smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

We were struck the other day by
the reply of a musician to friend
who asked him to play on a piano
which was out of tune. Some one
was present who had not before
heard the pianist. "Do play for u.s."
said the musicians friend, "Mr.
Blank will make allowances for the
condition of the piano." snake
allowances J" replied the pianist, 81
have heard that all my life, and it
never was and never will be true.
Nobody makes allowances II a
pianist plays on bad piano, or
tenor sings when he has a sore
throat, or an orator gets out Of his
death-bed to make a speech the au-
dience is disappointed because he
does not do his best work, and it
carries away an impression Of the
performance which is likely to last
for a lifetime. It's the same in
housekeeping, and dressing, and
business, and everything else.
People expect the best under all
circumstances. There is no such
thing as making allowances"
Year: 1877

A prominent pisciculturist lately
sent a valuable present of trout
spawn to San Francisco magnate
who is more remarkable for wealth
than refinement. The donors idea
was that the trout might be hatch
ed, and would thrive in a small ar
tificial lake which was a feature of
the millionaire's grounds. He was
much surprised at receiving the fol-
lowing note some days afterward /:
"My dear friend-Them water peas
as you sent was way up, and was
excellent fried. / had considerable
railway people and one or two
bankers to dinner the night as they
came. We never would have knew
what the concerns were only for
Maria, who had just graduated at
phemale school, and knows a
sight. She told us them peas were
quite common, and that they grew
under water same as you sent 'em
We all sends kind regards, and
would be pleased to have some
more water vegetables when you
are sending to the city"
Year: 1877

No blister draws sharper than in
terest does. OF all industries, none
is comparable to that of interest.
1t works day and night, in fair
weather and foul. 1t has no sound
in its footsteps, but travels fast. 1t
gnaws a mans substance with in
visible teeth. 1t binds industry
with its film, as a fly is bound upon
n spiders web. Debt rolls man
over and over, binding him hand
and foot, and letting him hang upon
the fatal wreck until the long-legged
interest dooms him. There is no
crop that can afford to pay interest
on money on farm. There is but
one thing raised on a farm like it,
and that is the Canadian thistle,
which swarms new plants every time
you bleed its roots, whose blossoms
are prolific and every one the father
of a million seeds. Every leaf is an
awl, every branch spear, and every
plant like a platform of bayonets,
and a field full Of them is like an
armed host. The whole plant is
torment and a vegetable curse. And
yet a farmer had better make his
bed of Canadian thistles than at
tempt to lie at ease upon interest.


How many have found the above
tOO trnpi
Year: 1877

When you have few dollars do
not run off to some other town to
spend it. Remember that every
dollar taken away is gone, never to
return. When you have employ
ment for hands do not go away and
hire some one from some other
place to perform it for you, when
the same la5or can be done as well
and cheap by our own townsmen.


Build up your own schools and
churches. Help in every way you
can any enterprise of merit. Never
speak of anything to the disparage-
ment of your institutions. Patronize
and in every way aid your own me-
chanics, your laborers, your doc
tors, merchants, and every other
man with an honest employment.
Encourage every enterprise that
will bring a dollar to your town by
honest means, and discourage every
thing that tends to drive away labor
or capital, and we will astonish the
oldest inhabitants. 1t is a we'll
known fact that the appearance of
a town often has a great deal of in
fuence with most people in decid-
ing whether they would be content
to reside there or not, and we would
suggest to our citizens the impor-
tance Of keeping their homes and
surroundings in as neat Il style as
possible for them to do. Itis their
duty to do so from a sense of per
sonal pride as well as for the respect
due the community in which they
reside, to keep their places looking
neat and tasty.
Year: 1877

The Radical party is the first
party that ever put in nomination a
candidate for President and Vice
President who were willing to owe
their elevation to these offices to
deliberate, undisguised fraud; and
the Grand High Joint Circumlo-
cution' is the first and only court
Of which we have any record in any
country, civilized or barbarous, that
refused to receive and consider evi
dencc of fraud.
Year: 1877

