smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877




The fidelity and affectionate intimacy
of married bird-life appears most conspic-
uously in pairs Of the grosbeak family and
in small parrots. Here is perfect harmony
Of will and deed The two sweathearts
appear unwilling to leave one another's
company for moment all their life; they
do everything tcgether-eating and drink
ing, bathing, and dressing Of feathers,
sleeping and waking. Various degrees Of
affection and harmony are discernible on
close observation. Among the small gros-
beaks, pairs of which sit together, the in
innate relation is never disturbed; even
over the feeding-cup there is no quarrel
ing. They stand highest in this respect
among birds. Love tokens are exchanged
by pressing Of beaks together veritable
kissing, accompanied by loving gestures.
They are also more sociable, and even at
nesting time more peaceable, than other
birds. In the case Of other grosbeaks,
when the male bird sits by the female in
the nest, there are various demonstrations
Of affection, but also slight occasional dis
putes, especially about feeding time. Next
in order come the small parrots, which
also appear almost inseparable. The male
bird feeds his companion with seeds from
the crop. This goes on quite regularly
during the Matching and until the young
are somewhat grown. During all this time
the hen bird, which broods alone, never
leaves the nest but for few minutes, and
the cock shows such affectionate care that
the whole day he seems to do nothing but
take food and give il again Yet even
this loving union is marred from time to
time, even during the Matching time, with
quarrels that even come to blows. Again,
the male bird Of pair Of chafinches only
occasionally sits on the eggs or young, but
he watches the nest very carefully, singing
to his mate the while, accompanies the
hen in fight, and helps her in feeding the
young-Cadmbers' Journal.
Year: 1877

The controversy respecting the alleged
hibernation of swallows has received a new
contribution 10 letter written by Sir John
MeNeill TO his brother-in-law, the Duke Of
Argyll, and printed in recent number Of
Nature This letter, after some prelimi-
nary remarks, continues as follows:


about twenty-five miles south Of Tehe-
ran, the capital Of Persia, there is village
called Kenara-gird, near which is stream
Of brackish water running 10 deep bed
with nearly perpendicular banks some forty
or fifty feet high. Being largely impreg-
mated with salt, this stream is rarely II ever
frozen, and in frosty weather is resorted 10
by flights of wild ducks. During a frost
Of unusual severity, l went from Teheran
TO kenara-gird, accompanied by Sir Henry
Rawlinson, for the purpose of duck shoot
ing, the severity of the frost promising
good sport Having slept at the village
We next morning followed the downward
course of the stream along the north bank,
and had proceeded about mile, L think,
when We came to place where there had
quite recently been small landslip. The
brink of the bank to the extent Of perhaps
twenty feet in length, and ten or twelve
broad in the middle, tapering off to each
end, had slipped, but had not fallen down
the bank. Between this detached portion
and the perpendicular face about ten feet
high from which it had broken off, we saw,
to our surprise, number Of swallows, not
less, | am sure, than twenty or thirty, ly-
ing, as at first supposed, dead, but on
taking up one of them / found that ii was
alive but dormant; it was warm and its
breathing was quite perceptible. l exam
ined considerable number, and found
that they were all alive and breathing but
none Of them gave any sign Of conscious
ness. My attention was then attracted to
the perpendicular face on our left, from
which the slip had broken off, and which
was perforated by vast number Of holes
each about the size Of rat hole. On
looking into such Of these as / was tall
enough to sec into, / found in all Of them
swallows in the same dormant state. /
was able with finger and thumb to pull
out swallows frem several Of these holes,
and in each case found that the hole,
which penetrated horizontally a consider
able way into the bank, contained more
swallows in the same condition. In no
case did | see one lying on another-they
were all lying singly with their heads in
ward, each head touching the tail Of the
bird before it. How far these holes pene.
trated into the bank, or what number of
swallows each contained | did not ascer-
tain, but it is plain that the original en-
trance to those dormitories must have been
in the external face of the portion that
had slipped, which, as l have stated, was,
in the middle, from ten 10 twelve feet thick.
The holes in the undisturbed portion may
probably have been of equal or greater
length, and if SO the number Of swallows
alternating there must have amounted to
many hundreds"
Year: 1877

