smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

SMALL CHANGE IN CALIFORNIA
just now there is a curious mosoic of
customs in California, with respect to
change. In early times no miner or
business man expected to give or take
the exact change. Anything less than
a quarter was too insignificant for any
Californian to recognize. A New York
newspaper was sold at two bits. A
quarter of dollar was recognized as
change. Finally a dime came to be
recognized as small change, although it
was very hard for the FOrty-niner to
come down. He was willing to sleep
in his blankets and do his own cooking,
but to recognize small change was too
much for him. In time the five-cent
piece made its appearance. 1t was an
honest silver coin, and was gaining
ground rapidly. But after while a
five-cent nickle made its appearance
base, bastard coin, well calculated to
excite contempt. There are now two
usages in this state one of which is of
pioneer times and the other of more
modern date. One discards any sum
less than a dime, and on all small
transactions will take so per cent. ad-
ditional rather than make the exact
change. The other recognizes the fact
times have changed that an article
sold for dime is not fifteen cents, and
that it is not honest to take it.-Sdn
Francisco Bulletin.
Year: 1878

reach him for some hours and, it is
claimed, till night-fall. 1t is clear that
Porter could not have prevented june
tiOn of the two rebel corps; whether
he ought not to have attacked Long
street, while Pope was waging the bat
tie with Jackson is more difficult
question. Both corps were exhausted
with marching and fighting, without
eating. In fact, according to Long
streets own testimony, his own inactiOn
was contrary to the orders of Lee. He
says:


| know of no terrific battle raging
that day from daylight till after dark.
If there had been should have known
it. Gen. Lees plan was for me to bring
on an engagement, and asked time to
make reconnaissance, which | did,
and deemed the plan hazardous from
seeing large numbers of troops in front
of me, which l afterward learned were
those of Gems. Porter and Mcdowell.
Because of the woods in front of me
thought my position a good one for de-
fense. In view of the impenetrable
woods, it would have been very haz-
ardous for Gen. Porter to take his COM
mand around the road to Groveton, and
if he had attempted it his forces would
have been broken up. Gen. POrter's
position checked my forces till it was
too late. If Gen. Porter had attacked
that day any time after ~ o'clock, my
forces would have annihilated him, for
the federal lines were then too much
extended and disjointed.


This agrees with the testimony of
Lees adjutant, who says that Long
street dissuaded Lee from making an
attack, on account of POrter's strong
position. AS to whether Porter should
have attacked Longstreet, Capt. Ran
dOlph of the 1st artillery testifies that
the order to attack, dated 4.30, did not
reach Porter till $50 or z and there is
considerable testimony to the fact that
the battle which ragged OH our right
wing did not engage the attention of
either complaint on our left wing. In
fact, Hooker's division was the only
one thrown against the rebel lines and
that against the advice of its command
er, and, not till nearly o'clock in the
afternoon. 1t was terribly cut up by
Hills corps posted behind a railroad
embankment. This was what Pope
called a general battle and expected
Porter to take part in. The great strug-
gle came on the following day, when
POrter's fresh troops bore the brunt OF
the fight.


Gen. Pope was an ardent and inde-
fatigable fighter, but no strategist. 1t
is pitiful to see how Jackson and Lee
"walked around him" at every point.
He had no perception of the ulterior
designs of his enemy, and took no ac-
count of the limitations of endurance
and of locomotion under which his own
forces labored. At the same time, his
effective force was small, and it was Il
period of most melancholy inc ipacity
in our whole military management.
Gen. Halleck was nOminally command
ing from an impossible saddle behind a
desk at Washington, pleading with
Mcclellan to send out force and find
what had become of Pope and the enc
my; Mcclellan was disappointed and
sour, and Antietam and the Fredericks-
burgs were still in the future. The
wonder is how we lived through it all.
Year: 1878

That they are not altogether idiotic
is occasionally made to appear rather
significantly. In a class in Yale Col
lege not long ago was a colored youth
of high scholarship and fine promise.
In the same class was white student
from South Carolina, with nearly or
quite the same name, and consequently
seat at recitation next to the sable
scholar. Anent which occurred, sub
stantially, the following correspondence
between the Southern father and a
gentleman of the faculty:


"-SoUTH CAROLINA.


