smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

WASHINGTON, March 1S.-The regular
session of the House to-day was devoted
exclusively to debate on the bill to regI-
late interstate railroad commerce, on
which subject several written speeches were
delivered. The evening session was given
to the bill to revise and consolidate the
statues. Attendance at both sessions small,
and proceedings devoid of any general in
faract
Year: 1874

The Joint Select Committee to investi-
gate affairs in the District of Columbia,
met TO day in secret session to consider ar
guments of counsel, made yesterday, rela-
tive to the legality of the demand of the
memorialists for the production of private
papers Of certain individuals and corpora
tionS. The result is that witnesses will be
required to produce such papers only as
may be material to the issue.
Year: 1874

The ticket agents of the Erie Railroad
have for long time suspected that a sys-
TEN Of fraud was practiced by conductors
by which the company was losing large
sums, and last week four conductors of the
Delaware division and three residents OF
Port jersey, were arrested and put under
bonds on suspicion of being implicated.
1t IS said that the practice las been for
certain conductors to retain without punch
ing a portion Of the tickets collected by
them to deliver them to persons outside
who sold them to be used again.


Suspicious Suicide.


The wife of Francis Bidwell was found
at her residence in Brooklyn yesterday
with her throat cut from ear to ear with a
razor. Bidwell reported it a case Of suicide,
bgt the police are investigating the affair.


A Billiard Banter.


4. GARNER, the billiardist, i'm answer TO
the challenge of Rudolph, says he will play
in New York a game of Shall French
carOmS, 800 points mp, for one thousand
dollars a side, with % balls. Ona five by ten
table. the game to take place three weeks
after his match with Maurice DAILY for the
championship of the world.


The Erie Canal as n Means OF Cheap


transportation.


At a meeting of the Produce Exchange
yesterday, speeches were made in favor of
putting on and deepening the Erie canal.
Resolutions to that effect and for the ap-
poinIment Of a committee to proceed TO
Albany 10 ipfuanca the legislation needful
to the object desired We're adopted
Year: 1874

In the Senate the contested election case
Of WELLER against Welsh was called. The
counsel for the cOnteStOr announced their
readiness to proceed with the trial. The
contestee's council objected to going forward
with the trial at this time on account of the
variances between the amendments speci-
fed in the motion for leave TO amend the
notice Of contest and the amendments actu-
ally filed. The motion of contest was
ordered printed. NJ. c. Sweeney of coun-
sci for Welsh, said that a motion which
would be stated tomorrow had been made
in the Supreme Court for leave to file an
information in the nature of a quo warrantO
to be served on the President of the Senate
to enquire by what authority the Senate
was proceeding with the trial of this case.
The case was then adjourned until to
morrow.


Senate bill reducing the rates of taxation
in municipal corporations about ten per
cent below those provided for in the act Of
1871 WAS DaSSal
Year: 1874

BURLINGTON; Iowa, March 1S.-The
temperance people of this city are jubilant
over the close of the first saloon. Jacob
Wightman tonight closed his bar and
threw his liquor in the street. The cru
saders will push Tho work right along, and
as they are backed by strong temperance
city government, the prospects Of success
are GOOD.
Year: 1874

and not in national bank notes. If a
transfer of banking capital could not be
made, he would favor an increase of
greenbacks to meet the wants of the West
and South. lie urged a speedy settlement
of the finance question, that the country
might be relieved and business revived.


No one else being ready to speak, Mr..
West moved that the bill to equalize the
currency be laid aside informally. and the
Senate proceed to the consideration of the
army appropriation bill. Agreed to, with
the understanding that the financial ques-
ton be resumed tomorrow.
Year: 1874

