smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Twenty years ago, young man
in New Haven was engaged to marry
young woman there. For some reason
she transferred her promise to marry,
if not her affections, to another person.
The first suitor, who was a respectable
mechanic, disapproved of the match,
and declared that his rival was dis


reputable person who would lead his
affianced a wretched life, and that,
while he could surrender her himself,
he would rather she should die than
marry that man. Accordingly, and as
he said solely to save her from the aw-
ful fate of such degrading marriage,
he killed the girl. He did not attempt
to conceal his deed he justified it, and
regarded himself as the savior of tue
girls happiness. He was tried for mur-
der and acquitted on the ground of in
sanity, although he stOutly denied that
he was insane and said that he had
acted upon his cool conviction of what
was the best for the girl, and was ready
to suffer the penalty of the law for the
homicide. Acquitted, he was remand
ee to the county jail by the court
he remained there seven or eight years,
III the JlHle pIoleSiinS OhdO HO NdS III
his right mind, and that the state
should either hang him for murder ol
release him. He was then transferred
10 the state prison at Wethersfeld, by
what authority, it does not appear, un-
der no sentence. There he has remain
ed until this day, in the same state OF
mind, apparently rational on all sub
lects, except that he insists that he had
IA right to kill the girl to save her from
dishoDor; and that if the state thought
otherwise it should have punished him
as a murderer. This is the story o


Willard Clarke, who has now petition
ed the Assembly to remove him from
the state prison to the insane asylum
at Middletown. If he is insane, that il
where he belongs. If he is sane, ht
has a right to his liberty, having beer
once acquitted on trial for his life. 81
far as it appears, he has now been il
Jail nearly a quarter of Il century with


out authority of law for, if there il


anywhere existing legal commitment


of Clarke as lunatic, the state prison
is not legal place for the continemen
Year: 1877

1t is astonishing with what readiness
persons will trust their lives in the
hands of individuals who give no evi-
dence of having any sound knowledge
whatever of the human system or the
diseases to which it is subject. People
seem to use their good sense upon this
subject less than upon any other. If Il
man is to be employed to NOV, or
thresh, or dig cistern, or build a house,
the employer takes good care to see
that the applicant for employment un-
derstands his business; but such pre-
caution is seldom taken III the selection
of a medical adviser. If an ignorant
Dutchman, a half-civilized Indian, or u
travelling quack, recommends certain
decoctiOn or compound, it is swallowed
unhesitatingly and without any knOwl-
edge of its real nature. 1t may be Il
drug of the most deleterious character !;
but the unsuspecting patient knows
nothing of it until he finds himself suf-
feriug from the injury inflicted. The
sooner people learn to use the same
good common sense in relation to mat
tiers pertaining to health that they Use
in regard to other matters, to trust their
lives in the hands of those only who
have acquired by patient study the fit
ness to bear so grave a responsibility
the better it will be for humanity, and
the sooner quacks and charlatans will
be compelled to procure a living in
some more honest manner than trying
dangerous experiments on human life


There are hygienic quacks as well al
drug quacks. Like the latter, they
are chiefly distinguished by their ig
ignorance. As general rule, this class
of quacks advocate very strenuously
some of the most extreme and imprac


ticable measures in diet or medica
treatment. Beware of them.-HedId
RefOrmer
Year: 1877

GooD citizens, in fact all working men,
are interested in having every one labor
at atsomething useful. The fewer drones
or idlers, the better; for the more idlers,
the more labor is thrown upon those who
do work. Some authors show up the
heavy draw upon nation Of standing
army. The expense of keeping up
is heavy, and the loss of the productive
labor of SO many young and able bodied
men is still heavier upon the public. But
when a government is run ia the interest
of a few, wealthy bondholders and other
classes, the burdens upon labor are great
ly increased, and then standing army
becomes necessary. Tyranny in every
shape is force, and finally rests upon bay
onets, lift rests at all.
Year: 1877

"LooK out for the overfowing scourge,,
said Judge Black to the men who were
about to consummate the fraud which
cheated the people out of their choice
They have already had a sharp taste of
it, and the end il not yet. Unhappily,
the innocent suffer with the guilty. That
was inevitable.-Ex.


