smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

Not very long ago we entered our
earnest protest against the senseless
abuse which it has become fash
ionable to bestow upon Gen. lie Due,
Commissioner of Agriculture. We
are greatly surprised and mortified
to see some of our leading agricultu-
raj journals joining in this attempt to
render the Commissioner unpopular
among the masses and obstructing,
so far as they can, the endeavors Of
this worthy officer to disseminate cor
rect agricultural knowledge.


1t is impossible to surmise the mo-
tive of these continued and persist
ent attacks, unless they arise from a
feeling of spite and jealousy because
the Commissioner has exploded some
OF their pet theories and made valua-
BILE discoveries for which they desire
the credit. At this distance from the
scene OF action, we can only hazard a
conjecture as to the real cause of
their antipathy which they express
in language rather more forcible than
elegant or polite.


Gen LIE Due has departed from the
beaten track, so rigidly adhered to by
his predecessors. He has cut loose
Year: 1879

Editor Florida Aqriculturist:


With your permission, will, for
the benefit of your readers, sum up
.snseessons lof another years expe-
rience with the Para grass and so
satisfy in the lump, as it were, the oc-
casional inquiries on the subject that
reach me by letter. A neighbor,
who was formerly engaged for sever.
al years in sugar planting in Cuba,
tells me, that there where everybody
is compelled to fence in his own stock
and keep it from trespassing on his
neighbors, the Para grass is planted
in extensive fields or corrals for pas
turage. BY shallow plowing in dry
time it IS easily subdued if desired.
They are vexed with pestiferous
species called tae " San Carlos, that
insinuates itself into the vase places,
sssSsal!R Raetfs ;:=4iy s,- ~ u
yields to thelaggressiye pawcF OF the
Para grass, reappearing however
whenever the latter has been de-
stroyed. 1 have traced its cultiva-
ton as forage plant in Mexico, many
of the West India islands, and por-
tions of South America Now as
to it's nutritive qualities.


In the earl Y part of November L
bought farrow cow, nearly dry and
quite poor in flesh, so that the out
line of every rib was visible. She
was put into a pen and up to this
present 18th of January, with the
exception of bran mash night and
morning has had nothing to eat be-
sides the Para grass, which has been
cut and brought to her every day.
From almost none she has come up
to yield of over two quarts a day
of the richest of milk besides having
grown fat. My mule to, which
works part OF the time, has been
constantly confined to the stable,
with no other food but this grass,
and she also is in excellent condition.
1t must be remembered that we have
had frost enough to brown the leaves
without killing the stalks, the more
tender and succulent parts of which
are eaten and the coarser portions
rejected. Even in this condition
both COW and mule prefer it to the
best Of hay: and such being the case
it will readily be seen how much
greater would be its value as food
for stock when in the freshness and
luxuriance of a Summer growth.
The long stalks, or trash after being
picked over and discarded by the
cattle, form most convenient mate
rial for malching trees, covering
pineapple and other plants in Win
ter or making screens to ward off
the fierce beams of the sun in Sum-
mer. They do not decay for long
time and hang together in such a way
as not to be easily blown off by the
wind from the top Of a trellis or
arbor. ..tf


Tae Para grass grows very hand
somely on all our low moist pine
woods and prairie lands, if the
Year: 1879

AS to the origen of the introduc-
ton oftbe domestic cock into Britain
we are unable to fix the precise da te
When Julius Caesar invaded the
country, he found both the goose and
the fowl IN state Of domestication
and they seem to have been held III
some kind OF religious veneration, as
they were forbidden to be eaten. 1t
is common all over the world and it
is very singular that the common
fowl, in every way resembling that OF
our own country, was found domesti-
Gated among the South Sea Islanders
when first Europeans visited them.
The game cock we seem to owe TO
the Romans as there is no instance on
record of cock fiohting being prac-
ticed by the ancient Britons. 1t is
very probable that while the Romans
remained in the conquered country
certain of the game breed were sent
over for their amusement, and hence
cock fighting became an institution
of the country. Several choice breeds
were kept by the ancient Greeks, Me-
dians and Persians. The anecdote
of Thcmistocles, the Athenian ruler
who furnished two thousand years
ago, shows that they were common
among the Athenians. What he then
remarked Of the two fighting cocks
in his camp may at the present time
be equally applicable to our own
specimens OF the species. To this day
its courage has not degenerated. The
bird still preserves his bold and ele-
giant gait and his sparkling eye, while
his wedge shaped beak and cruel
spurs are ever ready to support his
defiant crow.


