smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

| On Friday evening last burglar entered


the house of Mr.. and Slfs. Bowling, an aged
| couple, in Rush County, Ind Mrs. Bowl
ing hearing noise in the kitchen went
down stairs to see what it was. She rushed


back to her sleeping room, followed closely
by the man, who was armed with an axe
and revolver. Here the thief made de-


mand upon the aged couple for their money,


struck the old lady with his pistol, and


knocked her down, brusing her face terri
bly,, when she, to save her life, gave up all
| the money she had, but the. old man


stoutly refused. The thief then proceeded


to search the house, ordering them both up
stairs before him, still keeping the axe and
revolver, which he fired three times in the
house, in his hands. After rummaging
through the rooms up stairs he ordered the
old gentleman and lady down, still keeping
them in front of him. He then took them
into the parior and began to go through the


bureau. One drawer of this was hard to


open and he had to use both hands, setting
the axe down for that purpose. Mr.. Bowl
ing, who was watching for an opportunity,
picked up the axe, and with one well aimed
blow nearly severed the burglars head


from his body. The old man and woman


then went quietly back to bed and slept
until morning, leaving the bloody corpse on


the floor in front of the bureau. In the
morning he went and told his son. The
Coroner was then sent for, and when he ar
rived late in the day, he found the thief
where the old man had killed him, with his
revolver still cooked and in his hand, now
cold and stiff. He had entered the house
by knocking the kitchen window in with
an axe, which luckily he kept with him
until the unguarded moment. The dead


body of the robber was brought to Rush
VILE on Saturday night Thus far it has:
not been identified.
Year: 1877

TESTING IRON WIREs.--An interesting
experiment was recently tried in the way
of testing the wires of the suspension
bridge across the Niagara river near the
falls. For number of years a railroad
company has paid for right of building a
track across the bridge and running trains
across. Comparatively recently they stop
ped the trains at the bridge and compelled
passengers to walk across, thus giving the
impression that the bridge was unsafe. 1t
is believed that this was done TO frighten
the bridge company and cause them to
throw up their contract, as the railroad
could borrow money enough to build an
other bridge, and the interest would be
less than the rent. Some wires were taken
from the different cables for examination
and accidentally thrown upon the ground.
when they Immediately formed coil five
feet across. When this wire was twisted
into the cables twenty-five years ago, II
came in coils four feet across, and the
strain to which they had been subjected
during these years was not sufficient to
counteract this tendency to coil. It was
claimed, therefore, that the strain of the
bridge STRUCTURE was no. sufficient to en-
danger its safety. Where the cables en-
tered the earth on either side of the river,
the outside wires only we're rusted, and
these not seriously.
Year: 1877

The estimates for the support of the
army for the present fiscal year have been
prepar d by the War Department. and sent
to the Treasury Department, which Will
transmit them to Congress at the extra
session. These are the only estimates to
be sent In, the session having been called
in consequence of the failure OF the Army
Appropriation bill at the close of the last
Congress, and, as the President based his
proclamation on that fact, adding, however,
that it was for the consideration of such
measures as in the wisdom and duty of
Congress the welfare of the people might
seem to demand.


The question with regard to the Presi-
dent sending the usual Annual Message
and reports of the Executive departments
to the extra session was not long ago con-
sidered in Cabinet meeting, when it was
agreei, in view of all the circumstances
and of precedent, that the Message and
accompanying documents should relate
only to the business for which Congress is
to be especially convened, and not to gem
eral subjects of legislation. 1t is thought,
therefore, that the Message will be brief.
Year: 1877

So many have been brought into the
Church thank God for that If truly born
again, they will have new life. But how
much has been done for those who already
were protesting Christians? Will they here
after live a higher Christian life? If SO,
then, no less thanks to God flr that If
not, then the revival will bear but half its
legitimate fruit.


