smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

IN racing, the efficiency of the jockey
fuctuates just IS much ss that of the
animal he bestrldes, He may be all
keenness and vigOT when he comes to do
his work, or be may be more or less dull
of brain or lumpy in body, and therefore
more or less of a drag on the beast than
what he should be, Often the case is
worse. Bill Scott, one of the best riders
the turf has ever Eeen, and who rode the
winners of five Derbys, was 80 drunk the
year he rode Sir TattGn Skies for the
Dolby that he had 10 b lifted into the
saddle. Yet he came in second, and
W, uid have won but for his drunken
ness,
Year: 1879

An interviewer hajiing from the Jer-
sey City Jo1CYY2Gl, of inquiring mind,
paid flying visit to the top floor of
Nen ODonnells cooperage, and was
shown some of the mysteries connected
with the manufacture of sugar barrels.
In the first stage, the Irishman's recipe
for making a cannon viii do for q sugar
barrel, slightly altered: First, make a
hole and put your slaves around it. The
operative does this by holding a stout
wooden hoop in one hand, and placing
the slaves in position with the other
very quickly, too, as the work is done
BY the piece. The embryo barrel is
next caught IN the blight of stout rope,
made fast on one end to cleat, and the
other running over an iron pulley and
attached to a treadle. By pressing the
treadle with the weight of the opera
tive, the line is drawn taut, and the
strong purchase thus effected congresses
the slaves to the requisite degree of
tightness. The barrel is now placed in
huge fireplace which resembles a
blast furnace, and is baked for a few
minutes, when it is removed, the tops
and bottoms are planed, the inside
edges beveIed for the "heads," which
are quickly "put on" few finishing
touches given to the hoops and the bar
rel is made. A good workman can
make forty barrels day, and in brisk
seasons about 5000 receptacles for that
seccharine substance composed of bone
dust, sand and sugar are turned out.
The slaves are shipped to the cooper
age from Michigan, where they are
made into the required shape from elm
logs by machine.-JerSey City Jour-
v1Gl
Year: 1879

o, kiss and wed is often said,
Not often wed and kiss
It should not try the dullest head
To find what's here amiss
If kiss and wed is all that's said,
If love no further goesl
If when its happy summers fed
The bloom is off its rose
IL seems to me 'twould better be
To choose a thriftier flower
And there's the steadfast apple tree,
In spring a rosy bOwerl
Yet, o, its hours of lovely flowers
Are but the prelude sweet;
Its summers but the trysting- time
When love and beauty meet.
And what moro worthy close could be
To its consistent rhyme,
Than when the fruit hangs ripening
In golden autnmn-tiTuel
Then let love be like this good tree;
The best keep for the last;
Say, Wed and kiss and you'll not miss
The key that holds him fast.
R0eOGrd Glg7ldo'a. ia Baldsoiil'8 Monthly.
Year: 1879

ion product of Colorado is. its cattle
product is even more valuable, and all
the cattle men are said to be greater IA
vorites at the banks than the miners.
One banker in Denver expressed the
opinion that he would rather have one
hundred accounts among the cattle
dealers than three hundred mining ac-
cCu unta
Year: 1879

The farmers around Woodbridge have
given up drilling in their grain. Some
SOW broadcast, In the time-honored way
Others, and among them not few of the
most progressive farmers, rig a seed
sower behind their plows in such way
that, although they plough from eight to
ten inches deep, yet the grains OF wheat
fall Just in time to be caught by about
two inches in depth of the lap OF the
turrow. The writer saw some large
fields near Woodbridge which had been
treated in this way. and t was the pret
tiest sight imaginable. The long rows
extended in straight lines across the
fields, evenly and in fine state OF
growth. In ordinary seasons it is not
considered necessary to harrow after
sowing in this way if it is on summer
iallowed land.
Year: 1879

COMPLETE and absolute bankruptcy
seems to have overtsken Florence the
beautiful" In a single commune three
thousand houses are announced fer sale
for tsxes at the instance OF the munci-
pal authorities. There is a frightiul dis.
tress, and but for the munificence o.
Prince Demidoff, who supports the soup
kitchens, many would perish from actual
starvation. Local jeslousies obtain 70
strongly in the Italian legislature that
the government, while conscious that
something will have to be done on its
part toward the rehabilitation Of the
whilom proud and prosperous home Of
the Medicis, shrink from introducing a
measure which they have too good reason
to fear would meet with luke.warm
support.
Year: 1879