EDITOR CITIZEN Il see IN your
last weeks paper that you are call
ing on the County Court to put
gravel on the roads built by the
work house gang. l want to sug
gest that the court appoint an en-
gineer to lay of the work on the
roads so that the work should be
done in the right way, and then it
will last. Now, if the road on East
Hill had been made rounded on top
instead of fiat, it would have been
in better condition now than whom
ii was first made. But it was made
fiat. and the water stands on it,
which makes it soft and wears in
holes. 1t will cost no more to do
this work right than it will to do it
wrong, and if it is well done the
county will soon be so it can boast
of good roads. But if the work is
badly done, and has to be patched
every year, it will take the work
house gang always working in sight
of the court house. An engineer
could be appointed to lay off the
work for the work house gang at q
very small cost, because it would
not take his time more than two
days in a month, and then when n
road is made and, if it is well done,
it will last ten years without any re-
pairs. Now, there are places in the
old turnpike running through this
county that were well built in the
beginning that is rs good now as
when first made, and 1 know they
have had no repairs since the war
began. Let the County Court learn
from the experience of others. and
not let the COUNTY be always in er
ror. OBSERVATION.
Year: 1877

1t has been proposed to burn the
judicial traitors, Strong and Brad
ley, in elfigy, as a mark of public
resentment at their infamous action.
But, the New York Sun suggests
that it is no remedy for the wrong
they have inflicted. Let them be
stunned and desplsed by all decent
men, and their names be branded
with deserved disgrace, so that the
rising generation shall have the ex-
ample as a warning before their
eyes.
Year: 1877

Postmaster General Key will-if
the New York Herald is not misin-
formed-shortly make torr Of the
South, with 4 view to ascertain the
sentiments of the people of this sec
ton toward the new administration
Year: 1877

Little Rock Gazette: The practice
some churches have Of raising sub
scriptions every Sunday has a ten
dency to estrange from the sanctu-
ary of the Lord many persons who
might otherwise be benefited by u
regular attendance, an opportunity
they would no doubt embrace If
they could be assured that n contu
button basket with an air of "your
money or your life" would not be
thrust under their noses.
Year: 1877




There is much that is strange in
the blue glass theOry-for in stance,
the conjunction of opposite elec-
tricities, the expansion OF the mole
cules of the glass, and the genera
ton of currents of electromagnetic
ism. Another strange thing is the
occult relation existing between the
number of miracles wrought ana the
business enterprise of the glass
dealers. The medical action de
pends quite as much upon the num-
ber of squares taken by the virtu
Gus advertisers in the local papers
as upon the number or size of the
panes. In Providence blue glass is
working well. A book keeper who
had been tortured with rheumatism
:or several years inserted six panes
of blue glass in his office windows,
exposed his foot, arm and shoulder
to the light, and within As hours
was cured. An elderly lady, whose
left knee, ankle and foot were swol-
len to twice their natural size,
bathed in blue light, and in three
quarters of an hour the soreness
and Inflammation disappeared. An
old gentleman whose right foot has
been useless for a year is slowly re-
covering behind three mazarine
panes. The wife Of a prominent
manufacturer who has been afflicted
with paralysis and unable to walk
for three years, was carried down
stairs to the parlor and immersed in
blue light. In the course OF an
hour or two the family below were
startled by sounds overhead and on
entering the parlor what was their
astonishment to find that she had
risen from her chair and walked
across the floor. Strength had re
turned to her limbs, she YVES able to
move her arms, and Immediately in
credulity in the efficacy of blue
glass was banished from that house.
Year: 1877

Strength for to-day is all that we need,


For there never will be tomorrow:
For tomorrow viii prove but another to-


day, .--. ...