From the effervescing among laboring
men, it is evident "the scourge" is hard
times, bringing suffering and starva.
ton. These were the causes that brought
on the frightful French revolution of
17S994, that swept away the last vestige
of tie old ruling aristoCracy in Church
and State. One wrong is apt to beget
another, whether the first is according
to enforced claw" or not.
Year: 1877

WE have been shown the business
record of portion of the campaign of
IS48, as it transpired in the Democratic
club room Of that year. The late Benz.
F. Letter was chairman, and J. B. Estep
secretary, in whose hand writing the
records appear. Some good reading is
interspersed, from which we may extract
some gems hereafter but the chief beau
ty Of the relic is the perfect harmony
shown with the Democratic creed of to-
day. The original may be seen at this
office.
Year: 1877




Away.


The Cleveland Leader of June 23d,
1876, contained an article advisory to
workingmen, designed to show work
people how very cheap they could live.
From this article we extract


considering the hard times now ex-
perienced among the working classes in
this country, it may be appropriate to
discuss the subject of cheap living. Work
ing people the world over are in the same
situation, but they manage to stand it
better in other countries on account of
their habitual economy. An Italian la
borer, earning thirty cents a day, will
support his wife and two or three child
rem. At noon, in the short halt in his
work, he throws himself down in the
shade of tree or wall, and eats large
piece of bread, with nothing to give it a
relish but an onion or piece of garlic
The evening meal with his family will
consist of coarse bread, variety OF cheap
vegetables, salad gathered along the
roadside, and so seasoned as to cause a
pleasing sensation to the palate, and now
and then washed down with bottle of
wine costing four or five cent?. In France
the poor people will fall back upon soup,
which they can almost make OUT OF
SHAVINGS. In Germany they will sub
sist on bread and vegetables. The work.
ing classes in all European countries are
able, during the dull season, to restrict
their appetites to modest bill of fare,
adequate to their means, and continue to
live in the enjoyment of good health.


Further on the writer gives practical
illustration


A gentleman who has busted himself
considerably in endeavoring to solve this
problem, states that few days ago he
purchased material and made soup for
nine persons at an expense of six cents;
three cents for peas, one cent for Bermu.
da onion, ditto for two heads of aspara-
gus, and a dozen leaves of spinach, and
ONE CENT for small bone, which the
BUTCHER WOULD HAVE THROWN
AWAY.


Let us add that the way for the work.
ingmen to insure themselves the neces-
sity of living in this way is to turn in
and help elect West and the whole Re-
publican ticket.
Year: 1877

If we could only find suitable piece
of bombast, we should like to aid in get
ting up discussion with one of the two
radical candidates, or both, for Legisla'
tive honors. But on our side we can
find no proper and sufficient specimen
to compete and compare with R, R. Por'
ter and, R. H. Folger. We have given
it up in despair.
Year: 1877

AN exchange favors reducing the army
to "ten men with wooden legs" In that
case we would not be so rapidly building
up military aristocracy. In fact, all es-
tablished aristocracies sprung originally
out of military conquest, and are so main
tanned.
Year: 1877

The Columbus Dispatch claims that no
daily paper in Columbus even circulated
80 many copies outside the city as that
paper is now doing. The Dispatch is
live paper, and keeps abreast of the
Year: 1877

Our Government is slow IN learning
practical wisdom. When business is brisk
it carries on public works of no urgent ne
os.ity and outhids the private employer
for labor which he would be glad to pur-
chase. When buaines is dull, it makes it
still duller BY doing its best to swell the
number Of the unemployed. In state Of
society Wherein labor is 90 minutely sub
divided, and where the demand for the
products Of special industries is 60 auctua-
ting - It aow is in this and all other civil
li.sd countries, public employment should
Be made asla q possible sort of balance
wheel in the industrial system, eqaalizing
the demand for labor BY reducing the pub
lie demand 70 its minimum, and vice versa.
Such . system is rendered necessary BY
the fact that periods Of industrial prostra-
ton alternating with somewhat longer pe.
riods Of activity seem to be an established
result of the complex Industrial organiza-
ton Of the present age; and it is rendered
practicable by the fact that large part Of
the public demand for labor is for works
Of permanent character which may be
undertaken a few years earlier, or post
poned until a few years later without det-
riment to the interests Of the nation, State,
or city for which they are to be done.
Year: 1877

