smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

A CORRESPONDENT of the St. Paul
Pioneer Press describes the use of gold
dust as currency as the greatest nuisance
of the Black Hills. Each man is pro-
vided with his buckskin sack, and no
matter what he buys, be it plug of to-
bacco for ten cents, or an outfit for sew
ersl hundred dollars, he must weigh the
amount out in dust. This is u yexatious
process, and of course cannot he often re-
peated without considerable percentage
OF waste. Gold is taken at eighteen dol
lars in greenbacks, and all shopkeepers
give two prices. A movement is on foot
t. remedy this evil by adding consider
able percentage to the price Of goods
sold for dust, and many of the more
sensible miners are beginning to sell
their dust as they bring it in, and do
their trading with paper money. Form
erly there was much risk in taking gold
dust, MS it was mixed with a material
that it was impossible to detect by any
test except that of acid, and few could
spare the time to submit the dust to that
process. Now the dust is comparatively
clean and safe to handle.
Year: 1877

A LATE nobleman, in whose character
vanity and parsimony were the most re-
markable features, was, for long time
before he died, in the habit of retailing
the produce of his dairy aud his orchard
TO the children and the poor people of
his neighborhood. II is told that one
day, observing pretty little girl trip
ping through his grounds with milk
can, he stopped to kiss her after which
he said, in pompous tone, "Now, my
dear, you may tell your grandchildren
that you had once the honor Of receiving
a kiss from the Right Honorable, the Earl
of B." The child looked up into
his face, and, with a strange mixture OF
and archness, remarked, But
you took the penny for the milk, though
Year: 1877

The OLD MAN.-Bow low the head
boy do reverence to the old man. Once
like you, the vicissitudes of life have
silvered the hair, and changed the round,
merry face to the worn visage before you


Once that heart beat with aspirations
equal to any you have felt-aspirations
crushed by disappointment, as yours are,
perhaps, destined to be. Once that form
stalked proudly through the gay scenes
of pleasure, that beau-ideal of grace; now
the hand of Time, that withers the flower
of yesterday, has warped that figure and
destroyed the noble carriage. Once, at
your age, he possessed the thousand
thoughts that pass through your brain
now wishing to accomplish deeds worthy
Of nook in the temple of fame; anon
imagining life dream that the sooner he
awoke from the better But he has lived
the dream very near through. The time
to awake is very near at hand; yet his
eye ever kindles at old deeds of daring,
and the hand takes q firmer grasp at the
staff. Bow low the head, boy, as you
would in your old age be reverenced.
Year: 1877

MEASURING BY THE EYE.-YearS ago,
Us correspondent, when we went t.
school in a little weather beaten school
house, what exciting contests there used
to be over the teachers favorte exercise
of having the scholars estimate, with the
eye, the size and weight Of d tferent OBJ
iects in the room. He would hold up
his cane, aud have each one tell how long
he thought it was, aud it was a lucky
child that could come within half foot
of the right length. He would measure
an nrchin, and then have the scholars try
to reproduce the measure on the wall
He would mark off all inch or foot or u
yard in some conspicuous place, and then
zee how near anybod could come to
chalking the same length on the black
board. And it was astonishing how wide
astray one would 60. The fact is, our
eyes deceive us ridiculously, even upon
the commonest things. At first thought,
which should you say was the taller, u
three year-old child or -four barrel 2
And could anything bnt actual measure
ment convince you that the same child is
half as high as a ixfooterl There is an
old saying, that child two years old is
half as tail as he ever will be; and after
a few experiments in measuring, one can
easily believe it, but not before.
Year: 1877

SHELLINe TURTLES tortoise shsll
of commerce is merely the scales that
cover the bony shields of the turtle.
These scales are thirteen in number, va
rying from an eighth to quarter of an
Inch in thickness. A large turtle will fur
nish about eight pounds. "To detach
this shell from the living turtle" says
one who has seen the operation, sis a
cruel process which made my blood creep
to witness. The fishers do not kill the tur-
ties. Did they do so they would in few
years exterminate them. When the tur-
tie is caught, they fasten him, and cover
his back with dry leaves of grass 70
which they set fire. The heat causes the
plates to separate at their joints. A large
knife is then carefully inserted horizon
tally beneath them, and the lamin@ lifted
from the back, care being taken not to
injure the she'll by too much heat, nor to
force it off until the heat has prepared it
for separation. Many turtles die under
this cruel operation, but instances are
numerous in which they have been caught
u second time with the outer coating re-
produced; but in such cases instead OF
thirteen pieces it is single piece.
never could bring myself to witness this
cruelty more than once, and was glad
the process Of scaling was carried on out
of sight of the hut. Had the poor turtles
the power of shrieking, they would have
made the barren island very hell with
their cries Of torture"
Year: 1877