L. Page and son have been cutting wood
on Albright's place in the foothills, near
San Jose. They had noticed for several
days that number Of birds remained
constantly upon tree near them, some
going and coming from time to time.
Upon cutting down the tree they discov-
cred limb with hollow cavity, some two
feet in length and three or four inches in
diameter, in which were two full-grown
birds Of some goodly-sized species. There
was a small aperture through which the
birds were supplied with food from their
mates. The limb was cut and the birds
liberated. They were neither Of them able
to fly, having evidently never been out Of
Imprisonment. How they came inside is
q question. Il is more than probable that
the mother bird was small, and though
able to make her nest in the hollow Of tho
tree and rear her young could not extri-
cate them, aud they did not gain strength
enough TO help themselves until the hol-
low had closed 50 that escape was impossible.
Those who examined the birds think they
are about two years old. They have been
fed from their birth by their bird fellows
through the aperature ia the limb Of Che
tree. A nobler instance Of devotion even
the human family never exhibited.--San
Jose, Cal Mercury.
Year: 1877

Many person complain of always getting
up tired in the morning. This is very
often due to defective ventilation of the
bedroom, or from using an undue amount
Of bedclothes and bedding. Feather beds
are too soft and yielding, and partially en-
Pelop the sleeper, thus producing profuse
perspirations. The habit of lying too
much under blankets is also very pernie-
ious, by reasons of carbonic acid exhaled
by the sleeper being respired Again, it
is common error to suppose that, by sim
ply opening a window little at the top, a
room can be ventilated People forget
that for proper ventilation there must be
an inlet and outlet for the air. In bed
rooms there is often neither, and if there
is a fireplace it is generally closed up.
Again, it is mistake to suppose that foul
air goes to the top of the room. Certainly
the heated air goes to the top, but the
chief impurity, the carbonic acid, falls to
the bottom. There is nothing so effcacious
in removing the lower strata of air as the
ordinary fireplace, especially if there is a
fire burning. The usual defect in venti,
lation is the want Of a proper inlet for the
air. If tho window be open, the cold air,
being heavier, pours down into the room,
causing draughts; if the door be open, or
ajar, the same thing occurs. The perfec-
tion of ventilation may be obtained in any
room with fireplace, by simply providing
proper inlets for the air. By means of
upright tubes the heavier external atmo-
sphere ascends vertically through the
tubes, like the jet of fountain, displacing
the warmer and lighter atmosphere of the
room, which finds its exit up the chimney.
The tubes should communicate with the
outer air on level with the floor, and
should be carried vertically upward in the
room for about four or five feet 4 con-
slant supply of fresh air is thus insured
without the slightest liability to draught,
as the current goes directly upward until
it strikes the ceiling. It is then diffused
downward, mixed with the heated air of
the ceiling. The same principle can be
carried out in any room with sash-win-
dow, by cutting out two or three holes an
inch wide and three inches long in the
woodwork Of the upper sash where it joins
the lower one. The columns of air ascend
directly upward, just inside the window,
and mix with the heated air in the upper
part of the room. If this system were
universally carried out, We should hear less
Of rheumatism and chills caught by sitting
in draughts.
Year: 1877

agricultural implements, and employ about
so hands


Before closing this letter i will refer
briefly to other business interests of this
place. All branches are represented, aud
the merchants as a class are well supported,
not only by the residents of the town, but
those Of rural sections, who are exceed
ingly thrifty.


The Western Maryland Railroad, in
which all naturally feel an interest, is q
source Of great benefit to this section, and
is generally appreciated.


