smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

The mlnhocao is the new wonder. 1t
is being brought to notice by one Fritz
Muller of Brazil in the ZoologiSche
Garten, receiving full page of large
type in recent number of Mature. The
minhocao is believed to be resident of
the region of South America where the
Uruguay and Parana rivers have their
sources. The animal is said by different
observers to have the following char
acteristics: it is shaped; about
eighty-two feet long (by guess and
more than yard in thickness; "not
very long," however, according to
another account; two horns on the head {;
snout like a pig a less definite descrip-
ton makes the animal "as big as a
house." and measurement of the tracks
indicates Its possible width at six-and-a-
half to ten feet. Some years ago, 1t Is
said, there was dead minhocao wedged
in the cleft of rock near Arapehy,
Uruguay; its skin was as thick as the
bark of pine tree, and formed of hard
scales like those of the armadillo.


The new animal Is, however, chiefly
known by his works. Great trenches
are found in this region, which are sup
posed to be the evidence Of the minho-
cao's industry. Heaps Of earth are
turned up In the process, and where
pine trees stand In the way of the trench
they are rooted up, and sometimes part
of their bark and wood may be torn off.
The devastation of this performance,
which is chiefly near or under the sur
face of the earth, though often under
the bed of a stream, is enormous. In
one case the entire side of hill was
undermined, 1t is opposed by two OF
these animals, and was traversed by
deep trenches. BY such proceedings,
marshes have been drained, or dry land
converted into morass, and the courses
Of streams entirely changed. Some of
the trenches are spoken Of as being from
three. fourths of mile to a mile In
length. They are excavated with great
rapidity.
Year: 1878

same as Q similar organization before the war
in the KNOW-NOTHING party Of bloody
memoryyrto 7, terrorize naturalized voters.
The MEN WHO DRAW THE BLACK
BALL ARE TO DO THE EXECLTIVE
WORK. NO COLORED MEN ARE, AL
LOWED In THE RED WARRIOR Or
CA ANIZAfnION O@V
Year: 1878

In bIissfn2 ignorance Of the recent visit OF
the stencil marker, he sat down on a cotton
bale to watch the passing steamers. Now be
is more pazzled to match the aoEofs OF ms
their beam BEARING ft7e-inch D IN nine
inch dianona-fN6v York News.
Year: 1878

It seems likely that if Hunter, now in
prison in Philadelphia, had not taken to
murder he might some day have turned out
a first class humorist. Some Of his letters
to his friends, written from prison, will be
found in another column, and if the casual
reader should suppose they are not really
written by the murderer, but that it is
hoax constructed by Mark Twain, it
can only be said that the quality
of the humor fully justifies the fancy. Here,
then, is IN evidence of the errors of destiny.
This man ready to take life, to purchase
cheap journeyman to pound the vitality out
of a fellow creature, in order that he might
collect few thousand dollars from an in
surance company-this very man, if he
had only known it, could probably have
made an enormous fortune writing
funny books. 1t will afford fine field
of speculation for the philosophers
what topics his comic vein would have dealt
with; but as in his actual life he seems to
have done no worse than plan the murder
of man who had his life insured it is to
be presumed that his topics would have
been tar more gay and jovial than
those chosen by Twain, to whom we
cannot but compare him. But after
all would it have been better for humanity
that he should have become comic author?
We believe not. Perhaps destiny has con-
trived this thing better for us than we
could have contrived it for ourselves. How
much better would it have been, indeed, if
life. Society could have spared him two or
three victims and have gained by it.
Year: 1878

