smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Jennie June writes in recent letter to


the Baltimore american Another


story is so strange that it will hardly be


believed to be true, and yet it is most


painfully so in every detail. A short


time ago man applied to one who had


been an old friend to indorse note


which he offered with some trepidation,


but which bore every evidence of being


genuine. The friend was glad to revive


old associations, and as the note was not


for large amount willingly put his name


to it. The individual was profuse in his


Acknowledgements, and incidentally


mentioned his wife's name. Your


wife," repeated the indorser, "why, I


thought your wifes name was -. You
know was acquainted with her before
you were." "Oh, yes," said the other,


with very red face, "that was my first
wife; did you not know that she was
dead, and that had married again ?"
No, he did not know it, and was very
sorry to hear of the loss, for that first
wife had been n very sweet little girl,
and an old schoolmate and flame of his
own. In due time the note came to
maturity, was returned to him to his sur
prise and annoyance, and he was obliged
to pay it. Being in the neighborhood of
Harlem, where the man whom he hatt
known had formerly lived and owned a
1;tt1o 1,ouoa bo oonolu,1o1 70 coll op1 COO
if he lived there still. He did call, and
to his blank astonishment the first wife,
his former schoolmate, opened the door.
He almost tainted; he told the tale that
had been invented by her husband, and
asked her what it meant. Then she
sadly told him an unhappy story. How
her husband had made the acquaintance
of young girl; had continued it, giving
her the impression that he was an un-
married man how he had promised to
marry her, and, being unable to do so,
had been threatened with the State
prison by her enraged relatives.


How, to save him from imprisonment
and utter loss of character, she had per-
mitted him to obtain a divorce, entering
no plea, suffering all that misrepresenta-
ton and SANDER could heap upon her,
and finally choosing to be dead to the
world altogether in her own proper per-
son, and only live under another name,
and in order to support her three
children.


One thing her husband did-he left
her in possession of what had been their
little home, and. for the rest she sews,
she writes, she teaches mus C, she keeps
books for a woman who keeps ladies'
furnishing store, and thus supports her.
self and children; while her husband is
boarding in semi-fashionable boarding
house in town with his second wife, who
knew all the facts, and still married him.
"But he still remembers u.s." she said
with smile and a tear. 6" He never
fails to send box of presents to the
children at Christmas, and my birthday
is never forgotten" The old friend is
widower without encumbrances, and
possibly this may prove modern ver-
sion of the Enoch Arden story.
Year: 1877

Popular suffrage has been put to a
singular test in village Of Ava, Japan.
The neighborhood was harrassed by a
midnight robber, whom nobody could
detect. The head of the hamlet sum-
moned the entire male population under
his charge and directed every man to
write the name of the person whom he
suspected and to deposit the ticket in a
box. Fifteen ballots bore the name of
Abe Tanihei,' the rest being blanks.
The man whom everybody distr,lsted
was SO overcome with astonishment that
he made full confession and went to
prison. Never before in the history of
popular government was thief elected
with such unanimity.
Year: 1877

"a penny saved, penny gained ~


BE prudent and discerning;
No matter what your wants may DO


Don't spend oil you are earning.
Yes, lad wo know the will is strong,


Temptations come in plenty,
Let fifteen dollars meet your needs,


II you are earning twenty.
Pay as you buy, don't run in debt


Great comfort is in knowing
That you are free from suits and duns,
That you are no man owing.
So many things you'd like to have!


Next month your pay increases.
Look out, my lad. What will you do
II then your income ceases?
DO generous, but be always just


This life that we are living,
Would lose much pleasure, with the zest
We feel in JOY Of giving.
How can you save, you'd like to know
Tell, and yon'll gladly hear it
Your pocket is dangerous place,
Your hand is always near it.
Put in the bank all that you save,


And then you will have reason
To thank us for the good advice,


When comes your cloudy season.
You may have sunshine all your life
We hope you'll have no other
Then, with your savings in the bank,
Just lift some fallen brother.
Year: 1877

There resides in Clinton, Ont, a
young girl who is afflicted in an unusual
manner, not being able to see in the
dusk of the evening. Her eyesight is
apparently as good as any ones during
the day, but when darkness sets in she
becomes stone blind, and requires to be
led around the same as a totally blind
person. She enjoys good health, and
the cause of this singular phenomenon
is unknown.
Year: 1877

The following story is told OF Il


German farmer living in the town of


Calumet, Wis.,: He came to this coun-


try from Germany twenty-five years ago


and pre-empted a piece of land in the


town where he now lives. He was then


very poor, probably not having 1875 all
told, but he possessed wonderful
energy and an unparalleled tact for get
ting along without any outside aid.