During eight hundred years no WON an
is known to have entered the grounds
of the monastery of Camadoli, Italy,
except once, when a princess of the
house of Medici, who had great de-
sire to behold the place. disguised her
self in mems clothing and was admitted.
But so stricken with remorse was she
on beholding the sacred spot that she
fastened to the Pope to confess her
fault, and, as a penance for it, was
commanded to build new cottage in
the inclosure, which she did. The
monastery is one of the few institutions
of the kind suffered to remain in Italy.
A recent visitor says that what are
called cells are comfortable little dwell
ings. Each is surrounded by a wall,
and has its garden twenty feet square.
A little piazza, with the trunk of tree
planed and squared for bench as its
only furniture, runs along the side of
the house. Entering the door, you find
yourself in brick paved vestibule,
with an empty chamber where a spring
of water is flowing into basin on the
left, and the living rooms on the right.
These consist of study just large
enough for one person to sit down. a
dining and sleeping room, with the bed
built into the wall in the fashion of q
ships berth. A small table, two chairs
and cupboard complete the furnish
ing. Food is passed to the occupant
through a hole in the wall, all being
prepared in common kitchen and
brought to the hermits once day.
They never eat meat, and their portion
of fish on all except fast days consists
Of six ounces of fresh or four of salt
fish. .-...
Year: 1879

An anecdote of Moore, the Irish poet
shows how much pains writer who
does good work will take to put the
right word in the right place. Moore
was on visit to literary friend in
France, and while there wrote a short
poem. ...
One day while the guest was engaged
in his literary labor, the two took a
stroll into an adjacent wood, and the
host soon perceived that his companion
was given up to his own thoughts; he
was silent and distracted, noticing
neither his friend and entertainer nor
the surrounding beauties of the land.
scape.
By-and-by he began to gnaw the fin
gertips of his glove, pulling and twitch-
ing spasmodically, and when this had
gone on for a long time his friend ven-
tured to ask him what was the trouble


"Tll tell you," said Moore. 81 have
left at home upon my table a poem in
which is a word do not like. The line
is perfect save that one word, and that
word is perfect save its infection. Thus
it is," and he repeated the line and
asked his friend if he could help him.


1t was a delicate point. The friend
saw the need, saw where and how the
present word Jared Just the slightest
possible bit upon the exquisite harmony
of the cadence; but he could not supply
the want.


The twain cudgeled their brains until
they reached the house on their return
without avail.


The rest of the day was spent as usu-
al, as was the evening, save that ever
and anon Moore would sink into silent
fit of pursuit of the absent word. And
so the night, and the poet went to bed
in a deep study.


The following morning was bright
and beautiful, and Moore came down
from his chamberwith bounding step,
with a scrap of paper in his hand, and
glorious light in his genial counte-
nance.


The word had come to him! He had
awakened during the night, and the
kind genius of inspiration had visited
his pillow, and he had got up and torn
a scrap from his te-book, and at the
window, by the light of the moon, had
made the thought secure.


There" he said, when he had in
corporated it into the text; A." there it is
only simple, single word, word
as common as a, b, Q, and yet it cost me
twelve hours of unflagging labor to find
it and put it where it is. Who could
believe itp"
Year: 1879

the Republican candidate for President
a majority of the Electoral vote next
year, the present Democratic Congress,
elected two years before, will represent
public opinion in counting out that can
didate. What was intended by the
Democratic committee to be its strong
est argument in favor of the proposed
partisan law is in reality a conclusive
argument against its passage. 1t is to
be feared, however, that the Demo-
cratic majority in Congress will not be
governed by arguments in determining
this natter. .. -...-


The apprehension of partisan CHI
carery in the counting of the next
Electoral vote has undoubtedly large
influence in favor of the nomination of
the g strong man. as Republican can
didate for President. All the circum-
stances warrant the belief that the Dem
ocratic majority in Congress will go
Just as far as they dare to defeat the ex-
preston of the popular will, if that ex-
preston be opposed to the ambition of
their party and to the success of their
candidate. This conviction naturally
prompts the selection of candidate by
the Republican party who, If clearly
and fairly elected, will not submit to
being cheated of his rights, and whose
character and standing will in a meas
ure deter the Democrats from making
bold misuse of partisan majority,
which they acquired at a former period
and under false pretenses.-Ch Chicago
Tribune. g. s-
Year: 1879

The dispute at the last Presidential
election gave us warning enough that
our laws were in an imperfect condi-
ton regarding the settlement of ques-
tions arising from irregular returns,


cases of intimidation or fraud within
the States, and other matters affecting
the Presidential choice of the people.