With its measure of joy and sorrow.
Then why forecast the trials OF life


With such sad and grave persistence.
And watch and wait for a crowd of ills


That as yet have no existence? .4f
Strength for to-day--what precious boo n
For the earnest souls who labor,
For the willing hands that minister


To the needy friend or nelghbor
Strength for today-that the weary hearts
In the battle for right may quail not,
And the eyes bedimmed with bitter tears
In their search for light may fail not.
Strength for to-day-=on the downhill track,
For the travellers near the valley.
Thai up, far up, the other side,


Ere long they may safely rally.
Strength for to-day-that our precious youth
May happily shun temptation,
And build, from therise to the set of the sum-
On strong anu sure foundation.
Strength for to-day-in house and home,
To practice forbearance sweetly;
To scatter kind words and loving deeds,


Still trusting in God completely.
Year: 1877

"A good anccdote is related ofa lady
at party whose dress and form were
faultIcss. just before dinner az admircr
offered her flower from his button
hole. The dress being fastened behind
the flower had TO be adjusted with pin.
just then they went down to dinner,
and the gentleman thought he heard a
noise as though wind were escaping
from bellows. The lady had soon lost
her fair proportions, and the tightly fit
ting dress was most baggy. II appears
that the latest fashion for thin ladies'
dresses is an air tight lining blown out
to the proper size The pin put 10 keep
the flower in had penetrated the air
tight lining and caused grand collapse
Il British Court Circular.
Year: 1877




When a woman conquers fear and
masters real difficulties and dangers,
she deserves to be called heroine.
This is infinitely better than scream
ing, or going into Mysteries. Here
is O good example for imitation;


A brave woman in Boston, who
refuses 10 have her name made pub
lie was left in charge of several
children, and one of them being ta-
ken sick, she summoned woman
servant to carry a prescription to
an apothecary's for some medicine,
but the servant came frightened out
Of her wits, saying that there was O
burglar concealed in a certain clos
ct. The woman went straight 10
the door and said:


eff there is anybody in this clos
ct, let him come out"


Whereupon a big, sinister look
ing negro stepped forth. The wo-
man then, with the utmost GOODNESS,
handed him the prescription, say
ing:


"Take this to the nearest apothe
cary's shop and get it filed. There
is q sick child in the house"


The black burglar left without a
word. Meanwhile the woman, who
began to feel little faint, called a
neighbor. The latter was about TO
go to the apothecary's shop for the
medicine when the clerk called
with it, saying that the negro had
brought the prescription and then
disappeared.
Year: 1877

Woman's love! is there anything
like it? A Canadians wife has just
died in Raleigh. and he has taken
her to Canada to bury her under
the native sod. She died in land
of strangers, but she left behind her
the name OF devoted wife. 1t
was love in death. He saw her
sinking fast, he knew it, she knew
tit was consumption. He nursed
her like a little child, the great
strong man, and there they were in
the room together the night she
died. She wanted to see out, to
gaze once more at the world out
side, but he entreated her against
it, and told her that to take her up
would make her worse; but she told
him she was dying any way, and he
lifted her tenderly in his arms and
walked with her about the room,
holding her to his breast and show
ing this object and that, pointing
out every pleasant thing, and she
kissed him with every breath till the
last breath had gone, and the kiss
died cold ON his cheek. When God
made man, he put all of heaven in
a woman's love, and told him to win
it, and be worthy of it.
Year: 1877




The Importance of papers to the
village or county where published
cannot be estimated. The home
news is something that people can
not dispense with and which they
cannot buy elsewhere. An ex-
change thus fairly presents the
q uestion:


''For various reasons the larger
cities can send out their news at
quite as low prices. Families can
be furnished with knowledge of
all the world for two dollars a year
and postage. But there is some
thing they cannot buy in New Nork
or Nashville-local matter out of
which home interest and enterprise
grows; it is the local newspaper
which gets at the knowledge of par
ticular necessities, to the value of
individual persons and means. All
the Improvements begin in our
small centers-become important
forces by personal application, and
of public value by the fostering
care and attention of the local press.
Then the local press is such an in
dividual power as cannot he swung
into line to the help of selfish out
side purposes. A towns interests
are all closely interviewer with
those of these home organs of indi-
vidual expression and country en-
terprise. Persons that neglect these
for the large bids of city dailies are
like the housewife who neglects her
own fireside for the cares of other
people"
Year: 1877

