smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

The Mexicans are famous for theiI skill in throwing the lasso, but some time they have the worst of it, after catching their victim. A correspon dent tells 8 good story of lassoed mule:

 One of the men bantered another tc lasso mule that was grazing hard by. He would not take a dare, so he clat tered away towards the harmless, nec. essary animal, while the men in the rear derisively shouted after him. in imitation of Q Spaniard, Hippa moola The timid animal fled in wild alarm, uttering that ludicrously pitiful sound which has no counterpart in the earth above or the water under the earth.

 It was an exciting scene. The mule was thoroughly alarmed, aud ran with amazing swiftness over the fowery plain but the horse gloried in the chase, like the war-horse sniffing the battle far of, and his nostrils dilated with intense effort until they were thin as paper.

 He soon drew near enough for ac- tion, when the rider, leaping in the stirrups, carried the lasso in circles wide and free several times around his head, then sent it spinning through the air, with deadly whizz and hiss ing of the loop as it closed up, keeping perfectly circle until it struck.

 The mule was handsomely caught.

 The horse, as if comprehending all, gathered himself as soon as possible and planted his legs stiff, while his rider took turn round the pommel. But the mule was an animal of immense strength, being larger than the horse, and when the rope came taut, he lifted the latter right out of his tracks. h. stead of snubbing up and wheeling round head to, as animals usually do when lassoed, he tore away over the plain at splitting rate. He carried the horse along so fast he could not gather up his legs again.

 The fellows hat blew off, and was greeted with roars of laughter. The mule was towing him over the plain like the wind. He began to wish some- body else had him. He held on we'll, but there was too much speed in the mule. Finally, there was nothing for him but to cast off and let the mule have his lasso. He came back rather crestfallen
Year: 1874

The great dread of the Chinese, and indeed of many others, is the hood

 lums." A "hoodlum is an animal known only in California, and it is to be hoped that all other places may know of it only by reputation. ''Hood- lums" are adolesoents from fifteen to twenty or more years of age. They seem to have no visible means of ob- taining livelihood perhaps many of them have the living already made by too indulgent parents, who permit them to spend nearly all their time on the streets, in company with like minded youths, and there they engage in all sorts of mischief, from that which is merely playful, to that which is des- perately criminal. Only day or two since, 8 number of them tried to get into circus by another than the proper entrance, and being successfully resist ed by 8 couple of watchmen, they re- tired, armed themselves with stones, brickbats, clubs, etc., returned to the charge, and so employed their ammuni- tion as to kill one of the watchmen. They pull the pig-tails of the Chinese, set dogs on them, jostle them on the street, assault new corners, and obstruct their locomotion, and do other acts of wickedness which only the genius of a hoodlum could invent. They are be- coming a serious nuisance, and need severe handling by the authorities. A charge of manslaughter has been brought against five or six of them for the circus business, and perhaps their incarceration for 8 few years will afford Q slight check to their companions. Those of them who attend school leave at half-past three, and then they have all the day for mischief.
Year: 1874

Not far out from Reikiavik, says Dr.

 Hayes, in one of his Iceland letters, is the

 first farm house had seen, and as we

 passed by rode into the "tun" to

 gratify my curiosity. The "tun is

 the enclosed or cultivated space about the house. It may be three or four acres in extent or of many acres, and is surrounded either by stone or turf wall, or compound of the two. By cultivation, however, is only meant that it is kept in order and enriched from time to time with manure for the sole purpose of procuring grass for the horses and COWS in winter so in the exact proportion of the size of the tun do you know how many horses farm CT (bo'aderneora) has to ride and carry burdens, and how many COWS he has for mer and winter on the wild heaths, and as we passed along we often saw focks of many hundreds dotting the meadows and hillsides. For the purpose of keep ing them from straying they have 8 very intelligent, sagacious little shep- herd dog, about half the size of that animal in the Shetlands and Orkneys. The dog is also sometimes used for keeping the spare and pack-horses to the road, the horses being dreadfully afraid of him, as he nips their heels most mercilessly. The sheep are herd ed in pen in the evening and the ewes are milked night and morning of some sort being an absolute necessity to the Icelandic farmer. They drink it in great quantities, but the principal use they make of it is to convert it into what they call "skyr," which in plain English means potted cheese, curds or smear-case, according as you may chance to live in New York, New Eng land, Pennsylvania or Virginia. They seem to make it little more sour than we do, and it is not palatable when eaten alone ; but with sugar and cream, of which the farmers wife is always ready to supply you for the moderate consideration of few pennies, it is very refreshing, at least to hungry man who has travelled long over an Ice landic road on the back of an Icelandic pony. I have tasted the milk of the sheep several times, and found it very fair when one is thirsty; but, then, the streams are so abundant and the water so clear and cold that one has no need to go thirsty long.
Year: 1874

