smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

AT Aylmer, Canada, a few days ago, an
act was performed by girl seventeen
years old which was as heroic as it's result
was mourntul. Her little brother, who
was left in her care during the absence of
their mother, fell through the ice into a
deep creek, near the shore Of which he
was playing. She plunged in after him,
and getting him to the surface, thrust him
by main strength into position of safety,
although by so doing she knew that she
was losing her only chance of escape.
When his hands had grasped something
on the bank by which he could draw him
self out, she calmly bade him brace his feet
against her and Chamber up. The fright
ened boy did so, and the pressure thus
brought to bear upon his sister pushed
her beneath the ice, where her body was
| afterwards found
Year: 1875

A Rifle bears part in the romance Of
the WYt. 1t is now 1870 years old and
was exhibited the other day in q Louisville
newspaper office. Its origin is involved
in obscdrity, but it went across the Ohio
with one Of Boone's colonists who nvaI-
ed the dark and bloody ground and built
the little fort at Boonesborough. With it
is an ancient powder horn, ornamented
with beads made OF the quills of porcu-
pines which were killed in the early days
of Kentucky. 1t is quaint and awkward
weapon, clumsy enough alongside of the
modern Spencer and Winchester breech-
leaders, but nevertheless there might be
weaved about it a web of romance upon
the wool Of poetry. 1t is mutely eloquent
of the times when the founders of that
great empire of the West stirred not out
side Of doors unless they carried their ri
fies in their hands, when the forests were
filled with brute and human foes, and the
sites OF now populous cities were the hunt
ing grounds of Indians and the lairs oil
wild beasts. Now ii has passed into his
tory, but it is a memorial Of the days
when its trusty barrel felt the fierce grip
OF the pioneer who stood between his wife
and children and the savage enemy.
Year: 1875

A ToUGH SToNAcH.-The 1oko-
hama, Japan, Herald relates a re-
markable occurrence which shows
that some of the japanese have an
extraordinary capacity for withstand
ing the effects of fiery potatlons. An
Osaka man offered a prize TO any one
who would drink one OSe-one quart,
one pint, AM one-balf a gill-ot GER
tain native liquor about as strong as
spirits of wine. \ coo.ie performed
the feat, but died the same day from
the effects of it. They buried him in
a shallow grave, and about midnight
the next day the earth absorbed the
liquor from his well soaked body, and
be woke up from his debauch. Pushing
off the light soil that covered him, he
rose from the grave in white shrond,
and started some robbers near by who
were counting and dividing their
money. They took the strange appar-
ition for a ghost, and ran oft IN dis
may. The cooIie picked up the cash
and reported to his wife the same
night a sadder bat richer man than he
was before his spree.
Year: 1875

a QUEER WAY To Be KILLED.
GreenviIle Adcocate Mr.. Pickett
Boggan, respectable citizen of more
than forty years residence in this
country, met a most singular death at
his home, near Pine Apple, a short
time since. He was sitting in the
piazza Of his house, in a rocking chair
and near the railing or bannister, his
feet resting at the edge Of the flooring.
In this position his feet slipped off the
floor toward the ground, his body be-
ing allowed to follow on account of
the moving forward of the chair on
the rockers; his chin caught on the
upper railing, and the back of the chair
came up against the back of his head,
and so remained, so that he was suS-
pended in this singular manner. Be-
ing quite old and infrm, he was uu-
able to extricate himself, and the
weight Of his body resting on his chin
prevented his opening his month to
call for help, and he thus died from


scrangulation.
Year: 1875

Tue WONDERS OF A FLEA.-When
flea Is made to appear as large as IN
elephant, we can see ali the wonder
ful parts of its formation, and are as
tonished to find that it has coat OF
armor much more complete than ever
warrior wore, and composed of strong
polished plates fitted over each other,
each plate covered like a tortoise shell
ani where they meet hundreds OF
strong quilIs project, like those on the
back OF purcupine and hedge hcg.
There is the arched neck, the bright
eye, the transparent cases, the piercers
to puncture the skin, a sucker to draw
away the blood, six long, ,iointed legs,
four of WEIGH are folded on the breast,
all ready at any moment to be thrown
ont with tremendous force for that
Jump which botherS one when they
want to catch him, and at the end of
each leg hooked claws 10 enable him
TO cling to whatever he alights upon.
4 flea can jump a hundred times It's
own length, which is tie same as if a
man jumped six hundred feet and he
can draw load two hundred times
his own weight.
Year: 1875

