smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

Strong, of this city, lately Superintendent
of Water Works, in rummaginp over some
old papers belonging to his deceased father
found a deed made in Wisconsin in Is4S.
in which several hundred acres of land
near the above city were convened to him
by one Benjamin Carr but the deed had
never been recorded On the back Of the
instrument was lease of the premises
back to Carr until January |, 1874, for
the use of Elizabeth Dunlap, Cars rela-
tive, the consideration being the fpayment
OF the taxes and the preservation of the
timber


Strong went to Rock Island for the pur-
pose of investigating the case, and there
learned the following facts: Carr had been
dead for many years, and his heirs had
been quarreling over the division of this
tract of land for some time, and only few
days before his arrival in Rock Island the
courts had decided the case and granted the
division, which was to be made on the first
of this year. Strong sent his deed to the
Governor of Wisconsin to ascertain if the
notary before whom the deed had been ac-
knowledged was alive, but found that he.
too, was dead He obtained, however. in
formation that guaranteed the genuineness
of his signature. On Christmas day,
Strong sent his deed, by his attorney, to the
Recorder of Rock Island county for record;
but the heirs of Carr, hearing of the pro
posed step, procured an injunction restrain
ing the clerk from recording on the ground
that the instrument was forgery. The
matter now rests In this shape Both sides
are determined to litigate their respective
claims ta tho hitter and


Several gentlemen interested in glass
works have been in the city for some time,
with the purpose of introducing into Peoria
an establishment for the manufacture OF
glass on an extensive scale. They have
met, however, with that encouragement
that such an undertaking merits.
Year: 1874

That is supreme moment in mans life
when be can look at death inteligently and
calmly. Not because that event is terrible in
itself but because our imasinations clOthe il
with terror. Iii change that is sooner or
later to come 10 all. That i. breaks up, aud
will break up our associations on earth is true,
which it is not pleasant to contemplate but
knowing the fact. we should be prepared 10
meet it with fortitude. There are two views
that we may take Of death. A gloomy aud
apprehensive view, as though it was full Of
evil or a cheerful view, such as 81. Paul took
Of it when he said. To die is gain" All men
pause sometimes 10 think about it, aud it is
often thrust upon our attention by its presence
in the community But all donot regard It
alike. It fills some with dread. and they turn
their thoughts to other things. Others look
at it calmly and think about it with cousidera-
ton. But laying aside, the different views that
are taken Of this event, we may ask how the
knowledge that it is to come TO US affects us
We DO not ask this question 10 the lisht.of any
religious prediction, but as we would ask it
with referenco.to any great change that is to
take place in our relations In life =, For instance
such change as would be made by our re-
moving from the place where we were born
and had lived up % the hour when we broke up
aud went to a far country, with no intention
of ever returning There would be pain aud
sorrow at the change, even il the advantages
to be gained by it were never 50 great We
are so constituted aud connected that an event
Of this kind cannot take place without suffer-
ing and tears. But we meet tthese changes;
we look forward 70 them aud prepare for.them.
In fact, we make them. because.of the adyan-
tages they offer. But death is an event that
is not left to our election. = twill come'in,tho
order Of things It will break up and change
everything that is connected with our life,.and
we are constrained 10 contemplate il. Tho
question is, how do We regard il? We cannot
treat it in our thoughts lightly, not. Indifferent
| ly is very nature and effects make it serious;
but it should not inspire ltorror- nor gloom.
Like cloud it may, cast shadow over tho
sun Of our earthly life but it. is only "a shadow;
the sun shines on just the same so life goes
on, notwithstanding this seemins.interruption.
We ere like travellers ascending.a bill = Those
who have turned the summit and gone down
on the other side are only out Of sight for a
moment, as it we're. while we ere On this side
going towards them. What we leaye'bohind
Us was only necessary for this part Of the
journey Our friends arc in tho7processsio.,
aud whatever else we,may' leave,.we are not
to leave them except 1t be for time. Our
real treasure, our true riches, we carry with
US, or they will come after US Life il to be
all retoucbed again" Therefore we should
look forward. to death with hope and not
with fear.
Year: 1874

One day last week a young gentleman Of
this county, who had been to see bis sweet
heart in the neighborhood Of Bethlehem, and
was on his way hcmeward, between sunset and
dark, on looking JUS, ahead in tie dim, uncer-
tain twilight saw a sight which caused his


"Knotted and combined locks 10 part


And each particular hair % stand on end


Like quills upon the fretful porcupine."