No barbarism, ancient or modern,
was ever more tavorite or universally
patronized than the fighting of cocks.
The costermonger kept his cock, and
fought it for crown against the one
owned by his neighbor, the sweep !;
and Lord Noodle kept his cock and
fought it for fifty pounds against my
Lord Boobies, in the cock pit at
Westminster. The practice was ev-
en- defended, or at least excused, by
writer's who, if they will pardon me,
ought to have known better.-Bee-
toms Book Of Poultry.
Year: 1879

No year since the beginning of the Repub-
lie, probably, has brought to it more solid
prosperity than the one which closes to-day.
Nor do we mean by this the actual monetary
value TO the country of the resumption OF specie
payment. The ease with which resumption
was accomplished was an indication that this
prosperity already existed, and that the people
not only had full pockets but they had that
absolute confidence in their Government which
is the most secure way of keeping them full
We were warned that the condition of the
country was SO unstable that crash involv-
ing every commercial interest would follow
the experiment of resumption but in fact tie
crisis was passed so easily that the country
hardly knew it was reached. Instead of the
threatened bankruptcy, the ba arce OF
coin in the Treasury increased over AL pay
ments $19,000.000.


The year of 1879, win, however, be reIneyn-
bered in future us that in which the Git,fr,lon
of the country was for the first tim, directed
TO its farming interests as cub
ject of paramount Importance. Several
causes have contributed to this end
Firstly, the opening of the foreign trade In
meat, fruit aud dairy products to such an ex-
tent as TO convince the mass OF our people that
this country was destined to become for
centuries the great food manufactory for
Europe. The failure Of the crops In
Greet Britain and on the Continent, and
our exceptionally enormous harvests this
Summer have impressed this fact anon the
Year: 1879

A circular has been brought to light which
appears to have been dispatched to the "coun-
"ted-in'' candidates in Maine, urging them to
assemble early at the Capitol, each attended
by "tep good men, who will stand by their
friends in the event of any opposition to the
Fusionists' taking their seats. The plan which
such a circular outlines is so natural n sequel
TO the previous parts of the enterprise that
nobody will hesitate to believe in 1t. The
conspiracy seems to have begun with the prep
aration of pitfalls for the returning officers
such as the issue of imperfect and misleading
blanks. Then doubtless the word was passed
TO Democratic town-cleiks to be on the alert
Next the Governor and Council did their secret
work The iiual step, to which all these pre-
lminaries lead, Is the mastering of mob TO
give forclble effect to the scheme of usurpa-
ton, in case the defrauded people attempt to
resist 1t.


How vividly all this recalls the incidents of
tho inauguration at Columbia in 1876, and
the establishment of the fraudulent Democratic
Legislature which assembled there in defiance
of the decisions of the Canvassersi During the
last days of the contest over the returns bands
of men in red shirts hocked to the
Capital. Ostensibly they came TO the State
Fair. but it was noticed that they haunted the
courtroom and the State House, and disposed
themselves In menacing positions, and that
they were much more heavily armed than Wis
itors to an agricultural show have any need
Year: 1879

The news comes from Vermont that Senator I'd
munds has written to a personal friend in Barring
ton that he Will not resign his seat IN The Senate for
one on the Supreme bench. the pressure upon him
having been so great 20 remain where he ls The
rumOr may or may not he true, but the whole
Republican party Will hope 1t rs. In view Of the
threatening attude OF IKE Democratic party. men
like Mr. Edmunds cannot be spared from the Senate.
Year: 1879

The recent acquisition of land on the Hudson
River at Sixty-sixtb-st by the Central Railroad
IS part of comprehensive plan for increasing the
terminal facilities Of that road. -Four addi-
tional piers as is stated i'll an article on
another page, are to be built, and if necessary
more elevators will be erected
Year: 1879