The same motives urge the Christian to q
higher life, that call for the seeking Of new
life. We turn upon ourselves with the very
same appeals that but lately we addressed to
our unconverted friends.


l. 1t is amazing to every thoughtful man
still more to every earnest Christian
perhaps most of all to the angels and the re-
deemed who look down upon the inhabitants
of this earth-that any mortal and response
BILE being should be Indifferent to eternal
life. Even more amazing would it seem to
be, that any Christian, who by the Holy
Spirit has once been made to feel the power
of the life to come, should rest content short
of assurauce-sbould hope for an entrance
into the Kingdom of God, and should strive
for an abundant entrance.


2, How often, during revival, is the
question asked, "What must do that may
have eternal Ife?" And there is but one
answer: "Come to Christ" And if we put
the question to ourselves, How shall live
higher life?" the answer is still the same
"Come to Christ;" for He saye, 81 am come
that they might have life and that they
might have it more abundantly." The rea-
son Why the impeuitent are not saved is that
they are unwilling to be saved. The reason
why Christians lead so low life, to their
own loss, and to the diSCredit of their reli.
gion, is that they are unwilling to live q
higher.


3. Pfocrastination is the cause of the loss
of the souls of many. They were willing to
be saved, but not just yet-not just now
So there are few believers who do not pur.
pose to be ct some time, better Christians
than they are; but not just now.


4. For the impenitent and for the low
living Christian alike, it will be found, tha
the real cause why they are not something
different from what they are is, that the ne
cesssry change implies that something mus
be done which they are unwilling to do, Oh
something must be given up which they ar
unwilling to surrender. They are weak
they do not refuse; but they hesitate. Lik
Year: 1877

BISHOP WHIPpLE, of Minnesota, writes
letter on the Sioux Indians which does as
much credit to his head as to his heart. He
shows that the vast rush of emigration to the
Black Hill country which will pour in from
the East, West and South, will render the
enforcement of the recent treaty impossible,
and subject the Indians to further oppression
and abuse, which can only cease with their
extermination. He advises, with genuine
Christian craftsmanship, the diecontinuance
of the present system Of pauperage, and the
supply of the Indians with herds Of good
cattle, that they may rise out of the savage
state to the next step toward civilization, the
shepherd state of society. Make them herds.
men, and protect their ranges from the en-
croaChments Of white mon. There is no
doubt this plan ia emineR!ly wise and entire
ly practicable. IL il in the line which bis.
tory shows that ali savage nations have taken
in their march toward civilization.


Interior.
Year: 1877

ENEMIES.-Haveyou enemies? Go straight
on, and mind them not. If they block up
your path, walk around them, and do your
duty regardless of their spite. A man WHO
has no enemies is seldom good for anything;
he is made Of that kind Of material which is
80 easily wO.Aed, iha. every cae las a land
in it. A sterling character who thinks
for himself, aud speaks what he thinks-is
always sure to have enemies They are as
necessary to him as fresh cir; they keep
him alive and active. A celebrated charac-
ter, who was surrounded with enemies, used
to remark" They are sparks which, if you
do not blow, will go out Of themselves" Let
this be your feeling while endeavOring to live
down the scandal of those who are bitter
againet you. If you stop to dispute, you
do but as they desire, and open the way for
more abuse. Let the poor fellows talk;
there will be reaction if you perform but
your duty, and hundreds who were once
alienated from you will flock to you and &C.
knowledge their error.
Year: 1877

A BEAUTIFUL THoUGHr.-The sea is the
largest of all cemeteries, and its elumberers
sleep without monument. All other grave
yards in other lands show some distinction
between the great and the small, the rich
and the poor; but in the great ocean ceme-
terry the king and the clown, prince and
peasant, are all alike distinguished. The
same waves roll over all the same requiem
by minstrels Of the ocean is sung to their
honor. Over their remains the same sun
shines, and there, unmarked, the weak and
the powerful, The plumed and unhOnOred, will
sleep on until awakened by the same trumpet,
Year: 1877