A Laboring Man Suddenly Stricken Down--NO Apparent Origin of the Disease.

 The disease of 1ockjaw is common

 enough in the practice of nearly every

 physician, but the following case is SC

 peculiar in it's main features that re.

 cital of the circumstances will be found

 of more than ordinary interest: Hein.

 rich Ellenberger, of New York city, 8

 carpenter by trade, while at home for

 his dinner at noon, noticed that it was l only with difficulty he could open his mouth to masticate his food. He

 thought nothing of it at the time and

 finished the meal. In the evening, after

 the conclusion of his days labor, he tried to eat some soup, but found it inn possible to insert the spoon in his mouth. The soup was poured into a cup finally, and he succeeded in swal- lowing it, but he was unable to eat meat or any solid food. All night long he suffered from shooting pains and oc- casional convulsions, but it was not thought necessary to summon physi- sician. By noon of the next day the pain and the difficulty in eating had increased to such an extent that he was sent to St. Francis Hospital. During all of this time he had not lost con- sciousness, and on his arrival at the hospital he stated to the physician in attendance that he could not remember having been cut or hurt at any time, not even in the slightest degree. A careful examination was made, but not 8 mark of any kind could be found to which the origin of the disease could be traced. This fact, as well as the acute and sudden manner of the attack, with out any premonitory symptoms what ever, constitute the peculiar features of the case.

 Pirogef, the eminent Russian sur geon who accompanied the Russian army through the Crimean war, men, tions only eight cases in all his prac- tice. Larrey, surgeon to Napoleon l., who accompanied the Emperor through all of the Napoleonic campaigns, men, tions several cases parallel to the above, but they did not all come under his personal observation. Indeed, so rare- ly does case of this kind occur that in all the hospitals of New York, where thousands of patients are constantly being treated, it is not once in year that case like the above is developed. When 8 reporter visited the hospital the patient was lying on his cot, his wife being in attendance. The muscles of his face, particularly those used in masticating food, were stiff and hard, as were also the muscles of the back and abdomen. At the request of the physician he endeavored to open his mouth, but the effort caused a spasm which seemed to make his whole frame vibrate. His body and limbs were rigid, so much so that in lifting him it was like raising log of wood. One or two of his lower teeth have been frac- tured, and through this orifce a tube is inserted and liquid nourishment ad- ministered. The treatment adopted is warm baths, in which the patient re- mains an hour. Chloroform is then administered, aud under it's influence the muscles relax. His condition IS considered dangerous, but not hope less. The unfortunate man has wife and five children dependent upon him. He is said to be strictly sober and in- dustrious, and has always enjoyed the best of health.
Year: 1874

No judicious parent would lot child go to school without breakfast. If there IS habitual lack of appetite in the morning, there is surely some diff fculty behind it, and it will inevitably lead to greater difficulties in the future. No breakfast means lunch in the after. noon, lunch means no appetite for dinner, little dinner means a hearty supper and no appetite next morning. Insist on a light supper, early rest at night, and allow no studies and no ex- cursion to proceed, unless some food eau be taken. The habit will soon be formed, or there is some serious dis order. which needs the cooperation of Q good physician.
Year: 1874

In addition to the fact that ice is lighter than water, there is another cur ious thing about it which many persons do not perhaps know-namely, it's pur- ity. A lump of ice melted will become distilled water. Water in freezing turns out of it all that is not water-salt, air, coloring matter, and all impurities. Frozen sea water makes fresh water ice If you freeze basin of indigo water, it will make ice as clear and white as that made of pure rain water. When the cold is very sudden, these foreign mat ters have no time to escape, either by rising or sinking, and are thus en- tangled with the ice, but do not make any part of it.
Year: 1874