There is no event in Western history,
the St. Louis Republican thinks, that is
remembered with more undying fond
ness than a tragic affair that occurred on
the Missouri River, opposite the town of
Waverly, about fifteen years ago. This
was the sinking of a gallant steamboat
with a cargo of 300 barrels of whisky.
The dwellers on the banks of the river
for twenty miles above and below Wa
verify, have never forgotten it-and they
never will. They remember it as fresh
ly as if it had happened only last week.
They know the very spot where the gal


liant steamboat went down, and though
their ewes have never been gladdened
with the sight of barrel, or hoop of
barrel, involved in the catastrophe, they
comfort themselves with the perennial
faith, which no amount of skeptical hy-
geographic reasoning can shake, but that
blessed liquor is ''thar" yet, and that it
will be recovered some day. Each pass
ing year only adds another touch of mel
lowness to the submerged nectar, and
another degree TO the fondness with
which the disaster is remembered. When
this 300 barrels went into store it was
worth only about seventeen and half
cents gallon; now it is worth, internal
revenue tax included-well, there is no
telling how much it is worth. Three
times have attempts been made to get at
the sub-huvial treasure, and three times
have the divers, watchers and workers, af-
ter getting down almost to it, been forced
to abandon the search without getting
it. Every annual subsidence of the riv-
er is watched and learnedly speculated
on, for it's bearing on the question of
recovery, until what these watchers and
workers don't know about the dynamics
of rivers isn't worth knowing. Two
weeks ago the tantalizing waters fell to
a point never witnessed before by the
oldest inhabitant, uncovering mud and
snags that had never been uncovered
within the memory of man, and actually
exposing the very spot where the boat
went down. The whole region round
about was frightened with the hope of
recovering the treasure, and scores of
men went to work with will, endeavor-
ing to disentomb it before the river
should rise again. The way they labor
ed was sight to behold. But all to no
purpose. The malignant river took a
rise just, apparently, as they were ready
TO grasp the coveted prize, reheaped the
sand OH the buried barrels, thus indefi-
nitely protracting this pathetic tradi-
Year: 1874

A rather singular lawsuit has taken
place in North Carolina. 1t grew out
of an effort to stop a good man who
couldn't sing from making the attempt
in church. The name of the unfortun-
ate lover of song is William Linkhaw,
indicted for misdemeanor, and tried be-
fore Russell, Judge, at Robson Super
ior Court. Defendant was indicted for
disturbing religious congregation
The evidence, as detailed by several
witnesses, was substantially this: De-
fendant is member of the Methodist
Church. He sings in such way as to
disturb the congregation. At the end
of each verse his voice is heard after
the other singers have ceased, One of
the witnesses being requested to describe
defendants singing initiated it by sing
ing a verse in the voice and manner of
defendant, which produced burst of
prolonged and irresistible laughter con-
vulsing alike the spectators, the bar, the
jury, and the Court" The defendent is
reported to be strict member of the
church (Methodist,) and man of the
most exemplary department. 1t was
not contended by the State upon the
evidence that he had any intention or
purpose to disturb the congregation, but
on the contrary, it was admitted that he
was conscientiously taking part in the
religious services. There was verdict
of guilty, judgment, and an appeal by
| the defendant.
Year: 1874

1t has never been settled to the satis-
faction of all the public who the Man
in the Iron Mask was, but generations
10 come will know all about Dick Pal
mer, of Macomb street, who got inside
of something worse than a mask on Sat-
urday. His mother sent him after a
brass kettle which one of her neighbors
had borrowed, and on his way home the
boy turned the kettle upside down and
put it on his head. Another boy gave
it blow, and it shut down over Dicks
face as closely as clam in a shell, one
of the "sars" digging into the boys
head behind, and the other pressing on
his nose The victim shouted and
jumped and clawed at the kettle, but he
couldn't bulge it. A man came along
and lifted at it, but Dicks nose began to
come out by the roots, and the man had
to stop. A crowd ran out from the cor
ner grocery, Dicks mother sent for, and
the boy danced up and down and cried,
"Oh golly!" without ceasing. One boy
said they would have to take a cold
chisel and drill Dick out of the kettle,
and another said they'd have to melt
the kettle off, but Dick roared "murder!''
until they stopped. Some said grease
his head, and some said grease the ket-
tie, while the boys mother sat down on
the curb-stone and sobbed out, "Oh,
Richard, why did you do this?'' The
crowd took it coolly, it wasn't their fun
eral, and boy with a brass kettle ON his
head isn't seen every day. Tears fell
from the kettle, and hollow kept re-
peating: "I'll never do it again." Fin
ally they laid Richard on the walk, and
while one man sat on his legs and an
other on his stomach, third compress
ed the kettle between his hands and the
boy crawled out, his nose all stretched
and twisted out Of shape, hole in his
head, and a bump in his forehead. His
mother wildly embraced him, all the
boys cried chip lap and little Richard
was led home to loaf around on the
lounge and have toast and fried eggs for
a week.-Detroit Free Press.
Year: 1874

From the Baltimore American.


