be active or the people starve.


The three strikes in this city are all virtual
failures. For every man who quits work
there are ten idle ones eager to take his place
at any sort of wages. 1t may be some days
yet before the strikers clearly see the mis-
takes into which they have been led by blind


leaders. But then 1t may be found that the
vacant places are permanently filed. We
have hard Winter before us, with less to
encourage employers than in any season for
the past ten or twelve years. Every trade is
full of unemployed workmen. There are two
idle men standing ready and anxious to take
every place that shall be made vacant, and
the question with thousands is not just how
high wages they can get, but whether they
can get any wages at all. Employers are
often in an equally hard case, and the ques-
ton with them is not whether they can
afford to pay the present wages, but whether
they can afford to pay any wages. To refuse
offered work and inaugurate strikes III such a
season is madness.
Year: 1874

Rumors come from Chicago that the Sara
toga compact is likely to fall to pieces, as the
Erie and Michigan Southern Railroads are
anxious to withdraw. AT best. with the Bal
timore road left out and in somewhat a de-
fant attitude, the combination can hardly be
regarded as a success.
Year: 1874

Mr.. Peter Cooper cannot address the people
of New-York on any subject on which they
will not give him willing attention. With
most of what he says. in the letter elsewhere
printed, Oh the folly of paper currency, our
seaders will ally concur. while the per-
Year: 1874

The acquittal Of Demas Barnes on the
charge of Henry c. Bowen and his sons OF
libel was foregone conclusion as soon as
the facts were in evidence. The article COM
plained Of was most atrocious document,
which ought never to have been put in type,
and Mr.. Barnes did wisely in Indignantly sup
pressing it as soon as he saw it in print.
Year: 1874

The story which yesterday afternoon repre-
sented Mayor Havemeyer, Gov. Dix, Con-
troller Green, and Mr.. TIlden in terrible
conspiracy to remove all the present heads of
departments and appoint new men who should
be obnoxious to Mayor Wickham, is hardly
worth the elaborate denial given it else
where. But as Mayor Havemeyer has come
to be thought capable of any absurdity in
municipal rule it is possibly worth while to
assure the public that he is not clean daft.
Year: 1874

Joy and hope reign supreme in Alabama
since the election, and our correspondence re-
lates many incidents that show how great Is
the improvement expected with riddance of
carpet-bag rule. Already land is valued at
higher prices, and measures have been taken
to render personal property more secure. In
fact the only danger seems to be that the
people will hope for too much from the polit-
ical changes, forgetting chow small, of all
that human hearts endure, the part that
kings or laws can cause or cure"
Year: 1874

Colonel Chas s. Spencer has been distinguish
ing himself again. In arguing a case yester-
day, he intimated that persons connected with
the Sheriff7s Office had attempted to use money
to influence legislative committee of which
he was a member. Now Col. Spencer either
knows or does not know of such an attempt.
If he does not, he has borne false witness If
he does, he has violated his duty both as
citizen and as legislator in not bearing witness
to some purpose, by exposing and helping to
punish the criminals. Who are the men, Mr.
Spencer, that tried to bribe you and failed
Do you propose to protect them in their crime
by cOncealing their namesf
Year: 1874

In the broad field of the Safe Burglary case
the defense have wandered around to such an
extraordinary point of view that the counsel
announces to the jury that Mr.. Alexander was
himself principally to blame for the "put-up
"job,n but owes debt of gratitude to Har-
rington for exposing it. There is not much
room left for surprises in this case, but per-
haps before its conclusion we shall have
somebody proposing to put Judge Humphreys
under arrest. and give a civic banquet and
laurel wreaths to the cOnspirators
Year: 1874

Hester and Beach, United States Special
Agents and outrage manufacturers, have re-
turned from Alabama, leaving their work
unfinished. The State has lost its interest for
them since the election. and the subsequent
proceedings of people whom they have thrown
into prison and subjected to other annoyances
are likely to prove embarrassing; and in
Hester's case the memory of Mobile citizens
respecting his adventures in the Confederate
navy and the sudden death of one of his ship
mates must be especially disagreeable.
Year: 1874

Our hOpeS nave Deen uroWhcu III ooio
water too many times.


A high-sounding title is borne by an
Advertising and Publishing Company
in st. Louis. They offer us about hall
our regular advertising rates, and send
a blank contract. very kindly filed up
with conditions all in their favor. Ii
saves so much trouble, you know, to
have this done and not TO be obliged to
think Of what you are signing We
have not agreed to their bountiful
terms.


A firm in the wooden.nutmeg State
proposes TO sell some guns and take
about one-9uarter of the price in ad
vertising, with the remainder in cash.
As they make about 80 per cent. profit
on all these Connecticut traps, they
will get their advertising for nothing
and about eight per cent. profit in cash.
They are smart fellows, but such guns
are foolishly aimed at the Republican.