a FRENCH gardener is said to have
experimental with a view to ascer-
taIning how far a toad could be used
IN the capacity of a carrier pigeon.
Observing one that spent hours daily
IN the neighborhood of hive on the
chance of swapping up few of its in.
mates, 1t was by him made the sub
Ject OF an experiment. A pink rib
bon was tied around his neck, and he
was carried 10 a distance of some nine
miles from the place and there left.
forty-elght hours later the toad again
sat watching the bees darting to and
from the hive.
Year: 1875

\ rustic hanging basket suspended from
the arch Of bay window is pretty sight.
The rustic effect is produced by prongs of
wood nailed 10 a bowl. The basket should
be hung Just high enough to s,nartly catch
the head Of the person rising beneath it. One
such basket, with the prou5s firmly nailed
on, will DO more TO advance knowledge o +
astronomy in Il family than all the text books
IN Christendom.
Year: 1875

There seems to be some misspprehen.
ion as to the real ground upon which the
Postmaster General bases his decision
that Z postal card which has writing on
both sides shall pay double postage. No.
body pretends. Of course. that 1t costs the
department sny more to carry such care
than it does to carry one which has writ.
ing on one side only, but the additions
labor imposed on clerks ip compelling
them to reNd both sides has been lost sight
OF. 1t is ~ much as the average clerk can
do to read the cards now. and he certainly
cannot do it II he hss to turn them all over.
And if the cards are not read they are "
ell lntents and purposes Ike sealed letter
aud properly chargeable with the same
hostage.
Year: 1875

The result of the hotly-contested Ohio
campaign is calculated to produce a feeling of
thankfulness and relief. Imitation has re-
ceived serious check if not total de-
feat. We do not apprehend that the feel
ing of qualification will be strictly con-
fined to the Republicans. Many Democrats
must rejoice over the halt of their party in
its progress toward the advocacy of national
dishonor. The victory is more than par
tisan one and every honest citizen should feel
profoundly thankful at the result.


1t is early now to draw lessons from the
issue of the campaign. Fuller returns will
furnish a basis for analysis and comparison.
To-day hard-money men will prefer to spend
in rejoicing. Tomorrow is soon enough to
moralize. But one or two suggestions in.
trude themselves even in the very flush of
victory. The conflict has been productive of
one great good. 1t has served to educate the
people in sound financial principles. The
necessity for resumption, the true nature of
the greenback, the uses and abuses of paper
money have been topics which for the last
two months have engrossed the attention of
every journal in the land. Many fallacies
have been exposed. many il[based arguments
refuted, many conclusions proved to have
been drawn from false or insufficient prem
ises. The result has taught certain Repub-
lican leaders that honesty is emphaticaly
the best policy; that when sharp issue is
made between right and wrong the people
will declare for the right; that the pernicious
views entertained on financial subjects are in
the majority of cases the result of misappre.
tensions; and that these 1nisapprehensions
can be explained and educated away. So
long as the Republican leaders in Ohio tenn /.
pofized, so long as they sought to divert at
tention from financial questions, so long as
they apologised instead of defending and
quibbled instead of arguing they steadily
lost ground. A month ago the state was
with the Democrats. But when an une-
quivocal declaration was made in favor of
resumption, when speakers like Woodford
and Schurz were put upon the stump to ex.
plain and defend true financial doctrine.
when an honest and thorough attempt was
made to expose the fallaces and misrepre-
sentations of the infationists the tide began
to turn. Four weeks Of sound argument
and pertinent illustration entirely changed
the aspect of the campaign. The lesson will
not be lost upon the Republican party. Its
duty and policy are from this moment clear.


