smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

The minister in question was of the
Presbyterian variety, and presided over
Nashville congregation. On second
thoughts, it is perhaps better to have
him reside at Knoxville, the latter being
a more remote and quiet town. His
name was Hancock, but in order to spare
his feelings, his name shall not be men,
toned here, and he shall be vaguely de-
scribed as Tennessee minister. Thus
courtesy and strict veracity can be COM
bined, and it has often been suggested
that in the treatment of quite large
class of subjects this combination might
be advantageously introduced into jour-
nalism.


Closely connected with the mi,ister
was combined elder and grocer. That
is to say he sold groceries six days in
the week and acted as elder on Sunday.
There are those who would prefer to
say that he groced and eldel on week
days and Sundays respectively, but
they would thereby furnish a conspicu-
Gus example of the folly of treating the
English language as though it were a
regular and well-disciplined tongue,
instead of mob of words ruled by
prejudice instead of law. One would
naturally suppose that if buyer is one
who buys and a preacher one who
preachts, a grocer would be one who
groces and an elder one who elds, but
the supposition would be erroneous.
This shows the folly of attempting to
impose grammatical pipe-clay upon the
free corps of the English vocabulary.
But to resume. The Tennessee elder
was thrifty man and liberal one. To
be at once liberal and economical was
the study of his life. and by happy
expedient of combining his sugar with
sand and his tea with sawdust, he was
able to give his customers liberal
measure and to make handsome profit.
On Christmas day the annual donation
party took place, and the elder deter
mined to give his pastor handsome
present. Noticing an advertisement in
Chicago paper which offered magnifi-
cent silver plated casters for one dollar
each, he bought caster, for the pur-
pose of presenting it to the minister as
feeble token of his friendship and ad.
miration. He knew that the minister
would be tempted to measure his elders
friendship by the value of his gilt, and
he therefore felt that by affixing TO the
caster a tag marked $14 he would ado
to the good mans pleasure without
directly ineurring the guilt of lying
Accordingly, he prepared the delusive
tag, and, sending the caster to the
parsonage, felt that he had been un'
precedentedly liberal and successfully
economical.


Now, it had happened that eighteeI
lother members of the minister's congre
Year: 1878

CATION had also seen the Chicago adver-
tisement, and had presented their pastor
with magnificent silver-plated casters
though without tags, When, therefore,
among the dazzling array Of nineteen
distinct casters the elders gift fiaunted
its insignificant legend, the eighteen
other givers felt indignant. Had they
been wise in their generation, they
would have kept quiet, and received
credit for having expended fourteen
dollars each for every caster; but they
were strictly honest people, and they
disliked the elder, whose sugar, they
insisted, contained more sand than the
interior of the average Tennessean
really required. They therefore lost no
time in acquain:ing the pastor with the
elders little game-if that expression
can without impropriety be used in con-
rectiOn with an elder. The astute min
lister received the information with a
sweet, sad smile, but forbore to express
any opinion upon the subject beyond
suggesting that some one might have
cheated the elder by selling him a
caster for an extravagant price.


This took place on Christmas evening,
and at about o'clock the next after
noon the minister, carrying small
package, entered the elders grocery.
Upward of dozen leading citizens
were at that precise moment engaged in
splitting on the grocery stove and ex-
changing other social amenities. In
their presence the good pastor thanked
the elder for his noble gift, and ex-
planned that while there were few
things in this world that gave him more
real comfort than caster, be could not
but feel that, with world full of
suffering all around him, a conscientious
man ought not to own mere than
eighteen casters. He had, therefore, as
he went on to say, brought back the
elders nineteenth caster, and desired
to exchange it for $40 worth Of groceries.
This would be equivalent to placing at
least 81 in the haLds of the elder, be-
sides the usual profit upon the $40
worth of groceries. As TO the precise
nature OF the groceries, he would not
presume to dictate, but would simply
suggest that eggs and hams would bring
joy TO his humble parsonage.


In the presence of the dozen leading
citizens the elder could not refuse so
reasonable request. He received the
caster In silence, and ordered his boy
to put up $40 worth of hams and fresh
eggs. The pastor thanked him, and
after urging him to call at the parson.
age, and limiting that possibly he might
be willing to sell him twoor three more
casters at the same rate, took his de-
parture. That night the elder kicked
the family cat completely through the
window, administered a severe course
of apple-tree switch to his two boys, OH
the ground that they had surreptitious y
visited the circus in July, 1873, and in
several other ways led his wife to sup
pose that he had received news of the
failure of some missionary enterprise.
or was burdened with the fear that
heresy was making progress in the
Presbyterian Church.
Year: 1878