RUssELLvILLE, Sept 1, 1877. To the Editor of the DEMOCRAT:

 At meeting of the citizens of Pope county, Aug. 25, I was one of seven citizens elected Directors to proceed with the preparations nec- essary for holding a County Fair, and as I understand it to hold our first meeting at Russellville to day; in obedience to that request l went to Russellville for that purpose. But six of the seven directors failed to meet-not thinking or knowing that to-day was the time for the first meeting; so l turned for home. On the road l thought of the request that we furnish the DEMOCRAT with the proceedings of each meeting,l so I decided to hold a meeting and make a minority report. l took the Chair, and decided to act as Secreta- ry also; on motion of Commonscnse it was resolved to dispense with the usual parliamentary rules, and pro ceed to business.

 The necessity of holding County as we'll as State Far was discussed and it was decided a step in the right direction; one that should prompt every good citizen to take hold and act his part and not let a failure be the result, as it would have atendency to detract great deal of the importance attached to the flattering reports of our country sent out through our papers, by i'm migration societies, &c., and make them appear exaggerated; which would cause the immigrant to stop, and think and perhaps say "It is strange that they have such fine timber, soil, water &c., and raise such fine blooded stock, and grain, fruit, grasses, pretty babies, &c., that takes the blue ribbon at the Centen- nial exhibition, and then can't have county fair-something wrong"

 But should we succeed in having q well conducted County Far it would have tendency to confirm said re ports concerning our country, and turn the tide of immigration toward us; stimulate the old settlers to ac. tion, and forward movement with general prosperity and good feeling would be the result.

 Therefore it was unanimously re solved that we should have fair, Ii it this time we did not succeed, try try again, because each one cant exhibit pretty babe or a fine bus of potatoes, is no excuse for not talk ing hold. We can pay our way in and look it those that is exhibited.

 On motion tn. meeting adjourned subject to the call of the other six Directors, and should the whole thing prove failure, we purpose te to tell the cause. #. A. w.
Year: 1877

 How often think that THIS DAY shall Full of good deeds and pure thoughts

 for me. But alas! when at nightfall the day is

 reviewed, find that the evils o'erbalance the

 good. Some chance words in anger, some

 careless ones spoken; Some duties undone, some promises

 broken; And my heart grows faint as the page

 read OCT, And memory recalls the days of yore. For the days in the past were much

 like this day, My hopes seem ever doomed to decay, My good resolves broken, my joy

 turned to grief, And restless I seek but find no relief. How wretched, how helpless, how

 weary feel As at the footstool of mercy tremb-

 lingly kneel, And wishing for aid try to pray But my thoughts and feelings are far

 away. Give me one day in which thought and

 deed Will be good and pure as the spirit need, To which can look back with no vain regret, On which the sun has smilingly set.
Year: 1877

On Saturday evening about five O'Clock, a
young lady of this city was out riding horse
back, and when crossing the railroad at
Market street, the horse become frightened
at . shifter, that was coming alongj dashed
oil, throwing the young lady to the ground
aud dragging her for some distance. When
picked up she was almost unconscious, but
was soon able to 60 her way home. The
horse after running to Second street, was
caught,
Year: 1877

The Libetal League met yesterday morR-
ing in the Nc Clary Builuiug. President
Clayey in the chair.


The question for debate' Resolved that the
only hope for abolishing drunkenness is to
be found in education. was discussed at
some length with spirit impartiality. The
letter of DR.. Hicke, which was published 10
the Republican few day ago, will be
brought up at the next meeting for
discussion.
Year: 1877

Here are the Resolutions passed
touching the Public Debt by the
Richmond Convention. We propose
to keep them standing during the
Campo; ;gn.- Editor News.