Housekeepers will be sorry to hear
that the price of coffee is likely to ad-
vance, and that even the present unus-
ually high figures will probably be in
creased. The cause is a short crop in
the two chief coffee producing countries
Brazil and the East Indies. Impor-
ters often try to invent reasons for the
failure of prospective crops, hop
ing thereby to frighten buyers into pay
ing better prices, but this time the scare
appears to have foundation in fact.
Rio or Brazil coffee, which is the main
stay of the coffee trade, is in short stock,
the whole amount in the United States
being less by about 10000 bags than at
the corresponding time last year. This
is not of itself significant when we con-
slider that the yearly import exceeds one
million bags of Rio coffee, but is plain
that even with the average stock on
hand deficient supply for the coming
season must cause considerable advances
in the prices. Advices from the pro-
ducing districts are unfavorable, and ii
is predicted that the receipts this year
will be unusually scant.
Year: 1874

necessarily until the bell rang again
twelve hours afterward. L gave her a
galyanic shock, so powerful that a heal
thy person could not have endured it,
yet she did not stir There is no doubt
but that she had received from her brain
some immense power over her nervous
system, entirely independent of her will.
the act of performance does not have
reference TO the will. The communica-
ton between the brain and spinal cord
may be very largely destroyed, and still
voluntary action exists. a very few re-
naming fibres are sufficient.
Many facts show that when the will has
ordered certain action, that action is
completed Independent of the will
as walking in sleep. Indeed, the action
of the muscles is nearer perfection the
less we think about it. The action is
more like telegraphic dispatch from
the brain telling the muscles what to do,
than vibration of the nerves directly
causing the result.
Year: 1874

Yesterday young lady was walking
along the street, when she met little
girl two or three years old, evidently
lost, and crying bitterly. Taking her by
the hand, the lady asked her where she
was going. Il am going down to find my
papa was the reply, between sobs, of the
child. What is your papa's name?' ask
ed the lady. His name is papa replied
the innocent little thing. But what is
his other name? queried the lady; what
does your mamma call him?' she calls
him papa persisted the baby. The la
dy then took the little one by the hand
and led her along, saying, you had bet
ter come with me; guess you will come
this way?" Yes, butt want to go back;
l want to find my papa replied the lit
tie girl, crying afresh as if her heart
would break. What do you want of
your papa?' asked the lady. 4 want to
kiss him. Just then sister of the child
came along looking for her, and led her
away. From subsequent inquiries, it
peared that the little ones papa, whom
she was so earnestly in search of, had re-
Gently died. In her lonesomeness and
love for him, she tired of waiting for
him 60 come home, and had gone TO find
him and greet him with the accustomed
kiss.--Poyghkeepsie Eagle.
Year: 1874

In the range of mountains in Western
North Carolina, known as the "Fox
Range" most singular phenomenon
exists. 1t is breathing cave" In the
summer months current of air comes
from it SO strongly that person can't
walk against it, while in winter the sue
tion is just as great. The cool air from
the mountain in the summer is felt for
miles, in direct line from the mouth of
the cave. At times a most unpleasant
odor is emitted upon the current from
dead carcasses of animals sucked in and
killed by the violence. The loss of cat
tie and stock in that section in winter is
accounted for in this way: They range
too near the mouth of the cave, and the
current carries them in. At times
when the change from inhalation to ex'
halation begins, the air is filed with the
various hairs of animals; not unfre
quently bones and whole carcasses are
found miles from this place. The all
has been known to change materially il
temperature during exhalation from
quite cool to unpleasantly hot, witherinG
vegetation within reach, and accompan
led by terrible roaring, gurgling sound
as pot boiling. 1t is unaccounted for
by scientific men who have examined it.
though no exploration can take place
1t is feared by many that volcanic
eruption may break forth there some
time. Such things have occurred il
places as little expected.
Year: 1874