IT looks as though the Car Of Russia
had better get out of the Turkish empire
and hasten back to his own dominions and
his own capital. as soon as possible. There
are signs Of discomfort among the Russian
people with his imperial Msjesty's military
operations that may result in danger to his
Government -..-.r.-.
Year: 1877

There was business man standing
in front of the Wooster House picking
his teeth, the other morning. He was
doing this in mechanical way, as his
mind was employed upon weighty
matter. While he stood there boy
approached with bundle Of books
under his arm. He was going to school,
but wanted to go elsewhere. He saw
the business man standing in the shade,
and leisurely picking his teeth, and
then he thought Of the hot school-room
with its tasks, and of the cool woods
and fishing brooks, and groaned within
himself as he said:


81 wish was man so could do as
L pleased"


The man still stood there. He had a
note of S400 to pay before the bank
closed, and he had goods to order from
firm whom he already owed, and he
had S25 in his pocket, and no earthly
possibility of collecting 500 more
Then his eye fell upon the boy going tc
school, and he sighed and said:


''Would to heaven was boy agair
at school. :" Danbury News.
Year: 1877

A letter from Local Commissioner
Chandler, from Lansing, gives the graf
flying information that he has succeeded
in securing grant of swamp land from
the State Board of Control to aid i'm con-
structing a dam across the Sturgeon
river, to prevent the inflow of sand which
has been threatening to impede the navi-
CATION of the inland lake and river route
This insures the success of this route be-
yond peradventure, for the only OBJ
stacle i'm the way of its success was the
sand bar formed by the sand coming from
this river. The building of the dam
will obviate this difficulty and our citi-
Zens can now look forward to its early
completion, with a degree of satisfaction.
We feel confident that the opening of
this route will prove to be of more bene-
fit to the advancement OF the interests of
the county than anything of public ma
ture, which has yet been accomplished.
A notice to contractors for proposals to
construct the dam will be found i'm
another column to which we would call
the attention of all who may feel inter-
ested in making bids for the work.
Year: 1877

equally from both political parties. its de-
liberations enlightened by the research
and the arguments of able counsel, was
entitled to the fullest confidence OF the
American people. Its decisions have been
patiently waited for and accepted as le-
gally conclusive by the general Judge
ment Of the public. For the present
opinion will widely vary as to the wis
dom of the several conclusions announ-
ced by that tribunal This is to be antic-
ipated i'm every instance where matters:of
dispute are made the subject OF aroitra-
tiOn under the forms of law. Human
Judgment is never unerring and Is rare
ly regarded as otherwise than wrong Dy
the unsuccessful party in the contest


The fact that two political parties nave
in this way settled a dispute in regard 10
which good men differ as to the law no
less than as to the proper course TO pe
parsued i'm solving the question in con-
troversy. is an occasion for general re-
joicing. Upon one point tnere
is entire unanimity in pubic
sentiment that the conflicting
claims to the Presidency must De
amicably and peaceably adjusted, anu
that when so adjusted the general ac-
quiescence of the nation ought surely 10
come. 1t has been reserved for gov
ernment of the people where the righC
of suffrage is universal, TO give 10 the
world the first example in history OF
great nation i'm the midst of Il struggle OF
opposing parties for power. hushlnS It's
party tumults, yielding the issue OF the
contest to an adjudgmer.t according 10
the forms of law.


Looking for the guidance of that Di-
vine hand by which destinies of nate
and individuals are shaped, L call up
on you, Senators, Representatives,,
judges, fellow citizens. here and every
where, to unite with me in an earnest ef-
fort TO secure to our country the bless
iings not only of material prosperity, but
of justice, peace and union, n union de-
pending not upon the cOnstraint of force.
but upon the loving devotion of Tree
people, that all things may be so ordered
and settled upon the best and surest
foundation that peace and happiness,
truth and justice, religion and piety may
be established among US for all genera
tions.
Year: 1877

