smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

Awoman and a stranger wrote me
lately, saying she knew there must be
many rich women who had dresses to
throw aside which would be of use to
make over, and offering, if had any
such among my acquaintance, to pay for
such things in any way she could, by
pressing ferns, gathering moses, etc.
Pressed ferns and moses DO not have the
value in town which they seem to in
many places, persons who care for such
things having plenty of leisure to gather
for themselves. AS far as my expert
ence goes, the women who dress most
literally take more care and are more
economical of their clothes than any
other class. I have recognized a Co.'S
tune which cost at first $3.50, five years
afterward, made in fresh fashion and
worn by lady who spends thousands q
year on her dress, and / have no doubt
it finally went to one OF the children in
the nursery. AS a rule, those best off
arc most saving, though perhaps that is
the reason they are 50 well off and have
things to save. All my own personal
economies, in which I take no small
pride, as making dollar or scrap of ma
terial 20 as far as creation intended it,
were learned from the example of the
riri est and most cultivated people have
mt Shirley Dare, in Toledo Blade.
Year: 1879

There is decided reaction in favor of
small bonnets, says the New York Her
aid, but they are of the quaint and pic
turesque order, and neither fiat nor COM
monplace. While the incoming bonnet
is small the hats are very large. Many
of the bonnets have very wide strings !;
the hats none at all. Large bonnets are
not tabbooed by any means, and the
"spoke'' shape has many admirers among
large ladies. For such they are much
more stylish than the small ones, and
next year may see a revolution in the
flaring, brims and wide-awake styles
which have been worn 80 long. Some
of the brims flare over the forehead. but
remain comparatively close at the sides;
while again there are varieties which
are both high in front and broad. The
latter slope off closely without much
display of brim at the lower part of the
face.


Other shapes are almost fiat on the top
of the head and rather wide. Crowns are
not conspicuous except at times by rea-
son of unusual breadth. The latter
quality is in such cases very noticeable,
as in general crowns are of such shape
as not to attract attention, and it may be
added that both square and rounded
are presented. A novel feature is the
mode in which they are sometimes
placed on the bonnet, being set very far
back, giving long expanse of brim IN
front at the expense of the same at the
back.


Stylish bonnets are made of black
velvet and satin, frightened by loops of
rich brocaded ribbon, in gold and high
colors, upon white. These hoops are
placed nearly upright toward the left of
the brim, forming an aigrette, which
give an immense amount of style by
very simple method.
Year: 1879

There are said to be fully 200, 900 beg
gars tramping about the German empire,
and they are estimated to get as aims
money, ~ without % considering the value Of Of
foed and clothing given them. Many of
these beggars got into the habit of gain
ing their livelihood in this way through
the oppressive laws formerly in vogue
that required apprentices to travel lit
orally as journeymen, with view to
perfecting themselves in their respective
trades.
Year: 1879

WRITING FOR THE PREss.-For the benefit
of our correspondents we reprint from the
Boston Transcript, the following useful and
commendable suggestions:


l. Write upon one side of the leaf only.
Why? Because it is often necessary to cut
the pages into takes" for the compositors,
and this cannot be done when both sides are
written upon.


H. Write clearly and distinctly, being par
ticularly careful i'll the matter of proper
names, and words from foreign languages.
Why? Because you have no right to ask
either editor or compositor to waste his time
puzzling out the results of your careless sell
fshness


III. Don't write in a microscopic hand.
Why? Because the compositor has TO read it
across his case, at a distance of nearly two
feet. Also, because the editor often wants to
make additions and other changes.


". Don't begin at the very top of the first
page. Why? Because if you have written
head for your article the editor may want to
change it, and if you have not-which is the
better wayne must write one. Besides, he
wants room in which to write instructions to
the printer as to the type to be used, where
and when the proof is to be sent, etc.


V. Never roll your manuscript. Why?
Because it maddens every one who touchesit,
editor, compositor and proof-reader


VI. BE brief. Why? Because people
don't read long stories. The number of read
ers which any two articles have is inversely
proportioned to the square of their respective
lengths. That is, a half-column article is read
by four times as many people as one of doub-
le that length.