L tile Miss Snowflake came to town.
All dressed up in her brand new gCwn,
And nobody looked SO fresh and fair
As little Miss Snowflake, / do declare,
Out OF heecy c'oud she stepped.
Where all the rest of her family kept
As close together Is bees can swarm.
In readiness for big snowstorm-
But little Miss Snowflake couldn't wait
And she wanted to come in q greater state,
For she thought that her beauty would neve


be known


II she came in a crowd-so she came alone.
All alone from the great blue sky
Where cloudy vessels went scuddng by,
With sails all set, on their wsy to meet
The larger ships Of the snowy feet
She was very tired but she couldn't stop
On tall church spires or chimney top;
All the way from her bright abode
Down to the dust Of 8 country road!
There she rested. all out Of breath.
And there she speedily met her death.
And nobody could exactly tell
The spct where little Miss Snowflake fell
Year: 1878

There Is at the core of all men some
thing which the whole world of science
and art is inadequate to fill. And this
psrt of man is no mere adjunct Of his
nature, but his most permanently high
est self. What this inmost personality
Graves Is sympathy with something like
itself, yet high above it-a will consub-
stantial with our better will, yer trans
cending, supporting.
Year: 1878

The, careful, tidy housewife, when she
is giving her house its spring cleaning,
should bear in mind that the dear inmates
of her house are more precious than
houses. and that their systems need
cleansing by purifying the blood. regula-
ting the stomach and bowels to prevent
and cure the diseases arising from spring
malaria and miasma. and she should
know that there is nothing that will do it
SO perfectly and surely as Hop Bitters, the
purest and best of all medicines. See
other column.
Year: 1878

WASHINGTON, Jan. PA memorial of
st. Paul convention to secure adequate
appropriations for the prompt and
thorough improvement of the Mississippi
river, has been presented to congress and
referred to the committee on commerce.
The executive committee of the convention
have petitioned the house for an amend
ment of the rules so as to provide for a
standing committee on Mississippi river
and its navigable tributaries. The house
then proceed to the consideration of the
steam boat Lill.
Year: 1878

RUSSIA is at the top of the heap now.
England is virtually afraid to war with
the Afghans because 1t would bring her
into direct conflict with Russia. The
car does much as he pleases, irrespec-
tive of the Berlin treaty, and nothing
but the combined protest of the sigma.
tory powers will bring him to time.
Year: 1878

ONLY two trials have been made of
the plan of transporting gold and silver
through the mails as third class mail
matter. As the postoffice department
doesn't put on an extra guard and as
sumes no liability, shippers will prefer
the express.
Year: 1878

Ir TOOK a Chicago jury to find man
guilty of murder in the first degree and
also that he has been insane since the
murder. Very naturally the verdict
created sensation in court. But the
condemned will be cured of his insanity
and then hung.
Year: 1878

move this obstacle it was stipulated
in effect that the incumbent should
treat the returns as fraudulent so far
as they affected the local governments
of said states by withdraW wing the Uni
ted States troops, the presence of
which alone. it was known, gave them
any force; that it thus appears that
the constitutional question so gravely
and elaborately debated in congress
before the electoral commission and
in the public press as the question on
which the presidential contest hinged
and with which the public mind was
so long exercised, had no part what
ever in determining the contest, but
that was in fact determined by body
of men elected by one party, but
openly acting with the opponents in
the interest of certain railraOd corpor-
ations at the decisive moment that
every interest of the country isgreatly
prejudiced and it's most vital interests
are put in jeopardy by suffering the
people to be superseded as the political
power, and substituting for them such
moneyed organizations as will pay for
detrauding them:


These are serious charges; and the
Conkling- Blaine element and the
Southern Republicans will probably
join the Democrats in demanding an
investigation.
Year: 1878

the bank at once began to discount
literally. Money became very plenty
at very low rates of interest and bns-
mess revived.


Here we note how rapidly the crisis
came when contraction was ordered;
how insensible the Bank was to the
miSeries of the people until it's own
solv6hcy was threatened; and how
quickly a broadening of the currency
restored business prosperity.
Year: 1878

Only those women who have not the
money to "dress,'' can fully appreciate
the crushing weight with which society
ruthlessly heaps npon this disability. r.
be unable to ''dress'' is to be treated with
almost disrespect in the car, the boat, at
the public gathering, the street and shop;
to be ignored; to teel the shrug of con
tempt, the sneer Of lev;ty and the smile
of scorn; to be thurst aside; to be laugh
ed at; to be unceremoniously displaced:
to be cruelty driven out of good society;
to have your heart, your intelligence, your
thought, your virtue, your character held
as nothing against silk; to be stung; to be
outraged; to be prescribed; 10 be insulted;
all this and much more, for the lack OF
money to "dress"