The following is report of the
scholarship and department of the
pupils in the Senior and intermediate
departments of the Cheboygan public
school. Scholarship relates to perfect
lessons recited during the month. and
the department 10 tie regular and
and prompt attendance aud behavior of
the pupil. 1t does not follow therefore.
that if a pupil rates low in department
that they were disorderdly in the school
room. Ten is taken as maximum
standard e
Year: 1877




For several days past there have been
rumOrs af1Oat that the Jackson, Lansing
& Saginaw railroad company is going to
work extending the road twenty miles
this side of Gaylord, its present terminus,
this coming season. We believe that, in
order to comply with the terms of their
land grant, they are compelled to con-
struct that amount of road during this
year: and this fact, taken in connection
with the rnmor leads us to believe that
the extension will be made. Mr.. Spen-
Ger, who was at OtsegO Lake last week,
informs us that the agent at that place
had received telegram from some party
in the southern part of the state stating
that such extension was going to be
made. Should such be the case. the
twenty miles would bring the road with
i'm about ten miles of Indian river, and
we think that if they commence to ex-
tend the road at all, they will not stop
short OF that river. The rapidly incrcas-
ing travel during the summer season of
those in search of pleasure and recrea-
ton, to this northern section, makes it
to their interest to reach point where
the road will enjoy the benefit of it. and
this can be done by constructing their
road to intersect with the inland naviga-
ton route. This would also enable that
road to compete with the Grand Rapids
& Indiana road for the patronage of those
visiting the Methodist camp meeting
grounds, which, we think, is quite an in
ducement for the company to push their
road to this point.
Year: 1877

Here is a paragraph Of plain talk
to the girls, by an anonymous
author, which is worth library Of
Young Ladies' Books or Young
Ladies' Friends, or whatever may
be the title Of the wishy-washy
compounds that are sold for the
benefit Of that interesting portion
of the community.


"Men who are worth having,
want women for wives A bundle
of gcw gaws bound with string of
flaps and quayers spriEklcd with
cologne, and set i'll cafmire saucer
this is no help for man who
expects to raise a family cn verita~
BILE bread and meat. The piano
and lace frame are good in their
places, and SO arc ribbons, frills,
and tinsels, but you cannot make a
dinner OF the former, nor bed
blanket of the latter. And lawful
as the idea may seem to you, both
dinner and bed blankets are ncces-
sary to domestic happiness. Lite
has its realities as we'll as fancies,
but you may make it all a matter
of decoration, remembering the
tassels and curtains, hut forgetting
the beadstead-Suppose a man OF
good sense, and of course good
prospects, to be looking for wife
what chance have sou to be
chosen You may cap him, or
you may trap hlm or catch him,
| but how much better to make it an
object for him to catch you Ren
der yourself worth catching and
You will need no shrewd mother
or brother to help you to find g
market.
Year: 1877

< The last Legislature passed an
Act TO amend the Landlord and
Tenant law. Its provisions are
thus explained


Crops grown on leased or rented
lands shall be held to be in posses
sion of the lessor until the rents
are paid. and all stipulations OF the
lease performed, unless otherwise
specially agreed between the par
ties. The lcin also lies until all
advancements made and expenses
incurred in making and saving the
crop shall be paid, and the lessee
or cropper shall not remove the
crop until such claims are paid,
without the consent of the owner,
When the land owner gets the crop
made on his land by tenant into
his possession, and refuses, after
five days notice, to have a settle
ment and return to the tenant his
part thereof, the rel.ter shall be
entitled to the remedies given in
action upon a claim for the delivery
OF personal property, to recover the
part Of the crop he Is eutitlcd tc
by law. In controversies between
the parties, and neither party avails
himself of the provisions of the first
and second sections of this Act,
either party may proceed at once
to have the matter determined be-
fore Justice of the Peace, if the
amount claimed docs not exceed
5000, and in the Superior Court
where it exceeds that amount. In
case Of appeal from the Justice's
Court, or continuance. the lessee
shall retain possession Of the prop
erty, by giving bond for double the
sum claimed, if such claim does moi
amount to more than the value ol
the crop; if it does, then the Bond
to double the value Of the property
or crop. If the lessee or croppel
fail to give the bond as above, il
case of continuance or appeal, ther
the property shall be delivered into
the possession of the lessor, he Civ