A Pennsylvania man writes to paper in that State to the effect that his daughter, at the age of nineteen, weighed 160 pounds, but for some time has been rapidly losing flesh and health. He found by strict inquiry that the girl, by the advice of fortune teller, had been drinking vinegar in order to reduce her weight. The result is that her health is completely gone.
Year: 1874

A correspondent writing from Venice to the Hartford Tunes says "Num- erous pigeons flock daily to the Piazzo at two P. M. to be fed at the expense of the city. According to tradition Ad- miral Dardols, whilst besieging Candia at the commencement of the thirteenth century, received importantintelligen by means of carrier pigeons from the island, the conquest of which was great ly facilitated in consequence. He then despatched the birds to Venice with news of his success, and since that period the descendants have been care- fully treated and highly revered by the citizens. Any person found killing one is arrested. If it be his first offence he is fned-if he is an old offender he is sent to prison. It is believed by the credulous that the pigeons are some way connected with the prosperity of Venice, that they fly rouud it three times every day in honor of the Trinity, and that their being domiciled in the city is sign that it will not be swal- lowed up by the waves. It is a pretty sight of pleasant day to watch these birds flying about the Piazzo at the sound of the bells, and finally alighting under the windows Chose particular ones) of one of the palaces, where their dinner, when the bells ring for 2 o'clock, is thrown out in golden shower of grain. A curious part of this affair is that the pigeons never forget feeding time never allow their excursions on the Lagoons to interfere with dinner. Sometimes the bells ring too soon, sometimes too late, but the birds are always on the Piazzo at the right time, and if the bell-ringing is omitted by way of experiment they scream and flap their wings in peculiar manner. They could set the clock, they are as punctual as the sun itself. This may be in- credible, but the story has been verified over and over again, both for the amusement of visitors and satisfaction of the authorities.
Year: 1874

A letter from Havana, says that the order was given to put Frederick Dock ray in the galera (chain- gang) with chains on his legs, which was according ly done. He was however, spared the indignity of being sent into the public street to work with the remainder of the chain-gang. All communication with whatever friends he had in Puerto Principe was denied him, and he was shipped off in the steamer Magra from Nuevitas for Havana, where he arrived. He was forthwith sent to the Cabana Fortress, prior to his being sent to Spain. No one had communication with him up to the time the letter was written,
Year: 1874

The Sacramento Union says that there IS a snow bank in the Rocky Mountains which sends it's waters into the Colorado, and thence to the Gulf of California to the Columbia river and the North Pacific Ocean and also into the Missouri and the Gulf of Mexico,
Year: 1874

| wish TO urge upon every one Of your
readers who commands a rod Of ground TO sci
u strawberry bed /; the care of one is quite
as interesting 10 little folks and the ladies of
the household as the care OF flowers and
what substantial result and reward for
labor when June comes round 1t is a
beautiful plant, and it is useful, browning
the board for many days with luxury none
can afford 10 dispense with. Its mild acid il
just what the system requires when the heats
Of summer begin to tell upon US. A box OF
ripe Strawberries Is better than a cargo OF
"patent, purely vegetable, sugar-coatCd
pills"-pleasante to take, all will allow
better for the stomach, all will confess who
have tried both.


If any of your lady readers would devote
half the time they now give TO nursing sick
ly plants with unpronounceable names, to
the cultivation of small bed Of some choice
variety Of this most excellent fruit, think
they would proudly admit, at the years end
that they had been following most excellent
advice.


Many suppose that it takes great amount
Of labor to get very few berries. Such is
not the fact. The strawberry will thrive
under conditions where many garden vege-
tables, SO called, would perish. Then there
are men with half their garden devoted to
weeds, who gravely inform me that they
haven't an inch Of ground to spare for a
strawberry patch. Let such keep on raising
bitter weeds and parslevs; verify they shall
reap what they SOW, larger and finer crop
Of weeds next year.-COr. Rural Nel0-
Yorker.
Year: 1874

was gratifed to learn a short time since
from the columns Of your paper that the
circulation of the FARMER had reached SO
high figure, and that it was read SO large
ly by the farmers and fruit growers Of our
state, but am often reminded, as doubt
not you are, that there are others still who
would be benefited by its weekly visits.