Professor: Dear Sir-My son in
forms me that he is obliged to sit next
negro day after day, which is highly
disagreeable to him and offensive to
me. Will you please provide some diff
ferent arrangement


Yours, etc, -"
Year: 1878

The following lines are carved
Aensal Green Cemetery, in memory
ANNA" of whom only the dates of
'irth, marriage and death at Funch
n Madeira, are recorded:
1t is not at the hour of DEATH
While mourning on the parting breath;
1t is not while we look our last,
The present all-forget the past;
1t is not while we watch the eye
Closing with deaths last quivering sigh


We feel our loss.
1t is not when we gently lay
The loved remains in deaths array;
1t is not while with noiseless tread
We gather round the sleeping dead,
And tor a few sad mourning days
On what was precious fOndly gaze


We feel our loss.
1t is not when loves labor done,
The coffin closed, we one by one,
With trembling awe, approach and kneel,
And on the lid a farewell seal
From lips that cannot speak prayer,
So deep the struggling feeling there


We feel our loss.
And when the last dread solemn rite
Ashes to ashes must unite,
In sable garb we stand around,
Bathing with tears the burial ground,
Which soon our treasure must conceal,
Then, then-indeed, grief we feel


But not our loss.
But when a few more days are gone,
And we yet weep, but weep alone;
When all is as it was before,
Save one we never can see more;
When others take that vacant place
So lately filed by one dear face


We feel our loss
All, many year may pass away,
And many a sunbeam round us play,
And many a cloud of heavy woe
Darken our pathway here below;
But joy, or grief. can ne'er efface
What memory's pen alone can trace


There is our loss.
Year: 1878

A PHILOSoPHICAL TRAMP. - The
younger tramp appeared to be some
what disheartened, and was grumhling
that he did not like to he kicked about
like a dog. The elder tramp, large
man with rather cheerful face, but
very ragged exterior, rebuked his com
panion i'll a way that showed how the
average professional tramp views his
situation. 81 tell you," said he, with
careless glance at the apparently in
attentive Craig, "you ought to be glad
to have such good times. Here, take a
drink and don't he fool. I've been on
the road now several years, and l don't
want better life. l get living, and
that's all n man wants. Now, look at
those poor devils hurrying along to and
from work. They slave all day and
worry about it if they don't get chance
to do it. They work all day, year in
and year out, and give all the grub we
need te such chaps as me without think
ing much about it. You and lay here
and sun ourselves, for this is the chilliest
June | ever saw, and sleeping out this
forenoon near the river made me feel
cold. Will | catch cold from last nights
rain Well, suppose l do; Pm drying
off and warming up now, and if l have
whisky enough I'll drive out the cold.
l tell you there's no danger of any man
starving to death in this country if he
amt ashamed to wear ragged clothes
and has cheek enough to ask for grub.
These folks will toll and slave to sup
port us, and why shouldn't they, If
they are fools enough ?" And the tramp
laughed heartily and passed the bottle
to his companion, who was soon also
i'll the best of Misunderstanding EaqLe.
Year: 1878

pr The Salt Lake Tribune reports the death
of three children who had diphtheria, and
says that it was due to the persistency with
which their father prohibited the employment
of remedies or the consultation of physl
clan, he relying entirely upon the teachings
of the Mormon elders that the laying on o1
hands is the only necessary remedy for heal
ing the sick. The ward bishop was sent fol
every day, and laid hands upon them, ThiE
was all that was done.
Year: 1878

CUTTING THE GoRDIAN KNoT.-At Cor
dium, in Asia Minor, Alexander the Great
met with the famous adventure which gave
rise to this phrase. The yoke of cart which
had formerly belonged to King Midas was
fastened to the beam with leathern thong,
and the knot was implicated in so curious a
manner that no one could discover the ends
of the thong. An oracle had said that who.
ever succeeded in loosening the yoke Of this
cart from the beam should become master Of
Asia. Alexander attempted it, but finding
no success in the way others had tried before
him, he presently drew his sword and with
one blow divided the knot, and thus ful6lled
the prediction of the oracle" Is,.
Year: 1878

Col. W. C. Black, member of the Commission,
is unable to be present to sign this report. We
very sure that he agrees with US in the gener,
al scope of the report, and have been authorized
to sign his name but evidence having recently
been taken, In his absence. we report without his
signature. e.
Year: 1878

MANCHESTER, August 80, 1878.