Whatever may be said of the present race
of European kings, it must be admitted that
their would-be assassins are the most incom-
petent set of men alive. The contemplate and
clumsy fellow who attempted yesterday to
shoot tie King of Spain while his youthful
bride was at his side, is a fit successor TO the
fanatics and murderers who have been
simultaneously displaying their appalling
meanness of soul and their miserable
craftsmanship in various capitals of Eu-
rope during the past year or two. Con-
sidering the dangers TO which king is ex-
posed and the fact that he must rely almost
wholly upon Others for protection, he must be
regarded as one of the most dcferceless of
human beings, and the guilt OF an assassin
is so many degrees greater than that
of the ordinary murderer. Fortunately
the skill of those who have tried this
role recently has been far interior 10 their
malevolence. Gonzales succeeded yesteTday
only in slightly endangerIng the ie Of
the Kings footman. This was all the grand
European assassination confederate came
TO IN Madrid. II it were l.. that
such an organization is believed T. exist, it
might be worth while to ask why ny one
should want to kill a man s. thor
oughly no1ensive, both as a man and a
sovereign, as Alfonso. The acclamations
with which ais escape was received show that
the anti king conspiracy has defeated itself. as
usual, by strengthening the sovereign. so bascly
attacked, IN the affections of his people.
Year: 1879

The application for new trial for Chastine
Cox has been denied by the General Term.
Counsel for Cox relied largely upon the claim
that the conviction should not have been for
murder in the first degree. inasmuch as the
killing was not premeditated. but this point il
dismissed by the Court with the statement
that killing during the commission of felony
u murder in the first degree, under the exist
Year: 1879

The favorte quotation of the Democratic editors.
which accompanies all their chucklrng over tho Re-
publican indignation about Maine s No rogue
Ere felt the halter draw with good opinion Of the
law" They use it with all the feeling which springs
from a lifetime of bitter experience.
Year: 1879

why m officer should resfgn whose recori is
ono of entire efficiency mud irroproachablo
Integrity. Ho is not bound to 1eavo tho
Mayor froe to act as he chooses IT should
10 mono of his concern whether tho
hayor feols free or otherwise. On
tho contrary, thoro should fall Upon
tho Mayor tho full responsibility and
odium Of removing d good officer to mako
room for q political favorite. The of1cos
aro not tie private property Of the Mayor
nor of tho Democratic party in Chicago, 10
bo distributed according to his personal lean
ings or tho dictatlon Of party requirements; ;
they bolong to the wholo people, and there
ought to DO no question OF Tenure except the
question Of efficiency and integrity. There
is no reason why agood officer should resign.
It iB far mora oreditablo TO wait and be TO-
1novA1.
Year: 1879

Arguments touching the constitutionality
Of the new State Militia law vera yesterday
concluded before judges DARsuu, TuIEY,


noaEns, and MoA111sTEn, and by them taken
hinder atlvisement The question al present
'.ed by counsel On either side turns upon tho
power Of tho State Legislature to infringe tho
right Of tho people to bear arms within tho
3ntont and meaning Of tho Constitution of
Tho United States, and tho position Of tho
'easa for tho people was well stated by Mr..
CAMERON to bo that tho Federal Constitution
eontainsd no grant Of tho power to boar
arms, but Was restriction Of TINT power,


and designed to prevent Congress from as.
5ntning the right to protibi. tue uBo of ar1as,
Year: 1879

male population " the South capable Of bearing
was with few EXCEPTIONS IN tho field its present
tors ana Representatives IN Congress must necessarily
be OF one the other Of the classes referred
Year: 1879

There was full market this morning
but few buyers. Fresh Delaware her
ring appeared in the market for the first
time this season, and fare selling at 3j
cents per dozen. THE following is list
Of prices
Year: 1879

The want Of ahyphen in the figure
12 made us say in Saturday in Warren
Harper's advertisement that there were
l2 millions in use instead of one hall
million in use. The omission is a very
small one but the mistake is so tremen-
dously large that the most CT our read
ers will understand.
Year: 1879

Last Saturday afternoon as the men,
pers oIthe Juvenile Pinafore Company
Fere getting on the street cars in order
10 be taken to the train, among the
Passengers was little girl 4 years OF
tge, her parents living on Market street.
Is the car was going down the street,
ne father of the child happening to see
pls daughter in the car ran out of his
place of business and after a slow run
he car was stopped and the father re
feived his child. The little girl COM
eenced crying and appeared to have nc
lesire to return home.
Year: 1879