It was a large white object, apparently half
as high as a man, circular in shape, aud rapid
ly, though remorselessly, approaching him
He gazed a moment in utter amazement, then
bis manly check blanched, bis knees smote to-
sether and believing discretion the wiser
course, he turned and ncontinenty fed. At
a neishbor's house he secured the company OF
a daring companion, and returned to the place
and found that it was only a young lady who
to avoid the dews Of evening, had gathered her
overskirt about her waist, and was also on her
way home.-Su5olk Herald
Year: 1874

To lis speech in the Senate recently, OQpo-
sing currency imitation, Senator ScLurz spoke
as follows If farmer or planter could IN
fate The currency and run up The premium on
gold when le cells his crops, and then so ma
uipulate the currency as to raise tie value Of
paper money and doprcss the premium or gold
when he buys lis supplies, Of course that would
he a winning trick. But those who buy from
and who sell to him would try to play the
same game; and in this tricky game the hon
est farmer would be sure to come to grief, as
he has come to grief already. No; II the far
mer or planter wants TO prosper, he will, above
all things, use every effort within his power to
rid the country Of system Of currency which
oLliges lin 20 sell at low and buy at high
prices. lie may for moment think that in
aaGon will aid him in paying of bis debts, if
he has any; but upon consideration he will
discover that debts are paid out Of surplus
earuiuc, aad dat lis earnings vii, be depress-
ed whca tie price Of what he buys is high in
proportion to The price Of what he sells that
lis surplus earnings will grow larger as soon
as the price Of what he sells is put upon an c.
quail footing with the price Of what lie buys.
lie will discover that the trick of depreciating
the lcgal-teuder by initiation, in order to pay
what he owes in a currency less valuable, will
not rebound to lis advantage in the end, aud
that in this, as in all other things, honesty is,
after all, the best policy. He will discover
that an honest currency, which permits him
to buy and sell on the same basis Of value, is
for him the safest basis of prosperity, and ]
trust the time is not far distant when she far
mcrs whatever articles Of demagogism may be
used at present upon them, viii. as Que man.


stand up honestly aud iutclligently for the
earliest possible return to specie payment
Year: 1874

Il IS pleasant to learn that the wheat crop
generally throughout the State looks unusual
ly we'll It's too carly 70 make any calcula-
ton as TO what may be the yield at harvest f;
the fy and rust are yet to be encountered.-
Nevertheless there Is much satisfaction 10
knowing that the icy fingers Of the wind have
failed to destroy its vitality. Nay a smiling
Providence send a propitious season, that the
hearts Of the husbandman may rejoice in over
flowing garners.-Riekmoaa Ighig.
Year: 1874

A California paper tells the following Of
Lieutenant Derby, Joe Ph@nix," the humor-
ist "One evening at the theatre, PhGaix OBJ
served man sitting three seats in front, who
he thought he knew; he requested the person
sitting next, TO punch The other individual
with bis cane. The polite stranger did so, and
the disturbed person turning his head little
discovered his mistake, that he was not the
person he took him for Fixing his attention
stealfastly on The play and affecting uncon
sciousness Of the whole affair, ho left the man
with the cane to settle with the other for the
disturbance, who being wholly without an ex-
cuse, there was, Of course, ludicrous scene
during all Of which Phoenix was profoundly
interested in the play. At last The man with
the cane asked, rather Indignantly. Didn't
you tell me to punch that man with my stick?
"Yes," "And what did you want?" Il
wanted to see whether you would punch him
or not"
Year: 1874

from which he brought brick. At Min
eveh he wanderd through Sennacheribs 3
palace, and on the way TO the sea he
stopped at Abrahams birthplace. He
intended 10 leave shortly for London, to
stay till spring ito have Access TO the
libraries and museums of the English
capital, which will aid me in writing up
what have seen and thought and felt
during our long tour around the world. =
The result will doubtless be mint of
valuable information on our consular
system and commercial interests in all
parts of the world.--GneiraGtl thinner
ri1I
Year: 1874