Exceptions having been taken by seYerai
parties to an item in this paper in reference
to the nomination OF General Johnston j
few days since, 1t is but Just to the reporter
to state that nothing personal was meant.
He has no desire to reflect unjustly upon
any one OF those with whom he finds him
self for the first time politically opposed,
and some of whom are bis warm personal
friends. MANCHESTER REPORTER.
Year: 1878

THE reichstag is not disposed to give
very great power to the government.
1t has rejected that section of the anti
socialist bill which gave the emperor
unrestricted authority to appoint the
president of the court Of appeals.
Year: 1878

It can now be stated positively that
there Is at least no present. probability Of
Attorney General Deyens retiring from the
Cabinet. The President and other meme
bers OF the Cabinet consider 1t Of adyar-
tage TO. the Government! that no change
shall occur at present, and while General
Devens hashaa offered to him the position
Of First Circuit Judgeship, he will defer
his own wishes in regard thereto and re-
main in his present office
Year: 1878

The general practice in the South among
farmers is to give their sons q classical edu-
cation, fitting them for the professions of
law, medicine and divinity, to tho neglect
Of the practical sciences. The natural con-
sequence is that the land is filled with poorly
paid doctors aud preachers, and second rate
lawyers The farmf1 interests of the
country are confded generally to those
whose education has been neglected. The
tendency of this pernicious system is TO
create among the educated youth of the
land contempt for any business that res
quires manual labor to sustain>it. Instan-
ses are rare where ESang men adapt mechan=


While our country is sadly in need of
skilled hbor, our schools are turning out
annually fresh supplies of professional men
who expect to live upon the labor Of others
What the South needs is change, thor
ough, radical change, in her educational sys.
ten. We need mechanics, miners, cngi-
neers and educated farmers


Our country needs development, but this
development will never be attained by con-
lining the attention of young men to the
study OF classical literature, to the neglect
of mathematics and natural science. The
educated Carolinian frequently knows more
OF Horaccs Art of Poetry than of guiding
the plough or harvesting a crop. He is
better acquainted with the Sabine form of
the heathcn poet than with that of his ia
ther who has by life of toll accumulated
means to educate him We do not dccry q
study Of the dead languages, but We dc de-
cry the practice Of giving an ornamental
education the preference over that which
SO nearly concerns the prosperity of our
country. Life is too short to attempt to
teach man everything. Practical cduca-
tion is what we need. This is what the
South needed before the late war and what
she needs no,o. The want of skilled labor
is not owing to a want of intellect among
our people. 1t is<duc to that pcrnicious
system Of education which allures the
young from the plow, the loom and the
workshop, to the already crowded fields of
professional life Carolina Farmer.
Year: 1878

NEURALGIA AND RHEUMATISM A
very simple relief for neuralgia is to boil a
small handful Of lobelia in half pint Of
water till the strength is out of the herb,
then strain it off and add a tcaspoonfuI of
fine SALT Wiring cloths out of the liquid
as hot as possible and spread over the part
Affected. 1t acts like charm. Change
the cloths as soon as cold till the pain is all
gone; then cover the place with soft, dry
covering till all pcrspiratan is*1f! r, SO as
to prevent taking cold Rheumatism can
often be relieved by application to the pain.
full parts Of cloths wet in weak solution
OF sal.soda in water If there is inham-
nation in the joints, tho cure is very quick
the wash needs to be lukcwarm. n Cor.
Country G"hHcman.
Year: 1878

TO DANISH RATS.-Rats can be ban
ishcd by covering the floor near the rat hole
with thin layer of moist caustc potash.
When the rats walk on this it makes their
feet sore. These they lick with their
tongues, which makes their mouths sore
and the result is that they not only shun
this locality, but appear to tell all the neigh.
boring rats about it, and eventually the
house is entirely abandoned by them.
Year: 1878

One Of the incidents of the re-as-
sembling Of Congress after the
electoral count was the advent of
the carpet-bag Senator Patterson.
Of South Carolina, who advanced
with extended hand to Conkling.
The latter strode past the South
Carolina criminal without seeming
to see him. To his credit be 1t said
he has always aimed to uphold the
dignity Of his party and of the Sem
atorial character, and If a Republi-
can Senator must represent New
York we are heartily glad that
Roscoe Conkling is the man. He
stands the victor In an epic fight.
Year: 1878

A DEFENSE. We understand that
some of those opposed to our election
to the Office of County Clerk are circu-
lating the report to the effect that we
didn't care for the nomination in the
Republican Convention, accompanied
by the insinuation that we are not in
sympathy with the Republican party.
Now, II those who oppose us will stick
to simple truth, it's very little that wen
trouble the public with articles of this
sort.