When he wanted anything he went to
work to make it, paying out nothing for
wagons, sleighs, harness or clothing.


In cutting the timber for his log house,
he found bee tree, and followed up
this discovery by others of a like sort,
securing both bees and honey. The
bees he kept, and for years he had honey
to eat and to sell. He had no money to
pay for getting his land broken up, so
he bought five or six hogs, and, tying
rope round the hind legs of each, fast
ened the other end of the rope to stump,
and all the grain he sowed the first year
was where these "sharks had rooted
up the ground. For wagon wheels
he sawed off the ends of a good sized
log, and the rest of the primitive vehicle
he had no trouble in making. He made
rude sleigh, bringing the runners high
up in front, and joining them together.
He made harnesses of robes or hides,
which answered every purpose, and
the man is to-day rich, nearly all the
clothing for his family being home made
He has now on hand farm for one son,
and desires to buy one for another son,
saying he will pay $4,000 in cash for
piece of land that will suit him. He
puts no money in the bank, owns no
bonds, but keeps the cash carefully hid
den away.
Year: 1877

Among the most unpleasant people
one is compelled to rub shoulders with
on life's highway, are the class whose
minds take hold Of everything, as it were
the wrong end foremost. They are usu-
ally as obstinate as perverse; and the
false inferences they draw from misap-
pretended premises, they adhere to with
as much tenacity as if they were gospel
truths. One knows not how to deal with
such incorrigibles. Good-humored rally
ing they are as likely as not to mistake
for studied insult; endeavors to instruct
and convence, for airs of superiority; and
whatever one may do or say with the
view of benetitting them, for insidious at
tempts to get on their blind side. Their
field of moral vision is field with a mist
of suspicion which distorts everything,
and it is vain to reason with them-for
you can no more do away with their alb
surd impressions than you can wipe out
craven letter with a sponge. Error, we
suppose, is to them what truth is to right
headed men and women, and they cling
10 1t because they believe in it. They
are objects of commiseration; yet, being
unabatable nuisances, it is prudent to
give them wide berth. IL is really
sad thing to be predisposed by natnre to
misconceive and mlsconstrue; but it is
equally unpleasant to be misunderstood
and misconstrued. Therefore make it a
rule to have as little as possible to do
with inveterate wrorgheads.
Year: 1877

FROM tut OTapniC'


Women are not graceful when clad in
other old women's gowns and learning to
swim. They lack repose and dignity
when they try to strike out" in the wa
ter or on a table. Their action is too alb
rupt and spasmodic. They kick out with
their legs too long after they strike out
with their arms. Then they kick
straight behind like COW. That won t
impel the body ahead at all. 1t only re-
mains in statu quo, or else propels the
back awkwardly up out of the water and
the head under it. This makes a girl
clad in old woman's gown look very ri
diculous. Then they are jealous of the
only man in the party dressed in one
pair of the old woman's old mans pan
falcons, who can go forth in deep water
and swim. They are forever wanting
him to come back and show them "how
to kick" They think that if they could
only learn to kick properly in the water,
they'd swim right away. They will not
realize that girls must te1ch their own
limbs to do their own kicking in the
water-or out. 1t is pleasant for man
to attend a lot of girls in the water who
are good dancers but not good swimers.
It's pleasant to have the tables turned
once in while, and be able to contem>
plate others awkwardness. l never
could dance well. They say it's because
don't put my mind in my legs. But l
can swim. can get my mind in my
legs in the water. l suppose it floats
down there. But those girls-to see
them kick to no purpose, except to drive
their heads under.
Year: 1877

FOA'


TATED IN JULY.