The Jescish Messenger very prop
erly complains that too much is ex-
pected of ministers nova days. 1t
says that once on time mother,
with a simple-m,nded daughter OF
thirty five summers, once visited a
rabbi, and asked him if he would
perform the marriage service for the
above mentioned "child" without
compensation. In the goodness of
his heart the rabbi consented to
forego the usual fee. She then
turned confdentially and added
sWell, these two children are poor


and yet it is necessary at sucn times
to have new clothes and to give a
little party. Will you be SO good
as to advance q few hundred dollars
for these purposes and receive your
reward in heavenf" The security
was so very indefinite and the day
of payment so far off that the rabbi
bashfully declined making himself
happy in that way. The saddened
mother led her gray-haired child
out of the room with a feeling that
ministers are not all they should be
after all. The world is certainly q
cold place to live in and the clergy
are growing mercenary to decline
such invitations. m r-e'r-


we'd no eeriou2
Year: 1877

"American humor" has just been
carried about as far as it could be.
w. w. Bancroft, q st. Louis lawyer,
has been found dead in his room,
with note containing the follow
ing explanation: "In order 10 save
you as much trouble as possible,
beg to inform you that this is a
case Of laudanum, taken with 'suici-
dial intent Reasons concern no one
but myself; still, if any one should
insist upon having a reason, you
may say / was driven to desperation
by the presidential muddle, and see
ing no prospect of ascertaining in
this world who was to be next pres
dent, went to the next world, where
all things are supposed to be known
for the information of the anxious.
Please exert your influence with
the city fathers to prevent the erec-
tion of a monument over my re-
mains.
Year: 1877

If you want to succeed in the
World you must take your own OPP
portunities as you go on. The
man who waits for some seventh
wave to toss him on dry land will
find that the seventh wave is long
time coming. You can commit no
greater folly than to sit by the road
side until some one comes along
and invites you to ride with him to
wealth or influence.
Year: 1877

Whenever strolling peddler.
book agent, patent corn doctor, or
any one of the many humbugs come
around, people crowd up anxiously
to buy goods st two prices, but the
same men will jew merchant down
to the bottom price on a ten cent
trade, and then get maid because he
don't make them a present worth
HO11or
Year: 1877

New York Herald: An obituary
notice of a young man was handed
in last night for insertion in our
columns, concluding with the fol-
lowing touching remark:


Gone before the Returning Board above;


May he be counted in
Year: 1877

One would think it impossible to
be over-religious, and yet this may
sometimes be the case. We heard
once of dear old lady who had
two pianos, one FOR Italian airs and
the other for Moody and Sankey's
collection. The Sunday piano was
glum and dumb all the week, and,
like the Pharisees, thanked God
that it wasn't like other pianos, or
seven like this poor publican of an
instrument" It's a dreadful mis-
fortune to have religion which
you hang mp in a dark closet on
Sunday night as you do your black
suit, because you are not apt to take
either of them down again for a
week. Plain, every day religion is
the best, after all.
Year: 1877

1t is a characteristic of human
nature that none of us is quite con-
tent with what he is. Each thinks
he could do something else better.
And by yielding to the feeling
many a one is spoiled. Thus Anna
Dickinson, from a tolerably fair
platform orator, has transformed
herself into q very indifferent ac-
tress.
Year: 1877

The Burlington Hawkeye says:
"One of the discoveries made by
the latest Arctic explorers is that
the length of the polar night is LAP
days. What a heavenly place that
would be in which to tell a man
with bill to call around day after
to morrow and get his money.
Year: 1877




But few In any station of life are
thoroughly contented, and, IN this
country, especially, nine out of ten
mechanics are looking forward for
something better. They can not
consider their trade as their life,
nor the work bench as their fixed
station, but are ever longing, if not
striving, to 'better their condition" "
This feeling is perfectly natural, is
fostered by the Institutions under
which we live, and highly praise
worthy when it leads to honorable
exertion. But it becomes mere
childish peevishness when it pre-
vents a nan doing the best he can
in the position in which he is
placed. He can scarcely expect to
reach the mountain top who cannot
keep his footing half way up.