All we ask of the people is to look at
our record, and see IL we've not done
our share. We have endeavored to
base the motive of our action on princi-
pie, and not on selfishness altogether.
The work we have given to the Repub-
lican party anu to the public has been
given without reward, and we are just
a trifle sensitive about insinuations that
we are unworthy the confidence of the
public, and especially that portion con-
tanned In the Republican party.


The fact that there's but the one pa
per I'm the county, causes us to give all
parties showing. We do thus as q
matter of fairness and courtesy to our
patrons; though we are well aware that
our enemies take advantage of the fact
to misrepresent us.


AS for placing our name before the
people as We have, we have done 80
with the feeling that 1t was fair, hon
orable transaction. 1t would have been
a matter of satisfaction to US to have
been nominated by or tohave received
a larger vote than we did In the Repub-
lican Convention; but the fact that we
did not, fails to prove any change I'm
our political sentiments, or loss of true
friends.
Year: 1878

Special TO the Register.


WASHINGTON, June I.


Schurz spends most Of his time now
lobbying against rhe transfer of the In
dian Bureau to the War Department
He was at the Capitol to-day, trying to
convince Senators that the Indian ring
is anxious for the transfer because
he watches them too closely, and
they believe that there would be
q better chance for fraud under
the War Department. Business in the
Indian Bureau is very much behind, and
Senators and members who have asked
for statements bearing on cases in which
their constituents were Interested, have
been kept waiting so long that they will
be very glad TO transfer the work to q
Department which attends more prompt
ly TO its business. II has been noticed
that Senators who are known to favor
the transfer are treated with glest H.
civility and even rudeness at the Indian
office. From present indications the
Senate will concur with the House and
relieve Schurz of this branch OF his work.
Year: 1878

A timid girl, with her delicate hand
half revealed, half concealed in
NIT, came in and laid a poem on our
desk, which opened as follows:
How dear to my heart is the goat of my child"


hood,


When fond recollection presents him TO me
The beautiful beast which wheneer he was


riled would


Make everything fly from the presence OF he'
NV mischievous Nan was the frowiest butter
That ever did butt a stone fence till 1t fell;
He'd see it coming-a scream he would utter'
Then brace his four legs and go at II peh-


NELL
Oh. how he would buck it An iron-bonnd


bucket,


He once tried to buck it, and died in the well.
We read it over three times, for it
seemed familiar. Then we asked her
poipt-blank if she wrote it herself. She
fixed an eye on us while the other went
out the window (poor girl) and she said
in faltering voice that she did. 80 we
accepted one verse, at so much. 1t is
very pathetic little picture of rural
felicity, but it certainly reminds us OF
something we have seen before some'
where. .-Net0 York Graphic.
Year: 1878

Speaking of Mrs. Hicks, whose re-
cent marriage to the wealthy octogenar-
ian, Thomas Lord, created such gossip
in New York upper circles, the Tribune
says While in Rome, at the time Of the
carnival, she occupied apartments on
the second floor Of the Antonelli palace.
Just before carnival week she had
number of linen bags made, and filled
them with the small Roman coins called
scudi. These bags she ranged at her
side, and took her place at the open
window, as the procession began to ap-
proach her house. AS the fantastic
figures filed by, she stood at the window,
in full view of the thousands in the
street, and threw the coins upon the
heads of those below. This unexpected
largess of money-in place of the usual
fusilade of confectionery-made the I'M
pecunious crowd fairly frantic. A wild
scramble was made for the places where
the coin fell thick and fast; the street
was blocked the procession was thrown
into confusion, and the more avaricious
in the throng threated to climb up the
front of the building and capture the
source of the rain of money. The fair
widow seemed to enjoy the excitement
of the scene with great zest, and was
only induced to relinquish the sport at
the urgent request of the head of the
police department, who feared that q
riot would result.
Year: 1878