A STRANGE LETTER.-A man in Africa
who wished to send letter to an absent friend
despatched to him missive that would be
strange enough to US. consisted Of white
cotton thread tied at one end to red parrot
tail, and at the other end to small piece Of
hard wood burnt black four cowry.Shells
were fastened to the middle of this thread


two facing each other, with small ends up.
ward, the other two with email ends down.
ward. In case you may not be able to read
this letter, you shall have it translated: "We
are well and strong like hard wood, but have
mourned for your loss, and our hearts are as
black with sorrow as burnt wood. We are
expecting you to come back with the speed
of parrot. We wish to see you face to face
as the two cowries face each other. The
country is in great disorder, like the two cow.
ries upside down. Sunday School VisitOr.
Year: 1877

We have in photography an excellent
means of determining the condition of
the blood. According to its quality,
the blood deposits mole or less impure
material in all the cellular tissues.
Such deposits occur also in the sebaceous
glands of the skin, which secrete a ma
tural fat and deposit it in the mucus
layer between the true skin and epider-
mis-. Although the color of the mucus
layer is visible through the epider-
mis-, its finer shades are not seen in this
manner, yet they appear in the photo
graphic negative with such sharpness
that the slightest impurities are here
apparent as dark specks.


This phenomena is due to what may
be called the photography of the invisi-
ble-that is, 10 that remarkable property
of light by virtue of which the chemi-
cal action of color rays falling upon the
plate varies with the rapidity Of their
transmission to ii. 1t is interesting to
observe the accuracy with which the
condition of the skin is thus shown.
varying a. the shade upon the plate
does, from the utmost delicacy and
purity 10 a peculiar sieve-like character
that is, appearing a if punctured
with innumerable little holes; these in
the worst cases being irregularly uni
ted, so as To present a more or less
ragged and unsightly appearance. After
a person has taken fat, beer. tobacco,
and other like injurious substances into
the system, even for little time. the
negative exhibits this punctured ap-
pearance while in the case of those
whose manner of life is wholly corrupt,
these defects are often magnified into
such blotches a. are seen upon the face
itself in skin diseases. es.-SchHckeysen'
:. Fruit and Bre1d -
Year: 1877

On the river GaDges, says a military
journalist, there are many quicksands;
and during our expedition somewhat
distressing scene happened. An ele-
phant incautiously came within the
vortex of one; first one foot sank, then
another; and in endeavoring TO extri-
cate himself, matters became worse; no
portion of either of his legs was at last
visible, and the bystanders had given
up the poor animal as lost; being fOrtu-
nately, unusually powerful, he three
several times, with what appeared to all
supernatural strength, drew foot from
the closely clinging earth, placed it
where, by sounding with his trunk, he
found the most solidity; not until the
third time did the ground bear his pres
sure, when he gradually released him
self. During the whole period of his
troubles his cries were exceedingly dol
Orous, and might have been heard a
couple of miles; his grunt, when they
were at the end, was equally indicative
of satisfaction. The internal applica-
ton of bottle of strong spirits soon
dissipated his trembling and restored
his equanimity. Many unfortunate ele-
plants are lost in these treacherOus
sands, when large quantities of grass or
branches of trees are not at hand to
form an available support for them.
After al certain time the poor beasts
becomes powerless; and the owner can
only look with sorrow at the gradual
disappearance of his noble animal, and
lament the pecuniary loss he thereby
suffers, for all human aid is futile.