The Westminster people firmly believe
that their little city is destined to become
one Of the most important in the State, and
while we cannot positively agree with them,
L is certainly most pleasantly situated, high
lyproductiye, and with suitable industry
and energy its rapid growth is merely a
question of time. OK.
Year: 1877

There is little love nowadays, says a
Saratoga correspondent. 1t is found to be
poor paying investestment, and the
youth of our cities take little stock in IL.
There are any number Of fashionable
women here who have sold their youth
and charms for some old man gold. This
class always frequents this gay American
spa, and you will find them at Brigton and
Ems, and all over the European CONT
nent. Their aim in life is pleasure, and
SO they wander, for this bright delusion is
ever before the dazzled eye Of its follow
ers. At the States is very noticeable
lady Of this class-a lady with the cold
face Of marble, and graz e,'es that darken
with passion and fash with fascination.
She moves with the grace of Juno and
converses with the charm of a De Stael


She is courted in high places, and is a
queen of the fashionable world Only
brief period ago she was unknown and un-
loved. On the return voyage from Europe
she met the man whom she made her fate
"a man who has almost reached the three
score and ten years Of man short, unsatis-
factory life--a man well known in the
great marts Of trade and in the great CEN
tres Of fashion. Twice before he had
tasted the sweets and bitters of matrimo-
ny, but not until this charmer came did he
really know what love was, he says.
She pets and cajolcs the old gentleman
and luxuriates in his fortune and in his
princely home. From plain dresses and a
plain life she swept into velvets and gems
and position; and with this loveless heart
and this glittering life is not woman of
her kind happier than she would be as the
wife Of a poor man who could gise her
nothing but love and mediocrity? She
may be, but how much better is she who
sells herself for gold in matrimony than the
common barlot2 And how much better
is he than a fornicator? To plate sin
with gold does not make it less sinful.
Year: 1877

At Dudley, England, recently, an inter.
esting experiment was made with view
to testing new system Of killing cattle by
means of dynamite. Two large power
full horses and adonkey disabled for work J
were ranged in line about half a yard
apart under shed, the donkey being
placed in the centre. A small primer Of
dynamite, with an electric fuse attached,
was then placed under each Of their fore
heads and fastened in position by a piece
Of string under the jaw. The wires were
then coupled up in the circuit. and attach
ed to the electric machine which stood
about five yards in 'front.' The handle Of
the machine being then turned, an electric
current was discharged, which exploded
the three charges simultaneously, and the
animals instantly fell dead without strug-
gle. The whole affair was over in two
minutes, and the experiment appears to
have been a perfect success, the animals
being despatched much more expeditions
ly and with much less suffering than by
the ordinary pole axe. BY this means, it
is stated, any number, even hundred or
more cattle, may be instantly killed by the
same current of electricity.
Year: 1877

A FEW HINTS ABOUT SILVER PLATED
WARE.-By the Electro-process it is pos
sible to spread single silver dollar over
hundreds Of square feet of surface, and
cover 1t so perfectly that nothing but pure
silver will be seen, but the thin film quick
y wears of. By the same process con
tinued, the silver coat may be put on to any
desired thickness. twill be seen, then, that
the real value of plated ware depends upon
the honesty and Integrity Of the manufac-
turer. We would hardly take as gin
much Of the plated ware sold in the gen
eral market. Some Of those articles can
be bought very low, but they are dear al
any price.
Year: 1877

One Of the oldest residences on New
York Island is at Eighty-f6urth street and
the Boulevard. 1t was used by Washing
ton in his retreat from Long Island, and
was the home Of Edgar A. Poe when he
wrote "The Raven.
Year: 1877


Only some withered blossoms,
Crumbling to dry decay;
Only glove half torn in two,
And idly cast away.
Only a heart that is breaking
That is if hearts COULD break;
Only a man adrift for life,
All for woman's sake.
Only few such tokens,


PrIZed by love-sick fool;
Nought but the ashes that strew the


ground
When loves hot flame grows cool.
Not the first man by thousands,
The dupe of a heartless fiirt;
Not the first time that priceless love
Was treated like common dirt.
Only in jesti You know it
Now, though it's rather late
Rather too late to turn in your life,
And seek for another fate.
You're not man like thousands,
With a heart that will veer and twirl
And feel glow at the. word and glance
Ofevery flirting girl.
Finish'd for ever and lost;
Wreck'd by a treacherAus smile;
Following madly the Will-o'- -the-Wisp
Happy, if but for awhile
Only heart that is broken
That is if hearts COULD break;
Only man adrift for life,
All for woman's sake.
Year: 1877