After Japanese lover has proven
false to his VOWS, the deserted maiden
rises at about two o'clock in the morn
ing. and dons white robe and high
sandals OF clogs. Her Golf is q metal
tripod, in which are thrust three lighted
candles around her neck she hangs q
mirror, which falls upon her bosom ; in
her left hand she carries small straw
figure, the effigy of her faithless lover,
and in her right she grasps a hammer
and nails, with which she nails it to one
of the sacred trees that surround the
shrine. Then she prays for the death of
the traitor, vowing that if her petition is
heard, she will herself pull out the nails
which offend the god by wounding the
mystic tree. Every night she comes to
the shrine, and each night she strikes in
two more nails, believing that every
nail will shorten her lovers life, for the
god, to save his tree, will surely strike
him dead. 1t is curious illustration
of the hold superstition yet has on the
japanese mind.
Year: 1878

The Portsmouth On. H. Chronicle
says: On the farm of Mr.. Daniel Cook,
which is in one corner of Kittery, Me-,
close up to the York and Elliott bound
ary lines, is an intermittent spring,
which is not only most eccentric nat
ural curiosity but very great conven-
ience to its owner. Its existence was
unknown to Mr.. Cook (or any one else
in the neighborhood) until one of the
parched summers of five or six years
ago, at which time all the springs,
swamp-holes, ETC., in the cattle pastures
dried up, and the animals had to be
driven quite distance twice a day to
get water. One evening, on turning the
cattle ont of the pasture in which they
had been feeding during the day into
the one in which the intermittent spring
is situated, on their way to water, the
thirsty creatures utterly disgusted the
boy who had them in charge by desert
ing the path aud running to distant
part of the pasture, in spite of the boys
vigorous use of language and stones.
Following them up, the boy was aston
ished to find them engaged in drinking
heartily at a spring which was dis,
charging a goodly amount of water, but
which he had never heard of before.
This lasted until the advent of wei
weather in the autumn, when it disap,
peared, and did not again show itseli
until the following summer, which was
also dry one. Since then it has beer
watched by the farmer, not 80 much OF
account of its odd performances as be
cause of its usefulness; and he has
found that whenever drought becomes
so severe that all the other springs il
the vicinity fail, this one commences
business, and keeps it up until rail
enough falls to start the other spring.
at work, when it Immediately knocks
| off
Year: 1878

The following anecdote was related by
Mr.. Webster in reference to his connec-
tion with the celebrated Dartmouth
College case, in which the New Hamp.
shire Legislature attempted to interfere
with the ancient charter of that institu-
ton /; in which, it may not be forgotten,
Mr.. Webster triumphed, by the decision
of the United States Supreme Court
confirming the claim of the college.
While engaged in the case, Mr.. Webster
told the president that as sthe original
charter was granted, and the endowment
made, by Lord Dartmouth expressly for
the purpose of civilizing and instructing
the Indians, question might arise on
this point and, so as no Indian had
been attached to the school for long
period, it would be well for the presi.
dent to go into Canada and bring some
of the aborigines within the walls of the
college, SO that jury could not find that
the charter had been abrogated ON that
score. Accordingly the president went
and found three choice specimens and
brought them to the brink of the river


and after some delay he procured boat
and began to ferry them across-wher
the young Indians, not precisely under
standing the object of so much kindness
on the part of the president, and espy


ing the walls of the college on the bank


had not only their wonder excited, but
grew suspicious that, if once within
those walls, it might be difficult to es
cape. Whereupon the young Indian a


the bow of the boat cast significant
glance at his associates, gave the war
whoop, and, quick as thought, they al
plunged into the middle of the river ant
swan for the shore. Said Mr.. Webster
"The falling of the walls of Jericho OIL
the sounding of the rams horns coult
not have astonished Joshua more THAI
this unlooked-for escapade of the In
dians astonished the president. He hal
looed, entreated and tried to explain all


but the Indians kept straight on thei
course to the shore, and made with al
their speed for the woods-the las
President Wheelock ever saw or hear,
of them" So Mr.. Webster had to go Of
with the case without the Indians. Thi
anecdote used to amuse him exceedingly
and Judge Story would join in with hi
happy, light-hearted laugh, which onl


those who knew him can appreciate