It is said that ''every dog has his day."
and this privilege is accorded to each MEM
ber of the canine race by all humane per-
sons. But there are 'dog days" when it is
really unsafe to grant the freedom of tho
city to the dogs, especially to those i'll.
favored and homeless animals that exc out
a precarious living among the cutters and
ash barrels left uncleaned and unemptied
by the Street Cleaning Bureau. Roaming
unrestrained through the crowded streets,
with languid eye and empty stomach,
the homeless cur is in that condition
of wretchedness which impels men to
suicide and dogs to bite people.
The announcement made by the
Police Commissioners that they would now
begin in earnest to clean the city only in
creases the danger from the dogs. Hun
dreds, we might say thousands, of these
poor brutes may be deprived of their only
source of food supply by the removal
of the garbage, and the consequences are
certain to prove very disastrous If the
proper preventives are not taken. We
therefore suggest to the Mayor the pro-
priety of enforcing the, dog ordinance early
this year, and not waiting for. the regular
dog days to come on us with thousands Of
hungry ours roaming about the city. We
rather like the dog, as rule, and admire
his many fine qualities as a faithful COM
panion, &C., but at the present time there
is really too much of him in New York, and
his room is decidedly preferable to his
company.
Year: 1878

The keen manner in which the suspicion
of job to hand over any portion Of Tomp-
kins square for the building Of an armory
was hunted out in the Assembly and the
promptness with which it was provided
against give clear promise that the Wash
ington square Jobbers will get no quarter
for their scheme at Albany. 1t is espe-
cially gratifying to note this fact, be-
cause when the promoters of the con-
fscation scheme got q bare machine"
majority Of the Aldermen to petition
the Legislature they thought they could
snap their fingers in the faces of their fellow
citizens. They now know better. The AL
dermanic philosopher who regretfully stated
that the New York Legislature had no more
respect for the opinion Of our Board of Al
dermen than for that of so many canal
horses or dock rats stands justified. Now,
no sensible citizen of New York will deny
that our National Guard should be fittingly
housed, and there are few who will claim that
the floors or lofts in which they meet nm |
drill ut present are adequate or what our
citizen soldiers deserve. We think that
every brigade should have for it's armory a
substantial building, owned by the city,
capable Of use not merely as & drilling
place. but Us an arsenal, and, in limited
sense, as fortress 1t is, however, nothing
but the hunger for a job which would make
such short cuts to the desirable object as to
plump an armory into every public breath
ing place down town. There are, doubtless,
convenient places where block for the pur-
pose can be had at moderate cost, where IN
armory would improve the property about
it, and as Mr.. Waehner says that an armory
can be used as moral disinfectant the
places might be found where they would do
most good. But the parks must be kept for
the people ut all hazards.
Year: 1878

who have done just what the English them
selves would have done in the same cir
cumstances. 1t is to be presumed, how
ever, that England's persistency in her
demand with regard to the Confer
ence must proceed from knowledge
of the existence Of secret treaty.
This demand it should, be remembered, is
not limited to the requirement that Russia
shall lay the whole treaty before the Con-
ference. AS the treaty is actually in the
hands of the Powers any government rep
resented can call attention to any clause,
and the Conference may deal with it or not,
us it likes; so that the treaty will be practi-
cally before the Conference from the mo-
ment it opens. But England's demand is
that Russia shall give pledge that the
treaty thus laid before the Powers is the
whole result of her negotiation with Tur-
key; in Others words, that she shall de-
clare that there are no secret clauses.
1t is very probable there is n secret clause,
and it may have relation to Russia's support
of Turkey against England's Hellenic pro-
ject. England, with her secret tripartite
treaty, made Immediately after the Congress
of Paris, is not in a position to declare that
secret clauses are immoral or criminal; but
she is perhaps informed of this clause, and
wants to force it into the light. Russia,
however, will not deliver reasons on COM
pulson in that style, and this latest blunder
may render impossible that general pacitica-
tion by q conference which would tide over
the present troubles. England's prepara-
ton seems to indicate decision to fight,
and it is apparently interpreted that way in
Russia for the demand that her feet shall
be withdrawn from the Sea of Marmora is
only presented now as n ground for Rus
sian action. England will refuse to with
draw, and thereupon the Russians will
occupy Constantinople. If the English
occupy the other side of the strait with the
intention to ultimately create there new
Gibraltar, they will find that game at
which two can play, and that Russia is not
Spaiu
Year: 1878

the inquiry. We suspect that, the water
having been allowed to run low in the STAR
board boiler, the steam became dried and
superheated. Then, water having been in
jected into the boiler, this dry steam be-
came saturated and instantaneously ex-
panded with a force too great for the
strength of the steampipe to sustain