The result also enforces another truth
that in all our campaigns the stupidity of the
Democratic party must be largely taken into
account, by all who make political calcula.
tions. Time and again a question involving
sharp issue between right and wrong has
come up. and the parties have been divided
in themselves on the question. The first
choice of position has been given to the
Democracy, and that party has invariably
espoused the wrong, thus forcing the Re-
publican party, whether It wiled or not, to
declare for the right. The Ohio campaign is
a pertinent Illustration.
Year: 1875

IT is useless 10 argue with the Bangor
Commercial so long as that journal persists in
ignoring the first principles of finance. Moth
ing can be said in way of argum ent or refu-
tati0n in discussion with paper which de-
clares that the national bank bills constitute
forced loan. We are not aware that the
bank notes are legal tenders, that people are
forced to take them in payment of debts. No
man need accept them unless he choose. He
can do as he does with any other note; if he
thinks it good he takes it, if he thinks it un-
safe he refuses it. But the greenback must
be taken if offered in discharge of debt. 1t
is this feature which makes forced loan.
Every dollar added to the greenback issue is
an increase of national indebtedness, what
ever the Commercial may say. Does not that
paper understand that the greeabac,z is de-
mand note or due bill of the United States |?
The only way in which an increase of the
debt can be prevented. if additional demand
notes be issued.is to discharge the bonded debt
with them, and this form of repudiaton the
Commercial evidently fayors.
Year: 1875

The Governor proceeded to direct attention
to some of the advantages of rural life, and 10
emphasize the important position which the
farmer holds in our system of self government.


1t is we'll known that agriculture is more fav-
orable to physical development, health and Ion
gevity than any other employment. If it were
not for the recupeeative Influence of the coun-
try stock yearly supplied to the cities, it is more
than probable that the race would soon show
signs of physical deterioration. Health is the
greatest earthly blessing conferred upon man.
Without it, one struggles at fearful dsadvan-
tage in the battle of life, finds himself out
stripped by inferior intelects supported by
sound bodies, and finds nothing but discour-
agement and disappointment in life


Probably no calling in life secures so large a
measure of substantial, unalloyed happiness as
that of the farmer. The large measure OF health
vouchsafed TO cultivators OF the soil is itself a
source of pleasure. The farmer has his trials
and dsappointments; but how few com pared
with most other men! On seed time and har'
vest he can rely; but who can rely on the re-
suits of trade and commerce, where risk is the
rule and certainty the exception? The pure arr
which he breathes the face OF nature on wnicn
he gazes, and and the independence which
characterizes his calling, as it does no other,
are promotive of happiness. He realizes as no
other class of citizens do the fulhlment of
Agur's prayer: 'Give me neither riches nor
povertyr' He has sufficient OF the good things
of this world to satisfy every legitimate want
and not such an abundance as to bring with it
corroding care. He that is content is truly
rich.


THE FARMERS INFLUENCE AS A CITIZEN


The Importance of this great middlng class.
composed so largely of farmers, in such a gov.
eminent as ours, cannot be overestimated Tue
poor success, not to say failure, of self.goy-
ernment in such city as New York, is due to
the fact that her population is so largely made
mp OF the rich and the abject door, The hope
of free institutions lies in preserving the as
tendency of the mddling classes, whose mode
OF life is of that simple, substantial character
which repels ostentation and extravagance,-
sure precursors of decentralization and vice.
There have grown oat of the lavish and gigan-
tic expenditures Of the late war, tendencies to
public as well as private extravaganza, which
are most likely TO be successfully resisted by
the large body of farmers and other members OF
the middling cl asses, whose occupation encour-
Year: 1875

We do not read anonymous letters and communi-
cations The name and address of the writer are in
all cases Indispensable not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty Of good faith.


We cannot undertake to return or reserve comrou-
nications that are not used.
Year: 1875

Now certain Democratic papers in Maine
will wish that they had initiated the cautious
course of the argus and refraned from an
unqualified endorsement of the Ohio imitation
platform. Their conduct has perhaps been
more courageous but not half so prudent.
Year: 1875

A Wisconsin secular paper contains
the following good story:


One who does not believe in INNER
sion for baptism, was holding protrac-
ted meeting, and one night preached on
the subject of baptism. In the course
of his remarks he said, some believe it is
necessary to go down into the water,
and come out of it to be baptised. But
this he claimed to be fallacy for the
proposition into" of the Scriptures,
should be rendered differently, as it
does not mean into all times. "Mosses. :"
he said, 1--WE are told, went up INTO the
mountain, and the Savior was taken in
to a high mountain. etc. Now we do not
suppose that either went INTO the noun
tain but unto it. So with going down
INTO the water, it means simply going
down close by or near to the water, and
Year: 1875

'THE CHEEK OF GOVERNMENT MULE,
albeit somewhat slangy, is nevertheless
the only phrase which we can call to
mind to suitably characterize the audac-
ity Of the following paragraph from the
Tribune, which is a repetition Of charge
30 ridiculously brazen that we did not
deem it worthy of notice on its first puo-
lication.