A Washington dispatch says. A
prominent of. Ger of the Government
In conversation day or two ago with
q man who has the best means OF In
formation on the subject was informed
that the late strike had begun prema-
turely. 1t was the intention of the
managers of the strike on the princi-
pal railroads of the country to organize
a simultaneous war against all the
transportation companies about the lst
of October but the tiremen and brake
men on the Baltimore and Ohio Road
we're so angry at the reduction made
by the company that they were un-
willing 10 wait until the appointed
time. The result was very fortunate
for the country tor had the strike oc-
CURED IN October instead of July it
would probably have been so fully or
ganized that its suppression would
have been much more difficult and
the restoration of peace and resump-
tion of traffic much longer postponed.
Year: 1877

A STEAMER THROUGH KENT MAR
Rows.-The steamer Olive made the first
successful trip through Kent Narrows,
which connects the Chester river with
Eastern bay, last Saturday ,and experience
ed but little difficulty. A large mud
scow was sunk in the new channel, and
the steamer used the old one. The new
channel will be completed this week land
the Olive will use the route to reach st.
Michaels. A wharf will be built at the
narrows, and will be used as a point fol-
the shipment of peaches and other prod
ucts.-Easton Ledger.


The First and Fifth Militia Regiments
OF Newark n. j., returned from Phillips
burg yesterday afternoon Private Nc
Gee of the Fifth, was drowned while
bathing at PhillipsbuIg on Thursday
night.
Year: 1877

SLIGHT FIRE.-The alarm of fire last
evening, about 80 o'clock was caused
by pile of shavings and wood burning
in the boat shop Of Thomas Drien & Son,
on Tatnall street below the railroad. The
fire was discovered by a cslored woman,
who broke pane of glass out of the win
dow and extinguished it by bucket of
water. The fire was undoubtedly the
work of an incendary.


The second alarm about $50 O'Clock,
was false.
Year: 1877

The Jewish World is informed that the
Anglo-Jewish Association has received
applications on behalfof hundreds of Jew
ish families who have fed from the local
ities where the present war is raging, and
that many are dying of hunger The ex
ecutive committee are engaged in con
certing com bined action with the institu-
tions allied to the association for the pur
I Use of relieving the distress of the suffer
prS
Year: 1877

|
broken down 70 an even surfnce, and to
effect this an ingenious instrument called
harrow has been Invented, which is .
frame bet with I great number Of iron
teeth. When this is dragged rapidly
backward and forward over the field, it
reduces it in timeto.a pleasant level PLAIN
marked with delicate wrinkles It's then
necessary to sprinkle in the ground some
cereal, such as wheat, oats or barley, in
order that by means of new growth
preparation for another sod may be laid.
And when this grain crop is cut down the
ground is in such condition that it will
be ready for renewal of the game during
the next season. In this prosaic descrip-
ton we have aimed merely at giving q
definite idea of the sport, and have avoid
ed any idle disquisitions on its beauties.
Suffice it to say that when it was popular
the whole country blossomed like the rose,
and the foundations Of our prosperity were
laid and II our young men could be in
duced to take up this Obsolete pastime
again and desist from focking to cities for
more artificial amusements, spending
their precious time in summer travels, and
squandering ther spare cash in European
tours instead Of investing at home, some
thing of the old fashioned contentment
might return to the land. The passion for
pleasure and dissipation has gone through
all classes and driven the people into wild
and unwise extravagances, wherefore we
should be glad to zee the popular tenden-
cies take more wholeso ONE direction, and
earnestly recommend the revival of plow-
ing among all such young Americans "a
have leisure and opportunity to indulge in
that noble pursuit.--N. 7. World.
Year: 1877

Liver Disease and Indigestion
prevail to q greater extent than
probably any other malady, and
relief Is always aDxiously
sought after. II the Liver is
Regulated IN its action, health
health Is almost invariably Sc
Year: 1877

Methodist Episcopal Church, in which MI Hammond
has spoken in the evening. and which the largest
ecclesiastical building IN the city, has been frequently
crowded 10 its utmost capacity. somewhat remark
able feature OF this revival Is manifested IN the
iact thai all Classes OF society have been affected
thereby Rich and poor, young and ola, the ignorant
anu the learned have all acknowledged me power OF
The truth. through the insrum shtahty OF Mr Ham,
mond 70 awaken IN them sense OF their sinfulness
and The need OF reconciliation with their Creator.
Among those who professed TO nave received q sense
oil pardoning grace are several men and women VINO
have been notorious for thoir wickedness II is q
notable era IN tho history OF the city for ~ pre-
vous period has there been widespread interest
IN religious exercises There has been an entire ab-
sence of all scciarian feeling In this movement all de-
nominations having helped TO tring about the above
results.