These defects have been noted before,


and a wise and statesmanlike bill for
their remedy been proposed by Senator
Morton, which was lost in the stress of
what is called practical legislation. The
crisis, which was to be feared, found us
unprepared, and an extra constitutional
method had to be devised to meet the
emergency. If there was any excuse
for negligence before it came. there
was certainly none afterward, and moth
ing but eplpable neglect, or worse,
Year: 1879




Out in the cold from the cellar they creep
They are used to the hardest living a
These waits of the street in their poverty deep:
What do they know of Thanksgiving?
There's nothing of childish curve and bloom
In the maiden's sharpened feature, .
But the light of love her eyes illume .rr
As she feeds the starving creature,
Which looks to her with grateful glance,
Almost if it were human,
While beams in her gentle countenance
The tender nature of woman.
Poor little kitten, savage and Wild
Poor little, dear little homeless childi
Love i the lux that binds us all; love is the


heavenly balm .
Which over frettlng circumstances can pour q
wondrous calm. 1
The narrow soul may shrink and pine though


plenty heap the board:
The ample heart for smallest grace will praise


the bounteous Lord.
Thanksgiving essence lies in this, to scatter as


we can,
The while our God we praise, His gifts to bless


our fellow-man;
And none shall miss its meaning if with loving


mind they try
To gladden. some one else beneath the blue in


folding sky.
Year: 1879

Live for something, if it be ever so
little. Better to accomplish some
thing than nothing. Better to look
back on the little you have done than
sigh over wasted hours and mis-spent
time. There is work for every one
to do, and be wbo labors with a will
ling heart and hand will one day
reap the reward of his labor.


Live for something. Let every
leaf 10 the volume of the year bear
some mark of yours upon its pages.
Let every turn Of Times old iron
wheel give some account of weIl-spent
days Live so that your deeds will
De remembered long after you have
ceased to be.


Live so that your virtues excel
your vices, and shine brighter as the
years grow less and less. Live 80
that you can look 10 the past without
regretting that you had done too lit
tie in this life Labor for something
noble and praisewortbv. Live 50
that in passing from this to another
shore you will leave behind you
Footprints en- the sands of time"


Live for something. There is no
ora but what can do some good-no
one who need to say can accom-
plish nothing-none who need to say
| have spent my days in idIeuess.





Life is blank book, every page
o: which must bear something wo,-
tby Of record or blot thai can never
be erased. Then be mindful Cf y hst
you leave upon its leaves for it will
tell in time sad eternity what you
baye lived for, and He who keeps a
record Of our deeds will reward "a
accordingly
Year: 1879

4 lady in the outskirts Of Denver
was the victim the other day OF g
tramp's practical joke Even in these
ysgabonds there is az occasional vein
Of humor which IS worm preserving.
The incident happened - this wise /:
About the middle Of the aflerroon a
tramp put in his appearance a / ask
ed politely If be could b. pc aitted
to cook for himself q plate o. soup.


Il have the ingredients with me, ("
he said, displaying q eohbIesto0e
about the size ofsn apple


The lady very naturally looked at
him IN surprise


You can't make soup out OF that
rock, can you ~ she imputed.


20, yes, madam This is what 9a
call a soup stone"


We'll, | should ike to see you do
it !" and she forthwith made up a
FIRE in the stove and the tramp com
menced operations lie llled the
stove pan with water, and after it
commenced to boil. very carefully
deposited the stone ia q pan in the
water


Il shall have 20 trouble you for a
little seasoning" he said, and The
lady ha ened to get him an onion, a
piece Ct meat, and q tomato, These
were carefully cut up and put in to
boil along with the stone. In short
time delicious plate of soup was
prepared. The lady tasted il and
Yves delighted with the favor. The
fellow sat down and ate, and his hos
tess Immediately added what was
necessary TO make a substantial meal
When be left be said he could get
plenty OF soup stones on his way, and
ne would leave hat one with her as
an evidence OF how sincerely be ap-
precisted her kindness. She was
6rmly convinced that she had come
into possession Of 9 treasure. That
night she told her husband Of the
circumstance lie listened to the re-
cital aud then inquired innoesn;ly