FARMERS II DEBT.-Some of our ex-
changes are descanting on the ruin sure
to follow getting in debt to carry on
farming operations. One farmer, who
stopped giving and asking credit few
years ago, records it as his experience
that he can now buy more than he ever
bought before, and sell more. The case
is mentioned of the French, who never
go in debt, and who, having been saving
money since the days of the first Napo-
leon, have become the richest nation in
the world, which is proved by the fact
that the German indemnity of a thous-
and millions of dollars which they were
obliged to pay has been all discharged
in two years, while we have been strug-
Cling for eight years with twice as much.
Perhaps the wealth of the French farm
ers arises as much from the small farm
system and the high cultivation they
give to soil. There is vast difference
in farming in a loose way and having
all work done in the best manner.
Year: 1874

principle that difference of opinion is nc
crime, and hold that progress toward
truth is made by differences of opinion,
while the fault lies in bitterness of con-
troversv. We desire proper equality,
equity and fairness, protection for the
weak, restraint upon the strong; in short,
justly distributed burdens and justly dis
tributed power. These are American
ideas, the very essence of American in
dependence, and TO advocate the contra
ry is unworthy of the sons and daugh-
tiers of an American Republic. We
cherish the belieffthat sectionalism is,
and of right should be, dead and buried
with the past. Our work is for the
present and the future. In our agricul-
ture Brotherhood and its purposes we
shall recognize no North, no South, no
East, no West. 1t is reserved by every
Patron as his right as freeman to af-
filiate with any party that will best car
~ out his principles.


"Sixth-Ours being peculiarly farm
ers' institution, we can not admit all TO
our ranks. Many are excluded by the
nature of our organization, not because
they are professional men, or artisans,
or laborers, but because they have not
sufficient direct interest in tillIpg or
pasturing the soil, or may have some in
terest in conflict with our purposes, but
we appeal to all good citizens for their
hearty cooperation to assist in our eff
forts toward reform, that we may even
tually remove from our midst the last
vestige of tyranny and corruption. We
hail the general desire for fraternal har-
mony, equitable compromise and earnest
cooperation as an omen of our future
success.


"Seventh-It shall be an abiding
principle with US to relieve any of our
oppressed and suffering brotherhood by
any means at our command.


Last, but not least, we proclaim it
among our purposes to lnculcate prop
er appreciation of the abilities and
sphere of woman, as is indicated by ad-
mitting her to membership and position
in our order.


'EImploring the continued assistance of
our Divine Master to guide us in our
work, we here pledge ourselves to the
faithful and harmonious labor for all
future time to return, by our united ef-
forts, to the widom, justice, fraternity,
and political purity of our forefathers.
Year: 1874

There is a curiuus and very radical ar
ticIe in a recent number of Fraser's
Magazine upon farming. The writer :
belief is that in the time 10 come a farm
will be an immense food factory carried
on by company. The companies will
be Joint stock concerns, issuing shares OF
from $50 to $3.50 each, and working from
5000 to 10000 acres. The buildings of
the farm (such is the scheme) must be
placed on the highest point of land, 50
that water and manure may be conveyed
over surface by gravitation. Machinery
is, among other services, to shear a sheep.
A whole staff of butchers will be en-
ployed to kill and cut up bullocks for
the city markets, to be transferred
straight to the salesman, without the in
teryention of a dealer. The salesman
will be in the company's employ, and
will only sell their meet. The company
will make an effort to get more than one
crop in a year. But the most surprising
of the results which await the future OF
farming will be the ripening of crops by
means of an electric current passed
through the plants or by some other
kind of artificial heat.


One point of which the writer makes
much, is the impossibility of profit in
England from the cultivation of wheat.
Wheat is almost the only agricultural
product that has not risen since 177O.-
The only sort Of corn which is much
dearer now than then is barley, the rea-
son being that barley is used in distilla-
ton and brewing. In the last fifty years
meat and dairy produce have greatly
risen in price. Yet wheat remains the
same; Notwithstanding the rise in the
price of labor and the increase of rents.
No increase of demand has any import
ant effect upon the price of corn. A rise
in wheat will at once bring any quantity
of it to England. The importation OF
wheat by England, in 1859, was 100000
900 bushels. In 1871, the importation
was nearly 8O,O00,00O bushels. Yet the
price of wheat in 1871 was lower than in
1860. 1t is very plain, says the writer
in Fraser, that wheat. cultivation can no
longer be profitable, and it would be bet
ter to use the land occupied to raise pro-
duee which must be imported to Eng
land at loss. One of the difficulties
which the farmer must meet is to find
some green produce which will take the
place of wheat in the rotation of crops
This obstacle the author of the article
thinks very serious one.
Year: 1874