ResOlued.-That the conservative
Party OF Virginia are resolved to pre-
serve inviolate the public faith and
credit, yet we cannot but view with
concern and anxiety the accumulation
of our financial difficulties, and the
increasing weight o! our public debt
We therefore earnestly urge upon the
legislative aud executive branches of
the government the importance Of
using all just snd honorable means of
bringing about an adjustment of the
obligations of the Commonwealth
which will bring the payment of in
terest upon our entire Indebtedness
within the resources of the State de-
rived from the present rate Of taxation,
and do equal justice to all classes of
cur creditors.


I'd. That every effort should be
used hy the legislative department of
the State to reduce the expenditures
Of the government and return to the
methods Of frugslity. economy, and
moderation practiced by our forefa-
theirs and approved by former genera
tious of Virginians, even in the pal
miest days of our prosperity.


3d.-That in the approaching cleo
tlOns of members of the Legislature it
Is earnestly recommended by the Con
yention that the people shall elect
their representatives with view to
their ability to deal with the difficult
ties presented by the financial situa-
tion Of the Commonwealth.
Year: 1877

The sewing-machine combination and
monopoly seems at last to be in fair
way to be broken up, or at least kept
within somewhat reasonable bounds.
The attempts Of the monopolists to Sc
cure continuance of their patents have
failed, and from this day forth some of
the most valuable patents are free.
Among these are the needle-the most
important of all-and the four-motion
feed 1t remains to be seen whether
enough patents are still unexpired to
give the old monopoly a somewhat
longer lease of life. Probably not, or
the companies would not have taken so
deep an interest in the continuance of
the patents just expired. It is very
likely that hereafter it will not be posi-
BILE to buy an American machine in
England or France. pay freight and du-
ties to this country, and then make a
large profit by selling at the ruling
prices here. Parties who think of pur-
chasing may as well wait awhile, and see
what will happen to the price of ma
chimes. Machines which now cost from
S65 to $50 can be sold at handsome
profit for 1870 to $50, and possibly they
will be sold at some such figures one of
these days.-Chicago Times.
Year: 1877

We took prisoner this morning, who
says you frustrated their plans and saved
the army. Heaven bless you for that
good act. But I mist leave you now, for
[ am going to follow Rawdon, and teach
him that we can fight. When are you
going home ?"


Z" In a few minutes, General"


Good-by, and may you have safe
journey" responded Green, shaking her
by the hand.


Her horse was led forth, and she was
soon on her way to her home, which was
reached in safety.


Kate Heath lived to see the war close,
and peace and plenty spread their
wings over the land, and not long after
ward she was welded to Walter Gordon,
who had been a Colonel in the American
army
Year: 1877

The contracts for arms made by the
Turkish Government are frequently
spoken of, and many express the opinion
that our position as q neutral power Will
compel the Government to prevent the
shipment of such arms to Turkey. 1t is
claimed that this is an erroneous impress
sion, and those high in authority argue
that either of the belhgerent powers can
purchase arms or munitions OF war IN
this country, our only duty as friendly
power being to treat both sides alike.
1t may be stated that the arms made
here for Turkey are paid for before de-
livery, the money for that purpose being
deposited in London by the Turkish au-
thorities to tllo credit of the American
makers when the arms are ready for
shipment. Under the terms of contract
the maker is allowed to retain 80, 900
stands of arms, after they are paid for,
as a guarantee that the Turkish Govern
ment will fulfill its part of the contract
and pay for every arm ordered Wash
6agtc,e Cor. NeaU York Tribune.
Year: 1877

Fishes have no eyelids and necessarily
sleep with their eyes open they swallow
their food whole, having no dental ma
chinery furnished them. Frogs, toads
and serpents never take food but that
which they are satisfied is alive. When
a bee, wasp or hornet stings it is nearly
always at the expense of its life. Ser
pents are so tenacious of life that they
will live for six months or longer without
food. Seals can be trained to perform
many curious tricks. 1t is believed that
crocodiles live to be hundreds of years
old The Egyptians emjalmed them.
In South America there is a prolific
honey bee which has not been furnished
with a sting. The head of the rattle
snake has been known to infict a fatal
wound after being severed from the
body.
Year: 1877

There is hive in my garden,
Such as one sometimes gees
In dear old country places