1--WE are as much in favor of the ap-
pointment of editors and publishers OF
newspapers to Official positions as any
other class of citizens, but our experience
has been that they are not fitted to hold
both positions at the same time. They
will bias their Offices in favor Of their
respective journals, especially when they
can thereby injure a contemporary An
Instance of this sort occurred to US last
August, during the session of Court IN
this city. The Deputy Clerk, who was
and is editor of the DISPATCH, for so-ne
reason which he never explained, refus-
ed us permission to examine his record
Of the proceedings, while he lent every
aid in that direction to his own journal." "


During the three weeks session of the
Court in August and September, until
within three days Of the close of the
session, the reporter and ostensible ed
itor of the Tribune was furnished every
facility he nsked for examining and
copying the records. without his ac-
knowledging the courtesy in any MAN.
ner, and frequently to the great lncon-
venience of the Clerk, and the favor
for it was only by favor-was discon-
tinued aear the close Of the session on
account of his own gross abuse Of the
privilege; his boorish Indifference to the
trouble he caused by disarranging and
scattering our notes and memoranda
about the Court room, which we fully
explained to him at the time. During
the same session members of the bar
were, by order of Court, refused the
privilege of removing papers from the
Clerks files for much less offence. He
enjoyed free access to our books and
papers fifteen cf the eighteen days the
Court was in session, and was then de-
barred for the reason distinctly stated
to him, that in making up our journal
we were obliged to spend nearly an
hour in the search of important papers
which he had taken from our table,
some ofwhich we found upon the bar ta-
BILE and others upon the floor; the loss
of which would have been attended
with very damaging consequences to
the Clerk. From that time we allowed
no newspaper reporter to remove any
book or paper from our table. We fur
nished the reporter Of the DISPATCH for
the remaining three days report of the
suits disposed of, which the reporter of
the Tribune co1ld have had for the ask
ing on the same terms. But he chose
rather to make it the occasion, by mis-
representing the facts, of holding his
paper up as an object Of persecution
and ungenerous rivalry.


From:an editor who makes as sub
ject of complaint the Inconvenience he
has suffered at hotels not first class
from not finding combs and brushes for
the use of guests in their bed rooms,
cannot be expected to have very high
idea of social or official amenities, but
we had supposed the young man had
sufficient of the instincts of gentle
man not to deliberately lie about an
other from malicious motives.
Year: 1875

The centennial anniversary of the Pennsyt
vania Society for Promoting the Abolition OF
Slavery, etc., was celebrated by reunion
at Concert Hall, Philadelphia, on the 18th inst.
Among those invited to be present was John
Greenleaf Whittier, who sent letter OF de-
clination, from which we quote the following:


''The world, slowly emerging from the
darkness of the Stone Age, still, doubtless,
overestimates its warrior champions; but the
the time is not far distant when justice will be
done to the heroes of the bloodless victoriessof
Christian civilization and progress.


''Their armor rings on fairer field


Than Greek or Trojan ever trod;


For freedoms sword is the blade they WELD,


And the light above is the smile OF God.


$50 far as the abolition of slavery is con-
cerned, the work of the society is done. Main
Iy upon the colored people themselves now
depends the question whether, by patient in
dustry, sobriety, and assiduous self-cuiture,
they shall overcome the unchristian prejudice
still existing against them, or by Incidence,
thriftlessness, and moral and physical degra-
dation they shall confirm and strengthen it.
But they will still be on the part of all who
have sought their freedom on lack of occasion
for labor in their behalf, in accordance with
the very spirit and letter of the constitution OF
the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, which is
pledged to the relief of free negroes. All that
can be done, consistant with the constitutional
right of States, should be done for their por-
lection by the general government, and there
is no philanthropic object at the present'time
more deserving of encouragement than that Of
the education of the children of freedom. In
this point of view there is still work for the
old parent society, and 1t has legitimate right
to exist and continue its labors of love so long
as there is prejudice to be overcome or igno-
! rance to be enlightened" .rt
Year: 1875