It's bad enough, said the eldest Miss
Crabapple to her seven sisters; it's bad
enough for pa to talk about marrying
at this time of life; but when he excuses
himself by saying that that pert, made
Nd Young thing will help us girls by
attracting men to the house, it's little
too outrageous to stand, so it is. And
they passed resolution to enter nur-
merry in body.
Year: 1879

A Southern paper informs us that a
young lady of Richland, S. G., exhibited


at the fair some days ago suit Of clothes
of her own make. She sheared the
wool, spun the yarn, wove and dyed the
cloth, cut and fitted the clothes to fit
her brother, and sswsd them with a
needle (not with base mechanic sew
ing machine,) making as handsome an
outfit as the back Of man could desire.
Year: 1879

New York SUM-


There was a reception given on
Monday at the house of General John
Cochrane, at No, Z East Sixty-second
street, by Mrs. Walter, the generals
sister. The guests had nearly all
gone, when a relative, who was in the
act of quitting the house, met gen
tlemanly- looking man wearinga hand
some light top coat over evening dress,
Although it was an afternoon recep-
ton, at which Prince Albert frocks
are supposed to be the proper things
10 wear, the lady supposed him to be
tardy guest, and she made no objec-
ton to his admission. The stranger
passed up the stairs, and the servant,
suppOaing that he had been recognized
by the lady, did not mention his en-
trance. Later, when the family were
at dinner, servant discovered that
the door of bedroom, which should
have been open aud empty, was locked
while bright light was burning with
in. She ran down stairs and gave the
alarm, but before the men in the house
came to the rescue. the gentlemanly
stranger in evening dress had departed
with the pockets of his handsome light
top coat filled with jewelry valued at
500,
Year: 1879

THE Philadelphia North American
speaks thus encouragingly of the cot
ton manufacturing future of the
South There is little doubt that
cotton manufacturing in the North
will become thing of the past within
generation after prosperityis restored
in the South. 1t will no longer pay
to carry the raw material hundreds of
miles and transport coal and supplies
to the colder climate of the North
when both can be saved by the cree
ton of factories on the spot. New
England will lose her cotton mills,
just as che lost her glass factories,
when the manufacture was begun at
Pittsburg, and the freight on coal and
sand saved The future of the South
is in her own hands, and she alone
holds control Of her destiny"
Year: 1879

In Germany man who wishes to
become a medical practitioner has to
pass, some time in the course Of his
third years study, an examination in
chemistry and physics, botany, zool-
ogy, anatomy and physiology, and at
the close of his studies he has to spend
sometimes as much as five months
session in passing final examination
in the practical department.
Year: 1879

THE marriage Of the Duke of Con-
naught is definitely fixed for the 18th
of March. A fancy ball on a magnif-
cent scale is to be given in the Exhi-
bition Palace, Dublin, on the occasion
of the dukes marriage.
Year: 1879

SENATOR BURTON, colored mem
Der of the Texas legislature, sends
money to Virginia to assist his old
mistress who raised him and taught
him how to read, and who is now liv-
ing in poverty
Year: 1879

Although the existence of petroleum
in several of the provinces of Japan is
said to have been known for 1900 years,
the japanese did not know how to refine
it till about six years ago. Now. how
ever. refining establishments are spring
ing up rapidly, and its manufacture is
becoming an important industry.
Year: 1879

Perfect serenity in regard to death is
not attained by any effort of the will, nor
by any mere process of reasoning; tits
rather the result of happy combination
of bodily and mental conditions. The
chief of these conditions. the assured
hope of future beyond the grave, in
comparison of which the brightest eatrhly
visions fade like candle before the dawn,
is not given to all; and in these days, es
pecially, it is for many overshadowed, if
not altogether blotted out, by doubts and
questionings which can no longer be hid.
den from the multitude. Even to those
who most earnestly cling to the hope of
Immortality, it would seem that our
troublous. inheritance of sympathy must
cast many distressing side-light upon
prospects in which of cid the faithful
we're able to take undisturbed delight.
However this may be, the mere prospect
of prolonged existence beyond the
grave, apart from other reasons for Joyful
confidence, must be taken rather as en-
larging the scope of our hopes ana our
fears than as necessarily altering the pal
nee between them. Habitual hopeful
ness may color the prospect beyond the
grave with the same glowing tints which
it throws over this world, so that in some
cases the same cause which makes life
delightful makes death not unwelcome
Such state of mind, though rare, is not
unknown. But perhaps perfect bal
ance of feeling is more readily to be
found at lower level OF expectation
Corn7sSzl Mag.
Year: 1879