The fall trade presents a very lovely
aspect in New York, judging from the
following special to the Cincinnati Cone
naeiciaE. The week has been character
lied by an increase in business over that
of any previous one this fall. The mer-
chants continue to report excellent sales,
and the dry goods men especially note
the welcome prosperity. The volume
of business promises to be double that
of last fall. New York streets haYe not
presented so brisk and business-like an
appearance since the panic, and her
tradesmen have not been so much en-
couraged. They look for still greater
benefits in the spring, arguing that by
that time the money put in motion by
the abundant crops viii have reached
the East The universal comment in
Broadwsy sales rooms is that the bottom
of trade stagnation has been knocked
out, and that better times have come to
stay.
Year: 1877

And at last, John set him at lib
erty. sending him flying little more
readily by giving him sharp kick
with his anything but light boot.


81 saw him again q week after,
said John, "and he was carrying a
pair Of sandwhic boards. I knew
that he was only trying it on. and
that the poisoning was dodge. But
don't think he'll ever try to poison
himself any more. At least, he ad-
ded. after a pause, and his face
puckered up with a joyial smile
mot with chalk
Year: 1877

The Secretary OF the Treasury
will communicate to Congress in
connection with the Estimation for
the appropriation for the support Of
the army for the current fiscal year,
estimates for such other deicieness
in different branches of the public
Year: 1877

very strict adherence to honesty the
money loaner can easily escape all tax
alton. By statute law and by the theory
of political economy it might as well be
admitted that the Connecticut money
loaner who holds mortgage for $40, :
900, (for money actually loaned on
Illinois real property can not be made
to pay one cent in support of either the
local or national government; but to
reconcile this principle with any princi-
pie of justice might furnish Mr.. Wells
with a subject for another twenty page
article in the atlantic Monthly
Year: 1877

A clergyman was annoyed by people
talking and giggling. He paused, looked
at the disturbers, and said: I" [ am al
ways afraid to reprove those who mis-
behave, for this reason. Some years
since, as | was preaching, q young man
who sat before me was constantly laugh
ing, talking and making uncouth grim
aces. L paused and administered Sc
we're rebuke. After the close of the SER
vice a gentleman said to me, Sir, you
have made a great mistake; that young
man was an IDIOT Since then [ have
always been afraid to reprove those who
misbehave themselves in chapel, lest |
should repeat that mistake and reprove
another idiot" During the rest of the
service there was good order
Year: 1877

the suit The defense made, it is said,


shows unmistakably that there was a


perfect understanding between plain


tiffs and defendants, and the Court was
compelled to decide the case as pre-
sented before it, This case was prosecu-
ted with such perfect secrecy that not


another miller in the United States


knew of It's existence until it was termi-
mated. Now it is upon this case as thus


presented that this. Washington ring


ask all the millers of the country to pay


them a royalty on every barrel of flour


made in the country. If they have the
right to collect anything they can as


well collect fifty cents barrel or $25,-
100000 year as a less sum. Having
obtained their Supreme Court decision
they next applied for an injunction
against the great Washburn mill at
Minneapolis, and pending hearing of
the case the proprietors were compelled
to give bond in the sum of $250,000
before they could continue to use and
occucpy their property. As soon as
this action was had threatening circu-
lars were sent to all the Inillers of the
country, telling them that the pro-
prietors of the Washburn mill could not
get decision for several years, and
all that time would have to work on in
uncertainty as to whom they are work


ing for, and that other millers must pay
up at once or be enjoined. We do not
hear ofany millers being frightened or
compromising, but they all feel uneasy
to think that it is in the power Of an I'M
scrupulous irresponsible and corrupt
Washington ring to subject them to
injunctions until their rights can be
legally determined. 1t seems to US
that there ought to be way to very sum-
marily dispose of this matter and relieve
public anxiety. 1t looks like a conspiracy
of stupendous proportions. Every man
woman and child in the United States
outside of the conspirators is interested
i'll having it speedily exposed. Let the
public demand that on the assembling
of Congress Committee shall be APP
pointed charged with the investigation
of the whole subject, and our word for
it, no one will be troubled after that.
Year: 1877