"Don'i you think tie meat aud the
onion aud the tomato would have
made very good plate Of soup with
out the rock 2''


Gradually the trick began TO dawn
upon her, and if yoG want to make
that lady ma3. you have only to ask
her .oF the loan of the soup stone -
ROcley NOunfdia NeUs.
Year: 1879

A correspondent, who has resided
here for many years, sends us the
following hints about wheat culture
In this county:


AS there is a great animus
amongst the farmers of Los Ange-
les county to plant an increased
amount of wheat this season, it is
proper to make them some sugges-
tions with relation to the peculiar
tiles of the climate, as many of
them are new to it, in order that
they may have the best success.


The experience of the writer goes
to show that the most suitable
ground for planting wheat is that
which has a declivity towards the
ocean, so as to have the benefit of
the sea breeze before sunrise, to
brush off the heavy night dew; for,
il the sun overtakes the grain with
globules of heavy dew upon it, the
heat will cause it to rust as if burnt
by a sun glass; therefore, if wheat
be planted in a sheltered place, or
where bills or knolls intervene be-
tween 1t and the morning sea
breeze, it will be apt to rust. To
prevent sun rust the old Mission
priests, who cultivated wheat large
ly and successfully, caused two men
on horseback with RATA stretched
between them, to go through the
wheat field before sunrise and
shake off gently the globules of
water which hung on the ears of
grain.


Ysidro Reyes has cultivated
wheat from time immemoral on
the bench lying west of Old Santa
Monica Canon, that has bluff ON
the ocean sixty feet high, without
any malady whatever, the reason
being that the ground lies at the
base of the coast range, and has a
declivity towards the ocean that
assures the benefit of the sea breeze
to watt away the night dews. If a
fog should arise and the breeze is
strong enough it Is carried over the
coast range from whence it cannot
return; but should the air be still,
the fog floats down the declivity
again into the ocean. Besides, the
grain is sheltered from the north
winds, there never being any frost
from the cafion of Old Santa Moni.
ca to the boundary line of Ventura
county, distance of forty miles
along the coast and comprising
part of the Rancho Santa Monica
and the whole of the Rancho To-
panga Malibu.


The above is the great wheat
land Of Southern California. 1t
skirts along the Pacific Ocean and
comprises all the required climatic
conditions. Sheltered from all the
harsh winds, no frosts, the toma-
to vine in bloom all the year
round, the long hills of the coast
lying behind 1t, in time of rain,
pour down upon the lower skirt
stretching along the ocean, an in
creased quantity of moisture. Be-
sides that, it rains more there and
sooner than it does in the body of
the county, because the high hills
serve to burst the rain Clouds
Year: 1879

The recovery from wound generally
pronounced mortal, and the restoration
Of the organ wounded to healthy action,
occurred in the Ouach1ta country, in the
case pf an eminent citizen who filled the
highest political offices in the State, and
was always regarded as leader of the
dominant political party. We refer to
General Solomon w. Downes, who once
represented louisiana in the United
States Senate. In duel between Gen.
eral Downes and General Morgan-thc
weapons being riAes-Generai Downee
was shot through the lungs. The balls
which penetrated his body carried with
it piece of cloth in which it was the
custom to wrap the balls used in the
old-tashioned rifles. The ball was cx-
tracted, but the cloth remained and pro-
duced inflammation, which gave great
PAIN and distress to the wounded gentle.
man. His lungs, which had been pro-
nounced before he was shot as in a very
unsound condition and had elected the
most gloomy apprehension of his early
decease from consumption, were much
in1amed and irritated by the presence of
this cloth. which had perforated them,
and thus increased and aggravated the
violent coughing to which he had been
subjected. HIS physician thought there
was but little hope of his recovery, and
the general himself made preparations
for the early close Of his mortal career.