They have been known to be twelve
hours before entirely sinking.
Year: 1877

In regard to the catalpa, says the
Germantown Telegraph, there seems TO
be no doubt that, while it is one of the
most rapid-growing trees we have, it is
also one of the most durable of woods.
We have seen figures which we have no
reason to doubt are correct; and the
writer has recently seen post taken
up after eight years of service that was
as good as the day it was first set.
Eight years is of course no very great
period for a post to last, but from all
appearance there is no reason why il
should not endure at least three times
what it has stood: and quarter of a
century is tolerably good for afence
post. The trouble with the catalpa is
that the terminal bud does not ripen
when young, and so gets killed in our
winter. The bud below, pushing, makes
a crooked stem, and In this way the
trunk of the mature tree is not as
straight as is desirable in satisfactory
timber tree. To remedy this the trees
are suffered to grow as they will for a
couple of years, until the roots get
strong. They are then cut to the ground
when smooth straight shoot goes up
ten feet high in one season, generally
maturing its bud, and laying the foun-
dation OF pretty trunk. Such stem
is generally two inches thick; aud as in
any fair ground it will increase at the
rate of an inch a year, we have in three
or four years after trunk five or six
inches thick-qpite thick enough for
many useful pieces of work upon a
farm. But these sixinch stems, cut to
the grounp, then throw up shoots of
amazing strength, making a new and
beautiful timber tree with surprising
rapidity.
Year: 1877

The situation at ConstantinOple has suddenly
changed. The members of the Conference
having finally agreed upon the proposals TO De
made to Turkey, in accordance with the tenor
if not the exact form of the Russian demands
the next move must be made by the ottoman
Government. When the Conference met, on
Monday. the Turkish members were ready
with their reply to the proposals. They de-
clared that they had no authority to discuss
the question of an international cOmmisslon,
or a foreign military police in the PROVINCES
Not only this they made counter proposals
differing entirely from the plan agreed upon
by the representatives of the Christian Powers
In answer to the Marquis of Salisbury's ques-
ton, whether this course was equivalent to an
absolute refusal of the plan, they referred nm
TO the Ottoman Council. They had plenary
powers to propose, it appeared, but not 10 re-
fuse yet to meet one proposition by another
of a totally opposite character Is hardly to be
distinguished from refusal.


The prOmptness of Turkeys answer betrays
the fact that powerful combined pressure Is
now made to bear upon her. She still assumes
an attitude of independence, though the Con-
ference virtually holds a pistol to her breast,
and saws: Submission to our demands, or
"warm Her Government knew the character
of the proposals in advance: the Turkish MEM
bers of the Conference are in immediate COM
municaton with Sultan Hamid and Midhat
Pasha, and their plea of want of authority is
simply device to gain a respite of three days.
1t will not dispose the plenipotcntlaries OF the
other Powers to patience or forbearance.
When the Conference meets. on Thursday,
categorical answer to the proposals will be ex-
pected. 1t is not likely that the latter will be
again modified, unless in some unimportant
details. Therefore, unless Turkey should
squarely recede from her present position
(and it is difficult to see why she should
assume it, at such crisis, if she admitted to
herself any possibility of receding), she will
chnnsn w
Year: 1877

Mr.. Tillcns sOrccrers have braccd themselves up
for some more incantatOn over the remains of
Messrs. Grover and Cronn, but the attempt to re-
viviy these very defnct persons is not encouraging


This Presidential business has not moved very rapidly
toward prosperous and satisfying issue, but definite
and significant progress has been made, and this
Oregon obstruction is now 80 far in the rear that
people of the present generation have forgotten all
about it.. The Croun Electoral College had its little
ruu ai political curiosity, and it is giving it moro
attention than it deserves to pronounce IL obsolete


II will not avail tho Democratic cOnjurrs to howl
and cut themselves with knives and humble over
certain sections Of certain chapters Of tho general
Year: 1877




The disaster on the Circassian was perhaps
the most terrible Of the horrors which crowded
the close of the year, because so little was
needed to render it impossible. The men on
the vessel imploring help were in full sight
and hearing for hours their friends and COM
rades were on shore with the officers and
crews of two life-saying stations stranng
every nerve to rescue them; every appliance
for rescue was there except the means to carry
ball over the ship. The Circassian lay, 1t Is
stated over 800 yards from shore. The NOR
tars in use at our stations under the most Ia
vorable circumstances will not carry line
further than 375 or 400 yards. The Boxer
rocket in use by the Royal National Life-bOat
Institution in Great Britain will not carry more
than ten yards further. The great majority Of
wrecks fortunately lie inside of that distance.
1t was however simply impossible to save the
crew of the Circassian by the means of Il ball
and line The men on shore we are told con-
tnued firing, however, long after they knew it
was useless, simply to keep up the courage OF
the doomed men.