The Prince of Wales owes nearly o
million of money. But it must not be
supposed that his favorites are enriched
by his generosity. The Prince, although
on pleasure bent, has frugal mind. 1t
is probable that one of his lady friends
cost him something handsome. The story
is that he gave her 10000 a year. She
is now living in very humble way,
probably at rate of G3O0 year. When
her establishment was broken up and sold
BY her creditors there was great rush of
purchasers. and competition for certain
articles in thel house was lively. The
three principal creditors of the Prince
are the Duke of Sutherland, Mr..
Poole, the tailor, and Mr.. Law
son, the principal proprietor of the Daily
Telegraph. The Prince had about u mil
lion of pounds saved up for him when he
attained his majority. He has ever since
had An income Of about G12O,OOO year.
His wife is not e1travagrnt but now he
is in debt to the tune G850, 600 or Fl ,0OO,-
900; and it is great mystery where the
money has gone to. In about twelve
years he has managed to spend more
than three and quarter millions of
pounds sterling, or rearly seventeen mil
lions of dollars. He is anxious to get out
of debtor at least his creditors want
their money. He applied to the late
government for assistance, but they re-
fused TO do anything. He has renewed
his application to the present govern
ment, and the matter is under considera-
ton. One Of the pleas he makes is
that much Of the money was spent Ill
discharging duties that belonged to the
Queen. There is something i'll this but
then if it be so, the Queen should pay it,
and not the people. The Queen, | am
told, has occasionally given considerable
sums to the Prince. Just before the
marriage OF the Duke Of Edinburgh some
of the creditors of that young gentleman
(who is also in debit pressed for their
money, and threatened to make row
about it if they were not paid. The
Queen came to the rescue, and paid
$4,000 out of her own purse 10 satisfy
these claims.


At the next session Of Parliament II
bill of some kind will be introduced for
the relief of the Prince of Wales. Most
probably it will consist of IA vote Of
money and an authorization for the capi-
talization of the revenues of the Duchy
of Cornwall for certain number OF
years. These revenues amount to about
f6OO0O year. A capitalist would do
well to pay s5O0,OOO down and take the
revenues for ten years. BY these means
the money to pay the debts of the Prince
might be raised, but he would in the
meantime be deprived of half his income.


There has been a ridiculous story float
ing about town for few days to the
effect that now that the Princess of " aleS
has gone back to Denmark with her
father she will remain there, and that,
tired of the continued, infdelities of her
husband, quiet separation will be effect
ed. cannot think there is any tounda-
ton for the report.
Year: 1874

A few nights ago a pair of horses were
driven up Fairmount avenue at II desperate
gait, aad from the carriage, which was stop
ped at the gate of the Eastern penitentiary
there jumped gentleman who made all
haste to gain an entrance into the gloomy
institution. lie presently reappeared, bear
ing 10 his arms wasted form, which he de.
posited with tender care in the carriage
which was then driven away.


The occupants of the carriage were a heart
broken father and his dying son. The lat
ter was committed to the Eastern peniten.
tiary some two years ago for larceny. Iii.
intelligence and amiability soon made hin
n general favorite lie was at the time ol
his commitment about eighteen years old
tall. wel-formed, handsome young man
without single trace of the usual charae
terStics of the criminal. The prison author.
tiles took special interest in his case, but
he was exceedingly reticent as to his ante
cedents. and would tell nothing of his his
tory, excepting that he had fallen into ba(
company. About year ago ne began to
show the signs of the insidious complaint
consumption, which numbers many victim,
in prison.