The following paragraph take from the
Rutland Daily Globe of July ~, written l
suppose by fruit grower of Vermont.


Many thousand dollars every spring and
fall arc taken from Vermont to the states Of
New York. New Jersey aud Massachusetts
10 payment for fruit and ornamental trees.
Fl have no fault to find with these several
troe-gcowers. They are reliable and enter
prising in their business, but our people an
nually buy what is good Of its kind, but Gu
tirely unsuitable TO this latitude. tsup.
pose there are growers Of fruit and orna-
mental trees in our own state, whose judg.
meDt aud experience enable them to grow
aud sell only such varieties Of fruit trees as
have proved themselves adapted to cur cli-
mate aud soil As it is about the time when
agents from abroad will flock to our state,
suggest whether it would not be wise for
firms in our state who are growing fruit
trees for sale to advertise in your own and
other state papers what they have for sale.


have bought largely Of fruit trees-ap.
Piles, pears and pums-for the last ten
years, aud principally Of the Rochester nur-
series. The last winter aud spring for some
reason was fatal to many trees OF large
growth. Out Of 100 trees of twelve years,
growth have lost as many as one fifth of
standard apples. propose to replace them
with apple trees Of Vermont growth, it they
can be had. There are also standard pears
OF Vermont growth, that have proved them
selves hardy and prolific. Who has the
trees that the people want, and who will ad-
vertise them that the people will know
where to send 2


Now it Car hardly be supposed that every
one growing trees for sale will advertise in
every little local paper. What we need, and
what we must have is state farmers paper
in which such may advertise with the hope
that it will pay. If the Globe correspondent
has not the VERMONT FARMER, | hope he
will subscribe for it, and then in addition to
the many valuable articles on farming, fruit
growing, &C., he will in the season for such
things be likely to find the advertisements
he wishes to see ii. Z. &.
Year: 1874

grasses, and even weeds; yet IL will do bes;
upon what it selects for itself, and thus va
riety is desirable.


a large amount Of grain is not profitable.
Grass is the natural feed--grass in summer,
aud clover hay, cut in blossom, in winter.
Such clover hay alone will keep them fat
winter and spring; it keeps the body 10
goood, healthy condition, and gives sickness
aud weight to the wool, and is the cheapest
food that can be raised. As two crops Of
clover 1.-TWO cuttings) can be grown in sea-
sou, reaching from four to six tons per acre
on good land, the force of this will be seen.
We fud il best to feed this hay rather early
in the fall, providing shelter from the cold
rains and wet SHOWS, which do more harm
than Is usually supposed. The wool, instead
oil being protection, will become saturated
and lie a heavy weight upon the animal.


Then the pale-green clover, fragrant aud
tender, If thrown to them in racks, will cause
their growth to continue as on grass. This
feed has a similar effect to that Of late
grass, before the frost has hurt it. 1t avoids
costiveness on the one hand and securing OF
the other, being deprived of its water and
yet retaining the property of the juices. In
the intervals of good weather the sheep may
be turned out again; but they will seek
from preference the shelter and the clover


Sheep are very domestic in their nature
Have them tame, ready and eager to follow
your call you can then manage them as
you please--the whole flock as one sheep.
If fall and winter housing are benefit, so
is summer protection. Shelter from the
heat should be provided; the sheep will be
but too glad to resort to it. Good treat
ment is an important element in keeping
sheep. They need to be kept constantly in
good condition. This requires care as we'll
as good food. II the hay lacks little from
over.ripeness or bad curing supply roots or
little grain; better feed more grain, even
it costly, than let your sheep run down I;
then there will always be full growth Of
wool, and strong, healthy lambs that may
be dropped early, capable Of withstauding
the cold. There will also bo less disease,
aud your sheep will always command their
full value, aud will sell when others cannot
be desposed oi.-LiUe Stock Journal.
Year: 1874