I wish that any one who fancies life at
forty is necessarily gloomy, would read
the noble sermon by that most noble
man, Albert Barnes, on "Life at Four
score" Such CHEEKY, inspiring, heavenly
views are good for body and soul. With
good health and even measurably easy
circumstances, forty may be the very
golden autumn Of life. The little chill
dren are probably now grown and sound
sleep can prepare one for the days duties
and helpful older ones relieve the mother
from many cares. A good woman in any
neighborhood has an assured position,
and is priced in any community; and
this last adds not little to the pleasant
ness of ones condition. She has time
now for small neighborly charities,
which bless her own soul even more than
those to whom she ministers. Do not
dread the fortieth milestone, because the
bloom will depart. Many q woman is
far more charming at middle life than
size was in the rosy flush Of youth. Wis
dom, the result Of experience, and a
thoroughly kind heart will make wrink-
led cheek and silvery hair more beauti-
full than the fairest face which has the
''crow's feet" Of a sharp temper, or sim
full, censorious spirit. It is ourselves,
and not our age, that will make us happy
and admired, and better still, beloved.
Do not adopt the gloomy view even
when you have gone still further on the
journey. As Linda gave us a verse on
"Forty Years." let me give you another
on still later age:


"Just sixty two! Then trim thy light,
| And get thy jewels all reset,
IT'S past meridian, but still bright,
| And lacks some hours of sunset yet.
| At sixty-two be strong and true,
sooffthy rust aud shine anew
wTis yet high day, thy staff resume,
And fight fresh battles FOR the truth;


For what is age but youths full bloom,


"A ripper more transcendent youth.


wedge of gold is never old,


Streams broader grew as downward
/ rOlled.O
Year: 1879

A correspondence the Irish Gardeners
Record says: ''Have any of your readers
tried mustard water for the purpose of
destroying worms in flower pots9 I have
and found it to answer admirably. A
teaspoonful to gallon of water is sufi-
Gent have never known it to cause
the slightest injury to the roots Of the
most delicate plant. | advise any one
troubled with this pest to give it a trial.
There is one great advantage about the
employment Of mustard for this purpose,
that as it is invariably kept in the house
it is always handy for use; whereas lime
with which to manufacture imewater. is
not always SO available. Worms in pots
are great nuisance, but humanitarian
Year: 1879

Above all, to have the way seem glad
and bright as we go down lite's sloping
hillside, we need to have it lighted from
the cross of Christ. This can gild the
darkest clouds that ever brooded cyel
our earthly path, and it will light Us
through the low-lying valley which
stands at the end of the way.
Year: 1879

A tenant had been lmportuned so fre-
quently for his rent that, in climax of
evaporation, he turned to the landlord
with the cogent and conclusive retort:
SHOW, you needn't put on so many airs,
old man. WhyI owe enough in this
town to buy up all your old houses"
Year: 1879

woman wanted to see her husband dur
ing the only leisure hour she had out of
the twenty-four.


II should Just move all the delicate
things into the little library there out of
the way of the children. That room is
rather bare, and they will make it more
attractive. Leave the pictures, they are
safe, and it is good to have pretty objects
for young eyes to rest upon. Put the
covers on your furniture, large drugget
over your carpet, and take that other
bay window for Polly and baby's play
corner. It is sunny and snug, and look
ing out always amuses them and at night
you can just drop the curtains before the
recess and hide their little clatter with
out disturbing it. In the other window
there is room for your table and chair,
and work by the machine. There you
can sit in bower with your flowers
about you, a pleasant view outside, and
everything cheerful, wholesome and pref
ty, three very important things to won.
an. Keep up the open fire, it is worth a
dozen furnaces, and have thermometer
to be sure you don't get too warm, that
takes all the strength out of you and
makes taking cold easy"


ut won't take long to make the change,
John isn't coming home to dinner, SO we
can be all ready by night, if you can
really stop and see me through the job.
I declare feel better already, for l am
tired to death of that back room and don't
wonder Polly is always teasing 'to 60 in
the parlor.' The boys will dance for JOY