lie slowly wasted away until two or tire,
weeks ago the physician in charge. as HI
went through the hospital Of the Institution
stopped a moment beside the cot of the pa
tient and said to him, grayely, that if he haC
Year: 1874

anything to say to any person on earth, he
had better do so without delay, az he had
but short time to live. The remark seem
cd to impress the poor fellow deeply, for he
shortly afterward asked for paper and
pencil, and, obtaining them, wrote "The
son whom you have mourned as dead is in
the Eastern penitentiary, Philadelphia
lie signed the b-ief note and sank back ex-
hausted on his couch. Being asked relative
to the destination of the note he had writ
ten, he directed it to be addressed to lady
in town in Massachusetts,, which was COM
| Piled with. few days aftcrward gentle
man applied to one of the prison authorities
for permission to see the youth, and when
brought into his presence evinced the strong
est emotion. lie stated that he was the
father of the dying boy, and that the latter's
mother being at the White Mountains for
her health, which is very delicate, he, the
father, had opened the note sent from this
city, and was very glad he had done so, as
the declaration contained in it would surely
have killed her. Their son had been con-
sidered dead for more than two years. Be-
ing wealthy, the parents had given him a
good education and designed him for pro-
iessonal life, but, when about 10 years of
age, his mind became affected by the inhu-
ence of sensational novels, and he formed an
Unsuitable desire to roam through the west
ern wllds. He ran away, with the two sons
OF the mayor Of the town, but were traced
to the place they had chosen for tempor-
airy stay and brought home. The two com
pan.ons remained at home, but lie very soon
afterward again ran off, and his parents had
since heard nothing of him, except report
that he had been killed. which they be-
leved.


The sight Of his boy, stretched upon Il
bed Of death within the forbidding walls of
4 prison, crushed the fathers heart, but
this only made his opportunities the more
effective, and lie succeeded in procuring his
sons pardon, with which he sped TO the
prison, and, doubtless, anxious that, even
if it were the last hour that his son should
live, it should be spent in pure, free air, he
had him carried from the institution as
above related. 1t was his inten ton, should
the son live until he could be conveyed on
board a steamship, to have him taken home
in that way, otherwise he would let him die
at hotel, and then have the body taken on
by rail To the h0me Of his innocent and happy
boyhOoi. The weight Of sorrow that await
ed the mother in either case can easily be
conceived. Whether the dying young man
revived sufficiently to endure the sea trip. or
whether he died at the hotel his father
brought him to. we did not learn The mar
ratiye Is a brief but painful one, and i not
without powerful lesson to youth.
Year: 1874

John Bacon second Of ST. Johnsbury, VI,
is an associated Justice of the county court
of Caledonia county. lie came here Aug
22d to see the phenomena. The first even
Ing he saw the spirit of his father. who died
forty-eight years ago. Recognized him by
his shape The form was dressed in dark
clothes, with standing shirt collar and
white shirt. lie was bareheaded. Stand
ing erect, he lowered to the height Of six
feet one inch, and called his son by his
Christian name, speaking in his familiar
tones His breathing was distinctly per-
ceived in the act of speaking. Besides him
the Judge has seen one sister, fifty-thrce
years of age at the time Of her decease, and
another of only three wears; his wile'S
father and mother (the latter wore light
dress and a white cap; she Is a very short
woman, not above five feet in height y and
finally his own son. whose death has else
where been alluded to. By actual count
kept he has seen sixty-six different spirits to
date The reader will not fail to perceive
that beside the doings at this Vermont
house of wonders, the narrative of Katie
King" about which two hemispheres have
been set agog, appears quite tame and unin-
lcrcStlnr- litIts III AhA@ but-ui-tut-Ntl
nook in the Green Mountains, in the house
of plain farmers, unprovided with machine
ry, chemical or other apparatus or COS
tunes. not less than two entire regiments
of shadowy forms have come back from the
valley OF the shadow Of death to strut their
brief while before the view of mortals, and
hundreds of families admit having received
tokens of the departed After this the dai-
mon of Socrates, the imp of Wesley, the
spectral visitors of the bookseller Nicolai
tie banshees which follow certain houses,
the prank playing pohergeists of Germany,
seem worthy of more respectful attention
than we have been willing hitherto to ae-
cord them Who shall now pronounce i'm
possible of realization the prophecy said to
have been made through raps long since,
that in time the spirits will materialize
themselves 50 as to be able to address audi
ences from the public rostrum, as though
they had never tasted death? With "kate
King standing for her photograph, and the
Chittenden ghost walking the highway with
box under his arm, it does seem as if the
gap remaining is not much too wide to be
spanned in our day.
Year: 1874

Done al the RECORD Office in the best style
Known to the art; and must be paid for on de-
livery, unless persons having the work done
have standing accounts with the Office. No a..
Walton from this rule.
Year: 1874