ing the adverse party a bond il
double the amount of the value o


the property, conditioned upon thu


forthcoming of the same in cas'
Judgment is obtained against him


In case neither party gives th'
!. bond, then it shall be the duty 0


the Justice, or the Clelk of tin
Superior Court, as the case may be
to issue an order to the Constable
or Sheriff directing him to take tn
property, or so much as is neces
; sary to satisfy the demand OF th
| claimant and cost, into his posses
T. sion and sell the same uDder tn
rules and regulations for sale unde
execution, and keep the proceed


subject to the issue of the suit il
: all cases arising under this Act, i
the Superior Court, the return tern


shall be the trial term. Any rente
: or other person who shall remov
the crop, or any part of it, from,fh


land, without the consent of tn
Year: 1877

And while my lone step prints the dew.
Dear are the dreams that b.ess- my view;
TO Memory's eye the maid appears,


For whom hame sprung my sweeiesttears


So soft, so tenderly.''


CttntOeas


Sober men who have bufeted
the adverse tides of life until almost
every spark of the hallowed fire
that glowed upon the emotional
altar OF their youthful hearts has
died out, leaving the altar strewn
and blackcned with the ashes and
cinders of dead emotions, may
smile at the apparent extravaganza
of youthful sentiment, but there are
times when they look back through
the dim vista Of years and fondly
liuger upon that one sweet oasis of
memory. trying to tune the sad
heart to that beautiful song that is
to be learned no more Like the
shining pair who knelt at the closed
gate of Paradise, and with tears
vainly sought to return, we all
kneel before the golden gate that
shut MS out from the Eden OF
youthful dreams, and weep to enter
again. There is no rigid philoso
ply; no cold and formal logic +; ro
moral or metaphysical thesis by
which this peculiarity of onr natur-
al constitution may he understood
We know that it is an idiosyncracy
OF our nature we realize its exist
Year: 1877

A young man in Texas recently met
with: a novel and exciting adventure with
deer. He tells the story in letter to
a friend as follows: This morning I was
sauntering along the banks of your re-
mantle stream, and, in the absence of
gun, was enjoying a little hunt with my
pistol and a hatchet, which l had flung
in my belt Turning around in the
stream I saw short distance in advance
twosdeers Standing in the edge of the
stream. I quietly crept' UP and taking
careful aim fred, wounding the largest
of the two somewhere in the leg. At the
crack of my old pistol the deer made a
spring for deep water, and I, in the flush
OF my excitement (my first case Of genuine
chuck fever'0 made a leap into the stream
in pursuit of my prize: Strange as it
may seem, I reached the plunging ami
mai, grasped hold of the tail, and hung
there for dear life. The deer, more
frightened than hurt, now commenced
voyage Of discovery, trying to discover
what style of rearing and plunging was
best calculated to free itself from the
firm grasp of my muscular hand. It
swan into deep water and into shallow





and down the stream, but to no purpose.
I, could sometimes touch bottom and
sometimes couldn't, but held on all the
same. The deer tried to kick me, off. but
being in the water, the force of its kick
T ing did not avail much.
After towing me all over the stream,
and down about q quarter of a mile, the
deer seemed to +. solve on a new style of
tactics. It every little while made a
frantic effort to turn about and fight me
with its front feet and horns, and [ had
to do some tall swimming around the
circle to prevent the accomplishment of
! it's design. After it had tried this re-
peatedly, Isstruck an idea-that as soon
as we struck bottom again, and where I
thought could get a footing, to court
this turning around motion of the deer
and kill the animal with my little hatchet.
Asywe went sailing along through q deep
channel I succeeded in getting mys
hatchet out Of my belt, and we soon
struck a bar, where we both found good
footing. The deer had no sooner touched
bottom, than it made a turn on me again
and 1, letting up on, the TAIL allowed it
to turn and come for me, and as it did so
I delivered well poised blow that laid
it out. You can well imagine what a
blow it must have been when I had
drank about, three-fourths. of a quart of
fresh milk before starting on the expe
dition.P After getting my breath little,
/ dragged my fine prize ashore, and
went back to change my clothes and get
a team to take it home. think that I
Justly claim the champions belt until
some fellow actually catches deer in
his hat. g II