1t matters not whether this rule of So
ciety be right or wrong, the fact remains
to blight and to ruin. The fashionable
lady thinks nothing Of paying $75 for
making dress, made up of Az yards of silk
at from 81 to $40 per yard. These are the
women who rule the street, drawing
rooms-dale we say, churches? After
such the lesser lights take pattern. What
defence have the girls who work for from
81 to $S per week against this array
E The rich can be fashionable, the poor
cannot be by honest means. The poor in
dustuous shop girl looks upon even $50
dresses and they are beyond her reach.
There is $40 gulf between her and them
between her and the respect and attention
Of society. Her virtue will span til.
chasm. She longs to lift the load Of pow
erty, to receive the caress of society, to be
freed from bondage. She sells herself to
hell for dress. After the first step is taken
it is not long before all useful labor is
eschewed, and the foul vice made to be the
only service of income. This isno picture,
but what happens every day, and it is a
plain statement of how the recruits to
brothels are made.


This mania for dress is devastating our
American society and demoralizing Amer
ican women to an alarming extent. The
wives and daughters Of the rich men who
lead society in this fearful race OF extray;-
gance are responsible for great share OF
the prostitution whichcu;ses the nation as
well as for thousands of business failures,
scattered families, and the long train OF
miseries among us under the cover of


keeping up appearances" Let those who
have the courage take this lesson and act
upon it.-Land and Law Advertiser
Year: 1878

Miss Annie Benlis, of Princeton, Mile
Lacs County. having recently been SLAM
dered by the report that she had given
birth to child, comes out with column
array of proofs of the falsehood of the
slander, which must cause the Williams
who originated and pcddled the lie, to feel
decidedly cheap and realize the contempt
entertained for them by the community.
The character and good name of young
woman are flowers of the daintiest hue


and are readily blighted by the slightest
breath from non-congenial atmosphere,
largely for the reason that her mate mod
esty and naturally recluse disposition
cause her to shrink from any attempt to
1efute scandal, and it is pleasure to note
one with fortitude sufficient to place her
heel upon the serpents head.-Brainerd


Tribune. ... ... ...... ---7- -
Year: 1878

ALTHOUGH town officer, we take
no sides in the wrangle between the
town and village authorities; and
while we have much confidence in the
ability of Weston Hammons, of An
Okla, as lawyer, still the decision Of
the Supreme Court Of the state, as
rendered BY Judge Gifllian, must be
recognized as the true Interpretation
of the statutes.
Year: 1878

RUSSIA has. at England.s demand.
consented to submit the whole treaty
to the congress which will meet at
Berlin on the llth June Thus for
the present war is averted; but fresh
complications are liable to arise at
any moment; and there is but little
assurance that the congress will be
able to adjust matters to suit all the
powers.
Year: 1878

IT is all nonsense. this quarrel be-
tween the town and village author.
tiles. Let us have peace, and have
the streets repaired, it makes but little
difference whether the road.overseer
is a town or village appointee as long
as all the labor and money is expend-
ed within the limits of the village
Year: 1878

OUR TROOPS ACROSS THE Rio GRANDE.-
The news at San Antonio, Texas, Is that Is
head of cattle have been driven across the
Rio Grande into Mexico. and our cavalry is In
pursuit. numerous party left on Sunday to
reinforce ESeObedO, and recruiting for the
reyulutioniStS is said to be going forward
Year: 1878

The successful OncluSion Of the negotia-
tiOnS for congress has taken great burden
OF anxiety from the public mind. COnSolS
touched higher prices yesterday than they
have reached at any time within the last
twenty
Year: 1878

BOTH HOUSES TOINvESTIGATE.-The Senate
committee on appropriations has agreed to
report favOrably the bin apprOpriatng $4,000
for the expense of the Potter investigating
committee, with an amendment apprOpriat-
ing the same amount for the eypen.es of any
similar committee the Senate may choose to
appoint.
Year: 1878

The Brooklyn and New York milk dealers held mass meeting and ap- pointed committee to look after bill now before the Legislature. It provides that all the railroads which have their termini in New York shall deliver the milk they transport in the city, at tariff of one cent per quart, or forty cents per can of ten gallons, this charge to include the returning of the empty cans to the station from which they were shipped. The railroad company must also give the shipper of the milk receipt there for, the same as for any other class of goods. Much of the milk consumed in New York is brought over the Erie Rail- way, which has it's delivery in Jersey City, and the milk dealers are compelled to cross and recross the ferry, at the cost of annoyance and delay. The Erie Rail- way charges ffty-fve cents per can for transportation, which is forty three per cent. of the cost of the milk, and by the Hudson River or Harlem Railroads, which charge sixty cents per can, the percentage is nearly forty seven. There is other kind of freight for the transpcr- tation of which the railroads charge half as much as the article itself is worth.
Year: 1878

Walter Smith, Director of the Massa- chusetts Art School, spoke as follows to the juvenile offenders at Deer Island.