VII. Have the fear of the waste basket
constantly before your eyes. Why Because
it will save you vast amount of useless labor
to say nothing of paper and postage.


VIII. Always write your full name and ad-
dress plainly at the end of your letter, Why?
Because it will often happen that the editor
wants to communicate with you, and because
he needs to know the writer's name as a
guarantee of good faith, If You write a
pseudonym or initials, write your own name
and address below it, 1t will never be di-
vulged.


TX. "These precepts in thy memory keep"
and, for fear you might forget them, cut them
out and put them where you can readily run
through them when tempted to spill innocent
ink
Year: 1879

Let us describe a party of wooden-shoe
makers, or as they are termed, SdJOtierS, at
work near cool stream. The whole family
is together: the father with his son and SON
in-law, the apprentices, the mother and chill
dren running about in the beds Of cress. I'm
der the trees rises hut of planks, where all
sleep; not far of, the two mules which carry
the belongings Of the camp are tethered
They are birds Of passage, traversing the for
est and Sojourning whore wood is cheap


In tins green combc several fine beech trees
are marked for the axe they are 80 feet
high, and , feet in girth. Each will proba-
bly, give six dozen pairs Of wooden shoes
Other kinds of wood are spOngy aud soon
penetrated with damp but the beech sdbOts
are light, of "A close grain, and keep the feet
dry IN spite of snow and mud and in this
respect are greatly superior to leather. All
is animation. The men cut down the tree :;
the trunk is sawn into lengths, aud if the
pieces prove too large, they are divided into
quarters. The first workman fashions the
SaJOt roughly with hatchet, taking care to
give the bend for right and left the second
takes it in hand piercos the holes for the in
terror, and scoops the wood out with an ill.,
strument called the culier. The third is the
artist Of the company; it is his work 10 i'm
ish and polish 1t carving rose or primrose
upon the tue top if it be for the fair SIX.
Sometimes he cuts an open border round the
edge, so that the blue or white stocking may
be shown by a coquettish girl. As they
are finished, they are placed in rows
under the white shavings twice a
week the apprentices expose them to a fire.
which smokes and hardens the wood, giving
it warm, golden brown hue. The largest
sizes are cut from the lowest part of the bole.
TO cover the workman's feet who is out in
rain from morning to night. The middle
part is for the busy housewife who is tread
ing the wash-house, the dairy, or stands be-
side the village fountain. Next come those
of the little shepherd who wanders all day
long with his flock, and still smaller ones for
the school boy. Those for the babies have
the happlest lot they are seldom worn out.
As the foot grows the mother keeps the lit
tie sabots in corner of her cupboard beside
the baptismal robe. Long after, when the
child has become man, and his chair is va
cant by the hearth, they are drawn out to be
looked at, sometimes with a smile, too often
with tears. During all his toll the workman
talks and sings he is not taciturn like the
charcOal-burner his muscles continually in ac-
ton, his work in the open air, keep him in good
temper, and give him refreshing sleep and
appetite. He sings like linnet, while the
women chatter and mend the family gar
ments. When the trees have been all cut up,
the camp is raised, the mules are loaded,
adleu TO the green hollow, and another place
is sought for Thus all the year long, wheth-
er the forest be tinted with pale spring YER
dure or covered with the yellow autumn
leaves, in some corner will be heard the
workers. busy as bees in hive, gayly carry
ing on their simple healthy forest-lfe.-
ChGDa6ersS JOurHdL
Year: 1879