Why the particular portion of the pipe
was ruptured can only be determined by
careful examination Of the fractured iron
plates. AS the pipe was covered with felt
and canvas to prevent loss of heat by radia-
tion any corrosion of it's outer surface would
not be detected unless the covering was
stripped off, which, probably, was not done
by the official inspectors. Although the ex-
plosion has been attended by terrible loss OF
life its occurrence does not necessarily inn
ply weakness of the parts involved were
such weakness unknown, for they may have
been strong enough to sustain the maximum
working pressure with safety. But n sudden
development OF extraordinary pressure in
the boiler from causes such as we have sug-
gested would rupture them in their weak
est place. Two questions must be answered
before any correct opinion can be formed as
to the cause of the explosion. First, did
the water run down in the starboard boiler
shortly before? and, second, did the
fireman in charge start the pumps on that
boiler Immediately before the explosion? !?
If these questions cannot be answered in
vestigatior will throw very little light on
this occurrence. We may assume that the
boiler would have "blown OFF, at the maxi
mum pressure allowed by law, because the
inspectors always set the locked safety valve
to that pressure. The additional fact that
'superheated, and therefore highly explosive
if suddenly saturated, steam does not indi-
cate on the gauges or exercise on the boiler
any increase OF pressure until it becomes
saturated 1avors the probability that the
accident was caused by carelessness
Year: 1878

The winning Of the international pedes-
trian match in london by OLeary is the
latest American victory over Great Britain,
and Of course there is no true American who
will not rejoice at this fresh triumph for
the Stars and Stripes. If there is, why, he
ought to be compelled to do what OLeary
has done for the honor and glory of his
country in the walking line. TO be sure,
our interest and pride in the result of the
contest are slightly dashed by the fact that
the victor was born much nearer to London
than to New York; but nevertheless he en-
tered the lists as an American he repre-
sented America, and if he had been de-
feated it would have been set down
as an American defeat. His honors,
then, are our honors; but if Cork,
which has produced nearly all the great
men in the world, insists upon adding his
name to the long list of her warriors, states
men and sages, we must, we suppose, be
content and surrender all claim to him.


At all events, rather than quarrel about il,
we shall gladly do so. But be he Corkonian
or Chicagoan-we leave the two cities to set
tie it for themselves-it cannot be denied
that OLeary has won very great victory in
his peculiar line and is undoubtedly the
best pedestrian in the world. II there is
better one he has not, been found. The
feat which he has just accomplished of
making five hundred and twenty miles
four hundred and forty yards in five days
and min eteen hours stands alone in the annals
of pedestrianism. The best pedestrians in
England were his competitors, and what
ever glory there is in beating them is oil his
own. In addition he has won in money the
substantial sum of thirty-seven hundred
dollars and the champions belt.
Year: 1878

The CASE AGAINST SUPERINTENDENT SMYTH,
Of the Insurance Department, has been SO
strongly made out, his knowing violation Of the
law has been so thoroughly established, that,
although his offence may bear with it no per-
sonal pecuniary uncleanncss his removal by the
Senate should follow as u matter of course On
Wednesday next the question will be put to
that body, and the public looks to it for vipdi
ration Of the law. No servant Of the people
should be permitted to override legislation with
cool dclibcration without mourning the penalty
which the law provides.
Year: 1878

The WEATHER.--Thc feature of Yesterdays
meteorological changes was the descent of u
large depression from the regions north Of
Canada and the lakes over the territory
east of the Mississippi Mver, with fair
or hazy weather except on the north
east coast, where it was cloudy and general
northwesterly to westerly and southwesterly
winds. In the Northwest and on the
New England and New York coasts the winds
became very strong toward evening, with the
Increasing barometric fall in New Brunswick.
No rain fell during the day in any OF the dis
trcts east Of the Rocky Mountains The low
pressure that passed over Florida Friday
evening and during yesterday morning has passed
into the Atlantic, and will probably be expo
rienced Mt the Bcrmudas during this evening or
tomorrow. The winds continue strong on the
Florida coasts. In the Northwest the pressure
s highest and rising, and it has risen on
the Pacific coast. Temperatures range quite
high in the western and central districts
and also ia the Southwest. The weather in
New York and its vicinity to-day will be warm
and cloudy or partly cloudy, threatening light
rain and brisk westerly winds. Tomorrow it
will be warm and cloudy, with winds veering
I" the northwest.
Year: 1878