IDLENEss, as has been truly said, is
the mother of crime; and it is the true
road to poverty. We are all so consti-
tuted that our minds must be employed.
Persons brought up in idleness and lux
ury, often acquire bad habits which
they never throw off through life and
which aid in premature death. The
associations in life are various, and all
ought to be employed in some useful
calling, and to faithfully discharge that
calling
Year: 1877

ALTHOUGH the accounts of the fight
ing in Bulgaria during the past few days
indicates that the Turks have really sue
ceeded in gaining considerable territory


by assuming the offensive in the con-
fiict; it is not at all certain that the
movement is a wise one The side of
the offensive belongs to Russia and it is


exceedingly doubtful whether a condition


of things had arisen that warranted the
Turkish commander in assuming the


offensive. The advantages of defensive


over offensive warfare are great beyond
computation. In the case of the great
rebellion in this country the greatest


mistake of the southern general was
that of assuming the offensive and eros
sing the Potomac. The defeat of Lee


at Gettysburg was his greatest defeat.


1t did more to intensity the war feeling
in the north and to demoralize the


armies of the south than any other one


battle of the war 1t is more than half


the battle to have an army confident


that it can win the victory. Even the
valor of the Turks will sooner or later


give way if repeatedly hurled against the


earthworks of largely superior forces.


Turkey cannot afford to block up the


Schipka pass with her dead soldiers and
while Ottoman armies can boast of no


more valiant warrior than Suleiman


Pasha, there is exceeding great danger
that he may prove very bad comman-
! der for the Turks at this time Turkey


needs all her soldiers and he is the best
commander for the Turks who best


guards the lives of his men The chances


are all in the direction of disaster to the
! Turks as a result of the offensive opera
tiOns of the Turkish commanders. No
amount of reclaimed earthwOrks or re-
captured towns and villages, or even re-


captured mountain passes will COM


penSate Turkey for the depletion Of


her armies. Soldiers are everything


and territory nothing to the Sultan. The
valor of the Turks in assuming the


offensive against the Russian armies


cannot but be admired by all disinterest-


ed nations but time will in all proba-
| bility convince even the Turks that it is


unwise in military point of view.
Year: 1877

Almost all men are over-anxious. No
sooner do they enter the world, than
they lose that taste for natural and sim
pie pleasures so remarkable in early life.
Every hour do they ask themselves what
progress they have made in the pursuit
of wealth or honor; and on they 60 as
their fathers went before them, till, weary
and sick at heart, they look back with
a sigh of regret to the golden times of
their childhood
Year: 1877

Washington kilograms of Aug. 27tl
say that application has been made tC
the Treasury Department for permis
sion for the reimportation of French
works of art owned in This country to be-
exhibited at the French Exposition
This application was made by the State
Department to the Treasury at the in
stance of the French Minister. The
Acting Secretary of the Treasury replies
that it would be contrary to law to grant
this request. but. that the subject would
be laid before Congress Immediately
upon its convening.
Year: 1877

WE have been presented with q bottle Of
WeimAr's Hair InvigOratOr, very hand
somely put up and wrapped In a circular
containing testimonials to it's excellence
from leading physicians, druggists and
business men OF this city. From these,
and a knowledge Of its principal ingro-
dients, we do not hesitate to recommend
IL, and when its virtues become generally
known no toilet table will be considered
completely furnished without it. Try a
bottle and be convinced.
Year: 1877

THE quiet but incisive manner in
which Gen. Devens disposes of Wen
dell Phillips is decidedly artistic.
''When Mr.. Phillips calls you liar, a
villain and a scoundrel," says Gen.
Deveus, she merely means that he does
not agree with you. He is a maker of
phrases, and must have some one to
apply them to. One thing is very EVIL
dent, that the emancipation of the ne
gro, while it was very good thing for
the negro, was very bad thing for
Phillips; it took away his stock in
trade. There is no use in calling
names. Here is this important and
difficult Southern problem to be set
tied. We are desirous of having the
negro protected and his interests ad-
vanced, but his interests cannot be ad-
vanced by keeping HIM perpetually in
a state of war with the men who are
superior to him in intellect and wealth
and courage" There is abundance OF
goodDatured, gentlemanly contempt
about that summing up of the case
that is worth whole reams of recrim-
NATIVE rhetoric.