Close by the orchard trees
house full of little people,


Swarming with busy bees;
You may have seen them often,
But never any like these.
There are flowers in my garden
That are good enough for me,
But not for these nice small folk,
Though once they used to be;
SO they have found ont others,
To which at will they fee:
They are sometimes SO long absent
1 think they cross the sea.
They all come back to my garden,
Wherever they have been
Back to my hive in my garden,
And its mysterious queen.
Hark you can hear them singing,
At work in the cells unseen;
They are singing and making honey
You don't know what 1 mean?
If you knew more of poets,


And how their poems grew,
You would understand my beehive,
And its swarm of fancies too;
How they fly tc other mems gardens,
And steal as other mems do
They have stolen this jar of honey,
Which, lady. 1 offer you.
d3DeT's WeeELy
Year: 1877

THE TRIBUNE Office is the only one in the CITY
run by steam power, and has the largest and
best appointed Job Printing Department.. Par
ticular attention paid to orders for fine work.
Year: 1877




OK Thursday last, Patrick Egan
and son who live about one and three
foarths miles from Highland came
to Mineral Point, with two loads of
dry-bone and were run out Of town
10y the authorities OF that city, not
because they, or their dry bone was
infected with small pox, nor because
either had been exposed to the small
poX, bat simply, because they did
not live just oue-tourth of II mile
further away from the village OF
Highland, What n liberal minded
set they must he in Mineral Point
PiatteviAe Witness.


The above is only one OF series
of malicious Angs at Mineral Point
that have appeared in tho Witness
lately. The management Of that
paper evidently harbors no good
feeling toward our city-why. we
cannot imagine--cnd avails himself
Of every opportunity afforded to
vent his spleen. That Eyan and
s0u were "run out OF town" is wholly
untrue. They came, as we hear,
knowing their presence was viola
ton of the city ordinances, and
departed uumolested. That they
were noiiicially advised to do mp
their business as quickly as practic
able and take their leave. is tho
fact, as we are assured.


Ia adopting precautionary meas
ures against the introduction OF
small poX among our people, the city
authorities bat obeyed the d ctates Of
the first law of nature, self preserva-
ton. That some people of High
land should feel it hardship is no.
surprising, but that those who give
the subject proper consideration
viii condemn the course Of Mineral
Point, we do not fear. Dodgevile's
course toward the afflicted village
has been precisely the same as that
/ Of Mineral Point; yet we hear 10
such aspcrsions cast upon D,igeville
as are flung ct Mineral Point 10y the
! Witness aud others. II those who
complain Of the course Of Mineral pt.
could realize the losses sustained
! here by decline Of business on 40 ..
count Of the restriction upon com
muuication with Highland, they
would see the improperly Of accus-
ing our people OF ilIiberality.
Year: 1877

THE ballot has produced one almost incredi.
bic effect upon the women Of Wyoming. II is
averred that some of them actually declare
themselves older than they really are in order
to get chance to vote. 4 contemporary con-
sidcrs it probable that Wyoming is the only
place on earth where such a thing ever hap
pencd The fascination of politics upon the
human mind never had a more striking illus
tratinn-
Year: 1877

IT Is painful to relate that two cadets left
the Academy at Annapolis and went West to
hunt the bounding buffalo. They were
sought after, and were found drinking brandy
and soda at an Omaha bar. Gpod gracious
What promising officers for our future navy
Year: 1877

and moisture, and to do any good they
should be renewed as often as they be-
come cool. If covered with oiled silk
they need not be so frequently renewed.
just enough mustard may be mixed with
these poultices to make them gently
stimulating, and whenever mustard is
employed as a counter-irritant for chill
dren it should always be combined with
flaxseed, flour, or something of the kind


Apparently more simple than these
things, yet really requiring more care
and Judgment in its use, is cold water.
For robust, healthy children attacked
with sore throat or bronchitis, compress
es of cold water will often work like a
charm-the soreness will vanish, the
tough phlegm loosen up, the breathing
grow easy, and the chill fall off into a
sweet sleep. For delicate children, hot
or quite warm water may be used in
stead of cold. This powerful therapeu-
must be used with judgment and eau
ton. The napkin should be folded from
two to four thicknesses; it should be
wrung so dry that no water should drip
from or be easily squeezed from it. Then
it should be covered with thickness up
on thickness of fiannel-it s better to be
in the excess than otherwise-and these
should be brought down very closely
around the person. The entrance of air
under the covering would be fatal to all
hopes of a good reaction. If the remedy
is to do good the sense of chilliness will
give way in a few minutes to a pleasant
warmth, and in half an hour or little
more the surface under the compress
should be glowing red and perspiring
The wet cloths can then be removed
the skin washed off with cold water, rub.
bed dry and warm, and covered lightly
but warmly with flannel. If the re
action does not speedily occur the wet
compress should be thrown aside, fan.
nels, wrung out of hot water substituted