A Railway Company in the North.
west, with headquarters at Chicago, and
about 1000 miles of track radiating
from there, offers to send us mounted
map for about So worth of reading
matter As the map would be dear at
50, and as they offer to give away the
same map to parties who will apply,
their generosity towards newspaper
almost takes away our breath.


A scandalous advertisement, forbid.
den both by common decency and the
law of the State, is offered us from
Missouri for $3.50 year. Our reg
ular price for the space occupied is s:25,
and we are not going to dirty ourselves
and break the law in order to give away
S20.50.


The meanest offer OF all is the pro.
posal of firm of stock. brokers in New
York to publish one of their " tempting
chances to speculate in Wall street
without much risk" They offer to
send pamphlet free, entitled the
" Road to Fortune ~ Wall street
stock speculations have been the road to
ruin for tens of thousands, and we are
unwilling to serve as a decoy, especially
when there is no money promised for
the advertisement, but only a request to
send bill by mail once a month. We
have sent so many bills to similar Gus
toners and never heard from them that
the very phrase smells of swindling.


The only Michigan proposals we
have to notice are


|. A request of a Club Subscrip-
tion Agency to give $40 worth of
reading matter in the Republican for
S1.25. The Democracy have not yet
sufficiently ruined the country to bring
us down to such terms.


2. A Centennial Memorial, purport-
ing to contain portraits of all the Pres
idents of the United States, is offered
by a gentleman for whom we have the
highest personal respect but horribly
bad taste is conspicuous in these like.
nesses, it being almost impossible to tell
who some of them are intended for.
The fathers of the republic are bur
lesqued by the artist, and look so much
like "hard cases that this memorial
wonld discourage good little boys from
trying to reach the Presidency. We
hope it won't sell.


The Ohio Clubbing Agency, located
in an out.of-the.way place, wishes to act
as an agent aud obtain subscribers for
us in the United States and Canadas
Go right ahead, gentlemen We will
allow you ten per cent. off our cash
rates, if you send 20 subscribers and
pay cash in advance, as everybody else
has to do.
Year: 1874

In cutting grass for hay our purv
pose is to use the stem and leaves
for stock-feeding instead of the seed
the ultimate end Nature has in
view in causing the plant to grow
and we aim to cut it when these
parts contain the most available nu-
tlimept. In cutting the grains we
aim to secure the seeds in the best
condition for making food, regard
ing the stem and leaves as of Sec
ondary Importance.


Some years since efforts were made
by some theorists to convince farm
ers that their grains would be plump
Ell, and aggregate heavier if they
were cut while soft and left to harden
in the shock, and the theory may be
correct, but it often, in catching
season, involves SO much risk, and
extra labor to cure the grain in the
shock, that farmers generally, we
think, adhere to the time-honored
practice of allowing the grain to
pretty much mature standing, so that
it will answer to draw into barns, or
stack within two or three days after
cutting.


The opposite extreme Of suffering
grain to become so ripe as to shell
and waste in harvesting, will of
course be avoided by all of those en-
ergetic farmers who control their
work instead of always being behind,
and allowing their work to control
them.


A large field Of grain seldom ripens
up uniformly, unless the soil is of
the same character throughout, and
when the cradle was the implement
relied upon for cutting it, we could
cut the ripper spots first, and then the
remainder of the field, but with the
reaper we cannot cut the field to ad-
vantage in spots or sections, bu
must sweep around it, and lay it al
in short time.


There seems to be no better way
under the present mode of harvest
ing, than to allow the grain to be
come as ripe as possible, witho ut en-
dangering its shelling, before cut
ting, and then to draw in ',he ripe
portions pretty soon, and leave tn
greener spots to cure in shock
1me1ican Rurdl Home.
Year: 1874

can important inquiry has been
made as to whether machine-threshed
wheat is not injured for seed. 1t is
stoutly claimed lJy some farmers that
it is so injured, An instance is given
of the.plumpest wheat that could be
found, being examined under the
microscope, and the coating seemed
to be full of cracks, and the germ
was broken in several places. 1t is
maintained now that we understand
why the yield of wheat has dimin-
ished so since the time power-thresh-
ers were introduced, and this on new
and rich land, such as formerly yield
ed heavy crops. Seed wheat is inns
ported frequently from Europe, and
on trial if proves all that it was re-
commended, but after it's cultivation
has begun and threshing is done by
the machine, it becomes no better
than our own varieties.


The Odessa wheat is mentioned
especially in proof, for the reason
that it comes from country in which
threshers are seldom used. That,
too explains why wheat seems to
turn to cheat, and why so much is
smutty. This is a subject worthy OF
the most careful investigation; and
should it be found that the machine
does iniure wheat for seed, it should
next be ascertained whether thresh-
ing with fail and even by horse
does not injure it also When it is
considered that our farming is con.
stanlly growing better, that land il
being plowed deeper, and that man
ure is saved more earefully-it il
worth while to ascertain why th'
wheat crop is constantly growing les
per acre. Still it would seem tina
if the fault lies in the machines, j
would have been discovered-but i
is proper and very easy to have
demonstration Cor. ~. Y. Tribune