In the horse race, as conducted at our
agricultural fairs there is not the remotest
suggestion Of agriculture. 1t does not give
the farmer a single new idea whereby he can
improve his stock, his farm, or anything con.
nected Herewith 1t is, then, introduced at
our fairs merely because il will lead people
to attend them. The question therefore
arises Is the horse race the best and great
est attraction which can be devised to bring
people to tho agricultural iairs2 If it is, let
it be retained if it is not, let it be dispens-
ed with and something else substituted for it..
In my opinion the above question should be
answered in the negative. 1t is not my
purpose to discuss this subject entirely as a
question of taste or morals, but rather as
mere matter of policy.


A very strong objection to the horse race
is that it is in many ways demoralizing. A
simple trial of speed is not Of necessity OBJ
jectionable, but the jockeying, the betting
the pool selling, the hot disputes, and the
rOwdyism generally, which seem to be al
most inseparably connected with racing, are
decidedly demOraliziug.


But, morals aside, there are other objoc-
tons to the introduction of horse racing at
the agricultural fairs. assert that the peo.
pie do not get their moneys worth out of
II race, for they are obliged to wait from 20
to 80 minutes while the horses are resting
and scoring y in order that they may see
the horses trot during period of two and a
half or three minutes, as the case may be.
Year: 1874

In the last FARMER was lengthy sketch
on Those Awful Awkward Boys. am en-.
tirey unable to comprehend the motive of
the writer. Whether she really meant what
she said or was merely writing to see what
replies it would bring forth am wholly ig-
noraut, but | am of the opinion that many
who read it will como to the latter conclu.
sion. She says "in the average district
school for time the small pupils live in
fear Of the teacher and dare not speak loud
in her presence" notice it is for very
short time generally that they do not dare
speak and especially tchisper. If their only
awkwardness was dfidence / should have
much more hope Of them than / do now.


Again, perhaps that boys mother has a
parlor but he must not dare cross the thresh-
old least he wear out the carpet or break
that plaster-of-paris boquet on the bureau. -
| should like to know what right that boys
parent has to the title Of "mother" if this is
the manner in which she brings him up.
How affectionate she must be, how deserving
Of his esteem aud honor. But l am of the
opinion that that mother lives mostly in i'm
aginaton. If not, where is she Where is
her location? | should like to visit her.
No doubt Barnum would, for such woman
would be curiosity almost anywhere in
Vermont at least. Aud in most families
where there is piano if the boy is pos.
sessed Of any musical talnt he is allowed to
develop it.


If her awkward brother" is fool enough
to "scale the hills in search Of fresh berries
for her." after all his sisters snubbing, why
| suppose he has perfect right to. But
the idea Of the young ady's parents feeling
so much beneath her associates as to be
afraid to meet them at the tea.tabe is sim
ply ridiculous. No matter how awkward
and bashful they may have been in their
youth, by the time they have reached the
middle age they have 50 far gained conf
cence as to be able to meet youth at least
without "criDging." But with "a Farmers
Daughters" views in regard to pronunciation
heartily coincide, though believe as long
as there are yankees they will always use in-
correct language, and as it makes no "kill-
ing" difference have resolved to let things
take their usual course and sign myself re-
spectfully, one of those AWKWARD BOYS.


august 1.
Year: 1874

have before spoken Of the winter-killing
of our grass, and the indications of recovery
by the cold, unwonted rains Of June An
other month duly has given US quite cheer
ing signs OF plentiful year, though late in
coming. Now at the FIRST Of August, though
some have been gathering hay for week
past, we have only come to the standing rule
for commencing haying-the first ripe rasp-
berries aud the second blossom Of the herds.
grass-yet this rule is less applicable now
than usual as the grass fields recovering
from winter-killing are behind the vegeta-
tion not thus retarded.


Whether corn will get ripe or not is Of
but little account, as but little dependence is
put upon it. Tho Indiawheat, which was
nearly failure last year, is now looking the
best. On the WHOLE grain aud potatoes
look we'll, wheat aud barley especially.
For some reason
are not so much in favor as formerly. In
the first clearing of the land 100 bushels to
the acre was reached, aud an average Of so