 It is quite out of the line of the oratory usually indulged during .the visitations of this kind, but valuable for all that

 Here is the passage: "You have been told to-day that you have most of you committed crimes, and that you are down just now, but that you can reform and get up again. I've no doubt that that is true but there is another view of this matter which | take, and that is that your crimes against society are not half as black or numerous as society's crimes against you. The blame doesn't all be- long to one side. Keep up your hearts, boys, even if you are down for the so- ciety which cannot get along without shutting up 300 boys on an island in Boston Harbor is bigger failure than you are you may be down, but this boasted civilization of the nineteenth century is lower down. Don't you go and believe that we have all come here to-day to patronize you. We have come to ask you to forgive us, and make friends with us. We want to atone to you for our blunders. The sight of 300 boys shut up in prison is enough to make a thoughtful man shudder, the angels weep, and everybody lose faith in the progress of the age." -.
Year: 1878

The military superstition that it is dangerous to change the color of 8 horse during campaign has been illustrated by General Skobe1eff. He does not like 8 gray horse, but he happened to ride one in the first battle, and soon came to believe that he could never be killed on horse of that color A correspondent of Sedalia paper, who served under Shelby during the American civil war, states that that officer had a similar su- perstition. His color was sorrel, and he firmly believed that he would never be killed while mounted on horse of that hue. He was wounded three times, but never while riding sorrel horse. He had twenty-four horses killed under him in the various engagements in which he was not wounded, and in every instance the horse that went down under him was a sorrel. Once bail struck the brim of his large felt hat, and scratched his forehead, and he fell heavily from the saddle; but he was on his feet in an in stant, shouting to his men, "I cannot be killed to-day, for I am on sorrel horse."
Year: 1878

Probably there is more curiosity con- corning the prison career of Jesse Pome- roy than any other convict in the Massa- chusetts States Prison, says the Boston Globe. This singular phenomenon of 8 fiend and murderer is even more singu- lar since his incarceration for life in 8 lonely cell than he was in the palmy Lays of his atrocities. He has, in fact, be- come quite an exemplary young man, and is evidently determined upon acquir- ing thoroughly classical education. He is away by himself in cell in that part of the prison known as the "Upper Arch, > out of the sight of everything and every body, and the only sounds which greet his ears are the whistles of the passing locomotives and rumbling trains. Three times day only is this solitude broken by the appearance of keeper with his meals, and then not word passes be- tween them. It should be added in quail fication, however, that the Chaplain visits him occasionally, and also that his moth- CT and brother are allowed interviews with him every three months. This is in accordance with the general rules of the prison, all of which are applicable to Pomeroy, with the terrible exception that his confinement is to be solitary during his natural life. During the regular working hours he is employed in making shoebrushes.
Year: 1878

The old controversy which has so long occupied the public mind, whether di- rect or circumstantial evidence may the more safely be depended on, still con- ! tinues. Elementary writers and jurists maintain that in both civil and criminal cases, circumstances alone often lead to conclusion far more satisfactory than direct evidence can produce. But lay men do not very generally concur in this view. Especially do they doubt whether it is ever justifable to take human life on evidence which is all circumstantial, and at this very time great effort is be- ing msde to secure the communication of sentence of death soon to be executed on 8 prisoner in this State, the sole ground of the movement being that the conviction was based entirely upon cir eumstances, without any direct proof.

 Slight circumstances, put together, sometimes seal suspected persons doom. On recent criminal trial, when the defendant was convicted and sen- fenced to fifteen months imprisonment, principal point of the circumstantial evidence against him was that the foot marks in the mud about the place where the offence was committed, exactly cor responded with the nails in his shoes, from which there was one nail missing.

 In case of arson in Massachusetts the perpetrator of the crime was detec- ted in. very singular manner. He hired horse and wagon and drove distance of fourteen miles, on a rainy night, to set fire to the house of an old couple who had some time previously refused him their daughter in marriage. In the night the weather cleared off cold, and the mud froze stiff, so that the tracks of the horse could be very distinctly traced in the morning.

 It happened that the animal, in conse- quence of a cracked hoof, had been shod in peculiar way on one foot one of the corks was turned lengthwise, instead of being made in the usual manner, at right angles with the heel of the shoe. This peculiarity led to the conviction of the prisoner. He was sentenced to be hanged but the punishment was after wards commuted to imprisonment for life.

 In another case murderer who shot his victim was detected by finding that an unconsumed paper wad from the gun with which the shooting was done, SUD- piled piece of newspaper in the prison er's possession. By such circumstances trivial in themselves, great crimes are of ten proven.