One day, in aspasm Of violent cough
ing and copious hemorrhage from the
lungs, the wadding was thrown up, and
carefully examined 'ya surgeon from
this city, who astonished the afflicted gen.
tleman by cheeiiy congratulating him on
the event, as not only rel1ei from a
cause Of great suffering, but al furnish
ing grounds tor the hope and belief Of
the restoration of his lungs to a sound
and healthy condition. And so it prov
ed, for General Downes lived thirty years
longer, and was one of the most active
and conspicuous OF our public men, and
one of the most vigorous and success
tul political and parliamentary speak
ers and advocates in the State.
Year: 1879

/ Some said he was naturally suspicious
This may be partly true. But others say
that in early life some unfortunate affairs
haa an unhappy effect on his moods and
temper. If felony was committed IN his
neighborhood, and there hung mystery
over e question Of the pcrpctrator, our
hero looked wise and seemed to hint that
he Knew the man. In this way he once
came to be seriously suspected of being
IN accessory after the fact. But he was
wholly innocent.


One day he was walking down the
street and saw some men talking and
laughing. Occasionally they looked up
the street. BY the time he reached the
group his face was very red. He looked
vexcd. He supposed their laughter was
in some way at his expense. Fortunate
ly, he paused long enough to hear that
they were making merry over the saying
and doings of a political meeting Of
their own party.


One lent him book, which had been
read with care, and several passages were
marked with pencil. He supposed the
owner of the book intended to hurt his
feelings by calling special attention to
certain clauses, and yet it was a fact that
the owner did not know that there was a
pencil mark on any page.


In fact, our friend often suspects some
evil. intention in the kindest acts
of his best friends. A strange min
lister once delineated in the pit the
character of litigious man. Our friend
went home silent, if not surly, and COM
planned of personalities in the pulpit.
His lite was full of uneasiness without
cause, except as found in his undue SEN
sibility and susp1ciousness. Things said
in general way he, with a strange per-
versity. applied to- himself He trusted
few, if any. He had an astonishing facil.
ity for giving bad turn to all that was
said.


His influence was not good. His chill.
dren caught his spirit. At school they Of
ten considered themselves sligAted. Thus
family teuds were engendcred. 1twould
be slander to tsay that one could
not speak to him. But his suspicious
threw him into fits of jealousy. At times
his countenance indicated maIignity
His unhappy turn Of thoughts had made
him shy OF his pastor, stiff toward his
family physician, and awkward toward
all. Even his wife was the worse of his
evil surmisings.


Ofcourse he was unhappy-indeed mis-.
erable. The signs of his conscious wret
chedness were infallible. All this was
quite unnecessary. He was his own tor.
mentor. If he should read this paper he
would say, ''The author of that piece
misunderstood me. Why will not people
mind their own business and let Others
alone2' He has no enemy who does
him as much disservice or intiicts on him
as much pain as he brings on himself
would make many excuses for him. But
he seems to have fine health, and certain.
ly he eats as much as is good for him.
Year: 1879

A wise old lady writes: Better than
gold to a man is cheerful wife. But he
must do his part toward making her
cheerful. 1t is easy enough for man to
marry happy woman. But the bride
expectant, when she thought how happy
she would be, never contemplated the
picture of a husband coming home cross
as bear and going to bed without speak
ing to her; she has never thought of the
long evenings when be would not come
at all, or his bringing some one home to
dinner without warning or preparation; !;
of his awful profanity over so tritling a
matter as the gas Lill. She had no idea,
in fact, that there could be anything but
happiness in married life, and she had
determined to be happy and to distribute
often not her fault if she does not sue
ceed. Men, as rule, do not exert
themselves to secure their wives
happiness. They know that it re-
requires constant and great ct
fort to possess property and b


secure in its value in the midst Of con-
stant commercial changes. The cheerful
ness, the happy, hopeful character wich
every woman displays at the beginning
of marriage is not SO easily lost as for
tune; it requires but a small share of the
attention, and yet SO often does not get
that little share. Therefore word to the
girls in this connection is in order; be-
ware Of man that doesn't know enough
about cheerfulness to understand it's value
in daily life. Such man would improve
the first opportunity to grind cheerful
ness out of his home, to frighten a sun
beam into shadow, and then wonder
what is the matter. Such is no better
than no husband at all; and when you
want husband 60 find somebody else
somebody who will give you at least some
chance to be happy far into. the lite be-
yond the honeymoon. :.