Al the Juvenile Asylum, at Fort Washington, a very
remarkable success has attended the ministry OF this
eminent revivalisL About SIX hundred boys and girls,
inmates OF the asylum nave experienced what Metho-
dists denominate "a change Of heart' According
10 the testimony OF competent judges their conduct
and the general tenor OF their daily life show the
.egrity OF this change During the entire period OF
Mr.. Hammonds ministry in Yonkers 500 adult per-
sons have made a profession Of conversion.
Year: 1877

While the greater part ofhe infant world assembled
at Midget Hall clucked and crowed and cried through
most OF the afternoon OF yesterday the iefy
posed OF the heavy weights slept the sleep OF dream
less innocence, ana little the sleeping recked the
mob OF visitors let them sleep the cribs where
their mothers had laid them. The observan, ana IN
tercsted muitude-ladies by n large majority-was
made up in great measure OF the bon tom They nled
the nrst door long before the shades Of evonng tell
while
Year: 1877

he stopped to feed or drink; and scat.
tering of sand and gravel will tell when
he was startled by any strange sight.
In all this two things are needed-sharp
sight and careful training. The ele-
phant often makes a very curious track
as he walks; if he suspects danger, he
scents the ground with the tip of his
trunk, and this makes q well-marked,
serpentine line in the dust. Elephants
have changed their tactics since rifle
pits were introduced. Formerly, when
their chief danger was pitfall, the
leader of the herd felt the ground inch
by inch and if he detected the covering
of trap, tore it off and left it open.
Now they rely mnch more on scent, and
in this way, often from great distance,
detect the hunter lurking near their
drinking-places. If SO, they will some
times travel fifty or hundred miles to
another stream or pool.
Year: 1877

would like to see every charitable
organization existing in this city, in
Guiding my owu enterprise, swept out of
existence. would like to see established
in their place single organization
whose grand purpose it is to work a
radical cure of pauperism. I would like
to see the city government, which is di-
rectly responsible for more than half the
pauperism we have, united in admins
tration with the chosen representatives
of the benevolence of the city, in the
working out of this great cure I
would like to see the city divided into
districts SO small that one man can hold
in each, not only registry of every
family living in it, but obtain and pre-
serve a knowledge of each family's cir
cumstances and character. l would
have a labor bureau in every
district, in connection with this
local superintendent's Office. would
have the record of every man and wom-
an even more complete than any that
has ever been made by your mercantile
agencies. 1 would have such vagrancy
as we find illustrated by the tramps and
dead beats who swarm ahnnt the city,
sufficient crime for condemnation to
hard labor in prisons and factories
built for that purpose. I would make
beggary on the street a misdemeanor
punishable by Imprisonment. would
have every helpless person understand
where help in emergencies can always
be had by representation of facts, SUBJ
ject to immediate and competent exami-
nation. 1 would see the matter so
arranged that a premium would be put
upon the truth, and a ban upon false
hood. Temperance and intemperance
should always be considerations in deal
ing with the poor. There is no limit
to the benefits which such an organiza-
tion as this would have the power to In
augurate and perpetuate, and, gentle
men. I verify believe that under its in
telligent and faithful administration we
could Danish beggars from the streets,
introduce new era Of prosperity and
virtue among all the suffering poor, and
save ourselves forever from the terrible
pauperization that curses and almost
kills the cities of the old world.-Nich-
olas Minturn, IN Scrfbner.
Year: 1877