This aeplorable accident having proved
fatal to several persons must necessarily be-
come the subject of an investigation by a
Coroners jury, aided by the evidence of
experts. 1t is suggested i'll our dispatches
published elsewhere this morning that the
Magenta was racing with a rival boat ut the
time of the explosion. and that the burst
ing of her ''steam chimney" misnomer
by the way, was due to overpressure. The
effects produced are certainly those that
would follow an explosion caused by an
extraordinary and sudden steam pressure !;
bu, it was impossible that the ''steam CHM
ney' could burst. That pipe carries off the
exhaust steam from the cylinder and leaves
it with paratively low degree of expan-
sive force. The rupture really took place in
the steampipe leading from the st"rboard
boiler to the steam chest Of the cylinder. This
pipe encloses the smokepipe leading from
the same boiler to the smokestack, and
unites above the deck with similar double
pipes from the port boiler. The inner and
outer pipes are stayed to each other by bolts,
and these naturally weakened the sheets of
the steainpipe by reason of the holes
punched in them for the stay bolts. Besides
this we are informed that the plates or
sheets at the place of rupture were quite
worn and thin. Hence n sudden press
ure caused the steampipe to burst ut
its weakest part namely, at the lap
ping of its sheets. How that pressure
was developed will probably be known after
Year: 1878

sional competitions seems to have crept in.
and now we learn that the Police Commis-
sioners have decided to abolish the Police
Athletic Club. If it is rotten beyond re-
form this is WE'LL but if the self-respecting
members of the force took it in hand, made
exhibitions of temper matters of expulsion
they would hunt a burglar, the club might
still be made useful institution.
Year: 1878

These figures tell their own story for
they show how business is increasing and
the value Of the HERALD as an advertising
medium for all classes the merchant, the
banker, the artisan, the sewing girl, the
housekeeper, the domestic and every branch
OF industry and enterprise. Notwithstand-
ing this enormous bulk Of business intelli-
gence the HERALD provides its readers with
all the news of the day from oil parts of the
world.
Year: 1878

SOUTHERN CLAIMS of u certain hue stand no
chance in the House. One Of the committees
has decided that poor Virginia colored woman
who expended several thousand dollars i'll feed
ing colored men, under the direction of the
Freedmens Bureau, is entitled to the money,
but to pay it would form u dangerous precedent.
Year: 1878

THERE Is A PROSPECT of another fight on the
army question. A sweeping bill is said to have
been agreed upon by committee Of the demo
cratic caucus of the House, and we are told that
it is to be made party measure. The army is
0 poor thing to fight oyert
Year: 1878

ONE OF THE THREE Molly Maguires under
sentence Of death, to be executed tomorrow in
Pennsylvania, is, there is good reason to think
innocent, and it is probable that his case will be
Year: 1878

CERvANTEs is down for anniversary honors
on the Odd Of next month. As in the case Of
some other distinguished men the date of his
birth is little obscure, and the date of his
death has been selected
Year: 1878

PRESIDENT GARCIA, it seems, is determined
to keep the revolutionary flag flying in Cuba.
According to him there is u large portion OF the
island still in possession Of the insurgents.
Year: 1878

ell immediately alter the harvest. Give the"
deepest blowing as soon AS possible after
harvest, and subsequently, until the wheat
Is soWn, it is better that only surface cult
vation be given to subdue weeds. LII this
we do not advocate sowing wheat after
wheat, or upon stubble. Nevertheless it is
done TO very considerable extent upon the
new lands of the West, and each farmer
must judge of the adviSability OF this for
himself.


Where a regular summer f;llow is given
from spring until sowing time, it is far bet
ter that SOME crop be sown OH the land at
the first plowing to be turned under. A
naked tallow is not the best means of en-
riching the soil, since shaded ground not
only acquires fertility faster than naked soil,
but the crops turned under also return the
elements Of plant growth to the soil in a
most soluble state.