THE METHODIST ITINERANT SYSTEM. Sever
al bodies of Methodists have just been advo-
eating the extension of the term of service of
their ministers from three 10 five years, and
it is not improbable that the longer term
will be finally adopted, as the sentiment of
the church seems to be setting in that direc-
ton The ministers themselves, and espe-
cially their wives and children, do not like
continuous change. After preaching in a
church, getting acquainted with a congrega-
ton, and making friends in city it is not
pleasant for them to go somewhere else and
begin entirely anew. Many of the pastors
think that these sacerdotal shifts prevent
them from doing Justice to themselves that
permanenco would be TO their mental ad-
vantage, enabling them to deliver better ser
mons, and to grow into fuller and deeper
sympathy with their congregations The or
igin of the short term of the Methodist
preachers is not generally understood. When
the sect was founded by John Wesley, assist
ed by his brother Charles, near $50 years
ago, the ministers were not educated nor
was it designed they should be. They were
either chosen for their piety or zeal, or they
accepted the calling without special prepara-
ton, because they felt that to preach was
their vocation. Wesley, who was very shrewd,
sagacious, intimately acquainted with human
nature, knew that unframed, uncultured men
could not interest an audience very long in
the pulpit. Consequently, the term was at
first, we believe, only three months. 1t was
increased to six, and then to twelve. Until
lately it was two years; now it is three years.
As many of the Methodist ministers are at
present regularly educated, scholarly men,
there would appear to be no longer any good
reason for settling them for three years. As
those in cities rank with clergymen of other
denominations in intellect and attanments,
there seems to be no cause now for their linn
itation of service.
Year: 1879

The PRIME OF LIFE. Between the ages of
forty y-five and sixty man who has properly
regulated himself may be considered in the
prime of life. His matured strength of con-
stitution renders him almost imperyious to an
attack of disease, and experience has given
sounduess TO his Judgment His mind is res
olute. firm and equal all his functions are in
the highest order; he assumes mastery over
his business builds up competence on the
foundation he has laid in early manhood, and
passes through period of life attended Ly
many qualifications. Having gone over a
year or two over sixty, he arrives at stand
still But athwart this is the yiaduct called
the turn of life which, if crossed in safety,
leads to the valley of 'old age" round which
the river winds. and then beyond without
boat or causeway, to effect his passage. The
bridge is, however, constructed of fragile ma
teriai, and it depends how it is trodden wheth-
er it bend or break Gout and apOpleXy are
also in the vicinity to waylay the traveller
and thrust him from the pass but let him
grid up his loins and provide himself with
filter staff, and he may trudge on in safety
and with perfect composure To quit meta
phor, 1.-THE turn of life" is turn either into a
prolonged walk or into the grave. The sys-
TEN and powers having reached the utmost
expansion now begin either to close like a
flower at sunset or break down at once. One
iniudicious stimulant, q single fatal excite
ment, may force it beyond its strength, while
a careful supply of props and the withdrawal
of all that tends to force plant will sustain
it in beauty and vigor until night has entirely
set in.
Year: 1879

Our ship lying in Gibraltar har.


Dor. The day had been remarkably
pleasant one, and hundreds Of people
from the shore had been on board to
examine our specimen of Uncle Sans
naval architecture. After the ham
mocks had been "piped down knot
of old oceans hardy sons collected be-
meath the topgallant forecastle, which
place was their regular "torum." Old
Ben Miller, our second boatswain's
mate, had been quite sober and
thoughtful during the latter part OF the
afternoon and upon being asked the
occasion OF it, he said he had seen
something that brought to his mind a
thrilling circumstance Of by.gone days.


We knew there was yarn on the ;apis
and collected about the old mate, we
awaited its delivery. lie Knocked the
ashes from bis pipe put it in his pock-
ct, and then charging his mouth with Il
generous piece of tobacco, he COM
menced and this is the yarn he
spun:


"lt is now fifteen years ago that /


was a foremast hand on board the old
ship "Hunter." She was from New


York, and bound to India. A man by
the name OF Adam Warren, who was
one of the owners, had taken passage,
and with him were his wife and
daughter. The latter was one Of the
sweetest, prettest little creatures l
ever saw, only about tW elva years old
and as bIithe as lark. They called
her Judith. Oh it would have doue
your souls good to have seen her skip
ping about the deck !-now hiding in
coil of rigging now pulling at some
rope, and then clapplng her little dim
pied hands aa she repeated TIE orders
of the captain. Her merry laugh ran
through the ship like the notes Of our
own native robin, ard the sun seemed
to envy her brightness. Her father was
one OF your business men-a right
down dollar hunter, who didn't seem
to care for much else than the purchase
and sale Of his cargo; and as long AS
his child was well and happy he SEEM
ed to take hut little notice Of her,
though must say, he was a kind
hearted man when you could bring j,
out. Judith's mother was one of your
city aristocracy-a proud Oyer-bearing
woman who seemed 10 think there
was nobody OF any consequence only
the smell Of tar made her
sick. When she was on deck she
always kept smelling-bot,le Il. her
nose, and tell you the truth when l
tell you that her nose was :airly Geek
billed by her eternal snuffing at that
.ame bottle.