There is growing necessity that
workmen should take more pride in
thei, trades, and not consider APP
premiership ended while any detail
remains to be mastered Let us act
well the parts in which we are cast,
WITHOUT moodily repining for the
past or idly straining vacant eyes

into tie future. The great me-
chanics of our country-and they
are among our most honored men
are those who did not despise or fly
from their callings, but pursued
them studiously and laboriously.
Year: 1877

A young student Of medical col-
lege in this recently purchased a corpse
to the end that he might secure skel-
eton. After cutting off the flesh, he
put the bones in a sack and took them
to his room to boil, clean and scrape.
He had got portion Of them compile
ted, aud then put the leg bones in the
pot to boil. A couple of wags, who
knew what was going on, got two leg
bones of a sheep, and while one OF
them tosk the youthful Esculapius out
to get a glass of lager, the other put
the sheep bones in the pot with the
human bones and then left. A day
or two afterwards, when the student
took the bones out to scrape, he was
astonished, but could not account for
the extra ones. However, he cleaned
them all up, and for the last two weeks
has been trying to find out where they
fit on the human leg bones. st. Lou
is Globe Democrat.
Year: 1877

The secrets Of the Changers are
gradually being unfolded. We de-
tected one on yesterday that it is fair
the public should know, and this was
the mode in which the juni male
members salute the female officers of
the order. Passing by the Grange
Store on Cheapside, we saw the clerk
of that establishment salute lady in
a carriage passing by. She was
doubtless Ceres or Flora or Cleopatra
or some other dignitary. for he pro-
ceeded Ia pay his respects by lifting
bis hat from behind, and shooting out
his long neck like duck praying for
rain, and then replacing his beaver
with jerk and elevating both hands
in the most graceful attitude. This is
doubtless the prescribed mode of salu-
tation and recognition and our sub in
tends to try it on the very first oppor-
Gazette.
Year: 1877

A woman in a French village who
was quite i'll and confined to bed. one
evening in her husbands absence. was
shocked by the sudden appearance Of
a masked burglar at her bedside. He
demanded her money, md threatened
to kill her if she cried out. She said,
"You see am unable to move, am
so III; but the money is in the cellar.
In the cellar floor you viii find NOV,
able stone, raise it. ard underneath is
a bag of money" The robber descend
ed into the cellar without hesitation
while he.springing from her bed shut
to the bolt of the door and gave Al
alarm. The neighbors rushed in, and
the man was secured.
Year: 1877

A Judge in Western New York was
badly sold u few weeks ago, by a jury
man who wanted to be excused. His
honor asked it he had good and sufii-
cient reason tor his desired absence.
The juror replied not only that he
had, but that his special aud particu-
lar reason was that he was obliged to
attend a funeral. Leave Of absence
was granted. As the retreating form
OF the juror passed out of sight thro
the door. the sheriff remarked to the
Judge, shat mans an undertaken" The
funeral was a great success that day;
but that judge has since been very
careful about granting leave Of alb
sence to jurors that they may bury
the dead.
Year: 1877

The use Of chloroiorm in dentistry
is said, by the Medical Record, to be
always dangerous. mo Surgeon, f"
says the writer, 'carss To assume the
responsibility Of giving chloroform un-
less he knows that the stomach Of the
patient is empty, that the ciiculatory
apparatus is in good condition, and
the lungs free from disease. A pre-
vious inquiry into these conditions is
as much part of the administration
OF any anesthetic as is the placing Of
the napkin to the nose"
Year: 1877

More Information Before Leasing.


At the meeting yesterday evening oI
the Southern Railroad Committee Of the
Board of Transportation, the following
resolutions were unanimously adopted
by the Committee:


"Resolved, That we are opposed 10
any lease being made OF the southern
Railroad until the information requested
by US at former meeting is afforded by
the Trustees, said information being
similar to that embodied in the Goshorn
resolution Of inquiry; also,


"Resolyed, That the depOts and shops
Of the road be located before any ieasa
be made"
Year: 1877

The appearance aon the lecture plat
form of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher is al.
ways an event of great interest. He is
the most eminent lecturer and minister
in the country, and the most thoroughly
advertised man in the world. Those
who have not heard him will have an OPP
portunity of doing so tonight, and those
who have, never tail to be present when
he is announced. Seats nave sold rapid
ly, but the house is very large and there
will be ample accommodations for all.