The truth is, that since the organization
of our Revenue Marine Service the total amount
of loss of life from vessels shipwrecked on our
coast has been reduced with almost incredible
success. In old times, when the coast was un-
guarded, vessels went down with 300 to 400
souls aboard, out of which not one would be
saved. The sand-bars of Long Island and
New Jersey were whitened with the spars OF
wrecked vessels and the bones OF their crews.
The Revenue Marine Bureau began its work
i'm 1913, and the loss of life for twenty years
averaged but % per annum. After its reor-
ganizatiOn in 1871, under the supervision of
Sumner Kimball, the loss of life was reduced
to one per annum until the Summer of 1870.
In every case since then in which life has
been lost Gncluding that of the Giovanni on
Cane Cod in March, 1879, the sole obstacle
to rescue has been the inability of the mortars
TO carry a ball far enough We were assured
after the loss of the Giovanni that the skill
and efforts of the most experienced officers and
manufacturers of ordnance in the country
were directed, with every prospect OF success
to supply some Improvement which should
lengthen the range of mortar or rocket. Let
us hope that their efforts will be redoubled
now. When rocket was wanted To carry
| death and destruction 800 yards it was forth
| coming, and surely the saving OF life should
| be as strong a stimulant to human invention.
We know the difficulties which lie in the
way-thc almost impossiblity of dragging
heavy ordnance through the sand, the costli-
ness of the Boxer or similar apparatus; but
we believe the American inventive genius can
overcome the first, and the Government will
prove itself doubtless as liberal to this branch
| of the service rs it has hitherto done. An
improved appliance for carrying line is, in
| short, all that is needed to insure us against
n repetition of such horrors as that of last
Saturday, and to render our Lile-saying Ser
vice the most complete and efficient in the
| world.
Year: 1877

The Senate should be in good odor, having
expended the public money for more than a
barrel-full of cologne, bay rum, and camphOr.
But what use that body will make of half
dozen bottles of snuff, is not so evident. Per-
haps the expenditure is connected with no
ton like that of Napoleon, that large noses
and widely opened nostrils are associated with
clear brains.
Year: 1877

There was pleasant serenity about yester-
days Cabinet meeting. The public welfare
was duly discussed, both as to internal and
external affairs. The conclusion was that the
body polite is not IN very bad way and is
not in need of Government medicine In such
cases no news is good news.
Year: 1877

The strikers on the Grand Trunk Railroad
complain that some OF their number were
singled OIL, for dismissal because when repre-
senting the employees they had laid complaints
a year ago before the General Manager, thereby
disregarding the head of their department.
They also contend that as they are paid by
,be trip the reduced labor ought to be dis
tributed cqutably among them. The company
stands on its right TO regulate the number OF
its employees, and is 80 far unyielding. The
principal sufferers are the public, traffic being
Year: 1877

The project for new election of President
and Vice-President next Fall is said to be
gaining favor with the Democrats. This Is to
be accomplished by iilibustcrng i'll the Senate
till March 4. 1t is scarcely possible to think
of anything to which most OF our people
would object more than to prolong the de-
preston in all business by Holding open the
Presidential question for another twclvemonth.
The party that carries out such programme
vii simply commit suicide.
Year: 1877

n BREAK DOwN.-Wbile Senator Maxay
was speaking in the Senate this morning,
Senator Davis, of Illinois, left his own sea


to get nearer the Texas Senator. He took tie
chance OF one OF the ordinary Senate chairs
holding him. the result was that he had no
sOoI er got well seated in 1t than the cane
seat as well as the underpiuntng gave way
and gently dumped the Senator on the fiuor