"We had boy on board named
Luke Winship, only fourteen years old
who had been put in the galley to
help the cook. He was noble little
fellow, though we hadn't then exactly
Iound it out.


"One evening after we had entered
The southern tropics, Luke was sitting
Year: 1879

 ! The City Council will meet this evening

 at o'clock in the bank parlor Of Stafford,

 Hudson X Co. to confer with Col. George

 F.. Gray, Chief Engineer Of the Southern

 Pacific Railway, with reference to the va

 rious questions and interests involved fin

 the right of way and location of depot and other needed buildings in Tucson. During

 the afternoon today Mayor Toole and

 other Of our citizens met Col. Gray, and

 the conversation exhibits a hearty desire on the part Of the company to so construct the line and buildings as to best subserve the interests of the whole city, and we know the Council Is a unis in the matter of granting to the company all rights and privileges needed for the proper transac- ton Of its business. Both President Crocker and Col. Gray assure Mayor Toole, and through him our people gem orally, that the company does not want a foot or ground for speculation. Judged from what we hear from all sides. wei think the details will be satisfactorily ar

 ranged 10 meet the wants of the company and the desires Of the people.
Year: 1879

The case of the Territory vs. John

 StrOde was concluded about midnight

 last night ny a verdict of guilty of

 murder in the second degree. We deem this judgment on the part of the jury an ample vindication of the jus tice of the case. In some cOmmuni- ties, possibly, the grade of the crime might have been reduced to man slaughter, but with us it is necessary to rebuke the use of deadly weapons with a sterner voice. The only won der in the matter is, that the courts were ever able to arrive at just con clusiOn, for on the day when the kill ing of Buck took place it is pretty certain that nearly everybody in the was more or less under the influence of liquor, and, especially, -he two men whose quarrel resulted so fatally, and who went about all day 1ourishing revOlvers and abusing each other, were from hour to hour drunkerl md drunker.
Year: 1879

HENRY FENTON, an acquaintance of nine years, is now telegraph operator at Shakespeare. He is a good fellow, and the new camp is to be congratu- lated upon securing such an efficient and attentive manager.
Year: 1879

1T Ia q curious fact that the cur
tailed crop Of the cereals which is
now threatened in all portions of
California but our own is already
apprsclable in the price OF flour. 1t
10 raising and the end is by no
means yet. 1t is pleasant to reflect,
in view Of such movement in the
staff Of life, that, without n doubt,
we shall this year produce, in this
county, of wheat, corn and barley,
four or five times the quantity
needed for the consumption of our
own population. Should the rains
still be delayed north and continue
as they have begun, copious here,
Los Angeles county will be far
more opulent than her best friends
have,thought possible.
Year: 1879

WE desire to be understood as


speaking with extreme delicscy


and kindness Of the melancholy


snarl into which the city finances
have again fallen. 1t is somewhat
lamentable that, three times In
succession, the City Treasury
should find itself in distressing
straits from-welI, from the admin.
'istration Of three Republican city


officials. Not one single Demo.


cratic official, city or county, has
failed to turu over q clean balance
sheet to his successor, although
there is much talk of Democratic
city and county rings. This fact
deserves note, although we do not
desire to emphasize it by entering
Into personal details. All of our
people have been put to special in
convenience to pay their taxes,
city, county and State, this year,
and we hope that the burden will
not be increased from an iIlegiti-
mate diminutIon OF the sum which
ought to be in the City Treasury.
The subject is painful one, and
one on which We do not like to
dwell. We trust that the most
sanguine view of the situation will
prove the correct one, both in the
Interest OF the gentleman impli-
Gated and In that of the tax-pay ers.
Year: 1879

ties Of Los Angeles county and
start in In earnest to improve
them. When that day comes, in
stead of being q hesitating and inn
poverIshed community, we shall
be q confident and wealthy bund.
Brotherhood and CO operation,
however, are the key-notes to the
situation,
Year: 1879

"H0w many of these men" inquired Mr.. Palmer
| as they returned to the Office "have ever been
trained to any useful trade or business 2"
| ''Not one in ten."