and every means used to counteract tho
effect of the chill.-An.ie NJ. Hale, M


d., IN Chicago Tribune.
Year: 1877

Last summer pair of robin red
breasts built their nest in the vicinity of
a fashionable country clearinghouse.
In due time the heads of four young
robins were observed by some of the
boarders peering above the sides of the
nest, when some thoughtless boys pass
ing that way shot both the parent birds,
and left the young ones to perish. The
ladies and gentlemen, moved to pity by
the hapless condition of the poor birds,
were devisinT plans for their relief, when
little brown wren flew to the nest, sur
veyed the unfortunate state of things for
a moment, then disappeared. In few
minutes it returned, bearing food of
some kind to the starving robins. Much
surprised at this the human sympathiz-
ers resolved to await further develop
ments before proceeding to put their
plan into operation, and were delighted
to find the wren had in real good earn
est assumed the care of that orphan
family. With untiring energy it hunted
worms and food of such kind as was
suited to the wants and tastes of its pro-
teges, and continued its kindly Offices
until the birds were frill-fedged and able
to take care of themselves Phsladel-
1)hju Star.
Year: 1877

All through New England, in every
factory village, samples of slavery may
be seen, and, with the exception, per-
haps, of that degrading feature of the
Southern evil-the traffic in human flesh
an infinitely worse species than the
negroes ever experienced. InNorwich,
the headquarters of abolitionism, there
are children of the tender ages of eight,
nine and ten years of age employed in
the factories eleven or more hours per
day, and earning all the way from fifty
cents to one dollar per week. The poor
slave in the factory has to work and
stave both. 1t is easy to say that they
have liberty and are not obliged to stay
under such circumstances. They are
obliged to remain-hoping for better
times--or adopt the lives of tramps.
Money they have not, and an effort to
beg their way to some other place would
subject them to be considered as out
casts.


Notwithstanding the stringent law up
on the statute-book regarding sending
the children to school, there is hardly
any doubt of its frequent violation
Parents are compelled through want to
keep them constantly at work, and even
then they are unable to provide thei1
families with the common necessities OF
life If they dare to vote according to
their conscience they are discharged al
the convenience of the Superintendent
as was the case in Taftville since the
last election.-Hartford Times.
Year: 1877

Several years ago, when the seventeen
year locusts visited us, 1 noticed, one
morning in August, that the bees were
going to the woods pretty lively. There
were no flowers in that direction, and
the weather was such that no honey
dew could be looked for. ] followed
them to the mountain. and there among
the rock oak, their busy hum could be
heard for a considerable distance. An
examination proved that where the To-
Gusts had punctured the small branches,
a sweet substance exuded, which the
bees were collecting in considerable
quantities; i'm fact some gathered 20 lbs
from this source. Its taste was rather
unpleasant, but the bees wintered well
on it.


While the bees were working on this
substance one cool morning, about sun
rise, the fog was stealing softly up the
rayine towards my apiary, which is sit
uated at the end of a deep ravinc, the
workers had then male their first sally.
In a moment everything was shr0nded
in one of those thick fogs that come in
a moment and are gone as soon. Just
at that moment came to the scene Of
action; no bee was visible, except one
now and then issuing from a hive. but
as quickly returning. Iheard strange
sound, as it were i'm the clouds, increas-
ing in volume. Itwas the sound of the
main force OF fifty hiyes-heayy-laden
bees lowering above the thick fog in
vain trying to find their hives. 1t was
a scuLthrilling sound, only to be heard
once in lifetime. Half-a-dozen swarms
on the wing at once, is nothing to be
compared TO it. Like everything else,
it cane TO an end. The sun gently
lifted the fog, and then such q rush--the
approach Of a sudden shower would
never produce as much commotion.-
AnericaR Bee Journal.