One of the most remarkable features
of uncivilized life is the power savages


show of tracking men and beasts over
immense distances. Many travellers have
spoken of this as something almost mi
raculous, yet it is only the resultof care
full observation of certain well-known
signs and we have here before US col
lection of very common-sense hints on
the subject In countries like ours ev-
cry trace of footprint or wheel-track on
roads and paths is soon obliterated or
hopelessly confused /; but it is otherwise
in the wilderness, where neither man
nor beast can conceal his track. In
Kafirland, when cattle are stolen, if
their footprints are traced to village,
the headman is held responsible for them
unless he can show the same track going
out. A wagon track in new country
is practically indelible. "More espec-
ially," say our authors, sis this the case
if fire sweeps over the plain immedi-
ately after, or if the wagon passes dur
ing or after a prairie fire. We have
known fellow-traveler recognize in this
manner the tracks his wagon had made
seve1a gears before, the lines of charred
stumps crushed short down remaining
to indicate the passage of the wheels,
though all other impressions had been
obliterated by the rank annual growth
of grass fully twelve feet high" Some
times the original soil being disturbed,
new vegetation will spring up along
the wagon-track, and thus mark out the
road for miles. Even on hard rock a
mans bare foot will leave the dust cak-
ed together by perspiration, so that a
practised eye will see it; and even if
there is no track, stone will be dis
turbed here and there, the side of the
pebble which has long lain next the
ground being turned up. If it is still
damp, the man or beast that turned it
has passed very recently. If a shower
of rain has fallen, the track will tell
whether it was made before, during, or
after the shower similar indications can
be obtained from the dew and another
indication of the time that has elapsed
since man passed by is furnished by
the state of the crushed grass, which
will be more or less withered as the time
is longer or shorter. Other indications
are drawn from the direction in which
the grass lies this tells how the wind
was blowing at the time the grass was
crushed and by noting previous changes
of the wind, one learns the time at
which each part of the track was made.
Much, too, can be learned from the form
of the footprints. Savages generally
turn their toes in, in walking; white
men turn theirs out A moccasin print
with the toes turned out would indicate
that white man in Indian walking


gear had gone by and almost every foo
has print of its own, which enables ar
experienced tracker to follow single
track amongst dozen others. Similar


ly the character of the print will tel


whether the man who made it walked
freely or was led by others; whether hi
was in hurry or travelling slowly


whether he carried burden and if h'
were sober or tipsy. A horse-track i


equally well marked. 1t tells when th'
horse galloped, where he walked, wher
Year: 1877

During commencement week, when
the country is full of swallow-tailed
coats, white illusion, kid gloves and
bouquets, it is almost impossible to
realize that the generation just stepping
on the stage of life will find no improved
methods yet invented for making kim
ding wood out of a cracker barrel, or
building fire in stove which smokes.
Year: 1877

No human being


Who saw that sight
But felt a shudder


Of pale alright,
He sat in the window


Three stories high
A little baby


With no one nigh.
A stranger saw him,


And stopped to stare;
A crowd soon gathered
To watch him there.
A gleam-a futter


In airy fight,
Came past the window
A butterfly bright,
From fields of clover
And perfumed air,
Wayfarirg insect


What brought you there?
The baby saw it,


And eagerly
Reaching to catch it,


Growing with glee.
What fat pink fingers,
Reached out and fell
The awful horror,


No one can tell,
Poor little baby,


So sweet and bright
Pale faces quivered


And the lips grew white.
Weak women tainted,


Strong men grew weak,
Up rose a woman's


Heart-piercing shrek.
Hurrah for the awningl
Upon the fly
1t caught the yOungster
And tossed him high,
The bounce prodigious
Made baby scowl;
He caught his breath, sir,
And set up a howl.
All blessed the awning
That had no flaw;
But a madder baby


You never saw.
Year: 1877

New Orleans by both parties and appear
to be perfectly satisfied with the result of
their mission. General Harlan leaves for
Kentucky to night. The Louisiana COM
mission had an informal conversation to-
day with the cabinet respecting their mis-
sion. They furnished their final report to
the president who thanked them for the
satisfactory character of their work,
Year: 1877

Liver Disease and Indigestion
prevail to greater extent than
probably any other malady, and
relief is always anxiously
sought after. II the Liver IL
Regulated IN its action, health
health is almost invariably Sc