In large cities prevailing custom is
the placing Of the name Of the resident
on plate of the door post. A Western
paper suggests that the farmers follow
this example, and have their names
painted on or affixed to the gates in
front Of their residences. The adoption
Of this would afford great satisfaction to
travellers and especially to those who de-
sire TO familarize themselves with the
names Of residents Of localities through
which they pass.
Year: 1874

A resident Of Kalamazoo, Michigan,
has refused to pay his school tax on the
ground that the schools have no right
to teach any languages but the English,
and that when the other languages are
taught there is no longer any right TO
compel the payment Of taxes for their
support. They must be maintained by
tuition fees. His case is made a test
one, and great deal Of interest gathers
about it.
Year: 1874

A gentleman in Missouri drew all his
money out of the bank during the late
panic and put it nobody knows where
Then he died suddenly, and his heirs
are widely prospecting in all sorts of
probable and improbable places.
Year: 1874

GENTLEMAN OF MIDDLE AGE, WHO HAS HAD
n extensive and varied business experience. wishes
TO engage in something safe and we'll established IN
pensation would prefer to take charge Of the ONCE bus
and spOndence accounts IL desired) OF
good manufacturing IT. getting thorough
knowledge OF the character of the business he Is salts
1ed that It Is safe and profitable would invest nom
4aU0 to slop can furnish good reference. Address B.,
box lis Herald Uptown Branch Office.
Year: 1874

Our local contemporary, Tho Bulletin,
nrnnosos - -i~oo tho hinniv chasm Ia
going back thirteen years TO overhaul
the record of Judge Porter. and re-
produce some Of the war resolutions OF
tha. stormy period. We cant think /,
the best plan to stimulate a National
sentiment by thus re.opcning the issues
preceding the bloody chasm. 1t would
Ge quite as much in order 10 reopen
the disfranchisement question, that oc-
Cured since the war--but even that
ought TO be dead issue now. Judge
Porter Is not called upon al this late day
to make any apologies for his course IN
the late unhappy sectional war. lie
did worse than resolve when the issue
came. lie was a practical, fighting
rebel, and is now q practical man OF
peace. lie is a citizen of Tennessee and


Of the United States, ard the franchise
law is dead letter. So Is the war
with the men who Gid the fighting.
Year: 1874

A private letter from Atlanta 10 the
editor says: Business is looking up ra-
pidly. Cotton is coming in at the ra to
of one hundred bales per day. Atlanta
has grown immensely since you left here
a few years ago. think you made q
mistake in going back TO East Tcnnes.
see.


The preparations for the State Fair
are very extensive. 1t is to be the big
gest thing OF the kind ever held in
Georgia.


The Democratic party is splendidly or
ganize1 throughout the State, and will
undoubtedly carry everything before
them. The truculent Toombs Is very
troublesome, but is utterly ignored 10y
all right thinking men in the State"
Year: 1874

The Chattanooga Commercial says
"Our excellent sheriff will have All un.
pleasant duty to perform on the Goth oil
next month. The court Of last resort
in the State has decided that Shade
Westmoreland shall, in expiation of the
crime of murder, be "hung by the neck
till he is dead, dead, dead" We should
prefer not to be sheriff on this occa.
sion"
Year: 1874

A FLANK MOVEMENT ON THE POLICE
Since the police authorities interdicted boys
bathing in the canal within the corporate
limits the rising generaton resident in the
southern portion Of the city have felt much
aggrieved, and they have more than once
taken counsel together as to the situation.
They have now decided how to act. They
will not be deprived of the privilege of
bathing in the canal, but they will make
their amusement unobjectionabe to the pub
lie by donning bathing suits. Yesterday
evening two OF these epterprising youths, in
extenporized bathing costumes, made their
appearance in the canal between Seventh
and Eighth streets. They dsported them
selves in the water for a good while. much to
their own satisfaction and delight and to the
advertisement of ut least hundred specta-
tors Thus this grave question appears to
have met with solution acceptable to all
concerned.