The spirited bays in their glittering harness were
champing their bits and tossing their heads i'm
patiently outside the high walls; and Walter ex-
perienced feeling of relief as he found himself
once in the pure sweet air and brgh sunshine
"How dreadful it must be to have to live in such
a place as that I" he said, as reaching eminence,
he gave o backward glance at the building, which
looked so grim and solitary in the distance.


at is the necessity that is dreadful, my SON.
Miserable as these men are, they are happier there
where they are obliged to be orderly and indus
trious, though only through the fear of punishment
than if they allowed to follow unrestrainedly,
the devices of their foolish and evil hearts,"
There was silence for some minutes. Then Mr..
Palmer said:


"You asked me question, yesterday, Walter,
and this is my answer, better answer than any
words can frame. The world calls me a rich man
and so I am. / am able to afford you many ad-
vantages, all the opportunity you ask for moral
and mental culture but / am not nor never shall
be- rich enough to afford to have you idle. Strange
as it may sound, l am too rich to affordit. have
q mill, filled with industrious operatives, whose
living from week to week depends on its skillful
and prudent management. | have houses full of
tenants, whose health and comfort depends largely
upon whether their landlord is just and faithful
man. These and other interests may some day be
intrusted to you. Many father has learned to
his sorrow, that to have boy idle is something
that rich men cannot afford to do"


"I think will go to school Monday, father"
was Walters only response to this.
Year: 1879

If there is any one thing more than another cali
culated to make a wrong impression on the mind
of the unsophisticated man, it is the picture of
woman using a patent washing machine. The
picture represents a woman dressed in silk, trim
med with lace, having full train, hustle and elbow
sleeves cut on the bias. There she stands, a sweet
smile Illuminating her countenance. Her hair is
banged and frizzed in the most approved fashion,
andperhaps jaunty lace cap surmounts her wealth
of golden, red, brown black or yellow hair, as the
case may be, or the Imagination portray. One
hand grasps the machine lightly and the other
is at liberty to arrange her hair or train. The
clothes are in the tub-the other clothes
and apparently being washed without the
slightest effort on the part of the woman. The
wall is covered with the latest and most approved
style of paper, with dado to match, and is hung
with numerous pictures. The floor is covered with
body Brussels carpet and several children in Sun
day go-to-meeting clothes are playing about, just
as though no washing were being done. All isas
serene and clean and tidy as the salesroom Of q
millinery shop. Not even the fainest curl of steam
arises from the tub. 1t is very pretty picture,
and perhaps the unsophisticated young man may
think that it correctly represents the manner in
which the average washing is done. But it is
delusion and snare---The artist who drew it
must have depended aonhis imagination wholly
He should have been q married man and should
have sketched the picture from life. He should





woman Of the house up to her elbows in the wash
tub. Look at her Her hair is wadded up in a
little ball on the northwest of her head and
several locks straggle down in several direc-
tions. She is clad in dingy old calico dress,
and pair of carpet slippers which not
mates. The scene is located in the back woodshed
or Summer Kitchen" so called. The thermome-
ter stands at ninety in the shade and in the wash
it is ninety and nine. The womans face, in
color, resembles boiled lobster. The perspiration
drips off her chin, and her fingers, which par
boiled, remind you of driedapples, beached. Two
of the children are making pancakes in their hats
out of water and coal ashes. The third one has
got stuck under the back gate in effort to crawl
through. Just at that moment small dog begins
making faces at him, and the youngster, unable
to wiggle way or the other, sets up yell which
would put to blush Commanche Indian. At
the same instant one of the pancake makers slaps
hatful of 'batter Oh the head of his sister, and
running to escape the maternal slipper, which he
conectures will be forthcoming falls headforemost
into tub of suds. The last mentioned youngsters
tune up and swell the chorus for the soloist under
the gate. But we drop the curtain with simply
the remark that at this juncture the sketcher of
washing machine pictures should get his work in.
woOdcut of this scene from every day life would
take the romance all out of the popular pictures of
washing machines.-Rome Sentinel.