IMPROVED PROSPECTS. = A few
DAYS ago a dispatch was received
from the Mayor of New Orleans, an
nouncing that no more contributions
were needed for the sufferers by the
late inundation. Following this we
have news by mail from the papers
of the Crescent City that the pros
poets are rapidly improving. The
New Orleans Times says: Two
months ago, with half of the allu-
vial lands of this State under water,
the outlook was anything but encour
aging whereas now, through the
kindness of Providence, and the aid
so generously furnished by other
sections of our common country,
even the overflowed places have
been made to rejoice and the desc
late to blossom. The indications are
that, Notwithstanding considerable
diminution in cane acreage through
overflow, the sugar crop of Louisi-
ana will be considerably greater this
year than in any other season since
the close of the war" The Picdy-
une confirms this favorable state
ment by the following: awe are
gratitied to learn from the country
that there has been a wonderful i'm
provement in the corn, which few
weeks ago had very unpromising
aspect. The spirits of the planters
have been greatly raised by this
hopeful indication. The corn and
cotton plants continue to develop
most promisingly, and if no greater
disaster occurs we believe that our
planters will have the best season
they have had for several years
past"
Year: 1874

A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.-One of
the most marvellous escapes from
death we have ever had occasion to
record comes to us from san Benito.
A few nights ago, as two little boys,
sons of Judge Brown, of that local
ity, were sleeping in a cabin at a
short distance from their fathers
residence, limb of tree, fifteen
inches in diameter at the but, broke
off and fell, striking the hut point
foremost, completely demolishing
it. A stub of the branch some six
inches i'll diameter penetrated the
bed on which the boys were sleep
ing, passed between them, going
through the bed-clothes and mat
tress, through the floor and into the
earth AT least eighteen inches. Mel
ther of the boys We're injured, ex-
cepting a few slight scratches. The
cabin was torn to pieces, and the
boys were so completely covered in
the debris of boards and branches
as to be unable to eXtricate them
selves until assisted by their father,
who was doubtless only too glad to
perform that duty. That the little
fellows were not crushed to death is
one of those strangely fortuitous cir
cumstances which very rarely oc-
cur.-Holtister Enterprise, July is.
Year: 1874

A TERRIBLE THIRTY MINUTES
HISTORY. The East Wayne county
(Tenn.) Citizen says: Mr.. Kyle was
at a neighbours house raising, and
his wife, with her youngest child,
went to spring near by to her
washing. After being engaged some
time she heard scream from her
little girl, whom she had left at the
house, and Fastening to the scene, 1t
was her horror to behold a large
rattlesnake lying there, with its
fangs fastened in the child's arm.
She succeeded in killing the snake,
and then, thinking of the child
which she had left at the spring,
FASTENED there, only to find that
this one had climbed up to the tub
of water and fallen in and was
drowned. This nearly crazed her,
and she ran with all her might to
where the house-raising was, and
screaming with excitement, called to
her husband, who was upon the
building at the time, and he, through
excitement in trying to get down,
pulled piece of timber upon him.
self and fell, killing him Instantly.
The friends then went back to where
the child and the snake were, only
to find each lying dead on the floor.
This all happened within thirty
sninutes.
Year: 1874

ed they made me. I would not
have yielded her at the moment for
an Emperor's crown. For there was
the happy home group and dear home
tireside, with sweet Mary Moore,
The eyes 1 had dreamed of day and
night were falling beneath the ar
ldent gaze of mine, and the sweet
face l had so long prayed to see,
was there beside me. I never knew
the meaning Of happiness until that
moment.


Many years have passed since the
happy night, and the hair that was
glossy and dark is fast turning gray.
l am now grown to be an old man,
and can look back to a happy, and
hope well spent life. And vet as
sweet as it has been, 1 would not
recall a single day, for the love that
made my manhood so bright, shines
also upon my white hairs.


An old man. Can this be so! At
heart I am as young as ever. And
Mary, with her bright hair parted
smoothly from a brow that has a
slight furrow upon it, is still the
Mary of other days. TO me she
can never grow old or changed.
The heart that held her in infancy
and sheltered her in the flush and
beauty of womanhood, can never
cast her out till life shall cease to
warm it.