THE practical question for the coun.
try is whether peace and equal right
and respect for the settlements are
more likely to Re maintained by those
who have always favored them or by
those who have not. A Republican
defeat in 1875 would mean the restOra-
ton of the old Democratic party under
the old Southern leadership, not with
the intention of rebellion or disunion,
but, as Andrew johnson said In his
Herald interview of putting the negro
in his proper place. Whether, such
q policy would promote peace, friendly
union, and the national millennium, is
for the Republicans of '56, o. go, and of
ga to consider, for II cannot be carried
out without their consent'-Ha,per's
Reekly.
Year: 1875

No MATTER what the President does the
Opposition finds fault The army may be
used to preserve the peace in the South, in the
West and on the Mexican border, but when
ever or wherever it is used by him for such
legitimate purpose it is charged that he is
military despot, and that he is seeking his
own reelection. He is capable of all kinds of
selfshness in their opinion, and incapable of
an unselfsh and patriotic act. Yet he is the
man who saved the country during the war.
Year: 1875

The success of the Democratic ticket In
Cincinnati is largely attributed by the Gazette
and Commercial to the unwarrantable inter
ference and terrorism of the police, whereby
innocent persons were arrested or deferred
from casting their ballots, and fraudulent vot-
ing was encouraged Such an unwarrantable
use of the police force, and such disgraceful
mockery of preserving the peace by means of
it, was never before experienced at Cincin-
natl election
Year: 1875

on the market, or, to use the current
phrase, on the make. So unguarded a
way OF bribery would make the thing
incredible if it were not for the very
bad character this General Assembly
has succeeded in making for ITSELF
Gin. Gaz,
Year: 1875

! - HE brightest imagination cannot paint
fRn all that is embraced in the one word
| az HOPE; nor attempt to picture the bright
! 90 halo's which encircle the scholars stal


of hope From sep to step along his
way it brightens as he ascends and grows more
| inviting as his comprehension widens- 1t
beacons him on over tiresome paths and up,
up the weary heights he climbs after its as
surfing light. Day after day and far into the
night he tolls until weary and tired that he
may penetrate to the mysteries everywhere
being revealed to him. He ascends to the
heavens and in travels among the celestial
bodies reads the great truths written every
where among that glittering host. He dives
down beneath old oceans white crested waves
and brings back with him many of the treas
ured secrets of those hidden coves. Every
discovery only suggests millions more with
their fascinating secrets yet to be revealed. All
over the broad surface of the earth, new reve-
lations are each day springing up for him.
What to the ignorant and .illiterate are only
hilf and hollow and creek, to him, gifted with
a wider knowledge and nobler heart, are





romantic sleeps, sunny wales and musical
streamlet, for in all natures works he sees
and reads truths ennobling and great, and
learns lessons grand and beautiful. And still
he studies, and as his knowledge widens, his
stars grows more brilliant, for each day he is
realizing the promise of that hope. On and
on it leads him over the hard places which he
sees or heeds not, for ever ahead are bursting
on his view visions of beauty and poetry which
elevate and ennoble and strew the rough
places with flowers which his labors have
planted and nurtured. He realizes day after
day that he has not followed in vain. Up to
the very gates of pearl that open into the gold
paved streets of the eternal city and mayhap
beyond-he still goes on hoping and receiving
the sweet reward of all his toii and hopes.
Then, when he stand upon the high pinnacle
to which untiring labor has led him, we might,
with advantage to the higher aims of mans
existence, contrast him with the perfumed
dandy whose ''mouth never opens to drop
pearls of WISDOM" or to the shallow minded
belle who has made dress and fashion her life
work. If permitted to draw upon imagination
and over-step the bounds between time and
eternity and enter the domain where mind
meets mind, where the mask of earthly glory
has been washed away by the floods of the
dark river, then only could we see the e1-
ceeding brightness of the rich jewels in the.
crown of such brow. We were never crea-
ted to grovel in ignorance and revel in low,
sensual pleasure and in improving the gifts we
have received we fulfill the grand purpose of
our existence and fit ourselves to tread the
higher plane of intellectual existence in eterni-
ty. l.. o.