In this connection it MAY not be amiss to
say word upon fall and late summer plow-
ing. Many persons are deferred from plow-
ing because at the season Immediately fol-
lowing harvest the soil is so dry that an or
dinary team finds it hard work to plow.
Do not wait. Put on three horses and go
ahead. When the rains come. the soil will
mellow, and if it lie until the following
spring without replowing it will be found
far softer and more friable than the same
land plowcd late ili the tall, when perhaps
the soil is wet and sticky. Flowing the soil
when wet is not SO ruinous in the late au-
tumn as in.the spring. yet such soils as are
liable to bake will usually show the evil re-
suits arising theretrom, even after a winters
freezing and thawing. Farmer.
Year: 1878

by those who have not tried it,. ullutle to
sowing on horseback. Sulky rakes, >ulky
rollers, etc.. are regarded as useful contriv-
ances tor the saving OF human labor, bur
none OF your correspondents appear to have
Thought of making the horse perform the
labor of walking, and carrying the seed bag
and sower to and fro across the field during,
the operation of sowing the grain. And
yet, after Il long experience. the writer has
found that lie could distribute seed grain
more regularly from the saddle than on
foot, ami with far more ease and comfort.
as amy good scotsman viii find after little
practice. Grass Seeds however, being light
er than grain are best sown OIL foot"
Year: 1878

We all know how critical period in the
lives of all domestic fowls is the season of
moulting, or annual Misunderstanding time.
Ordinarialy this change OF their plumage
does not fairly commence until the present
month, or afterward. This year, from soma
cause, many Of the Asiatics in New Eng
land are we'll through this change, already.
We believe that all through the spring and
summer thus far all the crops and all tho
vegetation have been earlier in growing and
maturing than common, anu that the wild
birdsh have hatched and matured their broods
from one to two weeks sooner than in aver
age years, and probably our domestic fowls
begin their moulting earlier this season, IN
response to the general climatic influences.
Be this lis it may, thousands of one and two
year old birds are now renewing their fall
plumage:


But thiSFis quite as well, and probably the
moulling will be concluded this year at an
earlier period, by some weeks, than has been
ordinarialy the case under our observation.


Fowls should be kindly treated, at this
critical time in their existence; and care
should be exercised regarding their diet,
While they are passing through this natural
but oftentimes dangerous ordeal Some OF
them will die All are sick, and '.out OF
tune" during,mouIting.


Give them plenty Of good clean drink. In
which few drops daily of rincture of Iron
is mixed This will assist digestion largely.
And look K'out that your breeding birds ara
not over-fed, to tattenihg, at such period.
They now need good food, but not too much
of this, or you easily surteit then,.- Poultry
World
Year: 1878

BIS INSTRUMENT FOR MEASURING THE HEAT OF


HEAVENLY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN THE


TELEPHONE.


Mr.. Edison was visited on Thursday last at
bis home in Menlo Park by Professors Brackett and
Young OF Princeton College, and Professor Barker OF
the University of Pennsylvania, who were dosrous OF
examining his instrument for measuring heat Mr..
Edison has made several experiments with this appar-
Atus and has succeeded in measuring the ythouandth
part OF degree of heat Next month Professor Young
and Professor Bracket will 90 Colorado to observe
the solar eclipse and the usefulness of this instrument
Tor measuring the heat Of heavenly bodies viii then
be tested for the first time


Mr. Edison has also been working diligently at his
telephone He has lately perfected the receiver OF
The telephone that words spoken at distance Of 100
feet from the instrument have been distinctly heard
thirty rods away He recently placed telephone con
taning the mproyed receiver in his laboratory and
house. which Is than thirty rods distant The IN
strument laboratory placed at one end or tue
room and Mr. Edison retired to the other end ana MS
Words spoken in ordinary conversational tone, were
distinctly heard in the other telephone at his residence
One difficulty met with in the experiment was tnat the
other sounds in the laboratory were also transmitted
through the instruments but they did not destroy the
lOund of the inventors The resistance thus over
come by the sound equal to that encountered IN
rsyersng 100 miles of wire when the words are spoken
directly into the receiver"